THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


OF    THE 


CIVIL   WAR 


BY 


ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER,  U.  S.  NAVY 


ILLUSTRATED   FliOM   ORIGINAL   SKETCHES   MADE  BY   HEAR  ADMIRAI    WALKE   AND   OTHERS 


NEW  YORK 
THE  SHERMAN  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1886 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1885,  by 

THE  SHERMAN  PUBLISHING  CO. 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington.  D.  (3. 


PRE£«.OF 

OGeF*9,&  S&ERWOOD 

'  21  '«<E  23  BARCLAY  STREET 

26  AND  28  PARK  PLACE 

NEW  YORK  CITY 


tir    g)/ficcrs,    the   jjafriatit    I'oluntecrs   and  the    j$rai$  §aihrs 
and  Cannes   of  the   JJat'it 

THIS   BOOK   IS   RESPECTFULLY   INSCRIBED,  WITH  THE  HOPE  THAT   IT  WILL  REMIND  THOSE 

STILL  LIVING  OF  THE  MANY  THRILLING  SCENES  THROUGH  WHICH  THEY  PASSED  FROM 

18G1    TO    ISO 5,  AND   ALSO   ASSURE  THEM  THAT  THE  AUTHOR  IS  STILL  ALIVE  TO 

THE  GREAT  SERVICES  THEY  ALL  PERFORMED,  THE  SACRIFICES  THEY  MADE, 

• 
AND  THE  SMALL  REWARDS  THAT  WERE  RECEIVED  BY  THOSE  WHO  SO 

STEADFASTLY  FOUGHT  AN  INTELLIGENT  FOE  THAT  THIS  UNION 
MIGHT     BE     PRESERVED    TO    MILLIONS    YET    UNBORN. 


225804 


PREFACE 


THE  Naval  incidents  of  the  War  of  1812  with  Great  Britain  are  better  understood 
to-day  by  the  great  mass  of  American  readers  than  are  the  naval  incidents  of 
the  Civil  War  between  the  northern  and  seceding  States,  which  lasted  from 
1801  to  1865.     In  the  War  of  1812  half  a  dozen  frigates  and  a  dozen  sloops  of 
war  on  the  ocean,  and  three  small  squadrons  on  the  lakes,  made  up  about  the 
sum  total  of  our  Navy  afloat  when  the  war  commenced,  and  those  vessels  performed 
such  marvelous  exploits,  considering  the  great  superiority  in  ships  of  Great  Britain, 
that   the  events,  comparatively  few   in  number,  have  impressed  themselves  indelibly 
on  the  mind  of  every  schoolboy  who  read  of  them  in  books  that  were  put  in  their  hands 
at  an  early  age  :  events  that  were  taught  them  as  part  of  the  history  of  a  nation  which, 
previous  to  that  time,  had  not  paid  much  attention  to  the  Navy,  or  even  calculated  that 
it  would  become  so  famed. 

Since  that  era  the  Navy  of  the  United  States  has  been  making  history  for  the 
country  on  a  scale  almost  bewildering,  and  could  the  old  pioneer  captains  of  1812  have 
been  permitted  to  look  on  from  their  present  abode  (wherever  that  may  be),  we  doubt 
not  but  that  they  would  have  been  astonished  at  the  large  fleets  we  were  putting  afloat 
with  such  wonderful  rapidity;  and  they  would  also  have  acknowledged  that  their  descend 
ants  had  nobly  borne  themselves  in  the  war  for  the  salvation  of  this  Union,  which 
was  as  dear  to  our  forefathers  as  it  is  to  us  at  the  present  time. 

A  man  who  undertakes  to  write  a  history  of  the  naval  events  of  such  a  war  as  we 
were  forced  into,  has  a  great  responsibility  resting  upon  him.  He  has  to  be  careful  of  his 
statements  and  the  sources  from  which  he  obtains  them;  as  a  person  has  a  right  to 
know  before  he  purchases  a  book,  whether  the  facts  stated  for  his  perusal  are  taken 
from  substantial  authority,  or  from  the  common  traditions  which  have  been  passed 
down  from  decade  to  decade,  and  have  been  finally  accepted  as  truth. 

History  could  not  be  properly  written  after  such  a  fashion  as  the  latter;  it  must  be 
taken  from  the  official  naval  records  of  the  times,  which,  with  but  rare  exceptions,  have 
been  found  to  be  remarkably  correct.  Many  of  them — indeed  nearly  all — have  been  writ 
ten  by  persons  holding  the  most  prominent  positions  in  command,  who  have  left  the 
stories  of  their  achievements  written  in  that  truthful  language  which  carries  conviction 
with  it.  Xo  naval  officer  during  the  war  would  have  dared  to  write  any  thing  in  his 
official  reports  that  was  not  strictly  correct,  for  there  were  too  many  witnesses  (and 
interested  ones)  who  would  not  have  hesitated  to  impeach  the  veracity  of  any  officer 
who  made  anything  but  a  proper  report. 

As  far  as  it  goes  this  history  is  made  up  from  the  official  record  of  the  Navy,  and 
the  author  has  endeavored  as  far  as  possible  to  confine  himself  strictly  to  naval  mat 
ters,  except  in  cases  where  the  Army  and  Navy  co-operated. 

Several  books  claiming  to  be  naval  histories  were  written  directly  after  the  war, 
but  as  a  rule  these  were  of  a  partisan  character,  not  written  particularly  to  do  justice 
to  the  Navy  but  to  give  credit  to  particular  individuals  who  had  a  good  deal  to  do  in 
the  matter  of  ensuring  success,  and  who  no  doubt  deserved  much  of  the  praise  that  was 
bestowed  upon  them;  but  in  all  cases  the  authors  lost  sight  of  the  main  object  of  the 
history,  and  that  is  to  do  justice  to  all,  and  not  allow  themselves  to  be  diverted  from  the 
true  facts  because  they  may  have  had  official  relations  with  those  they  took  care 


iv  PREFACE. 

to  applaud.  There  was  too  much  of  this  in  some  histories  which  dwelt  so  much  on 
the  virtues  of  the  heads  of  departments  that  they  forgot  to  do  justice  to  those  who  fought 
the  battles.  In  all  the  histories  the  author  has  read  there  have  been  serious  misrepresenta 
tions,  purposely  printed  and  written  with  the  intention  to  do  harm  to  the  reputation 
of  some  who  deserved  not  only  the  highest  praise  from  the  government  but  the  truth 
from  impartial  historians. 

While  our  Army  has  been  written  of  by  a  thousand  ready  pens,  the  Navy  has  not.  as 
a  rule,  been  a  popular  theme  for  the  historian,  and  now  and  then  only  do  we  meet 
with  some  well  drawn  story  of  the  Navy  and  the  benefits  it  conferred  upon  the 
country.  Our  Army  was  full  of  writers  who  could  delineate  in  the  most  happy  manner  all 
the  events  that  were  transpiring  around  them — they  were  also  ready  with  the  pencil;  the 
photographer,  while  he  traveled  with  the  army,  would  spend  his  days  in  photograph 
ing  every  noted  scene,  reprints  of  which  were  scattered  broadcast  over  the  Union, 
keeping  the  movements  of  our  armies  as  clearly  before  the  millions  of  people  in  the 
North  as  if  the  battles  had  been  reflected  in  a  mirror.  The  camp,  the  march,  the 
bivouac,  the  battle-field  were  almost  as  familiar  to  the  friends  and  relations  of  those 
in  the  field  as  if  they  had  been  on  the  spot,  but  there  were  no  such  means  of  bringing 
the  Navy  before  the  public.  Naval  ships  did  not  travel  with  reporters,  photographers 
or  sketchers,  there  was  no  room  for  these  on  board  ship,  and  if  perchance  some  stray 
reporter  should  get  on  board,  the  discomfort  of  a  man  of  war,  the  exacting  discipline, 
and  the  freer  life  in  camp  sent  him  back  to  shore,  where  in  most  cases  he  only  re 
membered  his  associations  with  the  Navy  as  a  trip  without  any  satisfaction,  and  with 
no  desire  to  do  justice  to  the  work  of  the  naval  service. 

The  author  is  quite  aware  that  he  may  not  possess  all  the  requisites  for  a  historian, 
but  he  thinks  he  can  put  the  records  in  plain  shape  and  write  them  down  in  plain  Eng 
lish,  which  on  the  whole  is  quite  as  much  as  has  been  done  by  others.  The  object  will 
be  to  show  how  little  the  work  of  the  Navy  was  appreciated  by  the  people  of  this 
country,  while  they  lavished  all  their  attention  on  the  Army.  It  is  true  our  Armies 
were  entitled  to  all  that  could  be  showered  on  them  by  a  grateful  people  ;  yet  the  part 
performed  by  the  Navy  when  placed  in  its  true  light  before  the  world,  will  show  to  ad 
vantage  compare  it  as  you  may  with  any  other  branch  of  public  service.  Time 
with  unsparing  hand  has  swept  away  nearly  all  the  men  who  led  our  fleets  to  battle 
during  the  war.  But  one  or  two  remain,  while  those  who  were  in  the  flower  of  manhood 
when  the  war  was  at  its  worst,  have  reached  the  highest  honors  the  country  had  to 
bestow,  and  with  no  more  naval  duty  afloat  to  perform,  except  in  time  of  war,  when 
they  can  offer  their  services,  none  the  less  efficient  for  a  green  old  age,  are  waiting 
calmly  (enjoying  the  rest  from  the  hardships  of  the  past)  to  reap  those  higher  rewards 
for  duties  well  performed  on  earth,  where  the  sounds  of  battle  will  no  more  be  heard,  and 
where  the  laurels  they  have  gained  will  never  wither — these  officers  must  not  be  forgot 
ten,  and  wish  to  be  remembered. 

If  this  work  does  not  satisfy  public  expectations,  it  may  point  out  the  way  for  some 
future  historian,  some  patient,  plodding  man,  who  will  delve  into  old  closets  and  bureaux 
until  he  finds  the  missing  links  which  may  escape  the  heedless  writer  of  this  fast  age. 

History  is  better  written  after  the  lapse  of  years,  when  those  who  have  taken  part  in 
it  have  all  passed  away,  when  prejudices  have  all  been  laid  aside,  and  when  the  historian 
knows  nothing  of  the  actors'  deeds  besides  what  is  told  in  the  records.  But  the  present 
age  is  an  impatient  one,  and  the  young  American  who  was  not  on  the  scene  of  action 
when  civil  discord  plunged  the  country  into  the  most  bloody  war  the  world  ever  saw,  is 
anxious  now  to  know  all  that  occurred  at  the  time  that  tried  men's  souls;  they  particu 
larly  desire  to  see  how  their  forefathers  deported  themselves  on  fields  of  battle  or  in 
ships  of  war,  and  to  become  familiar  with  all  the  thrilling  scenes  which,  though  pleasant 
reading  now,  brought  sorrow  and  desolation  to  thousands  of  homes,  homes  where  to  this 
day  they  worship  the  memory  of  the  loved  one  who  left  them  in  the  vigor  of  manhood 
and  on  whom  they  never  looked  again.  THE  \UTHOR 


CONTENTS. 

NOTE.— At  the  commencement  of  each  Chapter  will  be  found  a  detailed  syllabus  of  the  matter  therein  contained.     The  following  embraces 
only  the  principal  subjects  of  each  Chapter.     See  General  Index  lor  List  of  Vessels  and  Officers  of  Squadrons. 


f  Squ 

CHAPTER 

I.    ORGANIZATION  OP  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT.— BLOCKADE-RUNNERS,  ETC. 

II.    BOMBARDMENT  AND  FALL,  OF  FORT  SUMTER.— DESTRUCTION  OF  NORFOLK  NAVY  YARD 


PAGES 

17-23 
24-32 


III.    CLOSING  OF   SOUTHERN  PORTS.— INCREASE   OF  THE  NAVY.— LIST  OF  VESSELS  AND 

THEIR  STATIONS. — PURCHASED  VESSELS.— VESSELS  CONSTRUCTING,  ETC.     .      .        .     33-38 


IV. 


DEATH  OF  ELLSWORTH.— CAPTURE  OF  ALEXANDRIA.— OPERATIONS  OF  THE  POTOMAC 

FLOTILLA,  ETC 39^13 


V.    CAPTURE  OF  THE  WORKS  AT  HATTERAS  INLET. —DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 

"Jt*DAH,"ETC. 

VI.    NAVAL  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  PORT  ROYAL 


VII.    THE  "  TRENT  "  AFFAIR. — CAPTURE  OF  MASON  AND  SLIDELL,  ETC 

VIII.    CAPTURE  OF  FERNANDINA  AND  THE  COAST  SOUTH  OF  GEORGIA,  ETC 

IX.    OPERATIONS  OF  ADMIRAL  DuPoNT  IN  THE  SOUNDS  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA 

_— — 

X.    NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  AT  SOUTHWEST  PASS.— OPERATIONS  OF  THE  GULF  SQUADRON, 


1861.— ATTACK  ON  FORTS  MCRAE  AND  PICKERS 


44-52 
53  62 
63-74 
75-79 

80-86 

87-107 


XI.    GOLDSBOROUGH'S    EXPEDITION    TO    SOUNDS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.— CAPTURE    OF 

ROANOKE  ISLAND        . 108-118 

XII.    FIGHT  BETWEEN  THE     "MONITOR"    AND    "MERRIMAC."— SINKING  OF    THE    "CON 
GRESS"  AND  "CUMBERLAND"  119-133 

XIII.  BUILDING  A  NAVY  ON  THE  WESTERN  WATERS  —BATTLE  OF  BELMONT,  ETC.       .        .      134-140 

XIV.  CAPTURE  OF  FORT  HENRY,  ETC. .  141-148 

XV.    CAPTURE  OF  FORT  DONELSON  AND  BATTLE  OF  SHILOH        .        ....         .      149-157 

XVI.    OPERATIONS  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  IN  1862 .          158-167 

XVII.    BOMBARDMENT  AND  CAPTURE  OF  FORT  PILLOW.— BATTLE  OF  MEMPHIS,  ETC.       .       .     168-174 
XVIII.    CAPTURE  OF  FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP.    FARRAGUT  BEFORE  NEW  ORLEANS  .  175-188 

XIX.    BATTLE  OF  THE  FORTS  AND  CAPTURE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.    INTERESTING  REPORTS  OF 

COMMANDERS  OF  VESSELS.    MAYOR  OF  NEW  ORLEANS,  ETC.         .  .  189-234 

XX.    A  BRAVE  OFFICER'S  MORTIFICATION 235-245 

XXI.    FIRST  ATTACK  ON  VICKSBURG. — RAM  "ARKANSAS."'— ENGAGEMENT  AT  PORT  HUDSON  .  246-264 

XXII.    OPERATIONS    IN  THE    POTOMAC.  —  DESTRUCTION  OF    CONFEDERATE    BATTERIES.— 

LOSSES  BY  SHIPWRECK,  IN  BATTLE,  ETC.  265-267 

XXIII.  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAM  "ARKANSAS."— CAPTURE  OF  GALVESTON.— CAPTURE  OF 
THE  "HARRIET  LANE. '—SINKING  OF  THE  HATTERAS —ATTACK  ON  BATON  ROUGE. 
—MISCELLANEOUS  ENGAGEMENTS  OF  THE  GUN-BOATS.  .  .  .  268-282 

XXIV     SECOND   ATTACK   ON    VICKSBURG,   ETC.— EXPEDITION   UP  THE  YAZOO.— ATTACK    ON 

HAINES'  BLUFF,  ETC 283-288 

XXV.    CAPTURE  OF  FORT  HINDMAN  OR  ARKANSAS  POST,  ETC 289-294 

XXVI     SIEGE  OF  VICKSBURG. -COMBAT  BETWEEN   THE  FEDERAL  AND  CONFEDERATE  GUN 
BOATS.— YAZOO  PASS  EXPEDITION.— ENGAGEMENT  WITH  FORT  PEMBERTON  .  295-302 


CHAPTKR 
XXVII. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 
XXXII. 

XXXIII. 

XXXIV. 

XXXV. 

XXXVI. 

XXXVII. 

XXXVIII. 
XXXIX. 

XL. 
XLI. 

XLII. 
XLIII. 

XLIV. 

XLV. 

XL  VI. 

XLVII. 

XLVIII. 

XLIX. 

L. 

LI. 

LII. 

LIII. 

LIV. 

LV. 

LVI. 

LV1I. 

LVIII. 

LIX. 


CONTENTS. 


EXPEDITION  THROUGH  STEELE'S  BAYOU  AND  DEER  CREEK 


PAGES 

.  303-309 


THE  FLEET  PASSING  VICKSBURG.— CAPTURE  OF  GRAND  GULF.— ATTACK  ON  HAINES 
BLUFF.  — CAPTURE  OF  ALEXANDRIA,  LA.,  ETC .        .810-318 

SIEGE  OF  VICKSBURG  CONTINUED  —ATTACK  ON  VICKSBURG  BY  ARMY  AND  NAVY.— 
DESTRUCTION  OF  CONFEDERATE  RAMS.— VICKSBURG  SURRENDERS,  ETC.         .        .  319-330 

EXPEDITION  TO  YAZOO  CITY. — ATTACK  ON  HELENA,  ARK.    GENERAL   MORGAN'S 
RAID,  ETC 331-344 


OPERATIONS  OF  FARRAGUT'S  VESSELS  ON  THE  COAST  OF  TEXAS,  ETC. 
NAVY  DEPARTMENT.— ENERGIES  DISPLAYED. -BUILDING  OF  IRON-CLADS 


345-353 

.  354-366 


OPERATIONS  OF  THE  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  REAR-ADMIRAL  DuPoNT, 
1863. — ATTACK  ON  BATTERIES  IN  CHARLESTON  HARBOR.— CAPTURE  OF  THE  CON 
FEDERATE  RAM  "ATLANTA,"  KTC.  367-398 

FURTHER  OPERATIONS  OF  FLAG-OFFICER  GOLDSBOROUGH  IN  THE  SOUNDS  OF  NORTH 
CAROLINA. — CAPTURE  OF  FORT  MACON. — BLOWING  UP  OF  THE  "MEBRIMAC,"  ETC.  399-411 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  1863. — REAR-ADMIRAL  S.  P. 
LEE. — Loss  OF  THE  "  MONITOR,''  ETC.  .  .  .....  412-431 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL  DAHL- 
GREN,  1863. — OPERATIONS  IN  CHARLESTON  HARBOR,  ETC.  .  .  .  432-452 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  EAST  GULF  SQUADRON  TO  OCTOBER,  1863.— REAR-ADMIRAL 
BAILEY  COMMANDING  .  .  453-461 


REVIEW  OF  THE  WORK  DONE  BY  THE  NAVY  IN  1863 


463-467 


MISCELLANEOUS  OPERATIONS,  LAND  AND  SEA. — OPERATIONS  IN  THE  NANSEMOND, 
CAPE  FEAR,  PAMUNKY,  CHUCKA  TUCK  AND  JAMES  RIVERS.— DESTRUCTION  OF 
BLOCKADE-RUNNERS.— ADVENTURES  OF  LIEUTENANT  CUSHING,  ETC.  .  .  .  468-479 

OPERATIONS  AT  DUTCH  GAP. — MANOEUVRES  OF  GENERALS  GRANT,  SHERMAN,  SHERI 
DAN,  AND  CONFEDERATE  ARMIES.  ENGAGEMENT  WITH  RAM  "  ALBEMARLE,"  ETC.  480-493 

THE  RED  RIATER  EXPEDITION  UNDER  MAJOR-GENERAL  BANKS,  ASSISTED  BY  THE 
NAVY  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER  .  494-524 


RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION  CONTINUED 


525-553 


OPERATIONS  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL  PORTER  AFTER 
THE  RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION 554-584 

BATTLE  OF  MOBILE  BAY 565-600 

CRUISE  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  CRUISER  "  SUMTER,"  AND  THE  HAVOC  SHE  COMMITTED  601-620 

ADVENTURES  OF  THE  "ALABAMA"  AND  "  FLORIDA."— ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN 
THE  "  KEARSARGE  "  AND  "  ALABAMA '; 621-658 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL  DAHL- 
GREN  DURING  THE  LATTER  END  OF  1863  AND  IN  1864 659-676 

POTOMAC  FLOTILLA. — INCREASE  OF  THE  NAVY,  AND  IMPROVEMENTS  IN   NAVAL 
SHIPS  DURING  THE  YEAR  1864 .         .  677-682 

FIRST   ATTACK  ON  FORT   FISHER. — DESTRUCTION  OF   THE  CONFEDERATE    RAM 

"  ALBEMARLE  " 6S3-709 

SECOND  ATTACK  ON  FORT  FISHER,  AND  OTHER  OPERATIONS      .....      710-747 

EFFECTS  OF  THE  FALL  OF  FISHER,  ETC.         ••.......  748-757 

OPERATIONS  ABOUT  CHARLESTON,  1865.— FALL  OF  CHARLESTON  AND  SAVANNAH    .  758-774 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  WEST  GULF  SQUADRON  IN  THE  LATTER  PART  OF  1864,  AND 
IN  1865.— JOINT  OPERATIONS  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  THATCHER  AND  GENERAL  CANBY.  775-791 

CAPTURE  OF  RICHMOND.— DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  FLEET  IN  JAMES 
RIVER,  ETC.  *        792_80i 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON  IN  THE  LATTER  END  OF  1864  AND  IN  1865  802-812 
COMMERCE-DESTROYERS.— THEIR  INCEPTION,  REMARKABLE  CAREER  AND  ENDING.  813-820 

THE  RAM  "STONEWALL" 

CONCLUSION 


821-827 
.  828-832 


PRIZES  ADJUDICATED  FROM  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  REBELLION  TO  NOVEMBER 
1,  1865,  WITH  THE  NAMES  OF  VESSELS  OR  OTHER  MATERIAL  CAPTURED  AND  THF 
JN  AMES  OF  VESSELS  ENTITLED  TO  SHARE  IN  DISTRIBUTION  OF  PROCEEDS  833-843 


INDEX   TO    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


442 
41 
513 
143 
170 
402 
115 
24 

314 
137 
156 
166 
172 
574 

182 

184 
240 

274 
495 
88 
31 


A  PPEARANCE  of  Fort  Sumter  at  the  Close 

A     of  the  Attack 

ATTACK  on  Aquai  Creek  Batteries    . 
"  the  U.  S.  S.  "Cricket" 
''  Fort  Henry       .... 
of  Gun-boats  at  Memphis 

on  Fort  Macon 

"         "  Roanoke  Island    . 
"  Fort  Sumter     . 

BATTERIES    at    Grand    Gulf,   captured    by 
Mississippi  Squadron      .... 

BATTLE  of  Belinont 

"  Fort  Donelson 
'  Fort  Pillow       .        .        . 
"   Memphis,  enemy  retreating 
"  Mobile  Bay      .        .        .        . 
'*  New  Orleans;  Farragut's  Fleet  pass 
ing  up  the  Mississippi  River  . 
Captain   Bailey's   division   meeting 

Enemy's  Flotilla  above  Forts    . 
'  New  Orleans.     Diagram  of 
BATON  ROUGE,  La.,  Captured  by  Capt.  Palmer, 

of  the  "  Iroquois'' 

"BLACK    HAWK,"  Admiral  Porter's  Flag-ship 
"  BROOKLYN,"  the  U.  S.  Sloop-of-War 
BURNING  of  the  Norfolk  Navy  Yard 

CAPTURE  of  Fort  De  Russy      .  .498 

L  "  the  Forts  at  Hatteras  Inlet    .        47 

"the  Privateer  "  Royal  Yacht "    .     93 
"  the  U.S.Steamer  "Harriet  Lane"  270 
CAPTURE  of  the  Ram  "  Atlanta"  by  the  Moni 
tor  "  Weehawken  N'      .....  385 
COMMODORE  Foote's  Iron-cladsat  Cairo,  111.  .       142 
CONFEDERATE  Iron-clad  "Atlanta,"  Diagram  of  384 
Ram  "  Tennessee  "  surrendering.  577 
Steamer  "Alabama"         .        .      648 
Steam-cruiser  "  Sumter"     .        .  607 
"  CRICKET,"  U.  S.  Gun-boat,  Attack  on  .        .      513 

DEATH  of  Captain  Jas.  H.  Ward      .        .  42 

DEFENCES  of  Charleston  Harbor.     Fortifi 
cations  on  Sullivan's  Island         .        .        .  767 
DEFENCES  of  Charleston   Harbor.      Fortifica 
tions  on  James  Island          ....  766 
DESTRUCTION  of  the  Ram  "  Arkansas  ''  by  U.  S. 

Gun-boat  "  Essex "         .        .        .  .  269 

ELLET'S  Steam-wheel  Ram     ....      296 
EXTERIOR  of  Fort  Walker     .        .        .        .58 

PORT  Beauregard,  Interior  of         ...        60 

r      "    Donelson,  Battle  of 156 

"  De  Russy,  Capture  of  .  .  .  .  498 
FORTS  Hatteras  and  Clark,  Plan  of  attack  on  .  48 
FORT  "  Interior  of,  after  Bombardment  49 

Henry,  Attack  on 143 

"        Hindman  or  Arkansas  Post -Casemate 
No.  1  destroyed  bv  U.   S.   Gun  -  boat 
"  Baron  De  Kalb""          .        .        .        .292 
Hindman,  Casemate  No.  2  destroyed  by 

U.  S.  Gun-boat  "  Louisville  "    .'        .       292 
Hindman,  appearance  of  Casemate  be 
fore  attack 292 

Hindman,  Near  View  of  Casemate  No.  2    292 

Macon,  Attack  on 402 

Ocracoke.  Destruction  of  .        .          50 

Pillow,  Battle  at 166 

Sumter,  Attack  on         ....          24 
Wagner  during  Bombardment         .        .  435 


FORTS  Walker  and  Beauregard,  Plan  of  attack  on  54 
FORTS  Walker  and  Beauregard,  Bombardment 

and  capture  of        ....  55 

FORT  Walker,  Exterior  of '58 

FORTIFICATIONS  on  James  Island        .        .        .766 
"    Sullivan  Island         .        .       ,67 

pENERAL  Map  of  Charleston  Harbor;  op- 
U    posite 760 

HATTERAS  INLET,  fleet  opening  fire  on  the 
Forts 47 

"  HARRIET  LANE,"  Steamer  .  .  .  .29 
"  HARTFORD,"  U.  S.  Flag-ship  ....  ;80 
Home  Squadron,  U.  S.  Navy  ....  35 

TNDIANOLA,  Iron-clad        ...  298 

1    IRON-CLAD  Gun-boats  "  St.  Louis, "  "  Caron- 

delet  "  and  "Essex" 147 

ISLAND  No.  10.  The  "  Carondelet"  running  the 
batteries  at 


M 


ATHIAS  POINT,  Skirmish  at    .        / 
MEMPHIS,  Attack  of  the  gun-boats  at 


162 

42 
170 

"  MERRIMAC,"  The      .       .  .       .        .124 

sinking  the  "  Cumberland  "        .  123 
MISSISSIPPI  Squadron  passing  the   batteries  at 

Vicksburg 311 

MOBILE  BAY,  Battle  of 574 

"MONITOR,"  in  Battle  Trim       .        .        .        .      123 

The,  lost  in  a  Gale  ....  413 

and    "Merriuiac"  fight  at   short 

range 


127 


MAPS,  PLANS,  ETC. 


CHART  of  Mobile  Bay 556 

"       showing  Fleet  passing  Fort  Morgan  and 
Position   of    Confederate    Forts    and 


'Alabama  ' 


566 


Vessels       .... 
"       of  the  Action  between  the 

and  "Kearsarge"    . 
DIAGRAM  of  the  Ram   "  Tennessee,"  (1)  . 

(2)       . 

Second  Attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  show 
ing  Position  of  Vessels  ;  opposite 
MAP  (General)  of  Charleston,  showing  Defences 
and  Obstructions  .        .        .      opposite    . 
"    Fortifications  on  James  Island 
"    Fortifications  on  Sullivan's  Island 
"    showing  Fortress  Monroe,  Newport  News, 
Chesapeake  Bay,  James  River,  and  sur 
rounding  Country        ..... 
"    and  Plan  of  Attack  on  Roanoke  Island. 
PLAN  of  Attack  on  Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark  . 
"       "    Attack  on  Forts  Walker  and   Beau- 
regard     

(No.  2),  showing  Farragut's  Vessels  pass 
ing  Fort  Morgan       ...  .  572 

"      of  the  Attack  on  Forts  Walker  and  Beau- 
regard   ........     54 

"     of  the  Battle  at  Grand  Gulf     . 
"      "  Fort  Hindman  or  Arkansas  Post  . 
SKETCH,  showing  Line  of  Confederate  Fortifica 
tions  at  Mouth  of  Cape  Fear  River 
SOUNDS  of  North  Carolina 


652 
577 
595 

720 

376 
766 
767 


122 
113 

48 

54 


314 
294 


1UORFOLK  Navy  Yard,  Burning  of 
PANORAMIC    View  of  Pensacola  Bay    . 


713 
45 

31 


95 


Till 


IXDEX  TO  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTRAITS  : 

ALDEN,  Captain  James 582 

AMMEN,  Commander  Daniel         ....  371 

BACHE,  Lieutenant  George  M 323 

BAILEY,  Captain  Theodoras  ....  236 
BALDWIN,  Acting-Lieutenant  Charles  K.  .  252 
BA_LCH,  Captain  Charles  H.  .  .  .  .661 

BANKHEAD,  Commander  J.  P.  .        .        .      415 

BARNES,  Lieutenant-Commander  John  S.  .  728 
BELKNAP,  Lieutenant-Commander  Geo.  E.  .  450 

BOGGS,  Commander  Charles  F 181 

BRAINE,  Lieutenant-Commander  I).  L.  .  .  714 
BREESE,  K.  Randolph  694 

BRIDGE,  Horatio,  Chief  of  Bureau  of  Provisions 

and  Clothing 364 

BROOME,  Captain  J.  L.  (Marine  Corps)  .  .  220 
BUCHANAN,  Commodore  Franklin,  C.  S.  X.  .  120 
CALDWELL,  Lieutenant  Commanding  C.  H.  B.  211 

CASE,  Commander  A.  L. 404 

COLHOUN,  Commander  Edmund  R.  .        .      477 

COCKE,  Lieutenant-Commander  Augustus  P.  .  349 
COOPER,  Commander  Charles  H.  .  .  .  670 
CROSBY,  Lieutenant-Commander  Pierce  .  .  259 

CUSHING.  Lieutenant  Wm.  B 687 

CUTTER,  Paymaster  Geo.  F.  ....  217 
DAHLGREN,  Rear-Admiral  John  A.  .  .  433 
DAVIS,  Lieutenant-Commander  John  Lee  .  .  697 
DAVIS,  Rear  Admiral  Charles  H.  169 

DRAYTON,  Captain  Percival 370 

DuPONT,  Flag-officer  S.  F 61 

ENGLISH,  Lieutenant-Commander  Earl      .        .  455 

ERICSSEN,  Captain  John 125 

EVANS,  Acting  Ensign  Rohley  D.  717 

FAIRFAX,'  Commander  D.  McN.         .        .        .      376 

FARRAGUT,  Admiral  David  G 176 

FLUSSER,  Lieutenant-Commander  Charles    W.  484 

FOLTZ,  Fleet-Surgeon  J.  W 194 

FOOTE,  Rear- Admiral  A.  H 135 

Fox,  Gustavus  V.,  Assistant  Secretary  of  Navy  21 
GHERARDI,  Lieutenant-Commander  Bancroft  585 

GLISSON,  Captain  O.  S. 723 

GODON,  CommanderS.  W 722 

GOLDSBOROUGH,  Rear- Admiral  Louis  M.  .  .  109 
GREENE,  Lieutenant  Samuel  Dana  .  .  .128 

GREEN,  Captain  J.  F 386 

GREER,  Lieutenant-Commander  James  A.  .  312 
GwiNN,  "  Wm.  .  .  287 

HOLLINS,  Commodore  J.  S.,  C.  S.  N.        .        .        89 

HOWELL,  Commander  J.  C 702 

ISHERWOOD,  B.  F.,  Chief  of  Bur.  of  Steam  Eng.  361 
JENKINS,  Captain  Thornton  ....  581 
JONES,  Lieutenant  Catesby,  Ap.  R.  (C.  S.  N).  .  121 
JOUETT,  Rear-Admiral  James  E.  92 

LENTHALL,  John,  Chief  of  Bur.  of  Construction  358 

LsRoY,  Commander  Wm.  E 373 

LUCE,  Lieutenant-Commander  S.  B.  .  .  .  379 
MAFFITT,  Commander  J.  Newland,  C.  S.  X .  .  623 
MAULSBY,  Fleet-Surgeon  George  .  .  .  .715 
McCooK,  Lieutenant  Roderick  S.  .  734 

McCAULEY,  Lieutenant-Commander  E.  York  .  456 
MEADE,  Lieutenant  Commander  R.  W.  .  .  778 
MITCHELL,  Commander  John  K.,  C.  S.  N.  .  .  187 
MORRIS,  Lieutenant  George  U.  129 

MULLANY,  Commander  R,  Madison  .  .  .  586 
NICHOLSON,  Commander  J.  W.  A.  .  .  .  584 

PALMER,  Commander  James  S 776 

PARKER,  Commander  Foxall  A.  ...  678 
PAULDING,  Commodore  Hiram  ....  28 
PAULDING,  Lieutenant  Leonard  .  .  .  407 

PERKINS,  Lieutenant  George  H 247 

PHELPS,  Lieutenant-Commander  S.  Ledyard        340 
PHELPS,  Lieutenant-Commander  T.  S.        .        .  403 
PINKNEY,  Fleet-Surgeon  Ninian     . 
PORTER,  Carlile  P.,  Admiral1*  Secretarv  .  721 

PORTER,  Commander  David  D.         .      " .  186 

PORTER,  Commander  William  D.  271 

PORTER,  Lieutenant  Benjamin  H.   .  724 

PRESTON,  Lieutenant  Sam'l  W 720 

QUACKENBUSH,  Lieutenant  Commander  S.  P.  475 
QUEEN,  Lieutenant  W.  W  185 


RADFORD,  Commodore  William 
REED,  Commander  Abner 

RHIND,  Commander  A.  C 

RODGERS,  Commander  John 
RODGERS,  Commander  George  W.     . 
RODGERS,  Rear  Admiral  C.  R.  P. 
ROWAN,  Vice- Admiral  S.  C. 
SCHENCK,  Commodore  James  S.    . 
SELFRIDGE,  Lieutenant-Commander  T.  O. 
SEMMES,  Lieutenant  A.  A. 
SEMMES,  Commander  Raphael.  C.  8-  X.  . 

SHIRK,  Commander  James  W 

SIGSBEE,  Commander  Charles  D. 

SIMPSON,  Commander  Ed  ward     • 

SMITH,  Lieutenant  Joseph  B.     . 

SMITH,  Commander  Melancton     .        .        .        . 

STEEDMAN,  Commander  Charles 

STEMBEL,  Rear-Admiral  R.  N 

STRINGHAM,  Commodore  Silas  H     . 
TATNALL,  Commodore  Josiah,  C.  S.  N. 
TAYLOR,  Captain  Wm.  Rogers. 
THATCHER,  Rear- Admiral  Henry  K.    . 
TRENCHARD,  Commander  S.  I) 
TRUXTUN,  Lieutenant-Commander  W.  T.    . 
TURNER,  Captain  Thomas 

UPSHUR,  Commander  John  H 

WAINWRIGHT,  Commander  Richard 

WALES,  Surgeon  Philip  S 

WALKE,  Rear- Admiral  Henry    . 
WALKER,  Lieutenant-Commander  John  G. 

WARD,  Commander  James  H 

WEAVER,  Lieutenant-Commander  .A  W. 
WELLES,  Hon.  Gideon,  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 

1861  to  1869 

WILKES,  Captain  Charles  . 

WILSON,  Lieutenant  Commanding  Byron  . 

WINSLOW,  Captain  John  A 

WISE,  Captain  H.  A.,  Chief  of  Bureau  of   Ord. 
WOOD,  Lieutenant,  John  Taylor,  C.  S.  N. 
WORDEN,  Rear-Admiral  John  L.  .        .         . 


Q 


UEEN  OF  THE  WEST,  Gun-boat 


7or 

352 
375 
406 
444 

81 
111 
706 
284 
458 
602 
160 
726 
664 
130 
206 
882 
145 

46 
131 
383 
780 
418 
690 
378 
381 
201 
725 
154 
290 

40 
667 

19 
64 
320 
649 
363 
132 
126 

297 
269 


RAM  "  Arkansas,"  Destruction  of 
RED  RIVER  DAM:  Gun-boats  passing  the 

Rapids 530 

RED   RIVER  Expedition:    The  Fleet  of  Guii- 

Boats  starting  out          .         .         .  496 

U.  S.  Hospital  Ship      .         .        .300 

ROANOKE  ISLAND,  Attack  on       ....  115 

SECOND    Attack  on  Fort   Fisher,    showing 
Position  of  Vessels 

SKIRMISH  between  the  "  Freeborn"  and  "Reso 
lute,"  and  a  Secession  Force  at   Mathias 

Point 

SURRENDER  of  the  U.  S.  Steamer  "Mercedita" 
to  the  Confederate  Ram  "  Palmetto  State" 


42 

568 


T 


HE    GUN-BOAT     "  Carondelet 
the  Batteries  at  Island  No.  10 


running 


THE  "MERRIMAC"      ......      123 

THE  Sinking  the  "  Cumberland ''      .124 

THE  and  "Monitor,  "fight  between      127 

THE  "  MONITOR  "  in  Battle  Trim        .        .        .  123 

UQ  Frigate  "  San  Jacinto"  overhauling  the 
.  O.     British  Steamer  "Trent"      ...     71 
Gun-boats  "Taylor"  and  "  Lexington  "  139 
Gun-boat  "  Cincinnati,"  sunk  at  vicks- 

burg 324 

Iron-clad  "  Cairo,"  sunk  by  a  Torpedo  285 
Naval  Hospital-ship,  "  Red  Rover  "  .  300 
Sloop-of-war  "  Brooklyn  "  ...  88 
Steamer  "  Kearsarge  "  ....  657 

ICKSBURG,  Mississippi,  Squadron   passing 
batteries  at 311 


V 


117HISTLING  DICK 


321 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


NOTE. — Persons,  Vessels,  Places,  Rivers,  etc.,  casually  mentioned  in  this  History,  are  uot  noted  in  this  Index. 


ABRAHAM,  the 294,  344 

A.  B.  Seger,  the 277 

A.  C.  Powell,  the 411 

Adams,  Ensign   350,430 

Adams,  Captain  (C.  S.  A.)   428 

Adams,  Captain  H.  A 105,  200 

Adams,  Charles  W 92 

Adelaide,  the  45 

Adolph  Huge],  the 179 

Adela,  the 45'J 

Agassiz,  the 418 

Agawan,  the 477,480 

Alabama,  the  (C.  S.  N.),  70,  271,  400 ;  the 
ad  ventures  of  and  captures  made  by, 
621  to  650,  inclusive ;  engagement 
with  Eearsarge,  650;  sunk  by  Kear- 

sarge,  651 ;  list  of  officers  of 656 

Albatross,  the,  272  et  seq 281,  349,  464 

Albemarle.  the  (Confederate   Kami,  356, 

486;  destruction  of ' 688 

Albemarle  River 417 

Albemarle  Sound,  47, 108,  110, 112,371,412,  425 
Aldeu,  Commander  James,   29,  107,  198, 
208  et  seq.;  261, 272,  570,  582,  697  et  seq. 

Alert,  the 418,493 

Alexander  Cooper,  the 428 

Alexandria,  the 343 

Alexandria,  Va.,  evacuation  of 40 

Alexandria,  La 310,  318,  347,  495,  532 

Allison,  the 415,418 

Alligator  River 425 

Alps,  the 155,  157 

Althea,  the;  blown  up 782 

Amanda,  the 460 

America   the 391 

Anmieu,  Lieutenant-Commander  Daniel, 
57,  79,  81,  84  et  seq.;  372,  376,  394.  709 

Anacostia,  the   40  et  seq. 

Anderson,  Major 25,  9U  et  seq. 

Andrews,  Colonel  (C.  8.  A.) 46 

Anglo  American,  the 262 

Anna  Dale,  the  (C.  S.  N-.),  captured 779 

Annie  Sophia  (Confederate  Ram)  captured  778 

Ansonia,  the  541 

Appalache  Bay   453 

Appalchieola 454 

Appomattox  River 471 

Aquia  Creek 40 

Argosy,  the 340,  343 

Aries,  the ...471 

Arizona,  the 317,   318,  346,349 

Arkadelphia 495 

Arkansas,  the  ram  (C.  S.  N.),  176,  260;  de 
struction  of  ...  263,268,275,357 

Arkansas  Post,  32,  287  et  seq. ;  capture  of, 

289  et  seq. 

Arkansas  River 293 

Arietta,  the     179*410 

Armstrong,  Commander  J.  F.  403 

Aroostook,   the 281,404,  490 

Artillery,  the  First 104 

Ashby's  Harbor 112  et  seq. 

Ashley  River       434 

Aspimvall,  William  H  97 

Atohafalaya  Bay 277,  339,  496,  532 

Atlanta,  the  (C.'S.  A.),  356;   surrender  of 

384  et  seq. 

Atlantic,  the 53,  102,  105  et  seq. 

Augusta,  the 57,  370 

Avenger,  the ..344 

Aylutts 426 

BACOK,  the 179 

Bache,  Prof.  H.  D.. .    230 

Bache,  Lieutenant-Commander  G.  M., 
288  et  seq.;  292  ;  303  ;  complimentary 
letter  to,  from  Sec.  of  Navy,  323  ;  335,  339 

Bailey's  Ferry 142 

Bailey,  Colonel 538  et  seq. 

Bailey,  Captain  Theodoras,  177,  181.  188, 
190  et  seq.;  195,  198.  et  seq.:  204 :  jus 
tice  to,  235;  receives  Confederate  flags, 
235;  tells  story  of  the  capture  of  New 
Orleans.  136  et  seq.;  237,  239:  247  et 
seq.;  453,  458,  460 463 


Bainbridge,  the 36 

Baker,  Captain  Charles  E 112 

Bati-s.  Attorney-General 138 

Baldwin.    Lieiit.-Commander  C.  H.,  223,  ^26 

Ball's  Bluff    537 

Barrataria,  the  348 

Ban-on,  Flag-officer  Samuel  (C.  S.  N.)          46 
Baukhead,  Lieut. -Commander  J. P.,  55,  79, 

84 413 

Balch,   Lieut. -Commander  G.  B.,  79,  F5, 

439  et  seq.;  660 T66  et  seq. 

Bartholomew,  Acting-Master 179 

Barnes,  Lieutenant,  John  S 181,  371,  490 

Baltic,  the 97  et  seq. 

Barney,  Lieutenant  (C.  S.  N.).   132 

Badeau,  General   137;  752  et  seq. 

Baron  de  Kalb,  the,  139,  284,  288,  289.  293, 

295,  300,  et  seq.;  316  et  seq.;  320,  324   331 
Baton  Rouge,   La.,  193,  247,  262,  268,  274 

et  seq 274 

Baker,  Marion  N.  (C.  S.) 196 

Bash  ford,  James  A 213 

BayouSara  ...     25^ 

Banks,  Major-General  N.  P.,  272,  296, 
208,  318;  relieves  General  Butler  at 

New  Orleans 346,  494,  626,  534.  535 

Banshee,   the    (blockade-runner),  eludes 

the blockaders 671 

Baltimore,  the 404 

Bayou  River 335 

Badger.Lieutenant-CommanderO.C  ,436,  446 

Bacon,  Lieutenant-Commander 570,  440 

Balch,  Ensign  Edward 459 

BaldHead 313  et  seq. 

Balch,  Acting-Master  J.  W 471,478 

Bayport 455 

Berwick's  Bay 181 

Belle  Algerine,  the   C.  S.  N.) 178 

Beutou,  the,  139,  160  etseq.;  165.  168  et 
seq.;  273,  283,  286  et  seq.;  288,  295,  310. 
313,  314  et  seq.;  317,  318,  321,  322,  343 

Beaufort,  N.  C 76,403,408 

Bell,  Captain  Henry  H.,  177,  180,  184,  190 

etseq.;  198,200,  248,  271 346 

Beauregard,  General  (C.  8.  N.),  370,  470,  471 

Beauregard,  the 461 

Behm,  Lieutenant-Commander  C.  F.  W. . .  109 

Belmont,  Ky 134,337,  339 

Belmont  Landing,  battle  of,  136 137 

Berry,  Captain 415 

Bendigo,  the 471 

Belknap,  Colonel  J.  C 417.  450 

Ben  Morgan,  the 431 

Bermuda  Hundred 474 

Bissell.  Colonel 334,  341 

Bien ville.  the 57,  77.  389.  778 

Big  Black  River 312,  316 

Bishop,    Lieutenant-Commander  Joshua, 

169  336 

BlackBayou    304 

Blanchard,  Acting-Master 179 

Black  Warrior,  the  -C.  8.  N.),  capture  of..  116 
Black  Hawk    the,   288    et  seq.;  291,  295, 

316.  318.  327,  342 534 

Blair,  Montgomery 96 

Blake.  Captain 27 

Blake  Lieutenant  F.  B 51 

Blodgett,  Lieutenant 174 

Black  River        313,  318,332 

Black  Water  River 400 

Blue  Wing,  the  292 

Blockade  -  runners.  British  Merchants 
speculating  in,  368 ;  large  number 
captured,  363  ;  destruction  of,  472 ; 

crowd  into  Nassau  ....    686 

Bohio.the 282 

Boynton, .  naval  historian,  34,  97,  104 

etseq.:153 451 

Boutelle,  Captain , 55,  81,  82 

Boyd's  Neck 84 

Boston,  the 85 

Boggs,   Commander  Charles  S.,  183.  185, 

190,  192.  198  etseq.;   206 

Bowling  Green 1*1.  154 

Boomer,  Acting-Master  E 423 


PAGE 

Bombshell,  the 487 

Brasheur  City 277 

Brainr,  Lieutenant  D.  L.,  49  et  soq.; 423 

Bragg,  General,  53,  105,  his  forces, ...10G 

Brooklyn,  the,  36  89, 105  et  seq  ;  177,  181, 
183  etseq.;  187,  193,  198,  203,  207,  269, 

271 279 

Brown,   General  Harvey,   49,  93  et  seq.; 

102  etseq. 

Brigades :  Braggs,  106 ;  Indiana,  173  ; 
Iowa,  second,  497  ;  Mississippi  Marino 
Irigade,  312;  Pope's,  162;  Smith's 

142;  Weitzel's,  279;  Wright's 77 

Brown,  Acting-Master  Henry 179 

Brooke,  Lieutenant  John  M.  (C.  S.  N.)....119 
Breese,  Lieutenant  K.  Randolph,  179,  228 

292,  316,  320,  670 694 

Bryant,  Lieutenant-Commander  N.  C 169 

Brown.  Acting-Master  George  W 179,  288 

Brunswick 78 

Brown,  Lieuteuant  George 249.  257,  297 

Brincker,  the 109.  113  etseq. 

Breekenridge,     Major-General    John    C. 

(C.  S.  A.J,  263,  275  et  seq 340 

Brown.  A.  S.,  officer  at  Naval  Rendezvous 

at  Cincinnati 294 

Brown,  Lieutenant  (C.  S.  N.), 276,  321 

Bragg,  the 336 

Braziliera,  the 390 

Bridge,  Paymaster  Horatio 364 

Brysou,  Lieutenant-Commander  A..  .403,  446 

Broadhead,  Lieutenant  E 440 

Brower,  Lieutenant  E.  P 447 

Bradford,  Lieutenant  Charles  H 447 

Brilliant,  the 344 

Bruensburg 311,  312,  316  et  seq.;  454 

Browu,  Acting-Master  L.  A 423 

Brandy  wine,  the 429 

Britannia,  the 478,  492 

Buckuer,  General 158 

Budd,   Lieutenant-Commander  T.  A..  57, 

79, 84 

Butler,  Major-General  Benjamin  F.,  45 
etseq.;  187,  190  et  seq.;  in  charge  at 
New  Orleans,  198  et  seq.;  207, 248,  -J75, 
470,  473,  476  ;  attack  on  Fort  Fisher, 
695 ;  abandons  the  expedition,  700,  748 

Buchanan,  President 96    104 

Burnside,  General  A.  E.,  108,  110,  113  et 

seq. ;  338,  403 476 

Buchanae,  Flag-officer  (C.  8.  N.),  119 
et  seq.;  wounded,  125,  567,  575;  sur 
render  of. 577,593 

Butt.  Lieutenant  Walter  (C.  8.  N, ) 120 

Buchanan,  Lieutenant-Commander  Thos. 
McKean,  123,  271,  277  et  seq  ;  killed  279 

Buford,  General  160,  163  et  seq. 

Bunce,  Lieutenant  F.  M 440,  447 

Bullock,  Captain  James  D.,  Confederate 
Agent  iu  England 821  et  seq. 

CAIRO,  m 135,  160,  169,  283 

Cairo,  the 139,  160,  169,  283 

Carondelet,  Mo 139 

Carondelet,  the,  139,  143  et  seq.;  148,  150 
etseq.;  155  et  seq.;  161  et  seq.;  168 
etseq.:  174,283,  288,  295.  303,  310 

313.  321 342 

Caldwell,  Lieutenant-Commander  Chas. 

H.  B 180,  184,  191,  200,  211 

Carlton,  the,  sunk 180 

Cayuga.  the,  181,  183,  190  et  seq.;  198  et 
soq.;  203,  206  et  seq.;  212,  235,  269, 

275 281 

Carrol  ton,  La 193 

Calhoun,  the,  277  et  seq.;  281 348 

Case,  Commander  A.  L 404,  425  et  seq. 

Carthage 311,  319 

Cape  Fear  River.  N.  C 423,  478,  683 

Catskill.the.  .  365.  388,  434,  436,  437,  440,  444 

Cavendy,  Lieutenant  Edward 403 

Camarra.  Acting-Ensign  J.  B.  de 424 

Carr,  Lieutenant 472 

Cambridge,  the 411,  429,  491 

Calypso,  the 492 


GENERAL  IXDEX. 


PAGE 

Canouicus.the 477 

Canby,  General 495,  534 

Campti,  Village  of 616 

Cabell,  General  (C.  S.  A  ) 518 

Cape  Canaveral 453 

Cane  River 520 

<':ipe.  St.  Roque 615 

( .mandaigua,  the   309,  370,  388,  440 

<  astle  Pinkney 445 

Centreville  278 

Cerro  Gordo 149 

Ceres,  the,  109,  114, 116,  408,  411, 423,  425, 

431 487 

Cedar  Keys,  Fla 453 

Choctaw.'the,  316  et  seq.;  320,  325,  335,  342 

Chillicothe.  the 295,  300  et  seq. ;  342 

Charlotte,  the 382 

Clialmette     208 

(.'hristiau,  Acting-Master  A 179 

Chasseur,  the 112 

Chaplin,  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  C.,  41, 

108 440 

Chase,  Colonel 105 

Charleston,  S  C..  81,  86,  96  et  seq.;  99, 
118;  great  desire  of  Secretary  Welles 
to  capture,  365,  309,373;  plansforthe 
reduction  of,  373;  great  desire  of  the 
North  that  it  should  be  taken,  375, 
433,  445,  451;  armament  of,  452.  478; 
exhibit  of  work  done  by  the  fleet,  662; 
list  of  actions  before,  664;  operations 

about,  758;  fall  of 761 

Chauncey,  Captain 44 

Chickasaw,  Ala 159 

Churchill,  General 290  et  seq. 

Chickasaw  Bayou 296 

Chickasaw,  the 344 

Chicora,  the 309 

Chippewa,  the 403,  437 

Choeura,  the 403,411,  430 

Chowan  River 414,  417 

Cherokee,  the 479 

Charles  Phelps,  the .431 

Charlotte  Harbor        453 

Chatfleld,  Acting-Master  Thomas 458 

Chiu-katiu-k  Creek 473 

Champion,  the   No.  10)     340,  343,  522  et  seq. 

Chickamauga,  the  (C.  S.  N.)  818 

Cincinnati,  the,  139,  143  et  seq.:  147,  160 
et  seq.;  165,  166,  288  et  seq.;  290,  291, 
292,295,  303,  304,  305,  323,  332,  H39. .  .342 
Cincinnati,  officer  of  naval  rendezvous 

at 294,  424 

Cimmerone,  the 388,  400 

City  Point     474,  4HO 

City  ol  Pekin,  the     564 

Clifton,  the.   ...177,  226,  269,  281,  346  et  se'q. 

Clay, ,  of  Alabama 469 

Clara  Poison,  the 293,  344 

Clarke,  Colonel 348 

Colorado,  the 23,  36,  51,  177,  188,  280 

Columbus,  the ...         ....   28 

Columbus.  Miss.,  135  et  seq.;  154:  recon- 

uoissance  of  159  et  seq. ;  286 

Columbia,  the 28,  430 

Collins.  Acting-Master .     179 

Collins,  Lieutenant-Commander  N.,  55,83,813 
Commodore  Perry,  the,  108,  114,  116,  411, 

430 492 

Colhoun,  Lieutenant-Commander  E.  R., 

108,  400,  435,  446 477 

Colonel  Lovell,  the 167 

Corinth,  Miss 159,  168 

Confederate  line  of  operations 141 

Cosmopjlitan,  the 85 

Coleman,  Paymaster  William  B 148 

Coosaw  River  84  et  seq. 

Congress,  the   . .  36,  123  et  seq.:  171,  362,  410 
Couestoga,  the  .13«,  140,  143,  147,  149  et 

seq.;  157,  173,  285,  293 343 

Constellation,  the 36 

Conroy,  Lieutenant-Commander 79 

Confederate  Rani  Flotilla,  vessels  of  . .  171 
Confederate  Officers  captured  in   Forts 

Jackson  and  St.  Philip 229 

Cooke,  Lieutenant-Commander  A.  P.,  278,  349 

Cox,  General 334 

Cox,  Brigadier-General 338 

Couthony,  Lieutenant  J.  P 339 

Cook,  Lieutenant  A.  P 213 

Conchetta  Chute     511 

Columbine,  the,  391 ;   recaptured  by   the 

Confederates 668 

Comstock,  General 711 

Commerce-Destroyers 811 

Commodore  Barney,  the,   411,   418,   420, 

430,473.. 492 

Corwin,  the 403,  410 

Conger,  Colonel 341 

Connemaugh,  the 389 

Commodore  Hull,  the 423,  431,  487,  492 

Cony.  Ensign  J.  S 428 

Cohasset,  the 411,  418,  431,  493 


PAGE 

Colby,  the 414 

Colham's  Point 421 

Connecticut,  the 491 

Countess,  the  497 

Commodore  McDonough,  the 390,  440 

Commodore  Morris,  the,  418,  425,  426,  430, 481 

Commodore  Jones,  the 425,  426,  474,  492 

Covington,  the 340,  344 

Courier,  the 390 

Cockpit  Point 26  i 

Cooper  River,  the 434 

Coruwell,  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  J..446 
C.  P.  R.  Williams,  the     . .  179,  391,  660 

Crosby,  Lieutenant-Commander  Pierce, 

45,  180,  191,213,  260 472 

Craney  Island 30,  123,  130,  404 

Crusader,  the 36,  105,  418,  431 

Croly, .Historian 153 

Crossman,  Lieutenant  A.  F 107,4^8 

Craven,  Captain  Thomas  T.,  1S4,  193,  201; 
captures  the  Georgia,  815,  822;  tried 

by  court-martial 823 

Craven,  Commander  T.  A.  M.,  477,  570  et 

se<j  ;  drowned  589 

Craven.  Ensign  Charles  H 447 

Croatan  Sound  Ill  et  seq. 

Crocker,  Captain  Frederick 112,  346 

Craig,  Midshipman  (C.  S.  N.) 120 

Craig,  Colonel 333 

Cricket,  the 339,  343,  532 

Creighton,  Commander  J.  B 440 

Crystal  River  453,  456 

Cuyler,  the 626 

Cxishman,  Commander  C.  H 477 

Currituck,  the  403.  411 

Cashing,  Lieutenant  William  B.,  401,  403, 
417,  418et  seq.:  422:  428.  473,  478,  687; 
brave  act  of,  088:  complimentary  let 
ter  from  Secretary  Welles 689 

Cummings'  Point 434.  447.  689 

Cumberland,  the,  28,  .30,  32,  36,44et  seq.; 

123,124,126,171,362       ...  410 

Curlew,  the     .  ..57,  112  et  seq.;  114,  343,  395 

Currituck  Inlet 112 

Cullom,  General   159 

Cuuimiugs,  Lieutenant 209 

DACOTAH,  the 36,404,409,429 

Daisy,  the        344 

Dale,  the 38,460 

Dahlgreu,  Admiral,  361,  387,  432  et  seq.; 
435,  436,  439,  440,  444,  445,  446,  452. 
659;  takes  command  from  Admiral 

DuPont,  661,  670  758 

Daffodil,  the  391 

Dandelion,  the 391 

Dan  Smith,  the 179 

Davenport.  Lieutenant-Commander  H.  K., 

108,112,114,408,417 423 

Darlington,  the  (C.    S.  N.),  captured  by 

Commander  Rodgers 77 

Davis,  Captain  Charles  H.,  55,  62,  76,  79, 
85 ;  takes  command  of  Western 
Flotilla,  164,  166  et  seq.;  168,  171  et 

seq.;  250,268,283 332 

Davis,  Jefferson 96.469 

Davidson,  Lieut.  Hunter  (C   S.  N  ),  120. .  .473 

Dahlia,  the 343 

Dawn,  the 365,  371,  390,  475 

Davis,  Lieutenant-Commander  John  L., 

371,  440,446 697 

Daylight,  the,  403,  409,  431,  471 492 

Dai  Chiug,  the  440 

Dare,  the 471 

Deep  Bottom 480 

Deerhound,  the  (English  yacht)  651 

Delaware,  the,   28,   85,    108  et  seq.;  114, 

116,  410         431 

Delphiua,  the  (blockade-runner)  captured  777 

Decatursville 340 

Decatur,  Ala 160 

Defiance,  the  (C.  S.  N.) 178,  192,  229 

De  Camp,  Commander  John 183,  208,  225 

Destruction  of  property  by  Confederates,192 

Detta  300:305,324 

DeerCreek 303,304 

De vens,  Lieutenant  Edward 471 

Delaware,  the  415 

Diana,  the 278,282,347,348 

Dispatches:  from  General  Gillmore,  442; 
from  General  Steele  to  General  Hal- 
leek,  531»;  from  Captain  John  A.  Wins- 
low  to  Secretary  Welles,  655;  from 
Admiral  Porter  to  Secretary  Welles, 

690     ...   .    721-725 

Dix.  General  John  A 400,  425 

Dolphin,  the 28 

Dolson,  the 203 

Donaldsonville     .  .   ...         277,  349,  351,  369 
Donaldson,  Lieutenant- Commander  E, 

191  200 

Dove,  Commander  B.  M.,  150,  157,  158, 
160 169 


PAGE 

Dodge,  General 334 

Downes,  Commander  John 372,  376,  435 

DogRiverBar 568 

Drayton,  Commander  Percival,  59,  75,  77, 

79,81.  82,  84  et  seq.;  372,  376 580 

Dragon,  the     129,409 

Drury's  Bluff..  .386,  444  et  seq.;  471,  475,  477 

Dutcii  Gap  Heights 474 

Dunn's  Bayou   527,528 

Duncan,  Assistant-Surgeon  J.  M 660 

Dudley,  Colonel 506 

Duck  River 334 

Duumiigton,  Colonel 290 

Duncan,  Brigadier-General  Johnson  K. 
(C.  S.  A.),  177,  180, 186  et  seq  ;  surren 
der  of.. 215  et  seq. 

DuPont,  Flag-officer  S.  F.,  53  et  seq.;  59 
et  seq.;  75,  77  et  seq.;  80,  84,  118,  365, 
373;  order  of,  374,  375,  381,  382;  his 
return  to  Fort  Royal,  383,  387,  391, 

395, 396, 432, 434 450  et  seq. 

Duval's  Bluff     32 

Dwight,  General 737 

EADS,  Engineer  James  B.,  53, 134  etseq.;  356 

Eagle,  Captain  Henry  92,  Iu7 

Eastport.'the 149,293,  340,344,459 

Eastport,  Miss  154 

Eagle,  the 423 

East  Gulf  Squadron,  operations  of 453 

Edith,  the  (blockade-runner) §18 

Edisto,  North  Bar 75,  81 

Edisto  Island 76 

Edintou  Bay 487 

Egglestou,  Lieutenant  J.  R.  (C.  S.  N.)        120 

Elfin,  the 314 

Ellet,  Gen.  Alfred,  312,  325,  333,  334,  335.  336 

Ellet,  Colonel  Charles,  Jr 284,  2S5,  308 

Ellet,  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  A.   .  .171,  326 

Elizabeth  City 117,  399,  408 

Ellison,  Captain  F.  B 93,107 

Ellen,  the 76  et  seq. 

Ellsworth,  Colonel  ....   40 

Ellsworth's  Zouaves 40 

Ellis   Lieutenant !  348 

Ellis,  the,  401;  set  on  fire 402,  403,  409 

Emma,  the ....   493 

Emmons,  Commander  George  F 107 

Emory,  General        .     ...    .  508,  532  et  seq. 

Emerson,  Captain  Samuel          112 

England,  Lieutenant-Colonel '  421 

English,    Lieutenant  -  Commander  Earl, 

454 . .  455 

Ericsson  Capt.  John,  inventor  of  "Mon 
itor,"  73  121;  fame  of,  133  et  seq.; 
246,  265,  357 ;  financial  aid  to ....  363,  377 

Escort,  the 424 

Estella,  the,  277  et  seq.;  282,  317,  318,347, 

349 '....541 

Essex,  the,  139,  143,  147,  202,  2G9,  275;  de 
stroys  the  "Arkansas'- 270,  280 

Ethan  Allen,  the 454,  4(;o 

Eugenie,  the  '400 

Eustis,  George,  attache  to  John  Slidell, 

69  etseq. 

Exchange,  the 344 

FARRAGUT,  Admiral  David  G.,  164;  Flag- 
officer  in  the  expedition  against  New- 
Orleans,  175,  180  et  seq.;  on  his  way 
to  New  Orleans,  185,  186  et  seq  •  189 
et  seq  ;  194,  11)8,  214,  235,  238,  246 
etseq.;  250,  257,  272  et  seq.;  Com 
mander-in-chief  of  the  West  Gulf 
Squadron,  1863,  279,  308,  317  332  :  45 
•  353,  403, 404, 565;  his  statement  of  the 

battle  of  Mobile  Bay 573 

Fair  Play,  the ...'.'.'.'  293  343 

Fairfax,  Lieutenant !!!o5  3~7(>  '435 

Fanny,  the 45,  48,  117'  294 

Farrell,  P.  M t 319 

Fauuce,  Captain ....'.......  '44  93 

Fawn,  the '         '^3 

Fagan,  Lieutenant  L.  E "  447 

Fah-Kee,  the.r  '.'.'. .'.  '  417"  4<J3 

Farrand,  Flag-officer  (C.  S.  N.) '       '  784 

Fernandina,  Fla.,  32;  abandoned  by  Con 
federates  77 

Fearnot  the oso 

Fern,  the .'.".'.'.'."  "344 

Fernandina,  the 390 

Febiger,  Commander        '.'.'.".'486,  487 

First  naval  engagement  of  the  war         '  106 

First  gun  fired     "9, 

Fisk,  Colonel '.'.'..'.'.'.'.'.  104 

Fitch,   Lieutenant-Commander  Le   Roy', 

333,  334,  338 093  ef  »„„ 

Fitch   C0101    ! 168.  m  2  55 

Flambeau ,  the o^ 

Fletcher,  Captain !".'.. ".!.'."'          os 

Flusser,   Lieutenant-Commander  C    W     * 
108,  114,  115  et  seq.;  400,  407  408  4u' 
415,417,  425 .........' ...  .434 


GEXERAL  INDEX.  xi 

PAGE  1'AOK  PAGE 

Floyd.  Captain  (C.  S.  N.)   151  188.  190;  capture  of.  191,  193;  ca-  Gordon.  Captain 348 

Flycatcher,  the  (0.  S.  N.) '216  pitulation  papers,  '215;  list  of  offi-  Goodrich  Lauding 335,  33(5 

Florence,  Ala 341                       cers 21(1        Golden  Belle,  the  (blockado-runncri,  cap- 
Flag,  the 3:48        Fort  Walker,  55;  attack  on,  57;  descrip-  ture  of 777 

Florida,  the  "Oi-eM"  (C.  S.  N.),  adven-  don  of,  57  et  seq.;  capture  of.  59.  70        Golden  Liner,  the 423 

tures  of  and   captures  made  by,  371,  "     Wanner,   431,   43f>;  Southern  bulle-  Governor  Buckingham,  the 41)2 

634  to  697  inclusive ;  811  etaeq.;  cap-  tins  oil  the  bombardment  of.       .441        Gooch,  Hon.  D.  M 535 

lured    by    the    "  Wachusetts, "    813;  Folly  Island          434.440        Gorringe.  Acting-Master  H.  H 556 

taken  to  Fort   Fisher,  813;    sank  at  Poster,  General  J.  G 415,480,070        Gotwold,  A*8t.-Surgeon  Jacob  H  ,  scalded 

Newport  News 814        Foster,  Lieutenant  A.  P 416  to  d«ath 370 

Foote,  Captain  Andrew  H.,  in  command  of  Forest,  Lieutenant-Commander  Moreau,  Granite  City,  the,  109,  340,  400,  423 493 

Mississippi    Squadron.    53:    of   New  30J  et  seq.;  412,  424,  4t7   487         Green,  General 349 

York  Navy  Yard,  !»9,  107,  134  et  seq. ;  Four-Mile  Creek   4SO  Griswold.  John  A 3G3 

139  et  seq.:  143  et  seq.;   140,   149  et  Fort  Hiudman,  the     ..  344.522        Greene.  Lieutenant  Joseph  A 408 

eeq.;  wounded,  152,  154.  15ii  etseq.;  Fox,  Gustavus  V..  Assistant-Secretary  of  Green,  Captain  J.  F 440 

161,  103;  retires  from  active  service.. 164  Navy,  1861-60,  '20,  37,  96,  9'J,  101,  123,  Green,  General  Thomas  (C.  S.  A.) 512 

Folkerson,  Captain  John  L 112,114  355,357.300,304 377        Grover.  General 533 

Forest,  the 117         Fremont,  General  John  C.. 139  Grampus,  the 164,  344 

Forest,  Lieutenant  Douglas  (C.  S.  N.)..   . .  120        French,  General  (C.  S.  A.) 419  Grant,  Captain  (C.  8.  N.) 178 

Forney,  Lieutenant  James.  .    ...    ...203        French,  Lieutenant  Charles  A.,  109,  114,  Granada 284 

Forsaith,  Captain  Archibald,  of  the  Brit-  400,425  487  Graves,   Acting-Master  G.   W.,    109,   114, 

ish    vessel     "John     Gilpiu,"    taken  Freeborn,  the 40,97,99  415,,  423 424 

prisoner 210        Freediuan's  Bureau    76  Grand  Gulf,   32. 175,  308.  capture  of,  310, 

Foltz,  Dr  J.  M 107,200        France.    Government    of,  unfriendly   to  312  et  seq.;  315,  316,  318 464 

Forrest.  General  286  Union  side 21  Greer,  Lieutenant  James  A 65,1110 

Forest  Rose,  the,  288,  295,  320,  324,  332,  Fredericksburg 265  Green  Island  83 

3U          342        French.  Commander  Henry 107        Grimes,  Senator  James  W 235  et  seq. 

Forest  Queen,  the 311        Fry,  Captain  (C.  S.  N.) 174  Gregory,  the 85 

Folger,  Acting-Master 436        Franklin      .      277,400  Greenville, Ill 

Fort  Anderson 417        Friganzn,  Naval  Contractor  Romeo 135  Greene, Lieutenants. D.,  129. 139, 133,413, 4  4 

"     Bartow 112  Franklin,  General  346  Green,  Lieutenant 210 

"     Beauregard,  65;  destruction  of,  57;  Frailey,  Commander  J.  M     370  Grant,   General  Ulyses  8.,   136,   J40;  ad- 

abaudoued  by  Confederates 59  Franklin,  Lieutenant-Commander  C.  L.,  vauce  on   Fort  Henry,  146,  142,   144, 

"     Bolivar 92  403 407  147;   attack   on  Fort   Don-:lson.     150: 

"     Caswell 410,423,473  Fulton,  the 339  made  Major-Geueral.  152  et  seq.;  154, 

"     Clark 45,103  Furbcs,  Acting- Master ...179  284,   288,  295,    296,   299,303,307,303. 

"     Clinch \ 77  318,   320,  323;   starving  out  the  Con- 

"    Cobb     j 114  GALENA,    the,   13?,   357.   386,  404  et  seq.;  federates.   324,    325.   326  et  seq.;  328; 

"    Columbus,  reconnaissance  of 159  409     ..    ...     ... 430  generosity  of,  32H,  332,  463,  404,   469, 

"    Chalmette 205  Galveston,  Texas 92,209  470,  475,  480;  extracts  from  his   mem- 

"    De  llussy.. 317,388,496  Gazelle,  the 344,4:6  oirs,  528,  701,  748 749 

"    Douelson,  32*  141;  attack   on,   142,  Garver,  Asst.-Surgeon  George  W 147,174  Gun-boat,  No.  8  (C.  8.  N  ),  captured 208 

149  et  seal;  attack  on,   150;  cap-  Garrett,  Asst.-Surgeon  S.  (C.  8.  N  ) 120  Guns,  "  Lady  Davis  "  and  "Lady  Polk, ".159 

ture  of,  K52,   154  et  seq.;  news-  Gardiner,  Lieutenant 472  Guest.  Lieutenant-Commander  John,  179, 

paper  correspondent  on  the  ac-  Gaines,  the  (C.  S.  N.),  burnt 590  186,225,269 697 

tion  at,  157,  158,  283,  202,  292     .339  Geddings.  Acting-Master  John  E. ..  .109,  lit  G.  W.  Blunt,  the     39} 

"    Fisher,  420,  478;  first  attack  on,  083;  Gemsbok,  the 403,410,400  Gwin,  Lieutenant  William,  143.  148  etseq.; 

list  of  volunteers  who  went  with  Gem  of  tho  Sea,  the 390,455  150,153  etteq.;  157,159,249;  killed, 

the  powder-boat,   695;  Monitors  General  Pillow,  the 294  287  etseq. 

engage  the,  690;  list  of   officers  General  Husk,  the.      9J 

who  participated   in   the   attack  General  Bragg,  the  (C.  8.  N  ),  166,  171 ;  re-  HARD  TIMES  313,  315 

on,  703;  second  attack  on,   710;  fitted.  172,  342  ...  562  Harrisonburg 318,332 

position  of  fleet,  710;  guns  cap-  General  Sterling  Price,  the  (C.  S.  N  ),  167,  Hastings,  the  330,342 

turedat.  717;  list  of  officer-skilled  171.172,310,317 ..318  Hart,  Lieutenant-Commander  John  E. .  349 

and  wounded,  71S;  surrender  of,  General  Earl  Van  Dora,  the  (C.  S.  N.),  167, 171  Haynes,  Captain     421 

716;  list  of  gun-boats  engaged  at,  GeneralJeff  Thompson,  the  (C.  S.N.),  167,  Harrison's  Landing 481 

727;  effect  of  the  surrender  of  .   727  171:  burnt 171  Hammill,  Captain  W.  W 408 

"    Grimball  439  General  Lovell,  the  (C.  8.  N  ).... 171,  173,  178  Hauford.  W.  C 334 

"    Gray   484  General  Beauregard,  the ..171  et  seq.  Hamburg,  the  341 

"    Gaiues,  567;  surrender  of 589  General  Sumter,  the.  171,172  Harris,  Captain 420 

"     Hatteras,  45;  bombardment  of  and  General  Quitman,  the  (C.  8.  N.) 178  Harris,  Lieutenant-Commander  T.  C 437 

capture 4(3,53,108  General  Grant,  the 344  Hancock,  General  W.  S     47t» 

"    Henry,  32,  141:  officers  and  vessels  General  Pillow,  the 344  Hampton  Roads,  28.  45,  54.  117,  119,  121, 

attacking,   147;    attack   on.    142;  General  Lyon,  the 344  123,126,171,190,399,406 41!, 

capture,  143  et  seq.;  147  etseq.;  General  Burnside,  the 344  Halleck,  General  H.  W.,  141,  148  et   seq  ; 

292,339,341,458  460  General  Thomas,  the   344  155,  15H,  161,  103  et  seq.;  251 283 

"    Hit-man,  evacuated 142  General  Sherman,  the 344  Hamilton Ill 

"    Uindman  (Arkansas  Post),  289,  293,  General  Putnam,  the ,431,493  Hayes,  Acting-Master  Peter 109 

291 ;  surrender  of 2'J1,  292  Geuesee,  the 272,409  Hamilton,  Captain  James ....   25 

"    Jackson,  164,  175  177;   Confederate  George  Mangham  the 179  Haggerty.  Commander  F.  S 56 

fleet  and  list  of  vessels  and  com-  George  Peabody,  the 45  Haywood's  Plantation 84 

manders,  178  :   Federal  fleet  at,  Georgia,  the  (C.  8.  N.) 466,644,814  Hatteras,  the 107;  sunk,  271,  281 

178;  bombardment  of,  179;  state-  Georgian,  the 373  Harriet  Lane,  the,  29,  44.  98,  176,   186  et 

mentof  the  condition  of,  180, 16,  Germantown,  the 28,30  seq.;  209,  270,  280;  loss  of. ..346 

188.  190;  capture  of,  191,  199;  ca-  Getty,  Lieutenant  Robert 288  Barrel,  Lieutenat  A.  D 42,217.224 

pitulation  papers  of,  215;  list  ot  Getty,  General 419,  420  et  seq.  Hatteras  Inlet,  32,38;  capture  of.  44;  forts 

officers,  216,  208,  490 097  Gettysburg...      4(58  garrisoned,  47.  109 

••    Johnson     .  434,439,445  Gillis,  Commander  J.  P 44,55,79,88,425  Hartford,  the  30. 177. 181, 183. 189. 191,194, 

"    Livingston,  surrender  of.       215  Gilmore.  Colonel 62  198,203,251,208,272,270,279,305.307 

••    McAllister  371  Givin,  Lieutenant-Commander  John,  143,  Hawkins,  Colonel 47,49 

"     Macon 403  148  et  seq.;  160.  15.J,  157,  159,  killed,  Hale,  the 84 

"    McCrea,  attack  on         ..     ..         93,103 387  et  seq.  Handy,  Commander  Robert 90,91,107 

"     Monroe. .27,  123,123,127,130,132,473  Gillmore,  General,  Q.  A.,  433,  434  et  seq.;  Hartstene.  Lieutenant 96 

"     Moultrie .  25,434,444  436.   438.   439,   440,   441,  442,445,446,  Haas:  Colonel 160 

"     Morgan 508,  570,  573,  r'.tl  451,452.470.. 659  Hart.  Captain  (C.  S.  N.) 167 

"     Pemberton 3U1,  304,  324  Gibson,  Lieutenant-Commander  William,  Harrison,  Lieutenant-Commander,  09,198,212 

••     Pick  ens,  50,  93  et  seq.:  plan  for  re-  371 437  Harris.  Acting-Master  George 210,459 

lief  of,    iOO;  success  of  expedi-  Gloucester *°3  Harris,  Joseph  (Coast  Survey), •  217,  231, 

tiou     103  Gloucester  Point   ...          4<»3  234 

'     Pike,  abandoned 191  Glassell,  Lieutenant  W.  T 449,  450  Haines' Bluff,  285,316;  evacuation  of,  320,  332 

"     Pillow,  attack  on,  164  et  seq.;  battle  Glassford,  Lieutenant  H.  A 555  Henry  Janes,  the 179,269.282 

of,    100;     Federal    victory,    167;  Glynn,  Captain  James 104  Hell  Gate 82 

bombardment  and  evacuation  of.  168  Glide,  the 291,295,344  Henry  Andrews,  the     82 

"     Powell 568  Glisson,  Captain  O.  S «97  Henderson,  Lieutenant  (C.  8.  A  )   208 

"    Pulaski,  76;  bombardment   of,   78;  Goldsborough 115  Henderson  Station       ..     ..159 

surrender  of,  79,  85   ..  ...451  Governor  Moore,   the  (C.  8.  N.),  17W,  183,  Hetzel,  the... .108,  114,  116,  409,  417,  430,  491 

"     Ripley     445  204 207  Hebe,  the 427,428 

"     Buinter,  17;  bombardment  of,  25  et  Gordon,  General 660  Henry  Brinker,  the 40!),  431 

seq.:  30,  83,  94,  %  et  seq.;  relief  Godon,  Commander  S.  W.  .55,  77,  79.  85,  721  Helena.  Ark 202,300,336 

of,  97;  evacuation  of.  98,  100,  421,  Goldsborough,    Flag-officer  L.  M.,  53,  108  Henry  Clay,  the   310 

434;  General  Gillmore  opens  fire  112,  118, 123.  39i>,  403,  404.  408 414  Herron,  General 331,332 

upon 659  Gorman.  General  2'.»2  Hertford   417 

Fort  St.   Philip,   La.,    177,  179,181.   183,  Golden  Age,  the 304  Helen,  the 456 


GENERAL  IXDEX. 


Higginson,  LieutenantF.  J  ..............  447 

Hill's  Point  .....  ........  423,424 

Hilton  Head          .'."  .....  55,5962.76,82,432 

Higgins,  Colonel  Edward  (C,  S.  A.),  179, 

183,  186,  214,  215,  321,  322  ............  325 

Hooker  Acting-Master  Edward  ..........  408 

Hewlett  ......    .....................  412,477 

Homosassa  River  ........................  456 

Hoffner,  Acting-Master  R.  J  .........  457,  458 

Holcombe  of  Virginia  (Confederate)  .....  469 

Hoeue,  Lieutenant  .  ....................  472 

Hoge   Colonel  ......................  564 

Hoke,  General  (C.  8.  A.)  .................  706 

Hou»hton.  the  ..........................  466 

Howard,  Ensign  C.  W  ..................  450 

Horwitz,  Surgeon  P.  J  ...................  364 

Housatonic,  the  .........................  388 

Holly  Springs,  Miss    ...................  284 

Holt",  Secretary  of  War  J.  (C.  S.)  .......  105 

Hollins,  Commander  J.  S.  (C.  S.  N.)...  89,  91 
Howell,  Lieutenant  J.  C  ................  107 

Hotchkiss,  Acting-Master  W.  J  .....  109,114 

Hoel  William  R  ..147,  162,  165,  303,  310,  314 
Horace  Beales,  the  ..............  225,228,282 

Holland,  Major  .......................  334 

Hope,  the     ............................  391 

Howqnah.  the  ........         ..........  478,492 

Hughes.  Commander  A.  K  .............    440 

Huse,  Lieutenant  S  ................  ____  478 

Huron,  the  ......................  77,  389,  439 

Hunter,  Major-General  ..................  383 

Huger,  Lieutenant  Thomas  B.  (C.  8.  N.), 

178;  killed  .........................   183 

Hubbell,  James  L.,  Speaker  of  House  of 

Representatives  ....................  )47 

Hunter,  General  David  .........  78,105,529 

Hutchinson's  Island  -----  ...........         .83 

Huntsville,  the  ....................  107,460 

Hurlburt,  General  ...............        153 

Hunchback,  the,  108,  400,  409,  417,  423. 

430  ...........................  493 

Hussar,  Yhe  .....  ..  ......................  112 

Huntress,  the  ................  .  ..........  344 

Hvuciuth  the...  .................  344 

IBERVILLK,  the  .........................  51C 

Ida,  the,  sunk  by  torpedoes.     .  ----  i82 

Ingraham,  Commander  IX  X  ..........     369 

Indianola,  the,  296;  operations   of,  297, 

332  ..............................  342 

I.  N.Seymour,  the  .................  101),  40 

Indian  River  .........   ...........   .....  455 

losco.  the  ............   .......  697 

Iroquois,  the,  36,  183,  187,  198,  203,  261, 

274,426,429  .......................  617 

Iron  Age,  the  ...........................  4il 

Ironsides,  the  ...........................  17  < 

Iron-clads,  service  of  .................  .^663 

Invin,  Lieutenant  ...................  79,84 

Isherwood,  Chief  Engineer    ........  29,265 

Island  No.  10,  32,  160;  surrender  of  ......  163 

Isaac  Smith,  the  ..................  55,  77 

Itaska.the,  180.184,187,198,208,261,274, 

426.429,567  ........................  617 

Inka,  Tenu  ...........................  16f 

Ives.  Captain  T.  P  .................. 

Ivy,  the  ..........................  31  1,  343 

JAMES  ISLANIV  ......     .......  26,439,440,445 

.I:uii'  'stown,  the  .................  36,405 

James  Adger,  the  .........  77,  3S9,  426,  428 

Jack,  Acting-Master  .................        179 

Jackson,  the  (C.  S.  N.)  ..................  177 

Jackson.  Miss  ........  .  ......  .  296,  312,  327 

Jamestown  Island  ....................  418 

James  L.  Davis,  the     ..........   .   .  ----  460 

James  S  Chambers,  the  ................  460 

Jamrsville  ..........................  417 

Jnmi-s  River  .............  404,419,475,480 

.Tacksnnville  ............................  401 

Jacob  Bell,  the  .........         ..  ----  409 

Jeffers,  Lieut-Commander  W.N  ,108,  114, 

132  .....................        404 

Jenkins,  Captain  T.  A.,  severely  wounded.  352 
J.  >s.-el\  n,  Acting-Master  Francis  .....  487 

Johnson,  Lieut.  Amos   .......  205.346 

Johnston.  General  Joseph  E.,  Ill,ir9,  296, 

316.3-20,327,331   ...........         332 

Jones,  Lieut.  Catesby  (C.  S.  N.),  119,  125, 

128,131        ..................  ......  133 

Jones.  Lieut.  Pembroke  .............        132 

John  Griffiths,  the          .    -----  179282 

John  Giltin,  the  (blockade-runner),  cap- 

ture  ............................  210 

Jones,  Captain  'C.  8.  A.)  ...........  ......  233 

John  Walsh,  the       .....................  324 

Johnson,  Ensign  M  L  ..............    .     374 

John  L.  Lockwood,  the  ............  410,431 

J.  P.  Jackson,  the  ............  260,281 

Judah,  the   .......................  50,    51 

Jnniata    the  .....................  370 

Judge  Torrence,  the  ...............  294,343 


KANAWHA,  the  ......................  380,  625 

Katahdin.  the.  189,  198,  209,  209,  275.         .281 
Kate,  the  .............     ..........  4?6,  427 

Kearsarge,  the,  650  et  seq.;  engagement 

with  Alabama,  651  ;  list  of  officers  at,  655 
Kearney,  Asst.  -Surgeon  Thomas  H..  .         148 
Keystone  State,  the.  77.  369,  388,491,  615,  017 
Kempff,  Acting-Master  ..................  84 

Kevil.  Captain  (C.  S.  X.}  ..............       ISO 

Kettle  Bottom  Shoals  ..................  131 

Key  West  ....................  175,  190..  344 

Kennebec,  the,  177  .  184,  190,  192,  198,  200. 

214,268,281  ...............  .625 

Keunou,  Commander  Beverley  (C.  S.  N.), 

178,  183,  204  .......  ..................  207 

Kensington,  the  .............  -----  190,282 

Keyes,  Major-General  ...........   4!8,  42(5 

Keoknk  the     ............  305,374,377,391 

Kenwood,  the  .......................  331,343 

Kenton,  the  .........................  564 

Kilty,  Commander  A.  H.,  160.  160,  173  ; 

scalded  to  death  ..............  174 

Kineo.  the  .............  189,  192  et  seq.; 

213,269   272,  275  .....................  280 

Kinsman,  the  .....................  277,282 

Kittatinuy,  the  ..........................  282 

Kiekapoo,  the  ...........................  344 

Kinston  ...............................  415 

Kingfisher,  the  ..........................  380 

Kittredge,  Lieutenant  J.  W  ...............  345 

Kilpatrick,  Brigadier-General  ...........  425 

King,  Lieutenant  .......................  504 

Koehler,  Ensign  J.  G  ...................  459 

Kuuu,  the  ...............................  282 

LABARBE.  S.  P   de  (C.  S.)  .................  196 

Ladona,  the  ...........................  4iO 

Laird,  John,  the  builder  of  the  Alabama.  .('.34 
La  Mott,  Major  .........................  425 

Lake  Providence  ......................  317 

Lamb,  Captain  M.  W.  (C.  S.  N.)  .........  167 

Lancer,  the     ..........................  112 

Lardner,  Captain  I.  L  ....................  55 

Lancaster,  the     ....................  168,308 

Landis,  the  (C.  8.  N.)  ................  178.229 

Langthome,  Acting-Master  ..........  179,  526 

LaWi  Lieutenant-Commander  Richard  L..270 
Laurel,  the  ..........................  343 

Lafayette,  the,  296,  310,  313,  314  et  seq.; 
3^7  .............................     343 

Lamson,  Lieutenant  R.  H.,  346,'  418,  419, 
421,422,428  ...................         695 

Latham,  Lieutenant  (C.  S.  A.)'....  .......  428 

Lafitte,  J.  B.,  Confederate  Agent  in  Eng- 
land  ...........         b  ......         b  624 

Lav-ham,  Acting-Master  H.  K  ............  456 

Lehigh,  the  ...............  ......   659 

Lea,  Lieutenant  Edward.  225  ;  killed.        270 
Lee,  General  Robert  E  (C.  S.  A.),  77,  111, 


..................  _ 

Lee_   Rear-Admiral  s'.  '  Ph'iYlips,  '93,  '  198, 

203>   206j   261(   407    4i2f  414,  418,  423, 

4<;2)  470   473  474i  475   477i  486,  490.  ...802 

Lewis.  Acting  Master  Eluathan  ......   ...107 

Leuthal,  John  .......    ..........  121.358 

Lexington,  the,  136,  138,  143.  147,  149,  153, 

159)   173j   28g,   290,293,325,333,335. 

339  ..............................  344 

Leonard,  Captain  (C.  8.  N.)  ..............  166 

Le  Roy,  Commander  .................  369 

Letters  :  Adams,  Captain,  from  W.  H. 
Seward,  62  ;  to  Secretary  Welles,  105. 
Anderson,  Captain,  to  Captain  John- 
ston.  555.  Bailey.  Theodorus,  to  Ad- 
miral  Farragut.  237,  238,  239;  from  D. 
G.  t'arragut,  241;  to  Hon.  A.  E  Borie, 
241.  Barhe,  G.  M..  323.  Borie,  Hon. 
A  E.,  to  Admiral  Farragut,  241;  from 
Theodoras  Bailey,  241.  Belknap,  Col- 
onel  J.  C.,  to  Commander  Daveu- 
port,  417.  Beauregard,  General  (C. 
8.  A.),  to  General  Gillmore,  443.  But- 
ler.  General  B.  F.,  to  Admiral  S.  P. 
Lee,  476;  from  J.  J.  Peck,  485,  to 
Admiral  Porter.  700;  from  Admiral 
Porter,  700.  Banks,  General,  from 
Admiral  Porter,  527;  from  General 
Sherman,  539.  Balch,  Captain  George 
B.,  from  Colonel  W  H.  Noble, 
668.  dishing,  W.  B.,  from  Secre- 
tary  Welles,  422,  689.  Cabell,  8.  C. 
(C.  S.  A.),  from  S.  R.  Mallory  (C  S.). 
557.  Courtuay,  F.  E.,  to  Colonel  Clark 
<C.  S.  A  ),  559;  from  Colonel  Clark, 
659  Duncan,  General  iC.  8.  A.),  to 
Commander  Mitchell  (C.  8.  N.),  180, 
221.  DuPont,  Admiral,  from  Secretary 
Welles,  3J)  ,  382,  387,  391,  395,  396;  to 
Secretary  Welles.  398.  Davenport, 
Commander,  from  J.  C.  Belknap, 
417.  Dawson,  Commander,  from  Sec- 
retary  Welles,  422.  Dahlgren,  Ad- 
mimi,  from  Secretary  Welles,  68-1. 


PAGE 

Foote,  Flag-officer,  from  Secretary 
Welles,  147,  148,  104.  165;  from  Com 
mander  Walke,  155.  Farragut,  Ad 
miral,  from  Secretary  Welles,  188 ; 
to  Mayor  of  New  Orleans,  1S4, 
196;  from  Theo.  Bailey,  237,  238,  239; 
to  Theodorus  Bailey,  241 ;  to  Hon. 
A.  E.  Borie.  241;  from  Secretary 
Welles,  5(50.  50'2.  Getty,  General, 
to  Admiral  S.  P  Lee,  419.  Gillmore, 
General,  from  General  Beauregard 
(C.  S.  A.),  443.  Higgius,  Colonel 
(C  S.  A.),  from  Admiral  Porter, 
215.  Hunter,  W.  M.  (C.  S.  N  ,  669. 
Johnston,  Captain,  from  Captain  An 
derson,  555.  Lincoln,  President,  to 
Admiral  Porter,  101;  to  Captain 
Samuel  Mercer,  10'2;  to  Commander 
of  Navy  Yard,  N.  Y.,  102;  to  M.  C. 
Meigs,  *102.  from  Secretary  Welles, 
691,  752;  Lauing.  James,  144.  Lee,  Ad 
miral  S.  P.,  from  General  Getty,  419; 
from  General  Butler,  476;  to  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  48(i.  Mercer,  Captain  Sam 
uel,  from  A.  Lincoln,  102.  Meigs,  M. 
C.,  from  A.  Lincoln.  102.  Mitchell, 
(C.  b.  A.1,  from  General  Duncan  (C. 
S  A.),  180;  to  Admiral  Porter,  229; 
J.  McArthur.  322.  M:illory,  b.  R  (C. 
S.),  to  E.  C.  Cahill,  557.  Noble,  W.  H., 
to  Captain  Geo.  B.  Balch.  668.  Porter, 
Admiral  D.D..fromPresident  Lincoln, 
101;  from  Secretary  Welles,  188,230, 
330,  684,  705,  729:  to  Secretary  Welles, 
229,  230.  530,  702,  704  ;  to  Colonel 
Higgins  (C.  S.  A.),  215;  from  Gen 
eral  Sherman,  327;  from  Comman 
der  Selfridge,  514;  to  General  Banks, 
527;  from  Brigadier-General  Kilby 
Smith,  545;  from  General  Butler, 
700;  to  General  Butler,  700.  Peck, 
J.  J.,  to  General  Butler.  485  Rivers, 
A.  R..5H8.  Ripley,  Brigadier-General, 
R.  S.  (C.  S.  A.),  to  General  Sehim- 
melfenuig,  6G9.  Seward,  W.  H.,  to  Mr. 
Adams,  62;  Sherman,  General,  to  Ad 
miral  Porter,  3'27;  to  General  Brinks, 
539  Stanton.  H.  M.,  from  Secretary 
Welles,  485.  Smith,  Melauctou,  from 
Admiral  Lee,  486;  from  Secretary 
Welles,  486.  Selfridge,  Commander, 
from  Admiral  Porter,  514.  Smith, 
Brigadier-General  Kilby.  to  Admiral 
Porter,  545.  Semnies,  Captain  Ra 
phael.  609;  to  Governor  of  Puerto 
Cabello,  l>12.  Schimmelfeimig,  from 
Brigadier-General  R.  S.  Ripley  (C.  S. 
A.),  669.  Welles.  Secretary,  to  Captain 
Wilkes,  68;  from  Captain  Adams.  105; 
to  Flag-officer  Foote,  147,  148, 164,  105; 
to  Admirals  Farragut  and  Porter,  188; 
to  Admiral  Porter.  230,  3'23,  330,  684, 
705.  729;  from  Admiral  Porter,  530, 
702,  704;  to  Admiral  DuPont,  381,  387, 
391,  395,  396:  to  Commander  Dawson, 
422;  to  W.  B.  Gushing,  422:  to  E.  M. 
Stanton,4«5;  to  Congress,  485, to  Admi 
ral  Farragut,  560;  to  Captain  John  A. 
Wiuslow,  655;  to  Admiral  Dahlgren, 
684;  to  Captain  Melanctoii  Smith,  686; 
to  W.  B.  Cushing,  689;  to  President 
Lincoln,  691,  7;>2.  Wilkes,  Captain, 
from  Secretary  Welles,  68  Walke, 
Commander,  to  Admiral  Foote,  155; 
the  same  to  Admiral  Dahlgren,  769; 
complimentary  from  Secretary  Welles 
to  Admiral  Thatcher,  783;  from  S.  R. 
Mallory  (Confederate),  to  Admiral 
Semmes,  797. 

Lincoln.  Piesident  Abraham,  22.  27,  44, 
71.  74:  first  proclamation,  77,  83,  94, 
96,  99  et  seq.;  102,  105  et  seq.;  orders 
naval  expedition  against  New  Orleans, 

173:  visits  Richmond 798 

Linden,  the,  295,  316.  320    324 344 

Littlepage.  Midshipman  (C   S   N,) 120 

Little  Rebel,  the  (C.  S.  N.).  160,171,172,294,  343 

Little  Cricket,  the,  attack  on    513 

Little  River 41ti,  471 

Lilac,  the 3t3 

Lilly,  the 294,344 

Lioness,  the.        300 

Light-Uonse  Inlet 434 

Liverpool  Lauding  321 

List  of  vessels  and  officers  of  squadrons. 

See  squadrons. 

Lockwood,  the  109,  113.  327,  415,  418.  423,  492 
Lowry,  Lieutenant  R.  B..    . .  40.  45,  203,  262 
Louisiana,   the   (C.   S.    N.',  108.  114.  116, 
164,  175,    178,    180,    184,    187,   192,198, 

355,  408,  410,  423 491 

Louisville,  the,  139,  151.  157,  159,  160,  168, 
288,  290,  295,  303,  310,  313,  317,  332. ..  342 


GKXERAL  IXDKX. 


xm 


Lovell,  General  (C.  8.   A.),  retreat  from 

New  Orleans,  186     . .      .    105 

Lord,  Lieutenant  George  P 287 

Lockwood,  Commander  Samuel 403 

Longstreet,  General  (C.  8.  A.) 419 

Lodona,  the 460 

Lockwood's  Folly  Inlet 471 

Longbaw,  Assistant-Surgeon  William 660 

Lucas,  Colonel 506 

I. uce,  Lieutenant 84 

Lyons,  Dr.  L.  M 213 

Lyon,  Lord.Hritish  Ministerat  Washington  *>9 
Lynch,  Commodore  (C.  8.  N.) 114 

MACEDONIAN,  the 3«   104 

Mallory,  M.,  See.  Confederate  Navy,  101 

etseq.,  119 ." 004 

Maynardier,  Captain,  161 ;  captures  crew 

of  the  "  Beauregard  " 172 

Massachusetts,  the 107 

Marion,  the 3i 

Massachusetts  Volunteers 30 

Matthias  Point,  attack  on 41 

Marston.  Captain 44,  123 

Martin,  Colonel  (C.  S.  A  ) 46 

Ma-son,  .T.  M.,  arrest  of,  on  the  "  Trent," 

61  t-t  seq 73 

Mauassas,  the  (C.  8.  N.),  89,  175,  178.  184 

et  seq. ;  185,  192         198  et  seq. 

Marmaduke,  Midshipman  'C.  8.  N.) 120 

Mackall,  General  (C.  S.  A.),  captured  by 

Pope ".165 

Matthew  Vassar,  the 179,  423 

Matthewsoc,  Dr.     ..    2G2 

Magruder,  General  (C.  8.  A.) 269 

Maria  A.  Wood,  the..  232 

Marmora,  the,  284,  286,  288,  295,  339,  343, 

859  et  seq. 

Mattabasett,  the 486,  4s7 

Marine  Officers..   294 

Marine  Brigade,  the 325, 333,  334,  335 

Manitou,  the 332 

Marmaduke,  General  (C.  S.  A.) 339,  518 

Masonboro' Inlet 693 

Maury,  Commander  William     ...  .614 

Marblehead,  the 390,  407,  439,600 

Madgie,  the 390 

Macdearmid,  Lieutenant  John  A.,   109, 

114,  117.  408,  423 424 

Mahaska,  the 410,  429,  440 

Matthews  County .425 

Mattapony  River .  - 426 

Mackenzie,  Lieutenant  A.  S 374 

MansBeld     .. 500 

Manchester,  Colonel 415,  416 

Marataium,  the 407,408,429,491 

Magnolia,  the 460 

MalveruHill 480,725 

Macomb,  Commander  William  H       .490,  689 
Maffitt,  Commander  J.  X.    C.  8.  N.),  62) 

et  seq. ;  625 626 

Maple  Leaf,  the,  blown  up  by  the  Con 
federates  667 

Mt-Farland,  J.  E 69 

McCauley,  Commodore 28,  30 

McCreaily.  Captain 25 

McKean,  Flag-officer  W.  W.,  53,  87,  9  Jet 

seq 107 

McClellan,  the,  77 90 

McGowan,  Captain 96 

McClernand,  General,  138,  142,  152.  284, 

287  et  seq.:  290,  292  et  seq.;  293,  295, 

311,  312  et  seq 524 

McNeil,  Captain  John 337 

Me  Arthur,  General 322,  325 

MoPherson.  General 293,295,313.  325 

McGuunegle,     Lieutenant  -  Commander 

Wilson,  169 '  73  et  seq. 

Melntosh.   Commander  Charles  F.    |C. 

S    N 178 

McFarland,  Acting-Master 200 

McKiutry,  Commander 272 

McDonough,  the  370 

McClennan,  General  403,  407 

McDonald,  E.  A 415 

McCawley,  Captain  C.  G 447 

McCann,    Lieutenant -Commander,  417, 

421 424 

MoCanley,  Lieutenant  E.  Y 455,  45', 

McDougal,  Commander  David 665 

McElroy,  Acting-Master 560 

Memphis.   Tenu.,  32,  136,  165,   169    170, 

171;   captured,  173  et  seq.;   191,  283 

etseq.;  officers  at  naval  station..        294 
Merrimac,  the,  28,  32,  119  et  seq  ;  123  et 

seq.;    125  ct  seq  ;  129;  blown   up  at 

Hampton  Roads.  132  et  seq.;  171, 176, 

265,  356,  357, 385,  3i6,  399  403, 404,4i:i,  480 

Mercer,  Captain 44,  97,  101 

Mervin,  Commodore 50,  99 

Meigs,  Captain  M.  C 99,  102,  106,  138 

Medical  Staff     ...         294 

Mercedita.  the 359,388,491 


PACE 

Memphis,  the 370,  390 

Meade.  Commander  R.  W.,  Jr 660 

Mendota.the 480 

Meade,  Lieutenant  R.  L 447 

Meade,  General 477 

Metacomet,  the 573 

Miantonoiuoh,  the 17,41,361 

Minnesota,  the,  36,  44  et  seq.;  47.  123, 
125  et  seq.;  130,  403,  408,  418,  421, 

42*.  429,  473 490 

Mississippi,  the,  36.  177,  181, 183, 185, 189. 

192,  198.  272;  blown  up,  273;  280.339.356 
Mississippi  Squadron,  53,  134,  2H3;  Jan. 
1.   1863.    293;    332  et  seq  ;    336,  342; 
operations  of,  554;  operations  in  1864, 
1»65,  802;  list  of  vessels  and  officers 

Of,  806  810 

Miller,  Lieutenant 77 

Mississippi  River,  87  et  seq.;  vessels 
of  blockade,  87  et  seq.;  blockade 
abandoned;  discreditable  retreat,  90; 
obstructions  in.  177;  312  et  seq.;  318. 

320  323,325,332.  468 535 

Mitchell,  Lieutenant  John  J 92,  107,  426 

Minor,  Lieutenant  Robert  D 120,  125 

Milliken's  Bend,  landing  of  army  at,  292, 

295,  313,  3-25,  335 336 

Milledgeville,  Ga 758 

Miami,  the  177,221.  486,  487,491 

Mitchell.  Commodore  John  K.  (C.  S.  N.), 

178,180,186,214,221 229 

Mignonette,  the 344 

Mistletoe,  the 294.  344 

Milwaukee,  the  344 

Mississippi  Marine  Brigade 312 

Midnight,  the 330 

M.  J.  Carlton,  the.   . .   179 

Mobile,  Ala.,  780;  surrender  of,  782;  con 
ditions  of  surrender 783 

Mobile  Bay,  battle  of,  565;  vessels  en 
gaged  at,  573  ;  list  of  killed  and 
wounded,  578;  true  heroism  of  the 
sailors  at  the.  588;  list  of  officers  who 

participated  at 600 

Mohican,  the 36,  77 

Mohawk,  the 3<>.  3S9 

Monadnock,  the 17,  3(51 

Monitor,  the,  32.  120  et  seq.;  126, 130, 132, 
176,  265,  356,  399,  403.  404.  407.  413,  414 

Monticello.  the 44.  49,  4'i!>.  423.430,478 

Moir,   Captain,  of  British  Mail  Steamer 

•  Trent"          64 

Morris,  Captain  Henry  W 201,  421 

Morris  Island     C6  et  s«>q. ;  4  :3.  435,  43G 

Morris,  Lieutenant  George  N 1-24.198 

Mosher.  the  (C.  8.  N., 178. 1«3 

Mosquito  Creek 83 

Morse,  the 109.  114,  116,  425,  430,  491 

Morgan,  Captain  M.  B 112 

Mound  City,  U.  S.  Xaval  Yard 135 

Mound  City,  the,  139.  160,  166,  168,  173, 
174,  2'J5. 303,  310. 313.  3  9, 320, 337, 342,  526 

Montgomery  Flotilla  (C.  S.  X.) 198 

Montgomery,  Captain  John  E.   (C.  8.  X.). 

167 171 

Monarch,  the,  16"*.  171;  saves  crew  of 
"General  Beauregard,"  172  et  seq.; 

288.  291   ....  295 

Monroe,  John  T.  (C.  S.),  Mayor  of  New 

Orleans .  195, 248 

Monongahela,  the 272,  280,  3ol,  5',6 

Monson.  General  (C.  S.  A.) 278 

Montgomery,  the 280,  471,  402 

Morning  Light,  the.. 2  2 

Mower,  General  326,  326.  497 

Morgan,  John 337.378 

Morton,   Acting-Master  Thomas  H. 200 

Mount  Washington,  the  418,420.492 

Moose,  the  344,  4  8 

Morris,  Commodore 347 

Montauk,  the,   365,    3»;f>,    371,  389,    43.">, 

436,  440 447 

Morrell's  Inlet     423 

Moor«.  Ex-Governor  (C.  S.) 409 

Mosquito  Inlet.  Fla 454 

Mount  Vernon.  the,  410,  4'20,  426,  431, 478,  492 

Mullen,  Captain 233 

Music,  the  (C.  S.  X.) 178,275 

Murfreesboro1   160 

Murray,  Lieutenant-Commander  A.,  108, 

112.114.415 416 

Mud  River 85 

Mvstic,  the 40t!,  407.  430 

Myrtle,  the 294,  344,  425,  493 

XAVT,  the.  prizes,  18;  serviceable  ves 
sels,  18;  home  squadron,  3(i;  total 
number  ot  vessels  and  seamen,  37; 
organization  of,  37;  river  work  of,  43; 
weakness  of,  73:  good  service  of  78, 
117;  complete  exhibit  of,  465;  in 
crease  of  in  1864,  677:  Improvement 
in  naval  ships  iu  1864.  678;  exhibit  of  680 


PAGE 

Xavy  Department,  what  it  is,  19;  organi 
zation  when  the  rebellion  broke  out. 
20;  task  of.  33;  adjudication  of  liable 
blockade-runners,  63.  120,  139,  235; 
to  build  up  an  iron-clad  navy  on  the 

Erricson  plan 364 

Nashville 154,  283 

Nashville,  the  (C.  8.  X.)  ..   .98,  365,  371,  618 

Nag's  Head     114 

Xantucket.  the 132,365,  387,  437,  446 

Natchez.  Miss 274.333 

Xaval  Station  at  Cairo.  Ill 294 

Xuimkeag.  the 344,  563 

Naiad,  the 344 

Xanseinond  River 419,  420,  425,473 

Nansemond,  the 428, 478, 491 

Xaugatuck,  the 404 

Nassau,  X.  P 453 

Nahant,  the 365.  372,  389,  435,  436.  440 

Xew  Xational,  the '. .  .294,  331.  343 

New  Era,  the 294,344 

Negroes  neglected  and  suffering,  84;  join 

the  Union  Army 312 

Xew  Orleans.  32,87;  illuminated,  91, 164; 
expedition  against,  175;  left  d«-f, m-c- 
less  by  Confederate  army,  186,  188; 
capture  of,  189,  190,  192  et  seq.;  199, 
200;  battle  of.  205.2(18.  235.  2: '7;  cor 
rected  diagram  of  battle  of.  240,  264, 
268,  274  270  etneq.;  becomes  a  mode] 

city 353,453,535 

Xew  York,  the 28 

Xew  Hampshire  85 

New  London,  the 107.206,280,351 

Xewspaper  Correspondent  on  the  ac 
tion  at  Fort  Donelson 157 

Xewberu.  X.  C Ill,  399,  408,  417.  424 

Xeuse  River 112,  412,  415,  4~l 

Newport  Xews,  123;  batteries  at 125 

Xew  Madrid,  Mo.,  160;  expedition  against 

161         165 

Xelsou,  Dr.  William  H 174 

Nelson,  General 154,176 

Xelson,  the  117 

N'eosho,  the 344 

Xew  Ironsides,  357.  365,  370,374,  337.  436. 

439  440,  445,449.  450 661 

Negley.  General 412 

New  Inlet  , 426  et  seq. 

New  Topsail  Inlet,  the 4'Js 

Newbern,  the 3..492 

Neutrals,  right  of  searching 73 

Niagara,  the ...  .93,  104,  107,  822 

Nield,  Acting-Ensign  Henry  C '...589 

Nichols,  Commander  E.  T 4'0 

Nicholson,  Lieuteiiant-i'ommander  J.  W., 

79,  83,  85;  creditable  action  of 694 

Nichols,  Lieutenant  Ed  ward,  184,200,  209, 

216  262 

Nightingale,  the 365,437,440 

Nii>hon,  the. 4a7.  4'J-j 

Norfolk,  Va.,  liotbed  of  secession,  28  et 
seq  ;  destruction  of  Navy  Yard,  30; 
loss  to  Union,  32;  guns  captured  at 
by  the  rebels,  62,  111  et  seq.:  117, 12'.»; 

evacuated,  132;  404,412,413 417 

Norfolk  Xavy  Yard 30,  32, 119,  265 

Norfolk  Packet,  the IT'.t,  '22C.,  391 

Norwich,  the 

North  River 425 

North  Carolina,  the 47S 

Nymph,  the 344 

OBERLT.  Dr.  A.  8  213 

Obstructions  in  Mississippi  River 177 

Ocracoke,  32;  abandoned 47 

Octorara,  the 179,  257,  410 

Octavla,  the 567 

Ocean  Wave,  the 415 

Officers  and  vessels.     See  squadrons. 

Official  thanks  to  army  and  navy 147 

Ogeechee,  Great  River 82.  3Co,  371 

Ogeechee,  Little  River  sj 

O.  H.  Lee.  the 17 

O'Kane,  Lieutenant  James  203 

Old  Dam   ..415 

O.  M.  Pettit,  the 391 

Onondaga,  the 477 

Oneida.  the  183,  198  203,  280.  625.  626 

Onslow  Court  House         ....401 

Orders;  general  order  of  Foote,  164;  con 
gratulatory  order,  165;  general  orders 
from  Farragut.  180.  252;  from  Rear- 
Adminil  DuPont,  374;  DuPout's  order 
for  ships,  395;  general  order  from 
Secretary  Welles,  396;  from  8.  0. 
Rowan.  400;  Admiral  Farragut's  gen 
eral  order  No.  1,571;  No.  1!,  572;  No. 
12.588:  No.  13,  588;  from  Mr.  Benja 
min  (Confederate),  614;  general  order 
No  70.  699;  special  order  No.  10,  gen 
eral  order  No.  78.  Admiral  Porter's 
landing  orders 719 


XIV 


GENERAL  IXDEX. 


PAGE  PAGE 

Oreto,  the(C.  8.  N.)....- 623        Pleasant  Hill  Landing 517 

Orvetta,the        179,  282        Pooahontai,  the 30.59,77,97,281 

Ossipee,  the    '     429  Port  Hudson,  32,  262,   272,273,^96,299, 

Osage,  the 3311,344  319,  463.  404 463 

Ottawa,  the. ..        55,  76,  81,  84,  389,  437,  440  Port  Royal,  32,  38;  expedition  against.  54; 

Otter  Island 75  55,57,59,61,76,78,  82,  84.114,404.   535 

Oiiirliita,  the 344,496,556  Powhatau,  the,  36,  87,   97,  100,  102,   105, 

Outre.  Pass  a' 1' 89,177  369,370,388,  448 615 

Owens,  Ensign 444         Portsmouth,  the 36,  190, 192,  280 

Owen,  Lieutenant-Commander E.  K.,  288;  Potomac,  the 36,  10Y,  28J 

honorable  mention  of,  292,  303,  310,  Potomac  River,  fortification  of  banks  of, 

315 317  39,  40,  42,  43,  2c3 470 

Owasco,  the 177,225,269,281         Potomska,  the 77.85,390 

Ozark,  the 344,532  Poor.  Commander  Charles.  ..89,  327,  328,  332 

Pope,  Captain  Jvhn  89,  90 

PAULDINO,  Commodore  Hiram,  27,  30,  32,  Pork  Point 112etseq. 

97,359,389,439,440 6RO        Porter,  Midshipman  B.  H 112 

Paulding,    Lieut. -Commander     Leonard,  Pope  General 160,164,168 

14:1,148,150,157 160         Powell,  Captain  L.  M .107 

Pawnee,   the,  30,  32,36,40,41,44,47,55,  Polk,   General  Leonidas  (C.  8.  A.),  134, 

7o,  77 ...82  136         159 

Parrott.  Commander  E.  G 57,  79,  370  Porter,  Commodore  William  D.,  143,  146, 

r.iclurah,  Ky 136,160  262,269 273 

Para,  the 179,  3D1,  410        Ponchartraiu,  La 193 

Palmer,  Commander  James  S.,  261,  272,  Ponchartrain  Lake 247,  277 

274,  775     780        Poncliartrain,  the  (C.  S.  N.) 292 

Pampero,  the 282        Port  Gibson 316 

Palmetto  State,  the  (C.  S.  N.) 369        Port  Royal,  the   409,415,460 

Patapsco,  the.  365,  372,  389,  437,  440,  441,  659  Porter,  Lieut.  B.  H  ...  .447.  478.  718,  719,  725 

Pattersonville  277,  279        Polignac,  General  (C.  S.  A.) 556 

Pasquotauk  River 114  Potomac  Flotilla,  1 77;  list  of  vessels,  Jan. 

Panilico  River 112,423  1,1864 631 

Pamlico  Sound 47,  108,  412,  425  Porter,  Rear-Admiral  David  D.,  87,  99  et 

Pansy,  the 294,343  seq  ;   121,   179,   180  et  seq  ;  205,  214, 

Paw   Paw.  the 343  215,216,217  et  seq;  223  et  seq;  232, 

Passaic,  the 372,  388,  440,  257,  260,  268.  273,  283  et  seq  ;  308,   et 

441 447  seq.;  328et  seq.;  333  et  seq.;  463,  464, 

Paul  Jones,   the 388,437  514  et  seq.;   545,  548,  615;  detached 

Paulina,  the 65,75,    77  from  the  command  of  the  Mississippi 

Patterson,  Commander  T.  H 403,  426  Squadron,  6K4;  assumes  command  of 

Parker,  Commander  Foxhall  A.. 412,  444,  577  the   North   Atlantic   Squadron.   684; 

Parker,  Commander  W.  A 478  first  attack   on   Fort  Fisher,  684    et 

Parrott,  Commander  E.  S 477  seq.;  709;   second    attack    on    Fort 

Pamunky  River 473  Fislier,  712;  718  et  seq 799 

Pa^an  Creek 474         Preble,  the 36,  81,  89,  107,  282,625 

Page,  Commander  Thomas  Jefferson,  (C.  Prentiss,  Commander  79 

S.  N.)  778 822        Price,  Commodore  Cicero 107 

Pennsylvania,  the 28,    30        Price,  the 313 

:             'la. ......  29,  36,  93,  100,  103,  104,  177  Price,  General  Sterling  (C.  8.  A.),  312,  325, 

Pern-,  the 36,  116,  400.  407,  417  335,  336,  337,  339 343 

Penguin,  the 57,77,460  Presto,    the   (blockade-runner),   destruc- 

Perkins,  Lieutenant  George  H.  200,  212,  tion  of 665 

235 247        Prairie  Bird,  the 344 

Perkins'  Landing 313  Prichett,   Lieutenant  -  Commander,   313. 

Perkins,  Acting-Ensign  James  T 34'3  336 337 

Pearson,  Midshipman 79        Prentiss,  General r!36 

Penniugton,  Acting-Master 179  Preston,  Lieut  8.  W.,374, 436,  447,718, 719, 755 

Pelican  Island 92  Princess    Royal,    the   (blockade-runner), 

Peniberton,    General  (C.  S.  A.),  284,  296,  349,  367 778 

301;  extraordinary  ability   shewn  in  Prizes  adjudicated 833,843 

the   defence  of   Vicksburg,  301,306,'  Putnam.  Colonel 438 

311.316,320 324        Putnam,  the 109,118 

Pembiua,  the 81,  84.  281        Pursuit,  the 456,  460 

Pensacola,  the,  181,  183,  187,  191,  193,  198,  Purquiminous  River 417 

201.205,207 .279        Purviance,  Captain 123 

Pendergrast,  Lieutenant 125        Pulaski,  the  36 

Peck,  Oscar,  powder  boy 205        Puritan,  the 41 

Pennock,  Commander  A.  M 135 

Peosta,  the 343        QUAXTICO  CREEK 42 

Peri,  the 344  Quackenbush,   Lieutenant  -  Commander 

Penobscot,  the 410,  426,  430  S.  P .108,  114,367,  475 

Peck,  General 418  et  seq.        Quaker  City,  the 370,  388,  491 

Pequot,  the  475        Queen's  Creek 418 

Petersburg   405,476  Queen,  LieutenantW.  W  ...179,227,486,487 

Pennell,  Acting  Master,  J.  A 454  Queen  of  the  West,  the,  168,  171,  173,  249, 

Pet,  the   (blockade-runner),  capture   of,  778  284,  286, 288,  295,  296  et  seq  308 

Petrel,  the 316,  324,  332,  344        Queen  »  ity , 340,  344 

Pegram,  Captain   (C.  S.  N.) 618        Queen  of  the  Wave,  the 373 

Phienix,  the  (C.  S.  N. 178 

Phoenix,  Lieutenant-Commander 79        RALEIGH,  the 478 

Phiuney,  Acting-Master 179        Raleigh,  N.  C Ill 

Philadelphia,  the     109,410,431        Racer,  the    179 

Phillips,  Surgeon  (C.  S.  N.) 120        Karitan,  the '.'.'.'. 28 

Phillips,  Captain 159        Ramsey,  Lieutenant  Alan 107 

Philippi,   the 592  Ramsay,  Lieutenant-Commander  F.  M., 

Phelps.  Lieutenant  S.  L.,  143, 147, 149, 157,  316,  320,  335        ...                                 561 

159,166,169,214.340..   523        Ranger,  the '.'.'.'.  'ill  471 

Phelps,  General 187,  34 1        Radf ord.  Commander  William'.". .'.'.' 124 

Phelps,  LieutenantT.  8 403        Ram  Flotilla,  the  vessels  of  the 168 

Pittsburg  Landing 153,  159,  164,  168, 3:;7  Ransom.   Lieutenant -Commander,    198, 

Pittsburg,  the,  139,  150.  157,  160,  162,  165,  213.  269 275  et  sen 

284,295,  303,  310,313,  314,317,   318,342         Rappahannock  River '..'.'..'.  .   265 

Pillow  Captain  (C.  S.  N.) 151  Rachel  Seaman,  the.     .       ..        282,625626 

Pilottown 90,186        Hattler,  the 2J8,  290,  295,  300,  332  343 

Pickens,  General 96        Bappioncs 496 

Picket,  the  112,408        Randall,  Ensign  J.  P 459 

Pioneer,  the 112        Reindeer,  the 344   346 

Pike,  Captain 172,259        Red  Rover        343 

Pinola,  the 180,212,268,281,625        Rescue,  the 391    410 

Plymouth,  the 28,    39  Red  River.  273,300,  317,318,  332,339,463 

Plymouth,    111  et  seq.;  408,  414,  415,  417,  464;  Expedition  of,  494   534 

*83 489  Reed,  Lieutenant-Commander  Abner,206, 351 

Plum  Point  Bend 166        Bedstone  Point 112 


PA   ill 

Regiments:  Connecticut,  Sixth,  85,  438 
Seventh,  438;  Chalmette  (C.  S.  A.I, 
192,  198,  210;  Delaware,  Fourth,  Vol 
unteers,  425;  I'e  Saussiers,  591;  Haw 
kins,  49:  Indiana,  Twentieth,  48; 
First,  506:  Illinois,  Ninth,  136;  Thirty- 
second  Volunteers,  Co.  C.  (sharp 
shooters),  Co.  K,  Sharpshooters,  159; 
Co.  A.  Forty-second  Volunteers,  162, 
165:  Eleventh,  559;  Iowa.  Twenty- 
third,  335:  Fourteenth,  497;  Thir 
teenth  and  Thirty-second,  497;  Maine, 
Ninth,  438;  Missouri,  Tenth  Volun 
teers,  341;  Massachusetts  Volunteers, 
30;  Fifty-fourth  Colored,  438;  New 
Hampshire,  Fourth,  85:  Third,  438; 
Seventh,  438;  New  York.  Forty-eighth. 
438;  One  Huudreth,  438;  Ohio,  Sev 
enty-sixth,  321:  Sixty-second,  438; 
Pennsylvania,  Ninety -seventh,  85; 
Seventy-sixth ". 438 

Reports :  Captain  Pope's  retreat  down 
Mississippi  River,  90;  Captain  Handy 
to  Captain  Pope,  91;  Pope  to  Handy, 
91;  Fox.  Fort  Sumter  relief.  99;  Lie'u- 
tcnantGreen  on  Hampton  Roads,  120; 
Confederate  account  of  engagement 
with  Monitor,  130;  the  same  on  at 
tack  of  Merrimac  132;  Rear-Ad 
miral  Goldsl)orongh,132;  Capture  of 
Fort  Henry,  143;  Boyuton's  account 
of  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  If3;  Giviu's 
account  of  Shiloh,  153;  Commander 
Walke,  155;  engagement  near  New 
Madrid,  165;  Confederate  account  of 
battle  of  Fort  Pillow,  166:  Colonel 
Higgins  /C.  S.  A.),  179;  Farragnt's  on 
capture  of  New  Orleans  and  bombard 
ment  of  Fort  Jackson,  189,  190;  Cap 
tain  Bailey,  198:  Captain  H.  H.  Bell, 
200:  Captain  H.  W.  Morris,  201;  Cap 
tain  Craven,  201,^53;  S.  P.  Lee,  203, 
254;  Samuel  Swartmout,  2o5:  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  2(i(5;  Charles  S.  Bo«gs,  206; 
Captain  De  Camp,  208;  James  Alden, 
208,  254;  Edward  T.  Nichols,  209,  255 
et  seq.;  Geo.  H.  Pr"ble.  209,  233;  ('has. 
H.  B.  Caldwell,  211;  N.  B.  Harrison. 
212;  Pierce  Crosby,  212;  Geo.  W. 
Ransom,  213;  A.  N.  Smith,  213; 
John  H.  Russell.  214,  254  ;  Admiral 
Porter,  211;  W.  B.  Rensliaw,  223:  A. 
D.  Harrell,  224;  J.  M.  Wainwright, 
224;  John  Guest,  225;  C.  H.  Baldwin, 
226,  252;  Watson  Smith,  226;  Walter 
W.  Queen,  227;  K.  R.  Breese.  228; 
relative  to  prisoners,  229;  special  of 
Admiral  Porter,  230:  Coast  Survey, 
230;  K.  H.Gerdes,230;  Joseph  Harris, 
232;  Ed.  Donaldson,  253:  R.  Wain- 
Wright.  254  et  seq.:  J.  M.  Foltz,  255; 
John  De  Camp,  256;  H.  W.  Halleck. 
256;  Admiral  Porter,  257;  Pierce 
Crosby,  259;  S.  E.  Wood  worth,  259; 
Admiral  Farragut,  250  et  seq.,  260;  S. 
P.  Lee,  261;  J.  8.  Palmer,  256,  261;  R. 

B.  Lowry,  261;  C.  P.  Nichols,  262;  W. 
D.  Porter,  202:  R.  K.  Kelly.  262;  Lieut. 
Brown   297;  T.  M.  Farreil,319:  on  in 
juries  to  vessels,  322;  Admiral  Porter, 
328:  Flag-officer  DuPont,  391;  C.  R.  P. 
Rodgers,  393;  Charles  Steedman,  394; 
D.  Ammen,  394;   T.  H.  Stevens,  395; 
Flag-officer  DuPont,  396;  J.  G.  Rey 
nolds;  ?96;  extract  from   Lamson's 
Report,  420;    extract  from   General 
Spinola's   report,  424;   General  Gill- 
more,  446;  Admiral  Porter,  530;  Gen 
eral  Banks,   542;  W.   S.    Burns,   645; 
extract  from  General  Banks'   report, 
547;    General   Banks,  542,  547;   Con 
federate  report  on  Singer's  Torpedo, 
558;  Farragut  on  the  Battle  of  Mobile 
Bay,  578;    P.   Dray  ton.  580.    588;   G. 
Handy,  680;   La  Rue  P.  Adams,  581; 
G.  B.  Glidden,  581;   W.  Starr  Dana, 
581;  T.  Williamson,  581;  T.   A.   Jen 
kins,  581.  587;  J.   B.  Marchand,   581- 
588;   James  Alden.  583;  J.  H.  Strong, 
583  ;    W.   E.    Le    Roy,   584 ;    T.     H. 
Stevens,  584;  J.  W.  A.' Nicholson,  584, 

C.  H.   Wells.  584;   James  E    Jouett, 
585;  Bancroft  Gherardi,   585;   C.   H. 
Greene,   585:    W.   P.    McCann,   586; 
George  Brown,  586;   G.   H.   Perkins, 
586;  Chas.  L.  Hnntington.  586;  J.  M. 
Duncan,  660;   Secretary  W'elles,   680; 
Admiral    Porter,    698;    Commodore 
Thatcher,    701;    J.   C.   Howell,   702; 
Admiral    Porter,    703  ;     Commodore 
Schenck.  707;  W.  Radford,  707;  James 
Aldeu.   708;    M.    Sicard.    709;    K.   R. 
Breese,  719,  724,  725;  H.  K.Thatcher, 


GENERAL  IXDEX. 


xv 


PAOE 

729;  W.  Radford,  729:  James  Parker, 
730;  L.  E.  Fagan,  732:  Charles  Steed- 
man.  732;  L.  L.  Dawson,  734;  W.  B. 
dishing,  735:  H.  W.  Griimell.  736; 
Admiral  Dahlgren.  762.  768;  Edward 

Simpson.  784;  Admiral  Thatcher 788 

Reno,  General 114 

Relief,  the 36.  282 

Resolute,  the 41.  178 

Renshaw,  Commander  W.   B.,   186,    216. 

2-i3,  269.  346,  408.  424  486 

Republic,  the  321 

Review  of  the  work  done  by  the  navy  in 

1863 "....462 

Release,  the  493 

Read,  Lieutenant  (C,.  S.  N.) 812 

Restless,  the 390 

Remey,  Lieutenant  George  C 447 

Reynolds,  Major  A.  H 77,  246,  3% 

Rhind.  Lieutenant-Commander. ..79. 376, 

437 695  et  seq. 

Rbode  Island,  the 229,  413,  414 

R.  I.  Breckinridge,  the   C.  S.  N.) 178 

Rider,  Lieutenant     15'J 

Rip  Raps  127,132 

Richmond,  111,    132,   159,   405,   417,  469; 

capture  of  ....         79  J 

Richmond,  the,  36.  89,   91,  93,   104,   107. 

181,  183,  191,  198.  200.  261,  268,   272.  '.80 
Ripley,  Brigadier-General  (C.   B.   A.),  86; 

official  circular  Irom     371 

Roe,  Commander  Francis  A.,  103,  201,  275, 

472,  486  , ...487 

Roanoke  River 112,  483 

Rouckendorff,  Commander  William,  107.  637 
Roanoke  Island,  32:   expedition  against, 
108;  defences  of,  110,    112;  capture 

of 1X4,  11 ; 

Roanoke,  the   36,  123,  126,  490 

Robinson,  Acting-Master  79 

Rockville,  stores  captured  at 82 

Rodgers,  Commander  John,    52,    55,    59, 

75,  79,  85,  134,  140,  386.  394.  404   444 

Rodgers,  Commander  C.  R.  P.,  55,  62,  75, 

78,  81,  85 374 

Rowan,  Commander  S.  C.,  takes  Alexan 
dria,  40,  44.  109,  112, 114.  116,  123,  399, 
400,407,408,439,440.444..  ...  449 

Romeo,  the     2*8,  295.  310,  320,  343,  344 

Roberts,  Colonel  George  w        162.  165 

Robb,  the 294.334,  340,  344 

Robert,  the 333 

Rolling  Forh 304,  305,  324 

Rodgers,  Captain 415 

Rodman,  Lieutenant-Colonel 438 

Rrss,  Brigadier-General , 300 

Roman,  the     431 

Robeson,  Lieutenant  H.  B 440 

Roebuck,  the   ..  456,460 

Russell,  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  H 214 

Russell,  Lieutenant  J.  H.,  51, 184.  200     .  .216 
Russell,  Lord  John,  letter  to  Lord  Lyon, 
69 72 

SABINE.  the 36 

Saginaw,  the     36 

San  Jacinto,  the 36,  64,  404,  409,  460,  637 

Saratoga,  the   36 

Santee,  the 36,  92,  107 

Savannah   the 36,  81 

Sachem,  the   219,  230.  282,  346 

Savannah,  Ga  75.  85,  433 

Sandy  Point 112 

Sallie'  Robinson,  the 277 

Sanford,  Lieutenant  I.  P  135,  161,  417 

Savage.  Acting-Master  179 

Sarah  Bnien,  the 179,  282 

Saltonsull,  Acting-Master 423.  424 

Samuel  Rotan,  the 431,  493 

Sagamore,  the 454,400 

Saugus,  the  477 

Sassacus,  the... 486,  487 

Sabine  Lake 508 

Santiago  do  Cuba,  the 697 

Sacramento,  the 822 

Sabine  Pass,  expedition  against 346 

Samson,  the 294,  344 

Saxon,  the 232,  270 

Sam  Houston,  the 282 

Sabine  Cross  Roads     507,  536 

Scott,  General  Wiufleld. . .  .27,  40,  96, 102, 105 

Scott.  Colonel  H.  L 97,  102 

Scott,  Lieutenant  John  288.  439 

Scotia,  the   473 

Scotland,  the  324 

Schimmelfennig,  General        670 

Schenck,  Commodore  James  Findlay        707 
Sciota,   the,   184.    189,   191.  198.  200,  208. 

262 281 

Seabrook 84 et  seq. 

Sea  Islands  76 

Seminole.  the  3C>.  55,  77,  404 

8e well's  Point 30,32   125,130,403 


Seneca,  the 57.  75,77,  84,365,  371.3-19,  437 

Seward,  William  H.,  67  ;  letter  to  Mr. 
Adams  about  the  "  Trent,"  68  et  seq.; 

94  100 102  et  seq. 

Semmes.  Captain  Raphael  (C.  S.  N.t,  89, 
602  ;  resigns  commission  in  U.  S.N  , 
603;  takes  command  of  "  Sumter," 
604.  609.  612.  622,  622,  627,  628; 
christening  of  the  "Alabama,"  628; 
swearing  in  his  crew,  629,  630  ;  ad 
dress  to  his  crew  before  the  engage 
ment  with  "  Kearsarge,"  651;  i;aved 
from  drowning  by  the  English  Yacht 
"  Deerhound,"  651 :  assumes  com 
mand  of  Confederate  fleet  as  Rear- 
Admiral,  796;  blowing  up  his  ships.. 797 

Seabird.  the .       113 

Seymour,  the 113,  415,  423,  431,  487,  493 

Sea  Foam,  the 179,  282 

Seaman,  the 292 

Sebago,  the  389.  407,  410 

Selfridge,  Lieutenant-Commander  T.  O., 

284,  323,  332,404 514 

Selma  the   C.  S.  N.),  captured. 629 

Seaver,   ,  Master  of  the  "  Philippi," 

cowardly  conduct  of     593 

Semmes,  Lieutenant  A.  A.,  79.  85.  458  et  seq. 

Sherman,  General  T.  W. ,  54.  59  et  seq 62 

Sherman,  General  W.  T  ,  75  et  seq.:  76, 
84,  111 ;  assigned  to  district  of  Cairo, 
152,  284  et  seq.;  2-5,  288 et  seq.;  291, 
292  et  seq.;  295,  296,  303;  arrives  at 
Black  Bayou,  304,  305,  30R,  312  et  seq. ; 
316  et  seq  ;  320,  322  et  seq.;  letter  to 
Admiral  Porter,  327,  463.  469,  748. . .  .758 
Shirk.  Lieutenant  James  W.,  143.  147, 

Io9etseq.;  174,  288,  290.  292,  310.... 315 
Shiloh.  152  ;   battle  of,  153  ;  loss  at,  154, 

163 339 

Shaw,  Lieutenant  Edward 283 

Shawsheen,  the     408,  410.  415,  417,  493 

Shankland,  Acting-Master  W.  F.. 403 

Shokokon,  the 4:7,  428 

Shaw.  Colonel. 438 

Sherrill.  Acting-Master 456 

Hhenandoali,  the     490 

Shreveport,  50-!,  634;  surrender  of  Con 
federate  property  at  806 

Shenaudoah,  the  C.  S.  N.) 815,816 

Simms,  Lieutenant  Charles  C.  (C.  S.  N.  ,  120 

Sidney  C.  Jones,  the. . .   179 

Signal  for  Communication.   197 

Siren,  the  344 

Silver  Lake,  the 333,343 

Silver  Cloud,  the 334,340.343 

Signal,   the,  284.  288,  295,  316,  324,  331. 

344 523 

Simpson,  Lieut  -Commander  Ed  w...  446,  784 

Simmons,  Lieutenant  J.  W        475 

Slernmer, Captain.  100,  104  et  seq.;  106... 149 
Slidell,   John,  arrest  of.   on    board  the 

"Trent"     64  et  seq.;  73,  105 

Small,  Robert. bringing  out  the  "  Planter" 

from  Charleston 86 

Smith,  Commander  Melancton,  107,  190, 

192,  198,  200,  272  et  seq.;  480 486 

Smith,  General  C.  F   .   141  et  seq. 

Smith,  Commodore  Joseph,  121;  killed,  125 
Smith,  Lieutenant  Commander  Watson, 
179,  1H5.  226,  288  et  seq. ;  290  et  seq. ; 
honorable  of,  292,  300;  aberration  of 

mind  of 301 

Smith,  Acting-Master ..179 

Smith.   Lieutenant  -  Commander  A.  N., 

198.. 213 

Smith.  Ensign  R.  B     288 

Smith,  Captain  William 403,  407 

Smith,  General  Kirby  (C.  S.  A.) 339,  535 

Smith,  Joseph,  Rear- Admiral 364 

Smith  Briggs,  the 426 

Smith's  Island  426 

Smith,  Major-General  W  F 470 

Smith,  General  A.  F..  620  etseq.;  632  et  Beq. 

Smith,  General  Kilby         535 

Southneld.  the,  108  etseq.;  410,  414,   415, 

423.  131 491 

Southern  Ports,  in  possession  of  Seces 
sionists,  22;  closing  of,  33;  under 
blockade,  33;  fortified  by  Confeder 
ates 34 

South  Carolina,  the.   388 

Sovereign,  the,  344,  423  424 

Sophronia,  the  178 

Somerset,  the 458,460 

Holey,  Professor  J.  Russell 129,  629 

South    Atlantic     Blockading     Squadron 

(1863.  1864) fi-W 

Southern  Republic,  the  (C.  S.  N.) 7H4 

Sportsman   tne •••  225 

Springfield.  Ill  284 

SpringfieHl,  the 343 

Spiuola,  General •  424 

Spicer,  Commander  William  F 407,  472 


PAGE 

Sproston,  Lieutenant  J.  G 161 

S4ua(lrons :  East  Gulf  Squadron  (Jan 
uary,  1863),  list  of  vessels  and  officers. 460 

Gulf  Squadron  (1861) 107 

Home  Squadron,  list  of  vessels 36 

Mississippi  Squadron,  vessels  and  offi 
cers  ;January  1. 1863),  293;  list  of  ves 
sels  employed  during  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  with  names  of  officers, 
342;  (January  1. 1864),  584;  (January  1, 

1865),..  807 

North  Atlantic  Squadron  (1862\  list  of 
vessels  and  officers,  408;  (January  1, 
1863 1,  429;  (January  1.  1864),  490; 

(January  1,  1865)      73» 

Potomac  Flotilla  (January  1,  1864),  list 

of  vessels  and  officers 681 

South  Atlantic  Squadron  (January,  1863), 
list  of  vessels  and  officers,  387;  (Jan- 

ary ,  1864),  672 ;  (January,  1865) 739 

West  Gulf  Squadron,  vessels  and  officers 
at  the  Battle  of  New  Orleans,  242: 
(January  1,  1863),  list  of  vessels  and 
officers."  279;  (January  1,  1864),  offi 
cers,  676;  (January  1,  1865) 787 

Steedman,  Commander  Charles.  57,  79,  394 

Steece,  Midshipman 51 

Stelwa^en,  Commander  H.  S.   . .  45,  107.  309 
8trin«ham,  Commodore  Silas  H.,  44,  46. 

57,  97  355 

St.  Lawrence,  the,  36,  123,  125  et  seq.; 

410,  460 491 

Stewart,  Commodore  97 

St.  Louis,   the,  36,   139,  It3  et  seq.;  148, 

150, 151,  157,  160  et  seq.;  168  et  seq..  .173 
Stevens,   Lieutenant-Commander  T.  H., 
55,    76,   79,   84  et  seq.;   85.  395,  407, 

446 447 

Stormlnlet 75,440 

St.  Mary's 77,277 

St.  Simms 78 

Stemble,  Commodore  R.  N.,  136.  138. 
143  et  seq.;  147,  160,  166  ;  wounded,  167 

St.  Augustine,  Fla.,  surrender  of 78 

Stars  and  Stripes,  the 108,  410,  460 

St.  Johns .       .78 

St.  Helen's  Sound,  reconnaissance  of,  81,  83 

Star,  the(C.  S.  N 178 

Star  of  the  West   the 96 

Sturgis,  Russell 97 

Stepping   btones,   the,  418,   420  et  seq.; 

431   ... 493 

Stodder,  Acting-Master  L.  N 414 

Steele's  Bayou,  expedition  against,  303, 

304 ;  end  of  expedition,  306 308 

Steele.  General 287.  295,  311,320 

St.  Charles,  the 277 

St.  Charles,  173;  evacuation  of,  292 293 

Stephenson,  Captain  178 

Stonewall  Jackson,  the  (C.  S.  N.). . .  .178,  183 
Stevens,  Lieutenant  H.  K.  (C.  S.  N.),  178,  183 

St.  Louis,  Mo 283 

St.  Clair.   the   294,344 

Stettin,  the  390 

State  of  Georgia,  the 403.  410,  429,  491 

Stevens,  the     403,409 

Strong,  Brigadier-General 435.  438 

St.  Andrew's  Bay 454.  456 

St.  George's  Bay  454 

Strandberg.  Ensign  F.  A 459 

b  tone.  General  C.  P        505,636 

St.  John's  River 666 

Stockdale.  the  785 

Stonewall,  the  (Confederate  Ram) 825 

Sullivan's  Island 445 

Suwanee  River 453 

Supply,  the 36,410 

Sumne.r,  Senator  Charles 72 

Simmer,  George  W 226 

Sunflower  River 303,  807 

Susqiiehauna,  the 401,  401) 

Suffolk 418,420.425 

Sumter,  the  (O.  S.  N.}.  89,  167,  269,  275, 
466  ;  cruise  of  and  the  havoc  com 
mitted.  601  to  619  inclusive  ;  arrives 
at  Gibraltar,  619;  her  career  termi 
nates  619 

Swartmoiit.  Captain  Samuel  192.  205 

Switzerland,  the 168,  172.  29f,.  308,  317 

Sybil,  the 344 

Szymanski,  Colonel  (C.  S.  A.).  192,  198  etseq. 

TACONT,  the  (C.  S.  N.),  486, 812;  captures 
the  Archer.  812:  captures  the  U.  8. 
Revenue  cutter  Caleb  Gushing.  .  812 

Tallahatchie  River 300,307,  331 

Taylor,  Fleet-Captiin  W.  Rogers  ...     .  436 
Tavlor,  General  Dick  (Confederate).  339, 510 
Tallahassee,  the  (C.  S.   N.).  81*;  name. 
changed    to  Chameleon,    818;    sur 
render  of  819 

Tatnal.  Commodore  Josiah  (C.  S.  N  ),  55. 
58,62,84  131  etseq. 


XVI 


GENERAL  IXDEX. 


PAGE 

Taylor,  the.  136,138  etseq.;  143,  148  et 
seq.;  153etseq.;  157,  159,  249,  294, 
316  etseq.;  336,  337,  339,  342  .  .  563 

T.  A.  Ward,  the 179,227 

Tawah,  the  344 

Timpa  Bay 453,  456 

Tahoma.  the 457,  459,460 

TensasRiver 300,332 

Tensas  Lake 332 

Tensas.the 344 

Terry,  Lieutenant  Edward 107 

Terry,  M»jor-General  Alfred  H ..  .701  et  seq. 

Tennesssee  the 281,344,356 

Tennessee  Biver,  333,  340,341;  engage 
ment  on  t'ue          ...  803,  et  s«q. 
Tennessee,  the  Army  of,  covered  itself 

with  honors 326 

Tennessee  (Conlederat  e  Bam),  surrender 
of,  577;  list  of  officers  of,  691;  no 

damage  to,  E94;  description  of 595 

Ten  Thousand  Islands 453 

Tecumseh.  the .475,477 

Temple,  Fleet-Captain  William  Q  ...     .460 
Thorn,    Reuben,    Captain    of    Marines 

<C.  8.N) 120 

Thomson,  Lieut.  Egbert. . .  .150, 157, 160,  162 

Thompson,  General  Jeff.  (C.  8.  N.) 120 

Thompson,  Acting-Master  G.  B 415 

Thomas,  Lieu  t. -Commander  N.  W 272 

Thistle.the     344 

Thayer,  General  518 

Thatcher,  Rear- Admiral.  405,  697.  701; 
joint  operations  in  Mobile  I'.ny  with 
Gene-al  Canby,  718  ;  instructions 
from  to  Fleet  Captain  Ed  ward  Simp 
son 784 

Thompson  of  Mississippi  (Confederate)  .469 
Tighlman,  Brig.-General  Lloyd  (C.  8.  A.) 

142etsoq.;  144     148 

Tibbetts,  Ac  ing-Master  H 346 

Torpedoes,  number  killed  by 592 

Tompkins,  Colonel  D.  D . .' 97 

Totten,  General 79,451 

Toucey,  J.,Sec.  of  Navy Ib 

Topsaillnlet   471 

Tredagar  Works.  Richm  nd.Va., enlarge 
ment  of 

Trathen,  Lieut.  James,  426  et  seq.   ...     478 

Trenchard,  Commander  Stephen  D.. 413, 418 

Trent,   the  (British  Mail  Steamer),  21; 

arrest  of  Messrs.  Sliclell  and  Mason 

onboard  of,  64  et  seq.;  statement  of 

Mason  and  Slidell,  06  et  seq. ;  letter 

of    Minister  of  Foreign    Affairs   in 

France,  70;  Mason  und  Slidell  given 

up,  71  etseq. ;  theU.  S  Government 

disavows    the    action    of   Captain 

Wilkes 72 

Treachery  of  Government  officials 101 

Trent's  Beach       474,476,483 

Troops,  first  landing  of  Northern 40 

Truxtun.  Liput. -Commander 79,  85,486 

Trumpeter,  the ....  487 

Tucker,  Commander  John  B 369 

TuBcumbia,  the, 310, 312  etseq.;  315,  317, 

321.322 343 

Turner,  Colonel  John  W  442 

Tus?arora,  the  478 

Tybee  Island.  75;  reconnaissance  of .  76, 
82,85;  capture  of 398 

ULIAM.  Maj  or  415 

Uncas,  the 390 

United  States,  the 28,  32 

Unadilla,  the  55,83,  367,  389 

Uncle  Ben,  the,  97  et  Beq.;  baptized  by 

Confederates 99 

Underwriter,  the,  108, 113  et  eeq.;  116, 

410,  430,  471 492 

Undine,  the  344 

Upshur,  Lieutenant 84 

Upton,  Lieut. -Commander  D.  P 349 

VAN  BTTSKIBK,  Acting-Master 179 

Varuna,   the,  183,   185,  190,   192,  193  et 

seq  ;  201,204 207 

Vallor,  Captain ..         421 

Vandalia.  the 55,430 

Van  Dorn.  General  Earl  (C.  8.  A.) 

Vanderbilt,  the  55,  131.  G46 

Valley  City,  the,  108,113  et  Beq.;  116, 

411,425 .  .431 

Van  Brunt,  Captain...  44, 123. 129  et  seq. 

Valparaiso,  the 396 

VernonBiver,  reconnaissance  of 82 

Vesselsin  pursuit  of  CoRfederateNavy.,114 

Vermont,  the  388 

Venus,  the  (blockade-runner)     ...  428 

Vessels  of  Union  Navy,  December.  1862; 
Naval  force  in  1861;  in  1862;  losses 
by  shipwreck  and  battle;  vessels 
added  since  March,  1861  236 


PAGE 

Vessels  entitled  to  prize-money.    . .  .833-843 
Vessels,  Iron-clad,  of  ConfederateNavy, 

in  May,  1862 265 

Vessels  and  officers  of  tquadions.  See 
squadrons. 

Victoria,  the,  411,430          493 

Vicksburg,  32,  173,  194,  264  268,  269,  273 
et  seq.;  expedition  against,  284  et 
seq.;  troops  settled  opposite,  293; 
General  Grant  takes  command.  293; 
siege  of,  295,  296,  301;  to  be  capture  I 
at  any  cost,  302  et  seq  ;  304,  306,  308; 
plans  to  send  gun  boats  below,  308; 
passage  of  the  flest  br,  310  tt  seq.: 
316.  320,  322,324:  bombardment  of, 
325;  surrender  of,  325,  326;  frater 
nizing  of  the  two  armies,  327;  Con 
federates  setting  fire  to  steamers, 
330,  3!fi;  great  rejoicing  at  New 
Orleans  en  the  fall  of,  352,  463,  46s,  535 

Vidette,  the 112 

Virginia,  Secession  of,  27;  resolutions  of 

compromise 105 

Vincennes,  the  36,  89  et  seq.;  107,  281 

Vixen,  the .82  et  seq.;  271 

Victory,  the 343 

Vindicator,  the 344 

Vodges,  Captain  105 

Volunteer,  the .       ...344 

WABASH,  the 36,  44,  55,  76,  78,  84,  3S7 

Washington 126, 131,  133,  235,  288,  423 

Wadsworth,  Colonel         30 

Walke,  Commander  Henry,  makes  recon 
naissance  of  Columbus  and  lielmont 
Landing,  136,  138,  143  et  seq.;  148, 
155,  et  seq.;  159  et  seq.;  running 
the  batteries  at  Island,  No.  10,  162 
et  seq. ;  169,  284,  288,  310,  315,  823  et  seq. 

Warsaw  Inlet 81,    85 

Wallace,  General 158 

Ward,  Commander  James  H.,  40;  death 

of 41  et  seq. 

Warrior  British  Man-of- War) 73,386 

Warrior,  the  (C.  S.  N.) ITS 

Water  Witch,  the.  06,  89  et  soq. ;  107, 3'JO,  668 
Watmough,  Lieutenant-Commander,  P. 

G.,  67,  79,  85,  370   395 

War  Department,  indisposed  to  co-oper 
ate  with  Navy,  76 138 

Wai u\v right,  Lieutenant-Commander  J. 

M.,  224,  261,  2">9;  killed 270 

Wainwright,  Commander  Richard,  184, 

186,  192,  198,  200 216 

Warley,  Lieutenant  F.  B.  (0.  8.  N.).  .178, 184 

Walker,  Captain  W.  8  104 

Walker,  Lieutenant  209 

Walker,  Lieutenant -Co-nmander  John 
G.,  288  et  seq.;  honorable  mention 

of,  '.92     300 etseq. 

Walker,  General  (Confederate)  498 

Walker,  Admiral  Sir    Baldwin    (British 

Navy) ..- 647 

Wallace,  Bnsign  J^mes 444,  447 

Warrenton       308,  311,  319 

Wallace's  Lake 504 

Walkertown 426 

Wamsutta,  the  390 

WashiU  River  . .  . .         300,  534 

Wachusetts,  the.  403,  407,  410;  captures 

the  "Florida"         813 

Wade,  Colonel  (Confederate)  killed 315 

Warner,  the ..         . ..  ,528etseq. 

Wallace,  Lieutenant  Lyman  P 447 

VVakassa  River  456 

Wanderer,  the     4>10 

Warren,  General  476 

W.  B.  Burton,  the  (C.  S.  N.) 178 

Warley,  Lieutenant  A.  F 489 

Welles,  Honorable  Gideon,  Secretary  of 
Navy  Department,  1861-69,  begins 
administration.  18  et  seq.:  26;  sum 
mons  Commander  Paulding  to  bisaid 
27;  35,  36  et  seq.;  letter  to  Ciptain 
Wilkes,  68;  94.  99  etseq.;  104  etseq.; 
letters  to  Commander  Foote.  148, 164, 
173,  188,  190  et  seq  :  194  et  seq.,  con 
gratulatory  lett  T  to  Admiral  Porter, 
230,  2:t6;  letters  to  Admiral  Porter, 
330.  337,  354,  357,  359.  364,  377,  381, 
387,  391  396,  464,  465,  686.  . .  .823  et  seq. 

Western  World,  the 76,  85 

Webb,  the  (C.  S.  N.),  263,  275;  destruction 

of  786 

Werden,  Lieutenant-Commander  Reed.  108 

Welles.  Acting-Master  F.  S 109,  415,  424 

Welden  ... Ill 

West.  Captain  John     ..112 

Weir's  Point 112 

Western  Flotilla    136 

Webster,  Colonel 153, 158 

Westfield  the 177, 186,  223,  270 


PAGE 

West  Point 403,  425.426 

Weaver,  Lieut. -Commander  A.  W..  .:<50,  667 

Weitzel,  General 277,  347,  6*4,  701 

Weehawken,  the,  3i'>5:  attack  on  the,  374; 
385,  386,  388,  435,  436,  437,  440,  444, 

447,  44J  ..       .       060 

Westcott,  Captain  (C.  S.  A.) 459 

W.  G.  Anderson,  the 282 

W.  G.  Putnam,  the   411 

White,  G.  M 214 

Whitehead,  the,  109, 112, 11 6, 390,  400,  410, 

423,  425 493 

Whale  Branch   .     84 

Whistling  Dick,  the  (Confederate  Gun). .  .32 

White  River .339 

W.H  Brown, the 343 

Wise.  Governor  H.  A.  (C.  S.  A.)  114 

Wise  Lesion,  the 117 

Wise,  Captain  Georgn  D     135 

Williams,  Acting-Master 179 

Williams,  General,  20:5;  killed 275,  299 

Wilkes.  Cautain  Charles,  of  the  San  Ja- 
cinto,  takes  Mason  and  Slidell  from 
the  British  Mail  Steamer  Trent.  64 
etseq.;  his  action  not  recognized  by 

* he  U.  S.  Government 72 

WilMams  (British  Mail  Agent  on  boird 
the  Tront)  denounces  action  of  Cap 
tain  Wilbes  66 

Wilmington  River  75 

vvilrumgi on  Island         .    .         85 

Wilcox,  Acting-Master ..  89 

Wilmington             .         118,426,427,401,478 
Wiuslo \v .Lieutenant-Command IT  Francis, 
90,   107  ;   engagement    with   the  Ala 
bama  .         651 ,  655 

Wissahickon,  the,  177,  192,  198,  213,  371, 

389  437 440 

Winona,  the,  84  et  seq.:  190,  192,  198,  200, 

209.  262,  281,  350,  625         026 

Wiggins  Acting-Master  George... 278  etseq. 

Wise,  Captain  Henry  A 364 

Wilson,  Colonel....' 300 

Wilsoji,   Lieutenant-Commander  Byron, 

303.310,315,319 337 

Winnebago,   the       344 

William  Bacon,  the 431 

William  Badger,  the 410 

Wilson,  the 415 

Williams,  Lieutenant-Commander  E.  P.. 447 

Withlacoocb.ee  River 456 

Wilkinson,  Lieutenant 472 

Wilderness,  battle  of  the 470 

Wilderness,  the   .695 

Wilcox'H  Wharf... 481 

Wilson,  General  James  Grant     525 

Whiting,  Lieutenant-Commander  W.  D., 

437 440 

Williamsburg  Va 418 

Willoughby's  Point 404 

Wiiinissimniet  the     425 

Woodward,  Colonel 334 

Woodward,   Acting  -  Master  T.   G.,   109, 

117   408 

Worden,  Lieutenant  John   L.,   105,   112, 

121.  126  etseq.;  129,  133.  365         ...  371 
Wood,  Lieutenant  John  Taylor  (C.  8.  N.), 

120 .' 472 

Wood  worth.  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Selim  E.,  223,  260  291,  292,  310,  313,  318 

Wood,  Colonel 335 

Woolsey,  Commander  M.  B.        349,  350,  309 

Wool,  General  John  1! 404 

Woodward,  Lieutenant  T  C 415 

Wright.  Brigadier-Generr.1  H.  G.,  55,  76, 

77,  «5 152 

Wright  River 85 

Wynian.  Lieutenant -Commander  R.  H. 

55 165 

Wyandotte,  the     36,  431,  492 

Wyoming,  the   465,  648 

Wyalusing,  the  486,  487 

YAZOOCITY 276,312.  321,  331 

Yazoo  River,  173;  expedition  against  and 
list  of  vessels  and  officers.  288,  303, 
3(i7,312,316,  319,  320  et  seq.:  rams 

burned 321;  324,  334,  336 

Yankee,  the 97  etseq.:  99 

Yard,  Dr  Thomas 260 

Yallabnsha  River 300,  303 

Yazoo  Pass 300 et  seq.:  303.  308 

Young's  Point,  landing  of  Army  at,  292, 

295,  317,  318,  325,  326,  334.  '. 336 

York  River 418  et  seq.:  425 

Young  Rover,  the 431.  493 

Yorktown,  evacuated  by  the  Confeder 
ates 403,405,418.425 

Young  America,  the 411 

ZIMMERMAN,  Lieutenant 270 

Zouave,  the 411,431,493 


CHAPTER     I. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  XAVY  DEPARTMENT.— THE  WRETCHED  CONDITION  OF  THE  NAVY 
AT  THE  OUTBREAK  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR.— WHAT  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  DONE.— BLOCKADE 
RUNNERS.— Loss  TO  THE  CONFEDERACY.—  PRIZES.—  X AVAL  TRIUMPHS.— FAITHFUL 
OFFICERS.— GIDEON  WELLS.—  GUSTAVUS  V.  Fox.— LAVISH  PRAISE  OF  THE  ARMY.— 
UNPREPARED  FOR  WAR.— PREMEDITATED  SECESSION.— SEPARATE  GOVERNMENT  —THE 
NAVY  AND  THE  HAPPY  CONDITION  OF  AFFAIRS  NOW  EXISTING,  &c. 


AT  the  outbreak  of  the  great  rebellion 
our  Navy  was  not  in  a  condition 
to  render  that   assistance  which 
the  occasion  demanded;  the  larger 
portion   of    it   was   employed  on 
foreign  stations,  and  the  Government  had 
not  at  its   disposal  a  class  of  vessels  that 
•could  enter  Southern  ports  and  act  offen 
sively. 

Had  a  proper  naval  force  existed  at  the 
time  the  Southern  people  first  proposed  to 
throw  off  their  allegiance  to  the  Union, 
there  would  have  been  less  difficulty  in  sup 
pressing  the  efforts  of  the  Secessionists,  for 
every  Southern  harbor  could  have  been 
taken  possession  of — our  ports  would  have 
remained  in  charge  of  the  Federal  officers, 
-and  if  the  South  did  obtain  supplies  from 
Europe,  they  would  have  been  obliged  to 
land  them  on  the  open  coast. 

If  two  monitors  like  the  "Miantonomoh" 
and  the  "  Monadnock  "  could  have  entered 
Charleston  harbor  when  Sumter  was  first 
threatened,  they  would  have  prevented  the 
erection  of  works  for  the  bombardment  of 
that  fort,  and  would  have  held  it  through 
out  the  war,  as  would  have  been  the  case 
with  all  the  ports  on  the  Southern  coast. 

The  first  policy  of  our  Government  should 
have  been  to  get  possession  of  all  the  ports 
in  the  South,  and  no  doubt  the  Administra 
tion  would  gladly  have  done  so.  but  for 
their  inability  to  carry  out  such  designs  if 
entertained,  owing  to  the  fact  that  we  had 
no  Navy  of  any  account  to  commence  with. 
Many  of  our  vessels  of  war  were,  as  a 
rule,  too  large,  and  drew  too  much  water  to 
enter  the  shoal  Southern  harbors,  and  a 
majority  of  them  were  sailing  frigates  and 


sloops  of  war  not  at  all  suited  to  the  work  re 
quired  of  them. 

Therefore,  the  Navy  Department  had  to 
resort  to  a  system  of  "blockade  which  was 
called  for  by  all  European  nations  with 
^vhich  the  South  had  held  commercial  rela 
tions.  The  Southern  people  once  recognized 
as  belligerents,  it  was  necessary  to  close 
their  ports,  and  the  system  of  blockade  re 
sorted  to  is  unparalleled  in  the  naval  records 
of  the  world — reaching,  as  it  did.  along  the 
entire  sweep  of  our  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts, 
from  the  Chesapeake  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  Grande. 

So  efficiently  was  the  blockade  main 
tained,  and  so  greatly  %vas  it  strengthened 
from  time  to  time,  that  foreign  statesmen, 
who  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.  did  not 
hesitate  to  pronounce  the  blockade  of  nea  r  1  y 
three  thousand  miles  of  coast  a  moral  im 
possibility,  twelve  months  after  its  estab 
lishment  were  forced  to  admit  that  the 
proofs  of  its  efficiency  were  so  comprehen 
sive  and  conclusive  that  no  objections  to  it 
could  be  made. 

It  is  true  they  would  point  to  the  number 
of  blockade  runners  that  eluded  the  vigi 
lance  of  our  vessels,  but  they  were  fairly 
startled  with  the  numbers  of  fast  steamers 
which  were  constantly  falling  into  our 
hands,  and  which  the  Government  often 
bought  and  equipped  for  employment  in 
capturing  blockade  runners  These  latter 
were  built  in  large  numbers  in  England 
with  much  profit  to  the  ship-yards  of  that 
country,  but  generally,  as  fast  as  they  were 
built,  they  were  picked  up  by  the  improvised 
cruisers  under  command  of  some  energetic 
naval  officers,  and  their  loss  was  so  greatly 


18 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


felt  by  the  Southern  people  that  they  were  at 
times  very  much  hampered,  if  not  crippled. 

What  the  loss  to  the  Confederacy  was, 
and  how  severely  injured  they  were  in  their 
resources  from  abroad,  by  the  activity  and 
energy  of  the  Navy,  will  appear  from  the 
mention  of  the  fact  that  during  the  war 
1,119  prizes  were  brought  in,  of  which  num 
ber  2iO  were  fast  steamers. 

"'  There  were  also  355  vessels  burned. sunk, 
driven  on  shore,  or  otherwise  destroyed — 
a  total  of  l,50i.  The  value  of  these  vessels 
and  their  cargoes,  according  to  a  low  esti 
mate,  was  equal  to  thirty  millions  of  dol 
lars."  They  were  condemned  for  an 
amount  equal  to  twenty-eight  millions  of 
dollars. 

Many  may  consider  that  keeping  up  a 
blockade  was  a  pleasant  pastime,  and  that 
officers  were  rewarded  handsomely  with 
prize  money;  but  that  did  not  obviate  the 
hardships  of  the  duty,  nor  remove  the  many 
obstacles  which  the  officers  encountered 
at  every  point. 

The  blockade  was  a  military  measure  of 
vital  importance,  and  it  depended  upon  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  conducted,  whether 
the  Confederacy  would  be  deprived  of  arms 
and  munitions  of  war,  provisions,  clothing, 
and,  in  fact,  everything  that  goes  toward 
maintaining  a  great  military  establishment. 

Without  the  supplies  which  the  Confeder 
ates  procured  from  abroad,  they  could  not 
have  maintained  their  position  for  many 
months,  for  they  were  very  destitute,  as 
compared  with  the  North,  of  all  the  ap 
pliances  for  making  weapons  of  war,  or 
for  furnishing  clothing  and  other  material 
necessary  to  armies. 

Hence,  it  might  be  well  said  that  without 
the  close  blockade  which  was  kept  up  by 
the  Navy,  the  war  might  have  been  carried 
on  indefinitely,  while  the  battles  would 
have  been  far  more  bitter  and  bloody  than 
they  were. 

The  naval  battles  that  were  fought  were 
more  exciting  to  the  public  than  that  close, 
dreary  blockade,  but  we  doubt  very  much  if 
they  were  of  any  more  value  to  the  Union 
cause. 

As  long  as  the  Confederacy  could  be  fur 
nished  with  provisions,  clothing,  arms  and 
the  munitions  of  war  they  could  fight  on, 
even  in  a  desperate  cause,  but  when  the 
sinews  of  war  were  taken  from  them  they 
collapsed. 

With  the  capture  of  the  last  of  the  ene 
my's  seaports,  from  which  they  had  been 
drawing  all  their  supplies,  the  rebellion 
Avas  virtually  ended.  Taking  into  consid 
eration  the  extent  of  coast  that  had  to  be 
blockaded,  and  the  short  time  in  which  it 
was  all  accomplished,  the  work  can  scarcely 
be  comprehended  by  the  ordinary  mind, 


but  it  is  not  yet  forgotten  by  those  who- 
managed  the  industrial  necessities  in 
Europe,  and  whose  cupidity  led  them  to 
embark  in  what  was  then  considered  a  wide 
field  for  accumulating  large  profits,  suppos 
ing  at  the  time  that  our  crippled  Navy  was 
incompetent  to  comply  with  the  obligations- 
imposed  upon  the  Government  in  complet 
ing  a  bonafide  blockade  of  the  whole  coast. 

Of  all  the  naval  triumphs  of  the  war,  thi& 
was  one  of  the  greatest.  There  were  ques 
tions  raised,  it  is  true,  with  regard  to  the 
competence  of  the  blockade  in  certain  lo 
calities,  but  they  were  seldom  sustained  by 
the  courts,  and  foreign  Governments  were 
obliged  to  admit,  notwithstanding  the  great 
commercial  interests  they  had  at  stake,  that 
the  blockade  was  the  most  complete  of  any 
that  had  ever  been  undertaken. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  our 
serviceable  Navy  consisted  of  two  sailing 
frigates,  eleven 'sailing  sloops,  one  screw 
frigate,  five  screw  sloops  of  the  first  class, 
three  side-wheel  steamers,  eight  screw 
sloops  of  the  second  class,  and  five  screw 
sloops  of  the  third  class. 

Eighteen  sailing  vessels  of  various  classes, 
five  screw  frigates,  one  screw  sloop  and 
three  or  four  side-wheel  steamers  were 
what  is  called  available,  that  is,  they  were 
laid  up  at  the  different  yards;  but  of  all 
these,  and  those  in  commission,  there  were 
only  eight  vessels  that  the  Government 
could  use  immediately — those  of  the  Homo 
Squadron — and  only  four  were  steamers 

That  was  a  poor  showing  for  the  Navy 
Department  to  commence  with.  Twenty- 
eight  of  the  vessels  in  commission  were  011 
foreign  stations,  and  by  the  time  the  Navy 
could  be  assembled  the  Confederates  had 
ample  time  to  prepare  to  meet  them  with 
offensive  weapons,  and  keep  them  out  of 
Southern  ports. 

When  Mr.  Toucey  handed  over  the  Navy 
Department  to  Mr.  Welles,  it  was  in  a 
rather  demoralized  condition — Southern 
officers  were  resigning  right  and  left,  offi 
cers  of  the  bureaux,  even,  were  talking  of 
going  with  their  States,  and  there  was  a. 
want  of  confidence  in  all  quarters.  When 
men  who  had  held  the  highest  and  most  in 
fluential  positions  in  the  Navy  came  for 
ward  and  offered  their  resignations,  there 
was  apparently  no  one  upon  whom  the 
Secretary  could  rely;  distrust  seemed  to 
pervade  every  branch  of  the  naval  service. 
No  commander  could  be  sure  who  would  be 
faithful  to  the  flag,  and  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  could  not  be  certain  of  any  Southern 
officers  being  true  to  the  Government.  It 
was  a  bad  state  of  affairs  for  a  Secretary  to 
commence  his  administration  with,  but'the 
eventful  year,  18(31-02,  will  show  that  the 
operations  and  achievements  of  the  Navy 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


19 


were  such,  that  great  credit  was  reflected  rebellion — or,    to  use  the  language  of  the 

not  only  upon   the  Secretary  but  upon  the  present   day,    in  persuading  our  Southern 

personnel  of  the  service,  which  so  signally  brethren    to   come   back    into    the   Union, 

aided  the  Department  in  carrying  out  the  It  is  but  justice  to  the  Navy  Department  to 

measures  tending  so  greatly  to  cripple  the  explain  to  the  reader  the  difficulties  under 


Confederate  cause. 


which  that  branch  of  the  Government  la- 


HON.  GIDEON  WELLES,  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY,  1801-159. 


It  is  only  intended,  in  this  narrative,  to  bored  to  carry  out  a  system  of  offense,  on 

give  a  comprehensive  history  of  the  naval  which  hung  the  whole  problem  of  bringing 

events  of  the  war,  so  that  the  general  reader  the  contest  to  a  happy  conclusion, 

can  form  a  rapid  idea  as  to  the  conduct  of  The  Xavy  Department  is  different  in  its 

naval  affairs,  and   understand  how  much  organization   from  any  other  department 

the  Xavy  had  to  do  with  putting  down  the  under  the  Government.      Its   relations  to 


20 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


the  central  Government,  it  is  true,  are  the 
same  as  the  others,  yet  its  operations  and 
wants  are  not  understood  except  by  experts 
who  have  had  a  long  training  in  the  De 
partment;  a  politician  who  takes  charge 
of  the  office  for  the  first  time  will  find  him 
self  quite  at  sea,  and  entirely  in  the  hands 
of  those  who  run  the  different  branches  of 
the  department. 

The  Secretary,  then,  should  be  considered 
as  surrounded  by  his  Cabinet  officers,  on 
whom  he  must  depend  at  all  times  for  such 
advice  and  council  as  he  may  need. 

His  chiefs  of  bureaux  are  not  clerks. 
They  are,  or  ought  to  be  his  advisers,  and 
should  hold  to  the  Secretary  the  same  rela 
tions  as  the  heads  of  departments  hold  to 
the  President.  It  depends  upon  the  fitness 
of  bureau  chiefs  whether  the  Secretary  can 
conduct  his  department  with  success  or  not. 

The  Navy  Department  combines  in  itself 
so  many  branches,  that  it  would  be  an  im 
possibility  for  any  one  man  to  comprehend 
them  all,  much  less  direct  them. 

We  have  had  a  number  of  secretaries  who 
have  attempted  to  "run  the  machine  on 
their  own  account,"  and  make  themselves 
independent  of  the  chiefs  of  bureaux,  but 
those  who  have  made  the  effort  have  always 
scored  a  dead  failure,  and  have  left  no  re 
cord  behind  them  that  would  innure  to  their 
benefit,  publicly  or  privately. 

It  is  quite  clear  that  the  head  of  the 
Navy  Department  should  be  a  statesman, 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  policy  of 
the  country;  he  should  be  a  constitutional 
lawyer,  should  have  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  international  law,  and  of  the  obligations 
we  are  under  to  all  foreign  Governments; 
he  should  be  familiar  with  all  the  mercan 
tile  interests  of  the  country,  and  understand 
the  relations  the  Navy  holds  to  our  com 
merce  afloat.  He  should  be  a  man  of  sound 
judgment  in  all  business  matters,  and 
should  possess  executive  ability  of  the 
highest  order.  Above  all,  he  should  be  a 
man  of  liberal  ideas;  not  considering  that 
he  is  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Department 
to  do  nothing  but  find  fault  with  the  offi 
cers  under  him.  but  to  aid  them  with  all  his 
power  to  build  up  a  Navy,  and  keep  it  in  a 
proper  condition  to  defend  the  country. 
In  fact,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  should 
be  the  political,  judicial  and  financial  head 
of  the  Navy  Department. 

When  the  war  broke  out  it  was  very  ap 
parent  that  the  organization  of  the  Navy 
Department  was  very  defective,  and  that 
the  system  of  bureaux  which  worked  fairly 
well  in  time  of  peace,  did  not  work  at  all  in 
time  of  war.  It  was  like  a  balky  team;  it 
required  a  professional  hand  to  "guide  the 
several  bureaux  which  seemed  to  be  trying 
to  run  their  departments,  each  without  re 


gard  to  the  other,  with  no  unanimity  of 
opinion,  and  it  was  soon  found  necessary 
to  add  a  professional  man  to  the  department 
with  the  title  of  Assistant  Secretary,  who 
should  supervise  all  the  operations  of  the 
different  bureaux,  and  take  charge,  under 
the  Secretary,  of  all  professional  matters. 

The  vast  operations  of  the  Department 
during  the  war  were  divided  into  two  great 
branches,  one  belonging  to  matters  per 
taining  particularly  to  the  Navy,  the  other 
embracing  civil  transactions,  together  with 
the  whole  business  machinery  and  opera 
tions  of  the  Department. 

Mr.  G.  V.  Fox,  who  had  formerly  been 
an  officer  of  the  Navy,  was  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  first  named  branch  of  the  De 
partment;  while  the  Chief  Clerk, Mr.  Faxon, 
was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Civil  Corps; 
He  was  really  the  representative  of  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy,  Mr.  Gideon  Welles. 

This  organization  was  found  necessary, 
owing  to  the  defective  system  then  exist 
ing,  which  exists  now,  and  which  will  be 
found  defective  again  if  we  should  ever 
be  involved  in  a  war  of  any  magnitude. 

It  was  rather  remarkable  that  the  Gov 
ernment,  after  the  war,  should  have  fallen 
back  upon  the  old  bureau  system  without 
any  professional  head,  when  its  defects 
were  so  glaring  just  after  the  commence 
ment  of  hostilities. 

Mr.  Fox,  on  entering  upon  the  duties  of 
Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  brought 
with  him  into  the  Department  a  knowledge 
of  naval  matters  which  could  not  by  any 
possibility  have  been  attained  by  a  pure 
civilian,  and  though  he  did  not,  perhaps, 
have  the  prestige  that  would  have  been 
held  by  a  Board  of  Admirals  or  the  Board 
of  Naval  Commissioners,  the  success  of  the 
Navy  during  the  war,  its  rapid  increase  in 
numbers  and  efficiency,  showed  that  he  was 
alive  to  all  the  requirements  of  the  service, 
and  was  always  ready  to  meet  the  demands 
made  upon  the  Navy  Department  by  the 
exigencies  of  the  moment. 

Congress,  at  all  times,  has  been  slow  to 
recognize  the  importance  of  a  Navy  com 
mensurate  with  the  interests  of  this  great 
country,  and  has  doled  out  ships  and  sail 
ors,  even  in  times  of  great  need,  with  a  par 
simony  that  has,  on  several  occasions, 
placed  the  country  in  great  straits. 

It  was  even  so  in  the  outset  of  the  great 
rebellion,  and  it  was  some  time  after  the 
commencement  of  hostilities  before  our 
legislators  could  be  made  to  understand  the 
necessity  for  a  large  number  of  vessels  to 
blockade  the  Southern  ports,  and  put  down 
the  privateers  and  vessels  of  war  which 
the  Confederates  were  putting  afloat,  and 
which  were  destroying  our  commercial 
marine  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


21 


Almost  from  the  beginning1,  the  Xavy 
Department  had  proper  appreciation  of 
what  the  struggle  was  to  be,  and  how 
necessary  it  was  for  the  Secretary  of  the 
Xavy  to  be  provided  with  the  means  of 
purchasing  ships,  guns  and  supplies  of  all 
kinds,  and  it  would  be  idle  to  say,  in  the 
light  of  results,  that  the  Department  did 
not  put  forth  all  the  energy  required  on 
such  an  occasion — first,  by  gaining  the 
confidence  of  Congress,  and,  by  using  the 
large  amounts  intrusted  to  its  charge  with 
a  fair  degree  of  economy,  considering  the 
vastness  of  the 
field  of  opera 
tions. 

The  adminis 
tration  of  the 
Department  was 
conducted  with 
ability,  which  is 
the  most  con 
vincing  proof  of 
the  fitness  of  its 
officers  for  the 
important  du 
ties  they  were 
called  upon  to 
perform.  It 
would  be  untrue 
to  say  that  such 
results  as  hap 
pened  could 
have  been 
achieved  by  per 
sons  of  ordinary 
capacity,  or  that 
the  head  of  such 
a  combination 
of  officers  was 
deficient  in  the 
qualities  neces 
sary  to  control 
so  many  grave 
matters  as  came 
within  his  juris 
diction. 

The  commu 
nications  that 
were  addressed 
to  Congress 

from  time  to  time,  by  the  Xavy  Depart 
ment,  show  conclusively  that  the  officers 
who  filled  the  different  positions,  from  the 
Secretary  down,  had  a  very  clear  compre 
hension  of  the  situation  in  all  its  details, 
and  that  at  no  time  was  Congress  without 
information  of  all  that  was  going  on  in  the 
Xavy,  or  of  what  was  required  to  keep  it  in 
efficient  condition. 

It  was  seen  very  early  in  the  struggle 
that  the  policy  of  England  and  France  was 
unfriendly  to  the  Union  side,  which  was 
fully  evinced  in  the  case  of  the  "Trent" 


GUSTAVUS  V.  FOX.  ASS'T  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY,  18C1-66. 


later  on,  and  all  the  influence  and  argu 
ment  of  the  Xavy  Department  was  brought 
to  bear  upon  Congress  to  place  our  Xavy  in 
a  position  to  meet  every  attempt  on  the 
part  of  foreign  governments  to  meddle  in 
our  affairs.  Hence  it  was  that  we  finally 
commenced  building  a  class  of  vessels  that 
set  at  defiance  those  who  seemed  disposed 
to  interfere  with  us.  and  left  us,  at  the  end 
of  the  civil  war.  mistress  of  the  situation 
at  home  and  abroad. 

With  these  preliminary  remarks,  which 
do  not  by  any  means  convey  what  is  due  to 

those  who  had 
charge  of  naval 
matters  at  the 
Department,  we 
will  proceed  to 
give  as  near  as 
we  can  a  short, 
but  comprehen 
sive,  account  of 
the  various 
events  which 
occurred  during 
the  war,  and  en 
deavor  to  show 
the  bearing  they 
had,  not  only 
on  .particular 
movements  of 
the  army,  but 
the  i  n  fl  u  e  n  c  e 
they  exerted  in 
the  quelling  of 
the  rebellion  in 
general. 

We  do  not  de 
sire  to  take  one 
atom  of  praise 
from  our  gallant 
soldiers,  who, 
throughout  the 
war,  showed 
courage  and  en 
ergy  unsurpass 
ed;*  but  we  feel 
with  many  oth 
ers,  that  while 
the  country  has 
been  lavish  of 

its  praise  to  the  Army,  it  has  not  always 
rendered  that  justice  to  the  Xavy  which  it 
actually  deserved. 

The  writer  does  not  hesitate  to  say,  that 
but  for  the  exertions  put  forth  by  the  naval 
branch  of  the  government,  the  rebellion 
would  not  have  been  brought  to  a  close  so 
rapidly  as  it  was. 

Xo  nation  was  ever  more  unprepared  for 
war  than  were  the  United  States  when  the 
rebellion  of  eleven  States  was  thrust  upon 
them,  and  when  the  people  of  the  South 
committed  their  first  hostile  acts  by  seizing 


22 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


upon  the  forts  and  arsenals  that  were  built 
for  their  protection,  without  the  expectation 
that  they  would  be  used  against  the  gov 
ernment."  No  pen  could  adequately  express 
the  utter  impotence  of  the  general  govern 
ment  for  attack  or  defence  when  it  was 
called  upon  to  perform  the  imperative  duty 
of  rescuing  the  federal  fortifications  from 
the  hands  of  the  rebels,  or  of  yielding  up 
all  authority  over  them,  and  thereby  sacri 
ficing  the  life  and  honor  of  the  nation. 

The  Navy,  in  particular,  on  which  alone 
the  government  seemed  disposed  to  depend 
at  the  first  outbreak,  was  unquestionably 
in  a  bad  condition  to  undertake  all  that 
was  required  of  it. 

Some  there  were  who — rebels  at  heart  and 
purpose — after  holding  for  several  years 
previous  to  the  war  high  positions  in  the  ad 
ministration  preceding  that  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
had  done  all  they  could  to  dispose  of  the 
Navy,  so  that  it  could  not  be  used  in  the 
event  of  trouble  between  the  North  and  the 
South.  The  object  was  to  destroy  all  its 
resources,  to  cripple  the  navy  yards,  dis 
mantle  the  ships  or  have  them  on  distant 
stations,  so  as  to  render  it  impossible  for 
the  Navy  to  strike  an  effective  blow;  or,  if 
possible,  to  throw  the  ships  and  Southern 
yards  into  the  hands  of  the  Secessionists. 
How  well  they  succeeded  the  history  of  the 
war  will  tell. 

It  may  be  supposed  by  those  unfamiliar 
with  the  events  of  the  times,  that  the  rebel 
lion  was  the  result  of  measures  forced  upon 
the  South  just  previous  to  the  election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  that  in  his  election 
they  saw  the  death  blow  to  the  hopes  they 
had  cherished  for  extendingslavery  into  new 
states  and  territories.  If  any  one  supposes 
that  the  rebellion  was  an  impulsive  measure, 
let  him  dismiss  such  an  idea,  for  the  writer 
was  told  by  a  Southern  Senator  in  1860,  that, 
as  far  back  as  1855,  when  the  "Colorado" 
class  of  ships  were  built,  he  and  others 
had  voted  to  have  them  and  all  other  vessels 
constructed  of  such  a  size  and  such  a  draft 
of  water,  that  they  could  not  enter  any 
Southern  ports;  so  it  seems  that  the  thought 
of  secession  had  been  maturing  for  years, 
and  while  Southern  statesmen  were  appa 
rently  urging  the  building  of  large  vessels 
instead  of  small  ones,  on  the  ground  that 
the  dignity  of  the  Nation  called  for  these 
cumbersome  structures,  it  was  really  for 
the  purpose  of  crippling  the  Government  in 
case  the  Southern  States  should  secede.  In 
this  they  succeeded  admirably,  so  much  so, 
in  fact,  that  these  large  ships  were  of  little 
use  in  the  beginning  of  the  war,  as  they 
could  enter  no  Southern  ports,  and  their 
guns,  without  so  doing,  could  not  reach  the 
opposing  forts. 

Young  men  of  the  present  day  who  will 


want  to  make  themselves  informed  of  the 
events  of  our  Civil  AVar,  will  scarcely  be 
lieve  that  it  was  the  settled  purpose  of  the 
South  to  organize  a  separate  government, 
or  that  they  would  resort  to  such  means  to 
carry  out  their  plans,  especially  when,  after 
a  careful  investigation  of  affairs  at  that 
time,  it  will  be  clearly  perceived  that  they 
had  no  actual  ground  for  complaint.  On 
the  contrary,  the  South  for  years  had  en 
joyed  more  than  their  share  of  honors  and 
emoluments,  and  had  gained  from  the 
North  compliance  with  urgent  demands, 
which  often  passed  the  bounds  of  proper 
concession. 

From  the  time  Mr.  Lincoln  became  Presi 
dent,  all  the  Southern  ports  were  in  the 
possession  of  Secessionists:  they  were  sealed 
against  our  large  ships,  and  open  to  block 
ade  runners,  which  immediately  began  to 
supply  the  South  with  munitions  of  war. 
thus  giving  that  section  a  start,  from  which 
they  were  benefited  for  a  year  to  come. 

Had  our  Navy  at  that  time  consisted  of 
some  thirty  small  gun-boats,  or  a  dozen 
monitors,  the  rebellion  would  have  been 
unable  to  raise  its  head.  Yet,  with  all  the 
experience  we  have  had  before  us,  we  are 
at  the  present  time  in  a  worse  condition 
than  we  were  on  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion.  If  to-day  events  occurred  similar 
to  those  of  1861,  we  would  be  in  a  worse 
condition  to  prevent  them.  Why  does  this 
settled  purpose  to  keep  the  Navy  down  ex 
ist,  when  it  was  shown  so  conclusively 
during  the  Civil  War,  that  without  the  aid 
of  the  Navy  the  South  would  have  succeeded 
in  its  attempt  to  dismember  the  Union? 
Does  it  not  look  as  if  that  good  service  had 
been  forgotten,  and  that  it  is  determined 
that  only  a  ghost  of  a  Navy  shall  remain — 
a  shadow  that  can  be  of  no  actual  use  in 
war,  and  fit  to  serve  only  as  an  idle  pageant 
in  time  of  peace? 

If  the  Navy  in  the  first  outburst  of  the 
war  did  not  perform  any  act  that  would 
show  its  importance  in  putting  down  the 
rebellion  at  once,  it  was  because  it  was  in 
such  a  crippled  condition  regarding  its 
ships,  while  over  two  hundred  of  its  officers 
were  throwing  up  their  commissions  and 
hastening  South  to  try  their  fortunes  with 
the  seceding  States. 

A  retrospective  view  of  the  history  of 
the  times  will  show  how  opposed  the  coun 
try  was  to  commence  a  war,  the  end  of 
which  no  man  could  see.  So  much  was 
this  the  case  that  the  North  humiliated 
itself  with  concessions,  and  it  was  not  until 
violent  resistance  had  begun  on  the  part  of 
the  South,  and  the  honored  flag  of  the 
Republic  had  been  fired  upon,  that  the 
North  awoke  to  the  indignity,  and  never 
rested  until  its  Army  and  Navy  had  wiped 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


23 


out  the  foul  blow  that  had  been  struck,  and 
the  Union  was  once  again  restored  in  all 
its  entirety. 

The  Navy  Department  was  beset  with 
<lifficulties  at  the  very  beginning;  the  friends 
of  the  South  in  Congress  did  all  they  could 
to  withhold  supplies  of  money.  Our  mer 
chant  marine  did  not  then,  as  now.  hold 
•out  the  same  facilities  for  improvising  a 
naval  force.  Six  hundred  vessels  were  de 
manded  at  once  for  the  purposes  of  block 
ade  and  for  putting  afloat  a  force  that 
-could  keep  down  the  Southern  privateers, 
and  when  it  is  considered  what  the  Depart 
ment  did  under  all  the  adverse  circumstan 
ces  attending  the  execution  of  these  re 
quirements,  the  highest  praise  cannot  be 
withheld  from  those  who  managed  its 
operations. 


Every  man  who  held  position  of  honor 
and  trust  in  the  Navy  Department  in  those 
trying  times  is  dead  and  gone,  and  the  mul 
tiplying  events  of  a  quarter  of  a  century 
have  crowded  out  for  a  time  the  great 
works  which  emanated  from  their  conjoint 
exertions;  but  those  who  will  take  the 
trouble  to  hunt  up  and  read  over  the  docu 
mentary  history  of  the  times,  will  find 
ample  evidence  that  to  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  and  the  Navy  is  the  present  genera 
tion  largely  indebted  for  the  happy  condition 
of  affairs  now  existing  in  a  united  country 
— a  prosperity  never  exceeded  in  the  history 
of  the  land — and  the  most  substantial  proofs 
that  the  Navy  will  always  be  found  fore 
most  to  support  this  union  of  States,  no 
matter  what  may  be  the  sacrifices  made  by 
its  officers  and  other  personnel. 


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CH  A  PTE  R    I  I. 


BOMBARDMENT    AND   FALL    OF    FORT    SUMTER. —DESTRUCTION   OF   THE 
NORFOLK  NAVY  YARD  BY  THE  FEDERAL  OFFICERS. 


FIRST  Gux  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR  FIRED.— BATTERIES  AT  CUMMIXGS  POINT.— C APT. 
MC-CREADY'S  BATTERY.— C  APT.  HAMILTON'S  FLOATING  BATTERY.— MAJOR  ANDERSON. 
— SUMTER  RETURNS  THE  FIRE.— UNEQUAL  CONTEST.— TARDY  ATTEMPTS  TO  RELIEVE 
SUMTER.— INDIGNANT  PEOPLE. — ANDERSON'S  GALLANT  FIGHT.  AND  SURRENDER  TO  THE 
SECESSIONISTS. — EFFECT  OF  THE  SURRENDER  OF  SUMTER. — LINCOLN'S  POSITION  TOWARD 
VIRGINIA. — GEN.  SCOTT  AND  THE  VIRGINIANS. — COMMODORE  MCCAULEY. — SECRETS  OF 
THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT  MADE  KNOWN  BY  DISLOYAL  OFFICERS. — CONSPIRATORS  AT 
WORK. — A  PLOT  TO  SEIZE  NORFOLK  NAVY  YARD. — THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT  POWERLESS. 
—COMMODORE  PAULDING  SUMMONED. — HOSTILE  ATTITUDE  OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF  NORFOLK 
AND  PORTSMOUTH. — VESSELS  AT  THE  NORFOLK  NAVY  YARD. — SHIPS  THAT  WERE 
HISTORIC. — AGGRESSIVE  MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  CONFEDERATES. — COMMANDER  JAMES 
ALDEN. — CHIEF  ENGINEER  ISHERWOOD. — INDECISION  OF  COMMODORE  MCCAULEY. — THE 
TORCH  APPLIED  TO  THE  NAVY  YARD  AND  VESSELS  BY  THE  FEDERAL  AUTHORITIES.— 
VESSELS  THAT  WERE  SAVED. — THE  GREATEST  MISFORTUNE  TO  THE  UNION  CAUSE. — THE 
MERRIMAC,  ETC..  ETC. 


AT  thirty  minutes  past  4  o'clock,  on 
April  12,  1801,  the  first  gun  of  civil 
war  was    fired,    the    battery   on 
James     Island     discharging    the 
first  howitzer  shell,  which  fell  in 
side  Fort   Sumter.  blowing  up  a  building; 
this  was  almost   immediately  followed  by 
another   shell,  which  scattered  destruction 
all  around. 

Fort  Moultrie  then  took  up  the  assault, 
and  in  another  moment  the  guns  from  the 
gun  battery  on  Cummings  Point,  from 
Captain  McCready's  battery,  from  Captain 
James  Hamilton's  floating  battery,  the 
enfilading  battery,  and  every  other  point 
where  a  gun  could  be  brought  to  bear 
on  Sumter,  opened  in  succession;  and  the 
guns  poured  forth  their  wrath  as  if  the  fort 
standing  out  in  the  bay  had  been  some 
vengeful  foe  on  which  they  desired  to 
wreak  their  vengeance,  instead  of  consider 
ing  that  it  had  been  placed  there  for  their 
protection  against  all  foreign  enemies. 

It  was  well  understood  by  all  those  in  that 
beleagured  fort  what  would  be  the  result  of 
building  all  those  earth-works,  and  that  it 
was  only  a  matter  of  a  few  days  or  perhaps 


hours,  ere  the  South  Carolinians  would  pro 
ceed  to  extremities — had  they  waited  until 
the  loth  of  April  the  garrison  would  have 
been  starved  out,  and  obliged  to  surrender 
for  want  of  provisions.  But  that  would  not 
have  suited  them ;  they  wanted  to  strike 
a  blow  that  would  make  separation  inevit 
able,  and  one  that  would  unite  the  whole 
South  in  the  measures  then  pending  to  form 
a  Southern  Confederacy,  or  whatever  kind 
of  government  they  might  finally  drift  into. 
Major  Anderson,  the  Commander  of  Sum 
ter,  received  the  first  shot  and  shell  in 
silence;  the  batteries  at  regular  intervals 
continued  to  belch  forth  their  deadly  mis 
siles,  and  still  no  answer  was  returned  by 
the  besieged,  until  about  an  hour  after  the 
firing  commenced,  then  two  shots  were  fired 
from  Sumter  and  glanced  harmlessly  from 
the  face  of  Fort  Moultrie.  Sumter  fired  no 
more  until  between  six  and  seven  o'clock 
when,  as  if  enraged  at  the  onslaught  made 
upon  it  and  kept  up  with  increasing  vigor, 
it  then  opened  from  casemate  and  parapet  a 
hail  of  shot  and  shell  on  Moultrie,  steam 
iron  battery,  and  the  floating  battery,  that 
fairlv  made  them  shake.  This  was  re- 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


turned  with  great  vigor  by  the  South 
Carolina  gunners.  There  were  good  sol 
diers  on  both  sides,  men  trained  to  arms 
and  neither  to  be  daunted  by  a  few  shot  and 
shell.  The  story  of  that  day  is  known  to 
all  who  read  history,  and  it  is  not  necessary 
to  further  refer  to  it,  excepting  in  connec 
tion  with  the  naval  expedition  which  was 
fitted  out  in  the  earlier  part  of  April  to  go 
to  the  relief  of  Sumter,  the  history  of  which 
will  appear  further  on  in  this  narrative. 

Secretary  Welles,  with  a  decision  worthy 
of  the  occasion,  did  fit  out  an  expedition 
for  the  relief  of  Sumter,  the  last  vessel  of 
which  sailed  from  New  York  on  the  9th  of 
April,  but  owing  to  various  reasons  did  not 
reach  Charleston  harbor  in  time  to  be  of 
any  use,  and  the  attack  on  the  fort  com 
menced  soon  after  the  leading  vessels 
showed  themselves  off  the  bar.  A  number 
of  the  smaller  vessels  never  arrived  at  all, 
and  under  the  circumstances  could  have 
been  of  no  use  had  they  arrived  twenty-four 
hours  before  the  attack.  The  expedition  ar 
rived  only  to  see  the  declaration  of  war  be 
tween  the  North  and  the  South,  which  was 
promulgated  by  the  thunder  of  cannon  and 
the  hissing  of  the  shot  and  shell,  as  they  car 
ried  death  and  destruction  to  those  who  had 
been  united  by  the  strongest  bonds  of  love 
and  friendship.  Those  who  from  the  ships 
witnessed  the  fiery  shells  as  they  crossed 
each  other  in  the  night,  knew  that  this  was 
war  that  would  never  cease  until  one  or  the 
other  of  the  contending  parties  were  de 
prived  of  the  resources  to  carry  it  on;  war 
that  would  oblige  the  Government  to  call 
forth  large  armies  to  put  down  rebellion 
on  the  field  of  battle,  and  to  build  and 
equip  large  fleets  to  blockade  the  insurgent's 
ports,  and  bombard  the  heavy  forts  the 
enemy  had  snatched  from  the  hands  of  their 
lawful  owners.  The  men  in  that  fleet  of 
succour  to  the  besieged  Sumter  knew  then 
that  ten  times  the  number  of  vessels  could 
not  have  rendered  aid  to  the  fort  in  face  of 
that  terrible  fire,  and  that  their  missions 
might  better  have  never  been  undertaken. 
They  started  homeward  to  carry  the  news 
to  the  startled  North,  but  the  telegrams  far 
out-traveled  them,  and  as  its  messages  on 
the  wires  were  announced  to  an  indignant 
people,  there  was  but  one  general  feeling, 
namely,  to  resist  the  audacity  of  the  insurg 
ents  and  bring  them  back  to  reason,  if  it 
took  every  man  in  the  country  to  do  it.  The 
rebellion  was  a  dreadful  thing  to  inaugu 
rate,  to  be  sure,  and  those  who  undertook  to 
bring  it  about  must  have  been  imbued  with 
some  other  ambition  than  was  apparent,  or 
the  desire  to  escape  from  a  form  of  govern 
ment  which  had  so  far  proved  the  best  yet 
known  to  man  :  there  must  have  been 
greater  inducements  to  break  up  this  most 


beneficent  union  than  lias  ever  appeared  on 
the  face  of  events. 

The  South  was  a  great  oligarchy,  hold 
ing  their  millions  of  slaves,  and  they 
aimed  to  be  recognized  by  the  world  as  a 
power  above  the  gift  of  the  people.  Per 
haps  the  best  thing  that  ever  happened  to 
this  great  country  was  the  firing  on  Fort 
Sumter  with  the  guns  of  Moultrie  and  other 
forts.  Who  can  say  that  we  are  not  a  greater 
nation  to-day,  with  freedom  throughout 
the  land,  than  we  were  in  the  days  of  the 
errors  and  follies  of  the  South,  and  the 
anger  and  prejudices  of  the  North,  which 
embittered  one  against  the  other,  and  made 
the  great  Council  Hal]  of  the  nation  a  place 
of  violence  and  discord?  All  that  has  been 
swept  away  with  the  fall  of  slavery,  and 
instead  of  it  has  come  a  union  of  all  the 
States,  more  earnest  and  fraternal  than 
before,  with  the  Southern  section  of  the 
country  growing  more  prosperous  and  more 
happy  under  free  labor  and  equal  rights  for 
all  those  who  live  in  the  South.  In  another 
generation  people  will  likely  bless  the  day 
when  James  Island  and  Moultrie  opened 
their  guns  on  Sumter.  and  caused  to  be  wiped 
out  that  dark  blotch  on  our  escutcheon, 
which  the  whole  world  were  pointing  at 
and  asking  us  how  we  could  call  ourselves 
a  free  country  while  four  millions  of  people 
were  held  in  bondage.  Who  knows  what 
we  might  have  been  but  for  that  long  war. 
which  brought  so  much  sorrow  and  deso 
lation  to  so  many  homes  ?  Slavery,  with 
its  seductive  influences,  might  have  led  us 
all  away,  and  in  the  course  of  a  century 
our  country  might  have  become  a  land  of 
slaves. 

Let  this  country  not  forget,  then,  the  men 
who  so  nobly  risked  their  lives  in  the  cause 
of  freedom,  and  let  them  erect  monuments 
to  those  who  died  that  this  union  of  States 
might  live  to  be  an  asylum  for  all  time  to 
come  for  those  who  love  not  despotism,  and 
love  liberty. 

The  Navy  had  a  large  share  in  bringing 
about  the  happy  results  which  grew  from 
the  war,  and  many  on  both  sides  do  not 
hesitate  to  say  that,  but  for  the  Navy  the 
South  never  would  have  been  brought  back 
into  the  Union— and  yet.  who  is  there  that 
has  taken  the  trouble  to  erect  a  monument 
to  the  sailors  ? 

As  this  narrative  continues  people  will 
learn  with  surprise  that  the  Navy  did  so 
much  towards  putting  down  the  rebellion; 
yet  the  author  will  scarcely  find  time  or 
space  to  give  a  fair  account  of  all  the  Navy 
did  do,  and  must  leave  untold  many  events 
to  be  related  hereafter  by  some  more  gra 
phic  historian.  As  years  pass  on,  people 
who  have  been  born  long  after  the  great 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  will  long  to  know  of 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


the  great  battles  by  land  and  sea.  which 
took  place  from  18G1  to  18G5,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  by  each  one  contributing  his 
mite,  in  the  course  of  time  a  true  history 
will  be  written.  The  best  of  efforts  will 
be  made  in  this  history  to  make  it  a  true 
if  not  an  interesting  one. 

When  President  Lincoln  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office,  his  position  towards 
Virginia  differed  somewhat  from  that 
Avhich  he  assumed  towards  the  States  far 
ther  South.  It  was  deemed  desirable  that 
the  Administration  should  do  nothing  to 
wound  the  sensitive  feelings  of  the  Virgin 
ians,  and  General  Scott,  the  General-in- 
Chief  of  our  Army,  was  particularly  solicit 
ous  that  the  Government  should  give  the 
State  of  Virginia  no  excuse  to  secede. 

There  were  several  reasons  for  this  extra 
tenderness  towards  Virginia — one  of  the 
principal  navy  yards,  filled  with  Southern 
officers,  was  within  the  limits  of  the  State. 
The  commanding  officer.  Commander  Mc- 
Cauley,  was  considered  loyal,  and  had  in  his 
day  stood  high  in  the  service;  but  he  was 
now  old,  and  at  a  time  when  he  should  have 
maintained  his  self-possession  he  appears 
to  have  completely  lost  his  head. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Mr.  Welles, 
Lad  not  yet  made  himself  familiar  with  the 
conditions  of  affairs  in  his  department. 
His  position  was  a  difficult  one  for  a  man 
advanced  in  years,  for  the  duties  were  com 
plicated,  arid  such  as  only  an  expert  could 
be  expected  to  fathom  in  so  short  a  time. 

Mr.  Welles  was  surrounded  with  officers 
and  clerks,  some  of  whose  loyalty  was 
doubted,  and  one  bureau  of  the  Department 
in  particular,  presided  over  by  an  officer  of 
Southern  birth  and  of  national  reputation, 
was  the  headquarters  of  naval  officers  who 
were  plotting  the  downfall  of  the  country  to 
which  they  owed  their  position  and  what 
ever  importance  they  possessed. 

It  was  bad  enough  for  officers  to  openly 
desert  their  flag,  but  far  worse  treachery 
to  continue  holding  positions  in  order  to 
hamper  the  Government  and  betray  its 
secrets.  Every  official  act  in  the  Navy  De 
partment  was  known  at  once  to  these  plot 
ters,  and  immediate  steps  taken  to  render  it 
abortive.  Officers  with  pleasant  faces,  but 
with  treason  in  their  hearts,  assembled  in 
conclave  in  the  Department  to  devise  plans 
for  the  overthrow  of  the  Government. 

A  short  time  before  Fort  Sumter  was  fired 
upon,  the  commandant  of  the  Washington 
Navy  Yard  gave  a  large  party  at  his  quar 
ters,  on  the  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  his 
daughter,  to  which  the  President  and  his 
cabinet  were  invited.  A  number  of  dis 
loyal  naval  officers  were  present,  and  the 
house  was  everywhere  festooned  with  the 
American  flag,  even  to  the  bridal  bed:  yet 


just  after  Sumter  was  fired  on,  the  Com 
mandant,  with  most  of  those  under  his 
command,  including  his  new  son-in-law,  re 
signed  their  commissions  and  left  the 
Washington  Navy  Yard  to  take  care  of  it 
self. 

At  that  very  time  the  secession  of  Vir 
ginia  had  been  resolved  upon,  which  was 
known  to  these  disloyal  officers,  although 
not  to  the  Government;  for  the  action  of 
the  Secessionists  had  been  delayed  and  kept 
secret,  so  that  the  blow  would  be  more  de 
cisive  and  enable  the  conspirators  to  seize 
the  public  property  at  Norfolk  and  else 
where,  to  help  them  carry  out  their  designs. 

At  one  time  it  was  even  thought  doubtful 
if  Washington  could  be  held,  as  the  people 
at  the  North,  unprepared  for  such  an  emer 
gency,  were  slow  in  getting  troops  to  the 
Capitol. 

Those  who  had  been  plotting  against  the 
Government  in  the  Navy  Department,  felt 
sure  that  the  Norfolk  Yard  must  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  Secessionists,  as  everything 
possible  had  been  prepared  for  that  event. 
They  lost  no  opportunity  to  impress  upon 
the  mind  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  the 
importance  of  doing  nothing  to  offend  the 
State  of  Virginia  and  give  it  an  excuse 
for  seceding  from  the  Union  on  the  ground 
of  invasion  of  "  State  rights:"  which  meant 
that  the  Government  should  exercise  no 
authority  over  its  own  property  within  the 
limits  of  a  seceding  State.  The  Naval  De 
partment  at  that  moment  seemed  powerless 
to  preserve  the  public  property  at  Norfolk 
against  the  rebel  troops  then  assembling 
in  Virginia.  General  Scott  threw  cold 
water  on  every  attempt  to  hold  the  Norfolk 
Yard,  on  the  ground  that  he  had  no  troops 
to  spare,  as  he  could  not  deplete  Fortress 
Monroe,  which  must  be  held  at  all  hazards. 

It  seems  a  pity  that  the  Secretary  should 
not  have  selected  some  loyal  and  energetic 
officer,  placed  him  in  command  of  a  few  gun 
boats  and  armed  tug-boats  and  sent  him  to 
Norfolk  with  orders  to  bring  all  the  vessels 
away,  and  even  put  the  Commandant  under 
arrest  if  he  should  interpose  any  obstacles. 
A  guard  of  fifty  marines  would  have  been 
sufficient  to  overawe  all  malcontents. 
These  proceedings  would  not  have  influ 
enced  the  secession  of  Virginia,  which  was 
already  decided  upon. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  finding  him 
self  unable  to  cope  with  the  difficulties  of 
the  situation,  summoned  to  the  Navy  De 
partment  Commodore  Hiram  Paulding,  a 
loyal  officer,  but  who  was  now  declining  in 
years  and  not  equal  to  a  position  which  re 
quired  not  only  energy  of  mind  but  great 
bodily  vigor.  Commodore  Paulding  broke 
up  the  conclave  which  was  in  the  habit  of 
meeting  in  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance,  for  he 


28 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


felt  that  these  officers  were  inimical  to  the 
government,  and  he  recommended  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy  to  change  the  suspected 
Chief  of  Bureaux  for  another  known  to  be 
loyal. 

Frequent  accounts  reached  Washington 
of  the  hostile  attitude  of  the  people  in  Nor- 
folk  and  Portsmouth  towards  the  govern 
ment,  and  their  determination  that  the 
Navy  Department  should  not  remove  a  ship 
or  a*gun  from  the  station.  Large  bodies 
of  troops  were  reported  moving  towards 
Norfolk  to  enforce  this  decision.  In  fact, 
Norfolk,  which  had  for  many  years  lived 
on  the  bounty  of  the  government  and  flour 
ished  by  the  appropriations  for  the  support 
of  the  Navy  Yard,  was  now  the  very  hot 
bed  of  secession. 


COMMODORE  HIRAM  PAULDING. 

The  Southern  officers  could  hardly  restrain 
their  impatience  until  the  State  of  Virginia 
should  secede,  so  anxious  were  they  to 
show  their  gratitude  to  the  United  States 
Government,  which  had  conferred  upon 
them  whatever  importance  they  possessed, 
by  pulling  it  to  pieces,  and  endeavoring  to 
dim  the  glory  of  the  flag  under  which  they 
had  served  from  boyhood. 

Most  of  the  officers  of  the  Navy  Yard  were 
Southern  men  whose  honor  had  heretofore 
been  unquestioned,  but  their  heads  were  now 
so  turned  that  they  were  as  wild  as  the  sans 
culottes  of  the  French  Revolution. 

Commodore  McCauley,  who  commanded 
the  Navy  Yard,  had  long  and  faithfully 
served  the  government,  but  was  now  ad 
vanced  in  years  and  no  match  for  the  wily 
secessionists  about  him,  who  so  hampered 
and  bewildered  him,  that  he  for  a  time 
rested  under  the  suspicion  of  being  luke 
warm  in  his  allegiance. 
^At  this  time  there  were  lying  at  the  Navy 
Yard  the  following  named  vessels: 


The  steam  frigate  "Merrimac,"  of  40 
guns,  the  same  vessel  which,  after  being- 
converted  into  an  ironclad  by  the  rebels, 
made  such  havoc  among  our  ships  at  Hamp 
ton  Roads:  the  sloop  of  war.  ''German- 
town,"  -22  guns  ;  sloop  of  war,  '•  Plymouth,'' 
22  guns  ;  brig,  >;  Dolphin.''  4  guns.  All 
these  could  have  been  prepared  for  sea  in  a 
short  time. 

There  were  also  the  following  named  old 
ships  which  were  of  no  great  use,  but  they 
had  been  associated  with  the  history  of  the 
Navy  and  were  dear  to  the  country.  These 
were  the  "  Pennsylvania,"  "  United  States,'' 
"Columbus,"  "Delaware,"  "Raritan," 
and  •'Columbia." 

There  was  also  an  unfinished  ship-of-the 
line,  the  '*  New  York,"  in  one  of  the  ship 
houses. 

The  sloop-of-war  '' Cumberland,"  was 
moored  at  the  Navy  Yard.  These  vessels 
were  valued  at  about  two  millions  of  dol 
lars. 

Any  one  to  see  these  ships  lying  quietly 
at  their  moorings,  the  officers  and  men  go 
ing  to  and  fro  about  their  duties,  the  sen 
tries  pacing  up  and  down  guarding  public 
property  and  preserving  order,  would 
have  supposed  that  the  interests  of  the 
United  States  Government  were  being  well 
taken  care  of;  but  this  was  merely  the  calm 
which  precedes  the  storm — the  fearful  storm 
which  was  soon  to  burst  upon  the  country, 
when  ''  Hope  for  a  season  bade  the  world 
farewell,"  and  truth  and  honor  hung  their 
heads  with  shame. 

Early  in  April  the  Navy  Department 
began  to  get  very  uneasy  for  the  safety  of 
the  Navy  Yard,  for  it  was  by  this  time  well 
understood  that  the  Secessionists  would 
make  an  aggressive  movement  on  the  first 
favorable  opportunity. 

The  Department  was  most  anxious  to  get 
the  '•  Merrimac"  away  from  the  yard  to  a 
place  of  safety,  but  was  informed"  by  Com 
modore  McCauley  that  it  would  take  a 
month  to  put  her  machinery  in  working 
order. 

The  department  did  not  seem  to  reflect 
that  a  few  armed  tow-boats  with  marines 
on  board,  could  have  been  sent  from  New 
Y^ork  to  tow  all  the  vessels  under  the  guns 
of  Fortress  Monroe.  One  tug  with  a  twenty 
four  pound  howitzer  on  board,  properly 
handled,  would  have  been  master  of  the 
situation,  and  if  the  Navy  Department  had 
displayed  a  little  forethought  in  this 
emergency,  the  government  would  have 
been  saved  deep  humiliation  and  a  loss  in 
ships,  guns  and  stores  not  easy  to  repair. 

On  the  31st  of  March  250  seamen  and 
landsmen  were  ordered  to  be  transferred 
from  the  New  York  Navy  Yard  to  Norfolk, 
and  fifty  seamen  were  transferred  to  the 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


revenue  steamer  "  Harriet  Lane,"  which 
vessel  was  ordered  to  proceed  at  once  to  Nor 
folk.  It  shows  the  miserable  condition  of 
the  Navy  when  the  department  had  nothing 
hut  a  revenue  cutter  to  depend  upon. 

Days  went  by  before  anything  else  was 
attempted.  On  the  llth  of  April  Commo 
dore  James  Alden  was  ordered  to  report  to 
Commodore  McCauley  to  take  command  of 
the  "Merrimac,"  and  Chief  Engineer  Ish- 
erwpod  was  sent  to  Norfolk  to  get  the  ship's 
engines  in  working  order  as  soon  as  possi 
ble. 

On  the  14th  the  work  was  commenced, 
and  on  the  17th  the  engines  were  in  work 
ing  order— so  much  for  the  Commandant's 
assertion  that  it  would  take  a  month  to  get 
the  ship  ready  to  move,  as  he  was  made  to 
believe. 

It  is  no  wonder,  under  these  circumstances 


The  work  was  all  done  with  the  consent 
of  Commodore  McCauley;  but  when  he  was 
informed  that  everything  was  ready  to 
fire  up,  he  replied  that  next  morning  would 
be  time  enough.  At  midnight  the  fires 
were  started  and  the  engines  worked  at  the 
dock,  and  were  found  to  be  in  good  order. 

Next  morning  the  Commandant  was 
again  informed  that  everything  was  ready, 
but  he  replied  that  he  had  not  decided  to  send 
the  "Merrimac"  out.  It  was  in  vain  that 
he  was  reminded  of  the  peremptory  char 
acter  of  the  order  which  Mr.  Isherwood  had 
brought  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
to  get  the  "Merrimac"  out  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment.  He  only  replied  that  he 
would  let  his  decision  be  known  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  He  gave  as  a  reason  the 
obstructions  that  had  been  placed  in  the 
channel,  but  when  assured  that  they  could 


THE  STEAMER   "HARRIET  LANE." 


that  the  loyalty  of  the  Commandant  should 
have  been  questioned,  yet  he  was  simply 
influenced  by  officers  whom  he  trusted  and 
who  were  desirous  that  the  "Merrimac" 
should  be  retained  for  the  future  navy  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy. 

In  a  majority  of  instances  when  South 
ern  officers  had  determined  "to  go  with 
their  States,"  they  turned  over  their  com 
mands  or  trusts  to  the  government  and 
went  away  with  clean  skirts,  but  in  the 
case  of  navy  yards  this  rule  did  not  seem 
to  hold  good,  as  was  shown  at  Pensacola 
and  Norfolk;  and  every  impediment  was 
thrown  in  Commodore  McCauley's  way  by 
his  own  subordinates  to  prevent  his  carry 
ing  out  the  orders  of  the  department. 

The  disloyalty  which  existed  to  such  an 
extent  among  the  officers  did  not  at  that 
time  extend  to  the  mechanics,  for  they 
worked  night  and  day  until  the  "  Mem- 
mac's  "  machinery  was  repaired. 

Then  forty-four  firemen  and  coal-heavers 
volunteered  for  the  service  of  taking  the 
''Merrimac"  out. 


be  easily  passed,  and  that  every  moment 
increased  the  danger,  he  gave  "orders  to 
haul  the  fires,  and  thus  the  noble  "Mer 
rimac  "  was  finally  lost  to  us. 

It  is  difficult  at  this  late  date  to  tell  all 
the  motives  that  influenced  the  Navy  De 
partment  and  the  Commandant  at  Norfolk. 
Indecision  seemed  everywhere  to  exist,  and 
some  of  the  best  officers  in  the  Navy  were 
apparently  quite  dazed  at  the  course  which 
events  were  taking.  Commodore  McCauley 
at  one  time  was  master  of  the  situation,  and 
with  promptness  and  decision  might  have 
saved  all  the  ships,  guns,  and  stores,  even 
if  he  judged  it  advisable  to  abandon  the 
Navy  Yard. 

The  Commodore  probably  thought  that 
by  retaining  the  "  Merrimac ''  and  Tier  bat 
tery  he  would  have  a  strong  force  to  repel 
any  attack  that  might  be  made  from  the 
outside.  The  old  Commodore,  who  had 
fought  gallantly  for  his  country  in  former 
days,  was  completely  acquitted  of  anything 
like  disloyalty  by  the  officers  who  were  sent 
down  to  take  the  "  Merrimac  "  away  from 


30 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


Norfolk,  but  it  is  unfortunate  that  he  did 
not  show  more  decision  of  character  when 
the  crisis  came  upon  him. 

Every  officer  connected  with  the  destruc 
tion  of  the  Norfolk  Navy  Yard  came  in  for 
a  share  of  censure,  which  is  not  to  be  won 
dered  at  when  it  is  now  known  that  every 
ship  and  gun  could  have  been  saved.  The 
broadside  of  the  "  Germantown,"  which  was 
all  ready  for  sea  and  only  waiting  a  crew, 
or  the  "  Plymouth,"  in  the  same  condition, 
would,  with  a  few  men  on  board,  have 
saved  the  Navy  Yard  against  attack,  over 
awed  Norfolk"  and  Portsmouth,  and  pre 
vented  the  channel  from  being  obstructed 
by  the  Confederates. 

Even  when  the  yard  was  abandoned  and 
the  buildings  set  tire  to,  the  work  was  done 
in  a  panic  in  which  the  coolest  persons 
seem  to  have  lost  their  heads.  The  de 
struction  took  place  when  the  yard  had 
been  re-enforced  by  a  regiment  of  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteers  under  Colonel  Wads- 
worth,  while  the  "  Pawnee  "  of  fifteen  guns 
had  brought  Commodore  Paulding  from 
Washington  with  instructions  "to  save 
what  he  could  and  act  as  he  thought 
proper." 

When  Commodore  Paulding  arrived  at 
the  Navy  Yard  he  found  that  all  the  South 
ern  officers  had  sent  in  their  resignations 
and  abandoned  their  posts.  The  mechan 
ics,  following  their  example,  had  left  the 
yard  in  a  body,  and  persons  had  even  come 
in  from  outside  and  possessed  themselves 
of  the  Government  arms.  It  was  reported 
that  several  thousand  men  were  organizing 
for  the  purpose  of  seizing  the  yard.  The 
powder  had  been  taken  from  the  Govern 
ment  magazine  near  Norfolk,  and  batteries 
were  being  erected  along  the  approaches 
to  the  Navy  Yard,  and  hulks  sunk  in  the 
channel  near  Craiiey  Island  and  Sewell's 
Point,  three  light  boats  having  been  used 
for  the  purpose;  and  this  was  done,  not 
withstanding  the  Commandant  of  the 
yard  had  ample  force  to  have  prevented  it. 
Actual  war  existed  between  the  Govern 
ment  and  the  inhabitants  of  Norfolk,  who 
were  doing  all  in  their  power  to  destroy 
public  property  and  obstruct  the  public 
highway.  Worse  than  all,  the  "Merrimac," 
"  Germantown"  and  "Plymouth"  had 
been  scuttled  by  orders. 

All  the  guns  in  the  Navy  Yard  had  been 
spiked,  with  the  exception  of  some  two 
hundred,  as  well  as  those  on  shipboard,  ex 
cept  five  heavy  guns  on  a  side  on  board 
the  "  Pennsylvania,"  which  sturdy  old  cas 
tle  commanded  the  whole  yard;  and  fifty 
good  seamen  on  board  could  have  bid  de 
fiance  to  5,000  Confederates  in  arms,  and 
held  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth  under  her 


guns  until  every  ship  was  hauled  out  of 
harm's  way. 

After  the  arrival  of  the  "Pawnee  "  had 
made  the  yard  doubly  secure,  the  shells 
were  drawn  from  the  "Pennsylvania's" 
guns  and  the  guns  spiked  ! 

The  whole  thing  looked  so  hopeless  to 
Commodore  Paulding  that,  in  view  of  the 
orders  he  had  received  from  the  Depart 
ment  not  to  let  anything  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  Confederates,  he  determined  to  de 
stroy  everything. 

It  must  have  been  a  painful  alternative 
to  that  faithful  old  officer.  Commodore 
Paulding,  who  abhorred  everything  in  the 
shape  of  rebellion,  to  be  obliged  to  apply  the 
torch  to  the  historic  ships  of  the  Navy,  and 
destroy  the  other  valuable  property  the  Gov 
ernment  had  been  so  many  years  accumu 
lating;  especially  since  he  was  aware  that 
most  of  the  destruction  might  easily  have 
been  prevented,  had  not  so  many  days  been 
lost  in  deciding  what  to  do. 

But  the  fiat  had  gone  forth,  the  mania  for 
destruction  had  seized  upon  every  one,  as 
we  see  boys  go  mad  over  the  burning  of  a 
hay-rick,  which  they  have  set  fire  to  in  wan 
ton  sport. 

All  the  ships,  except  the  "Cumberland," 
were  well  filled  with  combustibles,  and  the 
whole  saturated  with  oil  and  turpentine. 
The  ship-houses  and  other  buildings  were 
prepared  in  the  same  manner,  and  nothing 
left  to  chance  so  that  the  rebels  could  derive 
any  benefit  from  what  was  left  behind. 
The  fine  dry-dock  that  had  cost  millions  to 
build  was  undermined,  and  a  hundred  men 
ran  to  and  fro  with  heavy  hammers  trying 
to  knock  off  the  trunnions  of  the  heavy  guns, 
but  with  a  few  exceptions  these  attempts 
were  failures. 

It  was  a  beautiful  starlight  night,  April 
20,  when  all  the  preparations  were  com 
pleted.  The  people  of  Norfolk  and  Ports 
mouth  were  wrapped  in  slumber,  little 
dreaming  that  in  a  few  hours  the  ships  and 
public  works  which  were  so  essential  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  community  would  be  a 
mass  of  ruins,  and  hundreds  of  people 
would  be  without  employment  and  without 
food  for  their  families. 

The  "Pawnee"  had  towed  the  "Cumber 
land  "  out  of  the  reach  of  the  fire,  and  laid 
at  anchor  to  receive  on  board  those  who 
were  to  fire  the  public  property.  Commo 
dore  McCauley  had  gone  to  bed  that  night 
worn  out  with  excitement  and  anxiety,  un 
der  the  impression  that  the  force  that  had 
arrived  at  Norfolk  was  for  the  purpose  of 
holding  the  yard  and  relieving  him  of  re 
sponsibility,  and  when  he  was  called  at 
midnight  and  informed  that  the  torch  would 
be  applied  to  everything,  he  could  hardly 


(31) 


THE   NAVAL    HISTORY 


realize  the  situation,  and  was  chagrined 
and  mortified  at  the  idea  of  abandoning  his 
post  without  any  attempt  to  defend  it. 

At  2:30  A.  M..  April  21st,  a  rocket  from  the 
"Pawnee"  gave  the  signal;  the  work  of 
destruction  commenced  with  the  "  Mer- 
rimac,"  and  in  ten  minutes  she  was  one 
vast  sheet  of  flame.  In  quick  succession 
the  trains  to  the  other  ships  and  buildings 
were  ignited  and  the  surrounding  country 
brilliantly  illuminated. 

The  inhabitants  of  Norfolk  and  Ports 
mouth,  roused  from  their  slumber,  looked 
with  awe  at  the  work  of  destruction,  and 
mothers  clasping  their  children  to  their 
breasts  bewailed  the  fate  that  cut  them  and 
their  offspring  off  from  their  support.  Yet 
this  was  but  a  just  retribution  for  the  trea 
son  which  the  inhabitants  had  shown 
towards  the  best  government  on  earth. 
They  had  killed  the  goose  that  laid  the 
golden  egg. 

As  the  boats  containing  the  firing  party 
moved  off  down  the  river  to  the  "Pawnee  " 
and  "Cumberland,"  the  rebels  from  Nor 
folk  and  Portsmouth  rushed  into  the  Yard 
to  save  what  they  could  from  the  flames, 
and  were  more  fortunate  than  they  expected 
to  be.  The  dry-dock  was  not  materially  in 
jured,  some  of  the  work-shops  and  officers' 
quarters  were  preserved,  and  the  frigate 
"  United  States  "  was  not  much  damaged. 
Even  the  "Merrimac,"  though  burned  to 
the  water's  edge  and  sunk,  was  afterwards 
raised  and  converted  into  the  powerful 
ironclad  which  wrought  such  havoc  in 
Hampton  Roads  and  carried  consternation 
through  the  North. 

The  loss  of  the  Navy  Yard  at  Norfolk 
was  felt  all  through  the  North  to  be  a  great 
calamity.  Misfortunes  seemed  accumula 
ting,  and  people  began  to  doubt  whether 
the  administration  had  sufficient  vigor  to 
meet  the  emergencies  that  were  continually 
arising.  The  destruction  of  the  Navy  Yard 
seems  now  to  have  been  the  result  of  a 
panic  which  was  not  justified  by  the  facts 
of  the  case,  but  the  actors  in  that  scene 
believed  they  were  consulting  the  best  in 
terests  of  the  Government.  No  one  can 
doubt  the  loyalty  of  those  gallant  old  sea 
men,  McCauley  and  Paulding,  for  undoubt 


edly  they  had  the  best  interests  of  the 
country  at  heart,  and  acted  with  good  in 
tent. 

In  the  midst  of  our  other  misfortunes 
the  loss  of  the  Navy  Yard  was  soon  for 
gotten.  It  was  abandoned  by  the  Con 
federates  after  the  defeat  of  the  "Mer 
rimac  "  by  the  "  Monitor  "  in  a  panic  quite 
as  causeless  as  our  own,  and  has  not  yet 
risen  like  the  Phoenix  from  its  ashes,  its 
reconstruction  progressing  very  slowly. 

Congress  has  apparently  viewed  with  dis 
trust  appropriations  made  for  this  yard, 
scarcely  yet  realizing  that  the  people  em 
ployed  there  are  worthy  of  confidence  in 
consequence  of  their  past  acts  of  rebellion, 
which  caused  the  destruction  of  the  most  im 
portant  naval  station  in  the  United  States. 

The  greatest  misfortune  to  the  Union 
caused  by  the  destruction  of  the  Navy 
Yard,  was  the  loss  of  at  least  twelve  hun 
dred  fine  guns,  most  of  which  were  un 
injured.  A  number  of  them  were  quickly 
mounted  at  SewelPs  Point  to  keep  our  ships 
from  approaching  Norfolk;  others  were 
sent  to  Hatteras  Inlet,  Ocracocke,  Roanoke 
Island  and  other  points  in  the  sounds  of 
North  Carolina.  Fifty-three  of  them  were 
mounted  at  Port  Royal,  others  at  Fernan- 
dina  and  at  the  defences  of  New  Orleans. 
They  were  met  with  at  Fort  Henry.  Fort 
Donelson,  Island  No.  10,  Memphis,  Vicks- 
burg,  Grand  Gulf  and  Port  Hudson.  We 
found  them  up  the  Red  River  as  far  as  the 
gunboats  penetrated,  and  took  possession 
of  some  of  them  on  the  cars  at  DuvalPs 
Bluff,  on  White  River,  bound  for  Little 
Rock.  They  gave  us  a  three  hours'  hard  fight 
at  Arkansas  Post,  but  in  the  end  they  all 
returned  to  their  rightful  owners,  many  of 
them  indented  with  Union  shot  and  not  a 
few  permanently  disabled. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  guns  captured  at 
Norfolk  and  Pensacola,  the  Confederates 
would  have  found  it  a  difficult  matter  to 
arm  their  fortifications  for  at  least  a  year 
after  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  they  began  to 
manufacture  their  own  ordnance,  and  im 
port  it  from  abroad.  Great  as  was,  there 
fore,  the  loss  of  our  ships,  it  was  much  less 
than  the  loss  of  our  guns. 


C  H  A  PTE  R     III, 


CLOSING  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  PORTS.— OPERATIONS  AGAINST  THE  FEDERAL  COMMERCE  BY 
PRIVATEERS. — TRIPLE  TASK  OF  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT. — INCREASE  OF  THE  NAVY.— 
PURCHASES  UNWISELY  MADE. — BRITISH  VESSELS  AND  THE  BLOCKADE. — SUFFERERS  BY 
THE  BLOCKADE. — FLAG  OFFICERS  APPOINTED  TO  COMMANDS. — DIFFICULTIES  OF  THE 
BLOCKADING  FORCES — ENERGY  AND  WATCHFULNESS  OF  NAVAL  OFFICERS. — REMARK 
ABLE  ACTIVITY  OF  THE  CONFEDERATES. — INADEQUATE  APPROPRIATIONS  BY  CONGRESS. — 
CONDITION  OF  THE  NAVY. — LIST  OF  VESSELS  AND  THEIR  STATIONS  — AVAILABLE  VES 
SELS. — THE  HOME  SQUADRON.— OLD  NAVY. — PURCHASED  VESSELS. — VESSELS  CON 
STRUCTING. — REORGANIZATION  OF  THE  SERVICE. — PROMOTIONS. — THREE  GRADES  ADDED. 
—SCHOOLS  OF  GUNNERY  AND  NAVAL  TRAINING  ESTABLISHED. — PATRIOTIC  VOLUNTEER 
OFFICERS. — THE  COMMERCIAL  MARINE. — HIGH  TRIBUTE  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE 
NAVY. 


THE  Navy  Department,  with  its  lim. 
ited  resources,  had  a  weighty  task 
imposed  upon  it  from  the  very  out 
break  of  the  civil  war.     In  a  very 
brief  period  the  rebellion  assumed 
such  formidable  proportions,  and  naval  op 
erations  had  to  be  maintained  on  such  an 
extensive  scale  to  include  over  three  thou 
sand  miles  of  coastline,  that  the  energy  and 
ability  of  the  naval  authorities  were  put  to 
the  severest  tests. 

First.  There  was  the  closing  of  all  the 
ports  along  our  Southern  coast  under  the 
most  exacting  regulations  of  an  interna 
tional  blockade,  including  the  occupation  of 
the  Potomac  River  from  its  mouth  to  the 
Federal  Capitol. 

Had  the  Potomac  been  blocked  by  the 
enemy's  guns  at  any  time  during  the  war, 
it  would  have  rendered  the  position  of  our 
armies  in  Virginia  and  around  the  Capitol 
very  embarrassing. 

Second.  The  necessity  of  establishing  an 
effective  organization  of  combined  naval 
and  military  expeditions  against  various 
points  on  our  Southern  coast,  including  also 
all  needful  naval  aid  to  the  Army  in  cutting 
off  communication  with  the  rebels.  Besides 
this  it  was  seen  at  ari  early  date  that  a  large 
naval  force  would  be  required  on  the  Mis 
sissippi  River  and  its  tributaries. 

Third.  There  had  to  be  provided  a  suit 
able  number  of  swift  vessels  for  the  active 

3—33 


pursuit  of  the  Confederate  cruisers,  which 
might  elude  the  vigilance  of  our  blockading 
forces  and  proceed  to  prey  upon  our  com 
merce  in  every  part  of  the  world.  Im 
mediately  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  re 
bellion  the  Confederates  prepared  to  operate 
against  Federal  commerce,  and  after  the 
escape  of  their  first  privateer  the  destruction 
of  our  vessels  became  very  common. 

This  was  the  triple  task  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  was  called  upon  to  perform,  and  it  is 
but  fair  to  say  that,  considering  the  disad 
vantages  under  which  the  Department 
labored,  never  were  duties  better  performed. 

When  the  proclamation  was  issued  de 
claring  all  the  Southern  ports  under  block 
ade,  it  found  the  Navy  Department  totally 
unprepared  for  such  a  contingency.  Con 
gress  had  adjourned  without  providing  for 
it,  and  it  devolved  on  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  to  meet  the  difficulties  of  the  situa 
tion  in  the  best  way  he  could. 

There  were  but  few  vessels  in  the  Navy 
which  could  be  relied  on  for  blockading  ser 
vice,  and  none  suitable  for  the  pursuit  of 
Confederate  cruisers,  which  would  natur 
ally  be  very  swift  steamers.  The  only 
thing  to  be  clone  was  to  put  into  commission 
every  vessel  in  the  Navy  that  was  fit  to  go 
to  sea,  and  to  purchase  from  the  mercantile 
marine  such  as  would  answer  for  temporary 
service:  but  so  few  vessels  in  the  merchant 
service  were  fit  even  for  blockade  duty, 


34 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


much  less  for  ships  of  war,  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  a  sufficient  number  could  be 
obtained  to  make  such  a  blockade  as  was 
called  for  by  the  law  of  nations. 

Purchases  were  unwisely  made,  and  some 
unfit  vessels  were  thus  added  to  the  Navy- 
through   that   spirit   of    grasping   cupidity 
which  is  sure  to  come  to  the  surface  in  time 
of  war. 

Some  men  who  had  always  been  consid 
ered  honest  and  patriotic,  did  not  hesitate 
to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  their 
country,  and  deplete  the  Federal  treasury 
without  adding  to  the  efficiency  of  the  ISavy, 
thus  hampering  the  naval  authorities  at  the 
very  outset  of  hostilities. 

Purchases  and  contracts  were  made  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  times.  Orders 
were  issued  to  equip  vessels  that  under  or 
dinary  circumstances  would  not  have  been 
considered  safe  to  go  to  sea  in. 

The  force  thus  hastily  gathered  and  sta 
tioned  along  our  coast  would  scarcely  have 
been  considered  an  "  efficient  blockade  "  if 
a  European  power  had  thought  fit  to  insti 
tute  close  inquiries  into  our  proceedings. 
Now  and  then  a  British  vessel  of  war  made 
her  appearance  for  the  purpose  of  observing 
that  the  blockade  was  effectual,  but  as  far 
as  the  writer's  observations  are  concerned, 
this  duty  was  always  performed  in  the  most 
delicate  manner,  and  the  British  command 
ers  were  satisfied  with  the  appearance  of  a 
blockade  that  was  f ar*  from  satisfying  to  the 
Federal  Government. 

A  great  deal  has  been  said  by  Boynton, 
the  naval  historian,  about  the  exacting 
character  of  the  British  Government  in  re 
lation  to  the  blockade  of  our  coasts,  but  we 
rather  think  his  style  of  writing  was 
adapted  to  the  public  sentiment  of  the  time, 
which  was  prepared  to  find  fault  with  any 
nation  that  did  not  sympathize  with  the 
Union  cause. 

The  English  people  were  the  great  suf 
ferers  in  our  war  by  the  loss  of  a  commerce 
that  was  absolutely  necessary  for  them  to 
keep  their  manufactories  going,  and  they 
exercised  no  greater  surveillance  than  the 
Federal  Government  would  have  done  had 
there  been  a  blockade  of  the  Irish  coast 
established. 

Flag  Officers  were  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  different  stations,  and  vessels 
were  sent  to  each  according  to  the  necessity 
of  the  case  as  fast  as  they  could  be  pur 
chased  and  fitted  out.  Under  the  supervi 
sion  of  these  flag  officers  the  coasts  and 
harbors  of  the  Confederates  were  subjected 
to  as  close  a  blockade  as  the  limited  force 
of  vessels  would  admit. 

The  difficulties  of  the  blockading  forces 
were  much  increased  owing  to  the  number 
of  great  bays,  sounds  and  rivers  of  the 
South,  but  in  spite  of  all  drawbacks  the 


duties  of  the  blockade  were  remarkably 
well  performed. 

What  was  lacking  in  vessels  was  more 
than  compensated  for  by  the  energy  and 
watchfulness  of  the  naval  officers  on  the 
different  stations. 

The  expectation  of  prize-money  was 
doubtless  a  stimulus  to  both  officers  and 
men,  yet  there  was  a  higher  motive  govern 
ing  their  conduct,  a  determination  to  do 
all  in  their  power  to  put  down  the  rebellion 
by  cutting  off  foreign  supplies,  without 
which  they  felt  the  Confederate  resistance 
would  soon  terminate. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  features  of 
the  war  was  the  manner  in  which  at  an 
early  date  the  Confederates  had  seized  upon 
and  fortified  so  many  important  points  on 
the  Southern  coast,  actually  cutting  Fede 
ral  vessels  off  from  any  port  of  shelter  in 
stormy  weather,  and  compelling  supply 
vessels  of  the  different  squadrons  to  keep 
out  to  sea.  Our  ships  were  compelled  often 
times  to  anchor  in  heavy  gales  on  the  open 
coast,  where  in  case  of  accident  to  machin 
ery  or  cables  a  steamer  would  be  liable  to 
drift  on  shore  into  the  heavy  breakers 
which  lined  the  coast,  and  where  a  sailing 
vessel  under  like  circumstances  would  have 
great  difficulty  in  clawing  off  a  lee  shore. 

The  Confederates  doubtless  considered  all 
these  circumstances  when  they  undertook 
the  task  of  freeing  themselves  from  what 
they  were  pleased  to  consider  the  thraldom 
of  the  North.  With  all  ports  of  shelter 
closed  against  the  Federal  Navy,  and 
storms  continually  raging  along  the  coast, 
they  laughed  at  the  idea  of  a  blockade. 

They  did  not  know  the  energy  which  ani 
mated  the  Federal  Navy  when  circumstan 
ces  should  arise  to  call" it  forth.  The  offi 
cers  themselves  did  not  know  until  called 
upon  to  act  what  zeal  and  energy  they 
could  evince,  and  the  present  generation 
can  hardly  realize  the  hardships  and  dan 
gers  of  the  work  then  performed. 

To  many  of  the  survivors  of  those  scenes 
it  may  seem  like  the  dreams  of  early  child 
hood,  shadows  of  which  flit  through  the 
mind,  dim  and  shapeless  as  reflected  images 
from  misty  waterfalls. 

The  necessity  of  seizing  some  of  the 
Southern  ports  soon  became  apparent;  for 
though  our  officers  had  shown  great  ability 
in  taking  care  of  their  ships  on  the  blockade 
in  the  most  tempestuous  weather,  and  at 
the  same  time  had  rendered  it  difficult  for 
blockade  runners  to  enter  Southern  ports, 
yet  it  _  was  found  that  harbors  of  refuge 
were  indispensable  to  properly  carry  on 
such  extensive  operations. 

Great  demands  were  made  upon  the  Navy, 
notwithstanding  Congress  had  adjourned 
in^lSGl  without  making  adequate  appropri 
ations,  considering  the  condition  of  affairs. 


3C 
O 
=3 
en 

c/o 

O 

a 
> 

I 


o 

Tl 


tn 


2 
O 


i       00 

P    2 


, 


(35) 


36 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


It  is  true  that  the  measures  adopted  by 
Mr.  Secretary  Welles  in  advance  of  the 
session,  and  which  had  been  rendered  nec 
essary  in  consequence  of  events  that  had 
been  precipitated  upon  the  country,  had 
been  approved  by  Congress,  but  that,  after 
all,  only  provided  for  a  comparatively  small 
force  of  vessels  and  men,  not  even  enough 
for  ordinary  police  operations  along  the 
Atlantic  coast,  much  less  a  strict  blockade. 

In  order  that  the  condition  of  the  Navy 
may  be  understood,  the  list  of  vessels  and 
their  stations  is  herewith  inserted.  In  the 
eyes  of  one  not  familiar  with  naval  affairs 
it  appears  like  a  large  show  of  available 
vessels,  but  not  half  of  them  were  really  fit 
for  the  service  required  of  them. 

The  Home  Squadron  consisted  of  twelve 
vessels,and  of  these  only  four  were  in  North 
ern  ports  and  available  for  service,  viz. : 


NAME. 

CLASS. 

No.  or  GUNS. 

WHERE  STATIONED. 

Pawnee  ..   ..... 
Crusader  
Mohawk    
Supply  .  .  . 

Screw  Sloop  .... 
Steamer  
Steamer  

8 
8 
5 
4 

Washington. 
New  York. 

25 

The  remaining  vessels  of  the  Squadron 
were  stationed  as  follows: 

NAME. 

CLASS. 

No.  OF  GUNS. 

WHERE  STATIONED. 

Sabine.   
St.  Louis  
Brooklyn  
Wyandotte.    .  . 
Macedonian  .  .  . 
Cumberland.  .   . 
Poeauontas.   ... 
Powhatan  

Frigate  
Sloop     
Steamer  
Steamer  
Sloop  
Sloop        .     ... 
Steamer  
SteaniT  

50 

20 

£ 

24 
11 

Peusucola. 

Vera  Cruz. 

!    Returning  from 
Vera  Cruz. 

162 

The   Powhatan    arrived    at    New    York 
March  12,  1861,  and  sailed  early  in  April 

for  Fort  Pickens. 

The  Poeahontas  reached  Hampton  Roads 
on  the  12th  of  March,  and  the  Cumberland 
on  the  23d  of  the  same  month. 

Of  vessels  on  foreign  stations  the  follow 
ing  had  returned  in  obedience  to  orders 
from  the  Department. 

FROM  MEDITERRANEAN: 


NAME. 

CLASS. 

No.  OF  GUNS. 

DATE  OF  ARRIVAL. 

Richmond  .   ... 
Susquehanna.  .  . 
Iroquois  

Steam  Sloop  
Steam  Sloop  
Steam  Sloop  .... 

16 
15 
6 

July    3. 
June   6. 
June  15. 

FROM  COAST  OF  AFRICA: 


NAME. 

CLASS. 

No.  OF  GUNS. 

DATE  OF  ARRIVAL. 

Constellation.... 
Portsmouth.  .  .  . 

Sloop  
Sloop  
Steam  Sloop  .  .  . 
Steamer  
Steamer  
Steam  Sloop.... 
Storeship  

22 
22 
6 
5 
5 
13 
2 

Sept.  28. 
Sept.  23. 
Sept.  27. 
Oct.     7. 
Sept.  15. 
Nov.  15. 
Oct.    12. 

Mystic  

San  Jaciuto.... 
Belief  

FROM  COAST  OF  BRAZIL: 


Name. 

CLASS. 

No.  OF  GUNS. 

DATE  OF  ARRIVAL. 

Congress.  
Semiuole  

Frigate     
Steam  Sloop  .... 

50 
5 

August  12. 
July  6. 

The  following  had  not  arrived,  Dec.,  1861. 
FROM  EAST  INDIES  : 


No.  OF  GUNS. 


John  Adams. ..   ( Sloop  

Hartford Steam  Sloop . . . 

Dacotah. .....   j  Steam  Sloop 


The  following  were  to  remain  abroad: 


NAME. 

CLASS. 

No.  OF  GUNS. 

WHERE  STATIONED. 

Sloop          

18 

Coast  of  Africa. 

1 

Coast  of  Brazil. 

Sagiuaw  ....... 

Steamer  

3 

East  Indies. 

Add  to  these  the  vessels  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  the  steam  frigate  Niagara,  returning 
from  Japan,  and  four  tenders  and  store- 
ships,  and  there  was  a  total  of  42  vessels, 
carrying  555  guns  and  about  7, GOO  men,  in 
commission  on  the  4th  of  March,  1861. 

Without  awaiting  the  arrival  of  vessels 
from  our  foreign  squadrons,  the  depart 
ment  early  directed  such  as  were  dis 
mantled  and  in  ordinary  at  the  different 
yards,  and  which  could  be  made  available, 
to  be  repaired  and  put  in  commission.  They 
are  exclusive  of  those  lost  at  Norfolk  Navy 
Yard,  embraced  in  the  following  table: 


NAMES. 

WHERE. 

ORDERED  TO  BE 
PREPARED  FOH 
SEA  SERVICE  WITH 
DISPATCH. 

PUT  IN  COMMISSION, 
OR  READY  FOR 
OFFICERS  AND  CREW. 

SAILED. 

Frigates  — 
Potomac.. 
St.  Lawrence.  .  . 
Santee  
Stoops- 
Savannah  
Jamestown  
Vincennes  

1861. 
April  27 
April  2(1 
April  17 

April    1 
April    9 
April    9 
April  20 
April  20 
April  20 

April  20 
April  20 

April  20 
April  20 
April    3 
April    9 

April  "  6 
Feb.    14 

1861. 

July    30 
Late  in  Mav. 
May    27" 

June     1 
Mav    18 
June  24 
June  30 

June  30 
June  22 

Mav      1 
May      1 

June  20 
June     3 
Mav      2 
April  29 

May  "iS  " 
April  10 

1861. 

Sept.  10 
June   29 
June  20 

July    10 
June     8 
Julv    12 
July    14 
July    17 
July    11 

Mav    21 
May    14 

June  25 
June  18 
May      8 
May    30 

Mav'  '23 
Aiml  17 

Philadelphia.  
Portsmouth,  N.  H.. 

Philadelphia  

Marion  

Portsmouth         .... 

Dale     

Preble. 
Brigs— 
Bainbridge  
Perry  
SI?  timers  — 
Roanoke        .... 

Boston  

New  York  
New  York  

Colorado     
Minnesota.  .    . 
Wabash      
Pensacola  
Mississippi.  .  .  . 

Boston  

Washington  
Boston  

Water  Witch.  .  . 

Philadelphia.  .  . 

When  the  vessels  then  building  and  pur 
chased  of  every  class,  were  armed,  equipped, 
and  ready  for  service,  the  condition  of  the 
Navy  would  be  as  follows: 
OLD  NAVY. 


NUMBER  OF  VESSELS. 

GUNS. 

TONNAGE. 

6  Ships  of  the  Line  (useless)   

504 

16.01(4 

7  Frigates  (useless)  

350 

12  104 

17  Sloops  (useless)  

342 

16  031 

2  Brigs  (useless)  

12 

539 

3  Storeships     

342 

6  Receiving  Ships,  &c        

106 

6  340 

6  Screw  Frigates  

222 

21  460 

6  First-class  Screw  Sloops  .... 

109 

11  933 

4  First-class  Sidewheel  Steam  Sloops  . 
8  Second-class  Screw  Sloops  

46 
45 

8,003 
7  593 

5  Third-class  Screw  Sloops  

28 

2  405 

4  Third-class  Sidewheel  Steamers        

8 

1  808 

2  Steam  Tenders  .  ... 

4 

599 

76 

1,783 

105,271 

OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


37 


PURCHASED  VESSELS. 


GUNS. 

TONS. 

3f>  Siilewheel  Steamers  

1C.O 

26  680 

43  Screw  Steamers  

175 

20  403 

13  Ships 

52 

9  948 

24  Schooners     

49 

5  3'>4 

18  Barks  

78 

8  432 

2  Brigs  

4 

460 

136 

518 

71,297 

VESSELS  CONSTRUCTING. 


GUNS. 

Toss. 

98 

Ifi  787 

23  Gunboats  

92 

11  661 

48 

8  400 

18 

4  COO 

52 

250 

41,448 

Making  a  total  of  204  vessels.  2.557  guns, 
and  218.016  tons.  The  aggregate  number 
of  seamen  in  the  service  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1801,  was  7,600.  The  number  in  De 
cember,  1861,  was  not  less  than  22.000. 

This  was  a  very  good  exhibit  for  the  Navy 
in  less  than  a  year  after  the  commence 
ment  of  the  war,  but  it  must  be  remembered 
that  of  these  vessels  6  were  ships-of-the- 
line,  on  the  stocks,  7  sailing  frigates,  17 
sailing  sloops-of-war,  2  brigs,  3  storeships, 
6  receiving  ships,  13  sailing  merchant  ships. 
24  schooners.  18  barks  and  2  brigs.  All 
these  may  be  said  to  have  been  of  little  use 
as  blockading  vessels,  as  a  swift  blockade 
runner  would  have  little  difficulty  in  elud 
ing  them. 

Yet  our  vessels  were  the  best  the  Federal 
government  could  procure,  and  they  were 
used  to  the  best  advantage. 

Just  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebel 
lion  the  Navy  was  in  a  stagnant  condition 
for  want  of  those  inducements  which  in 
fuse  life  into  a  military  service. 

.There  was  little  hope  of  promotion,  and 
the  navy  list  was  encumbered  with  the 
names  of  a  lot  of  elderly  gentlemen  who 
had  long  since  bade  farewell  to  any  hope  of 
advancement.  Some  of  the  younger  offi 
cers  had  sought  temporary  service  in  the 
mercantile  marine,  many  had  outlived 
their  usefulness,  and  lieutenants  on  the 
verge  of  fifty  years  of  age,  with  large 
families  of  children,  had  to  employ  all  their 
faculties  to  feed  them. 

One  of  the  acts  of  the  new  Secretary  of 
the  Navy  was  to  recommend  a  reorgani 
zation  of  the  service  to  increase  its  effi 
ciency. 

In  December,  1861,  Mr.  Secretary  Welles 
recommended  that  the   permanent   organi 
zation    of  the    line    officers    of  the   Navy 
should   be  as  follows,  adding  three  grades 
to  the  number  then  in  existence  : 
Flag  Officers  to  command  Squadrons, 
Commodores, 

Captains,  [to     command 

Commanders,  [  single  vessels. 

Lieutenants-Commanding,  J 


Lieutenants,  Masters,  Passed  Midshipmen, 
Midshipmen,  Cadets. 

At  the  same  time  were  established  the 
sensible  rules  for  promotion  for  gallant 
conduct  in  time  of  war,  which  did  so  much 
to  elevate  the  service,  and  also  to  retire 
those  who  from  age  or  other  disability  were 
no  longer  fit  for  active  duty. 

For  all  this  the  Navy  was  indebted  to 
Mr.  G.  V.  Fox,  the  Assistant  Secretary, 
whose  ideas  were  promptly  adopted  by  Mr. 
Secretary  Welles.  It  was  the  first  gleam 
of  sunshine  that  had  illuminated  the  Navy 
for  half  a  century,  and  the  first  time  that 
the  sanction  of  Congress  had  been  given  to 
the  President  to  appoint  to  the  highest 
grades,  officers  on  the  list  of  Commanders 
who  had  shown  themselves  gallant  or  effi 
cient  in  the  performance  of  their  duties. 

The  efficiency  of  the  service  was  further 
promoted  by  a  provision  which  enacted  that 
officers  should  be  retired  from  service  on 
three-fourths  of  their  sea  pay  after  being 
forty-five  years  in  the  Navy,  or  on  attain 
ing  the  age  of  sixty -two  years. 

Towards  the  close  of  ttie  year  1861,  many 
important  measures  were  recommended  by 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  for  the  improve 
ment  of  the  personnel  of  the  service,  which 
showed  that  he  appreciated  the  claims  of 
officers  upon  the  country  to  which  they 
were  devoting  their  lives  and  energies. 

Many  officers  of  ability  had  left  the  Navy 
to  cast  their  fortunes  with  the  seceding 
States,  and  the  result  was  a  scarcity  of  offi 
cers  for  the  vessels  in  service  or  about  to 
go  into  commission.  A  law,  therefore, 
passed  Congress,  authorizing  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  to  appoint  from  the  mercantile 
marine  for  service  during  the  war,  persons 
who  could  pass  satisfactory  examinations 
and  show  that  they  possessed  necessary 
qualifications. 

In  order  to  prepare  the  different  classes 
of  officers  introduced  into  the  Navy  for 
"  temporary  service,"  schools  of  gunnery 
and  naval-training  were  established  at  the 
different  Navy  Yards,  where  the  appoint 
ees  were  kept  busily  employed  under  com 
petent  naval  instructors  learning  the  duties 
peculiar  to  the  service. 

It  is  with  the  greatest  pleasure  we  state 
that  the  volunteer  officers  were,  with  very 
few  exceptions,  capable  and  patriotic;  they 
offered  their  lives  as  freely  for  the  preser 
vation  of  the  Union  as  did  their  comrades 
who  had  been  brought  up  in  the  service. 
Composed  as  they  were  of  the  best  material 
of  the  finest  commercial  marine  in  the  world, 
the  spirit  and  zeal  with  which  they  surren 
dered  peaceful  pursuits  to  undergo  the 
severe  discipline  of  the  Navy,  was  honor 
able  alike  to  themselves  and  to  their  coun 
try. 

Should  it  ever  be  our  good  fortune  once 


38 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


more  to  build  up  a  commercial  marine  such 
as  we  possessed  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War,  its  officers  will  be  our  dependence  in 
time  of  need  to  fill  up  the  complement  re 
quired  by  the  addition  of  ships,  that  will 
then  have  to  be  made,  to  the  Navy,  and  if 
they  exhibit  the  same  qualities  evinced  by 
the*  volunteer  officers  of  the  late  war.  the 
honor  of  our  country  will  be  safe  in  their 
hands. 

The  trained  officers  who  are  at  present  in 
the  Navy  would  be  a  mere  handful  in  case 
of  a  foreign  war.  They  would  serve  as 
a  nucleus  and  as  instructors  to  those  taken 
from  the  commercial  marine.  The  cry  of 
demagogues  that  the  Navy  is  overburdened 
with  officers,  is  as  shallow  as  it  is  false, 
and  should  be  treated  with  the  contempt 
such  misrepresentations  deserve. 

There  was  comparatively  little  opportu 
nity  during  the  year  1861,  except  at  Hat- 
teras  and  Port  Royal,  for  the  Navy  to  ex 
hibit  the  zeal,  courage  and  ability  which  it 
manifested  at  a  later  period.  Yet  in  his 
report  for  that  year,  Mr.  Secretary  Welles 
pays  the  highest  tribute  of  praise  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  service. 

The  Honorable  Secretary  says: — "  To  the 
patriotic  officers  of  the  Navy  and  the  brave 
men  who  in  various  scenes  of  naval  action 
have  served  under  them,  the  Department 
and  the  Government  justly  owe  an  ac 
knowledgement  even  more  earnest  and  em 


phatic.  Courage,  ability,  unfaltering  fidelity 
and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  their  country, 
have  been  the  general  and  noble  character 
istics  of  their  conduct  in  the  arduous  and  im 
portant  service  with  which  they  have  been 
intrusted.  We  state  in  all  confidence,  that 
in  their  hands  the  historic  renown  of  the 
American  Navy  has  been  elevated  and 
augmented.'' 

This  is  not  too  much  to  say  about  the 
Navy,  which  even  in  the  beginning'  of  the 
civil  war  showed  its  determination  to 
wrench  from  the  grasp  of  the  insurgents 
the  property  seized  by  them  from  the  Gov 
ernment,  and  it  is  but  just  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  who  paid  its  officers  and  men 
so  high  a  tribute,  to  assert  that  he  showed  a 
spirit  of  loyalty  and  devotion  to  duty  which 
•was  worthy  of  his  high  position,  and  that 
he  met  the  very  heavy  responsibilities  with 
which  he  was  burdened  with  entire  honesty 
of  purpose,  laboring  faithfully  to  the  end. 

Mr.  Welles  made  mistakes  during  the 
war,  as  any  man  in  such  a  perplexing  con 
dition  of  affairs  must  have  done,  and  was 
sometimes  unjust,  owing  to  intriguers  who 
made  representations  against  certain  offi 
cers,  by  which  the  Secretary  allowed  him 
self  to  be  influenced:  but  when  left  un 
biased  to  the  exercise  of  his  own  judg 
ment  he  was  as  impartial  as  any  man  who 
would  likely  have  been  selected  for  his 
position. 


CH  A  PTER  IV. 

DEATH  OF  ELLSWORTH.— CAPTURE  OF  ALEXANDRIA,  VA.  —  POTOMAC 

FLOTILLA. 

CONJECTURES  AND  UNCERTAINTIES.— SECESSIONISTS  AND  THE  POTOMAC. — SECESSIONISTS 
ERECT  BATTERIES  IN  SIGHT  OF  THE  CAPITAL.— THE  POTOMAC  FLOTILLA  ESTABLISHED. 
—LANDING  OF  ELLSWORTH  ZOUAVES  AT  ALEXANDRIA.— DEATH  OF  ELLSWORTH.— 
COMMANDER  ROWAN  DEMANDS  THE  EVACUATION  OF  ALEXANDRIA. — ALEXANDRIA  EVAC 
UATED  BY  THE  SECESSIONISTS. — BATTERIES  AT  AQUIA  CREEK. — ARDUOUS  DUTIES  OF 
THE  POTOMAC  FLOTILLA.—  ENGAGING  THE  BATTERIES  AT  AQUIA  CREEK.— THE  BATTERIES 
SILENCED. — THE  ••  FREEBORNY'  •'  ANACOSTIA  *'  AND  ••  RESOLUTE." — RENEWAL  OF  THE 
ATTACK  AGAINST  THE  AQUIA  CREEK  BATTERIES. — THE  "  FREEBORN''  DAMAGED. — THE 
'•BALL  OPENED"  ALONG  THE  POTOMAC.— ATTACK  ON  THE  BATTERIES  AT  MATTHIAS 
POINT.— REPULSE  OF  THE  FLOTILLA.— DEATH  OF  COMMANDER  WARD.— SECESSIONISTS 
AND  THEIR  SUPPLIES. — LIEUT.  HARREL  DESTROYS  A  SCHOONER  IN  QUANTICO  CREEK.— 
UNDESERVED  CRITICISM  OF  THE  FLOTILLA. — THE  PUBLIC  OBLIGED  TO  ACKNOWLEDGE 
THE  VALUE  OF  THE  FLOTILLA.— VESSELS  ARRIVING  FROM  FOREIGN  STATIONS.— OFFICERS 
RESIGNING,  CASHIERED.  ETC.,  ETC. 


AT  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
many  wild  conjectures  were  made 
as  to  its  duration,  and  many  of 
those  who  had  hitherto  stood  high 
in  the  nation's  opinion,  were  list 
ened  to  anxiously,  as  if  on  their  views  de 
pended  the  life  and  safety  of  the  country, 
but  as  the  war  went  on  it  was  seen  that  the 
wisest   statesmen   and  the    ablest  soldiers 
were  at  fault.     Indeed,  as  events  multiplied, 
the  question  of  the  Republic/ s  future  baf 
fled  all  human  ingenuity.      That  which  all 
men  predicted  did  not  come  to  pass,  and 
that   which   all  declared    impossible,    was 
constantly   being  done,   and    our    leaders 
were  compelled  to  adopt  measures  they  had 
before   rejected,  not  only  as  unsound,  but 
impossible. 

It  is  not  our  province  to  write  about  mat 
ters  concerning  our  Army,  or  about  the  im 
mense  line  of  insurrection  which  early  in 
the  war  stretched  across  our  country  in 
chains  of  military  posts  within  supporting 
distance  of  one  another,  but  as  these  in 
creased  and  Rebellion  continued  to  raise  its 
hydra  head  from  Chesapeake  Bay  to  South 
western  Missouri,  it  was  found  to  be  neces 


sary  to  increase  the  Navy,  not  only  for  the 
protection  of  our  long  line  of  sea-coast,  but 
to  guard  our  great  lines  of  river  transpor 
tation  which  the  enemy  was  rapidly  seiz 
ing  upon  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening 
their  great  lines  of  defence,  the  speedy  ma 
turing  of  their  plans  enabling  them  to  get 
possession. 

One  of  the  first  ideas  of  the  Confederates 
was  to  get  possession  of  the  Potomac  River, 
fortify  its  banks,  and  thereby  cut  off  all 
communication  between  Washington  and 
the  sea.  Their  object  was  to  prevent  the 
transportation  of  troops  from  the  North  to 
the  seat  of  government  by  sea.  for  as  there 
was  but  one  line  of  railroad  between  Balti 
more  and  Washington,  the  Confederates 
were  of  the  opinion  that  the  North  could  not 
supply  troops  in  sufficient  numbers  by  that 
route;  besides,  at  any  moment,  it  might  pass 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  So  satisfied 
were  the  rebels  of  this  fact  that  they  con 
sidered  the  fall  of  Washington  as  certain. 
The  authorities  of  Maryland  forbade  the 
passage  of  troops  across  that  State,  heavy 
batteries  were  rapidly  thrown  up  by  the 
Confederates  along  the  banks  of  the  Poto- 


(39) 


40 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


mac,  and  parties  of  rebel  soldiers,  with  their 
colors  flying,  were  in  sight  of  the  Capitol 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  river. 

The  first  thing  the  Navy  Department 
effected  amidst  all  the  difficulties  of  the 
situation,  was  the  establishment  of  a  flo 
tilla  of  small  steamers,  armed  with  light 
guns,  upon  the  Potomac. 

It  could  hardly  be  supposed  that  the  Navy 
would  attempt,  with  these  fragile  vessels. 
to  contend  with  the  guns  in  battery  on 
shore,  or  that  they  would  be  of  any  other 
service  than  that  of  patrolling  the  river, 
watching  every  movement  of  the  enemy 
along  the  banks,  and  their  operations  ;  but 
those  who  are  left  to  remember  those  days, 
will  not  forget  the  daily  watchfulness,  the 
sleepless  nights,  the  sickly  toil,  and  the 
hazardous  character  of  the  expeditions 
upon  which  the  officers  and  crews  of  those 
vessels  were  engaged. 


COMMANDER  JAMES  H.  WAED. 

The  first  landing  of  Northern  troops 
upon  the  Virginian  shore  was  under  cover 
of  these  improvised  gun-boats,  when  the 
gallant  Ellsworth  landed  with  his  Zouave 
regiment  at  Alexandria,  and  went  to  almost 
instant  death  at  the  hands  of  an  assassin — 
an  event  which,  unimportant  as  it  was 
compared  with  others  at  the  time,  so  fired 
the  Northern  heart  that  it  added  thousands 
of  soldiers  to  our  armies. 

In  this  case  Alexandria  was  evacuated 
by  the  Confederates  upon  demand  of  a 
naval  officer — Commander  8.  C.  Rowan — 
commanding  the  "Pawnee."  carrying  a 
battery  of  fifteen  guns,  and  when  Ells 
worth's  troops  were  landed  the  American 
flag  was  hoisted  on  the  Custom  House  and 
other  prominent  places  by  the  officer  in 
charge  of  a  landing  party  of  sailors — Lieu 
tenant  R.  B.  Lowry. 

This,  though  not  a  very  important 
achievement,  gave  indication  of  the  feel 


ings  of  the  Navy,  and  how  ready  was  the 
service  to  put  down  secession  on  the  first 
opportunity  offered. 

The  death  of  Ellsworth  created  a  great 
impression  upon  the  minds  of  the  naval 
officers  and  sailors  from  its  brutal  accom 
paniments,  and  showed  them  forcibly  that 
treason  would  only  carry  in  its  train  ra 
pine  and  murder,  with  all  the  horrors  at 
tending  vindicative  warfare. 

As  early  as  the  last  of  May,  1S61,  the 
Confederates  had  completed  three  batteries 
on  the  Potomac,  at  Aquia  Creek — railroad 
terminus — and  others  above  and  about  the 
landing.  The  guns  mounted  in  these 
works  were  mostly  rifles,  giving  the  Con 
federates  an  advantage  over  our  vessels, 
which  mounted  only  smooth-bore  thirty- 
two-pounders. 

As  the  Government  had  already,  011  sev 
eral  occasions,  shown  great  decision,  it  is 
remarkable  that  it  did  not  at  once  proceed 
to  put  down  this  work  of  the  Confederates 
in  fortifying  the  commanding  points  of  the 
Potomac,  but  there  seemed  to  have  been 
an  indisposition  on  its  part  at  that  moment 
to  take  any  hostile  action;  and  amidst  the 
daily  increasing  confusion  of  affairs  which 
startled  the  Nation,  even  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  did  not  exhibit  an  unusual  activity. 

The  Potomac  flotilla  was  chiefly  engaged 
in  moving  up  and  down  the  river,  gaining 
information  of  the  enemy's  movements, 
convoying  transports  to  and  from  Wash 
ington,  often  fired  upon,  and  only  able  to 
return  the  fire  without  much  effect,  and 
with  no  power  to  land  and  capture  the  bat 
teries  for  want  of  a  proper  landing  force — 
which  had  been  declined  by  General  Scott 
whenever  application  had  been  made  to 
him.  It  was  a  national  disgrace,  and  be 
spoke  the  weakness  of  a  country  when, 
at  the  very  outset  of  the  war,  a  great 
highway — the  Potomac — could  be  closed, 
and  our  own  people  slaughtered  in  transit 
by  these  rebel  batteries,  which  seemed  to- 
increase  in  numbers  with  a  rapidity  never 
conceived  of ,  while  it  appeared  as  if  they  had 
all  the  military  depots  of  the  country  to- 
draw  from. 

It  was  at  last  determined  by  the  Depart 
ment  that  the  Potomac  flotilla  should  take 
the  initiative,  and  make  an  effort  to  clear 
the  river  banks  of  the  rebel  batteries. 

Commander  James  H.  Ward,  an  energetic 
officer,  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the 
flotilla,  and  on  the  20th  of  May,  1861,  he 
started  to  engage  the  batteries  at  Aquia 
Creek,  with  no  expectation,  we  imagine,  of 
any  great  success  against  them  with  the 
small  and  fragile  vessels  under  his  com 
mand.  These  consisted  of  the  "  Freeborn,'r 
a  paddle-wheel  steamer  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  tons,  and  carrying  three  guns;  the 
"Anacostia,  a  small  screw  steamer  of  two* 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


41 


hundred  tons,  and  the  "  Resolute,"  a  small 
craft  of  ninety  tons  and  two  guns. 

The  largest  gun  on  board  this  little  squad 
ron  was  a  thirty-two  pounder,  most  of  the 
others  being  small  howitzers.  The  impov 
erished  condition  of  the  Navy  may  be  im 
agined  when  it  had  to  depend  upon  such 
craft  as  these  to  crush  a  rebellion,  while  two 
or  three  thousand  rebel  troops  were  in  the 
field  with  batteries  against  them. 

No  one  who  knew  anything  about  such 
matters  would  form  any  favorable  idea  of 
succeeding  against  land  batteries  with  this 
small  flotilla,  but  notwithstanding  the  dis 
parity  of  force. the  batteries  were  silenced  al 
together  in  two  hours,  and  the  Secessionists 
driven  to  their  earthworks  on  the  hills  over 
looking  the  landing.  These  hills  proved 
too  high  for  the  elevation  to  be  obtained 
from  the  guns  of  the  vessels,  and  the 
enemy's  shot  falling  all  around  them  with 
out  chance  of  return,  the  flotilla  was  with- 


keeping  up  an  incessant  fire  for  five  hours, 
only  ceasing  upon  the  over-fatigue  of  his 
men.  The  enemy  were  again  driven  out  of 
their  works,  but  carried  their  artillery  away 
with  them.  Some  damage  was  done  the 
flotilla,  and  the  "  Freeborn  "  was  obliged 
in  consequence  to  go  to  Washington  for 
repairs  ;  there  was  no  loss  of  life,  nor  were 
there  any  wounded  on  this  occasion. 

The  flotilla  had  been  increased  by  the 
"  Pawnee,"  Commander  Rowan,  who  had 
reported  on  the  previous  evening.  More  than 
a  thousand  shot  were  fired  by  the  enemy, 
but  though  a  number  struck  the  hulls  of 
the  vessels,  there  was  no  irreparable  dam 
age  done.  This  little  affair  may  be  said  to 
have  ''opened  the  ball "  along  the  banks  of 
the  Potomac,  and  it  gave  the  Secessionists 
some  idea  of  what  they  might  expect  in  the 
future  under  the  energetic  management 
of  Commander  Ward;  but  unfortunately 
the  career  of  that  officer  was  cut  short  soon 


ATTACK  OX  THE  AQUAIA  CREEK    BATTERIES  BY  THE  U.  S.  STEAMERS  "FREEBORN,"  "ANACOST1A"  AND  "RESOLUTE." 


drawn  out  of  range.  Little  damage  was 
done  to  the  vessels,  the  enemy  not  proving 
to  be  very  good  marksmen. 

This  w"as,  I  believe,  the  first  battle  of  the 
war  where  the  enemy's  batteries  were  en 
gaged  by  the  Navy,  and  though  not  an  im 
portant  affair,  it  marks  an  era  in  the  strug 
gle  which  shows  how  remiss  our  Govern 
ment  had  been  up  to  that  time  in  not  having 
in  the  Navy  a  class  of  vessels  suitable  for 
just  such  occasions  as  this,  and  how  poor 
indeed  was  our  merchant  marine  when  it 
could  provide  nothing  better  than  the  "Free- 
born,"  "  Anacostia  "  and  the  "  Resolute  "— 
three  high-sounding  names,  which  seem 
now  so  insignificant  beside  the  "  Miantono- 
moh,"  "  Puritan."  etc.,  vessels  that  even 
tually  revolutionized  the  navies  of  the 
world,  and  made  us,  at  one  time,  as  regards 
the  defence  of  our  coast,  equal  if  not  su 
perior  to  England  and  France. 

On  the  following  day  Commander  Ward 
resumed  the  engagement  at  Aquia  Creek, 


after  in  the  attack  on  Matthias  Point,  when 
he  attempted  to  disperse  some  batteries, 
having  also  made  preparations  to  land;  but 
in  the  heat  of  the  action,  and  while  sight 
ing  a  gun,  he  was  shot  in  the  abdomen  and 
soon  after  died.  The  Navy  lost  a  gallant 
officer,  whose  example  would  have  inspired 
his  men  to  deeds  of  daring  if  any  example 
was  needed,  for  it  was  a  noticeable  fact 
that  the  blue- jackets  of  the  Navy  were  up 
with  the  foremost  in  their  devotion  to  the 
flag,  and  viewed  these  hostile  movements  on 
the  Potomac  against  the  government  witli 
something  akin  to  horror.  Let  us  remark 
here,  that,  during  the  war, we  do  not  remem 
ber  an  instance  where  a  sailor  was  found 
untrue  to  the  flag  of  the  Union,  or  where 
one  ever  hesitated  to  volunteer  for  an  ex 
pedition,  no  matter  how  dangerous  it  was. 
In  the  affair  at  Matthias  Point  our  party 
was  overwhelmed  by  numbers,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Chaplin  of  the  "  Pawnee,"  who  had 
charge  of  a  landing  party,  only  succeeded 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


in  bringing  off  his  men  by  his  coolness  and 
intrepidity  under  a  perfect  shower  of  bul 
lets.  In  those  days,  when  the  war  was  in 
its  infancy,  the  soldiers  of  both  sides  lacked 
that  precision  of  fire  which  they  acquired 
later  in  the  contest,  and  which  made  the  bat 
tles  so  bloody.  But  for  this  our  repulse  at 
Matthias  Point  would  have  been  a  bloody 
one.  indeed. 

Criticism  of  this  expedition  is  disarmed 
when  we  reflect  that  the  galkint  officer  who 
planned  it  sacrificed  his  own  life  in  the  per 
formance  of  a  duty  he  considered  neces 
sary  to  clear  the  Potomac  of  the  bush 
whackers  that  lined  the  banks  of  the  stream 
all  along,  and  were  firing  on  unarmed  mer 
chant  vessels  and  transports  as  they  pur 
sued  their  course  up  or  down. 


small  affairs  which  took  place  on  the  river 
rose  to  importance  from  the  fact  that  there 
was  then  no  other  field  of  naval  eiiter- 
prize. 

So  great  were  the  facilities  of  communi 
cation  between  the  shores  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  that  the  Secessionists  could  hold 
intercourse  with  their  friends  in  the  latter 
State  by  means  of  small  boats,  and  obtain 
not  only  information,  but  supplies  of  all 
kinds,  including  munitions  of  war  which 
the  Marylanders  were  too  willing  to  pro 
vide  them  with.  Hence  it  became  a  neces 
sity  not  only  to  guard  every  salient  point 
on  the  river,  but  to  capture  all  boats  that 
were  secreted  in  the  numerous  creeks  and 
nooks  with  which  the  river  abounded. 

This  duty,  apparently  insignificant,  was 


SKIRMISH    BETWEEN    THE    "FREEBORN"    AND 


"RESOLUTE"    AND    A    SECESSION    FORCE,  AT   MATTHIAS    POINT.-DEATH  OF 
CAPTAIN  WARD.— JUNE  27,  1861. 


Had  Commander  Ward  lived,  he  would 
have  made  as  high  a  mark  as  any  officer  in 
the  Navy;  no  one  ever  entered  the  contest 
with  more  zeal  and  activity  than  he.  and  to 
this  day  the  shock  of  his  death  has  not  been 
forgotten,  though  thousands  died  after 
wards  on  more  important  occasions. 

It  was  only  when  these  deaths  of  gal 
lant  officers  occurred  that  the  country  be 
gan  to  realize  the  Secessionists  were  ani 
mated  with  a  fell  purpose  which  would 
not  be  appeased  until  the  whole  land  was 
saturated  with  blood  and  sorrow  walked 
over  the  battle-fields  where  friends  and  foes 
lay  mingled  together  in  the  arms  of  death. 

The  Potomac  naturally  became  the  first 
theatre  of  war  as  regards  the  Navy,  for  the 
Department  at  that  moment  had  no  ships 
with  which  to  operate  elsewhere,  and  some 


in  fact  most  important,  for  the  mischief 
carried  on  by  these  small  boats,  which  per 
formed  postal  service  and  transported  spies 
back  and  forth,  was  so  constant  that  it  was 
necessary  to  repress  it  if  possible. 

On  the  llth  of  October,  Lieutenant  A.  D. 
Harrel  was  informed  that  a  large  schooner 
was  lying  in  Quantico  Creek,  and  that  a 
body  of  troops  had  assembled  there  for  the 
purpose  of  crossing  the  Potomac,  and  he  de 
termined  to  make  an  attempt  to  destroy  her. 

He  manned  three  boats,  and  under  cover 
of  darkness,  started  up  the  creek,  boarded 
the  schooner  and  set  her  on  fire,  then  pulled 
away  under  a  heavy  volley  of  musketry 
from  the  rebel  soldiers.  The  vessel  was 
totally  destroyed,  and  the  crossing  of  the 
Secessionists  put  a  stop  to. 

In  all  this  river  service  performed  by  of- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


43 


floors  of  the  Navy  there  was  great  peril, 
and  no  hope  of  reward  held  out  as  remune 
ration  for  the  risk  of  life.  Every  covert  on 
the  banks  of  the  river  held  men  in  ambush, 
and  many  unerring  riflemen,  who  would 
wait  until  our  people  attternpted  to  land, 
or  came  near  their  place  of  concealment, 
when  they  would  pull  trigger  on  them 
with  as  much  malignity  as  if  firing  upon 
the  bloodiest  pirates  instead  of  conservators 
of  the  peace.  They  seemed  to  forget  alto 
gether  that  the  men  they  were  slaying  not 
long  before  may  have  met  them  in  amity 
at  the  festive  board. 

Such  was  the  strife  already  begun,  and  it 
could  not  be  hoped  that  it  would  diminish 
as  the  war  progressed. 

In  this  river  work,  as  in  all  other  where 
the  Navy  was  called  upon  to  act.  it  per 
formed  its  duty  with  unflinching  courage. 
The  public  did  not  know  what  the  service 
had  to  contend  with,  or  how  much  good 
work  they  were  actually  doing:  with  all 
their  discomforts,  toil  and  suffering  they 
received  but  little  commendation;  the 
country  was  too  busy  watching  the  black 
clouds  gathering  in  the  South  and  West  to 
note  the  ordinary  events  that  were  taking 
place  on  the  Potomac,  yet  they  formed  the 
small  links  in  the  chain  which,  in  the  end, 
shackled  the  arms  of  the  great  rebellion. 

A  steamer  captain  coming  up  the  river 
would  be  fired  upon  from  some  point  where 
there  were  none  of  the  flotilla  in  sight,  and 
though  he  might  receive  no  damage  what 
ever,  he  would  make  complaints  of  what 
he  called  the  useless  Potomac  Flotilla, 
which  complaints  would  find  their  way  to 
the  papers,  with  the  usual  result  of  abuse; 
but  in  the  end  the  public  were  obliged  to 
acknowledge  the  value  of  the  service,  for 
though  the  intercourse  between  the  oppo 
site  banks  of  the  river  could  not  be  alto 
gether  prevented,  it  was  made  so  liarrass- 
ing  and  dangerous  to  those  who  followed 
it  that  its  effectiveness  was  destroyed. 

The  Secessionists,  finding  they  could  nei 
ther  close  the  river  against  the  Govern 
ment  transports,  nor  keep  it  open  for  their 
friends,  abandoned  the  plan  of  erecting 
batteries,  and  in  1802  withdrew  from  the 
line  of  the  Potomac  River.  The  patrol  of 


the  Potomac  was,  however,  carried  on  by  the 
Navy  during  nearly  all  the  war,  and 
though  the  river  had  been  freed  of  the 
hostile  batteries,  the  duties  of  the  officers 
and  men  still  remained  more  or  less  haz 
ardous. 

The  public,  as  a  general  rule,  are  not  at 
tracted  by  events  which  have  not  some 
brilliancy  in  them  ;  they  read  only  of  bat 
tles  by  land  and  sea ;  they  never  then 
stopped  to  consider  the  importance  of  such 
tedious  work  as  occurred  on  the  great  high 
way  from  Washington  to  the  sea,  nor  did 
they  ever  seem  to  reflect  that  if  the  river  was 
once  closed  the  very  life  of  the  Union 
would  be  imperilled.  It  was  only  in  read 
ing  over  the  accounts  of  a  successful  battle 
that  they  became  really  interested  in  the 
subject,  and  their  minds  rested  simply  on 
the  central  figure  of  the  successful  chief, 
who  monopolized  for  the  moment  all  the 
glory. 

Few  ever  thought  of  all  the  toil  and  hard 
ships  officers  and  men  had  to  undergo  to 
win  one  of  these  battles,  or  cared  what  be 
came  of  the  workers  and  sufferers  in 
the  conflict.  Nor,  while  carried  away 
with  the  glamour  of  a  great  contest,  did 
they  ever  reflect  upon  the  dead  and 
wounded,  who.  to  secure  victory,  had  given 
up  their  life's  blood  that  their  country 
might  live,  and  the  time-honored  flag  under 
which  they  received  their  first  inspirations 
of  glory  might  float  proudly  at  the  peak, 
without  a  stain  to  dim  its  stripes  and  stars. 

While  these  apparently  unimportant  mat 
ters  were  carried  on  along  the  Potomac,  the 
Navy  Department  was  putting  forth  all  its 
energy  to  get  every  ship  to  sea  ;  vessels 
were  beginning  to  arrive  from  foreign  sta 
tions,  many  of  the  officers  tinctured  with 
secession  sentiments,  and  handing  in  their 
resignations,  some  departing  without,  and 
being  cashiered :  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  in  all  leaving  the  Navy.  The  ships, 
after  undergoing  hasty  repairs,  were  put 
into  commission  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
from  this  time  commenced  that  series  of 
brilliant  actions  which  gave  the  Navy  a 
name  it  will  never  lose,  and  which  ought 
to  make  it  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  true 
American. 


CH  A  PTER    V, 


CAPTURE   OF  THE  WORKS   AT   HATTERAS  INLET  BY    FLAG    OFFICER 
STRINGHAM.— DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  "JUDAH." 

DETERMINATION  OF  LINCOLN  TO  REGAIN  POSSESSION  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  PORTS  AND  HARBORS. 
—A  BOARD  OF  EMINENT  CIVILIANS  AND  NAVAL  OFFICERS  CONVENED. — THE  SOUNDS 
OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.  THEIR  DEFENCES.  ETC. — HATTERAS  INLET. — A  SQUADRON  FITTED 
OUT  TO  CAPTURE  HATTERAS  INLET. — VESSELS  COMPOSING  THE  SQUADRON  AND  THEIR. 
COMMANDERS. — COMMODORE  STRINGHAM. — THE  SQUADRON  LEAVES  HAMPTON  ROADS.— 
THE  SQUADRON  ANCHORS  AT  HATTERAS  ISLAND. — BOMBARDMENT  AND  CAPTURE  OF  FORTS 
HATTERAS  AND  CLARK. — THE  GARRISON  SURRENDER  TO  GENERAL  BUTLER  AND  COM 
MODORE  STRINGHAM. — EFFECT  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF  FORTS  HATTERAS  AND  CLARK  ON  THE 
CONFEDERATES. — DESTRUCTION  OF  FORT  OCRACOKE. — THE  PAMLICO  AND  ALBEMARLE 
SOUNDS. — COLONEL  HAWKINS  SENDS  A  REGIMENT  TO  TAKE  POSSESSION  OF  CHICA- 
COMICO. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  TRANSPORT  •*  FANNY"  BY  CONFEDERATE  STEAMERS. — PLANS 
OF  THE  CONFEDERATES  FRUSTRATED. — COLONEL  BROWN  AND  COLONEL  HAWKINS  JOIN 
HANDS. — THE  "MONTICELLO"  RENDERS  GOOD  SERVICE. — DISASTROUS  RETREAT  OF  THE 
CONFEDERATES. — CUTTING  OUT  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  PRIVATEER  "  JUDAH." 


IT   was  evident  to   any  one  who  had 
studied  the  subject,  that  the  United 
States   Government    could   make  no 
headway    against   the    Confederates 
while  the  seaports  and  their  defences 
remained  in  the  hands  of  the  latter.     From 
the  beginning  President  Lincoln  had  boldly 
avowed  his  purpose  to  regain  possession  of 
all  the  Southern  ports  and  harbors. 

A  board  of  eminent  civilians  and  naval 
officers  had  been  convened  by  the  Navy 
Department  to  consider  the  whole  subject, 
and  report  upon  the  best  means  of  ap 
proaching  and  attacking  the  ports  then  in 
the  possession  of  the  Secessionists;  and  the 
result  of  their  labors,  when  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  was  of 
great  service  in  enabling  the  Department 
promptly  to  take  proper  measures  for  the 
recapture  of  the  ports  along  the  Southern 
coast. 

From  the  beginning  the  Secessionists  had 
appreciated  the  necessity  of  securing  pos 
session  of  the  Sounds  of  North  Carolina  and 
defending  their  approaches  against  our 
gunboats.  There  is  in  this  region  a  net 
work  of  channels  communicating  with  the 


(44) 


Chowan,  Neuse  and  Roanoke  Rivers  by 
which  any  amount  of  stores  and  munitions 
of  war  could  be  sent  by  blockade  runners 
to  supply  the  South. 

The  numerous  inlets  are  navigable  for 
light  draft  vessels,  but  owing  to  their  shal 
low  water  our  vessels  of  war  could  not 
penetrate  them. 

The  main  channel  for  entering  the  Sounds 
was  Hatteras  Inlet,  and  here  the  enemy  had 
thrown  up  heavy  earthworks  to  protect  the 
most  important  smuggling  route  then  in 
operation ;  for,  although  Charleston  and 
Mobile  were  considered  important  ports  for 
smuggling  supplies  to  the  South,  Hatteras 
Inlet  was  none  the  less  so. 

For  the  purpose  of  capturing  the  defences 
of  Hatteras  Inlet  a  squadron  under  com 
mand  of  Commodore  Stringham  was  fitted 
out.  It  consisted  of  the  "  Minnesota," 
Captain  Van  Brunt.  "Wabash,"  Captain 
Mercer,  "  Monticello."  Commander  J.  P. 
Gillis,  "  Susquehanna."  Captain  Chauncey, 
"Pawnee,"'  Commander  Rowan.  •'Cumber 
land,"  Captain  Marston.  and  the  Revenue 
Steamer  "  Harriet  Lane."  Captain  Faunce. 

Three  transports  accompanied  the  squad- 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


45 


ron.  The  "  Adelaide."  Commander  Stell- 
wagen,  ''George  Peabody."  Lieut. -Com 
manding  Lowry,  and  the  "  Fanny/'  Lieut. - 
Commanding  Crosby.  They  carried  about 
900  troops  under  command  of  Major-Gen 
eral  B.  F.  Butler. 

On   the   27th   of  August,    1SG1.    the   day 
after  leaving  Hampton  Roads,  the  squad- 


five  on  shipboard,  but  even  this  allowance 
made  the  squadron  superior  to  the  forts, 
without  considering  the  heavier  guns  and 
better  equipments  of  the  frigates. 

Part  of  the  troops  landed  on  the  island 
under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  squadron, 
and  at  8:45  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the 
battle  commenced.  The  "  Wabash,"  of  fifty 


THE  SOUNDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


ron  anchored  off  Hatteras  Island,  on  the 
extreme  southwestern  point  of  which  were 
Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark,  separated  by  a 
shallow  bay,  half  a  mile  wide.  Of  these 
works  Fort  Hatteras  was  the  larger,  and 
together  they  mounted  twenty-five  guns. 

In  those  days  of  wooden  ships  one  gun 
mounted  on  shore  was  considered  equal  to 


guns,  with  the  "Cumberland"  in  tow  and 
followed  by  the  "Minnesota,"  stood  in  to 
wards  Fort  Clark  and  opened  fire,  and  were 
soon  joined  by  the  "  Susquehanna/' 

The  plan  of  attack,  although  afterwards 
followed  in  several  cases  during  the  Civil 
War,  was  not  the  best  calculated  to  bring  an 
engagement  to  a  speedy  conclusion.  The 


40 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


vessels  were  kept  in  motion  in  a  circle  or 
ellipse,  passing  and  repassing  the  enemy's 
works. 

The  plan  has  the  advantage  of  bothering 
the  enemy's  gunners,  as 
the  ships  are  constantly 
changing  their  range, 
but  it  detracts  from  the 
accuracy  of  the  fire  on 
board  the  vessels  and  it 
tends  to  lengthen  out  an 
engagement.  At  H  a  t  - 
teras  what  should  have 
been  finished  in  six 
hours  required  twenty- 
four  to  accomplish. 

In  our  opinion  had  all 
the  larger  vessels  an 
chored  in  line  abreast  of 
the  forts,  with  the  small 
er  vessels  on  their  flanks, 
the  enemy's  batteries 
would  have  been  quickly 
silenced.  As  it  was  the 
people  in  the  forts  were 
almost  smothered  by  the 
fire  from  the  frigates, 
and  their  aim  made  so 
uncertain,  that  little 
damage  was  done  to  the 
ships.  Shortly  after 
noon  the  Confederate 
flags  had  disappeared 
from  both  forts,  and  the 
enemy  were  evidently 
abandoning  Fort  Clark, 
on  which  our  troops 
moved  up  the  beach  and 
hoisted  the  Union  flag  on 
that  work. 

Fort  Hatteras  still  kept 
up  the  fire,  and  at  night 
the  squadron  hauled  off. 

At  7:30,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  29th,  the  ships 
again  opened  on  Fort 
Hatteras,  and  continued 
the  fire  with  vigor  until 
11:10,  when  a  white  flag 
was  displayed  by  the 
enemy. 

Although  the  reduc 
tion  of  these  works  was 
not  a  very  great  achieve 
ment  for  a  squadron 
mounting  158  guns,  yet 
the  work  was  well  done, 
and  little  damage  was  re 
ceived  from  the  enemy. 

As  soon  as  the  white 
flag  was  shown  from 
Fort  Hatteras,  some  of  the  light  draft 
vessels  entered  the  inlet  and  drove  off  the 
reinforcements  that  were  evidently 
deavoring  to  reach  the  forts. 


At  2:30  P.  M.  General  Butler  went  on  board 
Com.  Stringham's  flagship,  taking  with 
him  Flag  Officer  Samuel  Barren,  C.  S.  N., 
commanding  naval  defences  of  Virginia 


COMMODORE  SILAS  H.  STRINGHAM,  U.  S. 

(AFTERWARDS   REAR  ADMTRAL.) 


en- 


and  N.  Carolina,  Col.  Martin,  7th  Reg.,N.  C. 
Infantry,  and  Col.  Andrews,  commanding 
Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark,  who  had  surren 
dered  unconditionally  with  their  commands. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


Soon  after  the  Commodore  proceeded  in 
the  '' Minnesota"  to  New  York,  where  all 
the  prisoners  were  transferred  to  Gover 
nor's  Island. 

This  was  our  first  naval  victor}-,  indeed 
our  first  victory  of  any  kind,  ami  should 
not  he  forgotten.  The  Union  cause  was 
then  in  a  depressed  condition,  owing-  to  the 
reverses  it  had  experienced.  The  moral 
effect  of  this  affair  was  very  great,  as  it 
gave  us  a  foothold  on  Southern  soil  and 
possession  of  the  Sounds  of  North  Carolina, 
if  we  chose  to  occupy  them.  It  was  a 
death-blow  to  blockade  running  in  that  vi 
cinity,  and  ultimately  proved  one  of  the 


''Pawnee,"  who  rendered  useless  twenty- 
two  guns  and  a  quantity  of  munitions  of 
war. 

The  closing  of  these  inlets  to  the  Sounds 
of  North  Carolina  sent  the  blockade  run 
ners  elsewhere  to  find  entrance  to  Southern 
markets  but  as  channel  after  channel  w;is 
closed  the  smugglers'  chances  diminished 
and  the  labors  of  the  blockading  vessels 
were  much  reduced. 

The  great  value  of  the  Albemarle  and 
Pamlico  Sounds  may  be  judged  by  refer 
ence  to  subsequent  events,  when  they 
formed  a  base  of  operations  for  the  enemy 
which  we  found  it  extremely  difficult  to 


PAWNEE.    MINNESOTA.        CUMBERLAND.        SUSQUEHANNA. 
HARRIET  LANE.        W ABASH. 


FORT  CLARK. 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    FORTS    AT    HATTERAS    INLET.— FLEET    OPENING    FIRE    AND    BOATS    LANDING    THROUGH    THE     STJBF. 

AUGUST  28,  1861. 


most  important  events  of  the  war;  and  if 
we  recall  the  pertinacity  with  which  the 
Confederates  fought  for  these  Sounds,  even 
to  the  end  of  the  war,  we  can  appreciate 
the  value  they  placed  upon  them. 

To  prevent  Hatteras  Inlet  from  again 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates, 
the  forts  were  garrisoned,  although  diffi 
cult  to  hold  owing  to  unforeseen  circum 
stances. 

Fort  Ocracoke.  on  the  inlet  of  that  name, 
twenty  miles  south  of  Hatteras,  was  aban 
doned  by  the  enemy  soon  after  the  fall  of 
Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark,  and  was  de 
stroyed  by  a  party  from  the  U.  S.  S. 


breakup,  and  it  was  not  until  the  Navy  had 
been  largely  increased  by  the  addition  of  the 
proper  kind  of  vessels, that  the  United  States 
Government  was  able  to  get  possession  of 
all  the  important  points  in  the  Sounds. 

''The  subsequent  operations  upon  Pam 
lico  and  Albemarle  Sounds  and  their  rivers 
show  how  important  a  base  these  formed 
for  the  Confederates,  and  how  difficult  it 
would  have  been  to  crush  the  rebellion  had 
they  remained  in  their  possesion." 

Colonel  Hawkins,  who  had  been  left  in 
command  of  Fort  Hatteras  after  its  capture, 
found  his  position  to  be  an  uncomfortable 
and  dangerous  one. 


48 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


The  troops  were  subjected  to  annoying 
privations  and  dangerous  exposure,  and  on 
one  occasion  narrowly  escaped  capture  by 
the  Confederates. 

On  September  29th,  1861, Colonel  Hawkins 
sent  the  20th  Indiana  Regiment  to  take  pos 
session  of  and  fortify  Chicamacomico,  the 
northern  point  of  Hatteras  Island. 


As  soon  as  the  Confederates  learned  the 
true  condition  of  affairs,  they  conceived  the 
bold  design  not  only  of  capturing  the  six 
hundred  men  of  the  Indiana  regiment,  but 
of  retaking  the  forts  at  Hatteras.  Their 
plan  was  to  land  a  large  body  of  men  above 
the  Union  regiment  and  another  below,  be 
tween  them  and  Hatteras,  and  thus  render 


PLAN  OF  THE  ATTACK  OK  FORTS  HATTERAS  AND  CLARK,  AUGUST  28TH  AND  29TH.  1861. 


These  troops  were  but  partially  equipped 
and  scantily  provisioned,  their  supplies  be 
ing  sent  the  next  day  in  the  army  trans 
port  "  Fanny."  Just  as  this  vessel  arrived 
she  was  met  by  three  Confederate  steamers, 
but  their  true  character  was  not  known 
until  they  opened  fire,  and  but  few  of  the 
"  Fanny's  "  crew  escaped. 


retreat  impossible  and  their  capture  cer 
tain.  At  the  same  time  a  fleet  of  light 
steamers  was  to  pass  quickly  down  the 
Sound  and  make  a  sudden  attack  upon  the 
forts  at  the  inlet. 

But  for  unforeseen  events  they  might 
perhaps  have  succeeded. 

The   Confederates    having  collected  ten 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


40 


transports,  six  steamers,  one  cotton-barge 
and  two  flat  boats,  carrying  in  all  about  3,000 
men.  commenced  their  movement  on  the 
4th  of  October,  intending  to  land  a  part 
above  and  a  part  below  the  Indiana  en 
campment. 

Colonel  Brown,  commanding  the  Union 
troops,  divided  his  forces  also,  intending  to 
fight  the  enemy  at  the  two  points  threat 
ened,  but  at  this  juncture  he  received  per 
emptory  orders  to  retreat,  and  as  he  was 
now  some  distance  from  his  camp  and  there 
was  no  time  to  lose,  he  was  obliged  to  start 
on  a  march  of  forty  miles  without  supplies 
of  anv  kind. 


had  been  re-enforced,  the  Confederates  be 
gan  a  retreat  up  the  island  which  proved  far 
more  disastrous  to  them  than  that  of  the 
Union  troops  had  been,  for  they  were  at 
once  pursued,  not  by  inarching  troops,  but 
by  a  gun-boat,  following  them  on  the  out 
side  of  the  island. 

This  steamer  was  the  "Monticello,"  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  D.  L.  Braine,  and 
she  rendered  good  service  on  this  occasion 
by  inflicting  heavy  loss  upon  the  enemy, 
and  driving  him  on  board  his  vessels  in 'a 
thoroughly  demoralized  condition. 

The  Confederates,  when  first  seen  from 
the  "•  Monticello,"  were  marching  along  the 


INTERIOR  OF  FORT  HATTERAS  AFTER  THE  BOMBARDMENT. 


The  Confederate  steamers  attempted  to 
cut  off  his  retreat  by  landing  troops  about 
eighteen  miles  below,  and  it  now  seemed  to 
be  reduced  to  a  question  of  speed  between 
steamers,  and  men  wading  through  the 
loose  and  scorching  sand. 

The  Confederate  flotilla,  however,  was  de 
layed  by  some  of  the  boats  getting  aground, 
and  their  troops  were  not  landed  until  after 
dark.  Captain  Brown,  passing  the  fleet 
without  being  perceived,  reached  Hatteras 
light-house  after  a  day  of  intense  suffering 
and  fatigue,  and  was  soon  re-enforced  by 
Colonel  Hawkins'  regiment  sent  up  from 
the  forts  to  his  relief. 

Upon  learning  that  the  Indiana  regiment 


narrow  strip  of  sand  in  close  order,  and 
being  entirely  without  cover  offered  an  ex 
cellent  mark  for  the  Union  gunners. 

The  "  Monticello's  "  fire  was  very  well 
directed,  and  the  bursting  shells  caused 
great  havoc  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 

They  soon  broke  and  ran.  many  of  "them 
taking  refuge  in  a  clump  of  woods  abreast 
of  their  steamers. 

The  Confederate  vessels  at  once  sent 
boats  to  bring  off  the  troops,  and  as  they 
neared  the  shore  the  soldiers  rushed  wildly 
into  the  water,  having  lost  all  idea  of  order 
or  discipline  in  their  great  eagerness  to  es 
cape. 

Two  of  the  boats  loaded  with  men  were 


50 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


struck  by  shells  and  sent  to  the  bottom, 
several  officers  were  killed,  and  the  shore 
for  a  distance  of  four  miles  was  strewn  with 
killed  or  wounded. 

The  Confederate  steamers  fired  several 
times  across  the  island  at  the  "  Monticello," 
but  their  projectiles  fell  short  and  they  soon 
desisted.  Lieutenant  Braine  continued  his 
attack  until  5:25  p.  M.,  when,  as  he  was 
running  short  of  ammunition  and  the  en 
emy  were  completely  scattered  and  disor 
ganized,  he  decided  to  withdraw. 

DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  SCHOONER 

"  JUDAH." 

There  is  always  an  excitement  in  a  cut 
ting-out  expedition  that  does  not  exist  in  any 


circumstances,  have  been  successful  with 
out  any  serious  loss  to  the  boarding  party  ; 
but  under  whatever  circumstances  it  may 
be  undertaken,  a  "cutting-out"  party  is 
always  attended  with  the  greatest  peril. 

When  Fort  Pickens  was  fully  manned 
and  all  the  guns  mounted  necessary  to  give 
it  a  superiority  over  the  batteries  of  General 
Bragg  on  the  navy  yard  side,  it  was  sup 
posed  that  Pensacola  was  hermetically 
sealed,  not  only  against  the  entrance  of 
blockade  runners,  but  that  Pickens  would 
prevent  the  exit  of  any  hostile  vessel  in 
tended  to  prey  upon  American  commerce. 

But  this  was  not  the  case — notwithstand 
ing  that  the  guns  of  Fort  Pickens  com 
manded  all  the  works  under  General  Bragg, 


DESTRUCTION  OF  FORT  OCRACOKE,  ON  BEACON  ISLAND,  BY  A  PARTY  FROM  THE  U.  S.  S.  "PAWNEE. 


other  service  during  war,  and  many  events 
of  that  kind  which  happened  in  the  Ameri 
can  and  British  navies  hold  a  larger  place  in 
the  memory  of  old  sailors  than  some  more 
important  achievements. 

One  of  these  cutting-out  expeditions  took 
place  in  the  harbor  of  Pensacola,  and  is 
worthy  to  be  chronicled  in  history,  for  from 
all  accounts  it  was  a  gallant  affair,  and  most 
creditable  to  those  who  commanded  and  ex 
ecuted  it. 

There  is  no  act  in  naval  science  requiring 
more  skill,  courage,  dash  and  judgment 
than  the  cutting  out  of  an  armed  vessel  in  an 
open  roadstead,  or  under  the  guns  of  a  ship 
or  fort.  Some  of  these  have  been  at  times 
connected  with  scenes  of  terrible  slaughter; 
others,  by  taking  advantage  of  favorable 


and  could  have  knocked  them  to  pieces  in 
the  course  of  a  few  hours.  The  Confed 
erates  did  not  seem  to  attach  much  im 
portance  to  the  Union  fort  or  its  auxilliary 
works,  and  it  was  reported  to  Commodore 
Mervin,  the  commander  of  the  naval  forces 
off  Pensacola,  that  the  schooner  "Judah" 
was  fitting  out  at  the  Pensacola  Navy  Yard 
as  a  privateer  to  prey  upon  our  commerce. 
This  vessel  had  been  seen  from  day  to  day 
lying  in  a  small  basin  formed  by  the  Navy 
Yard  on  one  side,  and  a  dock  on  the 
other.  She  could  be  seen  from  the  fort  and 
her  daily  progress  noted,  as  her  rigging  was 
being  fitted  and  other  preparations  being 
made  towards  sending  her  to  sea — but  not  a 
protest  was  made  by  the  guns  of  Fort 
Pickens  against  this  cool  proceeeding  of  fit- 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


51 


ting  out  a  privateer  right  in  the  sight  of  the 
fort,  and  in  reach  of  its  shot  and  shell. 

This  vessel  had  heen  watched  for  some 
time  by  the  officers  of  the  squadron  lying 
four  nnles  outside,  and  Commodore  Mervin 
determined  to  make  an  effort  to  destroy 
her,  knowing  the  damage  she  would  com 
mit  if  once  permitted  to  get  out  to  sea. 

The  schooner  was  secured  in  such  a  posi 
tion  that  it  was  very  difficult  for  an  attack 
ing  party  to  get  at  her  without  great  expos 
ure  to  themselves.  The  Confederates  con 
cluded  that  they  had  made  her  so  safe  that  no 
naval  force  would  undertake  to  cut  her  put, 
and  General  Bragg  evidently  attached  little 
importance  to  the  guns  of  Fort  Pickens — a 
10-inch  Columbiad  and  a  12-pound  field- 
piece,  were  mounted  so  as  to  command  the 
schooner's  deck  and  also  the  wharf,  to 
which  she  was  secured  by  chains — and  it 
was  reported  that  there  were  a  thousand 
soldiers  stationed  in  and  about  the  yard 
<>.  ready  to  repel  any  number  of  boats  that 
might  attempt  to  approach  the  wharves. 
To  attack  the  schooner  under  such  circum 
stances  was  a  perilous  undertaking,  but 
Commodore  Mervin  considered  the  de 
struction  of  this  privateer  of  so  much  im 
portance  as  to  warrant  the  risk  of  a  failure 
and  the  loss  of  men. 

On  the  night  of  the  13th  September  a 
boat  expedition  was  fitted  out  from  the 
frigate  "  Colorado/'  consisting  of  the  fol 
lowing  boats  :  first  launch,  Lieut.  J.  H.  Rus 
sell,  commanding  the  expedition,  39  men ; 
first  cutter,  Lieut.  J.  G.  Sproston,  18  men  ; 
second  cutter.  F.  B.  Blake,  20  men  ;  third 
cutter,  Midshipman  J.  Steece,  17  men;  in  all 
the  expedition  there  were  100  officers,  sail 
ors  and  marines. 

The  plan  was  for  Lieut.  Sproston  and 
Midshipman  Steece  to  land  with  their  boats' 
crews  and  (if  possible)  spike  the  two  guns 
mounted  in  the  yard,  while  at  the  same 
time  Lieuts.  Russell  and  Blake  were  to  at 
tack  and  carry  the  schooner. 

The  attack  was  made  on  the  morning  of 
the  14th  September,  1861,  at  3  o'clock  A.  M. 
The  schooner  was  found  moored  to  the 
wharf,  one  pivot  gun  and  two  in  broadside 
mounted,  with  all  her  crew  on  board  ready 
to  repel  boarders. 

The  boats  were  discovered  and  hailed. 
When  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
wharf  the  sentry  gave  the  alarm  by  firing 
his  gun.  and  immediately  after  followed  a 
volley  from  the  schooner's  deck.  The  sail 
ors  sprang  to  their  oars,  and  in  less  time 
than  one  could  think  Lieuts.  Sproston  and 
Steece  from  their  respective  boats  sprung 
upon  the  wharf,  followed  by  their  men,  and 
made  a  rush  to  find  the  guns— the  other  boats 
boarding  the  schooner.  Only  one  man  was 
found  guarding  the  guns,  and  he  was  shot 
down  by  gunner  Bireton  as  he  was  in  the 


act  of  firing  on  Lieut.  Sproston,  both  wea 
pons  going  off  at  the  same  time.  In  the 
darkness  the  party  became  separated,  and 
Lieut.  Sproston  and  the  gunner  succeeded 
in  finding  the  guns,  which  they  immedi 
ately  spiked. 

Then  came  the  contest  for  the  schooner, 
which  was  a  severe  one  while  it  lasted.  In 
addition  to  the  crew  on  deck  some  of  the 
Confederates  had  gotten  into  the  fore-top, 
from  whence  they  poured  a  destructive  fire 
upon  the  boats,  while  a  hand-to-hand  fight 
took  place  on  the  deck;  but  the  sailors  soon 
drove  the  crew  of  the  schooner  to  the 
wharf,  where  they  rallied,  and  being  joined 
by  the  guard  on  shore  (which  had  marched 
to  the  rescue)  they  kept  up  a  continuous  fire 
on  the  boarding  party. 

While  this  fight  was  going  on,  parties  of 
the  expedition  were  engaged  in  setting  fire 
to  the  schooner,  as  it  was  found  to  be  im 
possible  to  move  her.  An  effectual  fire  was 
kindled  in  the  cabin  by  Assistant-Engineer 
White  and  a  coal-heaver  named  Patrick 
Driscoll.  The  ' '  Judah  "  was  soon  in  flames, 
and  as  there  was  no  prospect  of  doing  any 
thing  more,  the  boarding  party  shoved  off. 

By  this  time  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  be 
gan  to  collect  in  the  Navy  Yard,  and  opened 
fire  on  the  boats,  but  the  officers  and  men, 
nothing  daunted,  returned  the  fire  on  the  dis 
organized  crowd  with  two  howitzers  loaded 
with  grape  and  canister,  firing  six  rounds 
before  they  were  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters.  All  this  time  the  schooner 
was  burning  rapidly,  with  a  great  blaze,  by 
the  light  of  which  the  sailors  could  see 
where  the  enemy  had  posted  themselves  on 
shore,  and  they  were  soon  scattered.  The 
schooner  blazed  up  so  rapidly  that  she  soon 
broke  from  her  moorings  and,  having  burnt 
to  the  water's  edge,  floated  off  and  sank  op 
posite  to  Fort  Barrancas.  The  boats  re 
mained  near  the  place  until  it  was  certain 
that  the  "Judah"  would  never  be  of  any 
more  service  to  the  Confederates,  and  then 
returned  to  the  ''Colorado"  which  they 
reached  at  daylight.  Here  they  were  wel 
comed  with  that  heartiness  which  belongs 
to  the  sailors,  who  were  on  the  alert  to  greet 
their  chums  and  look  after  wounded  mess 
mates. 

To  show  the  dangerous  character  of  this 
expedition  and  the  severity  of  the  encoun 
ter,  nearly  one  fifth  of  the  boarding  party 
were  either  killed  or  wounded;  but  the 
regrets  that  were  felt  for  the  loss  of  the  gal 
lant  fellows  who  fell  were  somewhat  com 
pensated  for  (in  the  minds  of  the  sailors)  by 
the  fact  that  their  comrades  had  met  the 
death  of  brave  men  fighting  for  the  country 
they  loved  better  than  their  lives. 

This  was  without  doubt  the  most  gallant 
cutting-out  affair  that  occurred  during  the 
war.  The  boarding  party  had  not  only  the 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


crew  of  the  schooner  to  contend  with,  but 
there  was  a  force  of  over  a  thousand  troops 
stationed  a  short  distance  off.  that  could 
be  called  upon  at  a  moment's  notice  to  drive 
away  intruders.  There  was  ever}r  prospect  of 
a  failure  when  the  party  started  out,  and 
no  certainty  whatever  of  success.  It  was 
one  of  those  cases  where  men  carried  their 
lives  in  their  hands,  and  no  one  there  had  a 
right  to  hope  that  he  would  return  scatheless 
from  such  a  daring  adventure.  The  young 
officers  who  went  out  on  this  expedition 
have  since  that  time  been  engaged  in  some 
momentous  battles,  but  in  none  of  them  did 
they  run  such  risks  or  require  more  nerve 
than  on  the  night  of  the  13th  of  September, 
1861,  when  they  boarded  and  set  fire  to  the 


schooner  •'  Judah"  and  sent  her.  in  flames, 
drifting  down  the  harbor,  as  a  proof  of 
what  American  officers  and  seamen  were 
willing  to  undertake  to  put  down  rebellion 
and  uphold  the  majesty  of  the  law.  Those 
officers  and  men  may  think  that  their  brave 
act  has  been  forgotten  amid  the  grander 
events  that  dazzled  the  imagination;  but  its 
completeness  has  given  it  a  place  in  history 
it  should  never  lose,  and  in  after  years  when 
millions  yet  unborn  realize  what  they  owe  to 
the  Navy  for  the  work  performed  during  an 
intestine  war  to  save  this  galaxy  of  States 
from  disruption, the  burning  of  the  ' '  Judah." 
with  all  its  attendant  gallantly,  will  be  read 
with  as  much  avidity  as  any  action  of  the 
kind  that  took  place  during  the  war. 


CHAPTER     VI 


NAVAL  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  PORT  ROYAL  AND  CAPTURE  OF  THAT  PLACE. 

COMMANDER  RODGERS.— RIVER  STEAMERS  FITTED  AND  ARMED  AS  GUN-BOATS.— COMMENCE 
MENT  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON.— CAPTAIN  A.  H.  FOOTE  ORDERED  TO  COMMAND 
THE  WESTERN  FLOTILLA.— JAMES  B.  EADS.— COMMODORE  STRINGHAM  RELIEVED.— COM 
MANDS  GIVEN  TO  FLAG  OFFICERS  DUPONT  AND  MCKEAN.— THE  PORT  ROYAL  EXPEDITION 
FITTED  OUT.— ASSEMBLING  OF  THE  SHIPS  OF  WAR  AND  TRANSPORTS  AT  HAMPTON 
ROADS.— FRAIL  SHIPS.— THE  EXPEDITION  REACHES  PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR.— GREAT 
SUFFERINGS  OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEN.— RECONNOISSANCE  BY  COMMANDER  RODGERS  AND 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL  WRIGHT  —BATTLE  OF  PORT  ROYAL.— THE  BATTERIES  AT  HILTON 
HEAD  OPEN  FIRE.— FORTS  WALKER  AND  BEAUREGARD.— ORDER  OF  BATTLE.— LIST  OF 
VESSELS  COMPRISING  THE  FIGHTING  SQUADRON.— COMMODORE  TATNALL  AVITHDRAWS. — 
LOYALTY  OF  COMMANDER  PERCIVAL  DRAYTON.— EVACUATION  OF  FORT  WALKER  BY  THE 
CONFEDERATES.— TREACHEROUS  FOES.— EXPLOSION  OF  A  TORPEDO  LEFT  BEHIND  BY  THE 
CONFEDERATES.— CAPTURE  OF  FORT  BEAUREGARD.— PRISONERS  TURNED  OVER  TO  GEN 
ERAL  T.  W.  SHERMAN.— NAVAL  B ATTLES  CONTRASTED.—  SHERMAN'S  LEGIONS.—  DUPONT'S 
EMINENCE  AS  A  COMMANDER.— ATTEMPTS  TO  DESPOIL  DUPONT  OF  HIS  HONORS.— DU 
PONT'S  HIGH  COMMENDATION  OF  HIS  OFFICERS.— GENERAL  SHERMAN'S  HEADQUARTERS 
SECURELY  ESTABLISHED  AT  HILTON  HEAD.— TATNALL  ESCAPES.— COLONEL  GILMORE'S 
RECONNOISSANCE. — RESULTS  OF  THE  Loss  OF  THE  NORFOLK  NAVY  YARD. 


OWING  to  the  increase  of  the   Con 
federate   forces    in  the   States   of 
Tennessee.  Kentucky  and  Missouri, 
it    became    necessary    to    fit    out 
armed    vessels     on    the    Western 
rivers.     In    May,  1861,    Commander    John 
Rodgers,  U.  S.  N.,  was  directed  to  report  to 
the   War  Department,   which  in  the  early 
stages  of  the  conflict  practically  assumed 
the  control  of  the  Western  flotilla,  although 
the  vessels  were  under  command  of  naval 
officers. 

Commander  Rodgers  proceeded  at  once 
to  the  West  and  purchased  a  number  of 
river  steamers,  which  were  fitted  and  armed 
as  gunboats:  and  this  was  the  commence 
ment  of  the  Mississippi  Squadron  which 
nfterwards  performed  such  efficient  service 
for  the  Union. 

Captain  Andrew  H.  Foote  was  afterwards 
ordered  to  the  command  of  the  flotilla, 
which  under  him  swelled  to  the  proportions 
of  a  fleet,  all  his  talents  and  energies 
being  devoted  to  the  task  of  making  it 
a  formidable  force  such  as  the  necessities 


of  the  case  demanded.  In  this  work  Cap 
tain  Foote  was  assisted  by  that  distin 
guished  engineer,  James  B.  Eads,  who 
planned  and  built  that  class  of  ironclads 
known  on  the  Mississippi  as  "turtle  backs," 
which  gave  such  a  good  account  of  them 
selves  during  thewar.and  fought  their  way 
through  many  a  bloody  encounter,  from 
Fort  Henry  to  Grand  Gulf,  Port  Hudson 
and  the  Red  River. 

After  the  capture  of  Fort  Hatteras,  Com 
modore  Stringham  was  relieved  of  the  com 
mand  at  his  own  request.  Two  squadi^ns 
were  organized  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  one  to 
guard  the  shores  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina  under  Flag  Officer  L.  M.  Golds- 
borough  :  the  Southern  Squadron,  extend 
ing  from  South  Carolina  to  the  Capes  of 
Florida,  was  assigned  to  Flag  Officer  S.  F. 
Dupont,  and  the  Gulf  Squadron  to  Flag  Offi 
cer  W.  W.  McKean. 

Although  the  capture  of  the  ports  at  Hat 
teras  Inlet  was  an  important  achievement, 
yet  it  did  not  accomplish  all  the  Navy  De 
partment  aimed  at. 


(53) 


54 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


There  was  no  entrance  to  the  Sounds  ex 
cept  for  vessels  of  very  light  draft  of  water, 
and  there  was  no  harbor  in  the  vicinity 
where  a  depot  could  be  established  for  large 
vessels  to  carry  on  operations  along  the 
Southern  coast. 

A  depot  was  required  for  supplying  coal, 
provisions  and  stores  at  a  point  where  our 
ships  could  find  safe  anchorage  at  all  times, 
and  where  machine  shops  and  docks  could 
be  constructed  for  refitting  vessels. 

The  work  of  supplying  vessels  was  one  of 
vital  importance,  and  a  harbor  was  also 


and  so  well  aware  were  the  Confederates  of 
its  importance  that  one  of  their  first  acts 
was  to  fortify  it  against  the  entrance  of  our 
ships. 

It  was  determined  by  the  Government  to 
fit  out  a  naval  expedition  against  Port 
Royal  under  command  of  Flag  Officer  Du- 
pont,  reinforced  by  an  Army  corps  under 
General  T.  W.  Sherman. 

Notwithstanding  that  the  greatest  precau 
tions  were  taken  to  keep  the  proposed  expe 
dition  a  secret,  the  Confederates  ascertained 
that  a  movement  against  Port  Royal  was  on 


PLAN  OF  THE  ATTACK  ON  FOilTS  WALKER  AND   BEAUREGARD,  NOVEMBER  7,  1801. 


needed  as  a  base  of  operations  against  the 
whole  Southern  States. 

The  choice  of  harbors  lay  between  Bull's 
Bay,  Port  Royal.  Brunswick  and  Fernan- 
dina.  The  latter,  for  some  reasons,  was  con 
sidered  an  available  place,  but  finally  the 
Department  concurred  in  the  opinion  of 
Flag  Officer  Dupont  that  Port  Royal  con 
tained  all  the  required  advantages. 

Port  Royal  is  one  of  the  finest  harbors  in 
the  United  States,  with  water  sufficient  for 
the  largest  vessels.  It  is  about  equidis 
tant  between  Charleston  and  Savannah, 


foot,  and  with  their  accustomed  energy  pre 
pared  to  receive  it  by  mounting  all  the  guns 
they  could  collect,  with  a  proper  force  to 
man  them. 

By  the  27th  October,  1861,  all  the  ships  of 
war.  transports  for  troops,  and  supply  ves 
sels  had  assembled  at  Hampton  Roads,  pre 
senting  a  formidable  appearance.  They 
numbered  fifty  sail,  not  including  twenty- 
five  coal  vessels  which  had  sailed  the  day 
previous. 

Never  before  in  our  history  had  any  officer 
command  of  so  large  a  fleet. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


55 


The  weather  had  been  unpleasant  for 
some  time,  but  now  gave  promise  of  a 
change  for  the  better;  and  when  on  the  29th 
the  signal  went  up  from  the  flag- ship 
••\Vabash"  —"underway  to  get  " — the 
sounds  all  through  the  fleet  showed  that 
sailors  and  soldiers  were  equally  glad  to 
move  towards  the  scenes  of  glory  that 
opened  before  them. 

By  the  time  the  expedition  reached  Fort 
Hatteras  it  came  on  to  blow  a  gale,  which 
increased  to  a  hurricane,  scattering  the 
fleet  in  every  direction.  On  the  fourth  day 
out  there  was  but  one  vessel  to  be  seen  from 
the  deck  of  the  flag-ship. 

What  wrere  the  feelings  of  Flag-officer 
Dupont  on  that  occasion  can  be  imagined. 
Many  of  the  naval  vessels  were  far  from 
staunch.  The  transports,  of  course,  were 
still  weaker,  and  it  was  doubtful  if  half  of 
them  would  ever  be  seen  again. 

The  sufferings  of  the  men  on  board  the 
transports,  the  decks  of  which  were  swept  by 
the  heavy  seas,  were  extreme  and  but  little 
appreciated  by  those  on  shore  who  after 
wards  read  the  vivid  accounts  of  these 
hardships. 

Such  sufferings  are  part  of  the  unwritten 
history  of  the  war,  which  because  they  are 
not  surrounded  by  the  glamor  of  battle  have 
but  little  interest  for  the  public. 

Who  is  there  that  in  reading  an  account  of 
these  scenes  of  suffering  and  disaster  which 
often  overtake  naval  and  military  expedi 
tions,  ever  realize  the  sufferings  of  officers 
and  men  battling  for  their  lives  against  the 
stormy  ocean  ? 

Certainly  the  soldiers  in  these  transports 
would  have  dared  a  dozen  battles  on  shore, 
rather  than  experience  one  such  night  of 
storm  as  raged  around  their  vessels. 

A  better  seaman  than  Dupont  never  trod 
a  ship's  deck,  but  he  could  do  nothing  for 
that  scattered  fleet;  he  could  only  trust  to 
his  subordinates,  whom  he  knew  would  do 
all  that  was  possible  to  avert  disaster. 

All  things  have  an  end.  and  the  gale 
which  had  so  jeopardized  the  expedition  at 
length  abated  with  less  damage  to  the  fleet 
than  might  have  been  expected.  On  the 
morning  of  the  4th  of  November.  1SG1, 
twenty-five  vessels  in  company  with  the 
flag-ship  "  Wabash. "  came  to  anchor  off 
the  bar  of  Port  Royal,  while  the  remainder 
of  the  squadron  were  continually  heaving 
in  sight. 

Although  the  gale  was  over,  the  safety  of 
the  expedition  was  by  no  means  assured. 
The  bar  or  shoalest  water  at  the  entrance 
of  Port  Royal  extended  ten  miles  out  to 
sea.  All  buoys  and  other  guides  to  the 
navigator  had  been  removed. 

As  soon  as  the  flag-ship  came  to  anchor 
Captain  C.  H.  Davis,  Chief  of  Staff,  and  As 
sistant  Boutelle  of  the  Coast  Survey,  pro 


ceeded  in  search  of  the  channel,  which  by 
three  P.  M.  was  sounded  out  and  buoyed,  and 
before  dark  the  smaller  naval  vessels  and 
the  transports  were  anchored  in  Port  Royal 
Roads.  Some  small  Confederate  steamers, 
under  Commodore  Tatnall,  formerly  of  the 
U.  S.  Navy,  were  chased  and  took  refuge 
under  the  Confederate  batteries. 

Next  morning  the  "Wabash,"  "Susque- 
hanna,"  "  Vanderbilt."  and  "Atlantic" 
were  piloted  into  deep  water  inside  the  bar. 
and  a  reconnoissance  in  force  was  made  of 
the  harbor  by  Commander  John  Rodgers 
and  Brigadier-General  Wright,  with  four 
gun-boats.  These  drew  the  fire  of  the  bat 
teries  on  Hilton  Head  and  Bay  Point,  which 
were  shown  to  be  stronglv  built  and  forti- 


When  the  fleet  was  safely  anchored  within 
this  spacious  roadstead,  the  Flag-Officer 
had  cause  to  congratulate  himself  on  his 
selection  of  Port  Royal  in  preference  to  any 
other  point  on  the  Southern  coast  for  the 
establishment  of  a  naval  depot;  and  having 
perfected  all  his  arrangements  made  pre 
parations  for  battle. 

The  Confederates,  attaching  great  im 
portance  to  Port  Royal  as  a  strong  military 
position,  had  built*  two  large  forts,  Fort 
Walker  on  Hilton  Head,  and  Fort  Beaure- 
gard  on  Bay  Point,  opposite;  and  it  seems 
strange  that  the  Navy  Department  did  not 
send  a  couple  of  gun-boats  early  in  the  war 
and  prevent  the  enemy  from  erecting  these 
works. 

Of  the  two  earthworks  defending  the  en 
trance,  Fort  Walker  was  considered  the 
stronger,  and  the  Flag-Officer  therefore  de 
termined  to  direct  the  weight  of  his  fire 
upon  this  work,  and  after  reducing  it  to 
make  the  final  attack  on  Fort  Beauregard. 

The  order  of  battle  comprised  a  main 
squadron  ranged  in  line  ahead,  and  a  flank 
ing  squadron  to  engage  the  gun-boats  un 
der  Tatnall.  which  might  prove  troublesome 
and  therefore  required  attention. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  vessels  which 
comprised  the  fighting  squadron  of  Flag 
Officer  Dupont.  which  operated  in  line 
ahead,  steaming  in  an  ellipse  from  the  com 
mencement  to  the  close  of  the  action. 

Steam  frigate  "Wabash"  (flagship), 
Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers;  steam  frig 
ate  "  Susquehanna."  Captain  I.  L.  Lardner; 
steam  sloop  "Mohican,"  Commander  S. 
W.  Godon  ;  steam  sloop  "Seminole,"  Com 
mander  J.  P.  Gillis  :  steam  sloop  "Paw 
nee,"  Lieut.  -Commanding  R.  H.  Wyman; 
steam  gunboat  "  Unadilla,"  Lieut  -Com 
manding  N.  Collins;  steam  gunboat  "Ot 
tawa,"  Lieut.-Commanding  T.  H  Stevens; 
steam  gunboat  "Paulina,"  Lieut.-Com 
manding  J.  P.  Bankhead:  sailing  sloop 
'•  Vandalia."  Commander  F.  S.  Haggerty, 
towed  bv  steamer  "  Isaac  Smith." 


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THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


57 


The  flanking  squadron  consisted  of  the 
steam  gunboat  "  Bieiiville.''  Commander 
Charles  Steedman,  leading  ship;  steam 
gunboat,  "Seneca,"  Lieut.-Commanding 
Daniel  Ammen:  steam  gunboat  "Curlew," 
Lieut.-Commanding  P.  G.  Watmough; 
steam  gunboat  '•  Penguin/'  Lieut.-Com 
manding  T.  A.  Budd;  and  the  steam  gun 
boat  "  Augusta."  Commander  E.  G.  Parrott. 

The  plan  of  attack  was  to  pass  up  mid 
way  between  Forts  Walker  and  Beaure- 
gard.  which  were  distant  from  each  other 
about  two  and  one-third  miles,  receiving 
and  returning  the  fire  of  both.  When 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Beau- 
regard  the  line  was  to  turn  southward, 
round  by  the  west,  and  close  in  with  Fort 
Walker,  encountering  that  work  in  its 
weakest  flank,  and  enfilading  in  nearly  a 
direct  line  its  two  water  faces. 

When  abreast  of  Fort  Walker  the  en 
gines  were  to  be  slowed  and  the  move 
ments  of  the  fleet  reduced  to  a  speed  just 
sufficient  to  preserve  the  order  of  battle. 
On  reaching  the  extremity  of  the  shoal 
ground  making  off  from  Hilton  Head  the 
line  was  to  turn  north  by  the  east  and  pas 
sing  to  the  northward  engage  Fort  Walker 
with  the  port  battery  nearer  than  when 
they  passed  it  on  the  same  course  before. 
These  evolutions  were  to  be  repeated  as 
often  as  necessary. 

The  two  forts  had  been  constructed  with 
great  skill  and  were  sufficiently  armed,  one 
wrould  have  thought,  to  have  beaten  off  a 
squadron  of  the  size  of  Dupont's.  which  was 
indeed  scarcely  large  enough  for  so  impor 
tant  a  service. 

The  attack  on  the  Hatteras  forts  had 
given  a  very  fair  idea  of  what  our  guns  and 
shells  could  effect  against  earthworks,  but 
those  works  were  small  affairs  in  compar 
ison  with  the  defences  of  Port  Royal,  and 
Commodore  Stringham's  force  was  com 
paratively  much  more  powerful  than  that 
of  Dupont,  to  say  nothing  of  a  clear  sea  in 
which  Stringham  had  plenty  of  room  to  per 
form  his  elliptical  movements. 

The  forts  at  Hatteras  had  inflicted  little 
injury  on  the  Union  ships,  but  here  it 
looked  as  if  the  case  would  be  different,  and 
that  our  squadron  would  have  as  much  as 
it  could  attend  to. 

FORT  WALKER. 

Upon  the  sea  front  were  mounted  upon 
the  best  improved  modern  barbette  car 
riages  and  circular  railways,  the  following 
guns  : 

1  6-inch  rifle. 

6  32-pdrs.  of  G2cwt.,  1845,  navy  pattern. 

1  10-inch  Columbiad,  of  13.5J20lbs.  weight. 

1  S-inch  Columbiad.  9.018lbs. 

3  sea-coast  howitzers,  7-inch,  l,600lbs. 
weight. 


1  rifled,  6  inch. 
In  the  left  wing  were: 

1  32  pdr. ,  same  class  as  others  before  men 
tioned. 

1  sea-coast  howitzer,  42  pdr. .  not  mounted. 
Outer  work  in  rear  commanding  land  ap 
proach  : 

2  32-pdrs. 

1  8-inch  heavy  howitzer,  mounted  on  navy 
carriage,  commanding  approach  to 
angle  of  outer  work, the  only  gun  in  em 
brasure. 

1  English  siege  gun,  12  pdr.,  behind  em 
bankment  at  right  of  right  wing. 

1  English  siege  gun,  mounted  to  the  right 
of  the  magazine  to  command  the  ditch 
of  the  main  work. 

In  the  right  wing  were  mounted  : 

3  32-pdrs. ,  same  class  as  others  before  men 
tioned. 

Making  a  total  of  23  guns. 

FORT   BEAUREGARD. 

The  fort  had  four  faces  upon  which  guns 
were  mounted,  each  face  looking  on  the 
water,  and  each  gun  so  mounted  as  to  com 
mand  the  water  approach  to  Broad  and 
Beaufort  Rivers.  The  guns  were  13  in  num 
ber,  of  the  following  sizes  : 

5  32's,  navy  pattern,  1845. 

1  rifled,  6-inch,  new. 

5  sea-coast  guns,  42  pdrs.,  long  and  very 
heavy. 

1  ten-inch  Columbiad,  weight  13,226  Ibs. 

1  8-inch  Columbiad. 

Upon  the  outer  works  on  the  left  flank 
were  mounted 

2  24-pdrs. 

Upon  outer  works  on  right  flank: 

3  32-pdrs.  of  G3  cwt.,  navy  pattern,  1845. 
Within  the  fort  were  also  two  field  pieces, 

6-pounders,  old  Spanish  pattern,  making  in 
all  20  pieces  of  ordnance. 

Several  circumstances  prevented  Dupont 
from  moving  against  the  enemy  until  the 
9th  of  November,  when  early  in  the  morn 
ing  the  signal  was  made  to  get  under  way, 
form  line  of  battle  and  prepare  for  action. 
The  sailors  had  previously  had  their  break 
fast,  for  Dupont  knew  the  necessity  of  look 
ing  after  their  comfort  and  not  to  take 
them  into  a  fight  on  empty  stomachs. 

By  9  o'clock  the  squadron  was  in  line 
ahead  in  close  order,  the  flanking  column 
in  position.  The  vessels  passed  within  800 
yards  of  Fort  Walker,  on  which  work  the 
main  line  poured  in  its  fire,  while  the  flank 
ing  line  opened  on  Beauregard  as  soon  as  it 
came  within  range. 

It  was  soon  evident  that  the  accuracy  of 
the  naval  fire  would  be  too  much  for  the 
Confederates.  Our  shells  burst  with  great 
regularity  inside  Fort  Walker,  throwing 
sand  into  the  guns  and  into  the  eyes  of  the 
gunners. 


58 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Commodore  Tatnall.  who  was  watching 
the  operations  from  his  flotilla  of  fragile 
river  steamers,  which  were  entirely  unfit  to 
go  into  action  against  our  vessels,  wisely 
withdrew  into  Skull  Creek,  a  convenient 
waterway  just  north  of  Hilton  Head. 

The  Confederate  gunners,  when  they 
found  our  ships  seemingly  unaffected  by 
their  fire,  were  very  much  surprised,  as 
they  had  expected  to  destroy  them  all. 
They  had  no  idea  how  strong  were  those 
old  wooden  hulls  that  had  so  long  braved 
the  storms  of  ocean,  or  what  dreadful 
blows  those  shell  guns  could  deal  out  un 
der  the  management  of  skillful  officers  and 
men. 

When    the  ships    again  swept   by  Fort 


to  pieces,  scattering  the  gun-carriages  to 
fragments,  and  killing  the  gunners,  they 
could  bear  it  no  longer,  but  turned  and  fled. 
These  deluded  people  had  believed  their  po 
sition  impregnable  and  their  force  sufficient 
to  sink  or  scatter  all  the  ships  that  could 
be  sent  against  them.  But  when  they  saw 
the  fleet  pass  and  repass  with  automatic 
regularity,  the  hulls  and  spars  of  the  ves 
sels  showing  no  signs  of  injury,  and  the 
ponderous  cannon  each  time  firing  with 
more  rapidity  and  accuracy,  they  became 
panic-stricken. 

What  hope  could  they  have  ?  Their  guns 
were  shattered  to  pieces,  and  whole  guns' 
crews  swept  away,  while  they  could  inflict 
no  injury  upon  the  wooden  ships.  It  was 


EXTERIOR  OF  FORT  WALKER  AT  HILTON  HEAD,  MARINES  LANDING. 


Walker  from  the  north,  passing  within  five 
hundred  yards,  the  fire  from  their  batteries 
was  withering.  Again  the  vessels  turned 
into  the  harbor,  delivering  their  broadsides 
as  coolly  and  dexterously  as  if  they  were 
engaged  in  exercising. 

This  was  too  much  for  the  enemy's  gun 
ners,  who  had  never  formed  any  idea  of 
what  the  effect  of  a  fifty -gun  frigate's 
broadside  would  be,  firing  "  shrapnell  and 
shell  aimed  by  the  steady  eye  of  Ameri 
can  sailors,  with  whom  the  idea  of  rebellion 
was  simply  mutiny  against  the  highest 
authority. 

The  Confederates  stood  three  or  four 
broadsides  as  well  as  could  be  expected, 
but  as  the  ships  got  their  range,  and  shells 
fell  right  in  their  midst,  tearing  everything 


evident  to  the  Confederates  that  the  Union 
fleet  was  having  its  own  way.  and  that  it 
was  only  a  matter  of  time  when  every  gun 
in  the  forts  would  be  destroyed  and  every 
gunner  killed  who  remained  at  his  post. 

In  addition  to  the  broadside  firing  in  front, 
the  enemy's  works  were  enfiladed  by  gun 
boats  stationed  on  either  flank.  This  fire 
distressed  the  garrison  of  Fort  Walker  very 
much,  for  there  were  no  guns  on  either 
flank  of  the  bastion  to  reply  with.  On  the 
right  flank  a  long  32-pouncler  had  been  shat 
tered  by  a  shot  from  the  ships,  and  there 
was  no  gun  mounted  on  the  other.  After 
the  fourth  fire  a  ten-inch  Columbiad  and  a 
twenty-four  pounder  rifle  gun  in  the  fort  be 
came  useless. 

The  whole  affair  on  the  part  of  Dupont's 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


59 


squadron  had  been  conducted  in  a  masterly 
manner.  Hardly  a  shot  was  sent  from  the 
ships  that  did  not  reach  its  mark.  What 
shots  did  not  strike  the  guns  and  kill  the 
gunners,  rebounded  and  fell  among  the 
troops  encamped  outside  Fort  Walker. 

When  the  Confederates  commenced  to 
run  they  went  in  a  body,  officers  and  all.  for 
no  one  cared  to  leave  his  bones  in  the  sacred 
soil  of  Hilton  Head;  yet  these  men  were 
doubtless  as  gallant  soldiers  as  were  to  be 
found  in  the  South.  They  had  reckoned 
without  their  host,  and  had  certainly  for 
gotten  the  history  of  the  Navy,  and  the  sea 
rights  where  our  ships  had  been  made 
slaughter-pens  ere  they  would  strike  their 
flag  to  the  foe. 

The  Navy  had  come  with  a  determination 
to  wipe  the  mutineers  off  the  face  of  the 
earth  if  necessary,  and  no  one  in  the  fleet 
had  any  idea  of  failure;  all  were  as  certain 
of  victory  when  the  first  gun  was  fired,  as  if 
the  horoscopes  of  the  Confederates  had  been 
cast  beforehand. 

At  a  little  past  one  o'clock  p.  M.  ,  the  Con 
federates  were  reported  as  leaving  Fort 
Walker.  At  this  time  the  enfilading  vessels 
Avere  within  000  yards  of  the  fort,  having 
everything  their  own  way,  throwing  in 
eleven-inch  shells,  twenty-pounder  rifle 
shots  and  even  shots  from  twenty-four- 
pound  howitzers. 

Before  the  close  of  the  bombardment  the 
steam  gunboat  "Pocahontas,''  Commander 
Percival  Drayton,  came  into  port  and  joined 
in  the  attack. 

Her  commanding  officer  was  brother  to 
General  Drayton,  the  Confederate  comman 
der  of  the  forts. 

Commander  Drayton.  although  attached 
to  the  South  by  the  strongest  ties  of  con 
sanguinity  and  friendship,  chose  to  sever 
them  all  rather  than  prove  faithless  to  the 
Government  to  which  he  had  sworn  alle 
giance,  and  to  which  he  considered  himself 
bound  by  every  honorable  sentiment.  He 
condemned  the  action  of  the  South  from 
the  beginning,  and  now  he  had  an  oppor 
tunity  to  strike  a  blow  for  his  country  be 
fore  the  Confederate  flag  was  hauled  down, 
and  his  brother  with  the  forces  under  his 
command  had  retreated  from  the  well 
beaten  fort. 

As  soon  as  the  flag  officer  learned  that 
Fort  Walker  was  being  evacuated  he  sent 
Commander  John  Rodgers  011  shore  with  a 
flag  of  truce,  and  at  half  past  two  this  offi 
cer  hoisted  the  flag  over  the  deserted  post, 
and  three  hearty  cheers  went  up  from  the 
fleet. 

The  enemy  had  left  behind  them  the 
greater  portion  of  their  effects,  their  main 
idea  being  evidently  to  get  out  of  the  reach 
of  our  shells,  but  they  were  treacherous  to 
the  last.  Honorable  men  when  defeated 


accept  the  situation  and  bide  their  time,  in 
the  hope  of  getting  even  with  their  foes  in 
a  legitimate  way,  out  on  this  occasion  an 
unworthy  attempt  at  revenge  was  made  by 
the  defeated  foe. 

Commander  Rodgers  went  into  the  house 
which  had  been  used  as  headquarters,  and 
over  which  he  had  hoisted  the  American 
flag.  A  sailor  moving  about  the  premises 
caught  his  foot  in  a  wire  which  was  at 
tached  to  some  kind  of  torpedo.  There  was 
an  explosion,  a  cloud  of  smoke,  and  the 
frame  building  was  demolished.  The  sailor 
was  knocked  senseless  but  soon  recovered, 
so  that  no  loss  of  life  occurred. 

Fort  Beauregard  had  not  been  considered 
by  Dupont  as  an  important  point  of  attack, 
although,  fired  upon  at  long  range  as  the 
vessels  wheeled  into  the  ellipse.  At  sunset 
it  was  seen  that  the  work  had  been  aban 
doned,  and  next  morning  the  Union  flag  was 
hoisted  over  that  fort,  and  thus  a  perman 
ent  lodgment  was  gained  on  the  Southern 
coast  that  proved  of  great  advantage  to  the 
Union  cause. 

The  victory  had  been  gained  entirely  by 
the  Navy,  for  although  there  were  troops 
at  hand  yet  they  took  no  part  in  the  en 
gagement,  nor  was  it  necessary  that  they 
should.  They  went  along  simply  to  hold 
the  place  after  the  Navy  had  captured  it, 
and  after  the  wrorks  had  been  occupied  a 
short  time  by  the  marines  of  the  squadron 
the  Flag  officer  turned  them  over  to  General 
T.  W.  Sherman. 

Fort  Beauregard  made  but  little  resist 
ance,  and  hauled  down  its  flag  when  it  as 
certained  that  Fort  Walker  was  evacuated, 
the  commanding  officer  remarking  to  his 
subordinates:  "'This  work  is  evidently 
not  suited  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
intended,  and  we  had  better  leave  it."  Al 
though  very  little  firing  was  concentrated 
on  Fort  Beauregard,  yet  it  had  thirteen 
men  wounded. 

General  Drayton,  commanding  the  Con 
federate  forces,  reported  that  in  Fort 
Walker  there  were  ten  killed  and  twenty 
wounded.  In  De  Saussier's  Regiment,  one 
killed,  four  wounded  severely  and  twenty 
missing — a  small  number,  considering  the 
severe  fire  to  which  the  enemy  were  sub 
jected.  On  board  the  ships  eight  were 
killed,  six  severely  wounded  and  seventeen 
slightly  wounded. 

The  small  number  of  casualties  on  board 
the  ships  is  due  to  the  furious  and  destruc 
tive  fire  kept  up  on  Fort  Walker,  which 
from  the  first  rendered  the  Confederate 
gunners'  aim  very  uncertain. 

The  attack  on  the  defences  of  Port  Royal 
was  ably  planned  and  skilfully  executed. 
No  time  was  lost  by  vacillating  move 
ments,  and  although  this  cannot  be  con 
sidered  a  great  naval  engagement,  yet  it 


60 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  best  exhi 
bitions  of  naval  tactics  that  occurred  dur 
ing  the  Civil  War.  and  has  stood  the  test  of 
criticism  both  at  home  and  abroad.  It  was 
not  so  momentous  an  affair  as  the  battles 
of  New  Orleans,  Mobile  or  Fort  Fisher;  but 
it  was  of  greater  importance  to  the  country, 
for  it  was  a  gleam  of  sunshine  bursting 
through  the  dark  clouds  which  enveloped 
the  Union  horizon. 

The  Union  forces  had  met  with  little  save 
misfortune  from  the  day  when  the  Con 
federates  fired  on  Fort  Sumter.  and  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run  had  humiliated  us  before 
the  world  and  incited  France  and  England 
to  meddle  in  our  affairs.  The  victory  at 
Port  Royal  put  new  life  into  Union  hearts. 

The  North  had  seen  arsenals  and  fort  all 


short  time  when  he  would  be  compelled  to 
submit. 

The  battle  of  Port  Royal  gave  the  powers 
of  Europe  (who  were  longing  for  and  expect 
ing  the  success  of  the  South)  notice  that  we 
could  and  would  win  back  the  forts  that 
had  been  filched  from  us,  and  that  our 
hearts  of  oak  in  wooden  ships  could  bid  de 
fiance  to  well-constructed  earthworks  and 
solid  masonry. 

This  affair  showed  conclusively  that  the 
time-honored  theory  that  one  gun  on  shore 
was  equal  to  five  on  shipboard  no  longer 
held  good,  when  applied  to  the  heavy  artil 
lery  carried  by  modern  ships  and  served 
with  skill  and  precision. 

Dupont  demonstrated  that  ships  under 
steam  were  much  more  powerful  factors 


INTERIOR  OF  FORT  BEAUREGAHD  AT  BAY  POINT,  S.  C.,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  NAVAL  FORCES  UNDER  CAPTAIN  DUPONT. 


alongthe  Southern  coast  fall  into  Confeder 
ate  hands  with  scarcely  an  effort  made  to 
prevent  it.  and  now,  when  least  expected.the 
Union  people  were  exalted  in  their  own  es 
timation.  The  Navy  had  come  to  the  res 
cue  and  gained  a  complete  victory  in  the  im 
mediate  vicinity  of  Charleston  and  Savan 
nah,  the  hotbeds  of  secession,  establishing 
a  permanent  foothold,  and  affording  an  op 
portunity  of  throwing  into  the  heart  of  the 
South  a  great  army,  had  we  of  the  North 
been  wise  enough  to  force  the  fighting  in 
a  quarter  where  it  would  have  eventually 
brought  matters  to  a  speedy  conclusion. 

This  happened  in  the  end  when  Sher 
man's  legions  swept  througli  the  South, and 
the  Army  and  Navy  closed  up  the  last  outlet 
of  the  enemy,  leaving  it  only  a  matter  of  a 


against  forts  than  when  they  had  only  sails 
to  propel  them,  and  that  to  make  success 
certain  all  that  was  required  was  skill  in 
their  management,  and  a  determination  to 
attempt  anything  within  the  bounds  of  rea 
son. 

All  the  qualities  of  a  great  commander 
were  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree  by 
Dupont. 

He  was  well  informed  in  everything  re 
lating  to  naval  matters,  had  great  influence 
in  naval  circles,  and  at  the  first  sign  of  ob 
taining  a  command. he  gathered  around  him 
a  fine  corps  of  officers,  whose  zeal  and  in 
telligence  greatly  lightened  the  labors  by 
which  he  was  oppressed,  during  his  service 
on  the  Southern  coast. 

Dupont  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  and 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


Gl 


there  was  something  so  winning  in  his  man 
ner  to  all  with  whom  lie  came  in  contact, 
that  no  man  in  the  Xavy  had  more  friends 
and  admirers. 

The  battle  of  Port  Royal  was  important 


There  might  be  more  difficult  places  to  con 
quer  than  Port  Royal,  but  no  man  could 
hereafter  decline  to  attack  an  enemy's  works 
with  a  squadron  of  war  vessels.  From  the 
experience  gained  at  Port  Royal  there  could 


FLAG  OFFICER  S.  F.  DUPOXT,  U.  S.  X. 
(AFTERWARDS  REAK  ADMIRAL.) 


in  more  ways  than  we  have  enumerated. 
Its  moral  effect  counted  prodigiously.  It 
opened  the  way  for  the  more  important 
operations  with"  wooden  ships  against  the 
enemy's  forts  at  a  later  period  of  the  war. 


be  no  difficulty  in  estimating  hereafter 
what  number  of  ships  and  guns  would  be 
necessary  for  a  certain  service.  So  no  mat 
ter  in  what  aspect  we  view  this  victory,  its 
importance  cannot  be  overestimated. 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


Later  in  the  war  it  was  attempted  to  take 
from  Dupont  some  of  the  laurels  he  had 
won.  and  to  mention  with  faint  praise  the 
work  he  had  accomplished;  but  this  scheme 
of  detraction  did  not  affect  his  reputation, 
for  he  lived  honored  and  died  regretted  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

The  good  he  did  lives  after  him  in  the 
hearts  of  those  in  whom  he  implanted  the 
seeds  of  discipline,  and  encouraged  that 
chivalrous  conduct  which  was  once  para 
mount  in  the  Navy. 

Dupont  gave  all  his  officers  full  credit  for 
their  gallantry  in  the  affair  of  Port  Royal; 
but  for  these  particulars  we  must  refer  the 
reader  to  the  official  reports  of  the  day, 
since  this  is  intended  to  be  a  general  review 
of  naval  events  and  cannot  enter  into  all 
the  particulars. 

Flag  Officer  Dupont  highly  commends  the 
services  of  Fleet-Captain  C.  H.  Davis.  Com 
mander  C.R. P. Rodgers, and  some  of  the  sub 
ordinate  officers  of  the  flag-ship;  but  leaves 
it  to  the  commanding  officers  of  vessels  to 
mention  the  personnel  of  their  own  ships. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  after  the  cap 
ture  of  the  forts  was  to  establish  the  Army 
under  General  T.  W.  Sherman  securely  on 
Hilton  Head  Island.  This  Island  is  bor 
dered  on  the  north  by  "  Skull  Creek."  a 
fair  waterway  of  from  two  and  one  half  to 
four  fathoms,  through  which  Tatnall  es 
caped  with  his  steamers,  and  where  it  was 
thought  he  should  have  been  followed  by 
our  gunboats,  though  from  some  unex 
plained  reason  they  failed  to  do  so.  A  few 
heavy  guns  at  Seabrook  Landing,  midway 
in  Skull  Creek,  would  have  commanded  a 
long  stretch  of  the  waterway  and  completely 
closed  it  against  ordinary  gunboats;  but,  as 
it  happened,  there  were  no  defences  of  the 
kind,  and  our  forces  lost  the  opportunity  of 
capturing  General  Drayton  and  all  his 
command,  who  escaped  either  in  Tatnall's 
steamers  or  in  army  transports. 

Colonel  Gilmore,  of  the  Engineers,  made 
a  thorough  survey  of  the  vicinity,  and  his 
plans  for  defence  were  adopted,  making 


the  island  of  Hilton  Head  secure  against 
any  attack  from  the  enemy. 

Thus  our  forces  were  established  in  South 
Carolina,  a  constant  menace  to  the  enemy: 
the  hostile  movements  from  Hilton  Head 
keeping  Georgia  and  South  Carolina  in  con 
stant  alarm. 

Hilton  Head  Island  became  in  course  of 
time  a  place  of  refuge  for  hundreds  of 
slaves,  fleeing  from  their  masters,  who  had 
forced  them  to  throw  up  intrenchments 
against  their  friends,  who  offered  them  lib 
erty  and  protection. 

Colonel  Gilmore's  reconnoissance  after 
the  battle  showed  the  demoralized  condi 
tion  of  the  retreating  enemy.  The  road 
from  Fort  Walker  to  Seabrook  Landing 
was  strewn  with  accoutrements  thrown 
away  by  the  soldiers  in  their  flight,  and  at 
the  landing  a  quantity  of  commissary  stores 
had  been  abandoned. 

It  may  seem  surprising  that  the  Seces 
sionists  were  enabled  in  so  short  a  time  af 
ter  the  breaking  out  of  the  hostilities,  to 
erect  so  many  formidable  earth-works 
armed  with  heavy  guns.  This  was  owing 
to  the  United  States  Government  allowing 
Norfolk  Navy  Yard,  with  its  abundant  sup 
ply  of  guns  and  munitions  of  war.to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  insurgents.  From  Norfolk 
the  guns  were  sent  all  along  the  Southern 
coast,  by  way  of  the  Dismal  Swamp  Canal, 
and  through  the  inland  channels  with 
which  our  coast  is  supplied, as  far  as  Florida. 
The  number  of  guns  captured  at  Norfolk  is 
variously  estimated  from  1,400  to  1.500.  but 
at  all  events  the  number  was  amply  suffi 
cient  to  provide  a  barrier  against  the  en 
trance  of  such  small  vessels  as  we  could 
get  into  commission  on  the  first  breaking 
out  of  the  war. 

But  for  the  misfortune  of  losing,  or  we 
may  say  throwing  away,  the  Norfolk  Navy 
Yard,  all  the  unarmed  ports  of  the  South 
would  have  easily  fallen  into  our  hands,  and 
thus  enabled  us  to  break  up  blockade  run 
ning  at  a  much  earlier  date  than  we  were 
able  to  accomplish  it. 


CH  A  PTE  R     VII, 


THE   "TRENT"  AFFAIR. 


DETENTION  OF  THE  BRITISH  STEAMER  "  TRENT,"  AND  CAPTURE  OF  MASON  AND  SLIDELL. 


ONE  of  the  first  orders  issued  to  naval 
officers  in  command  afloat,  should 
have  been  one  instructing  them  par 
ticularly  with  regard  to  neutral  ob 
ligations. 

But  this  was  not  done;  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  taking  it  for  granted  that  every  com 
mander  would  be  well  posted  in  Interna 
tional  Law,  and  would  not  fail  to  ask  in 
structions  on  such  matters  when  doubts  were 
involved. 

This  want  of  a  proper  precaution  came 
very  near  precipitating  the  United  States 
into  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  at  a  time 
when  it  was  most  desirable  to  have  no  com 
plications  of  any  kind  with  foreign  powers. 
We  were  likely  to  have  enough  trouble 
in  the  adjudication  of  liable  blockade  run 
ners:  but  those  cases  would  come  before 
legally  authorized  Admiralty  courts,  and  it 
was  not  likely  that  any  injustice  would  be 
done  to  innocent  parties,  except  detention, 
for  which  the  parties  detained  could  have 
recourse  to  law  for  damages. 

In  cases  of  non-condemnation,  compensa 
tion  was  always  allowed  by  the  courts,  and 
sometimes  to  a  large  amount. 

There  is  no  nation  so  particular  in  the 
care  of  its  commerce  as  Great  Britain.  She 
keeps  large  fleets  in  all  parts  of  the  world 
solely  for  its  protection,  and  wherever  the 
British  flag  flies  on  a  merchant  vessel  you 
will  find  a  ship  of  war  not  far  off,  ready  to 
protect  it  with  her  guns;  and  to  this  protec 
tion  from  their  Navy  do  the  British  people 
owe  that  prosperity  of  their  commerce 
which  it  enjoys  in  every  part  of  the  world. 

It  could  readily  be  imagined  that  in  a  war 
which  would  so  seriously  affect  so  many 
branches  of  British  trade,  that  the  English 
government  would  observe  with  a  jealous 


eye  every  step  taken  by  our  government 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  Confeder 
ates  from  receiving  supplies,  contraband  of 
war,  from  all  foreign  countries;  but  it  is 
only  fair  to  say,  that  although  there  were  at 
times  English  ships-of-war  sent  along  the 
coast  to  see  that  the  blockade  was  closely 
kept,  yet  there  were  but  few  instances  where 
British  officers  made  any  protest  against  our 
method  of  arresting  the  vessels  engaged  in 
the  contraband  trade. 

The  English  government  itself  seemed 
disposed  to  take  no  action  in  regard  to  the 
seizure  of  English  vessels,  beyond  having 
agents  in  this  country  to  be  present  at  the 
proceedings  of  the  Admiralty  courts,  and 
to  report  the  results  to  their  Government. 

Our  Admiralty  courts  and  the  British 
being  founded  pretty  much  on  the  same 
principles,  there  was  not  much  misunder 
standing  between  the  two  Governments, 
considering  the  large  number  of  vessels  that 
came  before  the  prize  courts.  On  the  whole, 
matters  went  on  quite  pleasantly  between 
the  two  countries,  notwithstanding  that 
many  Americans  indulged  in  the  idea  that 
the  whole  English  nation  was  hostile  to  the 
North,  and  only  held  this  feeling  in  check 
until  a  favorable  opportunity  should  occur, 
when,  with  some  show  of  reason,  it  could 
assume  an  offensive  attitude. 

With  such  opinions  existing  it  wrould  have 
been  wiser  for  our  Government  in  its  then 
weak  condition  to  have  avoided  anything 
that  could  in  any  way  be  considered  unjusti 
fiable,  and  to  have  endeavored  as  much  as 
possible  to  prevent  collisions  of  any  kind 
with  foreign  powers,  unless  it  was  positively 
clear  that  we  were  in  the  right. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1861,  an  event 
occurred  which  created  the  wildest  excite- 


(63) 


64 


ment  throughout  all  parts  of  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain;  in  fact,  all  Europe 
looked  on  with  anxiety,  anticipating  a  war 
between  England  and  the  Northern  States 
of  the  Union. 

This  excitement  grew  out  of  the  arrest  of 
the  British  mail  steamer  "Trent"  on  the 
high  seas,  by  Captain  Charles  Wilkes,  of  the 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 

Eustis  and  McFarland.  attaches  to  the  com 


missioners. 

The  "  Trent "  was  one  of  aline  of  British 
steamers  which  ran  regularly  between  Vera 
Cruz  and  Havana,  thence  to  St.  Thomas, 
and  from  there  to  England. 

The  company  had  a  contract  with  the 
British  Government  to  carry  the  mails,  and 


CAPTAIN  CHARLES  WILKES. 


United  States  frigate  "  San  Jacinto."  and 
taking  from  hei  four  male  passengers  who 
claimed  the  protection  of  the  British  flag. 

Two  of  these  gentlemen  were  Messrs. 
Mason  and  Slidell,  formerly  members  of  the 
U.  S.  Senate,  who  were  now  bound  to  Eu 
rope  as  commissioners  from  the  Confeder 
ate  Government  to  the  Courts  of  England 
and  France;  the  other  two  were  Messrs. 


its  steamers  had  ample  accommodations  for 
the  passenger  travel  between  England  and 
the  West  Indies. 

The  "  Trent  "  left  the  port  of  Havana  on 
the  morning  of  the  7th  of  November,  un 
der  the  command  of  Captain  Moir. 

Nothing  of  interest  occurred  until  about 
noon  of  the  8th,  when,  in  the  narrow  pas 
sage  of  the  Old  Bahama  Channel,  opposite 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


65 


the  Panador  Grande  light,  from  the 
"  Trent "  was  seen  a  steamer  ahead,  appar 
ently  waiting  and  showing  no  colors. 

The  "  Trent"  at  this  time  was  on  her 
legitimate  voyage;  she  had  touched  at  no 
port  in  the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  had 
held  no  communication  with  vessels  com 
ing  from  or  going  to  the  insurrectionary 
States;  neither  was  she  bound  herself  to  any 
Southern  port,  but  was  pursuing  the  route 
usually  traveled  by  the  company's  mail 
steamers. 

Her  captain  had  taken  on  board  as  pas 
sengers  the  four  gentlemen  above  named, 
as  he  had  a  right  to  do,  for  the  British  com 
pany  had  no  authority  to  question  the  right 
of  these  persons  to  travel  on  their  steamers, 
as  long  as  they  paid  their  passage  money 
and  conformed  to  the  rules  and  regulations 
of  the  vessel. 

The  story  of  this  affair  is  best  told  by  an 
officer  belonging  to  the  "  San  Jacinto,"  who 
states  as  follows  : 

"At  about  10.40  A.  M.  the  look-out  at  the  mast 
head  reported  a  smoke  from  a  steamer  from  the 
Avestward,  and  at  11  A.  M.  she  was  visible  from  the 
deck.  We  were  all  ready  for  her;  beat  to  quarters, 
and  as  soon  as  she  was  in  reach  of  our  battery, 
•every  gun  was  trained  on  her  from  the  starboard 
side.  A  shot  from  the  pivot  gun  was  fired  across 
her  bow;  she  hoisted  English  colors,  but  showed  no 
•disposition  to  slacken  her  speed  or  heave-to;  we 
hoisted  the  star-spangled  banner,  and  as  soon  as 
she  was  close  upon  us,  fired  a  shell  across  her  bow, 
which  brought  her  to.  Our  captain  hailed  her  and 
said  he  would  send  a  boat  on  board,  and  gave  an 
•order  to  Lieut.  Fairfax  to  board  her.  Fairfax  went 
in  the  second  cutter.  At  the  same  time  Lieut. 
Greer  was  ah"  ready  in  the  third  curter  to  shove  off 
from  the  port  side,  in  case  his  services  should  be 
needed. 

''  On  coming  alongside  of  the  packet,  Lieut.  Fair 
fax  ordered  the  other  officers  to  remain  in  the  boat 
with  the  crew  until  it  should  become  necessary  to 
use  force,  and  he  went  on  board  the  '  Trent '  alone. 
The  captain  of  the  mail  steamer  refused  to  show 
his  papers  and  passenger  list,  Knowing  very  well 
the  object  of  our  visit  and  the  character  and  mis 
sion  of  the  Commissioners  :  but  Mr.  Mason  being 
recognized,  a  part  of  the  armed  crew  was  ordered 
from  the  boat  and  went  on  board.  Messrs.  Mason 
and  Slidell  were  then  requested  to  go  on  board 
the  'San  Jacinto,'  but  declined,  and  said  that 
they  would  only  yield  to  force,  Mr.  Slidell  remark 
ing  that  it  would  require  considerable  force  to  take 
him  011  board  the  '  San  Jacinto.'  Lieut.  Fairfax 
then  ordered  Mr.  Houston  to  return  to  the  'San 
Jacinto' and  report  that  the  Confederate  Commis 
sioners  were  on  board  the  'Trent1  (mail  steamer) 
and  refused  to  go  on  board  the  '  San  Jacinto'  by 
other  means  than  force. 

"Lieut.  Greer  then  shoved  off  and  went  along 
side  of  the  '  Trent,'  sent  his  armed  crew  and  mar 
ines  on  board  and  stationed  them  at  both  gang 
ways.  After  a  gentle  application  of  force  the  four 
gentlemen  were  taken  in  the  second  cutter  and  con 
veyed  on  board  the  American  frigate,  where  they 
were  received  by  Captain  Wilkes  at  the  gangway, 
and  shown  into  the  cabin  which  they  afterwards 
occupied. 

"  Two  other  boats  were  sent  on  board  the  '  Trent' 
to  remove  the  luggage  ;  and  the  ladies  belonging  to 
the  Commissioners'  party  having  declined  the  hos 


pitalities  offered  them  by  Captain  Wilkes  on  board 
the  'San  Jacinto,'  at  3.30  the 'Trent'  and  '  San 
Jacinto'  parted  company." 

This  is  a  condensed  account  of  this  affair, 
but  it  fully  explains  the  manner  in  which 
the  Commissioners  were  taken  out  of  the 
"  Trent." 

The  whole  matter  on  board  the  "Trent" 
was  conducted  by  Lieut.  Fairfax  with  the 
utmost  courtesy.  He  had  a  very  unpleasant 
duty  to  perform,  especially  as  ne  was  much 
embarrassed  by  the  presence  of1  the  ladies 
belonging  to  the  party,  who  expressed 
themselves  without  restraint  regarding  the 
outrage  which  they  asserted  had  been  com 
mitted;  but  the  lieutenant  bore  their  re 
proaches  with  great  equanimity,  and  per 
formed  his  duty  as  gently  as  possible. 

The  Commissioners  themselves  appeared 
to  be  very  much  outraged  by  the  proceed 
ings  of  Captain  Wilkes  in  taking  them  out 
of  the  "  Trent,"  though  he  did  all  he  could 
while  they  were  on  board  his  ship  to  make 
them  forget  their  troubles  in  the  comforts  of 
a  fine  cabin;  but  nothing  could  have  pleased 
these  Commissioners  more  than  the  fact 
that  they  were  arrested  on  the  high  seas  on 
board  of  a  British  ship,  with  the  British  flag 
flying  at  the  peak,  and  forcibly  taken  from 
her  to  an  American  frigate. 

This  was  just  what  would  suit  the  Con 
federacy  and  the  Commissioners  at  the  same 
time,  for  it  would  bring  about  a  collision, 
or  at  least  a  dispute,  between  England  and 
the  Federal  Government,  and  very  much 
increase  the  importance  of  the  Commission 
ers  on  their  landing  in  England,  where  they 
expected  to  be  received  (when  released)  witn 
the  wildest  enthusiasm. 

They  both  were  top  well  posted  not  to 
know  the  tenacity  with  which  the  British 
people  hold  on  to  an  idea,  particularly  the 
idea  that  when  a  man  or  a  number'of  men 
seek  the  protection  of  the  English  flag,  he 
or  they  cannot  b.e  taken  from  under  its  folds 
by  force  of  arms  on  the  high  seas  without  a 
swift  demand  from  the  British  Government 
for  ample  reparation.  It  is  an  idea  that  does 
honor  to  the  British  nation,  and  is  one  that 
her  descendants  in  America  have  cherished 
since  1812,  when  the  United  States  went  to 
war  with  England,  determined  to  resist 
the  right  of  search  which  the  English  ships- 
of-war  claimed  the  right  to  exercise  over 
American  vessels  upon  the  high  seas. 

Thoughtful  people  saw  in  the  act  of  Cap 
tain  Wilkes  nothing  to  approve  of.  On  the 
contrary,  they  could  only  see  trouble  ahead, 
unless  the  Federal  Government  should  at 
once  disavow  the  act  of  that  officer,  and  re 
store  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell  and  the  at 
taches  to  their  liberty. 

The  Commissioners  themselves  made  a 
protest  almost  immediately  after  getting  on 
board  the  "San  Jacinto,"  against  the  seiz- 


66 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


lire  of  their  persons,  and  laid  it  before  Cap 
tain  Wilkes,  not  with  the  expectation  that 
it  would  have  any  effect  on  their  detainer, 
but  it  would  add  to  the  effect  of  what 
they  considered  their  false  imprisonment, 
and  create  an  extra  amount  of  sympathy 
for  them  throughout  Europe. 

The  following  is  a  pretty  fair  statement 
of  the  Commissioners,  and  as  it  is  a  part  of 
the  history  of  the  times  at  a  very  important 
point,  it  is  herewith  inserted  : 

"IT.  S.  SHIP  'SAN  JACINTO,'  ) 
"AT  SEA,  Nov.  9,  1861.     J 

"Sir; — We  desire  to  communicate  to  you  by  this 
memorandum  the  facts  attending  our  arrest  yester 
day  on  board  the  British  mail  steamer  '  Trent,'  by 
your  order,  and  our  transfer  to  this  ship. 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  embarked  at  Havana  on 
the  7th  inst.  as  passengers  on  board  the  '  Trent,' 
Captain  Moir,  bound  to  the  Island  of  St.  Thomas, 
in  one  of  the  regular  passenger  lines  of  the  British 
Royal  Mail  Steamship  Company,  running  from 
Yera  Cruz,  via  H  avana,  to  St.  Thomas,  and  thence 
to  Southampton,  England.  We  paid  our  passage 
money  for  the  whole  route  from  Havana  to  South 
ampton  to  the  British  consul  at  Havana,  Avho  acts 
as  the  agent  or  representative  of  the  said  company; 
Mr.  Slidell  being  accompanied  by  his  family,  con 
sisting  of  his  wife,  four  children  and  a  servant,  and 
Mr.  Eustis  by  his  wife  and  servants. 

"The  'Trent'  left  Havana  about  8  o'clock,  a.  m., 
on  the  morning  of  the  7th  inst.,  and  pursued  her 
voyage  uninterruptedly  until  intercepted  by  the 
United  States  steamer  'San  Jacinto,'  under  your 
command,  on  the  following  day  (the  8th)  in  the 
manner  now  to  be  related  : 

"When  the  'San  Jacinto'  was  first  observed, 
several  miles  distant,  the  '  Trent '  was  pursuing  the 
usual  course  of  her  journey  along  the  Old  Bahama 
or  Nicholas  channel,  was  about  240  miles  from  Ha 
vana,  and  in  sight  of  the  light-house  Panador 
Grande ;  the  '  San  Jacinto '  being  stationary,  or 
nearly  so,  about  the  middle  of  the  channel,  and 
where  it  was  some  fifteen  miles  wide,  as  since  shown 
on  the  chart. 

"  The  nationality  of  the  ship  being  then  un 
known,  when  the  '  Trent '  had  approached  near 
enough  for  her  flag  to  be  distinguished,  it  was 
hoisted  at  the  peak  and  at  the  main,  and  so  re 
mained  for  a  time.  No  flag  was  shown  by  the  'San 
Jacinto.'  AVhenthe  'Trent 'had  approached  within 
a  mile  of  the  '  San  Jacinto,'  (still  pursuing  the  due 
course  of  hei'  voyage)  a  shotted  gun  was  fired  from 
the  latter  ship  across  the  course  of  the  'Trent,'  and 
the  flag  of  the  United  States  displayed  at  the  same 
time  at  her  peak. 

"The  British  flag  was  again  hoisted  as  before, 
and  so  remained. 

"  When  the  '  Trent '  had  approached,  still  on  her 
course,  within  from  two  to  three  hundred  yards  of 
the  'San  Jacinto,'  a  second  shotted  gun  was  fired 
from  your  ship  again  across  the  course  of  the 
'Trent.' 

"  When  the  'Trent'  got  within  hailing  distance, 
her  captain  enquired  what  was  wanted;  the  reply 
was  understood  that  you  would  send  a  boat.  Both 
ships  being  then  stationary,  with  steam  shut  off,  a 
boat  very  soon  put  off  from  your  ship,  followed  im 
mediately  by  tAvo  other  boats  with  full  crews  armed 
with  muskets  and  side-arms. 

"  A  lieutenant  in  the  naval  uniform  of  the  United 
States  Navy,  and  with  side-arms,  boarded  the 
'Trent,'  and  in  presence  of  most  of  the  passengers 
assembled  on  the  upper  deck,  said  to  Captain  Moir 
that  he  came  to  demand  his  passenger  list. 


"The  captain  refused  to  produce  it,  and  formally 
protested  against  any  right  to  visit  his  ship  for  the 
purpose  indicated. 

"After  some  conversation  importing  renewed 
protests  on  the  part  of  the  captain  against  the  al 
leged  object  of  the  visit,  and  on  the  part  of  the  of 
ficer  from  the  '  San  Jacinto '  that  he  had  only  to 
execute  his  orders,  the  latter  said  that  two  gentle 
men,  Mr.  Slidell  and  Mr.  Mason,  were  knoAvn  to  be 
on  board,  as  also  two  other  gentlemen  (naming  Mr. 
Eustis  and  Mr.  McFarland),  and  that  the  orders 
were  to  take  and  carry  them  on  board  the  U.  S. 
Frigate  '  San  Jacinto.' 

"  It  should  have  been  noted  that  on  first  address 
ing  the  captain  the  officer  announced  himself  as  a 
lieutenant  of  the  United  States  Steamer  '  San  Ja 
cinto.' 

"The  four  gentlemen  thus  mentioned  being  pres 
ent,  the  lieutenant  addressing  Mr.  Slidell,  and  after 
ward  Mr.  Mason,  repeated  that  his  orders  Avere  to 
take  them,  together  with  Mr.  Eustis  and  McFarland, 
and  carry  them  on  board  his  ship,  which  orders  he 
must  execute. 

"Mr.  Slidell  and  Mr.  Mason,  in  reply,  protested, 
in  the  presence  of  the  captain  of  the  'Trent.'  his 
officers  and  passengers,  against  such  threatened 
violation  of  their  persons  and  their  rights,  arid  in 
formed  the  lieutenant  that  they  Avould  not  leave 
the  ship  they  were  in,  unless  compelled  by  the 
employment  of  actual  force  greater  than  they  could 
resist;  and  Mr.  Eustis  and  Mr.  McFarland  united 
with  them,  in  expressing  a  like  purpose. 

"The  officer  stated  he  hoped  he  Avould  not  be 
compelled  to  resort  to  the  use  of  force,  but  if  it 
should  become  necessary  to  employ  it  in  order  to 
execute  his  orders  he  was  prepared  to  do  so.  He 
was  ansAvered  by  the  undersigned  that  they  would 
submit  to  such  force  alone. 

"The  lieutenant  then  AA'ent  to  the  gangway, 
where  his  boats  Avere,  the  undersigned  going  at  the 
same  time  to  their  staterooms  on  the  deck  next 
below,  folloAved  by  Captain  Moir  and  the  other  pas 
sengers.  The  lieutenant  returned  Avith  a  party  of 
his  men,  a  portion  of  which  were  armed  with  side- 
arms,  and  others  appeared  to  be  a  squad  of  marines, 
having  muskets  and  bayonets. 

"  Mr  Slidell  Avas  at  this  time  in  his  stateroom, 
immediately  by,  and  in  full  ATieAv. 

"The  lieutenant  then  said  to  Mr.  Mason  that, 
having  his  force  now  present,  he  hoped  to  be  re 
lieved  of  the  necessity  of  calling  it  into  actual  use. 
That  gentleman  again  answered  that  he  would 
only  submit  to  actual  force  greater  than  he  could 
OA'ercome.  when  the  lieutenant  and  seA'eral  of  his 
men,  by  his  order,  took  hold  of  him  in  a  manner 
and  in  numbers  sufficient  to  make  resistance  fruit 
less,  and  Mr.  Slidell  joining  the  group,  tAvo  or  more 
of  the  armed  party  took  hold  of  him,  and  these 
gentlemen  at  once  went  into  the  boat. 

"During  this  scene  many  of  the  passengers  be 
came  highly  excited,  and  gave  vent  to  the  strongest 
expressions  of  indignation,  seeming  to  indicate  a 
purpose  of  resistance  on  their  part,  when  the  squad, 
armed  with  bayonets  fixed,  made  a  sensible  advance 
of  one  or  tAvo  paces  with  their  arms  at  the  charge. 

"It  must  be  added  here  (omitted  in  the  course 
of  the  narrative)  that  before  the  party  left  the  up 
per  deck,  an  officer  of  the  '  Trent,'  named  Williams, 
in  the  naA^al  uniform  of  Great  Britain,  and  knoAvn 
to  the  passengers  as  having  charge  of  the  mails  and 
accompanying  them  to  England,  said  to  the  lieuten 
ant  that,  as  the  only  person  present  directly  repre 
senting  his  Government,  he  felt  called  upon  in  lan 
guage  as  strong  and  emphatic  as  he  could  express 
to  denounce  the  whole  proceeding  as  a  piratical  act. 

"  Mr.  Slidell  and  Mr.  Mason,  together  with  Mr. 
McFarland,  against  Avhom  force  in  like  manner  was 
used,  were  taken  to  the  '  San  Jacinto '  as  soon  as 
they  entered  the  boat.  When  they  reached  your 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


ship  you  received  them  near  the  gangway,  announc 
ing  yourself  as  Captain  Wilkes,  the  commander  of 
the  ship,  and  conducted  them  to  your  cabin,  which 
you  placed  at  their  disposal. 

"When  the  undersigned  came  on  board  they 
found  the  men  at  quarters,  and  the  guns  bearing  on 
the  'Trent.' 

"After  some  time  occupied  bringing  on  board  our 
luggage  and  effects,  the  '  San  Jacinto  '  proceeded  to 
the  northward  through  the  Santilla  channel,  the 
'  Trent '  having  been  detained  from  three  to  four 
hours. 

"  The  foregoing  is  believed  to  be  a  correct  narra 
tive,  in  substance,  of  the  facts  and  circumstances 
attending  our  arrest  and  transfer  from  the  British 
mail  steamer  to  the  ship  under  your  command,  and 
which  we  doubt  not  will  be  corroborated  by  the 
lieutenant  present,  as  well  as  by  all  who  witnessed 
it. 

''The  incidents  here  given  may  not  have  been 
witnessed  by  each  one  of  the  undersigned  individ 
ually,  but  they  were  by  one  or  more  of  them. 

"As  for  the  most  part  they  did  not  pass  under 
your  notice,  we  have  deemed  it  proper  to  present 
them  in  the  form  before  you,  expressing  the  wish 
that  if  considered  incorrect  in  any  part  the  inaccu 
racies  may  be  pointed  out. 

"  With  a,  respectful  request  that  you  will  trans 
mit  a  copy  of  this  paper  to  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  together  with  your  report  of  the 
transaction,  to  facilitate  which  a  copy  is  herewith 
enclosed, 

"  We  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"Very  respectfully, 

"Your  obedient  servants, 
"  JOHX  SLIDELL,  GEORGE  EUSTIS, 

J.  M.  MASOX,  J.  E.  McFARLAXD. 

"To  CAPTAIX  WILKES,  U.  S.  K, 

"Commanding  'San  Jacinto.'" 

This  is  no  doubt  a  strict  version  of  the 
affair,  and  is  corroborated  by  Captain 
\Vilkes?  report. 

Captain  Wilkes,  when  he  parted  company 
with  the  '  Trent,'  made  the  best  of  his  way 
to  Boston.  Why  he  did  not  go  into  New 
York  or  Hampton  Roads,  where  he  could 
have  communicated  at  once  with  the  Gov 
ernment,  is  unexplained,  but  the  informa 
tion  of  the  capture  was  kept  from  the  De 
partment  four  days  longer  than  it  should 
have  been. 

When  it  was  announced  in  the  Boston  pa 
pers  that  Captain  Wilkes  had  seized  upon 
the  persons  of  two  Confederate  Commis 
sioners,  the  excitement  and  joy  were  un 
bounded;  though  why  it  should  have  been 
so  no  one  could  tell. 

What  use  two  Commissioners  from  the 
Confederate  States  could  be  to  the  Federal 
Government,  when  their  places  could  easily 
be  filled  by  the  first  outgoing  blockade  run 
ner,  was  a  question  no  one  stopped  to  in 
quire  about.  It  was  sufficient  that  the  "  San 
Jacinto  "  had  important  State  prisoners  on 
board,  and  that  they  had  been  taken  from  un 
der  the  protecting  folds  of  the  British  flag. 

The  conservative  Bostonians  completely 
lost  their  heads,  and  made  Captain  Wilkes 
lose  his,  for  they  gave  him  ovations  in  such 
quick  succession  that  it  was  quite  enough 
to  make  his  brain  whirl. 


In  the  meantime  the  wires  under  the  sea 
were  flashing  the  news  to  England  about 
the  outrage  to  the  British  flag. 

The  exultation  of  the  Confederates  knew 
no  bounds  when  they  heard  the  news,  and 
saw  their  cherished  hope  about  to  be  realized 
in  a  difficulty — perhaps  war — between  Eng 
land  and  the  Northern  States  ;  in  which 
event  the  success  of  the  Confederate  cause 
would  in  the  estimation  of  the  Confederacy 
be  consummated. 

In  fact,  everyone  seemed  for  the  moment 
to  have  lost  their  judgment  in  the  joy  of  the 
capture  of  Mason  and  Slidell.  Even  the 
wisest  men  in  the  Cabinet,  including  Mr. 
Seward,  did  not  at  first  realize  the  situa 
tion. 

The  President  alone  kept  his  mind  clear, 
and  did  not  commit  himself  in  any  way 
that  could  prejudice  the  case.  Yet  it  was 
very  plain  to  able  jurists  that  the  position 
we  held  on  account  of  the  capture  of  Mason 
and  Slidell  was  not  a  defensible  one,  and 
the  first  act  of  the  Government  should 
have  been  to  disavow  the  act  of  Captain 
Wilkes,  and  order  him  to  proceed  to  the/ 
nearest  British  port  and  land  the  party  he 
had  arrested. 

It  no  doubt  'would  have  been  very  humili 
ating  to  Captain  Wilkes,  but  that  was  not 
to  be  considered. 

A  national  vessel  belonging  to  the  Navy 
had,  without  any  .instructions  whatever, 
stopped  a  British  mail  steamer  upon  the 
high  seas,  which  was  engaged  in  her  usual 
business  of  carrying  passengers  from  the 
West  Indian  ports  to  England,  four  of 
whom  were  taken  from  under  the  English 
flag — these  persons  charged  with  no  of 
fense. 

If  the  Captain  of  the  "'"Trent"  had  been 
guilty  of  any  infraction  <3>f  international 
law — had  sailed  from  any  'Southern  port, 
or  had  taken  his  passengers  from  any  ves 
sel  at  sea — then  he  was  liable  to  arrest ;  but 
to  prove  him  to  be  so  Captain  Wilkes 
should  have  taken  the  "  Trent"  into  a  Fed 
eral  port  (the  nearest),  and  brought  the 
case  before  a  court  of  Admiralty,  giving 
the  owners  of  the  vessel  so  detained  an  op 
portunity  to  sue  for  damages  if  she  had 
committed  no  unlawful  act. 

But  instead  of  that.  Captain  Wilkes  in 
stituted  a  court  of  Admiralty  on  the  high 
seas,  and  undertook  to  condemn  the  per 
sons  arrested  without  trial,  and  let  the  ves 
sel  carrying  them  proceed  on  her  voyage, 
on  the  ground  that  her  detention  by  tak 
ing  her  into  port  for  trial  and  adjudication 
would  put  the  passengers  to  great  incon 
venience. 

When  we  look  back  after  the  lapse  of  so 
many  years,  when  the  passions  of  men  have 
cooled  down,  we  can  hardly  realize  that  a 
nation  which  had  gone  to  war  with  Great 


68 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Britain  on  the  subject  of  this  right  of  search, 
should  for  a  moment  have  hesitated  to  do 
the  proper  thing,  by  at  once  redressing  the 
wrong  committed  by  its  officers,  instead  of 
waiting  until  a  demand  was  made  for  a  re 
turn  of  the  prisoners  with  a  sufficient  apol 
ogy.  But  if  there  were  no  mistakes  made 
in  the  world  there  would  be  no  work  done. 
As  soon  as  Captain  Wilkes  made  his  re 
port  to  the  Department,  the  Hon.  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  wrote  him  the  following  letter, 
which  showed  that  Mr.  Welles,  if  not 
sound  in  an  international  point  of  view,  was 
sound  in  his  dislike  for  the  Confederates 
and  all  that  savored  of  disloyalty.  He  no 
doubt  touched  the  national  heart,  which  at 
that  moment  did  not  beat  with  the  most 
friendly  feelings  towards  Great  Britain.  It 
was  hard  to  make  our  people  believe  that 
England  did  not  sympathize  with  the  South, 
and  that,  while  she  was  full  of  friendly  pro 
fessions  towards  the  North,  she  was  not 
ready  at  the  first  opportunity  to  throw  her 
weight  in  the  scale  against  us. 

"  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 
"November  30,  1861. 

"SIR:  I  congratulate  you  on  your  safe  arrival, 
and  especially  do  I  congratulate  you  on  the  great 
public  service  you  have  rendered  the  Union  in  the 
capture  of  the  rebel  commissioners. 

"  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell  have  been  conspicu 
ous  in  the  conspiracy  to  dissolve  the  Union,  and  it 
is  well  known  that  when  seized  by  you  they  were 
on  a  mission  hostile  to  the  Government  and  the 
country. 

"Your  conduct  in  seizing  these  public  enemies 
was  marked  by  intelligence,  ability,  decision  and 
firmness,  and  has  the  emphatic  approval  of  this 
department. 

"  It  is  not  necessary  that  I  should  in  this  commu 
nication  (which  is  intended  to  be  one  of  congratu 
lation  to  yourself,  officers  and  crew)  express  an 
opinion  on  the  course  pursued  in  omitting  to  cap 
ture  the  vessel  which  had  these  public  enemies  on 
board,  further  than  to  say  that  the  forbearance 
exercised  in  this  instance  must  not  be  permitted  to 
constitute  a  precedent  hereafter  for  infractions  of 
neutral  obligations. 

"  I  ana  respectfully  yours, 

"  GIDEON  WELLES, 
"Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
"CAPTAIN  CHARLES  WILKES, 

"Commanding  U.  S.  S.  'San  Jacinto,' 

"Boston,  Mass." 

The  news  of  the  arrest  of  Mason  and  Sli 
dell  was  received  by  Congress  with  great 
enthusiasm,  and  that  body  passed  the  fol 
lowing  resolution  by  a  decided  vote  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United 
States  be  requested  to  present  to  Captain  Charles 
Wilkes  a  gold  medal  with  suitable  emblems  and 
devices,  in  testimony  of  the  high  sense  entertained 
by  Congress  of  his  good  conduct  in  promptly  ar 
resting  the  rebel  commissioners,  J.  M.  Mason  and 
John  Slidell." 

But  this  resolution  was  indefinitely  post 
poned,  and  after  Congress  had  time  to  ex 
amine  coolly  into  the  merits  of  the  case,  it 


was  never  resurrected.  But  there  is  no 
doubt  it  expressed  the  sentiments  of  the 
loyal  people  of  the  country,  who  never 
stopped  to  think  what  the  consequences 
might  be  ;  nor  did  they  reflect  that  we  were 
not  in  a  condition  to  go  to  war  with  Great 
Britain  on  a  point  of  this  kind,  where  we 
could  find  no  exact  precedents  by  which  to 
justify  ourselves  ;  and  when  in  like  cases 
on  the  part  of  England  we  had  placed  her 
in  the  wrong  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  retali 
ated  on  her  so  severely  that  she  was  glad  to 
invoke  peace. 

In  the  mean  time  Messrs.  Mason  and  Sli 
dell  were  confined  in  Fort  Warren  (in  Bos 
ton  harbor),  as  close  prisoners. 

The  excitement  in  England  was  intense, 
and  all  those  who  entertained  ill-feelings 
against  the  United  States  and  her  institu 
tions  were  not  slow  in  manifesting  them. 

The  British  Government  took  the  matter 
in  hand  at  once,  and  preparations  for  war 
were  commenced  on  a  large  scale.  Troops 
were  sent  to  Canada  without  the  English 
Government  making  inquiries  into  the 
matter,  or  waiting  to  see  if  the  United 
States  had  not  some  explanation  to  make 
in  relation  to  the  action  of  Captain  Wilkes. 

This  was  not  generous  conduct  in  a  great 
nation  towards  another  with  which  its  gov 
ernment  professed  to  be  at  amity,  and 
which  at  that  time  (before  the  United 
States  had  fairly  collected  her  armies),  was 
struggling  with  many  disadvantages  to 
hold  her  own  against  the  most  powerful 
rebellion  ever  yet  known. 

Common  justice  should  have  led  the 
English  Government  to  extend  to  us  the 
courtesy  that  would  have  been  extended  to 
France  or  Russia  under  like  circumstances. 

It  all  looked  very  much  as  if  the  British 
people  were  (as  report  stated)  sympathetic 
with  the  South,  and  were  anxious  to  take 
advantage  of  the  opportunity  and  seek  a 
quarrel  with  the  United  States,  and  thus 
secure  a  separation  of  the  two  sections, 
which  would  weaken  both,  and  give  to 
England  a  powerful  ally  that  would  enable 
her  to  dictate  such  terms  to  the  Federal 
Government  as  would  best  suit  her  pur 
poses. 

The  first  step  taken  by  the  British  Minis 
try  was  a  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the 
Commissioners,  with  an  apology  by  the 
United  States  government  for  the  act"  com 
mitted  by  Captain  Wilkes. 

It  would  have  been  so  much  easier  for 
the  United  States  to  have  anticipated  at 
once  the  action  of  the  British  government ; 
but  diplomatists  have  their  methods,  and 
they  sometimes  lead  nations  to  the  verge 
of  war  rather  than  admit  a  defect  in  their 
system. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1861,  Mr.  Sew- 
ard  wrote  to  Mr.  Adams,  our  minister  to 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


69 


England,  informing  him  that  Captain 
WiTkes  had  boarded  a  British  colonial  mail 
steamer  and  taken  from  her  deck  two  in 
surgents,  who  were  proceeding  to  England 
and  France  on  an  errand  of  treason  against 
their  own  country.  He  says  : 

"  We  have  done  nothing-  on  the  subject  to  antici 
pate  the  discussion,  and  we  have  not  furnished 
you  with  any  explanations.  We  adhere  to  that 
course  now  because  we  think  it  more  prudent  that 
the  ground  taken  by  the  British  government 
should  be  first  made  known  to  us  here,  and  that  the 
discussion  (if  there  must  be  one)  shall  be  made 
here. 

"It  is  proper,  however,  that  you  should  know 
one  fact  in  the  case,  without  indicating  that  we 
attacli  much  importance  to  it.  namely,  that  in  the 
case  of  the  capture  of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell  on 
board  a  British  vessel,  Captain  Wilkes  having 
acted  without  any  instructions  from  the  govern 
ment,  the  subject  is  therefore  free  from  the  em 
barrassments  which  might  have  resulted  if  the  act 
had  been  specially  directed  by  us." 

On  the  same  day  Lord  Russell  wrote  to 
Lord  Lyons,  the  British  minister  in  Wash 
ington,  relating  the  facts  of  the  case  as  he 
had  received  them  from  the  commander  of 
the  colonial  steamer  "  Trent,"  and  thus 
states  the  demands  of  his  government  in 
relation  to  the  matter: 

"Her  Majesty's  government,  bearing  in  mind  the 
friendly  relations  which  have  long  subsisted  be 
tween  "Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  are 
willing  to  believe  that  the  United  States  naval 
officer  who  committed  the  aggression  was  not  act 
ing  in  compliance  with  any  authority  from  his 
government;  or  that,  if  he  considered  himself  so 
authorized,  he  greatly  misunderstood  the  instruc 
tions  which  he  had  received. 

"  For  the  government  of  the  United  States  must 
be  fully  aware  that  the  British  government  would 
not  allow  such  an  affront  to  the  national  honor  to 
pass  without  full  reparation,  and  her  Majesty's 
government  are  unwilling  to  believe  that  it  could 
be  the  deliberate  intention  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States  unnecessarily  to  force  into  dis 
cussion  between  the  two  governments  a  question  of 
so  grave  a  character,  and  with  regard  to  which  the 
whole  British  nation  would  be  sure  to  entertain 
such  unanimity  of  feeling. 

"Her  Majesty's  government,  therefore,  trusts 
that  when  this  matter  is  brought  under  the  con 
sideration  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
that  government  will,  of  its  own  accord,  offer  such 
redress  as  could  alone  satisfy  the  British  nation, 
namely,  the  liberation  of  the  four  gentlemen  and 
their  delivery  to  your  lordship,  in  order  that  they 
may  again  be  placed  under  British  protection,  and 
a  suitable  apology  for  the  aggression  which  has 
been  committed. 

"Should  these  terms  not  be  offered  by  Mr.  Sew- 
ard,  you  will  propose  them  to  him." 

This  demand  seemed  reasonable  enough. 
It  is  what  the  United  States  would  have 
done  under  like  circumstances. 

The  official  document  placed  Lord  John 
Russell  in  a  more  forbearing  light  than  the 
people  of  the  United  States  expected  of 
him,  for  he  had  the  reputation  of  being  not 
only  a  sympathizer  with  the  Confederates, 


but  of  being  strongly  hostile  to  the  Federal 
government,  which  was  somewhat  remark 
able,  inasmuch  as  the  United  States  of  the 
North  had  proclaimed  themselves  as  anti- 
slavery,  both  in  theory  and  practice  ;  it 
was,  therefore,  natural  to  suppose  that  the 
English,  who  stood  before  the  world  as  the 
champion  emancipators,  should  altogether 
sympathize  with  the  Northern  States. 

If.  however,  there  was  any  doubt  regard 
ing  Lord  Russell's  sympathies,  it  was  dissi 
pated  by  a  private  letter  which  he  wrote  to 
Lord  Lyons  at  the  same  time  he  wrote  his 
official  one. 

He  says  in  his  private  letter  : 

"  In  my  previous  dispatch  of  this  date  I  have  in 
structed  you,  by  command  of  her  Majesty,  to  make 
certain  demands  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States. 

"Should  Mr.  Seward  ask  for  delay  in  order  that 
this  grave  and  public  matter  should  be  deliberately 
considered,  you  will  consent  to  a  delay  not  exceed 
ing  seven  days. 

"If  at  the  end  of  that  time  no  answer  is  given, 
or  any  answer  is  given  except  that  of  a  compliance 
with  the  demands  of  her  Majesty's  Government, 
your  lordship  is  instructed  to  leave  Washington 
with  all  the  members  of  the  legation,  and  to  repair 
immediately  to  London. 

"  If,  however,  you  should  be  of  the  opinion  that 
the  requirements  of  her  Majesty's  Government  are 
substantially  complied  with,  you  may  report  the 
facts  to  her  Majesty's  Government  and  remain  at 
your  post  till  you  receive  further  orders." 

A  copy  of  the  first  dispatch  from  Lord 
John  Russell  was  handed  to  the  Secretary 
of  State,  Mr.  Seward,  by  Lord  Lyons. 

Our  wily  diplomatist  and  statesman  was 
not  in  the  least  flurried  or  taken  aback  by 
the  implied  threat  of  the  British  Govern 
ment.  He  believed  in  the  oft-told  story 
that  the  pen  was  mightier  than  the  sword, 
and  was  satisfied  that  if  the  correspondence 
could  be  confined  to  this  side  of  the  water, 
he  would  make  some  points  on  the  British 
Premier,  if  he  did  not  get  the  best  of  the 
argument  and  prove  that  Captain  Wilkes 
was  altogether  in  the  right. 

Mr.  Seward,  in  reply  to  Lord  Russell's 
first  dispatch,  carefully  states  all  the  facts 
and  then  reviews  them  with  a  cleverness 
quite  enough  to  upset  the  English  equa 
nimity,  and  if  the  latter  were  not  convinced, 
they  could  not  help  but  admire  his  dexterity 
in  handling  this  very  delicate  matter. 

He  states  to  Lord  Lyons  as  follows  : 

"  Your  Lordship  will  now  perceive  that  the  case 
before  us,  instead  of  presenting  a  merely  flagrant 
act  of  violence  on  the  part  of  Captain  Wilkes,  as 
might  well  be  inferred  from  the  incomplete  state 
ments  of  it  that  went  up  to  the  British  Govern 
ment,  was  undertaken  as- a  simple,  legal  and  cus 
tomary  belligerent  proceeding  by  Captain  Wilkes, 
to  arrest  and  capture  a  neutral  vessel  engaged  in 
carrying  contraband  of  war,  for  the  use  and  benefit 
of  the  insurgents. 

"The  question  between  us  is,  whether  this  pro- 


70 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ceeding  was  authorized  by,  and  conducted  accord 
ing  to  the  law  of  nations. 

"  It  involves  the  following  inquiries  : 

"First — Were  the  persons  named  and  their  sup 
posed  dispatches  contraband  of  war  ? 

''Second— Might  Captain  Wilkes  lawfully  stop 
and  search  the  'Trent'  for  these  contraband  per 
sons  and  dispatches  ? 

"Third— Did  he  exercise  that  right  in  a  lawful 
and  proper  manner  ? 

"Fourth— Having  found  the  contraband  per 
sons  on  board,  and  in  presumed  possession  of  the 
contraband  dispatches,  had  he  a  right  to  capture 
the  persons  ? 

"Fifth — Did  he  exercise  that  right  of  capture  in 
the  manner  allowed  and  recognized  by  the  law  of 
nations  ? 

"  If  all  these  inquiries  shall  be  resolved  in  the 
affirmative,  the  British  Government  will  have  110 
claim  for  reparation. 

"The  first  four  questions  are  briefly  answered 
by  himself  in  the  affirmative,  and  only  the  fifth  re 
mains  for  consideration." 

But  admitting  that  Mr.  Seward's  inquir 
ies  are  correct,  he  does  not  refer  to  the  fact 
that  Captain  Wilkes  constituted  himself  a 
Court  of  Admiralty  upon  the  high  seas,  and 
undertook  to  make  a  seizure  of  the  persons 
contraband  of  war,  and  omitted  to  seize  the 
vessel. 

If  the  persons  seized  were  contraband, 
the  vessel  knowingly  carrying  them  as  pas 
sengers  was  contraband  also,  and  should 
have  been  taken  into  a  United  States  port 
and  the  case  tried  before  an  Admiralty 
Court;  which  would  most  likely  have  de 
cided  in  favor  of  the  "  Trent  "an  da  warded 
damages. 

This  course  would  have  saved  the  United 
States  the  humiliation  of  making  a  forced 
apology. 

England  was  not  the  only  nation  that 
took  exceptions  to  the  seizure  of  the  persons 
of  Mason  and  Slidell,  for,  on  the  10th  of  De 
cember,  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  in 
France  wrote  to  the  representative  of  that 
court  at  Washington  : 

"The  arrest  had  produced  in  France,  if  not  the 
same  emotion  as  in  England,  at  least  extreme  aston 
ish  ment  and  sensation.  Public  sentiment  was  at 
once  engrossed  with  the  unlawfulness  and  conse 
quence  of  such  an  act. 

"The  desire  to  contribute  to  prevent  a  conflict 
perhaps  imminent  between  two  powers  for  which 
the  French  Government  is  associated  by  sentiments 
equally  friendly,  and  the  duty  to  uphold  (for  the 
purpose  of  placing  the  right  of  its  own  flag  under 
shelter  from  any  attack )  certain  principles  essen 
tial  to  the  security  of  neutrals,  have,  after  mature 
reflection,  convinced  the  French  Government  that 
it  could  not,  under  the  circumstances,  remain  en 
tirely  silent. 

********** 

"There  remains  therefore  to  invoke  in  explana 
tion  of  the  capture  of  Mason  and  Slidell  only  the 
protest  that  they  were  the  bearers  of  official  dis 
patches  from  the  enemy;  but  this  is  a  moment  to 
recall  a  circumstance  which  governs  all  this  affair 
and  which  renders  the  conduct  of  the  American 
cruiser  unjustifiable. 

"The  'Trent1  was  not  destined  to  a  point  be 
longing  to  one  of  the  belligerents  ;  she  was  carry 


ing  to  a  neutral  country  her  cargo  and  passengers, 
and,  moreover,  it  was  in  a  neutral  port  that  the 
passengers  were  taken  on  board. 

"  The  cabinet  at  Washington  could  not,  without 
striking  a  blow  at  the  principles  which  all  neutral 
nations  are  alike  interested  in  holding  in  respect, 
nor  without  taking  the  attitude  of  contradiction 
of  its  own  course  up  to  this  time,  give  its  approba 
tion  to  the  proceedings  of  the  commander  of  the 
'  San  Jacinto.' 

"In  this  state  of  things  it  evidently  should  not 
(according  to  our  view  of  the  case)  hesitate  about 
the  determination  to  be  taken." 

In  view  of  the  pressure  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  government  and  the  attitude  taken 
by  France,  wise  counsels  finally  prevailed; 
and  it  was  determined  by  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  to  give  up  Messrs.  Mason  and  Sli 
dell  to  the  representatives  of  the  British 
Government  authorized  to  receive  them, 
and  instructions  were  sent  to  the  command 
ing  officer  at  Fort  Warren  to  place  them  on 
a  small  steamer  and  have  them  delivered  on 
board  a  British  war  steamer  then  lying  at 
Provincetown. 

The  Commissioners  and  their  suite  were 
conveyed  in  this  steamer  to  the  island  of 
St.  Thomas,  and  thence  by  the  colonial 
steam  line  which  took  passengers  to  South 
ampton,  England,  where  they  arrived 
safely.  But  notwithstanding  the  excite 
ment  in  England,  they  were  received  with 
no  official  distinction. 

The  exultation  of  the  Confederates  at 
what  they  chose  to  call  the  humiliation  of 
the  United  States  was  excessive,  though  it 
would  have  pleased  them  better  if  the  Fed 
eral  government  had  adhered  to  the  first 
impulse,  and  refused  to  give  up  the  Com 
missioners.  This,  of  course,  would  have 
brought  about  a  war  betwe'en  England  and 
the  United  States,  which  would  most  likely 
have  insured  the  temporary  independence 
of  the  insurgent  States  ;  for  with  England's 
xiavy  to  back  the  South  we  could  not  have 
maintained  the  blockade,  and  all  our  avail 
able  force  would  have  been  required  to  de 
fend  the  Northern  coast,  and  to  commence 
a  raid  upon  the  English  commerce  in  every 
sea. 

The  English  may  not  have  calculated  all 
the  damages  the  United  States  cruisers 
could  have  inflicted  upon  English  com 
merce  in  every  part  of  the  world  ;  a  proof  of 
which  may  be  seen  in  the  performances  of 
the  "Alabama,"  and  one  or  two  other  Con 
federate  cruisers,  which  caused  so  much 
havoc  to  our  commerce  that  it  was  almost 
driven  from  the  ocean. 

The  United  States  government  found  it 
self  placed  in  a  very  unpleasant  dilemma, 
having  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  the  Brit 
ish  government  and  at  the  same  time  quiet 
the  public  feeling  at  home,  which  was  in 
tense  ;  for  the  idea  of  surrendering  Mason 
and  Slidell  was  scouted  bv  thousands  of 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


71 


people,  who,  "having  no  responsibility  in 
the  matter,  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  in  the 
most  unmeasured  terms,  not  only  against 
the  British  government  for  what  was  con 
sidered  its  arrogant  demands,  but  against 
the  administration  for  tamely  submitting 
to  them. 

Unreasonable  people  could  not  be  made 
to  believe  that  the  three  hundred  impro 
vised  gunboats,  and  the  long  array  of  frig 
ates  which  ornamented  our  navy  list,  were 
not  sufficient  to  set  the  whole  British  Navy 
at  defiance.  But  the 
government  had  to 
admit  its  weakness 
as  an  excuse  to  sat 
isfy  the  people  at 
large,  who  were 
clamoring  so  loudly 
to  go  to  war  with 
the  English  at  a 
time  when  we  could 
scarcely  comply 
with  the  demands 
made  on  us  to  per 
form  the  proper 
blockade  duty. 

The  government 
had  not  only  to  allay 
the  excitement  ex 
isting  throughout 
the  country,  but  it 
had  to  defend  itself 
against  the  opposi 
tion  party  ;  which 
was  ever  ready  to 
seize  upon  any 
weak  point  in  Mr. 
Lincoln's  adminis 
tration,  bring  it  be 
fore  the  people,  and 
endeavor  to  weaken 
the  government  by 
their  cries  of  inca 
pacity. 

It  was  finally  de 
cided  by  the  admin 
istration  that  the 
long  settled  policy 
of  this  country 
was  to  resist  the 
right  of  search 

upon  the  high  seas;  and  by  way  of  being 
consistent  we  had  but  one  course  to  pursue, 
and  that  was  to  repudiate  the  acts  of  Cap 
tain  Wilkes,  which  would  have  been  the 
better  policy  to  pursue  from  the  beginning. 

To  Mr.  Seward  more  than  any  one  else 
were  the  people  indebted  for  not  having 
the  country  involved  in  a  war  of  great 
magnitude,  at  a  time  when  it  would  have 
been  ruin  to  us  for  three  years  at  least;  for 
it  would  have  taken  us  that  length  of  time 
to  prepare  for  a  definite  resistance  against 
England,  which  we  were  quite  capable  of 


U.  8.  FRIGATE  "  SAN  JACINTO."  CAPTAIN  CHARLES  WILKES, 
OVERHAULING  THE  BRITISH  STEAMER  "TRENT,"  HAVING 
ON  BOARD  THE  CONFEDERATE  COMMISSIONERS.  MASON 
AND  SLIDELL. 


making  at  the  close  of  the  war,  when  we 
were  launching  our  invulnerable  iron-clads 
as  fast  as  our  machine  shops  and  ship-yards 
could  turn  them  out. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  neither  France 
nor  England  would  have  taken  so  fierce  a 
stand  if  the  "  Trent "  affair  had  happened 
in  the  latter  part  of  1804. 

Whatever  may  have  been  Mr.  Seward's 
opinions  on  the  subject  of  the  "Trent" 
matter,  and  though  he  made  a  faint  at 
tempt  at  making  an  argument,  yet,  with 

that  astuteness  that 
characterized  him 
in  all  his  foreign  in 
tercourse  during 
the  war,  he  thought 
it  better  to  conform 
to  the  established 
principles  which 
had  always  gov 
erned  this  nation, 
and  avoid  a  foreign 
war  in  addition  to 
what  we  already 
had  on  our  hands. 

An  attempt  was 
made  to  show  that 
Mr  Seward  had  pur 
sued  a  timid  policy 
in  opposition  to  the 
broad  principles 
laid  down  by  the 
representatives  o  f 
the  people,  that  we 
could  claim  our  in 
surgents  wherever 
we  might  find  them 
on  the  high  seas — 
on  which  principle 
we  might  claim  the 
right  to  take  them 
out  of  the  packet 
boat  running  be 
tween  Calais  and 
Dover. 

Laws  of  nations 
are  but  conven 
tional  rules  for 
the  safe  guidance  of 
governments  in 
time  of  war,  but  are 
only  so  far  binding  when  they  do  not  in 
fringe  upon  a  settled  policy  of  some  gov 
ernment,  whose  best  interests  would  be 
jeopardized  by  adhering  to  the  opinion  of 
any  international  code,  which  the  policy  of 
a  powerful  government  might  change  at 
any  moment. 

When  ministers  and  ambassadors  were 
of  more  importance  than  they  have  become 
since  the  introduction  of  steam  and  the 
telegraph,  it  might  have  been  allowable 
to  arrest  them  in  transit  from  their  own 
country  to  one  where  they  were  accredited, 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


for  the  purpose  of  preventing  them  from 
laying  an  important  treaty  of  alliance  be 
fore  an  enemy's  government. 

Vattel  says  that  "the  ambassador  of  an 
enemy  may  be  stopped  in  transit."  An 
ambassador  represents  a  person  clothed 
with  full  powers  to  contract  with  some  for 
eign  government  matters  of  high  import 
ance,  and  is  carefully  instructed  by  a  well 
established  government  in  all  he  has  to  do. 

Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell  ivere  not  am 
bassadors  j  they  were  simply  commission 
ers  from  an  unrecognized  country  of  insur 
gents,  and  it  was  uncertain  whether  they 
would  be  received  or  not  by  France  or  by 
England 

It  was  necessary  that  the  administration 
should  place  itself  in  the  right  before  the 
people,  and  for  this  purpose  Senator  Sum- 
ner  was  selected  to  defend  the  government 
on  the  floor  of  the  Senate  ;  which  he  did  in 
the  most  able  manner,  and  in  a  way  satis 
factory  to  the  public  mind. 

The  British  government  confined  itself  to 
a  single  point  of  complaint,  in  that  it  ap 
peared  "that  the  present  objections  were 
not  founded  on  the  assumption  by  the 
American  vessel-of-war  of  the  belligerent 
right  of  search,  nor  on  the  ground  that  this 
right  was  exercised  on  board  a  neutral  ves 
sel  between  two  neutral  ports,  nor  that  it 
was  exercised  on  board  a  mail  steamer  sus 
tained  by  a  subvention  from  the  Crown  and 
officered  in  part  from  the  Royal  Navy,  nor 
that  it  was  exercised  in  a  case  where  the 
penalties  of  contraband  could  not  attach, 
but  it  was  founded  simply  and  precisely  on 
the  idea  "that  other  than  officers  in  the 
military  or  naval  service  cannot  be  taken 
out  of  a  neutral  vessel  at  the  mere  will  of 
the  officer  who  exercises  the  right  of 
search,  and  without  any  form  of  trial." 

As  far  as  the  English  Government  was 
concerned,  it  was  not  illiberal  in  confining 
the  question  at  issue  to  one  single  point, 
and  it  was  thought  that  if  time  had  been 
allowed  our  government,  it  could  have  tri 
umphantly  met  the  argument  advanced  by 
the  British  minister. 

But  the  British  people  were  impatient, 
and  clamoring  for  immediate  redress  or 
else  demanding  war.  The  United  States 
was  too  weak  at  that  moment  to  enter  into 
a  Avar  with  Great  Britain  on  a  matter 
where  it  was  not  certain  that  we  were  in 
the  right,  and  discretion  being  in  this  in 
stance  "the  better  part  of  valor,"  our  gov 
ernment,  after  a  small  show  of  argument, 
disavowed  the  act  of  their  officer. 

This  was  the  wisest  thing  that  could  have 
been  done  under  the  circumstances,  for  it 
was  better  that  an  officer  should  suffer  for 
his  great  mistake,  than  that  we  should  have 
been  involved  in  a  war  with  so  powerful  a 
nation,  on  a  question  in  which  all  the  pow 


ers  of  Europe  would  be  sure  to  agree  with 
our  antagonist. 

The  aggressive  position  taken  by  the  Brit 
ish  Government  on  the  first  important 
question  that  had  arisen  between  it  and  the 
United  States,  and  the  evident  desire  of 
Lord  John  Russell  to  humble  us  "  in  our 
hour  of  need "  before  the  whole  world,  did 
not  leave  a  friendly  feeling  in  the  minds  of 
the  American  people  towards  the  English; 
and  while  there  was  no  immediate  redress- 
for  us  in  regard  to  the  departure  of  Eng 
land  from  principles  which  had  governed 
her  for  over  a  century,  and  the  adoption  of 
new  ones  to  meet  the  occasion,  there  was 
but  one  thing  to  be  done,  namely,  to  bide 
our  time  until  we  could  repay  in  a  measure 
the  arrogance  the  British  Government  had 
displayed  towards  us. 

It  was  not  that  England  had  claimed  re 
dress  for  an  assumption  of  power  on  our 
part  which  we  had  no  right  to  exercise,  but 
it  was  the  haste  which  Lord  John  Russell 
was  in  to  push  us  to  the  wall,  that  made 
the  English  action  so  offensive. 

On  the  whole  this  action  of  Captain 
Wilkes  had  a  good  effect  in  the  end.  It 
rendered  our  officers  more  circumspect  in 
their  dealings  with  neutral  questions,  and 
prevented  them  from  going  out  of  their  le 
gitimate  course  to  pick  up  foreign  mail 
steamers  with  Confederate  emissaries  on 
board. 

It  also  opened  the  eyes  of  the  Govern 
ment  and  Congress  to  the  fact  that,  although 
we  might  use  the  coasting  steamers  to 
make  blockading  ships-of-war,  we  had  no 
vessels  that  could  be  used  to  contend  with 
any  arrogant  nation  that  might  feel  dis 
posed  to  try  and  humiliate  us. 

It  was  but  a  short  time  after  the  event  of 
the  arrest  of  the  "  Trent,"  that  the  govern 
ment  gave  its  attention  to  building  a  class 
of  vessels  that  could  bid  defiance  to  the 
heaviest  ships  in  the  British  Navy;  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  here,  that  those  vessels  were  not 
so  much  intended  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
down  the  rebellion,  as  they  were  to  put  a 
check  on  the  interference  of  the  English 
and  French  in  our  affairs,  which  we  con 
sidered  that  no  foreign  power  had  a  right 
to  meddle  with. 

Notwithstanding  that  the  United  States 
came  near  being  mortified  before  the  whole 
world  because  we  were  not  prepared  to  en 
counter  a  great  adversary  like  England, 
and  were  made  partially  to  eat  "  humble 
pie,"  yet  the  people  have  forgotten  that  we 
were  ever  forced  into  making  a  submissive 
explanation  in  a  matter  where  at  most  a, 
mistake  had  been  made. 

We  might  be  placed  in  the  same  position 
to-morrow  by  some  insignificant  power,  be 
cause  the  knowledge  of  those  who  call 
themselves  statesmen  does  not  extend  far 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


73 


enough  to  show  them  that  if  we  want  to 
hold  any  prestige  amongst  foreign  powers, 
we  must  have  a  naval  force  adequate  not 
only  to  protect  our  own  coast  but  to  carry 
war  into  the  enemy's  country. 

We  are  more  deficient  to-day  in  naval 
ships,  than  we  were  in  1861.  If  called  upon 
to-morrow  to  redress  an  insult,  we  would 
be  no  better  prepared  to  do  it  than  we  were 
at  the  time  when  the  English  threatened  us 
with  her  army  and  navy  for  "  pursuing  a 
course  which  is  common  enough  in  English 
practice." 

When  it  suits  arbitrary  nations  to  alter 
established  principles  for  others  which  are 
more  in  keeping  with  their  own  policy,  they 
have  no  difficulty  in  changing. 

It  is  said  by  a  naval  writer  "this  is  the 
last  haughty  and  unreasonable  demand  that 
Great  Britain  will  ever  make  upon  the 
United  States.  She  has  abdicated  the  dp- 
minion  of  the  seas  and  she  can  never  again 
ascend  her  ocean  throne.  Her  insolent 
officers  have  for  the  last  time  lorded  it  with 
impunity  over  an  American  deck,  and  the 
threat  which  was  made  of  sending  the 
'  Warrior '  to  Washington,  will  not  in  any 
form  be  repeated."  How  little  that  man 
knew  of  the  American  people  or  of  naval 
matters  !  He  judged  from  the  rapid  man 
ner  we  were  putting  afloat  the  clever  cre 
ations  of  Ericssen's  brains,  that  we  were  a 
progressive  nation,  and  that  having  been 
taught  one  lesson  of  humiliation  we  would 
not  let  it  happen  again.  That  we  would  go 
on  building  up  a  navy  (after  the  war)  com 
mensurate  with  the  needs  of  our  great 
country,  and  that  the  war,  if  it  had  no 
other  good  effect,  would  open  the  eyes  of 
men  in  power  to  the  fact  that  it  is  to  the 
Navy  alone  we  must  look  in  all  wars  to 
protect  our  people,  and  to  vindicate  the 
honor  of  our  flag. 

But  what  assurance  have  we  that  we  will 
benefit  by  past  lessons  ?  Th£  exigencies  of 
the  war  taught  us  nothing,  and,  like  the 
Bourbons,  we  cannot  learn.  Our  famous 
iron-clads,  which  once  gave  us  considerable 
prestige,  are  lying  about  in  rotten  rows, 
and  politicians  are  quareling  over  their 
bones.  The  "Warrior"  with  which  we 
were  once  threatened,  is  without  doubt 
somewhat  impaired  by  age.  but  there  is  not 
to-day  a  single  vessel  or  number  of  vessels 
in  our  entire  Navy  that  could  prevent  her 
from  being  sent  to'Washington  if  the  Brit 
ish  Government  thought  proper  to  send  her 
there. 

If  we  have  not  the  naval  power,  then,  to 
assert  any  proper  principle  of  International 
Law,  let  us  not  undertake  to  do  so.  until 
we  have  on  hand  a  force  that  will  in  a 
measure  arrest  the  first  movement  of  any 
nation  that  may  attempt  to  threaten  us. 
The  "Trent"  affair  was  very  humiliating. 


Let  us  see  to  it  that  something  like  it  does 
not  happen  again. 

At  the  time  of  the  "Trent"  affair  it 
would  not  have  been  wise  in  anyone  to  put 
himself  in  opposition  to  the  public  feeling 
which  was  then  paramount.  Men  refuse  to 
be  convinced,  no  matter  how  logical  and 
persuasive  the  argument,  when  it  runs 
counter  to  their  opinion.  There  was  not  at 
that  time  one  man  in  ten  who  believed  in 
the  doctrine  that  we  had  no  right  to  arrest 
bearers  of  treasonable  dispatches  when  un 
der  the  protection  of  the  British  flag ;  but 
now  that  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed 
away,  and  the  passions  of  men  have  cooled 
down,  and  they  are  governed  by  reason,  we 
can  discuss  those  matters  with  a  chance  of 
being  patiently  listened  to.  It  may  be  in 
teresting  also  to  read  the  arguments  made 
on  our  side  of  the  case,  to  ascertain  how 
far  right  we  were  in  demanding  to  hold 
Mason  and  Slidell ;  and  though  that  will 
not  help  the  case  now,  after  such  a  lapse 
of  years,  it  may  be  a  satisfaction  to  the 
American  reader  to  know  that  we  made  a 
good  fight  on  paper,  though  we  could  not 
make  it  on  the  water. 

In  order  to  place  ourselves  right,  our 
statesmen  made  diligent  search  through 
the  records  of  the  past  for  the  lengthy  dis 
cussions  which  arose  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain,  on  the  subject  of 
the  "  right  of  search,"  when  that  power  was 
truly  mistress  of  the  seas,  and  when,  in  ac 
cordance  with  a  long-settleoj  policy,  she 
claimed  the  right  to  take  British  seamen  out 
of  any  neutral  vessel.  Whenever  the  ne 
cessities  of  the  British  Navy  called  upon 
her  to  do  so  her  heavy  hand  was  laid  upon 
American  ships  unsparingly  ;  and  having 
no  navy  at  that  time  with  which  to  assert 
our  rights  against  so  powerful  an  adver 
sary,  we  had  to  resort  to  argument,  in  an 
extreme  defense  of  the  rights  of  neutrals, 
which  covered  much  ground. 

These  arguments  were  now  brought  up 
against  us  in  the  "  Trent"  case,  and  it  was 
shown  that  our  statesmen  in  their  argu 
ments,  in  1812,  had  specified  the  only  classes 
that  could  be  lawfully  stopped  in  transit, 
namely,  persons  apparently  in  the  naval  or 
military  service  of  an  enemy.  We  had  no 
answer  to  make  to  our  own  arguments,  and 
had  almost  to  resort  to  the  same  special 
pleading  practiced  by  Great  Britain  in  re 
gard  to  the  right  of  searching  neutrals  in 
18]  2.  Our  statesmen  in  1861  tried  to  prove 
that  the  two  Commissioners.  Messrs.  Mason 
and  Slidell,  were  far  more  dangerous  to  the 
United  States,  if  let  loose  in  Europe  to 
work  against  us,  than  a  dozen  military 
men  would  be;  and  it  was  considered  ab 
surd  to  contend  for  the  privilege  of  stop 
ping  at  pleasure  any  man  wearing  an  ene 
my's  uniform,  and  prevent  the  most  treason- 


74 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


able  characters  to  go  unquestioned  because 
they  have  not  the  insignia  of  a  soldier  or 
of  a  sailor.  The  English  view  was  consid 
ered,  on  our  own  side,  a  very  narrow  inter 
pretation  of  phrases,  to  say  nothing  of  a  de 
parture  from  a  principle  which  the  English 
had  always  claimed  to  protect. 

There  was  one  thing  which  did  not  strike 
our  statesmen — that  Messrs.  Mason  and  Sli- 
dell  had  committed  no  overt  act.  There 
was  no  proof  that  they  had  ever  shown 
their  dispatches,  or  that  they  had  said  to 
any  one  that  they  were  bound  on  a  mission 
to  a  foreign  government — that  was  all  mere 
surmise. 

Some  argued  that  it  was  not  necessary  to 
take  the  vessel  into  court  for  adjudication, 
as  there  was  no  question  with  regard  to  the 
identity  of  these  men,  or  as  to  the  official 
capacity  in  which  they  were  acting;  that  it 
needed  no  military  insignia  to  show  that 
they  were  distinguished  public  agents,  in 
the  service  of  the  Confederate  government. 

If  the  Captain  of  the  "Trent"  knew  all 
these  facts  and  was  aiding  and  abetting 


Mason  and  Slidell  in  any  treasonable  acts 
against  the  United  States,  then  his  vessel 
became  liable,  and  Captain  Wilkes,  in  as 
suming  the  authority  to  let  the  ship  and 
passengers  pass  free,  was  guilty  of  a  vio 
lation  of  a  grave  principle  of  international 
law;  he  could  as  well  open  a  neutral  ship's 
hatches,  and  take  from  her  hold  what  he 
might  consider  contraband  of  war.  and 
transferring  it  to  his  own  vessel  to  be  taken 
before  an  Admiralty  Court  and  condemned 
without  evidence,  let  the  ship  go.  Con 
traband  of  war  makes  the  vessel  liable, 
be  it  in  carrying  a  regiment  of  soldiers 
or  munitions  of  war.  This  is  the  view  of 
the  case  taken  by  the  President  (Lincoln), 
and  with  that  wisdom  which  never  failed 
him  he  decided  to  give  up  the  prisoners, 
and  save  the  nation  from  a  war  in  which 
it  was  not  at  that  time  in  a  condition  to  em 
bark.  The  President  did  not  want  to  go 
back  on  the  principles  for  which  the  United 
States  had  so  strongly  contended  in  1812; 
and  he  was  right,  as  all  unprejudiced 
minds  must  see. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


CAPTURE  OF  FERNANDINA  AND  THE  COAST  SOUTH  OF  GEORGIA. 

RECONNOITERING  ALONG  THE  COAST — CONFEDERATES  EVACUATE  THEIR  DEFENCES  ON  TYBEE 
AND  WARSAW  ISLANDS. — A  GENERAL  STAMPEDE. — THE  EFFECT  OF  DUPQNT'S  VICTORY. 
— LOST  OPPORTUNITIES. — "  SEA  ISLANDS." — CONGREGATION  OF  SLAVES  AT  HILTON 
HEAD. — ENTRENCHMENTS  ERECTED  AT  HILTON  HEAD. — GENERAL  STEVENS. — BEAUFORT 
OCCUPIED. — RECONNOISSANCE  UP  THE  TYBEE  RIVER  TO  FORT  PULASKI. — EXPEDITION  TO 
FERNANDINA. — COMMANDERS  OF  AND  VESSELS  COMPOSING  THE  EXPEDITION. — CAPTURE 
OF  THE  WORKS  ON  CUMBERLAND  AND  AMELIA  ISLANDS. — FORT  CLINCH  OCCUPIED.— 
CAPTURE  OF  FERNANDINA. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  STEAMER  "'DARLINGTON." — GENERAL  LEE 
AND  FERNANDINA. — FINE  HARBORS  FOR  BLOCKADE  RUNNERS. — GOOD  SERVICE  OF  THE 
NAVY. — THE  FORTS  AND  TOWN  OF  ST.  AUGUSTINE  SURRENDER  TO  THE  UNION  FORCES. 
— DUPONT  .ESTABLISHES  GOVERNMENT  AUTHORITY  IN  THE  HARBOR  OF  ST.  JOHNS.— 
RETREATING  CONFEDERATES  BURN  SAW-MILLS  AND  OTHER  PROPERTY. — DUPONT  RE 
TURNS  TO  PORT  ROYAL. — PLANTING  BATTERIES  ON  TYBEE  ISLAND. — THE  NAVY  TAKE 
PART  IN  THE  BOMBARDMENT  AND  CAPTURE  OF  FORT  PULASKI. — CORDIALITY  BETWEEN 
THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  OFFICERS. — THE  OFFICERS  UNDER  DUPONT. — HIGH  RANK 
REACHED  BY  SOME  OF  DUPONT'S  OFFICERS. 


AS  soon  as  Flag-officer  Dupont  could 
find  the  time,  he  sent  the  smaller 
gunboats  in  different  directions 
to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  posi 
tions  up  the  river  and  along  the 
coast.  The  larger  vessels  were  sent  to  per 
form  blockade  duty,  which  at  that  moment, 
owing  to  the  paucity  of  vessels,  was  very 
arduous. 

Commander  John  Rodgers  was  sent  with 
the  "  Seneca"  and  '"Paulina"  to  examine 
the  enemy's  defences  on  Tybee  Island,  in 
the  Savannah  River,  and  ascertained  that 
all  the  works  in  that  quarter  had  been 
abandoned,  except  those  at  Stono  Inlet. 

Commander  Dray  ton,  in  the  "  Pawnee," 
accompanied  by  one  or  two  gunboats,  en 
tered  St.  Helena  Sound  and  found  on  the 
point  of  Otter  island  some  heavy  fortifica 
tions;  but  the  magazine  had  been  blown  up 
and  the  armament  removed. 

At  the  same  time  Commander  C.  R.  P. 
Rodgers  made  a  reconnoissance  of  Warsaw 
Sound,  and  found  the  fort  on  Warsaw 
Island  dismantled  and  the  magazine  de 
stroyed.  An  examination  of  Wilmington 
River  showed  heavy  works  still  occupied 


by  the  enemy.  On  the  Ogeechee  and  Ver- 
non  rivers  heavy  earth-works  were  being 
erected  by  the  Confederates. 

Commander  Drayton  crossed  the  North 
Edisto  Bar,  and  found  an  abandoned  earth 
work,  intended  to  mount  ten  guns.  In  fact, 
there  had  been  a  stampede  all  along  the 
coast,  which  indicated  the  moral  effect  of 
Dupont's  victory  on  the  Southern  people. 
Had  a  suitable  body  of  troops  been  landed 
on  the  coast  at  the  time,  Charleston  and 
Savannah  would  have  fallen  into  our  pos 
session,  and  have  been  held  throughout  the 
war,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  Confede 
rates,  who  depended  on  these  ports  as  bases 
of  supplies.  The  government,  however, 
failed  at  that  period  to  take  in  the  situation, 
and  our  statesmen  were  quite  paralyzed 
with  the  difficulties  which  threatened  the 
Union  cause.  The  superannuated  army 
officers,  called  by  the  administration  to  its 
councils,  were  altogether  unequal  to  the 
emergency,  and  they  led  the  government 
into  many  difficulties. 

When  General  W.  T.  Sherman  declared 
that  an  army  of  two  hundred  thousand  men 
was  required  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  he 


(75) 


76 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


was  thought  to  be  crazy;  but  the  President's 
advisers  discovered,  ere  the  war  had  lasted 
a  year,  that  Sherman  had  in  no  way  exag 
gerated  the  difficulties  of  the  situation. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  reason  of 
the  failure  to  send  a  larger  army  to  occupy 
the  Southern  coast  as  soon  as  the  necessary 
gunboats  could  be  improvised  to  penetrate 
the  inlets  of  that  region,  it  is  certain  the 
movement  was  not  made  until  too  late,  and 
the  principal  theatre  of  war  had  been  trans 
ferred  to  other  points,  around  which  the 
contending  forces  gathered,  leaving  the 
coast  to  be  taken  care  of  by  the  Navy;  a 
duty  which,  we  think  it  will  be  admitted, 
the  Navy  performed  with  great  credit  to 
themselves  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
country. 

From  the  first  the  Navy  had  to  contend 
with  the  indisposition  of  the  War  Depart 
ment  to  co-operate  with  it  in  getting  up 
combined  expeditions  against  the  enemy. 
Until  the  battle  of  Cape  Hatteras  and  Port 
Royal  occurred,  it  was  not  supposed  that 
the  Navy  would  take  such  a  prominent  part 
in  the  war.  It  was  supposed  our  gunboats 
would  be  barred  out  of  the  Southern  ports, 
which  the  large  ships  could  not  enter,  owing 
to  their  great  draft  of  water ;  and,  appar 
ently,  no  one  considered  the  great  advance 
which  the  Navy  had  made  in  ordnance,  hav 
ing  at  that  time  the  most  powerful  shells  and 
shell  guns  that  had  ever  been  known.  These 
guns,  as  they  were  used  at  Port  Royal,  gave 
an  example  of  the  manner  in  which  our 
heavily-armed  gunboats  could  deal  with 
earth- works;  for  it  was  here  proven  that 
the  defenders  of  a  fortification  would  all 
be  killed  if  they  attempted  to  stand  to  their 
guns  in  the  face  of  such  a  fire  as  could  be 
poured  into  them  from  naval  vessels. 

It  was  conclusively  shown  that  our  wooden 
steamers,  armed  with  nine  and  eleven -inch 
Dahlgren  guns,  could  engage  the  most  for 
midable  batteries  on  shore,  with  a  good 
prospect  of  success. 

In  those  days  gunboats  were  improvised 
by  the  hundred,  and  if  the  government  had 
been  so  minded,  all  the  smaller  earth- works 
along  the  Southern  coast  could  have  been 
easily  made  to  yield  to  the  Dahlgren  guns. 

One  result  of  the  victory  at  Port  Royal 
was  our  obtaining  possession  of  the  famous 
"sea  islands,"  which,  through  slave  labor, 
had  so  enriched  their  proprietors;  and  it  was 
upon  these  planters  that  the  greatest  injury 
was  inflicted,  as  our  gunboats  penetrated 
the  network  of  inlets  along  the  coast,  and 
the  rich  cotton  harvests  lay  at  their  mercy. 

The  slaves  took  advantage  of  the  panic, 
and  fled  with  their  families  to  seek  the  pro 
tection  of  the  Union  flag.  A  large  number 
of  them  congregated  at  Hilton  Head,  and 
about  a  thousand  picked  up  by  the  vessels 
of  war  were  located  on  the  southeast  end 


of  Edisto  Island,  where  a  gunboat  was 
stationed  for  their  maintenance  and  pro 
tection.  Most  of  these  negroes  were  given 
employment  and  served  the  Union  during 
the  remainder  of  the  war.  Others  found 
homes  on  the  "  sea  islands."  within  Union 
protection,  where  they  raised  corn  and 
sweet  potatoes  sufficient  to  satisfy  their 
simple  needs;  and  if  they  sometimes  suf 
fered  from  the  want  of  clothing,  food  and 
shelter,  yet  they  exhibited  a  striking  ex 
ample  of  how  dear  is  liberty  to  man  in 
whatever  position  of  life,  and  how  much 
he  will  undergo  to  secure  it. 

The  officers  of  the  Navy  may  be  said  to 
have  first  erected  the  Freedman's  Bureau, 
and  given  an  asylum  to  those  poor  crea 
tures  who,  with  all  their  ignorance,  had 
still  sufficient  manhood  to  appreciate  the 
boon  of  freedom,  which  perhaps  some  of 
them  had  once  enjoyed  on  the  wild  shores 
of  their  native  Africa. 

While  the  Navy  had  been  busy  in  pene 
trating  the  numerous  inlets  of  the  vicinity, 
General  T.  W.  Sherman  had  constructed 
large  and  strong  entrenchments  on  Hilton 
Head,  outside  of  Fort  Walker.  The  Army 
had  also  occupied  Beaufort,  a  pleasant  vil 
lage  near  Port  Royal,  where  many  wealthy 
land-holders  resided  during  the  hot  season. 
Posts  were  also  established  on  Tybee  and 
other  islands. 

The  enemy  gradually  recovered  from  the 
panic  which  had  seized  them  at  the  battle 
of  Port  Royal,  and  seemed  disposed  to  com 
mence  offensive  operations  against  our 
forces,  and  re-occupy  the  works  they  had  so 
precipitately  abandoned.  Upon  'this  an 
expedition  was  fitted  out  under  General 
Stevens  and  Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers, 
which  resulted  in  the  abandonment  of  any 
attempt  of  the  enemy  to  plant  batteries 
within  range  of  the  gunboats,  whose  far- 
reaching  shells  committed  some  havoc 
among  them  on  this  occasion;  nor  did  they 
ever  attempt  to  obtain  a  lodgment  on  Port 
Royal  Island,  which  remained  in  possession 
of  the  government  during  the  war. 

A  reconnoissance  up  the  Tybee  River  was 
made  by  Captain  C.  H.  Davis  and  Com 
mander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers  with  the  "Ottawa," 
"Seneca,"  "Ellen,"  "Western  World," 
and  the  armed  launches  of  the  "  Wabash," 
accompanied  by  three  transports,  having 
on  board  2,400  troops,  commanded  by 
Brigadier  General  H.  G.  Wright.  The  ex 
pedition  crossed  the  bar,  and  reached  a 
point  nearest  Fort  Pulaski  on  its  land  side. 
No  shots  were  fired  at  the  vessels,  as  the 
enemy  had  no  rifle  guns  mounted  in  that 
quarter,  so  that  the  expedition  was  enabled 
to  accomplish  its  object  without  difficulty, 
and  return  unmolested. 

Several  similar  expeditions  were  sent  out 
under  Commander  John  Rodgers  and  others, 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


77 


which  served  to  keep  the  enemy  in  a  con 
tinual  state  of  uneasiness  and  made  our  offi 
cers  acquainted  with  all  the  surrounding 
land  and  water. 

Having  done  all  that  was  necessary  in 
the  vicinity  of  Port  Royal.  Flag  Officer 
Dupont  turned  his  attention  towards  Fer- 
nandina  in  Florida,  twenty-five  miles  north 
of  the  St.  John's  River.  On  the  second  of 
March,  1862,  the  "Wabash,"  and  what 
other  vessels  could  be  spared  from  block 
ading  duty,  anchored  off  St.  Andrew's 
Island,  twenty  miles  north  of  the  entrance 
to  Fernandina. 

Hoisting  his  flag  temporarily  on  board 
the  "Mohican,"  Commander  S.  W.  Godon, 
Dupont's  squadron  entered  Fernandina  in 
the  following  order:  "Ottawa,"  "Mohi 
can,"  "Ellen."  "Seminole,"  "Pawnee," 
"  Pocahontas."  "James  Adger."  "Bien- 
ville,"  "Alabama."  "Keystone  State," 
"Seneca,"  "Huron,"  "Paulina,"  "Isaac 
Smith,"  "Penguin."  "  Potomska,"  armed 
cutter;  "  McClellan."  armed  transport,  with 
a  battalion  of  marines  under  Major  Rey 
nolds,  and  six  transports  containing  a 
brigade  under  command  of  Brigadier  Gen 
eral  Wright. 

The  vessels  anchored  at  10:30  A.M.  on  the 
second  of  March,  to  examine  the  channel 
and  wait  for  the  tide.  Here  the  Flag- 
officer  learned  from  residents  of  Cumber 
land  Island,  that  the  Confederates  had 
hastily  abandoned  the  defences  of  Fernan 
dina,  and  were  at  that  moment  in  full  re 
treat,  carrying  with  them  such  of  their 
munitions  of  war  as  their  precipitated 
flight  would  allow. 

Such  was  the  moral  effect  of  the  Port 
Royal  victory,  that  there  seemed  to  be  a 
stampede  all  "along  the  coast  as  soon  as  our 
naval  vessels  made  their  appearance. 

The  object  of  taking  the  vessels  through 
Cumberland  Sound  was  to  turn  the  heavy 
works  on  Cumberland  and  Amelia  Islands  ; 
but  on  receiving  intelligence  that  the  en 
emy  had  abandoned  their  works,  Dupont 
detached  the  light  gun-boats  and  light 
draft  steamers  from  the  main  line  under 
Commander  Drayton.  and  ordered  that  offi 
cer  to  push  through  the  Sound  with  the  ut 
most  dispatch  to  try  and  save  the  public 
and  private  property  from  destruction,  and 
to  prevent  those  outrages,  by  the  perpetra 
tion  of  which  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion 
hoped  to  exasperate  their  deluded  followers. 

While  this  expedition  was  on  its  way 
through  the  narrow  inlets.  Flag-officer  Du 
pont  proceeded  by  sea  to  the  main  entrance 
of  the  harbor. 

On  entering  Fernandina  Harbor,  Com 
mander  Drayton  sent  an  officer  to  hoist  a 
white  flag  on  Fort  Clinch,  the  first  of  the 
national  forts  on  which  the  ensign  of  the 
Union  had  resumed  its  proper  place  since 


the  first  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln 
was  issued. 

A  few  scattering  musket  shots  were  fired 
by  the  enemy  and  that  was  all  the  defence 
made  by  them.  A  railway  train  left  the 
town  as  the  gun-boat  arrived.  Commander 
Drayton  in  the  "  Ottawa"  gave  chase  to  it 
along  the  river  and  fired  several  shells  at 
the  locomotive,  it  is  said,  with  some  dam 
age  to  the  train. 

Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers  pushed 
ahead  with  the  steam  launches  and  cap 
tured  the  steamer  "Darlington"  contain 
ing  military  stores,  and  fortunately  secured 
and  held  the  draw-bridge  of  the  railroad. 

The  same  night  Commander  C.  R.  P. 
Rodgers  ascended  the  St.  Mary's  River  in 
the  "Ottawa,"  and  driving  away  the  en 
emy's  pickets,  took  possession  of  the  town 
of  St.  Mary's,  while  a  force  of  seamen  and 
marines,  under  Lieut.  Miller,  was  sent  to 
hold  Fort  Clinch. 

The  whole  number  of  guns  captured 
amounted  to  thirteen,  among  them  one 
eighty-pounder  and  one  one-hundred-and- 
twenty  pounder  rifle. 

Fort  Clinch  and  the  earthworks  thrown 
up  by  the  enemy  were  found  to  be  in  con 
dition  for  a  most  vigorous  defence,  and  it 
is  surprising  that  after  making  such  for 
midable  preparations,  the  Confederates 
should  have  left  without  attempting  any 
resistance. 

All  the  batteries  were  as  perfect  as  art 
could  make  them — six  of  them  were  pro 
tected  by  sand  hills,  and  were  so  covered  by 
the  growth  of  the  country  and  so  isolated 
from  each  other  that  striking  them  from 
the  sea  would  have  been  almost  a  matter  of 
chance. 

These  earthworks  and  the  heavy  guns  of 
Fort  Clinch  commanded  the  main  ship 
channel  so  as  to  rake  an  approaching  foe. 
Besides  these  was  a  battery  of  four  guns 
on  the  south  end  of  Cumberland  Island,  the 
fire  of  which  crossed  the  channel  inside  the 
bar.  The  crookedness  of  the  channel  and 
shoalness  of  the  bar  gave  the  Confederates 
a  great  advantage,  for  even  after  vessels 
had  passed  the  outer  defences  they  would 
have  to  encounter  a  well-constructed 
masked  battery  at  the  town,  which  com 
manded  the  anchorage. 

General  Lee  had  pronounced  Fernandina 
perfectly  defensible  against  a  naval  attack, 
but  he  did  not  appreciate  the  brave  spirits 
that  manned  our  ships  or  the  power  of  11- 
inch  guns. 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  Union  cause  that 
Fort  Clinch  and  its  outlying  batteries  fell 
into  our  hands  without  resistance,  as  the 
Confederates  might  have  made  it  warm 
work  for  the  Navy;  though  the  latter  would 
doubtless  have  prevailed  in  the  end,  owing 
to  good  discipline  and  accurate  gunnery. 


78 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Thus,  Flag  Officer  Dupont  accomplished 
an  important  part  of  the  plan  he  orginally 
proposed,  viz. :  to  take  and  hold  the  whole 
line  of  the  sea  coast  of  Georgia,  believing 
that  the  power  controlling  the  sea  coast 
controls  the  State,  a  proof  of  which  was  that 
the  heavy  works  at  St.  Simms,  armed  with 
Columbiads,  had  been  abandoned  011  hear 
ing  the  news  from  Fort  Royal,  and  on  the 
approach  of  the  fleet. 

Thus  was  virtually  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  government  the  fine  harbor  of  Bruns 
wick,  the  harbor  and  inlets  of  Fernandina, 
the  town  and  river  of  St.  Mary's,  and  the 
coast  and  inland  waters  from  St.  Simons 
northward.  All  these  places,  if  left  undis 
turbed,  would  have  afforded  a  fine  refuge 
for  blockade  runners,  which  must  have  sup 
plied  the  Confederacy  with  any  quantity  of 
munitions  of  war,  and  much  prolonged  the 
conflict. 

From  what  we  have  narrated  it  will  be 
seen  that  while  the  North  was  not  always 
successful  in  military  operations,  the  Navy 
was  doing  good  service  by  drawing  tighter 
the  coil  around  the  Confederacy  and  de 
priving  them  of  the  means  of  carrying 
on  the  war.  Even  during  the  short  time 
which  had  elapsed  since  our  Navy  had  been 
placed  upon  a  respectable  footing,  it  held 
all  the  important  approaches  to  the  South 
ern  States,  from  Cape  Hatteras  to  Florida, 
with  the  exception  of  Charleston,  Savan 
nah  and  Wilmington,  which  places  we  were 
not  yet  quite  in  condition  to  assail,  and 
which,  for  the  want  of  a  sufficient  Navy  on 
the  part  of  the  North  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war,  remained  in  possession  of  the 
enemy  till  nearly  the  close  of  hostilities. 

Every  effort  was  made  by  the  Navy  to 
capture  these  places,  and  much  gallantry 
was  displayed,  which,  though  often  without 
result,  still  showed  the  indomitable  spirit  of 
the  service  while  contending  against  odds 
greater  than  they  were  able  to  overcome. 
History  has  not  done  justice  to  the  hard 
work  performed  at  Charleston,  and  slurs 
have  been  cast  on  gallant  officers  who  de 
served  all  the  commendation  a  grateful 
country  could  bestow. 

The  Army  remained  in  charge  of  the 
fortifications  at  Fernandina,  and  Flag  Offi 
cer  Dupont  proceeded  in  the  "Wabash," 
accompanied  by  several  gun-boats,  and  on 
the  evening  of  March  8  anchored  off  St. 
Augustine,  where  the  town  and  fort  were 
quietly  surrendered  to  the  Union  forces; 
Dupont  assuring  the  inhabitants  of  kind 
treatment  as  long  as  they  respected  the 
government  authority  and  acted  in  good 
faith,  and  that  municipal  authority  would 
be  left  in  the  hands  of  the  citizens." 

Thus  Dupont  not  only  displayed  the  gal 
lantry  and  energy  of  an  able  commander, 
but  also  the  tact  which  he  possessed  in  an 


eminent  degree  ;  for  while  he  was  deter 
mined  to  restore  to  the  government  the  pro 
perty  which  belonged  to  it,  he  felt  it  due  to 
the  deluded  people  to  undeceive  them,  by 
kind  treatment,  of  the  numerous  misrepre 
sentations  of  the  Southern  leaders  in  rela 
tion  to  the  designs  of  the  Federal  authori 
ties. 

The  places  that  had  so  far  been  captured 
could  be  easily  held  by  a  few  gun-boats; 
and  although  the  Confederate  Government 
realized  the  importance  of  attempting  to 
recover  what  they  had  lost,  they  finally  gave 
up  the  idea  of  holding  these  harbors  and  in 
lets  and  confined  their  operations  to  the  in 
terior,  where  the  Navy  could  not  follow 
them. 

The  harbor  of  St.  John's  was  next  visited 
by  Dupont  and  the  government  authority 
established.  The  inhabitants  were  assured 
protection  while  they  abstained  from  acts 
of  hostility,  and  they  more  readily  accept 
ed  these  assurances  as  at  night  the  whole 
heavens  were  illuminated  by  the  burning 
saw  mills,  set  on  fire  by  the  retreating  en 
emy,  in  order  to  prevent  them  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  Navy,  forgetting  that 
Dupont  had  promised  at  Fernandina  to  re 
spect  private  property. 

There  were  many  interesting  incidents 
connected  with  this  naval  campaign  which 
the  limits  of  this  work  will  not  allow  us  to 
narrate.  Suffice  it  to  say,  Duppnt's  labors 
were  entirely  successful  and  quite  up  to  the 
expectations  of  the  Navy  Department — 
not  always  profuse  in  praise  of  its  officers. 

Leaving  a  sufficient  force  of  gun-boats  to 
guard  the  harbors  and  inlets.  Dupont  re 
turned  to  Port  Royal  in  the  "  Wabash." 

Dupont  found  that  during  his  absence 
from  Port  Royal,  the  Army  had  planted 
batteries  of  rifled  guns  and  Columbiads  on 
Tybee  Island  for  the  purpose  of  reducing 
Fort  Pulaski:  but  as  this  was  purely  a  mili 
tary  operation,  the  Flag  Officer  did  not 
claim  to  interfere,  although  General  Hun 
ter  permitted  the  Navy  to  take  part  in  the 
bombardment,  allowing  a  detachment  of 
officers  and  seamen  from  the'' Wabash" 
to  serve  one  of  the  breaching  batteries. 

The  detachment  under  Commander  C.  R. 
P.  Rodgers  reached  Tybee  Island  on  the  10th 
of  April,  just  before  the  firing  commenced, 
but  too  late  to  take  part  in  it  that  day. 

On  the  following  morning  the  firing  con 
tinued  with  excellent  effect,  the  rifled  shots 
boring  through  the  brick  work,  while  the 
shots  from  the  Columbiads  broke  off  great 
masses  of  masonry  from  the  walls. 

Four  rifled  guns  in  battery,  about  1,GOO 
yards  distant  from  the  fort,  had  been  as 
signed  to  the  detachment  from  the  "Wa 
bash,"  and  no  doubt  the  most  skillful  gun 
ners  in  the  ship  were  assigned  to  the  man 
agement  of  the  guns. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


The  Union  batteries  kept  up  a  steady  fire 
until  the  Confederate  flag  was  hauled  down. 

Before  the  fort  surrendered  many  of  the 
barbette  guns  were  dismounted  and  the 
fort  breached  in  two  places,  so  as  to  be 
quite  practicable  for  a  storming  party.  The 
garrison  were  convinced  that  it  was  useless 
to  contend  against  the  Federal  batteries, 
as  the  rifled  shots  passed  through  the  walls 
and  threatened  to  destroy  the  magazine. 

When  General  Totten,  the  chief  of  En 
gineers,  built  Fort  Pulaski.  it  was  deemed 
impregnable  to  the  assault  of  a  naval  force 
armed  with  the  heaviest  guns  then  in  use, 
32-poiinders,  and  he  would  have  been  as 
tonished  if  he  had  been  told  that  in  a  few 
years  a  rifled  projectile  would  be  invented 
that  would  bore  through  his  walls  and 
crumble  them  to  pieces. 

The  guns  used  by  the  naval  detachment 
were  three  30-pounder  Parrots  and  one 
24-pounder  James.  Commander  Rodgers 
speaks  in  high  terms  of  the  officers  and 
men.  Lieut.  Irwin,  Acting-Master  Robin 
son  and  Midshipmen  Johnson  and  Pearson, 
Lewis  Brown,  Captain  of  the  Forecastle, 
and  George  H.  Wood,  Quartermaster. 

There  were  many  gallant  affairs  con 
stantly  occurring,  in  which  reconnoitering 
parties  from  the  Navy  were  concerned,  and 
they  gave  the  enemy  no  rest.  In  these  af 
fairs  the  Army  participated  whenever  an 
opportunity  offered;  and  here  we  would 
remark,  that  at  no  period  during  the  war 
was  there  a  more  cordial  co-operation  be 
tween  the  Army  and  Navy  than  while  Flag 
Officer  Dupont  commanded  on  the  Southern 
coast.  His  courtesy  to  every  one  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact  gained  him  hosts 
of  friends,  and  his  example  was  followed 
by  his  subordinates  in  their  intercourse 
with  the  army  officers;  so  that  whatever 


combined  enterprise  was  undertaken,  it 
was  vigorously  executed  with  perfect  ac 
cord  on  both  sides. 

Among  the  galaxy  of  bright  spirits  who 
served  under  Dupont  in  the  early  part  of 
his  campaign,  there  were  many  who  have 
since  passed  away;  but  their  names  should 
not  be  forgotten.  They  were  among  the. 
first  to  set  the  example  of  attacking  heavy 
fortifications  with  light-built  vessels;  a  de 
parture  from  former  usage  that  was  first 
made  in  our  civil  war.  and  is  now  an  estab 
lished  rule  the  world  over. 

A  Commander-in-chief,  no  matter  how 
clever,  does  not  stand  much  chance  of  suc 
cess  against  the  enemy  unless  he  is  well 
supported  by  his  officers;  and  as  Dupont  up 
to  this  time  had  been  everywhere  success 
ful,  we  must  give  a  portion  of  the  credit  to 
those  who  served  under  his  command. 

That  Dupont  was  fortunate  in  his  selec 
tion,  the  names  of  Captain  C.  H.  Davis, 
Commanders  John  Rodgers,  Dray  ton,  C. 
R.  P.  Rodgers,  Godon.  Parrott,  Steedman, 
Gillis.  Prentiss,  Lieutenants-Commanding 
Balch.  Stevens,  Ammen,  Nicholson,  Trux- 
ton.  Rhind,  Bankhead,  Conroy.Watmough, 
Budd,  Semmes  and  Phoenix,  in  command  of 
vessels,  will  show,  besides  the  junior  officers 
mentioned  favorably  by  their  commanding 
officers. 

Nearly  all  the  commanding  officers 
reached  high  rank,  and  the  youngest  of 
them  are  now  well  up  on  the  list  of  commo 
dores  and  captains. 

Eleven  of  them  attained  the  rank  of 
rear-admiral;  and  of  these  six  are  still 
living,  have  retired  from  active  duty,  and 
are  reaping  the  reward  of  faithful  service. 

They  will  figure  again  in  the  course  of 
this  narrative,  as  their  service  continued 
throughout  the  war. 


CH  A  PTER     I  X. 

OPERATIONS    OF    ADMIRAL    DUPONT'S    SQUADRON    IN    THE    SOUNDS    OF 

SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

ARDUOUS  DUTIES  PERFORMED  BY  DUPONT'S  OFFICERS.— VARIOUS  EXPEDITIONS.— VALUABLE 
SERVICES  OF  CAPT.  BOUTELLE  AND  OFFICERS  OF  COAST  SURVEY. — COM.  C.  R.  P. 
RODGERS  MAKES  RECONNOISSANCE  OF  WARSAW  INLET.— LIEUTENANT  BARNES  INVADES 
FORTS.— COMMANDER  DRAYTON  GOES  UP  THE  NORTH  EDISTO  RIVER.— OBJECT  OF  THE 
EXPEDITIONS.— DIFFICULTIES  IN  THE  WAY  OF  GUNBOATS.— OGEECHEE  SOUND  AND  THE 
GREAT  OGEECHEE  RIVER  EXAMINED. — A  SECOND  RECONNOISSANCE  TO  SAINT  HELENA 
SOUND.— GUNBOATS  ANNOYING  CONFEDERATE  TROOPS.— THE  TORCH  PLAYS  A  PROMI 
NENT  PART. — DESOLATION. — FRIENDSHIP  OF  THE  BLACKS  FOR  THE  UNION  CAUSE.— 
EXPEDITIONS  TO  VARIOUS  POINTS  — ADMIRAL  DUPONT  CONSULTS  WITH  GEN.  THOMAS 
W.  SHERMAN. — A  JOINT  EXPEDITION. — ENGAGEMENT  AT  PORT  ROYAL  AND  SEABROOK 
FERRY. — CONFEDERATES  DISPERSED. — EFFECT  OF  CO-OPERATION  OF  THE  ARMY  AND 
NAVY. — REPORTS  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  FLEET. — EXPEDITION  OF  FLEET-CAPTAIN  C.  H. 
DAVIS  TO  WARSAW  SOUND. — REGIMENTS  ACCOMPANYING  EXPEDITION. — TATNALL'S  GUN 
BOATS  OPEN  FIRE  ON  UNION  FLEET  AND  GET  WORSTED. — EXCITEMENT  IN  SAVANNAH.— 
OFFICERS  WHO  WERE  CONSPICUOUS. — PATRIOTISM  OF  COLORED  PEOPLE. — COURAGEOUS 
AND  HEROIC  ACT  OF  ROBERT  SMALLS,  A  COLORED  MAN. — CAPTURING  THE  STEAMER 
"  PLANTER." — GREAT  SERVICES  OF  DUPONT  ALONG  COASTS  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  GEORGIA 
AND  FLORIDA. 


SHORT  references  have  been  made  to 
the  various  duties  performed  by  Ad 
miral  Dupont's  officers  on  the  coast 
and  in  the  Sounds  of  South  Caro 
lina,  the   writer  not  deeming  that 
the  limits  of  this  work  would  permit  of  a 
more  extended  account  of  the  operations  of 
the  South  Atlantic  Squadron. 

These  operations  show  not  only  a  desire 
to  meet  the  enemy  on  all  occasions,  but  a 
wise  forethought  on  the  part  of  Admiral 
Dupont  regarding  the  ultimate  use  which 
the  possession  of  certain  points  would  be 
to  the  government  in  the  future.  He  saw 
that  the  enemy  was  daily  exhibiting  more 
energy  and  an  astonishing  amount  of  re 
sources,  with  a  fixed  determination  to  carry 
on  the  war  as  long  as  they  could  muster  a 
regiment  or  obtain  powder  to  fire  a  gun. 

The  accounts  of  the  various  expeditions 
fitted  out  cannot  be  narrated  in  order,  as 
the  reports  came  in  irregularly;  but  they 
will  be  sufficiently  so  to  enable  the  reader 


(80) 


to  judge  of  the  important  services  rendered 
from  time  to  time. 

The  enemy  were  continually  erecting  bat 
teries,  and  they  moved  about  from  point  to 
point  with  a  rapidity  that  was  marvelous, 
and  embarrassing  enough  to  test  the  high 
est  qualities  of  a  commander-in-chief  to 
meet  the  various  movements  of  so  active 
an  adversary. 

The  soldiers  of  South  Carolina  seemed 
determined  that  the  Northerners  should  not 
plant  their  feet  on  Southern  soil,  if  they 
could  keep  them  out  by  earnest  watching 
and  fighting;  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  this 
untiring  energy  was  met  by  equal  energy 
and  perseverance  on  the  Union  side;  and  if 
the  latter  did  not  actually  occupy  all  the 
points  held  by  the  Confederates,  they  ren 
dered  them  so  ineffectual  to  do  harm  that 
they  might  just  as  well  have  been  taken 
possession  of. 

The  coast  of  South  Carolina  is  indented 
with  many  sounds,  bays  and  inlets,  most  of 


THE   NAVAL    HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


81 


them  accessible  to  small  light-draft  block 
ade  runners.  It  required  some  time  to  be 
come  acquainted  with  the  topography  and 
hydrography  of  these  places,  as  no  charts 
gave  an  exactly  fair  representation  of  many 
of  them;  and  it  was  to  close  up  all  these 
gaps  in  the  line  of  blockade  that  the  smaller 
vessels  were  employed  in  constant  recon- 
noissances  and  skirmishes,  some  of  which 
were  full  of  danger  and  required  nerve  and 
daring  to  execute. 

It  must  have  been  surprising  at  times  to 
the  people  residing  along  these  narrow  in 
lets,  to  see  good-sized  gun-boats  ploughing 
their  way  at  full 
speed  through 
their  tortuous 
and  shallow 
channels, where 
the  keel  of  a 
war  vessel  had 
never  before 
passed.  It  was 
gall  and  worm 
wood  to  them 
to  witness  these 
excursions  o  f 
floating  batter 
ies,  against 
which  they  soon 
found  that  their 
flying  artillery 
was  of  no  mor 
tal  use. 

Admiral  Du- 
pont  had  in  his 
squadron  a 
corps  of  officers 
belonging  to  the 
coast  survey, 
under  the  im 
mediate  direc 
tion  of  Captain 
Boutelle,  First 
Assistant.  The 
Coast  Survey 
office  had  aban 
doned  its  legiti 
mate  duties  at 
the  commence 
ment  of  the 
war,  and  now 
furnished  most 

valuable  aid  by  sending  its  officers  to  any 
squadron  requiring  them.  Captain  Bou 
telle  was  invaluable  to  Admiral  Dupont, 
and  frequent  mention  is  made  of  the  hon 
orable  service  he  performed  in  piloting  ves 
sels  through  these  intricate  inlets. 

The  reconnoissance  in  St.  Helena  Sound, 
by  Commander  Dray  ton,  has  been  already 
referred  to.  This  bay  was  considered  in 
valuable  for  a  harbor,  owing  to  its  prox 
imity  to  Charleston.  By  its  occupation  the 
Federals  would  be  drawing  the  net  close 


REAR-ADMIRAL    C.    R.    P.    RODGERS. 

(FBOM  PHOTOGRAPH  TAKES  IN  1885.) 


around  that  pugnacious  fort;  and  by  cut 
ting  off  all  communication  with  the  interior 
of  the  State,  through  the  large  rivers  that 
communicated  witli  it,  with  a  few  gun- 
boats  would  remain  masters  of  the  situation. 
Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers  was  em 
ployed  to  make  a  reconnoissance  of  War 
saw  Inlet,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  position 
and  force  of  the  enemy's  battery  there, 
which  information  was  desired  by  the  Com 
manding-General  of  our  military  forces,  in 
anticipation  of  landing  troops  on  Tybee 
Island. 

On    approaching    within    a  mile  of  the 

fort,  and  seeing 
neither  men  nor 
guns.  Lieuten 
ant  Barnes  was 
sent  up  with  a 
flag  of  truce  to 
examine  the 
place, and  found 
it  evacuated. 

It  was  a  heavy 
work, with  plat 
forms  for  eight 
guns.  But  the 
guns  had  been 
removed,  the 
platforms  cut 
and  the  maga 
zine  blown  up. 

The  expedi 
tion  (consisting 
of  the  gun-boats 
the  "  Ottawa," 
'•  Seneca,"  and 
"Pembina") 
then  pushed  on 
to  Ca  b  bage 
Island,  where 
another  battery 
was  expected  to 
be  found.  The 
vessels  went  to 
the  mouth  of  the 
creek,  through 
the  R  o  m  i  1 1  y 
marsh,  and  to 
the  mouth  of 
Wilmington 
River — a  bewil 
dering  cruise 

among  a  network  of  shoals,  inlets  and 
marshes,  enough  to  test  the  patience  of  offi 
cers  of  the  most  energetic  type.  But  these 
men's  minds  were  bent  on  fathoming  the 
intricacies  of  southern  navigation,  and  they 
succeeded  in  obtaining  their  object,  and  be 
fore  they  had  been  three  months  on  the 
southern  coast  every  sound  and  inlet  was 
as  familiar  to  our  officers  as  to  the  Southern 
pilots. 

This   expedition   brought   back  valuable 
information,   ascertaining  the  position  of 


c 


82 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


forts,  making  reconnoissances  on  shore 
with  the  marines  of  the  "  Savannah,"  until 
their  progress  was  stopped  by  an  unford- 
able  stream  and  nothing  more  could  be  ac 
complished. 

On  the  IGth  of  December,  1861,  Com 
mander  Percival  Drayton  was  sent  on  a  re- 
connoissance  of  the  North  Edisto  river,  in 
the  steamer  "  Pawnee,"  accompanied  by 
the  "  Seneca,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Ammen,  and  the  Coast  Survey  steamer 
"Vixen,"  Captain  Boutelle,  who  was  gener 
ally  the  pioneer  in  these  expeditions  and 
whose  knowledge  of  the  hydrography  of 
the  country  gave  much  valuable  assistance. 

While  Captain  Drayton  was  examining 
into  the  condition  of  some  works  (which 
proved  to  be  deserted),  Lieutenant  Ammen 
proceeded  with  the  "  Seneca  "  five  miles  up 
the  river  and  burned  some  cotton  houses 
and  out-buildings. 

A  landing  was  made  at  the  small  town 
of  Rockville  in  hopes  of  surprising  a  large 
body  of  the  enemy's  infantry,  but  they  de 
camped  in  a  great  hurry,  leaving  in  Com 
mander  Drayton's  hands  a  sloop,  loaded 
with  cotton  and  provisions,  large  quanti 
ties  of  commissary  stores,  consisting  of  rice, 
sugar,  bacon,  corn,  etc.,  which  were  re 
moved  to  the  "Vixen." 

An  encampment  a  mile  from  the  water 
was  visited  and  broken  up,  all  the  tents 
and  stores  being  removed  to  the  boats. 

The  smaller  gunboats  pushed  on  until 
they  ran  aground  and  could  go  no  further. 
They  burnt  one  sloop,  which  had  been  run 
on  shore  by  the  enemy  and  which  could 
not  be  gotten  off. 

A  large  number  of  the  negroes  in  that 
section  greatly  feared  that  the  whites  would 
retaliate  upon  them  for  the  pleasure  they 
had  shown  when  the  Union  gunboats  ar 
rived,  and  now  most  of  them  claimed  and 
obtained  the  protection  of  the  Union  flag. 

The  sentiment  which  pervaded  the  minds 
of  naval  officers  in  the  early  part  of  the  re 
bellion,  that  the  negroes  were  the  sacred 
property  of  the  Southern  planters,  not  to  be 
touched  under  any  circumstances,  evapor 
ated  a  short  time  after  operations  had  be 
gun,  and  when  the  Southern  soldiers  com 
pelled  the  negroes  to  throw  up  their  earth 
works,  dig  their  ditches  and  haul  their  loads, 
while  they  enjoyed  what  comfort  they  could 
get  from  camp  life.  The  Federal  officers  de 
termined  to  remove  as  far  as  they  possibly 
could  this  important  factor  of  war  from 
their  masters,  and  give  them  that  liberty 
to  which  all  men  are  entitled.  Hundreds 
of  these  negroes  were  removed  in  the  gun 
boats  and  finally  located  on  Hilton  Head 
Island. 

This  expedition  found  the  fortifications 
on  Edisto  Island  entirely  deserted  and  par 
tially  destroyed,  though  on  these  occasions 


the  rebels  always  managed  to  carry  off  the 
guns.  Having  obtained  all  the  necessary 
information  the  vessels  returned  to  Port 
Royal. 

Another  expedition,  under  Commander 
C.  R.  P.  Rodgers,  left  Tybee  Roads  on  the 
llth  of  December,  1861,  with  the  "  Ottawa," 
"Pembina,"  "Seneca"  and  "Henry  An 
drew." 

Entering  and  passing  up  Vernon  River, 
they  discovered  a  fort  on  the  eastern  end  of 
Green  Island,  mounting  eight  guns,  ap 
parently  of  heavy  calibre,  and  near  it  an 
encampment  of  75  tents. 

The  fort  was  advantageously  placed,  and 
its  approaches  landward  were  well  pro 
tected  by  marshes.  It  commanded  not  only 
Vernon  River,  but  the  Little  Ogeechee,  and 
Hell  Gate,  the  passage  from  Vernon  River 
into  the  Great  Ogeechee. 

The  reader  should  have  a  good  map  of 
the  coasts  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia 
by  him,  in  order  to  obtain  some  idea  of  the 
immense  net  of  natural  defences  on  which 
the  Southern  engineers  had  erected  fortifi 
cations  with  great  skill  and  judgment. 

These  expeditions  may  appear  to  some 
readers  to  be  of  very  little  importance,  but 
if  they  will  carefully  examine  the  map  they 
will  see  for  themselves  how  difficult  it  was- 
for  our  gunboats  to  reach  these  places, 
which  were  important  military  points  and 
convenient  refuges  for  light-draft  blockade 
runners. 

It  was  to  obtain  possession  of  all  the 
prominent  positions  held  by  the  enemy  that 
Admiral  Dupont  sent  out  these  expeditions, 
and  he  desired  to  accomplish  the  work  with 
as  little  loss  as  possible. 

It  may  be  asked  why  this  last  expedition 
did  not  attempt  to  capture  the  enemy's 
works. 

In  the  first  place,  the  expedition  was  sim 
ply  a  reconnoissance,  and  he  is  an  unwise 
officer  who  goes  to  fighting  and  risks  the 
object  in  view.  In  the  second  place,  the 
vessels  could  not  approach  the  fort  nearer 
than  two  miles,  which  was  beyond  the 
reach  of  their  guns. 

The  enemy  fired  at  the  "Pembina"  with 
a  heavy  smooth-bore  gun,  but  the  shot  fell 
far  short,  and  the  commander  of  the  expe 
dition  did  not  think  it  well,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  to  return  the  fire,  and  give  the 
enemy  the  opportunity  of  reporting  an  en 
gagement  with  and  the  repulse  of  Yankee 
gun- boats. 

Ogeechee  Sound  and  the  Great  Ogeechee 
River  were  examined  and  no  batteries 
found.  A  full  reconnoissance  was  accom 
plished,  by  which  the  Commander-in  chief 
was  placed  in  possession  of  information 
that  would  much  facilitate  any  operations 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  which  might  be  de 
cided  on  in  the  future. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


83 


On  December  5th  Commander  Drayton 
again  proceeded  on  a  reconnoissance  to 
Saint  Helena  Sound  in  the  "Pawnee,"'  ac 
companied  by  the  gunboats  "  Unadilla," 
Commander  N.  Collins,  *'  Isaac  Smith," 
Lieut.  Commander  J.  W.  Nicholson,  and 
Coast  Survey  steamer  "Vixen/'  Captain 
Boutelle. 

He  reached  the  anchorage  off  the  fort  on 
Otter  Island  at  mid-day;  pushed  on  up 
Mosquito  Creek  (no  doubt  appropriately 
named),  but  found  no  traces  of  white  peo 
ple,  except  some  burning  buildings  on 
Hutchison's  Island.  Very  little  was  ef 
fected  to  repay  this  expedition,  yet  what 
fine  harbors  were  found  for  blockade  run 
ners,'  what  places  of  safety  for  our  fleets  to 
lie  in  during  winter  storms,  and  what  vigi 
lance  would  be  required  to  keep  these  re 
treats  from  being  made  useful  by  an 
enemy  so  quick  to  take  advantage  as  were 
the  soldiers  of  the  South! 

Whenever  the  enemy's  troops  appeared 
they  were  reminded  by  a  bursting  shell 
that  the  annoying  gunboat  was  at  their 
heels,  and  would  follow  and  harass  them 
until  they  retreated  from  the  coast. 

On  landing  at  Hutchison's  Island,  they 
found  that  two  days  before  all  the  negroes' 
houses,  overseers  house,  and  out-buildings, 
together  with  the  picked  cotton,  had  been 
burned. 

Thus  early  in  the  war  did  the  torch  begin 
to  play  that  prominent  part  by  which  hun 
dreds  were  driven  from  their  homes,  and 
by  which  the  Southern  soldiers  in  their 
folly  thought  to  defeat  the  Federals  in  their 
cherished  object  of  securing  plunder. 

This  system  led  to  retaliation,  which  in 
the  end  impoverished  the  Southern  people 
from  Cape  Hatteras  to  Florida. 

An  attempt  had  been  made  on  the  ap 
proach  of  the  gunboats  to  drive  off  the  ne 
groes  and  prevent  their  escaping,  A  great 
many  did  escape,  however,  though  some  of 
the  number  were  shot  in  the  back  in  the  at 
tempt. 

The  scene  of  complete  desolation  which 
on  this  occasion  met  the  eyes  of  our  officers 
beggars  description;  the  negroes  cowering 
amid  the  smoking  ruins  of  their  homes 
would  have  touched  the  hardest  heart. 
These  poor  creatures  still  clung  in  despair 
to  the  spot  where  their  houses  once  stood, 
but  where  they  could  no  longer  find  shel 
ter,  and  here  they  bewailed  in  piteous  ac 
cents  the  loss  of  what  was  once  the  only 
Paradise  they  had  on  earth.  In  one  mo 
ment  they  had  seen  all  that  was  most  pre 
cious  to  them  reduced  to  ashes;  but  they 
preferred  to  remain  near  the  place  where 
their  homes  once  stood,  in  the  hope  of  ob 
taining  comparative  liberty,  rather  than  to 
follow  the  fortunes  of  their  masters  and  re 
main  in  bondage. 


The  most  painful  spectacle  of  all  was  that 
of  old  and  decrepit  men  and  women  wan 
dering  about  in  search  of  the  places  where 
they  were  wont  to  dwell,  and  searching 
with  bleared  eyes  in  the  hot  ashes  for  any 
little  memento  of  by -gone  days  that  might 
cheer  them  in  the  few  years  they  had  yet  to 
live. 

Little  children  crawled  around  at  the  risk 
of  falling  into  the  burning  embers,  while 
their  heart-broken  mothers  sat  alone  and 
gazed  with  despair  at  the  wreck  of  all  they 
once  owned — though  they  had  only  owned 
it  at  the  will  and  pleasure  of  their  masters. 

Much  sympathy  was  felt  for  these  poor 
creatures;  but  it  was  not  entirely  deserved, 
for  the  gunboats  had  hardly  dropped  down 
the  creek  for  the  night  (which  they  did  as 
a  matter  of  precaution)  before  signal  lights 
were  made  at  the  very  spot  they  had  left, 
to  inform  the  enemy  of  their  departure.  It 
could  only  have  been  done  by  the  negroes, 
for  there  was  not  a  white  man  within  a  mile 
of  the  plantation.  This  might  appear  like 
treachery  on  the  part  of  the  blacks,  but  it 
was  only  for  fear  of  further  punishment 
that  they  pretended  an  interest  in  the  cause 
of  their  masters. 

That  strange  infatuation  which  possessed 
some  of  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  by 
the  Constitution  the  negroes  were  the  goods 
and  chattels  of  the  South  and  could  not  be 
liberated  until  that  clause  in  the  Constitu 
tion  was  annulled,  did  much  towards  bring 
ing  desolation  upon  these  poor  people,  who 
having  formed  some  indefinite  idea  of  free 
dom,  would  escape  to  the  Union  lines,  in  the 
hope  of  receiving  protection;  but  they  were 
often  disappointed,  for  though  they  were 
kindly  treated  they  were  not  protected  in 
the  full  sense  of  the  word.  They  were  al 
lowed  to  hang  around  the  camps  and  naval 
stations,  and  live  upon  the  debris  of  the 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  rations,  but  it  cannot 
be  said  that  they  were  actually  taken  care 
of.  They  were  allowed  to  till  the  land 
around  them,  put  up  cottages  of  brush  and 
straw,  and  eke  out  an  existence  scarcely 
superior  to  that  of  an  animal,  and  that  was 
called  philanthropy. 

At  first  the  officers  of  the  Navy  were 
afraid  to  take  the  responsibility  of  openly 
liberating  the  slaves,  being  held  back  by 
the  old  idea  of  the  right  of  the  white  man 
to  property  in  human  flesh  which  was  guar 
anteed  to  him  by  the  Constitution. 

The  Cabinet  would  not  for  a  time  ap 
proach  this  subject,  for  some  of  its  members 
still  adhered  to  the  delusion  that  the  South 
would  never  come  back  into  the  Union  if 
the  subject  of  slavery  was  tampered  with 
in  any  way. 

If  Abraham  Lincoln's  emancipation  act 
had  been  promulgated  the  day  Sumter  was 
fired  upon,  the  liberated  slaves  would  have 


84 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


flocked  to  the  North,  and  thus  have  deprived 
the  Southerners  of  that  factor  in  the  war 
(the  slave  labor)  which  built  their  forts, 
hauled  their  loads,  worked  their  planta 
tions,  and  furnished  them  with  food  while 
fighting.  They  even  attended  their  masters 
on  the  battle  field,  carried  off  the  wounded, 
drove  teams,  etc.,  and  every  negro  thus  em 
ployed  saved  a  soldier  to  the  Confederacy. 

Instead  of  depriving  the  Confederates  of 
their  services,  we  avoided  the  expense  of 
providing  for  them,  and  left  them  to  take 
care  of  themselves.  Hundreds  died  from 
neglect:  they  were  a  shiftless,  lazy  people 
and  could  not  take  care  of  themselves. 
Many  in  despair  wandered  back  to  their 
masters,  who  in  fact  treated  them  better 
than  we  did,  hoping  some  day  to  make  use 
of  them  again,  when  their  cause  was 
gained,  and  the  negro  once  more  regarded 
as  a  chattel. 

Is  it  any  wonder  that  they  made  signal 
lights  to  inform  their  masters  that  the  gun 
boats  had  departed  ? 

The  slaves  seemed  on  the  whole  to  be  em- 
bued  with  more  liberal  sentiments  towards 
the  white  man  of  the  North,  than  the  latter 
held  for  them. 

I't  is  true  that  they  had  been  removed 
from  points  where  they  were  suffering  to 
places  of  shelter,  but  not  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  Southern  fanatics,  who  shot  at  them 
as  they  would  at  dogs  or  cats. 

This  was  done  by  men  who  would  blow 
up  light-houses,  burn  villages  and  destroy 
springs,  so  that  those  favorable  to  the  Union 
cause  might  not  enjoy  a  glass  of  fresh 
water. 

In  spite  of  our  neglectful  treatment  of  the 
blacks,  they  were  always  more  than  friendly 
to  us.  They  would  assist  in  destroying  a 
fort,  though  it  might  bring  them  lashes  or 
death;  they  would  give  information  with 
regard  to  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and 
would  hurrah  when  a  Union  shell  burst  in 
the  midst  of  Confederate  troops.  But  they 
did  not  receive  that  aid  which  would  have 
kept  them  from  starving,  and  so  have  pre 
vented  their  old  masters  using  them  to  build 
up  forts  to  drive  the  Union  people  away. 

On  the  above-mentioned  occasion,  Com 
mander  Drayton's  policy  was  a  generous 
one.  A  large  number  of  the  negroes  had 
left  Hutchison  Island  after  they  had  been 
burned  put,  and  now  crowded  upon  the 
beach  with  what  was  left  of  their  goods  and 
chattels,  and  prayed  to  be  removed  to  an 
other  island. 

They  were  taken  away  by  the  gunboats, 
and  if  the  expedition  had  accomplished 
nothing  else,  the  Commander  would  have 
deserved  credit  for  thus  relieving  suffering 
humanity. 

Otter  Island  Fort  and  the  adjacent  waters 
were,  on  this  occasion,  placed  in  charge  of 


Lieut.-Commanding  Nicholson,  who  was 
directed  to  supply  the  negroes  with  food  and 
do  what  he  could  for  their  comfort. 

The  attention  of  Admiral  Dupont  had,  in 
January,  been  drawn  to  the  fact  that  the 
enemy  designed  to  shut  up  the  troops  on 
Port  Royal  Island,  by  placing  obstructions 
in  the  Coosaw  River  and  Whale  Branch, 
by  erecting  batteries  at  Port  Royal  Ferry, 
at  Seabrook,  and  at  or  near  Boyd's  Neck, 
and  by  accumulating  troops  in  the  vicinity 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  able  to  throw  a 
force  of  three  thousand  men  upon  any  of 
these  points  at  short  notice. 

On  a  consultation  with  General  T.  W. 
Sherman,  it  was  determined  to  arrest  the 
designs  of  the  enemy  and  to  do  it  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  prevent  any  more  attempts 
of  the  kind.  A  joint  expedition  was  agreed 
upon,  and  a  plan  of  conduct  settled  upon 
by  the  commanders  of  the  Army  and  Navy. 
The  first  day  of  the  year  was  selected  for 
the  attack. 

Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers  was  ap 
pointed  to  the  command  of  the  naval  forces, 
consisting  of  the  *' Ottawa,"  Lieut. -Com 
manding  Stevens,  "Pembina,"  Lieut. -Com 
manding  Ban  khead,  and  four  armed  boats 
from  the  "Wabash,"  carrying  howitzers, 
under  charge  of  Lieutenants  Upshur.  Luce 
and  Irwin,  and  Acting  Master  Kempff,  all 
of  which  were  to  enter  the  Coosaw  by  Beau 
fort  river;  the  gun-boat  "Seneca,"  Lieut. - 
Com.  Ainmen,  and  the  tug-boat  "Ellen." 
Acting-Master  Budd,  to  participate,  both 
of  which  were  to  move  up  Beaufort  River 
and  approach  the  batteries  at  Seabrook  and 
Port  Royal  Ferry,  by  Whale  Branch.  The 
armed  Tug  ''Hale,"  Acting-Master  Foster, 
was  also  ordered  to  report  to  the  com 
mander  of  the  expedition. 

The  gun-boats  reached  Beaufort  on  the 
31st  December,  1862,  and  in  order  not  to 
give  the  enemy  notice  of  their  approach, 
they  remained  there  until  after  dark,  when 
they  ascended  the  river  to  within  two  miles 
of  the  Coosaw.  At  4  o'clock  the  next  morn 
ing  the  gun-boats  moved  up  and  joined 
General  Stevens  at  the  appointed  rendez 
vous.  Here  the  troops  embarked,  crossed 
the  Coosaw,  and  landed  at  Haywood's  plan 
tation,  and  with  them  went  the  two  how 
itzers  of  the  "Wabash,"  to  serve  as  a  sec 
tion  of  light  artillery,  under  Lieutenant 
Irwin. 

The  troops  and  gun-boats  engaged  the 
enemy  (who  was  on  the  alert)  at  Port  Royal 
and  Seabrook  Ferries.  The  Confederates 
also  appeared  in  force,  in  line  of  battle,  on 
the  right  of  the  Federal  troops,  but  were 
dispersed  with  some  loss  by  the  fire  of  the 
gun-boats,  which  was  very  galling. 

At  sunset  the  enemy  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce, 
asking  permission  to  carry  off  their  dead 
and  wounded ;  just  then  the  gun-boats 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


85 


opened  fire,  and  before  General  Stevens 
could  send  a  messenger  to  stop  it,  the  offi 
cer  who  brought  the  flag  of  truce  galloped 
off. 

The  enemy  again  showed  themselves  in 
force  the  next  morning,  but  the  gunboats 
opened  such  a  fire  on  them  that  they  soon 
retired  to  a  point  where  they  could  not  be 
followed  and  made  no  more  demonstrations. 

The  military  portion  of  the  expedition  re- 
crossed  the  Coosaw  and  started  on  their  re 
turn  march,  while  the  gunboats,  watching 
the  tide  and  their  opportunity,  passed  down 
the  channel,  leaving  the  enemy  to  under 
stand  that  they  would  be  chased  up  when 
ever  they  attempted  to  plant  batteries  on 
sounds,  inlets  or  rivers. 

The  co-operation  of  the  Army  and  Navy 
was  very  complete  on  this  occasion.  The 
services  of  the  officers  are  highly  spoken  of 
by  Commander  Rodgers,  particularly  the 
work  of  Lieut. -Commander  Ammen  with 
the  "  Seneca  "  and  "  Ellen  "  at  Seabrook. 

The  work  was  performed  in  very  narrow 
and  crooked  rivers,  but  with  care  and  skill 
ful  handling  the  gunboats  (though  often 
aground)  were  brought  out  with  but  little 
damage. 

The  reports  of  Lieuts. -Commanding  Trux- 
ton  and  Nicholson,  though  not  containing 
an  account  of  severe  service,  are  instructive 
as  showing  how  each  officer  of  the  fleet  was 
kept  employed  in  chasing  up  the  enemy, 
and  how  the  latter  kept  on  the  move. 

Admiral  Dupont  made  it  a  rule  (and  it 
was  a  very  good  one)  to  give  his  staff  offi 
cers  an  opportunity  to  distinguish  them 
selves  where  opportunity  offered,  without 
taking  away  from  others  what  they  might 
consider  theirs  of  right,  namely,  to  do  all  the 
fighting  while  the  staff  were  attending  to 
what  might  be  considered  their  legitimate 
duties. 

Hence  we  find  the  Fleet-Captain,  Charles 
H.  Davis,  getting  underway  on  January  26, 
18G2,  for  an  expedition  into  Warsaw  Sound. 
He  had  under  his  command  the  gunboats 
*'  Ottawa,"  Lieut. -Commanding  Stevens  ; 
"Seneca,"  Lieut. -Commanding  Ammen,  and 
the  armed  steamer,  "  Isaac  Smith,"  Lieut.  - 
Commanding  Nicholson  ;  the  "Potomska," 
Lieut. -Commanding  Watmough  ;  the '"El 
len,"  Master  Budd ;  "Western  World," 
"  Gregory,"  and  the  two  armed  launches  of 
the  "  Wabash,"  and  having  in  company  the 
transports  "Cosmopolitan,"  "Delaware" 
and  "  Boston."  on  board  of  which  were  the 
lith  Connecticut,  the  4th  New  Hampshire 
and  the  97th  Pennsylvania  regiments,  in  all 
2.400  men,  commanded  by  Brig. -General 
H.  G.Wright.  Commander C.  R.  P.  Rodgers 
accompanied  the  expedition. 

The  object  of  this  move  was  to  cut  off  the 
communication  between  Fort  Pulaski  and 
Savannah. 


The  vessels  entered  Little  Tybee  River,  or 
Freeborn  Cut,  and  passed  Fort  Pulaski,  but 
were  not  fired  into,  as  the  fort  was  not  pre 
pared  for  an  enemy  on  this  side.  Prepara 
tions  were  at  once  made,  however,  to  re 
ceive  the  expedition  warmly  on  its  return. 
The  distance  was  that  of  long-range  guns. 

The  vessels  were  brought  to  a  stop,  after 
passing  Wilmington  Island,  by  heavy  piles 
driven  in  a  double  row  across  the  channel  ; 
they  were  anchored  and  a  reconnoissance 
made,  in  boats,  of  the  numerous  creeks  with 
which  this  country  was  intersected. 

At  5  P.  M.  five  Confederate  steamers,  one 
of  them  carrying  a  square  flag  at  the  fore 
(probably  Commodore  TatnalPs),  anchored 
at  the  mouth  of  the  creek.  They  had  it  in 
their  power  to  choose  their  distance,  and 
this  led  to  an  expectation  of  an  attack,  but 
the  night  passed  quietly. 

At  11 :15  the  five  steamers  composing  Com 
modore  Tatnall's  squadron  attempted  to 
pass  down  the  river  with  some  scows  in  tow. 
Commander  John  Rodgers,  who  lay  at  an 
chor  in  Wright  River,  and  Captain  Davis 
opened  fire  upon  them,  which  they  returned 
with  spirit.  The  result  of  the  engagement, 
which  lasted  less  than  half  an  hour,  was  that 
Commodore  Tatnall  and  one  of  his  squadron 
were  driven  back  ;  the  other  three  vessels 
made  good. their  passage  down  to  Fort  Pu 
laski,  and  afterwards  passed  up  the  river 
again  to  Savannah,  where  one  of  them  sunk 
at  the  dock. 

As  a  demonstration  the  appearance  of  the 
gun-boats  was  a  success,  as  Savannah  was 
thrown  into  a  great  state  of  excitement, 
and  all  the  energies  of  the  people  were  put 
forth  to  increase  the  military  defences. 

The  information  required  by  this  expedi 
tion  was  gained  without  loss  of  life  or  in 
jury  to  the  gun-boats. 

Surveys  and  examinations  were  made 
up  Wright  and  Mud  Rivers  by  Commander 
John  Rodgers,  and  a  great  amount  of  good 
service  done.  The  officers  and  boats'  crews 
were  in  continual  danger  from  the  fire  of 
bush-whacking  Confederates,  who  were 
always  ready  for  a  fight. 

The  names  of  Commanders  John  Rodg 
ers,  Dray  ton,  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers,  Godon, 
Rhind,  Stevens,  Balch,  Ammen,  Truxton, 
Watmough,  and  Semmes,  were  conspicuous 
wherever  a  Confederate  shot  was  heard,  or 
wherever  there  was  a  chance  to  gain  a  point 
on  the  enemy. 

Heavy  knocks  were  received  by  our  gun 
boats  from  Confederate  flying  batteries, 
which  would  often  make  desperate  stands 
behind  earthworks  thrown  up  for  the  occa 
sion.  The  long  steel  shot  from  their  Whit- 
worth  guns  would  pass  easily  through  the 
sides  of  our  vessels  and  inflict  death  or  in 
jury  on  all  around.  These  attacks  were,  in 
most  instances,  followed  by  summary  pun- 


86 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ishment  from  the  heavy  guns  of  the  Fed 
eral  vessels.  Our  officers  and  men  had  a 
most  persistent  enemy  to  deal  with,  but 
they  never  flinched  from  any  kind  of  duty 
until  the  whole  coast  was  under  Federal 
control. 

All  along  the  coast  and  up  the  rivers, 
where  gun-boats  could  reach,  heavy  earth 
works  were  found  abandoned,  their  maga 
zines  blown  up,  and  their  guns  removed, 
evidently  showing  that  the  Confederates 
did  not  care  to  dispute  with  our  gun-boats 
the  occupancy  of  the  soil.  They  would 
scarcely  have  finished  many  of  their  bat 
teries  before  they  would  abandon  them,  and 
erect  new  works  again  at  some  other  point. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  patriotism  on 
the  part  of  the  colored  people  was  evinced 
in  the  bringing  out  of  the  armed  steamer 
"  Planter"  from  Charleston,  and  delivering 
her  over  to  the  naval  officer  blockading  that 
port.  Robert  Small,  who  performed  this 
courageous  act,  was  employed  on  board  the 
'"  Planter,"  which  was  used  as  a  dispatch 
and  transportation  steamer  attached  to  the 
Engineer  Department  in  Charleston,  under 
Brigadier-General  Ripley. 

The  taking  out  of  the  "  Planter"  would 
have  done  credit  to  anyone,  but  the  clever 
ness  with  which  the  whole  affair  was  con 
ducted  deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice. 
Small  was  a  very  clever  light  mulatto  who 
had  been  running  this  steamer  for  some 
time,  and  he  had  gained  the  confidence  of 
his  employers  to  that  extent  that,  on  the  13th 
of  May,  the  Captain  went  on  shore  for  the 
night  and  left  Small  in  charge.  He  had 
made  all  his  arrangements  to  carry  off  his 
family,  and  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  left 
the  wharf  with  the  Palmetto  and  Confeder 
ate  flags  flying,  passed  the  forts  and  saluted 
them  as  he  went  by.  by  blowing  his  steam 
whistle.  After  getting  out  of  reach  of  the 
Confederate  guns,  he  hauled  down  the 
flags  and  hoisted  a  white  one  at  the  fore. 
All  this  required  the  greatest  heroism,  for 
had  he  been  caught  while  leaving  the 
wharf,  or  stopped  by  the  forts,  he  would 
have  paid  the  penalty  with  his  life. 

The  "Planter"  mounted  two  guns  of  her 
own,  and  had  lying  upon  her  deck  four  guns 
intended  for  the  forts,  one  a  7-inch  rifle. 

Small  was  the  pilot  of  the  boat,  and  had 
no  difficulty  in  making  his  way  through 


the  obstructions  placed  in  the  channels. 
Besides  the  vessel  and  guns  which  he 
brought  out,  he  gave  much  valuable  infor 
mation  which  only  a  man  of  his  intelli 
gence  could  impart.  When  he  left  Charles 
ton  he  brought  away  with  him  eight  men 
and  five  women. 

Robert  Small  was  an  object  of  great  in 
terest  in  Dupont's  fleet,  not  only  for  his 
courageous  act,  but  for  being  the  most  in 
telligent  slave  that  had  yet  been  met  with. 
He  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  col 
ored  man  who  was  elected  to  Congress 
from  Brunswick,  S.  C.,  and  he  held  his 
own  with  white  men  who  were  far  better 
educated  than  himself.  It  was  not  often 
that  a  negro  was  met  with  of  such  intelli 
gence,  from  the  fact  that  the  system  of 
slavery  so  tended  to  degrade  the  colored 
race  that  few,  if  any,  could  ever  rise  to  su 
periority. 

When  Admiral  Dupont  gave  up  the  com 
mand  of  the  South  Atlantic  Squadron  there 
was  not  much  left  for  his  successor  to  do 
in  the  way  of  gaining  information  along 
the  coasts  of  South  Carolina.  Georgia  and 
Florida.  The  officers  under  Dupont's  com 
mand  had  made  themselves  so  well  ac 
quainted  with  the  hydrography  and  topog 
raphy  of  the  country  that  they  needed  no 
pilots  to  point  the  way  for  them  through 
any  bay  or  inlet. 

All  the  sounds  or  inlets  where  a  blockade 
runner  could  get  in  or  out  were  so  closely 
watched,  or  hermetically  sealed,  that  few 
vessels  attempted  to  communicate  with  the 
Confederacy  in  that  direction.  As  a  rule 
they  had  abandoned  their  beats,  and  either 
kept  to  running  into  Charleston  or  Wil 
mington,  or  went  to  the  coasts  of  Alabama 
and  Texas,  where  their  chances  were  bet 
ter  than  in  the  South  Atlantic. 

The  South  Atlantic  coast  was  throughout 
the  war  the  favorite  ground  for  blockade 
runners,  and  the  hardest  blockading  duty 
was  performed  in  that  quarter.  Rich  prizes 
were  sometimes  taken,  and  watchful  com 
manders  often  reaped  uncommon  rewards; 
but  with  it  all  there  was  a  monotonous 
watchfulness  that  wore  men  out,  and  many 
officers  after  the  war  fell  into  bad  health,  if 
they  did  not  altogether  succumb  to  the  in 
fluence  of  a  climate  which  in  winter  or 
summer  was  not  conducive  to  longevity. 


CH  AFTER     X. 

NAVAL    ENGAGEMENT    AT    SOUTH-WEST    PASS.— THE   GULF  BLOCKADING 

SQUADRON   IN   NOVEMBER,    1861. 


ATTEMPT 
THE 


TO  BLOCKADE  THE  PASSES  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. — ESCAPE  OF  THE  "&UMTER."- 
MAXASSAS"  RAMS  THE  '"RICHMOND." — THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  PASS. — ATTEMPT  TO 
DESTROY  THE  '•  VINCENNES." — FIXAL  RESULTS  OF  THE  EXGAGEMEXTS. — CAPTURE  OF  THE 
" ROYAL  YACHT"  IN  GALVESTOX  HARBOR  BY  LIEUT.  JAMES  E.  JOUETT. — ATTACK  ON 
FORT  McRAE  AND  FORT  PICKENS  BY  THE  "NIAGARA"  AND  "RICHMOND,"  NOVEMBER 
22,  1861. — CORRECT  ACCOUNT  OF  ATTEMPT  TO  RELIEVE  FORT  SUMTER,  APRIL  12,  1801, 
AND  OF  RELIEF  OF  FORT  PICKENS,  APRIL  17,  1861. — LIST  OF  SHIPS  AND  OFFICERS 
OF  WEST  GULF  BLOCKADING  SQUADRON,  1861. 


T  would  be  a  pleasant  task  to  be  able  to 
record  nothing  but  successes  and  have 
no  defeats  checked  against  us;  but 
that  could  not  very  well  be  unless  we 
_  admitted  that  our  enemy  was  deficient 
in  all  the  qualities  which  distinguish  the 
American  soldier  and  sailor,  and  that  we 
gained  our  victories  easily  because  we  had 
no  one  of  any  courage,  energy  or  ability  to 
contend  with. 

On  the  contrary,  we  had  all  these  to 
meet  us  at  every  step;  and  our  enemies, 
although  men  of  the  same  stamp  as  our 
selves,  had  their  energies  quickened  by  an 
amount  of  rancor  which  the  Federals  could 
never  be  made  to  feel,  as  they  were  fighting 
simply  to  preserve  the  Union,  while  the  Con 
federates  were  fighting  with  a  cherished  ob 
ject,  to  gain  something  new  and  beyond 
their  reach,  which  they  thought  would  con 
duce  to  their  happiness,  and  of  which  they 
thought  the  North  was  trying  to  deprive 
them. 

We  could  not  expect  impunity  from  losses 
and  defeats  upon  the  water  any  more  than 
the  soldiers  could  on  the  land;  for  though 
the  Confederates  had  nothing  like  the  re 
sources  of  the  North  in  naval  matters,  yet 
they  put  forth  so  much  more  energy  and 
converted  so  many  ordinary  vessels  into 
powerful  rams  and  gunboats,  that  they 
made  up  in  that  way  for  what  they  lacked 
originally. 


The  reader  must  not  therefore  be  sur 
prised  if  the  Union  Navy  was  now  and  then 
caught  tripping;  nor  must  they  take  it  for 
granted  that  every  officer  in  the  Navy  was 
a  perfect  man,  patterned  after  some  rare 
type,  who  never  made  mistakes  or  knew  de 
feat. 

In  so  great  a  field  of  operations  as  that 
through  which  our  Army  and  Navy  labored 
for  so  long  a  time,  it  would  be  strange  in 
deed  if  a  great  many  mistakes  were  not 
committed. 

New  Orleans  was  the  Queen  City  of  the 
South;  the  great  emporium  through  which 
the  Confederates  at  one  time  hoped  to  in 
flict  great  injury  upon  the  North  by  fitting 
out  vessels-of-war  or  privateers  to  prey  upon 
the  Northern  merchant  ships,  ana  by  con 
verting  the  factories  of  this  place  into  shops 
for  casting  guns  and  making  small  arms. 

The  Confederates  considered  that  it  would 
be  a  difficult  matter  for  the  Union  forces  to 
blockade  the  different  mouths  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  the  bayous  and  sounds,  and  flat- 
terea  themselves  that  New  Orleans  •would  be 
come  the  rendezvous  for  all  the  blockade 
runners  that  had  early  in  the  war  commenced 
to  swarm  upon  the  coast  like  bees  about  the 
honey  flowers.  But  they  were  disappointed 
in  their  expectations,  for  as  early  as  June, 
1861,  Commodore  McKean  sent  the  "  Pow- 
hatan,"  Lieut.  D.  D.  Porter,  to  close  up  the 
Southwest  Pass  of  the  Mississippi,  and  Com- 


(87) 


(88) 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


89 


mander  Charles  Poor,  in  the  "  Brooklyn,"  to 
blockade  Pass  a  1'Outre. 

It  was  through  the  latter  channel  that 
the  "  Sumter,"  Captain  Sennnes,  escaped 
to  sea,  while  the  '*  Brooklyn  "  was  off  in 
chase  of  a  strange  sail,  and  she  was  thus 
enabled  to  commence  her  career  of  havoc 
on  American  commerce. 

This  drew  the  attention  of  the  Navy  De 
partment  particularly  to  the  mouths  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  a  small  squadron  of  ves 
sels  (quite  inadequate  for  the  purpose)  was 
appointed  to  blockade  the  different  passes. 

The  river  Mississippi  divides  into  several 
channels  before  reaching  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  this  division  takes  place  at  a  point 
simply  known  as  "  the  head  of  the  passes," 
about  fifteen  miles  above  the  mouths  of  the 
river.  It  was  supposed  that  if  a  squadron 
could  occupy  this  point  it  would  be  able  to 
intercept  anything  going  up  or  down. 

It  was  not  until  the  l^th  of  October,  1SG1, 
that  this  squadron  reached  "the  head  of 
the  passes." 

It  was  composed  of  the  following  vessels: 
"Richmond,"' screw  steamer,  Capt  John 
Pope,  twenty-two  9  inch  guns;  "Vincen- 
nes,"  sloop-of-war,  ten  guns;  "Preble," 
sloop,  eleven  guns:  "Water  Witch,"  small 
screw  steamer,  four  guns. 

This  squadron,  mounting  in  all  forty- 
seven  guns,  seemed  to  be  quite  able  to  de 
fend  "  the  head  of  the  passes"  and  not  only 
prevent  anything  going  up  or  down,  but  to 
drive  off  any  force  the  Confederates  could 
collect  at  that  moment. 

But  the  Confederates  had  already  fitted 
out  a  ram  (the  "  Manassas"),  armed  with 
one  gun  in  the  bow,  covered  with  iron  and 
considered  of  sufficient  power  to  sink  a 
heavy  ship  wnth  one  of  her  blows. 

The  Commander  of  the  Union  squadron 
did  not  seem  to  be  aware  that  the  enemy 
had  a  vessel  of  this  kind  on  the  river,  or  if 
he  did,  he  attached  but  little  importance  to 
the  fact,  having  the  impression  that  she  was 
nothing  more  than  a  small  converted  tug. 

The  rule  that  a  man  should  never  despise 
his  enemy  was  never  more  thoroughly  illus 
trated  than  on  this  occasion. 

The  "Richmond"  was  coaling  from  a 
schooner  which  lay  alongside  of  her,  not 
keeping  any  particular  lookout,  her  crew 
being  employed  in  getting  the  coal  on  board. 
It  was  3:45  in  the  morning,  the  "Water 
Witch  "  was  not  in  the  advance,  keeping  a 
lookout,  and  the  ships  of  war  were  all  an 
chored  in  the  stream,  when  the  "  Rich 
mond  "  discovered  a  strange  craft  approach 
ing,  which  immediately  afterwards  struck 
her.  a  heavy  blow  abreast  the  port  fore- 
channels,  tearing  the  schooner  from  her 
fastenings,  crushing  in  three  planks  of  the 
ship's  side  and  making  a  small  hole  two  feet 
below  the  water  line. 


That  was  the  only  blow  the  ram  struck, 
for,  as  we  now  know,  she  was  somewhat 
disabled  by  the  shock,  and  she  moved  off 
slowly  up  the  river,  glad  to  get  away  so 
easily. 

This  vessel  proved  to  be  the  ram  "  Man 
assas."  at  that  time  one  of  the  improvised 
squadron  of  Commodore  Hollins,  late  of  the 
U.  S.  Navy. 

The  "Richmond's"  crew  flew  to  their 
quarters  as  soon  as  she  was  struck,  and,  as 
soon  as  they  could  they  fired  a  random 
broadside,  for  there  was  not  much  chance 
of  seeing  anything  in  the  darkness  which 
then  prevailed. 

The  ram.  it  is  reported,  remained  under 
the  quarter  of  the  "Richmond"  for  some 
time,  apparently  trying  to  give  another 
blow  (but  in  fact  partly  disabled),  and  then 
drifted  away. 


COMMODORE  J.  S.  HOLLINS,  C.  8.  N. 

Had  the  "  Richmond"  stood  up  the  river 
until  daylight  the  "Manassas  would  have 
fallen  into  her  power.  The  "  Preble  "  opened 
her  port  battery  on  the  ram  as  it  passed 
slowly  up  the  river,  but  without  any  effect. 

After  a  time  the  "  Richmond"  got  under 
way  and  went  a  short  distance  above  the 
passes,  but  Acting-Master  Wilcox  reported 
that  she  was  getting  too  close  to  the  star 
board  shore  (where  there  was  water  enough 
to  float  a  three-decker),  and  the  helm  was 
put  hard  a-starboard  (instead  of  proceeding 
on  up.  as  could  easily  have  been  done)  and 
the  vessel  sheared  off  into  the  stream  with 
her  broadside  bearing  up  the  river;  she  then 
drifted  down  with  the  current  until  she 
neared  the  "  head  of  the  passes,"  when  "in 
effectual  attempts  were  made  to  get  her 
head  up  stream"  (which  could  easily  have 
been  done  by  letting  go  an  anchor). 

The  vain  efforts  continued  until  the  steam- 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


ships  had  drifted  a  mile  and  a  half  down 
the  Southwest  Pass,  when  they  were  discon 
tinued,  the  helm  put  up,  and  the  vessel 
headed  towards  Pilottown,  where  her  com 
mander  thought  he  would  be  able  to  turn 
round  ! 

When  she  arrived  at  Pilottown  she  still 
drifted  on,  and  strange  to  say,  she  drifted 
toward  the  exit  from  the  river.  All  this  time 
the  other  vessels  were  doing  all  they  could 
to  drift  after  the  ''Richmond!"  In  other 
words,  having  been  sent  to  the  passes  to  de 
fend  them,  on  the  first  appearance  of  an 
enemy  they  deserted  their  posts  and  made 
a  most  shameful  retreat — a  retreat  from  a 
few  river  boats  that  a  broadside  of  either 
ship  would  have  sent  to  the  bottom  in  five 
minutes.  In  fact,  it  was  a  perfect  stampede 
if  there  ever  was  one,  and  there  seems  to 
have  been  a  desire  to  get  into  deep  water, 
which  was  entirely  unwarranted  by  the  cir 
cumstances. 

The  "  Richmond  "  and  "  Vincennes  "  both 
drifted  broadside  on  until  near  the  bar,  when 
they  grounded  in  that  position  (the  most 
favorable  one  to  receive  an  attack  from  the 
enemy.) 

The  day  before  Captain  Pope  had  mounted 
on  the  "Richmond's"  forecastle  one  of 
his  9-inch  guns,  in  order  to  be  ready  for  any 
emergency,  and  it  served  him  a  good  turn 
when  the  time  came  for  using  it. 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  saw  that  the  two 
ships  had  grounded  near  the  bar,  they  came 
down  below  Pilottown  and  opened  fire  on 
them  with  some  light  Whitworth  guns  of 
good  range,  which  could  reach  the  Federal 
ships  while  the  heaviest  guns  on  the  Rich 
mond  could  not  reach  them. 

The  enemy  kept  up  this  fire  for  about  two 
hours  without  doing  any  particular  damage, 
the  bolts  from  their  rifles  being  quite  small. 
One  of  them  lodged  in  a  drawer  of  the  bureau 
containing  Captain  Pope's  clothes,  and  there 
seemed  to  have  spent  itself,  without  doing 
any  harm  whatever. 

There  .is  no  account  of  any  injury  being 
inflicted  on  the  vessels,  or  of  any  one  being 
killed  or  wounded.  It  was  very  much  like 
the  celebrated  "battle  of  the  kegs  "  which 
once  set  a  whole  fleet  in  motion. 

While  the  firing  was  going  on,  the  enemy's 
shot  flying  over  and  the  shot  from  our  ships 
falling  short,  it  was  reported  to  Captain 
Pope  that  several  boats  filled  with  men  were 
leaving  the  "Vincennes." 

Some  went  on  board  the  steamer  "  Water 
Witch."  others  went  to  the  "  Richmond," 
and  Captain  Handy  (the  Commander 
of  the  "Vincennes"),  in  company  with 
several  of  the  officers,  presented  himself  on 
the  quarter-deck  before  Captain  Pope,  with 
the  American  flag  wrapped  around  his 
waist  in  large  folds  [!],  and  on  being  asked 
the  object  of  his  coming  in  that  guise,  stated 


that  he  had  abandoned  his  ship  in  obedience 
to  signal,  and  on  being  informed  that  no 
such  signal  had  been  made,  he  insisted  that 
Captain  Winslow  of  the  "  W^ater  Witch" 
had  so  read  it. 

When  Captain  Winslow  was  asked  re 
garding  the  matter,  he  said  that  he  saw  no 
such  signal.  It  was,  in  fact,  simply  the 
power  of  imagination  acting  on  Capt. 
Handy's  nerves. 

He  did  send  to  Capt.  Winslow  asking  if 
that  was  not  the  meaning  of  a  signal  that 
was  made  by  the  flagship,  but  the  answer 
he  received  was  "No;  it  is  impossible  that 
any  such  signal  can  have  been  made.  Get 
your  guns  out  of  your  stern  ports  and  defend 
your  ship." 

It  appears  that  on  leaving  his  ship  Capt. 
Handy  determined  that  nothing  of  her 
should  fall  into  the  hands  of  Commodore 
Hollins.  and  he  therefore  ordered  that  a  slow 
match  should  be  placed  near  the  magazine, 
and  a  train  of  powder  laid,  so  that  by  the 
time  he  reached  the  "  Richmond  "  the  old 
"Vincennes,"  that  had  performed  many  a 
useful  cruise,  should  go  up  in  a  blaze  of 
glory.  He  never  reflected  that  his  small 
32-pounders  might  be  whisked  about  in  the 
air  and  fall  upon  the  decks  of  the  stranded 
"Richmond." 

Capt.  Handy's  reception  on  board  the 
flagship  by  Capt.  Pope  was  not  a  flattering 
one.  He  was  immediately  ordered  back  to 
his  vessel  when  it  was  seen  that  she  did  not 
blow  up,  and  the  quarter-gunner  who  had 
been  directed  to  light  the  match  informed 
them  that  he  had  cut  the  lighted  part  off 
and  thrown  it  overboard. 

In  the  meantime  the  steamer  "McClel- 
lan  "  came  in  with  stores  for  the  squadron 
and  some  rifled-guns  of  large  calibre,  and 
this  put  the  Commander  of  the  squadron  at 
his  ease.  He  could  now  drive  the  Hollins 
flotilla  off  if  it  should  reappear. 

The  "  McClellan  "  was  then  set  to  work 
to  get  the  grounded  vessels  afloat,  which 
she  finally  succeeded  in  doing,  and  they 
crossed  the  bar  and  anchored  safely  in  deep 
water. 

Capt.  Pope  in  his  report  of  this  unhappy 
affair  says:  "My  retreat  down  the  pass, 
though  painful  to  me.  was  to  save  the  ships 
and  prevent  them  from  being  sunk  and  fall 
ing  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  [!]  as  it  is 
evident  to  me  that  they  had  us  in  their 
power  by  means  of  the  ram  and  fire-rafts. 
If  I  have  erred  in  all  this  matter  it  is  an 
error  of  judgment.  The  whole  affair  came 
upon  me  so  suddenly  that  there  was  no 
time  left  me  for  reflection,  but  called  for 
immediate  action  and  decision.  The  ram 
having  made  her  appearance  next  day  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  [!]  the  impression  is 
she  sustained  no  injury  from  our  shot,  only 
waiting  an  opportunity  to  destroy  our  ships. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


91 


"  It  having  been  rumored  that  there  was  a 
panic  on  board  this  ship  at  the  time  she  was 
engaged  with  the  enemy,  I  state  it  to  be 
false.  Both  officers  and  men  maintained 
their  coolness  and  determination  to  do  their 
duty.  My  orders  and  those  of  the  officers 
were  carried  out  with  as  much  coolness  as 
if  it  had  been  an  every -day  affair,  and  their 
whole  conduct  merits  high  commendation. 

"They  would  be  gratified  to  prove  their 
bravery  by  being  permitted  to  take  part  in 
the  contemplated  attack  on  Pensacola,  as 
requested  in  notes  from  me  to  you  on  the 
subject. 

"In  both  engagements  with  the  enemy  the 
fire  appeared  to  be  directed  to  the  destruc 
tion  of  this  ship,  most  of  the  shot  being  ap 
parently  directed  to  the  quarter  of  this  ves 
sel,  presumed  for  the  purpose  of  disabling 
our  rudder  and  propeller.'' 

This  relation  would  not  be  complete  if 
Capt.  Handy  had  not  had  the  opportunity  to 
place  himself  on  record,  on  the  eve  of  his 
ship  getting  aground,  as  follows  : 

"SiR  :  We  are  aground.  We  have  only  two  guns 
that  will  bear  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy. 

"Shall  I  remain  on  board  after  the  moon  goes 
down  with  my  crippled  ship  and  nearly  worn-out 
men  ? 

"Will  you  send  me  word  what  countersign  my 
boats  shall  use  if  we  pass  near  your  ship  ? 

"  While  we  have  moonlight  would  it  not  be  bet 
ter  to  leave  the  ship  ?  Shall  I  burn  her  when  I 
leave  her  ? 

"Respectfully, 

"ROBERT  HANDY." 

Capt.  Pope  seemed  quite  aware  of  the 
ludicrousness  of  this  proposition,  and  wrote 
Handy  as  follows: 

"U.  8.  Str.  'RICHMOND,'  / 

"  SOUTH  WEST  PASS.      \ 

"October  12,  1861. 

"SIR  :  You  say  your  ship  is  aground.  It  will  be 
your  duty  to  defend  your  ship  up  to  the  last  mo 
ment,  and  not  to  fire  her  unless  it  be  to  prevent 
her  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

"I  do  not  think  the  enemy  will  be  down  to-night, 
but  if  they  do  come,  fight  them  to  the  last. 

"You  have  boats  enough  to  save  all  your  men.  I 
do  not  approve  of  your  leaving  your  ship  until 
every  effort  is  made  to  defend  her  from  falling  into 
their  hands.  Respectfully,  etc., 

"JOHN  POPE, 
"  Captain,  U.  S.  N. 
"COM.  ROBERT  HANDY,  U.  S.  N., 
"Commanding  '  Yincennes.'" 

There  is  not  much  more  to  tell  of  this 
painful  business — it  would  have  been  better 
to  have  left  out  the  telling  of  it,  but  history 
<>annot  be  written  fairly  if  that  alone  is  told 
which  is  creditable,  and  if  that  which 
smacks  of  the  disgraceful  is  omitted. 

There  is  no  excuse  for  anything  that  hap 
pened  in  this  squadron,  and  the  mistakes 
made  were  not  redeemed  by  any  after-acts 
of  gallantry. 

To  say  that  this  stampede  happened  be 


cause  these  ships  were  taken  by  surprise, 
and  because  the  most  extravagant  reports 
had  been  spread  by  Hollins  about  the  force 
he  had  in  rams  and  fire-rafts,  was  all  folly. 

Suppose  the  rebels  had  invented  the  most 
destructive  methods,  which  lively  imagina 
tions  had  invested  with  supernatural  power, 
there  was  no  reason  why  47  heavy  guns 
and  700  men  should  run  away  from  such 
goblins. 

A  badly-constructed  ram  ran  her  snout 
into  the  "  Richmond"  and  ripped  off  three 
pieces  of  her  planking  ;  there  were  no  fire- 
rafts,  and  Hollins'  squadron  was  all  a  sham. 
His  gunboats  were  nothing  more  than  frail 
river  craft  with  small  rifled  guns — like  those 
which  Bailey's  division  sent  to  the  bottom 
after  a  fifteen  minutes'  engagement  at  the 
battle  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip. 

Put  this  matter  in  any  light  you  may,  it 
is  the  most  ridiculous  affair  that  ever  took 
place  in  the  American  Navy.  There  is  no 
instance  during  the  war  like  it.  To  think 
that  we  should  have  to  write  of  such  a  re 
treat  is  mortifying,  but  it  stands  on  record, 
described  in  language  that  almost  claims 
merit  for  the  flight  of  the  "Richmond" 
and  her  consorts,  chased  by  a  ram  that  was 
going  in  an  opposite  direction  as  fast  as 
her  disabled  machinery  would  take  her,— 
her  officers  thanking  their  stars  that  they 
got  away  so  easily  ! 

There  is  nothing  that  can  equal  the  com 
icality  of  Capt.  Handy's  performance — lay 
ing  a  train  with  a  slow  match  to  his  maga 
zine,  and  then  hastening  away  in  his  boats 
with  the  American  flag  wound  around  him, 
and  his  remarkable  antics  when  he  found 
that  his  ship  would  not  blow  up.  This  pre 
sents  an  example  unmatched  in  any  navy 
in  the  world. 

After  the  ships  had  safely  passed  the  bar, 
it  was  a  subject  of  great  congratulation  to 
them  that  they  were  out  of  reach  of  Hollins, 
his  rams  and  his  fire-rafts;  the  very  ene 
mies  they  had  been  sent  into  the  river  to 
subdue. 

New  Orleans  was  illuminated  on  this  oc 
casion,  and  Hollins  was  feted  as  if  he  had 
won  a  great  victory. 

Perhaps  this  fiasco  had  a  good  effect  by 
causing  the  Confederates  to  underrate  the 
Northern  Navy;  if  so,  they  dearly  paid  for 
it.  for  only  a  few  months  afterwards  all 
their  rams,  ironclads,  fire-rafts,  and  gun 
boats  were  swept  away  by  a  squadron 
bravely  commanded,  notwithstanding  the 
heavy  forts  prepared  with  every  skill  for 
the  enemy's  protection,  and  with  all  the  de 
vices  human  ingenuity  could  conceive  of. 

Such  events  as  we  have  related  are  not 
without  their  benefit  in  time  of  war.  They 
make  officers  more  careful  in  their  plans, 
and  teach  them  that  good  commanders  and 
brave  men  should  never  be  taken  by  sur- 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


prise;  they  also  warn  a  government  to  be 
careful  whom  it  places  in  command  of 
its  ships  at  a  time  when  it  is  required  that 
only  the  bravest  and  best  should  be  se 
lected  for  all  occasions  where  success  is  de 
manded  or  where  the  honor  of  the  flag  is 
at  stake. 

A  small  detachment  of  vessels,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Henry  Eagle,  was  at 
this  time  blockading  the  coast  of  Texas. 
His  particular  command  was  the  frigate 
"  Santee."  She  was  not  a  suitable  vessel 
for  this  purpose  (being  a  sailing  ship),  and 
her  crew  of  500  men  might  have  performed 
more  effective  service  by  being  divided  up 
amongst  five  or  six  small  steamers,  armed 
with  howitzers. 

A  good  deal  of  force  was  expended  in 
this  way  during  the  war,  which  might  have 
been  exerted  to  better  purpose;  but  the  ob 
ject  of  the  Navy  Department  was  to  have 
a  large  number  of  guns  afloat  in  view  of 
European  complications,  and  these  large 
sailing  ships,  though  perfectly  useless  for 
blockading  purposes,  carried  a  large  num 
ber  of  men  who  could  at  times  be  used  with 
good  effect  in  landing  on  the  enemy's  coast. 

Among  the  privateers  which  the  Confed 
erates  were  fitting  out  was  one  called  the 
"Royal  Yacht,"  which  was  being  prepared 
in  Galveston  harbor  to  be  let  loose  on  the 
Federal  commerce.  This  fact  was  known 
to  Captain  Eagle,  and  he  made  prepara 
tions  to  destroy  her  before  she  could  get  to 
sea. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1861,  an  expedi 
tion  was  fitted  out  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  James  E.  Jouett, 
with  Lieutenant  John  J.  Mitchell,  Gunner 
William  Carter  and  Master's  Mate  Chas. 
W.  Adams  in  the  first  and  second  launches, 
each  carrying  a  howitzer  and  a  picked  crew 
of  men. 

At  11:40  P.  M.  the  two  boats  entered  the 
harbor  unperceived,  intending,  if  they 
could  pass  the  armed  schooner  guarding 
the  entrance  and  the  Bolivar  and  Point 
forts,  to  try  to  surprise  and  burn  the  man- 
of-war  steamer  '*  General  Rusk,"  lying  un 
der  Pelican  Island  fort. 

The  boats  succeeded  in  passing  the 
schooner  and  two  forts,  but  in  attempting 
to  avoid  the  sentinels  on  Pelican  fort  they 
grounded  on  Pelican  Spit  and  were  discov 
ered  by  the  enemy.  It  was  then  too  late  to 
attempt  the  capture  of  the  "  General  Rusk" 
(a  heavily  armed  vessel)  as  the  alarm  was 
given  at  once,  therefore  that  part  of  the 
expedition  was  abandoned. 

The  boats  then  turned  about  and  pulled 
for  the  schooner  "  Royal  Yacht,"  which  they 
boarded  and  carried  after  a  short  but  sharp 
conflict.  By  this  time  the  people  in  the 
forts  were  aroused  and  opened  fire  in  the 
direction  of  the  boarding  party.  Lieut. 


Jouett  proceeded  to  secure  his  prisoners,  13 
in  number,  and  leave  the  vessel ;  before 
doing  which,  he  spiked  the  only  gun  the 
schooner  carried  and  set  fire  to  her,  as  she 
had  a  shot  through  her  at  the  water  line, 
and  the  pilot  on  whom  Jouett  had  depended 
to  take  the  vessel  out  was  shot  down. 

Lieutenant  Jouett  himself  was  severely 
wounded  by  a  boarding  pike  in  the  hands  of 
an  enemy;  Mr.  William  Carter,  gunner,  was 
wounded,  one  man  killed  of  the  boat's  crew 
and  six  wounded,  one  of  whom  afterwards 
died. 


KEAR-ADMIKAL    JAMES    E.    JOUETT, 

(FROM  A   PHOTOGRAPH   TAKEN    IN    1885.) 

This  was  a  gallant  and  well-executed  af 
fair,  and  no  doubt  the  ''General  Rusk" 
would  have  been  captured  but  for  the  dis 
covery  of  the  boats.  A  boarding  party 
against  an  enemy  well  armed  and  prepared 
for  such  an  event  is  always  a  dangerous 
affair.  The  odds  are  always  in  favor  of 
those  on  board  the  vessel,  but  in  this  case 
the  schooner  was  carried  by  one  boat  only, 
because  the  other  one  did  not  get  alongside 
in  time  to  be  of  much  assistance. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


Captain  McKean,  who  commanded  the 
Gulf  blockading  squadron,  issued  a  public 
order,  thanking  Lieut.  Jouett  and  his  offi 
cers  and  men  for  their  gallantry  and  cool 
ness  on  this  occasion,  with  a  hope  that 
"  their  names  might  be  enrolled  by  a  grate 
ful  country  with  those  which  in  former 
years  shed  so  much  lustre  on  the  American 
flag." 

On  November  22d,  1861,  Commodore  Mc 
Kean.  after  consultation  with  General  Har 
vey  Brown  at  Fort  Pickens,  determined  to 
make  an  attack  on  Fort  McRae  and  its  de 
fences  with  the  "Niagara"  and  "Rich 
mond,"  while  Fort  Pickens  was  to  open  on 
the  Confederate  batteries  with  its  guns. 

It  was  time  something "  should  be  at 
tempted  in  this  quarter,  for  from  April  16th 
up  to  this  time  (Nov.  22d)  nothing  had  been 


fathoms  and  the  "Richmond"  in  20  feet 
of  water,  Fort  McRae  bearing  from  the 
"Niagara"  north,  distant  two  miles. 

The  vessels  opened  fire,  but  finding  that 
the  "  Niagara's  "  shells  fell  short,  boats  were 
sent  out  and  a  buoy  placed  in  23  feet  of 
water  near  the  edge  of  the  shoal — distant 
one  and  three-quarters  miles  from  the  fort. 
Here  the  "  Niagara  "  finally  anchored  and 
again  opened  fire,  "this time  with  marked 
effect,  many  of  her  shells  falling  into  the 
sand  battery  and  others  passing  through  the 
wall  of  the  fort  [  ?] .  The  barbette  guns  were 
silenced  immediately  after  the  firing  began, 
and  the  casemates  visibly  slackened  until 
5  P.  M.,  when  it  ceased  entirely."  The  ves 
sels  fired  no  more  after  sundown,  but  again 
attacked  the  fort  in  the  morning,  as  did  also 
Fort  Pickens. 


CAPTURE  OF   THE  PRIVATEER  "ROYAL  YACHT"  BY  A  VOLUNTEER  CREW  FROM  THE  FRIGATE  "SANTEE,"  UNDER  COMMAND 

OF  LIEUT.  JAMES  E.  JOUETT. 


done  to  show  that  there  was  any  hostile 
feeling  between  the  Federal  and  Confeder 
ate  forces  at  Pensacola. 

Both  the  "Niagara"  and  "'Richmond" 
were  vessels  of  heavy  draft ;  the  former 
could  not  enter  the  harbor,  and  the  latter, 
to  co-operate  with  her.  would  have  to  lie 
a  long  way  outside  of  the  fort  and  earth 
works.  The  "  Niagara  "  was  lightened  as 
much  as  possible  and  her  draught  reduced 
to  21  feet. 

During  the  night  of  the  21st,  a  position 
had  been  selected  and  a  buoy  placed  to 
mark  the  spot  where  the  ships  were  to 
anchor.  On  the  following  morning  at  10 
o'clock,  Fort  Pickens  fired  the  signal  gun 
and  the  "Niagara"  stood  in,  followed  by 
the  "Richmond  "  (Captain  F.  B.  Ellison); 
both  ships  came  to  an  anchor  with  springs 
on  their  cables,  the  "Niagara"  in  four 


It  was  thought  by  those  on  board  the 
ships  that  Fort  McRae  and  its  defenses 
were  considerably  damaged  by  the  bom 
bardment,  but  that  remains  doubtful. 
There  was  no  return  of  the  fire  from  the 
ships  during  the  second  day  of  the  attack, 
as  the  Confederates  saw  that  the  naval 
commanders  had  no  intention  of  entering 
the  harbor,  and  that  they  were  unnecessarily 
exposing  themselves  to  the  fire  of  Fort 
Pickens.  So  they  withdrew  from  their 
works  and  let  the  fort  and  ships  expend 
their  ammunition  at  their  own  pleasure. 
(There  was  a  cross-fire  from  the  snips  and 
Fort  Pickens  on  the  enemy's  sand  works 
which  it  was  not  possible  to  withstand.) 

The  "Richmond,"  owing  to  her  lighter 
draught  of  water,  was  able  to  take  a  posi 
tion  closer  to  the  northern  shore  than  the 
"Niagara,"  and  so  far  in  the  rear  of  both 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


fort  and  battery  that  their  guns  could  not 
be  brought  to  bear  upon  her.  For  several 
hours  she  escaped  being  struck,  but  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  second  day  "  a  masked 
battery  among  the  sand  hills  on  the  main 
land  back  of  the  lagoon  opened  fire  upon 
her."  Finding  that  the  enemy  were  getting 
her  range  and  fearing  thai  she  would  be 
struck,  she  changed  her  position,  and  fin 
ally,  as  her  shells  were  falling  short,  she  was 
signalled  to  retire  out  of  the  line  of  fire.  It 
was  thought  that  the  guns  in  the  masked 
battery  were  rifled  and  of  very  heavy  cali 
bre  [?]  as  their  projectiles  were  thrown  be 
yond  the  "  Richmond." 

At  the  end  of  the  first  day's  bombard 
ment  the  ships  retired,  uninjured.  On  the 
second  day  they  took  up  about  the  same 
positions,  but  their  shells  failed  to  reach  the 
forts,  while  the  Commander  says,  "the 
enemy's  shells  fell  thick  about  us,  some 
passing  over  the  ships,  and  far  beyond 
them."  '"'  Therefore,"  says  the  Flag  Officer, 
"  I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  withdraw  the  ship, 
as  to  have  retained  our  position  would  have 
been  to  expose  both  her  and  the  crew  to  se 
rious  injury  with  no  possible  advantage. 
Our  not  being  able  to  get  within  range  was 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  northerly  wind 
had  lowered  the  water  and  was  directly  in 
face  of  our  fire." 

In  this  bombardment  of  two  days  two 
shot  struck  the  "Niagara,"  one  abaft  the 
fore  chains,  lodging  in  the  woodwork,  the 
other  near  the  mizzen  chains,  also  lodging 
in  the  woodwork,  the  injuries  being  trifling. 
The  "  Richmond  "  was  also  struck  twice.  A 
shot  struck  the  rail  and  hammock  nettings 
forward,  another  (a  shell)  exploded  four 
feet  under  water,  '*  breaking  and  pressing 
inboard  several  of  her  planks  and  causing 
a  serious  leak."  The  loss  during  this  en 
gagement  was  one  man  killed  and  seven 
slightly  wounded  by  splinters. 

Our  object  in  mentioning  this  affair  is  not 
for  the  purpose  of  claiming  any  brilliant 
victory  for  the  Navy,  but  to  show  the  fu 
tility  of  ships  engaging  forts  (especially 
sand  forts)  at  such  long  ranges  that  their 
shell  will  not  reach,  and  where  they  burst 
five  seconds  before  the  proper  time  !  Nor 
is  the  bombardment  mentioned  as  a  naval 
exploit  of  any  great  importance,  for  there 
were  no  results  from  it  which  could  benefit 
the  Government  in  any  way,  beyond  show 
ing  the  enemy  that  they  would  not  be  al 
lowed  to  rest  quietly  while  they  were  build 
ing  their  sand  forts  and  preparing  to  make 
Pensacola  Harbor  impregnable  against 
Fort  Pickens  and  the  Union  fleet. 

Had  this  action  on  the  part  of  Flag  Offi 
cer  McKean  and  General  Harvey  Brown 
been  concerted  earlier  in  the  year  "it  might 
have  had  the  good  effect  of  driving  the  Con 
federates  out  of  their  works  some  time 


sooner;  but  from  April  17,  1861,  when  Fort 
Pickens  was  reinforced  with  men  and  guns 
and  made  strong  enough  to  resist  any  at 
tack  from  the  Pensacola  side,  up  to  Novem 
ber  22d  of  the  same  year,  not  a  movement 
had  been  made  by  our  Army  or  Navy  to 
check  the  work  of  the  Confederates  in  build 
ing  earthworks  and  mounting  guns. 

It  is  more  than  possible  that  this  work 
could  have  been  arrested  if  proper  steps  had 
been  taken  in  the  first  place  to  send  in  a 
strong  naval  force  well  backed  by  the 
Army.  The  Confederates  would  have  evac 
uated  Pensacola  a  month  after  troops  had 
been  sent  to  its  relief,  on  April  17th.  1801. 

There  does  not  seem  to  have  been  any 
particular  object  in  the  bombardment  of 
Fort  McRae,  beyond  at  the  same  time  de 
stroying  the  navy  yard  and  its  contents, 
which,  it  is  true,  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
Confederates;  but  the  latter  did  not  seem 
at  all  disposed  to  injure  anything,  and  why 
our  own  forces  should  want  to  destroy 
what  the  enemy  were  taking  care  of  can 
not  be  understood. 

There  was  nothing  in  the  yard  but  ma 
chinery  which  the  enemy  could  not  use, 
and  guns  which  they  had  already  mounted 
and  which  could  not  have  been  of  a  very 
dangerous  character,  as  our  ships  were 
only  struck  twice  each  in  a  two  days'  bom 
bardment. 

The  history  of  the  manner  in  which  Pen 
sacola  was  held  by  the  Confederates  from 
April  1st,  1861  to  May  9th,  1862,  offers  one 
of  the  most  curious  commentaries  on  the 
conduct  of  the  war  in  this  quarter.  It  had 
the  best  harbor  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  be 
longing  to  the  United  States.  It  had  a  good 
navy  yard,  with  the  ordinary  facilities  for 
fitting  out  and  repairing  ships,  and  water 
enough  on  the  bar  to  admit  of  the  passage 
of  all  but  five  or  six  of  the  heaviest  ships  of 
the  Navy.  It  was  just  the  point  wanted  by 
our  naval  commanders  from  which  to  carry 
on  operations  against  New  Orleans  and  the 
coast  of  Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  from 
which  to  intercept  blockade  runners  bound 
for  Southern  ports  from  Havana  and  Nas 
sau. 

Before  even  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  on 
President  Lincoln  saw  the  importance  of 
our  holding  Fort  Pickens,  and  at  the  same 
time  that  Secretary  "Welles  sent  his  expedi 
tion  to  reinforce  Sumter,  the  President  and 
Secretary  Seward  sent  one  to  reinforce  Fort 
Pickens  and  prevent  it  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  insurgents. 

This  is  an  important  part  of  the  history 
of  the  war,  and  as  it  had  an  important  bear 
ing  on  naval  matters  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  exhibited  a  great  want  of  decision  or 
f orgetfulness  on  the  part  of  those  who  were 
charged  with  the  duty  of  recovering  the 
Government  property,  it  may  not  be  unin- 


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96 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


teresting  to  restate  some  events  connected 
with  this  place  during  the  time  of  its  occu 
pation  by  the  Confederates. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  difficulties  be 
tween  the  North  and  South,  and  before  the 
Confederates  had  taken  the  bold  step  of 
firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  and  when  the  Gov 
ernment  was  anxious  to  ascertain  the  true 
condition  of  affairs  at  Charleston,  Mr.  G. 
V.  Fox,  formerly  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Navy 
and  later  the  Assistant  Secretary,  offered 
his  services  to  go  to  Charleston,  communi 
cate  with  Colonel  Anderson,  and  return 
with  the  required  information. 

The  late  administration  of  Mr.  Buchanan, 
with  a  policy  as  feeble  as  it  was  unwise,  had 
done  nothing  towards  asserting  the  author 
ity  of  the  government  over  Fort  Sumter,  nor 
taken  any  energetic  steps  for  its  relief,  even 
when  it  became  known  that  the  insurgents 
were  waiting  only  for  an  opportunity  to 
seize  upon  it,  and  turn  its  guns  against  any 
force  which  the  National  Government 
might  send  against  Charleston. 

The  commander  at  Sumter,  if  he  was  not 
ordered  to  remain  supine  under  all  provoca 
tions,  was  at  least  given  to  understand  that 
it  would  not  be  agreeable  to  the  adminis 
tration  if  he  should  attempt  to  prevent  the 
Southerners  from  erecting  such  earthworks 
as  they  might  think  proper  within  reason 
able  bounds  :  but  that  he  might  hold  on  to 
the  government  property  in  Fort  Sumter  as 
long  as  he  could  do  so  without  precipitating 
hostilities.  That  was  the  spirit  of  the  un 
derstanding  between  Major  Anderson  and 
the  Government,  if  not  the  actual  one. 

Though  it  was  known  to  the  late  adminis 
tration  that  the  insurrectionists  in  Charles 
ton  were  openly  constructing  strong  earth 
works  opposite  Sumter,  avowedly  with  the 
intention  of  forcing  its  surrender,  yet  no 
steps  were  taken  to  relieve  Major  Anderson 
by  sending  reinforcements  or  supplies;  nor 
did  they  protest  against  the  action  of  the 
Southern  forces  who  were  making  every 
preparation  to  attack  him. 

The  Southern  leaders  had  been  prepared 
for  the  contingency  of  secession  before  Mr. 
Buchanan  gave  up  the  reins  of  office.  All 
their  plans  were  well  matured  and  all  pre 
cautions  taken  to  insure  their  success. 
Thus,  when  President  Lincoln  came  into 
office  he  found  himself  face  to  face  with  the 
most  perplexing  state  of  affairs  that  ever 
beset  a  statesman.  The  little  garrison  at 
Sumter  was  surrounded  by  guns,  and  the 
indignant  people  of  the  North  were  de 
manding  that  it  should  be  relieved  at  all 
hazards. 

The  steamer  "  Star-of -the- West,"  under 
Captain  McGowan,  of  the  Revenue  Marine, 
was  chartered  during  President  Buchanan's 
administration,  and  ordered  to  carry  pro 
visions  to  the  beleaguered  fort;  but  o 


ing  the  harbor  and  getting  within  range  of 
the  guns  on  Morris  Island,  she  was  fired 
upon,  and  finding  that  he  would  be  sunk  if 
he  persevered  in  going  on,  Captain  Mc 
Gowan  turned  his  vessel  about  and  left  the 
harbor. 

Mr.  Fox  presented  certain  plans  for  the 
relief  of  Sumter  to  the  Buchanan  adminis 
tration,  but  for  various  reasons  they  were 
not  accepted,  although  at  first  deemed  feas 
ible,  even  by  General  Scott.  But  on  the 
next  day  (Febuary  5th,  18G1)  news  was  re 
ceived  of  the  election  of  Jefferson  Davis 
to  the  Presidency  of  the  Southern  Con 
federacy,  and  then  General  Scott  intimated 
to  Mr.  Fox  that  probably  no  efforts  would 
be  made  to  relieve  Fort  Sumter. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  Mr.  Fox  re 
ceived  a  telegram  from  Postmaster-Gen 
eral  Montgomery  Blair  to  proceed  to  Wash 
ington;  and  when  he  arrived  there  he  was 
induced  by  this  gentleman  to  lay  the  same 
plans  before  President  Lincoln  that  had 
been  offered  to  President  Buchanan,  Mr. 
Blair  informing  Mr.  Fox  at  the  same  time 
that  General  Scott  had  advised  the  Presi 
dent  that  Fort  Sumter  could  not  be  relieved 
and  would  have  to  be  given  up.  Having 
been  introduced  to  the  President  by  Mr. 
Blair,  Fox  unfolded  his  plans  and  was  di 
rected  to  call  upon  General  Scott  and  dis 
cuss  the  matter  with  him. 

The  General  did  not  approve  Mr.  Fox's 
plans,  and  informed  Mr.  Lincoln  that  it 
might  have  been  practicable  in  February, 
but  owing  to  the  increased  number  of  Con 
federate  forts  and  guns  it  was  not  possible 
then. 

These  difficulties  in  carrying  out  his  plans 
for  the  relief  of  Sumter,  induced  Mr.  Fox 
to  go  in  person  to  Charleston  to  see  if  he 
could  not  ascertain  by  the  visit  something 
that  would  strengthen  his  argument.  He 
also  wished  if  possible  to  visit  Major  An 
derson. 

In  consequence,  with  the  consent  of  the 
President,  Secretary  of  War  and  General 
Scott,  he  proceeded  by  way  of  Richmond 
and  Wilmington  to  Charleston  and  arrived 
there  on  the  25th  of  March.  At  that  time 
there  was  a  general  feeling  in  Charleston 
and  thereabout  that  the  Government  had 
concluded  to  give  up  Fort  Sumter  without 
an  attempt  to  retain  it. 

On  Mr.  Fox's  arrival  in  Charleston  he 
sought  an  interview  with  Lieut.  Hartstene, 
formerly  of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  and  stated  to 
him  his  desire  to  visit  Major  Anderson,  and 
Hartstene  in  consequence  introduced  him 
to  Governor  Pickens,  to  whom  he  showed 
the  orders  under  which  he  acted. 

Governor  Pickens  directed  Lieut.  Hart 
stene  to  take  Mr.  Fox  to  Fort  Sumter, 
where  they  arrived  after  dark  and  remained 
two  hours. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


97 


Major  Anderson  seemed  to  think  it  was 
too  late  then  to  undertake  to  relieve  Sum- 
ter  by  any  other  means  than  by  landing  an 
army  on  Morris  Island.  He  thought  an 
entrance  from  the  sea  impracticable,  but 
while  discussing  the  matter  on  the  parapet 
Mr.  Fox  heard  the  sound  of  oars,  and 
though  the  boat  was  very  near  she  could 
not  be  seen  through  the  haze  and  darkness 
of  the  night  until  she  had  actually  reached 
the  landing.  This  gave  Mr.  Fox  the  idea 
of  supplying  the  fort  by  means  of  boats. 
He  found  the  garrison  very  short  of  sup 
plies,  and  it  was  decided  by  him  and  Major 
Anderson  that  he  could  report  to  the  gov 
ernment  that  the  fort  could  not  hold  out 
after  the  loth  of  April  unless  supplies  were 
furnished. 

Mr.  Fox  made  no  arrangements  with 
Major  Anderson  for  reinforcing  or  supply 
ing  the  fort,  and  very  wisely  did  not  inform 
him  of  his  plans.  On  his  return  to-  Wash 
ington  he  was  frequently  called  before  the 
Cabinet  to  discuss  his  propositions  and  an 
swer  the  objections  of  General  Scott  and 
other  military  authorities. 

His  plan  was  a  naval  one  altogether,  and 
he  intended  that  it  should  be  carried  out  by 
naval  officers.  It  was  simply  running  past 
batteries  over  1,300  yards  distant,  at  right 
angles  with  the  enemy's  fire,  and  there 
were  many  examples  where  such  things  had 
been  done  in  perfect  safety.  Steamships 
had  even  been  known  to  pass  within  100 
yards  of  a  fort  on  a  dark  night  without 
being  seen. 

The  President  inquired  if  there  was  at 
that  time  any  officer  of  high  rank  in  Wash 
ington  who  would  sustain  Mr.  Fox  in  his 
project,  directing  that  if  one  could  be  found 
he  should  be  brought  to  the  executive  man 
sion. 

Mr.  Fox  took  Commodore  Stringham  to 
the  President,  who  that  morning  had  held 
a  long  conference  with  Commodore  Stewart, 
and  both  declared  that  Sumter  could  be  re 
lieved  on  the  plan  Mr.  Fox  proposed. 

On  the  10th  of  March  the  President  sent 
Mr.  Fox  to  New  York  to  make  inquiries 
about  obtaining  vessels  for  the  voyage,  and 
he  there  consulted  Messrs.  George  W. 
Blunt,  Wm.  H.  Aspinwall  and  Charles  H. 
Maxwell  with  regard  to  the  necessary  prep 
arations.  There  were  many  delays  in  get 
ting  off  the  expedition,  caused  principally 
by  everybody's  desire  to  avoid  a  war.  As 
late  as  the  4th  of  April  the  President  in 
formed  Mr.  Fox  that  he  would  allow  the 
expedition  to  start  for  Charleston,  but  that 
he  would  in  the  meantime  write  a  letter  to 
the  authorities  of  that  place  and  promise 
that  no  attempt  would  be  made  to  land 
troops  if  vessels  were  allowed  to  supply 
Sumter  with  provisions.  There  were  but 
nine  days  left  between  the  time  Mr.  Fox 


would  arrive  in  New  York  and  the  time 
when  Major  Anderson  would  be  out  of  pro 
visions,  when  he  would  be  at  liberty  to  sur 
render.  In  these  few  days  Mr.  Fox  had  to 
charter  steamers,  provide  men  and  boats, 
and  employ  tugs,  and  then  to  pass  over  632 
miles  before  he  could  reach  his  destination. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  had  in  the 
waters  of  the  United  States  the  steamers 
"Powhatan."  "  Pocahontas  "  and  "Paw 
nee,"  which  he  placed  at  Mr.  Fox's  disposal. 
On  the  *'  Powhatan,"  which  had  gone  out 
of  commission,  Mr.  Fox  depended  for  his 
boats  and  men.  He  arrived  in  New  York 
on  the  5th  of  April,  1801,  engaged  the 
steamer  "  Baltic  "or  Mr.  Aspinwall.  and  de 
livered  confidential  orders  to  Colonel  H.  L. 
Scott,  aide  to  the  General-in-Chief,  and 
Colonel  D.  D.  Tompkins,  Quartermaster,  to 
supply  all  the  needed  stores. 

Colonel  Scott  ridiculed  the  idea  of  any 
attempt  to  relieve  Sumter,  and  by  his  indif 
ference  and  delay  half  a  day  was  lost.  The 
recruits  that  he  finally  furnished  were  "en 
tirely  unfit  to  be  thrown  into  a  fort  likely 
to  be  attacked  by  the  Confederates." 

Mr.  Fox  had  applied  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  before  leaving  Washington,  to  have 
Commodore  Stringliam  take  command  of 
the  expedition  ;  but  that  officer  declined,  as 
he  considered  it  too  late  to  be  successful 
and  likely  to  ruin  the  reputation  of  the  offi 
cer  who  undertook  it ! 

The  hiring  of  three  tugs  was  intrusted  to 
Russell  Sturgis,  who  obtained  them  with 
great  difficulty  on  account  of  the  danger  of 
going  to  sea,  and  the  Government  had  to 
pay  the  most  exorbitant  prices  for  them. 
These  tugs  were  the  "  Yankee,"  the  •'  Uncle 
Ben,"  and  the  "  Freeborn."  The  "  Yankee" 
being  fitted  to  throw  hot  water.  Mr.  Fox 
received  all  the  aid  he  desired  in  the  mer 
cantile  line,  and  supposed  that  the  naval 
vessels  were  all  hurrying  to  the  appointed 
place  of  meeting  off  Charleston. 

Now  on  March  13th,  1861.  the  "Powhat 
an  "  came  from  sea  into  New  York  harbor. 
She  was  surveyed  and  found  unfit  for 
further  service.  Orders  came  from  the 
Navy  Department  to  put  her  out  of  com 
mission,  give  the  officers  leave  of  absence, 
and  send  her  crew  to  the  receiving  ship. 
On  April  1st  the  stores  were  all  landed,  the 
ship  stripped,  officers  granted  leave  of  ab 
sence,  crew  sent  to  the  receiving  ship,  and 
the  vessel  put  out  of  commission. 

To  read  the  account  of  the  naval  histo 
rian  (Boynton),  the  Navy  Department  de 
pended  on  the  "  Powhatan  "  for  the  success 
of  this  expedition,  yet  on  the  2d  of  April 
she  was  lying  at  the  Navy  Yard  a  "sheer 
hulk,"  preparing  to  go  into  dock  ! 

Mr.  Fox  states  that  the  "Powhatan," 
Captain  Mercer,  sailed  on  the  6th  of  April  ; 
the  "  Pawnee,"  Commodore  Rowan,  on  the 


98 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


9th;  the  "  Poca.hontas."  Captain  Gillis,  on 
the  10th,  the  "  Harriet  Lane,"  Captain 
Faunce,  on  the  8th,  the  tug  "Uncle  Ben/' 
on  the  7th.  the  tug  "Yankee"  on  the  8th, 
and  the  "  Baltic,"  Captain  Fletcher,  on  the 
8th  ;  rather  an  unusual  way  for  an  expedi 
tion  to  start  put,  and  calculated  to  cause  a 
failure  even  if  there  were  no  other  obstacles 
in  the  way.  Three  army  officers  accom 
panied  the  troops. 

Soon  after  leaving  Sandy  Hook  a  heavy 
gale  set  in,  and  continued  during  most  of 
the  passage  to  Charleston,  and  the  "  Bal 
tic."  the  fastest  and  staunchest  vessel,  only 
arrived  off  Charleston  harbor  on  the  12th  of 
April,  and  communicated  with  the  "Har 
riet  Lane,"  the  only  vessel  that  had  ar 
rived  before  her.  At  6  A.  M.  the  "  Pawnee  " 
arrived,  and  Mr.  Fox  went  on  board  of  her 
and  informed  Commander  Rowan  of  his 
orders  to  send  in  provisions,  asking  him  to 
stand  in  towards  the  bar. 

Commander  Rowan  replied  "that  his  or 
ders  required  him  to  remain  ten  miles  east 
of  the  light  and  await  the  arrival  of  the 
'Powhatan,'  and  that  he  was  not  going 
into  the  harbor  to  inaugurate  a  civil  war." 
Mr.  Fox  then  stood  in  towards  the  bar  with 
the  "Baltic"  and  the  "Harriet  Lane."  As 
these  vessels  showed  themselves,  heavy 
guns  were  heard  up  Charleston  harbor  and 
the  smoke  from  the  batteries  which  had 
opened  upon  Sumter  was  distinctly  visible. 
Fox  then  turned  and  stood  towards  the 
"Pawnee,"  intending  to  inform  Com 
mander  Rowan  of  the  state  of  affairs,  and 
met  him  coming  in.  Rowan  hailed  and 
asked  for  a  pilot,  declaring  his  intention  of 
standing  in  and  sharing  the  fate  of  his 
brethren  of  the  Army.  Fox  went  on  board 
the  "Pawnee"  and  informed  the  Com 
mander  that  the  Government  did  not  ex 
pect  such  gallant  sacrifice,  having  settled 
naturally  upon  the  policy  indicated  in 
the  instructions  to  Captain  Mercer  and 
himself. 

No  other  naval  vessels  arrived  that  day 
except  the  "  Pocahontas,"  but  the  steamer 
"Nashville"  and  a  number  of  merchant 
vessels  arrived  off  the  bar  and  awaited  the 
result  of  the  bombardment,  thus  leading 
the  people  of  Charleston  to  suppose  that 
there  was  a  large  naval  fleet  lying  off  the 
bar. 

Meanwhile  the  weather  continued  very 
bad,  with  a  heavy  sea.  Neither  the  "  Paw 
nee"  nor  the  "Harriet  Lane"  had  the 
necessary  boats  to  land  men  or  provisions, 
and  it  is  very  clear  to  the  writer  that  any 
attempt  to  have  done  so  would  have  been 
madness  in  the  face  of  that  sea  and  the 
enemy's  fire.  In  fact,  the  expedition  was 
useless  from  the  time  the  first  gun  was 
fired  at  Sumter.  It  could  only  have  been 
successful  provided  the  water  had  been 


smooth,  and  the  boats  could  have  reached 
the  fort  late  at  night. 

The  moment  the  Confederates  knew  of 
the  arrival  of  vessels  off  the  bar,  the  bom 
bardment  commenced,  and  there  was  no- 
stopping  it  then  in  the  excited  condition  of 
the  Southerners.  They  had  been  looking 
for  the  opportunity  for  weeks,  and  having 
found  it  they  made  the  most  of  it,  and  did 
what  they  so  longed  to  do — fired  on  the  fort 
and  flag  which  had  stood  there  so  many 
years  to  protect  them. 

All  this  time  Mr.  Fox  was  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  the  "  Powhatan.''  Finding  that 
she  did  not  appear  he  went  in  the  offing 
and  made  signals  all  night,  so  that  she 
might  find  the  "Baltic"  in  case  she  should 
arrive.  The  morning  of  the  13th  was  thick 
and  foggy  with  a  very  heavy  ground  swell 
on,  and  the  "Baltic."  feeling  her  way  in, 
ran  aground  on  Rattlesnake  Shoal,  but  got 
off  without  damage,  and  was  obliged  by 
the  heavy  swell  to  anchor  in  deep  water, 
several  miles  outside  of  the  "Pawnee  "  and 
"Harriet  Lane." 

One  gallant  army  officer  (R.  O.  Tyler), 
though  suffering  from  seasickness,  as  were 
most  of  the  troops,  organized  a  boat's  crew 
and  exercised  thern  for  the  purpose  of  hav 
ing  at  least  one  boat  (in  the  absence  of  the 
"  Powhatan")  that  could  go  to  the  relief  of 
Fort  Sumter — as  if  one  boat  pulled  by  raw 
recruits  could  ever  even  cross  the  bar,  much 
less  reach  the  fort  under  such  a  fire.  But 
fortunately  the  adventure  ended  where  it 
began,  and  no  boat  was  sent. 

In  the  morning  a  great  volume  of  black 
smoke  burst  forth  from  Fort  Sumter,  through 
which  the  flash  of  Major  Anderson's  guns 
could  be  seen  replying  to  the  Confederates. 
The  quarters  in  the  fort  were  on  fire,  but 
most  of  the  officers  thought  it  to  proceed 
from  an  attempt  to  smoke  out  the  garrison 
with  fire-rafts,"  as  if  the  buildings  of  the 
officers  inside  the  fort  with  all  their 
inflammable  material  would  not  make 
smoke  enough  without  the  addition  of  fire- 
rafts  ! 

It  was  the  opinion  of  the  naval  officers 
that  no  loaded  boats  could  reach  Sumter  in 
that  heavy  sea.  The  tug-boats,  like  every 
thing  else  in  this  expedition,  had  gone 
astray,  and  it  was  determined  to  seize  a 
schooner  lying  at  the  bar  wTith  a  load  of  ice, 
fill  her  with  stores  and  men  and  send  her 
on  the  following  night  to  the  relief  of  Sum 
ter.  The  records  do  not  say  who  proposed 
this  scheme — for  what  chance  could  this 
slow-moving  vessel  have  had  under  a  fire 
which  eventually  caused  the  surrender  of  the 
fort  itself  ?  Fortunately  this  plan  was  also 
abandoned,  and  on  the  14th  Major  Ander 
son  evacuated,  and  with  his  troops  was 
taken  north  on  the  steamer  "  Baltic." 

This  ended  the  Sumter  expedition. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


It  is  no  more  than  justice  to  Mr.  Fox  to 
state  what  his  plan  really  was,  and  we  will 
give  his  own  words  : 

"My  plan  for  supplying  Sum  tor  required  300 
sailors,  a  full  supply  of  armed  launches  and  three 
tugs.  The  'Pownatan'  carried  the  sailors  and 
launches,  and  when  this  vessel  was  about  to  leave 
in  obedience  to  an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  two  officers,  Lieut.  I).  D.  Porter,  U.  S.  N., 
and  Captain  M.  C.  Meigs,  U.  S.  Engineers,  pre 
sented  themselves  on  board  with  an  order  from  the 
President  of  the  United  States  authorizing  the  for 
mer  to  take  any  vessel  whatever  in  commission, 
and  proceed  immediately  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

"  This  order  did  not  pass  through  the  Navy  De 
partment,  and  was  unknown  to  the  Secretarv  of  the 
Navy,  and  when  signed  by  the  President  he  was 
not  conscious  that  his  signature  would  deprive  me 
of  the  means  to  accomplish  an  object  which  he  held 
to  be  of  such  vital  importance." 

To  tell  the  rest  of  this  history  we  must 
further  quote  Mr.  Fox's  report  : 

"  The  tug  '  Freeborn  '  was  not  permitted  to  leave 
New  York  ;  the  tug  Uncle  Ben '  was  driven  into 
"Wilmington  by  the  violence  of  the  gale  arid  even 
tually  captured  by  the  Confederates ;  the  tug 
'  Yankee '  reached  Charlestown  a  few  hours  after 
the  '  Baltic  '  left  for  New  York  with  Major  Ander 
son's  command  on  board." 

Mr.  Fox  from  his  statement  seems  to  have 
relied  on  the  "Powhatan  "to  assist  him, 
and  considers  her  absence  to  he  the  cause 
of  failure. 

On  the  2d  of  April  he  had  not  even  re 
ceived  the  written  authority  to  undertake 
this  expedition,  and  no  decision  had  been 
come  to  by  the  President  until  April  the 
4th,  and  it  was  not  until  the  morning  of 
April  Gth  that  a  telegraphic  dispatch  was 
received  by  Captain  Foote  (commanding 
New  York  Navy  Yard)  as  follows  :  "  Pre 
pare  the  '  Powhatan  '  for  sea  with  all  dis 
patch,  (signed)  Gideon  Welles."  On  April 
1st  President  Lincoln  wrote  an  order  to  put 
the  "  Powhatan  "  in  commission.  On  April 
2d  the  work  commenced  on  her. 

On  April  5th  she  went  into  commission, 
and  on  April  Gth  sailed  for  the  relief  of  Fort 
Pickens,  under  the  command  of  Lieut  D.  D. 
Porter. 

On  the  day  (April  Gth)  when  a  telegram 
came  for  Mr.  Welles  to  prepare  the  "  Pow 
hatan  "  for  sea  with  all  dispatch,  that  vessel 
was  about  to  sail  on  another  mission.  On 
the  7th,  came  orders  for  Captain  Mercer  to 
take  command  of  the  expedition  to  Charles 
ton. 

Supposing  that  the  "  Powhatan "  had 
been  taken  in  hand  from  her  "sheer-hulk  " 
condition  on  the  Gth,  and  working  on  the 
best  time,  she  could  not  have  more  than 
been  ready  by  the  llth.  She  could  only 
at  the  best  make  eight  knots  an  hour. 
Charleston  being  G30  miles  distant  would 
require  79  hours,  or  three  days  and  seven 
hours,  to  make  the  passage.  This  would 


have  brought  them  to  Charleston  only  on 
the  evening  of  the  14th,  when  Sumter  was 
past  all  help. 

Mr.  Fox  says  he  depended  on  her  splen 
did  launches  and  300  sailors.  The  "Pow-- 
hatan  "  had  two  wheel-house  launches  in 
the  shape  of  a  half  watermelon,  which  were 
perfectly  useless  for  want  of  repair,  and 
sank  when  they  were  put  in  the  water  off 
Fort  Pickens.  She  had  two  large  quarter 
boats  that  would  carry  35  men  each,  and 
two  smaller  boats  that  would  carry  about 
25  men  each  in  smooth  water.  Then  where 
could  Mr.  Fox  find  the  launches  and  men 
on  the  "Powhatan?"  Mr.  Fox  was  not  at 
all  responsible  for  the  failure,  in  fact  no  one 
connected  with  the  Navy  was  to  blame. 
The  absence  of  the  "Powhatan  "  had  noth 
ing  to  do  with  it.  It  was  mostly  due  to  the 
inaction  of  the  Government,  the  disagree 
ment  between  Army  and  Navy  officers  as 
to  the  feasibility  of  the  plan,  and  the  length 
of  time  elapsing  between  the  period  when 
Mr.  Fox  first  proposed  to  relieve  Fort  Sum 
ter  and  the  time  when  he  was  allowed  to 
get  off.  No  one  seemed  desirous  of  helping 
him,  and  most  of  those  whose  business  it 
was  to  get  off  the  expedition  threw  ob 
stacles  in  its  way. 

Whether  it  would  have  succeeded  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstances  is  doubt 
ful,  for  an  enemy  that  could  (and  did  dur 
ing  the  next  four  years)  hold  all  approaches 
to  Charleston  against  our  heaviest  iron-clads 
would  not  have  been  likely  to  fail  in  keep 
ing  out  a  few  heavily-laden  boats  and  tugs, 
with  their  high-pressure  steam  announc 
ing  their  presence.  We  know  now  that 
boats  and  tugs  would  have  been  sacrificed 
in  any  attempt  to  relieve  Sumter. 

Mr.  Fox,  himself,  manifested  great  cour 
age  in  volunteering  for  such  desperate  ser 
vice,  which  finally  brought  him  into  con 
nection  with  the  Navy  Department,  where 
his  services  were  at  that  time  much  re 
quired.  Mr.  Welles  showed  a  loyal  spirit 
in  this  attempt  to  succour  those  whom  the 
country  thought  should  be  relieved  at  all 
hazards,  and  he  needed  no  defense. 

The  cause  of  the  contretemps  which 
directed  the  "  Powhatan  "  from  the  Sumter 
expedition  was  in  the  organization  of  the 
Navy  Department,  which,  with  the  bureau 
system  existing  then  as  it  exists  to-day,  was 
unfit  to  carry  on  a  great  war.  The  Secre 
tary  wanted  at  his  side  an  Advisory  Board, 
or  what  was  afterwards  established,  a 
clever  man  as  Assistant  Secretary. 

The  fact  of  sending  a  civilian  down  to 
Charleston  to  direct  the  movements  of  a 
naval  commander,  without  any  authority 
of  law,  was  all  wrong,  no  matter  if  the  per 
son  had  once  been  in  the  Navy.  This  pro 
duced  complications  from  the  very  first: 
for  no  naval  officer  who  was  acquainted 


100 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


with  the  forms  and  precedents  of  the  Navy 
would  submit  quietly  to  what  he  might  well 
consider  a  reflection  on  his  corps. 

There  are  plenty  of  reasons  why  such  an 
expedition  should*  fail  without  referring  to 
such  as  did  not  exist,  and  as  a  large  portion 
of  history  (which  should  have  been  devoted 
to  important  duties  performed  by  naval 
officers)  has  been  taken  up  in  showing  that 
the  preparations  of  the  Navy  Department 
for  the  succor  of  Fort  Sumter  were  inter 
fered  with,  it  is  time  the  matter  was  made 
plain.  The  quotations  from  Mr.  Fox's  re 
port  explain  it  all. 

It  was  fortunate  that  nothing  was  at 
tempted  after  the  few  vessels  of  the  expedi 
tion  met  at  the  bar,  and  the  fact  that  the 
Confederates  opened  fire  on  Sumter  the  mo 
ment  the  vessels  did  appear  off  Charleston 
was  proof  positive  that  they  were  prepared, 
not  only  to  use  up  Sumter,  but  any  number 
of  vessels  that  should  attempt  to  enter  the 
harbor. 

As  the  "Powhatan"  has  so  constantly 
been  quoted  by  a  naval  historian  (Boynton), 
and  he  has  stated  certain  matters  in  a  way 
not  altogether  historical  (though  no  doubt 
with  a  most  sincere  desire  to  write  the  truth), 
it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  a  little  sketch 
of  how  the  "  Powhatan  "  was  spirited  away 
and  sent  on  another  mission. 

It  is  part  of  the  history  of  the  war,  has 
been  only  incidentally  alluded  to  by  the 
writer,  and  will  not  in  the  least  detract 
from  the  Fort  Sumter  relief  expedition. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  installed  in  the 
Presidential  office,  and  almost  immediately 
after  the  question  of  relieving  Fort  Sumter 
was  proposed  to  him  (on  the  12th  of  March), 
as  will  appear  from  Mr.  Fox's  letter,  which 
has  been  quoted. 

Captain  Montgomery  Meigs,  of  the  En 
gineer  Corps,  had  been  thinking  of  a  plan 
by  which  the  Government  might  vindicate 
its  authority  over  its  own  forts;  and  as  Fort 
Pickens  was  very  weakly  manned  by  Capt. 
Slemmer  and  25  men,  and  was  in  danger 
every  hour  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
Confederates,  he  proposed  an  expedition 
for  its  relief  by  throwing  in  troops  and 
mounting  heavy  guns. 

Neither  Mr.  Seward  nor  Captain  Meigs 
believed  in  the  plan  to  succor  Fort  Sumter. 
In  their  opinion  the  opportunity  had  passed. 
This  seemed  to  be  the  opinion  of  leading 
naval  and  military  men  and  the  surrender 
of  Sumter  was  already  looked  for  at  an 
early  day;  many  thinking  it  better  that  it 
should  be  evacuated  to  prevent  bloodshed, 
and  others  not  dreaming  any  plan  of  relief 
feasible. 

Mr.  Seward  was  anxious  that  the  Admin 
istration  should  show  its  determination  to 
maintain  its  authority  over  its  forts,  no  mat 
ter  where  situated. 


The  Sumter  expedition  had  been  settled 
on  by  the  Cabinet  in  council,  and  to  Secre 
tary' Welles  was  left  the  selection  of  the 
ships  and  the  manner  of  conducting  the 
whole  matter. 

Captain  Meig's  plan,  as  proposed  to  Secre 
tary  Seward,  was  to  charter  a  large  steam 
transport  that  would  carry  600  troops  and 
stores,  also  artillery  of  all  kinds,  and  with 
a  naval  vessel  to  protect  the  landing.  Mr. 
Seward  was  new  to  all  this  kind  of  busi 
ness,  and  was  slow  to  act,  though  precious 
time  was  flying.  Captain  Meigs  conferred 
with  Lieut.  D.  D.  Porter,  who  conceived 
the  plan  perfectly  feasible,  and  showed  a 
desire  to  go  on  the  expedition  :  all  of 
which  was  reported  to  the  Secretary  of 
State.  Lieut.  Porter  was  at  that  time 
under  orders  for  California,  and  was  to 
have  left  for  New  York  to  meet  the  Cali 
fornia  steamer  on  April  1st.  In  two  or 
three  hours  he  would  have  taken  the  train. 
A  note  was  sent  him  at  2  p.  M.,  notifying 
him  that  the  Secretary  of  State  wished  to 
see  him  at  his  office  immediately.  On  his 
arrival  at  the  office  the  Secretary  asked  him 
if  he  knew  how  the  Administration  could 
prevent  Fort  Pickens  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  Confederates. 

He  answered  promptly  that  he  did  know, 
and  then  suggested  the  plan  proposed  by 
Captain  Meigs.  "You  are  the  very  man  I 
want,"  said  the  Secretary.  "  Come  with 
me  to  the  President.''  At  that  moment 
Captain  Meigs  came  in  and  accompanied 
the  party. 

Those  familiar  with  the  early  events  of 
the  Rebellion  will  remember  that  Fort 
Pickens  was  under  the  command  of  Cap 
tain  Slemmer,  of  the  Army,  who  held  it 
with  a  handful  of  men.  and  was  preparing 
to  defend  it  against  a  large  force  of  Con 
federates  on  the  Pensacola  side,  who  were 
daily  augmenting  their  numbers,  and  mak 
ing  preparations  to  bombard  the  fort,  as 
had  been  done  at  Sumter. 

Pensacola,  with  its  well-equipped  Navy 
Yard,  was  too  tempting  a  bait  for  the  Con 
federates  to  leave,  and  no  doubt  the  Gen 
eral  commanding  was  ordered  to  put  forth 
all  the  energy  and  science  known  in  the 
art  of  war  to  encompass  the  destruction  or 
capture  of  the  formidable  fort. 

Lieut.  Porter  told  the  Secretary  of  State 
that  if  the  government  would  give  him 
command  of  the  "Powhatan"  (then  lying 
in  New  York)  and  supply  the  troops,  he 
would  guarantee  the  safety  of  the  fort.  It 
was  not  known  then  to  any  of  the  party 
that  the  "Powhatan"  was  lying  at  the 
Navy  Yard  "stripped  to  a  gantline,'' and 
that  on  or  about  that  day  she  had  gone  out 
of  commission  preparatory  to  being  re 
paired,  and  would  be  in  the  dry-dock  in  a 
day  or  two.  It  was  thought  that  she  was 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


101 


in   commission   and  all  ready  for  service, 
which  should  have  been  the  case. 

\Vhen  the  party  reached  the  executive 
mansion,  the  President  was  evidently  pre 
pared  to  receive  it,  and  was  well  acquainted 
with  all  the  plans  that  had  been  proposed. 
He  had  talked  with  Mr.  Seward  and  Cap 
tain  Meigs,  and  was  so  heartily  interested 
in  the  scheme,  that  he  agreed  to  all  that 
was  proposed. 

There  was  none  of  that  indecision  or  "  ap 
parent  inaction  "  (which  is  spoken  of  in 
Boynton's  Naval  History  of  the  War)  from 
March  4th  to  April,  1801.  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
either  belied  when  that  expression  was  used, 
or  he  had  learned  better.  He  had  for  his 
advisers  old  men  who  moved  and  thought 
slowly,  and  his  military  and  naval  advisers 
were  evidently  more  cautious  than  there 
was  any  justification  for. 

When  the  President  was  told  that  the 
"  Powhatan  "  would  have  to  get  ready  very 
quickly,  the  Commander  (Mercer)  changed 
for  Lieutenant  Porter,  and  all  the  orders 
written  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Navy 
Department  (for  the  reason  that  everything 
would  be  carried  on  in  that  department  in 
the  usual  red-tape  style,  and  the  whole  mat 
ter  would  be  known  to  the  Confederates  by 
being  flashed  across  the  wires  an  hour  after 
Secretary  Welles  got  an  order  to  prepare  the 
ship  for  sea),  he  merely  remarked  "it  seems 
to  me  like  a  very  irregular  proceeding,  but, 
Mr.  Secretary,  do  not  let  me  burn  my  fin 
gers.  I  want  that  fort  saved  at  all  hazards." 

Then  Mr.  Seward  explained  to  him  how, 
as  President  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Army  and  Navy,  he  could  issue  orders 
from  the  executive  mansion,  without  pass 
ing  them  through  an  intermediary,  and 
that  he  (the  Secretary  of  State)  would 
satisfy  Mr.  Welles  of  the  necessity  of  the 
present  way  of  proceeding. 

The  President  at  that  time  had  not  the 
faintest  idea  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
intended  to  use  the  "  Powhatan,"  nor  did 
he  know  the  name  of  any  vessel  intended 
for  the  Sumter  expedition,  neither  did  the 
Secretary  of  State  or  any  of  the  party. 

It  is  a  Veil-known  fact  now  that  all  the 
orders  issued  by  the  Navy  Department  for 
the  relief  of  Sumter  were  telegraphed  to 
Charleston  an  hour  after  they  were  press- 
copied  ;  for  it  was  assumed  at  that  time, 
when  treachery  was  rampant  in  every 
branch  of  the  Government,  and  when  the 
insurrectionists  had  their  spies  and  emissa 
ries  everywhere  about  the  Government 
offices,  that  every  man  who  did  not  openly 
declare  his  hostility  to  the  Government  was 
sound  on  the  question  of  loyalty.  It  is  now 
known  that  some  of  the  meekest-looking 
supporters  of  the  Government  were  its 
greatest  enemies. 

Secretary   Seward  evidently  understood 


the  situation,  and  determined  that  his  ex 
pedition  should  not  come  to  grief  for  want 
of  proper  secrecy.  There  was  no  waver 
ing  then  on  Mr.  Seward's  part,  there  was 
not  a  particle  of  hesitation  on  the  part  of 
the  President,  there  was  no  long  talk  to 
prove  the  practicability  of  the  expedition. 
The  success  of  the  affair  was  all  taken  for 
granted,  and  in  half  an  hour  everything 
was  settled.  How  was  it  then  that  the 
President  has  been  represented  as  hesitat 
ing,  and  Mr.  Fox  had  to  work  so  hard  and 
travel  to  and  fro  until  his  patience  was  al 
most  exhausted  ? 

He  was  twenty-five  days  in  accomplish 
ing  what  was  done  in  this  instance  in  half 
an  hour.  The  vacillation  in  the  Sumter 
case  did  not  rest  with  the  President,  but 
with  those  who  tried  to  shift  their  want  of 
success  to  the  President's  shoulders.  It 
was.  in  fact,  owing  to  circumstances  which 
none  could  foresee. 

After  the  President  had  decided  that  there 
was  nothing  to  be  done  but  write  the  neces 
sary  orders.  Lieut.  Porter  wrote  out  and 
Capt.  Meigs  transcribed  them. 

They  were  as  follows  : 

"EXECUTIVE  MANSION, 

April  1st,  1861. 
"  LIEUT.  D.  D.  PORTER  will  take  command  of  the 
steamer  'Powhatan,'  or  any  other  United  States 
steamer  ready  for  sea.  which  he  may  deem  most  fit 
for  the  service  to  which  he  has  been  assigned  by 
confidential  instructions  of  this  date. 

"  A II  officers  are  commanded  to  afford  him  all  such 
facilities  as  he  may  deem  necessary  for  getting  to 
sea  as  soon  as  possible.  H  e  will  select  the  officers 
•who  are  to  accompany  him. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 
"Recommended,  ) 

"WM.  H.  SEWARD."  J 

"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  I 
April  1st,  1861.      } 
"  LIEUT.  D.  D.  PORTER,  U.  S.  NAVY  : 

"  SIR  :  You  will  proceed  to  New  York  and  with 
the  least  possible  delay  assume  command  of  any 
naval  steamer  available.  Proceed  to  Pensacola 
Harbor,  and  at  any  cost  or  risk  prevent  any  expe 
dition  from  the  mainland  reaching  Fort  Pickens  or 
Santa  Rosa. 

"You  will  exhibit  this  order  to  any  naval  officer 
at  Pensacola  if  you  deem  it  necessary  after  you  have 
established  yourself  within  the  harbor,  and  will  r»- 
quest  co-operation  by  the  entrance  of  at  least  one 
other  vessel. 

"  This  order,  its  object,  and  your  destination  will 
be  communicated  to  no  person  whatever  until  you 
reach  the  Harbor  of  Pensacola. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 
"  Recommended, 

"WM.  H.  SEWARD."  \ 

"WASHINGTON  ClTY, 

April  1st,  1861. 
"  SIR:  Circumstances  render  it  necessary  to  place 
in  command  of  your  ship,  and  for  a  special  purpose, 
an  officer  who  is  duly  informed  and  instructed  in 
relation  to  the  wishes  of  the  Government,  and  you 
will  therefore  consider  yourself  detached  ;  but  in 
taking  this  step  the  Government  does  not  intend  in 
the  least  to  reflect  upon  your  efficiency  or  patriot- 


102 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


ism;  on  the  contrary,  have  the  fullest  confidence  in 
your  ability  to  perform  any  duty  required  of  you. 
Hoping  soon  to  be  able  to  give  you  a  better  com 
mand  than  the  one  you  now  enjoy,  and  trusting 
that  you  will  have  full  confidence  in  the  disposition 
of  the  Government  towards  you, 

"  I  remain,       ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
"  CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  MERCER,  U.  S.  N. 

"  A  true  copy. 

"M.  C.  MEIGS,  Chief  Engineer  of  expedition  un 
der  Col.  Brown." 

"EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  I 
April  1st,  1861.        J 
"To  THE  COMMANDANT  OP  THE  NAVY  YARD,  NEW 

YORK  : 

"  SIR  :  You  will  fit  out  the  'Powhatan'  without 
delay.  Lieut.  Porter  will  relieve  Capt.  Mercer  in 
command  of  her  ;  she  is  bound  on  secret  service, 
and  you  will  under  no  circumstances  communicate 
to  the  Navy  Department  the  fact  that  she  is  fitting 
out.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 

"WASHINGTON,   EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  | 

April  1st,  1861.      J 

"  All  officers  in  the  Army  and  Navy  to  whom  this 
order  may  be  exhibited,  will  aid  by  every  means  in 
their  power  the  expedition  under  Colonel  Harvey 
Brown,  supplying  him  with  men  and  material,  and 
co-operating  with  him  as  he  may  desire. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 
"A  true  copy. 
"  M.  C.  MEIGS, 

"Chief  Engineer  of  the  expedition." 

Similar  orders  were  issued  to  Major- 
General  Scott  and  the  Adjutant-General 
of  the  Army,  directing  that  everything 
should  be  done  to  make  the  expedition  a 
success. 

Then  Capt.  Meigs  and  Lieut.  Porter 
called  on  Gen.  Scott,  and  after  a  very  short 
time  he  issued  the  necessary  order  for  the 
troops  to  go  in  a  chartered  steamer,  and 
there  was  nothing  more  wanted. 

That  night  Lieut.  Porter  left  for  New 
York,  and  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  April  2d, 
presented  himself  to  Capt.  Foote  (who  was 
acting  Commandant  of  the  Navy  Yard  at 
that  time),  and  gave  him  the  order  to 
fit  out  the  "  Powhatan  ;"  which  order  Foote 
received  with  much  surprise  at  this  unusual 
way  of  doing  business.  It  required  three 
hours  to  convince  Capt.  Foote  that  he  must 
obey  the  President's  order,  and  that  he  was 
not  to  telegraph  to  Secretary  Welles  for  in 
structions  in  this  embarrassing  position. 
He  at  last  consented  to  take  Capt.  Mercer 
into  the  conference,  give  him  the  letter  for 
himself,  and  be  guided  by  his  answer.  Capt. 
Mercer  considered  it  absolutely  necessary 
for  Foote  to  carry  out  the  President's  orders 
to  the  letter.  He  was  rather  pleased  with 
the  idea  of  getting  rid  of  an  old,  worn-out 
ship,  and  offered  to  stay  by  the  vessel  as 
her  Captain,  fit  her  out,  and  take  her  down 
the  harbor  as  far  as  Staten  Island,  in  order 
the  better  to  conceal  the  intended  move 
ment.  Capt.  Meigs  also  urged  Foote  to 
obey  the  President's  order,  and  he  finally 
decided  to  do  so,  and  commenced  the  work 


of   fitting  out  the    "Powhatan''    with    all 
possible  dispatch. 

The  * '  Po  whatan's  "  engines  were  all  apart, 
and  they  were  preparing  to  hoist  out  her 
guns  and  take  her  into  dry-dock,  at  2  o'clock 
p.  M.  of  that  day  (April  2d),  when  the  order 
was  issued  to  employ  a  double  force  of  men 
and  work  them  day  and  night  until  she 
was  ready  for  sea.  The  officers  who  had 
been  granted  leave  were  telegraphed  for, 
and  on  the  fourth  the  crew  was  put  on 
board.  No  repairs  had  been  put  on  the 
vessel — not  a  pound  of  paint,  not  a  new 
rope  rove,  nor  a  sail  mended.  She  was  in  a 
shocking  condition  for  any  service;  there 
was  no  time  even  to  repair  her  boats,  which 
were  leaky  (those  fine  boats  depended  upon 
to  land  the  troops  and  provisions  at  Fort 
Sumter).  On  the  Gtli  of  April,  four  days 
after  the  "Powhatan"  was  taken  in  hand, 
steam  was  up,  everything  in  place,  the  pi 
lot  on  board,  and  the  lines  ready  to  cast  off. 
Then  a  telegram  came  to  Capt.  Foote  from 
the  Navy  Department:  "Prepare  the  'Pow 
hatan'  for  sea  with  all  dispatch."  Here 
was  a  dilemma  !  Again  Foote  wanted  to 
telegraph  the  state  of  affairs  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  Navy,  and  stop  the  ship  until 
he  could  hear  from  the  Department.  But 
his  attention  was  again  and  again  drawn 
to  the  President's  order,  and  at  last  he  suc 
cumbed. 

Lieut.  Porter  stepped  on  board  the  "Pow 
hatan  "  in  citizen's  dress,  and  was  unob 
served  among  the  crowd  of  people  who 
were  bidding  their  friends  good-by.  He 
went  into  the  cabin  and  locked  himself 
in  the  Captain's  state-room.  The  ship 
steamed  away  from  the  dock  at  one 
o'clock,  P.  M.  on  the  Gth  of  April,  going  as 
far  as  Staten  Island  before  Captain  Mercer 
left  her. 

The  moment  the  ship  had  left  the  yard, 
Foote  could  contain  himself  no  longer,  and 
he  at  once  telegraphed  to  Secretary  Welles 
that  the  "  Powhatan  "  had  sailed  in  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Porter  under  orders  from 
the  President. 

The  moment  this  telegram  was  received, 
Secretary  Welles  went  straight  to  the  Presi 
dent  to  request  an  explanation,  at  the  same 
time  informing  him  that  he  had  depended 
upon  the  "  Powhatan"  to  carry  out  his  or 
ders  concerning  the  relief  of  Fort  Sumter. 
The  President  was  astonished,  as  he  did 
not  even  know  that  the  "  Powhatan  "  had 
been  connected  with  that  expedition.  Mr. 
Welles  was  much  excited  at  what  he  con 
sidered  Mr.  Seward's  interference  with  his 
affairs,  and  demanded  the  ship  restored  to 
him.  Secretary  Seward  was  sent  for  in 
haste,  and  when  he  came  into  the  Presi 
dent's  presence  he  found  Secretary  Welles 
in  as  great  a  state  of  excitement  as  his 
placid  temperament  would  admit  of. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


103 


"Give  up  the  ship.  Seward."  said  Mr. 
Lincoln.  "  we  will  get  another."  And  Mr. 
Seward  consenting  to  do  so,  a  telegram  was 
sent  to  Lieut.  Porter  as  follows  : 

"  Give  the  '  Powhatan  '  up  to  Capt.  Mercer. 
"April  6, 1861.  SEWARD." 

While  the  ship  was  lying  off  Tompkins- 
ville,  Staten  Island,  waiting  for  the  boat  to 
return  that  had  carried  Capt.  Mercer  on 
shore,  a  swift  little  steamer  came  alongside, 
and  Lieut.  Roe  of  the  Navy  delivered  Mr. 
Seward's  telegram. 

Lieut.  Porter  read  it.  and  decided  that 
there  was  only  one  thing  for  him  to  do.  and 
that  was  to  disobey  it.  The  artillery  for 
the  troops  was  on  board  the  "Powhatan," 
the  steamer  "  Atlantic,"  with  the  troops  on 
board,  he  supposed  had  sailed  at  12  o'clock, 
and  was  ten  miles  ahead  of  him.  His  stop 
ping  to  restore  the  ship  would  make  the  ex 
pedition  fail,  his  orders  were  from  the  Presi 
dent  and  he  determined  to  obey  them.  He 
telegraphed  back  : 

"I  received  my  orders  from  the  President,  and 
shall  proceed  and  execute  them. 

•'April,  6,  1861.  D.  D.  PORTER." 

The  boat  was  hoisted  up,  the  ship's  head 
put  seaward,  and  the  "Powhatan"  pro 
ceeded  on  her  voyage. 

The  weather  was  dreadful,  but  on  the  17th 
of  April  the  "  Powhatan  "  arrived  off  Fort 
Pickens  and  found  that  the  chartered  steam 
er  "  Atlantic."  with  the  Army  contingent, 
had  arrived  the  day  before.  'Lieut.  Porter 
stood  in  towards  the  bar  and  had  crossed  it 
and  was  standing  for  Fort  McRea,  with  his 
crew  at  their  guns,  when  Capt.  Meigs  in  a 
large  Government  vessel  laid  right  in  the 
track  of  the  "  Powhatan  "  and  signalled  that 
he  wanted  to  communicate.  The  ship  was 
stopped  and  Capt  Meigs  came  on  board, 
handing  to  Lieut.  Porter  a  protest  against 
his  going  inside  the  harbor,  on  the  ground 
that  Fort  Pickens  was  unprepared  for  an 
attack  from  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  if 
the  "'  Powhatan "  entered  it  would  draw 
their  fire  upon  the  fort !  Capt.  Meigs  had 
obtained,  before  he  left  Washington,  au 
thority  from  the  President  to  take  this 
course  of  action  in  case  the  officer  com 
manding  the  troops  objected  to  the  ship 
going  in. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  done  but  listen  to 
Col.  Harvey  Brown's  plea,  and  obey  the  im 
plied  order  of  the  President  :  and  thus  the 
opportunity  was  lost  of  reasserting  the 
authority  of  the  Government  to  have  its 
vessels  go  in  and  out  of  any  port  as  it 
pleased  their  commanders  to  do.  As  it  hap 
pened  there  was  no  actual  necessity  for  the 
ship  to  go  inside,  but  that  was  not  the  ques 
tion  :  it  was  whether  the  Government  had 
any  right  to  its  own  forts,  ships  and  har 


bors;  and  in  starting  to  enter  the  harbor, 
Lieut.  Porter  wished  to  test  how  far  the 
Government  rights  would  be  respected,  and 
if  not  respected  to  cause  them  to  be  so  by 
the  power  of  his  guns.  • 

The  President  and  the  Secretary  of  State 
had  shown  great  decision  in  fitting  out  this 
expedition,  and,  for  the  times,  great  moral 
courage  in  permitting  it  to  go  on,  with  the 
certainty  that  the  guns  of  the  '•  Powhatan  " 
would  be  liberally  used  in  dealing  with  the 
insurgents.  But  the  timid  policy  of  Col. 
Brown  and  his  authority  to  prevent  the 
commander  of  the  "  Powhatan  "  from  en 
tering  Pensacola  harbor,  took  all  that  was 
exciting  out  of  this  expedition,  and  turned 
what  wrould  have  been  a  handsome  dash 
into  simply  convoy  duty. 

After  Lieut.  Porter  had  discussed  Col. 
Brown's  protest  with  Capt  Meigs,  and  care 
fully  considered  the  matter,  he  reluctantly 
turned  the  "Powhatan's  "  head  toward  the 
steamer  "  Atlantic,"  and  anchored  within 
20  fathoms  of  the  beach,  with  hawsers  to 
keep  her  broadside  bearing  on  the  Navy 
Yard  The  work  of  unloading  the  "Atlan 
tic  "  went  on  in  safety  under  the  guns  of  the 
"  Powhatan,"  and  that  night  GOO  soldiers 
were  lodged  in  the  fort,  with  provisions,  ar 
tillery  and  other  munitions  of  war  sufficient 
to  withstand  a  seige.  Fort  Pickens  could 
now  bid  defiance  to  the  Confederate  soldiers, 
who  stood  in  groups  on  the  opposite  shore 
watching  the  proceedings,  but  with  no  ap 
parent  intention  of  interfering  for  the 
E resent.  This  indifference  arose  from  the 
act  that  they  had  no  ammunition  to  use 
in  the  guns  which  they  had  found  in 
the  Navy  Yard — but  they  were  biding  their 
time  and  would  no  doubt  be  heard  from 
when  the  opportunity  offered. 

On  the  second  day  after  the  arrival  of  the 
"  Powhatan,"  a  flotilla,  composed  of  steam 
tugs,  schooners  and  large  launches,  filled 
with  soldiers,  was  seen  to  be  coming  from 
the  direction  of  Pensacola.  and  heading  for 
the  two  ships  lying  outside  of  Santa  Rosa 
Island.  There  were  about  twenty-five  of 
these  small  vessels,  but  the  number  of 
troops  was  not  known. 

This  flotilla  approached  to  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  the  beach  on  Santa  Rosa 
Island,  and  as  they  were  either  going  to 
land  there,  or  reinforce  the  insurrectionary 
army,  it  was  time  to  stop  their  approach. 
The  11-inch  gun  on  board  the  "  Powhatan  " 
was  cast  loose,  and  a  shell  fired,  which  burst 
directly  over  the  middle  of  the  flotilla.  The 
consequence  was  a  rapid  retreat  of  the  ex 
pedition  towards  Pensacola.  No  doubt 
they  had  taken  the  "  Powhatan  "  and  "  At 
lantic  "  for  two  store-ships  which  they  ex 
pected  to  capture.  Perhaps  it  was  in 
tended  to  attack  Fort  Pickens,  for  the 
troops  from  the  "Atlantic  "  had  been  landed 


104 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


at  night,  and  had  not  been   seen   by   the 
enemy. 

The  "PowhatanV  11-inch  gun  was  re 
loaded  and  pointed  in  the  direction  of  the 
Navy  Yard,  where  groups  of  idle  soldiers 
were  watching  the  operations.  It  was 
fired,  and  the  shrapnel  shell  exploded  in 
the  midst  of  the  yard,  and  at  once  cleared 
it  of  all  occupants. 

If  the  Confederates  wanted  an  excuse  to 
commence  hostilities  the  opportunity  had 
been  given  them  ;  but  the  fact  was,  they 
were  not  at  all  prepared  for  such  a  contin 
gency,  as  the  troops  in  Charleston  were, 
and  after  a  year's  occupation  of  Pensacola 
never  advanced  sufficiently  with  their  for 
tifications  to  keep  three  steam  frigates  out 
of  their  harbor. 

By  the  20th  of  April  Fort  Pickens  was  so 
well  protected  that  it  could  bid  defiance  to 
all  the  Confederate  forces  in  that  quarter, 
and  so  it  remained  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

Pensacola  was  evacuated  by  the  Confed 
erates  about  a  year  afterwards,  on  a  scare 
— they  thinking  that  Farragut's  fleet  was 
on  the  way  to  take  it.  The  Confederates 
knew  that  they  could  not  hold  out  twenty 
minutes  against  a  close  naval  attack,  and 
therefore  wisely  decamped  in  time.  Thus 
the  harbor  of  Pensacola  again  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Government,  and  was  of  great 
use  to  the  Gulf  blockading  squadron  as  a 
base  for  its  operations. 

The  above  is  a  strict  account  of  the  relief 
of  Fort  Pickens  ;  there  were  no  mistakes 
made,  nor  any  hitches  anywhere.  In  sev 
enteen  days  after  the  matter  was  first 
broached  to  the  President  Fort  Pickens  was 
reinforced  with  troops  enough  to  hold  it, 
and  armed  with  heavy  guns  which  could 
far  outmatch  any  possessed  by  the  enemy. 
With  the  exception  of  the  attack  of  the 
"Niagara,"  "  Richmond"  and  Fort  Pickens 
on  Fort  McRae  and  other  forts.  Nov.  22, 
1861,  there  were  no  attempts  made  to  dis 
turb  the  enemy,  who,  as  long  as  he  remained 
unmolested,  followed  a  do-nothing  course, 
which  in  the  end  was  quite  as  effective  as 
if  he  had  built  a  thousand-gun  fort. 

Mr.  Boynton,  a  very  clever  and  pleasant 
historian,  and  who  has  written  the  only  book 
that  has  in  any  way  done  justice  to  the 
Navy,  gives  a  different  version  of  this  affair. 
But  Mr.  Boynton  was  not  altogether  fair 
when  anything  regarding  the  claims  of  the 
Navy  Department  was  concerned;  he  re 
ceived  his  information  from  that  source  and 
naturally  followed  it  as  that  to  be  put  in  his 
history,  whereas  a  historian  should  leave 
nothing  undone  to  obtain  a  true  statement 
of  affairs.  Mr.  Boynton  while  writing  his 
history  held  an  appointment  under  the  Navy 
Department,  which  he  could  only  hold  as 
long  as  his  writings  were  acceptable  to  its 
chief  ;  not  that  we  mean  to  say  that  he  sur 


rendered  the  right  of  an  historian  to  be  im 
partial,  but  that  in  his  close  connection  with 
the  Navy  Department,  where  articles  were 
prepared  for  his  book,  he  could  not  very 
well  reject  or  revise  them  without  severing 
his  relations  with  a  party  who  had  given 
him  an  easy  office,  in  order  that  he  might 
have  time  to  devote  himself  solely  to  writing 
his  Naval  History.  Many  officers  of  the 
Navy  say  it  is  simply  a  history  of  the  Navy 
Department,  but  in  this  we  do  not  altogether 
agree,  for  it  has  given  the  most  vivid  ac 
counts  of  naval  battles  yet  written,  and  has 
in  most  cases  done  full  justice  to  those  who 
made  themselves  prominent  in  the  war. 

It  was  only  in  cases  where  Mr.  Boynton 
felt  called  upon  to  adopt  the  views  of  the 
Navy  Department,  and  not  follow  the  rec 
ords,  that  he  failed  in  his  history. 

In  the  case  of  Fort  Pickens  he  followed 
the  information  he  received  from  Secretary 
Welles,  who  really  believed  that  what  he- 
asserted  was  a  fact,  viz.  :  that  the  expedi 
tion  to  relieve  Fort  Pickens  was  all  useless, 
as  he  had  provided  against  any  contin 
gency  by  instructing  the  Commander  of  the 
Gulf  Squadron  to  hold  himself  in  readiness 
to  assist  Fort  Pickens  in  case  it  was  threat 
ened.  He,  however,  did  not  provide  for  one 
thing  —  the  indifference  of  an  officer  whose 
sympathies  were  with  the  South;  who,  in 
undertaking  to  carry  out  the  Secretary's 
order,  did  it  with  a  reservation,  not  to  do 
anything  to  offend  his  friends  on  the  other 
side. 

Mr.  Welles'  orders  were  never  carried  out. 
The  commander  of  the  squadron  laid  four 
miles  away  from  the  fort,  where  he  could 
scarce  see  a  signal  by  day  or  by  night,  and 
with  a  strong  wind  against  the  boats,  he- 
could  not  have  reached  the  fort  to  relieve  it 
under  two  hours  after  the  attack  could  have 
been  made,  even  if  he  desired  to  do  so. 

As  far  back  as  January,  1SG1,  the  ques 
tion  of  "  State  sovereignty  "  and  "  no  coer 
cion  "  was  discussed  in  Mr.  Buchanan's  cab 
inet.  and  as  the  "no  coercion"  party  was 
in  the  majority  he  was  influenced  by  this 
policy,  and  it  was  owing  to  it  and  to  out 
side  sympathizers  that  the  President  refused 
to  re-enforce  Sumter.  These  Southern  sym 
pathizers  around  the  President  left  nothing 
undone  to  delude  him  with  the  idea  of  the 
impolicy  of  attempting  to  retain  any  of  the 
Southern  forts  by  force,  and  it  was  in  con 
sequence  of  these  representations  that  the 
following  telegram  was  sent  on  January 
29,  1801: 


"To  CAPTAIN  JAMES  GTLYXN,  commanding  the 
'Macedonian';  CAPT.  W.  S.  WALKER,  com 
manding  the  ^Brooklyn,"1  or  other  naval  officers 
in  command;  and  LIEUT.  A.  J.  SLEMMER,  1st 
Regt.  Artillery,  U.  S.  A.,  commanding  Fort 
Pickens  : 
"In  consequence  of  the  assurances  received  from 

Mr.  Mallory  in  a  telegram  of  yesterday  to  Messrs. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


105 


Bigler,  Hunter  and  Slidell,  with  a  request  that  it 
should  be  laid  before  the  President,  that  Fort  Pic- 
kens  would  not  be  assaulted,  and  the  offer  of  such 
an  assurance  to  the  same  effect  from  Col.  Chase,  for 
the  purpose  of  avoiding  a  hostile  collision,  upon 
receiving  satisfactory  assurances  from  Mr.  Mallory 
and  Col.  Chase  that  Fort  Pickens  will  not  be  at 
tacked,  you  are  instructed  not  to  land  the  company 
on  board  the  'Brooklyn'  unless  said  fort  shall  be 
attacked  or  preparations  shall  be  made  to  attack  it. 
The  provisions  necessary  for  the  supply  of  the  fort 
you  will  land.  The  '  Brooklyn '  and  other  vessels 
of  war  on  the  station  will  remain,  and  you  will  ex 
ercise  the  utmost  vigilance  and  be  prepared  at  a 
moment's  warning  to  land  the  company  at  Fort 
Pickens,  and  you  and  they  will  instantly  repel  any 
attack  oil  the  fort. 

"  The  President  yesterday  sent  a  special  message 
to  Congress,  communicating  the  Virginia  resolu 
tions  of  compromise.  The  commissioners  of  the  dif 
ferent  States  are  to  meet  here  on  Monday,  February 
4th,  and  it  is  important  that  during  their  session  a 
collision  of  arms  should  be  avoided,  unless  an  attack 
should  be  made  or  there  should  be  preparations  for 
an  attack.  In  either  event  the  'Brooklyn'  and 
the  other  vessels  will  act  promptly.  Your  right  and 
that  of  other  officers  in  command  at  Pensacola 
freely  to  communicate  with  the  Government  by 
special  messenger,  and  its  right  in  the  same  manner 
to  communicate  with  yourselves  and  them,  will  re 
main  intact  as  the  basis  of  the  present  instructions. 
"  J.  HOLT,  Secretary  of  War. 
"J.  TOUCEY,  Secretary  of  the  Navy." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  purport  of 
this  telegram.  The  Confederates  could  as 
semble  any  number  of  troops  they  pleased 
at  Pensacola,  erect  batteries,  and  prepare 
for  any  contingency, without  the  command 
ers  of  our  naval  vessels  being  able  to  inter 
fere  with  them;  at  least,  so  these  instruc 
tions  were  construed  by  Capt.  Adams,  the 
commanding  naval  officer,  and  when  Gen. 
Scott  (subsequent  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  inaugu 
ration)  sent  an  order  to  land  the  company 
of  troops  that  was  on  board  the  "Brook 
lyn"  and  place  them  in  Fort  Pickens, 
Capt.  Adams  refused  to  obey  the  order,  and 
tried  to  justify  himself  on  the  ground  that 
it  would  be  violating  the  armistice  which 
had  been  entered  into  with  the  Confederate 
leaders. 

How  could  the  government  hope  to  put 
down  a  rebellion  in  the  South  when  there 
was  such  rebellion  against  its  orders  by  a 
captain  in  the  Navy  ?  The  order  directing 
the  landing  of  these  troops  was  dated 
March  12,  1861. 

On  April  1,  1861,  Captain  Adams,  in  a 
letter  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  says  : 

"  I  declined  to  land  the  men  as  it  would  be  in  di 
rect  violation  of  the  orders  of  the  Navy  Depart 
ment,  on  which  I  was  acting ;  the  orders  to  land 
the  troops  may  have  been  given  without  a  full 
knowledge  of  the  condition  of  affairs— there  would 
be  no  justification  in  taking  such  a  step  without 
the  clearest  orders  from  the  proper  authority— it 
would  be  regarded  as  a  hostile  act,  and  could  be  re 
sisted  to  the  utmost.  It  would  be  considered  by 
Gen.  Bragg  and  his  officers  not  only  a  debarkation, 
but  an  act  of  war  ;  it  would  be  a  serious  thing  to 


bring  on,  by  any  precipitation,  a  collision  which 
may  be  against  the  wishes  of  the  Department. 
Both  sides  are  faithfully  observing  the  agreement 
entered  into  by  the  U.  S.  government  with  Mr. 
Mallory  and  Col.  Chase.  This  agreement  binds  us 
not  to  reinforce  Fort  Pickens  unless  it  shall  be  at 
tacked  or  threatened  ;  it  binds  them  not  to  attack 
it  unless  we  should  attempt  to  reinforce  it. 

"I  saw  Gen.  Bragg  on  the  80th  ultimo,  who  reas 
sured  me  that  the  conditions  on  their  part  should 
not  be  violated.  While  I  cannot  take  on  myself, 
under  such  insufficient  authority  as  Gen.  Scott's 
order,  the  fearful  responsibility  of  an  act  which 
seems  to  render  civil  war  inevitable,  I  am  ready  at 
all  times  to  carry  out  whatever  orders  I  may  re 
ceive  from  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

''In  conclusion,  I  beg  you  will  please  to  send  me 
instructions  as  soon  as  possible,  that  I  may  be  re 
lieved  from  a  painful  embarrassment. 
"Very  respectfully, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"H.  A.  ADAMS,  Captain, 
"  Senior  officer  present." 

This  officer's  motto  should  have  been 
"  Festina  lente."  He  was  pursuing  just 
the  course  that  would  soonest  throw  Fort 
Pickens  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates. 
And  the  date  of  writing  (April  1, 1861),  was 
the  very  day  President  Lincoln  started  on 
foot  the  Fort  Pickens  expedition.  There 
were  only  twenty -five  men  in  the  fort  under 
Capt.  Slemmer,  and  at  that  time  Naval  His 
torian  Boynton  states  that  Mr.  Welles  had 
taken  all  the  necessary  precautions  to  se 
cure  Fort  Pickens  against  an  attack  from 
the  enemy. 

It  was  not  until  April  6,  1861,  the  day  on 
which  the  "Powhatan"  and  "  Atlantic " 
left  New  York  for  Pensacola,  that  Mr.  Sec 
retary  Welles  answered  the  letter  of  Capt. 
Adams  as  follows  : 

"  NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  April  6,  1861. 
"  To  CAPT.  H .  A.  ADAMS,  Commanding  Naval  Force 

off  Pensacola. 

"  SIR— Your  dispatch  of  April  1st  is  received.  The 
department  regrets  that  you  did  not  comply  with 
the  request  of  Capt.  Vodges  to  carry  into  effect  the 
orders  of  General  Scott,  sent  oat  by  the  'Cru 
sader'  under  the  orders  of  this  department. 

"You  will  immediately,  on  the  first  favorable  op 
portunity  after  the  receipt  of  this  order,  afford 
every  facility  to  Capt.  Vodges  by  boats  and  other 
means  to  enable  him  to  land  the  troops  under  his 
command,  it  being  the  wish  and  intention  of  the 
Navy  Department  to  co-operate  with  the  War  De 
partment  in  that  object." 

"  I  am,  respectfully  yours, 

"  GIDEON  WELLES. 
"  Secretary  of  the  Navy." 

These  orders  were  sent  to  Capt.  Adams 
by  a  special  messenger  (Lieut.  John  L. 
Worden),  who  crossed  the  rebellious  States 
to  deliver  them.  He  committed  the  orders 
to  memory,  in  case  the  papers  should  be 
lost  or  he  be  arrested,  but  he  arrived  in 
safety,  and  delivered  the  document  to  Capt. 
Adams  on  the  12th  of  April.  Capt.  Vodges' 
company  was  immediately  landed  at  P  ort 
Pickens. 

Thus  from  the  time  Capt.  Vodges  arrived 


106 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


and  was  placed  on  board  the  "Brooklyn," 
and  from  the  time  of  General  Scott's  orders 
to  land  the  troops,  dated  March  12,  1861, 
twenty -four  days  elapsed  before  any  thing 
was  done  to  relieve  Fort  Pickens,  Capt. 
Slemmer  remaining  in  command  of  the  fort 
all  that  time  with  only  twenty-five  men. 
Where,  then,  is  the  protection  that  was 
granted  by  the  Navy  Department  ? 

Three  days  after  Mr.  Welles  issued  his 
instructions  to  have  General  Scott's  orders 
obeyed,  the  steamer  "Atlantic,"  chartered 
by  Capt.  Meigs,  arrived  and  threw  600  men 
into  the  fort,  with  all  that  was  necessary 
to  resist  a  seige,  and  the  next  day  the 
'•  Powhatan  "  was  there  to  protect  the  fort 
with  her  batteries. 

The  military  relief  that  was  placed  in  the 
fort  from  the  "Brooklyn"  (75  men)  was  not 
at  all  adequate  to  its  defence  against  Gen. 
Bragg's  forces  ;  not  one  man  was  ordered 
by  the  Navy  Department  to  be  landed  from 
the  ships  at  that  time  anchored  off  Pensa- 
cola,  and  this  help  never  would  have  been 
afforded,  for  on  or  about  the  20th,  when  a 
concerted  signal  was  said  to  have  been 
made  for  succor,  the  "Powhatan's  "  boats 
with  marines  were  the  only  ones  that  re 
sponded  to  it.  One  of  these  boats  got  along 
side  the  flagship  by  mistake  and  was  de 
tained  there  until  daylight,  with  the  remark 
that  they  knew  nothing  about  concerted 
signals  ! 

The  historian  Boynton  rather  sneers  at 
the  manner  in  which  Pickens  was  relieved 
by  the  "  Powhatan  "  and  "Atlantic,"  and 
reflects  on  the  brilliancy  of  the  exploit. 
Certainly  there  was  nothing  brilliant  about 
it,  but  it  was  successful,  and  it  must  have 
reassured  the  Northern  people  when  they 
heard  that  there  was  some  decision  still  left 
in  President  Lincoln's  Cabinet,  when  they 
saw  that  a  merchant  steamer  had  thrown 
600  men  into  Fort  Pickens  and  that  a  frigate 
was  protecting  them  with  her  guns;  best  of 
all,  that  the  President  had  asserted  his  right 
to  man  and  use  the  Government  forts  as  he 
pleased. 

If  there  was  any  compact  between  the 
Confederates  and  the  Government,  it  was 
broken  on  the  arrival  of  the  "  Powhatan" 
—for  she  fired  upon  them  the  moment  they 
attempted  a  water  expedition  towards  Santa 
Rosa  Island. 

All  the  claims  for  saving  Fort  Pickens 
from  the  enemy,  put  forward  by  anyone  in 
favor  of  the  Navy  Department,  are  null  and 
void. 

Capt.  Meigs  puts  the  matter  truthfully 
and  squarely,  when  in  answer  to  questions 
concerning  the  expedition,  lie  stated  : 

"An  order  was  issued  on  the  recommendation  of 
Secretary  Seward,  detaching  the  '  Powhatan  '  from 
the  Sumter  expedition,  and  sending  her  to  Fort 
Pickens. 


"  In  conclusion  permit  me  to  remark  that  this,  the 
first  successful  military  expedition  of  the  war,  orig 
inated  with  Mr.  Seward  ;  until  it  sailed  the  United 
States  had  declined  every  where." 

The  above  account,  in  relation  to  the 
steps  taken  to  relieve  Sumter  and  Pickens, 
is  perfectly  correct,  and  the  attempt  of  any 
one  to  detract  from  the  credit  of  the  Fort 
Pickens  expedition  is  unworthy  of  con 
sideration. 

Several  attempts  were  made  to  credit  the 
Navy  Department  with  the  merit  of  saving 
Fort"  Pickens  to  the  Union,  and  the  same 
authority  attempted  to  show  that  the  Fort 
Pickens  expedition  caused  the  failure  at 
Sumter.  There  was  no  necessity  for  mak 
ing  an  excuse  for  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
Mr.  Fox,  or  anybody  else  who  was  con 
cerned  in  the  attempt  to  rescue  Sumter. 
War  was  a  foregone  conclusion  with  the 
leaders  at  Charleston,  but  they  still  retained 
sufficient  right  feeling  to  wish  to  have  some 
valid  excuse  for  striking  the  first  blow.  Mr. 
Secretary  Welles  gave  them  the  opportunity 
by  sending  down  the  relief  vessels  :  the 
first  blow  had  to  come  and  the  sooner  it 
came  the  better. 

No  one  can  cast  any  reflection  on  Secre 
tary  Welles  or  Mr.  Fox  for  the  failure  (if  it 
may  be  so  called)  at  Charleston.  It  was  a 
matter  beyond  their  control  ;  they  were  botli 
loyal  men  and  did  all  they  could  to 
bring  about  the  relief  of  the  men  in  Fort 
Sumter,  and  their  loyalty  and  determina 
tion  to  put  down  the  rebellion  was  un 
ceasing  during  a  four  years'  war,  which  re 
quired  the  most  eminent  ability  to  conduct 
the  Department  in  which  each  of  them  exer 
cised  that  control  best  suited  to  his  capacity. 

If  Mr.  Secretary  Welles  does  not  deserve 
the  credit  of  succoring  Pickens  in  time,  it 
is  because  he  had  not  an  officer  in  command 
of  the  squadron  at  Pensacola  who  would 
anticipate  orders,  or  who  was  enough  in 
terested  in  the  Union  cause  to  take  the  re 
sponsibility  of  using  active  measures  with 
out  instructions.  Secretary  Welles  also 
labored  under  the  disadvantage  of  having 
the  general  of  the  army  sending  down 
orders  to  the  captain  of  the  company  on 
board  the  "Brooklyn"  to  land,  without 
properly  passing  his  orders  through  the 
Navy  Department,  so  that  there  might  be 
perfect  concert  of  action  between  the  com 
mander  of  the  troops  and  the  commander 
of  the  vessel. 

When  Mr.  Welles  was  called  on  to  act  he 
did  act  promptly,  and  if  late  in  doing  so  it 
mattered  very  little,  for  the  expedition  in 
augurated  by  Mr.  Seward  arrived  a  day  or 
two  after,  and  made  the  place  so  secure  that 
no  Confederate  force  could  have  any  effect 
upon  it. 

These  two  places,  Sumter  and  Pickens,  on 
which  at  one  time  so  much  depended 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


107 


(whether  war  or  peace  would  rule  the  day), 
are  too  prominent  subjects  to  pass  over 
lightly,  and  if  the  writer  has  dwelt  on  the 
matter  longer  than  the  reader  may  think 
justifiable,  it  is  because  he  desired  to  give  a 
true  account  of  the  whole  affair. 

The  operations  of  the  Gulf  and  East  Gulf 
blockading  squadrons  were  mostly  confined 
to  blockading  duty,  with  an  occasional 
smart  skirmish  with  the  enemy.  The  names 
of  the  following  officers  are  spoken  of  as 
active  in  the  performance  of  all  the  duties 
which  fell  to  their  lot  in  this  limited  sphere 
of  action  :  Lieut. -Commander  Francis  Wins- 
low,  Commander  Geo.  F.  Emmons,  Lieuts. 
J.  C.  Howell  and  A.  F.  Grossman,  Com 
mander  H.  S.  Stellwagen,  Lieut.  Abbot, 
Capt.  Cicero  Price  and  Act. -Master  Elna- 
than  Lewis. 

These  officers  all  did  good  service,  and 
gave  evidence  of  loyalty  and  zeal  which 
promised  greater  usefulness  when  employed 
in  a  wrider  sphere  of  action. 

The  duty  in  the  Gulf  was  harrassing,  and 
at  the  same  time  tedious  and  monotonous; 
and  if  not  as  brilliant  as  that  performed  by 
the  Navy  in  other  localities,  it  performed 
its  share  of  the  work  of  putting  down  the 
rebellion  by  maintaining  the  blockade  of 
the  Southern  Coast,  the  most  severe  duty 
performed  by  any  officers  during  the  war. 

GULF  SQUADRON,  18G1,  VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS. 

FLAGSHIP  "  NIAGARA."  Captain  Wm.  W. 
McKean,  Flag  Officer;  Lieuts.,  John  Guest, 
Wm.  F.  Spicer,  J.  C.  P.  De  Krafft.  Robt.  L. 
May  and  Edw.  E.  Potter;  Fleet  Surg.,  G. 
R.B.  Homer;  Surgeon,  J.  Foltz; Asst.  Surg., 
James  McAllister:  Chaplain,  C.  S.  Stewart; 
Paymaster,  G.  B.  Barry;  Masters,  J.  D.  Mar 
vin,  James  O'Kane,  T.  L.  Swan,  H.  B.  Robe- 
son  and  Silas  Casey,  Jr. ;  Capt.  Marines, 
Josiah  Watson;  First  Lieut..  Geo.  Butler; 
Chief  Engineer,  Robt.  H.  Long  ;  Asst.-En- 
gineers,  D.  B.  Macomb,  C.  B.  Kidd,  E.  A.  C. 
DuPlaine,  L.  R.  Green,  R.  H.  Grinnell,  A. 
H.  Fisher  and  Robt.  Potts  ;  Boatswain,  A. 
M.  Pomeroy  ;  Gunner,  R.  J.  Hill  ;  Carpen 
ter,  John  Rainbow  ;  Sailmaker,  Stephen 
Seaman. 

FRIGATE  "  SANTEE."  Captain,  Henry 
Eagle;  Surgeon,  T.  M.  Potter;  Lieuts., 
James  E.  Jouett,  J.  J.  Mitchell.  B.  N. 
Wescott,  James  H.  Spotts;  Act. -Master's 
Mate,  Charles  W.  Adams;  Asst.-Surg.,  C. 
H.  Burbank  ;  Paymaster,  L.  Warrington; 
Midshipmen,  Frederick  Rodgers.  George  M. 
Brown,  S.  H.  Hunt :  Boatswain,  William 
Black;  Carpenter.  Wm.  H.  Edgar;  Gunner, 
William  Carter  ;  First  Lieut,  of  Marines,  C. 
D.  Ho.bb. 

STEAMER  "  RICHMOND."  Capt.,  F.  B.  Elli 
son  ;  Lieuts.,  N.  C.  Bryant,  A.  B.  Cum- 


mings,  Robert  Boyd,  Jr.,  Edward  Terry, 
Byron  Wilson  ;  Surgeon,  A.  A.  Henderson; 
Asst. -Surgeon,  William  Howrell  ;  Paymas 
ter.  Geo.  F.  Cutter;  Boatswain,  I.  T.  Choate; 
Sailmaker,  H.  T.  Stocker  :  Carpenter,  H. 
L.  Dixon  :  Gunner,  James  Thayer  ;  Act.- 
Master's  Mate,  H.  W.  Grinnell ;  First  Lieut. 
Marines,  Alan  Ramsey  ;  Chief  Engineer, 
John  W.  Moore  ;  Asst. -Engineers,  Eben 
Hoyt,  J.  L.  Butler,  Wm.  Pollard,  A.  W. 
Morley,  G.  W.  W.  Dove,  R.  B.  Plotts,  C.  E. 
Emery. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR  "  VINCENNES."  Comman 
der,  Robert  Handy  ;  Lieut..  John  E.  Hart; 
Surgeon,  S.  A.  Engles ;  Paymaster,  R.  C. 
Spalding  ;  Asst.  Surgeon,  Somerset  Robin 
son  ;  Midshipmen,  O.  A.  Batcheller,  B.  F. 
Haskin,  M.  W.  Sanders  and  E.  M.  Shepard; 
Boatswain,  Jos.  Shankland  ;  Gunner,Wil- 
liam  Wilson  ;  Sailmaker,  Nicholas  Lynch  ; 
Second  Lieut.  Marines.  J.  H.  Higbee. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR  "PREBLE."  Commander, 
Henry  French  ;  Lieut.,  William  E.  Hop 
kins  ;  Surgeon,  Stewart  Kennedy ;  Pay 
master,  C.  P.  Wallach  ;  Boatswain,  John 
Bates  ;  Gunner,  E.  J.  Waugh  ;  Carpenter, 
James  Kinnear  ;  Sailmaker,  G.  A.  Wight- 
man. 

STEAMER  "WATER  WITCH."  Commander, 
Wm.  Ronckendorff  (in  August)  ;  Lieut., 
Francis  Winslow  (in  October)  ;  Lieuts.,  J. 
L.  Davis,  James  Stillwell,  C.  H.  Cushman 
and  Allan  V.  Reed  ;  P.  Asst. -Surgeon,  P. 
S.  Wales  ;  Asst.-Engineers,  Wm.  C.  Selden, 
Reynolds  Driver,  Edw.  Scattergood,  A.  H. 
Able. 

FRIGATE  "  POTOMAC."  Capt.,  L.  M.  Powell. 
Lieuts.,  Samuel  Marcy,  Lewis  A.  Kimberly; 
Geo.  E.  Law;  Master,  W.  S.  Schley;  Sur 
geon,  J.  D.  Miller;  Asst.-Surgeon,  A.  O. 
Leavitt;  Paymaster,  James  D.  Murray; 
Midshipmen,  Wm.  T.  Sampson,  C.  H.  Hum 
phrey,  Merrill  Miller,  John  H.  Reed,  D.  D. 
Wemple;  Boatswain.  C.  E.  Bragdon;  Gun 
ner,  W.  H.  French;  Carpenter,  O.  T.  Stim- 
son;  Sailmaker.  Geo.  Thomas. 

STEAMER  "  HUNTSVILLE."  Com.  Cicero 
Price;  Lieut.,  Henry  Erben:  Midshipmen, 
E.  C.  V.  Blake,  Louis  Kempff. 

STEAMER  "  R.  R.  CUYLER."  Lieut.  Francis 
Winslow;  Act.-Lieut.,  J.  Van  Ness  Philip; 
Act. -Master,  Henry  K.  Lapham;  Midship 
men,  L.  R.  P.  Adams,  A.  C.  Alexander, 
Wm.  R.  Bridgman. 

STEAMER  "  HATTERAS."  Com.,  Geo.  F. 
Emmons;  Act. -Master,  Hoffman;  Master's 
Mates,  McGrath  and  Hazlett. 

STEAMER  "  MASSACHUSETTS."  Com.,  Mel- 
ancton  Smith. 

STEAMER  "NEW  LONDON."  Com.,  James 
Alden. 

NOTE.— Names  of  officers  obtained  mostly  from 
Navy  Register  of  August  31,  1861. 


CH  A  PTE  R     X  I. 


GOLDSBOROUGH'S  EXPEDITION  TO  THE  SOUNDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

EXPEDITION  TO  ROANOKE  ISLAND.— REAR-ADMIRAL  GOLDSBOROUGH  IN  COMMAND  OF  NAVAL 
FORCES.— ARMY  FORCES  UNDER  COMMAND  OF  GENERAL  BURNSIDE.— VESSELS  AND 
OFFICERS  IN  COMMAND. — A  NONDESCRIPT  SQUADRON. — COMMANDER  ROWAN  GIVEN 
COMMAND. — DESCRIPTION  OF  ROANOKE  ISLAND. — THE  DEFENSES. — ATTACK  ON  WORKS 
AND  VESSELS.— BARRACKS  AT  FORT  BARTOW  ON  FIRE.— LANDING  OF  TROOPS  AT  ASH 
LEY'S  HARBOR. — CAPTURE  OF  FORT  BARTOW. — DESTRUCTION  OF  STEAMER  "CURLEW" 
AND  BATTERIES  AT  REDSTONE  POINT. — "HEARTS  OF  OAK"  IN  WOODEN  SHIPS. — CON 
FEDERATES  SURRENDER  TO  GENERALS  FOSTER  AND  RENO. — LOSSES  OF  ARMY.— 
ADVANTAGES  OF  CAPTURE  OF  ROANOKE  ISLAND. — ESCAPE  OF  CONFEDERATE  FLEET.— 
CASUALTIES  AMONG  NAVAL  FORCES  — COMMANDER  ROWAN  PURSUES  CONFEDERATE 
FLEET. — DESTRUCTION  OF  CONFEDERATE  FLEET  AND  FORTS  ON  PASQUOTANK  RIVER.— 
ATTEMPT  TO  BURN  ELIZABETH  CITY. — EXPEDITIONS  UP  RIVERS  LEADING  INTO  SOUNDS. — 
BRAVERY  OF  LIEUT.  FLUSSER. 


OWING  to  the   fact  that    the  com 
manding    officer  of  the  Hatteras 
expedition  did  not  push  the  ad 
vantages   he    had  gained  by  the 
capture   of     Forts    Hatteras  and 
Clark,  in  August,  1861,  the  victory  was  al 
most  a  barren  one,  with  the  exception  of 
its  moral  effect  and  the  recapture  of  many 
of  the  guns  which  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  Confederates. 

The  principal  entrances  into  the  sounds 
of  North  Carolina  were  secured,  but  the 
Confederates  had  still  the  means  not  only 
of  annoying  the  coast-wise  commerce  pass 
ing  daily  before  these  inlets,  but  also  of 
supplying  their  armies  through  the  intri 
cate  and  numerous  channels  belonging  to 
the  several  sounds,  and  known  only  to 
themselves. 

In  January,  1862,  it  was  determined  by 
the  Navy  Department  to  fit  out  an  expedi 
tion  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  Roanoke 
Island,  and  getting  possession  of  Pamlico 
and  Albemarle  Sounds. 

This  had  become  a  necessity,  as  the  Con 
federates  had  facilities  for  fitting  out  light 
armed  and  swift  vessels,  which  could  get 
in  and  out  at  their  pleasure  and  attack  our 
commerce  whenever  it  suited  their  conven 
ience.  It  was  also  known  that  the  Confed 


erates  were  fitting  out  some  powerful  iron 
clads  in  the  western  waters  of  the  sounds, 
and  it  was  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
Federal  government  to  obtain  a  foothold 
there  before  these  vessels  were  completed. 
There  were  many  other  reasons  why  so 
large  and  important  a  body  of  water  should 
be  secured,  and  it  was  a  case  where  the 
Navy  only  could  take  the  initiative,  and 
where  success  could  only  be  obtained  by  the 
use  of  well-armed  vessels-of-war. 

Rear- Admiral  Louis  M.  Goldsborough  was 
selected  to  command  the  naval  expedition, 
and  General  A.  E.  Burnside  was  directed  to 
co-operate  with  him  :  the  latter  to  have 
under  his  command  some  17,000  troops. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  vessels  which 
composed  the  naval  part  of  the  expedition, 
with  the  names  of  their  commanders  : 

"  Stars  and  Stripes,"  Lieut. -Comdg.  Reed 
Werden;  "Louisiana,"  Lieut.-Comdg.  A. 
Murray;  "Hetzel,"  Lieut.-Comdg.  H.  K. 
Davenport ;  "  Underwriter,"  Lieut.-Comdg. 
W.  N.  Jeffers;  "  Delaware,"  Lieut.-Comdg. 
S.  P.  Quackenbush;  "  Commodore  Perrv," 
Lieut.-Comdg.  C.  W.  Flusser ;  "Valley 
City,"  Lieut  -Comdg.  J.  C.  Chaplin;  "  Com. 
Barney,"  Act. -Lieut. -Comdg  R.  T.  Ren- 
shaw;  "  Hunchback."  Act. -Vol. -Lt.-Comdg. 
E.  R.  Colhoun;  "  Southfield,"  Act. -Vol. -Lt.- 


(108) 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


109 


Comdg.  C.  F.  W.  Behm  ;  "  Morse."  Acting- 
Master  Peter  Hayes;  "  Whitehead,"  Acting- 
Master  Charles  French:  "  Lock  wood,"  Act 
ing-Master  G.  W.  Graves:  "  Brincker," 
Acting-Master  John  E.  Giddings;  "I.  N. 
Seymour,"  Acting-Master  F.  S.  Wells ; 
*•  Ceres."  Acting-Master  John  McDiarmid  ; 
"  Putnam,"  Acting-Master  W.  J.  Hotchkiss; 
"Shawsheen,"  Acting-Master  T.  G.  Wood- 


ring   his   flag  temporarily    to  the  steamer 
"Southfield." 

Hatteras  Inlet,  through  which  our  vessels 
had  to  pass  to  get  into  Pamlico  Sound,  was 
not  the  most  desirable  channel  in  the  world; 
on  the  contrary  it  was  beset  with  difficulties, 
and  only  those  who  went  on  that  expedition 
will  ever  know  of  the  perilous  adventures  in 
which  the  officers  and  men  were  engaged. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  LOUIS  M.  GOLDSBOROUGH. 


ward;  "Granite,"  Acting-Master's  Mate 
E.  Boomer. 

These  vessels  were  placed  by  Admiral 
Goldsborough  under  the  •'  general  com 
mand  "  of  Commander  S.  C.  Rowan,  who 
carried  his  divisional  flag  on  the  steamer 
''  Delaware." 

The  flagship  "  Philadelphia"  being <;  unfit 
for  the  purpose  "  took  no  part  in  the  engage 
ment  ;  the  Commander-in-Chief  transfer- 


Atthe  time  when  this  expedition  was  un 
dertaken,  the  Navy  Department  had  great 
difficulty  in  obtaining  suitable  vessels  for 
its  purpose.  If  the  vessels  were  of  light 
draft,  they  were  naturally  slightly  built,  and 
not  calculated  to  contend  with  the  winter 
gales  which  rago  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape 
Hatteras.  It  will  be  seen  by  a  look  at  the 
list  of  naval  vessels  employed  in  this  expe 
dition  that  the  squadron  was  a  nonde- 


110 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


script  affair.  It  was  made  up  of  river 
steamers,  ferry-boats,  tug-boats  and  almost 
anything  that  would  turn  a  wheel  or  screw. 
It  was  a  great  change  for  our  naval  officers 
to  come  down  from  the  staunch  old  ships  of 
live  oak  (in  which  they  had  been  accus 
tomed  to  sail  about  the  world)  to  these 
frail  craft  loaded  to  the  water's  edge  with 
guns  of  heavy  calibre,  not  knowing 
whether  they  would  ever  reach  the  place 
for  which  they  were  destined,  much  less 
hoping  to  get  home  safe  and  sound  to  their 
anxious  relatives.  It  was  a  mere  matter  of 
luck  with  them,  as  their  success  depended 
on  whether  they  should  meet  a  gale  of  wind 
or  not,  while  off  the  coast.  Our  govern 
ment  was  not  always  careful  as  to  what 
kind  of  vessels  it  purchased,  and  if  the  peo 
ple  of  the  country  could  have  seen  the  craft 
in  which  our  sailors  went  to  sea  and  fought 
their  country's  battles  they  would  have 
given  them  more  sympathy. 

But  there  were  hearts  of  oak  in  that  non 
descript  squadron,  and  they  never  stopped 
to  inquire  whether  there  was  danger  in  the 
enterprise  or  not,  or  whether  their  vessels 
would  sink  or  swim;  all  they  cared  for  was 
to  reach  the  post  of  danger,  well  knowing 
that  when  once  in  the  smooth  water  of  the 
sounds  they  would  be  amply  repaid  for  any 
risks  they  might  run  in  getting  there. 

The  reason  why  such  vessels  had  been  se 
lected  for  this  important  work  was  that  the 
Navy  Department  had  no  others.  Gun-boats 
were  built  as  fast  as  possible,  but  all  of  them 
were  of  such  draft  of  water  that  they  could 
only  with  great  difficulty  cross  the  bars  at 
the  southern  inlets.  The  Army  transports 
were  worse  even  than  the  so-called  naval 
gun-boats,  for  the  War  Department  had 
been  even  more  unfortunate  than  the  naval 
authorities  in  selecting  vessels.  They  had 
no  skill  in  such  matters,  and  were  easily 
deceived  by  the  harpies-  who  are  always 
ready  to  t-ake  advantage  of  their  country's 
need,  without  regard  to  any  sacrifice  of  life 
which  might  result  from  their  avarice:  and 
yet  some  of  these  men  were  considered  to 
be  loyal  citizens,  working  for  the  Govern 
ment.  They  took  good  care  to  make  close 
contracts,  securing  themselves  from  loss  in 
case  of  damage  to  their  chartered  steamers. 

This  heterogeneous  crowd  of  naval  ves 
sels  and  transports  arrived  at  Hatteras  In 
let  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  January, 
1802,  and  were  all  taken  across  the  baV, 
where  there  was  barely  seven  and  one-half 
feet  of  water.  They  arrived  at  the  begin 
ning  of  a  northeast  gale  which  lasted  two 
days,  during  which  time  many  of  the  vessels 
were  severely  battered  ere  they  could  reach 
safe  quarters. 

On  the  20th  seventeen  naval  armed 
steamers  were  over  the  bar  and  safely  an 
chored  inside,  under  the  command  of  Com. 


S.  C.  Rowan.  This  in  effect  gave  the  Fed 
eral  forces  full  control  of  Pamlico  Sound, 
but  the  military  command  could  only  be 
retained  by  the  capture  of  Roaaioke  Island. 
It  was  not  until  the  22d  that  Gen.  Burnside 
was  able  to  get  all  his  transports  over  the 
bar  and  into  still  water. 

Had  the  enemy  been  on  the  alert  with 
what  gun-boats  they  had,  they  would  have 
caused  great  disturbance  to  our  fleet  while 
it  was  beset  with  dangers  on  the  bar.  where 
the  naval  vessels  would  have  found  it  diffi 
cult  to  use  their  guns,  and  where  great 
havoc  might  have  been  made  among  the 
closely  packed  troops  on  board  the  trans 
ports.  The  enemy's  gun-boats  did  not  take 
advantage  of  their  opportunity,  however, 
but  kept  close  to  their  fortifications,  merely 
amusing  themselves  by  throwing  an  occa 
sional  shell  from  their  long  range  guns  at 
the  vessels  in  the  harbor,  but  never  reach 
ing  the  danger  point. 

On  the  21st,  Rear-Admiral  Goldsborougli 
sent  a  steamer  out  to  examine  a  certain 
buoy,  to  see  whether  it  was  in  the  right 
place.  While  engaged  upon  this  service 
two  steamers  were  descried  in  the  distance. 
On  the  fact  being  signalled  to  Com.  Rowan 
he  gave  chase  to  them  with  several  of  his 
vessels,  but  the  enemy  escaped. 

It  must  have  been  very  evident  to  the 
Confederates,  when  they  beheld  the  com 
paratively  large  force  that  was  sent  against 
them,  that  they  would  have  a  hard  tussle 
to  keep  possession  of  the  sounds;  but  they 
had  a  strong  position,  and  seemed  deter 
mined  to  maintain  it. 

When  everything  was  in  readiness  for  the 
movement  to  commence,  the  naval  vessels 
were  all  placed  under  the  command  of  Com 
mander  Rowan,  who  was  to  take  the  lead 
and  open  the  way  for  the  transports. 

Before  giving  any  account  of  the  opera 
tions  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  the  read 
ers  some  idea  of  the  defenses  of  Roanoke 
Island. 

This  island  is  about  ten  miles  long  and 
three  wide,  running  in  a  northwesterly  and 
southeasterly  direction. 

By  the  capture  of  Hatteras  Inlet  forts  the 
Federal  Government  gained  possession  only 
of  Pamlico  Sound,  and  therefore  the  first 
object  of  this  expedition  was  to  gain  pos 
session  of  Albemarle  Sound  and  the  con 
necting  waters,  through  which  the  Confed 
erates  were  carrying  on  an  active  trade. 
Roanoke  Island  barred  the  way  between 
these  two  sounds,  and  the  Confederates  had 
made  it  a  formidable  barrier  by  the  erection 
of  heavy  fortifications 

The  channel  connecting  Pamlico  and  Al 
bemarle  Sounds  in  which  Roanoke  Island 
lies  is  very  shallow,  and  could  therefore  be 
easily  obstructed  by  sunken  vessels  or  piles. 
The  sheet  of  water  on  the  west  side  of  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


Ill 


island  is  called  Croatan  Sound,  and  that  on 
the  east  side  Roanoke  Sound.  All  of  these 
waters  are  navigable  to  a  certain  extent, 
but  large  vessels  can  only  pass  through  the 
western  channel.  (See  tneplan,  which  will 
more  fully  explain  the  situation  than  any 
description.) 

It  is  quite  clear  that  Roanoke  Island  in 
the  hands  of  the  Confederates  was  the  key 
to  that  great  chain  of  sounds  and  passages 


If  the  Northern  Government  had  estab 
lished  a  formidable  army  in  North  Carolina 
in  the  neighborhood  or  Plymouth,  Green 
ville  and  ^ewbern,  connected  by  lines  of 
communication  and  supported  near  these 
places  by  a  fleet  of  gun-Boats  with  powerful 
guns,  the  Wilmington  Railroad.  Raleigh 
and  Welden  would  have  been  within  strik 
ing  distance  of  our  army,  and  the  Confed 
erates  would  have  been  obliged  to  use  more 


VICE-ADMIRAL   8.  C.  ROWAN. 


running  from  Hatteras  Inlet  to  the  Dismal 
Swamp  canal,  and  that  in  order  to  retain 
control  of  these  highways  it  was  necessary 
for  the  Unionists  to  capture  this  position  at 
all  hazards. 

It  was  a  great  strategic  point  which 
enabled  the  Confederates  to  cover  Norfolk 
in  the  rear,  Welden  and  the  Northeast  rail 
roads,  and  keep  open  their  communications 
with  Lee's  armv  at  Richmond. 


northern  railroads  to  obtain  their  supplies, 
even  if  they  did  not  have  to  evacuate  Rich 
mond.  The  final  movement  of  our  army  un 
der  Sherman  in  his  "March  to  the  Sea," 
was  directed  towards  some  of  these  points  in 
North  Carolina,  and  it  was  not  long  after 
this  that  Lee  surrendered  and  General  Joe 
Johnston  laid  down  his  arms. 

When  the    Confederates  found  that   the 
Hatteras  forts  were  incapable  of  keeping  the 


112 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Federal  gun-boats  out  of  the  sounds,  and 
that  the  Neuse  and  Pamlico  Rivers  must 
fall  into  our  hands,  they  determined  to  for*- 
tify  Roanoke  Island  and  prevent  our  getting 
into  Albemarle  Sound ;  so  that  they  could 
hold  communication  with  Norfolk  through 
the  Currituck  Inlet  and  save  Plymouth  and 
the  Roanoke  River.  They  were  building 
some  heavy  iron-clads  up  that  river,  and  all 
the  material,  machinery  and  guns  had  to  be 
transported  from  Norfolk  and  Richmond. 

The  defences  of  Roanoke  Island  consisted 
of  six  separate  works.  Five  of  these  guarded 
the  water  approaches  and  the  sixth  was  a 
masked  battery  intended  to  prevent  troops 
from  landing  and  attacking  toe  main  works 
in  the  rear. 

This  last  battery  was  armed  with  three 
guns  and  was  flanked  on  either  side  by  a 
dense  cedar  swamp,  so  that  an  army  land 
ing  at  this  point  was  only  supposed  to  be 
able  to  advance  by  the  roadway,  towards  the 
water  defence  at  Pork  Point,  where  their 
principal  work,  Fort  Bartow,  was  situated. 
The  swamp  was  considered  impassible,  and 
to  render  further  protection  a  barrier  of 
fallen  trees  was  formed  on  each  side  of  the 
road. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  defences, 
taken  from  Rear-Admiral  Goldsborough's 
report :  "  They  consisted  of  two  elaborately 
constructed  works,  mounting  altogether 
twenty  guns,  three  of  them  being  100- 
pounder  rifles  ;  four  other  batteries,  mount 
ing  together  twenty  guns,  a  large  proportion 
of  them  being  of  larger  calibre  and  some  of 
them  rifled;  eight  steamers,  mounting  two 
guns  each,  and  each  having  a  rifled  gun 
with  the  diameter  of  a  32- pounder;  a  pro 
longed  obstruction  of  sunken  vessels  and 
piles  to  thwart  our  advance,  and,  altogether, 
a  body  of  men  numbering  scarcely  less 
than  5,000.  ..." 

This  was  a  strong  position,  and  a  large 
number  of  guns  (56  in  all)  to  meet  the  at 
tack  of  48  guns  on  our  frail  steamers  with 
out  any  protection  to  hull  or  machinery. 

The  naval  vessels,  under  the  lead  of  Com. 
Rowan,  made  the  attack  on  the  works  and 
vessels  at  Roanoke  Island,  on  February 
7th,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  plan  of  battle  was  for  the  naval  force 
to  lead  up  to  the  attack,  and  engage  the 
batteries  at  Pork  and  Sandy  Points  and  the 
Confederate  vessels.  While  this  was  going 
on  the  Army  was  to  advance  and  land  un 
der  cover  of  the  naval  fire.  A  naval  brig 
ade  of  artillery  was  also  detailed  to  land 
from  six  launches,  at  Ashby  Harbor,  or.  if 
possible,  at  Sandy  Point,  half  a  mile  above. 

The  naval  division  under  Com.  Rowan 
was  arranged  in  three  columns,  commanded 
respectively  by  Lieuts.  Worden,  Murray 
and  Davenport,  these  to  be  followed  by  the 
Army  transports,  also  in  divisions. 


Two  days  were  occupied  by  our  fleet  in 
threading  its  way  through  the  intricate 
channels  of  the  marshes,  owing  to  fogs  and 
foul  weather.  These  channels  were  so 
narrow  that  only  two  vessels  could  proceed 
abreast,  and  in 'this  order  they  continued 
until  reaching  the  wider  and  deeper  waters 
of  Croatan  Sound. 

The  naval  division,  composed  and  com 
manded  as  stated  above,  was  accompanied, 
as  predetermined,  by  the  "Picket,"'  Capt. 
T.  P.  Ives;  "Huzzar,"  Capt.  Frederick 
Crocker;  "  Pioneer,''  Capt.  Charles  E.  Baker; 
"  Vidette,"  Capt.  John  L.  Foster;  "  Ranger,'5 
Capt.  Samuel  Emerson;  "Lancer."  Capt. 
M.  B.  Morley,  and  "Chasseur,''  Capt.  John 
West,  of  the  army  division.  Keeping  in 
close  order  it  approached  the  enemy  near 
enough  to  begin  the  attack,  and  to  devote 
most  of  its  firing  against  the  fort  on  Pork 
Point  (not  neglecting  the  enemy's  vessels), 
a  battery  between  Pork  and  Weir's  Points, 
and  another  on  Redstone  Point  (see  plan), 
all  of  which  returned  the  fire  of  the  Federal 
fleet,  but  without  much  effect. 

The  Federal  vessels  having  obtained  posi 
tion  the  action  became  general  between 
them  and  the  enemy,  the  army  transports 
also  joining  in  with  the  rifle  guns  they  had 
mounted. 

At  1:30  the  shells  from  our  fleet  set  fire 
to  the  barracks  behind  Pork  Point,  and  in  a 
short  time  they  were  in  full  blaze  and  be 
yond  control,  as  at  this  time  the  Federal 
vessels,  having  got  their  range,  were  throw 
ing  in  a  very  destructive  fire. 

At  3  P.  M.  the  troops  shifted  to  light-draft 
steamers  and  boats  and  started  to  land  at 
Ashby's  Harbor.  This  place  was  guarded 
by  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  with  a  field 
battery,  but  Commander  Rowan  in  the 
"Delaware,"  taking  up  a  flanking  position 
to  the  southward  of  Pork  Point,  turned  his 
9-inch  guns  towards  the  harbor  and  com 
pelled  the  enemy  to  retreat,  thus  clearing 
the  way  for  a  landing. 

At  4.30  Pork  Point  Battery  and  the  one 
next  to  the  northward  of  it  ceased  firing; 
five  of  the  Confederate  steamers  went  be 
hind  Weirs  Point  disabled,  and  the  first 
landing  of  our  troops  took  place. 

At  5  P.  M.  these  batteries  re-opened,  and 
the  enemy's  steamers  having  repaired 
damages  put  forth  again  and  opened  fire. 
In  a  short  time,  however,  the  steamers  were 
again  obliged  to  retire,  and  one  of  them, 
the  "Curlew,"  in  a  disabled  condition,  took 
refuge  under  the  battery  at  Redstone  Point. 
As  evening  came  on,  the  Rear  Admiral 
commanding  made  signal  to  cease  firing — 
not  wishing  to  waste  ammunition. 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  six 
launches,  under  the  command  of  Midship 
man  B.  H.  Porter,  had  landed  their  howitz 
ers  and  a-  body  of  men,  which  were  em- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


ployed  during  the  night  in  guarding  the 
main  road  and  its  two  forks.  On  the  fol 
lowing  morning  they  assisted  in  the  active 
operations  of  the  Army.  By  midnight  some 
ten  thousand  of  our  troops  had  been  landed 
safely  at  Ashby's  Harbor. 

On  February  8th  it  was  arranged  by  Gen 
eral  Burnside  that  his  forces  should  move  at 
an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  and  begin  their 
attack  "upon  the  enemy;  and  as  the  direc 
tion  they  were  obliged  to  take  would  bring 
them  iii  the  line  of  fire  occupied  by  the 
Navy  it  was  agreed  between  the  two  com- 


tp  hear  from  Gen.  Burnside.  The  fleet  con 
tinued  its  fire  upon  the  forts  until  the  firing 
in  the  interior  of  the  island  sensibly  slack 
ened,  when  it  was  taken  for  granted  that 
our  troops  were  approaching  the  batteries, 
and  carrying  everything  before  them. 
Then  came  the  order  to  clear  the  channel 
of  obstructions,  to  enable  the  squadron  to 
pass  up  and  destroy  the  battery  on  Red 
stone  Point,  which  had  only  one  gun  left 
to  fire,  and  also  the  "Curlew,"  which  lay 
disabled  under  the  enemy's  batteries.  In 
two  hours  and  a  half  this  service  was  per- 


MAP  AND   PLAN   OF  THE  ATTACK   ON   ROANOKE    ISLAND. 


manders,  that  the  naval  fire  should  cease 
until  the  General  gave  notice  that  it  would 
not  interfere  with  his  operations. 

At  daylight  none  of  the  enemy's  vessels, 
except  the  "Curlew,"  could  be  discovered. 
At  9  A.  M.  a  continuous  firing  in  the  in 
terior  of  the  island  showed  that  the  Army 
was  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy  between 
Ashby's  Harbor  and  Pork  Point.  The  Ad 
miral  being  thus  informed  of  the  position 
of  our  troops,  and  seeing  that  they  were 
now  beyond  his  line  of  fire,  at  once  moved 
up  and  "engaged  the  forts,  without  waiting 

8 


formed  bv  the  "Underwriter,"  "Valley 
City,"  "Seymour,"  "Lockwood,"  "Ceres," 
"Shawsheen,"  "Putnam,"  "Whithead" 
and  "Brincker,"  and  these  vessels  passed 
through. 

Just  at  this  moment  our  troops  hoisted 
the  American  flag  on  the  battery  at  Pork 
Point,  and  in  a  few  minutes  afterwards  the 
enemy  himself  fired  the  works  at  Redstone 
Point"  and  the  Confederate  steamer  "Cur 
lew:"  both  blew  up  early  in  the  evening. 

Thus  ended  the  attack  on  the  forts  of 
Roanoke  Island,  the  Confederate  works 


114 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


being  now  completely  in  the  hands  of  the 
Army  and  Navy. 

To  discriminate  between  the  two  branches 
of  the  service  on  this  occasion  would  be 
making  an  invidious  distinction;  both  per 
formed  their  duties  in  the  most  admirable 
manner,  and  worked  together  most  harmo 
niously. 

The  casualties  among  the  naval  vessels 
were  few  in  number,  which  is  considered 
strange  when  the  light  character  of  these 
steamers  is  taken  into  account  and  the  num 
ber  of  guns  (56)  which  were  brought  to  bear 
upon  them  by  the  enemy;  but  the  fire  from 
the  eight  and  nine-inch  shell  guns  and  rifles 
of  the  fleet  was  so  vigorously  kept  up  and 
accurately  aimed  that  it  was  the  same  old 
story  of  Port  Royal— hearts  of  oak  in 
wooden  ships. 

The  military  forces  had  some  hard  fight 
ing  on  shore,  and  the  attack  was  conducted 
with  great  skill.  The  entire  force  of  the 
enemy  stationed  in  the  batteries  and  as 
sharpshooters  was  4,000.  Governor  H.  A. 
Wise  had  a  force  in  reserve  at  Nag's  Head, 
but  retreated  when  he  heard  of  the  fate  of 
the  two  forts. 

The  enemy's  troops  were  well  posted  and 
their  batteries  well  masked,  so  that  the 
Federal  forces  were  really  fighting  an  un 
seen  foe. 

Over  150  officers  and  2,500  men  surren 
dered  to  Generals  Foster  and  Reno.  The 
losses  of  the  Confederates  are  unknown, 
but  they  did  not  exceed  150  killed  and 
wounded.  Our  Army  lost  15  officers  and  32 
men  killed,  10  officers  and  264  men  wounded, 
arid  13  men  missing. 

Thus  was  a  very  important  capture  made, 
with  but  little  loss  of  life,  when  it  is  consid 
ered  that  the  enemy  held  a  strong  position 
and  was  completely  concealed  in  bushes 
and  masked  batteries.  The  advantages 
which  resulted  from  the  capture  of  this 
island  cannot  be  over-estimated.  A  large 
quantity  of  military  stores  of  all  kinds  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Federal  Army  which 
the  enemy  could  not  well  spare,  and  alto 
gether  it  was  a  very  happy  ending  of  what 
promised  at  first  to  be  a  very  difficult  under 
taking. 

The  only  regret  was  that  the  enemy's  fleet 
escaped.  These  vessels  mounted  16  or  17 
heavy  guns,  and  had  taken  a  secure  position 
behind  the  barricades,  prepared  to  defend  the 
way  against  the  Federal  fleet.  Commodore 
Lynch  (the  commander  of  this  naval  force) 
and  many,  if  not  all,  of  his  officers,  had  once 
served  in  the  United  States  Nav}^  ;  but  they 
could  not  stand  the  attack  of  their  old  com 
rades  and  were  obliged  to  retreat.  Strange 
to  say,  all  of  these  steamers,  except  the 
"  Curlew,"  made  good  their  escape.  As  re 
gards  vulnerability  these  vessels  were  as 
defective  as  those  of  the  Federal  fleet,  and 


their  commanders  saw  from  the  first  what 
the  result  would  be,  and  took  advantage 
of  the  darkness  to  move  away  to  a  safer 
position. 

Great  praise  was  given  to  General  Burn- 
side  for  the  manner  in  which  he  conducted 
his  part  of  the  affair.  There  was  no  instance 
during  the  war  where  the  Army  and  Navv 
worked  together  more  harmoniously.  It 
was  a  case  where  each  was  necessary  to  the 
other  and  where  neither  could  have  won 
alone. 

History  will  show  that,  throughout  the 
war,  "whenever  the  Army  and  Navy  co 
operated  harmoniously  success  folio  wed:  but 
when  difficulties  occurred  between  the  mili 
tary  and  naval  commanders  the  results  were 
unsatisfactory. 

By  the  capture  of  these  works  and  their 
garrisons,  all  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina 
came  under  Federal  jurisdiction,  as  the 
naval  vessels  and  military  transports  were 
now  able  to  reach  all  parts  of  these  waters 
and  soon  swept  from  them  all  traces  of  the 
Confederate  power:  a  great  loss  to  the  en 
emy  and  one  that  he  deeply  mourned. 

The  casualties  in  the  Union  fleet  were  6 
killed,  17  wounded,  2  missing. 

Admiral  Goldsborough  lost  no  time  after 
the  surrender  of  the  forts  on  Roanoke  Is 
land  in  chasing  up  the  Confederate  Navy, 
which  had  disappeared  entirely;  and  on  the 
9th  of  February  he  directed  Com.  Rowan 
to  pursue  them  with  the  following  vessels  : 
"Louisiana,"  Lieut.-Com.  Murray;  "  Het- 
zel,"  Lieut.-Com.  Davenport;  '"Under 
writer,"  Lieut.-Com.  Jeffers;  "Delaware," 
Lieut.-Com.  Quackenbush;  "Commodore 
Perry,"  Lieut.-Com.  Flusser;  "Valley  City," 
Lieut.-Com.  Chaplin;  "Morse,"  Acting- 
Master  French;  "Lockwood. "Acting-Master 
Graves;  "Ceres,"  Acting-Master  McDiar- 
mid;  "  Shawsheen,"  Acting-Master  Wood 
ward;  "Brincker."Acting-Master  Geddings; 
"  Putnam,"  Acting-Master  Hotchkiss. 

This  was  not  a  very  formidable  squadron, 
but  it  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  Late  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  9th  this  fleet  of  vessels  en 
tered  Albemarle  Sound  in  search  of  the 
enemy,  and  soon  after  sighted  the  smoke 
of  two  steamers,  which  were  seen  to  be 
heading  for  Pasquotank  River.  Chase  was 
given  and  an  attempt  made  to  cut  them  off, 
but  without  success,  and  the  Confederates 
escaped  over  the  bar  and  then  up  the  river. 
The  Union  fleet  was  then  anchored  for  the 
night,  ten  miles  distant  from  Fort  Cobb. 

Commander  Rowan  knew  very  little  about 
the  condition  of  affairs  up  the  river,  whether 
there  were  any  batteries,  torpedoes  or  ob 
structions,  but  he  well  knew  that  if  there 
luere  any  forts  the  Confederate  gun-boats 
would  naturally  seek  their  protection  and 
rely  on  their  aid  in  any  encounter  that 
might  follow  with  the  Federal  forces.  The 


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(115) 


116 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


enemy  could  select  their  point  of  attack  or 
defence,  and  the  Union  commander  was 
obliged  to  advance  against  them  without 
having  the  slightest  idea  of  the  strength  of 
their  position. 

The  little  steamers  under  Rowan's  com 
mand  were  certainly  the  frailest  vessels 
that  had  ever  been  improvised  for  meeting 
the  stern  hazards  of  war.  They  carried 
heavy  guns,  however,  and  the  gallant  spirits 
who  manned  them  were  determined  to  win, 
no  matter  what  the  risks. 

Commander  Rowan's  plan  was  to  avoid  a 
protracted  combat,  and  to  bring  the  enemy 
to  close  quarters  as  soon  as  possible,  for  the 
reason  that  his  ammunition  was  reduced  to 
20  rounds  for  each  gun  in  the  fleet  (owing 
to  the  battle  of  Roanoke  Island).  He  made 
signal  for  the  commanders  of  vessels  to 
come  on  board  the  flagship,  and  after  con 
ferring  with  them  in  regard  to  the  proper 
measures  to  be  adopted  he  gave  them  their 
final  orders. 

It  was  naturally  expected  that  the  Con 
federate  fleet  would  take  position  behind 
the  battery  at  Cobb's  Point,  and  there  await 
the  attack;  but  the  result  was  not  feared, 
as  it  had  been  shown  in  the  battle  of  Roan 
oke  Island  that  the  Confederate  vessels 
could  not  hold  their  own,  even  when  sup 
ported  by  heavy  forts. 

The  plan  of  attack  was  that  the  gun-boats 
should  approach  in  close  order  and  proceed 
up  the  river  without  firing  a  shot  until  or 
dered  to  do  so,  dash  through  the  enemy's 
lines,  crushing  and  sinking  him  if  possible, 
or  engage  in  hand-to-hand  conflict;  after 
capturing  or  destroying  the  steamers  to  take 
the  forts  in  reverse  and  act  according  to  sig 
nal. 

The  little  fleet  weighed  anchor  at  daylight 
on  the  10th  of  February,  and  proceeded  up 
the  river  in  the  prescribed  order:  the  "  Un 
derwriter,"  "  Perry,"  "  Morse  "  and  "  Dela 
ware  "  keeping  in  advance  as  pickets,  the 
little  " Ceres"  nearer  shore  on  the  right 
flank,  and  the  "  Louisiana"  and  "  Hetzel" 
leading  up  the  remainder  of  the  flotilla.  The 
"  Valley  City"  and  "  Whitehead"  were  or 
dered  to  leave  the  line  as  soon  as  the  fort 
was  passed  and  attack  it  in  reverse. 

The  Confederate  steamers  were  soon  dis 
covered  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle  behind 
the  fort,  which  mounted  four  heavy  32- 
ppunders.  Opposite  the  fort  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river  a  large  schooner  was 
moored,  mounting  two  heavy  32-pounders, 
and  the  enemy's  line  of  vessels,  under  Com 
modore  Lynch,  was  anchored  diagonally 
across  the  channel  between  these  two  de 
fences. 

Thus  they  may  be  said  to  have  held  a 
very  powerful  position,  and  it  looked  almost 
like  rashness  for  the  Federal  commander 
to  attack  an  enemy  so  situated.  But  there 


was  no  hesitation  on  the  part  of  Com. 
Rowan  or  his  officers.  As  soon  as  the  Fed 
eral  vessels  got  within  fair  range,  the  Con 
federates  opened  upon  them  from  their  32- 
pounders  from  the  fort  and  the  schooner 
"Black  Warrior,"  followed  by  the  80- 
pounder  rifles  of  their  gun -boats. 

Though  shot  and  shell  passed  thick  and 
heavy  over  the  foremost  vessels  and  fell  in 
the  midst  of  the  main  column,  not  a  shot 
was  fired  by  the  Federal  vessels  in  return 
until  they  got  within  short  range,  when  the 
signal  was  made  "Dash  at  the  enemy." 
Throttle  valves  were  opened  and  the  steam 
ers  put  at  full  speed,  at  the  same  time  open 
ing  fire  all  along  the  line. 

Sweeping  forward  as  rapidly  as  their  en 
gines  could  drive  them  they  were  quickly 
in  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  who  were  com 
pletely  panic-stricken  by  this  bold  and  un 
expected  attack  and  offered  but  a  feeble 
resistance  to  the  officers  and  men,  who 
jumped  on  board  their  vessels  with  sword 
and  pistol  in  hand.  Those  in  the  batteries 
seeing  what  had  happened  to  their  gun 
boats  immediately  deserted  and  fled.  Those 
onboard  the  "  Black  Warrior "  set  fire  to 
her  and  got  to  the  shore. 

Some  of  the  steamers  endeavored,  unsuc 
cessfully,  to  save  themselves  by  flight, 
among  others  the  flagship  "  Seabird,"  but 
she  was  run  into  and  sunk  by  the  "  Com 
modore  Perry  "  (Lietit.-Com.  Flusser),  and 
nearly  all  of  her  officers  and  crew  made 
prisoners. 

In  fifteen  minutes  the  whole  affair  was 
ended,  all  the  Confederate  gun-boats  having 
been  either  run  ashore  and  set  fire  to,  or 
captured  by  hand-to-hand  conflicts ;  and  thus 
the  fleet  on  which  they  had  depended  to  de 
fend  the  sounds  against  any  force  that 
could  be  sent  there,  was  entirely  annihil 
ated,  and  there  was  no  one  left  to  dispute 
the  control  of  the  interior  waters  of  North 
Carolina. 

Although  this  was  comparatively  a  small 
affair,  it  was  one  of  the  best  conceived  and 
best  executed  battles  of  the  war,  in  which 
just  as  much  skill  and  dash  were  displayed 
as  in  the  grander  achievements  which  took 
place  at  a  later  date.  In  fact,  greater  credit 
is  due  the  commander  of  this  expedition 
when  one  takes  into  consideration  the  char 
acter  of  the  vessels  which  he  had  at  his  dis 
posal  and  the  strong  position  of  his  enemy. 
The  attack  of  the  Union  vessels  was  like  the 
spring  of  a  pack  of  greyhounds  upon  a 
brood  of  foxes — it  was  just  such  a  scene  as 
naval  officers  delight  in. 

No  one  who  has  read  an  account  of  this 
dashing  adventure  has  failed  to  give  to  the 
brave  spirits  who  took  part  in  it  all  the 
credit  they  deserved  for  the  skill  and  daring 
which  they  exhibited  throughout  the  affair. 

After  the  battle  was  over,  Com.  Rowan 


OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


117 


sent  some  of  the  steamers  up  to  Elizabeth 
City.  At  their  approach  the  enemy  made 
a  hasty  retreat  through  the  town,  having 
set  it  on  fire  before  their  departure. 

It  being  evident  to  Com.  Rowan  that  it 
was  the  design  of  the  enemy  to  throw  the 
blame  of  burning  the  city  upon  the  Union 
forces,  lie  sent  his  men  on  shore  to  extin 
guish  the  flames.  Having  accomplished 
this  object,  and  taken  prisoner  one  of  the 
officers  belonging  to  the  "  Wise  Legion," 
who  was  caugnt  in  the  act  of  setting  fire  to 
the  houses  of  the  inhabitants,  they  returned 
immediately  to  their  ships. 

A  great  deal  of  Confederate  property  was 
destroyed  at  this  place.  The  steamer 
"Forest,"'  one  gun-boat  and  a  small  vessel 
on  the  stocks  were  burned  at  the  ship-yard, 
and  all  the  machinery,  boilers,  railways, 
etc.,  destroyed.  Also  the  machinery  of  the 
steamers  "Seabird"  and  "Fanny,"  which 
had  been  sunk. 

After  this  a  number  of  expeditions  were 
started  all  through  the  Sounds  of  North 
Carolina  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the 
enemy's  property  and  blocking  up  the  can 
als,  so  that  no  communication  could  be  held 
with  Norfolk.  But  we  cannot  refer  to  these 
operations  at  this  time,  as  events  of  far 
greater  importance  were  now  taking  place 
at  Hampton  Roads,  which  require  us  to 
transfer  our  history  to  that  quarter. 

Before  leaving  the  Sounds  of  North  Caro 
lina,  we  cannot  but  express  our  unqualified 
admiration  at  the  happy  manner  in  which 
the  Army  and  Navy  co-operated,  and  the 
brilliant  results  which  followed  from  the 
skill  and  energy  displayed  by  both  branches 
of  the  service. 

The  Federal  forces  had  not  yet  gained 
entire  possession  of  the  interior  waters  of  the 
Sound,  but  that  came  a  few  months  later, 
and  will  all  be  narrated  in  its  proper  place. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  18G2,  an  expedition 
was  fitted  out  from  Goldsborough's  fleet  for 
the  examination  of  certain  rivers  leading 
into  the  Sounds  of  North  Carolina,  in  order 
to  ascertain  whether  the  enemy  was  forti 
fying  the  river  banks  or  building  men-of- 
war  at  the  small  towns  in  the  interior. 

The  expedition  consisted  of  the  "  Com 
modore  Perry,"  Lieut.  C.  W.  Flusser;  the 
"Ceres,"  Lieut.  John  McDiarmid:  and  the 
"Shawsheen,"  Acting-Master  T.  T.  Wood 
ward,  with  a  detachment  of  about  forty 
soldiers  in  addition  to  their  regular  crews. 

The  first  of  the  places  to  be  examined  was 
the  town  of  Hamilton  on  the  Roanoke  River. 
The  banks  of  this  river  were  high  in  places 
and  afforded  many  commanding  positions 
from  which  an  enemy  upon  the  water  could 
be  attacked  with  little  danger  to  the  attack 
ing  party. 

The  Confederates  did  not  fail  to  make  the 
most  of  their  opportunities,  and  the  gun 


boats  had  not  proceeded  far  on  their  way 
before  they  were  fired  upon  by  concealed 
riflemen,  and  although  the  men  returned 
the  fire  promptly  it  was  with  little  apparent 
effect.  The  river  banks  seemed  lined  with 
sharpshooters,  and  for  ten  hours  the  vessels, 
being  obliged  to  run  slowly,  were  kept  un 
der  a  galling  fire. 

The  men  were  struck  down  by  an  invisi 
ble  foe,  Avho  lurked  in  the  bushes  or  fired 
from  over  the  edge  of  the  bluffs  without 
any  danger  of  being  struck  from  the  vessels. 

Flusser  had  been  ordered  to  go  to  Hamil 
ton,  and  he  was  determined  to  get  there,  no 
matter  what  might  be  the  consequence. 
This  gallant  officer  was  now  placed  in  a  most 
trying  position,  but  he  stood  unflinchingly 
at  his  post  and  continued  on  his  way.  The 
only  thing  to  be  done  was  to  keep  the  men 
under  cover  as  much  as  possible  and  return 
the  enemy's  fire  when  opportunity  offered. 
In  spite  of  all  precautions,  however,  the 
fleet  had  one  man  killed  and  ten  wounded. 

The  Confederates  deserted  their  forts  as 
the  steamers  approached,  and  Hamilton  was 
reached.  Having  taken  possession  of  the 
Confederate  steamer  "Nelson"  at  this 
place,  the  expedition  returned  in  safety  to 
the  Sound. 

In  the  latter  part  of  October,  3862,  another 
expedition,  a  combined  military  and  naval 
force,  was  started  for  Hamilton,  and  proved 
successful  beyond  all  expectations.  Great 
risks  were  run,  some  valuable  lives  lost,  and 
great  skill  shown  in  the  management  of  the 
gun-boats.  Thus  the  Navy,  when  co-oper 
ating  with  the  Army,  always  made  its  use 
fulness  felt.  Without  the  presence  of  the 
Navy  to  capture  and  destroy  the  enemy's 
improvised  gun-boats,  to  destroy  their  steam 
transports  and  cut  off  their  means  of  rapidly 
moving  an  army,  not  a  single  point  on  the 
Southern  coast  could  have  been  wrested 
from  the  enemy,  or,  if  captured  at  great  ex 
pense  and  labor,  could  not  have  been  re 
tained  without  the  continual  watchfulness 
of  the  Navy. 

This  co-operation  on  the  part  of  the  Navy 
seldom  failed  of  success,  and  this  support 
to  the  Army  was  of  more  value  to  it  than 
large  numbers  of  men  or  hundreds  of  can 
non.  The  Army  had  with  them  in  the  gun 
boats  a  train  of  field-pieces  no  enemy  could 
resist. 

The  American  people  as  a  rule,  knew 
nothing  during  the  war  of  the  continuous, 
exhaustive  and  perilous  labor  to  which  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Navy  were  subjected, 
and  in  a  victory  sometimes  made  sure  by 
the  presence  'of  the  gun-boats,  the  Navy 
was  nowhere  mentioned.  This  was  not  the 
fault  of  the  gallant  soldiers  who  received 
the  support  of  the  Navy,  but  rather  the 
fault  of  the  military  historians,  who  in  al 
most  all  cases  ignored  the  Navy  altogether. 


118 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


Did  the  limits  of  this  paper  permit,  and 
could  the  numerous  cases  of  support  to  the 
Army  be  specially  noted,  it  would  readily 
be  seen  that  in  the  Sounds  of  North  Caro 
lina,  under  Goldsborough,  in  the  rivers, 
bayous  and  inlets  along  the  Southern  coast 
under  Dupont,  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana 
and  Texas  and  the  whole  length  of  the 
Mississippi,  Tennessee.  Cumberland,  White, 
Arkansas  and  Red  Rivers,  a  distance  of 
over  3,000  miles,  the  Navy  more  or  less 
contributed  towards  success;  and  if  defeat 
overtook  our  Armies  at  any  time  while  the 
Navy  was  at  hand,  the  enemy  gained  no 
important  or  lasting  advantage.  Our  Army 
always  had  a  line  of  defense  (the  naval 
gun-boats)  on  which  they  could  fall  back, 
regain  its  formation  and  send  the  enemy 
retreating  in  his  turn. 

For  the  present  we  must  leave  the  sounds 
and  inlets  and  follow  other  adventures.  All 
the  sounds  of  North  Carolina  and  the  rivers 
emptying  into  them  as  far  up  as  the  gun 


boats  could  reach  were  virtually  in  the 
hands  of  the  Federal  Government. 

North  Carolina  was  no  longer  a  base  of 
supplies  for  the  Confederates  The  sounds 
and  inlets  of  Georgia,  South  Carolina  and 
Florida  were  nearly  all  closed  up  by  the 
Navy,  and  Wilmington  and  Charleston 
were  really  the  only  two  places  by  which 
the  Confederacy  could  obtain  supplies  or 
munitions  of  war  from  abroad. 

All  of  this  work  had  been  done  within 
a  year  of  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
in  spite  of  delays  which  enabled  the  enemy 
to  erect  earthworks  and  sink  obstruc 
tions  that  required  herculean  labors  to  re 
move. 

Inadequate  as  were  the  vessels  supplied 
to  the  Navy,  the  officers  seldom  failed  to 
accomplish  what  they  attempted,  and  it  was 
a  well-deserved  compliment  when  an  old 
soldier  said,  "every  man  should  carry  a 
gun-boat  in  his  pocket,  and  then  he  could 
accomplish  wonders." 


CH  A  PTER    XII. 

FIGHT  BETWEEN  THE   "MERRIMAC"  AND  "MONITOR,"  MARCH  8,  1862. 

APPEARANCE  OF  THE  "  MERRIMAC."— DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  ''CONGRESS"  AND  "CUMBER 
LAND." — ARRIVAL  OF  THE   "MONITOR." — THE  FIGHT. 


WHILE  the  Federal  arms  were  so 
successful   in  the  sounds   of 
North  Carolina,  a  great  disas 
ter  overtook  the  Federal  cause 
in  Hampton  Roads,  filling  the 
country   with   dismay,  and  even   bringing 
many  of  the  Union  people  to  doubt  the  suc 
cess  of  the  cause  for  which  they  had  labored 
so  hard. 

When  the  Union  naval  officers  set  fire  to 
the  buildings  of  the  Norfolk  Navy  Yard, 
they  supposed  they  had  taken  such  precau 
tions  that  everything  of  value  would  be  des 
troyed,  but  as  soon  as  the  Federals  had  de 
parted  a  detachment  of  Virginia  volunteers 
rushed  in  to  extinguish  the  flames.  The 
"  Merrimac  "  had  been  sunk,  but  the  lower 
part  of  her  hull  and  her  engines  and  boilers 
were  substantially  uninjured. 

Lieutenant  John  M.  Brooke,  one  of  the 
most  accomplished  officers  among  those 
who  had  left  our  Navy  and  joined  the  Con 
federate  cause,  visited  the  scene  of  the  con 
flagration,  and  it  at  once  occurred  to  him 
that  the  "  Merrimac  "  could  be  rebuilt  as  an 
iron-clad;  and  his  plans  being  accepted  by 
Mr.  Mallory,  the  Secretary  of  the  Confeder 
ate  Navy,  orders  were  issued  to  have  them 
carried  out  at  once. 

The  vessel  was  raised  and  cut  down  to 
the  old  berth  deck,  both  ends  for  a  distance 
of  seventy  feet  were  covered  over,  and 
when  the  ship  was  in  fighting  trim  were  just 
awash.  On  the  midship  section,  a  length 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet  was  built 
over,  the  sides  being  at  an  angle  of  fifty- 
five  degrees,  a  roof  of  oak  and  pitch  pine 
extending  from  the  water  line  to  a  height 
of  seven  feet  above  the  gun -deck.  Both 
ends  of  this  structure  were  rounded,  so  that 
the  pivot  guns  could  be  used  as  bow  and 


stern  chasers,  or  quartering;  over  the  gun- 
deck  was  a  light  grating,  making  a  promen 
ade  twenty  feet  wide. 

The  wood  backing  was  covered  with  iron 
plates  rolled  at  the  Tredagar  Works  in  Rich 
mond.  These  plates  were  eight  inches  wide 
and  two  inches  thick.  The  first  covering 
was  put  on  horizontally,  the  second  up  and 
down,  making  a  total  thickness  of  iron  of 
four  inches,  strongly  bolted  to  the  wood 
work  and  clinched  inside. 

The  ram,  or  prow,  was  of  cast-iron,  project 
ing  four  feet,  and,  as  was  found  subse 
quently,  was  badly  secured.  The  rudder  and 
propeller  were  entirely  unprotected.  The 
pilot-house  was  forward  of  the  smoke-stack 
and  covered  with  the  same  thickness  of  iron 
as  the  sides. 

The  motive  power  was  the  same  as  had 
been  in  the  ship  before;  both  boilers,  and 
engines  were  very  defective,  and  the  vessel 
was  not  capable  of  making  more  than  five 
knots  an  hour. 

Another  able  officer,  formerly  of  the 
United  States  Navy,  Lieut.  Catesby  ap  R. 
Jones,  had  charge  of  the  preparation  of  the 
"  Merrimac's  "  armament,  and  to  his  skill 
was  due  the  efficiency  of  her  battery.  It 
consisted  of  two  seven-inch  rifles,  re-en 
forced  with  three-inch  steel  bands  shrunk 
around  the  breech:  these  were  the  bow  and 
stern  pivots.  There  were  in  broadside  two 
six-inch  rifles  similar  to  the  above,  and  six 
nine-inch  smooth-bores — in  all  ten  heavy 
guns. 

When  this  formidable  vessel  was  com 
pleted  the  name  of  the  "Virginia  "  was  be 
stowed  upon  her,  and  she  was  placed  under 
the  command  of  Flag  Officer  Franklin  Bu 
chanan,  who  had  resigned  from  the  Uir.ted 
States  Navy,  where  he  had  reaped  the  high- 


(119) 


120 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


est  rewards  that  could  be  bestowed  in  time 
of  peace.  He  was  a  man  of  undoubted  cour 
age,  and  his  professional  ability  was  of  the 
first  order.  Buchanan  was  fortunate  in  sur 
rounding  himself  with  excellent  officers, 
men  capable  of  performing  any  naval  duty, 
and  no  commander  was  ever  better  second 
ed  by  his  subordinates. 

The  crew  of  the  iron-clad  were  not  all  sea 
men,  but  that  was  comparatively  unimport 
ant  as  there  were  no  sails  to  handle.  Gunners 
were  selected  from  the  army  at  Richmond, 


Lindsay;  Clerk,  Arthur  Sinclair,  Jr.;  Vol 
unteer  Aid,  Lieut.  Douglas  Forrest;  Captain, 
Kevil,  commanding  detachment  of  Norfolk 
United  Infantry. 

Thus  equipped,  officered  and  manned,  the 
iron-clad  represented  at  the  moment  the 
most  powerful  fighting  ship  in  the  world, 
and  the  Federal  Government  might  well 
feel  uneasy  at  the  tidings  they  received  of 
this  monster  which  threatened  to  carry  de 
struction  all  along  the  Northern  coast. 

The  government  was  not,  however,  aware 


COMMODORE  FRANKLIN  BUCHANAN,  COMMANDER  OF  THE  "  MERRIMAC.' 


and  they  proved  to  be  excellent  men  for  the 
duty  required  of  them. 

The  officers  of  this  historic  vessel  were  as 
follows  : 

Lieutenants,  Catesby  ap  R.  Jones  (Execu 
tive  and  ordnance  officer),  Lieutenants 
Charles  C.  Simms,  Robert  D.  Minor  (Flag), 
Hunter  Davidson,  John  Taylor  Wood.  J.  R. 
Eggleston,  Walter  Butt;  Midshipmen.  Fonte, 
Marmaduke,  Littlepage,  Craig,  Long  and 
Rootes;  Paymaster.  Semple;  Surgeon.  Phil 
lips;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Algernon  S.  Gar- 
nett;  Captain  of  Marines,  Reuben  Thorn; 
Engineer,  Ramsay ;  Assistants.  Tynan, 
Campbell,  Herring,  Jack  and  White;  ^Boat 
swain,  Hasker;  Gunner,  Oliver;  Carpenter, 


of  the  rapidity  and  energy  with  which  the 
Confederates  had  conducted  their  work;  in 
fact,  in  this  instance  the  Navy  Department 
was  rather  taken  by  surprise,  and  was  not 
quite  up  to  the  mark,  for  as  a  general  rule 
it  had  shown  great  energy  in  improvising 
a  Navy. 

There  were  several  large  steam  frigates  at 
that  time  which  might  have  been  cut  down 
and  covered  with  iron  in  much  better  fash 
ion  than  was  done  in  the  case  of  the  *'  Mer- 
rimac."  The  Department,  it  is  true,  had 
contracted  for  iron-clad  vessels,  but  two  of 
them  were  far  behind  time  in  building,  and 
the  other  was  a ''little  nondescript"  that 
no  one  in  the  Navy  Department,  with  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


121 


exception  of  Commodore  Joseph  Smith, had 
any  confidence  in.  This  vessel,  designed  by 
John  Ericsson,  was  to  be  paid  for  only  in 
case  she  proved  successful  against  the 
enemy's  batteries  ;  but  had  the  steam  frig 
ates  been  cut  down  and  plated  we  need 
have  given  little  anxiety  to  the  appearance 
of  the  "  Merrimac  "  or  any  other  vessel,  and 
would  have  been  first  in  the  field  with  this 
new  factor  in  war  which  was  to  revolu 
tionize  naval  warfare. 

But  there  are  many  things  we  cannot 
account  for — we  received  humiliation  at 
first  to  teach  us  not  to  underrate  an  enemy. 
Providence  came  to  pur  assistance  in  our 
emergency  with  "Ericsson's  nondescript," 
to  show  what  skill  and  enterprise  could  do 
in  behalf  cf  the  Union. 

As  the  "  Monitor  "  of  Ericsson  approached 
completion  the  Navy  Department  hurried 
the  work  on  learning  that  the  "Merrimac" 
was  further  advanced  than  they  had  sup 
posed. 

This  was  in  consequence  of  the  fact  that 
Commander  D.  D.  Porter  had  been  sent  to 
New  York  to  examine  the  vessel,  and  re 
port  his  opinion  as  to  her  capacity  to  deal 
with  an  enemy.  After  a  thorough  exami 
nation  of  all  the  details  of  the  vessel.  Com 
mander  Porter  telegraphed  to  the  Navy  De 
partment :  "This  is  the  strongest  fighting 
vessel  in  the  world,  and  can  whip  anything 
afloat."  But  when  he  returned  to  Wash 
ington  a  few  days  after  he  was  laughed  at 
by  a  high  official,  and  a  clever  one  at  that: 
"Why,  man,"  he  said.  "John  Lenthall 
predicts  that  Ericsson's  vessel  will  sink  as 
soon  as  she  is  launched." 

Mr.  Lenthall  was  unquestionably  high 
authority,  but  he  was  certainly  mistaken 
on  this  occasion.  Like  most  others  he 
looked  upon  the  nondescript  as  a  clever 
scheme  to  obtain  money  from  the  govern 
ment,  but  he  subsequently  did  ample  jus 
tice  to  Ericsson  and  built  many  vessels 
after  the  distinguished  inventor's  models, 
which  for  a  time  placed  the  United  States 
Government  ahead  of  all  other  naval  pow 
ers.  We  did  not  long  maintain  this  posi 
tion  however,  for  our  statesmen  do  not  ap 
preciate  the  necessity  of  a  navy  sufficient 
to  protect  our  extensive  coasts  and  sixty 
millions  of  people,  so  we  have  fallen  back 
into  our  original  condition,  without  a  single 
iron-clad  that  would  command  the  respect 
of  the  weakest  nations;  yet  Ericsson  still 
lives,  with  vigor  unimpaired  and  intellect 
as  bright  as  when  his  "  Monitor  "  saved  the 
honor  of  the  country  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  ago. 

A  month  before  the  "Monitor"  was 
launched  the  Confederates,  through  their 
spies,  had  learned  the  exact  condition  of  the 
vessel  and  the  day  on  which  she  would  prob 
ably  be  put  into  the  water;  in  consequence  of 
which  information  the  number  of  workmen 


on  the  "  Merrimac  "  was  doubled  and  the 
work  carried  on  by  day  and  by  night.  This 
extra  energy  made  all  the  difference  in  the 
world,  and  doubtless  gained  the  one  day 
which  enabled  the  Confederate  vessel  to 
commit  such  havoc  without  any  effectual 
opposition. 

Lieut.  John  L.  Worden,  who  had  been  as 
signed  to  the  command  of  the  "Monitor," 
watched  her  building  for  several  months, 
urging  on  the  work  by  every  means  in  his 
power,  in  which  he  was  heartily  supported 
by  the  inventor.  When  the  vessel  was 
launched  and  equipped,  Lieut.  Worden 
started  at  once  for  Hampton  Roads,  with 
out  a  trial  trip,  and  with  no  means  of  judg 
ing  how  the  vessel  was  going  to  behave.  At 
one  time  on  his  passage  to  Hampton  Roads, 
he  was  doubtful  if  the  little  "Monitor" 


LIEtTT.  CATESBY  AP  It.  JONES, 
(EXECUTIVE  OFFICER  OF  THE  '•  MERRIMAC.") 

would  live  through  the  rough  seas  and  ar 
rive  in  time  to  be  of  any  assistance  to  our 
fleet;  or,  even  if  she  did  arrive,  whether  she 
could  accomplish  what  her  inventor  claimed 
for  her.  In  fact  Worden  was  somewhat 
doubtful  whether  he  should  ever  again  set 
foot  on  land,  for  his  vessel  was  almost  in 
undated  and  leaking  apparently  enough  to 
sink  her. 

In  the  meantime  the  "  Merrimac."  alias 
"  Virginia,''  was  all  ready  to  leave  the  Nor 
folk  Navy  Yard  on  what  was  said  to  be  her 
trial  trip,  and  up  to  the  last  moment  she  was 
filled  with  mechanics  working  to  complete 
her. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1862,  the  iron-clad 

got  under  way  and  proceeded  down  Eliza- 
eth  River,  cheered  by  hundreds  of  people 
who  crowded  the  banks,  and  as  she  passed 


:, 


'/S'S  ;c  >'~  «-    f     ?«    T;'.      -.W>4fe4>i^i±r 

&4'x-  *i  kVrJ,y  rlliliS 


5.^/ZSeaiM  ^>  ^iry 


(122, 


TJfE  NA  VAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


123 


Craney  Island  and  through  the  obstructions, 
the  ramparts  of  the  fort  were  lined  with 
soldiers  who  shouted  success  to  her  until 
their  throats  were  hoarse.  Thus  the  "  Mer 
rimac"  started  off  with  all  the  glamor  of 
success,  for  there  was  no  one  on  board  who 
doubted  that  she  could  destroy  the  fleet 
then  lying  in  the  roads. 

Buchanan  and  his  officers  knew  the  weak 
points  of  every  vessel  in  the  Federal  fleet, 
and  the  number  and  calibre  of  their  guns. 
He  knew  that  none  of  their  shot  could 
pierce  the  "  Merrimac "  and  that  he  could 
choose  his  distance  and  fire  with  his  rifled 
guns  at  the  ships  as  if  at  a  target,  should 


a.  Prow  of  Steel. 
6.  Wooden  Bulwark. 
A.  Pilot  House. 


dtl.  Iron  under  water, 
c.  Propeller. 


THE  "MERRIMAC." 

(FBOM   A  SKETCH   MADE   THE   DAY   BEFOBE   THE   FIGHT.) 

he  think  proper  to  do  so.  Instead  of  mak 
ing  it  a  "  trial  trip,"  as  first  intended,  Buch 
anan  determined  to  make  it  a  day  of  tri 
umph  for  the  Confederate  Navy. 

At  this  time  there  was  at  anchor  in 
Hampton  Roads,  off  Fortress  Monroe,  the 
"  Minnesota,"  of  forty  guns,  Capt.  Van 
Brunt;  "  Roanoke,"  of  forty  guns,  Capt. 
Marston;  "  St.  Lawrence,"  fifty  guns,  Capt. 
Purviance;  and  several  army  transports. 
Seven  miles  above,  off  Newport  News,  lay 
the  "  Congress,"  fifty  guns,  and  the  "  Cum 
berland,"  thirty  guns.  Newport  News  was 
well  fortified  and  garrisoned  by  a  large 
Union  force. 

It  was  a  beautiful  day,  following  a  storm. 
The  water  was  smooth  and  the  vessels  in 
the  Roads  swung  lazily  at  their  anchors. 
Boats  hung  to  the  swinging  booms, washed 
clothes  on  the  lines,  nothing  indicated  that 
an  enemy  was  expected,  and  no  one  had, 
apparently,  the  least  idea  that  the  "  Merri 
mac  "  was  ready  for  service.  The  utmost 
ignorance  seems  to  have  prevailed  in  our 
squadron  with  regard  to  her  capacity  to  do 
harm. 

The  writer  wras  in  Hampton  Roads  a  short 
time  previous  to  the  appearance  of  the 
"  Merrimac,"  and  while  standing  on  the 
wharf  a  decent  looking  mechanic  landed 
from  a  small  boat.  He  told  the  writer  that 
he  had  escaped  from  Norfolk,  where  he  had 
been  employed  on  the  "Merrimac."  which 
vessel  he  said  was  very  formidable  and 
nearly  completed.  His  account  of  affairs 
was  correct  as  has  since  been  proved,  but 


when  the  man  was  taken  to  Captain  Van 
Brunt,  that  officer  questioned  him  fiercely 
and  then  roughly  dismissed  him.  as  if  he 
considered  him  an  impostor.  The  writer 
was  of  a  different  opinion  and  wrote  at  once 
to  Mr.  Fox,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
urging  him  to  hurry  up  the  "  Monitor;"  but 
no  one  in  the  squadron  seemed  to  anticipate 
any  danger. 

Rear  Admiral  Goldsborough  was  in  the 
sounds  of  North  Carolina  and  could  easily 
have  left  what  was  there  to  be  done  to  the 
skill  of  the  gallant  Rowan,  but  he  evidently 
apprehended  no  clanger  from  the  "  Merri 
mac  "  or  he  would  have  returned  at  once  to 
Hampton  Roads.  One  would  have  thought 
that  the  Federals  could  have  learned 
through  spies  how  near  the  '•  Merrimac" 
was  ready  for  service,  and  all  the  particu 
lars  regarding  her.  Many  things  which 
ought  to  have  been  done  were  left  undone, 
but  of  this  it  is  useless  to  repine. 

As  the  squadron  lay  quiet,  little  dream 
ing  of  the  danger  that  was  so  near,  "  three 
small  steamers  "  were  reported  to  the  senior 
officer  at  12:45  p.  M.  coming  around  Sewell's 
Point.  It  was  soon  ascertained  by  her  large 
smoke  stack  that  one  of  these  vessels  was  the 
"Merrimac,"  and  great  excitement  pre 
vailed.  Signal  was  made  to  the  "  Minne 
sota  "  to  slip  her  cables,  get  underway  and 
pursue  the  enemy;  but  when  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  Newport  News  the  frigate 
grounded  and  remained  fast  during  the 
events  which  took  place  that  day  and  the 
one  following. 

The  ' '  Merrimac  "  stood  straight  for  the 
"  Congress  "  and  "  Cumberland,"  and  when 
she  was  within  three-quarters  of  a  mile  the 
latter  vessel  opened  on  her  with  heavy  pivot 
guns,  closely  followed  by  the  "  Congress." 
Paymaster  McKeaii  Buchanan,  a  brother 
of  the  Confederate  commander,  was  an  offi 
cer  of  the  "  Congress."  and  the  "Merrimac" 
passing  that  vessel  steered  direct  for  the 
"  Cumberland,"  the  Confederate  Flag  Offi- 


THE  "MONITOR"  IN  BATTLE  TRIM. 

cer  hoping  that  the  "  Congress"  would  sur 
render  on  seeing  the  fate  of  her  consort, 
and  that  his  brother  would  thus  escape.  In 
passing  the  "Congress"  the  "Merrimac" 
delivered  her  starboard  broadside,  which 
was  quickly  returned,  and  a  rapid  fire  from 
both  vessels  was  maintained  on  the  iron 
clad.  The  "Merrimac"  continuing  her 
course,  struck  the  "  Cumberland"  at  right 
angles,  under  the  fore  channels  on  the  star 
board  side,  and  the  blow,  though  hardly 
perceptible  on  board  the  iron-clad,  seemed 
to  those  on  board  the  "Cumberland  "  as  if 
the  whole  ship's  side  had  been  smashed  in. 
Backing  out,  the  "  Merrimac "  put  her 


124 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


helm  hard-a-starboard,  and  turned  slowly, 
while  the  two  Union  ships  poured  in  a  con 
tinual  fire,  which  apparently  fell  harmless 
on  the  iron  plating  of  the  enemy.  On  the 
other  hand,  as  the  iron-clad  swung  round 
from  the  "  Cumberland,"  the  "  Congress  " 
lay  with  her  stern  to  the  enemy,  which 
raked  her  three  times,  fore  and  aft.  In 
fact,  the  "  Congress  "  was  a  mere  target 
for  the  enemy's  shot  and  shell,  with  little 
danger  of  the  latter  being  injured  in  re 
turn. 

In  the  meantime  the  " Cumberland"  was 
settling  in  the  water  from  the  effects  of  the 
great  opening  in  her  side,  and  although  it 
was  evident  to  all  on  board  that  the  day 
was  lost,  and  that  the  ship  must  inevitably 
go  to  the  bottom,  these  brave  fellows  kept 


pearing  beneath  the  waves,  and  his  gallant 
crew  fighting  to  the  last. 

Of  course  as  long  as  the  "  Cumberland  " 
kept  up  her  fire  the  enemy  returned  it, 
their  shells  inflicting  death  on  all  sides. 
Those  who  had  escaped  from  below  were 
decimated  by  the  merciless  shot  and  shell 
poured  into  them  by  the  enemy  as  they  stood 
crowded  together  on  the  spar  deck.  There 
is  little  generosity  or  sentimentality  in  war: 
the  object  is  to  kill  and  wound,  and  this  was 
too  favorable  an  opportunity  to  be  ne 
glected.  In  the  absence  of  Com.  Had  ford, 
Lieut.  George  N.  Morris  was  in  command 
of  the  "Cumberland,"  and  his  heroism  in 
spired  his  crew  to  the  deeds  which  they  per 
formed  on  that  eventful  day.  Of  the  "Cum 
berland's  "  crew  one  hundred  and  twenty- 


THE  CONFEDERATE  BAM  "MERRIMAC"  SINKING  THE  "CUMBERLAND." 


up  a  rapid  fire  until  driven  by  the  water 
from  the  lower  deck  guns,  when  they 
retreated  to  the  upper  deck  and  contin 
ued  to  fight  the  pivot  guns  till  the  "Cum 
berland  "  went  down  with  her  colors  still 
flying. 

During  the  whole  war  there  was  no  finer 
incident  than  this,  and  the  bravery  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  "Cumberland" 
even  won  the  applause  of  the  enemy. 

Commander  William  Radford,  of  the 
"Cumberland,"  was  engaged  that  day  on  a 
Court  of  Inquiry,  which  was  sitting  on 
board  one  of  the  vessels  in  Hampton  Roads. 
When  the  "Merrimac"  was  reported  as 
coming  down,  all  else  was  lost  sight  of,  and 
procuring  a  horse,  Radford  started  at  full 
speed  for  Newport  News ;  but  he  only 
reached  there  in  time  to  see  his  ship  clisap- 


one  were  either  killed  outright  or  drowned, 
while  of  those  saved  a  large  portion  were 
wounded. 

When  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
"  Congress  "  saw  the  fate  of  the  "  Cumber 
land."  and  realized  how  little  chance  there 
was  for  him,  he  slipped  his  cable,  set  his 
foretopsail  and  endeavored  to  get  closer  in 
shore  so  as  to  have  the  assistance  of  the 
land  batteries,  but  the  ship  ran  ashore, 
where  she  continued  the  unequal  contest 
for  more  than  an  hour  after  the  sinking  of 
her  consort,  the  "Merrimac"  lying  at  a 
safe  distance  and  boring  her  through  and 
through  with  her  shells,  and  finally  setting 
her  on  fire. 

While  this  unequal  contest  was  progress 
ing  between  the  "  Merrimac  "  and  the  "  Con 
gress,"  the  two  Confederate  gun-boats  ac- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


125 


companyingthe  iron-clad  joined  in  the  fray. 
They  were  both  armed  with  rifle  guns. 
In  a  few  minutes  they  dismounted  one  of  the 
stern  guns  of  the  "  Congress  "  and  knocked 
off  the  muzzle  of  another,  so  that,  not 
being  able  to  bring  any  of  her  broadside 
guns  to  bear,  she  lay  perfectly  helpless.  Her 
gallant  commanding  officer,  Lieut.  Joseph ' 
B.  Smith,  was  killed,  her  decks  were  strewn 
with  killed  and  wounded,  and  further  resist 
ance  was  hopeless.  The  colors  were  accord 
ingly  hauled  down  and  a  white  flag  hoisted. 
A -Confederate  tug  ran  alongside  the  "  Con 
gress,"  and  the  officer  in  charge  ordered  the 
cre\v  out  of  the  ship,  saying  he  intended  to 
set  fire  to  her. 

The  garrison  at  Newport  News,  not 
comprehending  the  state  of  affairs,  opened 
on  the  Confederate  vessel  with  artillery  and 
musketry,  so  that  she  was  obliged  to  leave 
the  side  of  the  "  Congress  "  with  only  thirty- 
nine  prisoners. 

Although  the  white  flag  was  still  flying, 
the  "  Merrimac  "  again  opened  fire  on  the 
"Congress."  This  was  certainly  most  in 
human,  since  the  crew  of  the  "  Congress  " 
were  not  responsible  for  the  act  of  the 
troops  on  shore.  The  Confederates  claim 
that  two  of  their  officers  were  killed  on 
board  the  tug  while  assisting  the  Union 
wounded  out  of  the  "Congress,"  and  that 
many  of  our  own  men  were  killed  and 
wounded  by  the  fire  of  the  shore  batteries. 

The  "  Congress  "  having  been  set  on  fire, 
Lieut.  Pendergrast  and  most  of  the  crew 
undertook  to  escape  to  the  shore  in  small 
boats,  or  by  swimming,  leaving  the  ship 
with  the  white  flag  still  flying  at  her  main 
mast  head. 

Flag-Officer  Buchanan  claimed  that  he 
was  unable  to  take  possession  of  his  prize 
owing  to  the  fire  from  the  shore,  for  which 
reason  he  ordered  hot  shot  to  be  fired  into 
the  "  Congress  "  until  she  was  set  on  fire. 
Buchanan  and  his  flag-lieutenant,  Lieut. 
Minor,  personally  directed  this  matter,  and 
while  doing  so  both  were  severely  wounded. 
The  command  of  the  "Merrimac"  then  de 
volved  on  Lieut.  Jones. 

Notwithstanding  the  heavy  armor  of  the 
"  Merrimac,"  her  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
was  twenty-one,  showing  the  good  use  of 
their  artillery  made  by  the  Union  ships. 
The  armor  was,  however,but  little  damaged 
by  the  Federal  shot,  although  the  Confed 
erates  asserted  that  at  one  time  they  were 
under  the  fire  of  one  hundred  heavy  guns 
afloat  and  ashore ! 

Everything  on  the  outside  of  the  "  Merri 
mac"  seems  to  have  been  badly  injured. 
The  muzzles  of  two  of  the  guns  were  shot 
off,  the  anchors,  smoke-stack  and  steam 
pipes  were  shot  away,  railing,  stanchions, 
boat  davits,  every  thing  was  swept  clean. 
The  flagstaff  was  repeatedly  shot  away,  and 
finally  a  boarding  pike  was  substituted. 


During  the  engagement  the"Roanoke" 
and  "  St.  Lawrence,"  in  tow  of  tugs,  made 
every  effort  to  join  in  the  combat,  but  like 
the  "Minnesota,"  they  ran  011  shore  some 
two  miles  above  Fortress  Monroe. 

While  the  above  incidents  were  taking 
place,  the  day  had  passed,  and  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  "  Merrimac,"  find 
ing  he  could  not  take  possession  of  the 
"  Congress,"  abandoned  her  to  the  flames. 
How  glorious  it  must  have  seemed  to  this 
officer,  who  served  nearly  half  a  century 
under  the  stars  and  stripes,  to  see  that  flag 
hauled  down  by  rebel  hands,  and  those  gal 
lant  men,  who  had  once  served  under  and 
admired  him,  ruthlessly  slaughtered  at  his 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  EBICSSON,  INVENTOR  OF  THE  "MONITOR." 

cool  command  !  He  may  have  thought  it 
glory  then,  but  in  after  years,  we  believe, 
regret  possessed  him,  and  contributed  to 
shorten  his  life. 

At  five  o'clock  p.  M.  the  "Merrimac" 
turned  towards  the  "Minnesota,"  which 
ship  lay  aground  apparently  at  her  mercy, 
but  the  pilots  would  not  attempt  the  middle 
channel  with  the  ebb  tide,  and  night  was 
fast  approaching.  So  the  "  Merrimac  "  re 
turned  to  SewelPs  Point  and  anchored.  In 
passing  the  "  Minnesota "  the  iron-clad 
opened  fire,  but  only  a  single  shot  struck 
the  frigate;  the  gun-boats,  however,  ac 
companying  the  "Merrimac"  did  much 
greater  damage  with  their  rifled  guns, 
though  they  were  finally  driven  off  by  the 
heavy  guns  which  the  "  Minnesota  "carried 
forward. 

The  ten-inch  pivot  gun  of  the  "  Minne 
sota  "  produced  no  effect  on  the  iron  clad, the 
shot  glancing  like  pebbles  from  her  sides, 
and  it  was  plain  that  the  "  Minnesota," 
as  soon  as  the  tide  would  allow  the  Con 
federate  vessel  to  come  to  close  quarters, 
would  be  as  helpless  before  the  "  Merrimac  " 


126 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


as  the  "  Congress  "  and  the  "  Cumberland  " 
had  been.  The  commanding  officer  of  the 
Union  frigate  therefore  made  all  prepara 
tions  to  abandon  his  ship  and  set  her  on 
fire,  anticipating  an  attack  early  next 
morning. 

Thus  closed  one  of  the  most  memorable 
days  of  the  civil  war.  a  day  which  carried 
gloom  and  sorrow  to  the  hearts  of  all  loyal 
citizens.  The  authorities  at  Washington 
were  dismayed,  and  it  appeared  to  those 
most  familiar  with  the  circumstances  that 
this  was  the  crisis  of  the  Union  cause. 

All  through  the  South  there  were  scenes 
of  rejoicing  ;  bonfires  blazed  on  the  hill 
tops,  and  everywhere  the  Confederates  ex- 


sons  had  confidence,  and  which  had  not  yet 
reached  the  scene  of  action.  What  hope 
could  there  be  for  the  "Minnesota,"  hard 
and  fast  aground,  or  for  the  frigate 
"  Roanoke,"  with  her  disabled  machinery, 
or  the  "St.  Lawrence"  with  no  machinery 
at  all !  The  commanding  officers  must 
either  destroy  their  vessels  and  escape  into 
Fortress  Monroe  or  let  them  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy. 

But  the  avenger  was  at  hand,  and  at  nine 
o'clock  that  night  Ericsson's  little  "  Moni 
tor,"  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  John  L. 
Worden,  arrived  from  New  York,  after  ex 
periencing  trials  and  difficulties  sufficient 
to  have  appalled  an  ordinary  officer. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  JOHN  L.  WORDEN,  COMMANDER  OF  THE  "  MONITOR,' 


pected  that  the  next  news  would  be  the  to 
tal  destruction  of  the  Federal  fleet  at  Hamp 
ton  Roads,  and  the  advance  of  the  "  Merri- 
mac  "  to  Washington. 

As  a  result  of  their  victory  the  Southern 
people  saw  an  abandonment  of  the  advance 
on  Richmond,  the  capture  of  Washington, 
the  laying  of  the  seaboard  cities  under  con 
tribution,  the  raising  of  the  blockade  of  the 
Southern  coast,  and  the  recognition  of  the 
Confederate  Government  by  the  powers  of 
Europe. 

There  was  apparently  nothing  between 
them  and  success,  for  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  had  no  means  of  arresting  the  disas 
ter  which  threatened  it,  except  a  diminutive, 
experimental  war  vessel  in  which  few  per- 


It  was  a  great  relief  to  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  squadron  to  know  that  an  iron 
clad  of  any  kind  was  at  hand  to  assist  them, 
but  when  they  saw  the  little  "  nondescript," 
her  decks  level  with  the  water,  and  appear 
ing  above  it  only  her  pilot-house  and  a  small 
turret,  in  which  latter  were  two  eleven-inch 
guns,  and  compared  her  with  the  apparently 
invulnerable  iron-clad  of  the  enemy,  they 
could  not  feel  very  sanguine  of  the  result  o"f 
the  coming  conflict. 

Lieutenant  Worden  was  ordered  to  pro 
ceed  at  two  o'clock  A.  M.  and  take  position 
alongside  the  "Minnesota"  to  be  ready  to 
receive  the  "  Merrimac." 

The  morning  dawned  clear  and  bright, 
and  everything  looked  so  calm  and  peaceful 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


127 


that  it  was  hard  to  realize  that  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  men  had  the  previous  day 
given  up  their  lives  in  defence  of  their  flag 
in  a  contest  hopeless  from  the  beginning. 

The  flag  still  floated  from  the  "  Cumber 
land/'  whose  light  masts  appeared  above 
the  surface  of  the  water,  marking  the  spot 
where  the  dead  slept  their  last  sleep  in  the 
shattered  wreck,  while  the  smoke  from  the 
burning  "  Congress"  ascended  to  heaven,  a 
funeral  pyre  over  the  corpses  which  strewed 
the  decks  of  that  ill-fated  ship. 

The  "Minnesota,"  badly  cut  up,  still  lay 
hard  and  fast  aground,  and  it  was  evident 
to  all  that  should  the  "Monitor"  fail  them 
there  was  nothing  but  destruction  to  look 
forward  to. 


As  the  "  Merrimac"  approached  the  frig 
ate  the  crew  of  the  latter  went  to  quarters, 
the  drum  sounding  more  like  a  funeral  knell 
than  a  summons  to  triumphant  battle,  but, 
contrary  to  expectation,  the  ''Merrimac" 
passed  the  frigate  and  "Monitor"  and 
headed  towards  Fortress  Monroe.  At  the 
"  Rip  Raps"  she  turned  into  the  main  chan 
nel  by  which  the  ''Minnesota"  had  gone 
up  and  again  rapidly  approached  the  latter. 

When  the  ''Merrimac''  was  within  the 
distance  of  a  mile,  the  "  Minnesota  "opened 
fire  with  her  stern  guns  and  at  the  same 
time  the  " Monitor"  was  signalled  to  at 
tack. 

Worden  showed  his  confidence  in  the 
"Monitor"  and  her  eleven-inch  guns  by 


NEWPORT  NEWS. 


MONITOB.  MINNESOTA.  MERRIMAC. 

THE  "MONITOR"  AND  "MERRIMAC."— THE  FIGHT  AT  SHORT  RANGE. 


FORTRESS  MONBOE, 


The  crew  of  the  "  Merrimac  "  were  astir 
at  early  daylight  preparing  for  the  conflict, 
and  as^soon  as  it  was  fairly  light  the  iron 
clad  was  under  way  and  heading  towards 
the  "Minnesota."  On  approaching  their 
expected  prey  the  Confederates  discovered 
a  strange-looking  craft  which  they  knew  at 
once  to  be  Ericsson's  "Monitor,"  of  which 
they  had  received  a  description  from  their 
spies  at  the  North.  The  "  Monitor  "  was  but 
a  pigmy  in  appearance  alongside  the  lofty 
frigate  which  she  guarded,  and  the  enemy 
anticipated  little  difficulty  in  overcoming 
her.  Still,  her  arrival  was  inopportune  for 
the  Confederates,  causing  a  change  in  their 
plans,  which  were  to  destroy  the  "Minnesota" 
and  then  the  remainder  of  the  squadron.* 

*  Confederate  account. 


steering  directly  for  the  Confederate  iron 
clad.  The  latter  slowed  her  engines  and 
paused  as  if  to  survey  her  little  adversary 
and  ascertain  her  character;  but  if  there 
was  any  doubt  on  board  the  "Merrimac" 
there  was  none  on  board  the  "Monitor," 
which  kept  straight  on  her  course,  and  the 
Confederates  saw  that  in  a  few  moments 
she  would  be  directly  alongside  of  them. 

The  "  Merrimac  "  opened  fire  from  her 
forward  gun  upon  what  seemed  more  like  a 
large  floating  buoy  than  a  man-of-war,  but 
not  having  a  frigate's  broadside  to  aim  at 
the  shot  passed  harmlessly  over.  The 
"Monitor's"  answering  guns  were  better 
aimed  The  solid  eleven-inch  shots  struck 
the  "  Merrimac"  fairly,  with  a  blow  that  re 
sounded  through  the  vessel.  This  was  re- 


128 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


turned  by  a  broadside  from  the  "  Merri- 
mac,"  but  those  shots  that  struck  the  turret 
glanced  harmlessly  off. 

Both  vessels  then  turned  and  approached 
each  other  still  closer,  the  "  Monitor  "firing 
about  every  seven  minutes,  each  shot  strik 
ing  the  "Merrimac."  The  latter  vessel, 
having  lost  part  of  her  smoke-stack  the  day 
before,  was  not  working  so  well,  the  chief 
engineer  reporting  that  the  draft  was  so 
poor  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  he 
could  keep  up  steam.  The  "Merrimac" 
drew  twenty-three  feet  of  water,  and  was 
thus  confined  to  a  narrow  channel,  while 
the  "Monitor"  drawing  but  twelve  feet 
could  take  any  position  and  always  keep 
within  range  of  her  antagonist's  guns,  and 
though  the  enemy  had  many  more  guns, 
the  "Monitor"  stuck  so  close  to  her  adver 
sary  that  the  latter  could  use  but  a  small 
proportion  of  them.  Worden's  plan  was  to 
keep  near  to  his  enemy  and  endeavor  to 
break  in  her  sides  with  his  solid  shot. 

The  "  Merrimac  "  kept  up  as  rapid  a  fire 
as  possible  upon  what  was  visible  of  the 
"  Monitor,"  pausing  now  and  then  when  the 
smoke  cleared  off  to  see  whether  the  little 
vessel  had  been  demolished,  but  always 
finding  her  apparently  unharmed  and  active 
as  ever,  pouring  in  her  solid  shot  and  shak 
ing  the  great  iron-dad's  huge  frame  in  a 
manner  which  her  officers  feared  might  in 
the  long  run  cripple  their  ship,  unless  they 
could  manage  in  some  way  to  cripple  their 
antagonist.*  The  "  Merrimac's  "  fire  was 
then  concentrated  upon  the  "Monitor's" 
pilot-house,  as  the  turret  seemed  impervious 
to  their  shot. 

More  than  two  hours  had  passed  in  this 
apparently  unequal  duel,  the  Confederates 
had  made  no  impression  on  the  "  Monitor" 
and  their  own  wounds  were  apparently 
slight,  since  the  "Monitor"  had  not  yet 
succeeded  in  penetrating  the  "Merrimac's" 
heavy  armor. 

The  "  Monitor  "  had  on  board  some  forty 
steel  shot  which  it  was  intended  to  fire 
with  heavy  charges  in  case  of  an  encounter 
with  the  "Merrimac,"  but  previous  to  leav 
ing  New  York,  Lieut.  Worden  received  or 
ders  from  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance  not  to 
use  those  shot  with  the  increased  charges, 
as  fifteen  pounds  of  powder  was  as  much 
as  the  eleven-inch  guns  would  bear.  Wor 
den  felt  obliged  to  conform  to  these  instruc 
tions,  as  the  responsibility  of  bursting  the 
guns  would  have  fallen  upon  him.  It  was 
subsequently  proved  by  experiment  that  the 
eleven-inch  Dahlgrens  would  easily  bear 
twenty -five  pounds  of  powder,  and  this  dif 
ference  in  the  charge  of  the  guns,  as  is 
now  known,  would  have  made  all  the  dif 
ference  in  the  world  in  the  final  result. 
The  "Merrimac's"  armor  would  have  been 

*  Confederate  account. 


broken,  and  she  would  have  laid  at  the 
mercy  of  the  "  Monitor,"  as  her  speed  was 
not  sufficient  to  have  enabled  her  to  es 
cape. 

Lieut.  Jones  having  occasion  to  visit  the 
"Merrimac's"  gun-deck  saw  a  division 
standing  at  ease,  and  inquiring  of  the  offi 
cer  in  command  why  he  was  not  firing,  that 
individual  replied,  "  After  firing  for  two, 
hours  I  find  I  can  do  the  enemy  about  as 
much  damage  by  snapping  my  fingers  at 
him  every  two  minutes  and  a  half."* 

As  Lieut.  Jones  found  he  could  make  no 
impression  on  the  "  Monitor  "  with  his  shot, 
he  determined  to  run  her  down  or  board 
her,  and  for  nearly  an  hour  he  maneuvered 
for  position,  but  his  ship  was  too  unwieldy 
for  that  kind  of  work.  The  "Monitor" 


LIEUT.  SAMUEL  DANA  GREENE. 
(EXECUTIVE  OFFICER  OF  THE  "MONITOR."; 

danced  around  her  like  a  yacht  around  a 
three-decker,  pouring  in  her  shot  and  en 
deavoring  to  find  a  vulnerable  point. 

At  last  Jones  thought  he  saw  a  chance  of 
ramming  the  "  Monitor,"  and  gave  the  or 
der  to  go  ahead  at  full  speed,  but  before  the 
great  vessel  could  gather  headway  the  agile 
"Monitor"  turned,  and  the  disabled  prow 
of  the  "Merrimac"  gave  a  glancing  mow 
which  did  no  harm  whatever. 

Again  the  "Monitor"  came  upon  the 
"  Merrimac's  "  quarter,  her  bow  actually 
against  the  ship's  side,  and  at  this  distance 
fired  twice.  Both  shots  struck  about  half 
way  up  the  "  Merrimac's  "  armor,  abreast 
of  the  after  pivot,  and  so  severe  was  the 
blow  that  the  side  was  forced  in  sev 
eral  inches.  The  crew  of  the  after  guns 
were  knocked  over  by  the  concussion, 


*  Confederate  account. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


129 


bleeding  from  the  nose  and  ears.  A  few 
more  shots  in  the  same  place  would  have 
made  an  opening1,  and  had  Worden  known 
this  at  the  time,  lie  would  doubtless  have 
taken  the  responsibility  of  using  double 
charges  of  powder  and  the  steel  shot,  and 
thereby  secured  a  complete  victory. 

While  the  vessels  were  together  on  this 
occasion,  boarders  were  called  away  on 
board  the  "  Merrimac."  and  started  to  get 
on  "the  little  cheese-box  on  a  shingle/' 
as  the  enemy  called  her,  but  the  "Moni 
tor  "  slipped  quickly  astern  and  opened  her 
batteries  upon  the  quarter  ports.  So  for 
hours  this  struggle  was  continued  with  ap 
parently  little  results. 

Thousand  of  spectators  with  beating 
hearts  watched  the  conflict  from  Fort  Mon 
roe,  and  from  the  ships.  It  seemed  to  them 
as  if  the  battle  would  never  end,  but  at 
length  the. Confederate  commander,  think 
ing  it  useless  to  try  his  broadsides  on  the 
"Monitor"'  any  longer,  steered  off  towards 
the  "  Minnesota,''  which  opened  on  the 
"  Merrimac ''  with  all  her  broadside  guns 
and  the  ten-inch  pivot.  The  "  Merrimac  " 
returned  the  fire  with  her  rifled  bow  gun, 
and  a  shell  passed  through  the  frigate. -tear 
ing  four  rooms  into  one,  and  exploding  a 
couple  of  charges  of  powder,  which  set  fire 
to  the  ship,  but  the  flames  were  promptly 
extinguished.  Another  shell  passed  through 
the  boiler  of  the  tug  "  Dragon,"  causing  an 
explosion. 

Then  the  "  Minnesota"  concentrated  her 
broadside  upon  the  "  Merrimac,"  and  kept 
up  an  incessant  fire;  and,  although  it  is 
said  fifty  shots  struck  the  slanting  roof 
of  the  iron-clad,  they  did  no  apparent  dam 
age. 

By  the  time  the  "Merrimac"  fired  her 
third  shell  the  little  "Monitor"  had  come 
up  with  her  again,  and  placed  herself  be 
tween  the  "Minnesota"  and  the  enemy, 
compelling  the  latter  to  change  her  posi 
tion.  While  doing  this  the  "Merrimac" 
grounded  and  the  "  Minnesota  "  poured  into 
her  the  fire  of  all  the  guns  she  could  bring 
to  bear.  As  soon  as  the  "Merrimac''  got 
off  the  bottom,  she  proceeded  clown  the 
bay,  then  suddenly  turned  and  attempted 
to  run  the  "  Monitor*  down,  but  failing  in 
the  attempt  she  concentrated  all  her  broad 
side  guns  on  the  little  vessel,  which  was 
keeping  up  a  rapid  fire. 

Suddenly  the  "Monitor"  was  seen  to 
move  away  from  the  "  Merrimac  "  in  ra 
ther  an  erratic  manner,  and  it  was  at  this 
instant  that  Lieut.  Worden  was  so  dis 
abled  that  he  could  no  longer  direct  the 
movements  of  his  vessel.  He  was  looking 
through  one  of  the  slits  in  the  pilot  house, 
when  a  shell  exploded  in  front  of  the  open 
ing,  driving  the  powder  into  his  face  and 
eyes,  rendering  him  blind  and  helpless.  He 
turned  over  the  command  of  the  vessel  to 


the  executive  officer,  Lieut.  S.  IX  Greene, 
who  was  in  the  turret,  with  instructions  to 
continue  the  action,  and  the  vessel  was 
again  headed  towards  the  enemy  and  her 
fire  recommenced. 

During  the  time  between  the  fall  of  Lieut. 
Worden  and  the  arrival  of  Lieut.  Greene 
in  the  pilot  house,  the  ''Monitor"  was  en 
tirely  under  control  of  the  man  at  the 
wheel,  who  having  no  one  to  direct  him, 
and  doubtless  being  excited  by  the  fall  of 
his  commanding  officer,  steered  off  on  an 
other  course  without  any  particular  aim  or 
object.  This  is  substantially  the  view  given 
of  the  occurrence  by  Prof.  Soley  in  his 
work,  "The  Blockade  and  the  Cruisers," 
and  he  obtained  his  information  from  the 
late  Commander  Greene. 


LIEUT.  GEOKGE  U.  MORRIS. 
(ACTIXG  COMMASDEB  OF  THE  "  CUMBERLAND.") 

Prof.  Soley  further  says :  "  Seeing  the 
'  Monitor '  draw  off,  Van  Brunt,  under  the 
supposition  that  his  protector  was  disabled 
and  had  left  him.  prepared  for  the  worst, 
and  made  ready  to  destroy  his  ship  :  but  at 
this  point  the  'Merrimac'  withdrew  to 
Norfolk.  Greene  fired  at  her  twice,  or  at 
most  three  times.  He  then  returned  to  the 
'  Minnesota,'  and  remained  by  her  until 
•she  got  afloat."  This  is  no  doubt  a  correct 
version  of  the  affair.  The  "Merrimac" 
moved  off  (those  on  board  of  her  glad  to  do 
so  in  an  apparently  creditable  manner), 
knowing  that  if  the  battle  lasted  much 
longer  the  "  Monitor"  would  be  successful. 

When  the  Confederates  saw  the  "Mon 
itor"  moving  away,  they  naturally  con 
cluded  she  was  disabled,  or  had  run  short 
of  ammunition,  and  their  first  idea  was  to 
proceed  again  to  the  attack  of  the  "Minne 
sota." 

By  Capt.  Van  Brunt's  account,  the  "  Mer 
rimac  "  and  the  two  Confederate  gun-boats 


130 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


did  head  towards  his  ship,  and  realizing  his 
helpless  condition  he  made  every  prepara 
tion  to  destroy  the  ''Minnesota,"  deter 
mined  that  she  should  not  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  Capt.  Van  Brunt 
goes  on  to  say:  "A  short  time  after  the 
'  Merrimac '  and  her  consorts  had  changed 
their  course,  and  were  heading  for  Craney 
Island." 

In  writing  history  it  is  no  more  than  fair 
that  both  sides  should  have  a  hearing. 
Lieut.  Greene,  in  his  report  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  dated  March  12,  1862,  says: 

u  At  8  A.  M.  perceived  the  '  Merrimac '  underway 
and  standing  towards  the  'Minnesota;'  hove  up 
anchor  and  Avent  to  quarters 

"At  8:45  A.  M.  we  opened  fire  on  the  'Merrimac, 
and  continued  the  action  until  11:30  A.  M.,  when 
Capt.  Worden  was  injured.  Capt.  Worden  then 
sent  for  me  to  take  charge  of  the  vessel.  We  con 
tinued  the  action  until  12:15  p.  M.,  when  the  '  Mer 
rimac  retreated  to  SewelFs  Point,  and  we  went  to 
the  '  Minnesota'  and  lay  by  her." 


LIEUT.  JOSEPH  B.  SMITH. 

(ACTING  COMMANDER  OF  THE   "CONGRESS.") 

This  is  rather  a  meagre  report  of  so  im 
portant  a  transaction,  but  no  one  else  in  the 
squadron  at  Hampton  Roads,  so  far  as 
known,  says  anything  about  the  matter  ex 
cept  Capt.  Van  Brunt,  who  writes:  "For 
some  time  after  this  the  Confederates  con 
centrated  their  whole  battery  upon  the  tur 
ret  and  pilot-house  of  the  '  Monitor,'  and 
soon  after  the  latter  stood  down  for  Fort 
ress  Monroe." 

A  Confederate  officer  on  board  the  "  Mer 
rimac"  says:  "At  length  the  '  Monitor  ' 
"withdrew  over  the  middle  ground  where  we 
could  not  follow,  but  always  maintaining  a 
position  to  protect  the  'Minnesota.'  To 
have  run  our  ship  ashore  on  a  falling  tide 
would  have  been  ruin.  We  awaited  her 


return  for  an  hour  and  at  two  P.  M.  steamed 
for  Sewell's  Point  and  thence  to  the  dock 
yard  at  Norfolk.  Our  crew  were  thoroughly 
worn  out  from  the  two  days'  fight.  Al 
though  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  'Monitor' 
first  retired,  the  battle  was  a  drawn  one  as 
far  as  the  two  vessels  engaged  were  con 
cerned,  but  in  its  general  results  the  ad 
vantage  was  with  the  '  Monitor.' ': 

This  seems  to  be  a  fair  statement  and  its 
author  pays  a  high  tribute  to  the  "  Moni 
tor."  He  says  :  "The  'Monitor' was  well 
handled  and  saved  the  '  Minnesota '  and 
remainder  of  the  fleet  at  Fortress  Monroe." 
which  seems  evident  enough,  for  had  the 
"  Monitor"  failed  to  appear  every  vessel  in 
the  roads  must  have  been  captured  or  de 
stroyed. 

There  is  glory  enough  in  this  fact  for  the 
little  "  Monitor  "  without  claiming  more  for 
her.  She  saved  not  only  the  squadron,  but 
the  honor  of  the  nation,  and  her  gallant 
commander  is  fully  entitled  to  all  the  hon 
ors  he  received.  Had  he  not  been  disabled 
at  such  an  inopportune  moment  he  would, 
in  our  opinion,  have  compelled  the  "Merri 
mac  "  to  surrender:  for  the  tide  was  ebbing 
and  in  another  hour  the  "  Merrimac  "  could 
not  have  maneuvered  and  would  have 
grounded;  the  "  Monitor  "  then  could  have 
taken  position  under  the  iroii-clad's  stern 
and  knocked  her  frame  in. 

Thus  ended  this  remarkable  engagement, 
which,  in  the  bravery  and  ability  displayed 
on  both  sides,  has  never  been  excelled;  and 
the  foreign  officers  who  witnessed  the  con 
flict,  could  judge  from  it  how  desperately 
we  could  meet  a  foe  attempting  to  invade 
our  shores. 

It  is  stated  by  the  Confederate  authority, 
to  whom  we  referred,  that  "  the  '  Merrimac  ' 
was  not  penetrated  by  any  of  the  shot  fired 
by  the  '  Monitor.'  Had  the  fire  been  con 
centrated  011  one  spot  the  shield  could  have 
been  forced;  or  had  larger  charges  been 
used  the  iron  on  the  '  Merrimac '  could 
not  have  withstood  them.  Most  of  the 
'  Monitor's '  shot  struck  obliquely,  in  most 
cases  breaking  both  courses  of  iron,  but  not 
injuring  the  vessel's  backing.  When  struck 
at  right  angles  the  wood  backing  would  be 
broken  but  not  penetrated."  These  are  mat 
ters  of  interest,  since  it  has  been  a  mooted 
point  as  to  the  amount  of  damage  the  "  Mer 
rimac  "  received.  The  "  Monitor,"  we  know, 
received  none,  except  to  her  pilot-house, 
and  could  have  fought  all  day  without  dan 
ger  of  vital  injury  to  her  hull  or  machinery, 
but  the  "Merrimac"  was  obliged  to  go 
into  dry-dock  to  be  very  thoroughly  re 
paired. 

The  joy  of  the  Confederates  at  the  news  of 
the  first  day's  fight  in  Hampton  Roads,  was 
much  dampened  when  the  information  came 
that  the  "  Merrimac  "  was  obliged  to  leave 
the  fighting-ground  on  the  second  day  with- 


OF  THE   CIVIL    IVAR. 


131 


out  eff ecting  anything.  It  was  a  severe  dis 
appointment,  since  they  had  reckoned  on 
the  capture  of  the  whole  Union  fleet  in  the 
Roads,  and  an  advance  of  the  "  Merrimac  " 
upon  Washington. 

As  soon  as  the  '•  Merrimac"  was  again 
ready  for  service,  on  the  29th  of  March, 
1802.  Commodore  Josiah  Tatnall  was  or 
dered  to  command  her  instead  of  the  cool 
and  judicious  Catesby  Jones,  who  had  con 
ducted  the  engagement  with  the  "Moni 
tor  "  with  so  much  skill  and  bravery.  Com 
modore  Tatnall  had  a  high  reputation  in  the 
old  Navy  as  a  brave  and  chivalric  officer. 
The  writer  served  as  his  executive  officer  in 
some  desperate  encounters  with  the  enemy 
during  the  Mexican  War,  and  knew  him  as 


supplied  with  steel-pointed  solid  shot,  and 
one  hundred  tons  of  ballast  were  put  on 
board  to  increase  the  vessel's  draught  and 
bring  her  weak  point  under  water,  though 
this  decreased  her  speed.  The  ''  Merrimac" 
was  greatly  improved,  when  a  month  later, 
on  the  llth  of  April, she  left  the  Navy  Yard, 
and  steamed  down  towards  Hampton  Roads 
accompanied  by  six  gun-boats. 

Commodore  Tatnall  fully  expected  the 
"  Monitor"  to  be  ready  to  meet  him  as  soon 
as  he  had  passed  Sewell's  Point,  but  the 
Federal  authorities  had  grown  wary.  The 
fleet  had  been  re-enforced  by  the  ''Vander- 
bilt."  fitted  as  a  powerful  ram,  and  she  lay 
ready  to  attack  the  "Merrimac"  in  con 
junction  with  the  "  Monitor."  Could  the 


COMMODORE  JOSIAH  TATNALL. 


well  as  one  man  can  know  another.  Tat 
nall  was  ready  for  any  desperate  service, 
but  he  lacked'  Catesby*Jones'  coolness  and 
judgment. 

Up  to  the  time  Tatnall  took  command  the 
iron-clad  had  been  in  dock  undergoing  re 
pairs,  and  it  would  seem  from  this  circum 
stance  that  she  had  been  more  roughly 
handled  by  the  "  Monitor "  than  the  Con- 
fe.derates  chose  to  admit.  At  all  events 
they  were  convinced  that  she  was  not  fit  to 
cope  with  the  ''Monitor"  in  her  original 
condition.  The  hull  for  four  feet  below  the 
water  line  was  covered  with  two-inch  iron, 
a  new  and  heavier  ram  was  strongly 
secured  to  the  bow,  the  damage  to  the 
armor  was  repaired,  and  wrought-iroii  port 
shutters  were  fitted.  The  rifled  guns  were 


"  Vanderbilt  "  have  but  struck  the  "Merri 
mac,"  going  at  half  speed,  she  would  have 
penetrated  ner  as  easily  as  a  knife  opens  a 
watermelon. 

To  Tatnall's  surprise  no  one  seemed  to 
notice  his  appearance,  the  "  Monitor  "  and 
her  consorts  lying  quietly  at  anchor  below 
Fortress  Monroe.  The  "  Monitor  "  was  just 
as  we  left  her  after  the  fight;  she  needed 
but  trifling  repairs,  while  the  "  Merrimac  " 
had  been  long  enough  in  dock  to  make  her 
doubly  strong.  The  "Monitor"  had  been 
kept  in  readiness  in  case  the  "Merrimac" 
attempted  to  pass  the  fleet  and  make  to 
wards  Washington,  although  the  Confede 
rate  vessel  could  hardly  have  passed  the 
Kettle  Bottom  shoals  in  the  channel  of  the 
Potomac. 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


The  officers  of  the  '•'  Merrimac,"  knowing 
Tatnall's  reputation,  expected  a  desperate 
engagement  at  the  outset,  but  he  showed 
more  than  ordinary  judgment  when  he 
found  how  matters  stood.  He  had  requested 
permission  from  the  Confederate  govern 
ment  to  act  on  his  own  discretion  and  to 
pass  Fortress  Monroe  if  he  thought  proper; 
but  this  was  denied  him  for  prudential  rea 
sons.  While  the  "  Merrimac  "  remained 
intact  it  was  supposed  that  Norfolk  would 
be  secure  against  attack,  and  the  way  for 
an  army  to  Richmond  would  be  barred  by 
the  iron-clad;  all  of  which  was  in  a  measure 
true.  For  equally  prudent  reasons  the 
"  Monitor"  was  kept  out  of  battle  for  the 
present,  and  lay  off  Fortress  Monroe  under 
command  of  Lieut.  Jeffers.  There  were  no 
Federal  war  vessels  above  Fortress  Monroe, 
but  there  were  three  merchant  sailing  ves 
sels  within  the  bar  off  Hampton. 

Tatnall  ordered  Lieut.  Barney,  in  the 
"  Jamestown,"  to  go  in  and  bring  them  out. 
This  was  accomplished,  although  the  gun 
boat  was  fired  on  by  the  forts.  Two  of  the 
vessels  contained  supplies  for  the  Federal 
Army. 

This  was  a  humiliation  and  should  not 
have  been  suffered,  but  prevented  at  all 
hazards,  especially  as  the  crew  of  an  Eng 
lish  corvette  cheered  the  Confederates  as 
they  towed  their  prizes  away. 

"  That  night  the  '  Merrimac'  lay  at  anchor  above 
Sewell's  Point,  and  a  few  days  later  she  went  within 
gunshot  of  the  fort  at  the  Rip  Raps,  with  which  she 
exchanged  a  few  rounds.  It  is  said  that  the  '  Mer- 
riinac'  opened  fire,  hoping  that  the  'Monitor' 
would  go  out  and  meet  her,  when  by  numerous  de 
vices  it  was  intended  to  board  the  little  vessel, 
smother  the  officers  and  crew,  put  out  the  fires  and 
tow  her  into  Norfolk!  The  'Monitor,'  however, 
lay  quietly  at  anchor  biding  her  time,  and  the  '  Mer- 
rimac's '  engines  breaking  down,  she  was  obliged  to 
return  to  Norfolk. 

"On  the  8th  of  May  the  'Merrimac'  again  ap 
peared  and  found  the  'Monitor,'  'Galena,'  'Nan- 
tucket'  and  a  number  of  heavy  phips  shelling  the 
works  at  Sewell's  Point ;  but  on  the  appearance  of 
the  iron-clad  they  all  returned  below  Portress  Mon 
roe.  Tatnall  stood  direct  for  the  '  Monitor,'  which 
retreated  with  the  other  vessels,  the  'Merrimac' 
and  consorts  following  close  down  to  the  Rip  Raps, 
where  shot  passed  over  the  ship  and  a  mile  beyond. 
Tatnall  remained  for  some  hours  in  the  Roads  until 
finally  in  disgust  he  gave  an  order  to  Lieut.  Jones 
to  fire  a  gun  to  windward  and  take  the  ship  back 
to  her  buoy." 

The  above  Confederate  account  does  not 
agree  with  the  report  of  Rear  Admiral 
Goldsborough,  who  says  : 

"By  direction  of  the  President  our  vessels  shelled 
SewelFs  Point  yesterday,  mainly  with  a  view  to  see 
the  practicability  of  landing  a  body  of  troops  there 
abouts.  The  '  Merrimac '  came  out  but  was  even 
more  cautious  than  ever.  The  '  Monitor '  was  kept 
well  in  advance  and  so  that  the  'Merrimac'  could 
have  engaged  her  without  difficulty  had  she  been  so 
disposed,  but  she  declined  to  do  so,  and  soon  re 
turned  and  anchored  under  Sewell's  Point." 

This  disposes  of  the  statement  that  the 
Federal  Squadron  retired  before  the  "  Mer 


rimac  "  and  consorts,  for  the  writer  can  find 
nothing  on  record  to  substantiate  the  Con 
federate  account.  There  is  every  reason  to 
believe  the  commander  of  the  "  Merrimac  " 
was  willing  to  let  the  "'  Monitor  ''  alone,  for 
he  was  too  clever  a  man  to  risk  his  vessel 
against  all  the  ships  awaiting  his  attack. 

The  Federals  were  evidently  desirous  to 
draw  him  as  far  as  possible  from  his  base 
and  then  overwhelm  him  with  the  "  Moni 
tor."  heavy  frigates  and  powerful  rams  that 
were  prepared  to  attack  him. 

That  was  the  last  appearance  of  the 
"Merrimac."  According  to  a  Confederate 
account :  '•  On  the  9th  of  May,  while  at  an 
chor  off  SewelFs  Point,  it  was  noticed  at 


LIEUT.  JOHN  TAYLOR  WOOD,  OF  THE  "MERRIMAC." 
(AFTERWARDS  COMMANDER  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  "TALLAHASSEE.") 

sundown  that  the  Confederate  flag  was  not 
flying  over  the  batteries.  A  boat  was  sent 
on  shore  and  found  them  abandoned.  Lieut. 
Pembroke  Jones  was  then  dispatched  to 
Norfolk,  and  returned  with  the  news  that 
Norfolk  was  evacuated,  and  the  Navy  Yard 
on  fire." 

That  determined  the  fate  of  the  "  Merri 
mac."  Her  occupation  was  gone,  and  to 
prevent  her  from  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  Federal  Government,  she  was  blown 
up  and  entirely  destroyed. 

Several  plans  had  been  proposed  to  save 
the  vessel  for  further  use,  such  as  lightening 
her  and  getting  her  up  the  James  River  as 
a  protection  to  Richmond,  but  they  were 
found  impracticable. 

It  was  just  as  well  that  the  Merrimac's 
career  ended  thus,  for  she  would  never  have 
been  of  any  more  use  in  Confederate  hands, 
and  her  officers  and  crew  would  have  fallen 
victims  to  the  temerity  of  any  commander 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


133 


who  ventured  to  attack  the  ''  Monitor," 
backed  as  she  was  by  an  overwhelming 
force.  The  Federal  government  had  made  a 
great  mistake  in  not  being  prepared  for  the 
••  Merrimac  "  oil  her  first  appearance:  they 
were  not  going  to  be  caught  again,  and  in 
their  precautions  to  this  effect  they  rather 
overdid  the  matter.  The  lesson  was  not  lost 
on  the  Government  during  the  war.  The 
experience  we  gained  by  the  loss  of  the 
"  Congress"  and  ••Cumberland"  was  worth 
a  dozen  frigates,  although  we  mourned  the 
brave  fellows  who  fell  gloriously  fighting 
for  their  country. 

Had  there  been  no  '•  Merrimac"  we  should 
never  have  built  those  magnificent  iron 
clads,  which  for  a  time  placed  our  Navy  in 
the  front  rank  of  the  navies  of  the  world, 
and  enabled  us  to  bid  defiance  to  England 
and  France,  who  were  too  much  inclined  to 
meddle  with  our  affairs. 

The  "  Merrimac  "  taught  our  legislators 
the  necessity  of  being  more  liberal  in  our 
naval  expenditures,  and  to  build  armored 
vessels  such  as  would  not  only  be  able  to 
stand  the  heaviest  seas,  but  to  batter  down 
the  strongest  forts,  or  destroy  any  enemy's 
vessel  that  came  upon  our  coast. 

After  the  war  was  over  the  lesson  was 
unfortunately  soon  forgotten,  and  in  a  few 
years  the  Navy,  which  was  so  powerful  at 
the  close  of  the  rebellion,  relapsed  into  an 
insignificance  from  which  it  will  take  long 
to  recover;  while  other  nations,  taking  ad 
vantage  of  our  experience,  have  gone  on 
building  iron-dads  which  astonish  the  world 
with  their  power. 

To  this  day  the  principle  of  the  "Moni 
tor"  is  recognized  in  every  navy  in  the 
world,  and  the  fame  of  Ericsson  "promises 
to  endure  for  centuries  to  come. 


The  '•  Monitor"  did  not  long  outlast  her 
huge  antagonist.  She  was  lost  a  few  months 
afterwards  in  a  gale  off  Cape  Hatteras  in 
attempting  the  impossible,  for  it  was  never 
intended  she  should  be  used  as  a  cruiser. 
She  was  not  intended  to  ride  out  heavy 
gales,  and  of  this  the  government  had  had 
proof  in  her  first  voyage  to  Hampton  Roads, 
when  she  was  very  near  going  to  the  bot 
tom.  When  she  foundered  she  carried 
down  with  her  some  brave  fellows  who 
stood  by  her  to  the  last.  May  they  rest  in 
peace  ! 

After  reading  all  the  accounts  which 
have  been  published  in  regard  to  this  en 
gagement,  we  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  '•  Monitor"  was  too  much  for  the  "Mer 
rimac."  The  latter  was  damaged  so  much 
that  she  had  to  remain  some  time  in  dock 
for  repairs.  For  a  short  time  after  Lieut. 
Worden  was  wounded,  the  *'  Monitor" 
headed  away  from  her  antagonist  until 
Lieut.  Greene  could  get  into  the  pilot-house, 
and  the  commanding  officer  of  the  ••Mer 
rimac  "  took  advantage  of  this  circumstance 
to  return  to  Norfolk. 

Catesby  Jones  was  too  clever  an  officer  not 
to  know  that  if  he  should  get  aground  in 
the  narrow  channel  the  ''Monitor"  would 
certainly  capture  him.  Had  Worden  not 
been  wounded  the  "  Merrimac"  would  have 
been  captured  as  it  was. 

After  the  '•  Merrimac  "  retreated  Worden 
was  removed  to  Washington,  where  he  re 
ceived  every  attention  his  condition  re 
quired,  and  all  the  honors  the  government 
could  bestow  for  his  skill  and  bravery, 
which  had  averted  a  terrible  catastrophe 
and  humilation.  To  Worden  belongs  the 
credit  of  having  performed  one  of  the  most 
important  achievements  of  the  war. 


CHAPTER     XIII. 

BUILDING   A  NAVY    ON    THE  WESTERN  RIVERS.— BATTLE    OF    BELMONT. 

JAMES  B.  EADS  ENGAGED  TO  BUILD  GUN-BOATS.— DEPOT  ESTABLISHED  AT  CAIRO.— NAVY 
YARD  AT  MOUND  CITY.— FLAG-OFFICER  FOOTE  IN  COMMAND  OF  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON. 
—CAPTAIN  PENNOCK  AND  ASSISTANTS.— THE  "TAYLOR."  "LEXINGTON"  AND  ••' CONES- 
TOGA."— GRANT  SEIZES  PADUCAH.— COMMANDER  WALKE  ATTACKS  THE  BATTERIES 
NEAR  COLUMBUS.— BATTLE  OF  BELMONT.— GRANT  GAINS  TWO  VICTORIES  IN  ONE  DAY.— 
EFFICIENT  SERVICES  RENDERED  BY  GUN-BOATS.— THE  WESTERN  FLOTILLA,  ETC.,  ETC. 


TO  enable  us  to  keep  pace  with  the 
progress  of  events  we  must  now 
turn  our  attention  in  another  direc 
tion,  and  see  what  the  Navy  wa.s 
doing  in  the  western  rivers. 
Early  in  1862  the  attention  of  the  Navy 
Department  was  directed  towards  the  West. 
The  necessity  of  building  gun-boats  there 
to  assist  the  Army  in  its  operations  had  be 
come  evident  to  the  dullest  comprehension. 
There  were    more  than   four    thousand 
miles   of  navigable  rivers,   the   control  of 
which  was  absolutely  necessary  to  the  Fed 
eral  Government  to  enable  it  to  crush  out 
rebellion,  and  the  only  way  to  obtain  this 
control   was    to    build    a    fleet    peculiarly 
adapted    to  smooth    and  shallow    waters, 
while   carrying   the  heaviest    smooth-bore 
and  rifled  ordnance. 

Strange  as  it  may  at  this  day  appear, 
some  of  the  Army  officers  argued  that  gun 
boats  would  be  useless  to  co-operate  with 
the  Army  in  the  West,  as  the  Confederates 
would  establish  heavy  forts  all  along  the 
rivers,  and  knock  the  vessels  to  pieces;  in 
April,  1862,  after  the  war  had  progressed 
for  a  year,  General  Leonidas  Polk  seized 
upon  the  heights  near  Belmont,  Ky..  and 
mounting  heavy  guns  there  blocked  the 
way  for  Army  transports  from  Cairo  to  the 
sea.  Then  the  Army  began  to  talk  of  im 
provising  a  Navy  of  their  own,  and  the 
Navy  Department  sent  Commander  John 
Rodgers  to  St.  Louis  to  superintend  the  con 
struction  of  an  army  flotilla. 

While  the  North"  had  its  Ericsson,  the 
West  was  fortunate  in  possessing,  in  the 


(134) 


person  of  Mr.  James  B.  Eads,  the  very  man 
for  the  occasion.  Mr.  Eads  undertook  to 
build  seven  large  gun-boats,  heavily  plated 
on  the  bow  and  lighter  on  the  sides,  which 
were  calculated  to  carry  very  heavy  ord 
nance. 

It  is  strange  how  slowly  even  the  clever 
est  of  men  receive  new  ideas.  These  gun 
boats,  intended  for  service  in  the  smooth 
waters  of  the  western  rivers,  could  have 
been  plated  with  iron  sufficient  to  have 
turned  the  heaviest  shot,  instead  of  which 
they  were  only  partially  covered,  and  owing 
to  this  defect  met  with  many  mishaps.  In 
three  months  three  of  the  vessels  were 
ready  to  receive  their  armament. 

As  the  Army  were  now  making  great  de 
mands  for  gun-boats.  Com.  Rodgers  was  au 
thorized  to  purchase  three  river  steamers 
and  convert  them  into  war-vessels  without 
plating.  These  were  the  first  gun-boats  that 
fired  a  shot  in  support  of  the  Union,  and  be 
came  well  known  for  their  many  encoun 
ters  with  the  enemy,  and  for  valuable  ser 
vices  throughout  the  war. 

Flag-officer  Andrew  H.  Foote  was  or 
dered  to  command  the  Mississippi  Squadron 
on  the  6th  of  September,  1862.  and  he  took 
with  him  to  the  West  a  number  of  officers 
whose  names  will  appear  from  time  to  time 
in  our  pages — a  more  gallant  set  of  men 
never  trod  the  deck  of  a  vessel-of-war. 

Foote,  Rodgers,  Eads  and  their  assist 
ants  put  forth  all  their  energies  to  get  the 
squadron  ready  for  service,  as  the  enemy 
were  fortifying  the  banks  of  the  rivers  in 
Tennessee,  and  Folk's  heavy  batteries  at 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


135 


Columbus  barred  the  way  against  vessels 
from  above.  The  civilians  who  had  charge 
of  the  building  of  the  gun-boats  were  not 
skilled  in  the  construction  of  war-vessels, 
and  the  time  of  the  naval  officers 
therefore  com 
pletely  occupied 
in  supervising 
the  work  of  con 
struction:  but 
with  their  aid 
Mr.  Eads  soon 
completed  an  ef 
ficient  flotilla, 
which  obtained 
a  fame  in  the  an 
nals  of  the  war 
surpassed  by  no 
other  vessels. 

One  of  Flag- 
officer  Foote's 
first  acts  was  to 
establish  a  depot 
at  Cairo,  Illinois, 
wherehis  vessels 
couldbe  repaired 
and  could  re 
plenish  their 
stores;  and  those 
who  remember 
the  Navy  Yard 
at  Mound  City, 
near  Cairo,  and 
the  large  fleet 
which  g  r  e  w 
from  the  small 
squadron  first 
put  afloat,  will 
wonder  why  we 
should  require 
so  many  navy 
yards  at  the  pres 
ent  time  when 
we  hardly  fit  out 
a  dozen  vessels 
in  a  year. 

Com'r  A.  M. 
Pennock  was 
placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  de 
pot  at  Cairo,  the 
navy  yard  being 
lite  rally  afloat  in 
wharf  boats,  old 
steamers,  tugs, 
flat-boats,  or 
even  rafts,  as 
the  government 
owned  no  land 
at  that  point;  but 
when  the  station 

was  subsequently  established  at  Mound  City, 
just  above  Cairo,  the  Union  exulted  in  the 
possession  of  a  real  navy-yard  of  some  ten 
acres,  which,  although  sometimes  under 
water  from  freshets,  soon  grew  to  a  respect- 


REAR-ADMIRAL  A.   H.  FOOTE. 


able  size,  although  its  machine  shops,  car 
penter  shops,  etc..  were  all  afloat  in  steam 
ers.  Capt.  Pennock  had  charge  of  the 
naval  station  until  the  close  of  the  war.  and 
his  services  called  forth  the  unqualified 

commendation 
of  the  several 
commanders-in- 
chief  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  Squad 
ron  under  whom 
he  served.  Capt. 
Pennock's  first 
assistants  at  the 
naval  station 
were  Lieuten 
ants  I.  P.  San- 
ford  and  O.  H. 
Perry,  Chief 
Engineer,  Capt. 
Geo.  D.  Wise, 
U.  S.  A.,  Quar 
termaster,  and 
Acting  Naval 
Constructor  Ro 
meo  Friganza, 
the  latter  sent 
from  New  York 
navy  yard  to  fill 
this  important 
position. 

This,  then,  was 
all  the  establish 
ment  the  Navy 
Departme  nt 
at  that  time 
considered  nec 
essary  to  keep 
in  repair  the 
M  i  ssissippi 
Squadron,  that 
was  expected  to 
successfullycpn- 
trol  an  active 


enemy  occupy 
ing  thousands  of 
miles  of  nuvig- 
a  b  1  e  rivers, 
where  the  na 
ture  of  the  coun- 
trv  offered  every 
advantage  to  an 
enterprising  foe. 
The  difficul 
ties  with  which 
the  Navy  had  to 
contend  on  the 
Atlantic  coast 
were  many,  and 
their  duty  was 
harrassing,  but 
at  least  they  had  generally  sea-room  and 
intervals  of  rest.  An  officer  could  retire  to 
repose  without  the  expectation  of  having  a 
volley  of  musketry  crash  through  his  state 
room  window,  or,  when  walking  on  deck,  did 


130 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


not  risk  being  knocked  over  by  some  cow 
ardly  bushwhacker,  who  would  watch  all 
day  for  the  chance  of  picking  off  somebody 
on*  board  a  gun-boat — just  as  in  peaceful 
times  he  had  laid  in  wait  for  a  coon  or  a 
wild  turkey.  In  the  West  a  man  carried  his 
life  in  his  hands,  yet  few  took  pains  to  avoid 
the  danger,  although  always  in  readiness  to 
meet  and  repel  attacks  upon  their  vessels. 
Coolness  and  courage  were  at  all  times  re 
quired,  and  a  readiness  for  duty  that  inter 
fered  with  the  natural  rest,  so  essential  a 
preservative  of  vitality. 

The  three  wooden  gun-boats  which  formed 
the  advance  guard  of  the  Western  Flotilla, 
were  the  "Taylor."'  ''Lexington  "and  "Con- 
estoga."  which  had  been  so  altered  from 
river  steamers  that  they  became  efficient 
vessels  of  war.  The  "  Taylor''  mounted  six 
sixty-four-pounder  guns  in  broadside  and 
one  thirty -two-pounder  in  the  stern;  the 
•"  Lexington "  mounted  four  sixty-four- 
pounders  in  broadside  and  one  thirty-two- 
poimder  astern,  and  the  "  Conestoga  "  car 
ried  two  thirty-two-pounders  in  broadside 
and  one  light  gun  in  the  stern — not  a  very 
formidable  flotilla  to  encounter  strong 
earthworks,  many  of  them  mounting  rifle 
guns  of  great  range. 

The  Confederates  had  not  at  first  at 
tempted  to  extemporize  a  river  navy,  al 
though  they  were  not  long  in  following  the 
Federal  example  ;  and  the  Navy  Yard  at 
Memphis,  turned  over  to  the  State  of  Ten 
nessee  with  all  its  appliances,  by  act  of  Con 
gress,  was  soon  in  full  blast  preparing  ves 
sels  to  attack  anything  we  might  put  upon 
the  rivers.  But  our  light  gun-boats  showed 
themselves  not  only  fit  for  picket  duty  and 
for  clearing  the  banks  of  bushwhackers, 
but  even  to  take  a  hand  in  shelling  heavy 
batteries. 

At  this  period  of  the  war  General  Grant 
had  been  transferred  to  the  command  of 
the  District  of  Southeast  Missouri,  and  on 
the  4th  of  September,  180 1,  he  established 
his  head-quarters  at  Cairo,  Illinois.  His  dis 
trict  included  Southern  Illinois  and  so  much 
of  Western  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  as 
might  fall  into  possession  of  the  national 
forces.  It  comprised  the  junction  of  the 
Mississippi,  Ohio,  Tennessee  and  Cumber 
land  Rivers,  and  was  at  the  time  the  most 
important  point  of  operations  in  the 
West. 

Kentucky,  in  the  early  part  of  the  war, 
endeavored  to  preserve  a  neutral  position 
between  the  contending  sections,  but  the 
Confederate  General  Polk  soon  violated  this 
neutrality,  seizing  Columbus,  some  twenty 
miles  below  Cairo,  and  threatening  Pa- 
ducah;  whereupon  Grant  seized  this  latter 
place  ancLgarrisoned  it.  Thus  the  two  armies 
were  near  each  other.  Grant  had  nothing 
but  ordinary  transports  to  operate  with, 
and  these  were  liable  to  be  cut  to  pieces 


from  the  banks  of  the  river  by  the  Confed 
erate  light  artillery. 

On  the  14th  of"  September  Commander 
Henry  Walke,  in  command  of  the  "Tay 
lor,"  under  orders  from  Flag-officer  Foote, 
proceeded  down  the  river  towards  Columbus 
to  make  reconnoissance.  accompanied  by 
officers  of  General  Grant's  staff.  At  Nor- 
folk.  six  miles  below  Cairo,  the  "Taylor" 
took  on  board  a  hundred  men  of  the  Ninth 
Illinois  Regiment,  and  then  approached  Co 
lumbus  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  the  bat 
teries.  "  These  batteries  were  built  upon 
what  was  called  the  Iron  Banks,  at  the  first 
Chickasaw  Bluff,  which  rose  from  two  to 
three  hundred  feet  above  the  river,  over 
looking  its  course  for  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles  north  and  south.  The  Confederate 
batteries  were  placed  on  the  spurs  of  the 
bluff,  one  of  them,  fifty  feet  above  the  water, 
mounting  two  heavy  guns,  with  a  floating 
battery  of  sixteen  heavy  guns  moored  at 
Columbus  landing.  Their  heaviest  rifled 
guns  were  planted  and  pivoted  on  the  sum 
mit  of  the  river  banks,  where  they  com 
manded  a  long  range  up  the  river  and  to 
wards  their  rear." 

When  Com.  Walke  arrived  off  these 
works,  he  fired  eight  or  ten  eight -inch  shells 
into  them,  killing  and  wounding  several  of 
the  enemy,  and  the  reconnoissance  having 
been  completed  the  vessel  returned  to 
Cairo. 

The  "Taylor"  and  "Lexington"  were 
constantly  employed  on  such  service,  and 
their  value  soon  became  apparent  to  the 
army  officers,  who  had  at  first  thought  they 
would  be  of  little  use. 

Soon  after  the  above  mentioned  recon 
noissance.  General  Grant  wrote  to  Com 
mander  Walke,  requesting  the  services  of 
the  gun-boats  to  accompany  him  to  Bel- 
mont  landing,  and  on  the  10th  of  Novem 
ber,  1801,  the  General  started  down  the 
river  with  3.100  men  in  transports,  convoyed 
by  the  "Taylor,"  Com.  Walke,  and  the 
"  Lexington,"  Com.  R.  N.  Stembel. 

Grant  landed  his  troops  at  Hunter's 
Point,  on  the  Missouri  side,  out  of  range  of 
the  Columbus  batteries,  and  marched  direct 
on  Belmont,  three  miles  distant,  where  the 
Confederates  had  posted  their  camp  in  an 
open  space  protected  by  fallen  timber.  By 
nine  o'clock  Grant's  entire  command  was 
hotly  engaged,  except  one  battalion  left  at 
the  landing  as  a  reserve,  and  to  protect 
the  transports. 

General  Grant  had  requested  Com.  Walke, 
with  the  two  gun-boats,  to  attack  the  bat 
teries  at  Columbus  as  a  diversion,  which 
was  done.  As  the  gun-boats  were  under 
fire  of  some  twenty  heavy  guns  having  a 
plunging  fire,  it  was  necessary  to  manage 
them  with  great  skill  to  prevent  their  being 
disabled,  and  they  moved  around  in  short 
circles,  loading  and  firing  as  rapidly  as 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


137 


possible.  "\Vhen  their  object  was  accom 
plished  the  gun-boats  withdrew,  as  it  would 
nave  been  madness  to  have  continued 
longer  under  the  fire  of  such  heavy  guns. 

In  the  mean  time  Grant  had  been  fight 
ing  four  hours  and  his  horse  had  been  shot 
under  him.  The  officers'  example  stimu 
lated  the  men.  who  though  novices  in  war 
fought  like  veterans,  driving  the  enemy  to 
the  river,  capturing  all  his  artillery  and  sev 
eral  hundred  prisoners,  and  breaking  up 
the  camp. 

Instead  of  pursuing  the  enemy  as  they 
huddled  together  under  the  river  Dank,  the 
Federal  soldiers  began  to  plunder  the 
camp.  Meanwhile.  Confederate  transports, 
crowded  with  men.  were  discovered  com 
ing  up  the  river  from  Columbus,  and  Grant 


have  whipped  them  once  and  can  do  it 
again/'  As  soon  as  the  men  found  that 
Grant  meant  to  fight,  not  to  surrender, 
they  charged  the  enemy,  who  disappeared 
in  the  woods. 

Grant  pushed  on  to  the  landing  and  most 
of  his  men  went  on  board  the  transports. 
A  detachment  was  sent  back  to  gather  up 
the  wounded,  and  it  was,  for  a  time,  undis 
turbed.  Then  Grant  in  person  went  to 
withdraw  his  reserve  force,  which  he  found 
had  already  returned  to  the  transports, 
thus  leaving  the  General  completely  outside 
his  army.  Ascending  a  knoll  he  discov 
ered  the  enemy  advancing  in  line  of  bat 
tle  in  greatly  increased  force,  with  the  evi 
dent  intention  of  getting  above  the  trans 
ports  and  cutting  them  off.  The  General 


BATTLE  OF    BELMOXT. 


endeavored  to  reform  his  men  in  order  to 
get  back  to  his  own  steamers  before  these 
troops  could  land,  but  it  was  not  until 
he  had  ordered  the  camp  to  be  set  on 
fire  that  his  men  would  cease  plundering. 
The  fire  drew  the  attention  of  the  artiller 
ists  at  Columbus,  who  opened  on  the  Fed 
eral  troops. 

The  march  back  to  the  transports  then 
began,  but  the  defeated  enemy,  finding  no 
notice  was  being  taken  of  them,  reformed 
in  the  woods  just  above  Belmont.  where 
three  regiments  from  Columbus  joined  them, 
and  this  combined  force  was  interposed 
between  Grant  and  his  transports.  Some 
of  the  troops  cried  out  •'*  we  are  surrounded." 
"Well,"  said  Grant,  "in  that  case,  we  must 
cut  our  wav  out  as  we  cut  our  way  in;  we 


saw  that  it  was  impossible  to  save  the  party 
who  were  out  in  search  of  the  wounded,  so 
he  turned  and  rode  slowly  back  towards  the 
transports  to  avoid  attracting  attention. 

The  enemy's  fire  was  opened  on  the 
transports,  which  were  about  getting  under 
way.  leaving  Grant  behind,  but  a  plank  was 
hastily  run  out  from  one  of  the  vessels  and 
he  rode  on  board.  At  that  moment  the 
'"Taylor"  and  "  Lexington  "  opened  upon 
the  e"nemy  in  a  corn-field  about  fifty  yards 
distant  with  grape  and  canister,  mowing 
them  down  *'  in  swaths. "as  General  Badeau 
expresses  it.  and  causing  them  to  retreat 
in  great  confusion.  By  five  o'clock  the  last 
of  our  transports  was  out  of  range  of  the 
enemy's  batteries,  officers  and  men  equally 
pleased  with  having  gained  a  victory,  which 


138 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


but  for  the  gun-boats  would  have  been  a 
bloody  defeat.  It  is  true  the  soldiers  in  the 
transports  kept  up  a  constant  fire  on  the 
enemy,  but  being  raw  troops  they  no  doubt 
aimed  too  high,  as  did  the  Confederates,  and 
there  was  very  little  execution  done;  but  in 
the  case  of  the  gun-boats  there  was  no  mis 
take,  their  guns  were  handled  by  trained 
men  directed  by  experienced  officers,  and 
such  was  the  rapidity  and  accuracy  of  their 
fire  that  the  enemy  fled  in  all  directions. 

Thus  Grant  gained  two  victories  in  one 
day,  and  against  double  his  own  force,  for 
the  Confederates  admit  having  7,000  men 
in  action.  Grant  lost  485  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing;  125  of  the  wounded 
fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  but  in  lieu  of 
these  Grant  captured  175  prisoners  and 
two  guns.  The  Confederate  loss  was  685 
killed  and  wounded,  mostly  by  the  gun 
boats. 

Soon  after  the  defeat  of  the  enemy  and 
the  departure  of  the  transports,  General 
McClernand  discovered  that  some  of  his 
soldiers  had  been  left  behind,  and  at  his  re 
quest  Capt.  Walke  returned  and  succeeded 
in  recovering  most  if  not  all  these,  together 
with  forty  of  the  enemy's  wounded,  who 
had  been  left  on  the  field,  proof  positive  that 
the  Confederates  had  retreated  in  a  panic. 

The  assistance  given  the  army  by  the 
gun-boats  disposed  of  the  question  "as  to 
the  utility  and  practicability  of  gun-boats 
carrying  on  hostilities  on  the  rivers,  where 
it  was  believed  the  batteries  on  the  banks 
could  prevent  their  passage."  It  is  strange 
how  an  opposite  idea  could  have  been  en 
tertained  by  those  who  ought  to  have 
known  better. 

In  Gen.  Grant's  official  report  he  says  : 
"  The  gun-boats  convoyed  the  expedition 
and  rendered  most  efficient  service.  Im 
mediately  upon  our  landing  they  engaged 
the  enemy's  batteries  on  the  heights  above 
Columbus,  and  protected  our  transports 
throughout.  For  a  detailed  account  of  the 
part  taken  by  the  gun-boats  I  refer  with 
pleasure  to  the  accompanying  report  of 
Capt.  Walke,  senior  officer.'' 

This  was  warm  commendation  from  Gen. 
Grant,  who  was  moderate  in  his  praise  of 
men,  but  it  scarcely  gave  an  idea  of  the 
service  performed  by  the  gun-boats  that 
day.  The  Confederates  had  to  land  their 
troops  that  crossed  from  Columbus  three 
miles  below,  giving  the  men  a  long  march. 
The  gun-boats  " Taylor  "  and  "Lexington" 
attacked  the  batteries  three  times  during 
the  day,  and  kept  up  a  fire  on  the  enemy  all 
along  the  banks.  When  our  soldiers  re 
treated  to  the  transports  the  gun-boats  cov 
ered  them  so  with  their  fire  that  they  re 
ceived  little  injury. 

This  battle  was  claimed  by  both  sides, 
which  is  apt  to  be  the  case  with  raw  troops; 
but  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded  was  in 


favor  of  the  Federals,  although  they  had 
less  than  one-half  the  enemy's  force. 

The  gallant  conduct  of  Commanders 
Walke  and  Stembel  does  not  appear  to  have 
secured  even  a  passing  notice  from  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy,  which  was  certainly  a 
great  injustice  to  two  officers  who  had 
demonstrated  so  plainly  the  efficiency  of 
gun-boats  on  the  Western  rivers. 

It  was  a  part  of  the  Confederate  plan 
early  in  the  civil  war  to  seize  and  hold  Mis 
souri  and  Kansas,  thus  threatening  the  free 
States  in  the  Northwest,  to  hold  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee,  cross  the  Ohio,  and  make 
the  Northern  States  the  theatre  of  war, 
thus  punishing  the  Northern  people  for 
their  obstinacy  in  declining  to  yield  to  the 
demands  of  the  secessionists.  This  plan, 
which  had  been  discussed  long  before  the 
Southern  States  seceded,  would  doubtless 
have  been  carried  out  had  it  not  been  for 
the  multitude  of  men  in  the  North  who 
sprang  to  arms  and  frustrated  the  Confed 
erate  plans.  Lee  had  to  retreat  from  Penn 
sylvania,  where  it  was  determined  that  the 
Confederates  should  endure  all  the  hard 
ships  of  war  to  teach  them  the  folly  of  re 
bellion. 

To  circumvent  the  grand  schemes  of  the 
enemy  in  the  West,  it  was  necessary  that  we 
should  have  a  naval  force  on  all  the  rivers, 
and  Attorney  General  Bates  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  person  in  the  government  to 
point  out  the  necessity  of  such  a  force  to 
get  possession  of  all  the  tributaries  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  finally  of  the  great  river 
itself  to  the  sea.  Mr.  Bates'  ideas  were  not 
at  first  considered  practicable;  even  the 
veteran  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Mr.  Welles, 
who  is  credited  with  a  vast  knowledge  of 
naval  matters,  seemed  to  doubt,  and  stated 
that  "there  was  with  many  great  incredu 
lity  as  to  the  utility  and  practicability  of 
the  use  of  gun-boats  on  the  Western  waters, 
where  it  was  believed  batteries  011  the 
banks  could  prevent  their  passage."  The 
Secretary  might  have  observed  that  the  en 
emy's  batteries  on  the  Potomac  did  not  stop 
even  ordinary  transports. 

At  first  the  naval  forces  on  the  Western 
rivers  were  put  under  the  direction  of  the 
War  Department,  as  it  was  supposed  the 
armed  vessels  would  be  a  mere  appendage 
of  the  land  forces;  and  there  does  not  seem 
to  have  been  a  man  in  the  Cabinet  at  that 
time  who  knew  the  difference  between  a 
gun-boat  and  a  transport. 

In  July,  1861,  Quartermaster  General 
Meigs  contracted  with  Mr.  Eads  to  build  a 
number  of  iron -clad  gun-boats  for  the  West 
ern  waters,  and  from  the  fact  that  Gen. 
Meigs  contracted  for  them  it  is  presumed 
the  War  Department  paid  for  them,  and 
that  the  Navy  Department  had  not  then 
risen  to  the  height  of  the  occasion.  Seven 
of  these  gun-boats  were  each  to  be  about  GOO 


OF  ThE   CIVIL    WAR. 


139 


tons,  to  draw  six  feet  of  water,  to  be  plated 
with  two  and  a  half  inch  iron,  and  steam 
nine  knots.  They  were  to  be  each  175  feet 
long  and  51|  wide,  their  sides  at  an  angle 
of  .'55  degrees  from  the  water  line,  their  gun 
decks  being  but  a  foot  above  the  surface  of 
the  water.  The  bow  and  stern  were  at  an 
angle  of  45  degrees,  and  the  wheel  for  pro 
pelling  the  vessels  was  placed  in  the  stern. 
Of  course  these  vessels  had  many  imperfec 
tions,  as  we  were  new  in  the  business  of 
building  iron-clads.  and  seem  to  have  had 
very  little  idea  what  thickness  of  iron  plat 
ing  was  necessary  to  turn  the  heavy  shot  of 
the  enemy. 

The  iron-clads  carried  four  thirty-two 
pounders  on  each  side,  three  nine  or  ten- 
inch  guns  in  their  bow  ports,  and  two  lighter 


with  the  others  to  the  Navy  Department, 
her  name  was  changed  to  "  Baron  de  Kalb." 
as  there  was  already  a  "St.  Louis"  in  the 
Navy.  In  the  course  of  the  succeeding 
twenty  days  the  "  Carondelet,"  "Cincin 
nati,"  "Louisville."  "Mound City,"  "  Cairo" 
and  "  Pittsburg"  followed  in  rapid  succes 
sion.  An  eighth  vessel,  the  "  Benton," 
superior  in  every  respect  to  the  above,  was 
undertaken.  She  was  originally  a  wreck 
ing  boat,  purchased  by  General  Fremont 
and  sent  to  Mr.  Eads,  whose  ideas  develop 
ing  as  he  went  on  building,  he  produced 
from  this  wrecking  boat  an  iron-clad  of  re 
markable  strength. 

Thus  in  one  hundred  days  this  energetic 
man  constructed  a  squadron  of  iron-clad 
gun-boats,  aggregating  five  thousand  tons, 


g^;          /7>,  ,-:• 


U.   S.   GFN'-BOATS    "TAYLOR"   AXD   "LEXINGTON." 


guns  in  the  stern.  A  casemate  enclosed  the 
wheel  at  the  stern,  and  there  was  a  conical 
pilot-house  forward  covered  with  iron.  The 
writer  is  particular  in  describing  these  ves 
sels,  as  they  performed  such  remarkable 
service  all  through  the  war,  and  notwith 
standing  their  defects  and  the  vicissitudes 
they  experienced,  no  vessels  in  the  Navy  en 
gaged  in  so  many  successful  battles  or  made 
such  a  record  for  their  commanding  officers. 
Within  two  weeks  after  the  contract  with 
Eads  was  signed,  four  thousand  men  were 
busily  engaged  in  constructing  the  vessels. 
The  work  was  pushed  night  and  day,  and 
on  the  12th  of  October,  1801,  the  "St. 
Louis "  was  launched  at  Carondelet,  Mis 
souri,  forty-five  days  after  her  keel  was 
laid.  When  this  vessel  was  transferred 


ready  for  their  armament  of  one  hundred 
and  seven  heavy  guns.  Such  a  perform 
ance  needs  no  eulogy,  and  even  had  Mr. 
Eads  done  no  more  in  the  cause  of  the 
Union,  he  would  have  been  entitled  to  the 
thanks  of  the  nation.  Since  then  hehasgone 
on  executing  great  works,  and  his  reputa 
tion  as  a  civil  engineer  is  world-wide. 

A  ninth  powerful  vessel,  the  "  Essex," 
was  afterward  added  to  this  formidable  flo 
tilla.  She  carried  nine  heavy  guns,  and 
though  built  in  later  fashion  was  not  equal 
to  the  "  Benton." 

When  Flag-officer  Andrew  H.  Foote  took 
command  of  the  Western  Flotilla  in  Sep 
tember,    1862,   it   consisted    of    these  nine 
"  iron-clads  "  (so-called),  three  wooden  gun 
boats,    the    "Taylor"    "Lexington"   and 


140 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


"  Conestoga."  which  had  been  purchased 
and  equipped  by  Commander  John  Rodgers, 
and  thirty -eight  mortars  mounted  on 
rafts. 

This  service  was  of  a  somewhat  anoma 
lous  character,  since  the  gun-boats  were  un 
der  control  of  the  arm}',  and  their  accounts 
were  under  the  supervision  of  the  Quarter 
master  General.  There  was  no  navy  yard 
at  first  where  the  vessels  could  be  refitted 
or  repaired,  but  Flag-officer  Foote,  with  his 
energetic  assistants,  overcame  the  impedi 
ments  that  retarded  his  operations,  and  dis 
played  the  highest  qualities  as  a  naval  com 
mander  by  establishing  an  efficient  force 
on  the  Western  rivers,  and  by  leading  it  to 
victory  in  subsequent  engagements  with 
the  enemy. 

Previous  to  the  time  when  Foote  took 
command  of  the  squadron,  the  "  Taylor," 
"  Lexington  "  and  "  Conestoga"  were  con 
stantly  employed  by  General  Grant,  with 


the  commanders  mentioned,  in  making  re- 
connoissances,  during  which  they  came  fre 
quently  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries, 
which  even  at  that  early  day  infested  the 
banks  of  the  rivers.  In  one  of  these  affairs 
the  "  Conestoga "  particularly  distinguished 
herself. 

The  Commander-in-Chief  of  a  squadron 
may  be  very  energetic  himself  and  possess 
all  the  qualities  necessary  for  his  position, 
but  he  cannot  succeed  unless  he  is  assisted 
by  brave  and  efficient  officers.  The  men 
tion  of  subordinate  officers  has  been  too 
much  neglected  by  naval  historians,  a  fault 
which  in  this  account  the  writer  would  wish 
to  avoid.  Nothing  is  more  pleasing  to  an 
officer  than  to  see  himself  credited  with 
faithful  service,  though  there  are  some  offi 
cers  so  avaricious  in  this  regard  that  they 
would  fain  monopolize  all  the  glory  to  them 
selves.  Such  men  should  write  their  own 
histories. 


CH  A  PTE  R    XIV, 


BATTLE   AND   CAPTURE   OF  FORT   HENRY   BY  THE   NAVY. 

COMMANDING  POSITIONS  OF  FORTS  HENRY  AND  DONELSON. — GRANT  GIVEN  PERMISSION  TO 
ATTEMPT  THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  FORTS. — FOOTE'S  GUN-BOATS  AND  THE  ARMY  UNDER 
GRANT  LEAVE  CAIRO. — LANDING  OF  THE  ARMY  AT  BAILEY'S  FERRY. — DEFENSES  OF 
FORT  HENRY. — FORT  HIEMAN  EVACUATED. — THE  GUN-BOATS  OPEN  FIRE  ON  FORT 
HENRY. — DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BATTLE  BY  A  CONFEDERATE  HISTORIAN. — THE  "  ESSEX" 
DISABLED. — COMMODORE  WILLIAM  D.  PORTER  WOUNDED. — FORT  HENRY  SURRENDERS. 
—CAPTAIN  WALKE  TAKES  POSSESSION  OF  THE  FORT. — LOSSES. — GALLANT  FOOTE.— 
DREADFUL  SCENES  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT  DESCRIBED  BY  AN  OFFICER  OF  THE  "  ESSEX." 
— VESSELS  ENGAGED  IN  ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY. 


SHORTLY  after  the  battle  of  Belmont 
the     Confederates    established     a 
strong  line  of   operations  reaching 
to  the  centre  of  Kentucky.  On  their 
left  was  Columbus,  where  they  had 
collected  a  strong  force  and  140  guns.    One 
of  their  largest  armies  was  at  the  junction 
of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville,  and  Mem 
phis  and  Ohio  Railroads  (the  northernmost 
point  then  held  by  the  Confederates  west 
of  the  Alleghany  Mountains).  These  armies 
threatened   Northern    Kentucky  and    pro 
tected  Nashville  and  Middle  Tennessee. 

At  the  centre  of  this  strategic  line  the 
Tennessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers  formed 
the  natural  avenues  into  all  the  disputed 
territory  north  of  the  cotton  States.  These 
two  streams  approach  within  twelve  miles 
of  each  other,  at  a  point  near  the  boundary 
between  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  Here, 
at  a  bend  in  each  river,  the  Confederates 
had  erected  two  batteries.  Fort  Henry,  on 
the  Tennessee,  and  Fort  Donelson,  on  the 
Cumberland.  These  forts  completely  com 
manded  the  navigation  of  the  two  rivers, 
and  by  forbidding  any  advance  of  the  Union 
gun-boats  or  transports,  prevented  the  trans 
portation  of  our  army  by  water,  either  into 
Kentucky  or  Tennessee. 

The  reader  may  think  it  strange  that  the 
Confederates,  with  nothing  like  the  Federal 
resources,  should  be  able  to  throw  up  so 
many  formidable  fortifications  on  coast  and 
river,  and  mount  them  with  heavy  guns,  and 
will  naturally  ask  where  the  guns  came  from. 


The  answer  to  this  question  is  that,  by  our 
terrible  blunder  in  surrendering  the  Norfolk 
Navy  Yard  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war,  we  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Confed- 
ates  1,400  guns  of  all  calibres.  Our  Navy 
had  already  recaptured  211  of  these  Norfolk 
guns,  and  it  remains  to  be  seen  what  account 
it  will  render  of  those  which  now  confront 
it  at  Columbus,  Fort  Henry  and  Fort  Don- 
elson. 

Grant  knew  the  nature  of  these  works 
better  than  any  other  officer,  and  saw  that 
Bowling  Green  and  Columbus  could  both  be 
turned  as  soon  as  Henry  and  Donelson  fell. 
Halleck  and  others  were  making  great 
strategic  movements,  which  amounted  to 
nothing,  but  Grant  kept  his  mind  steadily 
fixed  on  these  two  forts,  knowing  the  effect 
their  fall  would  have. 

On  the  23d  of  January  Grant  visited  Hal 
leck  at  St.  Louis,  and  urgently  requested  per 
mission  to  make  the  attempt  to  take  Forts 
Henry  and  Donelson;  both  of  which  General 
C.  F.  Smith,  who  had  made  a  reconnoissance, 
reported  could  easily  be  done. 

The  gun-boats  at  that  time  were  subject  to 
General  Halleck's  orders,  and  Flag-officer 
Foote.  who  commanded  them,  had  recom 
mended  a  united  movement  of  Army  and 
Navy  against  the  forts.  The  desired  per 
mission  was  finally  granted  to  these  officers, 
but  the  gallant  commander  of  the  Army 
contingent  was  greatly  hampered  by  de 
tailed  instructions  furnished  by  the  Com- 
mauder-in-Chief. 


(141) 


142 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


Grant  started  from  Cairo  on  the  2d  of 
February,  1802,  with  17,000  men  in  trans 
ports,  and  Foote  accompanied  him  with 
seven  gun-boats.  After  reconnoitering  the 
forts  the  Army  landed  at  Bailey's  Ferry, 
just  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire. 

The  Confederates  had  erected  their  works 
at  Fort  Henry  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
with  a  garrison  of  2,800  men,  under  Briga 
dier  General  Tighlman.  The  main  fortifica 
tion  was  on  the  eastern  bank.  It  was  a  strong 
field-work  with  a  bastioiied  front,  defended 
by  seventeen  heavy  guns,  twelve  of  which 
bore  on  the  river.  Embrasures  had  also 
been  formed  by  placing  sand-bags  on  the 
parapets  between  the  guns.  On  the  land 
side  there  was  an  entrenched  camp,  and  be 
yond  this  an  extended  line  of  rifle-pits, 
located  on  commanding  ground.  The  earth 
works  covered  the  Dover  road,  by  which 
alone  communication  could  be  held  with 
Fort  Donelson.  The  heights  on  the  west 
commanded  Fort  Henry,  but  the  works  at 
this  point  were  unfinished. 

Grant's  plan  was  to  land  and  attack  the 
enemy  in  the  rear,  while  Foote  was  to  attack 
their  batteries  in  front  with  the  gun-boats. 

When  the  Confederates  discovered  this 
plan  they  prepared  for  a  determined  resist 
ance.  New  lines  of  infantry  cover  were  es 
tablished  and  additions  were  made  to  the 
fortifications  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 
Tighlman  at  once  ordered  up  re-enforce 
ments  from  Danville  and  the  mouth  of  Sandy 
River,  as  well  as  from  Fort  Donelson. 

The  country  around  Fort  Henry  was  all 
under  water  from  the  overflow  of  the  Ten 
nessee  River,  which  impeded  the  move 
ments  of  the  troops  on  both  sides.  The 
rain  fell  in  torrents  on  the  night  of  the  5th 
of  February,  and  Grant  having  an  in 
sufficiency  of  transports  was  obliged  to 
send  some  of  his  steamers  back  to  Cairo  to 
bring  up  part  of  his  command.  He  did  not 
therefore  succeed  in  getting  all  his  men  on 
shore  until  11  p.  M. 

The  original  plan  was  to  invest  Fort  Hie- 
maii  on  the  west  bank  simultaneously  with 
Fort  Henry,  in  order  to  prevent  re-enforce- 
meiits,  and  also  the  escape  of  the  garrisons. 
The  Confederates  perceiving  the  impossi 
bility  of  holding  both  works  against  such 
a  force,  evacuated  Fort  Hieman,  and 
gave  all  their  attention  to  defending  Fort 
Henry. 

Grant  was  ignorant  of  this  withdrawal, 
and  that  night  ordered  General  C.  F.  Smith 
to  seize  the  heights  on  the  west  with  two 
brigades.  The  rest  of  Grant's  force,  under 
Gen.  McClernand,  was  to  move  at  11  A.  M. 
on  the  6th  to  the  rear  of  Fort  Henry,  and 
take  position  on  the  road  leading  to  Fort 
Donelson  and  Dover,  where  they  could  in 
tercept  fugitives  and  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  to  take  the  works  by  storm 
promptly  on  the  receipt  of  orders. 


\ 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


143 


The  fleet  got  under  way  at  two  o'clock 
on  the  day  of  the  battle  in  the  following 
order:  The  "  Essex,"  9  guns.  Com.  Win. 
D.  Porter,  on  the  right:  "Cincinnati  "  (flag 
ship),  13  guns.  Com.  Stembel.  on  the  left  of 
the  "Essex;"  "  Carondelet,"  13  guns.  Com. 
Walke,  on  the  left  of  the  "  Cincinnati;" 
and  the  "St.  Louis,"  13  guns,  Lieut.  Pauld- 
ing,  on  the  left  of  all.  The  '•  Conestoga  " 
(wooden),  3  guns,  Lieut.  Phelps;  "Taylor" 
(wooden),  0  guns,  Lieut.  Gwin;  ''Lexing 
ton  "  (wooden),  9  guns,  Lieut.  Shirk.  These 
vessels  all  told  mounted  70  guns;  but  as 
they  were  obliged  to  fight  "bow  on"  and 
could  therefore  only  use  their  bow  guns, 
there  were  only  twelve  guns  brought  into 
action  by  the  iron-dads  and  five  or  six  by 
the  wooden  vessels,  which  were  well  in  the 


The  position  of  Fort  Henry  had  been  se 
lected  with  great  care.     It  stood  at  the  end 


the  naval  discipline  and  accuracy  of  fire 
soon  told  on  the  troops  in  the  fort. 

The  battle  is  described  as  follows  by  a 
Confederate  historian  : 

"  A  few  moments  before  the  surrender,  the  scene 
in  and  around  the  fort  exhibited  a  spectacle  of  fierce 
grandeur  ;  many  of  the  cabins  and  tents  in  and 
around  tho  fort  were  in  flames  (from  the  Federal 
shells) — addexl  to  the  scene  were  the  smoke  from  the 
burning  timber,  and  the  curling  of  the  dense 
wreaths  of  smoke  from  the  guns,  the  constantly  re 
curring  spatter  and  whizzing  of  fragments  of  burst 
ing  shells,  the  deafening  roar  of  artillery,  the  black 
sides  of  five  or  six  gun-boats,  belching  fire  at  every 
port-hole,  and  the  army  of  General  Grant,  10,000 
strong,  deploying  around  our  small  army,  attempt 
ing  to  cut  off  its  retreat.  The  gallant  Tighlman, 
exhausted  and  begrimed  with  powder  and  smoke, 
stood  erect  at  the  middle  battery  and  pointed  gun 
after  gun,  and  remarked,  'It  is  vain  to  fight  longer, 
our  gunners  are  disabled,  our  guns  dismounted — 
we  can't  hold  out  five  minutes  longer,'  and  finally 
he  ordered  the  white  flag  to  be  hoisted." 

When  the  gun-boats  had  obtained  a  sta- 


ATTACK    ON    FOKT    HEXRY. 


of  a  straight  reach  in  the  river,  which  its 
guns  commanded  for  two  miles.  Two  04- 
pounders  were  planted  on  an  elevation  above 
the  fort,  which  might,  however,  have  been 
stormed  and  taken  by  our  own  troops,  and 
turned  against  the  enemy. 

The  gun-boats  moved  on  up  to  within  a 
mile  of  the  fort,  firing  an  occasional  shot, 
and  finally  moved  to  within  a  third  of  a 
mile  of  the  batteries,  when  the  firing  com 
menced  in  earnest  from  both  sides. 

General  Grant  and  Flag-officer  Foote  had 
intended  to  have  the  Army  and  Navy  make 
a  simultaneous  attack,  but  it  is  a  pretty  diffi 
cult  matter  to  time  such  events.  In  com 
bined  movements  something  always  hap 
pens  to  delay  one  party  or  the  other:  in  this 
instance  the"  roads  were  dreadful,  and  the 
Army  was  so  delayed  that  it  did  not  reach 
the  fort  until  some  time  after  its  surrender 
to  the  Navy.  For  over  an  hour  the  guns  on 
both  sides*  kept  up  a  deafening  roar,  but 


tionary  position  and  were  able  to  get  their 
range,  almost  every  shot  and  shell  went  to 
its  mark,  and  the  destruction  caused  was 
marvelous;  but  with  all  the  damage  our 
fire  was  doing  to  the  enemy  they  fought  like 
devils,  and  only  gave  in  when  it  was  no 
longer  possible  to  hold  out. 

The  gun-boats  did  not  get  off  "  scot  free" 
in  this  attack;  they  had  their  share  of  dam 
age  as  well  as  the  fort,  and  a  fair  share  of 
killed  and  wounded.  About  twenty  min 
utes  before  the  Confederates  surrendered, 
the  gun-boat  "  Essex"  was  pierced  through 
the  boilers  by  a  shot,  which  resulted  in 
wounding  and  scalding  29  officers  and  men, 
including  her  gallant  commander,  William 
D.  Porter.  She  drifted  out  of  the  fight  to 
tally  disabled,  and  took  no  further  part  in 
it. 

After  the  "Essex  "dropped  out,  the  firing 
from  the  fort  continued  with  undiminished 
rapidity  upon  the  three  iron-clads  which  re- 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


mainecl  in  position,  and  was  continued 
without  intermission  until  the  flag  was 
hauled  down,  after  a  hotly-contested  action 
of  one  hour  and  fifteen  minutes. 

At  the  end  of  the  battle  a  boat  containing 
the  Adjutant  General  and  Captain  of  En 
gineers  went  alongside  the  flagship  and  re 
ported  that  Brig.  Gen.  Lloyd  Tighlman, 
the  commander  of  the  fort,  wished  to  com 
municate  with  the  naval  commanding  offi 
cer.  Lieuts.  Stembel  and  Phelps  were  then 
sent  on  shore  to  hoist  the  American  flag  on 
Fort  Henry,  and  a  request  was  sent  to  Gen. 
Tighlman  that  he  visit  the  flagship,  which 
lie  did,  and  surrendered  himself  a  prisoner. 

All  the  prisoners  were  received  on  board 
the  fleet,  and  thus  ended  the  battle  of  Fort 
Henry. 

Besides  the  General  and  his  staff  there 
were  GO  or  70  prisoners,  and  a  hospital  ship 
containing  GO  invalids,  all  of  whom  were 
treated  with  that  kindness  which  naval  offi 
cers  always  extend  to  an  enemy  in  distress. 
Captain  Walke  of  the  "  Carondelet "  was 
directed  to  go  on  shore  and  take  charge  of 
the  fort  and  all  within  it  until  the  arrival  of 
the  Army,  which  took  place  an  hour  after 
ward,  when  everything  was  handed  over  to 
Gen.  Grant. 

This  was  a  well-fought  battle  on  both 
sides,  and  the  gun-boats  were  skillfully 
handled  by  the  naval  commanders.  The 
gallant  Foote  might  well  feel  proud  to  be 
the  first  to  remove  that  absurd  idea  that 
"  gun-boats  would  not  prove  serviceable  in 
Western  waters  as  they  could  not  resist  the 
fire  of  heavy  guns  in  earthworks." 

On  taking  possession  of  the  fort  Com 
mander  Walke  beheld  a  perfect  scene  of 
destruction.  Everything  in  and  about  the 
works  was  either  knocked  to  pieces  or  set 
on  fire;  and  it  is  remarkable  that  with  such 
evident  effects  of  the  naval  fire  so  few  of 
the  enemy  were  disabled  (six  killed  and  sev 
enteen  wounded). 

Twenty  heavy  guns  fell  into  our  hands  as 
well  as  a  large  amount  of  military  stores. 
The  "Essex"  was  the  only  gun-boat  that 
suffered  any  severe  damage  from  the 
enemy's  fire.  But  the  Confederate  practice 
was  excellent,  and  the  irpn-clads  were  fre 
quently  struck.  According  to  Flag-officer 
Foote's  report  the  ''  Cincinnati "  was  struck 
thirty-one  times,  the  "  Essex  "  fifteen  times, 
the  "  St.  Louis  "  seven  times  and  the  "  Car- 
ondelet"  six  times,  though  Commander 
Walke  claims  to  have  been  struck  much 
oftener. 

The  "Essex"  lost  29  men  killed  and 
wounded  by  scalding  steam,  and  also  nine 
soldiers  who  were  serving  on  board  of  her. 
The  casualties  on  the  other  vessels  were 
few  and  unimportant,  as  their  iron  plating 
(though  only  two  and  a  half  inches  thick), 
had  done  them  good  service. 

This  is  the  result  of  the  first  action  be 


tween  gun-boats  and  shore  batteries  in 
Western  waters.  It  was  an  unequal  con 
test  against  a  fort  that  mounted  20  heavy 
guns,  but  it  was  so  quickly  settled  that  it 
gave  the  Confederates  a  great  dread  of  the 
iron-clads;  and  in  building  forts  thereafter, 
they  were  more  careful  not  to  have  them 
in  accessible  places. 

Where  all  did  their  duty  so  well  it  would 
be  hard  to  discriminate.  Each  one  received 
his  full  meed  of  praise  from  Foote,  and 
their  conduct  on  this  occasion  was  long  re 
membered  by  the  people  of  the  country,  for 
it  was  now  clearly  demonstrated  that  the 
naval  vessels  on  the  Western  rivers  could 
sustain  the  fire  of  the  heaviest  batteries, 
notwithstanding  the  high  authority  to  the 
contrary. 

To  give  an  idea  of  some  of  the  dread 
ful  scenesto  which  our  gun-boats  were  liable, 
we  insert  an  interesting  letter  written  after 
the  battle  of  Fort  Henry,  by  James  Laning, 
the  Second  Master  of  the  "  Essex,"  in 
which  he  thus  describes  the  engagement: 

"On  February  1st,  1862,  the  iron-clad  gun-boat 
'  Essex,'  whilst  lying  off  Fort  Holt,  received  orders 
from  Flag-officer  A.  H.  Foote,  commanding  the 
Western  flotilla,  to  proceed  up  the  Tennessee  River, 
and  anchor  some  five  miles  below  Fort  Henry, 
blockading  the  river  at  that  point.  The  iron 
clads  'Carondelet,'  Commander  Henry  Walke:  the 
'Cincinnati,'  Commander  Stembel,  and  the  'St. 
Louis/  Lieutenant  Commanding  Leonard  Paulding, 
were  completed  and  put  into  commission  a  few  days 
previous,  making, with  the  'Essex,'  four  iron-dads, 
besides  the  wooden  gun-boats  'Taylor,'  'Lexington' 
and  'Conestoga,'  now  ready  for  offensive  opera 
tions. 

"  On  the  5th  of  February,  after  reconnoitering 
up  the  Tennessee  to  Fort  Henry,  we  fired  a  few 
shots  at  the  fort  and  returned  towards  our  anchor 
age.  The  enemy  made  no  reply,  and  apparently 
took  no  notice  of  our  shots,  until  we  were  well  on 
our  way  back.  When  about  two,  or  two  and  a  half 
miles  distant,  the  fort  fired  a  rifle  shot,  which  passed 
over  our  boat  to  the  right  and  cut  down  a  number 
of  saplings  on  shore.  In  a  few  moments  another 
shot,  fired  with  more  precision,  passed  over  the 
spar-deck  amongst  the  officers;  through  the  officers' 
quarters,  visiting  in  its  flight  the  steerage,  com 
mander's  pantry  and  cabin,  passing  through  the 
stern;  doing,  however,  no  damage  except  breaking 
some  of  the  captain's  dishes,  and  cutting  the  feet 
from  a  pair  of  his  socks,  which  happened  to  be 
hanging  over  the  back  of  a  chair  in  his  cabin. 
These  shots  reaching  us  at  so  great  a  distance, 
rather  astonished  us,  as  the  enemy  intended  they 
should. 

"  After  this  reconnoissance  it  was  decided  to  re 
move  the  torpedoes  from  the  island  chute,  and  in 
stead  of  going  up  the  main  channel,  to  steam  up 
the  chute,  and  forming  line  of  battle  under  cover 
of  the  timber  on  the  island,  advance  towards  the 
fort  and  open  fire  as  we  reached  the  head  of  the 
island  at  the  distance  of  a  mile  to  a  mile  and  a  half, 
and  continue  advancing.  The  wooden  gun-boats, 
'Taylor'  and  'Lexington,'  were,  therefore,  ordered 
to  remove  the  torpedoes,  which  they  did  without 
much  difficulty.  The  army,  which  was  encamped 
on  both  sides  of  the  river,  was  to  move  at  day 
light  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  so  as  to  make*  a 
land  attack,  and  prevent  the  escape  of  the  garrison, 
whilst  the  gun-boats  were  to  attack  as  before  men 
tioned. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


145 


'*'  On  the  afternoon  of  the  5th,  Flag-officer  Foote 
•came  on  board  the  'Essex,'  and  our  crew  were  called 
to  quarters  for  drill  ami  inspection.  After  putting 
them  through  the  evolutions  he  addressed  the  crew 
and  admonished  them  to  be  brave  and  courageous, 
and  above  all  to  place  their  trust  in  Divine  Provi 
dence.  The  writer,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
battery,  was  especially  charged  with  the  impor 
tance  of  wasting  no  shots.  'Remember,' said  he, 
'that  your  greatest  efforts  should  be  to  disable  the 
enemy's  guns,  and  be  sure  you  do  not  throw  any 
ammunition  away.  Every  charge  you  fire  from  one 
of  those  guns  cost  the  government  about  eight  dol 
lars.  If  your  shots  fall  short  you  encourage  the 
enemy.  If  they  reach  home  you  demoralize  him, 
and  get  the  worth  of  your  money.'  After  commend 
ing  all  to  the  care  of  Divine  Providence  he  left  us, 
and  repaired  on  board  the  'Cincinnati,'  which  was 
.his  flag  ship  at  that  time. 

"  During  the  night  of  the  5th,  or  morning  of  the 


it  was  conceded  that  one  gun  on  land  was  about 
equal  to  three  on  water. 

"  Upon  arriving  at  the  head  of  the  island,  the 
flagship  'Cincinnati'  opened  fire,  which  was  the 
signal  to  commence  the  general  engagement.  The 
writer  had,  however,  received  orders  from  Capt. 
Porter  not  to  fire  until  he  had  particularly  noted 
the  effect  of  the  '  Cincinnati'  shots,  so  as  to  profit 
by  their  mistakes,  if  they  made  any,  in  elevation. 
The  first  three  shots  from  the  flagship  fell  short,  so 
there  was  $34  worth  of  ammunition  expended.  A 
lesson,  however,  had  been  learned  on  board  the 
'Essex,'  and  orders  were  at  once  given  to  increase 
elevation.  At  that  moment  the  captain's  aide  ap 
peared  on  the  gun-deck  with  orders  to  fire  high, 
and  bla/.e  away  ;  and  before  I  could  repeat  the  or 
der,  the  No.  2  port-bow  gun  belched  forth  her  fiery 
flame,  and  sent  a  nine-inch  shell  plump  into  the 
breastworks,  which,  exploding  handsomely,  caused 
a  considerable  scattering  of  earth,  and  called  forth 


REAR  ADMIRAL  R.  N.  STEMBEL,  COMMANDER  OF  THE  "CINCINNATI. 

(FBOM   A    PORTRAIT   TAKEN   IN   1883.) 


6th,  a  heavy  rain  fell,  which  very  much  retarded 
the  movements  of  the  army,  and  made  the  roads  so 
heavy  that  they  did  not  succeed  in  reaching  the 
scene  of  action  until  after  the  fort  had  surrendered. 
The  naval  forces,  after  waiting  until  11  o'clock 
A.  M.,  got  under  way  and  steamed  up  the  river.  Ar 
riving  at  the  island  chute,  the  line  of  battle  was 
formed,  the  'Essex  '  on  the  extreme  right,  the  'Cin 
cinnati,'  with  Flag  officer  Foote  on  board,  on  our 
left,  the  '  Carondelet '  on  her  left,  and  the  '  St. 
Louis'  on  the  extreme  left — the  wooden  boats  tak 
ing  position  in  our  rear  under  cover  of  the  island, 
and  firing  over  us  at  long  range. 

"  As  we  could  only  use  the  bow  batteries  on  each 
boat,  we  could  only  bring,  on  the  four  iron  clads, 
11  guns  to  bear.  The  fort,  although  mounting  17 
guns,  could  only  bring  11  of  them  to  bear  on  the  isl 
and  chute,  so  it  was  a  fair  and  square  fight,  and 
the  problem  was  about  to  be  solved  whether  iron 
clad  gun-boats  could  compete  with  mud  fortifica 
tions.  Under  the  old  system  of  warfare,  I  believe, 
10 


a  cheer  from  the  fleet,  whilst  it  produced  great  con 
sternation  in  the  fort.  The  '  Essex  '  had  therefore 
won  the  honor  of  putting  the  first  shot  into  the 
enemy's  breastworks. 

"And  here  I  must  record  the  fact,  in  justice  to 
the  memory  of  a  brave  man,  who  lost  his  life  in 
that  engagement,  that  the  honor  of  that  shot  be 
longed  to  jack  Matthews,  captain  of  the  No.  2  gun. 
Jack  was  an  '  old  tar,'  who  had  seen  much  service 
on  men-of-war  in  both  the  English  and  American 
navies,  and  was  always  restive  under  the  command 
of  a  volunteer  officer.  Jack,  ever  on  the  alert  to 
put  in  the  first  licks,  and  feeling,  no  doubt,  jealous 
and  insubordinate,  had  increased  the  elevation  of 
his  gun,  and  just  as  I  was  in  the  act  of  repeating 
the  captain's  order,  pulled  his  lockstring  and 
blazed  away. 

"  The  fort  seemed  a  blaze  of  fire,  whilst  the  boom 
of  the  cannon's  roar  was  almost  deafening.  The 
wind  was  blowing  across  our  bows,  carrying  the 
smoke  away  so  rapidly  as  to  prevent  any  obstruc- 


146 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


tion  to  the  view.  Our  fleet  kept  slowly  approach 
ing  the  fort,  and  gradually  shortening  the  distance. 
Our  shells,  which  were  fused  at  15  seconds,  were 
reduced  to  10,  and  then  to  five  seconds.  The  eleva 
tion  of  the  guns  was  depressed  from  seven  degrees 
to  six,  five  and  four,  and  then  three  degrees,  and 
every  shot  went  straight  home,  none  from  the 
'  Essex '  falling  short. 

"Twenty  or  thirty  minutes  after  the  action  had 
begun,  some  one  of  the  officers  ventured  to  call  the 
attention  of  Capt.  Porter  to  the  fact  that  the  offi 
cers  on  the  other  vessels  were  leaving  the  spar- 
decks  and  going  below.  '  Oh,  yes,'  says  Porter.  '  I 
see ;  we  will  go  too,  directly.'  Just  then  a  shot 
struck  the  pilot-house,  making  the  splinters  fly 
terribly,  as  no  plating  had  as  yet  been  put  on  it. 
At  this  the  order  was  given  for  all  to  go  below, 
and  soon  all  joined  us  on  the  gun  deck.  Capt. 
Porter,  on  coming  below,  addressed  the  officers 
and  crew,  and  complimented  the  first  division 
for  their  splendid  execution,  asking  us  if  we  did  not 
want  to  rest,  and  give  three  cheers,  and  they  were 
given  with  a  will. 

"By  orders  I  turned  over  the  command  of  the 
battery  to  the  third  master,  and  ordered  the  first 
division  to  give  way  to  the  second.  Capt.  Porter 
then  ordered  the  first  division  to  the  stern  battery. 
This  was  a  precautionary  measure,  the  importance 
of  which  could  scarcely  be  estimated  at  that  time, 
but  became  dreadfully  apparent  a  few  moments 
after.  A  few  of  my  men,  however,  reluctant  to  quit 
the  scene  of  action,  lingered  by  their  guns  on  the 
forward  gun  deck  ;  amongst  the  number  was  Jack 
Matthews.  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  the  scene 
was  changed  from  a  blaze  of  glory  to  a  carnival  of 
death  and  destruction.  A  shot  from  the  enemy 
pierced  the  casemate  just  above  the  port-hole  on 
the  port  side,  then  through  the  middle  boiler,  kill 
ing  Acting  Master's  Mate  S.  B.  Brittan,  Jr.,  in  its 
flight,  and  opening  a  chasm  for  the  escape  of  the 
scalding  steam  and  water.  The  scene  which  fol 
lowed  was  almost  indescribable.  The  writer,  who 
had  gone  aft  in  obedience  to  orders  only  a  few  mo 
ments  before  (thus  providentially  saved),  was  met 
by  Fourth  Master  Walker,  followed  by  a  crowd  of 
men  rushing  aft.  Walker  called  to  me  to  go  back  ; 
that  a  shot  from  the  enemy  had  carried  away  the 
steam  pipe.  I  at  once  ran  to  the  stern  of  the  vessel, 
and  looking  out  of  the  stern  port  saw  a  number  of 
our  brave  fellows  struggling  in  the  water.  The 
steam  and  hot  water  in  the  forward  gun  deck  had 
driven  all  who  were  able  to  get  out  of  the  ports 
overboard,  except  a  few  who  were  fortunate  enough 
to  cling  to  the  casemate  outside.  On  seeing  the 
men  in  the  water,  I  ordered  Mr.  Walker  to  man 
the  boats  and  pick  them  up  ;  Capt.  Porter,  who 
was  badly  scalded,  being  assisted  through  the  port 
from  outside  the  casemate  by  the  surgeon,  Dr. 
Thomas  Rice,  and  one  of  the  men. 

"  When  the  explosion  took  place  Captain  Porter 
was  standing  directly  in  front  of  the  boilers,  with 
his  aide,  Mr.  Brittan,  at  his  side.  Heat  once  rushed 
for  the  port-hole  on  the  starboard  side,  and  threw 
himself  out,  expecting  to  go  into  the  river.  A  sea 
man  (John  Walker)  seeing  his  danger,  caught  him 
around  the  waist,  and  supporting  him  with  one 
hand,  clung  to  the  vessel  with  the  other,  until,  with 
the  assistance  of  another  seaman,  who  came  to  the 
rescue,  they  succeeded  in  getting  the  captain  on  to 
a  narrow  guard  or  projection,  which  ran  around 
the  vessel,  and  thus  enabled  him  to  make  his  way 
outside,  to  the  after  poi-t,  where  1  met  him.  Upon 
speaking  to  him,  he  told  me  that  he  was  badly 
hurt ;  and  that  I  must  hunt  for  Mr.  Riley,  and  if  he 
was  disabled  I  must  take  command  of  'the  vessel, 
and  man  the  battery  again.  Mr.  Riley  was  un 
harmed,  and  already  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  Captain  Porter's  successor.  He  had  been  saved 
by  a  sailor  (John  W.  Eagle)  from  going  overboard 
in  much  the  same  manner  that  Captain  Porter  had 


been.  This  man  Eagle  was  Captain  of  No.  1  gun, 
and  like  Jack  Matthews,  would  not  leave  his  gun, 
and  although  badly  wounded,  with  his  right  hand 
in  a  sling,  he  begged  me,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  not 
to  remove  him,  but  to  let  him  fight  his  gun.  I  report 
ed  the  case  to  Captain  Porter,  who  decided  to  let  him 
remain  ;  and  this  brave  fellow  fought  his  gun  most 
admirably  through  the  action,  and  then  'capped  the 
climax'  of  his  bravery  and  heroism  by  grasping  the 
casemate  with  his  wounded  hand,  and  clasping  Ex 
ecutive  Officer  Riley  with  the  other  one  as  he  was 
fallingoverboard,sustaininghim until  both  regained 
a  footing  on  the  projection  before  mentioned. 

"  In  a  very  fe\v  minutes  after  the  explosion  our 
gallant  ship  (which  had,  in  the  language  of  Flag- 
officer  Foote,  fought  most  effectually  through  two- 
thirds  of  the  engagement)  was  drifting  slowly 
away  from  the  field  of  glory  ;  her  commander  badly 
wounded,  a  number  of  her  officers  and  crew  dead 
at  their  posts,  whilst  many  others  were  writhing 
in  their  last  agony.  As  soon  as  the  scalding  steam 
would  admit,  the  forward  gun-deck  was  explored. 
The  pilots,  who  were  both  in  the  pilot-house,  were 
scalded  to  death.  Marshall  Ford,  who  was  steer 
ing  when  the  explosion  took  place,  was  found  at 
his  post  at  the  wheel,  standing  erect,  his  left  hand 
holding  the  spoke,  and  his  right  hand  grasping  the 
signal  bell-rope.  Pilot  James  MeBride  had  fallen 
through  the  open  hatchway  to  the  deck  below;  he 
was  still  living,  but  died  soon  after.  The  captain's 
aide,  Mr.  S.  B.  Brittan,  Jr.,  had  fallen  by  the  shot  as 
it  passed  through  the  gun-deck  before  entering  the 
boiler.  A  seaman  named  James  Coffey,  who  was 
shot-man  to  the  No.  2  gun,  was  on  his  knees  in  the 
act  of  taking  a  shell  from  the  box  to  be  passed  to 
the  loader.  The  escaping  steam  and  hot  water  had 
struck  him  square  in  the  face,  and  he  met  death  in 
that  position.  Jack  Matthews  had  gone  overboard 
badly  scalded.  He  was  picked  up  by  the  boats. 
Third  Master  Theo.  P.  Terry  was  severely  scalded, 
and  died  in  a  few  days.  He  was  a  brave  officer. 

"Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
amounted  to  32.  Of  these  three  were  killed  instantly, 
four  died  that  night,  several  were  drowned  (the  num 
ber  not  definitely  known),  and  about  one-half  the 
wounded  recovei-ed. 

"  The  Flag-officer  continued  approaching  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  fort,  pouring  shot  and  shell  from 
the  boats  at  still  shorter  range  .  .  .  until 
they  showed  the  white  flag  to  surrender. 

"When  I  told  Captain  Porter  that  we  were  vic 
torious,  he  immediately  rallied,  and  raisinghimself 
on  his  elbow,  called  for  three  cheers,  and  gave  two 
himself,  falling  exhausted  on  the  mattress  in  his 
effort  to  maKe  a  third.  A  seaman  named  Jasper  P. 
Breas,  who  was  badly  scalded,  sprang  to  his  feet, 
naked  to  the  waist,  his  jacket  and  shirt  having 
been  removed  to  dress  his  wounds,  exclaiming  : 
'Surrendered!  I  must  see  that  with  my  own  eyes 
before  I  die.'-  Before  anyone  could  interfere,  he 
clambered  up  two  short  flights  of  stairs  to  the  spar- 
deck,  where  he  was  gladdened  with  the  sight  of 
his  own  flag  proudly  and  victoriously  floating  in 
the  breeze.  He  shouted,  '  Glory  to  Grod  ! '  and  sank 
exhausted  on  the  deck.  Poor  Jasper  died  that 
night,  that  his  country  might  live. 

"  The  '  Essex  '  fired  seventy-two  shots  from  two 
9-inch  guns  during  the  battle.  In  obedience  to  bat 
tle  orders,  I  had  instructed  the  powder  boys  to  keep 
count  of  the  number  of  charges  served  to  each  gun. 
Job  Phillips,  a  boy  fourteen  years  old,  was  powder- 
boy  of  No.  1  gun.  After  the  action,  I  asked  Job  how 
many  shots  his  gun  had  fired.  He  referred  me  to  a 
memorandum  on  the  whitewashed  casemate  ;  where 
with  a  rusty  nail  he  had  carefully  and  accurately 
marked  every  shot  his  gun  had  fired  ;  and  his  ac 
count  was  corroborated  by  the  gunner  in  the  maga 
zine.  This  may  be  considered  as  a  striking  example 
of  coolness  and  bravery  in  a  boy  of  fourteen,  who 
had  never  before  been  under  fire." 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


SECRETARY  WELLES  TO  FLAG-OFFICER  FOOTE. 


DEPARTMENT,  \ 
February  13,  1*02.      \ 

"SiR:  Your  letter  of  the  ?th  inst..  communica 
ting  the  details  of  your  jjreat  success  in  the  capture 
of  Fort  Henry,  is  just  received.  1  had  previously 
informed  you  of  the  reception  of  your  telegraphic 
dispatch,  'announcing:  the  event,  which  gave  the 
highest  satisfaction  to  the  country. 

"We  have  to-day  the  report  of  Lieutenant  Com 
manding  Phelps,  with  the  gi-atifying  results  of  his 
successful  pursuit  and  capture  and  destruction  of 
the  Confederate  steamers,  and  the  disposition  of 
the  hostile  camps  as  far  up  the  Tennessee  as  Flor 
ence.  I  most  cordially  and  sincerely  congratulate 
you,  and  the  officers  and  men  under  your  command, 
on  these  heroic  achievements,  accomplished  under 
extraordinary  circumstances,  and  after  surmounting 
great  and  almost  insuperable  difficulties.  The  labor 
you  have  performed,  and  the  services  you  have  ren- 
dered  in  creating  the  armed  flotilla  of  gunboats  on 
the  Western  waters,  and  in  bringing  together  for 
effective  operation  the  force  whicla  has  earned  such 
renown,  can  never  be  overestimated.  The  Depart 
ment  has  observed,  with  no  ordinary  solicitude,  the 
armament  that  has  so  suddenly  been  called  into  ex 
istence,  and  which  under  your  well-directed  nian- 
agement  has  been  so  gloriously  effective. 
''I  am,  respectfully, 

"Your  ob't  servant, 
[Signed]  "  GIDKOX  WELLES. 

"Flag-officer  A.  H.  FOOTE,  U.  S.  K, 

"  Commanding  Gun-boat  Flotilla,  &c.,  Cairo,  111." 

OFFICIAL  THANKS  TO  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY. 

The  State  of  Ohio  deemed  this  battle 
sufficiently  important  to  merit  a  vote  of 
thanks,  as  appears  from  the  following: 

"  Relative  to  a  vote  of  thanks  to  General  Grant, 
Flag  Officer  Foote  and  others,  for  their  courage  and 
gallantry  exhibited  in  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Henry.  Resolved  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  That  the  thanks  of  the  people  of 
Ohio  be,  and  through  their  representatives  are, 
hereby  tendered  to  General  Grant  and  Flag-officer 
Foote,  and  the  brave  men  under  their  command, 
for  the  courage,  gallantry  and  enterprise  exhibited 
in  the  bombardment  and  capture  of  Fort  Henry,  a 
victory  no  less  brilliant  in  itself  than  glorious  in  its 
results,  giving  our  Army  a  foothold  in  Tennessee, 
and  opening  the  way  for  early  advance  to  the  cap 
ital  of  the  State. 

"Resolved.  That  the  Governor  transmit  copies  of 
these  resolutions  to  said  officers,  with  the  request 
that  the  same  be  read  to  the  men  under  their  com 
mand.  "JAMES  L.  HTBBELL, 

"  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
"B.  STAXTOX,  President  of  the  Senate. 

"Passed,  February  14,  1862." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  vessels 
and  officers  engaged  in  attack  on  Fort 
Henry: 

GUN-BOAT  "CINCINNATI." — R.N.  Stembel, 
U.  S.  N.,  Commander;  William  R.  Hoel, 
First  Master;  Oscar  H.  Pratt.  Second 
Master:  Charles  G.  Perkins,  Third  Master; 
John  Pearce,  Fourth  Master;  R.  H.  Atten- 
borough,  Pilot;  Isaac  D.  Gaugh,  Pilot;  John 
Ludlow,  Surgeon;  Baron  Proctor,  Pay 
master;  William  D.  McFarland.  Chief  En 
gineer;  Samuel  H.  Lovejoy,  First  Assistant 
Engineer;  James  Armstrong,  Second  As 
sistant  Engineer;  William  J.  Shannon, 
Third  Assistant  Engineer;  James  McB. 
Stembel,  Master's  Mate;  Philip  Shell,  Mas 


ter's  Mate:  John  R.  Hall,  U.  S.  N.,  Acting 
Gunner:  Thomas  B.  Gregory,  Carpenter; 
Jacob  Vitinger.  Armorer. 

GUN-BOAT  '-COXESTOGA."— S.  L.  Phelps, 
U.  S.  N..  Lieutenant  Commanding;  John  A. 
Duble.  First  Master;  Charles  P.  Noble,  Sec 
ond  Master;  Benjamin  Sebastian.  Third 
Master:  Richard  H.  Cutter,  Fourth  Master; 
Aaron  M.  Jordan,  Pilot;  William  Attenbor- 
ough,  Pilot:  William  H.  Wilson,  Assistant 
Surgeon;  Alfred  Phelps.  Acting  Paymaster; 
Thomas  Cook,  Chief  Engineer;  Alexander 
Magee,  First  Assistant  Engineer;  Charles 
Marshall,  Second  Assistant  Engineer; 
Michael  Norton,  Third  Assistant  Engineer; 
James  Kearney,  Master's  Mate:  Henry 
Hamilton,  U.  S.  N.,  Acting  Gunner;  An 
drew  Woodlock,  Carpenter;  James  O'Neil, 
Armorer. 

GUN-BOAT  "ESSEX" — William  D.  Porter, 


IRON-CLAD  GUN-BOATS    "ST.  LOUIS,"  "CABONDELET" 
AND   "ESSEX." 

U.  S.  N.,  Commander ;  Robert  K.  Riley,First 
Master;  James  Laning,  Second  Master; 
Theodore  P.  Ferry.  Third  Master;  George 
W.  Walker,  Fourth  Master;  James  Mc- 
Bride,  Pilot;  Marshall  H.  Ford,  Pilot; 
Thomas  Rice,  Surgeon;  Joseph  H.  Le~wis, 
Paymaster;  Charles  M  Blasdell,  Chief  En 
gineer:  R.  J.  Stearns.  First  Assistant  Engi 
neer  ;  George  D.  Simms,  Second  Assistant 
Engineer;  Jeremiah  Wetzel.  Third  Assis 
tant  Engineer;  S.  B  Brittan,  Master's  Mate; 
Matthias  B.  Snyder,  Gunner;  Thomas  Steel, 
Carpenter;  -  —Fletcher,  Armorer. 

GUN-BOAT  "  LEXINGTON.'' — James  W. 
Shirk,  U.  S.  N.,  Lieutenant  Commanding  ; 
Jacob  S.  Hurd,  First  Master ;  Martin  Dunn. 
Second  Master:  James  Fitzpatrick.  Third 
Master  ;  Sylvester  Poole,  Fourth  Master  ; 
James  McCamant,  Pilot ;  William  Ford, 
Pilot ;  George  W.  Garver,  Assistant  Sur 
geon  ;  Augustus  F.  Taylor,  Acting  Pay 
master  ;  Samuel  Vroon,  Gunner;  Richard 
Carroll,  Carpenter;  Reuben  Story,  Armorer. 


148 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


GUN-BOAT  "TAYLOR."— William  Gwin, 
U.  S.  X..  Lieutenant  Commanding  ;  Edwin 
Shaw,  First  Master:  Jason  Goudy,  Second 
Master:  James  Martin.  Third  Master:  Pat 
rick  McCarty,  Fourth  Master;  John  Sebas 
tian,  Pilot;  David  Hiner,  Pilot;  Thomas  H. 
Kearney,  Assistant  Surgeon:  William  B. 
Coleman,  Acting  Paymaster:  Samuel  Goble, 
Chief  Engineer;  D~  Edward  Weaver.  First 
Assistant  Engineer;  Edward  W.  Goble. 
Second  Assistant  Engineer;  Oscar  S.  Davis, 
Third  Assistant  Engineer ;  Ferdinand  T. 
Coleman,  Master's  Mate;  Herman  Peters, 
U.  S.  X.,  Acting  Gunner;  Thomas  Russell, 
Carpenter;  Elihu  Stevens,  Armorer. 

GUN-BOAT  "ST.  Louis." — Leonard  Pauld- 
ing,  U.  S.  X..  Lieutenant  Commanding : 
John  V.  Johnson.  First  Master:  James  Y. 
Clemson.  Second  Master  :  Charles  S.  Ken- 
drick,  Third  Master;  Alexander  Fraser, 
Fourth  Master;  John  B.  McDill,  Assistant 
Surgeon;  Llewellyn  Curry.  Acting  Paymas 
ter:  Frank  A.  Riley.  'Pilot;  Robert  G. 
Baldwin,  Pilot:  William  Carswell,  Chief 
Engineer  ;  T.  F.  Ackerman.  First  Assist 
ant  Engineer;  James  L.  Smith,  Second 
Assistant  Engineer ;  John  Wilcoxsen, 
Third  Assistant  Engineer:  Sydney  H.  Mc- 
Adam.  Master's  Mate;  James  P.  Paulding. 
Masters  Mate;  John  A.  McDonald,  U.  S. 
X.,  Acting  Gunner;  Robert  H.  Medill,  Car 
penter:  -  -  Sypher,  Armorer. 

GUN-BOAT  "CARONDELET.  "— Henr/Walke, 
U.  S.  X.,  Commander:  Richard  M.  W^ade, 
First  Master:  John  Doherty.  Second  Mas 
ter;  Charles  C.  Gray,  Third  Master;  Henry 
A.  Walke,  Fourth  Master;  William  Hinton, 
Pilot;  Daniel  Weaver,  Pilot:  James  S. 
McXeely,  Assistant  Surgeon;  George  J.  W. 
Nixsin,  Acting  Paymaster ;  William  H. 


Faulkner.  Chief  Engineer  :  Charles  H. 
Caven.  First  Assistant  Engineer;  Samuel 
8.  Brooks.  Second  Assistant  Engineer;  Au 
gustus  F.  Crowell.  Third  Assistant  Engi 
neer;  Theodore  L.  Gilmore.  Master's  Mate: 
Edward  E.  Brennand.  Master's  Mate  ; 
Richard  Adams.  Gunner:  Oliver  Donaldson, 
Carpenter:  H.  H.  Rhodes.  Armorer. 

By  referring  to  the  public  or  official  dis 
patches  of  the  war,  the  names  of  the  com 
manders  and  officers  above  mentioned  will 
be  found  constantly  referred  to  in  bat 
tles  with  the  enemy,  and  were  very  fre 
quently  distinguished  by  acts  of  bravery 
and  heroism  creditable  alike  to  themselves 
and  the  naval  service.  The  position  of  the 
Xavy  in  the  West  at  that  time  was  an  anom 
alous  one,  belonging  as  they  did  neither  to 
one  or  the  other  branches  of  the  service  : 
and  the  hands  of  the  naval  commander 
were  so  tied  down  by  the  orders  of  General 
Halleck,  that  he  could  make  no  move 
without  his  permission.  The  same  may, 
however,  be  said  of  General  Grant,  who 
was  completely  handicapped  by  his  own 
superior. 

There  was  only  one  killed  and  eleven 
wounded  on  the  iron-clads  in  this  battle  at 
Fort  Henry,  a  small  number  for  so  long  a 
fight,  but  this  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact 
that  the  accuracy  of  the  gun-boats'  fire  was 
so  great,  and  the  discharges  so  rapid,  that  the 
enemy  were  constantly  driven  from  their 
batteries — even  the  great  bravery  of  their 
Commander  (General  Loyd  Tighlman).  and 
the  example  he  set  in  firing  the  guns  himself, 
could  not  induce  the  Confederates  to  stand 
up  to  their  work  under  such  a  fire,  especially 
after  seven  of  the  fort's  guns  had  been  dis 
mounted. 


CHAPTER     XV. 


CAPTURE   OF   FORT   DOXELSOX1    AND   BATTLE   OF   SHILOH. 

GRANT'S  MESSAGE  TO  HALLECK. — THE  ARMY  IN  FRONT  OF  DONELSON.— THE  GUN-BOATS 
PUSHUP  THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER. — BURNING  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  TRANSPORTS. — FORT 
DONELSON  AND  ITS  STRATEGIC  POSITION.— THE  GUN-BOATS  OPEN  FIRE  ON  THE  FORT.— 
THE  GUN  BOATS  ARE  CRIPPLED  AND  WITHDRAW.— FLAG-OFFICER  FOOTE  WOUNDED.— 
GALLANTRY  OF  CAPTAIN  WALKE.— LOSSES.— GENERAL  GRANT'S  VICTORY. — RESULTS. — 
GCN  BOATS  REPAIR  TO  CAIRO. — GRANT  PREPARES  TO  ADVANCE  TOWARDS  SHILOH. — BAT 
TLE  AT  PlTTSBURG  LANDING  (SHILOH). — SERVICES  RENDERED  BY  THE  GrUN-BOATS  "  LEX 
INGTON"  AND  •'  TAYLOR.'' — CAPTAIN  GWIN'S  REPORT. — THE  XAVY  AIDS  MATERIALLY  IN 
SAVING  THE  ARMY  FROM  DESTRUCTION. — A  TERRIBLE  BATTLE  AND  GREAT  Loss  OF 
LIFE. — THE  CONFEDERATES  AS  FIGHTERS. — EXTRACTS  FROM  RECORDS  OF  THE  TIMES. — 
CONGRATULATORY  ORDERS,  &c. 


ON  the  8th  of  February,  1862.  Gen. 
Grant  telegraphed  to  Gen.  Halleck : 
"Fort  Henry  is  ours:  the  gun 
boats  silenced  the  batteries  before 
the  investment  was  completed.  I 
si  mil  take  and  destroy  Fort  Donelson  on  the 
8th.  and  return  to  Fort  Henry.'' 

The  same  reasons  which  had  induced 
Grant  to  undertake  the  capture  of  Fort 
Henry  still  urged  him  to  take  Fort  Donel 
son  ;  that  is,  to  get  the  control  of  the  Ten 
nessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers  and  be  able 
to  penetrate  into  the  heart  of  Tennessee 
with  his  troops  and  Foote's  gun-boats. 

On  the  7th  of  February  his  cavalry  pene 
trated  to  within  a  mile  of  Fort  Donelson, 
but  they  could  obtain  no  information  as  to 
the  strength  of  the  place  or  the  number  of 
troops. 

Foote  was  notified  of  Grant's  intentions, 
and  was  requested  to  have  what  gun-boats 
he  could  muster  ready  to  attack  the  batter 
ies  before  the  army  made  its  assault.  But 
the  great  rise  in  the  Tennessee  River  pre 
vented  Grant  from  completing  his  proposed 
movement.  The  water  overflowed  the  river 
banks,  and  gave  the  army  as  much  as  it 
could  do  to  save  its  stores  and  tents  from 
the  flood. 

In  the  meantime  three  gun-boats,  under 
Lieut.  Phelps,  had  pushed  on  up  the  Tennes 
see  as  far  as  Florence.  Alabama,  greatly 
alarming  the  inhabitants,  but  carrying 


comfort  to  the  loyal  citizens,  who  were  glad 
to  see  the  old  flag  floating  over  their  waters. 

When  about  twenty-five  miles  above  the 
fort.  Phelps  found  the  draw  at  the  railroad- 
crossing  closed,  and  the  machinery  for 
working  it  disabled,  but  men  were  landed, 
in  an  hour  the  draw  was  opened,  and 
the  following  gun-boats  passed  through  : 
"  Taylor,"  Lieut.-Com.Gwin;  "  Lexington," 
Lieut. -Com.  Shirk,  and  the  "  Conestoga," 
"  Lieut.-Com.  Phelps. 

In  a  short  time  this  flotilla  caused  the 
enemy  to  abandon  and  burn  three  steam 
transports,  filled  with  military  stores,  sub 
marine  batteries,  powder,  cannon  and  pro 
jectiles.  These  vessels  exploded  with  such 
force  as  to  endanger  the  Union  gun-boats. 
Skylights  were  broken,  doors  forced  open 
and  the  light  upper  decks  raised  bodily. 
This  did  not  stop  the  progress  of  the  latter, 
however,  and  they  proceeded  up  the  river, 
doing  good  work  in  breaking  up  railroads 
and  destroying  camp  equipage  wherever 
they  could  find  it.  At  a  place  called  Cerro 
Gordo.  they  came  across  the  steamer  "East- 
port,''  which  was  being  con  verted  into  a  gun 
boat — a  strong,  powerful  vessel,  afterwards 
used  as  a  gun-boat  and  ram  by  the  Federal 
Government.  She  had  been  abandoned  and 
scuttled,  and  her  suction-pipes  broken,  but 
the  leaks  were  stopped,  and  the  vessel  raised 
and  taken  back  to  Fort  Henrv. 

On  the  8th  of  February  the  flotilla  arrived 


(1*9) 


150 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY 


at  Chickasaw,  near  the  state  line,  and 
seized  two  steamers.  They  then  proceeded 
up  to  Florence.  Alabama,  near  the  mussel 
shoals,  where  three  steamers  had  been  set 
on  fire  by  the  Confederates.  A  force  was 
landed  and  a  large  amount  of  stores,  marked 
"Fort  Henry,"  were  saved  from  the  burning 
vessels ;  also  a  quantity  that  had  been 
landed  and  stored. 

The  results  of  this  expedition  were  three 
steamers  and  one  gun-boat  seized,  six  steam 
ers  burned  by  the  enemy  to  prevent  their 
falling  into  our  hands,  all  the  timber  and 
saw-mills  in  the  neighborhood  destroyed, 
and  a  large  quantity  of  stores  captured. 
From  the  6th  to  the  ]0th  of  the  month  the 
labors  of  this  little  flotilla  were  immense, 
and  its  gallant  commander  inflicted  damage 
upon  the  enemy  which  was  irreparable. 

In  the  course  of  this  raid  our  officers  met 
the  most  gratifying  proofs  of  loyalty 
wherever  they  went.  Across  Tennessee,  and 
in  those  portions  of  Alabama  and  Missis 
sippi  which  they  visited,  men,  women  and 
children  came  in  crowds  and  shouted  their 
welcome  to  the  old  flag  under  which  they 
had  been  born.  A  reign  of  terror  had  existed 
all  along  the  river,  and  loyal  people  did  riot 
dare  to  express  their  thoughts  openly.  They 
intimated  to  our  officers,  however,  that  if 
arms  were  placed  in  their  hands  they  would 
not  hesitate  to  espouse  the  Union  cause  and 
put  down  rebellion  in  their  midst. 

This  shows  exactly  what  kind  of  a  gov 
ernment  the  secession  leaders  intended  to 
substitute  for  the  one  under  which  these 
people  had  lived  so  contentedly,  in  the  en 
joyment  of  freedom  of  speech  and  all  the 
other  rights  which  belong  to  every  free 
American. 

This  expedition  had  an  excellent  effect 
wherever  it  appeared,  and  it  showed  the 
necessity  of  further  increasing  our  naval 
force  on  the  Western  waters,  in  order  to 
have  a  sufficient  number  of  gun-boats  on  all 
the  rivers  to  keep  them  open,  to  drive  the 
guerrilla  army  away  from  their  banks,  and 
also  to  give  confidence  to  the  Union  people, 
who  only  needed  some  such  support  to  in 
duce  them  to  proclaim  their  sentiments 
openly. 

Grant  lost  no  time  in  getting  together  a 
force  which  he  deemed  sufficient  for  the 
attack  on  Fort  Donelson.  Reinforcements 
were  rapidly  coming  in  from  various  quar 
ters,  and  Halleck,  who  up  to  this  time  had 
thrown  every  objection  in  the  way  of  the 
expedition,  now  seemed  anxious  to  take  the 
credit  of  the  movement  to  himself,  and  was 
doing  all  he  could  to  hurry  troops,  stores 
and  siege  implements  to  the'sceiie  of  action. 
On  the  10th  he  informed  Grant  that  large 
re-enforcements  would  be  sent  to  him. 

Grant  did  not,  however,  wait  for  these 
re-enforcements,  but  while  Halleck  was 
writing  about  picks  and  shovels  he  informed 


Foote  that  he  was  only  waiting  for  the  re 
turn  of  the  gun-boats  to  attack  Fort  Don- 
elson. 

This  fortification  was  the  strongest  mil 
itary  work  in  the  entire  theatre  of  war.  It 
was  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Cum 
berland  River,  north  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
on  a  peculiarly  rugged  and  inaccessible  se 
ries  of  hills  which  rose  abruptly  to  the 
height  of  one  hundred  feet.  Every  advan 
tage  had  been  taken  of  the  character  of  the 
ground.  The  country  was  densely  wooded, 
but  the  timber  had  been  felled  far  out  in 
advance  of  the  breastworks,  and  the  limbs, 
cleaned  and  sharpened,  were  formed  into  an 
almost  impenetrable  abbatis. 

Two  streams  \vhich  emptied  into  the 
Cumberland  formed  the  right  and  left 
defenses  of  the  Confederate  breastworks, 
which  extended  nearly  three  miles,  and 
were  strongly  entrenched  with  secondary 
lines  of  rifle  pits  and  detached  batteries 
posted  on  commanding  heights. 

Ifr  was  a  marvelous  work  and  evidently  a 
difficult  place  to  take,  provided  the  enemy 
had  a  sufficiently  strong  garrison  to  hold 
all  points  of  his  line  of  defense. 

The  main  fort  was  built  on  a  precipitous 
height,  close  by  a  deep  gorge  open  to  the 
South.  It  was  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
from  the  breastworks,  and  overlooked  both 
the  river  and  the  interior.  It  covered  a 
hundred  acres  of  ground  and  was  defended 
by  fifteen  heavy  guns  and  two  carronades. 

There  were  heavy  water-batteries  placed 
to  control  the  river  navigation,  and  the 
whole  armament  of  the  batteries,  includ 
ing  the  light  artillery,  wTas  sixty-five  pieces. 

The  garrison  numbered  (as  well  as  could 
be  ascertained)  21,000  men.  a  great  part  of 
whom  had  recently  been  thrown  into  the 
works  by  the  Confederates,  who  appreciated 
the  importance  of  the  position  as  fully  as 
Grant  did,  and  were  now  straining  every 
nerve  to  hold  it. 

While  Grant  was  making  his  movements 
in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  so  as  to  completely 
surround  it  and  prevent  the  escape  of  any 
of  the  garrison,  the  gun-boats  011  the  water 
side  were  preparing  for  the  attack. 

Foote,  according  to  his  own  report,  did 
not  consider  himself  properly  prepared  for 
such  an  adventure,  as  his  force  was  not 
sufficiently  strong  to  make  an  attack  on 
the  fort ;  but  at  the  earnest  request  of  Hal 
leck  and  Grant,  he  felt  called  upon  to  do 
what  he  could,  and  at  3  P.M.  on  the  1-lth, 
he  moved  up  with  his  fleet  in  the  following 
order  :  iroii-clads,  "  St.  Louis,"  (flag-ship), 
Lieut.  Paulding;  "Carondelet,"  Com. 
Walke;  "Louisville."  Com.  Dove;  "Pitts- 
burg,"  Lieut.  E.  Thompson;  gun-boats  : 
"Taylor,"  Lieut. -Com.  Gwin;  "  Conestoga," 
Lieut. -Com.  Phelps,  the  two  latter  in  the 
rear. 

After  a  severe  fight  of  an  hour  and  a  half, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


151 


during  part  of  which  time  the  iron-clads 
were  within  400  yards  of  the  fort,  the  flag 
ship  '*  St.  Louis,''  and  the  iron-clad  i%  Louis 
ville/'  had  their  wheels  disabled  and  drifted 
•out  of  action. 

The  fire  of  the  fort,  which  had  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  engagement  been  very 
rapid  and  accurate,  was  now  concentrated 
on  the  remaining  vessels  of  the  fleet,  and 
soon  proved  too  hot  for  them.  The  iron 
clads  "Pittsburg"  and  "  Carondelet ''  were 
much  cut  up  between  wind  .and  water,  and 
with  the  wooden  gun-boats  were  finally 
compelled  to  drop  out  of  action.  The  flag 
ship  "  St.  Louis"  had  received  fifty-nine 
shots,  four  of  which  were  between  wind  and 
water,  and  one  in  the  pilot-house  which 
killed  the  pilot  and  wounded  the  flag-officer 
himself. 

Foote  says  in  his  report:  "  Notwithstand 
ing  our  disadvantages,  we  have  every  rea 
son  to  believe  that  in  fifteen  minutes  more, 
could  the  action  have  been  continued,  it 
would  have  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the 
forts.  The  enemy's  fire  had  slackened,  and 
he  was  running  from  his  batteries  when  the 
two  gun-boats,  'St.  Louis'  and  'Louisville,' 
dropped  out  of  action  owing  to  their  crippled 
condition,  seeing  which,  the  enemy  re 
turned  to  his  guns  and  again  opened  fire 
from  the  river  batteries,  which  had  been 
silenced." 

This  was  evidently  not  a  success  on  the 
part  of  the  Navy,  as  the  gun-boats  were 
compelled  to  retire;  the  "St.  Louis"  and 
"  Louisville."  in  consequence  of  having 
their  rudders  crippled,  and  the  '•  Caronde 
let"  and  '"Pittsburg"  because  they  were 
not  able  to  withstand  the  concentrated  fire 
of  the  enemy. 

It  has  been  asked,  "  If  the  enemy  was 
deserting  his  batteries  and  it  was  thought 
that  in  fifteen  minutes  more  the  gun-boats 
would  have  been  victorious,  why  were  not 
the  drifting  vessels  lashed  alongside  of  the 
'•Carondelet  and  "Pittsburg"  and  thus 
brought  back  into  action,  where  they  could 
have  taken  part  with  the  Army  in  obtain 
ing  the  victory,  and  have  obtained  more 
than  a  passing  notice  by  army  historians  ?" 
As  it  was,  the  only  notice  they  obtained 
was  the  statement  that  ''the  gun-boats  were 
so  disabled  as  to  be  unfit  to  take  any  part  of 
importance  in  the  succeeding  operations." 
This  mention  of  the  ftavy  wras  disingenuous, 
to  say  the  least,  and  is  not  history.  The 
'•Carondelet"  and  "  Pittsburgh'  though 
struck  pretty  often,  were  still  intact  and  fit 
for  any  service,  and  their  two  commanders 
would  have  been  glad  to  have  availed  them 
selves  of  the  opportunity  to  run  past  the  bat 
teries  and  enfilade  them  on  the  side  where 
they  were  least  protected. 

There  are  two  ways  of  fighting  batteries 
on  river  heights  ;  one  is  to  engage  them  at 
close  quarters  with  grape  and  canister,  and 


the  other,  to  remain  at  long  range,  where  the 
enemy's  fire  would  be  uncertain,  especially 
if  the  vessels  were  kept  well  apart. 

All  these  things  will  be  considered  after  a 
fight  is  over,  but  no  one  knows  what  he 
would  do  unless  placed  in  like  circum 
stances.  In  this  case  the  flag-officer  had 
received  a  serious  wound  in  the  foot,  and  in 
addition  to  the  physical  pain  which  he  suf 
fered,  he  was  no  doubt  taken  by  surprise  at 
meeting  with  such  a  reception  at  Fort  Don- 
elson  after  having  made  such  short  work 
with  Fort  Henry. 

Nothing  is  said  in  official  reports  or  gen 
eral  orders  about  the  gallant  attack  made 
by  Captain  Walke  in  the  %<  Carondelet." 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  (before  Foote 
had  arrived).  General  Grant  requested  Cap 
tain  Walke  to  take  a  position  and  throw 
shells  into  the  fort  in  order  to  create  a  di 
version,  which  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  take 
advantage  of. 

Captain  Walke  immediately  complied 
with  this  request,  and  threw  139  lo-second 
and  10-second  shells  into  the  enemy's  works, 
receiving  in  return  a  fire  from  all  the  bat 
teries.  The  "  Carondelet  "  was  only  struck 
twice,  however,  as  most  of  the  projectiles 
passed  over  her.  One  128-lb.  solid  shot 
passed  through  the  front  casemate,  and 
glancing  over  the  barricades  which  pro 
tected  the  boiler,  struck  and  burst  a  steam- 
heater  and  then  fell  into  the  fireroom. 
No  other  damage  was  done,  and  it  is  thus 
shown  how  much  more  difficult  it  is  to 
strike  one  vessel  moving  about  than  a  num 
ber  of  vessels  in  groups. 

Foote's  vessels  were  struck  about  fifty 
times  each  by  I'-iS  and  32-lb.  shot,  and  had 
fifty-four  officers  and  men  killed  and 
wounded. 

We  regret  that  we  cannot  chronicle  a  vic 
tory  for  the  gun-boats,  but  it  was  a  fair 
stand-up  fight  while  it  lasted,  and  Foote  did 
not  hesitate  to  take  the  bull  by  the  horns 
and  engage  the  enemy  at  600  yards,  the 
best  distance  for  the  forts  and  the  worst  for 
the  vessels;  and,  although  the  gun-boats 
were  forced  to  drop  out  of  action,  they  lost 
no  credit  in  so  doing. 

There  was  one  omission  in  this  naval  at 
tack,  which  is  due  to  the  history  of  the  times, 
and  should  be  mentioned.  Had  the  flag- 
officer  sent  his  remaining  gun-boats  past 
the  batteries  at  night,  when  the  darkness 
would  have  prevented  the  enemy  from  esti 
mating  his  distance,  these  vessels  would 
have  been  ready  on  the  following  day  to  en 
filade  the  works  in  their  weakest  point:  and 
what  is  more  important  still, they  would  have 
cut  off  all  hope  of  escape  of  the  garrison. 
The  transports  in  which  Floyd  and  Pillow 
with  5.000  men  escaped  across  and  up 
the  river,  would  all  have  fallen  into  our 
hands. 

Having  looked  into  all  the  details  of  this 


152 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


interesting  affair  we  feel  obliged  to  say 
that  all  the  credit  for  the  capture  of  Fort 
Donelson  belongs  to  the  Army,  as  there 
was  no  truth  in  the  statement  that  the  en 
emy  were  so  demoralized  by  the  attack  of 
the  gun-boats, that  they  could  not  be  brought 
into  effective  use  on  the  following  day  in 
the  actions  which  resulted  in  their  defeat 
and  the  surrender  of  16.000  men,  sixty-five 

§ins  and    17,600    small-arms    to    General 
rant.     (Twenty-five  hundred  of  the  Con 
federates  were  killed  and  wounded  during 
the  siege.) 

This  victory  belonged  exclusively  to  Gen 
eral  Grant  and  no  one  can  take  from  him 
one  iota  of  the  credit  of  that  great  military 
feat,  in  which  he  showed  his  fitness  to  lead 
the  armies  of  the  Union.  The  results  of 
this  victory  were  that  "the  whole  of  Ken 
tucky  and  Tennessee  at  once  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  national  forces — the  Tennes 
see  and  Cumberland  rivers  were  opened  to 
national  vessels  for  hundreds  of  miles. 
Nashville,  the  capital  of  Tennessee  and  a 
place  of  great  strategic  importance,  fell. 
Bowling  Green  had  become  untenable  as 
soon  as  Donelson  was  attacked,  and  was 
abandoned  on  the  14th  of  February,  the 
day  before  the  Confederate  works  on  the 
Cumberland  were  carried,  while  Columbus 
and  the  other  end  of  the  strategic  line  were 
evacuated  early  in  March,  thus  leaving  the 
Mississippi  river  free  from  the  Confeder 
ate  flag  from  St.  Louis  to  Arkansas. 

The  news  of  this  victory  was  very  en 
couraging  to  the  Union  people,  especially 
when  they  beheld  its  results.  When  city 
after  city  fell  and  stronghold  after  strong 
hold  was  abandoned,  and  they  saw  that  it 
was  all  in  consequence  of  the  capture  of 
Fort  Donelson,  it  is  not  strange  that  the  na 
tional  amazement  and  gratification  knew 
no  bounds,  and  it  is  only  to  be  regretted 
that  the  Navy  should  not  have  had  a  greater 
share  in  the  honors. 

Grant  was  made  a  Major-General,  and  we 
only  regret  that  the  opportunity  did  not 
serve  to  make  Foote  a  Rear- Admiral  and 
give  some  promotion  to  his  gallant  officers. 

It  is  always  difficult  to  procure  reliable 
information  with  regard  to  the  force  of  the 
enemy,  either  of  men  or  guns.  In  this  case 
the  report  of  Flag-officer  Foote  was  very 
indefinite,  and  he  only  gives  a  general  idea 
of  what  he  had  to  contend  against. 

He  says,  ''the  enemy  must  have  brought 
over  twenty  heavy  guns  to  bear  upon  our 
vessels  from  the  water-batteries  and  the 
main  fort  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  while  we 
could  only  return  the  fire  with  twelve  bow 
guns  from  the  four  boats. 

It  is  not  the  intention  of  the  writer  to 
mention  all  the  small  affairs  in  which  the 
gun-boats  performed  splendid  service,  such 
as  making  reconnaissances  up  and  down  the 
rivers  or  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's  forts 


and  light  batteries,  unless  some  definite 
object  was  gained  or  some  serious  injury 
inflicted  on  the  enemy,  as  the  limits  of  this 
book  forbid  it.  It  is  his  intention,  however, 
to  fully  describe  the  work  of  the  Navy  in 
Western  waters,  and  when  it  is  possible  to 
give  every  officer  due  credit  for  what  he 
accomplished,  without,  as  a  rule,  going  be 
yond  official  reports. 

After  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  Foote's 
gun-boats  had  to  go  to  Cairo  for  repairs, 
which  they  sorely  needed,  and  to  replenish 
their  crews,  for  they  were  all  very  much  in 
want  of  men. 

As  fast  as  the  vessels  were  made  ready 
for  service  they  were  kept  moving  in  the 
work  of  reconnoitering  down  towards  Col 
umbus,  or  else  they  were  employed  on  the 
Cumberland  and  Tennessee  rivers  to  deter 
the  enemy  from  erecting  batteries  along 
the  banks;  also  to  assure  the  inhabitants 
that  they  would  be  protected  by  the  Fed 
eral  government,  and  that  the  Confeder 
ates  would  soon  be  driven  out  of  the 
State. 

These,  however,  are  mere  details  of  duty 
which  cannot  be  brought  out  in  a  history 
of  this  kind.  The  fall  of  Forts  Henry  and 
Donelson  compelled  the  Confederates  to 
change  their  plans  almost  immediately. 
Their  line  of  defense  was  moved  farther 
South  and  was  now  established  on  the  fol 
lowing  points  :  Island  No.  10,  Fort  Pillow 
and  Memphis  on  the  Mississippi,  a  point  in 
Tennessee  near  Pittsburg,  and  the  town  of 
Chattanooga.  All  of  these  points  were 
strongly  fortified  and  defended  by  large  ar 
mies,  thus  closing  up  East  Tennessee,  and 
preventing  our  armies  from  marching 
southward. 

On  the  loth  of  February,  Gen.  Grant  was 
assigned  to  the  new  military  district  of  West 
Tennessee,  with  limits  undefined,  and 
Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman  to  the  command  of  the 
district  of  Cairo. 

Grant  commenced  at  once  to  concentrate 
his  forces  and  make  his  dispositions  to  meet 
the  new  order  of  defense  established  by  the 
Confederates.  His  first  step  was  to  send 
Gens.  Wright  and  McClernand  up  to  Pitts- 
burg,  while  he  remained  himself  at  Savan 
nah,  superintending  the  organization  of  the 
new  troops  which  were  arriving  from  Mis 
souri,  and  making  preparations  to  advance 
towards  Pittsburg  Landing  (Shiloh). 

The  account  of  the  famous  battle  which 
soon  occurred  at  this  place  must  be  left  to- 
military  writers,  but  the  battle  of  Shiloh  with 
its  changes  of  fortune  from  hour  to  hour, 
its  keen  anxieties,  splendid  fighting  on  both 
sides,  and  the  splendid  victory  which  was 
finally  wrenched  from  the  enemy  after  he 
had  driven  our  troops  back  upon  the  river, 
will  always  be  remembered  by  those  who 
have  read  the  history  of  that  day. 

We  will  only  refer  to  the  moment  when. 


OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


153 


our  troops,  having  been  driven  by  the  enemy 
from  point  to  point  and  ridge  to  ridge,  had 
reached  the  river  bank  and  were  brought  to 
bay.  Here  the  gun-boats  '*  Lexington''  and 
'•Taylor"  rendered  good  service,  and  the 
national  troops,  rallying  under  the  cover  of 
their  guns,  made  a  superb  resistance,  and 
although  the  enemy  flung  himself  fiercely 
upon  the  Union  lines  he  was  again  and  again 
driven  back. 

The  military  historians  have  not  done 
justice  to  the  work  of  the  gun-boats  at  this 
important  juncture.  Croly  disposes  of  the 
subject  by  saying  :  "the  gun-boats  were  of 
some  importance  as  they  had  been  for  some 
time  previous  engaged  in  checking  the  ad 
vance  of  the  enemy  on  the  extreme  left." 
Badeau.the  historian,  also  speaks  of  the  gun 
boats  "  being  employed  during  the  night  in 
t  lirowing  shells  amongst  the  enemy's  troops, 
which  annoyed  them  greatly  and  set  fire  to 
the  woods,  which  were  ablaze  all  around 
them." 

It  is  not  likely  that  the  two  gun-boats 
would  be  idle  at  Pittsburg  Landing  while 
our  Army  was  being  driven  back  by  the 
enemy,  and  it  is  the  belief  of  many  officers 
that  without  the  aid  of  these  vessels  the 
Federal  army  would  have  been  annihilated. 
But  there  are  no  reliable  Army  accounts 
of  the  matter  and  we  must  be  satisfied  with 
the  statement  that  "  the  Federal  troops  with 
their  backs  to  the  river,  and  no  cover  but 
the  gun-boats,  there  made  an  unconquer 
able  stand." 

The  following  account,  taken  in  sub 
stance  from  Boynton's  Naval  History,  seems 
to  be  the  most  "correct  version  of  the  part 
taken  by  the  gun-boats  "Taylor"  and 
"  Lexington,"  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  : 

"  From  the  beginning  of  the  fight  until  after  one 
o'clock  p.  M.,  the  wooden  gun-boats  'Lexington' 
and  'Taylor'  had  been  moving  up  and  down  the 
stream,  anxious  to  render  some  assistance,  but  re 
ceived  no  orders  to  do  so.  At  that  time  Lieut. -Com. 
Gwin,  of  the  'Taylor,'  having  as  yet  received  no 
instructions  from  any  quarter,  and  growing  im 
patient  as  shot  and  shell  fell  around  the  vessels, 
sent  an  officer  to  communicate  with  Gen.  Hurlburt 
and  requested  permission  to  open  on  the  Confeder 
ates.  Gen.  Hurlburt  expressed  his  thanks  for  this 
offer  of  support,  saying  that  without  aid  he  could 
not  hold  his  position  for  an  hour,  and  indicated 
theproi>er  line  of  fire.  At  10  o'clock  the 'Taylor' 
opened  fire  on  the  enemy,  and  with  such  effect  that 
in  a  short  time  the  Confederate  batteries  at  that 
point  were  silenced. 

"About  4  o'clock  the  'Taylor'  dropped  down 
to  Pittsburg  Landing  to  communicate  with  Gen. 
Grant.  His  reply  was  that  Lieut.  Gwin  must  use 
his  own  iudgment  in  the  case. 

"Directly  after  the  'Taylor'  and  'Lexington' 
went  up  in*  company  and  took  up  a  position  only 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  above  the  landing. 

"  In  thirty-five  minutes  the  enemy's  batteries  on 
the  right  were  again  silenced,  thus  relieving  the 
national  troops  on  the  left,  but  at  half-past  5  p.  in. 
our  lines  had  been  so  forced  in  towards  the  river 
that  the  enemy  gained  a  position  on  our  left  only 
an  eighth  of  a* mile  from  the  landing  and  massed 
their  troops  for  a  final  charge,  with  which  they  ex 


pected.  and  not  without  cause,  to  crush  what  re 
mained  of  the  organization  of  the  national  army. 
Between  our  position  and  where  the  enemy  had 
prepared  for  this  last  rush,  was  a  ravine  which  they 
must  cross  in  the  assault,  and  here  the  two  gun 
boats  took  up  a  position.  At  the  same  time  Col. 
Webster,  of  Gen.  Grant's  staff,  hastily  collected 
some  scattered  guns  and  placed  them  where  they 
would  play  on  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy's  line 
when  they  should  advance. 

"  This  was  the  decisive  point  in  the  battle.  The 
next  half  hour  would  settle  the  question  whether  or 
not  a  victorious  Confederate  army  should  occupy  and 
lay  under  contribution  the  States  north  of  the  Ohio. 

"There  was  a  brief  lull  in  the  firing  while  the  Con 
federate  host  was  making  its  final  preparations,  and 
our  troops  were  being  collected  in  a  semi-circular 
mass  with  the  centre  not  half  a  mile  from  the  river. 
Our  men  (with  the  exception  of  the  shameless 
skulkers)  had  fought  bravely,  but  were  now  in  a 
disorganized  condition,  and  it  seemed  as  if  their 
main  dependence  must  now  be  upon  the  guns 
which  Col.  Webster  had  collected  to  check  the  ad 
vance  of  the  enemy. 

"  The  delay  was  for  a  few  moments  only,  and 
they  came  preceded  by  a  storm  of  shot  from  their 
batteries  which  swept  over  all  the  intervening  space 
and  up  to  the  very  banks  of  the  river. 

"As  stated  by  Gen.  Grant,  their  troops  were 
massed  so  as  to  strike  the  main  blow  at  our  left,  so 
that  by  turning  it  they  could  seize  the  transports 
and  stores.  It  did  not  occur  to  the  enemy  that  this 
would  bring  their  column  under  the  guns  of  the 
gun-boats  at  point-blank  range. 

"The  'Lexington1  and  'Taylor'  had  rounded 
to  opposite  the  ravine,  so  that  their  butteries  could 
be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  dense  mass  swarming 
in  across  the  line  of  fire." 

So  far  Mr.  Boynton:  Capt.  Gwin  will  tell 
the  rest  : 


vessels  opened  a  heavy  and  well- 
directed  fire  on  them,  and  in  a  short  time,  in  con 
junction  with  our  artillery  on  shore,  succeeded  in 
silencing  their  artillery,  and  driving  them  back  in 
confusion. 

''At  6  P.  M.  the  'Taylor'  opened  deliberate  fire 
in  the  direction  of  the  "enemy's  right  wing,  throw 
ing  5  and  10-second  shell.  *  *  *  * 

"At  9  P.M.  the  'Taylor'  again  opened  fire, 
*  *  *  *  throwing  5,  10  and  15-second  shell,  and 
an  occasional  shrapnel  from  the  howitzer  at  inter 
vals  of  ten  minutes,  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy's 
right  wing,  until  1  A.  M.,  when  the  'Lexington'  re 
lieved  us,  and  continued  the  fire  at  intervals  of 
fifteen  minutes  until  5  A.  M.,  when,  our  land  forces 
having  attacked  the  enemy,  forcing  them  gradually 
back,  it  made  it  dangerous  for  the  gun-boats  to 
fire." 

In  this  engagement  the  <%  Taylor"  fired 
188  shell,  and  the  ''  Lexington"  about  the 
same  number,  and  it  can  be  imagined  what 
gaps  were  made  in  the  enemy's  ranks  by 
our  expert  gunners,  when  they  were  massed 
at  the  ravine  for  a  rush  upon  our  disorgan 
ized  troops,  already  driven  nearly  to  the 
river. 

The  military  historian  says,  ''the  gun 
boats  gave  mutual  support  at  this  moment." 
Boynton  says,  "  thus,  on  the  same  day,  the 
Navy  on  the  Western  rivers  received  the 
surrender  of  one  of  the  Confederate  fortifi 
cations  on  the  Mississippi,  and  aided  very 
materially  in  saving  from  destruction  our 
Army  at  Pittsburg  Landing  by  repelling  the 
last  attack  of  the  Confederates,  demoraliz- 


154 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ing  their  army  by  the  destructive  broadsides 
of  the  steamers'  heavy  guns,  and  holding 
them  back  during  the  night  until  Nelson 
and  Buel  were  ready  to  attack." 

The  reader  can  take  either  version  of  the 
story  that  suits  him  best. 

There  is  a  tradition  in  the  Navy  which 
will  go  down  to  posterity,  that  the  "Tay 
lor"  and  "Lexington"  prevented  part  of 
our  Army  on  that  day  from  being  driven 
into  the  river,  and  turned  the  enemy  back 
when  he  considered  that  victory  was  in  his 
hands. 

Lieut.  Gwin  in  writing  to  Foote,  puts  it 


by  both  parties,  but  the  Federals  remained 
masters  of  the  field. 

It  broke  up  the  delusion  of  man}'  in  the 
North  who,  up  to  this  time,  had  believed 
that  after  a  few  heavy  defeats  the  Southern 
people  would  return  to  their  allegiance. 
For  here  it  was  seen  that  after  the  victories 
of  Donelson  and  Shiloh,  and  the  capture 
of  Columbus.  Nashville  and  Bowling  Green, 
no  perceptible  effect  was  made  upon  the 
resolution  of  the  Confederates.  Their 
energy  was  not  in  the  least  diminished. 

Geii.  Grant  himself  believed  that  the  con 
test  was  to  be  prolonged  and  desperate,  and 


BEAK-ADMIRAL  HENRY  WALKE,   (COMMANDER  OF  THE   "CAROXDELET.") 


modestly  thus  :  "  Your  '  old  wooden  boats,' 
I  feel  confident,  rendered  invaluable  service 
on  the  Gth  instant  to  the  land  forces."  And 
so  will  think  the  reader. 

Why  Gen.  Grant  did  not  have  a  large 
number  of  gun-boats  at  Pittsburg  Landing 
is  not  understood,  as  it  was  a  most  favora 
ble  position  for  their  use,  and  the  60,000 
Confederates  spread  over  a  large  area  of 
ground  would  have  offered  many  oppor 
tunities  for  them  to  throw  in  an  effective 
fire. 

The  battle  of  Shiloh  was  a  terrible  one, 
and  the  losses  on  both  sides  were  very 
great  (12,000  each).  The  victory  was  claimed 


as  we  go  on  with  the  history  of  events  it  will 
be  seen  that  his  view  was  the  correct  one. 
The  more  the  Confederates  were  beaten 
the  harder  they  fought,  and  even  when 
they  had  "robbed  the  cradle  and  the  grave  " 
to  fill  up  their  ranks,  and  when  many  of 
them  were  satisfied  that  their  cause  was 
hopeless,  they  fought  on  as  if  engaged  in 
some  pastime  in  which  they  took  great 
delight. 

In  conclusion  we  would  call  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  victories  which  perched 
upon  the  banners  of  the  Federal  army  were 
frequently  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the 
aid  rendered  by  the  heavy  guns  of  the  Navy, 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


155 


which  were  easily  transported  from  place 
to  place,  and  could  deliver  a  tire  which  no 
army  could  return  or  withstand. 

BATTLE  OF  FORT  DOXELSON. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  records 
of  the  times  are  interesting,  as  throwing 
light  on  the  history  of  those  affairs  : 

It  is  now  stated  by  one  of  our  most  bril 
liant  writers  of  history  and  biography  that 
Foote  sent  the  "  Carondelet  "  to  Fort  Don- 
elson  upon  a  reconnoissance,  and  other 
friends  of  the  Admiral  are  evidently  led  into 
the  same  error;  but  on  the  contrary,  to  our 
knowledge,  he  never  approved  or  disap 
proved  of  Commander  Walke's  co-operation, 
with  General  Grant,  nor  did  he  reply  or  al 
lude  to  the  following  letters  upon  that  sub 
ject.  And  it  is  evident  that  no  other  officer 
would  have  taken  the  responsibility  of  re 
voking  the  orders  for  the  "  Taylor,"  "  Lex 
ington  "  and  '•  Conestoga"  to  join  the  "  Ca 
rondelet  "  upon  the  reconnoissance  at  Fort 
Donelson,  but  the  flag-officer  himself.  And 
as  he  was  previously  informed  of  all  the 
circumstances,  by  the  letters  of  Commander 
Walke,  there  was  no  explanation  asked  for, 
or  made,  when  they  met  on  the  night  of  the 
13th.  The  flag-officer,  however,  seemed  to 
be  satisfied  when  Commander  Walke  in 
formed  him  that  the  "  Carondelet "  would 
be  ready  for  battle  again  as  soon  as  she  had 
replenished  her  ammunition, early  on  the  fol 
lowing  morning.  We  may,  however,  be  as 
sured  by  the  remarks  in  Pollard's  Southern 
History  of  the  War,  that  if  four  or  five 
steamers,  instead  of  one,  had  menaced  Fort 
Donelson  on  the  llth  of  February,  a  day  or 
two  before  the  enemy's  re-enforcements  had. 
arrived,  the  effect  would  have  been  much 
more  discouraging  to  the  enemy.  General 
Grant,  being  under  the  impression  at  least 
that  Footers  flotilla  could  not  assist  him 
immediately,  instructed  Commander  Walke 
to  proceed  without  delay  to  commence  the 
attack  on  Fort  Donelson  in  connection  with 
our  Army  before  the  enemy  could  receive 
re-enforcements  or  could  strengthen  his 
position. 

The  following  is  the  letter  referred  to, 
preceding  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson. 

FROM    COMMANDER  WALKE   TO    FLAG-OFFICER 
FOOTE. 

"  U.  S.  GUN-BOAT  '  CAROXDELET,'        I 
"  Paducah,  Feb  10th,  1862.  ) 

"  SIR:— I  received  instructions  from  General  Grant 
this  evening,  to  proceed  with  this  vessel  to  Fort 
[Donelson,  on  the  Cumberland  river,  to  co-operate 
with  our  Army  in  that  vicinity.  I  expect  to  meet 
you  before  I  reach  there.  The  'Alps  '  will  take  me  in 
tow.  I  will  call  at  this  place.  General  Grant  will 
send  the  ' Taylor,'  'Lexington,1  and  'Conestoga1 
after  me. 

"  We  heard  that  you  were  on  your  way  to  Fort 
Donelson,  but  1  hear  no  tidings  of  you  here  to 
night. 


"  The  '  Tavlor  '  has  just  returned  from  up  the 
Tennessee  River,  as  far  as  navigable.  She,  with 
the  'Lexington'  and  'Conestoga,'  destroyed  or 
captured  all  the  enemy's  boats,  broke  up  their 
camps,  and  made  a  prize  of  their  fine  new  gun-boat. 

"  I  write  this  in  anticipation  of  not  seeing  you 
before  1  leave  here,  as  I  am  (or  the  '  Carondelet ' 
is)  very  slow,  and  General  Grant  desires  that  I 
should  be  at  Fort  Donelson  as  soon  as  I  can  get 
there.  But  1  hope  you  will  overtake  me,  or  send 
me  your  orders  upon  this  occasion,  as  I  am  now 
acting  upon  your  general  instructions  repeated  at 
Fort  Henry.  I  expected  to  send  this  letter  from 
here  to-nignt,  but  am  disappointed  in  this  also. 
"  Most  respectfully  and  truly, 

"Your  ob't  servant, 

"  H.  WALKE, 
"Commander  U.  8.  N. 
"  To  Flag-officer  A.  H.  FOOTE,  U.  S.  N., 
"  Commander  U.  S.  Naval  Forces,  Western  Waters." 

This  letter  explains  the  part  taken  by  the 
"  Carondelet "  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Don 
elson.  After  the  capture  of  Fort  Henry, 
Flag-officer  Foote  was  requested  by  Gene 
rals  Halleck  and  Grant  to  co-operate  with 
the  latter  in  an  attack  on  Fort  Donelson, 
situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Cumber 
land  river,  near  the  town  of  Dover.  The 
fort  was  stronger,  both  in  natural  position 
and  artificial  defenses,  than  Fort  Henry, 
and  a  land  attack  was  more  difficult,  as 
there  were  heights  above,  below,  and  all 
around  the  works.  The  "Carondelet" 
had  the  honor  of  commencing  the  attack 
on  Fort  Donelson:  having  arrived  before 
the  fort  two  days  in  advance  of  the  other 
gun-boats,  she  fired  upon  the  enemy's  works 
on  the  morning  of  February  12th;  and  also, 
at  the  request  of  General  Grant,  made  a 
diversion  in  his  favor  on  February  13th,  as 
narrated  in  the  following  report  of  Com 
mander  Walke  to  Admiral  Foote. 

"U.   S.    GUX-BOAT    'CAROXDELET,'  ) 

"Near  Fort  Donetean,  Cumberland  River,  Feb.loth.  f 

"SIR  ;_i  arrived  here  (towed  by  the  'Alps  ')  on 
the  12th  instant,  about  11:20  A.  M.,  and  seeing  or 
hearing  nothing  of  our  Army,  I  threw  a  few  shell 
into  Fort  Donelson,  to  announce  my  arrival  to  Gen 
eral  Grant,  as  he  had  previously  requested.  I  then 
dropped  down  the  river  a  few  miles,  and  anchored 
for  the  night,  awaiting  General  Grant's  arrival. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  thirteenth,  I  weighed 
anchor,  and  came  again  to  this  place,  where  I  re 
ceived  a  dispatch  from  General  Grant,  informing 
me  that  he  had  arrived  the  day  before,  and  had 
succeeded  in  getting  in  position,  almost  entirely 
investing  the  enemy's  works. 

"  'Most  of  our  batteries'  (he  writes)  'are  estab 
lished,  and  the  remainder  soon  will  be.  If  you  will 
advance  with  your  gun-boat  at  10  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  we  will  be  ready  to  take  ad  vantage  of  any 
diversion  in  our  favor.1 

"  I  immediately  complied  with  these  instructions 
by  throwing  some  139  15-second  and  10-second  shell 
iiito  the  fort;  receiving  in  return  the  enemy's  fire 
from  all  their  batteries  ;  most  of  their  shot  passing 
over  us,  and  but  two  striking  us.  one  of  which  was 
a  128-pounder  solid  shot.  It  passed  through  our 
port  casement  forward,  and  glancing  over  our  barri 
cade  at  the  boilers,  and  again  over  the  steam-drum, 
struck,  and  burst  the  steam-heater ;  and  fell  into 
the  engine  room  without  striking  any  person,  al- 


156 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


though  the  splinters  wounded  slightly  some  half- 
dozen  of  our  crew.  I  then  dropped  down  to  this 
anchorage,  but  the  sound  of  distant  firing  being 
heard  we  again  attacked  the  fort,  throwing  in  some 
forty-five  shell,  and  receiving  little  damage. 

"  1  returned  to  this  place  to  await  further  orders, 
when  I   received  a  second  dispatch  from  General 
Grant,  stating  that  you  were  expected  on  the  fol 
lowing  morning.     I  am,  sir,  most  respectfully, 
"Your  ob't  servant, 

"H.  WALKE. 
"  Commander  U.  S.  Navy. 
"  Flag-officer  A.  H.  POOTE, 
"  Commanding  U.  S.  N.  Forces  in  Western  Waters.'"1 

In  this  engagement  the  "  Carondelet " 
commenced  firing  on  the  fort  at  a  distance 
of  a  mile  and  a  quarter,  the  enemy  replying 
immediately  as  the  vessel  advanced,  the 
attack  lasting:  from  ten  o'clock  in  the  morn- 


ble  naval  authorities.  A  few  particulars 
are  called  for  from  those  who  were  present 
on  that  occasion  to  dispel  the  idea  that  Fort 
Donelson  was  captured  by  our  fleet,  under 
Admiral  Foote,  for  in  reality  it  was  taken 
by  General  Grant,  with  the  Army. 

The  following  are  a  few  quotations  from 
reliable  correspondence  on  the  reconnois- 
sance.  A  reliable  correspondent  of  the 
Army  on  this  occasion  writes:  "According 
to  the  admission  of  the  rebel  officers  the 
casualties  from  the  attacks  by  the  '  Caron 
delet  '  were  greater  than  those  which  re 
sulted  from  the  combined  attack  of  the 
whole  fleet  the  next  day.  The  attack  of 
the  next  day  on  the  water  batteries  was 
neither  the  most  brilliant  nor  the  most  suc- 


UPPER  BATTEKY.          WATER  BATTERY.        GEN.  GRAFT'S  ARMY  ATTACKING  THE  ENEMY,  IN  THE  DISTANCE.        U.  S.  GUNBOATS. 

BATTLE  OF    FORT    DONELSON. 


ing  to  meridian,  and  being  renewed  in  the 
afternoon.  Three  of  the  enemy's  guns  were 
reported  to  be  disabled. 

Our  naval  history  is  silent  on  some  import 
ant  facts  in  its  version  of  this  event,  viz. :  that 
four  gun-boats  were  to  have  participated 
therein  to  make  it  more  effective,  and  that 
three  of  them  failed  to  obey  the  orders  of 
General  Grant  and  Commander  Walketo  ac 
company  the  "Carondelet"  on  this  recon- 
noissance;  but  it  gives  an  unfavorable  view 
of  the  '*  Carondelet  "  alone  on  this  occasion, 
especially  in  comparison  with  the  brilliant 
action,  or  "  what  was  expected  to  be  the  de 
cisive  battle,  the  next  day  : "  which  is  re 
presented  as  having  resulted  in  the  surren 
der  of  Fort  Donelson,  by  our  highest  possi- 


cessful  effort  of  the  siege.  About  the  only- 
result  was  that  a  single  gun  of  the  enemy 
was  dismounted  and  the  unequaled  fight 
ing  qualities  of  the  fleet  demonstrated.  The 
gunnery  was  generally  of  a  different  char 
acter." 

Query:  Is  it  at  all  improbable  that  the 
deliberate  firing  of  one  gun-boat  by  ex 
perienced  gunners,  with  heavy  rifled  guns 
of  long  ranges,  should  do  as  much  execu 
tion  in  six  hours,  upon  a  battery  of  twelve 
or  fifteen  guns  of  much  less  range,  than  the 
firing  of  four  such  gun-boats  with  less  ex 
perienced  crews,  upon  these  batteries  at 
close  quarters  for  one  hour  and  a  half,  at 
various  distances,  and  much  less  delibera 
tion  ? 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


157 


In  reference  to  the  reconnoissance  and 
ihe  bombardment  on  the  following  day, 
Captain  Morgan  made  the  same  state 
ment  to  the  officers  on  board  the  "  Car- 
ondelet "  011  Sunday,  the  morning  of  the 
surrender. 

NEWSPAPER  CORRESPONDENTS  ON  THE  ACTION. 

The  Missouri  Republican  of  February 
28th,  ]8G2,  has  this  report  in  its  correspon 
dence  of  the  day  before  the  battle:  "  During 
the  day  much  uneasiness  was  felt  as  to  the 
gun-boat  fleet.  It  was  therefore  with  no 
little  gratification  that  information  was  at 
last  received  about  noon  on  Thursday,  that 
the  avant  courier  of  the  fleet,  the  '  Caron 
delet,'  Commander  Walke,  had  arrived  be 
low  the  fort.  In  the  afternoon  the  report 
of  her  guns  was  received  with  cheer  upon 
cheer  by  the  troops  encircling  the  be 
leaguered  fort. 

"Commander  Walke's  operations  this 
afternoon,  although  partaking  more  of  the 
nature  of  a  reconnoissance,  were  considered 
by  the  rebel  officers,  as  I  have  since  ascer 
tained,  as  one  of  the  most  formidable  at 
tacks  they  have  had  to  encounter.  Hidden 
behind  a' jutting  promontory  of  the  river 
bank,  the  '  Carondelet,'  herself  secure  from 
all  heavy  shot  of  the  columbiads  of  the  fort, 
hurled  shell  upon  shell  into  the  water  bat 
teries  of  the  fortifications.  The  commander 
of  these  batteries  has  recently  informed  me 
that  the  fire  of  the  '  Carondelet '  did  more 
actual  damage  to  his  guns  than  the  heavy 
bombardment  of  the  following  day." 

Another  reliable  army  correspondent 
writes:  "The  rebel  officers  commanding 
the  river  batteries  also  assure  rne  that  the 
practice  of  our  gunners,  in  the  excitement 
of  the  bombardment,  was  much  inferior  to 
that  displayed  in  reconnoissance,  when  mat 
ters  were  conducted  with  more  delibera 
tion."  And  this  is  corroborated  by  the 
official  reports  in  the  Southern  press. 

The  Chicago  Times'  correspondent  re 
ports  :  "  The  '  Carondelet's '  movements  led 
to  several  skirmishes,  though  of  no  serious 
nature.  They  were  covered  by  a  gallant 
cannonade  of  the  gun-boat  '  Carondelet,' 
the  only  one  that  arrived.  Thus  single- 
handed  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
rounds  were  thrown  into  the  enemy's 
works,  and  she  was  finally  compelled  to 
withdraw,  having  received  a  shot  from  the 
enemy's  128-pounder  gun  in  her  bow.  crip 
pling  her  severely,  and  wounding  seven 
men.  She  fell  back  but  a  short  time,  to  re 
pair  damages  and  put  her  wounded  on 
board  the  transport  'Alps.'  At  1:15  P.  M., 
she  commenced  firing  again  upon  the  fort, 
and  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  until  she  had  ex 
pended  all  or  nearly  all  of  her  long-range 


shell,  when  at  dusk  she  retired  from  the 
contest,  having  annoyed  the  enemy  and  en 
couraged  our  Army." 

The  "  Carondelet "  anchored  about  three 
miles  below  the  fort,  at  about  4  in  the 
afternoon.  Admiral  Foote  arrived  at  11:30 
P.M.,  with  the  partially  iron-clad  "  St. 
Louis"  (flag  steamer,  Lieut.  Paulding), 
"Louisville"  (Commander  Dove),  and 
"  Pittsburg  "  (Lieut.  Egbt.  Thompson);  also 
the  wooden  gun-boats  "  Conestoga  "  (Lieut. 
Phelps).  and  "Taylor"  (Lieut.  G win),  and 
several  transports  with  re-enforcements  for 
General  Grant  of  8,000  men.  About  mid 
night  Captain  Walke  reported  in  person  to 
the  flag-officer. 

AFTER  THE  BATTLE  OF  FORT  DONELSON. 

Three  gun  boats  remained  until  after  the 
surrender  of  Fort  Donelson,  which  took 
place  on  Sunday,  February  16th,  when  they 
steamed  up  the  river  above  the  fort  to 
Dover.  There  our  officers  and  men  met  in 
good  cheer.  Our  usual  "'divine  service" 
was  then  performed  on  board  the  "  Caron 
delet."  as  the  most  appropriate  way  of  giv 
ing  thanks  to  God,  "  the  only  Giver  of  vic 
tory,"  and  under  such  circumstances  it 
makes  a  very  happy  impression  on  all  sin 
cere  hearts. 

The  "  Carondelet"  had  had  two  32  or  42- 
pounder  shot  in  her  bow  "between  wind 
and  water,"  and  leaked  badly;  her  hull  and 
her  crew  being  more  cut  up  and  disabled 
than  any  other  gun-boat  of  the  squadron. 
As  General  Grant  could  then  dispense  with 
her  services,  she  returned  to  Cairo  for  re 
pairs.  Arriving  there  on  the  morning  of 
the  17th,  Commander  Walke  reported  to 
the  flag-officer  the  success  of  our  arms,  and 
the  surrender  of  Fort  Donelson  to  General 
Grant.  Flag-officer  Foote  immediately  is 
sued  the  following 

CONGRATULATORY   ORDER 

"  February  17th,  1862. 

"Flag-officer  Foote,  the  Coumiander-in-ehief  of 
the  Naval  Forces  on  the  Western  waters,  while  he 
congratulates  the  survivors  of  the  distinguished 
gun-boat,  '  Carondelet '  in  the  several  actions  so 
bravely  fought,  sympathizes  with  the  wounded 
who  have  gloriously  periled  their  lives  in  honor  of 
the  Union  and  the  dear  old  flag.  He  also  sympa 
thizes  with  the  friends  of  those  gallant  dead,  who 
could  not  have  died  in  a  more  glorious  cause.  Let 
us  thank  God  from  the  heart,  and  say,  'Not  unto 
us  alone,  but  unto  Thy  Name,  O  Lord,  belongs  the 
glory  of  the  triumph  of  our  arms.' 

"[Signed]       "A.  H.  FOOTE, 

"Flag-officer." 

The  above  order  was  read  to  the  officers 
and  crew  assembled  on  board  the  "Caron 
delet,"  and  then  returned  to  the  flag-officer 
by  the  bearer,  in  compliance  with  his  ver 
bal  order. 


CH  A  PTER     XVI, 


OPERATIONS   ON   THE   MISSISSIPPI. 


OPERATIONS  AGAINST  FORT  COLUMBUS  AND  ISLAND  No.  10. — RUNNING  OF  THE  BATTERIES 
BY  THE  GUN-BOATS  '•  CARONDELET  "  AND  •' PITTSBURG." — EVACUATION  OF  BATTERIES 
ALONG  THE  TENNESSEE  SHORE  AND  SURRENDER  OF  ISLAND  No.  10. — ADVANCE  ON 
FORT  PILLOW  BY  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY.— ATTACK  ON  FORT  PILLOW. — EVACUATION  OF 
FORT  PILLOW  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES. — BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  ENEMY'S  RAMS  AND  THE 
UNION  GUN-BOATS,  &c.,  &c. 


WHEN  the  gun-boats  were  obliged 
to  drop  down  before  the  fire  of 
the  works  at  Fort  Donelson, 
Flag-officer  Foote   proceeded 
to  Cairo  to  repair  some  of  his 
vessels,  leaving  behind  him  the  iron-clads 
"  Louisville,"    Commander    B.    M.     Dove, 
"  Carondelet,"  Commander  Henry  Walke, 
and  the  "St.  Louis." 

From  all  accounts  the  "Carondelet "  seems 
to  have  suffered  more  than  any  other  vessel 
in  the  fleet,  both  in  killed  and  wounded  and 
damage  to  her  hull.  Commander  Dove,  the 
senior  officer  present,  reports  on  the  16th  of 
February  that  the  condition  of  the  "  Caron- 
delet's  "  wounded  would  not  admit  of  their 
being  moved,  or  the  guns  to  be  used,  and  it 
is  difficult  to  understand  why  a  vessel  in 
such  a  condition  should  not  have  been  sent 
to  a  dock-yard  and  her  wounded  placed  in 
the  hospital;  but  the  '•  Carondelet "  was  a 
sturdy  craft  and  was  always  found  in  the 
front  of  battle. 

Commander  Dove,  as  senior  officer,  had 
the  satisfaction  of  receiving  the  surrender 
of  Fort  Donelson.  He  says:  "  On  approach 
ing  near  enough  two  white  flags  were  seen 
flying  from  the  upper  fort.  *  *  *  I  pro 
ceeded  in  a  tug,  with  a  white  flag  flying, 
and  landed  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  below 
the  fort.  I  was  met  by  a  Major  who  handed 
me  his  sword,  which  I  declined  to  receive, 
thinking  it  proper  to  consult  with  General 
Grant.  I  took  the  Major  on  board  the  tug 
and  proceeded  up  to  General  Buckner's 
headquarters,  where  I  found  General  Wal 
lace.  General  Grant  arrived  about  half  an 


hour  after  the  fort  had  surrendered."  *  *  * 
Commander  Dove  seemed  to  have  the  proper 
idea  on  this  occasion  in  declining  to  claim 
anything,  as  the  fort  properly  fell  to  the 
Army. 

As  soon  as  Flag-officer  Foote  was  able  he 
proceeded  with  the  "•  Conestoga,"  Lieut.  - 
Com.  Phelps.  and  the  "Cairo."  Lieut. -Com. 
Bryant,  on  an  armed  reconnoissance  up  the 
river,  taking  with  him  Colonel  Webster, 
Chief  of  General  Grant's  staff,  who,  with 
Lieut. -Com.  Phelps,  took  possession  of  the 
principal  works  and  hoisted  the  Union  flag. 

Foote  had  applied  to  General  Halleck  for 
permission  to  advance  up  the  Cumberland 
on  Nashville,  and  just  as  he  was  about 
moving  for  that  point  Halleck  telegraphed 
to  Grant:  "  Don't  let  the  gun-boats  proceed 
higher  than  Clarksville,"  an  order  in  keep 
ing  with  the  ''conservative  policy"  that 
seemed  to  influence  General  Halleck  on  all 
occasions.  The  latter  seemed  to  wish  to  di 
rect  all  the  battles  himself  by  telegraph, 
and  to  give  as  little  authority  as  possible 
to  General  Grant,  who  being  on  the.  ground 
knew  the  exact  situation  of  affairs.  This 
was  certainly  not  the  way  to  conquer  such 
an  indomitable  enemy  as  that  with  which 
the  national  government  had  to  contend  ; 
but  the  gun-boats  did  finally  move  up  to 
Nashville,  with  an  army  force  in  company, 
and  took  peaceful  possession  of  the  capital 
of  Tennessee. 

Foote  finding  there  was  nothing  further 
to  be  done  on  the  Tennessee  and  Cumber 
land  Rivers,  turned  his  attention  to  Fort 
Columbus,  which  still  held  out,  though  by 


(158) 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


159 


all  the  rules  of  Jomini  it  ought  to  have  sur 
rendered  when  Donelson  fell,  the  great 
strategic  line  of  the  enemy  having  been 
broken  and  most  of  Tennessee  lying  at  the 
mercy  of  the  Federal  Army.  As  Columbus 
still  declined  to  yield.  Flag-officer  Foote.  in 
company  with  General  Cullom  of  Halleck's 
staff,  started  with  four  iron-clads,  ten  mor 
tar-boats  and  three  transports,  containing  a 
thousand  soldiers,  to  make  a  reconnoissance 
in  force.  As  the  expedition  n eared  Fort 
Columbus  it  was  met  by  a  flag  of  truce,  with 
a  message  from  General  Polk  to  the  effect 
that  he  hoped  the  courtesies  he  had  extended 
to  the  captured  Union  officers  would  be  re 
ciprocated  should  an  opportunity  occur. 

Having  accomplished  the  object  of  the 
reconnoissance.  Foote  returned  to  Cairo, 
February  23,  with  a  view  to  complete  all  the 
gun-boats  and  mortar-rafts  and  make  the 
necessary  preparations  for  the  work  re 
quired  of  him. 

In  the  meantime  the  gun-boats-  in  condi 
tion  for  service  were  busy  assisting  the 
Army  to  move  where  it  desired,  and  patrol- 
ing  the  river  and  clearing  the  flying  artillery 
from  the  banks. 

On  the  1st  of  March  Lieut. -Com.  Gwin 
learned  that  the  enemy  were  fortifying 
Pittsburg  Landing,  and"  proceeded  up  the 
river  in  the  "  Taylor,"  followed  by  the  "  Lex 
ington,''  Lieut. -Com.  James  W.  Shirk. 
When  within  1,200  yards  of  the  landing  the 
gun-boats  were  fired  on  by  the  Confederate 
batteries,  consisting  of  six  or  eight  field- 
pieces,  some  of  them  rifled,  but  did  not  no 
tice  the  attack  till  they  were  within  a  thous 
and  yards,  when  they  opened  fire  and  soon 
silenced  the  enemy. 

The  gun-boats  then  continued  on  till 
abreast  of  where  the  enemy  had  posted  his 
heaviest  batteries,  and  under  cover  of  a  fire 
of  grape  and  canister,  a  force  was  landed  in 
two  boats  from  each  of  the  vessels, including 
a  portion  of  Co.  C,  Capt.  Phillips,  and  Co.  K, 
Lieut.  Rider,  of  the  3--M  Illinois  Volunteers 
(sharpshooters).  The  boats  of  the  "  Taylor  " 
were  commanded  by  Master  J.  Goudy,  and 
those  of  the  ''Lexington''  by  Master  Mar 
tin  Dunn. 

It  was  found  on  landing  that  besides  the 
artillerists,  the  enemy  had  two  regiments 
of  infantry  and  one  of  cavalry,  and  this  lit 
tle  landing  party  held  them  in  check  until 
their  object  was  accomplished,  viz.:  to  as 
certain  the  enemy's  force  and  purpose,  and 
to  destroy  a  building  in  the  vicinity  of 
which  the  batteries  had  been  placed. 

This  little  affair  was  well  conducted,  and 
much  information  was  gathered  in  regard 
to  fortifications  being  erected  by  the  enemy. 
Lieut. -Com.  Gwin,  the  leader  of  the  ex 
pedition,  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  offi 
cers  in  the  Western  Flotilla,  and  delighted 
in  such  service,  where  the  usefulness  of 
the  gun-boats  could  be  demonstrated. 


On  board  the  "Taylor"  there  was  one 
killed  and  six  wounded,  including  Capt. 
Phillips,  of  the  Army;  on  board  the  "Lex 
ington  "  there  were  two  killed  and  two 
missing,  small  casualties  considering  the 
heavy  force  opposed  to  the  gun-boats.  The 
enemy's  loss  was  said  to  be  nine  killed  and 
upwards  of  one  hundred  wounded. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  above  affair  took 
place,  Flag-officer  Foote  sent  Lieut. -Com. 
Phelps  to  Columbus  with  a  flag  of  truce. 
As  he  drew  near  the  fort  he  saw  that  the 
Confederates  were  burning  their  winter 
quarters  and  removing  their  heavy  guns 
from  the  bluff.  Of  the  latter  two  were  cast 
in  Richmond,  and  named  respectively, 
"  Lady  Davis  "  and  "  Lady  Polk." 

In  their  hurry  to  get  away  the  Confeder 
ates  had  left  the  water  batteries  intact.  A 
large  force  of  cavalry  was  drawn  up  osten 
tatiously  on  the  bluff,  but  these  were  the 
only  troops  in  sight;  while  the  fires  burning 
in  the  town  of  Columbus  and  along  the 
river  showed  that  the  enemy  were  deter 
mined  to  destroy  everything  they  could  not 
carry  away. 

The  Confederates  often  made  a  Moscow 
of  a  town  when  forced  to  abandon  it.  which 
certainly  did  not  convince  the  wretched  in 
habitants  that  the  Confederates  were  their 
best  friends.  Indeed,  there  was  often  an 
inhumanity  in  their  proceedings  which 
added  unnecessarily  to  the  horrors  of  war. 
The  writer  knew  General  (formerly  Bishop) 
Polk  before  the  war.  He  was  a  fine  speci 
men  of  a  man,  a  kind  master  to  his  numer 
ous  slaves,  in  short,  a  Christian  gentleman. 
His  case  shows  how  the  influence  of  war 
will  demoralize  the  best  of  men. 

From  March  4th  to  the  IGth,  the  wooden 
gun-boats, ''Taylor"  and  "Lexington,"  were 
actively  employed  on  the  Tennessee  and 
Cumberland  conveying  troops — for  without 
such  assistance  the  Army  could  not  have 
moved — and  obtaining  information  of  the 
enemy's  movements. 

This  information  was  to  the  following  ef 
fect:  At  Corinth,  Mississippi,  eighteen  miles 
from  the  Tennessee  River,  the  junction  of 
the  Mobile  and.  Ohio,  and  Memphis  and 
Charleston  railroads,  there  were  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  thousand  Confederate  troops  ;  at 
Henderson  Station,  eighteen  miles  from  the 
Tennessee  River  and  thirty-five  miles  by 
rail  from  Corinth,  there  were  some  ten  or 
twelve  thousand  more,  with  daily  acces 
sions  from  Columbus  and  the  South;  at  Bear 
Creek  Bridge,  seven  miles  back  of  Eastport, 
Mississippi,  eight  or  ten  thousand  men  were 
throwing  up  fortifications:  and  at  Chicka- 
saw,  Alabama,  there  were  being  erected 
heavy  batteries,  supplied,  no  doubt,  with 
the  guns  taken  from  the  Norfolk  Navy 
Yard. 

It  was  learned  from  a  reliable  source  that 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnson  was  falling- 


160 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


back  from  Murfreesboro  on  Decatur,  Ala 
bama,  the  point  where  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad  crosses  the  Tennessee 
River  and  joins  the  railroad  leading  to  Nash 
ville;  showing  that  the  Confederates  were 
making  every  exertion  to  hold  on  to  Ten 
nessee,  which  was  to  them  the  most  impor 
tant  of  all  the  States,  except,  perhaps, 
Virginia;  since  it  was  wedged  in  between 
five  secession  States:  and  the  Confederates, 
while  they  held  it,  could  keep  the  Federal 
troops  from  advancing  South.  Should  the 
latter  obtain  possession  they  would  control 
Northern  Mississippi,  Alabama  and  Georgia, 
with  parts  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia. 
With  the  Cumberland  and  the  Tennessee 
Rivers,  and  all  the  railroads  in  the  Union 
possession,  the  rebellion  would  have  been 


COMMANDER  iAMES  W.   SHIRK. 

confined  to  the  other  States,  and  the  re 
sources  of  Tennessee  would  have  been  lost 
to  the  Confederate  cause.  It  would  have 
been  better  to  have  thrown  three  hundred 
thousand  men  at  once  into  Tennessee  and 
crushed  the  rebellion  there,  instead  of  losing 
a  greater  number  in  the  end  and  prolonging 
the  war  for  four  years. 

On  the  4th  of  March  Flag-officer  Foote 
got  under  way  from  Cairo,  and  proceeded 
down  the  river  towards  Columbus.  Besides 
the  flag-ship  "  Benton,"  there  were  the 
'  Mound  City,"  Commander  A.  H.  Kilty  ; 
"Louisville,"  Commander  B.  M.  Dove; 
"  Carondelet."  Commander  H.Walke; "  Cin 
cinnati,"  Commander  R.  N.  Stembel  ;  ''St. 
Louis,"  Lieut. -Commanding  L.  Paulding ; 
"Pittsburgh,"  Lieut. -Commanding  E. 
Thompson;  "  Lexington,"  Lieut. -Command 


ing  J.  W.  Shirk,  with  four  transports,  each 
having  five  mortar-boats  in  tow ;  also  a 
magazine  boat  and  a  provision  boat.  The 
squadron  was  accompanied  by  troops  under 
General  Buford.  in  four  steamers,  half  a 
dozen  tugs,  and  a  large  number  of  barges 
and  lighters  in  tow. 

As  this  expedition  approached  Columbus 
the  Union  flag  was  seen  floating  from  the 
ramparts.  It  had  been  taken  possession  of 
two  days  before  by  a  company  of  cavalry 
scouts  from  Paducah.  under  Col.  Haas. 

The  enemy  had  already  fortified  certain 
positions  further  South  on  the  Mississippi, 
and  had  also  re-inforced  Island  No.  10.  Gen. 
Pope,  with  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men, 
hastened  to  occupy  New  Madrid,  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  below  Island 
No.  10,  and  he  at  once  detected  the  weak 
ness  of  the  enemy's  position.  Pope  estab 
lished  a  line  of  batteries  from  New  Madrid 
to  a  point  fifteen  miles  below  Island  No. 
10,  thus  shutting  the  enemy  off  from  his 
only  source  of  supply  along  the  river  ;  for 
everywhere,  on  both  sides  of  the  river  for 
sixty  miles,  nothing  but  swamps  existed, 
through  which  provisions  could  not  be 
transported. 

Having  established  his  batteries,  it  was 
Gen.  Pope's  intention  to  cross  the  river  with 
his  army  and  attack  the  enemy's  position 
from  below,  and  to  do  this  the  aid  of  gun 
boats  was  necessary.  In  anticipation  of 
this,  the  enemy  had  erected  batteries  at 
every  point  where  they  would  be  likely  to 
do  harm  to  the  Federal  squadron. 
.  Gen.  Pope,  seeing  that  a  floating  force 
was  indispensable  to  the  success  of  his 
operations,  requested  Flag-officer  Foote  to 
send  down  a  gun-boat  past  the  enemy's 
batteries  at  night;  but  as  the  gun-boats  were 
slow-moving  machines  and  difficult  to  man 
age  in  the  strong  current  of  the  Mississippi, 
the  Flag-officer  informed  the  General  that 
he  would  send  him  two  tugs  through  a 
bayou,  and  would  endeavor  to  get  two  gun 
boats  down  to  him  in  time. 

On  the  20th  of  March  the  squadron,  with 
the  mortar  vessels,  were  lying  above 
Island  No.  10,  throwing  shells  into  the 
enemy's  batteries,  occasionally  dismount 
ing  a  gun,  but  doing  no  material  damage ; 
but  so  urgent  was  Gen.  Pope's  appeal  for 
a  gun-boat  that  Flag-officer  Foote,  for 
the  first  time,  summoned  a  council  of  his 
commanding  officers.  To  use  Foote's  own 
words.  "The  officers,  with  one  exception, 
were  decidedly  opposed  to  running  the 
blockade,  believing  it  would  be  certain 
destruction  to  all  the  vessels  that  should 
attempt  it."  There  were  six  forts,  with  over 
fifty  guns  bearing  on  the  vessels.  Foote 
does  not  mention  who  was  the  exception,  and 
who  in  this  instance  was  certainly  a  wiser 
man  than  his  brother  officers.  Running  the 
enemy's  batteries  had  not  at  that  time  been 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


much  practiced,  but  as  the  war  progressed 
it  was  found  not  to  be  a  very  dangerous 
tiling  by  night,  and  often  practicable  even 
in  the  daytime. 

Foote  on  this  occasion  remarked:  "  When 
the  object  of  running  the  blockade  is  ade 
quate  to  the  risk.  I  shall  not  hesitate  to  do 
it."  He  had  a  difficult  task  before  him  in 
assisting  Gen.  Pope  to  drive  the  enemy  from 
Island  No.  10  and  the  adjacent  heights 
along  the  Mississippi,  where  they  altogether 
are  stated  to  have  mounted  seventy  heavy 
guns,  in  addition  to  a  "' floating  battery" 
of  sixteen  guns  ;  but  making  every  allow 
ance  for  exaggeration,  there  certainly  were 
mounted  not  less  than  seventy-five  guns  in 
the  immediate  vicinity.  If  the  Union  gun 
boats  could  hold  the  river  above,  and  New 
Madrid  be  occupied  by  a  large  force  of 
troops,  with  batteries  placed  along  the  river 
below  the  enemy's  works  and  to  the  edge  of 
the  great  swamp  surrounding  them,  the  Con 
federate  garrison  would  be  hemmed  in,  and 
must  yield  when  its  supplies  gave  out. 

The  Confederate  fortifications  were  placed 
at  such  a  height  above  the  river  that  the 
fire  of  the  gun-boats  had  little  effect  on 
them.  Foote  therefore  determined  to  open 
on  the  enemy  with  his  13-inch  mortars,  from 
which  he  expected  much  better  results. 
There  is.  however,  a  great  difference  in 
using  mortars  against  forts  constructed  of 
masonry,  and  earth-works  on  high  hills. 
Now  and  then  a  gun  would  be  dismounted, 
but  it  was  immediately  replaced,  and  the 
garrison  were  well  protected  against  burst 
ing  shells.  To  attack  the  enemy  from 
above  was  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  and 
responsibility.  The  current  of  the  river 
was  not  less  than  four  miles  an  hour,  and 
the  iron-clads  were  not  able,  under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances,  to  do  much  more 
than  stem  it.  In  case  of  accident  to  ma 
chinery  they  would  drift  helplessly  under 
the  enemy's  guns.  To  fight  bow  on.  and 
depend  upon  the  stern  wheel  to  back  up 
stream  while  fighting  would  have  been 
absurd,  so  that  in  this  case  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  squadron  was  in  a  di 
lemma.  While  much  was  expected  of  him 
he  was  obliged  by  circumstances  to  observe 
a  caution  which  was  not  agreeable  to  his 
enterprising  spirit. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  March  the 
mortar-boats  were  placed  in  the  best  possi 
ble  position  and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's 
batteries,  driving  several  regiments  out  of 
the  works.  The  mortars  were  under  charge 
of  Capt.  Maynardier.  U.  S.  Army,  and  Lieut. 
J.  P.  Sanford.  IT.  S.  Navy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  gun-boats 
commenced  an  attack.  The  "Benton," 
"Cincinnati"  and  "  St..  Louis  "  were  lashed 
together,  on  account  of  the  deficient  steam 
power  of  the  ''Benton."  which  was  other 
wise  the  most  formidable  vessel  in  the 

11 


squadron.  The  fire  of  the  gun-boats  was 
not  very  effective  ;  they  were  at  a  distance 
of  nearly  two  miles  and  the  enemy's  batter 
ies,  separated  from  each  other,  presented 
but  small  targets  to  fire  at.  The  fire  was 
kept  up  from  mid-day  until  night -fall.  The 
''Benton"  was  struck  four  times,  but  the 
most  serious  disaster  was  the  bursting  of  a 
rifled  gun  on  board  the  ''  St.  Louis."  by 
which  fifteen  men  were  killed  and  wounded. 

In  the  official  records  only  three  gun 
boats  are  mentioned  as  taking  part  in  the 
engagement  of  March  17th.  whereas  the 
''Carondelet"  and  ''Mound  City  "  were  ac 
tively  engaged  on  the  west  side'of  the  river. 

Until  the  26th  of  March  these  attacks 
with  gun-boats  and  mortars  were  main 
tained  without  important  results,  as  the  en 
emy  kept  but  few  men  exposed  to  the  fire.  ^ 

At  this  time  the  squadron  at  Island  No.  i 
10  comprised  six  iron-clads,  one  wooden  ) 
gun-boat  and  sixteen  mortar-rafts,  while,  ( 
according  to  Flag-officer  Foote,  the  Con-  ( 
federates  had  thirteen  gun-boats,  besides  ) 
five  below  New  Madrid. 

Foote  soon  saw  that  it  was  a  positive  ne 
cessity  that  Gen.  Pope  should  transport  his 
troops  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  in 
order  to  turn  the  enemy's  flank;  and  the 
idea  of  running  the  blockade  having  been 
abandoned,  it  was  proposed  to  open  a  way 
through  a  bayou  which  traversed  the 
swamp  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  came  out  to  the  river  again  at  New 
Madrid. 

In  this  labor  the  Army  and  Navy  co-oper 
ated,  and  for  nineteen  days  and  nights  the 
work  of  cutting  a  canal  through  the  swamp 
was  prosecuted,  the  men  undergoing  every 
hardship  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness. 
Soldiers  and  sailors  stood  in  mud  and  water 
up  to  their  waists,  cutting  away  trees,  and 
hauling  along  the  tugs  and  transports  on 
which  Pope  depended  to  cross  his  troops 
over  the  Mississippi. 

When  these  vessels  reached  New  Madrid, 
the  soldiers  there  received  them  with  great 
enthusiasm.  '' Now,"  they  said,  "we  shall 
cvross  over  and  drive  the  Confederates  out." 
But  the  work  was  not  yet  finished  These 
unarmed  steamers  could  not  be  used  for  the 
purpose  of  transporting  troops  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy  and  the  gun-boats  he  had  impro 
vised,  and  the  question  was  again  asked  : 
"  Is  it  possible  for  any  of  our  iron-clads  to 
run  the  gauntlet  of  the  batteries?"  But  Flag- 
officer  Foote  still  hesitated  for  reasons  al 
ready  given,  and.  furthermore,  General  Hal- 
leek  had  notified  him  that  measures  had 
already  been  taken  which  would  compel  the 
enemy  to  evacuate  his  works.  If  the  gun 
boats  were  to  run  the  batteries,  Foote 
thought  it  advisable  to  diminish  the  risk  as 
much  as  possible,  and  therefore  an  expedi 
tion  was  organized  to  seize  upon  the  upper 
fort  on  Island  No.  10,  on  which  was  mounted 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


one  ten-inch  Columbiad  and  other  guns. 
The  boats  from  the  "  Benton,"  "  St.  Louis," 
''Cincinnati"  and  "Pittsburg"  carried, 
beside  their  crews,  fifty  soldiers  of  Co.  A., 
42d  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  making 
in  all  one  hundred  men,  exclusive  of  officers, 
all  under  command  of  Col.  George  W. 
Roberts  of  the  above  named  regiment. 

The  boats  surprised  the  sentinels,  who 
fired  their  muskets  and  fled.  The  garrison 
and  the  crew  of  the  Confederate  gun-boat 
"  Grampus"  were  at  once  aroused,  but  Col. 
Roberts  lost  no  time  in  landing  his  men  and 
spiking  the  battery  ;  after  which  the  party 
re-embarked  and  returned  to  the  squad 
ron.  On  this  battery  of  eleven  heavy  guns 
the  enemy  had  depended  to  sink  any  of  our 
vessels  that  might  attempt  to  run  by  their 
works. 

There  was  also  a  floating  battery  moored 


way.  She  might  have  drifted  down  the  river 
without  a  shot  being  fired  at  her,  yet  there 
was  danger  that  she  might  run  ashore  and 
be  found  at  daylight  a  fair  mark  for  the 
enemy,  or  the  pilot,  in  the  intense  dark 
ness,  might  mistake  the  channel,  or  the 
plunging  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries 
might  penetrate  the  boilers,  in  which  case  a 
horrible  fate  awaited  many  of  her  crew.  It 
Avas  the  first  venture  in  running  batteries, 
and  therefore  more  creditable  to  all  con 
cerned,  for  even  in  after  times,  when  such 
feats  became  more  common,  there  was 
always  an  element  of  uncertainty  in  the 
enterprise. 

The  "  Carondelet"  passed  the  first  bat- 
tery  unobserved,  but  at  the  second  a  sheet 
of  flame  issued  from  the  heavy  guns,  and 
the  huge  shot  ricocheted  along  the  water, 
but  did  no  harm  to  the  Union  vessel.  The 


THE  GUN-BOAT    •<  CARONDELET "   RUNNING  THE  BATTERIES  AT  ISLAND   No.   10. 


at  the  head  of  the  island  which  it  was  im 
portant  to  remove  ;  so  on  the  following  day 
the  guns  of  the  squadron  were  concentrated 
on  this  latter  obstruction  with  such  effect, 
that  the  crew  of  the  battery  cut  the  lashings 
and  drifted  from  under  fire  of  the  gun-boats 
to  take  new  position  some  distance  below. 

After  these  two  impediments  had  been 
removed  the  passage  of  the  enemy's  bat 
teries  was  considered  practicable,  and  Com. 
Walke,  of  the  "  Carondelet,"  volunteered  to 
perform  this  perilous  duty.  His  ingenuity 
and  that  of  his  officers  was  taxed  to  the  ut 
most  to  prepare  the  "  Carondelet  "  to  resist 
the  enemy's  shot.  First-Master  Hc-el  of  the 
'•  Cincinnati,"  one  of  the  best  pilots  on  the 
Mississippi,  whose  gallantry  finally  placed 
him  in  command  of  an  iron-clad,  volunteered 
to  pilot  the  vessel. 

On  the  night  of  the  4th  of  April,  in  storm 
and  darkness,  the  "  Carondelet "  got  under- 


"  Carondelet"  steamed  steadily  on  without 
noticingthese  attentions,  while  fort  after  fort 
took  up  the  fire,  until  seventy  powerful  guns 
joined  in  the  melee:  doing  no  harm,  but 
adding  to  the  grandeur  of  the  storm.  Now 
and  then  the  "Carondelet"  became  visible 
to  the  enemy  through  the  vivid  flashes  of 
lightning.  In  half  an  hour  the  vessel  was 
below  Island  No.  10  and  soon  passed  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  Confederate  batteries. 

Then  the  sound  of  minute  guns  coming 
faintly  from  below  assured  those  who  were 
waiting  anxiously  in  the  squadron  that  the 
"Carondelet"  was  safe,  and  that  General 
Pope  could  now  bid  defiance  to  the  enemy's 
gun-boats  and  cross  his  troops  to  the  other 
side  of  the  Mississippi.  Upon  this,  cheer 
after  cheer  went  up  from  the  gun-boats,  and 
made  the  Confederates  aware  that  the  time 
had  arrived  when  their  position  was  no 
longer  tenable. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


163 


That  night  the  "Carondelet"  lay  un 
scathed  just  below  New  Madrid,  and  early 
next  morning  steamed  up  to  the  landing, 
where  she  was  warmly  welcomed  by  the 
soldiers  who  had  so  long  looked  for  aid  of 
this  kind,  without  which  they  were  hopeless 
of  turning  the  enemy's  position. 

The  enemy's  gun-boats,  armed  with  long- 
range  rifles,  had  been  harrassing  Pope's 
command  from  below,  and  from  their  posi 
tion  could  do  a  great  deal  of  havoc  to  the 
light  transports  on  which  Pope  depended  to 
pass  his  troops  over  the  river.  The  enemy 
had  thirteen  gun-boats,  improvised  from 
river  steamers,  but  as  soon  as  the  "  Caron- 
delet "  appeared  they  departed  for  Memphis. 

Flag-officer  Foote,  finding  that  the  risk  of 
running  the  batteries  was  less  than  he  had 
supposed,  and  urged  by  General  Pope  to 
send  him  another  iron-clad,  dispatched  the 
"Pittsburg,"  Lieut. -Com.  Egbert  Thomp 
son,  which  vessel  ran  the  batteries  on  a 
stormy  night  under  pretty  much  the  same 
circumstances  as  the  "  Carondelet,"  and 
like  her  received  no  injury. 

As  soon  as  the  "  Pittsburgh  "  arrived  be 
low  Island  No.  10  she  was  sent  with  the 
"  Carondelet  "  to  drive  away  some  field  bat 
teries  which  the  enemy  had  placed  to  pre 
vent  the  Union  troops  crossing  the  river. 
This  was  accomplished,  and  the  enemy  see 
ing  they  could  no  longer  hold  their  works 
began  to  evacuate  them,  leaving  all  their 
guns  and  munitions  of  war  in  the  hands  of 
the  victors. 

Island  No.  10  surrendered  on  the  7th  of 
April  to  Flag-officer  Fopte  just  as  he  was 
preparing  to  attack  with  the  gun-boats 
above,  in  conjunction  with  the  forces  under 
General  Buford.  Seventeen  officers,  three 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  privates,  one  hun 
dred  sick,  and  one  hundred  men  employed 
on  the  enemy's  transports,  surrendered  to 
the  Navy  from  steamers  afloat.  Two  wharf 
boats  loaded  with  provisions  were  also  cap 
tured.  The  floating  battery  of  sixteen  guns 
and  most  of  the  gun-boats  were  sunk,  but 
were  easily  raised  again. 

The  Confederate  works  consisted  of 
eleven  forts  mounting  seventy  guns,  from 
32  to  100-pounders.  The  magazines  were 
well  supplied,  and  there  were  also  large 
quantities  of  provisions.  The  works  were 
very  strong,  and  built  with  great  skill.  Six 
thousand  prisoners  fell  into  General  Pope's 
hands. 

Commander  Walke  in  the  "  Carondelet," 
supported  by  the  '•  Pittsburgh,"  silenced  the 
heaviest  battery  below  Island  No.  10  and 
spiked  the  guns,  picking  up  a  number  of 
fine  sixty-four  pounders  left  behind  by  the 
Confederates  in  their  flight. 

The  precipitancy  with  which  the  enemy  re 
treated  when  the  gun-boats  appeared  below 
Island  No.  10,  was  astonishing.  It  was  the 
turning  point  in  the  siege,  and  to  this  Gen 


eral  Pope  had  looked  forward  from  the  time 
he  moved  his  army  to  New  Madrid. 

Foote  would  no  doubt  have  sent  the  iron 
clads  down  past  the  batteries  sooner  than 
he  did,  had  not  General  Halleck  notified  him 
of  a  plan  which  he  had  in  view  to  capture 
Island  No.  10  and  all  the  batteries  on  the 
Tennessee  shore.  The  credit,  however,  fell 
where  it  was  due,  to  Pope  and  Foote,  for 
their  harmonious  co-operation,  and  to  Com 
mander  Walke  and  Lieut. -Com.  Thompson, 
who  so  gallantly  passed  the  enemy's  bat 
teries. 

The  victory  at  Island  No.  10,  although  a 
bloodless  one,  was  as  important  as  the  bat 
tle  of  Shiloh.  It  opened  a  long  stretch  of 
the  Mississippi  River,  down  which  our 
forces  were  continually  working  their  way 
toward  the  sea.  By  this  victory  and  the 
great  battle  at  Shiloh,  was  broken  up  the 
second  line  of  defences  which  the  Confeder 
ates  had  established  from  the  Mississippi  to 
Chattanooga,  and  all  their  attempts  to  pene 
trate  the  Northern  States  in  this  direction 
were  foiled.  It  does  not  in  the  least  detract 
from  the  gallantry  of  pur  Army  to  say  that 
neither  of  these  victories  would  have  been 
won  without  the  aid  of  the  Navy.  Though 
the  latter  was  but  an  auxiliary  to  the  Army 
yet  it  was  a  most  valuable  one,  and  should 
receive  the  credit  to  which  it  is  entitled. 

In  concluding  our  account  of  the  capture 
of  Island  No.  10,  we  avail  ourselves  of  the 
opportunity  to  make  a  few  remarks  relative 
to  those  who  worked  so  faithfully  to  bring 
about  the  result.  We  have  already  stated 
that  General  Pope  considered  it  essential  to 
the  success  of  his  plans  that  at  least  two  of 
the  gun-boats  should  run  the  blockade  and 
join  him  below  Island  No.  10,  and  that  Com 
mander  Walke  volunteered  to  perform 
what  was  considered  a  v«>ry  hazardous 
duty,  and  performed  it  unflinchingly. 

It  occurs  to  the  writer  that  such  a  service 
was  worthy  a  much  warmer  eulogium  than 
Commander  Walke  received  for  his  success 
ful  conduct  of  a  perilous  undertaking;  for 
these  ''iron-clad"  gun-boats  were  really 
a  very  vulnerable  class  of  vessels,  and 
utterly  inadequate  to  resist  the  plunging 
shot  from  the  enemy's  elevated  batteries. 
A  single  shot  going  in  above  and  coming 
out  through  the  bottom  would  have  com 
pletely  crippled  a  vessel.  It  could  hardly 
be  anticipated  that  any  boat  could  pass  so 
many  heavy  works,  even  at  night  with  rain 
and  storm  to  help  her,  and  yet  receive  no 
damage,  and  it  was  the  merest  accident 
that  the  '•  Carondelet  "  was  not  struck  by 
the  enemy's  shot.  As  to  the  passage  of  the 
"  Pittsburg,"  she  was  sent  down  after  it  was 
ascertained  that  the  "  Carondelet  "  had  re 
ceived  no  damage  whatever,  and  hence  her 
commanding  officer  was  not  entitled  to 
the  same  amount  of  credit  as  Commander 
Walke. 


164 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


When  the  "  Carondelet"  did  arrive  below 
the  enemies  batteries,  her  performances  re 
dounded  greatly  to  the  credit  of  her  com 
mander  and  his  officers.  At  the  request  of 
General  Pope,  Walke  attacked  and  silenced 
every  battery  below  the  point  where  the 
Federal  troops  were  to  be  landed,  and 
spiked  the  guns  so  that  the  enemy  could  not 
return  and  use  them. 

It  would  seem  in  regard  to  these  transac 
tions  that  the  accuracy  of  official  reports 
may  be  called  in  question,  and  that  we  must 
rely  on  other  sources  than  the  published 
histories  of  the  war.  The  intention  of  the 
writer  is  to  make  as  few  digressions  in  his 
account  of  affairs  as  possible,  but  justice 
demands  that  corrections  shall  be  made,  es 
pecially  when  due  credit  has  been  hereto 
fore  withheld. 

Due  credit  in  regard  to  services  on  the 
Western  rivers  has  often  been  withheld 
from  both  Army  and  Navy,  and  this  injus 
tice  is  nowhere  more  distinctly  manifested 
than  in  the  capture  of  Island  No.  10.  and 
the  heavy  batteries  which  lined  the  Ten 
nessee  shore.  The  work  of  the  Army  was 
a  master-piece  of  strategy,  and  the  part 
played  by  the  Navy  was  scarcely  inferior. 
The  work  performed  was  indeed  creditable 
to  all  concerned. 

Farragut  maintained  that  whatever  errors 
are  made  by  contemporary  historians,  pos 
terity  will  always  give  honor  to  whom  honor 
is  due;  and  sincerely  hoping  that  such  is  the 
case,  the  writer  will  endeavor  to  do  justice 
in  these  pages. 

The  surrender  of  Island  No.  10  and  the 
adjacent  works  opened  the  Mississippi  all 
the  way  to  Fort  Pillow,  another  stronghold 
which  could  only  be  conquered  by  a  com 
bined  army  and  navy  force. 

Gen.  Pope,  with  twenty  thousand  men  in 
transports  protected  by  gun-boats,  now 
moved  towards  Fort  Pillow,  and  prepared 
to  attack  the  enemy's  works.  Five  Confed 
erate  gun-boats  were  descried  down  the 
river,  but  their  size  and  strength  could  not 
be  ascertained.  The  Confederates  had  im 
provised  a  river  flotilla,  but  nothing  could 
be  learned  concerning  it. 

Pope's  first  idea  was  to  reach  the  enemy's 
works  by  landing  five  miles  above  them, 
while  the  gun-boats  and  mortars  attacked 
them  from  the  river:  but  finding  this  plan 
impracticable,  it  was  proposed  to  cut  a 
canal,  as  was  done  at  Island  No.  10.  through 
the  Arkansas  shore  to  a  point  opposite  Fort 
Pillow,  and  thus  pass  some  of  the  gun-boats 
below  the  fortifications. 

At  this  time  Flag-officer  Foote  was  suf 
fering  from  the  effects  of  his  wound,  so 
that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  attend  to 
his  manifold  duties,  and  a  few  days  after  he 
relinquished  active  service,  never  again  to 
resume  it,  and  the  command  of  the  squad 
ron  devolved  upon  Capt.  Charles  H.  Davis. 


a  gallant  officer,  well  qualified  for  this  im 
portant  duty. 

The  sudden  withdrawal  of  Gen.  Pope 
with  nearly  all  his  force  from  before  Fort 
Pillow,  to  proceed  to  Pittsburg  Landing 
by  order  of  Gen.  Halleck,  had  quite  dis 
appointed  Foote.  He  saw  no  immediate 
prospect  of  taking  Fort  Pillow  and  did 
not  care  to  remain,  white  suffering  so 
much  from  his  wound,  merely  to  keep  up 
a  blockade.  Only  two  regiments  of  sol 
diers  under  Col.  Fisk  remained  of  all  Pope's 
army. 

Fort  Pillow  mounted  forty  guns  and  there 
were  nine  gun-  boats  below  the  fort  and  at 
Memphis.  In  addition,  at  this  time  the 
enemy  were  building  a  number  of  heavy 
gun-boats  along  the  Mississippi;  among 
them,  at  New  Orleans,  the  iron-plated 
"  Louisiana,"  of  sixteen  guns  (which  ves 
sel  figured  so  prominently  in  Farragut's 
attack  on  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip), 
and  the  ram,  '"Arkansas/' 

The  following  letter  will  throw  some  light 
on  the  siege  of  Island  No.  10,  and  give 
credit  where  it  is  justly  due  : 

SECRETARY  WELLES  TO  FLAG-OFFICER  FOOTE. 

"By  telegraph  from  NAVY  YARD,  WASHINGTON,  / 

April  10,  1862.      )" 
"To    Flag-officer    Foote,    Commanding    trim-boat 

Flotilla: 

"  A  nation's  thanks  are  due  to  you,  and  the  brave 
officers  and  men  of  the  flotilla  oh  the  Mississippi, 
whose  labor  and  gallantry  at  Island  10,  which  sur 
rendered  to  you  yesterday,  has  been  watched  with 
intense  interest.  Your  triumph  is  not  the  less  ap 
preciated  because  it  was  protracted  and  finally 
bloodless.  To  that  Being  who  has  protected  you 
through  so  many  perils,  and  carried  you  onward  to 
successive  victories,  be  praise,  for  His  continued 
goodness  to  our  country ;  and  especially  for  this 
last  great  success  of  our  arms.  Let  the  congratula 
tions  of  yourself  and  your  command  be  also  ex 
tended  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  co-operated 
with  you.  [Signed] 

"  GIDEON  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy." 

The  following  is  the  general  order  issued 
immediately  after  the  receipt  of  the  tele 
gram  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in 
answer  to  that  of  Flag-officer  Foote  : 

[General  Order,  No.  7.] 

"U.  S.  FLAG-STEAMER  'BENTON,'  \ 
ISLAND  No.  10.  April  11,  1862.  } 
"It  is  with  the  highest  gratification  that  the 
Commander-in-Chief  promulgates  to  -the  officers 
and  men  under  his  command,  comprising  the  gun 
and  mortar-boats,  ordnance-boats,  tugs,  transports, 
and  others,  as  well  as  to  General  Buford,  and  offi 
cers  and  soldiers  of  the  Army,  who  so  effectually  co 
operated  in  the  reduction  of  Island  No.  10,  the"  fol 
lowing  telegram  received  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy;  and  he  trusts  that  the  future  will  be  crowned 
with  the  same  success  to  our  arms  as  the  past  has 
been;  and  may  we  all,  in  letter  and  spirit,  as  sug 
gested  by  the  Honorable  Secretary,  render  our 
hearty  thanks  to  God  for  His  goodness  in  giving 
us  the  victory. 

"A.  H.  FOOTE,  Flag-officer." 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


105 


SECRETARY  WELLES  TO  FLAG-OFFICER  FOOTS. 

'NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  April  12,  1862. 

"  SIR: — The  Department  desires  you  to  convey  to 
Commander  Henry  Walke,  and  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  'Carondelet,' also  to  Acting  First  Mas 
ter  Hoel,  of  the  'Cincinnati,'  who  volunteered  for 
the  occasion,  its  thanks  for  the  gallant  and  success 
ful  services  rendered  in  running  the  'Carondelet' 
past  the  rebel  batteries  on  the  night  of  the4thinst. 
It  was  a  daring  and  heroic  act,  well  executed  and 
deserving  a  special  recognition.  Commendation  is 
also  to  be  extended  to  the  officers  and  crew  of  the 
•  Pittsburgh  who  in  like  manner  on  the  night  of  the 
7th  inst.  performed  a  similar  service.  These  fear 
less  acts  dismayed  the  enemy,  enabled  the  army 
under  General  Pope  to  cross  the  Mississippi,  and 
eventuated  in  the  surrender  to  yourself  of  Island 
10.  and  finally,  to  the  capture  by  General  Pope,  of 
the  forts  on  the  Tennessee  shore,  and  the  retreating 
rebels  under  General  Mackall.  I  would  also,  in  this 
connection,  render  the  acknowledgements  which 
are  justly  due  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  several 
boats,  who,  in  conjunction  with  a  detachment  of 
the  Forty-second  Illinois  regiment,  under  Colonel 
Roberts,  captured  the  first  rebel  battery  and  spiked 
the  guns  on  Island  No.  10,  on  the  night  of  the  1st 
inst.;  such  services  are  duly  appreciated  by  the  De 
partment,  which  extends  its  thanks  to  all  who  par 
ticipated- in  the  achievement. 

''  I  am  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"GIDEON  WELLES. 
"  Flag-officer  A.  H.  FOOTE, 

••  Commanding  G-un-boat  Flotilla." 

"Forwarded  with  the  order  that  this  paper, 
which  the  commander-in-chief  is  most  happy  in 
transmitting  to  the  brave  and  gallant  officers  and 
men  to  whom  it  refers, shall  be  publicly  read  on  board 
the  'Carondelet'  and 'Pittsburg,'  and  afterwards 
retained  by  Commander  Walke,  who  commanded 
with  so  much  ability  and  gallantry  (assisted  by 
First-Master  Hoel,  of  the  gun-boat  'Cincinnati'), 
below  New  Madrid,  which  enabled  the  Army  to 
cross  the  Mississippi  at  that  point,  and  to  secure, 
with  the  aid  of  the  flotilla  above,  the  possession  of 
Island  No.  10,  and  the  adjacent  batteries  on  the 
Tennessee  shore. 

"A.  H.  FOOTE,  Flag-officer. 
Commanding  Naval  Forces,  Western  Waters 
•'OFF  FORT  PILLOW,  April 22,  1862." 

ENGAGEMENT  OF  THE  "CARONDELET"  AND 
"PITTSBURG"  WITH  THE  ENEMY  IN  THE  VICIN 
ITY  OF  NEW  MADRID,  APRIL  6TH,  1862. 

"  U.  S.  Flag  Steamer  'BENTON,' 

ISLAND  No.  10,  April  11,  1862. 

"SlR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  a  report  from 
Commander  Walke,  of  the  gun-boat  '  Carondelet,' 
detailing  the  services  i-endered  by  him,  and  the 
'  Pittsburgh  Lieutenant-Commander  Thompson,  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  Madrid;  from  which  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  boats  opened  upon,  and  effectually 
silenced  and  captured  several  heavy  batteries  on 
the  Tennessee  side  of  the  river,  on  the  6th  and  7th 
instants,  without  which  destruction  it  would  have 
been  impossible  for  General  Pope  to  have  crossed 
over  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the 
Confederates  in  the  rear  at  No.  10,  while  the  gun 
and^ mortar-boats  would  make  the  attack  in  front. 

"There  has  been  an  effective  and  harmonious 
co-operation  between  the  land  and  naval  forces, 
which  has,  under  Providence,  led  to  the  glorious 
result  of  the  fall  of  this  stronghold,  No.  10,  with 
the  garrison  and  munitions  of  war,  and  I  regret  to 
see  in  the  dispatches  of  Major-General  Halleck, 
from  St.  Louis,  no  reference  is  made  to  the  capture 
of  the  forts,  and  the  continuous  shelling  of  the  gun 
and  mortar-boats,  and  the  Navy's  receiving  the  sur 
render  of  No.  10.  when,  in  reality,  it  should  be  re 
corded  as  a  historical  fact  that  both  services  equally 


contributed  to  the  victory — a  bloodless  victory — 
more  creditable  to  humanity  than  if  thousands  had 
been  slain. 

"I  also  enclose  reports  from  Lieutenants-Com 
manding  Gwiii  and  Shirk,  of  the  gun-boats  '  Tay 
lor'  and  Lexington,'  on  the  Tennessee,  giving  a 
graphic  account  of  that  great  battle,  and  the  assist 
ance  rendered  by  these  boats  near  Pittsburg;  stat 
ing  that  'when  the  left  wing  of  our  Army  was 
being  driven  into  the  river,  at  short  range,  they 
opened  fire  upon  and  silenced  the  enemy,  and,  as 
I  hear  from  many  army  officers  on  the  field,  totally 
demoralizing  his  forces,  and  driving  them  from 
their  position  in  a  perfect  rout,  in  the  space  of  ten 
minutes.' 

''These  officers  and  men,  as  well  as  those  of  Com 
mander  Walke,  and  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
'Carondelet' and 'Pittsburg,' behaved  with  a  de 
gree  of  gallantry  highly  creditable  to  themselves 
and  the  Navy. 

"  I  proceed  to-day  with  the  entire  flotilla  to  New 
Madrid,  and  leave  to-morrow  for  Fort  Pillow,  or 
the  next  point  down  the  river  which  may  attempt 
to  resist  the  raising  the  blockade. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

[Signed]         "  A.  H.  FOOTE,  Flag-officer. 
"Hon.   GIDEON  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
Washington,  D.  C." 

Flag-officer  Davis  assumed  command  of 
the  squadron  on  the  9th  of  May,  1S62,  and 
had  little  time  for  reflection  before  he  be 
came  engaged  in  active  operations.  The 
heights  of  Fort  Pillow  had  been  repeatedly 
shelled  by  the  gun-boats  and  bombarded 
by  the  mortars,  with  little  perceptible  effect 
on  the  works.  The  Confederate  gun-boats 
occasionally  showed  themselves  around  the 
bend  in  the  river,  but  on  the  first  movement 
of  the  squadron  they  would  scud  away. 
Exaggerated  reports "  were  rife  about  the 
formidable  rams  that  were  at  Memphis 
ready  to  attack  our  fleet,  among  them  the 
monster  "Louisiana,"  which  the  Confeder 
ates  boasted  could  alone  clear  out  all  the 
Union  vessels.  It  was  impossible  to  tell 
how  much  truth  there  was  in  these  reports, 
but  the  gun-boats  had  orders  to  keep  up 
steam  and  be  prepared  at  all  times  for 
battle. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  the  Union  squadron 
lay  in  two  divisions:  the  first  division  of 
these  iron-clads,  with  the  flag-ship  "  Ben- 
ton,"  moored  on  the  Tennessee  shore;  the 
second,  of  four  gun-boats,  moored  on  the 
Arkansas  shore,  with  bows  down  stream. 
At  a  little  past  seven  o'clock  A.  M., 
eight  Confederate  gun-boats,  four  of  them 
fitted  as  rams,  came  around  the  point 
above  Fort  Pillow  and  steamed  up  the 
river,  evidently  prepared  for  battle.  The 
enemy's  leading  vessel  made  directly  for 
mortar-boat  No.  1G,  which  for  the  mo 
ment  was  unprotected.  Acting-Master 
Gregory  and  his  crew  behaved  with  great 
spirit,  and  during  the  action  fired  the  mor 
tar  eleven  times  nearly  point  blank  at  the 
enemy.  The  morning  being  hazy  signals 
could  not  be  distinctly  made  out.  nor  could 
the  enemy's  vessels  approaching  be  seen  as 
well  as  was  desired.  The  "Cincinnati," 


16G 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


Com.  Stembel.  the  leading  vessel  in  the  line 
of  iron-clads,  hastened  to  the  support  of  the 
mortar-boat,  followed  immediately  by  the 
''Mound  City,"  Com.  Kilty;  and  both  were 
repeatedly  struck  by  the  Confederate  rams 
before  the  latter  we're  disabled  and  driven 
away.  The  boiler  or  steam-pipe  of  one  of 
the  leading  vessels  of  the  enemy  was  ex 
ploded  by  a  shot  from  the  flag-ship  '•  Ben- 
ton,"  Lieut. -Com.  Phelps,  and  three  of  the 
enemy's  vessels,  including  the  one  en 
countered  by  the  "Cincinnati,"  were  dis 
abled  and  drifted  down  the  river.  A  fifty- 
pound  rifle  shot  from  the  "  Carondelet " 
passed  through  the  boilers  of  another  of 
the  enemy's  vessels,  rendering  her  helpless 


ate  vessels  made  great  holes  in  the  "  Mound 
City"  and  the  "  Cincinnati,"  and  were  con 
siderably  damaged  themselves,  they  all 
succeeded  in  escaping.  The  "  Cincinnati," 
after  proceeding  some  distance  up  the  river, 
sunk  near  the  Tennessee  side.  The  "'  Cairo  " 
assisted  the  "Mound  City  "  to  the  first  isl 
and  above  the  scene  of  action,  where  she 
also  sunk. 

The  incidents  of  this  engagement  are  so 
lightly  passed  over  by  Flag-officer  Davis, 
that  it  is  difficult  to  get  much  information 
from  the  official  reports.  The  enemy's  side 
of  the  affair  can  best  be  learned  by  the  fol 
lowing  dispatch  of  the  Confederate  Com 
mander-in-chief  : 


WOUND  CITY. 


CARONDELET. 
MORTAR. 


CINCINNATI. 


VAN  DOUN. 

GEN.  PRICE. 


BRAGG. 


SUMTEU. 
LITTLE  REBEL. 


BATTLE   OF   FORT   PILLOW.     FIRST   POSITION. 


for  the  time  being.  All  these  disabled  ves 
sels  might  have  been  captured  had  there 
been  any  means  at  hand  of  towing  them  up 
stream,  but  the  motive  power  of  the  gun 
boats  was  so  limited  that  they  could  scarcely 
make  any  headway  against  the  current, 
and  they  had  to  'be  continually  on  the 
watch  to  avoid  drifting  under  the  enemy's 
batteries. 

This  was  the  first  naval  engagement  of 
the  war,  pure  and  simple,  where  the  squad 
rons  of  both  sides  were  pitted  against  each 
other.  Our  iron-clads  showed  themselves 
unsuited  in  respect  to  steam  power,  to  cope 
with  swift  river  vessels  that  could  ram  them 
and  then  escape.  Although  the  Confeder- 


"  FLAG-BOAT  '  LITTLE  REBEL,'  J 
FORT  PILLOW,  May  12, 1862.  f 
"  SIR: — I  have  the  honor  to  report  an  engagement 
with  the  Federal  gun-boats  at  Plum  Point  Bend, 
four  miles  above  this  place.  Having  previously  ar 
ranged  with  my  officers  the  order  of  attack,  our 
boats  left  their  moorings  at  6  A.  M.,  and  proceeding 
up  the  river  passed  around  a  sharp  point,  which 
soon  brought  us  in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  fleet, 
numbering  eight  gun-boats  and  twelve  mortars. 
The  Federal  gun-boat  '  Carondelet '  ['  Cincinnati '] 
was  lying  nearest  us,  guarding  a  mortar-boat  that 
was  shelling  the  fort.  The  'General  Bragg,'  Cap 
tain  Leonard,  dashed  at  her,  she  firing  her  heavy 
guns  and  retreating  towards  a  bar  where  the  depth 
of  water  would  not  be  sufficient  for  our  boats  to 
follow.  The  'Bragg'  continued  boldly  on  under 
fire  of  nearly  their  whole  fleet,  and  struck  her  a 
blow  that  stopped  her  further  flight.  The  '  Bragg ' 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


1G7 


rounded  to  down  the  river  under  a  broadside  fire, 
and  drifted  until  her  tiller  rope,  that  had  got  out  of 
order,  could  be  re-adjusted. 

"A  few  moments  after  the  '  Bragg  '  struck  her 
blow,  the  ' General  Sterling:  Price,'  First-officer  J. 
E.  Hart  home,  ran  into  the  same  boat  aft,  a  little 
starboard  of  her  amidships,  carrying  away  her 
rudder,  sternpost  and  a  large  piece  of  her  "stern. 
This  threw  the  'Cincinnati's'  stern  towards  the 
'Sumter,'  Captain  M.  W.  Lamb,  which  struck  her 
running  at  the  utmost  speed  of  his  boat. 

"The  '(ieneral  Earl  Van  Dorn/Capt.  Folkerson, 
running  according  to  orders  in  the  rear  of  the 
'  Price'  and  '  Sumter,'  directed  his  attention  to  the 
'  Mound  City,'  at  the  time  throwing  broadsides  into 
the  '  Price  '  and  '  Sumter ' ;  and,  as  she  proceeded, 
by  skilful  shots  from  her  32-pounder  silenced  a 
mortar-boat  that  was  filling  the  air  with  its  terrible 
missiles;  the  'Van  Dorn'  still  holding  011  to  the 
'Mound  City.'  In  the  act  of  striking,  the  '  Mound 
City '  sheered  and  the  '  Van  Dorn '  struck  her  a 
glancing  blow,  making  a  hole  four  feet  deep  in  her 
starboard  forward  quarter,  evidenced  by  the  splin 
ters  left  on  the  iron  bow  of  the  '  Van  Dorn.' 

"At  this  juncture,  the  'Van  Dorn'  was  above 
four  of  the  Federal  boats,  as  the  remaining  boats, 
'General  Jeff  Thompson'  and  'Colonel  Lovell,' 
Capt.  Hart,  were  entering  boldly  into  the  contest 
in  the  prescribed  order.  I  perceived  from  the  flag- 
boat  that  the  Federal  vessels  were  taking  positions 
where  the  water  was  too  shallow  for  our  boats  to 
get  at  them,  and  as  our  cannon  were  far  inferior 
both  in  number  and  si/e,  I  signalled  our  boats  to 
fall  back,  which  was  accomplished  with  a  coolness 
which  deserves  the  highest  commendation. 

"I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  while  exposed 
at  close  quarters  to  a  most  terrible  fire  for  thirty 
minutes,  our  boats,  though  struck  repeatedly,  sus 
tained  no  serious  injuries. 

"General  Jeff  Thompson  was  on  board  the  'Gen 
eral  Bragg,'  his  officers  and  men  were  divided 
among  the  boats.  They  were  all  at  their  posts 
ready  to  do  good  service  should  the  occasion 
offer. 

"  To  my  officers  and  men  I  am  highly  indebted 
for  their  courage  and  promptness  in  executing  all 
orders. 

"  On  the  llth  instant,  I  went  in  the  '  Little  Rebel ' 
in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  fleet,  and  saw  the  '  Car- 
ondelet '  ['  Cincinnati ']  sunk  near  the  shore,  and 
the  *  Mound  City  '  sunk  on  the  bar. 

"The  position  occupied  by  the  enemy's  gun 
boats  above  Fort  Pillow,  offers  more  obstacles  to 
our  mode  of  attack  than  any  between  Cairo  and 
New  Orleans,  but  of  this  you  may  rest  assured  that 
they  will  never  penetrate  further  down  the  Mis 
sissippi  River. 

"Our  casualties  were  two  killed  and  one  wounded. 
"  [Signed.]  J.  E.  MONTGOMERY, 

"Senior  Captain  Commanding, 

"River  Defence  Fleet." 

On  the  Federal  side  there  were  only  four 
wounded,  Commander  Stembel  seriously, 
Fourth -Master  Reynolds  and  two  seamen 
slightly.  This  was  a  small  list  of  casualties 
for  such  a  desperate  brush,  and  would  seem 
to  indicate  rather  indifferent  gunnery  prac 
tice  on  the  part  of  the  Federals,  who.  with 
their  heavy  ordnance,  ought  to  have  swept 
the  enemy  from  the  face  of  the  water,  as 
his  vessels  were  of  wood  and  lightly  built. 


The  attack  on  the  Federal  vessels  was, 
however,  by  a  new  method  ;  for  this  was 
the  first  time  ramming  had  been  practiced 
on  this  river  during  the  war,  and  the  "  Cin 
cinnati"  and  ''Mound  City"  had  been  put 
hors  de  combat  almost  at  the  beginning  of 
the  action. 

The  Confederate  Commander-in-chief 
was  not  accustomed  to  command  vessels  en 
masse  and  does  not  seem  to  have  under 
stood  the  necessity  of  concert  of  action. 
Each  Confederate  vessel  seems  to  have  been 
fighting  on  her  "own  hook."  There  is  no 
doubt  they  received  more  damage  than  they 
were  willing  to  admit. 

All  their  damages  were,  however,  quickly 
repaired  at  Memphis,  where  they  had  a 
good  navy  yard  with  all  the  necessary  ap 
pliances. 

It  appears  evident  that  our  gun-boats  did 
not  altogether  act  in  concert,  probably  ow 
ing  to  their  want  of  speed,  In  the  case 
of  the  flag-ship,  her  deficiency  in  speed 
kept  her  behind  the  rest,  but  when  she  did 
join  the  battle,  her  heavy  guns  told  on  the 
enemy  and  everything  gave  way  before 
her. 

It  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  give  a  correct 
account  of  this  engagement,  owing  to  the 
many  conflicting  versions  which  were  pub 
lished  in  the  West  at  the  time,  out  we  know 
enough  to  be  satisfied  that  victory  remained 
with  the  Federal  squadron. 

The  report  of  Flag-officer  Davis  was  of 
course  intended  to  represent  the  true  posi 
tion  of  the  vessels,  but  he  was  new  to  the 
command,  and  the  iron-clads  smaller  than 
the  "  Benton  "  were  so  much  alike,  that  any 
one  was  liable  to  mistake  one  for  the  other 
at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  and  give  another 
vessel  credit  for  work  done  by  her  consort. 
On  this  occasion  if  reports  were  made  to 
the  Commander-in-chief,  they  were  not 
published  in  the  annual  report  of  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy;  but  notwithstanding 
the  conflicting  statements,  it  appears  certain 
that  every  officer  and  man  on  board  the 
Union  gun-boats  did  their  duty,  and  drove 
off  a  fearless  and  enterprising  enemy,  who 
had  a  flotilla  well  equipped  for  the  purpose 
intended. 

Flag-officer  Davis  had  the  satisfaction 
of  winning  the  first  naval  squadron  fight, 
and  certainly  deserved  the  thanks  of  the 
Navy  Department  for  himself,  his  gallant 
officers  and  crew;  especially  since  all  in  the 
squadron  had  shown  such  courage  and 
energy,  ever  since  the  day  when  Foote 
first  left  Cairo  with  the  gun-boats  and 
mortars. 


CHAPTER     XVII. 


EVACUATION  OF  FORT  PILLOW  AND  BATTLE  OF  MEMPHIS. 

BOMBARDMENT  AND  EVACUATION  OF  FORT  PILLOW.— COL.  ELLET'S  RAM  FLOTILLA.— 
CAPTURE  OF  A  CONFEDERATE  TRANSPORT. — THE  VESSELS  COMPOSING  THE  CONFEDERATE 
FLEET. — BATTLE  OF  MEMPHIS. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  CITY. — DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CONFED 
ERATE  FLEET. — A  BRILLIANT  VICTORY. — NOBLE  ACTION  OF  THE  COMMANDER  OF  THE 
"MONARCH." — CAPTURE  OF  FORTS  UP  THE  WHITE  RIVER.— EXPLOSION  OF  THE  STEAM 
CHEST  OF  THE  "  MOUND  CITY."— VALUABLE  LIVES  LOST.— SAVING  THE  CREWS  OF  THE 
CONFEDERATE  VESSELS. — CONFEDERATE  ACCOUNTS. 


AFTER  this  river  battle,  Flag-officer 
Davis  commenced  a   heavy   and 
continuous  bombardment  of  Fort 
Pillow,  which  lasted  up  to  the  4th 
of    June,    and    gave  the    enemy 
great  annoyance,  although  he  continued  to 
reply  with  a  constant  and  well-directed  fire. 
But  the  Confederate  guns  were  defective, 
and  their  shell  often  exploded  before  reach 
ing  the  point  intended  to  be  struck. 

Davis  determined  to  have  no  more  sur 
prises,  and  two  of  the  gun-boats  were  de 
tailed  to  guard  the  mortar-rafts  until  even 
ing,  when  they  were  towed  to  a  position 
where  the}'  would  be  under  the  protection 
of  the  fleet  until  morning. 

The  constant  explosion  of  the  bombs  in 
the  fort  or  in  the  air.  by  which  numbers  of 
the  garrison  were  killed,  had  its  effect  at 
last.  The  enemy  saw  that  it  was  now  only 
a  matter  of  time,  and  that  the  Union  forced 
must  win  in  the  end.  The  Confederate 
troops  at  luka,  Corinth  and  other  places  in 
West  Tennessee,  were  being  gradually 
driven  back,  and  once  more  the  base  of 
operations  was  to  undergo  a  change  in 
obedience  to  the  law  of  strategy. 

Fort  Pillow  had  to  be  evacuated,  and 
when  the  Confederates  did  evacuate  a  posi 
tion  they  generally  did  so  with  an  unac 
countable  haste.  In  this  case  they  may 
have  heard  that  an  army  was  marching  on 
them  from  the  rear,  or  "that  Pope  was  re 
turning  with  a  great  force  from  Pitts  burg 
Landing.  Whatever  it  was,  something  had 
a  very  demoralizing  effect  upon  the  garri 


son,  and  the  guns  of  the  fort  were  no  longer 
well  aimed  or  rapidly  fired. 

On  the  night  of  June  4th,  a  great  many 
explosions  were  heard  in  the  fort,  which 
indicated  to  the  officers  of  the  fleet  that  the 
enemy  was  preparing  to  evacuate.  The 
Flag-officer  011  receiving  this  intelligence, 
gave  orders  for  the  gun-boats  to  get  under 
way  at  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  June 
5th,  and  to  move  down  the  river  in  the  fol 
lowing  order:  "  Benton."  "Mound  City," 
"Louisville."'  "  Carondelet,"  "  Cairo,"  and 
"St.  Louis/'  (The  "  Mound  City  "  had  been 
fished  up  out  of  the  river  and  repaired,  but 
the  "Cincinnati"  was  still  at  Cairo.) 

Since  the  battle  with  the  Confederate  rams 
a  new  organization  had  been  added  to  the 
Union  fleet  in  the  shape  of  a  ram  flotilla. com 
manded  by  a  very  gallant  man,  Col.  Charles 
Ellet,  of  the  U.  S.  Army.  These  vessels 
were  simply  ordinary  river  steamers  con 
verted  into  rams,  though  not  in  a  very 
effective  manner.  They  had  been  strength 
ened  with  timber  and  had  the  boilers  par 
tially  protected  from  shot,  but  they  were  not 
nearly  so  well  designed  as  the  Confederate 
rams.  They  were  named  the  "  Monarch," 
"  Queen  of  the  West,"  "Switzerland"  and 
"Lancaster,"  all  commanded  by  an  Ellet, 
brother,  son,  or  nephew,  all  gallant  men. 
and  ready  for  any  enterprise. 

The  Flag-officer  assigned  a  proper  posi 
tion  to  Col.  Ellet,  and  the  combined  fleet 
proceeded  down  the  river  to  Fort  Pillow, 
which  they  found  to  be  abandoned. 

Capt.  Davis  sent  for  Col.  Fitch  U.  S.  A. 


(168) 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


169 


and  turned  over  the  fort  to  him.  This  officer 
brought  a  detachment  of  his  troops  over 
in  a  transport  without  delay,  and  the 
American  flag  was  soon  floating  over  this 
stronghold,  which  at  one  time  seemed  able 
to  defy  all  the  gun-boats  and  armies  of  the 
Republic. 

Large  army  spoils  were  captured,  and 
many  heavy  guns  (40  at  least);  for  although 
the  Confederates  had  set  fire  to  the  works, 
thev  had  neglected  to  make  the  destruction 


At  8  P.  M.  the  fleet  anchored  at  the  lower 
end  of  Island  No.  45,  a  mile  and  a  half 
above  the  City  of  Memphis.  The  mortar- 
boats,  tow-boats,  ordnance  and  commissary 
vessels,  anchored  for  the  night  at  Island  44. 

At  daylight  the  enemy's  fleet  of  rams 
and  gun-boats,  now  numbering  eight  ves 
sels,  was  discovered  lying  at  the  levee  at 
Memphis.  They  dropped  below  Railroad 
Point,  and  returning  again  arranged  them 
selves  below  the  city. 


r   \ 


REAR-ADMIRAL    CHAS.    H.    DAVIS. 


complete  and  retired  with  their  usual  pre 
cipitancy. 

At  noon  the  fleet  again  steamed  down 
the  river,  leaving  the  "Pittsburg"  and 
"Mound  City"  to  co-operate  with  the  Army. 

At  a  bend  in  the  river  on  the  way  down, 
a  Confederate  transport  came  in  sight  of 
the  fleet,  but  turned  and  attempted  to 
escape.  She  was  captured  by  a  fast  tug, 
with  a  body  of  armed  men.  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Joshua  Bishop:  she  proved 
to  be  a  valuable  prize. 


At  4.20  the  Union  flotilla  got  under  way 
in  the  following  order  :  Flagship  "  Benton." 
Lieut. -Com.  Phelps;  "  Louisville."  Com.  B. 
M.  Dove;  "  Carondelet."  Com.  H.  Walke; 
"Cairo/'  Lieut.-Com.  N.  E.  Bryant;  "St. 
Louis."  Lieut.-Com.  Nelson  McGunnegle. 

They  dropped  down  the  river  according 
to  signal,  and  prepared  for  battle.  The 
Confederate  gun-boats  opened  fire  upon  pur 
fleet  as  it  moved  down,  with  the  seeming 
intention  of  having  the  city  injured  by  the 
return  fire:  but  due  care  was  taken  in  re- 


IN 


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(170) 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


171 


gard  to  this  matter,  and  shot  and  shell  were 
sent  among  the  Confederates  with  good 
effect. 

At  this  moment  the  ram  fleet  was  several 
miles  up  the  river,  though  coming  down 
rapidly,  and  it  was  necessary  for  our  gun 
boats  to  maneuver  so  as  to  enable  it  to 
overtake  them. 

The  Confederate  vessels  (still  under  the 
command  of  Montgomery)  were  the  rams 
"  General  Van  Dorn,"  "General  Price,'' 
" General  Lovell,"  "General  Beauregard" 
and  "General  Jeff  Thompson."  mounting 
each  four  heavy  guns;  the  "  General  Bragg  " 
and  "General  Sumter."  mounting  three 
guns,  and  the  "  Little  Rebel,''  mounting  two 
guns. 

When  the  battle  had  fairly  commenced, 
two  of  the  army  rams,  the  "Queen  of  the 
West."  Col.  Charles  Ellet,  and  the  "  Mon 
arch."  Lieut. -Col.  Ellet  (a  younger  brother), 
dashed  fearlessly  ahead  of  the  gunboats  and 
ran  for  the  enemy's  fleet.  At  the  first  en 
counter  they  sank  one  and  disabled  another 
of  the  Confederates,  who  were  taken  greatly 
by  surprise,  as  they  did  not  know  that  we 
had  any  rams,  but  took  them  for  transports. 

The  rams  were  closely  followed  by  the 
Union  gun-boats  in  order  of  battle,  under 
the  lead  of  Flag-officer  Davis,  and  opened 
a  vigorous  fire  which  was  kept  up  until  the 
end  of  the  battle. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  attack  by  the  Union 
rams,  the  enemy  had  kept  up  a  spirited  and 
rapid  fire,  but  as  the  vessels  closed  it  be 
came  necessary  for  the  gunners  on  both 
sides  to  exercise  more  care. 

The  "Queen  of  the  West"  being  in  ad 
vance  of  the  "  Monarch,"  was  now  badly 
rammed  by  the  "  Beauregard,"  which  ves 
sel,  in  company  with  the  "General  Price," 
then  made  a  dash  at  the  "  Monarch  "  as  she 
approached  them,  but  missed  their  mark 
and  crashed  together,  the  "Beauregard" 
cutting  the  "Price"  down  to  the  water  line 
and  tearing  off  her  port  wheel.  The  "  Mon 
arch"  then  rammed  the  "  Beauregard. "and 
she  quickly  sank  in  the  river  opposite  Mem 
phis,  being  struck  at  the  same  time  in  the 
boilers  by  a  shell  from  an  iron-clad. 

The  "General Lovell "  having  been  struck 
by  the  "  Queen  of  the  West,"  or  the  "Mon 
arch  "  (as  the  latter  claims),  went  to  the 
bottom  so  suddenly  as  to  take  a  number  of 
her  officers  and  crew  down  with  her.  The 
"General  Price,"  "Queen  of  the  West" 
and  "  Little  Rebel"  being  disabled  (the  lat 
ter  by  a  shot  through  her  steam-chest), 
were  run  ashore  on  the  Arkansas  side  of  the 
river  to  prevent  their  sinking.  By  this 
time  the  best  part  of  the  Confederate  rams 
and  gun-boats  had  been  disabled  and  the 
fight  now  became  a  running  one.  The  ram 
"  Van  Dorn  "  escaped  down  the  river  and 
was  pursued  by  the  "Switzerland"  and 
"  Monarch,"  but  not  overtaken.  The  "Jeff 


Thompson  "  was  set  on  fire  by  the  shells 
from  the  iron-dads,  and  ran  into  the  right 
bank  of  the  river,  where  she  burnt  to  the 
water's  edge,  and  finally  blew  up.  The 
"  Sumter  "  and  '  Bragg "  were  somewhat 
cut  up,  but  did  not  sink,  and  thus  of  all  the 
Confederate  fleet,  the  "Van  Dorn"  alone 
escaped. 

The  commander  of  the  "  Monarch,"  after 
disabling  the  "Beauregard"  and  putting 
her  in  a  sinking  condition,  towed  her  into 
shoal  water  and  saved  her  crew.  This  was 
a  noble  action,  as  enemies  in  combat  do  not 
often  stop  to  save  sinking  ships  that  have 
been  firing  into  them.  But  this  was  not  the 
only  instance  where  humanity  was  shown 
during  this  battle  :  when  it  was  known  in 
the  fleet  that  some  of  the  enemy's  vessels 
were  sinking,  and  a  cry  came  up  for  help, 
the  flagship  "Benton"  lowered  her  boats 
and  sent  her  officers  and  men  to  the  rescue 
of  their  bitter  foes.  So  eager  was  the  rush 
to  undertake  this  duty  that  the  first  boat 
was  swamped. 

How  glorious  was  this  conduct  when 
compared  with  the  treatment  which  the 
sailors  of  the  "Cumberland"  and  "Con 
gress"  received  at  Hampton  Roads,  when 
they  were  struggling  in  the  water  and  sub 
jected  to  a  murderous  fire  from  the  guns 
of  the  victorious  "Merrimac."  At  Hamp 
ton  Roads  the  cry  was  "  Death  to  the  Fed 
erals  !"  At  Memphis  it  was  "Help  for  the 
drowning  Confederates  !" 

The  battle  had  carried  most  of  the  Union 
vessels  ten  miles  below  Memphis,  and  they 
now  found  themselves  to  have  been  suc 
cessful  beyond  all  hopes.  The  enemy  was 
completely  swept  away,  as  if  his  vessels  had 
been  made  of  paper — a  result  which  our 
officers  had  hardly  expected  since  the  gal 
lant  action  at  Plum  Point,  in  which  these 
same  vessels,  under  Montgomery,  proved 
such  formidable  foes. 

Rear-Admiral  Davis  had  no  military  au 
thority  over  the  ram  fleet.  He  could  only 
request  co-operation, which  the  Commander, 
Col.  Ellet,  was  eager  to  give.  The  latter 
fought  well,  but  unfortunately  his  vessels 
did  not  keep  together  and  therefore  did  not 
accomplish  as  much  as  they  would  have 
done  by  a  combined  attack.  Three  of  the 
rams  did  not  get  into  action  until  after  the 
"  Queen  of  the  West "  and  "  Monarch  "  had 
made  their  charge  upon  the  enemy.  Had 
they  made  a  rush  at  the  same  time,  it  is 
probable  that  five  of  the  enemy's  vessels 
would  have  been  sunk,  and  not  even  the 
"Van  Dorn"  would  have  escaped.  How 
ever,  as  matters  turned  out,  it  was  a  bril 
liant  victory,  and  the  Union  commander 
had  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  it. 

The  Confederates  fought  with  a  coolness 
and  energy  that  entitled  them  to  the  great 
est  credit,  and  although  the  "Van  Dorn" 
escaped,  it  was  only  after  the  commander 


172 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


saw  that  he  could  be  of  no  further  use  to 
his  friends. 

Capt.  Maynardier,  who  commanded  the 
mortar  batteries,  accompanied  the  fleet  in 
a  tug  and  rendered  good  service.  When 
the  "  Beauregard  "  was  disabled  he  steamed 
alongside  of  her  and  made  her  crew  prison 
ers — he  also  received  many  persons  of  the 
Confederate  fleet,  who  returned  and  de 
livered  themselves  up  after  their  vessels  had 
been  deserted.  Rear-Admiral  Davis  says: 
"It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  call  the  attention 
of  the  Department  to  his  personal  zeal  and 
activity,  the  more  conspicuous  because  dis 
played  while  the  mortar-boats  under  his 
command  could  take  no  part  in  the  action." 

Two  of  the  enemy's  rams,  the    "Price" 


slow  moving  and  awkward  iron-clads  off 
the  face  of  the  river.  Who  can  tell  what 
they  felt  when  they  saw  the  Confederate 
fleet  sunk,  blown  up,  or  burnt — for  it  was  an 
awful  sight  to  see  a  ship  going  down  in  an 
instant  with  all  on  board,  not  even  her 
masts  appearing  above  the  deep  waters  of 
the  Mississippi.  Can  any  one  who  wit 
nessed  the  battle  ever  forget  the  heart-rend 
ing  shrieks  of  drowning  men  as  the 
waters  closed  over  their  heads,  or  the 
sounds  of  woe  that  went  up  from  relatives 
and  friends  upon  the  river  bank  who  wit 
nessed  the  appalling  scene  ! 

The  "Lovell"was  the  first  vessel  that 
went  to  the  bottom,  giving  the  spectators 
a  fair  idea  of  what  would  be  the  fate  of  all 


PRICE. 


QUEEN.    MONARCH. 
LITTLE  REBEL. 


VAN  DOBN. 


JEFF.  THOMPSON. 


BRAGG. 


SUMTER. 


LOUISVILLE.  CAIRO.    ST.  Louis.  BENTON.  CAISONDELET. 
BEAUREGABD.  LOVELL. 


BATTLE    OF    MEMPHIS,    ENEMY    RETREATING.— (DRAWN   BY   REAR-ADMIRAL   TVALKE.) 


and  the  "  Bragg, v  were  sea-going  vessels. 
strongly  built  and  heavily  armed,  each  of 
them  being  superior  to  any  in  Ellet's  fleet. 
No  doubt  the  enemy  calculated  a  great  deal 
on  them.  They  were  saved  and  refitted, 
and  afterwards  formed  part  of  the  Union 
fleet  in  Western  waters.  The  "  Sumter" 
and  "  Little  Rebel "  were  also  saved  and 
made  use  of,  but  all  the  rest  were  destroyed 
by  sinking  or  blowing  up. 

To  those  who  stood  on  the  river  bank  at 
Memphis,  this  battle  must  have  appeared 
like  a  horrid  dream,  so  different  was  the 
result  from  what  they  had  anticipated. 
Here  were  assembled  tlie  relatives  of  those 
who  manned  the  powerful  and  swift  ves 
sels,  which  were  fully  expected  to  wipe  the 


the  rest.  Many  human  beings  were  buffet 
ing  the  waves  while  the  battle  was  going 
on,  and  the  cry  for  help  arose  above  the 
sounds  of  conflict.  No  aid  could  reach 
them  from  the  shore,  and  their  friends 
clasped  their  hands  over  their  faces  to  shut 
out  the  agonizing  sight. 

But  even  in  the  excitement  of  battle,  hu 
manity  was  uppermost  in  the  hearts  of  our 
brave  western  sailors  :  boats  were  lowered 
with  that  rapidity  which  can  only  be  seen 
on  board  a  vessel-of-war,  and  the  sinking 
wretches,  who  a  moment  before  had  given 
up  all  hope,  were  rescued  and  taken  to  a 
place  of  safety. 

The  "' Monarch,"  even  before  the  battle 
ended,  towed  the  "Beauregard"  on  to 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


173 


a  shoal,  while  Capt.  Pike,  of  the  Ordnance 
department,  went  along-side  and  helped  the 
wounded  into  his  tug.  Bright,  amid  all  the 
horrors  of  that  day,  will  shine  these  deeds 
of  humanity,  and  our  sailors  may  feel  a 
more  glorious  pride  in  having  saved  their 
helpless  enemies  than  in  having  conquered 
them. 

The  capture  of  Memphis  was  a  terrible 
blow  to  the  South,  for  this  city  had  been  of 
great  use  to  the  Confederacy  as  a  base  of 
supplies  for  their  armies  in  Tennessee,  which 
supplies  we  had  not  up  to  this  time  been  able 
to  intercept.  This  naval  success  opened  the 
river  all  the  way  down  to  Vicksburg,  and 
three  other  depots  of  supplies  were  soon  to 
fall  into  our  hands,  when  our  fleet  penetrated 
the  Yazoo  River  in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's 
country. 

For  the  second  time  Rear  Admiral  Davis 
won  a  strictly  naval  victory,  and  won  it 
without  a  single  mistake.  He  was  no  doubt 
much  assisted  by  the  two  rams.  "  Queen  of 
the  West  "  and  *'  Monarch, "  which  by  their 
gallant  and  unexpected  attack  did  so  much 
to  demoralize  the  enemy. 

The  Confederate  account  of  this  battle 
differs  very  little  from  the  Union  one,  the 
only  exception  being  in  the  case  of  the 
''General  Lovell,"  which  vessel,  they  say, 
was  sunk  by  a  shot  from  the  fleet,  and  not 
by  being  rammed  by  the  "Queen  of  the 
West."  The  Confederates  ought  to  know 
which  is  the  correct  version. 

Rear-Admiral  Davis,  in  his  report,  makes 
no  distinction  among  his  officers.  He 
simply  says,  "  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
flotilla  performed  their  duty."  The  proof 
of  the  manner  in  which  it  was  performed 
was  the  total  annihilation  of  the  enemy's 
forces. 

Take  the  battle,  together  with  its  results, 
it  was  one  of  the  handsomest  achievements 
of  the  war,  but  it  did  not  receive  that  gen 
eral  notice  which  it  deserved. 

If  Mr.  Secretary  Welles,  who  was  lib 
eral  with  his  eulogistic  letters  to  those 
whom  he  approved  of,  ever  congratu 
lated  Rear- Admiral  Davis  and  his  offi 
cers  for  their  brilliant  success,  it  nowhere 
appears  in  the  Secretary's  Report  for  1862. 
But  history  will  eventually  give  due  credit 
to  all  the  brave  men  who  served  their  country 
faithfully  in  the  time  of  her  greatest  need. 
The  prejudices  and  jealousies  of  the  times 
will  have  passed  away,  and  the  truthful 
historian  who  takes  time  to  examine  the 
records  carefully,  will  give  to  each  his 
proper  place,  and  render  justice  to  those 
who  have  not  yet  received  it.  The  writer 
of  this  work  regrets  that  his  space  is  so 
limited  that  he  can  only  do  partial  justice 
to  the  scenes  enacted  in  the  war. 

In  the  battle  just  described,  there  were 
only  three  men  wounded  and  one  killed  in 
the  Union  fleet,  and  only  one  vessel  was 


struck  by  the  enemy's  shot — which  looks 
like  a  cheap  victory;  yet  it  was  none  the 
less  important.  The  city  of  Memphis  was 
surrendered  that  day  to  the  Army  and 
Navy,  and  garrisoned  at  once  by  the  In 
diana  Brigade  under  Colonel  Fitch. 

A  great  deal  of  property  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Federal  troops,  who  kept  pos 
session  of  the  place  until  the  end  of  the 
war.  and  soon  converted  it  into  a  loyal 
city. 

The  Confederates  had  now  to  seek  a  new 
strategic  line  of  defence  :  they  established 
their  fifth  Gibraltar  at  Vicksburg.  where 
the  gunboats  will  catch  up  with  them  after 
a  while. 

EXPEDITION  AGAINST  ST.  CHARLES,  ON  THE 
WHITE  RIVER. 

On  June  16th,  1862,  Rear- Admiral  Davis 
sent  an  expedition  up  the  White  River  to 
destroy  some  batteries  located  at  St. 
Charles.  The  expedition  was  under  the 
charge  of  Com.  Kilty,  and  was  composed 
of  the  gun-boats  "Mound  City,"  "  St. 
Louis,"  "Lexington/'  and  "Conestoga," 
and  several  transports  with  troops  under 
Col.  Fitch,  U.  S.  A. 

The  Confederates  had  mounted  batteries 
at  this  point  and  had  obstructed  the  river 
with  piles  and  sunken  vessels. 

On  June  17th,  Com.  Kilty  reconnoitered 
the  place  in  a  tug,  and  having  gained  the 
desired  information,  at  six  o'clock  next 
morning  the  gunboats  got  under  way  in 
the  following  order:  "Mound  City,"  "St. 
Louis,"  "Lexington,"  "  Conestoga,"  and 
opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  works. 

The  "Mound  City"  had  advanced  to 
within  600  yards  of  the  forts,  when  a  well- 
directed  shell  penetrated  her  port  casemate, 
killing  three  men  and  exploding  in  the 
steam-chest.  The  ship  was  instantly  filled 
with  scalding  steam,  and  many  of  the  crew 
jumped  overboard  in  their  agony.  All  boats 
were  manned  and  sent  to  pick  up  these 
men,  and  as  the  ship  was  disabled  she  was 
towed  out  of  action  by  the  "  Conestoga." 

The  "St.  Louis."  Lieut.-Com.  McGun- 
negle,  moved  close  up  to  the  forts  and  con 
tinued  to  pour  in  shot  and  shell,  while  the 
enemy  kept  firing  on  the  "  St.  Louis  "  and 
also  on  the  men  who  were  struggling  in  the 
water.  A  more  dastardly  tiling  never  was 
done  in  the  history  of  the  war.  and  was 
very  different  from  the  conduct  of  the  Fed 
erals  at  Memphis,  where,  as  stated  above, 
boats  were  lowered  in  the  heat  of  battle  to 
pick  up  the  drowning  enemy. 

At  this  moment  Col.  Fitch  made  signal 
for  the  gun-boats  to  cease  firing,  and  hav 
ing  gained  a  position  he  immediately 
charged  the  enemy's  works  and  carried 
them  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man. 
Eight  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  twenty- 
nine  were  taken  prisoners,  including  Capt. 


174 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


Fry  (formerly  a  Lieutenant  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy),  Commander  of  the  post.  All  their 
guns  and  ammunition  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Federals.  The  batteries  consisted  of 
two  12-pounder  brass  pieces,  two  9-pouncler 
parrot  guns  (rifled)  and  two  42-pounder  sea- 
coast  howitzers. 

The  victory  was  a  complete  one,  but  the 
loss  of  life  on  board  the  "  Mound  City  "was 
frightful.  To  describe  the  scene  after  the 
explosion  is  beyond  the  power  of  any  pen. 
Among  the  scalded  and  suffering  was  Com. 
Kilty,  who,  a  moment  before  the  accident, 
was  seen  coolly  walking  the  deck  and  fight 
ing  his  ship  most  gallantly.  All  honor  to 
his  name. 

Out  of  the  entire  crew  of  the  "  Mound 
City  "  (175  officers  and  men),  only  three  offi 
cers  and  twenty-two  men  escaped  unin 
jured;  eighty-two  died  from  wounds  or 
scalding,  and  forty-three  were  either 
drowned  or  killed  in  the  water.  The 
wounded  men  received  the  greatest  care 
and  consideration,  and  were  finally  sent  to 
Memphis  on  board  the  "  Conestoga  "  and  an 
army  transport. 

To  Lieuts.  McGunnegle,  Shirk  and  Blod- 
gett  is  due  the  highest  honor,  not  only  for 


their  bravery  during  the  action,  but  for 
their  humanity  in  providing  for  the  comfort 
of  the  poor  fellows  who  were  so  badly 
scalded.  Dr.  George  W.  Garber,  of  the 
"Lexington,"  and  Dr. William  H.  Nelson,  of 
the  "Carondelet,"  also  deserve  great  credit 
for  their  judicious  care  of  the  wounded. 

With  regard  to  Col.  Fitch,  who  stormed 
and  carried  the  fort  with  his  soldiers,  we 
have  only  to  say  that  he  exhibited  that  cool 
courage  and  judgment  which  he  had  al 
ways  displayed  since  co-operating  with  the 
Navy  at  Island  No.  10. 

This  victory,  though  a  small  one,  was 
very  important,  as  it  opened  the  White 
River  to  our  gun-boats  and  transports,  and 
showed  the  enemy  the  futility  of  attempt 
ing  to  bar  the  way  against  our  vessels  with 
Confederate  batteries.  It  also  showed  what 
could  be  done  by  a  small  force  of  the  Army 
and  Navy  when  working  together  harmo 
niously. 

Although  the  Confederates  congratulated 
themselves  on  the  great  death-roll  of  the 
"Mound  City,"  they  had  to  bear  the  ig 
nominy  of  having  fired  upon  drowning 
men,  which  almost  debarred  them  from  the 
clemency  of  their  victors. 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 


CAPTURE  OF  FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP,  AND  THE  SURRENDER 

OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

NAVAL  EXPEDITION  FITTED  OUT.— FARRAGUT  COMMANDS  EXPEDITION.— FARRAGUT'S  AND 
PORTER'S  FLEETS. — THEIR  APPEARANCE  IN  THE  MISSISSIPPI. — FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST. 
PHILIP. — CONFIDENCE  OF  CONFEDERATES  IN  THE  DEFENSE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. — OB 
STRUCTIONS. — CONFEDERATE  FLEET. — PORTER'S  MORTAR  FLEET. — BOMBARDMENT  OF 
FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP. — TERRIBLE  WORK  OF  MORTAR  FLEET. — THE  CHAINS  CUT. 
—PASSAGE  OF  FORTS  BY  WAR  VESSELS. — ORDER  OF  VESSELS  IN  PASSING. — DESPERATE 
NAVAL  BATTLE.— THE  VARUNA  SUNK  AFTER  A  GALLANT  FIGHT. — THE  "  HARTFORD  "  AT 
TACKED  BY  FIRE  RAFTS. — BRAVE  WORDS  OF  FARRAGUT. — THE  RAM  "  MANASSAS"  AT 
TACKS  THE  "  HARTFORD"  AND  "  BROOKLYN." — THE  LITTLE  "  ITASCA." — GRAPHIC  SCENES. 
—FARRAGUT  ON  HIS  WAY  TO  NEW  ORLEANS. — THE  RAM  "  MANASSAS  "  DESTROYED. — THE 
CHALMETTE  BATTERIES. — FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP  CAPITULATE. — FLAG  OF 
TRUCE  VIOLATED. — EXPLOSION  OF  THE  ;i  LOUISIANA." — MISCELLANEOUS  INCIDENTS.— 
FARRAGUT  BEFORE  NEW  ORLEANS. — CONGRATULATORY  LETTERS  OF  HON.  GIDEON 
WELLES. 


ON  the  12th  of  November.  1861,  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  ordered  that  a  naval 
expedition  should  be  fitted  out  for 
the  capture  of  New  Orleans. 
Captain  David  G.  Farragut  was 
detailed  for  the  command  of  this  expedition, 
with  the  title  of  Flag-officer,  and  an  efficient 
mortar  flotilla   was  fitted  out  under  Com. 
David  D.  Porter,  and  attached  to  the  force. 
Besides  the  mortar  vessels,   there  were  in 
the  flotilla  seven  steamers  to  manage  the 
former  in  the  swift  current  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  and  to  aid  them  with  their  fire  in  case 
of  necessity. 

Farragut  sailed  on  the  20th  of  January, 
1802,  with  the  following  orders  from  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

"  There  will  be  attached  to  your  squadron  a  fleet 
of  bomb-vessels,  and  armed  steamers  enough  to 
manage  them,  all  under  command  of  Com.  D.  D. 
Porter,  who  will  be  directed  to  report  to  you.  As 
fast  as  these  vessels  are  got  ready  they  will  be  sent 
to  Key  West  to  await  the  arrival  of  all,  and  the 
commanding  officers  will  be  permitted  to  organize 
and  practice  with  them  at  that  point. 

"  When  these  formidable  mortars  arrive,  and  you 
are  completely  ready,  you  will  collect  such  vessels 
as  can  be  spared  from  the  blockade  and  proceed  up 
the  Mississippi  River  and  reduce  the  defences  which 


guard  the  approaches  to  New  Orleans,  when  you 
will  appear  off  that  city  and  take  possession  of  it 
under  the  guns  of  your  squadron,  and  hoist  the 
American  flag  therein,  keeping  possession  until 
troops  can  be  sent  to  you. 

"If  the  Mississippi  expedition  from  Cairo  shall 
not  have  descended  the  river,  you  will  take  advan 
tage  of  the  panic  to  push  a  strong  force  up  the  river 
to  take  all  their  defences  in  the  rear/' 

Farragut,  as  soon  as  possible,  proceeded 
to  his  station,  and  assumed  command  of  the 
West  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

While  the  foregoing  plans  were  develop 
ing  at  the  North,  the  Confederates  had  not 
remained  inactive.  Acquainted,  almost 
from  its  incipiency,  with  the  object  of  the 
expedition,  they  had  exerted  themselves 
to  the  utmost  in  strengthening  the  river  de 
fenses  at  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip; 
which  included  obstructions  on  the  river  it 
self,  besides  the  preparation  of  what  might 
well  be  considered  a  formidable  naval 
force. 

Of  the  latter,  the  ram  "Manassas,"  was 
improved  and  commissioned,  while  the 
"  Louisiana,"  iron-clad,  of  sixteen  heavy 
guns,  was  rapidly  nearing  completion.  Two 
other  powerful  iron-clads.  intended  to  clear 
the  southern  coast  of  blockaders,were  under 


(175) 


176 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


construction  at  New  Orleans,  while  fur 
ther  inland,  at  YazooCity,  the  iron-clad  ram 
"  Arkansas  "  was  almost  ready  for  service. 
Several  other  iron-clad  vessels  were,  at  the 
same  time,  building  at  various  points  on 
the  tributaries. 


time  of  Nelson.  Not  only  had  the  North 
failed  to  avail  itself  of  its  great  resources 
for  the  construction  of  powerful  armor- 
clad  vessels  in  sufficient  numbers  to  strike 
at  once  a  heavy  blow,  but  up  to  the  depart 
ure  of  this  expedition,  a  commencement 


ADMIRAL  DAVID  G.  FARRAGUT. 


A  comparison  of  the  work  done  by  the 
North  and  the  South,  up  to  the  advance  on 
New  Orleans,  is  largely  in  favor  of  the  lat 
ter;  for  not  one  among  all  the  vessels  sent 
to  Farragut  possessed  any  power  of  resist 
ance,  save  what  had  been  shown  from  the 


only  had  been  made,  by  the  construction 
of  the  "Monitor,"  one  small  iron-clad,  and 
the  new  "Ironsides."  The  subsequent  en 
counter  of  the  former  vessel  with  the  "  Mer- 
rimac  "  seemed  to  show  for  the  first  time 
the  great  utility  of  such  craft.  The  action 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


177 


of  the  Federal  Government  in  this  matter 
seems  inexcusable. 

By  the  middle  of  March,  the  following 
ships,  assigned  to  Farragut's  command,  had 
assembled  at  Key  West,  the  rendezvous: 

'•  Hartford/'  25  guns.  Com.  Richard  Wain- 
wright:  "Brooklyn,"  24  guns,  Capt.  T.  T. 
Craven;  "  Richmond. "20  guns.  Com.  James 
Alden;  "Mississippi,"  12  guns,  Com.  Me- 
lancton  Smith;  "  Pensacola,"  24  guns.  Capt. 
H.  W.  Morris;  "  Cayuga,"  6  guns,  Lieut. 
Com.  N.  B.  Harrison;  "Oneida,"  9  guns, 
Com.  S.  P.  Lee;  "Varuna,"  10  guns,  Com. 
Charles  S.  Boggs;  "  Katahdin,"  4  guns, 
Lieut.  Com.  George  H.  Preble:  "  Kineo," 
4  guns,  Lieut.  Com.  George  M.  Ransom; 
"  Wissahickon,"  4  guns.  Lieut.  Com.  A.  1ST. 
Smith;  "  Winona,"  4  guns,  Lieut.  Com.  E. 
T.  Xichols;  "Itasca,"  4  guns,  Lieut.  Com. 
C.  H.  B.  Caldwell;  "  Pinola,"  4  guns.  Lieut. 
Com.  Pierce  Crosby;  "Kennebec."  4  guns, 
Lieut.  Com.  John  H.  Russell;  "  Iroquois," 
9  guns,  Com.  John  De  Camp;  "Sciota,"  4 
guns.  Lieut.  Com.  Edward  Donaldson. 
Total  guns,  177. 

Also  the  following  steamers  belonging  to 
the  mortar  flotilla :  "  Harriet  Lane." 
"Owasco."  "Clifton,"  "Westfield,"  "Mi 
ami,"  "Jackson;"'  besides  the  mortar 
schooners,  which  will  be  named  hereafter. 

The  frigate  •'  Colorado,"  of  fifty  guns,  is 
not  enumerated,  for  though  present,  both 
Flag-officer  Farragut  and  Capt.  Bailey,  his 
second  in  command,  concluded  that  it  was 
impossible  to  lighten  her  sufficiently  to 
cross  the  bar  at  Southwest  Pass. 

Towed  by  the  "  Harriet  Lane,"  "Owasco," 
"'Westfield,"  and  "Clifton,"  all  the  mortar 
schooners  crossed  the  bar  at  Pass  a  1'Outre 
on  March  18th,  and  were  ordered  by  Farra 
gut  to  proceed  via  the  junction  to  the  South 
west  Pass. 

At  this  time  the  only  vessels  that  had 
crossed  the  bar  at  the  Southwest  Pass, 
after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  with  the 
"Brooklyn"  at  Pass  a  1'Outre,  were  the 
"Hartford"  and  the  "Brooklyn."  The 
Navy  Department  had  been  mistaken  in 
sending  vessels  of  such  draught  as  the 
"Colorado,"  "Pensacola,"  and  "Missis 
sippi,"  for  though  the  two  latter  ships  were 
finally  with  great  difficulty  worked  over, 
the  time  lost  amounted  to  at  least  twelve 
days,  with  a  corresponding  delay  of  the 
fleet. 

Farragut's  first  act  upon  reaching  the 
Mississippi  was  to  despatch  his  Chief  of 
Staff,  Capt.  Henry  H.  Bell,  with  the  gun 
boats  "  Kennebec"  and  "  Wissahickon  "  up 
the  river  on  a  recqnnoissance.  After  re 
turning  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  forts, 
Capt.  Bell  reported  that  "  the  obstructions 
seemed  formidable.  Eight  hulks  were 
moored  in  line  across  the  river,  with  heavy 
•chains  extending  from  one  to  the  other. 

12 


Rafts  of  logs  were  also  used,  and  the  pas 
sage  between  the  forts  was  thus  entirely 
closed." 

Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  had  been 
much  strengthened  since  the  expedition 
was  started.  Situated  in  a  most  com 
manding  position,  at  a  turn  in  the  river, 
the  former  on  the  west  bank  and  the  latter 
on  the  east,  they  commanded  the  stream 
above  and  below;  Fort  St.  Philip  being  par 
ticularly  well  placed  to  rake  the  lower  ap 
proach. 

The  works  themselves  were  of  masonry. 
Fort  Jackson  was  of  pentagonal  form,  with 
bastions,  its  river  front  being  about  one 
hundred  yards  from  the  levee,  above  which 
its  casemates  just  appeared.  The  arma 
ments  consisted  of  a  total  of  seventy-five 
guns,  distributed  as  follows  :  Two  ten  inch 
columbiads,  one  six-inch  rifle,  and  thirty- 
three  thirty-two  pounders  on  the  main  par 
apet  :  two  ten-inch  columbiads  and  one 
nine-inch  mortar  in  the  second  bastion  : 
one  columbiad  and  two  eight-inch  mortars 
in  the  third  bastion  ;  eight  thirty-two 
pounders  in  the  northwest  casemate,  six 
thirty-two  pounders  in  the  northeast  case 
mate,  and  ten  short  guns  and  two  brass 
field-pieces  in  the  bastion  casemates.  The 
water  battery  of  this  fort,  having  the  com 
mand  of  the  lower  approach,  was  a  power 
ful  work,  mounting  seven  guns,  as  follows: 
One  ten  and  one  nine-inch  columbiad, 
two  heavy  rifle  guns  and  three  thirty-two 
pounders. 

Fort  Jackson  was  altogether  in  a  good 
condition;  its  citadel,  in  the  centre  of  the 
works,  contained  large  amounts  of  war 
stores  and  provisions,  while  the  bomb- 

E roofs  had  been  made  more  secure  by  sand 
ags  piled  upon  them  to  a  depth  of  some 
six  feet,  and  all  vulnerable  parts  protected 
in  like  manner. 

The  guns  of  Fort  St.  Philip  were  all  in 
barbette,  and  numbered  a  total  of  fifty-three 
pieces  of  ordnance,  as  follows:  Forty-three 
guns,  chiefly  thirty-two  pounders,  one 
thirteen-inch  mortar,  one  six-inch  rifle,  four 
ten-inch  sea-coast  mortars,  one  ten-inch 
siege  mortar,  one  eight-inch  siege  mortar, 
and  three  pieces  of  light  artillery. 

Each  of  the  forts  was  garrisoned  by  some 
seven  hundred  men,  and  both,  with  their 
adjuncts,  were  under  command  of  Briga 
dier  General  Johnson  K.  Duncan,  whose 
gallantry  and  ability  were  conspicuous. 

Less  current  and  fewer  eddies  existed 
close  under  the  west  bank,  near  Fort  Jack 
son;  consequently  the  best  passage  up  river 
was  in  Jhat  channel.  The  Confederates 
had  obstructed  this  way  by  means  of  a 
heavy  raft  of  logs,  which  closed  the  only 
part  of  the  river  not  blockaded  by  the  hulks 
and  their  chain  connections,  anchored 
across,  below  the  forts,  almost  from  bank 


178 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


to  bank.  The  raft  was  fitted  to  act  as  a 
gate,  opening  or  closing  at  the  pleasure  of 
the  defenders. 

Besides  the  land  defenses,  a  fleet  of  war 
vessels,  of  more  or  less  power,  had  been  or 
ganized  by  the  Confederates,  from  such  ma 
terial  as  they  could  procure;  heavy  tugs 
and  merchant  vessels  were  converted  with 
some  success,  until  a  fleet  of  eighteen  ves 
sels,  including  the  ram  "Manassas,"  and 
the  iron-clad  "  Louisiana."  was  gathered 
under  the  command  of  Com.  John  K. 
Mitchell,  of  the  Confederate  Navy. 

This  fleet  was  composed  of  two  divisions, 
one  belonging  to  the  regularly  organized 
Navy  and  the  other  forming  what  was 
called  the  River  Defense,  under  the  imme 
diate  command  of  a  merchant  captain 
named  Stephenson. 

Of  the  regular  Navy  were  the  following: 
The  iron-clad  "Louisiana,"'  sixteen  heavy 
guns,  crew  two  hundred  men,  a  powerful 
vessel,  with  armor  sufficient  to  turn  the  pro 
jectiles  of  any  gun  in  the  Union  fleet.  Upon 
the  roof  of  the  casemate  was  a  gallery  for 
sharp-shooters,  running  around  the  entire 
space.  The  machinery,  consisting  of  twin 
screw  engines  and  central  paddles,  was 
unfinished,  and  her  inactivity  at  the  time  of 
the  fight  was  due  to  that  fact.  The  "  Louisi 
ana  "  was  commanded  by  Com.  Charles  F. 
Mclntosh,  formerly  of  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

The  "McBae,"  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Thomas  B.  Huger,  was  a  sea-going  steamer, 
mounting  six  thirty-two  pounders  and  one 
nine-inch  shell  gun. 

The  steamer  "Jackson,"  Lieut.  F.  B. 
Renshaw,  commanding,  mounted  two 
thirty-two  pounders. 

The  ram  "  Manassas,"  Lieut.  A.  F.  War- 
ley  commanding,  mounted  one  thirty-two 
pounder  in  bow. 

The  foregoing,  with  two  launches  armed 
with  one  howitzer  each,  constituted  the 
regular  Navy  command. 

Included  in  this  division  there  were  also 
the  following  sea-steamers  converted  into 
State  gun-boats  belonging  to  Louisiana. 
These  vessels  were  lightly  protected  with 
pine  and  cotton  barricades  over  the  machin 
ery  and  boilers. 

The  "General  Quitman,"  commanded 
by  Capt.  Grant,  mounting  two  thirty-two 
pounders;  The  "Governor  Moore."  Com 
mander  Beverly  Kennon,  mounting  two 
thirty-two  pounder  rifled  guns.  According 
to  Commander  Mitchell  the  above,  "being 
converted  vessels,  were  too  slightly  built 
for  Avar  purposes." 

Attached  to  his  command  were  the  follow 
ing  unarmed  steamers:  The  "Phoenix," 
"  W.  Burton,"  and  the  "Landis." 

Subject  to  his  orders,  but  chartered  by  the 
Army,  were  the  small  tugs  "Mosher," 
"  Belle  Algerine,"  "  Star,"  and  "  Music." 


The  second  division,  the  River  Defense, 
commanded  as  before  stated,  consisted  of 
the  following  converted  tow-boats  :  The 
"Warrior,"  "Stonewall  Jackson,''  "Reso 
lute."  "General  Lovell,"  "Defiance,"  and 
the  "  R.  I.  Breckenridge." 

These  vessels  mounted  from  one  to  two 
thirty -two  pounder  pivots  each,  some  of  the 
guns  being  rifled.  By  means  of  iron  cas 
ing  their  bows,  they  had  been  fitted  for  use 
as  rams. 

Little  assistance  to  the  fleet  resulted  from 
the  employment  of  these  boats,  on  account 
of  the  insubordination  of  their  division 
commander. 

As  a  whole,  the  Confederate  fleet  mounted 
thirty-nine  guns,  all,  with  the  exception  of 
two,  being  thirty-two  pounders,  some  nine 
of  which  were  rifled. 

From  the  foregoing  enumeration  it  will 
be  seen  that  strongly-built  works,  mounting 
one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  guns,  as 
sisted  by  a  partially  armored  fleet  carrying 
thirty-nine  guns,  opposed  the  passage  of 
Farragut's  wooden  vessels  carrying  one 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  guns. 

Much  assistance  was  expected  by  the 
Confederates  from  numerous  fire-rafts  that 
were  placed  at  Commander  Mitchell's  dis 
posal  for  the  purpose  of  lighting  the  pas 
sage,  and  confusing  the  order  of  the  Union 
fleet. 

Assuming,  upon  the  general  concession 
of  military  men,  that  one  gun  in  a  fort  was 
equal  to  about  three  afloat,  and  considering 
the  disadvantage  of  a  contrary  three-and-a- 
half  knot  current  to  the  Federal  vessels 
(with  the  additional  channel  obstructions  of 
fire-rafts  and  chains),  the  odds  were  greatly 
in  favor  of  the  Confederate  defenses.  This 
was  thoroughly  realized  by  the  Confeder 
ates,  who  were  rather  impatient  than 
otherwise  for  Farragut's  advance,  believ 
ing  him  certain  to  meet  with  disaster. 
Like  vigilant  foes,  however,  they  fully 
improved  the  time  afforded  by  the  delay  of 
the  fleet  at  the  bar,  and  materially  increased 
the  strength  of  their  position  in  the  interim 
preceding  the  attack. 

With  this  understanding  of  the  defense, 
we  will  return  to  the  attacking  force. 

The  position  selected  for  the  first  and 
third  divisions  of  the  mortar  fleet,  during 
the  bombardment,  was  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  river,  at  a  point  thoroughly  screened 
from  the  forts  by  a  thick  growth  of  wood. 
The  mast-heads  of  the  schooners  rose  above 
the  trees,  and  afforded  a  capital  outlook 
from  which  to  direct  the  fire,  but  being  in 
geniously  covered  with  brush,  they  were 
rendered  indistinguishable  to  the  Confed 
erate  gunners. 

The  mortar  vessels  were  organized  as- 
follows  : 

First  division,  Lieut.  Com.  Watson  Smith, 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


179 


consisted  of  the  following  vessels  :  "  Nor 
folk  Packet."  Lieut.  Smith;  "  O.  H.  Lee," 
Act.  Mast.  Godfrey;  "Para."  Act.  Mast. 
Furber;  "  C.  P.  Williams," Act.  Mast.  Lang- 
thorne;  "Arietta,"  Act.  Mast.  Smith;  "Ba 
con,"  Act.  Mast.  Rogers;  "  Sophronia," 
Act.  Mast.  Bartholomew. 

Second  division,  under  Lieut.  W.  W. 
Queen  :  "  T.  A.  Ward,"  Lieut.  Queen;  "  M. 
J.  Carlton,"  Act.  Mast.  Jack;  "Matthew 
Vassar,"  Act. Mast.  Savage;  " George  Mang- 
ham,"  Act.  Mast.  Collins;  "Orvetta,"  Act. 
Mast.  Blanchard;  "Sidney  C.Jones,"  Act. 
Mast.  Graham; "  Adolph  Hugel,"  Act.  Mast. 
Van  Buskirk. 

Third  division. — Lieut.  K.  R.  Breese : 
"John  Griffiths,''  Act.  Mast.  Henry  Brown; 
"Sarah  Bruen,"  Act.  Mast.  Christian; 
"  Racer,"  Act.  Mast.  Phinney;  "Sea  Foam," 
Act.  Mast.  Williams;  "Henry  James."  Act. 
Mast.  Pennington;  "  *  Dan  Smith,"  Act. 
Mast.  George  W.  Brown. 

The  leading  vessels  of  the  first  division 
were  moored  at  a  distance  of  2,850  yards 
from  Fort  Jackson,  and  3,080  yards  from 
Fort  St.  Philip,  the  others  occupying  posi 
tions  close  under  the  bank  and  below  the 
first — this  same  order  being  preserved  by 
the  third  division.  The  second  division 
was  placed  at  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river, 
with  its  head  3,680  yards  from  Fort  Jack 
son. 

The  bombardment  commenced  on  the 
morning  of  April  IGth,  each  vessel  firing  at 
the  rate  of  one  shell  every  ten  minutes. 

Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  returned 
the  mortar  fire  immediately,  though  not  at 
once  effectually,  owing  to  the  secure  posi 
tion  of  the  vessels  behind  the  natural  ram 
part  afforded  by  the  bank.  The  Confeder 
ate  fire  becoming  better  upon  obtaining  the 
range,  Lieut.  Com.  Guest  with  the  "  Octo- 
rara,"  was  sent  to  the  head  of  the  line  to 
open  fire  with  his  eleven-inch  gun.  This 
position  was  occupied  for  an  hour  and  fifty 
minutes,  and  only  abandoned  for  more 
ammunition. 

The  second  division  of  mortar-boats,  on 
the  east  bank,  did  excellent  work  during 
this  day,  but  being  exposed,  suffered  much 
from  the  fire  of  the  forts.  The  position  was 
retained  until  the  cessation  of  the  evening's 
fire  at  sunset,  when  the  division  was  re 
moved  to  the  west  bank  with  the  others, 
under  cover. 

About  5  P.  M.  of  the  first  day,  fire  was 
seen  to  break  out  in  Fort  Jackson,  and  the 
garrison  soon  left  the  guns  to  fight  the 
names.  Some  in  the  Federal  fleet  were  in 
clined  to  believe  the  fire  to  be  from  a  raft, 
but  this  was  disproved  by  Com.  Porter,  who 
pulled  up  the  river  in  a  boat  and  ascertained 


*  The  names  of  the  vessels  were  those  under  which  they  were 
known  in  the  merchant  service,  and  were  unchanged  after  purchase 
by  the  Government. 


that  the  fort  itself  was  burning,  a  fact  at 
once  reported  to  the  flag-officer, 

The  heavy  work  exhausted  the  men  at 
the  mortars  by  nightfall,  but  the  evidences 
of  accurate  practice,  as  shown  in  the  condi 
tion  of  the  fort,  increased  their  activity  un 
til  shells  were  thrown  at  the  rate  of  one  in 
five  minutes  from  each  vessel,  or,  in  all,  two 
hundred  and  forty  shells  an  hour.  To  ad 
mit  of  rest,  the  fire  was  limited  to  one  shell 
each  half  hour  during  the  night.  In  the 
light  of  subsequent  events  this  first  day's 
fire  was  shown  to  have  been  the  most  effect 
ive  of  any  during  the  bombardment,  and 
had  the  fleet  been  ready  to  move  at  once, 
the  passage  could  have  been  effected  with 
out  serious  difficulty. 

The  bombardment  was  opened  afresh  on 
the  following  day,  and  continued  without 
intermission  until  the  final  attack  of  the 
fleet  on  April  24th. 

The  effects  of  this  fire  are  best  described 
by  Colonel  Edward  Higgins  (the  com 
mander  at  Fort  Jackson),  dated  April  4, 
1872. 

"  Your  mortar-boats  were  placed  in  position  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  17th  of  April,  1862,  and  opened 
fire  at  once  upon  Fort  Jackson,  where  my  head 
quarters  were  established.  The  practice  was  excel 
lent  from  the  commencement  of  the  fire  to  the  end, 
and  continued,  without  intermission,  until  the 
morning  of  the  24th  of  April,  when  the  fleet  passed 
at  about  four  o'clock. 

Nearly  every  shell  of  the  many  thousand  fired  at 
the  fort  lodged  inside  of  the  works. 

On  the  first  night  of  the  attack,  the  citadel  and 
all  buildings  in  rear  of  the  fort  were  fired  by  burst 
ing  shell,  and  also  the  sand-bag  walls  that  had  been 
thrown  around  the  magazine  doors. 

The  fire,  as  you  are  aware,  raged  with  great  fury, 
and  no  effort  of  ours  could  subdue  it.  At  this  time, 
and  nearly  all  this  night,  Fort  Jackson  was  helpless; 
its  magazines  were  inaccessible,  and  we  could  have 
offered  no  resistance  to  a  passing  fleet. 

The  next  morning  a  terrible  scene  of  destruction 
presented  itself.  The  wood- work  of  the  citadel  be 
ing  all  destroyed,  and  the  crumbling  walls  being 
knocked  about  the  fort  by  the  bursting  shells, 
made  matters  still  worse  for  the  garrison.  The 
work  of  destruction  from  now  until  the  morning  of 
the  24th,  when  the  fleet  passed,  was  incessant. 

I  was  obliged  to  confine  the  men  most  rigidly  to 
the  casemates,  or  we  should  have  lost  the  best  part 
of  the  garrison.  A  shell,  striking  the  parapet  over 
one  of  the  magazines,  the  wall  of  which  was  seven 
feet  thick,  penetrated  five  feet  and  failed  to  burst. 
If  that  shell  had  exploded,  your  work  would  have 
ended. 

Another  burst  near  the  magazine  door,  opening 
the  earth  and  burying  the  sentinel  and  another 
man  five  feet  in  the  same  grave. 

The  parapet  and  interior  of  the  fort  were  com 
pletely  honey-combed,  and  the  large  number  of 
sand  bags  with  which  we  were  supplied,  alone  saved 
us  from  being  blown  to  pieces  a  hundred  times,  our 
magazine  doors  being  much  exposed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  when  the  fleet  passed, 
the  terrible  precision  with  which  your  formidable 
vessels  hailed  down  their  tons  of  bursting  shell 
upon  the  devoted  fort  made  it  impossible  for  us  to 
obtain  either  rapidity  or  accuracy  of  fire,  and  thus 
rendered  the  passage  comparatively  easy. 

There  was  not  very  considerable  damage  done  to 


180 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


our  batteries,  but  few  of  the  guns  being  dismounted 
by  your  fire;  everything  else  in  and  around  the  fort 
was  destroyed." 

A  deserter  from  the  forts  presented  him 
self  at  the  Union  position  on  the  third  day, 
and  excited  much  incredulity  by  the  state 
ments  he  made  concerning  the  condition  of 
affairs  at  Fort  Jackson.  He  represented 
the  garrison  as  in  a  desperate  and  demoral 
ized  condition  from  the  effects  of  the 
bombs,  hundreds  of  which  had  struck  the 
works,  crushing  the  bomb-proofs,  cutting 
the  levees  by  which  the  fort  was  flooded, 
and  firing  the  citadel. 

Farragut,  to  whom  the  deserter  was 
taken  to  relate  his  story,  was  prevented 
from  taking  advantage  of  the  state  of 
affairs  as  represented,  by  the  supposition 
that  the  obstructions  in  the  channel  were 
as  yet  -insurmountable,  and  time  was  re 
quired  for  a  further  examination. 

Lieut.  Crosby  with  the  "  Pinola,"  and 
Lieut.  Caldwell  with  the  "Itasca,"  were  de 
tailed  on  April  20th  for  a  night  expedition 
to  break  the  chain  which  was  supposed  to 
extend  from  shore  to  shore  below  the  forts. 


TJ.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD." 

The  charge  of  this  expedition  was  given  to 
Captain  Bell.  Chief  of  Staff.  The  Confed 
erates,  however,  detected  the  manoeuvre, 
and  the  fire  of  Fort  Jackson  was  concen 
trated  upon  the  gun-boats,  but  with  little 
or  no  effect,  on  account  of  the  tremendous 
fire  from  the  mortar  flotilla.  The  cables 
were  parted,  and  a  passage-way  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river  opened. 

For  nearly  six  days  and  nights  the  mor 
tars  continued  their  fire — sending  in  about 
2,800  shells  every  twenty-four  hours,  or  a 
total  of  nearly  16,800.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  the  men  were  giving  out.  ammunition 
was  exhausted, one  schooner — the  "Carlton" 
— sunk,  and  the  others  severely  racked 
by  the  repeated  concussion  upon  their 
decks. 

By  the  23d  instant,  Farragut  concluded 
that  the  condition  of  affairs  warranted  an 
attempt  to  pass  the  forts.  A  council  of  the 
commanding  officers  decided  upon  an  ad 
vance  to  be  made  on  the  early  morning  of 
the  24th. 

Meantime  the  iron-clad  "  Louisiana"  had 


been  brought  to  the  forts,  and  an  effort  was 
made  by  the  fort  Commander.  General 
Duncan,  to  have  her  take  up  a  position  be 
low  the  works,  from  which  her  heavy  guns 
would  reach  the  fleet.  The  following  com 
munication  from  General  Duncan  to  Com 
mander  Mitchell  was  written  on  April  22d: 

"It  is  of  vital  importance  that  the  present  fire  of 
the  enemy  should  be  withdrawn  from  us,  which 
you  alone  can  do.  This  can  be  done  in  the  man 
ner  suggested  this  morning,  under  the  cover  of  our 
guns,  while  your  work  on  the  boat  can  be  carried 
on  in  safety  and  security. 

Our  position  is  a  critical  one,  dependent  entirely 
on  the  powers  of  endurance  of  our  casemates,  many 
of  which  have  been  completely  shattered,  and  are 
crumbling  away  by  repeated  shocks;  and,  there 
fore,  I  respectfully,  but  earnestly,  again  urge  my 
suggestion  of  this  morning  on  your  notice.  Our 
magazines  are  also  in  danger. " 

General  Duncan's  suggestion  was  un 
heeded,  however,  and  the  really  formidable 
obstruction  to  the  Union  fleet  remained  in 
active  at  the  river's  bank  during  the  subse 
quent  action. 

Various  other  efforts  were  made  to  dis 
lodge  the  mortar  flotilla,  and  a  body  of 
riflemen  were  sent  against  them  as  sharp 
shooters,  but  all  without  success. 

Having  previously  issued  detailed  orders 
to  the  commanders  of  vessels,  concerning 
their  preparation  for  the  approaching  oper 
ations,  such  as  slinging  chains  over  vital 
part  of  the  hulls,  sending  down  light  spars, 
painting  hulls  mud  color,  tricing  up  whisk 
ers,  etc.,  Farragut  issued  the  following 
general  order : 

"UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP,  'HARTFORD/  \ 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  20,  1862.  f 

"The  Flag-officer,  having  heaid  all  the  opinions 
expressed  by  the  different  commanders,  is  of  the 
opinion  that  whatever  is  to  be  done  will  have  to  be 
done  quickly,  or  we  shall  be  again  reduced  to  a 
blockading  squadron,  without  the  means  of  carry 
ing  on  the  bombardment,  as  we  have  nearly  ex 
pended  all  the  shells  and  fuses,  and  material  for 
making  cartridges.  He  has  always  entertained  the 
same  opinions  which  are  expressed  by  Com.  Porter; 
that  is,  there  are  three  modes  of  attack,  and  the 
question  is,  which  is  the  one  to  be  adopted  ? 

"  His  own  opinion  is,  that  a  combination  of  two 
should  be  made,  viz. :  the  forts  should  be  run,  and, 
when  a  force  is  once  above  the  forts,  to  protect  the 
troops,  they  should  be  landed  at  quarantine  from 
the  gulf  side  by  bringing  them  through  the  bayou, 
and  then  our  forces  should  move  up  the  river,  mu 
tually  aiding  each  other  as  it  can  be  done  to  advan 
tage. 

"When,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Flag-officer,  the  pro 
pitious  time  has  arrived,  the  signal  will  be  made  to 
weigh  and  advance  to  the  conflict.  If,  in  his  opin 
ion,  at  the  time  of  arriving  at  the  respective  posi 
tions  of  the  different  divisions  of  the  fleet,  we  have 
the  advantage,  he  will  make  the  signal  for  close 
action,  No.  8,  and  abide  the  result,  conquer  or  to 
be  conquered,  drop  anchor  or  keep  under  way,  as 
in  his  opinion  is  best. 

"Unless  the  signal  above  mentioned  is  made,  it  will 
be  understood  that  the  first  order  of  sailing  will  be 
formed  after  leaving  Fort  St.  Philip,  and  we  will 
proceed  up  the  river  in  accordance  with  the  original 
opinion  expressed. 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


181 


"The  programme  of  the  order  of  sailing  accom- 

Eanies  this  general  order,  and  the  commanders  will 
old  themselves  in  readiness  for  the  service  as  in 
dicated. 

"Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
"  Flag  officer  West  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron." 

The  original  and  best  plan  of  Farragut 
was  that  the  heavier  vessels  of  the  squad 
ron  should  lead  the  attack,  as  they  would 
more  easily  overcome  any  obstruction  to  be 
met  afloat.  According  to  this  plan  he  was 
to  lead  in  the  "Hartford,"  being  followed 
immediately  by  the  ''Brooklyn/'  "Rich 
mond,"  "  Pensacola,"  and  ''Mississippi." 
The  senior  commanders  interposed  the  ob 
jection  to  this  that  wisdom  would  not  per 
mit  the  Commander-in-chief  to  receive  the 
greatest  shock  of  the  battle;  and  he  was 
finally  induced,  very  reluctantly,  to  consent 
to  an  arrangement  whereby  the  fleet  would 
be  separated  into  three  divisions,  with  his 
immediate  position  in  the  centre  of  the 
line.  Thus  formed  the  vessels  were  in  the 
following  order  : 


Besides  this  arrangement  of  the  fleet,  the 
mortar-steamers  were  directed  to  move 
forward  and  be  ready  to  engage  the  water- 
battery  of  Fort  Jackson,  while  the  former 
were  passing  the  forts.  The  Confederates 
placed  much  dependence  upon  this  battery 
on  account  of  its  heavy  armament  and 
wide  range  down  the  river. 

According  to  signal,  on  the  morning  of 
April  24th,  at  two  o'clock,  the  Federal  fleet 
commenced  to  get  under  way.  The  Con 
federates,  ever  alert,  detected  the  move 
ment,  probably  from  the  noise  of  capstans 
and  cables. 

Before  following  the  fleet  in  its  move 
ments,  a  word  in  relation  to  the  advan 
tages  and  disadvantages  of  each  side  will 
not  be  amiss.  One  fact  was  stronglv  in 
favor  of  the  fleet,  the  division  of  the  Con 
federate  defenses  into  three  branches,  viz.: 
the  land  forces,  the  regular  naval  forces, 
and  the  river  defense — thus  preventing  con 
cert  of  action.  The  odds  were  against  Far 
ragut  in  all  other  respects. 


The  impressions  of  the  French  Admiral, 
and  Captain  Preedy,  of  the  British  Navy, 
— obtained  during  a  visit  to  the  forts  before 
capture — that  it  would  be  an  impossibility 
for  the  fleet  to  pass  the  defenses,  did  not 
tend  to  augment  hopes  of  capture;  but  the 
washing  away  of  the  obstructions  and  rafts 
by  the  strong  current  restored  confidence, 
and  the  advance  was  made  with  ardor. 

It  was  half-past  two  o'clock  before  the 
fleet  was  fully  under  way.  The  strong  cur 
rent  impeded  their  progress  to  such  an  ex 
tent  that  it  lacked  but  a  quarter  of  three 
o'clock  before  the  leading  vessel,  the  ''Cay- 


COMMAXDER   (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)   CHARLES  F.   BOGGS, 
OF  THE  "VARUNA." 

uga,"  was  under  fire.  This  commenced  from 
both  forts  simultaneously. 

As  the  fleet  advanced,  the  five  mortar- 
steamers  opened  fire  from  their  position, 
two  hundred  yards  from  the  water-battery 
of  Fort  Jackson^uelling  its  fire  by  pour 
ing  in  canister,  grapnel,  and  grape,  while 
the  mortars  threw  in  their  bombs  with 
great  fury. 

Captain  Bailey's  division,  led  by  the 
"Cayuga,"  passed  the  line  of  obstructions 
in  close  order,  but  from  this  point  the  ves 
sels  were  somewhat  damaged  by  the  heavy 
fire  of  St.  Philip  before  it  was  possible  for 
them  to  reply.  Captain  Bailey  kept  on 
steadily  in  the  "Cayuga"  and  ran  the 


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(182) 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR, 


183 


gauntlet  safely,  pouring  in  a  destructive 
fire  of  grape  and  canister  as  his  guns 
could  be  brought  to  bear. 

Above  the  forts  the  enemy's  gun-boats 
were  congregated,  and  several  of  them 
made  a  dash  at  the  "  Cayuga"  at  once,  but 
were  driven  off,  the  "  Oneida  "  and  "  Var 
una"  coming  to  her  assistance,  and.  by 
their  rapid  and  heavy  fire,  dispersing  the 
opposing  vessels.  The  coolness  ana  dis 
cipline  of  the  Union  vessels  here  showed 
to  great  advantage,  while  this  work  was 
more  congenial  than  that  of  battling  with 
forts. 

The  leading  division  continued  on  up  the 
river,  engaging  everything  that  was  met, 
most  of  the  enemy's  vessels  being  disabled 
by  the  time  the  centre  division  had  passed 
the  forts,  and  the  action  decided  in  favor  of 
the  Federal  fleet. 

Colonel  Higgins,  of  Fort  Jackson,  admit 
ted  this  when  he  saw  the  large  ships  of  the 
Flag-officer's  division  pass,  exclaiming : 
'•Better  goto  cover,  boys;  our  cake  is  all 
dough  !  the  old  Navy  has  won! " 

The  "  Varuna,"  Com.  Boggs.  of  the  first 
division,  being  a  fast  vessel,  had  out-strip 
ped  all  her  consorts,  and  chased  the  enemy 
alone  until  she  found  herself  surrounded 
by  them.  Supposing  her  to  be  one  of  their 
own  vessels,  in  the  darkness,  the  Confeder 
ates  did  not  attack  the  "Varuna  "  until  Com. 
Boggs  apprised  them  of  his  identity  by  a 
rapid  fire  from  both  sides.  Three  of  the  en 
emy  were  driven  ashore  in  flames,  and  one 
large  steamer  with  troops  on  board  drifted 
ashore  with  an  exploded  boiler  from  this 
encounter.  At  daylight  the  "Yaruna" 
suffered  a  double  attack  from  the  "Gover 
nor  Moore"  and  the  "  Stonewall  Jackson." 

The  former,  a  powerful  vessel,  fitted  as 
a  ram,  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Beverly 
Kennon,  formerly  of  the  U.  S.  Navy.  This 
vessel  ranged  up  on  the  quarter  of  the 
"Varuna "and  raked  her  along  the  port 
gangway  with  her  bow-gun,  killing  some 
five  or  six  men:  also  ramming  her.  En 
gaging  this  enemy,  the  "Varuna"  was  ex 
posed  to  a  blow  from  the  ram  "  Stonewall 
Jackson,"  which  penetrated  her  starboard 
side  below  water.  A  second  blow  was 
planted  in  the  same  place,  but  the  enemy 
was  exposed  to  a  destructive  fire  of  grape 
and  canister  from  the  "Varuna's"  eight- 
inch  guns,  and  finally  hauled  off,  disabled 
and  on  fire.  But  the  ''Varuna  "had  re 
ceived  her  death  wound,  was  filling  rapidly, 
and  to  save  life  her  gallant  commander 
headed  her  for  shoal  water  where  she  soon 
sank;  the  officers  and  crew  being  rescued 
by  the  "  Oneida"  and  "  Pensacola." 

Both  the  attacking  vessels  in  this  spirited 
engagement  were  fired  by  the  crews,  and 
abandoned. 

The  conflict   of  vessels   above  the   forts 


was  mainly  between  the  small  vessels  of 
both  sides,  and  great  skill  and  gallantry 
were  exhibited  on  either  side. 

Bailey's  division  may  be  said  to  have 
swept  the  way.  The  gunners  of  Fort  St. 
Philip  were  driven  to  shelter  by  the  heavy 
batteries  of  the  "  Pensacola"  and  "Missis 
sippi,"  and  the  difficulties  of  the  rear  ships 
diminished. 

Most  of  the  injuries  inflicted  upon  the 
fleet  were  from  St.  Philip,  which  nad  not 
been  exposed  to  the  bombardment  as  had 
Fort  Jackson. 

The  Flag-officer,  in  the  centre  division, 
came  abreast  the  forts  as  Bailey's  division 
reached  the  turn  in  the  river  above.  The 
" Hartford "  and  "Brooklyn  "  kept  the  line, 
but  the  "Richmond"  had  fallen  out,  and 
passed  up  on  the  west  or  right  bank.  Before 
this  time  the  Fort  Jackson  garrison  had 
been  nearly  all  driven  from  their  guns  by 
the  fire  of  the  mortar-steamers  at  the  water- 
battery,  and  the  bombs  from  the  schooners, 
while  the  river  had  been  illuminated  by  two 
fire-rafts,  and  the  brightness  as  of  day  re 
vealed  everything  distinctly. 

The  difficulty  of  keeping  a  line  of  seven 
teen  vessels  of  various  degrees  of  speed  in 
close  order,  against  a  three-and-a-half  knot 
current  in  an  irregular  channel,  can  be 
readily  appreciated,  and  it  is  not  singular 
that  some  of  Farragut's  fleet  "broke  line" 
under  the  trying  circumstances  of  the  hour. 
The  "  Iroquois."  under  Com.  De  Camp,  a 
very  gallant  officer,  diverged  from  the  line, 
and  being  very  swift,  passed  ahead  of  the 
vessels  of  her  division.  Above  Fort  Jack 
son,  from  which  she  did  not  receive  a  single 
shot,  though  passing  its  levee  within  fifty 
yards,  the  "Iroquois"  was  attacked  by  a 
ram  and  the  gun-boat  "  McRea,"  both  of 
which  were  driven  off,  and  the  commander 
of  the  latter  (Lieut.  Huger),  mortally 
wounded. 

The  "Iroquois"  suffered  much  loss  and 
was  considerably  cut  up  in  her  actions  with 
the  gun-boats  and  Fort  St.  Philip. 

As  Farragut  engaged  Fort  St.  Philip  at 
close  quarters, the  Confederate  gunners  were 
again  driven  to  shelter  by  the  fire  of  his 
heavy  ships,  but  an  attack  of  another  kind 
was  now  made  upon  the  "Hartford."  his 
flag-ship.  The  Confederate  tug  "  Mosher," 
commanded  by  a  brave  fellow  named  Sher 
man,  pushed  a  burning  raft  alongside  the 
Union  vessel,  which  vainly  tried  to  avoid 
the  contact  by  porting  her  helm.  This 
brought  her  upon  a  shoal,  and  to  a  stand 
still.  The  fire-raft  was  shoved  against  the 
port  side,  while  the  flames  threatened  the 
entire  destruction  of  the  ship.  But  there 
was  no  confusion,  the  starboard  battery 
continued  to  engage  Fort  St.  Philip,  while 
the  firemen  fought  the  blaze  that  had 
caught  upon  the  side  and  rigging.  The 


184 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


"  Hartford  "  succeeded  in  backing  off  the 
shoal,  the  raft  was  turned  adrift,  the  flames 
extinguished,  and  the  advance  taken  up  as 
before.  The  situation  had  been  one  of 
great  peril,  but  Farragut  was  the  great 
commander  throughout.  Walking  the 
poop  coolly,  he  allowed  the  fire  to  be  fought 
by  Commander  Wain  \v right  and  his  men. 
The  fire  was  a  sharp  one;  and,  at  times, 
rushing  through  the  ports  would  drive  the 
men  back  from  the  guns.  Seeing  this,  Far 
ragut  called  out,  •'Don't  flinch  from  that 
fire,  boys;  there's  a  hotter  fire  than  that  for 
those  who  don't  do  their  duty  !  Give  that 
rascally  little  tug  a  shot,  and  don't  let  her 
get  off  with  a  whole  coat ! " 

The  tug  did  escape  from  the  "  Hartford," 
though  by  Confederate  accounts  she  was 
destroyed  during  the  fight. 

The  loss  to  the  "Hartford  "  in  the  passage 


Much  of  this  engagement,  it  must  be  re 
membered,  was  fought  in  darkness,  except 
for  the  light  emitted  by  the  flashes  of  the 
guns  through  the  smoke-clouded  air,  and 
the  ships  groped  their  way  by  these  uncer 
tain  guides. 

Passing  the  forts  the  "  Brooklyn  "  was  at 
tacked  by  a  large  steamer  at  a  distance  of 
not  more  than  fifty  or  sixty  yards.  A  single 
broadside  from  the  sloop's  heavy  battery, 
drove  her  out  of  action  in  flames. 

The  "Brooklyn"'  received  but  seventeen 
hits  in  the  hull,  during  the  heavy  fire  to 
which  she  was  subjected,  but  these  did 
much  execution,  nine  men  being  killed  and 
twenty-six  wounded. 

The*  fleet's  success  was  virtually  decided 
when  the  large  ships  had  passed  the  forts, 
and  the  head  of  the  third  division  under 
Captain  Bell  found  but  comparatively  slight 


CAPTAIN   BAILEY'S  DIVISION   MEETING  THE   ENEMY'S  FLOTILLA   ABOVE   THE   FORTS. 


of  the  forts  was  three  killed  and  ten  wounded, 
with  thirty-two  shot  in  hull  and  rigging. 

The  "Hartford"  was  followed  as  closely 
as  possible  by  the  "Brooklyn,"  Captain 
Thomas  T.  Craven;  the  smoke  from  rafts 
and  guns  rendered  this  very  difficult,  but 
the  sweeping  fire  of  the  "  Hartford  "  was 
supplemented  by  hers,  and  she  passed  the 
forts  in  safety,  to  be  attacked,  however, 
immediately  after,  by  the  little  ram.  "  Man- 
assas,"  the  most  troublesome  vessel  in  the 
Confederate  service,  not  excepting  the 
"  Louisiana" — as  she  behaved  in  the  action. 

Commanded  by  Lieutenant  Warley,  a  gal 
lant  young  officer,  formerly  of  the  U.  S. 
Navy,  this  craft  made  directly  for  the 
"Brooklyn's"  starboard-side,  but  inflicted 
only  slight  damage.  A  second  attack  gave 
the  same  result,  for  the  chain  protection  to 
the  machinery  saved  the  "  Brooklyn,"  and 
the  ram  glanced  off  into  the  darkness. 


resistance  to  the  passage  of  his  leading  ves 
sel,  the  "  Sciota." 

Farragut's  first  intention,  to  place  the 
heavy  ships  in  the  van,  would  probably  have 
resulted  in  the  immediate  crushing  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  rear  of  his  line  would  have 
followed  a  beaten  path. 

With  the  exception  of  the  "  Itasca," 
Lieutenant  Caldwell;  the  "Winona,"  Lieu 
tenant  Nichols;  and  the  "Kennebec,"' 
Lieutenant  Russell,  the  fleet  succeeded  in 
passing  the  forts 

The  "Itasca"  was  much  cut  up,  and 
having  a  shot  through  her  boiler,  was  com 
pelled  to  drop  down  the  river,  out  of  action, 
after  which  she  was  run  ashore  to  prevent 
sinking.  Fourteen  shot  and  shell  had  passed 
through  her  hull,  but  the  list  of  casualties 
was  small. 

The  "  Kennebec  "  and  "Winona,"  being 
at  the  end  of  the  line,  had  been  left  below 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


185 


the  forts  at  daylight,  and  were  there  ex 
posed  to  the  fire  of  both  works,  with  small 
ability  to  reply.  Bein<£  slow  vessels,  with 
a  rapid  current  against  them,  they  were  long 
exposed  to  the  deliberate  practice  of  the  en 
emy  and  were  obliged  to  haul  out  of  action 
below.  The  demoralization  of  the  enemy 
was  evident,  however,  from  their  escape. 

Xo  grander  or  more  beautiful  sight  could 
have  been  realized  than  the  scenes  of  that 
night-  From  silence,  disturbed  now  and 
then  only  by  the  slow  fire  of  the  mortars, 
—the  phantom-like  movements  of  the  ves 
sels  giving  no  sound — an  increased  roar  of 
heavy  guns  began,  while  the  mortars  burst 
forth  into  rapid  bombardment,  as  the  fleet 
dre\v  near  the  enemy's  works.  Vessel  after 
vessel  added  her  guns  to  those  already  at 
work,  until  the  very  earth  seemed  to  shake 


LIEUT.    (NOW   COMMODORE)    W.    W.    QUEEN. 

(COMMANDING   A   DIVISION   OF   MORTAR   FLOTILLA.) 

from  their  reverberations.  A  burning  raft 
adding  its  lurid  glare  to  the  scene,  and  the 
fiery  tracks  of  the  mortar-shells  as  they 
passed  through  the  darkness  aloft,  and 
sometimes  burst  in  mid-air,  gave  the  impres 
sion  that  heaven  itself  had  joined  in  the 
general  strife.  The  succeeding  silence  was 
almost  as  sudden.  From  the  weighing  of 
the  anchors,  one  hour  and  ten  minutes  saw 
the  vessels  by  the  forts,  and  Farragut  on 
his  way  to  New  Orleans,  the  prize  staked 
upon  the  fierce  game  of  war  just  ended. 

As  the  fleet  was  approaching  quarantine, 
some  distance  above  the  forts,  the  "  Manas- 
sas,''  the  most  active  and  troublesome  of 
the  Confederate  fleet,  was  seen,  in  the  early 
daylight,  coming  up  river  in  chase.  The 
Flag-officer  directed  Commander  Smith  to 
leave  the  line  with  the  "  Mississippi,"  and 
run  the  ram  down. 


The  "Mississippi"  turned  instantly  and 
started  for  the  enemy  at  full  speed.  The 
''Manassas*'  had  evidently  practiced  her 
parts  before,  for,  shifting  her  helm  quickly 
when  but  a  short  distance  from  the  big  ves 
sel's  bow,  she  dodged  the  blow,  but  in  so 
doing  ran  ashore,  where  she  was  deserted 
by  her  crew. 

Commander  Smith  wished  to  preserve  the 
"  Manassas,"  but  was  obliged  to  recall  the 
boats  sent  to  secure  her,  on  account  of  a 
burning  wreck  approaching  him.  The  ram. 
was  therefore  set  on  fire,  and  riddled  with 
shot,  after  which  she  drifted  away  from  the 
bank,  and  finally  blew  up  below  the  forts. 

This  ended  the  irregular  fighting  with  the 
Confederate  vessels;  ten  of  them  had  been 
sunk  or  destroyed,  while  the  "Varuna," 
with  her  two  adversaries,  lay  at  the  bot 
tom  of  the  river  near  the  bank,  evidence 
of  the  gallantry  of  Boggs. 

After  the  fleet  had  passed  the  forts,  there 
remained  no  necessity  for  the  presence  of 
the  mortar-flotilla  steamers  off  the  water- 
battery.  They  accordingly  dropped  down 
the  river  to  the  position  of  the  mortar- 
schooners,  and  the  signal  made  the  latter  to 
cease  firing. 

The  situation  of  the  vessels  left  below  the 
forts  seemed  far  from  secure.  The  ironclad, 
"Louisiana,"  was  still  at  her  moorings, 
uninjured,  and  three  other  vessels  of  war 
could  be  seen  moving  from  one  side  of  the 
river  to  the  other.  Their  character  could 
not  be  ascertained,  but  presuming  they 
were  gun-boats,  with  the  assistance  of  their 
huge  consort  they  were  more  than  a  match 
for  the  Union  vessels  if  properly  handled. 

Commander  Porter  took  immediate  steps 
to  meet  contingencies.  The  failure  of  the 
"  Itasca,"  "  Kennebec  "  and  "  Winona  "  to 
pass  the  batteries  had  added  the  two  latter 
to  his  force  (  the  "  Itasca"  being  disabled), 
which  now  amounted  to  seven  effective 
gun -boats;  these  he  at  once  prepared  for 
emergencies.  His  plan,  in  case  of  attack, 
was  to  place  as  many  as  possible  of  the  ves 
sels  alongside  the  "  Louisiana,"  have  each 
one  make  fast  to  her,  let  go  two  anchors, 
and  then  "  fight  it  out  on  that  line." 

No  attack  was  made,  however,  and  the 
iron-clad  lost  an  opportunity  to  strike  a 
final  blow,  which  she  could  have  inflicted 
even  with  her  machinery  in  a  defective 
condition. 

Meanwhile  Farragut  had  passed  on  up 
the  river,  leaving  one  or  two  gun-boats  to 
guard  the  lazaretto.  The  right-of-way  was 
disputed  at  Jackson's  old  battle  ground  of 
January  8,  1815,  by  the  Chalmette  batteries. 

These  works — on  both  sides  of  the  river — • 
mounted  twenty  heavy  guns,  and  were  pre 
pared  to  receive  the  approaching  vessels, 
coming  up  in  two  columns  at  their  best  speed. 

The  vessels  that  had   passed  the    forts 


ISO 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


below,  gave  short  account  of  these  bat 
teries,  though  the  work  was  very  sharp 
while  it  lasted,  especially  on  account  of  the 
time  during  which  the  slow  ships  were  held 
under  a  raking  fire. 

From  this  point  resistance  ceased,  and 
about  noon  on  the  2oth  of  April,  the  fleet 
anchored  off  New  Orleans,  which  the  re 
treat  of  General  Lovell  left  defenseless  and 
in  the  hands  of  the  civil  authorities. 

Lieut.  Com.  John  Guest  was  sent  at  noon 
of  the  25th  to  Fort  Jackson  under  a  flag  of 
truce,  to  call  upon  the  Confederate  com 
mander,  in  view  of  the  uselessness  of  fur 
ther  bloodshed,  to  surrender  the  forts  and 
the  remnants  of  the  Confederate  Navy  at 
the  place,  as  Farragut  had  passed  up  the 
river  with  little  loss,  and  was  probably  then 
in  New  Orleans. 

General  Duncan  replied  very  civilly,  but 
declined  to  surrender  before  hearing  from 
the  city.  Immediately  upon  the  receipt  of 
this  reply  by  Commander  Porter,  a  very 
rapid  mortar-fire  was  opened  upon  Fort 
Jackson. 

The  effect  was  such  as  to  cause  a  mutiny 
among  the  garrison,  who  refused  to  longer 
undergo  the  probability  of  useless  slaughter, 
and  many  deserted  from  the  works  and  re 
treated  up  river  out  of  range.  The  remain 
der  refused  to  fight  the  guns,  and  reasoned 
that  as  they  had  unflinchingly  borne  the 
terrible  six  days'  bombardment,  and  had 
exposed  themselves  to  the  night  ordeal  of 
the  fire,  of  the  passing  fleet,  it  was  time  the 
fort  should  be  surrendered  without  further 
loss  of  life. 

The  bombardment  was  continued  during 
the  afternoon  until  the  shells  were  ex 
hausted,  and  on  the  following  day  (the 
20th)  the  schooners  were  got  under  way 
and  sent  to  Pilotstown  to  replenish  their 
ammunition.  Six  were  ordered  thereafter 
to  cross  the  bar  at  Southwest  Pass  and  pro 
ceed  to  the  rear  of  Fort  Jackson,  holding 
themselves  in  readiness  for  any  service. 

At  midnight  of  the  28th,  General  Duncan 
sent  an  officer  on  board  the  "  Harriet  Lane" 
to  inform  Commander  Porter  of  his  willing 
ness  to  capitulate. 

On  the  following  day  Commander  Porter 
with  nine  gun-boats,  proceeded  up  river  to 
Fort  Jackson,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  and 
upon  his  arrival  a  boat  was  sent  for  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  river  defenses, 
and  such  other  officers  as  he  might  desire 
to  have  accompany  him.  These  officers 
were  received  on  board  with  all  the  respect 
due  to  brave  men,  and  they  bore  themselves 
accordingly,  though  there  must  have  been 
a  mortification  in  surrendering  to  what 
was,  in  many  respects,  an  inferior  force. 
At  the  time  of  the  capitulation,  however, 
the  Federal  officers  knew  nothing  of  the 
internal  troubles  which  had  immediately 


induced  the  surrender — the  mutiny  and 
desertion  of  the  men,  and  the  final  strokes 
of  the  fleet  above.  In  any  case,  whether 
Farragut  had  succeeded  or  failed  in  his 
operations  above,  it  was  important  to  ob 
tain  possession  of  the  forts  as  early  as 
possible,  and  to  that  end  terms  of  capitula 
tion  had  been  already  prepared,  and  these 
were  accepted  by  General  Duncan  and 
Lieut.  Col.  Higgins. 

As  the  terms  were  being  signed,  Porter 
found,  to  his  surprise,  that  the  capitulation 
of  the  defenses  was  not  to  include  those 
afloat,  General  Duncan  asserting  that  he 
had  no  authority  whatever  over  the  naval 
branch.  The  commander  of  the  regular 


COMMANDER  (NOW  ADMIRAL)  DAVID  D.  PORTER. 

naval  forces  (Commander  Mitchell)  had.  in 
fact,  set  the  military  at  defiance.  Porter 
waived  the  point,  however,  being  deter 
mined  upon  the  course  to  pursue  when  pos 
session  of  the  forts  was  secured. 

All  connected  with  the  capitulation  were 
seated  at  the  table  on  board  the  "Harriet 
Lane,"  with  the  articles  before  them. 
Porter  had  signed  them,  as  had  Commander 
Renshaw,  of  the  "  West-field."  Lieut.  Com. 
Wainwright.  of  the  "Harriet  Lane,"  was 
about  to  follow  with  his  signature,  when 
one  of  his  officers  requested  him  urgently 
to  come  on  deck.  He  returned  at  once  with 
the  report  that  the  "  Louisiana"  was  drifting 
down  river  on  fire,  coming  toward  the  Union 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


187 


vessels  which  were  anchored  about  thirty 
yards  apart.  Being  broadside  to  the  current 
the  iron-clad  would  not  have  room  to  pass. 
"  This  is  sharp  practice."  Porter  re 
marked  to  the  Confederate  officers,  "but  if 
you  can  stand  the  explosion  when  it  comes, 
we  can.  We  will  go  on,  and  finish  the  ca 
pitulation.'  He  then  gave  Lieutenant 
Wainwright  orders  to  pass  the  word  to  each 
of  the  other  vessels  to  veer  to  the  end  of 
their  chains,  and  to  use  steam  in  sheering 
clear  of  the  burning  wreck  if  necessary, 
but  not  to  leave  the  anchorage.  The  pen 
was  then  handed  to  General  Duncan  and 
to  Colonel  Higgins,  the  boldness  of  whose 
signatures  gave  no  evidence  of  the  proxim 
ity  of  a  possibly  fatal  explosion. 


COMMANDER  JOHN  K.  MITCHELL. 

(OOMJIANDEK  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  NAVAL   FORCES  IS   THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

The  signatures  being  duly  attached,  all 
awaited  quietly  the  result,  which  was  not 
long  delayed,  the  explosion  taking  place 
with  a  shock  that  fairly  unseated  the  expect 
ant  officers,  and  threw  the  "  Harriet  Lane" 
well  over  to  port.  The  capitulation  was 
regularly  finished,  despite  the  interruption. 

The  "Louisiana"  had  fortunately  ex 
ploded  before  reaching  the  line  of  vessels, 
and  injured  nothing  but  Fort  St.  Philip,  at 
which  one  man  was  killed. 

The  action  of  the  Confederate  naval  offi 
cers  in  destroying  the  "  Louisiana  "  was  se 
verely  censured  by  those  of  the  army.  The 
latter  assured  the  Federal  officers  tliat  they 
felt  in  no  way  responsible,  as  the  vessel  was 
entirely  under  Commander  Mitchell's  con 
trol. 


The  Federal  commander  was  much  dis 
appointed  in  the  loss  of  the  "  Louisiana," 
as  he  had  calculated  upon  her  usefulness 
against  her  former  owners  in  operations 
further  up  the  river. 

Within  ten  minutes  after  the  departure 
of  the  Confederate  officers,  the  colors  of 
the  forts  were  hauled  down,  and  both  works 
delivered  over  to  the  officers  appointed  to 
receive  them.  The  enemy's  flag  was  still 
shown  on  the  river,  however,  for  Com 
mander  Mitchell,  after  setting  fire  to  the 
"Louisiana,"  transferred  his  crew  to  a  river 
steamer,  and  made  for  the  opposite  bank, 
a  mile  or  so  above  the  forts. 

As  soon  as  General  Duncan  had  left  the 
"Harriet  Lane,"  Commander  Porter,  to 
whom  Mitchell's  movements  had  been  re 
ported,  ordered  Lieutenant  Wainwright  to 
get  under  way  and  beat  to  quarters  Steer 
ing  directly  for  the  vessel  carrying  Mitch 
ell's  flag,  the  "Harriet  Lane  "  sent  a  shot 
at  the  flag-pole,  but  the  hint  was  taken  and 
the  colors  hauled  down  at  once.  Lieuten 
ant  Wainwright  was  sent  aboard  the 
steamer  to  take  possession.  He  was  met 
by  Commander  Mitchell,  and  requested  to 
extend  the  same  terms  as  had  been  granted 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  forts.  Mitchell 
was  given  to  understand  that  no  terms 
would  be  extended  him  or  his  officers,  that 
they  would  be  held  close  prisoners  to  answer 
for  a  violation  of  a  flag  of  truce,  and  that 
all  would  be  sent  to  the  Xorth. 

In  a  communication  made  to  Commander 
Porter,  Mitchell  at  once  removed  the  re 
sponsibility  for  the  act  from  all  but  three 
or  four  officers.  The  prisoners  were  sent 
up  river  to  Flag-officer  Farragut  for  his 
disposition,  but  though  afterward  sent  to 
the  Xorth,  and  held  in  confinement  for 
some  time,  nothing  was  done  to  the  guilty 
actors,  and  the  matter  finally  dropped. 

After  all  the  defenses  were  in  Union  hands 
Commander  Porter  dispatched  a  steamer  to 
the  bar.  and  brought  up  a  vessel  of  General 
Butler's  expedition,  having  on  board  Gen 
eral  Phelps  with  a  number  of  infantry,  to 
whom  the  forts  were  turned  over. 

The  total  loss  in  the  fleet  during  these  en 
gagements  was  35  killed,  and  158  wounded. 
The  chief  sufferers  were  the  "Pensacola," 
37:  "  Brooklyn,"  35;  and  the  "  Iroquois."  28. 

The  rising  sun.  the  morning  after  the 
fight,  shone  on  smiling  faces,  even  among 
the  wounded.  Farragut  received  the  con 
gratulations  of  his  officers,  as  he  had  con 
ducted  the  great  fight,  with  imperturbility. 
He  wasted  no  time  in  vain  regrets  over  the 
saddening  features  of  his  victory,  but  mak 
ing  the  signal  "  Push  on  to  New  Orleans," 
seemed  to  forget  the  imperishable  fame  he 
had  won.  while  in  thought  he  was  following 
up  his  great  victory  to  the  end. 

The  two  following  letters  were  issued  by 


188 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY. 


the  Hon.  Gideon  Welles  on  receiving  the 
announcement  of  the  important  victory  at 
New  Orleans,  and  he  expressed  his  feelings 
and  those  of  the  Union  people  in  terms  not 
only  felicitous,  but  worthy  to  be  engraved 
in  letters  of  gold.  This  victory  was  the 
first  great  blow  the  enemy  had  received; 
it  was  the  step  towards  dividing  the  slave 
territory  and  separating  the  two  parts  by 
a  great  river,  on  the  bosom  of  which  the 
Navy  could  advance  with  its  gun-boats, 
and  with  their  heavy  guns  bring  the  peo 
ple  along  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi 
to  a  sense  of  their  obligations  to  the 
Government.  It  was  the  wedge  that  had 
been  driven  into  the  vitals  of  the  rebellion 
that  would  finally  tear  it  asunder,  and 
it  was  a  blow  that  had  been  dealt  by  the 
Navy  alone.  It  fact,  it  was  a  blow  that 
shortened  the  war  one-half,  and  which  rung 
through  Europe  in  unmistakable  language, 
giving  the  world  to  understand  that  we  were 
determined  to  hold  the  legitimate  property 
of  the  Government  in  defiance  of  English 
threats  or  French  intrigues,  and  that  the 
Navy,evenwithits  paucity  of  ships  and  guns, 
would  again  assert  its  power,  energy  and  de 
votion  to  the  flag  which  had  always  charac 
terised  it  since  we  first  became  a  nation. 

The  praise  bestowed  on  the  officers  and 
sailors  of  the  fleet  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  was  nothing  more  than  their  due, 
and  the  votes  of  thanks  which  were  sent 
from  the  halls  of  Congress  would  have  been 
more  acceptable  if  that  body  had  not  hesi 
tated  for  so  many  years  to  do  justice  to  the 
fleet  by  voting  them  the  prize-money  they 
were  legally  entitled  to,  and  which  they 
had  won  by  a  valor  never  surpassed — those 
to  whom  this  would  have  been  a  boon  died 
before  the  money  was  appropriated,  and 
even  Farragut  did  not  live  to  receive  all 
that  was  due  him. 

"NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
May  10,  1862.      f 

"  SIR — Captain  Bailey,  your  second  in  command, 
has  brought  to  the  department  the  official  de 
spatches  from  your  squadron,  with  the  trophies 
forwarded  to  the  national  capital. 


"  Our  Navy,  fruitful  with  victories,  presents  no 
more  signal  achievements  than  this,  nor  is  there  an 
exploit  surpassing  it  recorded  in  the  annals  of  naval 
warfare.  In  passing,  and  eventually  overcoming 
Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  the  batteries  above 
and  below  New  Orleans,  destroying  the  barriers  of 
chains,  steam-rams,  fire-rafts,  iron-clad  vessels,  and 
other  obstructions,  capturing  from  the  Confederate 
forces  the  great  southern  metropolis,  and  obtaining 
possession  and  control  of  the  Lower  Mississippi, 
yourself,  your  officers,  and  our  brave  sailors  and 
marines,  whose  courage  and  daring  bear  historic 
renown,  have  won  a  nation's  gratitude  and  ap 
plause.  I  congratulate  you  and  your  command  on 
your  great  success  in  having  contributed  so  largely 
towards  destroying  the  unity  of  the  rebellion,  and 
in  restoring  again  to  the  protection  of  the  national 
government  and  the  national  flag  the  important 
city  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  so  large  a  portion 
of  its  immediate  dependencies. 

"  Your  example  and  its  successful  results,  though 
attended  with  some  sacrifice  of  life  and  loss  of  ships, 
inculcate  the  fact  that  the  first  duty  of  a  com 
mander  in  war  is  to  take  great  risks  for  the  accom 
plishment  of  great  ends. 

"  One  and  all,  officers  and  men,  composing  your 
command,  deserve  well  of  their  country. 

"I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

'S  Signed)    '  "  GIDEON  WELLES. 

"  Flag-officer  D.  Or.  FARRAGUT, 

"  Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
"Squadron,  New  Orleans." 

"  NAVY  DEPARTMENT.  / 
May  10,  1862.      [ 

"  SIR— Your  dispatch  of  April  30,  inclosing  the  ar 
ticles  of  capitulation  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip,  which  surrendered  on  the  28th,  after  a  bom 
bardment  of  one  hundred  and  forty-four  consecu 
tive  hours  by  the  mortar  flotilla,  has  been  received. 
I  have  also  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  flags 
taken  in  the  two  forts  on  that  occasion,  including 
the  original  one  hoisted  on  Fort  St.  Philip  when 
the  Confederate  forces  declared  the  State  of  Louis 
iana  to  have  seceded  from  the  Union,  which  have 
been  sent  forward  to  the  Department. 

"The  important  part  which  you  have  borne  in  the 
organization  of  the  mortar  flotilla,  and  the  move 
ment  on  New  Orleans,  had  identified  your  name 
with  one  of  the  most  brilliant  naval  achievements 
on  record ;  and  to  your  able  assistance  with  the 
flotilla  is  Flag-officer  Farragut  much  indebted  for 
the  successful  results  he  has  accomplished.  To 
yourself  and  the  officers  and  seamen  of  the  mortar 
flotilla  the  Department  extends  its  congratula 
tions.  "I  am,  respectfully, 

"GIDEON  WELLES. 
"  Commander  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

"Commanding  U.  S.  Mortar  Flotilla,  etc.,  etc.' 


CHAPTER   XIX 


BATTLE  OF  THE  FORTS  AND  CAPTURE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

INTERESTING  REPORTS  OF  FLAG-OFFICER  FARRAGUT  ;  CAPTAINS  BAILEY,  BELL,  MORRIS, 
CRAVEN:  COMMANDERS  WAINWRIGHT,  LEE,  SMITH,  BOGGS,  DECAMP,  ALDEN,  NICHOLS, 
CALDWELL,  PORTER,  MITCHELL,  AND  OTHERS.  OFFICIAL  LETTERS  OF  GIDEON  WELLES, 
MAYOR  MONROE,  AND  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  OF  NEW  ORLEANS,  ETC. 


T  is  desirable  in  some  respects  to  make 
this  a  book  of  reference,  especially 
in  regard  to  official  letters,  which 
seldom  or  ever  are  seen  by  the  public, 
the  several  reports  of  Admiral  Farra- 
gut,  also  those  of  his  officers,  contain  details 
of  the  battle  at  the  forts,  and  of  the  cap 
ture  of  New  Orleans,  which  can  best  be 
told  by  those  who  were  participators  in 
those  stirring  scenes,  and  they  are  appended 
to  the  general  account  of  the  battle.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years  these  letters  •will  be 
come  inaccessible,  except  from  the  files  of 
the  Navy  Department,  and  they  should  be 
treasured  as  the  ground-work  of  the  his 
tory  of  the  most  important  naval  battle  of 
modern  times, — we  do  not  think  any  excuse 
is  needed  for  inserting  them  here. 

COMMENCEMENT  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  BOM 
BARDMENT  OF  FORT  JACKSON. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,"  ) 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  2,  1862.       f 

SIR — We  commenced  the  bombardment 
of  Fort  Jackson  on  the  10th.  which  was  the 
earliest  day  possible  after  the  arrival  of 
coal.  On  the  first  day  the  citadel  was  set 
on  fire,  and  burnt  until  two  o'clock  the  next 
morning.  On  the  17th  we  made  but  little 
apparent  impression  on  the  fort. 

On  the  18th  we  dismounted  one  of  their 
heavy  Columbiads  and  otherwise  appeared 
to  damage  them,  and  drove  the  men  from 
the  parapet  guns,  so  that  they  only  ap 
peared  occasionally  when  the  gun-boats 
took  part  in  the  bombardment  to  draw  the 
fire  from  the  bomb  vessels.  On  the  19th  a 


deserter  came  to  us  from  the  fort,  and  gave 
the  information  that  I  have  stated  above, 
and  much  other  information  in  relation  to 
the  armament  of  the  forts  and  their  gen 
eral  condition. 

The  wind  was  blowing  from  the  north 
west,  and  chilly,  the  current  running  with 
great  strength,  so  that  the  ships,  when  un 
der  way,  could  scarcely  stem  it.  so  that  I 
shall  await  a  change  of  wind  and  a  conse 
quent  less  violent  current  before  I  attack 
the  forts,  as  I  find  great  difficulty  in  avoid 
ing  collisions  among  the  vessels.  Two  of 
the  gun-boats,  "Katahdin"  and  "  Sciota," 
have  been  seriously  damaged  by  getting 
across-hawse  of  the  ships  and  running  into 
each  other.  We  lose  a  great  many  anchors 
and  cables,  and  those  articles  are  very 
much  wanted  in  the  squadron.  The  "Hart 
ford  "  is  almost  the  only  ship  that  has  not 
lost  both. 

On  the  first  day's  fire  of  the  enemy  they 
put  a  shot  through  one  of  the  mortar  ves 
sels  and  killed  one  man  but  did  not  destroy 
her  efficiency.  The  second  day  they  sunk 
one  with  a  rifle  shot,  but  hurt  no  one  ma 
terially.  They  have  sent  down  five  fire- 
rafts;  none  produced  any  effect  on  the  fleet 
except  the  last,  which  only  caused  the  col 
lision  of  the  "  Sciota  "  and  "  Kineo,"  both 
of  which  vessels  dragged  across  the  bows 
of  the  ''  Mississippi,"  and  carried  away  the 
mainmast  of  the  first,  and  damaged  them 
both  very  much  otherwise;  the  raft  was 
turned  clear  of  all  the  vessels  of  the  fleet, 
but  as  the  wind  and  strong  current  were 
peculiarly  favorable,  it  gave  us  more  trouble 
than  on  anv  former  occasion. 


(189) 


190 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


I  sent  up  Commander  Bell  last  evening 
to  destroy  the  chain  and  raft  across  the 
river,  but  the  current  was  so  strong  that 
he  could  accomplish  but  little,  in  conse 
quence  of  one  of  his  gun -boats  getting  on 
shore,  and  she  was  only  saved  by  great  ex 
ertion,  as  the  enemy  was  firing  on  them  all 
the  time. 

Commander  Porter,  however,  kept  up 
such  a  tremendous  fire  on  them  from  the 
mortars  that  the  enemy's  shot  did  the  gun 
boats  no  injury,  and  the  cable  was  separ 
ated  and  their  connection  broken  suffici 
ently  to  pass  through  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  river.  The  petard  operator  failed  to 
fire  his  petards,  owing  to  the  breaking  of 
his  wires,  which  prevented  the  full  destruc 
tion  of  the  chain  and  the  vessels;  but  great 
allowance  is  to  be  made  for  the  violence  of 
the  current,  which  exceeds  anything  we 
have  had  to  contend  with  since  our  arival 
in  the  river. 

In  conclusion,  I  regret  to  say  that  the 
fleet  is  in  want  of  all  the  essentials  to  carry 
on  our  work — shells,  fuses  (15"  and  20",) 
serge  and  yarn,  to  make  cartridge-bags, 
grape  and  canister  shot — for  all  of  which  I 
made  large  requisitions,  and  the  articles 
may  be  on  their  way  out. 

The  medical  department  is  miserably  sup 
plied  for  the  care  of  the  wounded.  General 
Butler  has  offered  to  share  with  us,  in  fact, 
everything  he  has,  which  will  supply  many 
of  our  wants;  but  justice  to  myself  requires 
me  to  say  that  I  required  all  these  supplies 
some  time  before  I  left  Hampton  Koads, 
and  others  immediately  on  my  arrival  at 
Key  West  or  Ship  Island,  and  I  suppose  ac 
cidental  causes  have  stopped  them  on  their 
way  out  here.* 

My  coal  arrived  just  in  time. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by 
your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 


ATTACK  ON  FORTS  JACKSON  AXD  ST.  PHILIP. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD/'  ) 

AT  ANCHOR  OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,      [ 

April  25,  1862.          ) 

SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  inform  the  de 
partment  that  on  the  24th  instant,  at  about 
half-past  3  A.  M.,  I  attacked  Fort  St.  Philip 
and  Fort  Jackson  with  my  little  fleet,  while 
Commander  Porter  most  gallantly  bom 
barded  them,  and,  besides,  took  them  in  the 
flank  with  his  steamers,  aided  by  the 

*  The  ordnance  and  hospital  stores  were  shipped  on  the  United 
States  steamer  "  Kensington."  which  was  prevented  by  bad  weather, 
breaking  of  machinery,  and  other  causes,  from  reaching  her  destina 
tion  as  early  as  designed.  She  arrived,  however,  in  season. 


"Portsmouth."  Such  a  fire  I  imagine,  the 
world  has  rarely  seen,  but,  thank  God,  we 
got  past  the  forts  with  a  loss  of  only 
twenty-four  killed  and  eighty-six  wounded; 
but  as  I  have  not  heard  what  became  of  the 
three  gun-boats,  "Kennebec,"  "  Itasca," 
and  "Winona,"  I  fear  they  were  lost  in 
passing,  and  the  "Varuna"  was  run  into 
by  two  of  the  Confederate  steamers,  and 
finally  sunk  :  I  took  (and  burnt)  eleven 
steam  gun-boats,  and  two  hundred  troops 
or  upwards.  I  then  pushed  up  for  the  city 
of  New  Orleans,  leaving  two  gun-boats  to 
aid  General  Butler  in  landing  at  the  quar 
antine,  and  sent  him  a  communication  by 
Commander  Boggs,  requesting  him  to  come 
up  at  once.  I  came  up  to  within  six  or 
seven  miles  of  the  city,  when  two  forts 
opened  on  us,  but  we  silenced  them  in  fifteen 
or  twenty  minutes,  although  it  was  warm 
work  while  it  lasted.  I  have  not  yet  heard 
of  the  killed  and  wounded.  We  only  lost 
one  man  and  none  wounded,  although  Cap 
tain  Bailey,  in  the  "Cayuga,"  with  Lieut. 
Com.  Harrison,  and  this  ship,  stood  the  first 
brunt  of  the  action,  before  the  other  ves 
sels  could  get  up.  We  drove  them  from 
their  guns,  and  passed  up  to  the  city  in  fine 
style,  and  I  now  send  this  notice  of  our 
having  taken  possession  of  the  city  at  meri- 
dia.n  or  a  few  minutes  p.  M. 

But  I  must  say  I  never  witnessed  such 
vandalism  in  my  life  as  the  destruction  of 
property;  all  the  shipping,  steamboats,  etc., 
were  set  on  fire  and  consumed.  The  new 
iron-clad  ram,  just  finished,  but  without 
her  machinery,  went  floating  by  us.  While 
I  am  finishing  this  report.  Captain  Bailey 
has  been  sent  to  demand  the  surrender  of 
the  city  to  me  in  the  name  of  the  United 
States. 

I  shall  now  send  down  with  this  letter 
Commander  Smith,  in  the  "Mississippi,"  to 
look  after  General  Butler,  and  a  ram,  which 
it  appears  we  left  behind  at  Fort  Jackson, 
as  it  might  be  more  than  a  match  for  the 
two  gun-boats  I  left  behind. 

In  conclusion,  I  hope  I  have  done  all  I 
proposed  to  do,  which  was,  to  take  the  city 
of  New  Orleans  ;  and  I  will  now.  in  con 
junction  with  the  Army,  General  Butler,  re 
duce  the  forts,  and  take  care  of  the  outlet 
from  the  west,  and  purpose  immediately  to 
ascend  to  meet  Flag-officer  Foote. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  has 
been  such  as  to  command  my  highest  ad 
miration,  and  shall  hereafter 'be  a  subject 
of  more  special  commendation. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy.  Washington,  D.  C. 


OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR, 


ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF  FORTS 

JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP  AND  SURRENDER 

OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  ••'  HARTFORD.'' 
AT  ANCHOR  OFF  NEW  ORLEANS, 

April  29,  1802. 
SIR — I  am  happy  to  announce  to  you  that 
our  flag  waves  over  both  Forts  Jackson  and 
St.  Philip,  and  at  New  Orleans  over  the 
custom-house.  I  am  taking  every  means 
to  secure  the  occupation  by  General  Butler 
of  all  the  forts  along  the  coast.  Berwick's 
Bay  and  Fort  Pike  have  been  abandoned; 
in  fact,  there  is  a  general  stampede,  and  I 
shall  endeavor  to  follow  it  up. 

I  am  bringing  up  the  troops  as  fast  as 
possible.  We  have  destroyed  all  the  forts 
above  the  city,  four  in  number:  which  are 
understood  to  be  all  the  impediments  be 
tween  this  and  Memphis. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  Ct 


FLAG-OFFICER  FARRAGUT  S  DETAILED  REPORT 
OF  THE  BATTLES  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,"  ) 

AT  ANCHOR  OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,  >• 

May  G,  1862.      ) 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  for- 
Avard  my  report,  in  detail,  of  the  battle  of 
New  Orleans.  On  the  23d  of  March  I  made 
all  my  arrangements  for  the  attack  on.  and 
passage  of.  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip. 

Every  vessel  was  as  well  prepared  as  the 
ingenuity  of  her  commander  and  officers 
could  suggest,  both  for  the  preservation  of 
life  and  of  the  vessel,  and,  perhaps,  there 
is  not  on  record  such  a  display  of  ingenuity 
as  has  been  evinced  in  this  little  squadron. 
The  first  was  by  the  engineer  of  the  "  Rich 
mond,''  Mr.  Moore,  by  suggesting  that  the 
sheet  cables  be  stopped  up  and  down  on  the 
sides  in  the  line  of  the  engines,  which  was 
immediately  adopted  by  all  the  vessels. 
Then  each  commander  made  his  own  ar 
rangements  for  stopping  the  shot  from  pen 
etrating  the  boilers  and  machinery  that 
might  come  in  forward  or  abaft,  by  ham 
mocks,  coal,  bags  of  ashes,  bags  of  sand, 
clothes  bags,  and,  in  fact,  every  device  im 
aginable.  The  bulwarks  were  lined  with 
hammocks  by  some,  by  splinter  nettings 
made  with  ropes  by  others.  Some  rubbed 
their  vessels  over  with  mud  to  make  their 
ships  less  visible,  and  some  whitewashed 
their  decks,  to  make  things  more  visible  by 
night  during  the  fight,  all  of  which  you 
will  find  mentioned  in  the  reports  of  the 
commanders.  In  the  afternoon  I  visited 


each  ship,  in  order  to  know  positively  that 
each  commander  understood  my  orde'rs  for 
the  attack,  and  see  that  all  was  in  readi 
ness.  I  had  looked  to  their  efficiency  be 
fore.  Every  one  appeared  to  understand 
their  orders  well,  and  looked  forward  to  the 
conflict  with  firmness,  but  with  anxiety,  as 
it  was  to  be  in  the  night,  or  at  2  o'clock  A.  M. 

I  had  previously  sent  Capt.  Bell,  with  the 
petard  man.  with  Lieut.  Com.  Crosby,  in 
the  "  Pinola."  and  Lieut.  Com.  Caldwell,  in 
the  '*'  Itasca,"  to  break  the  chain  which 
crossed  the  river,  and  was  supported  by 
eight  hulks,  which  were  strongly  moored. 
This  duty  was  not  thoroughly  performed, 
in  consequence  of  the  failure  to  ignite 
the  petards  with  the  galvanic  battery 
and  the  great  strength  of  the  current.  Still, 
it  was  a  success,  and  under  the  circum 
stances,  a  highly  meritorious  one. 

The  vessel  boarded  by  Lieut.  Com.  Cald 
well  appears  to  have  had  her  chains  so  se 
cured  that  they  could  be  cast  loose,  which 
was  done  by  that  officer,  and  thereby  mak 
ing  an  opening  sufficiently  large  for  the 
ships  to  pass  through.  It  was  all  done  un 
der  a  heavy  fire  and  at  a  great  hazard  to 
the  vessel,  for  the  particulars  of  which  I 
refer  you  to  Captain  Bell's  report  (marked 
A).  Upon  the  night  preceding  the  attack, 
however,  I  despatched  Lieut.  Com.  Cald 
well  to  make  an  examination,  and  to  see 
that  the  passage  was  still  clear,  and  to 
make  me  a  signal  to  that  effect,  which  he 
did  at  an  early  hour.  The  enemy  com 
menced  sending  down  fire-rafts  and  light 
ing  their  fires  on  the  shore  opposite  the 
chain  about  the  same  time,  which  drew 
their  fire  on  Lieut.  Com.  Caldwell,  but  with 
out  injury.  At  about  five  minutes  to  two 
o'clock  A.  M.,  April  24,  signal  was  made  to 
get  under  way  (two  ordinary  red  lights,  so 
as  not  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  en 
emy),  but  owing  to  the  great  difficulty  in 
purchasing  their  anchors,  the  "  Pensacola  '* 
and  some  of  the  other  vessels  were  not  un 
der  way  until  half-past  three.  We  then 
advanced  in  two  columns.  Captain  Bailey 
leading  the  right  in  the  gun-boat  "Cayuga." 
Lieut.  Com.  Harrison,  he  having  been  as 
signed  to  the  first  division  of  gun-boats, 
which  was  to  attack  Fort  St.  Philip  in  con 
junction  with  the  second  division  of  ships, 
and  the  "Hartford,"  the  left; Fleet  Captain 
Bell  leading  the  second  division  of  gun 
boats  in  the  "Sciota;"  Lieut.  Com.  Donald 
son  to  assist  the  first  division  of  ships  to 
attack  Fort  Jackson,  as  will  be  shown  by 
the  general  order  and  diagram  sent  here 
with.  The  enemy's  lights,  while  they  dis 
covered  us  to  them,  were,  at  the  same  time, 
guides  to  us.  We  soon  passed  the  barrier 
chains,  the  right  column  taking  Fort  St. 
Philip,  and  the  left  Fort  Jackson.  The  fire 
became  general,  the  smoke  dense,  and  we 


192 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


had  nothing  to  aim  at  but  the  flash  of  their 
guns;  it  was  very  difficult  to  distinguish 
friends  from  foes.  Captain  Porter  had,  by 
arrangement,  moved  up  to  a  certain  point 
on  the  Fort  Jackson  side  with  his  gun 
boats,  and  I  had  assigned  the  same  post  to 
Captain  Swartwout,  in  the  ''Portsmouth,'' 
to  engage  the  water  batteries  to  the  south 
ward  and  eastward  of  Fort  Jackson,  while 
his  mortar-vessels  poured  a  terrific  fire  of 
shells  into  it.  I  discovered  a  fire-raft  com 
ing  down  upon  us,  and  in  attempting  to 
avoid  it  ran  the  ship  on  shore,  and  the  ram 
"  Manassas,"  which  I  had  not  seen,  lay  on 
the  opposite  of  it,  and  pushed  it  down  upon 
us.  Our  ship  was  soon  on  fire  half-way  up  to 
her  tops,  but  we  backed  off,  and  through  the 
good  organization  of  our  fire  department, 
and  the  great  exertions  of  Captain  Wain- 
wright  and  his  first  lieutenant,  officers  and 
crew,  the  fire  was  extinguished.  In  the 
meantime  our  battery  was  never  silent,  but 
poured  in  its  missiles  of  death  into  Fort  St. 
Philip,  opposite  to  which  he  had  got  by  this 
time,  and  it  was  silenced,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  a  gun  now  and  then.  By  this  time 
the  enemy's  gun-boats,  some  thirteen  in 
number,  besides  two  iron-clad  rams,  the 
" Manassas " and  ''Louisiana,"  had  become 
more  visible.  We  took  them  in  hand,  and, 
in  the  course  of  time  destroyed  eleven  of 
them.  We  were  now  fairly  past  the  forts 
and  the  victory  was  ours,  but  still  here  and 
there  a  gun-boat  making  resistance.  Two 
of  them  had  attacked  the  "  Varuna,"  which 
vessel,  by  her  greater  speed,  was  much  in 
advance  of  us;  they  ran  into  her  and  caused 
her  to  sink,  but  not  before  she  had  destroyed 
her  adversaries,  and  their  wrecks  now  lie 
side  by  side,  a  monument  to  the  gallantry 
of  Captain  Boggs,  his  officers  and  crew.  It 
was  a  kind  of  guerrilla  warfare;  they  were 
fighting  in  all  directions.  Captains  Bailey 
and  Bell,  who  were  in  command  of  the  first 
and  second  divisions  of  gun-boats,  were  as 
active  in  rendering  assistance  in  every 
direction  as  lay  in  their  power.  Just  as  the 
scene  appeared  to  be  closing,  the  ram  '•  Man 
assas  "  was  seen  coming  up  under  full  speed 
to  attack  us.  I  directed  Captain  Smith,  in 
the  "Mississippi,"  to  turn  and  run  her 
down;  the  order  was  instantly  obeyed  by  the 
"Mississippi"  turning  and  going  at  her  at 
full  speed.  Just  as  we  expected  to  see  the 
ram  annihilated,  when  within  fifty  yards  of 
each  other,  she  put  her  helm  hard  a-port, 
dodged  the  "  Mississippi,"  and  ran  ashore. 
The  "  Mississippi "  poured  two  broadsides 
into  her,  and  sent  her  drifting  down  the 
river  a  total  wreck.  This  closed  our  morn 
ing's  fight. 

The  department  will  perceive  that  after 
the  organization  and  arrangements  had  been 
made,  and  we  had  fairly  entered  into  the 
fight,  the  density  of  the  smoke  from  guns 


and  fire-rafts,  the  scenes  passing  on  board 
pur  own  ship  and  around  us  (for  it  was  as 
if  the  artillery  of  heaven  were  playing  upon 
the  earth),  that  it  was  impossible  for  the 
Flag-officer  to  see  how  eacli  vessel  was  con 
ducting  itself,  and  can  only  judge  by  the 
final  results  and  their  special  reports,  which 
are  herewith  enclosed;  but  I  feel  that  I  can 
say  with  truth  that  it  has  rarely  been  the 
lot  of  a  commander  to  be  supported  by  offi 
cers  of  more  indomitable  courage  or  higher 
professional  merit. 

Captain  Bailey,  who  had  preceded  me  up 
the  quarantine  station,  had  captured  the 
Chalmette  regiment,  Colonel  Szymanski; 
and  not  knowing  what  to  do  with  them,  as 
every  moment  was  a  great  loss  to  me,  I 
paroled  both  officers  and  men.  and  took 
awray  all  their  arms,  munitions  of  war  and 
public  property,  and  ordered  them  to  re 
main  where  they  were  until  the  next  day. 
I  sent  some  of  the  gun-boats  to  precede  me 
up  the  river,  to  cut  the  telegraph  wires  in 
different  places. 

It  now  became  me  to  look  around  for  my 
little  fleet,  and  to  my  regret  I  found  that 
three  were  missing — the  ''Itasca.''  "  Win- 
ona,"  and  "Kennebec."  Various  were  the 
speculations  as  to  their  fate,  whether  they 
had  been  sunk  on  the  passage  or  had  put 
back.  I  therefore  determined  immediately 
to  send  Captain  Boggs,  whose  vessel  was 
now  sunk,  through  the  quarantine  bayou, 
around  to  Commander  Porter,  telling  him 
of  our  safe  arrival,  and  to  demand  the  sur 
render  of  the  forts,  and  to  endeavor  to  get 
some  tidings  of  the  missing  vessels.  I  also 
sent  a  despatch  by  him  to  General  Butler, 
informing  him  that  the  way  was  clear  for 
him  to  land  his  forces  through  the  quaran 
tine  bayou,  in  accordance  with  previous  ar 
rangements,  and  that  I  should  leave  gun 
boats  there  to  protect  him  against  the 
enemy,  who  I  now  perceived  had  three  or 
four  gun-boats  left  at  the  forts — the  ''  Louisi 
ana,"  an  iron-clad  battery  of  10  guns;  the 
'•  McCrea,"  very  similar  in  appearance  to 
one  of  our  gunboats,  and  armed  very  much 
in  the  same  way;  the  "Defiance,"  and  a 
river  steamer  transport. 

We  then  proceeded  up  to  New  Orleans, 
leaving  the  "  Wissahicon  "  and  "  Kineo  "  to 
protect  the  landing  of  the  General's  troops. 
Owing  to  the  slowness  of  some  of  the  ves 
sels,  and  our  want  of  knowledge  of  the 
river,  we  did  not  reach  the  English  Turn 
until  about  10:30  A.  M.  on  the  25th;  but  all 
the  morning  I  had  seen  abundant  evidence 
of  the  panic  which  had  seized  the  people  in 
New  Orleans.  Cotton- loaded  ships  on  fire' 
came  floating  down,  and  working  imple 
ments  of  every  kind,  such  as  are  used  in 
ship-yards.  The  destruction  of  property  was 
awful.  We  soon  descried  the  new  earth 
work  forts  on  the  old  lines  on  both  shores. 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


193 


We  now  formed  and  advanced  in  the  same 
order,  two  lines,  each  line  taking  its  re 
spective  work.  Captain  Bailey  was  still  far 
in  advance,  not  having  noticed  my  signal 
for  close  order,  which  was  to  enable  the  slow 
vessels  to  come  up.  They  opened  on  him  a 
galling  fire,  which  caused  us  to  run  up  to 
his  rescue;  this  gave  them  the  advantage 
of  a  raking  fire  on  us  for  upwards  of  a  mile, 
with  some  twenty  guns,  while  we  had  but 
two  0-inch  guns  on  our  forecastle  to  reply 
to  them.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before 
we  were  enabled  to  bear  away  and  give  the 
forts  a  broadside  of  shell,  shrapnel  and 
grape,  the  "  Pensacola"  at  the  same  time 
passing  up  and  giving  a  tremendous  broad 
side  of  the  same  kind  to  the  starboard  fort; 
and  by  the  time  we  could  reload,  the 
"  Brooklyn,"  Captain  Craven,  passed  hand 
somely  between  us  and  the  battery  and  de 
livered  her  broadside  and  shut  us  out.  By 
this  time  the  other  vessels  had  gotten  up, 
and  ranged  in  one  after  another,  delivering 
their  broadsides  in  spiteful  revenge  for  the 
ill-treatment  of  the  little  "Cayuga."  The 
forts  were  silenced,  and  those  who  could 
run  were  running  in  every  direction.  We 
now  passed  up  to  the  city  and  anchored  im 
mediately  in  front  of  it,  and  I  sent  Captain 
Bailey  on  shore  to  demand  the  surrender  of 
it  from  the  authorities,  to  which  the  Mayor 
replied  that  the  city  was  under  martial  law, 
and  that  he  had  no  authority.  General 
Lovell,  who  was  present,  stated  that  he 
should  deliver  up  nothing,  but  in  order  to 
free  the  city  from  embarrassment  he  would 
restore  the  city  authorities,  and  retire  with 
his  troops,  which  he  did.  The  correspond 
ence  with  the  city  authorities  and  myself  is 
herewith  annexed.  I  then  seized  all  the 
steamboats  and  sent  them  down  to  quaran 
tine  for  General  Butlers  forces.  Among 
the  number  of  these  boats  is  the  famous 
"Tennessee,"  which  our  blockaders  have 
been  so  long  watching,  but  which,  you  will 
perceive,  never  got  out. 

The  levee  of  New  Orleans  was  one  scene 
of  desolation.  Ships,  steamers,  cotton,  coal, 
etc..  were  all  in  one  common  blaze,  and  our 
ingenuity  was  much  taxed  to  avoid  the 
floating  conflagration. 

I  neglected  to  mention  my  having  good 
information  respecting  the  iron-clad  rams 
which  they  were  building.  I  sent  Captain 
Lee  up  to  seize  the  principal  one,  the  "Mis 
sissippi,"  which  was  to  be  the  terror  of  these 
seas,  and  no  doubt  would  have  been  to  a 
great  extent;  but  she  came  floating  by  us 
all  in  flames,  and  passed  down  the  river. 
Another  was  sunk  immediately  in  front  of 
the  custom  house:  others  were  building  in 
Algiers,  just  begun. 

I  next  went  above  the  city  eight  miles,  to 
Carrolton,  where  I  learned  there  were  two 
other  forts,  but  the  panic  had  gone  before 


me.  I  found  the  guns  spiked,  and  the  gun- 
carriages  in  flames.  The  first  work,  on  the 
right  reaches  from  the  Mississippi  nearly 
over  to  Pontchartrain.  and  has  29  guns:  the 
one  on  the  left  had  six  guns,  from  which 
Commander  Lee  took  some  fifty  barrels  of 
powder,  and  completed  the  destruction  of 
the  gun-carriages,  etc.  A  mile  higher  up 
there  were  two  other  earthworks,  but  not 
yet  armed. 

We  discovered  here,  fastened  to  the  right 
bank  of  the  river,  one  of  the  most  herculean 
labors  I  have  ever  seen — a  raft  and  chain  to 
extend  across  the  river  to  prevent  Foote's 
gun-boats  from  descending.  It  is  formed  by 
placing  three  immense  logs  of  not  less 
than  three  or  four  feet  in  diameter  and 
some  thirty  feet  long;  to  the  centre  one  a 
two-inch  chain  is  attached,  running  length 
wise  the  raft,  and  the  three  logs  and  chain 
are  then  frapped  together  by  chains  from 
one-half  to  one  inch,  three  or  four  layers, 
and  there  are  96  of  these  lengths  composing 
the  raft:  it  is  at  least  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  long. 

On  the  evening  of  the  29th  Captain  Bailey 
arrived  from  below,  with  the  gratifying  in 
telligence  that  the  forts  had  surrendered  to 
Commander  Porter,  and  had  delivered  up 
all  public  property,  and  were  being  paroled, 
and  that  the  Navy  had  been  made  to  sur 
render  unconditionally,  as  they  had  con 
ducted  themselves  with  bad  faith,  burning 
and  sinking  their  vessels  while  a  flag  of 
truce  was  flying,  and  the  forts  negotiating 
for  their  surrender,  and  the  "Louisiana," 
their  great  iron-clad  battery,  blown  up 
almost  alongside  of  the  vessel  where  they 
were  negotiating;  hence  their  officers  were 
not  paroled,  but  sent  home  to  be  treated  ac 
cording  to  the  judgment  of  the  Government. 

General  Butler  came  up  the  same  day, 
and  arrangements  were  made  for  bringing 
up  his  troops. 

I  sent  on  shore  and  hoisted  the  American 
flag  on  the  custom-house,  and  hauled  down 
the  Louisiana  State  flag  from  the  city  hall, 
as  the  mayor  had  avowed  that  there  was  no 
man  in  New  Orleans  who  dared  to  haul  it 
down  ;  and  my  own  convictions  are  that  if 
such  an  individual  could  have  been  found 
he  would  have  been  assassinated. 

Thus,  sir.  I  have  endeavored  to  give  you 
an  account  of  my  attack  upon  New  Orleans 
from  our  first  movement  to  the  surrender 
of  the  city  to  General  Butler,  whose  troops 
are  now  in  full  occupation,  protected,  how 
ever,  by  the  "Pensacola,"  "Portsmouth," 
and  one  gunboat,  while  I  have  sent  a  force 
of  seven  vessels,  under  command  of  Cap 
tain  Craven,  up  the  river,  to  keep  up  the 
panic  as  far  as  possible.  The  large  ships.  I 
fear,  will  not  be  able  to  go  higher  than 
Baton  Rouge,  while  I  have  sent  the  smaller 
vessels,  under  Commander  Lee,  as  high  as 


194 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


Vicksburg.  in  the  rear  of  Jackson,  to  cut 
off  their  supplies  from  the  west. 

I  trust,  therefore,  that  it  will  be  found  by 
the  government  that  I  have  carried  out  my 
instructions  to  the  letter  and  to  the  best  of 
my  abilities,  so  far  as  this  city  is  concerned, 
which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant,  D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 

Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 


FLEET-SURGEOX  J.   W.   FOLTZ. 

CORRESPONDENCE     RELATING     TO     THE    SUR 
RENDER  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

No.  1. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD." 
AT  ANCHOR  OFF  NEW  ORLEANS, 

April  26,  1862.  , 
SIR  :  Upon  my  arrival  before  your  city  I 
had  the  honor  to  send  to  your  honor.  Captain 
Bailey,  United  States  navy,  second  in  com 
mand  of  the  expedition,  to  demand  of  you 
the  surrender  of  New  Orleans  to  me,  as  the 
representative  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States.  Captain  Bailey  reported  to 
me  the  result  of  an  interview  with  yourself 
and  the  military  authorities.  It  must  oc 


cur  to  your  honor  that  it  is  not  within  the 
province  of  a  naval  officer  to  assume  the- 
duties  of  a  military  commandant.  I  came 
here  to  reduce  New  Orleans  to  obedience  to 
the  laws  of,  and  to  vindicate  the  offended 
majesty  of  the  United  States.  The  rights 
of  persons  and  property  shall  be  secure.  I 
therefore  demand  of  you.  as  its  representa 
tive,  the  unqualified  surrender  of  the  city, 
and  that  the  emblem  of  sovereignty  of  the 
United  States  be  hoisted  over  the  city  hall, 
mint,  and  custom-house  by  meridian  this 
day,  and  that  all  flags  and  other  emblems 
of  sovereignty  other  than  those  of  the 
United  States  shall  be  removed  from  all  the 
public  buildings  by  that  hour.  I  particu 
larly  request  that  you  shall  exercise  your 
authority  to  quell  disturbances,  restore 
order,  and  call  upon  all  the  good  people  of 
New  Orleans  to  return  at  once  to  their  voca 
tions  ;  and  I  particularly  demand  that  no 
person  shall  be  molested  in  person  or  prop 
erty  for  professing  sentiments  of  loyalty  to 
their  government.  I  shall  speedily  and 
severely  punish  any  person  or  persons  who 
shall  commit  such  outrages  as  were  wit 
nessed  yesterday,  armed  men  firing  upon 
helpless  women  and  children  for  giving  ex 
pression  to  their  pleasure  at  witnessing  the 
old  flag. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 


servant, 


D.  G.  FARRAGUT.  Flag-officer, 


Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
His  EXCELLENCY  THE  MAYOR  of  the  City  of 
New  Orleans 


No.  2. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,"  ) 
AT  ANCHOR  OFF  THE  ClTY  OF  NEW  OR-  >• 
LEANS,  April  26,  1862.      ) 
Your    honor   will  please  give  directions 
that  no  flag  but  that  of  the  United  States 
will  be  permitted  to  fly  in  the  presence  of 
this  fleet   so   long  as  it  has  the  power  to 
prevent  it  ;  and  as  all  displays  of  that  kind 
may  be  the  cause  of  bloodshed,  I  have  to 
request  that  you  will  give  this  communica 
tion  as  general  a  circulation  as  possible. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
His  HONOR  THE  MAYOR  of  New  Orleans. 


No.  3. 
General  Order. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"  ) 

OFF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS,  \ 

April  26,  1862.      ) 

Eleven  o'clock  this  morning  is  the  hour  ap 
pointed  for  all  the  officers  and  crews  of  the 
fleet  to  return  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for 
His  great  goodness  and  mercy  in  permitting 


OF   THE  CH'IL    WAR. 


195 


us  to  pass  through  the  events  of  the  last  two 
days  with  so  little  loss  of  life  and  blood 

At  that  hour  the  church  pennant  will  be 
hoisted  on  every  vessel  of  the  fleet,  and  their 
crews  assembled  will,  in  humiliation  and 
prayer,  make  their  acknowledgments 
therefor  to  the  Great  Dispenser  of  all  human 
events. 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 

Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


MAYORALTY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS,  ) 
City  Hall,  April  26,  1862.      f 

SIR  :  In  pursuance  of  the  resolution  which 
he  thought  proper  to  take,  out  of  regard  for 
the  lives  of  the  women  and  children  who 
still  crowd  this  great  metropolis,  General 
Lovell  has  evacuated  it  with  his  troops,  and 
restored  back  to  me  the  administration  of 
its  government  and  the  custody  of  its  honor. 

I  have,  in  concert  with  the  city  fathers, 
considered  the  demand  you  made  of  me  on 
yesterday  of  an  unconditional  surrender  of 
the  city,  coupled  with  a  requisition  to  hoist 
up  the  flag  of  the  United  States  on  the  pub 
lic  edifices,  and  to  haul  down  that  which 
still  floated  to  the  breeze  from  the  dome  of 
this  hall  ;  and  it  becomes  my  duty  to  trans 
mit  to  you  the  answer  which  the  universal 
sentiment  of  my  constituency,  no  less  than 
the  promptings  of  my  own  heart,  dictate 
to  me  on  this  sad  and  solemn  occasion. 

The  city  is  without  means  of  defence,  and 
utterly  destitute  of  the  force  and  material 
that  might  enable  it  to  resist  the  overpower 
ing  armament  displayed  in  sight  of  it. 

I  am  no  military  man,  and  possess  no 
authority  beyond  that  of  executing  the  mu 
nicipal  laws  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans.  It 
would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  attempt  to 
lead  an  army  to  the  field,  if  I  had  one  at 
my  command,  and  I  know  still  less  how  to 
surrender  an  undefended  place,  held  as  this 
is  at  the  mercy  of  your  gunners  and  mouths 
of  your  mortars.  To  surrender  such  a  place 
were  an  idle  and  unmeaning  ceremony. 
The  city  is  yours  by  the  power  of  brutal 
force,  and  not  by  any  choice  or  consent  of 
its  inhabitants.  It  is  for  you  to  determine 
what  shall  be  the  fate  that  awaits  her. 

As  to  the  hoisting  of  any  flag  than  the 
flag  of  our  adoption  and  allegiance,  let  me 
say  to  you,  sir,  that  the  man  lives  not  in 
our  midst  whose  hand  and  heart  would  not 
be  palsied  at  the  mere  thought  of  such  an 
act,  nor  could  I  find  in  my  entire  constitu 
ency  so  wretched  and  desperate  a  renegade 
as  would  dare  to  profane  with  his  hand  the 
sacred  emblem  of  our  aspirations. 

Sir,  you  have  manifested  sentiments 
which  would  become  one  engaged  in  a  bet 
ter  cause  than  that  to  which  you  have 
devoted  your  sword.  I  doubt  not  but  that 
they  spring  from  a  noble  though  deluded 


nature,  and  I  know  how  to  appreciate  the 
emotions  which  inspire  them:  You  will 
have  a  gallant  people  to  administer  during 
your  occupation  of  this  city  :  a  people  sen 
sitive  of  all  that  can  in  the  least  affect  its 
dignity  and  self-respect.  Pray,  sir,  do  not 
allow  them  to  be  insulted  by  the  interfer 
ence  of  such  as  have  rendered  themselves 
odious  and  contemptible  by  the  dastardly 
desertion  of  the  mighty  struggle  in  which 
we  are  engaged,  nor  of  such  as  might  re 
mind  them  too  painfully  that  they  are  the 
conquered  and  you  the  conquerors.  Peace 
and  order  may  be  preserved  without  a  re 
sort  to  measures  which  could  not  fail  to 
wound  their  susceptibilities  and  fire  up  their 
passions. 

The  obligations  which  I  shall  assume  in 
their  name  shall  be  religiously  complied 
with.  You  may  trust  their  honor,  though 
you  might  not  count  on  their  submission  to 
unmerited  wrong. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  you  to  understand 
that  the  people  of  New  Orleans,  while  una 
ble  at  this  moment  to  prevent  you  from 
occupying  this  city,  do  not  transfer  their 
allegiance  from  the  government  of  their 
choice  to  one  which  they  have  deliberately 
repudiated,  and  that  they  yield  simply  that 
obedience  which  the  conqueror  is  enabled 
to  extort  from  the  conquered. 

Since  writing  the  above,  which  is  an 
answer  to  your  verbal  communication  of 
yesterday,  I  have  received  a  written  com 
munication,  to  which  I  shall  reply  before 
12  o'clock  M.,  if  possible  to  prepare  an 
answer  in  that  time.  Respectfully, 

JOHN  T.  MONROE,  Mayor. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

United  States  Flag-Ship  "Hartford." 


CITY  HALL,  April  25,  1862. 
Honorable  Common  Council: 

GENTLEMEN  :  At  half-past  one  o'clock 
to-day  I  was  waited  upon  by  Captain  Bailey, 
second  in  command  of  the  Federal  fleet  now 
lying  in  front  of  the  city,  bearing  a  demand 
from  Flag  officer  Farragut  for  the  uncon 
ditional  surrender  of  the  city  of  New 
Orleans  and  hoisting  of  the  United  States 
flag  on  the  custom-house,  post-office,  and 
mint.  He  also  demanded  that  the  Louisiana 
flag  should  be  hauled  down  from  the  city 
hall.  I  replied  that  General  Lovell  was  in 
command  here,  and  that  I  was  without 
authority  to  act  in  military  matters.  Gen 
eral  Lovell  was  then  sent  for,  and  to  him, 
after  stating  that  his  mission  was  to  the 
mayor  and  council,  Captain  Bailey  ad 
dressed  his  demands. 

General  Lovell  refused  to  surrenderthecity 
or  his  forces,  or  any  portion  of  them  but  ac 
companied  his  refusal  with  the  statement 
that  he  should  evacuate  the  city,  withdraw 


196 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


his  troops,  and  then  leave  the  civil  authori 
ties  to  act  as  they  might  deem  proper. 

It  is  proper  here  to  state  that,  in  reply  to 
the  demand  to  haul  down  the  flag  from  the 
city  hall,  I  returned  an  unqualified  refusal. 

I  am  now  in  momentary  expectation  of 
receiving  a  second  peremptory  demand  for 
the  surrender  of  the  city.  I  solicit  your  ad 
vice  in  the  emergency.  My  own  opinion  is, 
that,  as  a  civil  magistrate,  possessed  of  no 
military  power,  I  am  incompetent  to  per 
form  a  military  act  such  as  the  surrender 
of  the  city  to  a  hostile  force;  that  it  would 
be  proper'  to  say,  in  reply  to  a  demand  of 
that  character,  that  we  are  without  military 
protection;  that  the  troops  have  withdrawn 
from  the  city;  that  we  are  consequently  in 
capable  of "  making  any  resistance,  and 
therefore  we  can  offer  no  obstruction  to  the 
occupation  of  the  place  by  the  enemy ;  that 
the  custom-house,  post-office,  and  mint  are 
the  property  of  the  Confederate  Govern 
ment,  and  that  we  have  no  control  over 
them;  and  that  all  acts  involving  a  transfer 
of  authority  be  performed  by  the  invading 
forces  themselves;  that  we  yield  to  physical 
force  alone,  and  that  we  maintain  our  alle 
giance  to  the  Government  of  the  Confeder 
ate  States.  Beyond  this  a  due  respect  for 
our  dignity,  our  rights,  and  the  flag  of  our 
country  does  not,  I  think,  permit  us  to  go. 
Respectfully, 
JOHN  T.  MONROE,  Mayor. 

The  above  message,  which  want  of  time 
prevented  me  from  having  copied,  I  enclose 
tor  information.  Respectfully, 

JOHN  T.  MONROE,  Mayor. 
Per  MARION  N.  BAKER,  Secretary. 


MAYORALTY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS,  ) 
CITY  HALL,  April  26,  1862.      j 

COMMON     COUNCIL     OF     THE     CITY     OF     NEW 
ORLEANS — NO.  6002. 

The  common  council  of  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  having  been  advised  by  the  mili 
tary  authorities  that  the  city  is  indefensi 
ble,  declare  that  no  resistance  will  be  made 
to  the  forces  of  the  United  States. 

Resolved,  That  the  sentiments  expressed 
in  the  message  of  his  honor  the  Mayor  of 
the  common  council  are  in  perfect  accord 
ance  with  the  sentiments  entertained  by 
these  councils  and  by  the  entire  population 
of  this  metropolis,  and  that  the  Mayor  be 
respectfully  requested  to  act  in  the  spirit 
manifested  by  the  message. 

S.  P.  DE  LABARRE, 
Pres.  pro  tern  of  Board  of  Aldermen. 

J.  MAGIONI. 

Pres.  of  Board  of  Assistant  Aldermen. 
Approved,  April  26,  1862. 

JOHN  T.  MONROE,  Mayor. 
A  true  copy,  MARION  N.  BAKER, 

Secretary  to  Mayor. 


UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,"  ) 

AT  ANCHOR  OFF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  > 

ORLEANS,  April  28,1862.      ) 

SIR — Your  communication  of  the  x-6th  in 
stant  has  been  received,  together  with  that 
of  the  city  councils. 

I  deeply  regret  to  see.  both  by  their  con 
tents  and  the  continued  display  of  the  flag 
of  Louisiana  on  the  court-house,  a  determin 
ation  on  the  part  of  the  city  authorities  not 
to  haul  it  down.  Moreover,  when  my  offic 
ers  and  men  were  sent  on  shore  to  commu 
nicate  with  the  authorities  and  to  hoist  the 
United  States  flag  on  the  custom-house, 
with  the  strictest  orders  not  to  use  their 
arms  unless  assailed,  they  were  insulted  in 
the  grossest  manner,  and  the  flag  which 
had  been  hoisted  by  my  orders  on  the  mint 
was  pulled  down  and  dragged  through  the 
streets.  All  of  which  go  to  show  that  the 
fire  of  this  fleet  may  be  drawn  upon  the  city 
at  any  moment,  and  in  such  an  event  the 
levee'would,  in  all  probability,  be  cut  by  the 
shells,  and  an  amount  of  distress  ensue  to 
the  innocent  population  which  I  have  here 
tofore  endeavored  to  assure  you  that  I  de 
sired  by  all  means  to  avoid.  The  election  is 
therefore  with  you;  but  it  becomes  my  duty 
to  notify  you  to  remove  the  women  and 
children  from  the  city  within  forty-eight 
hours,  if  I  have  rightly  understood  your 
determination. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D   G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag  officer. 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
His  Honor  the  MAYOR  AND  CITY  COUNCIL 
of  the  City  of  New  Orleans. 


MAYORALTY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS, 

CITY  HALL,  April  28,  1862. 
To  the  Common  Council : 

GENTLEMEN — I  herewith  transmit  to  you 
a  communication  from  Flag-officer  Farra- 
gut,  commanding  the  United  States  fleet 
now  lying  in  front  of  the  city.  I  have  in 
formed  the  officer  bearing  the  communica 
tion  that  I  would  lay  it  before  you.  and  re 
turn  such  answer  as  the  city  authorities 
might  think  proper  to  be  made. 

In  the  meantime  permit  me  to  suggest 
that  Flag-officer  Farragut  appears  to  have 
misunderstood  the  position  of  the  city  of 
New  Orleans.  He  had  been  distinctly  in 
formed  that  at  this  moment  the  city  has  no 
power  to  impede  the  exercise  of  such  acts 
of  forcible  authority  as  the  commander  of 
the  United  States  naval  forces  may  choose 
to  exercise,  and  that  therefore  no  resistance 
would  be  offered  to  the  occupation  of  the 
city  by  the  United  States  forces. 

If  it  is  deemed  necessary  to  remove  the 
flag  now  floating  from  this  building,  or  to 
raise  United  States  flags  011  others,  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


197 


power  which  threatened  the  destruction  of 
our  city  is  certainly  capable  of  performing 
those  acts.  New  Orleans  is  not  now  a  mili 
tary  post;  there  is  no  military  commander 
within  its  limits;  it  is  like  an  unoccupied 
fortress,  of  which  an  assailant  may  at  any 
moment  take  possession.  But  I  do  not  believe 
that  the  constituency  represented  by  you  or 
by  me  embraces  one  loyal  citizen  who 
would  be  willing  to  incur  the  odium  of  tear 
ing  down  the  symbol  representing  the  State 
authority  to  which  New  Orleans  owes  her 
municipal  existence.  I  am  deeply  sensible 
of  the  distress  which  would  be  brought 
upon  our  community  by  a  consummation 
of  the  inhuman  threat  of  the  United  States 
commander;  but  I  cannot  conceive  that 
those  who  so  recently  declared  themselves 
to  be  animated  by  a  Christian  spirit,  and 
by  a  regard  for  the  rights  of  private 
property,  would  venture  to  incur  for 
themselves  and  the  government  they  repre 
sent  the  universal  execration  of  the  civil 
ized  world  by  attempting  to  achieve, 
through  a  wanton  destruction  of  life  and 
property,  that  which  they  can  accomplish 
without  bloodshed,  and  without  a  resort  to 
those  hostile  measures  which  the  law  of  na 
tions  condemns  and  execrates,  when  em 
ployed  upon  the  defenceless  women  and 
children  of  an  unresisting  city. 
Respectfully, 

JOHN  T.  MONROE,  Mayor. 


MAYORALTY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS, 
City  Hall,  April  28,  18G2. 

SIR — Your  communication  of  this  morn 
ing  is  the  first  intimation  I  ever  had  that 
it  was  by  "  your  strict  orders "  that  the 
United  States  flag  was  attempted  to  be 
hoisted  upon  certain  of  our  public  edifices 
by  officers  sent  on  shore  to  communicate 
with  the  authorities.  The  officers  who 
approached  me  in  your  name  disclosed  no 
such  orders,  and  intimated  no  such  designs 
on  your  part ;  nor  could  I  have  for  a  mo 
ment  entertained  the  remotest  suspicion 
that  they  could  have  been  invested  with 
powers  to  enter  on  such  an  errand  while 
the  negotiations  for  a  surrender  between 
you  and  the  city  authorities  were  still  pend 
ing.  The  interference  of  any  force  under 
your  command,  as  long  as  these  negotiations 
were  not  brought  to  a  close,  could  not  be 
viewed  by  me  otherwise  than  as  a  flagrant 
violation  of  those  courtesies,  if  not  of  the 
absolute  rights,  which  prevail  between  bel 
ligerents  under  such  circumstances.  My 
views  and  my  sentiments  in  reference  to 
such  conduct  remain  unchanged. 

You  now  renew  the  demands  made  in 
your  last  communication,  and  you  insist 
on  their  being  complied  with,  uncondition 
ally,  under  a  threat  of  bombardment  within 


forty-eight  hours  ;  and  you  notify  me  to  re 
move  the  women  and  children  from  the  city, 
that  they  may  be  protected  from  your  shells. 

Sir.  you  cannot  but  know  that  there  is  no 
possible  exit  from  this  city  for  a  population 
which  still  exceeds  in  number  140,000,  and 
you  must  therefore  be  aware  of  the  utter 
inanity  of  such  a  notification.  Our  women 
and  children  cannot  escape  from  your  shells, 
if  it  be  your  pleasure  to  murder  them  on  a 
question  of  mere  etiquette.  But  if  they 
could,  there  are  but  few  among  them  who 
would  consent  to  desert  their  families  and 
their  homes,  and  the  graves  of  their  rela 
tives,  in  so  awful  a  moment.  They  will 
bravely  stand  the  sight  of  your  shells  roll 
ing  over  the  bones  of  those  who  were  once 
dear  to  them,  and  would  deem  that  they 
died  not  ingloriously  by  the  side  of  the 
tombs  erected  by  their  piety  to  the  memory 
of  departed  relatives. 

You  are  not  satisfied  with  the  peaceable  pos 
session  of  an  undefended  city,  opposing  no 
resistance  to  your  guns,  because  of  its  bear 
ing  its  doom  withsomethingof  manliness  and 
dignity,  and  you  wish  to  humble  and  disgrace 
us  by  the  performance  of  an  act  against 
which  our  nature  rebels.  This  satisfaction 
you  cannot  expect  to  obtain  at  our  hands. 

We  will  stand  your  bombardment,  un 
armed  and  undefended  as  we  are.  The 
civilized  world  will  consign  to  indelible  in 
famy  the  heart  that  will  conceive  the  deed 
and  the  hand  that  will  dare  to  consummate 
it.  Respectfully, 

JOHN  T.  MONROE,  Mayor. 

MR.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-officer  of  the  United  States  fleet 
in  front  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans. 


UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD."  } 

AT  ANCHOR  OFF  THE  ClTY  OF  NEW  OR-  >• 
LEANS,  April  28,  1862.      ) 

SIR — Hereafter,  when  I  desire  to  commu 
nicate  with  the  authorities,  I  will  hoist  a 
square  flag  with  a  diagonal  red  cross,  when, 
if  your  honor  will  send  your  secretary,  or 
any  other  person,  to  receive  my  communi 
cation  to  the  shore  opposite  to  the  ship 
bearing  that  flag,  a  boat  will  be  sent  with 
an  officer  to  deliver  the  document. 

When  the  city  authorities  desire  to  com 
municate  with  me.  by  the  messenger  hold 
ing  his  handkerchief  by  two  corners  oppo 
site  the  ship,  a  boat  will  be  sent  for  him  or 
his  communication. 

As  my  duties  call  me  away  from  before 
the  city  for  a  short  time.  I  request  that  you 
will  send  your  reply  to  any  other  vessel  that 
may  be  present. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
His  HONOR  THE  MAYOR  of  New  Orleans. 


198 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD, 
AT  ANCHOR  OFF  THE  ClTY  OF  NEW  OR 
LEANS,  April  29,  1862. 

SIR— The  forts  St.  Philip  and  Jackson 
having  surrendered,  and  all  the  military 
defences  of  the  city  being  captured  or  aban 
doned,  you  are  required,  as  the  sole  repre 
sentative  of  any  supposed  authority  in  the 
city,  to  haul  down  and  suppress  every  en 
sign  and  symbol  of  government,  whether 
State  or  Confederate,  except  that  of  the 
United  States.  I  am  now  about  to  raise  the 
flag  of  the  United  States  upon  the  custom 
house,  and  you  will  see  that  it  is  respected 
with  all  the  civil  power  of  the  city. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

His  HONOR  THE  MAYOR  of  the  City  of  New 
Orleans. 


UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD," 
AT  ANCHOR  OFF  THE  ClTY  OF  NEW  OR 
LEANS,  April  30,  1862. 
GENTLEMEN — I  informed  you,  in  my  com 
munication  of  the  28th  of  April,  that  your 
determination,  as  I  understood  it,  was  not 
to  haul  down  the  flag  of  Louisiana  on  the 
city  hall,  and  that  my  officers  and  men 
were  treated  with  insult  and  rudeness  when 
they  landed,  even  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to 
communicate  with  the  authorities,  etc.,  and 
if  such  was  to  be  the  determined  course  of 
the  people,  the  fire  of  the  vessel  might  at 
any  moment  be  drawn  upon  the  city.  This 
you  have  thought  proper  to  construe  into  a 
"determination  on  my  part  to  murder  your 
women  and  children,  and  made  your  letter 
so  offensive  that  it  will  terminate  our  inter 
course  ;  and  so  soon  as  General  Butler 
arrives  with  his  forces,  I  shall  turn  over  the 
charge  of  the  city  to  him  and  assume  my 
naval  duties. 

Very  respectfully,  etc.. 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  Flag-officer, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
His  HONOR  THE  MAYOR  AND  CITY  COUNCIL 
of  New  Orleans. 


REPORTS    OF    CAPTAIN    T.    BAILEY,  SECOND   IN 
COMMAND. 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "CAYUGA,"  ) 
AT  SEA,  May  7.  1862.  f 
SIR — Having  found  it  impossible  to  get 
the  '"Colorado"  over  the  bars  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  I  sent  a  large  portion  of  her  guns 
and  crew,  filling  up  deficiencies  of  both  in 
the  different  vessels,  and,  with  my  aid, 
Act.  Midshipman  Higginson,  steward,  and 
boat's  crew,  followed  up  myself,  hoisting, 
by  authority  of  the  flag-officer,  my  red, 
distinguishing  flag  as  second  in  command, 


first   on   the    "  Oneida,"   Commander   Lee, 
and  afterwards  on  the  "Cayuga." 

That  brave,  resolute,  and  indefatigable 
officer.  Commander  D.  D.  Porter,  was  at 
work  with  his  mortar  fleet,  throwing  shells 
at  and  into  Fort  Jackson,  while  General 
Butler,  with  a  division  of  his  army,  in 
transports,  was  waiting  a  favorable  mo 
ment  to  land.  After  the  mortar-fleet  had 
been  playing  upon  the  forts  for  six  days 
and  nights  ("without  perceptibly  diminish 
ing  their  fire),  and  one  or  two  changes  of 
programme,  Flag-officer  Farragut  formed 
the  ships  into  two  columns,  "  line  ahead;" 
the  column  of  the  red,  under  my  orders, 
being  formed  on  the  right,  and  consisting 
of  the  "Cayuga,"  Lieut.  Com.  Harrison, 
bearing  flag,  and  leading  the  "  Pensacola," 
Capt.  Morris;  the  "  Mississippi,"  Corn.  M. 
Smith;  "Oneida,"  Com.  S.  P.  Lee;  "Var- 
una,"  Com.  C.  S.  Boggs;  "  Katahdin."  Lieut. 
Com.  Preble;  "Kineo,"  Lieut.  Corn.  Ran 
som;  and  the  "Wissahickon,"  Lieut.  Com. 
A.  N.  Smith.  The  column  of  the  blue  was 
formed  on  the  left,  heading  up  the  river, 
and  consisted  of  the  flag-ship  "Hartford," 
Com.  R.  Wainwright  and  bearing  the  flag 
of  the  Commander-in-chief,  Farragut;  the 
"  Brooklyn," Capt.  T.  T.  Craven;  the  "  Rich 
mond,"  Com.  Alden;  the  "  Sciota,"  bear 
ing  the  divisional  flag  of  Fleet-Capt.  H.  H. 
Bell;  followed  by  the  "Iroquois,"  "  Itasca," 
"  Winona,"  and  "  Kennebec." 

At  2  A.  M.  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  the 
signal  "to  advance"  was  thrown  out  from 
the  flag-ship.  The  "  Cayuga  "  immediately 
weighed  anchor  and  led  on  the  column. 
We  were  discovered  at  the  boom,  and,  a  lit 
tle  beyond,  both  forts  opened  their  fire. 
When  close  up  with  St.  Philip  we  opened 
with  grape  and  canister,  still  steering  on. 
After  passing  this  line  of  fire,  we  encount 
ered  the  "Montgomery  flotilla,"  consisting 
of  eighteen  gun-boats,  including  the  ram 
"  Manassas  "  and  iron  battery  "  Louisiana," 
of  twenty  guns. 

This  was  a  moment  of  anxiety,  as  no 
supporting  ship  was  in  sight.  By  skillful 
steering,  however,  we  avoided  their  at 
tempts  to  butt  and  board,  and  had  suc 
ceeded  in  forcing  the  surrender  of  three, 
when  the  "Varuna,"  Capt.  Boggs,  and 
"Oneida,"  Capt.  Lee,  were  discovered  near 
at  hand.  The  gallant  exploits  of  these 
ships  will  be  made  known  by  their  com 
manders.  At  early  dawn  discovered  a  Con 
federate  camp  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
river.  Ordering  Lieut.  Com.  N.  B.  Har 
rison  to  anchor  close  alongside,  I  hailed  and 
ordered  the  colonel  to  pile  up  his  arms  on 
the  river  bank  and  come  on  board.  This 
proved  to  be  the  Chalmette  regiment,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Szymanski.  The  regi 
mental  flags,  tents,  and  camp  equipage 
were  captured. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


l'J9 


On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  still  leading, 
and  considerably  ahead  of  the  line,  the 
Chalmette  batteries,  situated  three  miles 
below  the  city,  opened  a  cross  fire  on  the 
"  Cayuga."  To  this  we  responded  with  our 
two  guns.  At  the  end  of  twenty  minutes 
the  flag-ship  ranged  up  ahead  and  silenced 
the  enemy's  guns. 

From  this  point  no  other  obstacles  were 
encountered,  except  burning  steamers,  cot 
ton  ships,  fire-rafts,  and  the  like.  Immedi 
ately  after  anchoring  in  front  of  the  city  I 
was  ordered  on  shore  by  the  flag-officer  to 
•demand  the  surrender  of  the  city,  and  that 
the  flag  should  be  hoisted  on  the'post-office, 
custom-house,  and  mint.  What  passed  at 
this  interview  will  be  better  stated  in  the 
flag-officer's  report. 

On  the  26th  I  went  with  the  flag-officer 
some  seven  miles  above  the  city,  where  we 
found  the  defences  abandoned,  the  guns 
spiked,  and  gun  carriages  burning  These 
defences  were  erected  to  prevent  the  down 
ward  passage  of  Captain  Foote.  On  the 
27th  a  large  boom,  situated  above  these  de 
fences,  was  destroyed  by  Captain  S.  Philip 
Lee.  On  the  28th  General  Butler  landed 
above  Fort  St.  Philip,  under  the  guns  of  the 
"  Mississippi  "  and  "  Kineo."  This  landing 
of  the  army  above,  together  with  the  pas 
sage  of  the  fleet,  appears  to  have  put  the 
finishing  touch  to  the  demoralization  of 
their  garrisons  (300  having  mutinied  in 
Fort  Jackson).  Both  forts  surrendered  to 
Commander  Porter,  who  was  near  at  hand 
with  the  vessels  of  his  flotilla. 

As  I  left  the  river  General  Butler  had  gar 
risoned  Forts  Jackson,  and  St.  Philip,  and 
his  transports,  with  troops,  were  on  their 
way  to  occupy  New  Orleans. 

I  cannot  too  strongly  express  my  admir 
ation  of  the  cool  and  able  management  of 
all  the  vessels  of  my  line  by  their  respect 
ive  captains.  AfteV  we  passed  the  forts  it 
was  a  contest  between  iron  hearts  in 
wooden  vessels  and  iron-clads  with  iron 
beaks,  and  the  "  iron  hearts  "  won. 

On  the  29th  the  "  Cayuga,"  Lieut. -Com. 
Harrison,  was  selected  tc  bring  me  home 
a  bearer  of  despatches  to  the  govern 
ment. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant, 

THEODORUS  BAILEY, 

Captain. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT,  "  CAYUGA,"  } 
OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,  April  25,  1862.      f 
FLAG  -  OFFICER— Your    boldly  -  conceived 
and  splendidly-executed  plan  of  battle  hav 
ing  resulted  in  complete  success,  leaves  me 
lime  to  make  up  the  report  of  my  division. 


You  will  find  in  Lieut.-Com.  Harrison's 
report  an  accurate  outline  of  the  noble  part 
taken  by  the  "Cayuga,"  under  his  com 
mand,  and  bearing  my  divisional  flag.  We 
led  off  at  2  A.  M.,  in  accordance  with  your 
signal,  and  steered  directly  up  stream,  edg 
ing  a  little  to  starboard,  in  order  to  give 
room  for  your  division. 

I  was  followed  by  the  "Pensacola"  in 
fine  style,  the  remainder  of  my  division  fol 
lowing  in  regular  and  compact  order.  We 
were  scarcely  above  the  boom  when  we 
were  discovered,  and  Jackson  and  St.  Philip 
opened  upon  us.  We  could  bring  no  gun 
to  bear,  but  steered  directly  on.  We  were 
struck  from  stem  to  stern.  At  length  we 
were  close  up  with  St.  Philip,  when  we 
opened  with  grape  and  canister.  Scarcely 
were  we  above  the  line  of  fire  when  we 
found  ourselves  attacked  by  the  Confeder 
ate  fleet  of  gun-boats.  This  was  hot  but 
more  congenial  work.  Two  large  steamers 
now  attempted  to  board,  one  on  our  star 
board  bow,  the  other  astern;  a  third  on  our 
starboard  beam.  The  11-inch  Dahlgren  be 
ing  trained  on  this  fellow,  we  fired  at  a 
range  of  thirty  yards.  The  effect  was  very 
destructive;  he  immediately  steered  in 
shore,  ran  aground  and  burnt  himself  up. 

The  Parrott  gun  on  the  forecastle  drove 
off  one  on  the  bow,  while  we  prepared  to 
repel  boarders,  so  close  was  our  remaining 
enemy.  About  this  time  Boggs  and  Lee 
came  dashing  in,  and  made  a  finish  of  the 
Confederate  boats — eleven  in  all. 

In  the  gray  of  the  morning  discovered  a 
camp  with  Confederate  flags  flying;  opened 
with  canister,  and  at  5  A.  M.  received  the 
sword  and  flag  of  Colonel  Szymanski  and 
his  command  of  five  companies,  arms  and 
camp  equipage.  While  engaged  at  this 
point,  observed  the  "  Varuna  "  in  conflict 
with  a  number  of  gun-boats.  She  had  been 
butted  by  one  of  them  and  sunk;  but,  with 
his  forward  guns  still  above  water,  her  com 
mander  was  bravely  maintaining  the  fight, 
driving  off  his  enemies  and  saving  his 
crew.  Informing  Captain  Lee,  of  the 
"  Oneida,"  who  had  also  been  engaged  with 
the  enemy,  of  the  "Varuna's"  situation, 
he  instantly  steamed  up  and  made  a  finish 
of  the  Confederate  boats.  The  remainder 
of  the  fleet  now  came  up.  The  "Missis 
sippi  "  had  been  detained  below  with  the 
"  Manassas"  and  another  iron-clad.  After 
this  everything  passed  under  your  observa 
tion. 

The  pleasant  duty  now  remains  of  speak 
ing  of  the  "Cayuga"  and  her  brave  offic 
ers  and  crew.  From  first  to  last,  Lieut. 
Com.  N.  B.  Harrison  displayed  a  masterly 
ability  in  steering  his  vessel  past  the  forts 
under  a  hurricane  of  shot  and  shell,  and  af 
terwards  in  maneuvering  and  fighting  her 
among  the  gun-boats.  I  cannot  say  too 


200 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


much  for  him.  He  was  gallantly  sus 
tained  by  Lieutenant  George  H.  Perkins 
and  Acting  Master  Thomas  H.  Morton. 
These  officers  have  my  unbounded  admira 
tion 

I  must,  in  conclusion,  express  the  pleas 
ure  which  I  experienced  in  witnessing  the 
seamanlike  manner  in  which  all  the  ships 
were  handled.  The  reports  of  the  divisional 
captains  will  inform  you  of  the  particular 
part  borne  by  each  ship. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  BAILEY, 

Captain  Commanding  Division  of  the  Red. 
Flag-officer  D.  G  FARRAGUT. 
Commander-in-Chief,etc.,  New  Orleans. 


REPORT  OF  FLEET-CAPTAIN  H.  H.  BELL. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD," 
OFF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS, 
April   26,  1862. 

SIR— On  the  night  of  the  23d  instant,  I 
went  on  board  of  the  United  States  gun 
boat  "  Sciota,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  E. 
Donaldson,  the  leading  vessel  of  the  second 
division  of  gun-boats,  which  you  did  me  the 
honor  to  assign  to  my  command  for  the  as 
cent  of  the  river.  At  4  A.  M.  of  the  24th 
instant,  the  "  Sciota,"  accompanied  by  the 
division,  followed  in  the  wake  of  the 
"  Richmond."  for  passing  Forts  Jackson 
and  St.  Philip. 

Having  run  safely  through  the  batteries 
of  the  forts  and  rebel  steamers,  Captain 
Donaldson  set  fire  to  and  burned  two 
steamboats  (one  loaded  with  gun-carriages, 
the  other  with  rosin  and  combustible  mater 
ials).  He  also  sent  a  boat's  crew  to  take 
possession  of  an  armed  steamer  which  sur 
rendered  to  him,  to  bring  her  up  the  river; 
but  finding  her  hard  and  fast  ashore,  and 
under  the  guns  of  the  fort,  the  boat  returned 
without  her.  This  delayed  the  movements 
of  the  "  Sciota,"  and  brought  her  within 
half  a  mile  of  the  ram  "  Manassas,"  w1  -ice 
I  witnessed  the  decided  manner  in  wnich 
the  noble  old  steamship  "Mississippi,"  Com 
mander  Melancton  Smith,  met  that  pigmy 
monster.  The  "  Mississippi"  made  at  her, 
but  the  "  Manassas  "  sheered  off  to  avoid 
the  collision,  and  landed  on  the  shore,  when 
her  crew  escaped  over  her  roof  into  the 
swamp.  The  "Mississippi"  pelted  her 
meanwhile  with  her  heavy  guns.  After  a 
while  she  slipped  off  the  bank,  and  was  last 
seen  by  some  of  the  officers  floating  down 
the  stream,  passing  the  "  Mississippi  "  with 
out  smoke-stack.  I  counted  nine  of  the 
enemy's  steamers  of  all  kinds  destroyed  ; 
all  but  two  being  well  armed  on  the  "bow' 
and  stern. 

Upon  the  assembling  of  the  fleet  at  quar 
antine,  I  observed,  for  the  first  time,  that 


the  gun-boats  "  Itasca,"  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  C.  H.  B.  Caldwell ;  "Winona," 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Ed.  T.  Nichols, 
and  "  Kennebec,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
John  Russell,  belonging  to  the  second 
gun-boat  division,  were  missing.  As  they 
were  the  three  rearmost  vessels  of  the 
fleet,  it  was  apprehended  that  the  fire  of 
the  forts  and  of  the  enemy's  steamers 
had  been  concentrated  upon  them  after  the 
passage  of  the  larger  vessels,  which  had 
attracted  and  divided  the  fire  of  the  en 
emy  while  they  were  in  sight.  I  am  happy 
to  report  none  killed  and  only  two  slight 
ly  wounded  in  this  brilliant  dash  of  the 
fleet. 

The  "Sciota,"  next  preceded  the  fleet 
up  to  English  Turn,  and  was  the  fourth 
vessel  ahead  in  the  attack  on  and  cap 
ture  of  the  forts  at  the  city  of  New  Orleans, 
on  the  2oth.  and  the  third  in  passing  up 
in  front  of  the  city.  She  has  shared  in  all 
the  active  operations  of  the  fleet  to  this 
date. 

The  immediate  object  of  this  expedition 
having  been  gained,  I  hauled  down  my 
pennant  at  one  p.  M.  to-day,  to  resume 
my  duties  as  fleet-captain  on  board  the 
"Hartford,"  having  no  further  casualties 
to  report. 

Throughout  the  try  ing  scenes  of  this  dash 
ing  exhibition,  which  is  second  to  none  on 
record,  Captain  Donaldson,  his  officers  and 
crew,  were  conspicuous  for  their  coolness, 
intrepidity  and  good  conduct.  Her  guns 
were  well  and  skillfully  handled  by  their 
crews,  under  the  direction  and  careful  in 
struction  of  Lieutenant  H.  A.  Adams ; 
Midshipman  Woodward  gallantly  working 
the  rifle  on  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  and 
Act. -Master  Foster  the  li-inch  pivot  gun. 
Act. -Master  McFarland  was  always  at 
the  con,  and  acquitted  himself  zealously 
and  handsomely  in  the  discharge  of  that 
duty. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant,  H.  H.  BELL, 

Captain  of  the  Fleet, 
Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

off  the  City  of  New  Orleans^ 


REPORT    OF    COMMANDER    RICHARD    WAIN- 
WRIGHT,  UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP 
"  HARTFORD." 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,"  ) 

OFF  CITY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS,  [ 

April  30,   1862.      ) 

SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  fol 
lowing  report  of  the  part  taken  by  this  ship 
m  the  actions  of  the  mornings  of  April  24th 
and  25th  instant,  off  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


201 


Philip,    and    below  the    city   of    New   Or 
leans. 

At  3:30  A.  M.,  on  the  morning  of  the  24th, 
got  under  way,  and  at  3:55  the  ';  Hartford'' 
opened  fire  from  bow  guns,  engaging  Fort 
Jackson,  and  receiving  a  galling  fire  from 
both  forts.  At  4.15  grounded  on  shoal  near 
Fort  St.  Philip  in  the  endeavor  to  clear  a 
fire  raft,  which  was  propelled  by  a  ram  on 
our  port  quarter,  setting  fire  to  the  ship, 
the  names  bursting  through  the  ports  and 
running  up  the  rigging,  endangering  the 
ship  as  much  from  fire,  if  not  more,  than 
from  the  guns  of  the  enemy.  Went  to  '"  fire 
quarters,"  extinguished  flames,  and  backed 
off — a  heavy  fire  being  kept  up  by  both 
forts  upon  us  all  the  time,  and  AVC  continu 
ing  to  fire  in  return  upon  them  until  out  of 


; 


COMMANDER  RICHARD  \VAIN\VRIGHT,  OF  THE  "HARTFORD." 

range.  Passed  and  fired  into  several  Con 
federate  steamers  on  our  way  up  the  river. 

On  the  xfSth  instant,  steaming  up  the 
river,  cleared  ship  for  action  at  9:30  A.  M., 
at  11:30  discovered  two  batteries,  one  on 
each  bank  of  the  river,  which  commenced 
firing.  We  then  opened  fire  with  bow  guns, 
and  shortly  were  in  position  to  use  both 
batteries,  and  at  first  fire  of  the  port  battery 
drove  the  enemy  on  the  right  bank  from 
his  guns.  After  passing  were  fired  on  by 
riflemen,  but  without  injury.  The  ship 
was  much  riddled,  having  received  34  shots, 
s<  >me  of  them  of  a  serious  nature.  There  were 
also  two  guns  disabled  by  the  enemy's  fire. 

I  herewith  enclose  the  reports  of  the  heads 
of  the  different  departments.  We  have  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  three  of  our  brave  crew, 
and  also  had  ten  wounded.  The  guns  were 
well  worked  and  served,  and  when  officers 


and  men  behave  with  such  courage  and  cool 
ness,  I  consider  it  a  credit  to  the  ship  to  say 
that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  individualize. 

On  April  2Gth,  at  3.25  p.  m.,  proceeded  up 
the  river  to  attack  some  batteries  ;  at  5  went 
to  quarters,  and  at  5.35  discovered  two  bat 
teries,  both  of  which,  however,  had  been 
evacuated,  and  gun-carriages  set  on  fire. 
Sent  a  boat  to  battery  on  left  bank  and 
spiked  twenty-nine  guns. 

Respectfully  yours, 
R.  WAINWRIGHT, 

Commander  United  States  Ship  "Hart 
ford." 

Flag-officer  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 

REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  HENRY  W.  MORRIS,  UNITEI> 
STATES  STEAM-SLOOP  "  PENSACOLA." 

UNITED  STATES  SLOOP  "  PENSACOLA," 
AT  ANCHOR  OFF  NEW  ORLEANS, 
April  28,  1862. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  fo 
lowing  incidents  and  occurrences  of  the 
conflict  of  the  24th  and  25th  of  April  in  pass 
ing  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  and  their 
adjacent  batteries  :  also  the  engagement 
with  the  rebel  gun-boats  and  the  **  ram," 
which  were  stationed  above  those  forts; 
also,  the  action  writh  the  batteries  located  a 
few  miles  below  this  city,  and  which  latter 
took  place  on  the  25th  instant. 

Your  order  to  me  was  that  this  ship 
should,  after  passing  the  barricade  below 
the  forts,  proceed  to  the  attack  of  Fort  St. 
Philip,  irx  order  to  divert  its  fire  from  your 
division,  so  that  you  should  not  be  exposed 
to  the  fire  of  both  of  these  forts  at  the  same 
time.  On  our  arrival  at  the  opening  of  the 
barricade  the  enemy  opened  his  fire  on  us. 
We  proceeded  slowly  through  it,  firing  only 
our  bow  guns,  until  we  reached  a  position 
where  our  broadside  guns  could  be  used; 
we  then  continued  slowly  on,  frequently 
stq^ing  and  returning  his  fire,  and  sustain 
ing  ,aat  of  the  rebel  gun-boats  at  the  same 
time,  until  we  had  reached  a  point  above 
that  fort  where  its  fire  could  no  longer  reach 
us.  The  ram.  after  having  struck  the  "  Va- 
runa"  gun-boat,  and  forced  her  to  run  on 
shore  to  prevent  sinking,  advanced  to  attack 
this  ship,  coming  down  on  us  right  ahead. 
She  was  perceived  by  Lieutenant  F.  A.  Roe 
just  in  time  to  avoid  her  by  sheering  the 
ship,  and  she  passed  close  on  our  starboard 
side,  receiving,  as  she  went  by,  a  broadside 
from  us.  The  gun-boats  of  the  enemy  now 
fled  up  the  river,  and  some  of  them  were 
run  on  shore  and  set  fire  to  by  their  own 
crews.  We  were  under  the  fire  of  the  ene 
my  about  two  hours.  We  then  steamed  up 
the  river  to  render  assistance  to  the  "  Varu- 
na."  We  sent  our  boats  to  her  to  assist  in 


202 


THE  NA  VAL    HISTORY 


taking  off  her  officers  and  crew,  and  have 
seven  of  the  former  and  about  sixty  of  the 
latter  now  on  board. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  crew  of 
this  ship  was  in  every  respect  praiseworthy, 
evincing  coolness  and  courage  of  the  high 
est  order.  The  fire  of  the  guns  was  kept 
up  with  all  the  rapidity  which  the  circum 
stances  of  the  action  demanded,  to  insure 
injury  to  the  enemy  without  the  wasting  of 
ammunition.  The  amount  of  damage  in 
flicted  by  us  on  him  cannot  be  ascertained, 
but  I  believe  that  it  must  have  been  very 
considerable.  It  is  impossible  in  a  night  at 
tack  to  do  justice  to  each  officer's  merits  by 
specifying  his  particular  conduct  in  the 
battle,  but  the  result  of-  the  conflict  is  the 
best  evidence  of  the  great  good  behaviour 
of  them  all. 

I  must  speak  of  the  coolness  and  ability 
displayed  by  Lieutenant  F.  A.  Roe,  the  ex 
ecutive  officer  of  this  ship.  His  station  be 
ing  on  the  bridge  next  to  me  enabled  me  to 
witness  it.  My  eyesight  is  quite  defective, 
especially  at  night,  and  I  am  compelled  to 
rely  on  that  of  others.  I  was,  therefore, 
obliged  to  give  to  Lieutenant  Roe  the  duty 
of  directing  the  ship's  course  through  the 
opening  of  the  barricade,  as  well  as  the  as 
cending  of  the  river  during  the  whole  ac 
tion.  The  judgment  and  skill  shown  by 
him  in  the  performance  of  this  duty -can 
not  be  surpassed.  We  had  no  pilot  on 
board,  and  he  performed  that  duty  with  the 
most  remarkable  ability  and  success.  I  re 
commend  and  most  strongly  urge  upon  the 
Navy  Department  the  propriety  and  justice 
of  promoting  him  to  the  rank  of  com 
mander,  as  a  reward  for  the  highly  import 
ant  services  which  he  has  rendered  in  this 
battle.  In  my  opinion  he  has  fairly  earned 
it  and  ought  to  receive  it. 

In  the  action  of  the  25th  instant  with  the 
batteries  just  below  the   city  the  ship  re 
ceived  but  little  injury  in  her  hull  or  rig- 
fing.  and  none  of  the  officers  or  crew  were 
illed  or  wounded,     I  enclose  herewith  a 
report  of  the   surgeon  of    the  killed  and 
wounded;  also,  one  of  the  injury  sustained 
by  the  ship  in  hull  and  rigging. 
I  am.  very  respectfully, 

HENRY  W.  MORRIS.  Captain. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 

REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  T.   T.  CRAVEN,   UNITED 
STEAM-SLOOP  "  BROOKLYN. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAM-SLOOP  "BROOKLYN,"  ) 

MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,  V 

April  26,  1802.      ) 

SIR — Herewith  I  have  the  honor  to  en 
close  reports  from  the  executive  officer,  sur 
geon,  gunner,  carpenter  and  boatswain, 


relative  to  the  occurrences,  casualties,  ex 
penditure  of  ammunition,  and  damages  on 
board  this  ship  on  the  mornings  of  the  24th 
and  25th  instant. 

It  becomes  my  duty  to  add  that,  on  the 
morning  of  the  24th,  soon  after  the  action 
between  our  fleet  and  the  forts,  St.  Philip 
and  Jackson,  commenced,  in  consequence 
of  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  the  blind 
ing  smoke,  I  lost  sight  of  your  ship,  and 
when  following  in  the  line  of  what  I  sup 
posed  to  be  your  fire,  I  suddenly  found  the 
'•Brooklyn"  running  over  one  of  the  hulks 
and  rafts  which  sustained  the  chain  barri 
cade  of  the  river.  For  a  few  moments  I  was 
entangled  and  fell  athwart  the  stream,  our 
bow  grazing  the  shore  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  river.  While  in  this  situation  I  received 
a  pretty  severe  fire  from  Fort  St.  Philip. 
Immediately  after  extricating  my  ship  from 
the  rafts,  her  head  was  turned  up  stream, 
and  a  few  minutes  thereafter  she  was  feebly 
butted  by  the  celebrated  ram  ''  Manassas." 
She  came  butting  into  our  starboard  gang- 
Avay,  first  firing  from  her  trap-door,  when 
within  about  ten  feet  of  the  ship,  directly 
toward  our  smoke-stack,  her  shot  entering 
about  jive  feet  above  the  water-line  and 
lodging  in  the  sand-bags  which  protected 
our  steam-drum.  I  had  discovered  this 
queer  looking  gentleman,  while  forcing  my 
way  over  the  barricade,  lying  close  into 
the  bank,  and  when  he  made  his  appearance 
the  second  time  I  was  so  close  to  him  that 
he  had  not  an  opportunity  to  get  up  his  full 
speed,  and  his  efforts  to  damage  me  were 
completely  frustrated,  our  chain  armor 
proving  a  perfect  protection  to  our  sides. 
He  soon  slid  off  and  disappeared  in  the 
darkness.  A  few  moments  thereafter,  being 
all  the  time  under  a  raking  fire  from  Fort 
Jackson,  I  was  attacked  by  a  large  Confed 
erate  steamer.  Our  port  broadside,  at  the 
short  distance  of  only  fifty  or  sixty  yards, 
completely  finished  him,  setting  him  on  fire 
almost  instantaneously. 

Still  groping  my  way  in  the  dark,  or  under 
the  black  cloud  of  smoke  from  the  fire-raft.  I 
suddenly  found  myself  abreast  of  St.  Philip, 
and  so  close  that  the  leadsman  in  the  star 
board  chains  gave  the  soundings.  "  thirteen 
feet,  sir."  As  we  could  bring  all  our  guns 
to  bear,  for  a  few  brief  moments  we  poured 
in  grape  and  canister,  and  I  had  the  satis 
faction  of  completely  silencing  that  work 
before  I  left  it — my  men  in  the  tops  witness 
ing,  in  the  flashes  of  their  bursting  shrap 
nels,  the  enemy  running  like  sheep  for 
more  comfortable  quarters. 

After  passing  the  forts  we  engaged  several 
of  the  enemy's  gun-boats  ;  and  being  at 
short  range — generally  from  sixty  to  a 
hundred  yards — the  effects  of  our  broad 
sides  must  have  been  terrific.  This  ship 
was  under  fire  about  one  hour  and  a  half. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


203 


We  lost  eight  men  killed,  and  had  twenty- 
six  wounded,  and  our  damages  from  the 
enemy's  shot  and  shell  are  severe.  I  should 
not  have  been  so  particular,  sir,  in  record 
ing  so  many  of  the  incidents  of  the  morn 
ing  of  the  24th,  had  I  not  been  out  of  my 
proper  station;  but  justice  to  my  officers 
and  crew  demand  that  I  should  show  that 
the  "  Brooklyn  "  was  neither  idle  nor  use 
less  on  that  never-to-be-forgotten  occasion. 

In  conclusion,  I  must  here  beg  leave  to 
add  that  my  officers  and  crew,  all,  without  a 
single  exception,  behaved  in  a  most  heroic 
manner ;  indeed,  I  was  surprised  to  witness 
their  perfect  coolness  and  self-possession, 
as  they  stood  at  their  guns  while  the  rebels 
were  hailing  shot  and  shell  upon  us  for 
nearly  half  an  hour  before  I  gave  the  order 
to  ''open  fire."  I  have  to  congratulate 
myself  on  being  so  ably  assisted  by  my  exec 
utive  officer,  Lieutenant  R.  B.  Lowry.  He 
was  everywhere,  inspiring  both  officers  and 
crew  with  his  own  zeal  and  gallantry  in 
the  performance  of  their  duty.  Lieutenant 
James  O'Kane,  who  had  charge  of  the  1st 
division,  was  severely  wounded  soon  after 
we  commenced  the  action  ;  but  not  until  he 
had  himself  primed,  sighted  and  fired  two 
guns,  and  from  loss  of  blood  fallen  to  the 
deck,  would  he  consent  to  be  carried  below. 
Lieutenant  James  Forney,  commanding  the 
marines,  had  two  guns  assigned  him,  and, 
with  his  men,  fought  most  gallantly. 

I  was  early  deprived  of  the  services  of  my 
signal  officer  and  aid,  Acting  Midshipman 
John  Anderson,  by  a  shot,  which  cut  him 
and  the  signal  quartermaster,  Barney  Sands, 
nearly  in  two.  Young  Anderson  was  a  most 
promising  and  gallant  young  gentleman, 
and  had,  only  a  few  days  previously,  volun 
teered  from  another  vessel,  which  had  been 
detailed  for  other  duty,  to  join  this  ship  ;  he 
was  knocked  overboard  and  killed  instantly. 
Immediately  afterward,  my  young  clerk, 
Mr.  J.  G.  Swift,  (who  had  been  meanwhile 
taking  notes.)  asked  me  to  let  him  act  as  my 
aid  ;  and  the  prompt,  self-possessed  manner 
in  which  he  performed  his  duty  in  conveying 
my  orders  elicited  my  highest  admiration. 

The  conduct  of  Quartermaster  James 
Buck,  stationed  at  the  wheel,  merits  partic 
ular  mention.  Early  in  the  fight  he  received 
a  severe  and  painful  contusion  by  a  heavy 
splinter  ;  but  for  seven  hours  afterwards  he 
stood  bravely  at  his  post  and  performed  his 
duty,  refusing  to  go  below  until  positively 
ordered  to  do  so  ;  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  25th,  without  my  knowledge,  he  again 
stole  to  his  station  and  steered  the  ship  from 
early  daylight  until  1.30  p.  M.,  over  eight 
hours.  I  beg  particularly  that  you  will 
bring  this  man's  conduct  to  the  especial 
notice  of  the  Navy  Department. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  April,  as  the 
fleet  was  proceeding  up  the  river,  at  about 


a  quarter-past  11  o'clock,  two  batteries  were 
discovered,  one  on  our  starboard  bow,  and 
the  other  almost  directly  ahead.  Signal 
was  made  from  your  ship  to  prepare  for 
action.  At  this  time  the  flag-ship  was  the 
leading  vessel,  the  "  Brooklyn  "  was  the 
second  in  the  line,  and  the  "Iroquois" 
third  ;  the  others  were  astern,  and  some 
what  scattered.  A  few  minutes  after  your 
signal  the  "Cayuga"  passed  the  "Brook 
lyn,"  and  so  close  as  to  compel  me  to  hail 
and  request  her  commander  not  to  force  me 
out  of  my  station.  She  pushed  on,  and 
even  passed  the  flag-ship. 

About  noon,  being  then  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  distant  from  them,  the  batteries 
opened  a  raking  fire*  upon  us.  The  fire  of 
starboard  battery  was  immediately  respon 
ded  to  by  this  ship,  then  about  half  a  cable's 
length  astern  of  the  "  Hartford,"  and  twenty- 
one  shots  from  our  80-pounder  rifled  gun 
were  rapidly,  and  with  remarkable  precis 
ion,  thrown  into  it,  only  two  of  these  shots 
failing  to  take  effect.  A  few  minutes  after 
ward  the  "Brooklyn,"  then  steaming  at  the 
rate  of  ten  knots,  by  the  sudden  sheering 
off  and  slowing  down  of  the  "  Hartford," 
for  the  purpose  of  engaging  the  enemy, 
necessarily  sheered  in  shore,  which  brought 
her  up  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two 
hundred  yards  of  the  port-hand  battery, 
and  so  as  to  obstruct  the  fire  of  the  ' '  Hart 
ford."  The  "Brooklyn"  then  opened  fire 
with  grape  and  canister,  stopped  her  en 
gines,  and,  lying  within  less  than  one  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  river  bank,  delivered  two 
other  broadsides,  which  completely  drove 
the  enemy  pell-mell  from  their  guns  and 
from  the  field. 

In  conclusion,  sir,  permit  me  to  congratu 
late  you  upon  this  most  brilliant  success. 
The  attack  by  our  squadron  upon  two  strong 
and  garrisoned  forts,  steaming  within  grape 
and  canister  range,  and  partially  silencing 
them,  and  the  pursuit  and  destruction  of 
almost  their  entire  fleet  of  gun-boats,  have 
not  been  surpassed,  if  equaled,  by  any  navy 
in  the  world.  Under  the  providence  of 
Almighty  God  we  have  achieved  a  most 
glorious  victory. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

THOS.  T.  CRAVEN,  Captain. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FAKRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 

REPORT  OF   COMMANDER   S.    PHILLIPS    LEE, 
COMMANDING  UNITED  STATES  STEAM- 
SLOOP  "  ONEIDA." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAM-SLOOP  "  ONEIDA,"  ) 
NEW  ORLEANS,  April  26,  ]862.      f 

I  report  the  part  born  by  the  "Oneida" 
during  the  actions  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th,  between  3  and  G  A.  M.,  with  Fort  Jack- 


204 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY 


son  and  Fort  St.  Philip  and  the  Confederate 
gun-boats,  and  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans, 
at  noon  on  the  25th. 

ACTION  WITH  FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP. 

The  "Oneida"  was,  under  your  order,  the 
fourth  in  line  in  the  leading  division,  which 
was  instructed  by  you  to  pass  on  the  Fort 
St.  Philip  side  and  not  to  fire  the  port  bat 
tery.  Hence  the  port  32s  were  shifted  to, 
and  our  pivot  guns  trained  on  the  star 
board  side. 

The  enemy's  fire  was  very  heavy,  and 
began  from  both  forts  as  soon  as  we  got 
within  long  range  of  their  guns,  which  was 
on  opening  the  point  a  mile  and  a  half  be 
low  Fort  Jackson. 

I  found  it  necessary,  until  past  the  forts, 
to  pilot  and  to  direct  all  operations  from  the 
forecastle  after  Hearing  the  opening  in  the 
barrier,  where  the  "  Mississippi"  (our  next 
ahead)  seemed  at  a  stand  as  if  aground,  011 
the  Fort  St.  Philip  side,  when  she  com 
menced  firing  her  port  battery. 

This  obstruction  to  our  passage  was  re 
moved,  as,  caught  by  the  current  on  the 
starboard  bow,  the  "  Mississippi"  shot  over 
to  and  rather  down  on  the  Fort  Jackson 
side.  Then  the  "  Varuna"  (our  next  astern) 
appeared  on  our  port  side  and  showed  black 
smoke.  The  '•  Oneida"  was  steered  in  for 
the  Fort  St.  Philip  side,  passed  up  quickly 
in  the  strong  eddy,  and  close  under  the  guns 
of  that  fort,  (so  that  the  sparks  from  its  im 
mense  battery  seemed  to  reach  us.)  fired 
rapidly  bolts  from  two  rifled  guns,  (we  had 
no  shell  for  them,)  grape  and  canister  from 
the  forward  32s,  and  shrapnel  from  the  two 
11-inch  pivot  guns,  whilst  passing  this  long 
line  of  works.  (It  was,  perhaps,  the  burn 
ing  of  the  sulphur  in  our  11-inch  shrapnel 
which  occasioned  the  officers  in  Fort  St. 
Philip  to  inquire  after  the  surrender,  if  our 
shells  wrere  not  filled  with  Greek  fire. 

The  terrific  fire  from  the  heavy  batteries 
of  Fort  St.  Philip  passed  over  us,  their  guns 
seeming  to  be  too  much  elevated  for  our 
close  position. 

ACTION  WITH  THE  GUN-BOATS. 

When  just  above  the  forts  we  encountered 
the  gun-boats  and  transports  of  the  enemy. 
The  former,  it  seems  from  the  subsequent 
reports  of  our  prisoners,  were  tied  to  trees 
along  the  steep  bank  above  Fort  St.  Philip  ; 
thence  passing  over  to  the  Fort  Jackson 
side,  these  gun-boats  came  down  to  meet 
us.  It  was  very  thick  from  darkness  and 
smoke.  We  had  now  got  on  the  Fort  Jack 
son  side.  A  flash  revealed  the  ram  "Man- 
assas,"  gliding  down  our  port  side  below 
our  guns,  and  passing  too  close  and  swiftly 
aided  by  steam  and  the  current,  to  enable 
us  to  bring  our  heavy  guns  to  bear  on  her. 
Next  came  a  gun-boat  quite  near,  and  pass 
ing  from  the  Fort  Jackson  to  Fort  St.  Philip 


side,  across  our  bow.  Ran  into  it  with  a 
full  head  of  steam,  and  cut  it  down  with  a 
loud  crash  on  its  starboard  quarter.  Clear 
of  our  guns  in  a  moment,  it  drifted  down 
stream  in  the  darkness.  We  now  slowed 
down,  and  afterwards  used  the  steam  as 
necessary  to  get  or  keep  position  in  fighting 
the  gunboats,  firing  right  and  left  into  them 
as  we  could  ascertain  (from  other  indica 
tions  than  black  smoke,  on  account  of  the 
"  Varuna")  that  we  were  not  firing  into  one 
of  our  own  steamers  :  forbore  to  fire  into 
those  steamers  that  appeared  to  be  river 
transports,  and  ceased  firing  into  others 
when  they  made  no  return. 

In  this  manner  we  fired  into  and  passed 
several   Confederate    boats    011    the    right 
bank,  leaving  it  for  those  who  came  after 
to  pick  up  the  prizes.     A  black  gun-boat 
with  two  masts — a  converted  sea  steamer- 
ran  ahead  after  a  brief  contest.    At  or  near 
daybreak  we  found  the  "Cayuga"  on  our 
port  side.     After  consultation  with  Captain 
Bailey,  we  concluded  to  wait  for   the  fleet 
to   come   up   and   form   in  order.     Captain 
Bailey  afterwards  hailed  that  the  "Varuna" 
might  be  ahead.     Looked  for  her  but  could 
not  make   her  out,    and    received    reports 
from  the  first  lieutenant  and  the  officer  on 
the  forecastle  that  she   was   not  in   sight. 
We  had  steamed  a  mile  or  more  ahead  ^of 
the  "Cayuga,"  saw  her  general  signal  No. 
SO.  but  a"s  there  was  nothing  in  sight  of  us 
needing  assistance,  supposed  the  signal  to 
refer  to   some  vessel  astern  of  the  "  Cay- 
uga."    Moving  ahead,  reconnoitering,  came 
up  with  what  in  the  gray  of  the  morning 
appeared  to  be  a  fort,  but  "which,  on  nearer 
approach,  proved  to  be  a  Confederate  camp 
on  the  right  bank,  with  a  large  Confeder 
ate  flag  flying  over  it.     Fired  into  it.  but 
110  reply  was  made,  no  one  was  seen  mov 
ing,  and  the  camp  seemed  deserted.  Passed 
on,  leaving  the  trophy  flag  flying,  and  soon 
received  a  report  that  the  "Varuna"  was 
ahead,  and  that  the  enemy  was  trying  to 
board  her.  Went  ahead  with  all  speed  to  her 
assistance.     Approaching  rapidly,  saw  the 
"Varuna"  ashore  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
river,  where  she  had  been  driven    by  two 
rebel  gun-boats.     At  5.30  A.  M.,  fired  on  one 
of  them,  the  black  gun-boat,  our  previous 
acquaintance,  with  the  forcastle   rifle  gun. 
He  had  hoisted  his  jib  (his  wheel-ropes  being 
gone)  and  was  trying  to  escape  up  river,  but 
both  rebel  gun-boats,  finding  they  could  not 
get  away,    ran  on    shore — the    black    one. 
which  proved  to  be  the  "  Governor  Moore," 
Commander  Kennon,  on  the  left  bank,  above 

the  "Varuna,"  and  the  ,  (name   yet 

unknown,)  on  the  right  bank,  opposite  the 
"  Varuna."  with  her  head  up  stream.  After 
we  had  driven  them  ashore  their  crews  de 
serted,  but  not  before  setting  fire  to  their 
vessels. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


205 


With  our  boats  captured  Commander 
Kennon,  (formerly  of  our  navy,)  one  first 
lieutenant  of  artillery,  one  chief  engineer, 
and  fourteen  of  the  crew  of  the  "Governor 
Moore  "  :  also,  a  rebel  signal-book  and  some 
official  papers,  showing  that  the  rebel  gun 
boats  were  ordered  to  ram  our  vessels  and 
to  distinguish  themselves  by  showing  lights, 
which  they  must  soon  have  found  prudent 
to  haul  down.  Seeing  that  the  "Varuna" 
was  sinking,  sent  our  boats  and  went  to  her 
assistance.  Brought  on  board  '*  Oneida  "  the 
first  lieutenant,  two  acting  masters,  two 
mates,  and  fort}r  petty  officers  and  seamen 
of  the  '•Varuna,"  and  sent  ten  others,  seven 
of  whom  were  wounded,  to  the  "Pensa- 
cola." 

The  "Varuna''  had  been  rammed  and 
badly  stove  by  both  of  these  rebel  gun-boats, 
which  had  kept  with  or  after  her  up  river, 
and  she  was  filling,  with  her  magazine 
flooded,  when  the  "Oneida''  drove  off  her 
assailants,  prevented  her  officers  and  crew 
from  being  captured,  and  was  received  by 
them  with  loud  and  hearty  cheers. 

The  "Cayuga,''  (Captain  Bailey's  flag,) 
also  cheered  the  "  Oneida''  heartily  for  op 
portunely  coming  to  his  support  that  morn 
ing. 

BATTLE  OF   NEW  ORLEANS. 

In  the  action  of  the  25th.  the  "Oneida." 
being  next  to  the  "Pensacola."  shared  in 
the  actual  engagement  with  Fort  Chalmette, 
on  the  famous  old  battle-ground.  The 
entire  action  lasted  but  10  minutes. 

The  enclosed  report  of  the  surgeon  shows 
the  extent  of  our  loss  to  be  but  three  per 
sons  slightly  wounded  in  these  three  actions. 

Fort  Jackson  sent  a  heavy  shell  through 
our  port  side  and  coal  bunker,  (which  was 
full  of  coal)  the  shell  falling,  and  fortu 
nately  without  exploding,  on  our  berth- 
deck. 

The  gun -boats  gave  us  one  glancing  shot 
on  the  starboard  bow  and  a  quantity  of 
grape,  mostly  on  the  starboard  side. 

The  officers  and  men  of  my  command  dis 
played  courage,  coolness  and  skill. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respect 
fully  yours. 

S.  PHILLIPS  LEE,  Commanding. 
Flag-officer  p.  G    FAKKAGUT,  U.  S.  N., 

Commanding  Western  Blockading  Squad 
ron. 


REPORT  OF  COMMANDER  SAMUEL  SWARTWOUT, 

UNITED  STATES  SLOOP-OP-WAR 

"  PORTSMOUTH.*' 

UNITED   STATES  SLOOP-OF-WAR    "PORTS-  ) 
MOUTH,"  OFF  PILOT  TOWN,  MISSISSIPPI  >• 
RIVER,  April  28,  1802.      ) 
SIR — In  compliance   with  your  orders,   I 
got  under  way  at  3.30  A.  M.   on  the  24th  in 
stant,  and  proceeded  toward  Fort  Jackson, 


in  tow  of  the  steamer   "JacksOn."'  for    the 
purpose  of  enfilading  that  fort,  to  draw  their 
fire  from  your  squadron  whilst  passing  by. 
Upon  arriving  at  the  position  designated  by 
you  in  your  directions  to  Lieutenant  John 
son.  I  ordered  the  ship  to  be  anchored,  and 
had  a  spring  run  out,  to  breast  her  broadside 
to.     I  had  scarcely  accomplished  this  when 
a  very  brisk  and  galling  fire,  with  shell  and 
solid  shot,  was  opened  upon  the  ship  from  a 
masked  water  battery  only  a  few  hundred 
yards  distant,  and  so  completely  concealed 
from  our  view  that  we  could  only  judge  of 
its  location  by  the  flashes  from  the  Confeder 
ate  guns.  We  returned  their  fire  with  as  much 
precision  as  we  could  under  the  circumstan 
ces,  but  with  what  effect  I  have  been  unable 
to  ascertain.     After  firing  one  round  from 
my  port  battery  and  four  rounds  from  my 
Parrot  gun,  the  spring  was  shot  away,  and 
the  ship  swung  around,  so  that  I  was  unable 
to  bring  any  of  my  guns  to  bear  upon  Fort 
Jackson  or  the  water  battery.    By  this  time 
the  rebels  had  got    their  range,  and  were 
dropping  their  shell  and   shot    with   great 
rapidity  all   around  and  close  to  the  ship, 
many  of  them  cutting   away    the    rigging 
just  above  our  heads.     A  68-ppunder  solid 
shot  was  thrown  on  board,  falling  upon  the 
spar  deck,  just  under  the  top-gallant  fore 
castle,  tearing  away  the   plank  about  ten 
feet,  splitting  one  of  the  beams,  and  in  its 
passage  striking  John  Hancock,  seaman,  in 
the  left  leg,  shattering  it  so  much  as  to  render 
amputation  necessary.     He  has  since  died 
of  his  wound.     Finding  that  the  ship   was 
a  target  for  the  enemy's  batteries,  without 
being  able    to   bring  my  guns  to  bear,  and, 
as  the  squadron  had  passed  the  forts,  the 
object  of  my  visit  was  accomplished,  I  reluc 
tantly  gave  the  order  to  slip  the  cable,  and 
was  soon  drifted  out  of  range  of  the  rebel 
guns  by  the  wind  and  tide.     I  cannot  speak 
in  too  high  praise  of  the  bravery,  coolness, 
and  subordination  of  the  officers  and  crew 
upon  this  trying  occasion. 

Commander  Porter  called  to  see  me  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  24th  instant,  and,  upon  con 
sultation,  we  decided  that  the  most  judicious 
course  would  be  for  all  the  vessels,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  of  his  most  powerful 
steamers,  to  drop  down  to  this  anchorage, 
under  my  protection,  so  that  in  case  any 
of  the  rams  and  fire-rafts  should  escape  his 
steamers  this  ship  could  arrest  their  progress 
here. 

Having  received  the  glorious  tidings  to 
day  that  Forts  Jackson  and  Philip  have  sur 
rendered  to  Commander  Porter.  I  have  con 
cluded  to  proceed  up  the  river  again,  in 
order  to  recover,  if  possible,  the  cable  and 
anchor  which  I  slipped  on  the  24th  instant, 
and  also  to  render  all  the  assistance  in  my 
power.  I  have  just  received  intelligence 
from  Ship  island  that  Lieutenant-Command- 


206 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ing  Abner  Read,  of  the  steamer  "  New  Lon 
don,"  is  in  a  critical  situation,  as  there  are 
five  rebel  steamers  preparing  to  attack  him. 
I  will  therefore  order  one  of  our  gun-boats 
to  proceed  with  all  dispatch  to  his  assist 
ance. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  SWARTWOUT,  Commander. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  United  States  Naval  Forces, 
Western  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


COMMANDER   (NOW   REAR-ADMIRAL)   MELANCTOX   SMITH, 
OF  THE   "MISSISSIPPI." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  MISSISSIPPI," 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  26,  1862. 

SIR— I  have  to  report  that  the  injuries  sus 
tained  by  this  ship  in  the  engagements  of 
the  24th  and  25th  instant,  with  Forts  Jack 
son  and  St.  Philip,  the  rebel  gun-boats,  the 
ram  "Manassas,"  and  the  batteries  below 
the  city  of  New  Orleans,  are  not  of  a  very 
serious  nature. 

Ten  shots  were  received,  eight  of  which 
passed  entirely  through  the  ship.  The  ram 
'  Manassas"  likewise  inflicted  an  extensive 
wound  on  the  port  charters,  below  the 
water  line.  All  these  injuries  can  be  tem 
porarily  remedied,  with  the  exception  of  the 
latter,  and  the  severe  damage  done  to  the 
outer  shaft-bearing  and  mizzen-mast  I 
regret  exceedingly  that  my  disabled  machin 


ery,  and  a  burning  steamer  that  was  drift 
ing  clown  upon  us,  did  not  allow  me  to  take 
the  "  Manassas"  in  tow  after  her  surrender, 
thereby  preserving  her  intact  for  our  own 
use,  as  the  engines  were  still  in  operation 
when  my  boats,  with  an  engineer  and  crew, 
boarded  her.  At  this  time  it  became  neces 
sary  to  recall  my  boats,  when  I  directed 
her  to  be  set  on  fire,  and  then  so  riddled  her 
with  shot  that  she  was  dislodged  from  the 
bank  and  drifted  below  the  forts,  when  she 
blew  up  and  sank. 

I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  accompany 
ing  report  of  Surgeon  R.  F.  Maccoun  for  the 
casualties  that  occurred  among  the  crew, 
and  to  the  enclosed  statements  of  the  car 
penter  and  gunner  of  the  damages  done  to 
the  vessels  and  the  expenditure  of  ammuni 
tion. 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  mentioning  the 
efficient  service  rendered  by  Executive 
Officer  Geo.  Dewey,  who  kept  the  vessel  in 
her  station  during  the  engagement,  a  task 
exceedingly  difficult  from  the  darkness  and 
thick  smoke  that  enveloped  us  from  the  fire 
of  our  vessel  and  the  burning  gun-boats. 

I  would  also  refer,  in  terms  of  praise,  to 
the  conduct  of  all  the  officers  and  men 
under  my  command.  As  I  consider  that  all 
the  vessels  under  fire  did  their  utmost  to 
subdue  the  enemy  and  destroy  his  defences, 
I  deem  it  unnecessary  to  enter  into  any 
further  detail  of  the  exploits  performed  by 
the  "  Mississippi,"  as  we  all  must  share  alike 
in  the  honor  of  your  victory. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

MELANCTOX  SMITH, 
Commander  United  States  Navy. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Division  Gulf 
Blockading  Squadron. 


REPORT  OF  COMMANDER  CHARLES  S.  BOGGS, 
UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  *;  VARUNA." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAM  GUN-BOAT   "CAY-) 
UGA,"  AT  SEA,  May  8,  1862.  \ 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  here 
with  a  duplicate  of  the  report  of  Comman 
der  Boggs,  late  of  the  "varuna,"  and  at 
tached  to  my  division  of  the  attacking 
force.  This  gallant  officer  came  up  to  my 
support  when  I  had  more  of  the  enemy's 
steamers  attacking  me  than  I  could  well 
attend  to.  I  afterwards  saw  him  in  conflict 
with  three  of  the  enemy's  steamers,  and 
directed  Commander  Lee,  of  the  "  Oneida," 
to  go  to  his  support,  which  he  did  in  the 
most  dashing  manner. 

Commander  Bogg's  description  of  the  loss 
of  his  vessel  I  believe  to  be  accurate.  I  saw 
him  bravely  fighting,  his  guns  level  with 
the  water,  as  his  vessel  gradually  sank 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


207 


underneath,  leaving  her  bow  resting  on  the 
shore  and  above  water. 

I  have  the  honor  to    be    your    obedient 
servant,  T.  BAILEY,  Captain. 

Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  CAYUGA,"  ) 

May  5,  18G2.  f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  a  copy 
(with  slight  verbal  alteration)  of  the  very 
hasty  report  drawn  up  at  the  last  moment 
and  sent  to  the  flag-officer.  My  absence  on 
special  duty  immediately  after  the  action, 
and  the  necessity  of  forwarding  it  immedi 
ately,  before  the  sailing  of  this  vessel,  must 
be  my  excuse  for  not  forwarding  it  through 
you,  my  immediate  commander,  who  so 
gallantly  led  the  van  of  the  division  to 
which  the  "  Varuna"  was  attached. 
Very  respectfully, 

CHARLES  S.  BOGGS, 
Commander  United  States  Navy. 
Captain  T.  BAILEY. 
Commanding  First  Division  of  Gun-boats. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "BROOKLYN," 
OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,  April  29,  1SG2. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  after 
passing  the  batteries  with  the  steamer  "  Va 
runa,"  under  my  command,  on  the  morning 
of  the  24th,  finding  my  vessel  amid  a  nest 
of  rebel  steamers,  I  started  ahead,  deliver 
ing  her  fire,  both  starboard  and  port,  at 
every  one  that  she  passed.  The  first  on  her 
starboard  beam  that  received  her  fire 
appeared  to  be  crowded  with  troops.  Her 
boiler  was  exploded,  and  she  drifted  to  the 
shore.  In  like  manner  three  other  vessels, 
one  of  them  a  gun-boat,  were  driven  ashore 
in  flames,  and  afterwards  blew  up. 

At  G  A.  M.  the  "  Varuna "  was  attacked 
by  the  "  Morgan,"  iron-clad  about  the  bow, 
commanded  by  Beverly  Kennon,  an  ex- 
naval  officer.  This  vessel  raked  us  along 
the  port  gangway,  killing  four  and  wound 
ing  nine  of  the  crew,  butting  the  ''Varuna" 
on  the  quarter  and  again  on  the  starboard 
side.  I  managed  to  get  three  eight-inch 
shells  into  her  abaft  her  armor,  as  also  sev 
eral  shots  from  the  after  rifled  gun,  when 
she  dropped  out  of  action  partially  disabled. 

While  still  engaged  with  her,  another 
rebel  steamer,  iron-clad,  with  a  prow  under 
water,  struck  us  in  the  port  gangway,  doing 
considerable  damage.  Our  shot  glanced 
from  her  bow.  She  backed  off  for  another 
blow,  and  struck  again  in  the  same  place, 
crushing  in  the  side  ;  but  by  going  ahead 
fast,  the  concussion  drew  her  bow  around, 
and  I  was  able,  with  the  port  guns,  to  give 
her,  while  close  alongside,  five  eight-inch 
shells  abaft  her  armor.  This  settled  her, 


and  drove  her  ashore  in  flames.  Finding 
the  "Varuna"  sinking,  I  ran  her  into  the 
bank,  let  go  the  anchor,  and  tied  up  to  the 
trees. 

During  all  this  time  the  guns  were  actively 
at  work  crippling  the  "  Morgan,"  which  was 
making  feeble  efforts  to  get  up  steam.  The 
fire  was  kept  up  until  the  water  was  over 
the  gun-trucks,  when  I  turned  my  attention 
to  getting  the  wounded  and  crew  out  of  the 
vessel.  The  "  Oneida,"  Captain  Lee.  seeing 
the  condition  of  the  "Varuna,"  had  rushed 
to  her  assistance,  but  I  waived  her  on,  and 
the  "Morgan"  surrendered  to  her,  the  ves 
sel  in  flames.  I  have  since  learned  that 
over  fifty  of  her  crew  were  killed  and 
wounded,  and  she  was  set  on  fire  by  her 
commander,  who  burned  his  wounded  with 
his  vessel. 

I  cannot  award  too  much  praise  to  the 
officers  and  crew  of  the  "Varuna"  for  the 
noble  manner  in  which  they  supported  me 
and  their  coolness  under  such  exciting  cir 
cumstances,  particularly  when  extinguish 
ing  fire,  having  been  set  on  fire  twice  during 
the  action  by  shells. 

In  fifteen  minutes  from  the  time  the 
"  Varuna"  was  struck  she  was  on  the  bot 
tom,  with  only  her  top-gallant  forecastle 
out  of  water.  The  officers  and  crew  lost 
everything  they  possessed,  no  one  thinking 
of  leaving  his  station  until  driven  thence  by 
the  water.  I  trust  the  attention  of  the 
department  will  be  called  to  their  loss,  and 
compensation  made  to  those  who  have  lost 
their  all. 

The  crew  were  taken  off  by  the  different 
vessels  of  the  fleet  as  fast  as  they  arrived, 
and  are  now  distributed  through  the  squad 
ron.  The  wounded  have  been  sent  to  the 
"Pensacola." 

I  would  particularly  commend  to  the 
notice  of  the  department  Oscar  Peck,  second 
class  boy,  and  powder  boy  of  the  after  rifle, 
whose  coolness  and  intrepidity  attracted 
the  attention  of  all  hands.  A  fit  reward  for 
such  services  would  be  an  appointment  at 
the  naval  school. 

The  marines,  although  new  recruits,  more 
than  maintained  the  reputation  of  that  corps. 
Their  galling  fire  cleared  the  "Morgan's" 
rifled  gun,  and  prevented  a  repetition  of  her 
murderous  fire.  Four  of  the  marines  were 
wounded,  one  I  fear  mortally. 

So  soon  as  the  crew  were  saved  I  reported 
to  you  in  person,  and  within  an  hour  left 
in  the  only  remaining  boat  belonging  to  the 
"  Varuna,"  with  your  despatches  for  Gen 
eral  Butler,  returning  with  him  yesterday 
afternoon.  Very  respectfully, 

CHARLES  S.  BOGGS, 
Commander  United  States  Navy. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 


208 


THE   NAVAL    HISTORY 


REPORT  OF  COMMANDER   JOHN  DE  CAMP, 
UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "IROQUOIS." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  IROQUOIS,"  ) 
OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,  May  3,  1862.      f 

SIR— I  beg  to  submit  the  following  report 
respecting  our  engagement  with  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  and  a  fleet  of  Con 
federate  steamers  and  rams  in  this  river, 
April  24th  and  25th. 

The  "  Iroquois,"  being  on  picket  duty  dur 
ing  the  night  of  the  24th,  and  being  about 
one  mile  in  advance  of  the  squadron,  we 
observed  the  signal  for  action  made  on 
board  the  flagship  at  about  3  A.  M.  Soon 
after,  the  ship  of  the  first  division  having 
passed  ahead,  we  fell  into  our  place,  astern 
of  the  "  Sciota,"  and  stood  towards  the  forts. 
At  4  A.  M.  we  were  hotly  engaged  with  the 
forts,  and  shortly  after  a  ram  and  the  Con 
federate  gun-boat  "  McCrea"  came  upon  our 
quarter  and  astern  of  us  and  poured  into  the 
' '  Iroquois  "  a  most  destructive  fire  of  grape- 
shot  and  langrage,  part  of  which  was  cop 
per  slugs  :  a  great  many  of  them  were  found 
on  our  decks  after  the  action.  We  succeeded 
in  getting  one  11-inch  shell  into  the 
''McCrea/'  and  one  stand  of  canister, 
which  drove  her  away  from  us.  We  suf 
fered  severely  from  the  raking  cross-fire  of 
Fort  St.  Philip,  but  Fort  Jackson  inflicted 
no  injury,  although  we  passed  within  fifty 
yards  of  its  guns. 

Passing  the  forts,  we  were  beset  by  five 
or  six  Confederate  steamers.  We  gave 
each  a  broadside  of  shell  as  we  passed,  and 
the  most  of  them  were  entirely  destroyed. 
Four  miles  above  the  forts  we  captured"  the 
enemy's  gun-boat  "  No.  3,"  armed  with  one 
24-pound  brass  howitzer,  and  well  supplied 
with  small  arms,  fixed  ammunition,  sails, 
etc.  At  this  point  we  also  captured  about 
forty  soldiers,  including  Lieutenant  Hender 
son,  of  the  Confederate  army.  These  men 
were  paroled  and  landed  at  New  Orleans. 
Some  of  them  were  so  badly  wounded 
that  I  sent  them  to  the  hospital  without 
parole ;  they  will  not  trouble  us  again 
very  soon,  I  think.  Anchoring,  by  order, 
at  9  p.  M.,  we  were  again  under  wray  at  day 
light  on  the  25th,  and,  in  company  with  the 
squadron,  stood  up  the  river.  At  Chalmette 
we  encountered  two  Confederate  batteries, 
but  their  attempt  to  annoy  us  scarcely  de 
serves  the  name  of  a  battle.  Some  people 
on  shore  fired  a  few  musket  shots  at  us,  but 
our  marines  soon  dispersed  them,  and  thus 
ended  the  battle  of  New  Orleans. 

The  greatest  praise  I  can  bestow  upon  the 
officers  of  the  "Iroquois"  is  to  say  that 
they  all  did  their  duty,  and  each  one  of  them 
always  expressed  his  determination  to  con 
quer.  The  crew  and  marines  behaved  with 
spirit  and  gallantry,  which  we  may  always 
expect  in  well  drilled  Americans. 


Our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  is  large.  One  master's  mate 
and  five  seamen  and  two  marines  are  killed, 
and  twenty-four  wounded.  Mr.  George  W. 
Cole,  master's  mate,  was  killed  by  a  can 
non  shot,  and  he  died  bravely,  shouting  to 
the  men  not  to  mind  him,  but  go  on  with 
their  guns. 

The  "Iroquois"  is  badly  injured  in  her 
hull,  but  her  masts  and  spars  are  sound, 
except  the  bowsprit  and  jibboom.  These 
are  hit  with  large  shot  ;  all  our  boats  are 
smashed,  and  most  of  them  are  not  worth 
repairs. 

I  am,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

JOHN  DE  CAMP. 

Commander  United  States  Navy. 
Flag-officer  D   G.  FARRAGUT. 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron,  New  Orleans.  La. 


REPORT    OF    COMMANDER    JAMES    ALDEN, 
UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "RICHMOND." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  RICHMOND,"  ) 
OFF  NEW  ORLEANS.  April  27,  1862.      f 

SIR — In  accordance  with  your  instruc 
tions,  I  herewith  enclose  copies  of  the  boat 
swain's  and  carpenter's  reports  of  the  dam 
age  done  to  this  vessel  by  the  enemy's  shot 
during  the  engagement  of  Forts  Jackson 
and  St.  Philip  on  the  morning  of  the  24th 
instant.  The  list  of  casualties  I  have 
already  forwarded  to  you  ;  it  is  very  small, 
there  being  but  two  killed  and  four  wounded. 
Much  injury  to  the  men,  I  am  sure,  was 
saved  by  &  carefully  prepared  "  splinter 
netting."  At  one  point  between  the  guns 
the  netting  was  forced  out  to  its  utmost 
tension  ;  indeed,  large  pieces  of  plank  were 
thus  prevented  from  sweeping  the  deck, 
and  perhaps  destroying  the  men  at  the 
guns.  I  would  therefore  recommend  that 
in  our  future  operations,  these  simple  "pain- 
savers"  or  "life-preservers"  be  adopted  in 
the  other  ships  of  the  fleet. 

I  must  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to 
another  simple  and  very  effective  expedient 
which  was  resorted  to  on  board  this  vessel 
to  obtain  light— an  element  so  essential  in 
a  night  attack  on  board  ship.  The  deck  and 
gun-carriages  were  whitewashed  fore  and 
aft,  and  it  was  truly  wonderful  to  note 
the  difference  ;  where  before  all  was  dark 
ness,  now  side-tackle,  falls,  handspikes, 
ammunition,  and  indeed  everything  of  the 
kind  about  our  decks,  was  plainly  visible 
by  the  contrast.  The  idea  being  so  novel, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  effective,  I  trust  it 
will  receive,  through  you,  the  notice  it  de 
serves,  so  that  when  others  are  driven  to 
the  dire  necessity  of  a  n  ight  attack  they  may 
have  all  the  advantages  the  discovery 
insures. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


209 


We  had  much  difficulty  in  groping  our 
way  through  that  ;i  fiery  channel/'  our  ship 
being  so  slow,  and  the  enemy  was  met  in 
the  "  worst  form  for  our  profession,"  but  the 
hand  of  a  kind  Providence  gave  us  the  vic 
tory.  No  men  could  behave  better  through 
out  that  terrible  ordeal  than  the  crew  of 
this  vessel  did.  My  thanks  for  support  are 
due  to  them  and  the  officers  generally.  I  am 
especially  indebted  to  Mr.  Terry,  our'second 
lieutenant,  for  his  ready  and  intelligent  aid 
in  the  management  of  the  ship  during  the 
action  ;  but  to  Mr.  Cummings.  our  first  lieu 
tenant,  are  mainly  due,  as  far  as  this  ship 
is  concerned,  the  "handsome  results  of  that 
morning.  By  his  cool  and  intrepid  conduct 
the  batteries  were  made  to  do  their  whole 
duty,  and  not  a  gun  was  pointed  nor  a  shot 
sent  without  its  mark.  My  thanks  are  due 
to  Mr.  Bogart.  my  clerk,  who  took  the  place 
of  Mr.  John  B.  Bradley,  master's  mate,  who 
was  shot  down  at  my  "side  while  gallantly 
performing  his  duty  as  my  aid. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  etc., 

JAMES  ALDEX,  Commander. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 


REPORT   OF    LIEUTEXAXT-COMMAXDIXG    ED 
WARD  T.  XICHOLS,  UNITED  STATES 
GUX-BOAT  "WIXOXA." 

UXITED  STATES  GUX-BOAT  "  WIXOXA,"  ) 
NEW  ORLEAXS,  April  30,  1SG2.      j 

SIR — I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  present 
the  following  report  of  the  operations  of  this 
vessel  in  the  engagement  with  Forts  Jack 
son  and  St.  Philip  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th  inst. 

After  getting  under  way,  I  took  my  sta 
tion  as  soon  as  possible  in  the  line,  astern 
of  the  "  Itasca,"  and  followed  her  red  light, 
but  suddenly  found  myself  involved  in  a 
mass  of  logs  and  drift  stuff,  held  by  the 
chain  and  moorings  of  the  hulks.  Whilst 
trying  to  back  clear  the  •'  Itasca  "  backed 
and  fouled  me  on  the  starboard  bow.  After 
a  delay  of  from  twenty  minutes  to  half  an 
hour,  I  proceeded  on  my  way,  though  I  felt 
pretty  sure  that  the  bulk  of  the  fleet  had 
passed.  Day  was  breaking  fast,  and  my  ves 
sel  was  brought  out  in  bold  relief  against 
the  bright  sky,  presenting  a  fair  mark  for 
the  gunners  of  the  fort.  Fort  Jackson  fired 
at  me  as  I  approached,  and  the  first  gun 
killed  one  man  and  wounded  another  ;  the 
third  or  fourth  gun  killed  or  wounded  every 
man  at  the  rifle  gun  except  one.  Judging 
that  the  burning  raft  was  on  the  Fort  Jack 
son  side,  I  steered  to  pass  it  on  the  port  hand, 
and  did  not  discover  my  error  until  the  whole 
lower  battery  of  Fort  "St.  Philip  opened  on 
me  at  less  than  point  blank  range.  Steer 
ing  off  with  starboard  helm,  I  shot  across  to 


the  Fort  Jackson  side,  but.  owing  to  the 
obscurity  caused  by  the  smoke,  got  so  close 
to  the  shore  that  I  had  no  room  to  turn 
head  up  stream,  and  was  forced  to  head 
down.  At  this  time  both  forts  were  firing 
nearly  their  entire  batteries  at  me.  It 
would  have  been  madness  to  attempt  turn 
ing  again  in  such  a  fire  ;  three  of  my  men 
were  killed,  four  severely  wounded,  and 
one  slightly  so,  the  vessel  hulled  several 
times,  and  the  deck  wet  fore  and  aft  from 
the  spray  of  falling  shot. 

It  was  with  reluctance  that  I  gave  the 
order  to  head  down  stream  and  run  out  of 
the  fire,  first  ordering  the  officers  and  crew 
to  lie  down  on  deck.  I  cannot,  sir,  speak 
too  highly  of  the  conduct  of  all  on  board. 
My  orders  were  obeyed  with  alacrity,  and 
(considering  the  suddenness  of  the  fire 
opened  on  us,  from  Fort  St.  Philip,  and  the 
naturally  depressing  effect  produced  by  the 
fatality  of  the  first  few  shots,)  with  but 
little  confusion.  Mr.  Walker,  the  first  lieu 
tenant,  was  very  active  and  vigilant,  and 
gave  his  personal  attention  in  every  part  of 
the  vessel — he  was  slightly  wounded  in  the 
ear.  Permit  me,  sir,  to  call  your  attention 
to  the  conduct  of  acting-master's  mate 
William  F.  Hunt,  in  charge  of  the  rifle  gun 
—it  was  admirable.  He  assisted  in  working 
his  gun,  as  his  crew  was  weakened,  and 
remained  at  it  after  none  were  left,  until 
ordered  from  the  forecastle  by  me.  Four 
of  my  wounded  men  are  in  the  hospital  at 
Pilot  Town  ;  the  dead  I  buried  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  below 
our  late  anchorage. 

Since  the  24th  I  have  been  acting  under 
the  orders  of  Commander  Porter,  and  on 
the  28th  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving 
the  surrender  of  Fort  St.  Philip  and  hoist 
ing  in  its  proper  place  once  more  the  flag  of 
our  country.  I  was  unfortunate,  sir,  in  not 
passing  the  forts,  but,  I  trust,  not  censur 
able. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  etc., 
EDWARD  T.  NICHOLS, 

Lieutenant- Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Blockading  Squad 
ron,  New  Orleans. 


REPORT    OF     LIEUTEXAXT-COMMAXDIXG    GEO. 
H.  PREBLE,  UXITED  STATES  GUX- 
BOAT    "KATAHDIX." 

UXITED  STATES  GUX-BOAT  "KATAHDIX,"  ) 

AT  AXCHOR  OFF  NEW  ORLEAXS,  V 

April  30,  18G2.      ) 

SIR — It  gives  me  pleasure  to  report  that, 
in  the  passage  of  the  forts  on  the  morning 
of  the  24th.  and  the  engagement  with  the 
defences  of  New  Orleans  on  the  25th,  as 
well  as  on  previous  occasions  when  on  ad 
vanced  guard  duty,  and  exposed  to  the  de- 


210 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


liberate  fire  from  the  rifled  cannon  of  the 
enemy,  the  officers  and  crew  of  this  vessel 
have  shown  a  braver}*  and  cool  determina 
tion  worthy  of  all  praise.  While  exposed 
to  the  iron  hail  rained  over  us  from  both 
forts,  and  the  simultaneous  fire  of  the  ene 
my's  gun-boats  on  the  24th,  not  a  man 
flinched  from  his  gun  or  hesitated  in  the 
cool  performance  of  his  duty.  Where  all 
performed  so  well  it  is,  perhaps,  inviduous 
to  particularize.  I  may  mention,  however, 
as  coming  under  my  immediate  notice,  the 
deliberate  way  in  which  the  First  Lieuten 
ant,  Mr.  Green,  gave  his  general  superinten 
dence  to  the  serving  and  supplying  the  guns, 
and  the  other  duties  assigned  him,  and  the 
cool,  collected  manner  in  which  Acting 
Master  W.  H.  Polleys  conned  the  ship 
between  the  forts  and  throughout,  giving 
his  orders  to  the  helm  as  promptly,  decid 
edly,  and  coolly  as  when  piloting  the  ves 
sel  to  a  usual  anchorage.  Acting  Master 
George  Harris,  in  charge  of  the  pivot  gun, 
and  Acting  Master's  mate.  J.  H.  Hartshorn, 
in  charge  of  the  Parrott  rifle  gun,  did  their 
best  to  annoy  the  enemy. 

At  the  most  critical  moment  of  the  pas 
sage,  and  when  exposed  to  the  fire  of  both 
forts,  the  fire  of  our  pivot  gun  was  embar 
rassed  and  delayed  by  the  shells  jamming 
in  the  gun,  their  sabots  being  too  large  to 
fit  the  bore.  As  many  as  five  shells  were 
passed  up  before  one  could  be  found  to  fit 
the  gun.  Two  became  so  jammed  that  the 
shells  were  torn  from  the  sabots  before  they 
could  be  extracted,  and  the  sabot  of  one  had 
to  be  blown  out  and  the  gun  reloaded.  Mr. 
Harris,  the  master  in  charge  of  the  pivot- 
gun,  attributes  this  serious  fault,  first,  to 
the  swelling  of  the  light  wood  of  the  too 
nicely  fitted  sabot  in  the  damp  climate  of 
this  Gulf  ;  and,  second,  to  the  shells  being 
packed  in  bags  instead  of  boxes,  which 
allowed  of  the  sabots  getting  bruised,  even 
with  the  most  careful  handling. 

The  station  assigned  this  vessel,  close 
under  the  stern  of  the  "  Varuna,"  I  main 
tained  until  the  dense  canopy  of  smoke 
from  the  cannonade,  aided  by  the  night,  hid 
everything  from  our  view.  I  ordered  full 
speed,  however,  to  maintain  my  station  ; 
and  seeing,  by  the  flash  from  her  broadside, 
that  we  were  passing  the  "  Mississippi,"  I 
gave  orders  to  cease  firing  for  a  time  until 
we  had  passed  her,  when  I  became  engaged 
with  the  enemy's  gun -boats.  Above  the 
forts  we  passed  along  the  broadside  and 
within  fifty  yards  of  the  iron-plated  battery 
"Louisiana,"  lying  at  anchor.  To  our  sur 
prise  she  did  not  fire  at  us.  though  she 
could  have  blown  us  out  of  water.  After 
passing  her,  I  directed  to  keep  the  vessel 
off,  and  give  her  a  shot  from  the  11-inch 

Fivot  and  Parrott,  which  was  done.  and.  as 
have  since  learned  from  one  on  board  of 


her,  with  good  effect,  tearing  a  hole  the 
size  of  the  shell  through  and  through  the 
iron  plating  of  her  bow. 

Until  beyond  the  fire  of  the  forts,  acting- 
assistant  paymaster  Ladd  attended  in  the 
wardroom  te  give  his  assistance  to  the  sur 
geon,  but  later  volunteered  his  services  in 
boats,  and  brought  off  to  the  ship  refugees 
from  the  burning  gun-boats  and  the  shore  ; 
he  assisted,  also,  in  disarming  that  portion 
of  the  Chalmette  regiment  which  surren 
dered,  and  was  encamped  opposite  the  quar 
antine. 

I  am  happy  to  have  no  casualties  to  re 
port,  and  that  the  surgeon,  though  ready, 
had  no  opportunity  to  testify  his  skill  on 
board.  Several  of  the  men  had  their  cloth 
ing  torn  by  shot  or  fragments  of  shell,  but 
not  a  man  was  even  scratched.  At  the  re 
quest  of  Captain  Bailey,  Dr.  Robinson  went 
on  board  the  "Cayuga"  after  the  action, 
where  he  rendered  efficient  service  to  her 
wounded.  The  vessel,  also,  escaped  with 
out  serious  injury.  One  shell  passed 
through  the  smokestack  and  steam  escape- 
pipe  and  burst,  making  a  dozen  small  holes 
from  the  inside  outward,  and  another  has 
cut  about  four  to  six  inches  into  the  fore 
mast,  while  the  same,  or  another,  cut  the 
foresail  and  some  of  the  running  rigging 
about  the  foremast,  which  is  all  the  dam 
age  sustained.  I  attribute  our  escaping 
with  so  little  injury  to  our  being  near  the 
head  of  the  line,  to  the  rapid  manner  in 
which  we  passed  the  forts,  and  to  our  pass 
ing  so  close  under  the  forts  that  all  their 
shot  went  over  our  heads.  I  believe,  also, 
that  for  a  time  the  fire  of  Fort  St.  Philip 
was  silenced.  The  two  shots  we  received, 
however,  were  from  that  fort. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  at  New  Or 
leans,  seeing  the  schooner  "JohnGilpin" 
lying  at  the  levee  on  the  Algiers  side, 
loaded  with  cotton  and  surrounded  by 
burning  vessels  and  sunken  docks,  and 
fearing  she  might  be  fired.  I  boarded  her 
and  hoisted  the  American  flag  at  her 
masthead,  and  brought  her  captain.  Arch 
ibald  Forsaith,  (whom  you  afterwards 
released  on  parole.)  on  board  as  a  host 
age  for  her  safety  and  future  delivery, 
not  deeming  it  prudent  or  safe  to  put 
a  small  prize  crew  in  possession.  Cap 
tain  Forsaith  claimed  that  his  vessel  was 
British  property,  and  that  his  papers  were 
in  the  English  consulate,  but  acknowledged 
that  she  was  intended  to  run  the  blockade. 
In  passing  down  the  river  since,  I  have 
noticed  that  a  portion,  if  not  all,  of  her  deck 
load  of  cotton,  and  perhaps  her  remaining 
cargo,  has  been  removed.  Captain  F.  stated 
to  me  that  she  had  265  bales  of  cotton  on 
board. 

In  conclusion,  flag-officer,  allow  me  to 
congratulate  you  upon  the  success  which 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


211 


has  attended  this  "running  of  the  forts," 
beyond  a  doubt  the  most  brilliant  and  daring 
achievement  of  the  Avar. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  HENRY  PREBL.E. 

Lieutenant-Commanding. 

Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding   Western   Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 


REPORT     OF     LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING    C.     H.    B. 

CALDWELL,   UNITED    STATES   GUN-BOAT 

"ITASCA." 


UNITED  STATES  STEAM 
PILOT  TOWN,  Mis 


GUN-BOAT  "  ITASCA,"  ) 
SISSIPPI  RIVER, 

April  24,  1862.      \ 
SIR — Agreeably  to  your  instructions,  I  proceeded 
up  the  river,  in  the  boat  furnished  from  the  "  Hart 
ford,''  to  make  a  final  reconnoissance  of  the  schoon- 


Q 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING    (AFTERWARDS    COMMODORE) 
CHAS.  H.   B.  CALDWELL,  OF  THE  "  ITASCA." 

ers  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  and  a  careful 
examination  as  to  the  chains  that  were  originally 
stretched  from  them  to  the  schooners  on  the  star 
board  side,  one  of  which  we  ran  on  shore  on  the 
night  of  the  20th.  I  succeeded  in  reaching1  them 
after  a  long,  fatiguing  pull  against  the  current, 
without  opposition  or  discovery,  although  we  were 
directly  in  range  between  the  forts  and  a  fire 
lighted  on  the  opposite  shore  to  illuminate  the 
reach  across  the  river,  and  I  could  distinctly  hear 
the  voices  of  the  rebels  at  Fort  Jackson  as  they 
were  busily  engaged  in  some  outside  work.  1  found 
two  of  the  three  schooners  on  shore,  and  the  outside 
one  riding  head  to  the  current,  with  a  number  of 
chains  hanging  from  her  bow.  I  passed  ahead, 
leaving  her  fifty  yards  on  the  port  hand,  and 
dropped  over  a  deep-sea  lead,  veering  to  twelve 
fathoms  of  line.  We  then  lay  on  ovir  oars,  and 
drifted  down  the  stream,  without  feeling  any  ob 
structions.  We  found  all  the  booms  attached  to  the 
in-shore  schooners,  and  a  number  of  rafts  in-shore 


of  them,  aground;  the  outside  schooner  was  en 
tirely  clear.  Returning,  I  stopped  alongside  of  the 
east  bank,  and  dropped  the  lead  over,  with  fifteen 
fathoms  of  line,  floating  by  within  twenty  yards 
of  her. 

Having  satisfied  myself  fully,  by  these  and  other 
observations,  that  no  obstructions  what  ever  existed, 
and  that  the  chains  we  slipped  on  the  night  of  the 
20th  had  disarranged  and  almost  destroyed  the 
whole  apparatus  for  preventing  our  passage  up  the 
river,  and  that  the  condition  of  things  was  precisely 
as  I  had  previously  reported,  and  that  the  whole 
fleet  could  safely  pass,  I  made  with  confidence  and 
inexpressible  satisfaction,  on  my  return,  our  pre 
concerted  signal  that  the  channel  was  clear  and 
everything  propitious  for  the  advance  of  the 
fleet. 

I  regret  to  be  obliged  to  state  that  my  progress 
afterwards  with  the  fleet  was  attended  with  serious 
misfortune  and  disappointment.  On  arriving 
abreast  of  Fort  Jackson  a  storm  of  iron  hail  fell 
over  and  around  us  from  both  forts,  which  was 
continued  without  intermission  while  we  were  un 
der  their  guns.  A  number  of  shots  took  effect, 
several  passing  through  us.  One,  a  42-pound  shot, 
passed  through  the  port  side,  a  coal-bunker  full  of 
coal,  iron-plate  bulkhead,  and  entered  the  boiler, 
making  a  large  hole,  and  breaking  the  dry-pipe 
therein;  from  this  hole  the  steam  rushed  in  a  dense 
cloud,  filling  the  fire  and  engine  room,  and  driving 
every  one  from  below,  and  almost  suffocating  those 
on  the  quarter-deck. 

The  loss  of  our  motive  power  having  destroyed 
our  efficiency  and  left  us  almost  helpless,  I  ordered 
every  man  to  throw  himself  flat  on  the  deck,  the 
helni  put  hard  a-starboard,  and,  turning,  floated 
down  the  river.  When  out  of  range  of  the  forts,  I 
ordered  the  pumps  manned  fore  and  aft,  and  our 
deck  was  soon  several  inches  deep  with  water,  which 
was  pouring  also  out  of  every  scupper.  Sup 
posing  the  ship  to  be  in  a  sinking  condition,  I  ran 
her  on  shore  below  the  mortar  fleet,  where  I  re 
mained  until  I  satisfied  myself  that  the  leak  was  not 
as  bad  as  I  had  at  first  supposed,  and  then  hauled 
off  and  anchored. 

I  am  happy  to  state  that  but  three  men  were  in 
jured  during  the  engagement — two  firemen,  scalded 
by  the  steam,  and  the  captain  of  the  hold,  wounded 
in  the  head  by  a  splinter.  I  have  received  fourteen 
hits,  as  follows  :  three  shot  holes  through  the  ves 
sel  below  the  deck,  the  plank-shear  badly  shattered, 
and  four  slight  hits  on  the  port  side;  one  through 
the  vessel  below  decks,  and  one  through  the  bul 
warks  on  the  starboard  side;  one  through  the  cut 
water,  grazing  the  bowsprit;  one  cutting  away  a 
davit  span  and  shivering  the  jury  mainmast  (the 
main  gaff),  and  one  8-inch  shell  exploded  over  the 
quarter-deck,  driving  a  large  piece  through  the 
port  signal  locker  and  bulwarks.  One  shot  took 
out  of  the  port  side  a  piece  of  plank  three  feet  long, 
shivered  five  feet  of  the  next  plank,  crushed  all  of 
the  timbers  in  its  passage,  and  split  one  knee  ;  an 
other  shot  hole  in  the  starboard  side  is  nearly  as 
bad. 

Allow  me,  flag-officer,  respectfully  and  sincerely, 
to  congratulate  you  upon  the  glorious  passage  of 
the  fleet,  and  to  express  to  you  the  heartfelt  sorrow 
and  disappointment  I  felt  that  my  disabled  condi 
tion  prevented  my  being  a  participant  in  its  com 
plete  success;  and  to  assure  you  it  was  owing  to 
circumstances  that  Providence  alone  could  con 
trol. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  H.  B.  CALDWELL, 

Lieutenant-Comma  ndf  jiff. 

Flag-officer  DAVID  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Commander-in-C?iief  of  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 


212 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING  N.  B.   HAR 
RISON,   UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  CAYUGA." 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT,  "CAYUGA,"  Mis-) 
&ISSIPPI  RIVER, 

April  24,  1862.      ) 

SIR— The  following  extract  from  the  log  will  pre 
sent  to  you,  in  the  briefest  form,  the  part  borne  by 
this  ship  in  the  conflict  of  this  morning  with  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  and  the  rebel  gun-boats : 

"At  2  A.  M.,  in  obedience  to  the  flag-officer's  sig 
nal,  weighed  anchor,  and  led  the  advance  column 
toward  the  barrier,  and  stood  up  stream  close  to 
Fort  St.  Philip.  At  3.45  both  forts  opened  their  fire. 
At  3.50  opened  on  Fort  St.  Philip  with  grape  and 
canister.  At  4  passed  the  line  of  fire  of  Fort  St. 
Philip,  and  encountered  some  eleven  gun-boats,  no 
supporting  ships  in  sight.  At  4.25  one  steamer 
surrendered,  and  two  more  were  driven  on  shore. 
At  this  moment  discovered  the  'Varuna'  and 
'Oneida'  dash  gallantly  into  the  fight.  At  5 
anchored  in  front  of  Camp  Lovell,  and  received  the 
submission  of  Colonel  Szyinanski  and  his  com 
mand." 

We  were  struck  forty-two  times.  Both  masts  arfe 
so  badly  hurt  as  to  be  unfit  for  further  service. 
Our  11-inch  Dahlgren  carriage  struck,  but  still  fit 
for  duty;  the  smokestack  perforated,  but  not  mate 
rially  injured;  all  other  damages  have  been  repaired. 
I  regret  to  add  that  six  of  our  crew  have  been 
wounded,  but  so  far  the  surgeon  has  made  but  one 
amputation. 

It  is  needless  for  me  to  inform  you,  who  had  us 
under  your  eye,  that  all  did  their  duty  fearlessly 
and  well;  but  I  must  commend  to  your  special 
notice  my  executive  officer,  Lieutenant  George  R. 
Perkins.  The  remarkable  coolness  and  precision  of 
this  young  officer,  while  aiding  me  in  steering  the 
vessel  through  the  barrier  and  past  the  forts,  under 
their  long  and  heavy  fire,  must  have  attracted  your 
attention.  Of  volunteer  Acting-master  Thomas  H. 
Morton  I  must  speak  in  terms  of  high  praise.  He 
fought  the  Parrott  gun,  and  his  daring  example  had 
a  most  happy  effect  on  the  crew. 

I  am  indebted  to  Assistant  Surgeon  Edward  S. 
Bogert,  not  only  for  his  rapid  and  skillful  attention 
to  the  wounded,  but  for  his  general  officer-like  bear 
ing.  My  clerk,  Mr.  Charles  M.  Burns,  Jr.,  was  of 
material  assistance  in  communicating  my  orders. 
Our  engines,  although  generally  unreliable,  were, 
on  this  occasion,  worked  successfully  by  Second- 
assistant  George  W.  Rogers  and  his  assistants.  In 
conclusion,  I  must  mention  with  praise  the  conduct 
of  the  following  men  :  Charles  Florence,  captain 
of  11-inch  gun;  William  Young,  captain  of  Parrott 
gun;  William  Parker,  at  the  wheel;  Ed  ward  Wright, 
at  the  lead. 

April  25. — I  continue  this  report  through  the  bat 
tles  of  to-day.  At  11  A.  M.,  being  at  that  moment 
some  half  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  flag-ship,  the 
batteries  on  either  hand  opened  on  us  at  short 
range.  Being  pivoted  to  port,  I  edged  off  with  the 
port  helm  and  responded  with  our  11-inch  and  Par 
rott,  slowly  but  with  great  precision  of  aim.  This 
unequal  contest  lasted  just  fifteen  minutes,  when 
the  flag-ship  ranged  up  in  splendid  style,  diverting 
their  fire  and  silencing  the  battery  on  tlie  right  bank. 

We  were  again  repeatedly  hulled,  and  much  cut 
up  in  spars  and  rigging,  and  the  iron  stock  of  the 
port  anchor  cut  away.  I  lost  no  men;  this  I  attri 
bute  to  an  order  which  I  gave  for  the  men  to  lie 
down  flat  during  the  time  we  could  bring  no  gun  to 
bear.  To  speak  again  of  the  constancy  and  devo 
tion  of  my  brave  officers  and  crew  would  be  to  re 
peat  an  old  story.  Respectfully, 

1^.  B.  HARRISON, 
Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Capt.  T.  BAILEY, 

Commanding  the  Leading    Division    of   Gun 
boats,  off  New  Orleans,  Louisiana. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  PIERCE  CROSBY,   COM 
MANDING  UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "PINOLA." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAM  GUN-BOAT  "  PINOLA,"  \ 
OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,  April  26,  1862, 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  obedi 
ence  to  your  signal  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  in 
stant,  after  having  passed  your  orders  to  the  "  Pen- 
sacola"  and  other  vessels  of  the  squadron,  I  took 
my  position  at  3.30  A.  M.  in  line  of  battle  next  after 
the  "Iroquois,"  thinking  the  vessel  which  was  to 
have  preceded  me  had  taken  her's  in  advance,  which 
I  could  not  ascertain  at  that  time,  and  followed  on 
in  line,  passing  so  close  to  one  of  the  enemy's  hulks 
which  had  been  used  to  hold  the  chain-rafts,  that 
one  starboard  quarter-boat  was  crushed  against  her 
sides;  continued  on  our  course,  and  as  soon  as  Fort 
Jackson  bore  abeam  of  us,  about  four  hundred 
yards  distant,  commenced  firing  with  the  11  inch 
Dahlgren  pivot  and  Parrott  rifles  at  the  flashes  of 
the  enemy's  guns,  that  being  the  only  guide  by 
which  to  distinguish  their  position,  which  the  fort 
answered  promptly  and  rapidly,  but,  owing  to  our 
proximity,  their  shot  passed  over,  with  the  exception 
of  two,  one  of  which  killed  Thomas  Kelly,  captain 
of  the  forecastle,  slightly  wounding  Acting-master 
J.  G.  Lloyd,  the  other  cutting  away  the  launch's 
after-davit.  I  then  ran  over  within  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  of  Fort  St.  Philip,  from  which  we 
received  a  terrific  volley  of  shot,  canister,  grape, 
and  musketry,  nearly  all  of  which  passed  over  us. 
The  fire-rafts,  which  were  burning  very  brightly, 
exposed  us  to  the  full  view  of  the  enemy,  and  en 
abled  them  to  fire  at  us  with  great  precision,  while 
we  were  only  able  to  answer  their  forty  guns  with 
the  twenty-pound  rifles,  the  11-inch  pivot  being  en 
gaged  with  Fort  Jackson.  Of  those  shot  that 
struck  us  from  Fort  St.  Philip,  one  entered  our  star 
board  quarter,  cut  away  part  of  the  wheel,  and  se 
verely  wounded  William  Acworth,  quartermaster, 
who  returned  to  his  station  as  soon  as  his  wounds 
were  dressed.  Acting-master's  mate  William  H. 
Thompson,  promptly  took  the  wheel  at  the  time  of 
the  disaster.  The  second  entered  the  hull  at  the 
water-line  on  the  starboard  side,  eight  inches  for 
ward  of  the  boilers,  passed  through  the  coal  bunker, 
and  lodged  in  the  pump-well  and  cut  the  sounding- 
well  in  two.  The  third  cut  away  the  top  of  the 
steam  escape  pipe.  The  fourth  cut  away  the  star 
board  chain  cable  from  the  anchor,  passed  through 
the  bow  and  yeomans'  storeroom,  and  lodged  in  the 
port  side,  starting  off  the  outside  planking.  The 
fifth  struck  the  topgallant  forecastle  and  carried 
away  part  of  the  rail.  The  sixth  passed  through 
the  plankshear,  abreast  of  the  11-inch  pivot  gun. 
The  seventh  struck  a  barricade  of  hammocks  for 
ward  of  the  forehatch.  The  eighth  cut  away  one 
of  the  dead-eyes  of  the  starboard  fore  rigging.*  The 
ninth  cut  a  bucket  from  the  hands  of  Acting- 
master  William  P.  Gibbs,  in  charge  of  the  pivot- 
gun.  The  Tenth  knocked  the  rammer  from  the 
hands  of  Harrington,  loader,  who  soon,  with  the 
assistance  of  the  gun's  crew,  made  a  temporary  one, 
the  spare  rammer  having  been  lost  overboard  at  the 
commencement  of  the  action.  The  eleventh  passed 
entirely  through  the  hull,  immediately  over  the 
magazine,  demolishing  completely  in  its  'course  the 
dispensary  and  its  contents.  The  twelfth  passed 
through  the  starboard  and  lodged  in  the  port  side 
of  the  berth-deck.  These  two  last  mentioned  shot 
killed  John  Nolta  and  Robert  H .  Johnson,  lands 
men,  and  dangerously  wounded  Thomas  Jones, 
wardroom  steward;  Thomas  Ford,  landsman; Henry 
Stokely,  wardroom  cook,  and  Thomas  L.  Smith, 
coalheaver,  slightly;  also,  Thomas  Foster,  captain 
of  the  hold,  who  received  dangerous  and  painful 
wounds  from  splinters  while  zealously  performing 
his  duty,  completely  disabling  the  powder  division, 
there  being  but  one  man  left  to  pass  ammunition, 
with  the  exception  of  Acting-master's  mate  C.  V. 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


Rummell,  in  charge  of  his  division,  who  immedi 
ately  gave  his  personal  assistance,  although  he  had 
been  knocked  down  a  few  moments  previous  by 
splinters;  and  James  A.  Bashford,  was  slightly 
wounded  by  splinters.  A  number  of  other  missiles 
grazed  our  sides,  doing,  however,  but  slight  dam 
age.  Immediately  following  the  disaster  on  the 
berth-deck,  it  was  reported  to  be  on  fire,  whereupon 
the  Gunner's-mate,  8.  B.  Frisbee,  instantly  closed 
the  magazine,  he  remaining  inside.  All  traces  of 
tire  having  been  quickly  extinguished  by  the  fire 
man,  re-enforcements  to  the  powder  division  were 
quickly  supplied,  and  the  guns  continued  their  fire. 

After  passing  the  forts,  and  out  of  range  of  their 
heavy  cross  fire,  we  came  suddenly  in  view  of  our 
squadron,  which  had  been  hidden  from  us  by  the 
dense  smoke,  and  noticed  at  the  same  time  a  steamer 
on  the  starboard  hand,  which  at  first  sight  I  sup 
posed  to  be  the  "  Iroquois,'1  but  as  day  dawned  and 
we  approached  nearer  I  soon  discovered  my  mis 
take  and  gave  her  a  shot  from  the  11-inch  and  Par- 
rott  rifles,  both  of  which  took  effect  in  her  hull 
near  the  water-line.  At  this  moment  the  iron  ram 
"  Manassas  "  was  seen  following  close  astern  of  us, 
and  being  in  range  of  our  howitzers  we  opened  fire  on 
her  with  them,  aiming  at  her  smokestack.  The 
"  Mississippi ''  being  near,  now  turned  upon  her  and 
soon  succeeded  in  driving  her  ashore  and  destroy 
ing  her.  In  obedience  to  signal,  I  then  ran  up  and 
anchored  with  the  squadron  off  Quarantine  Land 
ing  and  sent  ashore  to  destroy  the  telegraph  wire, 
which  I  afterwards  learned  was  on  the  opposite 
bank.  At  9  A.  M.  got  under  way  and  steamed  up 
the  river,  in  obedience  to  order,  in  company  with 
the  "Sciota."  At  3  P.  M.  sent  the  dead  on  shore 
and  buried  them;  then  continued  on  our  course  in 

company  with  the  squadron  and  anchored  at . 

At  3.30  we  got  under  way  and  steamed  up  the  river 
in  company  with  the  squadron,  At  4  P.  M.  we 
opened  fire  with  the  squadron  on  the  batteries  be 
low  New  Orleans,  and  as  soon  as  the  batteries  were 
silenced  we  proceeded  with  the  squadron  up  to  the 
city,  and,  in  obedience  to  orders,  ran  up  the  river 
to  look  after  the  iron  floating-battery,  which  I  dis 
covered  off  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  in  flames, 
floating  down  with  the  current.  Returned  to  the 
flag-ship  and  received  orders  to  destroy  the  batter 
ies  below  the  city;  ran  down  in  company  with  the 
"Oneida."  Captain  S.  P.  Lee  commanding,  and  by 
his  directions  I  destroyed  the  battery  on  the  port 
hand  while  he  took  charge  of  that  on  the  opposite 
side.  Found  a  large  supply  of  ammunition,  to 
gether  with  twelve  32  and  24-pound  guns,  also  a  10- 
inch  mortar,  all  of  which  we  spiked,  burned  the 
carriages,  threw  the  shot  into  the  river,  and  de 
stroyed  everything  belonging  to  the  fort.  After 
accomplishing  this  work,  set  fire  to  and  burned  a 
schooner  loaded  with  combustible  material  lying 
alongside  the  battery,  and  then  returned  to  the 
anchorage  off  Xew  Orleans  at  9.30,  thus  ending  our 
operations  of  the  24th  and  25th  of  April. 

Our  total  loss  was  three  killed  and  eight  wounded. 
It  gives  me  great  pleasure  and  gratification  to  be 
able  to  bear  testimony  to  the  zeal  and  intrepid  con 
duct  of  the  officers  and  crew  of  this  vessel,  during 
the  desperate  conflict  and  terrific  fire  through  which 
they  passed  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  instant. 
Amid  that  storm  of  iron  hail  perfect  order  reigned  ; 
officers  and  men  did  their  duty  faithfully,  and  nobly 
sustained  the  well-earned  reputation  of  the  Navy 
and  our  glorious  old  flag,  for  which  they  fought  so 
manfully. 

The  conduct  of  Thomas  Gehegan,  boatswain's 
mate  and  captain  of  the  11-inch  gun,  is  worthy  of 
mention,  as  well  for  the  brave  example  he  set  his 
crew  as  by  the  faithful  manner  with  which  he 
served  his  gun,  bringing  up  his  own  ammunition  as 
soon  as  the  men  composing  the  powder  division 
had  been  nearly  all  killed  or  wounded. 

Acting-paymaster  C.   Stewart  Warren   acted  as 


signal  officer.    William  H.   Byrn,  captain's  clerk, 
attended  to  passing  my  orders. 

Dr.  L.  M.  Lyon,  assistant  surgeon,  displayed 
great  zeal  and  promptness  in  his  attentions  to  the 
wounded  during  the  heat  of  the  battle. 

Senior-assistant  engineer  John  Johnson,  with  his 
junior  assistants,  managed  his  department  with 
skill  and  ability. 

To  A.  P.  Cook,  first  lieutenant  and  executive  offi 
cer,  I  was  greatly  indebted  for  his  able  assistance. 
Throughout  the  entire  action  he  was  ready  and 
prompt  in  the  performance  pf  his  duties,  displaying 
a  coolness  and  gallantry  which  won  the  admiration 
of  all. 

With  my  earnest  congratulations  upon  the  bril 
liant  success  which  has  crowned  your  efforts  and 
attended  the  forces  under  your  command,  I  remain, 
very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
PIERCE  CROSBY, 

Lieutenant-  Com  manding. 
Flag  Officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  U.  S.  Navy, 

Commanding  United  States  Western  Qulf  Squad 
ron,  Gkilf  of  Mexico. 

REPORT    OF     LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING     GEORGE 

M.  RANSOM,   UNITED   STATES  GUN-BOAT 

"  KINEO." 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "KINEO,''  MISSIS-) 

SIPPI  RIVER,  ABOVE  THE  FORTS,  > 

April  23,  1862.      ) 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  on  arriving 
close  under  the  guns  of  Fort  St.  Philip,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  24th  instant,  the  firing  was  commenced 
from  this  vessel,  and  kept  up  briskly  and  effectively 
until  we  had  passed  entirely  beyond  the  range  of 
the  enemy's  guns  from  either  forts  or  gun-boats. 

Soon  after  the  signal  of  the  flag-ship  to  discon 
tinue  action,  I  was  hailed  by  Commander  Smith 
of  the  "  Mississippi,''  who  invited  me  to  accompany 
him  in  the  pursuit  of  the  ram.  It  turned  immedi- . 
ately  on  the  shore  and  was  abandoned,  its  people 
escaping  under  a  brisk  fire  of  musketry  from  both 
vessels.  I  made  preparations  for  taking  it  in  tow 
by  a  hawser,  when,  the  ''Mississippi''  coming 
between  the  "Kineo"and  the  ram,  Commander 
Smith  hailed,  and  informing  me  that  two  vessels  un 
der  a  point  below  had  struck,  requested  me  to  take 
possession  of  them.  I  was  met  there  by  the  rebel 
gun-boat  "McRea,"  which  opened  a  sharp  fire, 
backed  by  two  other  gun-boats,  all  within  range  of 
the  guns  of  either  fort.  The  "  Kineo ''  returned  the 
fire  of  the  ''  McRae,''  but  was  obliged  to  put  her 
head  up  stream.  Having  had  the  slide  of  the  pivot 
carriage  shattered  by  a  shot  from  Fort  St.  Philip, 
the  gun  was  temporarily  disabled;  and  not  being 
able,  with  her  head  up  stream,  to  bring  anything 
to  bear  effectually,  I  was  obliged,  very  reluctantly, 
to  withdraw. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  state,  sir,  that  the  con 
duct  of  officers  and  men  of  this  vessel  throughout 
the  action  was  specially  admirable  for  its  steadi 
ness,  without  an  exception.  I  enclose  herewith  a 
report  of  Assistant -surgeon  A.  S.  Oberly,  of  killed 
and  wounded. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. , 

GEORGE  M.  RANSOM, 

Lieutenant-Commanding 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  ti ulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING  A.  N.  SMITH 
UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  WISSAHICKON." 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  WISSAHICKON,'' 
OFF  QUARANTINE  STATION,  MISSISSIPPI 
RIVER.  April  26,  1862. 

SIR — I  have  to  report  that  at  2  A.  M.  on  the  24th 
instant,  in  obedience  to  general  signal,  got  under 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORF 


way  and  proceeded  up  tne  river,  keeping  our  posi 
tion  in  the  prescribed  order  of  sailing  till  a  deten 
tion,  by  running  on  shore  and  the  dense  smoke  of 
the  battle,  already  some  time  commenced,  rendered 
it  impossible  to  keep  it  longer.  Using  our  battery 
vigorously  and  to  the  best  advantage  possible,  we 
succeeded  in  passing  the  forts  and  water  batteries 
under  a  storm  of  shot,  shell  and  volleys  of  musketry, 
without  loss  of  life  or  serious  damage  to  the  gun 
boat,  which  can  only  be  attributed  to  the  lowness 
of  the  vessel  on  the  water. 

At  daylight,  above  the  forts,  we  were  unavoidably 
crowded  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  the  ram 
"Manassas"  being  a  short  distance  astern  and 
heading  for  us,  but  unable  to  make  much  progress 
against  the  current.  Before  it  reached  us,  we 
had  fortunately  gotten  off,  and  witnessed,  with 
great  satisfaction,  shortly  after,  its  destruction  by 
the  United  States  steamer  "  Mississippi." 

I  have  to  report  but  two  of  the  crew  slightly 
wounded;  four  round  shot  through  the  hull  of  the 
vessel,  and  one  through  the  mainmast.  Officers  and 
men  performed  their  duty  nobly,  and  with  admir 
able  coolness.  In  this  feeble  tribute  to  their  worth 
and  services  I  desire  to  include  Third -assistant- 
engineer  G.  M.  White,  a  volunteer  from  the  United 
States  steamer  "  Colorado." 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  N.  SMITH. 

Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  Gr.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING  JOHN  H. 
RUSSELL,  UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  KENNEBEC.'' 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  KENNEBEC/'  ) 
MISSISSIPPI  RiA'ER,  April  29,  1862.        j 

SIR— On  the  morning  of  the  24th  instant,  during 
the  engagement,  this  vessel  became  entangled  with 
the  rafts,  and  struck  one  of  the  schooners  (which 
afterwards  sunk),  at  the  same  time  parting  the 
chain.  I  then  made  several  attempts,  in  the  midst 
of  a  heavy  fire,  to  pass  the  batteries;  but,  it  being 
daylight,  and  the  squadron  having  passed  above 
the  forts,  I  deemed  it  prudent  to  withdraw,  and  re 
ported  to  the  senior  officer,  Commander  Porter, 
who  attached  me  temporarily  to  his  fleet,  and 
placed  me  on  picket  duty. 

Yesterday  morning,  by  order  of  Commander  Por 
ter,  I  proceeded  up  the  river,  in  company  with  the 
United  States  steamers  "Harriet  Lane"  and  "  West- 
field,"  and  gun-boat  "  Winona,"  to  witness  the  sur 
render  of  the  forts,  after  which,  by  order  of  Com 
mander  Porter,  I  received  on  board  this  vessel  the 
prisoners  from  Fort  Jackson— 29  officers  and  90 
men. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant 
JOHN  H.  RUSSELL, 

Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO  THE  SURRENDER  OF   FORTS 
JACKSON  AND   ST.  PHILIP. 

No.  69.] 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,  OFF 
THE  CITY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS, 

May  1.  1862. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  forward  'herewith  to 
the  department  all  the  papers  relating  to  the  sur 
render  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.    Philip    to    the 
forces  under  my  command. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

f).  Gr.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-officer,  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,   Washington,  D.  C. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  '•  HARRIET  LANE,"  ) 

April  29.  1862.      <j 

SIR — The  morning  after  the  ships  passed  the 
forts  I  sent  a  demand  to  Colonel  Higgins  for  a  sur 
render  of  the  forts,  which  was  declined.  On  the 
27th  I  sent  Lieutenant-Colonel  Higgins  a  communi 
cation,  herewith  enclosed,  asking  again  for  the  sur 
render.  HisansAveris  enclosed. 

On  the  28th  I  received  a  communication  from 
him,  stating  that  he  would  surrender  the  forts,  and 
I  came  up  and  took  possession,  drew  up  articles  of 
capitulation,  and  hoisted  the  American  flag  oA-er 
the  forts.  These  men  have  defended  these  forts 
Avith  a  bravery  Avorthy  of  a  better  cause.  I  treated 
them  with  all  the  consideration  that  circumstances 
would  admit  of. 

The  three  steamers  renm  ining  Avere  under  the  com 
mand  of  Commander  J.  K.  Mitchell.  The  officer  of 
the  fort  acknowledged  no  connection  Avith  them, 
and  Avished  in  no  Avay  to  be  considered  responsible 
for  their  acts.  While  I  had  a  flag  of  truce  up  they 
Avere  employed  in  toAving  the  iron  floating  battery 
of  sixteen  guns  (a  most  formidable  affair)  to  a  place 
aboA-e  the  forts,  and,  Avhile  drawing  up  the  articles 
of  recapitulation  in  the  cabin  of  the  "Harriet 
Lane,"  it  Avas  reported  to  nie  that  they  had  set  fire 
to  the  battery  and  turned  it  adrift  upon  us.  I  asked 
the  general  if  it  had  powder  on  board,  or  guns 
loaded.  He  replied  that  he  would  not  undertake 
to  say  Avhat  the  navy  officers  Avould  do.  He  seemed 
to  have  a  great  contempt  for  them.  I  told  him  "  we 
could  stand  the  fire  and  blow  up  if  he  could,"  and 
went  on  Avith  the  conference,  after  directing  the 
officers  to  look  out  for  their  ships.  While  drifting 
down  on  us,  the  guns,  getting  heated,  exploded 
with  a  terrific  noise,  throwing  the  shot  about  the 
river.  A  few  moments  after  the  battery  exploded 
with  a  terrific  noise  throAving  fragments  all  over 
the  river,  and  Avounding  one  of  their  own  men  in 
Fort  St.  Philip,  and  immediately  disappeared  under 
Avater.  Had  she  bloAvn  up  near  the  A^essels,  she 
Avould  have  destroyed  the  Avhole  of  them. 

When  I  had  finished  taking  possession  of  the 
forts,  I  got  under  way  in  the  "  Harriet  Lane,"  and 
started  for  the  steamers,  one  of  which  Avas  still  fly 
ing  the  Confederate  flag.  I  fired  a  shot  oA-er  her. 
and  they  surrendered.  There  Avere  on  board  of 
them  a  number  of  naval  officers  and  two  companies 
of  marine  artillery.  I  made  them  surrender  uncon 
ditionally,  and,  for  trying  to  blow  us  up  while  under 
a  flag  of  truce,  I  conveyed  them  to  close  confine 
ment  as  prisoners  of  Avar,  and  think  they  should  be 
sent  to  the  North,  and  kept  in  close  confinement 
there  until  the  war  is  over,  or  they  should  be  tried 
for  their  infamous  conduct.  I  have  a  great  deal  to 
do  here,  arid  will  send  you  all  papers  Avhen  I  am 
able  to  arrange  them. 

I  turned  over  the  forces  to  General  Phelps.  Fort 
Jackson  is  a  perfect  ruin.  I  am  told  that  over  1,800 
shells  fell  in  and  burst  oA'er  the  centre  of  the  fort. 
The  practice  was  beautiful.  The  next  fort  Ave  go 
at  Ave  Avill  settle  sooner,  as  this  has  been  hard  to  get 
at.  The  naA'al  officers  sank  one  gun-boat  while  the 
capitulation  was  going  on,  but  I  have  one  of  the 
other  steamers  at  work,  and  hope  soon  to  have  the 
other.  I  find  that  we  are  to  be  the  heAvers  of  Avood 
and  drawers  of  Avater;  but  as  the  soldiers  haAre  noth 
ing  here  in  the  shape  of  motive  power,  Ave  will  do 
all  we  can. 

I  should  have  demanded  an  unconditional  sur 
render,  but  Avith  such  a  force  in  your  rear  it  Avas 
desirable  to  get  possession  of  these  forts  as  soon  as 
possible.  The  officers  turned  over  everything  in 
good  order,  except  the  Avails  and  buildings,  which 
are  terribly  shattered  by  the  mortars. 
Very  respectfully, 

D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Flotilla. 

Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT. 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


215 


HEADQI-ARTERS  FORTS  JACKSOX  AXD  ST.  } 
PHILIP,  April  27,  1862.      ) 

SIR — Your  letter  of  the  26th  instant,  demanding 
the  surrender  of  these  forts,  has  been  received.  In 
reply  thereto.  I  ha  veto  state  that  no  official  inform 
ation  has  been  received  by  me  from  our  own 
authorities  that  New  Orleans  has  been  surrendered 
to  the  forces  of  Flag-officer  Farragut.  and  until 
such  information  is  received  no  proposition  for  a 
surrender  can  be  for  a  moment  entertained  here. 
Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

EDWARD  HIGGINS, 
Lieutenant-Colonel-Commanding. 

Commodore  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

United  Mates  Nacy,  Commanding  Mortar  Fleet. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIETLAXE,"  > 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  27,  1862.  } 
SIR— When  I  last  demanded  the  surrender  of 
Torts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  I  had  no  positive  as 
surance  of  the  success  of  our  vessels  in  passing 
safely  the  batteries  on  the  river;  since  then  I  have 
received  communications  from  Flag-officer  Farra 
gut,  who  is  now  in  possession  of  New  Orleans.  Our 
troops  are,  or  will  be,  in  possession  of  the  promi 
nent  points  on  the  river,  and  a  sufficient  force  has 
been  posted  on  the  ouside  of  the  bayous  to  cut  off 
fill  communication  and  prevent  supplies. 

No  man  could  consider  it  dishonorable  to  sur 
render  under  these  circumstances,  especially  when 
no  advantage  can  arise  by  longer  holding  out.  and 
by  yielding  gracefully  he  can  save  the  further  effu 
sion  of  blood. 

You  have  defended  the  forts  gallantly,  and  no 
more  can  be  asked  of  you.  1  feel  authorized  to  offer 
you  terms  sufficiently  "honorable  to  relieve  you  from 
any  feeling  of  humiliation. 

The  officers  will  be  permitted  to  retire  on  parole 
with  their  side  arms,  not  to  serve  again  until  regu 
larly  exchanged.  All  private  property  will  be  re 
spected,  only  the  arms  and  munitions  of  war  will  be 
surrendered"  to  the  United  States  government,  and 
the  vessels  lying  at  or  near  the  forts.  No  damage 
must  be  done  to  the  defences.  The  soldiers  will 
also  be  paroled  and  be  permitted  to  return  to  their 
homes,  giving  up  their  arms.  I  am  aware  that  you 
can  hold  out  some  little  time  longer,  and  am  also 
aware  of  your  exact  condition  as  reported  to  us  by 
a  deserter,  which  convinces  me  that  you  will  only 
be  inflicting  on  yourself  and  those  under  your  com 
mand  unnecessary  discomforts  without  any  good 
results  arising  from  so  doing. 

Your  port  has  long  been  closed  to  the  world,  by 
which  serious  injury  has  been  experienced  by  many 
loval  citizens.  I  trust  that  you  will  not  lend  your 
self  to  the  further  injury  of  their  interests,  when 
it  can  only  entail  calamity  and  bloodshed  without 
any  possible  hope  of  success  or  relief  to  your  forts. 
Your  surrender  is  a  mere  question  of  time,  which 
you  know  is  not  of  any  extent,  .and  I  therefore  urge 
you  to  meet  my  present  proposition.  By  doing  so 
you  can  put  an  end  to  a  state  of  affairs  which  will 
only  inflict  injury  upon  all  those  under  you,  who 
have  strong  claims  upon  your  consideration. 
I  remain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant. 

D.  I).  PORTER. 
Commanding  Mortar  Fleet. 

Colonel  EDWARD  HIGGIXS, 

Commanding  Confederate  forces  in  Forty  Jackson 
and  St.  Philip. 

UXITKD  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIET  LANE."  ) 

MISSISSIPPI  RIVER.  April  30,  1862. 
SIR — I  enclose  herewith  the  capitulation  of  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  which  surrendered  to  the 


mortar  flotilla  on  the  28th  day  of  April,  1862.  I  also 
enclose  in  a  box  (forwarded  on  this  occasion)  all  the 
flags  taken  in  the  two  forts,  with  the  original  flag 
hoisted  on  Fort  St.  Philip  when  the  State  of  Louis 
iana  seceded.  Fort  Jackson  is  a  perfect  wreck; 
everything  in  the  shape  of  a  building  in  and  about 
it  was  burned  up  by  the  mortar  shells,  and  over 
1,800  shells  fell  in  the  work  proper,  to  say  nothing 
of  those  which  burst  over  and  around.  I  devoted 
but  little  attention  to  Fort  St.  Philip,  knowing  that 
when  Jackson  fell,  Fort  St.  Philip  would  follow. 

The  mortar  flotilla  is  still  fresh  and  ready  for 
service.  Truly,  the  backbone  of  the  rebellion  is 
broken. 

On  the  26th  of  the  month  I  sent  six  of  the  mortar 
schooners  to  the  back  of  Fort  Jackson,  to  look  up 
the  bayous  and  prevent  supplies  getting  in.  Three 
of  them  drifted  over  to  Fort  Livingston,  and  when 
they  anchored  the  fort  hung  out  a  white  flag  and 
surrendered.  The  "  Kittatinny,"  which  had  been 
blockading  these  for  some  time,  sent  a  boat  in  ad 
vance  of  the  mortar  vessels,  and  reaching  the  shore 
first,  deprived  them  of  the  pleasure  of  hoisting  our 
flag  over  what  had  surrendered  to  the  mortar  flo 
tilla.  Still,  the  fort  is  ours,  and  we  are  satisfied.  I 
am  happy  to  state  that  officers  and  crew  are  all 
well  and  full  of  spirits. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain. 

Your  obedient  servant, 


Hon.  GIDEOX  WELLES. 


DAVID  D.  PORTER. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIET  LAXE,"  ) 
FORTS  JACKSOX  AXD  ST.  PHILIP,  MISSIS-  > 
SIPPI  RIVER,  April  28, 1862.  ) 

By  articles  of  capitulation  entered  into  this 
twenty-eighth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-two,  between  David  D.  Porter, 
commander  United  States  Navy,  commanding  the 
United  States  mortar  flotilla,  of  the  one  part,  and 
Brigadier-General  J.  K.  Duncan,  commanding  the 
coast  defences,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Higgins, 
commanding  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  of  the 
other  part,  it  is  mutually  agreed  : 

1st.  That  Brigadier-General  Duncan  and  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Higgins  shall  surrender  to  the  mor 
tar  flotilla  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  the  arms, 
munitions  of  war,  and  all  the  appurtenances  here 
unto  belonging,  together  with  all  public  property 
that  may  be  under  their  charge. 

2d.  I  Ms  agreed  by  Commander  David  D.  Porter, 
commanding  the  mortar  flotilla,  that  Brigadier- 
General  Duncan  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Higgins, 
together  with  the  officers  under  their  command, 
shall  be  permitted  to  retain  their  side  arms,  and  that 


States  until  they  are  regularly  exchanged. 

3d.  It  is  furthermore  agreed  by  Commander 
David  D.  Porter,  commanding  the  mortar  flotilla, 
on  the  part  of  the  United  States  Government,  that 
the  non-commissioned  officers,  privates,  and  musi 
cians  shall  be  permitted  to  retire  on  parole,  their 
commanding  and  other  officers  becoming  responsi 
ble  for  them;  and  that  they  shall  deliver  up  their 
arms  and  accoutrements  in  their  present  condition, 
provided  that  no  expenses  of  the  transportation  of 
the  men  shall  be  defrayed  by  the  government  of  the 
United  States. 

4th.  On  the  signing  of  these  articles  by  the  con 
tracting  parties,  the  forts  shall  be  formally  taken 
possession  of  by  the  United  States  naval  forces  com 
posing  the  mortar  flotilla;  the  Confederate  flag 
shall  be  lowered,  and  the  flag  of  the  United  States 
hoisted  on  the  flagstaffs  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip. 


21G 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


In  agreement  of  the  above,  we,  the  undersigned, 
do  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals. 
DAVID  D.  PORTKR, 

Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla. 

W.  B.  RENSHAW, 

Commander  United  States  Navy. 
J.  M.  WAIN  WRIGHT, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  "'Harriet  Lane."1 

J.  K.  DUNCAN. 

Brigadier-General,  Commanding  Coast  Defences. 

EDWARD  HIGGINS, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  8.  A.,  Commanding  Forts 

Jackson  and  St.  Philip. 
Witnessed  by — 
EDWARD  T.  NICHOLS, 

Lieutenant  Commanding  "  Winona." 
J.  H.  RUSSELL, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  "  Kanawha." 


Walter  8.  Jones,  second-lieutenant  twenty  third1 
Louisiana  volunteers. 

Robert  Maurer,  second  lieutenant  twenty-third 
Louisiana  volunteers. 

Minor  T.  Gardy,  second-lieutenant  St.  Mary's 
cannoniers. 

Official  list : 

CHARLES  N.  MORSE, 
Lieutenant  and  Post- Adjutant. 
APRIL  28,  1862. 

The  company  of  St.  Mary's  cannoniers  eighty- 
eight  strong,  also  came  up  on  the  United  States 
gunboat  '•  Kennebec.'' 

Corporal  Murray,  of  company  E,  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery. 

One  private  from  company  D,  Louisiana  regiment, 
artillery. 

Official :  CHARLES  N.  MORSE, 

Lieutenant  and  Post  Adjutant. 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  AT  FORT  JACKSON,  LOUISIANA. 

HEADQUARTERS  FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  ) 
PHILIP,  April  28,  1862.      }" 

Brigadier-General  J.  K.  Duncan,    P.C.S.A. 

Lieutenant  Wm.  M.  Bridge,  aid  and  inspector 
general. 

Captain  W.  J.  Seymour,  aide-de-camp,  volun 
teers. 

Captain  J.  R.  Smith,  volunteer  aide-de-camp, 

Soinerville  Burke,  assistant-surgeon,  P.C.S.A. 

Dr.  Bradbury,  volunteer  surgeon. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Edward  Higgins,  P.C.S.A., 
commanding  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip. 

Charles  N.  Morse,  lieutenant  Louisiana  artillery 
regiment,  and  post-adjutant. 

Wm.  B.  Robertson,  captain  Louisiana  regiment 
artillery. 

J.  B.  Anderson,  captain  Louisiana  regiment  ar 
tillery. 

R.  J.  Bruce,  first -lieutenant  Louisiana  regiment 
artillery,  commanding  company  D. 

E.  W.  Baylor,  first-lieutenant  Louisiana  regiment 
artillery,  commanding  company  H. 

T.  Peters,  captain  company  I,  twenty-second  regi 
ment  Louisiana  volunteers. 

James  Ryan,  captain  company  H,  twenty-second 
regiment  Louisiana  volunteers. 

S.  Jones,  captain  company  I,  twenty-third  regi 
ment  Louisiana  volunteers.  * 

F.  C.  Comars,  captain  company   St.  Mary's  can 
noniers. 

Beverly  C.  Kennedy,  first-lieutenant  Louisiana 
regiment  artillery. 

Abner  N.  Ogden,  first-lieutenant  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery. 

James  W.  Gaines,  first-lieutenant  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery. 

D.  Simon, first-lieutenant  twenty-second  Louisiana 
volunteers. 

George  Nongesser.  first-lieutenant  twenty-second 
Louisiana  volunteers. 

George  O.  Foote,  first-lieutenant  St.  Mary's  can 
noniers. 

Wm.  T.  Mumford,  first-lieutenant  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery. 

Edw.  D.  "VVoodlief,  second-lieutenant  Louisiana 
regiment  artillery. 

Charles Dermers,  second-lieutenant  twenty-second 
Louisiana  volunteers. 

Christian  Jacobs,  second-lieutenant  t  weiity-second 
Louisiana  volunteers. 

George  Menn,  second-lieutenant  twenty-second 
Louisiana  volunteers. 

Thomas  J.  Royster,  second-lieutenant  twenty- 
second  Louisiana  volunteers. 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  AT  FORT  ST.  PHILIP,  LOUISIANA.. 
INCLUDED  IN  CAPITULATION  OF  FORTS  JACK 
SON  AND  ST.  PHILIP,  APRIL  28,  1862. 

M.  T.  Squires,  captain  Louisiana  regiment  artil 
lery,  senior  officer. 

Richard  C.  Bond,  captain  Louisiana  regiment 
artillery. 

J.  H.  Lamon,  captain  Louisiana  regiment  artil 
lery. 

Charles  Assenheinier,  captain  Louisiana  volun 
teers. 

Armand  Laityell  (absent  at  date  of  capitulation),, 
captain  Bienville  Guards,  recruited  in  the  parish. 

J.  K.  Dixon,  second-lieutenant  C.  S.  A. .command 
ing  company. 

Charles  D.  Lewis,  assistant-surgeon,  P.  C.  S.  A. 

Charlton  Hunt,  first-lieutenant  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery. 

Henry  W.  Fowler,  first  lieutenant  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery. 

Lewis  B.  Taylor,  first-lieutenant  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery,  and  acting-assistant  quartermaster. 

W.  C.  Ellis,  first-lieutenant  regiment  Louisiana 
artillery. 

P.  Ruhl,  first -lieutenant  Louisiana  volunteers. 

Andrew  J.  Quigly,  second-lieutenant  Louisiana 
regiment  artillery. 

Wm.  B.  Jones,  second  lieutenant  Louisiana  regi 
ment  artillery, 

H.  L.  Blow,  second-lieutenant  C.  S.  A. 

George  House,  acting-second-lieutenant  C.  S.  A. 

J.  Dressell,  second-lieutenant  Louisiana  volun 
teers. 

J.  A.  Guershet,  second-lieutenant  Louisiana  vol 
unteers. 

S.  Martin,  second-lieutenant  Bienville  Guards, 
recruited  in  the  parish. 

A.  Chaussier,  second-lieutenant  Bienville  Guards, 
recruited  in  the  parish. 


Official: 


CHARLES  X.  MORSE, 
Lieutenant  and  Post-Adjutant. 


DISPOSITION  OF  PRISONERS  CAPTURED. 

No.  70.] 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD."'  AT 
ANCHOR  OFF  THE  ClTY  OF  NEW  ORLEANS, 

May  1,  1862. 

SIR— I  have  to  inform  the  department  that  in 
consequence  of  my  not  having  any  suitable  place  to- 
put  the  crews  of  the  rebel  gun-boats  captured  by 
this  fleet,  I  have  released  them  on  parole.  But  hav 
ing  been  informed  by  Commander  Porter  and  others. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


217 


that  the  conduct  of  the  officers  has  been  such  as  to 
deprive  them  of  any  claim  for  indulgence  on  our 
part  they  having  sunk  two  of  the  vessels  while  un 
der  a  flag  of  truce — 1  have  determined  to  send  them 
to  the  North  as  prisoners  of  war,  to  be  dealt  with  as 
the  department  may  think  proper.  They  will  be  sent 
in  the  "  Rhode  Island.1' 

1  am,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-officer,   Western  Guff  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 


\  f ' 
•  •. 


PAYMASTER  GEO.  F.   CUTTER   (XOW   PAY  DIRECTOR),  U.  S.  N. 


COMMANDER  PORTER'S  DETAILED  REPORT. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIET  LANE/' 
FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP, 

April  30,  1862. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  lay  before  you  a  report 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  mortar  flotilla  under  my 
command  since  the  day  the  vessels  entered  the  Mis 
sissippi  River. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  all  the  mortar  fleet 
crossed  "  Pass  A  1'Outre"  bar,  towed  by  the  "  Har 
riet  Lane,"  "Owasco,"  "  Westfield,""  and  "Clif 
ton."'  the  two  latter  having  arrived  that  morning. 
I  was  ordered  by  Flag-officer  Farragut  to  proceed 
to  Southwest  Pass,  which  I  accordingly  did;  there 
we  awaited  orders,  being  at  any  moment  ready  to 
go  to  work  on  the  forts. 

As  yet  only  the  '"Brooklyn"  and  "  Hartford"  had 
crossed  the  bar,  a  short  time  after  the  "  Richmond  " 
passed  over,  and  the  "  Mississippi ''  and  the  "  Pen- 
sacola  "  came  from  Ship  Island  to  try  their  hand  at 
getting  through;  there  was  not  at  the  time  a  great 
depth  of  water,  and  their  pilots  were  not  at  all  skill 
ful  or  acquainted  with  the  bar.  I  volunteered  my 
services  with  the  steamers  belonging  to  the  mortar 
flotilla,  and,  after  eight  days'  laborious  work, 
succeeded  in  getting  the  ships  through  and  an 
chored  them  at  Pilot  Town.  I  do  not  hesitate  to 
say,  but  for  the  exertions  of  Commander  Renshaw. 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Baldwin,  and  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Wain wright,  that  the  two  latter  ships 
•would  never  have  got  inside;  the  "  Miami, ''Lieuten 


ant-Commanding  Harrell,  also  rendered  assistance, 
but  as  his  vessel  was  an  unmanageable  one,  he  could 
do  no  more  than  act  as  a  steam  anchor  to  heave 
the  ships  ahead  by. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  the  com 
manders  of  the  "Westfleld''  and  "Clifton"  (Ren 
shaw  and  Baldwin),  for  the  exertions  they  displayed 
on  this  occasion;  they  knew  that  the  success  of  the 
expedition  depended  on  getting  these  ships  over, 
and  they  never  once  faltered  in  their  duty,  working 
against  adverse  circumstances,  and  impeded  by  a 
fog  of  eight  days'  duration,  which  obscured  a  ves 
sel  at  the  distance  of  fifty  yards  ;  the  "  Harriet 
Lane  ''  also  did  all  she  could  with  her  small  power, 
and  in  the  end  the  united  power  of  these  vessels  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  over  the  bar  the  heaviest  vessels 
that  ever  entered  the  Mississippi  River. 

When  the  ships  were  all  ready  to  move  up,  I  di 
rected  Mr.-  Gerdes  (assistant  in  the  Coast  Survey) 
to  proceed  in  the  "Sachem"  and  make  a  minute 
survey  from  Wiley's  Jump  up  to  the  forts.  He 
detached  Mr.  Oltinanns  and  Mr.  Harris,  the  first  an 
assistant  in  the  Coast  Survey,  the  latter  sent  out  by 
the  superintendent  (Mr.  Archibald  Campbell)  of  the 
northwestern  boundary,  to  perform  what  might  bo 
required  of  him;  the  work  was  performed  by  boats; 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Guest,  in  the  "Owasco," 
being  detailed  by  me  for  the  purpose  of  protecting 
them.  These  two  gentlemen,  Messrs.  Harris  and 
Oltmanns,  performed  their  duty  most  admirably:  in 
three  days  they  had  surveyed  and  triangulated  over 
seven  miles  of  the  river,  their  observations  taking 
in  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip;  much  of  this  time 
they  were  under  fire  from  shot  and  shell  at  a  dis 
tance  of  2,600  yards,  and  were  exposed  to  concealed 
riflemen  in  the  bushes.  On  one  occasion  Mr.  Olt 
manns  was  fired  upon  from  the  bushes  while  sur 
veying  in  one  of  the  "Owasco's"  boats,  one  of  the 
balls  striking  an  oar,  but  the  boat's  crew  dro\e  the 
enemy  off  with  their  rifles,  and  Mr.  Oltmanns  pro 
ceeded  with  his  work,  establishing  the  positions  the 
mortar  vessels  were  to  occupy  with  great  coolness 
and  precision.  I  deem  it  due  to  these  gentlemen  to 
mention  their  names  honorably,  as  a  tribute  to  the 
Coast  Survey — the  utility  of  which  is  not  properly 
appreciated — and  as  a  mark  of  high  satisfaction 
with  them  for  their  invaluable  services. 

The  survey  being  completed,  and  marked  posi 
tions  being  assigned  to  the  vessels  where  their  dis 
tance  from  the  fort  could  be  known  to  a  yard,  I 
brought  up  three  of  the  schooners  to  try  their 
range  and  durability  at  a  distance  of  three  thou 
sand  yards.  I  found  the  range  satisfactory,  and  had 
no  reason  to  doubt  the  durability  of  the  mortar 
beds  and  foundation.  I  received  but  little  encour 
agement  from  any  one  about  the  success  of  the 
mortars,  it  having  been  confidently  predicted  that 
"  the  bottoms  of  the  schooners  would  drop  out  at 
the  tenth  fire."  I  had  no  doubts  myself  about  the 
matter,  having  perfect  confidence  in  the  schooners. 
Lieutenant-Commanding  John  Guest  guarded  the 
Coast  Survey  party  while  they  were  employed, 
returning  the  enemy's  fire  whenever  he  thought  he 
could  do  so  with  effect. 

On  the  16th,  Flag-officer  Farragut  moved  up  the 
fleet,  and  I  was  told  to  commence  operations  as 
soon  as  I  was  ready.  The  schooners  sailed  up 
partly  or  were  towed  by  the  steamers,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  18th,  they  had  all  reached  their  po 
sitions  ready  to  open  fire.  Previous  to  taking  their 
places  I  had  directed  the  masts  to  be  dressed  off 
with  bushes,  to  make  them  invisible  to  the  enemy 
and  intermingle  with  the  thick  forest  of  trees  and 
matted  vines  behind  which  they  were  placed  ;  this 
arrangement  proved  to  be  an  admirable  one,  for 
never  once  during  the  bombardment  was  one  of  the 
vessels  seen  from  the  forts,  though  their  approxi 
mate  position  was  known.  As  the  bushes  were 
blown  away  during  the  bombardment  they  were  re 
newed,  and  the  masts  and  ropes  kept  covered  from 


218 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


view.  The  place  I  selected  for  the  mortar  ves 
sels  was  under  the  lee  of  a  thick  wood  closely  inter 
woven  with  vines,  and  presenting  in  the  direction 
of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  an  impenetrable 
mass  for  three  hundred  yards,  through  which  shot 
could  scarcely  pass.  From  our  mast-heads  the  forts 
could  be  plainly  seen,  though  observers  there  could 
not  see  us  in  return.  The  head  vessel  of  the  first 
division,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Watson  Smith, 
was  placed  at  this  point,  2,850  yards  from  Fort 
Jackson,  3,680  from  St.  Philip  ;  the  vessels  were  then 
dropped  in  a  line  close  to  each  other,  their  positions 
having  been  marked  by  the  Coast  Survey  party,  and 
Messrs.  Oltmanns  and  Harris  superintending  per 
sonally  that  each  one  was  acquainted  with  proper 
distance.  Next  to  Lieutenant-Commanding  Smith's 
division  of  seven  vessels  ("Norfolk  Packet/'  Lieuten 
ant-Commanding  Watson  Smith  ;  "Oliver  H.  Lee,' 
Acting-Master  Washington  Godfrey  ;  "Para,"'  Act 
ing-Master  Edward  G.  Furber  ;  "  C.  P.  Williams,1' 
Acting-Master  Amos  R.  Langthorne;  "Arietta,"  Act 
ing-Master  Thomas  E.  Smith;  "William  Bacon, "Act 
ing-Master  William  P.  Rogers;  "Sophronia,"  Act 
ing-Master  Lyman  Bartholomew)  was  placed  the 
six  vessels  of'the  third  divison,  under  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  K.  R.  Breese  ("John  Griffith,"  Acting- 
Master  Henry  Brown;  "Sarah  Bruen,"  Acting- 
Master  Abraham  Christian;  "Racer,"  Acting- 
Master  Alvin  Phinney;  "  Sea  Foam,"  Acting- Master 
Henry  E.  Williams  ;  "'Henry  James,"  Acting-Master 
Lewis  W.  Pennington  ;  "Dan  Smith,"  Acting-Master 
George  W.  Brown),  and  one  vessel,  the  "Orvetta," 
Acting-Master  Blanchard,  all  lying  in  line  close 
together. 

All  the  vessels  mentioned  were  anchored  and  se 
cured  to  spring  their  broadsides,  as  occasion  might 
require.  In  the  meantime,  Lieutenant-Command 
ing  John  Guest  was  sent  ahead  in  the  "  Owasco  •'  to 
clear  the  bushes  of  riflemen  which  had  been  found 
to  lurk  there,  and  cover  the  vessels  from  the  fire  of 
the  forts,  when  it  should  open;  the  "Westfield," 
"  Clifton,"  and  "Miami''  being  engaged  in  towing 
the  vessels  to  their  posts. 

I  placed  six  vessels  of  the  second  division,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  W.  W.  Queen,  on  the  north 
east  shore  of  the  river,  the  headmost  one  3, 680  yards 
from  Fort  Jackson,  to  which  the  division  was 
directed  to  turn  its  attention.  The  following  ves 
sels  composed  this  division  : 

"T.  A.  Ward,'  W.W.  Queen,  commanding  second 
division. 

"  M.  J.  Carlton,"  Charles  E.  Jack,  acting-master. 
"  Matthew  Vasser,"    Hugh    H.    Savage,    acting- 
master. 

"George  Manghain,"  John  Collins,  acting  master. 
"Orvetta,"  Francis  E.  Blanchard,  acting  master. 
"  Sydney  C.  Jones,"  J.  D.  Graham,  acting-master. 
When  the  divisions  were  all  placed,  signal  was 
made  to  "commence  action."  and  they  opened  in 
order,  each  one  firing  every  ten  minutes.  The  mo 
ment  the  mortars  opened,  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip  responded  with  all  their  guns  that  could 
bear,  but  for  some  time  did  not  appear  to  get  the 
right  range  ;  the  hulls  of  the  vessels  on  the  north 
east  shore,  being  covered  with  reeds  and  willows, 
deceived  them  somewhat,  though  their  shot  and 
shell  went  over.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  was  rapid, 
and,  as  the  shell  and  shot  began  to  grow  rather  hot, 
I  sent  to  the  flag-officer,  asking  that  some  of  the 
gun-boats  should  be  sent  to  draw  their  fire.  For 
one  hour  and  fifty  minutes  Lieutenant-Command 
ing  Guest  had,  at  the  head  of  the  mortar  fleet, 
borne  the  fire  of  the  forts  uninjured,  and  only  left 
there  to  get  a  supply  of  ammunition.  After  I* went 
on  board  his  vessel  and  ordered  him  to  retire,  the 
mortar  vessels  having  been  re-enforced  by  the  gun 
boats  sent  up  by  the  flag-officer,  by  midday  the  fire 
on  the  vessels  on  the  northeast  shore  (Lie'utenant- 
Commanding  Queen's  division)  became  so  rapid, 
and  the  shot  and  shell  fell  so  close,  that  I  went  on 


board  to  remove  them.  One  large  120-pound  shell 
had  passed  through  the  cabin  and  damaged  the 
magazine  of  Lieutenant-Commanding  Queen's  ves 
sel,  the  "T.  A.  Ward,"  coming  out  near  the  water- 
line,  her  rigging  was  cut,  and  shot  flying  over  her 
fast.  The  "  George  Maugham,"  Acting-Master  John 
Collins,  had  received  a  10-inch  shot  near  her  water- 
line,  so  I  moved  them  both  (contrary  to  the  wishes 
of  the  officers)  two  hundred  yards  further  astern, 
throwing  the  enemy  out  of  his  range,  which  he  did 
not  discover  for  two  or  three  hours.  At  five  o'clock 
in  the  evening  the  fort  was  discovered  to  be  in 
flames,  and  the  firing  from  the  enemy  ceased.  We 
afterwards  learned  that  the  citadel  had  been  fired 
by  our  bombshells,  and  all  the  clothing  of  the 
troops  and  commissary  stores  had  been  burnt  up, 
while  great  distress  was  experienced  by  the  enemy, 
owing  to  the  heat  and  danger  to  the  nmgjixine. 
Had  I  known  the  extent  of  the  fire,  I  should  have 
proceeded  all  night  with  the  bombardment  :  but 
the  crew  had  had  nothing  to  eat  or  drink  since  day 
light.  I  knew  not  how  much  the  mortar  beds  and 
vessels  might  have  suffered.  JSight  firing  was  un 
certain,  as  the  wind  had  set  in  fresh,  and  not  know 
ing  how  long  a  bombardment  1  might  have  to  go 
through  with,  I  deemed  it  best  to  be  prudent.  A 
little  after  sunset  I  ordered  the  firing  to  cease,  and 
made  the  only  mistake  that  occurred  during  the 
bombardment.  The  fire  in  the  fort  blazed  up  again 
at  night,  but  I  thought  it  one  of  the  fire-rafts  they 
lighted  up  every  night  at  the  fort. 

The  first  and  third  divisions,  under  Lieutenants- 
Commanding  Smith  and  Breese,  acquitted  them 
selves  manfully  that  clay,  and  though  the  shot  and 
shell  fell  thick  about  them,  behaved  like  veterans. 
We  fired  on  this  day  over  \  ,400  shells,  many  of  which 
were  lost  in  the  air,  owing  to  bad  fuses.  No  acci 
dent  of  any  kind  occurred  from  careless  firing,  and 
after  a  careful  examination  the  vessels  and  mortar- 
beds  were  found  to  be  uninjured.  On  that  night, 
at  two  o'clock,  I  ordered  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Queen  to  drop  out  of  the  line  of  fire,  and  I  placed 
him  on  the  south  shore  in  a  safer  and  closer  position, 
though  not  one  where  he  could  work  to  such  good 
advantage,  the  fort  being  plainly  visible  from  his 
late  position,  and  the  effect  of  the  shells  could  be 
more  plainly  noted.  On  the  south  shore,  the  point 
ing  of  the  mortars  could  only  be  done  from  sights 
fixed  to  the  mastheads,  and  many  curious  expedi 
ents  were  resorted  to  to  obtain  correct  firing,  expedi 
ents  very  creditable  to  the  intelligence  of  the  com 
manders  of  the  vessels.  We  heard  afterwards  that 
our  first  day's  firing  had  been  more  accurate  than 
that  of  any  other  day,  though  it  was  all  good. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  we  opened  fire  on  the 
enemy  again,  when  he  tried  his  best  to  dislodge  us. 
from  behind  our  forest  protection,  without  effect  ; 
our  fire  was  kept  up  as  rapidly  as  the  men  could  care 
fully  and  properly  load,  the  enemy  returning  it 
with  what  heavy  guns  he  could  bring  to  bear  on 
us,  most  of  his  shot  going  over  us  amongst  the  ship 
ping  and  gun-boats,  which  were  on  guard  and  em 
ployed  drawing  the  fire  away  from  us.  About  nine 
o'clock  on  the  second  morning  the  schooner  "  Maria 
J.  Carleton,"  Charles  Jack,  master,  was  sunk  by 
a  rifle-shell  passing  down  through  her  deck,  maga 
zine,  and  bottom.  I  happened  to  be  alongside  at 
the  time  and  had  nearly  all  her  stores  saved,  also 
the  arms.  As  she  went  down,  the  mortar  was  fired 
at  the  enemy  for  the  last  time,  and  that  was  the 
last  of  the  "Carleton  "  We  hauled  her  on  to  the 
bank  when  we  found  that  she  was  sinking,  and 
were  thus  enabled  to  save  many  of  her  stores  ;  but 
she  finally  slipped  off  the  bank  into  deeper  water, 
and  nothing  was  left  visible  but  her  upper  rail. 
Two  men  were  wounded  in  the  "  Carleton."  Acting- 
Master  Charles  Jack  came  out  in  this  vessel  from 
New  York  ;  he  lost  his  mainmast  in  a  gale  off  Cape 
Hatteras.  but  persevered  until  he  arrived  at  Key 
West,  and  sailed  with  the  flotilla  to  Ship  Island 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


219 


He  went  through  another  pale,  but  pot  into  port 
safe.  He  was  almost  always  up  with  the  rest  in 
working  up  the  river  under  sail  with  his  one  mast  ; 
and  when  his  vessel  sunk  he  volunteered  his  services 
on  board  the  vessel  of  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Queen,  to  whose  division  he  belonged.  On  the 
second  day  the  firing  from  the  forts  was  rather 
severe  on  the  masts  and  ripping  of  the  -first 
division.  I  wanted  to  remove  them  a  little  further 
down,  but  was  prevented  from  doing  so  at  the 
request  of  Lieutenant-Commanding  Smith,  who 
seemed  determined  not  to  withdraw  until  something 
was  stink.  He  had  one  man  killed  in  the  "Arietta,"' 
Acting-Master  Smith,  by  a  ten-inch  sliot  striking 
between  the  stop  of  the  mortar  bed  and  the  mortar, 
which  disabled  it  for  a  time  only  ;  it  was  repaired 
in  two  or  three  hours,  the  men  meanwhile  under 
fire,  without  any  occupation  to  keep  up  their  inter 
est.  One  or  two  men  were  wounded  this  day.  We 
had  another  conflagration  in  the  fort,  the  shells 
having  set  fire  to  some  quarters  put  up  for  officers 
on  the  northwest  angle  of  the  works  ;  they  were  all 
consumed.  The  firing  seemed  to  be  good  this  day, 
though  some  said  the  shells  went  over,  and  others 
said  they  fell  short.  The  proof  of  accuracy  was 
that  the  batteries  were  silenced  every  time  the 
shells  were  concentrated  on  any  one  point.  The 
fuses  being  so  bad,  I  pave  up  the  plan  of  timing 
them,  and  put  in  full-length  fuses,  to  burst  .after 
they  had  entered  the  ground.  In  some  respects 
this  was  disadvantageous,  but  we  lost  but  few  by 
burstinp  before  time  in  the  air.  The  pround  beinp 
wet  and  soft,  the  shells  descended  18  or  20  feet  into 
the  ground,  exploding  after  some  time,  lifted  the 
earth  up,  and  let  it  fall  back  into  its  place  again, 
not  doing  a  great  deal  of  harm,  but  demoralizing 
the  men,  who  knew  not  what  the  consequences 
might  be.  The  effect,  I  am  told,  was  like  that 
of  an  earthquake.  When  the  shells  hit  the  ram 
parts  they  did  their  work  effectually,  knocking  off 
large  pieces  of  the  parapet  and  shattering  the  case 
mates.  On  the  third  and  fourth  day  the  ammuni 
tion  on  board  began  to  prow  short,  and  the  steam 
ers  had  to  be  sent  down  to  bring  it  up,  the  boats  of 
the  squadron  also  assisting  all  they  could,  in  the 
strong  current,  to  supply  the  vessels.  The  steam 
ers  lay  close  to  the  mortar  vessels  while  the  shot 
and  shell  were  flying  all  about ;  but  strange  to  say, 
not  a  vessel  was  struck,  though  I  expected  to  see 
some  of  them  injured.  The  employment  of  them  in 
that  way  could  not  be  avoided.  'Everything  was 
conducted  with  the  greatest  coolness,  and  the  offi 
cers  and  men  sat  down  to  their  meals  as  if  nothing 
was  goinp  on — shells  bursting  in  the  air  and  falling 
alongside,  and  shot  and  rifle-shell  crashing  through 
the  woods  and  tearing  up  trees  by  the  roots.  On 
the  fifth  day,  the  fire  from  the  forts  on  the  head  of 
the  first  division  was  very  rapid  and  troublesome. 
One  hundred  and  twenty-five  shots  fell  close  to  the 
vessels  in  one  hour  and  thirty  minutes,  without, 
however,  doing  them  any  damage  beyond  hitting 
the  "Para,"  the  headmost  vessel,  and  cutting  up 
the  rigging  and  masts.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  had 
been  attracted  to  the  mastheads  of  one  of  the'large 
ships  which  had  been  moved  up,  and  which  they 
could  see  over  the  woods.  I  deemed  it  prudent  to 
move  three.of  them  two  or  three  lengths,  much  to 
the  annoyance  of  the  officers,  who  seemed  indis 
posed  to  yield  an  inch.  Still,  my  duty  was  to  look 
out  for  the  vessels  and  not  have  them  destroyed. 
The  "Norfolk  Packet"  got  a  piece  of  a  shell  through 
her  decks,  and  had  her  rigging  and  crosstrees  cut 
away,  and  one  man  wounded.  For  three  days  and 
nights  the  officers  and  men  had  had  but  little  repose 
and  but  few  comfortable  meals,  so  I  divided  the  divis 
ion  into  three  watches  of  four  hours  each,  firing  from 
one  division  about  168  times  a  watch,  or  altogether, 
during  24  hours,  1,500  shells.  This  I  found  rested 
the  crews  and  produced  more  accurate  firing.  Over 
come  with  fatigue,  I  had  seen  the  commanders  and 


crews  lying  fast  asleep  on  deck,  with  a  mortar  on 
board  the  vessel  next  to  them,  thundering  away 
and  shaking  everything  around  them  like  an  earth 
quake.  The  windows  were  broken  at  the  Balise, 
thirty  miles  distant.  It  would  be  an  interminable 
undertaking,  sir,  if  I  were  to  attempt  to  pive  a 
minute  account  of  all  the  hard  work  performed  in 
the  flotilla,  or  mention  separately  all  the  meritorious 
acts  and  patient  endurance  of  the  commanders  and 
crew^  of  the  mortar  vessels.  All  stuck  to  their  duty 
like  men  and  Americans  ;  and  though  some  may 
have  exhibited  more  ingenuity  and  intelligence 
than  others,  yet  the  performance  of  all  commanded 
my  highest  admiration.  I  cannot  say  too  much  in 
favor  of  the  three  commanders  of  divisions.  Lieuten 
ants  Watson  Smith,  W.  W.  Queen,  and  K.  R.  Breese. 
I  can  only  say  I  would  like  always  to  have  them  at 
my  side  "in  times  of  danger  and  difficulty.  They 
were  untiring  in  their  devotion  to  their  duties, 
directing  their  officers,  who  could  not  be  supposed 
to  know  as  much  about  their  duties  as  they  did.  I 
left  the  entire  control  of  these  divisions  to  them 
selves,  trusting  implicitly  that  they  would  faith 
fully  carry  out  the  orders  which  I  had  given  them 
previous  to  the  bombardment,  and  knowing  that 
no  powder  or  shell  would  be  thrown  away  if  they 
could  help  it.  The  end  justified  my  confidence  in 
them.  During  a  bombardment  of  six  days  they 
were  constantly  exposed  to  a  sharp  fire  from  heavy 
guns.  If  they  sustained  no  serious  damage  to  their 
vessels  it  was  no  fault  of  the  enemy,  who  tried  his 
best  to  destroy  them,  and  who,  after  I  had  with 
drawn  the  vessels  of  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Queen  from  a  very  exposed  position,  reported  that 
he  had  sunk  them. 

After  bombarding  the  fort  for  three  days.  I  began 
to  despair  of  taking  it,  and.  indeed,  began  to  lose 
my  confidence  in  mortars,  but  a  deserter  presented 
himself  from  Fort  Jackson,  and  gave  me  such  an 
account  of  the  havoc  made  by  our  mortar  practice 
that  I  had  many  doubts  at  first  of  his  truth;  he 
represented  hundreds  of  shells  falling  into  the  fort, 
casemates  broken  in.  citadel  and  out-buildings 
burnt,  men  demoralized  and  dispirited,  magazine 
endangered,  and  the  levee  cut;  we  went  to  work 
with  renewed  vigor,  and  never  flagged  to  the  last. 
On  the  night  of  the  20th,  an  expedition  .was 
fitted  out,  under  Commander  Bell,  for  the  purpose 
of  breaking  the  chain;  it  was  composed  of  the  gun 
boats  "Pinola"  and  "  Itasca  ''  ;  it  was  arranged 
that  all  the  mortars  should  play  upon  the  fort 
while  the  operation  was  going  on,  which  they  did 
as  fast  as  they  could  safely  load  and  fire,  nine  shells 
being  in  the  air  frequently  at  one  time.  The  vessels 
were  discovered,  and  the  forts  opened  fire  on  them 
at  a  distance  of  three  and  eight  hundred  yards. 
Lieutenant  Crosby  informed  me  that  but  for  the 
rapid  and  acc'urate  fire  of  the  mortars  the  gun-boats 
would  have  been  destroyed.  The  mortars  silenced 
the  batteries  effectually,  and  Colonel  Higgins  or 
dered  the  men  into  the  casemates,  where  they  were 
in  no  way  loath  to  go.  These  facts  have  been  ob 
tained  from  prisoners.  The  "  Itasca,"  Lieutenant 
Caldwell,  slipped  the  chain  of  one  vessel,  and  was 
swept  ashore  by  the  current,  when  the  "Pinola," 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Crosby,  got  her  off,  both 
remaining  in  that  position  over  thirty  minutes, 
though  seen  by  the  enemy  and  seldom  fired  at. 

On  the  23d,  1  urged  Flag-officer  Farragut  to  com 
mence  the  attack  with  the  ships  at  night,  as  I 
feared  the  mortars  would  not  hold  out,  the  men 
were  almost  overcome  with  fatigue,  and  our  supply 
ships  laid  a  good  way  off.  The  enemy  had  brought 
over  two  heavy  rifle  guns  to  bear  on  the  head  of 
our  line,  and  I  was  aware  that  he  was  daily  adding 
to  his  defenses  and  strengthening  his  naval  forces 
with  ironclad  batteries.  The  2od  was  appointed, 
but  the  attack  did  not  come  off.  I  had  fortunately 
dismounted  with  a  shell,  on  that  day,  the  heaviest 
rifle  gun  they  had  on  St.  Philip,  breaking  it  in  two, 


220 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


and  it  annoyed  us  no  more.  I  did  not  know  it  at 
the  time,  but  thought  the  ammunition  had  given 
out.  On  the  23d,  the  order  was  given  to  move  at 
2  o'clock,  in  the  order  which  the  flag  officer  will 
mention  in  his  report.  The  steamers  belonging  to 
the  mortar  flotilla  were  assigned  the  duty  of  enfil 
ading  a  heavy  water  battery  of  six  guns  and  the 
barbette  of  guns  which  commanded  the  approach 
to  the  forts;  and  the  mortars  having  obtained  good 
range  during  the  day, were  to  try  and  drive  the  men 
from  the  guns  by  their  rapid  fire,  and  bursting  shell 
over  the  parapets.  The  flotilla  steamers,  composed 
of  the  "Harriet  Lane,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Wainwright,  leading;  "Westfield,"  Commander 
Renshaw;  "Owaseo,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Guest;  "Clifton,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  Bald 
win,  and  "Miami","  Lieutenant-Commanding  Har- 
rell,  moved  up  (when  the  flag-officer  lifted  his 
anchor),  70  fathoms  apart,  and  took  position  under 
the  batteries;  the  leading  vessel  500  yards  off,  the 
others  closing  up  as  the  fire  commenced.  Then,  as 
soon  as  the  "Hartford,"  "Brooklyn"  and  "Rich 
mond  "  passed,  they  opened  with  shrapnel  on  the 
forts,  having  received  the  fire  ten  or  fifteen  minutes 
before  replying  to  it.  As  the  fire  was  high,  and  they 
were  close  in  shore,  nearer  the  forts  than  the  enemy 
supposed,  they  occupied,  as  it  turned  out,  a  safer 
position  than  the  vessels  further  out,  there  being 
only  one  killed  and  one  wounded  on  board  the 
"  Harriet  Lane,''  while  the  other  steamers  remained 
untouched.  The  commanders  of  all  the  vessels  on 
this  occasion  did  their  duty,  coolly  kept  their  ves 
sels  close  up,  fired  rapidly  and  accurately,  and  the 
signal  was  not  made  to  retire  until  the  last  vessel  of 
our  gallant  squadron  passed  through  the  flames, 
which  seemed  to  be  literally  eating  them  up;  every 
man,  spar  or  rope  was  plainly  seen  amid  the  light, 
and  every  movement  of  the  ships  noted;  that  last 
vessel,  the  gallant  "Iroquois,"  would  provokingly 
linger  and  slow  her  engines  opposite  the  forts  to 
give  the  rebels  a  taste  of  her  formidable  battery. 
When  she  also  disappeared  in  the  smoke,  our  signal 
was  hung  out  to  retire,  our  duty  having  been  ac 
complished,  and  the  fort  turning  its  entire  attention 
to  our  little  force.  It  could  not,  however,  do  us 
much  harm,  as  the  rain  of  mortar  shells  almost  com 
pletely  silenced  them;  never  in  my  life  did  I  witness 
such  a  scene,  and  never  did  rebels  get  such  a  casti- 
gation.  Colonel  Higgins  ordered  the  men  from  the 
batteries  into  the  casemates  to  avoid  the  mortar 
shells,  wrhich  fell  with  particular  effect  on  that 
night,  while  grapeshot  and  shrapnel  from  the  ships 
gave  them  but  few  opportunities  to  fire  from  their 
casemates.  The  ships  had  gone  by,  the  backbone 
of  the  rebellion  was  broken,  the  mortars  ceased 
their  fire,  and  nothing  was  heard  for  a  time  but 
the  booming  of  guns  as  our  fleet  went  flying  up  the 
river,  scattering  the  enemy's  gun-boats  and  sinking 
them  as  they  passed.  We  all  sat  down  to  rest  and 
speculate  on  the  chances  of  seeing  our  old  friends 
and  brother  officers  again. 

I  was  very  hopeful  myself,  for  I  knew  that  the  en 
emy  had  been  too  much  demoralized  during  the  last 
week  by  mortar  practice  to  be  able  to  stand  against 
the  fire  of  our  ships.  I  gave  the  ships,  when  they 
started,  forty-five  minutes  to  pass  the  forts :  they 
were  only  seventy  from  the  time  they  lifted  their 
anchors.  I  lost  the  services  of  a  well  armed  and  use 
ful  vessel,  the  "  Jackson,"  for  the  attack  on  the  bat 
teries.  Her  commander,  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Wood  worth,  during  the  affair  was  appointed  to  tow 
the  "  Portsmouth  "  ahead  of  Ihe  mortar  steamers, 
but  was  carried  down  the  stream.  He  persisted, 
however,  in  taking  her  into  her  berth  after  the  bat 
tle  was  over  and  the  steamers  had  retired,  and  an 
chored  her,  I  believe,  within  nine  hundred  yards  of 
the  fort.  His  reception  and  that  of  the  "Ports 
mouth"  was  a  warm  one,  for  the  east  batteries 
opened  fire  upon  them  ;  and,  after  escaping  mirac 
ulously,  the  "Portsmouth,"  with  some  shots  in 


her  hull  and  rigging,  and  one  or  two  killed  and 
wounded,  coolly  drifted  out  from  under  the  guns 
and  took  her  old  position.  Had  the  rebels  not  been 
overcome  with  despair  she  would  have  fared  badly. 
Immediately  on  the  passage  of  the  ships  I  sent 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Guest  up  with  a  flag  of 
truce,  demanding  the  surrender  of  the  forts.  The 
flag  of  truce  was  fired  on,  but  apologized  for  after 
wards.  The  answer  was,  "  The  demand  is  inadmis 
sible."  Giving  the  men  that  day  to  rest,  I  prepared 
to  fill  up  the  vessels  Avith  ammunition  and  com 
mence  the  bombardment  again.  Having  in  the 
meantime  heard  from  Flag-officer  Farragut  that  he 
had  safely  passed  the  batteries,  I  determined  to 
make  another  attempt  on  these  deluded  people  in 
the  forts  to  make  them  surrender,  and  save  the  fur- 


CAPTAIN  J.  L.  BROOME  (NOW   LIEUT.  COL.),  MARINE  CORPS. 

ther  effusion  of  blood.  Flag-officer  Farragut  had 
unknowingly  left  a  troublesome  force  in  his  rear, 
consisting  of  four  steamers  and  a  powerful  steam 
battery  of  four  thousand  tens  and  sixteen  guns,  all 
protected  by  the  forts.  I  did  not  know  in  what 
condition  the  battery  was,  only  we  had  learned 
that  she  had  come  down  the  night  before,  ready  pre 
pared  to  wipe  out  our  whole  fleet.  If  the  enemy 
counted  so  surely  on  destroying  our  wrhole  fleet  with 
her,  it  behooved  me  to  be  prudent,  and  not  let  the 
mortar  vessels  be  sacrificed  like  the  vessels  at  Nor 
folk.  I  commenced,  then,  a  bombardment  on  the 
ironclad  battery,  supposing  it  lay  close  under  Fort 
Jackson,  and  also  set  the  vessels  to  work  throwing 
shells  into  Fort  Jackson  again,  to  let  them  know  that 
we  were  still  taking  care  of  them ;  but  there  was  no 
response  :  the  fight  had  all  been  taken  out  of  them. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


I  sent  the  mortar  vessels  below  to  refit  and  prepare 
for  sea,  as  also  to  prevent  them  from  being  driven 
from  their  position  in  case  the  iron  battery  came 
out  to  attack  them.  I  felt  sure  .that  the  steamers 
alone  could  manage  the  battery.  Six  of  the  schoon 
ers  I  ordered  to  proceed  immediately  to  the  rear  of 
Fort  Jackson  and  blockade  all  the  bayous,  so  that 
the  garrison  could  not  escape  or  obtain  supplies.  I 
sent  the  ''Miami'1  and  "Sachem''  to  the  rear  of 
Fort  St.  Philip,  to  assist  in  landing  troops.  These 
vessels  all  appeared  at  their  destination  at  the  same 
time,  and,  when  morning  broke,  the  enemy  found 
himself  hemmed  in  on  all  sides.  It  was  a  military 
necessity  that  we  should  have  the  forts.  Our  squad 
ron  was'cut  off  from  coal,  provisions,  and  ammuni 
tion  ;  our  soldiers  had  but  little  chance  to  get  to 
New  Orleans  through  shallow  bayous  ;  the  enemy 
in  the  city  would  hesitate  to  surrender  while  the 
forts  held  but ;  communication  was  cut  off  between 
them,  and  neither  party  knew  what  the  other  was 
willing  to  do.  So  I  demanded  a  surrender  again, 
through  Lieutenant-Commanding  Guest,  offering  to 
let  them  retain  their  side-arms  and  engage  not  to 
serve  against  the  United  States  during  the  rebellion 
until  regularly  exchanged,  provided  they  would 
honorably  deliver  up,  undamaged,  the  forts,  guns, 
muskets,  provisions,  and  all  munitions  of  war,  the 
vessels  under  the  guns  of  the  fort,  and  all  other 
public  property.  The  answer  was  civil,  and  hopes 
were  held  out  that,  after  being  instructed  by  the 
authorities  of  New  Orleans,  they  would  surrender. 
In  the  meantime  their  men  became  dissatisfied  at 
being  so  surrounded  ;  they  had  no  hope  of  longer 
holding  out  with  any  chance  of  success,  and  gave 
signs  of  insubordination.  On  the  28th,  a  flag  of 
truce  came  on  board  the  "Harriet  Lane,"  propos 
ing  to  surrender  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  on  the 
terms  proposed,  and  I  immediately  proceeded  to 
the  forts,  with  the  steamers  "  Westfield,"  "  Win- 
ona,"  and  "  Kennebec  "  in  company,  and  sent  a  boat 
for  General  Duncan  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hig- 
gins,  and  such  persons  as  they  might  see  fit  to  bring 
with  them.  These  persons  came  on  board,  and, 
proceeding  to  the  cabin  of  the  "Harriet  Lane,'' 
the  capitulation  was  drawn  up  and  signed,  the 
original  of  which  I  have  had  the  honor  of  forward 
ing  to  the  department  by  Captain  Bailey,  no  op 
portunity  occurring  to  send  it  through  Flag-officer 
Farragut,  without  loss  of  time.  The  officers  late 
commanding  the  forts  informed  me  that  the  vessels 
would  not  be  included  in  the  capitulation,  as  they 
(the  military  i  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  naval 
officers,  and  were  in  no  way  responsible  for  their 
acts.  There  was  evidently  a  want  of  unanimity  be 
tween  the  different  branches  of  the  rebel  service.  I 
afterwards  found  out  that  great  ill  feeling  existed, 
the  naval  commander  having  failed,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  military,  to  co-operate  with  the  forts  ;  the 
true  state  of  the  case  being  that  they  were  both 
sadly  beaten,  and  each  laid  the  blame  on  the  other. 
AVhile  engaged  in  the  capitulation,  an  officer  came 
below  and  informed  me  that  the  iron  floating  bat 
tery  (the  "  Louisiana")  had  been  set  on  fire  by  two 
steamers  which  had  been  lying  alongside  of  her. 
This  was  a  magnificent  iron  steam  floating  battery 
of  four  thousand  tons  and  mounting  sixteen  heavy 
guns,  and  perfectly  shot-proof.  She  had  been 
brought  down  from  New  Orleans  the  day  before, 
and  on  it  the  hopes  of  their  salvation  seemed  to  de 
pend,  as  will  appear  by  the  following  letter  from 
General  Duncan,  taken  in  the  fort  : 

FORT  JACKSON,  LOUISIANA,  } 
April  22,  1862.          f 

CAPTAIN— Your  note  of  this  date  relative  to  the 
steamer  "Louisiana,"  the  forwardness  of  her  prep 
arations  for  attack,  the  disposition  to  be  made  of 
her,  etc.,  has  been  received. 

It  is  of  vital  importance  that  the  present  fire  of 
the  enemy  should  be  withdrawn  from  us,  which  you 


alone  can  do.  This  can  be  done  in  the  manner  sug 
gested  this  morning,  under  the  cover  of  our  guns, 
while  your  work  on  the  boat  can  still  be  carried  on 
in  safety  and  security.  Our  position  is  a  critical 
one,  dependent  entirely  on  the  powers  of  endurance 
of  our  casemates,  many  of  which  have  been  com 
pletely  shattered,  and  are  crumbling  away  by  re 
peated  shocks,  and  therefore  I  respectfully,"  but 
earnestly,  again  urge  my  suggestions  of  this  morn 
ing  upon  your  notice.  Our  magazines  are  also  in 
danger. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
J.  K.  DUNCAN, 

Brigadier-  General. 
Captain  J.  K.  MITCHELL, 

Commanding  Naval  Forces,  Lower  Mississippi 
River. 

I  was  in  hopes  of  saving  this  vessel  as  a  prize,  for 
she  would  have  been  so  materially  useful  tons  in  all 
future  operations  on  the  coast,  her  batteries  and 
strength  being  sufficient  to  silence  any  fort  here, 
aided  by  the  other  vessels.  Seeing  her  lying  so 
quiet,  with  colors  down  and  the  two  steamers  un 
der  our  guns,  I  never  dreamed  for  a  moment  that 
they  had  not  surrendered.  The  forts  and  ourselves 
had  flags  of  truce  flying,  and  I  could  not  make  any 
movement  without  violating  the  honor  of  the 
United  States  and  interrupting  the  capitulation 
which  was  being  drawn  up.  The  burning  of  the 
vessels  was  done  so  quietly  that  no  one  suspected 
it  until  the  battery  was  in  a  blaze.  I  merely  re 
marked  to  the  commanders  of  the  forts  that  the  act 
was  in  no  way  creditable  to  the  rebel  commander. 
The  reply  was,  "  We  are  not  responsible  for  the  acts 
of  these  naval  officers."  We  proceeded  with  the 
conference,  and  while  so  engaged  an  officer  came  to 
inform  me  that  the  ironclad  battery  was  all  in 
flames  and  drifting  down  on  us,  having  burnt  the 
ropes  that  had  fastened  her  to  the  bank.  I  inquired 
of  the  late  commanders  of  the  forts  if  they  knew  if 
the  guns  were  loaded,  or  if  she  had  much  powder 
on  board.  The  answer  was,  "  I  presume  so,  but  we 
know  nothing  about  the  naval  matters  here.''  At 
this  moment  the  guns,  being  heated,  commenced 
going  off,  with  a  probability  of  throwing  shot  and 
shell  amidst  friend  and  foe.  I  did  not  deign  to 
notice  it  further  than  to  say  to  the  military  officers, 
"If  you  don't  mind  the 'effects  of  the  explosion 
which  is  soon  to  come,  we  can  stand  it."  If  the  ever 
memorable  Commander  Mitchell  calculated  to  make 
a  stampede  in  the  United  States  vessels  by  his  in 
famous  act,  he  was  mistaken  ;  none  of  them  moved 
or  intended  to  move,  and  the  conference  was  car 
ried  on  as  calmly  as  if  nothing  else  was  going  on, 
though  proper  precautions  were  taken  to  keep  them 
clear  of  the  burning  battery.  A  good  Providence, 
which  directs  the  most  unimportant  events,  sent 
the  battery  off  towards  Fort  St.  Philip,  and  as  it 
got  abreast  of  that  formidable  fort  it  blew  up  with 
a  force  which  scattered  the  fragments  in  all  direc 
tions,  killing  one  of  their  own  men  in  Fort  St. 
Philip,  and  when  the  smoke  cleared  off  it  was  no 
where  to  be  seen,  having  sunk  immediately  in  the 
deep  water  of  the  Mississippi.  The  explosion  was  ter 
rific,  and  was  seen  and  heard  for  many  miles  up  and 
down  the  river.  Had  it  occurred  near  the  vessels  it 
would  have  destroyed  every  one  of  them.  Ths,  no 
doubt,  was  the  obje'ct  of  thearch-traitor  who  was  the 
instigator  of  the  act.  He  failed  to  co-operate,  like  a 
man,  with  his  military  confederates, who  looked  to 
the  means  he  had  at  his  disposal  to  save  them  from 
destruction,  and  who  scorned  alike  his  want  of 
courage  in  not  assisting  them,  as  well  as  the  un 
heard  of  and  perfidious  act  which  might,  in  a  meas 
ure,  have  reflected  on  them. 

How  different  was  the  course  of  the  military  com 
manders,  who,  though  engaged  in  so  bad  a  cause, 
behaved  honorably  to  the  end.  Every  article  in 
the  fort  was  delivered  up  undamaged.  Nothing 


222 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


was  destroyed,  cither  before  the  capitulation  or 
while  the  capitulation  was  going  on,  or  afterwards. 
The  most  scrupulous  regard  was  paid  to  their 
promises.  They  defended  their  works  like  men, 
and  had  they  been  fighting  for  the  flag  under 
which  they  were  born  instead  of  against  it,  it  would 
have  been  honor  enough  for  any  man  to  have  said 
he  had  fought  by  their  side. 

After  the  capitulation  was  signed,  I  sent  Com 
mander  W.  B.  Renshaw  to  Fort  Jackson,  and  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  Ed.  Nichols  to  Fort  St.  Philip 
to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  forts.  The  rebel 
flag  was  hauled  down  and  the  stars  and  stripes  once 
more  floated  over  the  property  of  the  United  States. 
The  sun  never  shone  on  a  more  contented  and 
happy  looking  set  of  faces  than  those  of  the  prison 
ers  in"  and  about  the  forts.  Many  of  them  had  not 
seen  their  families  for  months,  and  a  large  portion 
had  been  pressed  into  a  service  distasteful  to  them, 
subject  to  the  rigor  of  a  discipline  severe  beyond 
measure.  They  Avere  frequently  exposed  to  punish 
ments,  for  slight  causes,  which  the  human  frame 
could  scarcely  endure,  and  the  men  Avho  underwent 
some  of  the  tortures  mentioned  on  a  list  of  punish 
ments  I  have  in  my  possession,  must  have  been  un 
able  afterwards  to  do  any  duty  for  months  to  come. 
Instead  of  the  downcast  countenances  of  conquered 
people,  they  emerged  from  the  fort  (going  home  on 
their  parole)  like  a  parcel  of  happy  school-boys  in 
holiday  times,  and  no  doubt  they  felt  like  them 
also. 

When  the  flags  had  been  exchanged,  I  deA-oted  my 
attention  to  Commander  Mitchell,  Avho  Avas  lying 
a  half  mile  aboAre  us  with  three  steamers,  oiie  of 
which  he  had  scuttled.  Approaching  him  in  the 
"  Harriet  Lane,'1  I  directed  Lieutenant-Command- 
ign  Waimvright  to  fire  a  gun  over  him,  Avhen  he 
lowered  his  flag.  I  then  sent  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Wainwright  on  board  to  take  possession 
and  receive  the  unconditional  surrender  of  the 
party,  consisting  of  fourteen  naA'al  officers  and 
seven  engineers,  temporarily  appointed  ;  the  creAv 
of  the  ironclad  battery  consisted  of  three  hundred 
men  and  tAvp  companies  of  marine  artillery,  nearly 
all  from  ciAril  life,  and  serving  much  against  their 
Avill,  so  they  said.  Commander  Mitchell  and  the 
other  naval  officers  were  transferred  to  the  "  West- 
field"  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  as  soon  as  time 
Avould  alloAv,  the  marines  and  sailors  Avere  sent  in 
one  of  the  captured  vessels  to  Flag-officer  Farragut, 
at  New  Orleans.  The  captured  military  officers 
Avere  sent  up  to  New  Orleans  on  their  parole,  and 
thus  ended  the  day  on  which  the  great  Mississippi 
rejoiced  once  more  in  having  its  portals  opened  to  the 
commerce  of  the  Avorld.  From  the  appearance  and 
talk  of  the  soldiers,  we  might  soon  hope  to  see  the 
people  united  again  under  the  folds  of  the  flag  of 
the  Union.  While  the  capitulation  Avas  going  on 
I  sent  the  steamer  "Clifton"'  down  to  bring  up 
troops,  and  when  General  Phelps  came  up  I  turned 
the  forts,  guns,  and  munitions  of  war  over  to  his 
keeping.  My  next  step  Avas  to  visit  Forts  Jackson 
and  St.  Philip.  NeA-er  in  my  life  did  I  Avitness  such 
a  scene  of  desolation  and  Avreck  as  the  former  pre 
sented.  It  was  ploAved  up  by  the  thirteen-inch 
mortars,  the  bombs  had  set  fire  to  and  burnt  out 
all  the  buildings  in  and  around  the  forts  ;  casemates 
Avere  crushed  and  Avere  crumbling  in,  and  the  only 
thing  that  saved  them  Avere  the  sandbags  that  had 
been  sent  from  New  Orleans  during  the  bombard 
ment,  and  Avhen  they  began  to  feel  the  effects  of 
the  mortars.  When  the  communication  Avas  cut  off 
between  them  and  the  city,  this  resource  of  sand 
bags  could  aA^ail  them  no  longer.  It  was  useless  for 
them  to  hold  out  ;  a  day's  bombardment  Avould 
have  finished  them  ;  they  had  no  means  of  repair 
ing  damages  ;  the  levee  had  been  cut  by  the  thir 
teen-inch  bombs  ir  over  a  hundred  places  ;  and  the 
water  had  entered  the  casemates,  making  it  very 
uncomfortable,  if  not  impossible  to  live  there  any 


longer.  It  was  the  only  place  the  men  had  to  fly  to 
out  of  reach  of  the  bombs.  The  drawbridge  over 
the  moat  had  been  broken  all  to  pieces,  and  all  the 
causeAvays  leading  from  the  fort  were  cut  and 
bloAvn  up  Avith  bombshells,  so  that  it  must  have 
been  impossible  to  walk  there  or  carry  on  any  oper 
ations  with  any  degree  of  safety.  The  magazine 
seems  to  haA'e  been  much  endangered,  explosions 
haA'ing  taken  place  at  the  door  itself,  all  the  cotton 
bags  and  protections  haA'ing  been  bloAvn  away  from 
before  the  magazine  door.  EleA'en  guns  Avere 
dismounted  during  the  bombardment,  some  of 
Avhich  Avere  remounted  again  and  used  xipon  us. 
The  Avails  Avere  cracked  and  broken  in  many  places, 
and  Ave  could  scarcely  step  Avithout  treading  into  a 
hole  made  by  a  bomb-shell ;  the  accuracy  of  the  fire 
is,  perhaps,  the  best  ever  seen  in  mortar  practice  ; 
it  seems  to  have  entirely  demoralized  the  men  and 
.astonished  the  officers.  A  Avater  battery,  contain 
ing  six  very  heavy  guns,  and  which  annoyed  us  at 
times  A'ery  much,  was  filled  Avith  the  marks  of  the 
bombs,  no  less  than  170  having  fallen  into  it,  smash 
ing  in  the  magazine,  and  driving  the  people  out  of  it. 
On  the  night  of  the  passage  of  the  ships  this  battery 
AA'as  completelv  silenced,  so  many  bombs  fell  into  it 
and  burst  over  it.  It  had  one  gun  in  it,  the  largest  I 
have  ever  seen,  made  at  the  Tredegar  Avorks.  I  Avould 
not  pretend  to  say  how  many  bombs  fell  in  the 
ditches  around  the  Avorks,  but  soldiers  in  the  forts 
say  about  three  thousand  ;  many  burst  over  the 
works,  scattering  the  pieces  of  shell  all  around. 
The  enemy  admit  but  fourteen  killed  and  thirty- 
nine  wounded  by  the  bombardment,  Avhich  is  likely 
the  case,  as  Ave  found  but  fourteen  fresh  graA-es,  and 
the  men  mostly  staid  in  the  casemates,  which 
Avere  three  inches  deep  with  water  and  very  un 
comfortable.  Many  remarkable  escapes  and  inci 
dents  were  related  to  us  as  having  happened  dur 
ing  the  bombardment.  Colonel  H  iggins  stated  an 
instance  Avhere  a  man  was  buried  deep  in  the  earth 
by  a  bomb  striking  him  between  the  shoulders,  and 
directly  afterwards  another  bomb  exploded  in  the 
same  place,  and  threw  the  corpse  high  in  the  air. 
All  the  boats  and  scows  around  the  ditches  and 
near  the  landing  were  sunk  by  bombs  ;  and  Avhen 
AAre  took  possession  the  only  Avay  they  had  to  get  in 
and  out  of  the  fort  to  the  landing  Avas  by  one  small 
boat  to  ferry  them  across.  All  the  lumber,  shingles, 
and  bricks  used  in  building  or  repairs  wrere  scat 
tered  about  in  confusion  and  burnt  up,  and  every 
amount  of  discomfort  that  men  could  bear  seemed 
to  haA-e  been  shoAvered  upon  those  poor  deluded 
Avretches. 

I  Avas  so  much  struck  Avith  the  deserted  appear 
ance  of  Avhat  Avas  once  a  most  beautiful  spot,  that  I 
ordered  Mr.  (ierd.es  and  his  assistants  on  the  Coast 
SurA'ey  to  make  me  an  accurate  plan  of  all  the 
works,  denoting  every  bomb  that  fell,  and  (as  near 
as  possible)  the  injury  the  fort  had  sustained,  every 
distance  being  accurately  measured  by  tape-line 
and  compass,  and  the  comparative  size  of  fractures 
noted.  The  work  has  been  executed  with  great 
zeal  and  accuracy,  though  it  will  only  give  a  faint 
idea  of  the  bombs  that  fell  about  the  fort  ;  many 
are  lost  sight  of  in  the  Avater  which  has  been  let  in 
by  the  cut  leATees  ;  many  burst  OArer  the  fort ;  but 
enough  haAre  been  marked  to  indicate  the  Avonder 
ful  precision  of  fire  and  the  endurance  of  the  forts. 
Had  the  ground  been  hard  instead  of  being  soft 
mud,  the  first  day's  bombardment  Avould  have 
bloAvn  Fort  Jackson  into  atoms  ;  as  it  is,  it  is  very 
much  injured,  and  Avill  require  thorough  repair  be 
fore  it  can  be  made  habitable. 

Fort  St.  Philip  received  very  little  damage  from 
our  bombs,  having  fired  at  it  with  only  one  mortar, 
and  that  for  the  purpose  of  silencing  a  heavy  rifled 
gun  Avhich  annoyed  us  very  much  ;  we  were  fortun 
ate  enough  to  strike  it  in  the  middle,  and  break  it 
in  two,  and  had  not  much  more  annoyance  froiu 
that  fort ;  two  guns  \vere  capsized  by  a  bomb  at 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


one  time,  but  without  injuring  them ;  they  were 
soon  replaced  :  some  trifling  damage  was  done  to 
the  works,  though  nothing  to  affect  the  efficiency 
of  the  batteries;  it  was  from  Fort  St.  Philip  that 
our  ships  suffered  most,  the  men  and  officers  there, 
having  had,  comparatively,  an  easy  time  of  it.  I 
felt  sure  that  St.  Philip  would  surrender  the  mo 
ment  Jackson  hauled  down  the  secession  flag,  and 
consequently  directed  all  the  attention  of  the 
uiortar  schooners  to  the  latter  fort.  The  final  re 
sult  justified  me  in  coming  to  this  conclusion. 

I  trust  that  you  will  excuse  me,  sir,  for  dwelling 
so  minutely  on  matters  relating  to  this  important 
victory,  though  I  have  endeavored  to  make  my  re 
port  as  short  as  possible. 

Every  little  incident  in  this  ever  to  be  remem 
bered  drama  will  be  interesting  to  the  true  lovers  of 
our  Union,  who  will  rejoice  over  the  fact  that  the 
great  river  which  is  the  main  artery  of  our  country 
is  once  more  in  our  possession,  and  that  we  may 
soon  hope  to  see  the  stars  and  stripes  floating  over 
every  hut  and  hamlet  along  its  banks.  It  only 
remains  for  me,  sir,  to  do  justice  to  the  officers 
who  have  been  under  my  command  during  this  ar 
duous  and  sometimes  unpleasant  service.  Com- 
mamler  Renshaw,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Guest, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Wainwright,  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Harrell,  Lieutenant -Commanding 
Baldwin,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Wood  worth,  are 
the  officers  commanding  steamers  connected  with 
the  flotilla.  Their  duties  were  various  and  ardu 
ous — towing,  supplying,  and  getting  under  the  guns 
of  the  fort  when  opportunities  offered,  or  they  were 
permitted  to  expose  their  vessels.  In  the  attack  on 
the  water  batteries  Lieutenant-Commanding  Wain 
wright  commanded  the  ''Harriet  Lane"  (as  I 
noticed)  coolly  and  bravely  ;  and  his  officers  and 
crew  did  their  duty,  all  the  vessels  lying  quietly 
under  the  heavy  fire  for  fifteen  minutes,  until  it 
was  time  to  open  their  batteries,  which  they  did 
with  effect,  until  the  time  came  to  retire.  Com 
mander  Renshaw  made  his  rifle  gun  tell  with  effect, 
keeping  his  vessel  in  close  order.  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Guest,  with  his  zealous  crew,  who  had 
fired  over  200  shell  at  the  forts  at  different  times, 
kept  his  shell  flying  as  fast  as  usual,  bursting  (as  I 
witnessed)  with  good  effect  in  the  midst  of  the 
batteries.  Lieutenant-Commanding  Baldwin,  whom 
I  have  always  found  ready  for  any  duty,  no  mat 
ter  how  arduous  or  thankless,  was  in  no  way  be 
hind  any  one  ;  his  heavy  battery  of  nine-inch  and 
thirty-two-pounders  rattled  through  the  outer 
works  of  the  fort,  helping  to  keep  Jackson  quiet 
while  our  heavy  ships  were  forcing  their  way 
through  logs  chained  together,  fire-rafts,  rains,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  enemy's  gun-boats,  iron  batter 
ies,  and  forts  built  to  dispute  the  passage  of  any 
fleet  which  might  be  sent  against  them.  The 
steamer  "Jackson,"  Lieutenant  -  Commanding 
Woodworth,  towed  the  ''Portsmouth"  gallantly 
into  fire,  though  his  position  was  more  gallantly 
than  wisely  taken  ;  he  was  fortunate  that  his  ves 
sel  and  the  "  Portsmouth  ''  were  not  cut  to  pieces. 
I  have  been  so  struck  with  the  energy  and  zeal  of 
Lieutenants-Commanding  Woodworth  and  Bald 
win,  that  I  hope  the  Navy  Department  will  reward 
them  by  re-appointing  them  as  permanent  officers 
in  the  service  (if  they  will  accept  it),  for  while  the 
Navy  is  composed  of  such  men  it  will  never  be  de 
feated  in  equal  contests.  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Harrell,  of  the  "  Miami,'' has  had  under  his  com 
mand  a  most  wretched  and  unmanageable  vessel, 
and  has  not  had  an  opportunity  to  do  himself  full 
justice  ;  he  was  always  ready  to  do  any  service  re 
quired  of  him,  and  on  the  night  of  the  attack,  with 
the  rest,  worked  his  battery  with  effect.  As  soon  as 
the  forts  had  been  passed,  on  account  of  his  light 
draught,  I  sent  him  to  co-operate  with  General 
Butler  in  landing  troops  outside,  which  duty  he 
performed  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 


If  the  efforts  of  the  mortar  flotilla  have  not  met 
your  expectations  in  reducing  the  forts  in  a  shorter 
time,  it  must  be  remembered  that  great  difficulties 
existed,  first  in  the  soil,  which  allowed  the  bombs 
to  sink  at  least  twenty  feet,  by  measurement, 
before  exploding,  the  difficulty  of  seeing  the  fort, 
as  it  is  not  much  above  the  surrounding  bushes, 
and  the  endurance  of  the  casemates,  which  were 
deeply  covered  with  earth,  and  better  constructed 
than  supposed  ;  but  I  am  firmly  of  opinion  that  the 
moral  effect  of  this  bombardment  will  go  far  to 
wards  clearing  all  forts  of  rebels,  and  I  draw  atten 
tion  to  the  case  of  Fort  Livingston,  which  held  out 
a  flag  of  truce  the  moment  three  mortar  vessels  ap 
peared  before  it.  Flag-officer  Farragut  has  ordered 
me  to  repair  to  Ship  Island  to  await  the  arrival  of 
the  larger  vessels,  but  not  to  commence  any  oper 
ations  until  he  arrives. 

I  herewith  enclose  the  reports  of  the  commanders 
of  steamers  in  relation  to  the  conduct  of  those  un 
der  their  command. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  ol>edient  servant, 
DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Flotilla. 
Hon.  GIDEOX  WELLES, 
Secretary  of  the  Nacy. 


REPORT  OF  COMMAXDKR  W.  B.  REXSHAW,  UXITEI> 
STATES  STEAMER  "  WESTFIELD.'' 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  WESTFIELD,"  ) 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  May  5,  18G3.      f 

SIR — Agreeably  to  your  order,  I  have  the  honor 
to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  operations  of 
the  United  States  steamer  ''Westfield,"  under  my 
command,  since  her  arrival  in  the  Mississippi 
River. 

Upon  our  reaching  Pass  it  TOutre,  on  the  morning 
of  the  Ibth  of  March,  I  had  the  honor  of  reporting 
my  arrival  to  you  in  person,  and  by  your  order  at 
once  proceeded  to  tow  the  mortar  schooners  inside 
the  bar.  From  that  date  until  the  13th  day  of 
April,  we  were  constantly  engaged  towing  and  as 
sisting  in  getting  the  United  States  ships  "Missis 
sippi  "  and  "  Pensaeola"  over  the  bar  at  Southwest 
Pass. 

On  the  13th,  while  engaged  covering  the  Coast 
Survey  party,  who  were  triangulating  the  river, 
you  joined  us  with  the  ''  Harriet  Lane"  and  other 
vessels  of  the  squadron,  and  ordered  me  to  start 
ahead  and  endeavor  to  reach  with  our  rifle-shot  two 
of  the  rebel  gun-boats  that  were  below  the  point 
watching  our  motions.  Two  discharges  of  the  rifle 
caused  them  to  retire  and  join  some  six  or  eight  of 
their  squadron  lying  under  the  guns  at  Fort  Jack 
son.  We  continued  our  advance,  and  soon  brought 
the  whole  squadron  within  range  of  our  100- 
pounder  rifle,  when  we  again  opened  fire,  and  so 
successfully  that  (as  I  have  since  learned  from  pris 
oners)  we  broke  the  shaft  of  the  gun-boat  "Defi 
ance,"  and  otherwise  so  much  crippled  her  that  she 
was  subsequently  sunk  by  her  crew.  The  forts 
having  opened  upon  us,  our  signal  of  recall  was 
made,  and  we  returned  to  our  station. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th,  our  boats,  together 
with  those  of  the  mortar  flotilla,  extinguished  the 
fire,  and  towed  on  shore  a  large  fire-raft;  and  on  the 
night  of  the  17th,  we  ran  alongside  to  windward  of 
another  large  fire-raft.  We  threw  water  from  our 
force-pumps  upon  it,  and  materially  assisted  in  sub 
duing  the  flames. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  18th,  after  assisting  in 
towing  the  mortar  schooners  to  their  positions,  I 
was  directed  by  you  to  proceed  up  the  river  and 
drive  off  a  steamer  that  menaced  the  head  of  our 
line  of  mortar  vessels.  The  steamer  fled  upon  our 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


approach,  but  having  reached  a  position  that 
brought  the  forts  in  easy  range  of  our  rifle,  we  fired 
deliberately  ten  shots  with  that  gun,  many  of 
which,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  took  effect  upon 
Fort  St.  Philip,  the  enemy  at  the  same  time  throw 
ing  their  rifle  and  10  inch  shot  and  shell  thickly 
around  us. 

At  3.30  A.  M.,  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  we  dis 
covered  another  large  fire-raft,  which  we  ran  along 
side  of  and  assisted  in  extinguishing.  From  the 
19th  to  the  24th  instant,  we  were  engaged  with  the 
rest  of  the  flotilla  steamers  in  supplying  the  mortar 
schooners  writh  ammunition. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  we  got  under  way,  in 
company  with  the  flotilla  steamers,  led  by  yourself 
in  the  "  Harriet  Lane,"  together  with  all  the  vessels 
of  the  squadron,  for  the  attack  on  Forts  Jackson 
and  St.  Philip.  At  3.45  we  opened  fire  with  all  our 
guns  upon  Fort  Jackson  at  an  estimated  distance  of 
600  yards,  and  remained  in  this  position  until  your 
signal  was  made  to  cease  firing  and  retire  from  ac 
tion. 

I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  during  this  heavy 
cannonade  this  ship  was  not  injured  or  a  man  hurt 
on  board,  owing  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  from  the 
face  of  the  fort  we  engaged,  having  passed  over  us. 
It  also  affords  me  the  highest  gratification  to  ex 
press  my  unqualified  approbation  and  high  appre 
ciation  of  the  bravery  and  zealous  attention  to  duty 
of  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  ship,  whether  en 
gaged  in  our  unremitting  duties  or  when  under  fire 
of  the  enemy's  guns. 

During  our  operations  against  the  forts  we  have 
expended  thirty-five  rifle-shot  and  shell,  eleven  9- 
inch  shell,  and  seventeen  8-inch  shell.  Here  let  me 
state,  sir,  that  upon  the  several  occasions  this  ship 
has  been  under  the  fire  of  the  forts,  I  have  been 
constrained  from  using  my  very  efficient  rifled  gun 
as  frequently  as  I  could  have  desired,  in  conse 
quence  of  there  being  no  more  projectiles  (than 
those  we  had  on  board)  upon  the  station.  I  will 
also  state  that  it  was  in  accordance  with  your 
wishes  that  I  was  thus  careful  of  the  few  shot  and 
shell  we  had. 

Permit  me,  in  conclusion,  to  call  your  attention 
to  the  fact,  in  explanation  of  the  seemingly  small 
amount  of  ammunition  we  have  expended,  that 
upon  all  the  occasions  this  ship  has  been  engaged 
(save  the  action  of  the  24th  ultimo)  it  was  advan 
tageous  to  fight  her  "  head  on,"  which  prevented  the 
use  of  all  the  guns  except  the  rifle. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  B.  RENSHAW, 

Commander  United  States  Navy. 
Commander  D.  D.  PORTER, 
Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla,  Mississippi  River. 


REPORT  OP  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING  A.  D.  HAR- 
RELL,  UNITED   STATES  STEAMER    "MIAMI." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "MIAMI,"  ) 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  24,  1862.      j 
SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  obedi 
ence  to  your  order,  I  weighed  anchor  at  half-past 
two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  instant,  and 
took  my  assigned  position  in  the  line.      At    the 
proper  time  opened  and  continued  fire  upon  Fort 
Jackson  until  ordered  to  discontinue. 

I  have  pleasure  in  adding  that  officers  and  men 
did  their  whole  duty,  and  although  shot  and  shell 
passed  over  and  fell  thickly  around  us,  we  sustained 
no  injury. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
A.  D.  HARRELL, 
Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Commander  D.  D.  PORTER. 
Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla,  Mississippi  River. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  MIAMI,"     ) 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  May  3,  1862.  ) 

SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  obedi 
ence  to  your  order  of  the  24th  ultimo,  which  I  re 
ceived  immediately  after  the  action  of  that  morn 
ing,  I  received  General  Butler  and  staff  on  board, 
and  proceeded  to  Pilot  Town  for  the  boats  which  I 
was  ordered  to  procure. 

After  obtaining  them,  I  immediately  started  to 
Isle  au  Breton  Bay,  and  there  received  on  board 
one  regiment  of  troops,  which  I  landed  at  Quaran 
tine  Station,  above  and  in  the  rear  of  Fort  St.  Philip. 
I  continued  conveying  and  landing  troops  until  the 
forts  surrendered.  I  then  proceeded  and  landed 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  troops  at  Xew  Orleans  on 
the  first  instant. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  D.  HARRELL, 
Liev  tenant-Commanding. 
Commander  D.  D.  PORTER. 

Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla,  Mississippi  River. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  J.  M  WAINWRIGHT. 
COMMANDING  UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HAR 
RIET  LANE." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIET  LANE."  ) 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  25,  1862.          ) 
SIR — In  obedience  to  your  order,  I  beg  leave  to  sub 
mit  the  following  report  of  the  part  taken  by  this  ves 
sel  in  the  action  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  instant, 
between  the  United  States  naval  forces  and  the  bat 
teries  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip. 

At  1.30  A.  M.,  all  hands  were  called,  in  anticipation 
of  the  signal  from  the  flag-ship  to  prepare  to  get  un 
der  way,  which  was  made  at  two  A.  M.  Every  prep 
aration  for  a  move  being  completed,  we  impatiently 
waited  the  moment  when  our  turn  would  come. 

In  the  meantime  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  were  get 
ting  under  way,  and  forming  in  their  respective 
lines,  the  starboard  under  Captain  Bailey,  in  the 
gun-boat  "  Cay uga," leading.  At  3.28  A.  M.,  the  fleet 
being  all  under  way,  and  steaming  up  the  river, 
signal  was  made  to  the  steamers  of  the  mortar  flo 
tilla  to  weigh  anchor,  and  we  stood  up  towards  the 
forts,  our  duty  being  to  take  an  enfilading  position 
below  the  water  battery  of  Fort  Jackson. 

At  3.45  A.  M.,  the  forts  opened  on  the  leading  ships, 
and  immediately  thereafter  the  mortar  vessels  com 
menced,  and  at  3.50,  were  raining  a  rapid  and 
continuous  fire  on  the  enemy  such  as  has  rarely 
before  been  witnessed. 

The  crew  were  now  called  to  quarters,  and  we 
steamed  rapidly  up  the  river  to  take  our  appointed 
position.  Shortly  after  we  passed  the  head  of  the 
line  of  mortar  vessels,  we  found  ourselves  under  the 
fire  of  the  enemy,  which  was  very  hot,  but  most 
fortunately,  too  high.  It  was  not  till  4.20  A.  M.,  that 
our  guns  could  be  brought  to  bear,  when  we  opened 
on  them  with  shell  and  shrapnel. 

At  4.30  A.  M.,  a  shot  carried  away  one  of  the  stan 
chions  and  a  portion  of  the  railing  of  the  bridge 
between  the  wheel-houses,  the  fragments  of  which 
killed  one  man,  and  seriously  wounded  another 
stationed  at  the  9  inch  gun  on  the  quarterdeck. 

We  retained  our  position  within  five  hundred 
yards  of  Fort  Jackson,  firing  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
till  4.50  A.  M.,  when  the  last  vessel  was  seen  to  pass 
between  the  forts.  The  signal  was  then  made  to 
retire  from  action,  and  we  stood  down  the  .river  to 
our  former  anchorage,  followed  by  the  steamers  of 
the  mortar  flotilla.  At  4.55  A.  M.,  four  rockets  were 
sent  up,  as  a  signal  to  the  mortar  vessels  to  cease 
firing,  and  shortly  after  we  caiiie  to  an  anchor  astern 
of  them. 
It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  say  that  one  and  all 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


225 


the  officers  and  crew  of  this  vessel  did  their  duty 
like  men,  and  displayed  commendable  coolness 
under  a  heavy  fire,  which  they  were  obliged  to  en 
dure  for  some  minutes  before  it  could  be  returned. 
My  especial  thanks  are  due  to  the  executive  officer, 
Lieutenant  Edward  Lea.  who  had  the  general  super 
intendence  of  the  battery  ;  Acting-Masters  Willis  F. 
Munroe  and  Charles  H .  Hamilton,  commanding  the 
gun  divisions,  and  Acting-Master  J.  A.  H  annum,  in 
charge  of  the  powder  division,  which  was  well  and 
rapidly  served  ;  also  to  Acting-Master  George  W. 
Simmer,  an  elei'e  of  the  Naval  Academy  attached  to 
the  "  Horace  Beales,  '  who  volunteered  for  service, 
and  gave  me  his  valuable  assistance  in  superintend 
ing  the  cutting  of  shrapnel,  etc 

In  conclusion,  you  must  permit  me  to  render  the 
humble  tribute  of  my  admiration  to  the  coolness, 
ability,  and  untiring  zeal  you  have  displayed  during 
the  arduous  and  perilous  duty  so  gallantly  per 
formed  for  the  last  six  days  by  the  mortar  flotilla. 
Such  an  example  could  not  fail  to  inspire  the  confi 
dence  of  those  under  your  command  in  the  glorious 
success  which  has  attended  their  exertions,  and 
which  the  result  has  proved  to  be  so  well  founded. 

I  herewith  enclose  the  report  of  the  medical  officer 
of  the  casualties  which  occurred  011  board  this  vessel. 
I  am,  very  respectfully. 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

j.  M.  WAIXWRIGHT, 
Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Commander  DAVID  D.  PORTER. 

(Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla. 


REPORT      OF      LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING      JOHN 
GUEST,  UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  OWASCO." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAM  GUN-BOAT  ''OwAsco,'1 1 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  28,  18(52.      ) 

SIR — In  obedience  to  your  instructions  I  submit 
this  report  : 

At  meridian  on  the  12th  of  April,  the  "  Owasco" 
being  at  the  head  of  the  passes,  by  your  order  1  got 
under  way  to  protect  the  steamer  "  Sachem."  having 
on  board 'the  Coast  Survey  party,  under  Mr.  F.  H. 
Gerdes,  while  making  a  reconnoissance  of  the  river. 
On  reaching  our  advanced  squadron  of  gun-boats, 
Commander  S.  P.  Lee,  senior  officer,  I  reported  to 
him  that  I  was  about  to  pass  ahead  for  the  purpose 
above  indicated. 

Captain  Lee  said  the  enemy  were  in  large  force, 
and  that  he  would  follow  with  all  the  gun-boats. 
As  it  was  too  late,  when  the  "  Sachem  "  got  up  to  us, 
to  work,  we  deferred  proceeding  till  morning.  In 
the  meantime  I  advised  you,  sir,  of  the  state  of 
affairs,  and  next  morning,  shortly  after  1  com 
menced  work,  1  had  the  satisfaction  to. see  you  pass 
me  with  all  the  steamers  of  the  mortar  flotilla,  which 
doubtless  prevented  much  annoyance  from  the 
enemy. 

Clearing  the  bushes  with  canister  from  our  how 
itzers,  the  surveyors.  Messrs.  Oltmanns  and  Bowie, 
landed  in  one  of  our  boats  and  prosecuted  their 
work  without  molestation. 

On  the  14th,  we  resumed  the  work,  and  carried 
the  triangulation  well  up  to  the  forts  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  river,  supported  by  the  "  Westfield," 
Commander  Renshaw.  The  surveyors  were  landed 
at  the  point  desired,  in  the  "Owasco's"  gig,  under 
charge  of  Master's  Mate  Thomas  1).  Babb.  As  the 
boat  shoved  off  I  observed  three  of  the  rebel  steam 
ers  within  gunshot,  and  fearing  they  might  fire 
upon  our  boat.  I  opened  upon  them.  After  firing 
four  shells  from  the  11-inch  gun  and  three  from  the 
rifled  gun,  the  steamers  moved  up  to  the  forts.  At 
this  moment  some  riflemen  in  the  bushes  fired  at 
the  gig-boat,  without  hurting  any  one,  although  an 
oar  was  struck.  Mr.  Babb,  with  perfect  composure, 
returned  the  fire  from  his  boat.  The  surveying 
party,  with  equal  coolness,  put  up  their  signals  and 

15 


took  three  angles,  one  hundred  yards  from  the  spot 
where  they  were  fired  at. 

On  the  15th,  as  the  worK  had  not  been  carried 
sufficiently  high  up  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  by 
your  order  I  took  the  party  up  that  side,  followed 
by  the  "  Miami  "  as  a  support. 

After  the  surveyors  had  finished,  finding  myself 
within  easy  range  of  the  forts,  just  before  leaving  I 
fired  an  1 1-inch  shell  into  Fort  Jackson,  to  try  their 
range.  They  fired  twice  in  return,  one  of  the  shots 
passing  over  us  and  f ah1  ing  a  quarter  of  a  mile  astern, 
the  other  just  ahead  of  us. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  Messrs.  Olt 
manns  and  Bowie  for  the  intrepid  and  skillful  man 
ner  in  which  thev  performed  this  service. 

On  the  16th,  the  "Owasco'1  accompanied  you  in 
your  experimental  trial  with  three  of  the  mortar 
schooners  in  trying  the  ranges  on  the  forts  from  the 
left  bank  of  the  river.  This  day  the  enemy  fired 
about  twenty  shots,  but  without  effect. 

On  the  17th,  our  boats,  in  charge  of  Mr.  Babb, 
were  employed  in  towing  fire  ships  clear  of  the  fleet. 

On  the  18th,  at  6  A.  M.,  we  got  under  way,  and 
soon  received  orders  from  you  to  proceed  ahead  of 
the  bomb  schooners,  on  the  right  bank,  to  clear 
the  bushes  of  riflemen  near  the  designated  position 
of  the  mortar  schooners.  In  obedience  thereto,  we 
steamed  close  along  the  bank  of  the  river  until  we 
arrived  at  a  smoke  pipe  of  a  sunken  steamer,  when 
the  forts,  at  five  minutes  past  nine,  fired  two  shots 
at  us,  which  I  immediately  returned  from  my 
11-inch  gun.  This  was  followed  by  sharp  firing 
from  both  forts. 

Being  within  easy  range  of  Fort  Jackson,  I  di 
rected  my  fire  upon  it  and  continued  the  action  ; 
twenty  minutes  after  that  the  first  mortar  schooner 
opened,  and  after  that  at  intervals,  as  fast  as  they 
could  be  got  into  position. 

At  10  o'clock,  I  was  glad  to  see  the  "Iroquois," 
Captain  De  Camp,  come  to  my  support,  and  after 
her  the  gun-boats,  one  by  one.  The  fire  of  the  forts 
was  dispersed  among  them,  and  was  not  so  severe 
around  us,  although  still  quite  sharp. 

Previous  to  the  appearance  of  the  "  Iroquois,"  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fh'ing,  all  on  board  the  ' '  Owasco  v 
were  much  gratified  at  a  visit  from  you,  sir,  when 
you  came  to  tell  us  that  you  had  asked  that  the 
gun-boats  of  the  fleet  might  be  sent  to  our  support. 

We  maintained  our  position  for  two  hours  and 
three-quarters,  until  we  had  expended  our  last  shell, 
when  we  retired  from  action  by  your  order,  having 
fired  one  hundred  11-inch  shells  and  thirty-seven 
shells  from  our  rifled  gun. 

We  went  down  immediately  to  the  ordnance  ship 
"Sportsman";  filled  up  with  ammunition;  found 
there  were  no  cartridges  made  ;  but  my  men  cheer 
fully  worked  all  night,  cutting  out  and  sewing  up 
cylinders,  and  by  next  morning  (the  19th)  we  were 
ready  for  action  again. 

Coming  up  with  the  bomb  fleet,  and  hearing  you 
were  on  board  the  flag-ship,  steamed  up  to  our  old 
position,  and  opened  fire  again  on  Fort  Jackson. 
Fired  fifty-five  11-inch  shells,  and  twelve  from  the 
rifled  gun. 

The  firing  from  the  forts  was  very  sharp.  At 
this  time  I  had  another  welcome  visit  from  you,  and 
retired,  at  your  order,  as  it  was  thought  11 -inch 
ammunition  was  running  short,  and  it  was  desirable 
to  keep  it  for  closer  distance. 

By  your  permission  I  crossed  the  river  to  look  for 
an  anchor  I  had  slipped  the  night  before  ;  but  not 
finding  it,  1  returned  to  my  old  position,  near  the 
smoke  pipe  of  the  sunken  steamer,  and  finding  the 
three  leading  mortar  schooners  in  great  danger  of 
being  sunk  by  the  enemy  s  fire,  I  delivered  ten 
11-inch  shells  to  Fort  Jackson,  and  then  sought  you 
to  inform  you  of  the  fact.  Having  received  orders 
to  withdraw  them  for  a  time,  1  returned  and  deliv 
ered  vour  order  to  Lieutenant-Commanding  Watson 
Smith,  who  executed  it. 


22G 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


On  the  20th,  21st,  22d,  and  23d,  we  were  engaged 
in  supplying  the  mortar  schooners  with  ammuni 
tion — very  often  under  fire. 

On  the  24th,  at  3.15  A.  M.,  in  the  general  .attack, 
the  "  Owasco  "  took  her  position— the  third  in  your 
line,  by  order — and  followed  your  motions. 

Opened  with  shrapnel  at  4  A.  M.,  and  continued  a 
deliberate  fire  until  4.45.  taking  care  not  to  fire  in 
the  direction  of  our  ships  which  were  passing  the 
forts. 

At  4.45,  observed  your  signal  "Retire  from  action, 
which  we  did. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  GUEST, 

Lieutenant-Commanding. 

Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Commanding  Flotilla. 


REPORT  OF  ACTING  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING  C.H. 
BALDWIN,  UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  CLIFTON." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER,  "CLIFTON,"  [ 
NEW  ORLEANS,  May  1, 1862.        f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  since  my 
arrival  at  Pass  il  1'Outre,  on  the  18th  of  March,  I 
have  been  employed,  with  little  intermission,  as 
follows  :  Towing  the  mortar  vessels  attached  to  the 
flotilla  to  the  Southwest  Pass,  and  for  the  succeed 
ing  two  weeks  was  constantly  engaged  in  assisting 
the  larger  vessels  belonging  to  the  flag-officer's 
squadron,  viz  :  the  "  Pensacola,"  and  "  Mississippi," 
over  the  bar  on  which  they  had  grounded,  and  in 
aiding  the  gun-boats  attached  to  same  squadron 
when  aground  in  the  river. 

After  this  we  were  employed  in  making  recon- 
noissances  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  and  in 
protecting  the  officers  of  the  Coast  Survey  service 
while  they  were  engaged  in  obtaining  their  dis 
tances,  and  in  driving  back  the  enemy's  gun-boats, 
which  occasionally  made  their  appearance  outside 
the  chain. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  we  were  assisting  in  towing 
mortar  schooners  into  their  positions,  and,  during 
the  six  days  of  the  bombardment  by  these  vessels, 
we  were  unremittingly  employed  in  supplying  them 
with  powder  and  shell  and  in  guard  duty — our 
nights  being  passed  in  looking  after  the  fire-rafts 
which  the  enemy  sent  down  against  the  fleet,  and 
in  towing  them  ashore.  In  this  duty,  I  believe  I 
may  say,  we  were  quite  successful. 

These  various  duties  during  the  six  days  of  the 
bombardment  carried  our  vessels  pretty  constantly 
under  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  We  have,  however, 
been  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  any  injury  from  their 
shot. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  in  obedience  to  your 
order,  we  got  under  way,  taking  our  appointed  sta 
tion  in  the  line  of  steamers  under  vour  personal 
command,  and  proceeded  to  within  short  range  of 
the  guns  of  Fort  Jackson,  and  opened  fire  on  the 
enemy  from  our  two  forward  nine-inch  guns,  aided 
at  times  by  our  nine-inch  after-pivot  gun  and  32- 
pounder  forward  broadside  gun,  using  five-second 
shell  and  shrapnel.  This  we  continued  until  the 
flag-officer's  squadron  had  passed  both  forts,  when, 
in  obedience  to  your  signal,  we  drifted  out  of  range. 
I  am  happy  to  state  that  we  escaped  without 
injury. 

The  duties  now  entailed  upon  us  were  to  keep  a 
strict  lookout  upon  the  gun-boats  and  floating  bat 
tery  of  the  enemy,  which  were  lying  close  under 
the  guns  of  Fort  Jackson.  Until  the  morning  of 
the  28th,  when  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  hav 
ing  surrendered  to  you,  we  were  dispatched  some 
sixteen  miles  down  the  river  to  bring  up  a  portion 
of  the  force  under  General  Butler's  command,  then 
lying  there.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day  this 
was  accomplished,  and  we  arrived  in  sight  of  the 


forts  just  as  our  own  flags  were  hoisted  in  place  of 
the  rebel  ensigns. 

I  towed  up  a  large  transport  ship  with  1,300 
troops  on  board,  under  Brigadier-General  Phelps, 
and  taking  five  companies  of  them  on  board  the 
"  Clifton,"  landed  them  at  both  forts — they  receiv 
ing  their  possession  of  them  from  the  naval  officers 
of  your  squadron,  then  in  charge  of  the  work. 

I  also,  under  your  order,  placed  crews  aboard  the 
two  rebel  steamers,  then  in  your  possession,  and 
transferred  some  250  prisoners  taken  from  the  rebel 
gun-boats  and  floating  battery  to  the  officer  in 
charge  at  Fort  St.  Philip. 

We  have  just  arrived  here,  having  towed  a  trans 
port  up  the  river  with  a  large  number  of  General 
Butler's  troops  on  board,  intended  to  garrison  the 
city  of  New  Orleans,  now  held  by  our  squadron. 

Permit  me  here  respectfully  to  state  that  officers 
and  crew,  whether  employed  in  the  harassing  du 
ties  which  so  constantly  devolved  upon  us  of  tow 
ing  and  getting  large  vessels  over  the  bar,  or  while 
engaged  with  the  enemy,   have  behaved  so  uni 
formly  well  that  I  hesitate  to  particularize  any  one 
individual.     During  the  time  above  referred    to, 
neither  the  ship,  engines,  nor  boilers  have  been  for 
a  moment  out  of  order  in  any  respect. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  H.  BALDWIN, 
Acting  Lieutenant-Commanding. 

Commander  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Flotilla 


REPORT     OF    LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING     WATSON 
SMITH,  FIRST  DIVISION   MORTAR  FLOTILLA. 

UNITED  STATES  MORTAR  SCHOONER  "NoR- ) 
FOLK  PACKET,"  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER, 

May  3,  1862.  \ 

SIR — On  the  18th  ultimo,  in  obedience  to  your 
order,  the  first  division  of  the  flotilla  moved  up  the 
right  bank  of  the  river  to  the  flag  indicated  by 
you  as  distant  from  Fort  Jackson  2,950  yards,  and 
from  Fort  St.  Philip  4,260  yards  ;  the  head  vessel 
securing  at  that  point  with  an  anchor  a  little  off 
shore,  and  light  lines  from  the  port  bow  and  quar 
ter  to  trees.  The  other  vessels  of  the  division,  ex 
tending  in  close  order  to  the  distance  of  3,620  yards 
from  Fort  Jackson,  were  secured  in  the  same  man 
ner. 

At  10  A.  M.,  commenced  firing  upon  Fort  Jackson, 
discharging  each  mortar  at  intervals  of  ten  min 
utes.  The  forts  responded,  their  shot  and  shell 
falling  around  the  vessels,  and  one,  a  68  pound 
shot,  killing  a  man  on  board  the  "Arietta,"  and 
lodging  under  the  mortar,  but  not  disabling  it.  At 
6.30  P.  M.,  ceased  firing,  by  signal  from  "Harriet 
Lane." 

April  19,  at  7.30  A.  M.,  the  "  Harriet  Lane"  made 
signal  to  commence  firing.  Discharged  each 
mortar,  at  intervals  of  twenty  minutes,  upon  Fort 
Jackson,  until  8.45  A.  M.,  when  the  interval  was 
shortened  to  ten  minutes.  A  shell  bursting  near 
the  main  masthead  disabled  one  man  who  wras 
aloft,  destroyed  a  halliard  block,  and  cut  two  main 
shrouds.  At  4  p.  M.,  ceased  firing,  the  bombard 
ment  being  continued  by  the  divisions  in  wratches. 

On  the  20th,  21st,  22d.  and  23d,  the  firing  was 
continued  by  the  divisions  in  watches,  excepting 
during  the  watch  from  8  to  midnight  of  the  20th, 
when  the  whole  flotilla  fired  rapidly,  while  an  ex 
pedition  from  the  squadron  cut  the  barrier  chain 
near  the  forts. 

No  further  injuries  were  sustained  by  persons  in 
the  first  division,  and  but  little  damage  to  hulls, 
rigging,  or  spars,  besides  the  occasional  cutting  by 
fragments  of  shells. 

From  the  21st,  the  firing  from  Fort  St.  Philip 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


227 


was  at  times  annoying:,  and  by  your  direction  two 
vessels  at  the  head  of  the  line'  directed  their  fire 
upon  it.  On  the  23d,  the  enemy  did  not  reply. 

April  24,  at  3.30  A.  M.,  the  firing:  commencing  be 
tween  the  forts  and  the  squadron  passing  up  the 
river,  the  whole  flotilla  commenced  firing:  rapidly 
upon  Fort  Jackson,  At  4.45  A.  M.,  the  squadron, 
with  few  exceptions,  had  passed  the  forts.  Ceased 
firing  by  signal  from  "  Harriet  Lane.1'  During  this 
one  hour  and  fifteen  minutes  this  vessel  fired 
twenty-eight  shells,  being  at  the  rate  of  one  in  two 
and  two-thirds  minutes.  The  other  vessels  fired  as 
rapidly.  After  the  bombardment,  on  examining 
the  vessels,  all  were  found  in  condition  to  continue 
the  fire  or  perform  other  service. 

The  heaviest  charges  used  were  twenty-three 
pounds,  to  reach  Fort  St.  Philip,  distant  4,710 
yards,  against  a  fresh  wind. 

Slight  damage  was  done  to  the  light  bulwarks  by 
the  shock  from  the  mortars  but  the  mortar  supports 
and  the  hulls  below  the  plank  sheer  were  un 
affected. 

On  the  same  afternoon,  six  of  the  mortar  vessels 
were  sent  to  sea  upon  blockading  service,  and  three 
of  them,  the  "Arietta,"  "  C.  P.  Williams,"  and  "O. 
H.  Lee,"  belonged  to  this  division.  Their  quick 
departure  and  continued  absence  prevents  my  giv 
ing  you  the  aggregate  number  of  shells  fired  by  the 
first  division  during  the  bombardment.  The  four 
remaining  vessels  fired  1,512  shells,  using  30,994 
pounds  of  powder. 

It  was  not  always  possible  to  mark  and  register 
the  course  of  each  shell,  because  of  our  not  having 
a  distinct  view  of  the  enemy  and  the  mingling  of 
so  many  shells  as  they  converged  in  the  direction 
of  the  forts.  The  accompanying  reports  of  the 
acting-masters  commanding  the  mortar  vessels  are 
in  a  comprehensive  form  furnished  by  them,  and 
are  as  full  as  accuracy  will  permit. 

The  following  is  from  the  surgeon's  report  : 

Killed  :  James  Laver,  ordinary  seaman,  on  board 
the  "  Arietta,"  native  of  Isle  of  Jersey  ;  struck  by 
an  eight-inch  solid  shot  on  April  18. 

Slightly  wounded,  disabled :  Michael  Brady, 
carpenter's  mate  of  this  vessel,  aged  32,  native  of 
New  York ;  struck  by  a  fragment'  of  a  shell  on 
April  19. 

Although  the  enemy's  fire  was  so  well  directed  at 
times  as  to  threaten  the  destruction  of  the  vessels, 
the  duties  at  quarters  were  performed,  and  the  in 
tervals  of  rest  between  watches  enjoyed,  with  com 
mendable  coolness  and  composure  throughout  the 
division.  Respectfully  yours, 

WATSON  SMITH, 

Lieutenant  Commanding  First  Division. 
Commander  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  U.  IS.  Mortar  Flotilla, 
Mississippi  River. 


REPORT     OF    LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING    WALTER 
W.  QUEEN,  SECOND  DIVISION  MORTAR  FLOTILLA. 

UNITED  STATES  SCHOONER  "T.  A.  WARD,"  / 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  May  3,  1862.        f 

SIR — I  beg  leave  to  submit  to  you  the  following 
report  of  the  second  division  of  the  mortar  flotilla: 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  April,  1862,  my 
vessel  was  towed  into  position  by  the  United  States 
steamer  "Miami"  at  8.30  A.  M.  I  anchored  3,900 
yards  below  Fort  Jackson,  on  the  eastern  bank  of 
the  river.  The  schooners  of  my  division  anchored 
astern  of  me  in  the  following  order,  viz :  "  Mat 
thew  Vassar,"  "George  Mangham,"  "Adolph 
Hugel,"  "Maria  J.  Carlton,"  and  ^'Sydney  C. 
Jones,"  the  "Orvetta"  having  previously  taken  a 
position  on  the  western  bank  of  the  river,  and  thus 
being  separated  from  the  division. 

Both  forts  immediately  opened  on  us,  firing  very 


rapidly.  At  8.45,  we  commenced  firing  on  Fort 
Jackson,  the  shot  from  the  fort  falling  in  every  di 
rection  around  us,  one  of  which  struck  so  close  to 
our  quarter  as  to  throw  down  some  barrels  of 
powder  in  the  magazine  by  the  concussion,  but  do 
ing  no  damage.  Shortly  afterwards,  another 
struck  us,  cutting  away  the  forward  shroud  of  port 
main  rigging,  passing  through  the  wardroom,  bulk 
head  pantry,  stateroom,  deck,  storeroom,  and  extra 
magazine,  escaping  through  the  starboard  quarter 
six  inches  above  water  line,  doing  considerable  dam 
age.  I  at  once  directed  Mr.  Hatch  to  drop  the  vessel 
down  some  300  yards,  which  he  did,  followed  by  the 
three  vessels  lying  immediately  astern  of  me.  I  then 
went  to  the  "'Sydney  C.  Jones."  After  taking  their 
new  positions  the  vessels  which  had  dropped  astern 
recommenced  firing.  While  lying  in  her  former 
position,  the  "Mangham"  received  a  shot  in  her 
port  bow,  which  passed  through  her  galley  and 
lodged  in  the  mortar  bed,  doing  no  further  injury. 

The  vessels  were  now  actively  engaged  in  throw 
ing  shells  into  the  forts,  and  as  no  intervening  ob 
ject  obstructed  our  sight,  we  could  see  the  effect  of 
our  shells  as  each  one  lodged  in  or  near  the  forts. 
We  continued  firing  all  day,  not  even  ceasing  for 
the  men  to  eat  their  meals.  About  5.30  p.  M.,  we 
could  see  heavy  smoke  rising  from  a  building  out 
side  the  fort,  caused  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  and 
soon  after  the  fort  was  seen  to  be  on  fire  in  three 
separate  places,  which  soon  formed  into  one  mass 
of  flames,  since  discovered  to  have  been  the  citadel. 
At  6  P.  M.,  we  ceased  firing,  in  obedience  to  signal 
from  the  "Harriet  Lane."  At  this  time,  we  could 
distinguish  men  upon  the  ramparts  trying  to  ex 
tinguish  the  flames. 

At  9  o'clock,  I  received  an  order  from  you  to  drop 
down  800  yards  and  be  in  readiness  to  move  across 
the  river  early  in  the  morning,  as  you  thought  it 
likely  the  enemy  would  move  his  guns  down  the 
river  and  open  on  us  in  the  morning.  This  we  did, 
and  nothing  more  of  any  importance  occurred  dur 
ing  the  night.  It  is  strange  to  say  that,  although 
the  shot  came  around  us  in  immense  numbers,  yet 
not  one  man  was  even  wounded  during  the  first 
day's  engagement. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  instant,  we  were  taken 
in  tow  by  the  "  Clifton,"  and  took  our  position  in 
line  with  the  rest  of  the  flotilla,  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  river,  and  at  8.30  A.  M.,  were  all  engaged  in 
throwing  shells  into  the  fort.  The  "Hartford" 
moved  up  and  anchored  off  her  beam,  but  finding 
she  was  drawing  the  enemy's  fire  on  the  flotilla  (as 
they  fell  short  of  her,)  she  moved  down  again.  The 
shot  and  shells  from  the  forts  fell  thick  around  us, 
but  did  not  do  us  any  injury,  with  one  exception, 
viz  :  about  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  "  Maria  J.  Carlton," 
of  this  division,  was  struck  by  a  shot  which  passed 
through  her  magazine  floor  and  out  at  her  bottom. 
She  immediately  began  to  sink,  and  the  crew,  with 
the  assistance  01  others,  soon  got  most  of  the  inove- 
ables  out  of  her.  The  mortar  and  shells  they  left-, 
as  they  could  not  remove  them. 

We  ceased  firing  at  12  M.,  and  from  this  time  con 
tinued  firing  by  watches,  each  division  taking  a 
watch.  Nothing  particularly  important  occurred 
during  the  next  day,  until  10.35  p.  M.,  when  the 
gun-boats  "Pinola"  and  "Itasca"  went  up  the 
river  to  cut  the  chain.  As  soon  as  they  started,  the 
mortar  flotilla  commenced  firing  very  rapidly,  and 
continued  until  12.35  A.  M.,  when  the  gun-boats  re 
turned.  We  continued,  as  usual,  firing  by  watches 
until  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  April,  when  we 
commenced  at  2.30  A.  M.  to  fire  as  rapidly  as  possi 
ble,  while  the  steamers  passed  up  the  river  to  at 
tack  the  forts.  We  did  not  cease  until  signaled  to 
do  so  by  you  at  5.30  A.  M. 

Both  officers  and  men  behaved  gallantly ;  and 
where  everyone  did  his  duty  so  well, it  is  almost  im 
possible  to  award  praise  to  any  single  individual. 
As  our  galley  was  rendered  almost  useless  during 


228 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


the  bombardment,  the  men  suffered  some  inconven 
ience  in  petting  cooked  the  rations  that  were 
served  out  to  them,  and  their  sleep  was  also  much 
interrupted  ;  but  I  am  glad  to  say  that  not  a  mur 
mur  of  dissatisfaction  was  to  be  heard  among  them. 
I  may  also  mention  that  Acting-Master  J.  Duncan 
Graham,  my  executive  officer,  was  in  command  of 
the  United  States  schooner  "Sydney  C.  Jones' 
during  the  whole  of  the  bombardment,  and  acted 
to  my  entire  satisfaction.  The  conduct  of  William 
Hatch  and  John  Richards,  masters'  mates,  during 
the  bombardment,  has  also  met  my  warmest  ap 
proval—the  former  having  sighted  the  mortar  every 
time  it  was  fired  during  the  action  ;  the  latter  hav 
ing  charge  of  the  powder  division,  and  making 
himself  generally  useful  about  the  vessel.  The 
onlv  wounded  in  this  division  were  two  of  the  crew 
of  the  "Carlton,"  one  severely,  the  other  slightly. 
Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 
W.  W.  QUEEN, 

Lient.-Com'd'lg,  in  Command  of 
2d  Die.  Mortar  Flotilla. 

Commander  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla. 


REPORT    OF     LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING     K.    RAN 
DOLPH  BREESE,   THIRD   DIVISION  MORTAR 
FLOTILLA. 

U.  S.  BARKANTINE,  "HORACE  BEALES/' 
MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  April  30,  1862. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  re 
port  of  the  part  taken  by  the  third  division  mortar 
flotilla,  under  my  command,  in  the  bombardment 
of  Fort  Jackson.  At  9.30  A.  M.,  of  the  18th  instant, 
the  "John  Griffiths,"  ion  board  of  which  vessel  I 
hoisted  my  divisional  flag,)  "Racer,''  and  "Sarah 
Bruen,"  were  taken  in  tow  by  the  "Clifton,"  and 
towed  into  position  assigned,  astern  of  the  first  di 
vision,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  at  the  follow 
ing  distances  from  the  centre  of  Fort  Jackson  : 
"John  Griffiths,"  3,900  yards  ;  "  Racer,"  3,940  yards, 
and  the  "  Sarah  Bruen,"  3,980  yards.  About  10  A.  M., 
the  "John  Griffiths"  opened  fire  from  her  mortar, 
and  was  soon  followed  by  the  •'  Racer"  and  "  Sarah 
Bruen.''  At  2  p.  M.,  the'rear  vessels  of  the  first  di 
vision  having  been  advanced,  the  "Henry  James," 
"Dan  Smith,"  and  "Sea  Foam"  came  up  under 
sail  and  took  their  positions  ahead  of  the  ' '  Griffiths," 
at  the  following  distances  from  the  fort:  "Henry 
James,"  3,630  yards  ;  the  "  Dan  Smith,"  3,730  yards; 
and  the  "Sea  Foam,"  3,850  yards.  At  about  2.15 
p.  M.,  they  opened  fire  from  their  mortars.  A  con 
stant  fire  was  kept  up  by  each  vessel  from  the  time 
of  taking  position  until  6.37  P.  M.,  when  signal  to 
"cease  firing"  was  made.  During  the  day  the 
"  John  Griffiths''  threw  69  shells  :  the  "  Racer,"  50 ; 
the  "Sarah  Bruen,"  61 :  the  "Henry  James,"  24; 
the  "Dan  Smith,''  31 ;  and  the  "Sea  Foam,"  43. 

Second  day. — At  6.25  A.  M.,  April  19,  recommenced 
fire  upon  Fort  Jackson  from  the  whole  division, 
which  was  kept  up,  each  vessel  firing  at  intervals  of 
about  ten  minutes,  until  8  P  M.,  when  ceased  firing. 
During  the  day,  the  "Griffiths"  threw  92  shells; 
the  "Racer,"  88;  the  "Sarah  Bruen,"  88;  the 
"James,"  97  ;  the  "Dan  Smith,"  92  ;  and  the  "  Sea 
Foam."  88. 

Third  day. — At  4  A.  M.,  April  20,  opened  fire  upon 
the  fort  from  the  division,  each  vessel  firing  at  in 
tervals  of  about  ten  minutes.  At  8  A.  M.,  ceased 
firing,  and  at  10.13  A.  M.,  reopened  from  the  whole 
division  as  before.  From  4  p.  M.  to  10.10  p.  M.,  each 
vessel  firing  at  intervals  of  twenty  minutes.  From 
10.10  P.  M.  to  3.03  A.  M.,  (21st,)  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
supporting  the  gun-boats  cutting  the  chain.  From 
3.03  A.  M.  to  4  A.  M.,  at  intervals  of  fifteen  minutes. 
During  the  day,  ending  at  4  A.  M.,  the  "  Griffiths" 
threw  119  shells;  the  "Racer,"  117;  the  "Sarah 


Bruen,"  117;  the  "Henry  James."   113;   the   "Dan 
Smith,"  119;  the  "Seam  Foam/'  111. 

Fourth  day. — At  noon  the  division  again  com 
menced  fire,  each  vessel  firing  at  intervals  of  about 
ten  minutes,  ceasing  at  4  P.  M.  At  8  P.  M.  reopened 
as  before,  keeping  up  the  fire  until  midnight. 
During  this  day  the  "  Griffiths  "  threw  50  shell*; 
the  "Racer,"  50;  the  "Sarah  Bruen,"  5(3;  the 
"Henry  James,"  55;  the  "Dan  Smith,"  55;  the 
"Sea  Foam. "47. 

Fifth  day.— At  8  A.  M.,  April  22,  each  vessel  of  the 
division  co'mmenced  fire,  firing  at  intervals  of  about 
ten  minutes.  Ceased  fire  at  noon  ;  reopened  at  6 
P.  M.  and  fired  until  8  P.  M.,  tiring  as  before.  During 
theday  the " Griffiths " threw 56shells;  the  "Racer,1 
46;  the  "Sarah  Bruen,"  49;  the  "Henry  James," 
40 ;  the  "  Dan  Smith,"  67  ;  and  the  "  Sea  Foam."  52. 

Sixth  day. — At  4  A.  M.,  April  23,  the  division  re 
opened  fire,  each  vessel  firing  at  intervals  of  about 
ten  minutes,  ceasing  at  8  A.  M.  At  4  P.  M.,  again 
opened  fire  from  each  vessel  of  the  division  at  in 
tervals  of  about  twelve  minutes,  keeping  it  up  until 
6  P.  M.  During  the  day  the  "Griffiths"  threw  38 
shells  ;  the  "  Racer,"  28  ;  the  "Sarah  Bruen."  36; 
the  "Henry  James,"  34;  the  "Dan  Smith,"  63;  the 
"  Sea  Foam,"  51. 

Seventh  day.— At  midnight,  April  24,  the  division 
opened  fire,  each  vessel  firing  at  intervals  of  ten 
minutes.  At  3.40  A.  M,,  the  guns  of  the  fort  having 
opened  on  the  fleet  passing  up  the  river,  the  divi 
sion  commenced  firing  as  rapidly  as  possible,  ceas 
ing  at  4.52  A.  M.,  by  signal,  the  fleet  having  passed 
the  fort.  At  5.30  A.  M.,  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy's 
steamers  near  the  fort ;  ceased  at  5.48  A.  M.  At 
3.55  P.  M.,  commenced  again  upon  the  fort ;  ceasing 
at  5. 04  P.  M.  At  5.20  p.  M.,  the  division  got  under 
way  and  dropped  down  the  river.  During  the  day 
the  "  Griffiths  "  threw  54  shells  ;  the  "  Racer,"  81  ; 
the  "Sarah  Bruen,"  67  ;  the  "Henry  James,"  52  ; 
the  "Dan  Smith,"  66;  and  "Sea  Foam,"  60.  The 
"  Horace  Beales,"  with  ordnance  stores,  temporarily 
under  the  command  of  Acting-Master  George  W. 
Sumner,  executive  officer,  was  towed  up  to  within 
600  yards  of  the  rear  of  the  mortar  vessels,  and  dis 
charged  her  ordnance  stores,  as  was  required,  with 
great  promptness.  During  the  bombardment  she  re 
ceived  many  of  the  articles  saved  from  the  "Maria  J. 
Carlton,"  and  a  ten-inch  gun  carriage  and  ammuni 
tion  from  the  "Jackson."  She  also  received  the  sick 
and  Avounded  of  the  flotilla  and  several  of  the  wound 
ed  of  the  squadron.  Ten  of  the  men  of  the  "Beales," 
with  Acting-Master  Sumner,  served  on  board  the 
"Harriet  Lane"  during  the  engagement  with  the 
forts.  The  enemy's  shot  and  fragments  of  shell,  at 
times,  flew  about  the  division  in  all  directions.  Sev 
eral  pieces  of  the  latter,  of  the  size  of  an  egg,  and 
many  smaller  pieces,  were  picked  up  on  board  of 
the  different  vessels,  but,  through  God's  mercy,  not 
a  person  was  struck,  nor  have  I  a  casualty  of  any 
kind  to  report  during  the  whole  bombardment. 
The  "Sarah  Bruen"  has  a  hole  through  her  fore 
mast,  which  I  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for,  unless  a 
fragment  of  the  enemy's  shell,  which  stmck  the 
face  of  the  mortar  at  the  edge  of  the  bore,  as  it  was 
about  to  be  fired,  fell  into  the  mortar,  and,  being 
discharged,  went  through  the  mast.  A  little  rigging 
cut  here  and  there  is  all  the  damage  I  have  to  re 
port  done  by  the  enemy. 

The  general  effect  of  firing  the  mortars  upon  the 
vessels  was  to  knock  out  the  round  houses  forward 
and  the  light  pine  board  bulwarks  in  the  line  of 
fire.  The  "  John  Griffiths"  leaked  more  than  usual 
during  the  bombardment,  but  has  since  tight 
ened  up ;  she  has  always  been  considered  a  weak 
vessel.  The  "Racer's"  deck,  on  port  side  abreast 
of  fore  hatch,  started  from  the  carlines  giving 
way,  they  not  having  been  (originally)  properly 
strengthened.  The  mortars  show  no  kind  of  injury. 
The  mortar  carriages  worked  remarkably  well. 
The  only  damage  being  (in  some  instances)  the  loss 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


229 


of  the  feather  to  the  eccentric  axle,  and  the  break 
ing  of  the  screws  that  confine  the  socket  to  eccen 
tric.  These  very  slight  injuries  did  not  hinder  the 
working  of  the*  mortar  in  the  least.  The  screws 
were  promptly  replaced,  a  number  of  spare  ones 
having  been  made.  The  turn-table  on  some  of  the 
vessels  was  found  to  have  recoiled  in  the  line  of  fire 
from  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half  ;  it  was  easily 
pressed  into  position  and  kept  so  by  breeching. 
Twenty-two  and  a  half  pounds  of  powder  were 
fired  from  the  "  Griffiths  "  at  the  rebel  iron-clad  gun 
boat  with  no  visible  strain  in  vessel  or  carriage  be 
yond  that  already  experienced.  The  mortars  were 
served  equally  well  by  the  mortar  crew  and  gun  s 
crew,  watch  and  watch,  during  the  bombardment. 
Not  a  mistake  or  an  accident  occurred  in  loading 
the  mortars  or  in  filling  and  fuzing  the  shell,  evin 
cing  the  care  and  pains  taken  by  the  officers  of  the 
division  in  training  their  crews,  as  well  as  the  at 
tention,  in  time  of  action,  by  the  latter  to  their  du 
ties.  Notwithstanding  the  loss  of  sleep  and  regu 
lar  meals  and  cooked  food,  the  officers  and  men 
were  ever  ready  to  volunteer  for  any  expedition  or 
service  against  the  enemy.  And  I  must  remark 
upon  the  cheerfulness  and  alacrity  with  which, 
when  much  exhausted,  they  manned  their  boats  to 
keep  up  a  proper  supply  of  powder  and  shell.  The 
acting-masters  commanding  the  different  vessels  of 
the  division  gave  the  direction  of  fire  from  the  main 
mast  head  i  from  which  place  only  was  Fort  Jack 
son  to  be  seen)  regulating  the  charges  used  as  re 
quired.  They  kept  their  posts  while  engaged  with 
scarce  any  relief,  subject  not  only  to  the  shock  of 
their  own  mortars,  but  also  from  the  one  in  the  rear. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  the  men  during  the 
bombardment  is  worthy  of  all  praise.  The  different 
missiles  of  the  enemy,  flying  about  the  division  in 
all  directions,  did  not  distract  them  in  the  least  in 
the  discharge  of  their  duties,  nor,  I  may  say,  from 
their  well-earned  rest  at  the  close  of  their  watch. 

Accompanying  me  to  the  "John  Griffiths'  from 
the  "Horace  Beales"  was  Assistant- Surgeon  Edes, 
Mr.  Bacon,  (my  clerk,)  and  my  boat's  crew.  Dr. 
Edes  had  every  preparation  made  for  the  care  of 
wounded  men,  he  remaining  on  board  the  "Grif 
fiths  "  during  the  bombardment,  ready  to  give  his 
services  wherever  needed.  Mr.  Bacon  acted  as  sig 
nal  officer,  and  was  engaged  in  taking  notes. 

I  visited  each  vessel  of  the  division  frequently, 
night  and  day,  while  in  action,  finding  the  same 
good  order  in  each.  The  minute  directions  given 
by  you  were  strictly  carried  out. 

I  have  only  to  ad*d  that,  as  the  vessels  and  mor 
tars  are  now  fitted,  the  preparations  for  action  and 
the  service  of  the  mortars  made  beforehand  were 
ample,  and  did  not  require  to  be  altered  in  the  least 
during  the  bombardment,  nor  has  any  suggestion 
from  the  seven  days'  actual  service  been  made  in 
the  way  of  improvement,  except  as  a  precaution, 
the  breeching  around  the  turn-table. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

K.  R.  BREESE. 
Lieutenant  Commanding   Third   Division   Mortar 

Flotilla. 
Commander  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla. 


REPORT  RELATIVE  TO  PRISONERS  IX  THE  CONFED 
ERATE  NAVAL  SERVICE  CAPTURED  AFTER 
THE  SURRENDER  OF  THE  FORTS. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIET  LANE," 
FORTS  JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP,  May  2,  1862. 
SIR — Enclosed  is  a  list  of  prisoners  of  war  captured 
by  me,  after  the  capitulation  of  the  forts,  on  board 
of  the  steamers  "Burton,"'   "Landes,"  and   "Defi 
ance,"  the  latter  of  which  was  sunk  by  order  of 
John  K.   Mitchell,   late  commander  in  the   United 
States  Navy.    By  order  of  Flag-officer  Farragut  I 


send  them  home  in  the  "Rhode  Island,"  subject  to 
the  order  of  the  department,  on  account  of  their 
infamous  and  perfidious  conduct  in  setting  fire  to 
and  blowing  up  the  floating  battery  "Louisiana" 
and  sending  her  adrift  upon  the  vessels  of  ours 
that  were  at  anchor,  while  they  had  a  flag  of  truce 
flying  and  were  engaged  in  drawing  up  the  capitu 
lation  of  the  fort,  the  vessels  under  the  command  of 
J.  K.  Mitchell,  with  the  exception  of  one,  having  no 
colors  up  at  the  time.  These  prisoners  have  forfeited 
all  claim  to  any  consideration,  having  committed  an 
infamous  act,  unknown  in  any  transaction  of  this 
kind.  Had  the  "  Louisiana  "  blown  up  in  the  midst 
of  our  vessels  she  would  have  destroyed  every  one 
of  them.  As  it  was,  good  fortune  directed  her 
towards  Fort  St.  Philip,  where  she  exploded  with 
great  force,  scattering  fragments  all  over  the  work, 
killing  one  of  their  own  men  in  the  fort,  and  land 
ing  a  large  beam  close  to  the  tent  of  Commander 
Mclntosh,  who  was  Iving  with  one  arm  blown  off 
and  another  broken,  his  knee-cap  shot  away  and  a 
leg  broken.  The  surgeon  in  attendance  pronounced 
it  the  most  perfidious  act  he  had  ever  heard  of. 
The  explosion  was  seen  and  heard  for  many  miles, 
and  it  was  supposed  that  the  forts  were  blown  up. 

Enclosed  is  a  letter  from  J.  K.  Mitchell  stating 
that  the  persons  mentioned  therein  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  transaction.  I  shall,  however,  carry 
out  the  orders  of  the  flag-officer,  and  send  them 
home  in  the  "Rhode  Island,"  subject  to  the  con 
sideration  of  the  department. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully, 
DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Flotilla. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

LIST   OF   CONFEDERATE   OFFICERS  : 

Captain  J.  K.  Mitchell,  Ist-Lieutenant  J.  X.  Wilk 
inson,  2d-Lieutenant  W.  H.  Ward,  3d-Lieutenant 
W.  C.  Whittle,  jr.,  Lieutenant  A.  F.  Warley,  Sur 
geon  John  D.  Grafton,  Lieutenant  F.  M.  Harris, 
ex-naval  officers  of  the  United  States;  Purser  L.  E. 
Brooks,  Gunner  Wilson,  Boatswain  Jones,  Carpen 
ter  Cherry,  Captain's  Clerk  George  Taylor,  Cap 
tain's  Clerk  W.  Clark,  Chief  Engineer  W.  Young- 
blood,  2d  Assistant  Engineer  James  Harris,  2d  Assis 
tant  Engineer  M.  Parsons,  3d  Assistant  Engineer 
Theo.  Hart,  3d  Assistant  Engineer  James  Elliott, 
3d  Assistant  Engineer  James  Waters. 

Engineers  from  the  "  Manassas.1' — Menzis,  3d 
assistant  engineer;  Weaver,  2d  assistant  engineer; 
Culver,  2d  assistant  engineer;  Newman,  3d  assist 
ant  engineer. 


."      j. 

862.  f 


NEAR  FORT  ST.  PHILIP,  May  2,  1862. 

SIR — The  following  officers  of  the  Confederate 
States  navy  now  held  on  board  this  vessel  as  prison 
ers  of  war,  had  no  voice  in  the  council  which  deter 
mined  upon  the  destruction  of  the  Confederate 
States  steamer  "Louisiana,"  on  the 28th ultimo,  viz: 
Surgeon  James  D.  Grafton,  Assistant  Paymaster 
L.  E.  Brooks,  Captain's  Clerk  George  Taylor,  Cap 
tain's  Clerk  William  Clark,  1st  Engineer  W.  Young- 
blood,  2d  Assistant  Engineer  James  Harris,  2d 
Assistant  Engineer  M.  Parsons,  3d  Assistant  Engi 
neer  Theo.  Hart,  3d  Assistant  Engineer  James 
Elliott,  3d  Assistant  Engineer  James  ^Vaters,  2d 
Assistant  Engineer  Orvel  Culver,  2d  Assistant  En 
gineer  George  W.  Weaver,  3d  Assistant  Engineer 
T.  A.  Menzis,  3d  Assistant  Engineer  \Villiam  New 
man,  Engineer  Henrv  Fagin,  Engineer  J.  H. 
Toombs,  Engineer  J.  H.  Dent,  Gunner  James  \Vil- 
son,  Boatswain  Samuel  Jones,  Carpenter  Virginias 
Cherry,  Paymaster's  Steward  D.  Porter. 

I  make  the  above  statement  in  consequence  of 
having  learned  informally  that  all  such  officers 


230 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


would  be  paroled  on  a  representation  of  the  fact  to 
you. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

JOHN  K.  MITCHELL,  Commander, 
Late  in  command  of  the  C  /States  Naval  Forces 
near  Fort  Jackson. 
Com.  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  United  States  Naval  Forces  near 
Fort  St.  Philip. 

SPECIAL  REPORT  OF  COMMANDER  PORTER,   COM 
MENDING  THE  CONDUCT  OF  THE  OFFICERS 
OF    THE  MORTAR    FLOTILLA. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIET  LANE,"  { 
SOUTHWEST  PASS,  May  3,  1862.      f 

SIR — In  my  general  report  to  the  department,  I 
made  honorable  mention  of  the  officers  command 
ing  vessels  and  divisions  in  this  flotilla,  but  1  think 
there  is  something  more  due  to  these  officers  than 
a  general  notice,  in  which  manner  most  every  offi 
cer  comes  in  for  a  share  of  approval,  without  its 
being  specified  what  particular  qualities  entitle 
them  to  it. 

To  the  commanders  of  divisions  of  mortar  flotilla, 
the  country  is  mainly  indebted  to  the  fall  of  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  for  the  latter  is  consequent 
on  that  of  the  former.  I  cannot  express  to  you  in 
sufficient  terms  the  zeal  and  ability  displayed  by 
Lieutenants-Commanding  Watson  Smith,  W.  W. 
Queen,  and  K.  R.  Breese.  They  have  been  inde 
fatigable  in  drilling  their  men,  infusing  a  proper 
spirit  into  them,  and  carrying  out  my  orders  during 
the  bombardment,  which  lasted  without  intermis 
sion  for  six  days  and  nights.  They  gave  themselves 
but  little  rest.  I  could  draw  no  distinction  between 
them.  Neither  flagged  for  a  moment  in  their  duty, 
and  though  they  lost  but  few  men  in  killed  arid 
wounded,  they  have  been  exposed  to  as  hot  a  fire  as 
the  enemy  were  capable  of  showering  upon  them. 
They  are  the  kind  of  men  to  lead  our  ships  into 
battle,  and  I  hope  that  the  department  will  take 
such  notice  of  their  conduct  as  this  great  occasion 
merits. 

To  Commander  Renshaw,  Lieutenants-Command 
ing  Guest,  Baldwin,  Wainwright,  and  Woodworth, 
my  thanks  are  particularly  due  for  the  zeal  they 
manifested  on  all  occasions  to  serve,  no  matter  in 
what  capacity,  and  the  condition  of  their  vessel  for 
service.  If  I  have  not  detailed  in  my  general  report 
the  various  acts  of  these  officers,  it  is  not  because  I 
did  not  appreciate  them,  but  because  it  would 
lengthen  my  report,  already  voluminous,  intending 
to  do  them  full  justice  on  this  occasion.  Lieuten 
ant-Commanding  Harrell  has  not  had  the  oppor 
tunity  to  give  the  same  evidence  of  ability,  though 
I  have  ever  found  him  ready  to  carry  out  my 
wishes,  as  he  says  his  vessel  is  unmanageable.  He 
has,  however,  done  good  service,  and  is  a  zealous 
officer. 

I  ha  veto  remain,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTZR, 

Commanding  Flotilla. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES. 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


LETTER  OF  COMMANDER  D.  D.  PORTER,  ENCLOSING 

PAROLES  OF  OFFICERS  TAKEN  AT  FORTS 

JACKSON  AND  ST.  PHILIP. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "HARRIET  LANE,"  } 
SHIP  ISLAND,  May  15,  1862.     f 

SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  the  paroles  of 
the  officers  captured  in  Fort  Jackson,  with  the  list 
of  men  remaining  at  the  time  of  the  surrender.  The 
list  of  officers  and  men  in  Fort  St.  Philip  must  have 
been  sent  to  the  flag-officer,  together  with  the  list 


of  persons  captured  by  the  "Harriet  Lane"  in  the 
steamers  "Burton,1'  "  Landes,"  and  "Defiance," 
under  late  Commander  J.  K.  Mitchell,  consisting  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  crew  of  the  iron  steam 
battery  "Louisiana,''  and  the  Crescent  artillery, 
composed  of  over  a  hundred  officers  and  men.  The 
number  of  men  in  the  two  forts  during  the  bombard 
ment  was  eleven  hundred,  but  about  two  hundred 
left  before  the  flag  of  truce  was  sent  down.  The 
rolls  of  the  fort  were  handed  in  to  the  officers  tak 
ing  charge,  but  our  troops  taking  possession  a 
short  time  after  everything  was  thrown  into  dis 
order,  and  it  was  not  possible  to  obtain  them. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
*  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Flotilla. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

[Parole  omitted.] 


CONGRATULATORY  LETTER  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF 
THE  NAVY. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  May  10,  1862. 

SIR — Your  dispatch  of  April  30,  enclosing  the  ar 
ticles  of  capitulation  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip,  which  surrendered  on  the  28th  ultimo,  after 
a  bombardment  of  144  consecutive  hours  by  the 
mortar  flotilla,  has  been  received.  I  have  also  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  flags  taken  in  the 
two  forts  on  that  occasion,  including  the  original 
one  hoisted  on  Fort  St.  Philip  when  the  rebel  forces 
declared  the  State  of  Louisiana  to  have  seceded 
from  the  Union,  which  have  been  sent  forward  to 
the  Department. 

The  important  part  which  you  have  borne  in  the 
organization  of  the  mortar  flotilla,  and  the  move 
ment  on  New  Orleans,  has  identified  your  name 
with  one  of  the  most  brilliant  naval  achievements 
on  record,  and  to  your  able  assistance  with  the 
flotilla  is  Flag-officer  Farragut  much  indebted  for 
the  successful  results  he  has  accomplished. 

To  yourself  and  the  officers  and  seamen  of  the 
mortar  flotilla,  the  department  extends  its  con 
gratulations. 

I  am,  respectfully,  &c., 

GIDEON  WELLES. 
Commander  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  United  States  Mortar  Flotilla,  Gulf 
of  Mexico. 

COAST  SURVEY  REPORTS. 

TREASURY  DEPARTMENT,  May  22,  1862. 
SIR — At  the  instance  of  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Coast  Survey,  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  here 
with  a  copy  of  the  journal  of  Assistant  F.  H. 
Gerdes,  United  States  Coast  Survey,  showing  the 
services  rendered  to  the  fleet  under  command  of 
Flag-officer  Farragut,  United  States  Navy,  and  to 
the  mortar  fleet  under  command  of  Captain  D.  D. 
Porter,  United  States  Navy. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

S.  P.  CHASE, 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES. 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    A    REPORT    OF   ASSISTANT   F.   H. 

GERDES,  COMMANDING  SURVEYING  STEAMER 

"  SACHEM,"  TO  PROFESSOR  A.  D.  BACHE, 

SUPERINTENDENT   OF  THE   COAST 

SURVEY. 

April  13.— At  daylight  of  the  13th  of  April,  I  again 
got  under  way  and  took  the  lead,  the  gun-boats  of 
the  flotilla  and  the  naval  vessels  in  the  vicinity  fol 
lowing  the  "  Sachem." 

The  following  disposition  was  made  of  my  party; 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


231 


1.  Sub-Assistant  J.    G.   Oltmanns  and  Mr.  T.  C. 
Bowie  repaired  on  board  the  "  Owasco,"  and  used 
during  the  day  a  boat  and  armed  crew  from  that 
vessel ;  they  ascended  the  river  on  the  west  bank. 

2.  Myself  and  Assistant  Jos.  Harris,  after  leaving 
the  "  Sachem"  off  the  Salt  Works  at  anchor,  took 
our  own  boat,  with  an  armed  crew,  and  ascended 
the  river  on  the  east  bank. 

3.  Sub- Assistant  R.  E.  Halter  went  with  another 
of  our  boats  and  an  armed  crew  to  the  Salt  Works, 
to  occupy  with  a  theodolite  the  top  of  the  chimney 
of  the  old  engine  building,  which  had  been  trigono- 
metrically  determined  by  the  Coast  Survey. 

We  succeeded  in  the  operations,  and  came  within 
three  miles  of  the  fort  before  night  set  in.  The  last 
lines  of  this  day  were  observed  on  Fort  St.  Philip 
flagstaff. 

On  our  return  on  board  the  "Sachem,"  we  mapped 
the  work  and  brought  it  up  as  far  as  we  had  pro 
gressed  during  the  day. 

April  14. — On  the  14th  of  April,  at  sunrise,  I  con 
sulted  with  Captain  Porter,  and  we  concluded  to 
continue  the  work  and  to  ascend  the  river  until 
the  positions  of  the  hulks,  which  support  the  chain 
across  the  Mississippi  could  be  properly  deter 
mined. 

A  large  portion  of  the  fleet  went  up  to  the  con 
spicuous  point  (which  I  have  named  Porter's  Point), 
just  two  miles  below  Fort  Jackson,  and  engaged  the 
enemy  to  draw  their  attention  from  our  boats. 
This,  however,  was  only  partially  effected;  they 
had  probably  found  out  the  day  previous  that  en 
gineering  operations  were  in  progress,  and  now  un 
dertook  to  stop  them.  When  Mr.  Oltmanns  passed 
Porter's  Point,  he  was  fired  on  with  eight  or  nine 
rifled  shot,  but  fortunately  the  whole  damage  con 
sisted  in  breaking  the  blade  of  an  oar.  The  fire  was 
promptly  returned,  and  the  operations  were  con 
tinued.  The  observations  were  successfully  con 
tinued  during  this  day,  and  the  mapping  was 
completed  during  the  evening  and  part  of  the 
night. 

April  15.— In  the  morning,  Captain  Porter  came 
on  board,  and  we  consulted  as  to  the  continuance. 
I  sent  Mr.  Oltmanns  and  Mr.  Bowie  again  up  the 
river  in  the  "  Owasco."  They  ascended  within  one 
mile  and  a  half  of  the  lower  fort,  and  were  quite 
successful  in  getting  intersections  on  the  hulks  and 
on  the  two  flagstaffs  of  the  fortifications. 

They  found  that  during  the  previous  night  all 
the  signals  which  we  had  put  up  during  the  day 
before  had  been  removed;  besides,  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  a  number  of  men  were  hidden  in  the 
bushes.  There  was  hardly  anywhere  on  the  shore 
a  footing  to  be  got,  and  we  had  to  resort  to  all  kinds 
of  observations,  instruments  and  positions,  some 
stations  consisting  of  flags  in  overhanging  branches, 
and  the  angles  were  measured  below  the  same  with 
a  sextant,  in  a  boat;  others  were  chimney-tops  of 
deserted  houses,  on  which  we  mounted  small 
theodolites,  having  to  work  our  way  through  the 
roof.  A  few  only  were  on  terra  flrma. 

April  17. — I  saw  and  consulted  with  Captain  Por 
ter  and  the  flag-officer.  To  the  latter,  I  gave  a  copy 
of  the  map  and  a  memorandum  of  distances,  for 
which  he  expressed  much  gratification.  He  spoke 
with  the  highest  regard  of  the  Coast  Survey,  and 
said  many  kind  things  of  the  intrepidity,  determin 
ation,  system  and  dispatch  of  the  party  under  my 
charge,  and  considered  our  services  of  great  value 
to  the  fleet. 

Captain  Porter  desired  me  to  furnish  him  with 
points  along  the  shore  every  100  or  150  metres  apart, 
on  both  banks  of  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  plac 
ing  the  mortar  vessels  at  given  distances  from  the 
forts.  This  was  accomplished  to-day,  Mr.  Oltmanns 
and  Mr.  Bowie  taking  the  west  side,  and  Mr.  Harris 
the  east  side  of  the  river.  Meantime,  three  more 
copies  of  the  map  and  memorandum  were  finished 
on  board  and  distributed  to  the  fleet. 


Several  of  the  enemy's  gun-boats  came  out,  and 
both  our  boats  were  fired  at  repeatedly. 

April  18.— Before  daylight  on  the  18th  of  April, 
Mr.  Oltmanns  went  on  board  the  "Harriet  Lane." 
and  Mr.  Harris  on  some  other  gun-boat,  both  with 
directions  to  assist  in  placing  the  mortar  vessels 
exactly  in  such  positions  as  were  marked  out  by 
Captain  Porter  the  day  before,  and  which  had  been 
determined  by  the  same  gentlemen.  Tow  after  tow, 
consisting  of  one  of  the  former  ferry -boats,  "  West- 
field"  and  "Clifton, "each  with  thre'eorfour  mortar 
boats,  came  up,  and  the  latter  were  in  a  short  time 
stationed  at  given  distances  from  the  forts.  As  soon 
as  all  were  in  position  the  enemy  commenced  firing, 
and  from  our  side  the  bombardment  fairly  com 
menced. 

Mr.  Oltmanns  and  Mr.  Harris  both  carried  out 
my  instructions  to  the  letter,  and  placed  the  mor 
tars  in  the  exact  spot  as  designated  by  Captain 
Porter,  at  accurately  known  distances.  They  were 
during  the  whole  day  under  fire.  General  Butler 
made  his  appearance  in  the  river  with  7,000  men, 
which  he  offered  to  the  flag-officer. 

April  19. — Early  in  the  morning,  I  had  a  confer 
ence  with  the  commander,  who  desired  me  again  to 
send  two  officers  to  the  flotilla  for  the  purpose  of 
moving  some  of  the  mortars  to  other  places,  and 
furnish  them  with  the  distances  and  bearings. 
This  was  done  accordingly.  One  of  the  vessels  on 
which  Mr.  Harris  was  engaged  was  struck  by  a 
round  shot,  and  another  vessel  where  Mr.  Oltmanns 
was  in  a  boat  alongside  was  sunk  while  he  was  speak 
ing  with  the  captain.  During  the  day,  we  furnished 
also  two  more  charts  for  the  fleet.  In  the  evening, 
Captain  Porter  sent  me  word  again  to  dispatch  early 
next  morning  two  officers  for  giving  data.  You  see 
they  kept  us  pretty  busy. 

April  20. — Early  in  the  morning,  Messrs.  Oltnianns 
and  Halter  made  the  rounds  of  the  mortar  vessels  at 
the  request  of  the  commander  of  the  flotilla,  and 
changed  the  position  of  a  few,  giving  them  again 
bearings  and  distances. 

I  went  on  board  the  "  Harriet  Lane"  in  the  fore 
noon,  but  did  not  see  Captain  Porter,  who  was  in 
his  gig  among  the  fleet.  The  mortar  firing  during 
the  day  was  kept  up  vigorously,  and  I  presume  that 
1,500  shots  were  sent  towards  the  forts. 

In  the  evening,  an  officer  from  the  "Pensacola" 
came  on  board  to  get  some  information  about  the 
depth  of  the  river  in  the  immediate  locality  of  the 
forts,  and  Mr.  Oltnianns  and  myself  gave  him  all 
the  details  that  had  come  under  our  observation. 

April  22. — At  daylight,  Captain  Porter  sent  me  a 
note  requesting  me  to  drop  down  to  the  Jump, 
and  to  wait  for  a  boat  which  had  been  sent  on  an 
expedition  in  the  rear  of  Fort  Jackson,  and  to  bring 
her  up  the  river  directly  on  her  arrival  in  the  Missis 
sippi.  I  went  down  with  the  steamer  and  anchored 
off  the  upper  point  of  the  Jump,  and  took  the  op 
portunity  to  reconnoitre  that  passage  more  speci 
ally.  At  sundown,  I  sent  Mr.  Halter  to  the  com 
mander  of  the  flotilla  to  report  that  we  did  not  see 
anything  of  his  boat,  but  that  I  would  wait  during 
the  night.  I  received  a  letter  from  him  in  return, 
stating  his  fears  that  the  boat's  crew  would  be  lost, 
and  begging  me  to  go  in  search  of  them,  as  he  had 
his  hands  full  of  the  attack  that  in  all  probability 
was  to  come  off  during  the  night.  This,  of  course, 
was  resolved  on,  and  to-morrow,  by  sunrise,  a  boat 
will  be  sent  for  the  purpose. 

April  23. — At  daylight,  I  dispatched  Mr.  Oltmanns, 
the  first  mate,  and  a  crew  of  six  men,  all  doubly 
armed  and  well  provisioned  with  food  and  water,  in 
the  second  cutter  in  search  of  the  missing  boat  ex 
pedition,  directing  him  to  leave  written  notices  at 
the  mouth  of  the  multifarious  bayous,  naming  the 
route  to  be  pursued,  to  hoist  in  his  boat  the  Ameri 
can  ensign,  and  to  do  anything  in  his  power  to  find 
out  the  crew  which  must  have  lost  their  way  in  the 
labyrinth  of  marsh  streams.  Mr.  Harris  returned 


232 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


from  the  fleet  and  brought  me  a  message  from  Capt, 
Porter  to  come  up  and  run  alongside.  I  fired  two 
82-pounders  as  a  signal  for  Mr.  Oltmanns  to  return, 
and  set  also  a  blue  signal  at  the  fore.  Calling  on 
the  flag-officer,  he  said  he  had  no  vessel  to  spare 
from  the  engagement,  and  would  consider  it  a  favor 
if  I  would  carry  some  of  his  wounded  men  in  the 
"Sachem"  to 'the  hospital  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Southwest  Pass.  He  further  added  that,  as  he  was 
preparing  a  severe  night  attack  with  the  fleet,  it 
would  seem  top  hard  to  carry  those  poor  crippled 
fellows  with  him  in  the  fight. 

Of  course  I  at  once  consented  very  cheerfully,  and 
repeated  that,  whenever  he  could  make  use  of  me, 
I  would  be  at  his  service.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Olt 
manns  had  not  returned  from  his  search  for  the  boat 
expedition,  but  I  had  to  let  him  shift  for  himself, 
knowing  that  he  would  bring  up  somewhere  safely. 

At  four  in  the  afternoon,  the  wounded  men  were 
sent  on  board,  two  of  whom  had  suffered  amputa 
tion,  and  all  of  them  in  a  dangerous  state.  At  a 
quarter  to  5,  I  was  steaming  down,  having  made  the 
poor  men  as  comfortable  as  I  could.  Mr.  Harris 
brought  the  hospital  physician  on  board,  who  took 
charge  of  the  patients,  and  we  sent  them  in.  our 
double-bunked  boat  on  shore. 

April  24. — The  gun-boat "  Miami ''  anchored  along 
side  the  "  Sachem,"  bringing  me  a  verbal  request 
from  Captain  Porter  to  accompany  General  Butlers 
expedition  to  the  rear  of  Fort  St.  Philip.  I  had 
previously  sent  Mr.  Harris  up  to  the  fleet  to  see  the 
commander  and  report  the  derangement  of  our  en 
gine.  At  5  p.  M.,  General  Butler  arrived  in  the 
"Saxon  "  and  called  on  me  in  person,  bringing  me 
a  letter  at  the  same  time  from  Captain  Porter.  I 
arranged  with  him  to  meet  him  as  soon  as  my  re 
pairs  had  been  made  at  Isle  au  Breton,  and  to  send 
an  officer  with  him  in  the  "  Saxon  "  to  pilot  his  ves 
sel  through  Pass  a  1'Outre.  Mr.  Oltmanns  also  came 
back  from  his  boat  expedition  in  the  rear  of  Fort 
Jackson,  having  been  within  one  mile  and  a  half  of 
the  fort. 

April  26. — In  the  morning,  Captain  Boggs,  of  the 
"Varuna''  steam  gun-boat,  came  on  board  to  go 
with  me  to  General  Butler's  ship  ;  he  had  lost  his 
vessel  during  the  passage  of  the  fleet  past  the  forts 
on  the  24th,  being  run  into  from  two  different  quar 
ters  by  iron-clad  steamers  of  the  enemy.  This  was 
a  most  brilliant  exploit.  His  ship  sunk  with  her 
colors  flying,  but  not  before  she  had  crippled,  burned 
and  sunk  six  of  the  opposing  steamers. 

In  the  afternoon,  I  got  under  way,  the  machinery 
working  well  forward.  We  dropped  anchor  along 
side  the  "  Harriet  Lane,''  and  I  had  a  conference 
with  the  commander.  He  sent  his  and  other  engi 
neers  to  examine  the  "Sachem's  "  machinery,  when 
all  appeared  right. 

April  27. — We  got  under  way  after  sunrise  and 
stood  off  Pass  a  TOutre,  and  brought  over  the  bar 
15  feet.  At  noon,  we  arrived  off  Sable  Island,  where 
we  found  General  Butler  in  the  steam  transport 
"  Mississippi."  I  called  on  him  and  had  a  long  con 
versation  respecting  the  coast.  At  2  o'clock,  he 
came  on  board  the  "Sachem"  and  I  took  him  to 
the  rear  of  Fort  Jackson ;  from  thence  he  took  a 
boat  up  to  the  Quarantine,  using  one  of  the  smaller 
bayous  for  his  passage.  I  dispatched  Mr.  Harris 
at  once  to  stake  out  a  four-foot  line  along  the  coast, 
as  the  general  intends  to  make  an  experiment  with 
his  rifled  guns  on  the  forts  from  here.  We  also 
ascertained  the  distance  by  bearings  on  Forts  St. 
Philip  and  Jackson.  Mr.  Halter  reported  again  to 
me,  and  was  sent  out  at  8  o'clock  in  the  evening  to 
stake  out  the  boat  channel  to  the  Quarantine  with 
lamps,  so  that  troops  might  be  conveyed  there  dur 
ing  the  night.  He  returned  at  2  o'clock,  having 
successfully  performed  the  task.  Four  hundred 
men  were  sent  in  safety  during  the  night,  and  the 
garrison  at  the  camp  of  the  Quarantine  now  consists 
of  one  full  regiment.  In  the  morning,  the  captain 


of  the  gun-boat  "  Miami,"1  which  was  aground  close 
by  the  "Sachem,"1  sent  on  board  requesting  assist 
ance.  I  ran  ahead  of  him,  sent  him  a  nine-inch 
hawser,  and  got  him  afloat  by  8  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing.  In  the  afternoon,  I  sent  Messrs.  Oltmanns  and 
Harris  to  Fort  Bayou  to  put  up  a  signal — Mr.  Hal 
ter  having  found  out  in  the  morning  that  both  sig 
nals  at  this  place  and  at  Raccoon  Point  were  lost. 
While  the  boat  was  away,  at  2.30  p.  M.,  both  seces 
sion  flags  at  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  were 
hauled  down.  The  most  intense  excitement  fol 
lowed.  I  saw  the  "  Harriet  Lane  "  and  three  other 
steamers,  with  a  flag  of  truce  on  the  fore,  steaming 
up  to  the  forts,  and  directly  afterwards  saw  a  large 
steamer  of  the  enemy  enveloped  in  flames.  This 
proved  to  be  the  new  iron-clad  battery  "Louisi 
ana  ;"  she  burned  entirely  down.  At  about  quar 
ter  before  3,  her  magazine  exploded  with  a  crash  and 
shock  the  like  of  which  I  never  witnessed.  The 
cloud  of  smoke  rose  to  an  estimated  height  of  at 
least  six  hundred  feet,  and  pieces  of  the  wreck  could 
be  seen  flying  in  the  air  very  distinctly.  At  3  o'clock, 
the  "  Harriet  Lane"  came  up,  and,  after  the  firing 
of  one  gun,  I  had  the  inexpressible  delight  of  seeing 
the  stars  and  stripes  waving  once  more  over  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip.  I  fired  a  salute  directly, 
and  gave  the  information  to  other  vessels  near.  I 
sent  a  recall  for  my  party,  there  being  no  further 
use  to  prosecute  the  work  here,  and  Captain  Por 
ter  had  expressed  a  desire  that  I  should  join  him 
at  the  forts  as  soon  as  they  were  ours.  In  the  even 
ing,  General  Williams  came  in  the  "  Miami,"  and 
when  I  communicated  the  news,  the  cheering, 
"  Yankee  Doodle  "  and  "  Hail  Columbia"  it  seemed 
would  never  end.  At  11  o'clock  P.M.,  we  got  under 
way  and  steamed  towards  Pass  a  1'Outre. 

April  29. — We  crossed  the  bar  at  6  A.  M.  with  fif 
teen  feet,  half -tide,  running  the  north  side  of  the 
"middle  ground"  again  as  before.  We  passed  the 
forts  early  in  the  afternoon.  At  4  o'clock,  I  took 
the  commander  of  the  flotilla  over  to  Fort  Jackson, 
my  officers  having  also  arrived  in  a  separate  boat. 
We  inspected  closely  for  a  couple  of  hours  the  dam 
age  done  by  the  mortars,  and  I  cannot  understand 
to  this  minute  how  the  garrison  could  have  possi 
bly  lived  so  long  in  the  enclosures.  The  destruction 
goes  beyond  all  description  ;  the  ground  is  torn  by 
the  shells  as  if  a  thousand  antediluvian  hogs  had 
rooted  it  up  ;  the  holes  are  from  three  to  eight  feet 
deep,  and  are  very  close  together,  sometimes  within 
a  couple  of  feet ;  all  that  was  wood  in  the  fort  is 
completely  consumed  by  fire  ;  the  brick- work  is 
knocked  down  ;  the  arches  stove ;  guns  are  dis 
mounted  ;  gun  carriages  broken,  and  the  whole  pre 
sents  a  dreadful  scene  of  destruction. 

April  30. — Early  in  the  morning  I  received  a  com 
munication  from  the  commander  requesting  me  to 
await  here  his  return  from  New  Orleans,  where  he 
goes  to-day  in  the  "Harriet  Lane." 

I  also  hear  that  a  gun-boat  is  going  north,  and  I 
conclude  therefore  this  report,  to  send  by  the  same. 
Allow  me  to  acid  a  few  words  to  express  the  high 
gratification    which  the  gallant  and   able  deport 
ment  of  my  officers  has  given,  not  only  to  myself, 
but,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  to  everybody  in  the 
fleet,  and  to  the  general  of  the  land  forces.     I  hope 
you  will  say  that  we  have  done  our  duty. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  H.  GERDES, 
Assistant  United  States  Coast  Survey* 


REPORT    OF    JOSEPH    HARRIS,     UNITED    STATES 

COAST  SURVEY,  OF  SOME  OF   THE   INCIDENTS 

THAT  CAME  UNDER   HIS  NOTICE   AND  OF 

HIS  OBSERVATIONS  AT  THE  FORTS,  ETC. 

SOUTHWEST  PASS,  MISSISSIPPI  ) 
RIVER,  May  4,  1862.  } 

SIR— While  engaged  in  the  survey  of  the  injuries 
received  by  Fort  Jackson  during  the  bombardment 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


233 


and  the  passage  of  the  fleet,  several  incidents  came 
under  inv  notice,  which,  at  your  request,  I  have 
now  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  in  writing. 

While  waiting  for  the  boat  to  take  us  off,  on  the 
last  day  on  which  we  were  engaged  on  the  survey, 
Mr.  Oltmanns  and  I  fell  into  conversation  with 
some  men  who  had  been  in  the  fort  as  part  of  the 
garrison.  One  of  them,  who  said  he  was  a  New 
Yorker,  particularly  informed  us — a  reliable,  intel 
ligent  man,  from  the  moderation  of  his  statements 
— and  I  think  his  information  well  worthy  of  note. 

I  shall  merely  record  his  statements,  as  the  con 
versation  on  our  part,  which  drew  forth  informa 
tion  on  the  points  where  we  especially  desired,  is 
not  necessary  to  the  understanding  of  them,  and 
this  communication  is  likely  to  be  very  long  with 
out  the  introduction  of  any  irrelevant  matter. 

General  J.  K.  Duncan  had  command  of  both 
forts,  and  Colonel  Higgins,  who  some  years  ago  was 
an  officer  of  the  United  States  navy,  had  the  im 
mediate  command  of  Fort  Jackson.  Colonel  Hig 
gins  has  the  credit  of  being  a  most  brave  and  vigi 
lant  officer. 

For  forty-eight  hours  my  informant  thought  Colo 
nel  Higgins  had  not  left  the  ramparts,  and  never 
seemed  in  the  least  disconcerted  when  the  bombs 
were  falling  thickest  around  him. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  forces  inside  the  fort  were 
northern  men;  and  there  were  also  many  foreigners. 
The  party  that  seized  the  fort  early  in  1861,  was  a 
company  of  German  Yagers,  and  there  were  a  num 
ber  of  Irish  also.  In  all  there  were  some  GOO  or  TOO 
men  in  the  fort  at  the  time  of  the  bombardment. 
The  northern  men  were  mostly  sent  down  at  an 
early  stage  of  the  proceedings,  and  I  imagine  most 
of  them  volunteered,  hoping  in  that  way  to  avoid 
suspicion,  and  perhaps  not  have  to  fight  against  the 
government  after  all. 

(Colonel  H  iggins  had  no  expectation  of  being  at 
tacked  ;  that  is,  he  thought  no  fleet  could  be 
brought  against  him  sufficiently  strong  to  risk  an 
attack.) 

There  was  a  company  of  sharpshooters  attached 
to  the  forces,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Mul 
len.  They  numbered  about  two  hundred,  and  were 
largely  recruited  from  the  "riffraff"  of  New  Or 
leans.  They  scouted  so  far  down  as  eight  or  nine 
miles  below  the  forts,  and  brought  nightly  reports 
to  Fort  Jackson,  traveling  by  the  bayous  or  passes 
on  the  southwest  side  of  the  river.  The  main  body, 
however,  lay  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  below  Fort 
Jackson,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  it.  From 
here  they  fired  on  the  boat  that  pulled  up  under 
that  shore  on  the  14th.  The  grape  and  canister 
shot  that  the  "Owasco"  threw  into  the  bushes 
made  their  berth  uncomfortable,  and  they  broke 
up  their  camp,  came  into  the  fort  all  wet  and  drag 
gled,  having  thrown  many  of  their  arms  away,  and 
swore  that  they  would  go  to  New  Orleans ;  and 
they  went. 

My  informant  voluntarily  gave  the  credit  of  re 
ducing  the  fort  to  the  "  bomb  fleet.''  The  fort  was 
so  much  shaken  by  this  firing  that  it  was  feared  the 
casemates  would  come  down  about  their  ears.  The 
loss  of  life  by  the  bombs  was  riot  great,  as  they 
could  see  them  coming  plainly  and  get  out  of  the 
way  ;  but  the  effect  of  their  fall  and  explosion  no 
skill  could  avert. 

About  one  shell  in  twenty  failed  to  explode,  even 
those  that  fell  in  the  water  going  off  as  well  as  the 
others.  It  is  well  worth  noting  that  the  bombs 
that  fell  in  the  ditch  close  to  the  walls  of  the  fort, 
and  exploded  there,  shook  the  fort  much  more  se 
verely  than  any  of  those  that  buried  themselves  in 
the  solid  ground. 

The  firing  was  most  destructive  the  first  day,  and 
the  vessels  lying  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  river, 
which  were"  in  plain  view  of  the  forts,  made  much 
the  most  effective  shots.  The  bomb  vessels  lying 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river  were  at  all  times 


totally  invisible,  the  best  glasses  failing  to  distin 
guish  their  bush  tops  from  the  trees  around  them. 

During  the  bombardment  the  only  guns  that  were 
much  used  were  the  rifled  guns,  of  which  there 
were  three,  and  the  four  10-inch  columbiads  and 
Dahlgren  8-inch  guns,  eight  in  number.  The  mor 
tars  (in  the  fort)  fired  occasionally.  One  of  the 
rifled  guns,  mounted  on  the  fort  proper  before  the 
bombardment,  was  sent  two  days  before  the  fire 
opened  to  Island  No.  10. 

One  of  the  rifles  in  the  water  battery  was  origin 
ally  one  of  the  barbette  guns,  a  32-pounder.  It  was 
sent  to  New  Orleans  to  be  rifled,  and  a  week  after 
the  second  one  was  sent ;  but  the  first,  on  trial, 
proving  a  failure,  the  second  was  not  changed. 

The  large  columbiad  in  the  water  battery  was 
made  somewhere  in  Secessia,  but  exactly  where  my 
informant  did  not  know. 

The  fort  was  in  perfect  order  when  the  bombard 
ment  commenced,  it  haying  always  been  very 
strictly  policed,  and  the  dirt,  which  now  disfigures 
everything,  is  the  accumulation  of  a  few  days. 

The  water  did  not  enter  the  fort  until  the  levee 
had  been  broken  with  bombs,  and  during  the  sum 
mer  of  1861,  when  the  Mississippi  was  even  higher, 
the  parade  ground  was  entirely  dry.  There  was 
very  little  sickness  in  the  fort,  the  water  probably 
not  having  stood  long  enough  to  create  miasma. 

The  discipline  in  the  fort  was  very  strict  ;  but 
what  seemed  to  be  felt  more  than  the  strictness 
was  the  bringing  in  of  very  young  and  entirely  in 
experienced  officers,  who  were  placed  in  command 
of  others  much  their  superiors  in  knowledge. 

Suspected  men  were  closely  watched,  and  the 
punishment  for  improper  talk  among  them  was  to 
tie  a  rope  around  the  offenders  and  let  them  float 
in  the  stinking  ditch. 

The  impression  we  derived  from  this  part  of  the 
conversation,  however,  was  that  the  fort  was  very 
well  governed,  and  that  the  man  who  was  speaking 
had  not  often  come  under  the  displeasure  of  the 
authorities,  for  he  was  not  eloquent  on  the  subject 
of  his  wrongs. 

The  chain,  as  first  stretched  across  the  river,  was 
quite  a  formidable  obstacle.  The  chain  was  brought 
from  Pensacola,  and  was  a  very  heavy  one.  It  was 
supported  by  heavy  logs,  80  feet  long,  only  a  few 
feet  apart,  to  the  under  side  of  each  of  which  the 
chain  was  pinned  near  the  up  stream  end.  The 
chain  was  kept  from  sagging  down  too  far  by  seven 
heavy  anchors,  from  which  small  chains  ran  to  the 
main  chain. 

These  anchors  were  buoyed  with  can-buoys  taken 
from  Pilot  Town.  In  a  few  months  a  raft  formed 
on  the  upper  side  of  this  chain  which  reached  up 
to  the  forts,  and  its  weight  swept  away  the  whole 
obstruction,  and  went  to  sea,  carrying"  the  buoys 
with  it. 

It  was  then  replaced  by  the  lighter  chain,  buoyed 
by  hulks  there,  three  weeks  ago.  Two  of  the  la"rge 
can-buoys  were  placed  in  the  magazine  in  the  water 
battery.  The  night  that  Flag-officer  Farragut's 
fleet  passed  up,  Colonel  Higgins  was  so  sure  of  de 
stroying  it  that  he  allowed  the  first  vessel  to  come 
up  with  the  fort  before  opening  fire,  fearing  that 
they  would  be  driven  back  prematurely  and  escape 
him.  When  they  succeeded  in  passing,  he  remarked: 
"Our  cake  is  all  dough  ;  we  may  as  well  give  it 
up." 

During  this  engagement  a  Captain  Jones,  from 
the  back  country,  had  charge  of  those  casemate 
guns  which  were  firing  hot  shot.  He  depressed  the 
muzzles  of  his  guns  very  considerably,  fearing  to 
fire  too  high,  and  being  desirous  of  working  his 
guns  vigorously  had  them  run  out  with  a  jerk,  the 
consequence  of  which  was  that  the  balls  rolled 
harmlessly  into  the  moat,  and  the  guns  blazed  away 
powder  and  hay-wads  at  a  most  destructive  rate. 

This  continued  until  some  of  the  officers  on  the 
ramparts,  observing  how  much  his  shot  fell  short, 


234 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY. 


told  him  of  it.  He  then  commenced  operations  on 
one  particular  vessel,  which  he  kept  at  until  some 
one  informed  him  that  he  was  devoting  himself  to 
one  of  their  own  chain  hulks. 

The  enemy's  gun-boats  did  not  come  up  to  the 
expectations  that  were  formed  of  them.  The 
"Louisiana"  especially,  was  very  much  relied  on, 
but  her  crew  of  200  men  were  drunk  at  the  time 
that  they  should  have  done  their  duty  best.  I 
could  not  find  out  anything  about  her  from  this 
man,  as  he  had  never  been  aboard  of  her,  and  did 
not  believe  the  exaggerated  stories  that  were  told 
here  about  her. 

The  small  loss  of  life  in  the  fort  is  due,  to  a  great 
extent,  to  the  fact  that  the  men  have  been  carefully 
kept  below,  only  the  guns'  crew  being  allowed  out 
of  shelter.  The  "  New  Yorker  "  was  a  powder-passer 
for  the  battery  in  which  the  rifled  gun  and  the 
large  columbiads  of  the  main  fort  were,  and.  there 
fore,  had  a  good  opportunity  of  seeing  what  went 
on,  they  being  in  pretty  constant  use. 

One  bomb  broke  into  the  officers'  mess-room 
•while  they  were  at  dinner,  and  rolled  on  the  floor; 
as  it  lay  between  them  and  the  door  they  could 
not  escape,  but  all  gathered  in  a  corner  and  re 
mained  there  in  terrible  suspense  until  it  became 
evident  that  the  fuse  had  gone  out,  and  they  were 
safe. 

On  the  first  night  of  the  firing,  when  the  citadel 
and  outhouses  were  all  in  flames,  the  magazine  was 
in  very  great  danger  for  some  time,  and  a  profuse 
supply  of  wet  blankets  was  all  that  saved  it ;  there 
was  great  consternation  that  night,  but  afterwards 
the  garrison  got  used  to  it,  and  were  very  cool.  A 
bomb  broke  into  the  secret  passage  cut  in  the  fort. 
One  of  the  soldiers  went  into  it  some  distance  when 
he  was  discovered  by  General  Duncan  and  ordei'ed 
out.  The  passage  was  then  filled  up  and  a  guard 
placed  over  the  entrance  to  keep  every  one  away 
from  it.  This  was  told  me  by  Major  Santelle,  com 
mandant  of  the  fort. 

Fort  Jackson  mounted  33  32-pounders  on  main 
parapet,  2  columbiads  on  main  parapet,  1  rifle  gun 
on  main  parapet,  2  columbiads  in  2d  bastion,  1  9- 
inch  mortar  in  2d  bastion,  1  columbiad  in  3d  bastion, 
2  8-inch  mortars  in  3d  bastion.  8  32-pounders  in 
northwest  casemates,  6  32-pounder  guns  in  north 
east  casemates,  10  short  guns  in  bastion  casemates, 
2  brass  field  pieces,  2  rifled  guns  in  water  battery,  1 
10-inch  columbiad  in  water  battery,  1  9-inch  colum 
biad  in  water  battery,  3  32-pounder  guns  on  outer 
curtain — 75  guns  in  all. 

I  am  not  positive  about  the  calibre  of  the  guns. 
Those  that  I  called  32-pounders  had  a  calibre  of 
6.4  inches,  and  I  am  not  quite  positive  that  there 
are  10  short  32-pounder  guns  in  the  bastion  case 
mates,  though  such  is  my  recollection.  Of  these 
guns  four  were  dismounted ,  but  I  could  not  see  that 
the  gun  proper  was  injured  in  any  case;  of  the  gun 


carriages  eleven  were  struck,  several  of  them  being 
entirely  destroyed;  and  of  the  traverses  no  less  than 
thirty  were  injured.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
last  injured  were  on  the  western  side  of  the  outer 
curtain  (where  only  these  guns  were  mounted), 
twenty  out  of  thirty-nine  being  more  or  less  in 
jured. 

The  ramparts  of  the  fort  proper  were  very  severely 
damaged  on  every  side;  but  particularly  on  the  two 
northern  ones  ;  there  has  been  great  patching  with 
sand  bags  needed;  several  of  the  entrances  from  the 
parade  ground  under  the  ramparts  are  masses  of 
ruins,  some  of  them  being  one-third  choked  up  with 
debris. 

The  casemates  are  cracked  from  end  to  end  ;  one 
of  the  bastion  casemates  has  the  roof  broken 
through  in  three  places:  another  in  one  place,  and 
its  walls  are  so  badly  cracked  that  daylight  shines 
through  very  plainly,  the  cracks  being  about  four 
inches  wide. 

The  entrances  to  the  casemates  are  nearly  all 
damaged,  the  roofs  cracked  and  masses  of  brick 
thrown  down  or  loosened.  All  the  buildings  were 
destroyed  by  fire  or  bomb-shells,  the  two  western 
bastions  and  the  citadel  being  completely  burned 
out.  The  walls  of  the  citadel  are  cracked  in  many 
places  very  badly. 

Eighty-six  shot  and  splinters  of  shell  struck  its 
faces.  The  amount  of  damage  here  reported  would 
hardly  be  credited  by  any  one  who  had  taken  a  casual 
survey  of  the  premises,  and  I  myself  should  have 
considered  it  exaggerated  if  I  had  read  it  after 
passing  through  hastily  the  first  time.  After  care 
ful  examination,  however,  the  impression  left  on  my 
mind  is  of  a  place  far  gone  on  the  road  to  ruin, 
which  will  stand  but  little  more  before  it  will  come 
down  about  its  defenders'  ears.  Everything  about 
the  fort  appears  to  have  started  from  its  place,  some 
hardly  preceptible,  others  so  much  that  it  would  be 
hard  to  find  where  the  proper  place  is. 

I  do  not  profess  an  acquaintance  with  such  mat 
ters,  but  it  looks  to  me  as  if  the  whole  structure 
would  have  to  be  demolished  and  rebuilt,  if  the 
government  ever  intend  to  fortify  the  site  again. 

I  have  thus,  sir,  hastily  thrown  together  the  more 
important  part  of  the  information  I  was  able  to 
collect;  had  my  time  been  more  extended  I  might 
have  been  able  to  gather  more  of  the  incidents  of 
the  siege;  and  had  I  supposed  it  desirable  to  reduce 
it  to  writing  I  might  have  obtained  a  fuller  ac 
count  from  those  I  did  question;  but  my  conversa 
tion  was  merely  to  gratify  my  own  curiosity 
and  pass  away  an  unoccupied  hour.  Hoping  that 
you  may  find  this  communication  of  some  value,  I 
remain, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOSEPH  HARRIS. 
F.  H.  GERDES,  ESQ., 

Assistant  United  States  Coast  Survey. 


CHAPTER     XX. 


A  BRAVE  OFFICER'S  MORTIFICATION.— HISTORY  SET  RIGHT. 


DMIRAL  FARRAGUT  says  in  a 
communication  made  in  April, 
1869:  "Historians  are  not  always 
correct ;  for  my  own  part,  I  main 
tain  the  conviction  that  whatever 
errors  may  be  made  by  the  hands  of  histori 
ans  and  others,  posterity  will  always  give 
justice  to  whom  justice  is  due." 

This  is  true,  and  in  no  case  has  it  been 
more  clearly  demonstrated  than  in  that  of 
Admiral  Farragut  himself,  who  reaped  the 
highest  honors  that  could  be  won  in  the 
Navy,  without  a  dissenting  voice  ;  and  who, 
as  time  passes,  will  only  gather  more  laurels 
to  surround  his  monument  and  be  handed 
down  to  posterity  as  the  most  famous  Ad 
miral  of  the  American  Navy. 

Farragut  received  so  many  honors  him 
self  that  he  could  well  afford  to  spare  to 
those  who  served  under  him,  any  that  may 
have  been  withheld  from  them  by  accidental 
omission  or  otherwise.  He  leaves  it  to  pos 
terity  to  do  justice  where  justice  has  not 
been  awarded,  and  therefore  we  give  a  piece 
.  of  history  not  generally  known,  and  which 
should  be  published  in  authentic  form. 

There  was  no  braver  officer  in  Farragut's 
fleet  than  Captain  Theodorus  Bailey,  who 
led  the  first  division  at  the  passage  of  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip.  Bailey  had  that 
dashing  courage  which  ought  to  delight  the 
eye  of  any  commander-in-chief ,  and  no  man 
was  ever  more  pleased  with  the  conduct  of 
a  subordinate  than  was  Farragut  with  Bai 
ley  all  through  the  several  battles,  even  up 
to  the  levee  of  New  Orleans.  There,  again, 
Bailey  showed  the  great  courage  he 
possessed  by  volunteering  to  face  a  howling 
mob,  and  carry  Farragut's  demands  to  the 
mayor  of  the  city  for  its  unconditional  sur 
render.  This  was  more  than  brave  conduct, 
it  was  sublime,  for  he  and  his  companion, 
Lieutenant  Perkins,  had  to  force  their  way. 
unarmed  and  unguarded,  through  a  fierce 


crowd  that  might  at  any  moment  tear  them 
to  pieces. 

Farragut  had  been  so  much  pleased  with 
Bailey's  coolness  and  daring  during  the 
rapid  and  successful  events  that  had  taken 
place  within  a  few  days,  that  he  determined 
to  make  him  the  bearer  of  dispatches  to  the 
seat  of  government,  and  when  the  reports 
were  all  ready  Bailey  embarked  in  the 
"Cayuga,"  (the  vessel  he  had  so  gallantly 
led  through  heavy  fire  and  smoke),  and 
started  on  his  way  down  the  Mississippi 
bound  for  Washington  City.  Stopping  to 
communicate  with  the  fleet  at  Forts  Jack 
son  and  St.  Philip,  he  received  the  rebel 
flags  that  had  flown  over  those  works  and 
took  them  on  with  him  as  trophies. 

Farragut  had  written  his  report  of  the 
affairs  at  the  forts  in  full  at  New  Orleans, 
and  this  Bailey  aimed  to  deliver  as  soon  as 
possible. 

He  went  on  his  way  home  perfectly 
posted,  as  he  supposed,  in  all  that  had  oc 
curred,  and  ready  to  give  the  Department  a 
clear  outline  of  the  battles  before  the  Secre 
tary  could  have  time  to  wade  through  the 
mass  of  reports  that  were  sent  on  together. 

On  Bailey's  arrival  at  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  he  was  received  with  great  enthusi 
asm  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and  every 
officer  and  man  connected  with  the  service, 
all  of  whom  listened  with  bated  breath  to 
his  vivid  recital  of  scenes  fraught  with  dan 
ger  and  romance,  until  nothing  more  was 
left  to  tell. 

While  he  was  stating  the  history  of  events, 
Senator  James  W.  Grimes  (the  eminent 
statesman,  and  friend  of  the  Navy),  entered 
the  Secretary's  room,  and  listened  with  the 
others.  When  Bailey  had  finished,  the  Sen 
ator  said  "Come  with  me,  and  some  one 
bring  the  trophies,"  pointing  to  the  Confed 
erate  flags.  "  The  account  of  this  great  bat 
tle  must  be  told  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate," 

(235) 


236 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


and  they  started  for  the  Senate  Chamber, 
the  Secretary  of  the  Xavy  being  left  to  over 
haul  the  despatches. 

On  the  arrival  of  Senator  Grimes  with 
Captain  Bailey,  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate, 
the  latter  was  received  by  Senators  with  the 
wildest  enthusiasm.  Members  of  the  House 
rushed  into  the  Senate  Chamber  as  soon  as 
they  heard  the  news,  and  the  floor  was 
packed.  Bailey  was  the  hero  of  the  hour, 
and  was  congratulated  by  all  who  could  get 
near  him.  He  told  the  story  of  the  capture 
of  the  forts  and  city  in  his  own  simple  way, 
and  it  carried  conviction  to  every  listener. 


occurred  it  is  impossible  to  conceive,  and  it 
can  only  be  surmised  that  Farragut,  in  the 
excitement  and  hurry  of  the  moment,  sent 
the  first  order  of  battle  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  instead  of  the  one  which  was  last 
issued  to  the  fleet. 

Secretary  Welles  and  those  about  him  at 
once  detected  the  difference  between  Farra- 
gut's  report  and  Bailey's  recital  of  the  pas 
sage  of  the  fleet,  and  the  impression  was 
left  on  the  minds  of  all,  that  Bailey  was  dis 
posed  to  obtain  more  credit  than  was  due 
him.  They  could  not  have  known  him 
well,  for  he  was  truthful  as  he  was  brave, 


CAPTAIN   THEODORUS  BAILEY   (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL). 


Congress  is  an  impulsive  body,  and  some 
of  the  members  of  the  House  of  Represen 
tatives  went  back  to  the  House  to  prepare 
a  resolution  giving  Farragut  and  Bailey  a 
vote  of  thanks  on  the  spot,  while  the  Senate, 
in  the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment,  was  about 
to  do  the  same  thing.  An  hour  or  more  had 
passed  away  while  the  Senators  were  listen 
ing  to  Bailey's  account,  during  which  time 
Secretary  Welles  was  employed  in  reading 
Farragut's  report.  It  was  not  a  long 
one,  but  did  not  clearly  mention  the  fact 
that  Bailey  had  led  the  fleet,  or  at  least 
show  it  on  the  plan.  Why  the  omission 


and  although  naturally  somewhat  exalted 
at  the  important  position  he  filled  at  the 
passage  of  the  forts,  nevertheless  he  related 
it  all  in  the  simplest  and  most  unpretending 
language. 

Secretary  Welles,  on  reading  Farragut's 
report,  lost  no  time  in  writing  a  note  to 
Senator  Grimes,  and  sending  it  off  with  all 
dispatch.  It  read,  '• :  Don't  take  any  steps 
resulting  from  Captain  Bailey's  account  of 
the  passage  of  the  fleet  by  the'' forts.  There 
is  a  discrepancy  between  his  report  of  the 
affair  and  that  of  Flag-officer  Farragut, 
which  must  be  inquired  into." 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


237 


Senator  Grimes  had  just  taken  the  floor, 
and  was  eulogizing  the  brilliant  victory  that 
had  been  reported,  when  Secretary  Welles' 
note  was  put  into  his  hand.  He  was  taken 
all  aback  on  reading  it,  and  after  finishing 
its  perusal,  he  held  up  his  hand.  "Stop," 
lie  said,  ''we  are  going  too  fast,"  and  he 
handed  the  note  around  the  Senate.  Sena 
tors,  after  reading  it,  returned  to  their  seats 
and  took  up  some  matter  quite  foreign  to 
the  one  before  them,  and  the  proposed  reso 
lutions  were  so  completely  killed  that  noth 
ing  on  earth  could  have  resurrected  them  ; 
no  one  in  that  Senate  seemed  to  take  the 
least  interest  in  the  New  Orleans  matter, 
and  Bailey  sat  on  a  reserved  seat  in  the  rear 
of  the  Chamber,  wondering  what  it  all 
meant. 

In  ten  minutes  more  he  would  have  been 
the  recipient  of  a  vote  of  thanks  in  connec 
tion  with  the  flag-officer — the  highest  honor 
he  could  have  hoped  for — and  he  likely 
would  have  been  made  the  next  Rear- Admi 
ral  on  the  list. 

Senator  Grimes,  in  the  kindness  of  his 
heart,  went  to  him  and  showed  him  Mr. 
Welles'  letter,  and  told  him  that  he  had 
better  go  to  the  Department  at  once  and  set 
the  matter  right,  that  it  was  useless  to  re 
main  in  the  Senate,  that  nothing  more 
would  be  done,  and  Bailey  went  out  crushed 
to  the  earth  with  mortification.  How  he 
ever  got  to  his  lodgings  he  never  knew  ;  he 
was  a  proud  man,  and  his  heart  almost 
broke  at  the  idea  that  he  was  suspected  of 
making  a  false  report. 

The  truth  came  to  the  Department  a 
month  or  two  afterwards,  but  Bailey  only 
benefitted  by  it  so  far  that  his  story  was 
believed. 

Farragut  received  a  vote  of  thanks,  but 
Bailey  was  left  out  except  on  the  general 
vote  which  included  all  the  officers  and  men. 

This  event  was  not  generally  known  in 
the  service  ;  or,  if  known,  not  fully  under 
stood,  and  it  was  not  until  18t>9,  seven  years 
after  the  action,  that  the  whole  matter  was 
rectified. 

Then  the  correspondence  which  took  place 
between  Farragut  and  Bailey  became  part 
of  the  records  of  the  Navy  Department,  and 
as  it  is  due  to  both  those  officers  that  this 
correspondence  should  be  fully  known,  and 
as  it  is  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  war,  it 
should  appear  in  this  narrative.  The  reader 
will  see  at  a  glance  that  Captain  Bailey  was 
a  clear-headed  writer  as  he  was  a  clear 
headed  fighter,  and  places  himself  clear  on 
the  record.  Why  he  should  have  remained 
silent  so  many  years  under  an  injustice  he 
should  have  corrected  at  once,  no  one  can 
tell,  but  likely  it  arose  from  a  disappoint 
ment  which  led  him  to  believe  there  was  no 
disposition  on  the  part  of  the  Secretary  to 
do  him  justice.  It  was  not  until  he  was  im 


portuned  by  his  friends  to  have  the  matter 
set  right,  that  he  consented  to  draw  Ad 
miral  Farragut's  attention  to  the  subject. 

Farragut  himself  had  most  likely  forgot 
ten  all  about  his  report,  and  as  Bailey  had 
failed  to  notice  the  discrepancy  therein  just 
after  the  affair  occurred,  he  regarded  it  as 
out  of  place  to  open  up  a  discussion  at  so 
late  a  date,  and  when  his  first  report  had 
become  a  matter  of  history.  As  soon,  how 
ever,  as  convinced  by  Bailey  of  his  mistake. 
Farragut  rectified  it,  and  placed  the  (then) 
Rear- Admiral's  request  on  the  records  of 
the  Navy.  This  every  officer  is  justified  in 
claiming  when  he  has  performed  a  gallant 
act  without  recognition. 

It  is  not  only  due  to  history  that  this 
should  be  done,  but  also  to  the  family  and 
friends  of  those  who  served  so  faithfully 
through  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Bailey's 
misfortune  in  this  mistake  was  that  the 
error  stood  recorded  so  long  without  correc 
tion.  He  should  have  had  it  rectified  at 
once,  for  his  position  in  the  Navy  was 
materially  affected  by  it. 

HISTORY  SET   RIGHT. 

The  following  correspondence  is  repro 
duced  from  the  files  of  the  Navy  Depart 
ment.  We  publish  it  in  justice  both  to  the 
truth  of  history  and  to  the  reputation  of 
those  gallant  officers  whom  it  most  con 
cerns. 

REAR-ADMIRAL    BAILEY    TO  ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT. 

WASHINGTOX,  D.  C.,  April  1,  1869. 

MY  DEAR  ADMIRAL — I  feel  compelled  to  call 
your  attention  to  an  oversight  of  which  I  spoke  to 
you  some  time  since,  and  which  has  afforded  me 
and  other  officers  the  keenest  annoyance,  by  his 
torical  statements  growing  out  of  the  omission  to 
make  the  desired  correction. 

You  recollect  that  when  the  "  Colorado,"  under 
my  command,  was  found  (after  lightening  her)  to 
draw  too  much  water  to  be  got  over  the  bar  into  the 
Mississippi  River,  I  applied  to  you  for  the  command 
of  a  division  of  gun-boats,  and  coveted  the  honor 
of  leading,  under  your  orders,  the  attack  on  New 
Orleans  and  its  defences.  Haying  been  assigned  by 
you  to  the  command  of  a  division  of  your  fleet, 
with  your  concurrence,  and  at  the  request  of  Com 
mander  S.  P.  Lee,  I  hoisted  my  divisional  flag  on 
board  the  steam  sloop-of-war  "Oneida,'1  commanded 
by  him.  On  the  20th  of  April,  1862,  you  issued  a 
General  Order,  with  a  programme  directing  the 
fleet  to  pass  the  forts  and  ascend  the  river  in  two 
columns  abreast.  You,  in  your  flag-ship,  the  "  Hart 
ford,"  at  the  head  of  one  column,  and  I  at  the  head 
of  the  other.  About  this  time  Commander  Lee  ex 
pressed  a  regret  that  he  had  invited  me  to  lead  my 
division  in  his  vessel,  the  "Oneida,11  alleging  as  a 
reason  that  I  would  get  the  credit  for  what  might 
be  achieved  by  his  vessel.  Lieutenant-Command 
ing  Harrison  immediately  begged  me  to  hoist  my 
divisional  flag  on  board  of  his  little  gun-boat  the 
"Cayuga,"  and  give  him  a  chance  to  lead  the  divis 
ion,  which,  on  going  on  board  of  your  flag-ship  and 
stating  the  facts,  you  kindly  consented  to  my  do 
ing  ;  and  on  giving  the  gallant  Harrison  the  oppor 
tunity  he  sought,  the  "  Oneida,"  Commander  Lee, 
was  assigned  a  position  further  astern.  After  the 


238 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


chain  and  booms,  constituting  the  enemy's  obstruc 
tions,  were  cut  by  Captain  Bell  and  Lieutenant 
Caldwell,  it  became  apparent  that  if  the  fleet  went 
up  in  two  columns  abreast,  according  to  your  writ 
ten  order  and  programme  of  the  20th  of  April,  the 
parallel  columns  of  vessels  would  likely  get  foul  of 
the  obstructions  on  either  side,  and  the  whole  fleet  be 
thrown  into  confusion  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's 
forts,  especially  as  you  had  determined  to  make  a 
night  attack  (two  o'clock  in  the  morning).  There 
fore,  with  your  proverbial  foresight  and  sagacity, 
you  ordered  me  to  get  my  division  of  eight  vessels 
under  way  as  soon  as  the  dusk  of  the  evening 
should  obscure  the  movement  from  the  enemy,  and 
anchor  them,  line  ahead,  near  the  east  bank,  and 
gave  me  a  further  verbal  order,  directing  me  that 
when  the  signal  should  be  made  (two  red  lights) 
from  the  "Hartford,"  to  lead  up  with  my  division 
and  to  receive  but  not  answer  the  fire  of  Fort  Jack 
son  (which  I  was  directed  to  leave  for  you  to  take 
care  of  when  you  should  come  up,  as  you  ex 
pressed  it,  "I  will  take  care  of  Fort  Jackson ").  I 
was  then  to  open  on  Fort  St.  Philip  and  pass  it ; 
but  you  directed  that  in  case  at  any  time  you  should 
come  up  in  the  "Hartford,"  we  should  leave  room 
for  you  on  the  port  or  west  side,  I  accordingly 
passed  up  at  the  head  of  iny  division  (in  the 
"  Cayuga  "  receiving  but  not  returning  the  fire  of 
Fort  Jackson.  After  passing  the  obstructions  I 
ordered  the  helm  put  a-port  and  led  close  to  the 
levee,  and  under  the  guns  of  Fort  St.  Philip, 
thinking  that  the  guns  of  that  fort  would  be 
trained  and  sighted  for  mid-river,  and  that  they 
would  consequently  overshoot  me  (which  they  did, 
their  shot  and  shell  riddling  our  masts,  spars,  sails 
and  rigging,  with  comparatively  little  damage  to 
the  hulls).  At  this  time  something  occurred  to  the 
"  Pensacola's"  machinery,  which  caused  a  detention 
of  the  vessels  of  my  division  astern  of  her.  Losing 
sight  of  them,  we  in  the  "Cayuga,"  alone  en 
countered  the  rebel  iron-clads  "Louisiana"  and 
"Manassas"  and  their  flotilla  of  gun-boats,  and 
maintained  unaided  a  conflict  with  them,  until 
Boggs  in  the  "  Varuna  "  came  up,  and  after  deliver 
ing  a  broadside,  which  came  into  the  "Cayuga"  as 
well  as  into  the  enemy  in  conflict  with  us,  he  passed 
up  the  river  out  of  sight.  The  "Oneida,"  Com 
mander  Lee,  came  up  soon  after  and  fired  into  a 
steamer  that  had  already  surrendered  to  the  "Cay 
uga  "  (being  her  third  prize).  I  then  ordered  Lee 
to  go  to  the  assistance  of  Boggs  of  the  "Varuna," 
then  engaged  with  two  of  the  enemy's  steamers  up 
the  river,  which  had  been  drawn  off  from  their  at 
tack  on  us  of  the  "Cayuga,"  to  follow  and  head  off 
Boggs  in  the  "Varuna."  After  seeing  our  ("  Cay- 
uga's")  third  prize  in  flames,  we  steamed  up  the 
river  and  captured  the  Chalmette  regiment,  en 
camped  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river  opposite  the 
quarantine  hospital.  This  rebel  regiment  of  in 
fantry  I  had  the  honor  to  hand  over  to  you  for 
your  disposition  when  you  came  up  the  river  after 
your  severe  contest  with  the  forts  and  fire-ships 
below. 

To  give  a  history  of  all  the  incidents  of  the  bat 
tle  within  my  observation  or  the  part  of  which  each 
vessel  of  my  division  took,  would  make  this  com 
munication  too  long. 

The  great  object  of  this  letter  is  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  in  the  hurry  of  making 
up  your  dispatches  after  the  battle,  you  sent  home 
the  written  order  of  the  20th  of  April,  which  has 
been  published  and  has  passed  into  history,  instead 
of  your  verbal  order  of  the  23d,  which  was  the  one 
in  accordance  with  which  the  fleet  passed  up  the 
river,  and  the  battle  was  fought. 

This  error  has  resulted  in  an  inextricable  histo 
rical  muddle,  as  the  history  of  the  battle  has  been 
written  on  the  basis  of  the  published  programme  of 
April  20th,  never  carried  out;  the  formation  and 
position  of  the  attacking  force  being  therefore  en 


tirely  misunderstood  by  the  historians.  One  (Rev. 
Mr.  Boynton's)  history  not  even  mentioning  me, 
although  it  did  those  of  officers  commanding  vessels 
under  me.  My  name  was  merely  inserted  (as  com 
manding  a  division)  at  the  instance  of  a  friend,  who 
discovered  the  omission  too  late  to  make  a  further 
correction.  The  resolution  of  the  United  States 
Senate  of  June  6,  1862,  and  accompanying  docu 
ments,  of  which  two  thousand  were  printed,  perpet 
uates  the  error  of  our  passing  the  forts  in  two  col 
umns  abreast.  Mr.  Greeley  in  his  "American  Con 
flict,"  and  other  authors,  are  led  into  the  same  mis- 
statements.  "Lossing's  Pictorial  History  "  errone 
ously  describes  the  "Cayuga"  as  retiring  from  the 
fight  on  account  of  her  damages,  whereas  she  was 
continually  in  action  notwithstanding  she  was  much 
cut  up  with  forty-two  shot  holes.  The  "  Varuna," 
which  had  passed  us  while  heavily  engaged,  went 
up  the  river  and  drew  off  three  of  the  "Cayugas" 
assailants.  The  fight  of  the  "Varuna"  with  two  of 
which  is  treated  as  the  great  event  of  the  battle, 
while  the  leading  up  and  heavy  single-hand  fighting 
of  the  "Cayuga"  (Harrison's  gun-boat),  her  taking 
the  surrender  of  three  enemy's  steamers,  the  Chal 
mette  regiment  of  infantry,  and  cutting  the  tele 
graphic  communication  between  the  forts  and  New 
Orleans,  and  other  circumstances  are  not  mentioned. 
Now,  as  I  do  not  wish  to  be  compelled,  even  in  jus 
tice  to  myself ,  or  the  officers  of  my  division,  to  go 
into  the  mode  of  correcting  history  by  pamphleteer 
ing  or  newspaper  articles,  now  so  common,  I  must 
ask  of  you  to  correct  this  error,  which  I  know  you 
will  not  hesitate  to  do,  seeing  how  much  annoyance  it 
is  giving  your  friends  and  followers;  or,  if  you  still 
have  any  delicacy  in  doing  this  as  you  appeared  to 
have  when  I  spoke  to  you  before,  in  consequence  of 
a  regulation  of  the  Department  that  you  seemed  to 
consider  in  the  way,  may  I  ask  if  you  see  any  im 
propriety  in  my  requesting  a  Board  of  Inquiry,  in 
order  to  get  the  facts  on  record,  since  the  truth  of 
history,  my  duty  to  my  officers,  and  to  my  family, 
requires  that  I  should  see  it  done  while  I  am  here 
to  do  it. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully,  your  obedi 
ent  servant, 

THEODORUS  BAILEY, 

Rear- Admiral  U.  8.  Navy. 
To  Admiral  D.  Gr.  FARRAGUT,   U.  S.  Navy. 


ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT'S  REPLY. 

NEW  YORK,  April  3,  1869. 

MY  DEAR  ADMIRAL — I  have  received  your  let 
ter  of  the  1st,  and  am  really  at  a  loss  to  understand 
how  you,  or  even  historians  can  take  the  views  you 
express  in  relation  to  the  part  in  the  memorable 
fight  in  the  Mississippi  in  1862. 

I  have  just  re-read  my  report  of  May  6th,  and 
your  two  reports  following,  and  cannot  conceive 
how  you  could  be  more  prominently  mentioned  to 
the  Department. 

In  the  former,  you  are  reported  as  "  leading  the 
right  column  in  the  gun-boat  "  Cayuga,1'  as  having 
"preceded  me  up  to  the  quarantine  station,"  and  as 
having  "captured  the  Chalmette  regiment,"  and 
every  possible  credit  is  given  you  for  the  manner  in 
which  you  conducted  your  line,  and  preceding  us  to 
attack  the  Chalmette  forts. 

As  to  historians,  I  can,  of  course,  do  nothing.  I 
have  read  but  one  account  to  which  you  allude  (Dr. 
Boynton's),  and  that  in  reference  to  Mobile  Bay,  in 
which  several  mistakes  occur,  going  to  prove  that 
historians  are  not  always  correct. 

I  do  not  see  how  it  is  possible  for  me  to  give 
you  greater  credit  for  your  services  than  is  embod 
ied  in  that  report  where  your  name  is  always  prom 
inent;  but  if  you  think  that  full  credit  has  not  been 
done  you,  which  I  confess,  I  regret  to  learn,  you 


OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


239 


have,  of  course,  a  perfect  right  to  make  your  appeal 
to  the  Department;  for  my  own  part,  I  always 
maintain  the  conviction  that  whatever  errors  may 
be  made  in  the  records  of  historians  and  others, 
posterity  will  always  give  justice  to  whom  justice  is 
due. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

I).  G.  FARRAGUT,  Admiral. 
Rear-Admiral  T.  BAILEY,  U.  S.  Navy. 

P.  S. — By  referring  to  pages  33-1  and  335-337,  of 
Draper's  history,  you  will  find  that  he  gives  vou  all 
the  credit  claimed  by  your  own  report,  as  well  as 
that  given  you  by  mine.  D.  Gr.  F. 


RESPONSE    OF   REAR-ADMIRAL   BAILEY. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  April  27, 1869. 

MY  DEAR  ADMIRAL— I  have  received  and  care 
fully  read  your  letter  of  the  3rd,  in  reply  to 
mine  of  the*  1st  instant,  and  admit  all  you  say 
about  prominently  mentioning  my  name  to  the 
Department.  But  your  remark:  u  As  to  historians, 
I  can  do  nothing/'  This  is  so ;  but  the  difficulty 
is,  that  the  historians  derived  their  erroneous  ac 
count  of  the  battle  from  your  report  of  the 
6th  of  May,  1862,  and  from  the  diagram  which  you 
sent  to  the  Department,  as  the  true  order  of  sailing 
into  the  battle  with  the  forts.  Those  who  have 
written  on  the  subject  are  not  to  be  blamed  for 
using  the  official  reports  of  the  occurrences;  but  in 
seeking  for  the  correction  of  that  report,  I  hope  to 
prevent  similar  error  and  confusion  in  the  future. 
I  do  so  with  the  greatest  reluctance,  as  a  duty  to 
the  officers  under  my  immediate  command,  and  to 
myself,  and  I  appeal  to  your  sense  of  justice  whether 
I  could  do  less. 

You  state,  "I  have  just  re-read  my  (your)  report 
of  May  6th,  and  your  (my)  two  reports  following, 
and  cannot  conceive  how  you  could  be  more 
prominently  mentioned  to  the  Department."  In 
the  former,  vou  are  reported  as  leading  the  right 
column  in  the  gun-boat  "Cayuga,"  and  as  having 
preceded  me  to  the  quarantine  station." 

How  could  there  have  been  a  "right"'  and  left 
column  practically,  when  I  led  my  division  to  the 
attack  and  passage  of  the  forts  an  hour  before  you 
lifted  anchors  in  the  "  Hartford,1' and  your  center 
division  ?  What  I  did  was  done  by  your  orders  and 
inspiration,  and  to  you  the  world  has  given  the 
credit  of  the  attack  and  its  success,  as  fully  as  it 
gave  to  Lord  Nelson  the  credit  of  the  battle'of  the 
Nile  ;  but  did  it  detract  from  his  glory  that  the  re 
port  of  the  battle  described  how  it  was  fought,  and 
the  exact  position  of  his  own  vessel,  and  those  of 
his  subordinates  ? 

This  matter  has  been  the  subject  of  much  dis 
cussion  among  officers  then  commanding  vessels  in 
my  division  ;  all  say  that  no  vessel  of  your  center 
division  came  \ip  abreast  of,  or  lapped  their  vessels. 
Practically,  the  effect  of  your  verbal  order  was,  to 
divide  the  fleet  into  four  divisions,  viz  : 

1st.  The  mortar  fleet.  Commander  Porter. 

2d.  The  first  division  of  the  gun-boats,  under 
my  command,  to  which  was  added  the  two  sloops- 
of-war, "  Pensacola  "  and  "  Mississippi,''  of  which  the 
gun-boat  "Cayuga"  (with  my  division  flag)  was 
the  leading  vessel. 

3d.  The  center  division,  with  your  flag  on  the 
'•  Hartford,"  and 

4th.  The  rear  division,  bearing  the  flag  of  Captain 
H.  H.Bell. 

The  first,  center,  and  rear  divisions  went  up  to 
the  attack  in  single  file,  or  line  ahead.  I  went  up 
at  the  head  of  my  division  at  2  p.  M.,  or  as  soon 
thereafter  as  it  took  the  "  Pensacola"  (the  next  ves 
sel  astern  of  the  "  Cayuga"),  to  purchase  her  anchors 
—supposed  to  be  about  twenty  minutes.  You  fol 
lowed  without  lapping  the  ste'rnmost  vessel  of  my 


division,  and  the  division  of  gun-boats  commanded 
by  Captain  Bell  followed  in  the  wake  of  your 
division.  The  fact  practically  was  that  the  first 
division,  the  mortar  fleet,  covered  the  advance,  the 
second  was  the  vanguard,  the  third  the  main  body 
of  the  fleet,  and  the  fourth  the  rear,  and  that  the 
advance  being  made  up  a  river  and  line  ahead,  the 
diagram  does  not  give  any  idea  of  the  action  other 
than  to  produce  confusion  and  error.  How  could 
it  be  otherwise  when  no  vessel  of  the  third  division 
lapped  any  one  of  the  second  ? 

I  enclose  a  copy  of  this  (to  us)  unfortunate 
diagram,  as  attached  to  your  report  of  the  battle, 
which  you  will  notice  places  the  "Cayuga ''(my  flag 
gun-boat)  third  in  line  of  my  division,  whereas,  ac 
cording  to  your  own  statement  (of  two  columns 
abreast),  that  gun-boat  should  have  been  recorded 
as  first  in  line,  leading.  I  would  ask  of  your 
friendship  and  your  fairness  whether  this  diagram 
gives  the  faintest  idea  of  the  action,  and  whether 
if  the  names  of  the  vessels  were  altered,  it  would 
not  apply  equally  well  or  better  to  many  other 
battles. 

As  an  evidence  how  far  the  "  Cayuga  "  was  ahead 
of  the  rest  of  the  fleet  the  first  news  received  at  the 
North  is  announced  in  the  New  York  Times  of  Sun 
day,  April  27,  1862,  thus  :  "An  important  report 
from  the  rebels. — One  of  our  gun-boats  above  Fort 
Jackson  and  San  Philip.  Washington,  Saturday 
April  26th.  The  Richmond  Examiner  of  the  25th, 
announces  that  one  of  our  gun-boats  passed  Fort 
San  Philip,  sixty  miles  below  New  Orleans  on  the 
24th.  The  report  was  telegraphed  to  Norfolk,  and 
brought  to  Fortress  Monroe  under  a  flag  of  truce, 
and  received  from  there  to-day  by  the  Navy  De 
partment." 

The  next  rebel  telegram  announced  the  arrival 
of  the  fleet  before  the  city.  The  "  Cayuga  "  in  the 
interval  had  captured  the  Chalmette  regiment,  five 
miles  above  the  forts,  and  cut  the  telegraphic  com 
munication,  so  that  the  fleet  were  not  again  re 
ported  until  they  arrived  opposite  the  city. 

Now,  my  dear  admiral,  you  have  entirely  mis 
conceived  the  object  of  my  addressing  you.  It  is 
not  to  complain  that  you  have  not  mentioned  me 
prominently  in  your  dispatch,  but  it  is  because  in 
your  report  of  the  battle,  dated  May  6th,  and  the 
accompanying  diagram,  you  do  not  give  the  cir 
cumstances  of  the  fight  as  they  occurred,  but 
those  which  would  apply  to  your  former  plan 
which  was  abandoned.  From  that  report,  the 
reader  would  infer  that  the  fleet  went  to  the  at 
tack  of  the  forts  in  two  columns  abreast,  when  it 
was  done  in  single  column  (line  ahead) — that  the 
"  Hartford"  was  the  leading  vessel,  when  in  reality 
it  was  ninth  in  line  astern  of  the  "Cayuga,"  in  a 
single  line  or  line  ahead,  and  there  was  no  left  or 
right  of  line,  but  single  file. 

That  you  should  for  a  moment  leave  so  errone 
ous  a  report  or  record  uncorrected,  is  a  matter  of 
surprise  to  your  officers,  and  that  you  should  not 
have  made  the  correction  as  soon  as  your  attention 
was  called  to  it  is  still  more  embarrassing  to  us. 

They  know  that  under  your  orders,  I  led  the 
vanguard  of  your  fleet,  not  as  represented  on  the 
diagram  you 'have  filed,  but  in  an  entirely  differ 
ent  order,  and  received  forty-two  certificates  in  the 
way  of  rebel  shots  striking  my  vessel,  in  corrobor- 
ation  of  what  is  known  to  every  one  of  our  gallant 
companions  in  that  engagement. 

I  nave  delayed  my  reply,  both  because  I  have 
been  occupied,  and  since  have  heard  you  were  ill, 
which  I  deeply  regretted,  and  because  I  wished  to 
be  certain  that  I  said  nothing  in  haste  that  would 
be  annoying  to  you,  or  improper  in  me  to  say,  and 
I  hope  you  will  now  see  the  matter  as  I  and  others 
do,  and  make  the  correction  so  necessary  to  jus 
tice  in  your  report  dated  May  6,  1862,  and  substi 
tute  a  diagram  of  the  actual  positions  your  ves 
sels  and  officers  occupied  in  the  line  of  attack,  in 


240 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


BATTLE  OF  NEW   ORLEANS. 


Fort  St.  Philip. 


THE  CORRECTED    DIAGRAM. 


Copied  from  the  amended  Diagram  on  file  in  the  Navy 

Department,  and  certified  to  be  a  true  copy. 
June  2,  1869. 

[signed]  HOLMES   E.    OFFLEY,  Chief  Clerk. 

With  additional  outlines. 


ORDER  OF  THE  FLEET  is  PASSING  UP  TO  THE  ATTACK  OF  FORTS 
JACKSON  ASD  ST.  PHILIP,  APRIL  24,  1862. 


FIRST  DIVISION 

Leading  under  command 

Capt.  Thuodorus  Bailey. 


CENTER  DIVISION, 
Ad'l  Fa.rra.gut. 


Hartford, 

Com.  Wainwright, 

Brooklyn, 

Capt.  T.  T.  Craven. 
Richmond,  4. 

Com.  J.  Alden. 

THIRD  DIVISION, 

Capt.  H.  //.  Bell. 

Sciota.  4. 

Lt. -Com.  Donaldson.    ' 
Iroquois,  4. 

Com.  De  Camp. 

Kennebec.  4. 

Lt.-Com.  Russell. 

Pinola,  4. 

Lt.-Com.  P.  Crosby.  > 

Itaska.  4- 

Lt.-Com.  Caldwdl.  ' 

"Winona,  4. 

Lt.-Com.  Xichols. 

**  Mortar  Fleet, 
*  ^          Capt.  D.  D.  Porter. 

i  *  *    FIRST  DIVISION. 
V** 


4-  Cayuga,  Flag  Gun-boat, 
Lt.-Com.  Harrison. 

4-  Pensacola, 

dipt.  H.  ir.  Morris. 

4.  Mississippi, 

Capt.  M.  Smith. 

4.  Oneida, 

Com.  5.  P.  Lee. 

•f  Varuna, 

Com.  C.  5.  Boggs. 


Kineo, 


Very  respectfully, 

[signed]  D.  Q.  FARRAGUT. 


8  * 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


place  of  those  now  on  the  files  of  the  Navy  De 
partment. 

1    have    the    honor     to     be,    respectfully,    your 
obedient  servant, 

THEODORUS  BAILEY, 

Rear-Admiral, 
Admiral  D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  U.  8.  Navy. 


CORRECTION   BY   ADMIRAL   FARRAGUT. 

NEW  YORK,  May  19,  1869. 

MY  DEAR  ADMIRAL — I  have  received  your  two 
letters,  the  first  one  of  which  was  not  gfven  to  me 
until  to-day,  as  my  physician  has  advised  a  total 
suspension  of  business  until  I  should  become 
fully  convalescent,  which  I  am  happy  to  say,  is  now 
the  case.  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  make  the  cor 
rection  you  desire,  in  the  diagram  of  the  Missis 
sippi  battle,  as  I  now  fully  comprehend  what  you 
wish  in  this  matter.  In  fact,  I  cannot  understand 
how  this  sketch  of  the  first  proposed  order  of  bat 
tle—wherein  you  are  placed  third  instead  of  at  the 
head  of  the  column — should  have  been  attached  to 
the  report  in  lieu  of  the  one  which  was  afterwards 
adopted. 

By  referring  to  this  report,  you  will  observe 
that  the  diagram  accompanies  a  general  order,  is 
sued  four  days  before  the  action,  as  a  preparatory 
plan  of  attack,  which  was  subsequently  changed. 
But.  still,  1  cannot  understand  why,  even  in  this 
sketch,  you  should  not  have  been  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  starboard  column. 

This  diagram,  as  you  are  aware*  was  the  orig 
inal  plan,  to  be  changed,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
as  circumstances  might  justify,  and  the  vessels  were 
placed  according  to  the  rank  of  the  officers  respect 
ively  commanding  them  ;  but  should  not  have  been 
made  part  of  the  report  of  the  final  action,  as,  on 
reflect  ion,  I  decided  that  when  the  chains  were 
parted  the  plan  of  "line  ahead  "  should  be  adopted, 
as  the  best  calculated  for  the  preservation  of  the 
vessels  and  for  avoiding  all  chances  of  fouling. 
Therefore,  when  the  time  arrived,  and  the  signal 
given,  the  order  of  sailing  was  changed  to  line  of 
battle,  the  verbal  instructions  to  which  you  allude 
carried  out,  and  you  led  at  the  head  of  your  divis 
ion,  and  it  lias  always  afforded  me  the  greatest 
pleasure  to  say  that  you  performed  your  duties 
most  fearlessly  and  gallantly. 

For  this  reason  I  was,  at  the  outset,  a  little  sur 
prised  that  you  should  have  apparently  complained 
of  my  report,  but  mv  examination  of*  the  printed 
diagram  has  fully  satisfied  me  of  the  justice  of  your 
appeal. 

I  shall,  therefore,  forward  to  the  Department  a 
correct  sketch  of  the  final  attack  as  we  passed  up 
the  river. 

1  am,  very  truly,  your  friend  and  obedient  ser 
vant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Admiral  IT.  8.  N. 
Rear-Admiral  T.  BAILEY,  Washington. 


LETTERS  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  XAVY. 

NEW  YORK,  May  24,  1869. 

SIR — My  attention  having  been  called  by  Rear- 
Ad  miral  Bailey  to  an  incorrect  sketch  which  ac 
companied  my  report  of  May  6,  1862,  upon  the 
passage  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  I  have  the 
honor  to  forward  herewith  a  corrected  diagram, 
showing  the  position  of  the  vessels  at  the  time  they 
passed  through  the  obstructions  after  the  chains  had 
been  separated.  This  will  demonstrate  that  Rear- 
Admiral  (then  Captain)  Bailey  led  the  fleet  in  the 
"Cayuga,"up  to  the  attack  on  the  forts,  as  had 
been  previously  ordered,  he  taking  St.  Philip  with 
his  division,  while  I  reserved  Jackson  for  the  re 
mainder  of  the  squadron  under  my  command. 

The  skeleton  lines  show  how  the  vessels  moved 
up  from  their  original  position  of  two  lines  into  the 
line  ahead. 

This  correction  has  not  been  made  before,  be 
cause  I  was  not  aware  of  the  existence  of  the  mis 
take — the  diagram  being  evidently  a  clerical  error 
— and  in  opposition  to  the  text,  in  which  I  distinctly 
state  that  Rear-Admiral  Bailey  not  only  led,  but 
performed  his  duty  with  great  gallantry,  to  which  I 
call  the  attention  of  the  Department. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Hon.  A.  E.  BORIE,  Admiral  U.  8.  If. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,   Washington. 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C.  May  25,  1869. 
Hon.  A.  E.  BORIE,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  herewith, 
original  and  certified  copies  of  a  correspondence 
which  I  have  had  with  Admiral  D.  G.  Farragut, 
relating  to  the  battle  below  JNew  Orleans,  and  to 
request  that  the  letters  marked  from  A  to  E,  be 
placed  on  the  files  of  the  Navy  Department,  as  fur 
nishing  a  correction  of  that  officer's  report,  with  an 
accompanying  diagram  heretofore  made  to  the  De 
partment. 

The  object  of  my  addressing  Admiral  Farragut 
is  now  gained  by  the  admission  on  his  part  of  the 
correctness  of  my  statements,  that  the  fleet  under 
his  command  went  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  at 
tack  and  pass  Forts  J  ackson  and  St.  Philip,  in  order 
of  battle,  "line  ahead/'  or  single  file;  that  I  led  the 
fleet  into  the  battle  at  the  head  of,  and  in  command 
of  the  vanguard  division;  and  that  the  "  Hartford," 
flag-ship,  with  Admiral  Farragut  on  board,  followed 
my  division,  he  being  thus  ninth  in  line,  and  at  the 
head  of  the  rest  of  the  fleet  in  the  order  represented 
by  the  list  of  vessels  which  I  hereto  annex.  After 
this  frank  admission  by  my  distinguished  com 
mander,  I  have  only  the  regret  remaining,  that  the 
error  into  which  he*  was  led  was  not  discovered  and 
corrected  at  an  earlier  date,  thereby  possibly  af 
fecting  my  position  in  the  service. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully,  your  obedi 
ent  servant, 

THEODORUS  BAILEY, 

Rear-Admiral,  U.  8.  Navy. 


16 


242 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


VESSELS    AND    OFFICERS    ENGAGED    IN    THE    CAPTURE 

OF    NEW    ORLEANS. 


FLAG-OFFICER  DAVID  G.  FARRAGUT,  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 


CAPTAIN  T.  BAILEY,  COMMANDING  FIRST  DIVISION. 


CAPTAIN  H.  H.  BELL,  COMMANDING  SECOND  DIVISION. 


COMMANDER  DAVID  D.  PORTER,  COMMANDING  MORTAR  FLOTILLA. 


STEAMER  "BROOKLYN." 

Captain,  Thomas  T.  Craven;  Lieutenants,  R.  B. 
Lowry  and  James  O'Kane;  Acting  Masters,  George 
Dewhurst,  W.  C.  Gibbs,  J.  C.  Spofford  and  Ly- 
man  Wells;  Midshipmen,  John  R.  Bartlett  and  H. 
T.  Graf  ton ;  Surgeon,  Samuel  Jackson;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  S.  Knight;  Paymaster,  C.  W.  Abbott ; 
First-Lieutenant,  James  Forney,  U.  S.  M.  C.;  First- 
Assistant  Engineer,  Benj.  E.  Chassaing;  Second-As 
sistant-Engineers,  James  Atkins  and  A.  V.  Fraser, 
Jr. ;  Third-Assistant  Engineers,  C.  F.  Mayer,  B.  D. 
Clemens,  J.  L.  Bright  and  Jos.  Morgan;  Acting-Mas 
ters'  Mates,  R.  Beard sley,  H.  Bartlett,  James  Buck 
and  H.  C.  Leslie;  Boatswain,  J.  A.  Selrner;  Gunner, 
William  Yates;  Carpenter, W.  D.  Toy;  Sailmaker,  J. 
Stevens. 

STEAMER   "CAYUQA.1" 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  N.  B.  Harrison;  Lieu 
tenant,  George  H.  Perkins;  Acting-Masters,  John 
Hanson  and  E.  D.  Percy;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Edw. 
S.  Bogert;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  G.W.Whif- 
fln;  Second -Assistant  Engineer,  J.  M.  Harris;  Third- 
Assistant  Engineers,  J.  W.  Svdney,  J.  C.  Chaff ee 
and  Ralph  Aston  ;  Acting-Masters'  Mate,  W.  W. 
Patten. 

STEAMER  "  CLIFTON  " 

Acting-Lieutenant,  C.  H.  Baldwin;  Acting-Mas 
ters,  E.  A.  Howell,  Robert  Rhodes  and  P.  S.  Weeks; 
Midshipmen,  H.  T.  French  and  H.  B.  Rumsey; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  D.  T.  Nestell;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Carets;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant  Engineer,  James  A.  Fox ;  Acting-Third 
Assistant  Engineer,  Samuel  Vallum;  Acting-Mas 
ters1  Mate,  Charles  Albert,  L.  Cannon,  David  Har 
vey  and  W.  W.  Wells. 

STEAMER  "HARTFORD"  (FLAG-SHIP). 

Commander,  Richard  Wainwright;  Lieutenants, 
J.  S.  Thornton,  Albert  Kautz,  J.  C.  Watson  and  D. 
S.  Murphy;  Acting-Master,  T.  L.  Petersen;  Acting- 
Ensign,  E.  J.  Allen;  Midshipmen,  H.  B.  Tyson,  J. 
H.  Read,  E.  C.  Hazeltine  and  H.  J.  Blake;  Fleet 
Surgeon,  J.  M.  Foltz;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Joseph 
Hugg;  Paymaster,  George  Plunkett;  Captain  of 
Marines,  J.  L.  Bropme ;  Chief  Engineer,  J.  B. 
Kimball;  Second-Assistant  Engineers,  E.  B.  Latch, 
W.  W.  Hopper  and  F.  A.  Wilson;  Third-Assistant 


Engineers,  Isaac  De  Graff,  C.  M.  Burchard,  A.  K. 
Fulton,  H.  H.  Pilkington  and  W.  H.  Gamble; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  H.  Judson,  C.  H.  Lounds- 
berry,  T.  Mason  and  J.  M.  Smalley;  Boatswain, 
James  Walker;  Gunner,  John  Duncan  ;  Carpenter, 
J.  H.  Conley;  Sailmaker,  J.  A.  Holbrook. 


STEAMER  "  HARRIET  LANE." 

Commander,  J.  M.  Wainwright;  Lieutenant,  Ed 
ward  Lea;  Acting- Masters,  J.  A.  Hannum,  C.  H. 
Hamilton  and  W.  F.  Monroe;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
T.  N.  Penrose;  Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  J.  Richard 
son;  Second-Assistant  Engineers,  W.  H.  Plunkett 
and  C.  H.  Stone;  Third-Assistant  Engineers,  J.  E. 
Cooper,  R.  N.  Ellis  and  A.  T.  E.  Mullen;  Acting- 
Masters'  Mate,  C.  M.  Davis. 

STEAMER   "IROQUOIS." 

Commander,  John  De  Camp;  Lieutenants,  D.  B. 
Harmony  and  Fred.  V.  McNair,  Acting-Ensign, 
C.  F.  Willard;  Midshipman,  John  McFarland;  Sur 
geon,  Benj.  Vreeland  ;  Paymaster,  R.  H.  Clark; 
First- Assistant  Engineers,  John  H.  Long  and  B.  C. 
Bamptonj  Second-Assistant  Engineers,  E.  S.  Boyn- 
ton  and  F.  K.  Haine;  Third-Assistant  Engineer,  J. 
H.  Hunt;  Gunner,  J.  L.  Staples;  Carpenter,  John 
A.  Dixon. 

STEAMER  "ITASCA." 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  C.  H.  B.  Caldwell;  Act- 
ting-Masters,  Edward  Jones,  Amos  Johnson  and  S. 
Nickerson;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Heber  Smith;  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  A.  J.  Pritchard;  Second -Assist 
ant  Engineer,  J.  H.  Morrison  ;  Third-Assistant 
Engineers,  T.  M.  Jones,  John  Borthwick  and  E.  A. 
Magee;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  N.  Alexander  and 
W.  E.  Bridges. 

STEAMER   "JOHN  P.   JACKSON." 

Acting-Lieutenant-Commanding,  S.  E.  Wood- 
worth;  Acting-Masters,  M.  B.  Crowell,  J.  F.  Dear 
born,  Wm.  Hedger  and  James  Scannell;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  S.  Yard ;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant  Engineer,  J.  B.  Morgan  ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant  Engineers,  James  Barnes,  J.  D.  Caldwell 
and  Samuel  S  trade;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  W.  H. 
Howard,  W.  J.  B.  Lawrence  and  J.  Murphy. 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


243 


STEAMER  "KEXNEBEC." 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  John  H.  Russell-  Lieu 
tenant,  F.  B.  Blake;  Acting-Masters,  Win.  Brooks 
and  H.  C.  Wade;  Assistant-Surgeon,  C.  H.  Perry  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  L.  Burnett;  Second- 
Assistant  Engineer,  H.  W.  Fitch;  Third-Assistant 
Engineers,  B.  G.  Gowing,  E.  E.  Roberts  and  L.  W. 
Robinson ;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  J.  D.  Ellis, 
J.  W.  Merriman,  J.  W.  Page  and  H.  E.  Tinkhaui. 


STEAMER    "KINEO." 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  Geo.  M.  Ransom;  Act 
ing-Masters,  Oliver  Colbourn  and  John  Whitmore  ; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  O.  S.  Oberly;  Second- Assistant 
Engineer,  S.  W.  Cragg;  Third-Assistant  Engineers, 
C.  F.  Hollingsworth,  C.  J.  McConnell  and  James 
Manghlin;  Acting-Masters1  Mates,  John  Bartol,  W. 
H.  Davis,  G.  A.  Faunce  and  W.  S.  Keen. 

STEAMER  "  KATAHDIN." 

Commander,  George  H.  Preble  ;  Lieutenant, 
Nathaniel  Green  ;  Acting- Masters,  George  Harris 
and  W.  H.  Pollup;  Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  Robinson; 
Second- Assistant  Engineer,  T.  M.  Dukehart;  Third- 
Assistant  Engineers,  Win.  J.  Reid,  W.  W.  Heaton 
and  John  Mclntyre ;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  A. 
Hartshorn,  Geo.  Leonard,  J.  W.  Thode  and  A. 
Whiting. 

STEAMER  "MISSISSIPPI.'' 

Commander,  Melancton  Smith  ;  Lieutenants, 
Thos.  McK.  Buchanan  and  George  Dewey;  Acting- 
Masters,  C.  T.  Chase,  F.  E.  Ellis,  F.  T.  King  and 
George  Munday;  Midshipmen,  Albert  S.  Barker 
and  E.  T.  Woodward ;  Surgeon,  R.  T.  Maccoun; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  W.  Shively;  Paymaster,  T. 
M.  Taylor;  Chief  Engineer,  E.  Lawton;  Captain  of 
Marines,  P.  H.  W.  Fontane;  First- Assistant  Engi 
neer,  Win.  H.  Hunt;  Second-Assistant  Engineer,  J. 
Cox  Hull;  Third-Assistant  Engineer,  F.  G.  McKean; 
Acting-Masters'  Mates,  R.  C.  Bostwick,  H.  B. 
Francis  and  M.  Porter ;  Boatswain,  Jos.  Lewis ; 
Gunner,  Wm.  Cope;  Carpenter,  John  Green. 

STEAMER   "MIAMI." 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  A.  D.  Harrell;  Acting- 
Masters,  John  Lear,  M.  Rodgers  and  W.  N.  Wells; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Win.  B.  Mann;  Chief  Engineer, 
J.  F.  Lambdm ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  W. 
H.  Sells;  Acting-Second-Assistant  Engineer,  L.  W. 
Simmonds;  Third-Assistant  Engineers,  H.  D.  Hei- 
ser,  C.  C.  Davis  and  Guy  Sampson;  Acting-Masters' 
Mates,  Robert  Roundtree  and  R.  E.  Stevens. 


STEAMER   "ONEIDA." 

Commander,  S.  P.  Lee;  Lieutenant,  S.  F.  Brown  • 
Acting-Masters,  Thomas  Edwards,  Pierre  Giraud 
and  Elijah  Ross  ;  Midshipmen,  G.  W.  Wood  and 
F.  J.  Naile;  Surgeon,  John  Y.  Taylor;  Paymaster, 
C.  W.  Hassler;  Chief  Engineer.  F.  C.  Dade;  Second- 
Assistant  Engineers,  H.  McMurtrie  and  R.  H. 
Fitch;  Third-Assistant  Engineers,  W.  D.  Mcll- 
vaine,  A.  S.  Brower,  G.  W.  Stivers  and  R.  M.  Hodg 
son;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  Edw.  Bird  and  Daniel 
Clark  ;  Boatswain,  James  Herold;  Gunner,  AVm. 
Parker. 

STEAMER  "OWASCO." 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  John  Guest ;  Lieuten 
ant,  Chester  Hatfield;  Acting-Masters,  T.  D.  Dabb 
and  D.  P.  Heath ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  M. 


Leavitt ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Richard 
Beardsley  j  Second  -  Assistant  Engineer,  W.  K. 
Purse;  Third-Assistant  Engineers,  J.  A.  Scott,  C. 
H.  Greeiileaf  and  D.  B.  Egbert;  Acting-Masters' 
Mates,  W.  M.  Tomlinson  and  John  Utter. 

STEAMER  "  PEXSACOLA." 

Captain,  Henry  W.  Morris:  Lieutenants,  F.  A, 
Roe,  Jas.  Stillwell  andC.  E.  McKay ;  Acting-Masters, 
Edw.  Herrick,  G.  C.  Shultze  and  E.  C.  Weeks; 
Acting  -  Ensign,  A.  H.  Reynolds;  Surgeon,  J.  W. 
Taylor;  Assistant-Surgeon,  W.  B.  Dick;  Paymas 
ter,  G.  L.  Davis;  Chief  Engineer,  S.  D.  Hibbert; 
Second- Assistant  Engineers,  S.  L.  P.  Ayres  and  C. 
H.  Ball ;  Third- Assistant  Engineers,  J.  L.  Van- 
clain,  G.W.  Magee,  J.  T.  Hawkins,  F.  G.  Smith,  Jr., 
and  J.C.  Huntly;  First-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  J.  C. 
Harris ;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  Chas.  Gainsford, 
Jos.  Kent,  L.  Richards  and  G.  A.  Storm;  Boat 
swain,  N.  Goodrich;  Gunner,  D.  A.  Roe;  Carpenter, 
J.  E.  Cox;  Sailmaker,  Charles  Lawrence. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR  "  PORTSMOUTH." 

Commander,  Samuel  Swart wout;  Lieutenant,  F. 
O.  Davenport;  Acting-Masters,  W.  G.  Mitchell,  E. 
A.  Terrill  and  A.  A.  Ward;  Midshipman,  Walter 
Abbott;  Surgeon,  J.  S.  Dungan;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  H.  M.  Wells;  Assistant  Paymaster,  Casper 
Schenck ;  First-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  Wm.  H. 
Hale ;  Gunner,  T.  8.  Cassidy  ;  Carpenter,  John 
Shannon;  Sailmaker,  N.  J.  Hayden;  Acting- Masters' 
Mate,  S.  S.  Beck. 

STEAMER   "PINOLA." 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  Pierce  Crosby;  Lieu 
tenant,  A.  P.  Cooke;  Acting-Masters,  W.  P.  Gibbs 
and  J.  G.  Lloyd;  Assistant  Surgeon,  L.  M.  Lyon; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  S.  Warren;  First- 
Assistant  Engineer,  John  Johnson;  Third- Assistant 
Engineers,  P.  A.  Sass«,  Wm.  F.  Law  and  J.  Ever- 
ding;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  C.  V.  Rummell  and  W. 
E.  White. 

STEAMER  "RICHMOND." 

Commander,  James  Aid  en;  Lieutenants,  A.  B. 
Cummings  and  Edward  Terry;  Acting-Volunteer- 
Lieutenant,  T.  F.  Wade;  Acting-Masters,  C.  J. 
Gibbs  and  F.  S.  Hill;  Acting-Ensign,  H.  F.  Moffatt; 
Surgeon,  A.  A.  Henderson  ;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
J.  D.  Murphy;  Paymaster,  George  F.  Cutter;  Cap 
tain  of  Marines,  Alan  Ramsey  ;  Chief  Engineer, 
J.  W.  Moore;  First-Assistant  Engineer,  Eben  Hoyt; 
Second-Assistant  Engineer,  J.  L.  Butler ;  Third- 
Assistant  Engineers,  A.  W.  Morley,  G.  AV.  W.  Dove, 
R.  B.  Plotts  and  C.  E.  Emery  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  J.  R.  Howell;  Boatswain.  J.  L.  Choate;  Gun 
ner,  James  Thayer;  Carpenter,  H.  L.  Dixon;  Sail- 
maker,  H.  T.  Stocker. 

STEAMER  "SCIOTA." 

Lieutenant  Commanding,  Edw.  Donaldson;  Act 
ing-Masters,  G.  P.  Foster  and  A.  McFarland;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  G.  H.  E.  Baumgarten;  Second- 
Assistant  Engineer,  C.  E.  De  Valin;  Third- Assistant 
Engineers,  H.  M.  Quig,  A.  H.  Price  and  Edward 
Curtis;  Acting- Masters'  Mates,  John  Staples  and 
G.  O.  Taylor. 

STEAMER   "SACHEM." 

Acting-Masters,  L.  G.  Crane  and  Robert  Tarr; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  H.  Van  Deusen;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistant  Engineer,  P.  P.  Staat;  Acting- 
Masters'  Mate,  W.  L.  Pavy. 


244 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


STEAMER  "VARUNA." 


Commander,  Chas.  S.  Boggs;  Lieutenant,  C.  H. 
Swasey;  Acting  Masters,  J.  D.  Chilcls  and  Ezra 
Leonard;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  S.  H.  Bevins  and 
H.  D.  Foster;  Gunner,  T.  H.  Fortune. 

STEAMER    "WINOXA." 

Commander.  Edward  T.  Nichols  ;  Lieutenant, 
John  G.  Walker;  Acting-Masters,  Chas.  Hallett 
and  Felix  McCurley;  Acting-Ensign,  Win.  F.  Hunt; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  Mathewson;  Paymaster,  H. 
M.  Denniston;  Second-Assistant  Engineers,  John 
Purdy,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  Watters;  Third-Assistant 
Engineers,  Edward  Gay  and  R.  L.  Wamaling ; 
Acting-Masters'  Mates,  F.  H.  Beers  and  H.  T.  Bur- 
dett. 

STEAMER    "WESTFIELD." 

Commander,  Wm.  B.  Renshaw;  Acting-Masters, 
W.  L.  Babcock,  F.  C.  Miller,  L.  D.  Smalley  and 
Gustav  Vasallo;  Midshipman,  C.  W.  Zimmerman; 
Acting -Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  H.  Allis ;  Acting - 
Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  C.  Walden;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant  Engineer,  Wm.  R.  Green;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant  Engineers,  G.  S.  Baker,  Chas.  W.  Smith 
and  John  Van  Hogan;  Acting-Masters'  Mate,  J.  P. 
Arnett. 

STEAMER  "WISSAHICKON." 

.     Lieutenant  Commanding,  A.  N.  Smith. 


MORTAR  FLOTILLA. 

First  Division. 

LIEUTENANT   WATSON   SMITH,    Commanding 
Division. 

Schooner  "  Norfolk  Packet." — Lieutenant  Watson 

Smith. 
Schooner  "  Oliver  H.  Lee/'— Acting- Master  Wash. 

Godfrey. 


Schooner  "  Para."— Acting-Master  Edward  G.  Fur- 

ber. 
Schooner  "C.  P.  Williams." — Acting  Master  A.    R. 

Langthorne. 
Schooner    "Arietta." — Acting-Master  Thomas    E. 

Smith. 
Schooner  "William  Bacon."— Acting-Master  Wm. 

R.  Rogers. 
Schooner    "  Sophronia."  —  Acting  -  Master   Lyman 

Bartholomew. 

Second  Division. 

LIEUTENANT   W.    W.    QUEEN,     Commanding 
Division. 

Schooner  "  T.  A.  Ward."— Lieutenant  W.  W.  Queen. 
Schooner  "M.  T.  Carlton."'— Acting-Master  Chas.  E. 

Jack. 
Schooner  "Matthew  Yassar." — Acting-Master  Hugh 

H.  Savage. 
Schooner     "George      Mangham." — Acting -Master 

John  Collins. 
Schooner    "Orvetta." — Acting-Master    Francis    E. 

Blanchard. 
Schooner  "  Sydney  C.  Jones.''— Acting-Master  J.  D. 

Graham. 
Schooner  "  Adolph  Hugel." — Acting- Master  J.  Van 

Buskirk. 

Third  Division. 

LIEUTENANT    K.    R.    BREESE,    Commanding 
Division. 

Barkentine   "Horace    Beals." — Lieutenant    K.     R. 

Breese. 
Schooner   "John  Griffith."— Acting-Master  Henry 

Brown. 
Schooner  "Sarah  Bruen." — Acting-Master  Abraham 

Christian. 

Schooner  "Racer." — Acting- Master  Alvin  Phinney. 
Brig     "Sea     Foam.'' — Acting  -  Master     Henry    E. 

Williams. 
Schooner  "Henry  James." — Acting-Master    L.  W. 

Pennington. 
Schooner  ' '  Dan  Smith. " — Acting-Master  George  W. 

Brown. 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  ATTACHED  TO  THE  MORTAR  FLOTILLA  AND  WEST  GULF 

SQUADRON,  THE  NAMES  OF  WHOSE  VESSELS  DO  NOT 

APPEAR  IN  THE  NAVY  REGISTER. 

MORTAR     FLOTILLA. 


Acting-Master,  A.  M.  Gould. 

Newell  Graham. 
"        J.  H.  Johnstone. 

H.  B.  Jenks. 
"        E.  C.  Merriman. 
Midshipman,  N.  W.  Thomas. 

George  W.  Sumner. 
Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  B.  Judson. 

Robert  T.  Edes. 
A.  A.  Hoehling. 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Clifton  Hellen. 

H.  M.  Hanna. 

Acting-Master's  Mate,  August  Adler. 
E.  O.  Adams. 
T.  H.  Baker. 
James  Baker. 
J.  H.  Butler. 
John  Bath. 
J.  W.  Cortelyou. 
R.  M.  Clark. 


Acting-Master's  Mate,  D.  B.  Corey. 
AVm.  Collins. 
J.  A.  Chadwick. 
G.  R.  Clifton. 
J.  W.  Comer. 
William  Dade. 
Peter  Decker. 
George  Drain. 
L.  E.  Daggett. 
A.  Felix. 
E.  Gabrielson. 
D.  H.  Griswold. 
William  Hatch. 
J.  S.  Hyde. 
T.  G.  Hall. 
J.  B.  Johnson. 
G.  W.  Lane. 
Anthony  Loper. 
Thomas  Levindsell. 
Thomas  McEllmell. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


245 


WEST      GULF     SQUADRON. 


Acting-Master,  L.  A.  Brown. 

W.  H.  Churchill. 
D.  H.  Havdeu. 
R.  L.  Kelley. 
W.  M.  Stannard. 
George  Wiggin. 
O  B.  Warren. 


Assi 


tant  Surgeon,  John  H.  Clark. 
Wm.  B.  Gibson. 
W.  F.  Terry. 
C.  J".  8.  Wells. 


Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  S.  Giberson. 
Third-Assistant  Engineer,  John  L>.  Ford. 

J.  E.  Speights. 
J.  F.  Walton. 

Acting-First-Assistant  Engineer,  David  Fraser. 
Acting-Second-Assistant  Engineer, George  L.Harris. 
Acting-Third-Assistant  Engineer,  Samuel  Robinson. 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  F.  G.  Lowe. 

"        S.  H.  Johnson. 
"        Oscar  Peck. 
"  "  "        George  Taylor. 


CH  A  PTER      XXI. 


CAPTURE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.— FIRST  ATTACK  ON  VICKSBURG  BY  FARRA- 

GUT'S  FLEET  AND  MORTAR  FLOTILLA.— JUNCTION  OF  FLAG-OFFICERS 

FARRAGUT   AND    DAVIS    ABOVE  VICKSBURG.— RAM   "ARKANSAS." 

FARRAGUT  APPROACHES  NEW  ORLEANS.— DEFENCES  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.— Two  BRAVE  MEN 
(CAPT.  BAILEY  AND  LIEUT.  PERKINS)  FACE  A  MOB.— THE  ARMY  UNDER  GENERAL 
BUTLER  PLACED  IN  POSSESSION  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.— FARRAGUT'S  SHIPS  PUSH  UP  THE 
MISSISSIPPI  AND  PASS  VlCKSBURG. — SHELLING  THE  BATTERIES.— FARRAGUT  AND  DAVIS 
JOIN  HANDS. — THE  RAM  "ARKANSAS  "  MAKES  HER  APPEARANCE. — A  VIGOROUS  PURSUIT. 
— ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  "  ARKANSAS"  AND  "  CARONDELET." — THE  "  CARONDE- 
LET  "  DRIFTS  ASHORE. — THE  "ARKANSAS"  SLIPS  BY  THE  FLEET,  TO  VICKSBURG. — THE 
ATTACK  ON  VICKSBURG  ABANDONED. — FLAG-OFFICER  DAVIS  RELIEVED. — REPORTS 
OF  FLAG-OFFICER  FARRAGUT,  CAPTAIN  CRAVEN,  COMMANDERS  ALDEN,  WAINWRIGHT, 
PALMER,  DE  CAMP,  PORTER,  AND  FLEET  SURGEON  FOLTZ,  LIEUT. -COMMANDERS  BALD 
WIN,  PREBLE,  RUSSELL,  LEE,  DONALDSON,  NICHOLS,  CROSBY.  WOODWORTH  AND  LOWRY. 
—COMMODORE  W.  D.  PORTER'S  REPORT  OF  ENGAGEMENT  AT  PORT  HUDSON.— REPORT 
OF  COMMANDER  RILEY. 


WHEN    Farragut      passed     the 
Chalmette  batteries,  and  the 
vessel   approached    New   Or 
leans,  the  city  levee  presented 
a  scene  of  desolation.     Ships, 
cotton,  steamers  and  coal,  were  in  a  blaze 
and  it  looked  as  if  the  whole  city  was  on  fire. 
It  required  all  the  ingenuity  of  the  com 
manding  officers  to  avoid  coming  in  con 
tact    with  the  floating  conflagration,  and 
when  the  ships  dropped  anchor  before  the 
conquered  city,  thousands  of  people  crowded 
the  shore,  shouting  and  bidding  defiance  to 
the  victorious  invaders. 

There  was  no  insulting  epithet  these  mani 
acs  did  not  heap  upon  the  heads  of  those  on 
board  the  ships  ;  it  was  as  if  bedlam  had 
broken  loose  and  all  its  inmates  were 
assembled  on  the  levee  at  New  Orleans. 

Farragut  at  once  ordered  the  seizure  of  a 
large  ram  which  was  intended  to  be  a  very 
formidable  vessel,  but  was  still  unfinished. 
Before  the  officer  who  had  been  sent  to  take 
possession  could  reach  the  ram  she  came 
floating  down  the  river  enveloped  in  flames. 
Another  was  sunk  right  opposite  the  Cus 
tom  House.  Others,  which  were  just  begun 


at  Algiers,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river 
from  New  Orleans,  were  burning. 

Truly,  the  Queen  city  of  the  South  was 
doing  her  share  in  building  rams  to  annihi 
late  our  Navy  and  Commerce,  but  where 
were  our  rams  that  should  have  been  built 
by  the  North  which  boasted  of  its  great 
skill  and  resources?  These  should  have 
been  ready  to  sally  out  within  three  months 
after  the  war  began,  to  drive  the  "Louis 
iana,"  "Manassas,"  "Mississippi,"  "Ten 
nessee,"  "Arkansas,""  Albemarle,"  and 
others,  back  to  their  holes  or  crush  them 
like  so  many  egg  shells.  Our  formidable 
vessels  were  not  even  begun — the  little 
"  Monitor"  even  was  due  to  the  energy  and 
public  spirit  of  a  private  citizen,  John  Erics 
son,  who  furnished  his  vessel  just  in  time 
to  save  the  honor  of  the  nation. 

The  nondescript,  wooden  Navy,  with 
scarcely  a  rifled  gun,  was  called  upon  to 
attack  these  monster  iron-clad  rams  shel 
tered  by  forts  and  floating  obstructions  and 
protected  by  torpedoes  and  fire-rafts;  and 
was  expected  in  all  cases  to  win,  notwith 
standing  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered. 

The  American  people  do  not  know,  and 

246) 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


247 


probably  never  will  appreciate,  the  value  of 
the  capture  of  New  Orleans.  Had  the  city 
been  left  three  months  longer,  to  perfect  its 
defences  and  finish  its  works  of  offence, 
our  wooden  fleet  would  have  been  driven 
North  and  the  entire  Southern  coast  would 
have  been  sealed  against  us.  The  blockade 
would  have  been  raised,  and  the  independ 
ence  of  the  South  recognized  by  the  powers 
of  Europe.  All  this  was  prevented  by  the 
Navy  without  the  assistance  of  the  Army 
—that  same  Navy  which  is  to-day  a  mere 
shadow  owing  to  the  neglect  of  Congress  to 
foster  and  uphold  it. 

What  were  the  intentions  of  the  Confed 
erates  at  New  Orleans  can  be  easily  under 
stood  by  reading  Flag-officer  Farragut's 
report.  When  he  went  up  the  river  to 
Baton  Rouge,  he  found  the  banks  bristling 
with  cannon,  including  many  of  the  guns 
the  government  had  so  ignominiously  de 
serted  at  Norfolk.  These  were  intended  to 
bar  the  way  against  any  invading  squadron 
approaching  New  Orleans  from  the  North  ; 
but  the  panic  had  spread  even  to  that  point, 
and  all  the  guns  were  spiked  and  their 
carriages  destroyed. 

One  work  eight  miles  above  New  Orleans, 
reached  from  the  Mississippi  nearly  across 
to  Lake  Ponchartrain,  and  was  partly 
mounted  with  twenty-six  heavy  guns, 
intended  to  bid  defiance  to  our  Navy 
and  Army.  A  mile  above  this  were  two 
other  works  waiting  only  for  more  of  the 
Norfolk  guns,  or  for  some  of  the  heavy 
Brooke  rifles  which  the  Tredegar  works  in 
Richmond  were  turning  out  by  wholesale. 

Still  further  up  the  river  the  Confederates 
had  constructed  one  of  the  most  herculean 
works  of  the  kind  ever  beheld.  It  was  an 
immense  raft  of  logs  bolted  and  chained 
together  with  much  ingenuity ;  and  was 
intended  to  be  thrown  across  the  Missis 
sippi  on  the  approach  of  the  Federal  iron 
clads  should  they  descend  the  river  so  far. 

Had  New  Orleans  not  been  attacked  from 
the  sea  at  the  time  it  was  the  Confederates 
would  have  laughed  at  our  old  "turtles," 
and  would  have  had  rams  and  iron-dads 
enough  to  have  easily  crushed  them.  They 
would  not  have  needed  the  great  raft  to 
keep  out  the  Federal  gun-boats.  Nay, 
more,  these  great  iron-clads  would  have 
made  their  way  up  the  river  and  our  towns 
on  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries  would 
have  been  at  their  mercy.  All  this  disgrace 
and  mortification  was  saved  the  country  by 
the  energy,  zeal,  and  bravery  of  the  Navy, 
in  wooden  ships  armed  with  smooth-bore 
guns.  St.  Vincent,  the  Nile,  Trafalgar, 
were  all  great  victories,  but  they  were  no 
more  important  to  England  than  was  Far 
ragut's  achievement  to  the  United  States. 

One  of  Farragut's  first  acts  on  reaching 
New  Orleans  was  to  send  Captain  Bailey 


on  shore,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant 
George  H.  Perkins,  to  demand  from  the 
mayor  the  surrender  of  the  city.  These 
two  officers  went  on  their  perilous  service 
without  an  escort  and  passed  right 
through  the  crowd  of  maniacs  who 
were  making  all  sorts  of  threats  from  the 
levee  at  any  one  who  should  dare  come  on 
shore  from  the  ships.  At  this  time  the 
whole  city  was  in  an  uproar,  such  as  was 
perhaps  never  before  seen  in  this  country. 
All  the  vagabonds  of  the  town,  thieves, 
ragpickers,  abandoned  women,  the  inhabi 
tants  of  the  slums,  all  were  abroad,  their 
faces  distorted  by  passion,  the  riffraff,  hob 
nobbing  with  the  well-to-do,  and  all  ani 
mated  by  a  common  hatred  of  the  detested 
Yankees. 


LIEUTENANT    (NOW    CAPTAIN)    GEORGE    H.    PERKINS. 

(FBOM    A    PORTRAIT    TAKEN    1884.) 

It  looked  as  if  law  and  order  could 
never  be  re-established.  The  steamers  that 
had  been  left  unburned  were  lying  at  the 
levee,  with  crowds  of  maniacs  rushing  over 
their  decks,  the  men  smashing  in  the  rice 
tierces,  the  women  scraping  up  all  that  could 
be  gathered.  Such  portions  as  could  not 
be  carried  off  were  thrown  into  the  river — 
"the  damned  Yankees  shan't  have  it!" 
they  cried.  There  was  no  way  of  testify 
ing  their  rage  to  which  the  mob  did  not  re 
sort. 

All  at  once  a  boat  was  seen  pulling  for  the 
shore  with  two  officers  sitting  in  the  stern- 
sheets.  These  officers  landed,  faced  the 
crowd,  and  walked  as  steadily  as  if  they 
had  a  thousand  men  at  their  backs. 

"  I  want  to  see  the  mayor,"  said  Captain 
Bailey,  "show  me  where  he  lives";  and 
now  the  crowd  woke  again  from  the  brief 
silence  that  had  fallen  upon  it.  Again  they 


248 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


roared  and  shouted,  "  Down  with  the 
Yankees!''  "  shoot  them  !"  "hang  them  to 
a  lamp  post  !"  and  they  crowded  around 
the  two  officers  who  walked  fearlessly  on. 
In  a  few  moments  the  officers  were  lost 
sight  of  in  the  crowd,  and  no  one  in  the 
squadron  knew  what  might  be  their  fate, 
but  Bailey  and  Perkins  walked  coolly  on  in 
defiance  of  the  rabble  until  their  determined 
courage  won  respect  even  from  that  howl 
ing  mob. 

The  guns  of  the  '•'  Hartford  "  were  loaded 
with  grape  and  canister,  and  as  Bailey  and 
Perkins  were  shut  in  by  the  crowd,  the  men 
stood  to  their  guns  ready  for  the  first  sign 
from  the  tops,  that  harm  had  come  to  the 
officers,  to  open  the  battery  on  the  mob. 

However,  no  harm  came  to  those  two 
brave  men.  It  would  seem  that,  in  an 
American  mob,  there  is  always  some  little 
spark  of  chivalry,  especially  where  men 
show  pluck.  So  it  was  in  this  case;  the  two 
officers  reached  the  mayor's  house,  and  were 
shown  into  the  presence  of  the  mayor,  Mr. 
Monroe,  a  cool,  brave  gentleman,  to  be  sure, 
but  one  ruled  by  the  rabble,  which  has  al 
ways  had  undue  influence  in  New  Orleans. 

"  We  have  come."  said  Captain  Bailey  to 
the  mayor,  "to  demand  the  surrender  of 
New  Orleans,  and  that  the  State  flag  be 
hauled  down  from  the  public  buildings,  and 
that  only  the  United  States  flag  be  hoisted 
there." 

"  You  have  the  power  in  your  own 
hands,"  replied  the  mayor,  "and  can  do  as 
you  please,  but  I  doubt  if  there  is  a  man  in 
New  Orleans  who  would  haul  down  that  flag 
without  being  assassinated  on  the  spot." 

The  officers  having  performed  their  mis 
sion,  took  their  leave.  The  crowd  had  re 
ceived  some  intimation  of  their  demand, 
and  on  their  appearance  again  howled,  if 
possible,  louder  than  before,  but  Bailey  and 
Perkins  waved  them  aside,  and  strode  back 
to  the  levee.  It  was  a  brave  action,  and 
should  not  be  forgotten  by  those  who  have 
lived  to  read  the  events  of  the  civil  war. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  Captain  Bailey 
and  Lieutenant  Perkins,  Captain  Charles 
H.  Bell  landed  with  a  guard  of  marines  and 
two  boat  howitzers  loaded  with  grape  and 
canister.  The  same  howling  mob  met  Cap 
tain  Bell  at  the  levee,  but  gave  way  before 
the  marines,  who  marched  steadily  towards 
the  State  House.  Arriving  there  the  marines 
were  drawn  up  in  line,  with  the  howitzers 
pointed  at  the  mob,  ready  to  mow  them 
down  if  it  became  necessary  to  do  so.  Bell 
ascended  to  the  roof  of  the  building,  down 
came  the  Confederate  flag  and  up  went  the 
stars  and  stripes.  The  crowd  was  hushed 
into  silence,  they  realized  that  the  howitzers 
would  decimate  their  ranks  if  the  order  was 
given  to  fire,  and  that  was  something  they 
did  not  fancy. 


At  the  Custom  House  the  same  scene  was 
enacted  while  cheer  after  cheer  came  from 
the  ships,  the  signal  that  the  majesty  of 
the  law  had  been  upheld  and  the  integrity 
of  the  Union  vindicated. 

A  few  days  afterwards  the  steamers  of 
the  mortar  flotilla  towed  the  transports 
containing  Major-General  Butler's  army  to 
New  Orleans,  and  under  the  guns  of  Far- 
ragut's  squadron  the  troops  landed,  and  or 
der  was  re-established  in  the  city. 

Then  Flag-officer  Farragut  pushed  on  to 
wards  Vicksburg,  whose  heights  had  been 
heavily  fortified.  The  flag-officer  did  not 
feel  justified  in  attacking  the  stronghold 
without  the  mortar  flotilla,  which  he 
"  deemed  indispensable  to  shell  out  the 
heights,"  but  the  mortars  were  then  at  Pen- 
sacola  and  it  took  them  some  twenty  days 
to  reach  the  scene  of  action. 

Sixteen  mortars  being  then  placed  in  po 
sition  they  proceeded  to  shell  the  batteries 
on  the  hills,  with  such  good  effect  that  Far- 
ragut's  ships  passed  Vicksburg  with  very 
little  loss.  But  the  soldiers  in  the  hill  forts 
refused  to  stay  shelled  out,  and  when  the 
mortars  stopped  playing  on  them  they 
would  come  back  from  the  fields  and  again 
open  fire.  It  was  not  here  as  at  Fort  Jack 
son,  where  the  beseiged  were  cooped  up  in 
casemates  with  bricks  and  mortar  all 
around,  where  a  shell  in  falling  would  dis 
place  huge  masses  of  masonry,  dealing 
death  and  destruction  to  the  garrison.  The 
fortifications  of  Vicksburg  were  scattered 
over  the  hills  in  groups,  the  guns  fifty 
yards  apart,  and  concealed  from  view.  The 
heavy  shells  would  whistle  over  the  ships, 
throwing  up  the  water  in  spouts  and  oc 
casionally  crashing  through  the  vessels' 
timbers,  to  let  the  invaders  know  how  well 
Vicksburg  was  fortified,  and  what  improve 
ments  had  taken  place  in  this  respect 
within  a  month. 

The  whole  power  of  the  Confederacy  had 
been  set  to  work  to  save  this  Gibraltar  of 
the  Mississippi,  the  railroads  poured  in 
troops  and  guns  without  stint,  enabling  it 
to  bid  defiance  to  Farragut's  ships  and  the 
mortar  flotilla. 

There  was  an  area  of  twenty-eight  square 
miles  within  which  the  Federals  might 
throw  all  the  shot  and  shells  they  pleased. 
The  Confederates  did  not  mind  it  much, 
even  when  the  shots  fell  in  the  city.  This 
was  their  last  ditch,  so  far  as  the  Missis 
sippi  was  concerned,  and  here  they  were  de 
termined  to  make  a  final  stand. 

Farragut  could  only  obey  his  orders  and 
effect  a  junction  with  Flag-officer  Davis 
above  the  city,  and  they  pummelled  away 
to  their  hearts'  content  with  shells  and 
mortars  for  many  days,  with  little  effect. 

Our  combined  fleet  lay  there  and  gazed 
in  wonder  at  the  new  forts  that  were  con- 


OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


240 


stantly  springing  up  on  the  hill  tops,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  river,  and 
a  mile  and  a  half  back  from  the  shore, 
while  water  batteries  seemed  to  grow  on 
every  salient  point  It  was  evident  enough 
that  Vicksburg  could  only  be  taken  after  a 
long  siege  by  the  combined  operations  of  a 
large  military  and  naval  force. 

Flag-officers  Farragut  and  Davis  here 
learned  that  a  large  ram  was  building  at 
Yazoo  City,  but  they  did  not  believe  the 
Confederates  had  sufficient  resources  to 
build  a  powerful  vessel  in  such  an  out-of- 
the-way  place,  so  they  let  their  vessels' 
steam  go  down  to  save  coal,  which  was 
very  hard  to  get  at  Vicksburg,  and  con 
tented  themselves  with  sending  the  "  Car- 
pndelet  "  and  "  Taylor  "  up  the  Yazoo  River 
in  companv  with  the  Ellet  ram,  "  Queen  of 
the  West." 

On  their  way  up  the  Yazoo  River,  and  six 
miles  above  its  mouth,  the  two  gun-boats 
met  the  iron-clad  ram  "  Arkansas  "  advanc 
ing  boldly  to  attack  them.  She  was  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Brown,  late  of  the 
U.  S.  Navy,  whose  name  will  go  down  in 
history  as  one  who  performed  a  most  gal 
lant  and  desperate  undertaking. 

The  iron  plating  of  the  "Arkansas"  ren 
dered  her  impervious  to  the  shot  and  shells 
of  our  fleet,  her  formidable  iron  prow  could 
pierce  any  ship's  side,  and  she  had  a  formid 
able  battery  of  rifled  guns. 

The  two  gun-boats  and  the  "  Queen  of  the 
West,"  turned  to  retreat  down  the  river  fir 
ing  upon  the  "Arkansas"  as  they  did  so.  The 
Confederate  ram  pursued  the  three  vessels. 
keeping  up  a  vigorous  fire  with  her  bow 
guns,  and  had  greatly  the  advantage,  being 
thoroughly  protected  from  their  shot,  and 
having  a  much  heavier  battery. 

This  running  fight  went  on  for  an  hour 
until  the  "  Arkansas  "  came  up  with  the 
"  Carondelet,"  the  slowest  of  the  three  ves 
sels,  and  tried  to  run  her  down.  The  "  Car 
ondelet"  avoided  her  prow,  and  as  the 
"Arkansas"  came  abreast,  exchanged 
broadsides  with  the  enemy.  The '"  Arkan 
sas"  then  passed  ahead,  and  the  "Caron 
delet  '*  opened  on  her  with  the  bow  guns, 
the  shot  from  which  seemed  to  glance  harm 
lessly  from  her  stern. 

At  this  moment.the  "  Carondelet's  "  wheel 
ropes  were  shot  away  for  the  third  time, 
and  she  sheered  into  the  shore,  while  two 
shot  holes  were  observed  in  the  "Arkansas," 
and  her  crew  were  seen  pumping  and 
bailing. 

The  "Carondelet"  was  much  damaged 
in  hull  and  machinery,  and  had  thirteen 
shot  holes  in  her  hull,  steam  gauge,  three 
escape  pipes  and  two  water  pipes  cut  away. 
Nineteen  beams  and  thirty  timbers  were  cut 
away,  three  boats  destroyed,  deck  pumps 
shot  away  and  many  other  injuries.  Thirty 


men  were  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  All 
through  the  fight,  the  "Taylor,"  Lieut.-Com. 
Gwinn.  gallantly  sustained  Commander 
Walke  in  the  "  Carondelet." 

There  can  be  no  comparison  drawn 
between  the  "Arkansas"  and  her  antago 
nists,  for  with  but  one  gun  she  would  have 
been  superior  to  all  the  "  Carondelet "  class 
of  gun-boats  put  together  and  would  have 
been  more  than  a  match  for  the  "  Benton  ;" 
yet,  notwithstanding  her  inferiority,  the 
"  Carondelet  "  hung  on  to  the  last,  inflict 
ing  all  the  damage  on  the  ram  that  she  pos 
sibly  could  until  her  wheel  ropes  were  shot 
away  and  she  drifted  ashore. 

It  was  the  object  of  the  commanding  offi 
cer  of  the  "Arkansas"  to  reach  Vicksburg 
undiscovered,  and  she  would  have  done  so 
but  for  the  three  vessels  she  encountered  in 
the  Yazoo.  When  the  "Carondelet" 
parted  her  wheel  ropes  the  "Arkansas" 
never  stopped,  but  made  the  best  of  her 
way  in  pursuit  of  the  "Taylor  "  and  "  Queen 
of  the  West,"  both  of  which  were  carrying 
on  all  steam  to  notify  the  squadron  that  the 
"  Arkansas"  was  coming. 

The  sound  of  the  guns  was  heard  in  the 
fleet  but  it  was  taken  as  an  indication  of 
some  conflict  with  "bushwhackers."  The 
ram  "  General  Bragg,"  was  the  only  vessel 
that  had  steam  up  and  her  captain  unfortu 
nately  waited  for  orders  instead  of  slipping 
her  chain  and  attacking  the  "Arkansas," 
when  she  came  up  with  the  fleet.  Had 
the  "  Bragg"  done  this  she  would  doubtless 
have  disabled  the  "  Arkansas  "  by  ramming 
her  as  the  latter  vessel  was  already  dam 
aged  in  her  motive  power. 

Flag-officer  Farragut  says:  "We  were 
all  lying  with  low  fires — none  of  us  had 
steam  up  or  could  get  it  up  in  time  to  pursue 
her  (the  '  Arkansas ')  but  she  took  the 
broadsides  of  the  whole  fleet.  It  was  a  bold 
thing,  and  she  was  only  saved  by  our  feel 
ing  of  security.  She  was  very  much  in 
jured,  and  was  only  able  to  drift  down  at 
the  lowest  speed  and  with  the  current  she 
got  down  to  the  forts  at  Vicksburg  before 
any  of  us  had  steam  up." 

The  "  Arkansas"  was  undoubtedly  much 
damaged  by  the  fire  of  the  fleet  ;  her  smoke 
stack  was  riddled,  and  although  she  was 
built  to  be  invulnerable,  several  eleven-inch 
shots  penetrated  her.  cutting  her  up  inside 
and  killing  and  wounding  twenty  of  her 
crew.  Among  the  killed  was  the  first 
pilot,  and  among  the  wounded  were  the 
commanding  officer.  Lieutenant  Isaac  N. 
Brown,  and  another  pilot. 

The  vessels  of  the  fleet  suffered  from  the 
"  Arkansas  "  as  she  passed  down,  each  of 
the  wooden  ships  receiving  one  or  two  shots. 
Commander  William  D.  Porter,  of  the  gun 
boat  "  Essex,"  volunteered  to  go  down  with 
his  vessel  and  destroy  the  ram,  but  his  gal- 


250 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


lant    attempt    was  unsuccessful,  and    the 
"  Essex  "  was  much  cut  up  by  the  batteries. 

The  morning  after  this  affair,  Farragut 
got  under  way  with  his  ships  and  proceeded 
down  the  river  to  protect  the  mortars  and 
transports  below,  each  vessel  firing  into  the 
"  Arkansas  "  as  they  passed  her  under  the 
guns  of  Vicksburg.  The  morning  was 
misty  and  the  forts  were  firing  into  the 
ships,  so  that  the  "Arkansas"  was  not  ma 
terially  damaged. 

Flag  officers  Farragut  and  Davis,  finding 
it  a  loss  of  time  to  attempt  the  reduction 
of  Vicksburg  without  the  co-operation  of 
a  large  Army,  determined  to  abandon 
the  idea  for  the  present  and  return  to  their 
stations — Davis  up  river  and  Farragut  to 
New  Orleans,  where  he  could  inaugurate 
fresh  expeditions  against  the  enemy.  So 
Vicksburg  was  left  alone  in  her  glory  to 
strengthen  her  fortifications  and  for  a  time 
bid  defiance  to  the  Federal  Government. 

The  original  plan  of  sending  an  Army  of 
ten  thousand  men  to  take  possession  of 
Vicksburg,  under  cover  of  Farragut's 
squadron,  was  never  carried  out.  Three 
thousand  troops  only  (under  command  of 
General  Williams)  were  landed  opposite 
Vicksburg,  but,  as  they  attempted  nothing 
important,  their  presence  was  perfectly  use 
less.  The  ten  thousand  men  who  should 
have  been  sent  to  Vicksburg  were  retained 
by  General  Butler  at  New  Orleans.  Had 
this  Army  been  pushed  up  the  river  directly 
after  the  fall  of  New  Orleans,  Vicksburg 
would  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
Federal  forces.  This  failure  to  act  promptly 
cost  the  Government  many  lives  and  mil 
lions  of  money. 

Flag-officer  Davis  at  first  determined  to 
occupy  the  Yazpo  River,  and  from  thence 
carry  on  operations  against  the  enemy,  but 
he  found  that  nothing  could  be  done  in  the 
Yazoo  at  low  water,  and  besides,  the  en 
emy  had  constructed  formidable  barricades, 
well  defended  by  heavy  batteries,  at  Haines' 
Bluff,  some  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
river  ;  and  with  these  he  had  not  sufficient 
force  to  contend. 

His  line  of  operations  was  entirely  too  ex 
tended  for  the  force  he  had  in  hand,  and  all 
his  vessels  needed  repairs.  Flag-officer 
Davis,  therefore,  returned  to  Cairo,  where, 
in  October,  1862,  he  was  relieved  from  the 
command  of  the  Mississippi  Squadron  by 
Acting-Rear- Admiral  David  D.  Porter. 

The  following  reports  will  give  a  pretty 
full  account  of  what  was  done  in  the  first 
naval  attack  on  Vicksburg. 

FLAG-OFFICER  FARRAGUT  REPORTS  THE  NECES 
SITY  OK  12,000  TO  15,000  ARMY  FORCES  TO  CO 
OPERATE  IN  THE  TAKING  OF  VICKSBURG. 

FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"        | 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  June  28,  1862.  \ 
SIR— I  passed  up  the  river  this  morning,  but  to 
no  purpose  ;  the  enemy  leave  their  guns  for  the  mo 


ment,  but  return  to  them  as  soon  as  we  have 
passed,  and  rake  us.  Our  loss,  as  far  as  ascertained, 
is  not  very  great.  Commander  Porter  shelled  them 
two  days  to  get  his  ranges,  and  all  his  vessels  en 
tered  into  the  attack  with  great  spirit,  and  did  ex 
cellent  service.  The  fire  of  the  ships  was  tremen 
dous.  The  "  Brooklyn,"  "  Kennebec,"  and  u  Katah- 
din  "  did  not  get  past  the  batteries.  I  do  not  know 
why. 

I  am  satisfied  it  is  not  possible  for  us  to  take 
Vicksburg  without  an  army  force  of  12,000  or  15,000 
men.  General  Van  Dorn's  division  is  here,  and  lies 
safely  behind  the  hills.  The  water  is  too  low  for 
me  to  go  over  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  above  Vicks 
burg. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 


"i 

8. 


FLAG-OFFICER  FARRAGUT'S  REPORT  OF  THE  AC 
TION  OF  JUNE  28,  1862,  AT  VICKSBURG. 
UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD," 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  MISSISSIPPI, 

July  2,  1862. 

SIR — In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  depart 
ment  and  the  command  of  the  President,  I  pro 
ceeded  back  to  Vicksburg  with  the  "Brooklyn," 
"  Richmond,"  and  "  Hartford,"  with  the  determin 
ation  to  carry  out  my  instructions  to  the  best  of  niy 
ability. 

My  difficulties  and  expenses  in  getting  coal  and 
provisions  up  the  river  have  been  very  great,  and 
it  has  only  been  accomplished  by  great  exertions 
on  the  part  of  Captain  H.  W.  Morris,  aided  by  the 
Army.  Captain  D.  D.  Porter's  mortar  flotilla, 
which  was  deemed  indispensable  to  shell  out  the 
heights,  had  also  to  be  towed  up.  All  this  caused 
great  delay,  but  by  the  steady  exertions  of  that 
officer,  and  the  assistance  of  all  in  whose  power  it 
was  to  help,  we  succeeded  in  getting  up  sixteen 
mortar  vessels,  and  arrangements  were  soon  made 
to  bombard  the  forts  on  the  heights  of  Vicksburg. 
Owing,  however,  to  some  imperfection  in  the  fuzes 
(which  Captain  Porter  will  explain),  he  was  two 
days  getting  his  ranges.  On  the  evening  of  the 
27th,  he  reported  to  me  that  he  was  ready,  and  I 
issued  my  general  order  (a  copy  of  which  is  hereto 
appended)  for  the  attack  on  the  28th,  at  4  A.  RI. 

At  2  A.  M.,  on  the  28th  June,  the  signal  was  made 
to  weigh,  and  we  proceeded  up  to  the  attack  in  the 
order  of  steaming  prescribed  in  the  diagram  ac 
companying  the  general  order.  At  4  o'clock  pre 
cisely,  the  mortars  opened  fire,  and  at  almost  the 
same  moment  the  enemy  fired  his  first  gun,  which 
was  returned  by  the  leading  vessels -"Iroquois," 
Commander  J.  S.  Palmer;  "Oneida,"  Commander 
S.  P.  Lee;  and  "Richmond,"  Commander  James 
Alden.  The  other  vessels — "  Wissahickon,"  Com 
mander  John  DeCamp ;  "Sciota,"  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Edward  Donaldson  ;  i  this  ship,  Com 
mander  R.  Wain wright ;)  "Winona,"  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  E.  T.  Nichols;  and  "Pinola,"  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  Pierce  Crosby — next  came  up, 
and  poured  in  their  fire  successively.  At  almost  the 
same  instant,  Commander  D.  D.  Porter  came  up  on 
our  starboard  quarter  with  the  "Octorora,"  "West- 
field,"  "Clifton,"  "Jackson,"  "Harriet  Lane,"  and 
"  Owasco,"  and  opened  in  fine  style  upon  the  en 
emy.  The  "Hartford"  fired  slowly  and  deliber 
ately  and  with  fine  effect — far  surpassing  iny  ex 
pectations  in  reaching  the  summit  batteries.  The 
rebels  were  soon  silenced  by  the  combined  efforts 
of  the  fleet  and  of  the  flotilla,  and  at  times  did  not 
reply  at  all  for  several  minutes,  and  then  again  at 
times  replied  with  but  a  single  gun. 

I  passed  up  at  the  lowest  speed  (we  had  but 
eight  pounds  of  steam),  and  even  stopped  once,  in 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


251 


order  that  the  "  Brooklyn  "  and  sterninost  vessels 
might  close  up. 

The  ''Hartford"  received  but  very  little  injury 
from  the  batteries  in  or  below  the  town,  but  several 
raking  shots  from  the  battery  above  the  town  did 
us  considerable  damage  ;  they  were  50-pounder  rifle 
and  8-inch  solid  shot.  The  first  passed  through  the 
shell-room  in  the  starboard  forward  passage,  and 
lodged  in  the  hold,  but  did  no  other  harm.  The  8-inch 
struck  the  break  of  the  poop  and  passed  through 
the  cabin,  but  hurt  no  one  ;  the  rigging  was  much 
cut,  and  the  port  main-topsail  yard  was  cut  in  two. 

If  the  ships  had  kept  in  close  order,  in  all  proba 
bility  they  would  have  suffered  less,  as  the  fire  of 
the  whole  fleet  would  have  kept  the  enemy  from 
his  guns  a  longer  space  of  time,  and,  when  at  his 
guns,  his  fire  would  have  been  more  distracted. 

When  we  reached  the  upper  battery  we  soon 
silenced  it,  and  it  was  reported  to  me  that  its  flag 
was  struck.  We  therefore  gave  three  cheers  ;  but 
when  we  had  passed  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
above  they  reopened  fire  with  two  heavy  guns.  I 
was  unable  to  reply  to  this  raking  fire,  being  out  of 
range.  Although  their  shots  were  well  directed, 
they  either  had  too  much  or  too  little  elevation,  and 
only  cut  our  rigging  to  pieces,  without  injuring  any 
oneseriously,  which  was  strange,  as  the  "Iroquois," 
"  Winona,"  and  "  Pinola  "  were  on  our  quarter. 

At  6  A.  M.,  meeting  with  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Ellet,  of  the  raiu  fleet,  who  offered  to  forward  my 
communications  to  Flag-officer  Davis  and  General 
Halleck,  at  Memphis,  I  anchored  the  fleet  and  went 
to  breakfast,  while  I  prepared  my  hasty  dispatch 
(No.  120  >  and  telegram  for  the  department.  I  also 
sent  across  the  peninsula  to  see  what  was  the  cause 
of  Captain  Craven  and  the  vessels  astern  of  him  in 
the  line  not  passing  up.  I  also  desired  a  list  of 
the  casualties,  which  appears  by  their  letters  to 
have  been  "none."  The  casualties  in  the  fleet,  as 
far  as  heard  from,  in  the  passing  vessels,  were  seven 
killed  and  thirty  wounded.  Commander  Porter  re 
ports  eight  killed  and  ten  or  twelve  wounded  ;  but 
that  was  not  his  official  report,  probably,  but  refer 
red  more  particularly  to  the  two  steamers,  "  Clifton  " 
and  "  Jackson,"  each  of  which  had  an  accidental 
shot — me  "Jackson"  in  the  wheel-house,  killing 
the  helmsman,  and  the  "Clifton"  a  shot  through 
her  boiler,  killing  (by  scalding)  the  men  in  her 
magazine,  six  in  number,  arid  one  man  was  drowned 
by  jumping  overboard.  I  herewith  forward  the 
report  of  Acting  Lieutenant-Commanding  C.  H. 
Baldwin,  of  the  *' Clifton." 

The  department  will  perceive  from  this  (my)  re 
port,  that  the  forts  can  be  passed,  and  we  have  done 
it,  and  can  do  it  again  as  often  as  may  be  required 
of  us.  It  will  not,  however,  be  an  easy  matter  for 
us  to  do  more  than  silence  the  batteries  for  a  time, 
as  long  as  the  enemy  has  a  large  force  behind  the 
hills  to  prevent  our  landing  and  holding  the  place. 

General  Williams  has  with  him  about  three 
thousand  men,  and,  on  the  occasion  of  our  attack 
and  passing,  placed  a  battery  of  artillery  nearly 
opposite  the  upper  forts,  for  the  purpose  of  dis 
tracting  the  raking  fire  from  us  while  running  up  ; 
but  the  fort,  having  a  plunging  fire  upon  them,  dis 
mounted  one  of  the  guns,  and  killed  a  man  and  a 
horse. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  say  that  General 
Williams,  Colonel  Ellet,  and  the  army  officers  of 
this  division  generally,  have  uniformly  shown  a 
great  anxiety  to  do  everything  in  their  power  to 
assist  us  ;  but  their  force  is  too  small  to  attack  the 
town,  or  for  any  other  purpose  than  a  momentary 
assault  to  spike  guns,  should  such  an  opportunity 
offer. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  also  to  report  that  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  ships  which  accompanied 
me  up  the  river  behaved  with  the  same  ability  and 
steadiness  on  this  occasion  as  in  passing  Forts  Jack 
son  and  St.  Philip.  No  one  behaved  better  than 


Commander  J.  S.  Palmer,  of  the  "  Iroquois,"  who 
was  not  with  me  dn  the  former  occasion.  It  pains 
me  much  to  limit  my  praise,  but  I  cannot  speak  of 
those  who  did  not  come  up.  It  was  their  duty  to 
have  followed  me,  with  or  without  signal,  particu 
larly  as  it  was  too  early  and  too  smoky  to  distin 
guish  signals.  I  enclose  their  explanations  here 
with. 

As  to  Commander  R.  Wainwright  and  the  officers 
and  crew  of  this  ship,  I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of 
their  steadiness  and  coolness,  and  the  energy  with 
which  they  performed  their  duties.  This  ship  was 
conducted  as  coolly  and  quietly  as  at- an  ordinary 
drill  at  general  quarters.  There  was  no  confu 
sion  of  any  kind  throughout  the  whole  action,  and, 
as  far  as  I  could  observe  the  other  vessels,  the  same 
feeling  actuated  all  the  officers  and  crews  engaged. 

The  captain  of  the  fleet,  Commander  H.  H.  Bell, 
was  on  the  poop  by  my  side,  and,  not  being  able, 
as  I  before  stated,  to  do  much  in  the  management  of 
the  fleet,  owing  to  the  darkness  and  the  smoke, 
gave  his  attention  to  looking  up  the  batteries  and 
pointing  them  out  to  the  officers  in  charge  of  the 
guns,  and  assisting  them  with  his  judgment  on  all 
occasions. 

My  secretary,  Mr  E.  C.  Gabaudan,  noted  the 
time  of  passing  events,  and  acted  as  my  aid  when 
required,  which  duty  he  performed  with  coolness 
and  steadiness. 

I  must  not  fail  to  mention  the  coolness  of  our 
pilot,  John  J.  Lane,  who,  although  this  was  the 
first  time  he  had  ever  been  under  fire,  did  not  for  a 
moment  quit  his  post,  but  steadily  guided  the  ship 
in  her  course.  He  is  not  a  professional  pilot,  as 
they  can  only  be  obtained  by  force  in  New  Orleans. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by  your 
obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Flag-officer  Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 

Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 


OFFICIAL  LIST  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED  IN  THE 
AFFAIR  OF  JUNE  28,  AT  VICKSBURG. 

FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"  ABOVE  ) 
VTCKSBURG,  MISSISSIPPI,  June  28,  1862.     f 
SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  following 
list  of  killed  and  wounded  in  that  portion  of  the 
fleet  which  passed  above  Vicksburg  in  the  engage 
ment  of  this  morning,  viz  : 

KILLED — 15. 

Flag-ship  "  Hartford." — Edward  E.  Jennings, 
seaman,  from  Massachusetts. 

"  Richmond." — George  Allstrum,  ordinary  sea 
man  ;  Thomas  Flarity,  seaman. 

"  Oneida." — Stephen  H.  Randall,  seaman. 
"Pinola." — William  H.  Thomas,  quarter-gunner  ; 
Thomas  Graham,  landsman. 

"  Sciota," — Augustine    Ellsworth,    ordinary  sea 
man. 
Mortar  flotilla. — 6  scalded,  1  killed,  1  drowned. 

WOUNDED — 30. 

Flag-ship  "Hartford." — Chnrles  Allen,  seaman, 
slightly  ;  Alexander  Capron,  landsman,  slightly  ; 
Lawrence  Fay,  boy,  slightly  ;  Patrick  Roach,  coal- 
heaver,  head  ;  Philip  Roberts,  seaman,  severely  ; 
Sylvester  Becket,  landsman,  slightly  ;  Alfred  Stone, 
la'ndsman,  slightly  ;  John  H.  Knowles,  quarter 
master,  slightly;  John  Hardgan,  landsman,  slightly; 

Joseph ,  ordinary  seaman,  slightly  ;  Nathan 

Salter,  ordinary  seaman,  contusion  ;  Captain  John 
L.  Broome,  marine  corps,  contusion  ;  Flag-officer  D. 
G.  Farragut,  slight  contusion. 

"Richmond."— Howard  F.  Moffat,  master's  mate, 
amputated  arm  ;  James  Noonan,  ordinary  seaman, 
contusion ;  Thomas  Nolan,  marine,  contusion ; 
George  W.  Harris,  marine,  contusion ;  James  Reddy, 


252 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


seaman,  severely  ;  James  Mohegan,  landsman,  se 
verely  ;  George  Millard,  seaman,  severely  ;  William 
Nicholas,  landsman,  slightly;  Charles  Howard, 
ordinary  seaman,  severely. 

"Oneida.'' — Richard  M.  Hodgson,  assistant  engi 
neer,  severely  ;  William  Co  well,  seaman,  severely  ; 
Henry  Clark,  boatswain's  mate,  slightly. 

"Pinola." — John  Brown,  ordinary  seaman,  se 
verely,  William  H.  Shucks,  landsman,  slightly. 

"Sciota." — Edward  Hathaway,  seaman,  ampu 
tated  arm;  William  Orne,  landsman,  slightly;  Clar 
ence  Miller,  ship  steward,  severely. 

Returns  have  not  yet  been  received  from  Captain 
Porter's  mortar  flotilla,  and  that  portion  of  the 
fleet  below  Vicksburg. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  M.  FOLTZ, 

Fleet  Surgeon. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Qulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


line  with,  the  "Pinola,"  so  as  to  fire  astern  of  the 
"Brooklyn." 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-officer. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "CLIFTON,"     | 

TWO  MILES  BELOW  VlCKSBURG,  June  28,  1862.  f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  this  morn 
ing,  at  3.45  A.  M.,  in  obedience  to  orders,  we  got  un 
der  way  and  proceeded  in  our  station  just  astern  of 
the  "  Westfield,"  in  the  line  headed  by  your  own 
ship,  to  engage  the  batteries  on  the  heights  around 
Vicksburg.  When  within  range,  we  opened  our  fire 
on  the  upper  batteries  on  the  hill  from  our  rifled  gun. 
and  forward  9-inch  and  forward  32-pound er,  using  15 
second  shells.  On  receiving  your  orders,  we  directed 
our  fire  at  the  battery  known  as  the  "water  bat 
tery,"  advancing  to  within  about  1,200  yards,  where 
we  kept  our  station,  using  shrapnel  from  the  9-inch 
guns.  At  times,  as  opportunity  offered,  we  used 


GENERAL  ORDERS. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP,  "HARTFORD,") 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  June  25,  1862.     j 

The  mortar  boats  and  gun-boats  of  the  mortar 
flotilla  having  been  placed  by  Commander  D.  D.  Por 
ter,  according  to  his  judgment,  to  the  best  advan 
tage  to  act  upon  the  batteries  on  the  heights  and 
the  fort  below  the  hospital :  at  4  A.  M.,  to-morrow 
they  will  open  fire  upon  the  same  and  on  the  city 
of  Vicksburg. 

At  the  display  of  the  signal  for  the  ships  and  gun 
boats  to  weigh,  they  will  form  in  a  double  line  of 
sailing,  the  "Richmond,"  Commander  James  Alden 
commanding,  leading;  the  ships  "Hartford,"  Com 
mander  R.  Wainwright  commanding,  next; 
"Brooklyn,"  Captain  T.  T.  Craven,  third.  The 
gun-boats  will  form  another  line,  so  as  to  fire 
between  the  ships,  in  the  following  order:  "Iro- 
quois,"  Commander  James  S.  Palmer,  and 
"  Oneida,"  Commander  S.  Phillips  Lee  command 
ing,  ahead,  but  on  the  port  bow  of  the  "  Richmond," 
so  as  to  fire  into  the  forts  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
town,  without  interfering  with  the  fire  of  the 
"Richmond;"  next  in  order,  the  " Wissahickon," 
Commander  Jno.  DeCamp,  and  the  "  Sciota,"  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  Ed.  Donaldson,  in  the  line 
with  the  "  Iroquois  "  and  "  Oneida,"  but  on  the  port 
bow  of  the  flag-ship,  so  as  to  fire  between  the 
"Richmond''  and  flag-ship;  next  the  "Winona," 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Ed.  T.  Nichols,  and 
"  Pinola,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  Pierce  Crosby, 
on  the  port  bow  of  the  "  Brooklyn." 

The  "  Hartford  "  will,  as  often  as  occasion  offers, 
fire  her  bow  guns  on  the  forts  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  town;  but  the  broadside  batteries  of  all  the 
ships  will  be  particularly  directed  to  the  guns  in 
the  forts  below  and  on  the  heights.  The  free  use 
of  the  shrapnel  is  considered  the  best  projectile,  but 
care  must  be  taken  in  cutting  the  fuzes,  so  as  always 
to  be  sure  that  they  burst  short  of  their  destina 
tion.  When  close  enough  give  them  grape.  The 
enclosed  diagram  will  show  the  position  of  the  re 
spective  vessels  in  the  order  of  attack.— [For  dia 
gram  see  original.] 

When  the  vessels  reach  the  bend  in  the  river  the 
"Wissahickon, ""Sciota,"  "Winona, "and  "Pinola," 
will  continue  on;  but.  should  the  enemy  con 
tinue  the  action,  the  ships  and  "Iroquois"  and 
"Oneida  "will  stop  their  engines  and  drop  down 
the  river  again,  keeping  up  their  fire  until  directed 
otherwise. 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-officer  Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 

The  "Kennebec,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  Jno. 
Russell,  will  take  position  in  the  rear  of,  and  in  a 


\ 


ACTING  LIEUT.  (NOW  REAR  ADMIRAL)  CHARLES  H.  BALDWIN. 

our  after  9-inch  guns.  This  we  continued  for  some 
half  to  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  with,  I  think, 
good  effect,  until  we  were  hailed  by  the  "  Jackson," 
asking  our  assistance  to  tow  them  out  of  fire,  that 
ship  being  temporarily  disabled. 

While  in  the  act  of  taking  her  line,  we  received  a 
shot  under  the  guard,  just  forward  of  the  wheel, 
which,  going  through  the  ship's  side,  made  its  way 
into  the  end  of  the  starboard  boiler,  and,  partially 
coming  out  on  the  other  side,  caused  such  a  rush  of 
steam  as  to  blow  off  at  once  the  cover  to  the  forward 
hatch,  filling  the  forward  berth  deck  (under  which 
is  the  forward  magazine)  with  steam,  and  killing 
instantly  Thomas  Collins,  gunner's  mate ;  Robert 
Sargent,  ship's  cook  ;  Win.  Morris,  captain's  cook  ; 
John  Burke,  ordinary  seaman;  John  B.  Carter, 
landsman,  and  Peter  Hall,  landsman,  of  the  forward 
powder  division;  and  severely  scalding  George  B. 
Derwent  (colored),  wardroom  steward,  who  died  a 
few  hours  afterwards  of  t*ie  effects  of  his  injuries, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


253 


and  John  Hudson,  master  at  arms,  who  is  doing 
well,  his  wounds,  though  severe,  not  being  thought 
dangerous.  But  one  man  from  this  division  es 
caped,  he  being  at  the  head  of  the  ladder  at  the 
time.  Some  eight  men  from  the  forward  pivot  gun 
jumped  overboard  to  escape  the  steam.  With  the 
aid  of  the  ''Jackson's1'  boats  we  were  fortunate 
enough  to  recover  all  these,  except  John  Connor, 
second-class  fireman,  who  was  drowned. 

This  shot,  which  proved  to  be  a  fifty-pound  rifled 
shot,  prevented  any  further  movement  of  our 
wheels  for  the  time.  We.  however,  continued  our 
fire  from  the  forward  and  after  thirty-twos,  and 
after  nine-inch  guns,  until  you  noticed  our  mishap, 
and  came  alongside  to  tow  us  out  of  action.  At 
this  period  the  signal  to  retire  was  given. 

I  have  great  satisfaction  in  stating  that  officers 
and  crew  generally  behaved  well.  Mr.  Weld,  acting- 
master's  mate,  in  charge  of  the  nine-inch  and  rifled 
Parrot t  gun  forward,  is  entitled  to  credit  for  the  ad 
mirable  manner  in  which  those  guns  were  served, 
and  his  coolness  and  self-possession  at  the  time  of 
the  accident. 

On  examination  of  the  injured  boiler  by  the  chief 
engineer  of  this  ship,  it  is  his  opinion  that  the  re 
pairs  to  it  will  require  at  least  ten  days  to  complete 
and  will  need  the  aid  of  a  shop  and  experienced 
workmen.  In  the  meantime,  the  ship  is  ready  for 
such  service  as  she  may  be  called  upon  to  perform, 
which  will  not  entail  a  greater  speed  than  six  knots 
an  hour.  This  rate.  I  think  we  shall  be  able  to 
maintain. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully,  your  obedi 
ent  servant, 

CHAS.  H.  BALDWIN, 
Acting  Lieutenan t-Commanding. 
Commander  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Bomb  Flotilla. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAM-SLOOP  "BROOKLYN,"? 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  June  30,  1862.      \ 

SJR — In  compliance  with  your  order  of  yester 
day's  date,  to  make  my  official  report  of  my  attack 
on  Vicksburg,  on  the  28th  instant,  and  to  give  my 
reason  for  not  following  the  flag-ship  up  the  river, 
etc..  I  submit  the  following  : 

At  3.15  A.  M.,  June  28,  got  under  way,  took  posi 
tion  in  the  prescribed  line  of  battle,  and  followed 
the  flag-ship ;  at  4.05  A.  M.,  the  enemy  opened  fire 
upon  the  advanced  vessels.  When  this  ship  arrived 
abreast  of  the  lower  batteries  the  steamers  of  the 
mortar  flotilla,  which  seemed  to  be  without  any 
form  of  order,  obstructed  our  passage  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  oblige  us  to  stop  our  engines,  and  thus 
delayed  our  progress.  At  4.45  A.  M.,  as  the  80- 
pounder  rifle  was  the  only  gun  bearing  upon  the 
hill,  and  able  to  reach,  we  opened  with  that  vigor 
ously,  keeping  well  inside  their  line  of  fire.  At  5.15, 
the  gun-boats,  and  a  few  minutes  after,  the  bomb 
vessels  of  the  mortar  flotilla,  having  ceased  firing, 
all  the  batteries  which  had  previously  been  partially 
silenced,  immediately  renewed  the  action,  hailing  a 
cross  fire  on  this  ship  and  the  twro  gun-boats.  At 
this  time  the  smoke  cleared  away  ahead  of  us,  and, 
to  my  surprise,  I  could  see  nothing  of  the  flag  or 
other  ships  in  the  line.  Whilst  we  were  hotly  en 
gaged,  trying  with  our  two  rifles  to  silence  their 
most  annoying  battery,  fire  was  opened  upon  us  by 
a  battery  of  five  pieces  of  flying  artillery,  from  a 
position  about  two-thirds  of  the  way  down  the  hill, 
and  in  front  of  the  southernmost  battery.  Being 
within  easy  range,  we  opened  our  starboard  broad 
side  with  shells  and  shrapnel,  and  drove  them  from 
their  position.  Finding  myself  entirely  unsup 
ported,  except  by  the  "Kennebec"  and  "Katah- 
din,"  which  two  vessels  gallantly  performed  their 
part  in  the  engagement,  and  knowing  that  it  was 
impossible  to  reduce  a  single  one  of  those  hill-top 
batteries,  at  7.25  A.  M.,  after  sustaining  their  fire 


for  two  hours  and  forty  minutes,  I  discontinued  the 
action,  and  at  8.25  A.  M.,  came  to  anchor  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  below  Vicksburg. 

My  reason  for  not  following  the  flag-ship  up  the 
river,  that  is,  above  and  beyond  the  fire  of  the  forts, 
is  simply  because,  in  your  general  order  of  the 
25th  instant,  you  say  ''Should  the  action  be  con 
tinued  by  the  enemy,  the  ships  and  the  '  Iroquois  ' 
and  'Oneida'  will  stop  their  engines  and  drop 
down  the  river  again  ;"  and,  on  the  evening  of  the 
27th,  twice  (when  in  the  cabin  and  on  the  quarter 
deck  of  your  flag-ship)  I  asked  you  if  it  was  your 
wish  or  desire  for  me  to  leave  any  batteries  behind 
me  that  had  not  been  silenced,  you  answered  "  No, 
sir  ;  not  on  any  account." 

It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  bear  witness  to  the 
excellent  deportment  of  my  officers  and  men ;  a  more 
cool,  or  a  braver  set  of  men,  was  never  on  board  of 
any  vessel. 

We  were  hulled  but  twice,  one  shot  taking  effect 
below  water,  on  our  starboard  bow ;  and  we  re 
ceived  some  damage  to  our  rigging.  We  have  no 
casualties  on  board.  We  expended,  in  the  action, 
28  nine-inch  shells,  41  nine-inch  shrapnel,  62  Hotch- 
kiss  eighty-pound  rifle  shells,  3  Dahlgren  eighty- 
pound  rifle  shells,  14  Parrott  thirty-pound  rifle 
shells. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
THOS.  T.  CRAVEN, 

Captain. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Oulf  Blockading  Squadron, 
United  States  Ship  "Hartford,1"  above  Vicks 
burg. 


AHDIN,"      ) 

PI  RIVER,  > 
29,  1862.      \ 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "KATAHDIN," 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  MISSISSIPPI 
June 

SIR — Agreeably  to  your  order  of  this  date,  I  have 
to  report  that  I  received  no  orders  "  to  follow  the 
flag-ship  up  the  river,"  nor  any  written  order  what 
ever,  and  was  entirely  ignorant  of  your  plan  of  at 
tack. 

Agreeably  to  your  verbal  instructions,  which 
were  "to  take  the  rear  of  the  line,  and  to  follow 
the  'Kennebec,'  and  fire  at  anything  and  every 
thing  I  saw  fit,  or  could  see,"  I  got  this  vessel  un 
der  way  at  3.30,  yesterday  morning,  took  position 
as  the  rearmost  vessel,  and  followed  the  "Kenne 
bec"  to  attack  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg.  After 
the  squadron,  with  the  exception  of  the  "  Brook 
lyn,"  "  Kennebec,"  and  "Katahdin,"  had  passed  the 
batteries,  the  mortar  flotilla  ceased  firing,  and  the 
enemy  opened  their  batteries  anew.  We  continued 
under  their  fire  until  8  A.  M.,  when  Ave  dropped  down, 
in  company  with  the  "Brooklyn"  and  "Kennebec'' 
and  at  8.20  came  to  anchor  out  of  range.  I  have  no 
casualties  to  report,  and  the  vessel  was  not  hit, 
though  the  enemy's  shot  flew  around  and  over  us. 
The  officers  and  men  behaved  with  their  usual  cool 
and  determined  bravery  under  fire.  We  expended 
in  the  action  eleven  shells  from  the  eleven-inch 
pivot  gun,  and  thirteen  from  the  Parrott  rifle  on 
the  forecastle.  Every  shot  was  deliberately  aimed 
at  one  or  the  other  of  the  batteries.  In  conse 
quence  of  the  position  assigned  us,  and  the  number 
of  vessels  engaged,  it  was  impossible  to  fire  rapidly 
without  firing  into  or  over,  and  endangering  other 
vessels  of  the  squadron  and  the  steamers  and 
schooners  of  the  mortar  flotilla.  The  vessel  had  to 
be  manoeuvred  to  fire  every  shot.  We  were  three 
hours  under  the  fire  of  the  batteries. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  H.  PREBLE, 
Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Qulf  Blockading  Squadron, 
United  States  Flag-ship  "Hartford,'1'1  above 
Vicksburg. 


254 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT,  "  KENNEBEC," 
BELOW  VlCKSBURG,  MISSISSIPPI, 
June  29,  1862. 

SIR — In  obedience  to  your  order  of  the  29th,  I 
have  the  honor  to  make  my  report  of  the  attack  on 
Vicksburg  and  my  reason  for  not  following  you  up 
the  river  ;  also  the  casualties  that  have  occurred  on 
board  this  vessel. 

My  position  was  in  the  rear  of  the  "  Pinola "and 
on  the  port  quarter  of  the  "  Brooklyn,"  which  I 
held.  On  the  batteries  opening  fire,  I  found,  from 
the  position  of  the  steamers  under  the  command  of 
Commander  Porter,  that  I  could  not  bring  my  guns 
to  bear  on  the  batteries  without  serious  injury  to 
them.  Immediately  on  their  dropping  astern  I 
opened  fire  on  the  bluff  battery,  which  had  not  yet 
been  silenced.  When  the  dense  smoke  which  pre 
viously  obscured  the  vessels  had  passed  away,  I 
found 'that  you,  with  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  with  the 
exception  of  the  "Brooklyn,"  "  Katahdin,"  and 
this  vessel,  had  passed  up,  and  that  the  mortar  ves 
sels  had  discontinued  their  fire.  Placed  in  this  po 
sition,  I  again  referred  to  your  orders,  which  were  : 
"But  if  the  action  should' be  continued,  the  ships 
and  the  "Iroquois"  and  the  "  Oneida '' will  stop 
their  engines  and  drop  down  the  river  again,  keep 
ing  up  their  fire  until  directed  otherwise."  Retain 
ing  my  position  astern  of  the  "Brooklyn,"  I  con 
tinued  firing  upon  the  batteries  until  my  supply  of 
ammunition  was  so  reduced  that  I  deemed  it  advis 
able  to  desist.  The  hospital  and  other  batteries, 
which  had  been  silenced  for  a  while,  had  at  this 
time  opened  again.  The  battery  on  the  bluff  was 
firing  with  vigor,  and  was  assisted  by  some  artillery 
in  the  woods.  With  shot  and  shell  falling  around 
us,  I  arn  happy  to  report  no  casualties  or  injury  to 
this  vessel.  The  officers  and  men  performed  their 
duty  with  the  greatest  alacrity  and  coolness.  I  can 
not  refrain  from  mentioning  my  executive  officer, 
Lieutenant  F.  B.  Blake,  who  personally  attended  to 
the  firing  of  every  gun.  The  following  is  the  expendi 
ture  of  ammunition,  viz  :  14  eleven-inch  shells,  10m. 
fuze  ;  2  eleven-inch  shells,  15m.  fuze  ;  16  Parrott 
shells,  percussion  ;  5  Parrott  shells,  time  fuze,  5m. ; 
5  Parrott  shells,  time  fuze,  10m. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  H.  RUSSELL, 
Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Flag-officer  I) .  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAM-SLOOP  "ONEIDA,"  | 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  JUNE  28,  1862.      f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  borne 
by  the  "  Oneida  "  in  the  engagement  with  the  rebel 
batteries  at  Vicksburg  this  morning. 

At  2.10  A.M.,  the  flag-ship  made  private  signal  to 
the  fleet  to  get  under  way.  Stopped  coaling,  cast 
off  from  the  coal  bark,  called  all  hands  and  got  un 
der  way,  lashed  the  hammocks  along  the  starboard 
side  to  hold  splinters,  beat  to  quarters  and  cleared 
ship  for  action,  and  stood  up  the  river,  the  "Iro- 
quois"  in  line  ahead,  the  "Richmond1  astern  of 
us,  and  the  rest  of  the  fleet  following.  At  3.55,  the 
enemy  opened  fire  on  us  from  his  numerous  batter 
ies  below,  over,  and  above  the  town.  At  4.15,  opened 
on  the  enemy's  batteries  in  succession,  firing  for 
fifteen  minutes  or  more  at  the  flash  or  smoke  of  the 
batteries  below  and  over  the  town,  viz. :  the  marine 
hospital  battery  and  the  batteries  on  the  ridge  over 
that  hospital,  it  being  too  dark  to  see  distinctly  the 
batteries  on  the  shady  side  of  the  hills. 

As  it  grew  light,  orders  were  given  to  fire  as  soon 
as  the  smoke  cleared  off,  and  with  good  aim.  We 
used  shells  5m.  fuzes\  shrapnel  and  grape,  accord 
ing  to  distance,  steaming  so  as  to  keep  between  the 
"Iroquois"  and  "Richmond,"  and  going  ahead 
when  the  enemy  got  our  range  well. 

Having  reached  the  bend  in  the  river  (the  "  Iro 


quois  "  ahead  and  the  "Richmond"  astern  of  us), 
and  none  of  our  starboard  guns  now  bearing  on  the 
batteries,  pivoted  guns  and  lashed  hammocks  on 
the  port  side,  and  prepared  for  enfilading  the  bat 
teries  above  the  town,  when  the  flag  ship  came  up 
in  the  proposed  line  of  fire.  At  6.30  the  "  Oneida," 
anchored  near  the  "Hartford." 

This  ship  was  struck  four  times.  One  6-inch  rifle 
shell  came  through  the  starboard  after-pivot  port, 
killing  S.  H.  Randall,  seaman,  at  the  after-pivot 
gun;  severely  wounding  Richard  Hodgson,  third 
assistant  engineer,  at  the  engine  bell,  and  passing 
through  the  combings  of  the  engine-room  hatch, 
picked  up  three  loaded  muskets  (each  lying  flat  on 
the  deck,  on  the  port  side  of  that  hatch),  and  burst 
in  the  bulwarks,  over  the  first  cutter,  which  was 
lowered  to  near  the  water's  edge,  drove  the  mus 
kets  through  the  open  port  there,  and  severely 
wounded  William  Cowell,  seaman,  who  was  in  the 
boat  sounding,  and  slightly  wounding  Henry 
Clai-k,  chief  boatswain's  mate.  One  8-inch  solid 
shot  struck  on  our  starboard  quarter,  near  the  cop 
per,  and  cut  the  mizzeri  mast  half  in  two  between 
decks.  One  32-pounder  shot  passed  through  the 
rail.  A  second  8-inch  solid  shot  carried  away, 
amidships,  the  keel  of  the  launch  which  was  partly 
lowered,  and,  entering  on  the  starboard  side,  struck 
the  steam  drum,  and,  glancing,  fell  into  the  fire- 
room. 

We  expended  19  eleven-inch  shells,  5m.  fuzes;  16 
eleven-inch  shrapnel;  3  eleven-inch  grape,  from  the 
two  pivot  guns;  12  six-inch  shells;  6  32-pounder 
grape,  from  the  two  thirty-twos;  and  28  thirty- 
pounder  bolts,  from  two  rifle  guns — most  of  these 
from  the  forecastle  pivot -gun. 

The  officers  and  men  did  their  duty  well.  The 
enemy's  fire  was  heavy.  I  enclose  the  surgeon's  re 
port.  We  have  no  carpenter. 

Respectfully  yours,   S.  PHILLIPS  LEE, 

Commander. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  RICHMOND,"  ) 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  MISSISSIPPI,  June,  28,  1862.  \ 

SIR — In  accordance  with  your  instructions,  I  have 
the  honor  to  enclose  herewith  the  surgeon's  report 
of  the  casualties  on  board  this  vessel  during  the 
engagement  with  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg  this 
morning.  I  also  send,  for  your  information, 
the  reports  of  the  carpenter  and  boatswain,  show 
ing  the  injury  done  to  the  "  Richmond  "  by  the 
enemy's  shot. 

Where  all  behaved  so  well  I  find  it  impossible  to 
designate  any  particular  individual,  either  among 
the  officers  or  men,  as  meriting  especial  notice  for 
gallantry  and  good  conduct  during  the  spirited 
fight  which  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  and  was,  for  the 
most  part,  at  short  range.  Still,  I  feel  that  I  should 
be  doing  great  injustice  to  the  officer  to  whom  the 
careful  training  and  consequent  steadiness  of  the 
crew  is  due,  if  I  were  to  fail  to  give  him  the  credit 
he  has  so  fairly  won  ;  I  refer  to  Lieutenant  Cum- 
mings,  the  executive  officer  of  this  ship,  and  I  trust 
that  a  grateful  country  will  soon  reward  him  in 
some  way  for  his  untiring  zeal  and  devotion  to  his 
profession  and  her  cause. 

With  great  respect,  I  am,  sir,  your  obedient 
servant,  JAMES  ALDEN, 

Commander. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"  \ 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  June  29,  1862.         ) 
SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  taken 
by  this  ship  in  the  battle  of  yesterday,  in  passing 
the  forts  at  Vicksburg. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


255 


We  were  under  way  before  daylight,  and  reached 
the  scene  of  action  as  day  was  breaking,  when  the 
enemy  opened  tire  upon  us  from  his  scattered  bat 
teries  on  shore.  We  returned  it  as  they  came  in 
range,  going  at  slow  speed,  our  guns  being  worked 
with  admirable  coolness  and  deliberation,  which 
was  absolutely  requisite,  as  we  labored  under  the 
great  disadvantage  of  not  knowing  the  situation 
of  the  batteries,  which  were  only  discovered  by  the 
flash  and  the  smoke  of  their  guns ;  some,  also, 
were  on  high  bluffs,  rendering  it  difficult  to  elevate 
our  guns  to  reach  them. 

We  were  under  lire  about  one  hour  and  a  half, 
receiving  it  on  the  broadside,  and  being  raked 
ahead  and  astern.  The  enemy  fired  with  great 
precision,  and.  although  we  silenced  some  of  their 
batteries,  they  returned  to  them  when  we  had 
passed  and  our  guns  would  no  longer  bear,  and  re 
commenced  firing.  We  stopped  opposite  one  of  the 
lower  batteries  more  effectually  to  silence  it.  It 
would  have  been  easy  to  have  passed  by  the  bat 
teries  under  full  steam  and  speed,  with  much  less 
risk  from  the  enemy's  fire  ;  but  then  our  object 
would  not  have  been  gained  in  driving  them  away 
from  their  guns. 

We  are  much  cut  up,  both  in  hull  and  rigging, 
which  the  enclosed  reports  of  boatswain  and  car 
penter  will  show.  The  rigging  was  soon  tempo 
rarily  secured,  under  the  direction  of  our  indefatig 
able 'boatswain,  James  Walker.  The  enemy  used — 
as  was  shown  by  our  finding  them  on  board  after 
the  action — 80-pounder  rifle,  32-pounders  and  8-inch 
shot ;  also,  rifle  and  musket  balls — one  of  our  men 
being  wounded  by  the  latter  while  working  a  how 
itzer  in  the  top. 

The  executive  officer,  James  S.  Thornton,  de 
serves  much  credit  for  his  excellent  distribution  of 
the  crew,  at  the  gun  and  other  divisions,  and  his 
efficient  distribution  of  them  during  the  action. 
The  commanding  officers  of  divisions  also  deserve 
mention — doing  their  duty  with  spirit  and  ability. 
They  were  :  Lieutenant  Albert  Kautz,  first  division; 
Master  John  C.  Watson,  second  division  ;  Acting- 
Master  Daniel  C.  Murphy,  third  division  ;  Acting- 
Master  Ezra  L.  Goodwin,  powder  division. 

The  marine  guard,  under  charge  of  Captain  John 
L.  Broome,  had  charge  of  two  broadside  guns,  and 
fought  them  well,  thus  sustaining  the  reputation 
of  that  distinguished  corps.  In  making  this  report 
it  gives  me  an  opportunity  to  supply  an  omission 
inadvertently  made  in  my  last  report  of  the  battle 
of  the  24th  and  25th  of  April ;  it  is  in  speaking  of 
the  medical  department,  which,  under  its  head, 
Fleet  Surgeon  Foltz,  was  administered  admirably, 
both  in  this  and  the  former  battles.  The  engineer 
department,  under  Chief  Engineer  James  B.  Kim- 
ball,  won  much  praise  for  his  prompt  and  efficient 
working,  both  in  passing  the  forts  and  batteries  at 
New  Orleans  and  also  in  this  fight ;  a  failure 
promptly  to  obey  the  bells  or  the  giving  out  of  the 
engines  might  have  led  to  much  disaster.  Acting- 
Midshipman  Herbert  B.  Tyson,  doing  the  duty  of 
acting-master,  besides  carrying  on  those  duties  with 
credit,  also  had  charge  of  a  broadside  gun  manned 
by  his  division.  In  fact,  all — officers  and  men — 
were  a  credit  to  the  ship  and  to  the  country  for 
which  they  have  so  gallantly  fought. 

We  have  much  to  be  thankful  for,  in  only  having 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  one  man — Edward  E.  Jennings, 
seaman — and  having  a  few  only  slightly  wounded, 
under  such  a  heavy  fire.  I  enclose  the  fleet  surgeon's 
report.  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  WAINWRIGHT, 
(Commander  United  States  Navy. 
Flag-officer  D  G  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  &ulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"        ) 

ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  June  28,  1862.  f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  following  list 


of  killed  and  wounded  on  board  this  ship  during 
the  engagement  with  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg, 


Killed. — Edward  E.  Jennings,  seaman. 

Wounded. — Charles  Allen,  seaman,  head  ;  Alex'r 
Capron,  landsman,  head  ;  Lawrence  Fay,  bov  ; 
Patrick  Roach,  coal-heaver ;  Sylvester  Becket,  Al 
fred  Stone  and  John  Hardigan,  landsmen  ;  Jno.  H. 
Knowles,  quartermaster  and  Nathan  J.  Salter, 
ordinary  seaman ;  all  slightly.  Philip  Roberts, 
seaman,  severely  ;  Joseph  Guido,  ordinary  seaman, 
thigh ;  Flag-officer  D.  G.  Farragut  and  Jno.  L. 
Broome,  captain  of  marines,  slight  contusions. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  M.  FOLTZ, 

Fleet  Surgeon. 
Commander  RICHARD  WAINWRIGHT, 

Commanding  United  States  Flag-ship  "Hartford." 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  SCIOTA,"  \ 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  June  28,  1862.         \ 

SIR— I  have  to  report  that,  in  passing  the  bat 
teries  this  A.  M.,  Aug.  Ellsworth,  ordinary  seaman, 
was  killed  ;  E.  W.  Hathaway,  seaman,  lost  his  left 
arm  above  the  elbow  ;  Win.  Orme,  landsman,  was 
slightly  wounded  ;  and  Clarence  Miller,  landsman, 
slightlyt  wounded  in  the  head.  The  vessel  was 
struck  on  the  starboard  quarter,  demolishing  the 
quarter-boat  and  driving  in  the  spirketing.  An 
other  shot  came  through  the  starboard  bulwarks, 
under  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  shattering  and 
carrying  away  one  of  the  knees  and  round  houses  ; 
another  shot  went  through  the  centre  of  the  fore 
mast,  half  way  up. 

Herewith,  I  beg  leave  to  enclose  the  surgeon's  re 
port  of  the  casualties. 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

EDW'D  DONALDSON, 
Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "WINONA,"  | 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  June  28,  1862.     \ 

SIR — I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  report  no  casual 
ties  to  life  or  limb  in  the  action  of  this  morning 
with  the  batteries  in  or  about  the  city  of  Vicksburg. 
Two  small  shots,  either  grape  or  small  field-piece, 
passed  through  our  forward  starboard  bulwark, 
cutting  away  one  stanchion  and  slightly  splitting 
the  spirketing.  The  damage  is  easily  repaired. 
The  vessels  of  the  fleet,  while  passing  the  city, 
were  first  exposed  to  a  heavy  plunging  fire  from  the 
batteries  on  the  top  of  the  bluffs,  cross-fires  from 
batteries  (five  in  number,  I  think  \  in  various  places, 
then  to  raking  fires  above  and  below  ;  and,  while 
passing  the  last  battery  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
city,  to  heavy  fire  of  musketry  from  concealed 
marksmen,  and,  lastly,  to  the  raking  fire  of  heavy 
guns  for  nearly  two  miles  above  the  last  battery. 

When  I  came  abreast  of  the  upper  battery  it  was 
entirely  clear  of  men,  having  been  cleared  by  the 
guns  of  the  flag-ship ;  but,  as  soon  as  I  passed, 
they  returned  and  opened  a  very  spiteful  fire  upon 
the  flag-ship,  "  Iroquois, '  "  Pinola,"  and  this  ship, 
until  beyond  range.  Taking  all  things  into  con 
sideration,  it  seems  miraculous  that  no  more  dam 
age  was  sustained  by  the  fleet. 

From  the  experience  of  this  morning  I  am  satis 
fied  that  ships  can  clear  batteries  when  placed  on  a 
level  with  them,  or  nearly  so,  though  the  men  re 
turn  to  them  as  soon  as  the  ships1  guns  cease  to  bear; 
but  as  to  batteries  placed  on  hills  and  bluffs,  ships 
are  almost  useless  against  them. 

I  conclude,  sir,  by  commending  to  vour  notice  the 
good  conduct  of  all  on  board.  "Where  all  were 
alike  conspicuous  it  would  be  unjust  to  particu 
larize. 

Mr.   Sanborn,  acting  as  pilot,    remained  in  the 


250 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


gangway  during  the  whole  action,  and  assisted  in 
conning  the  ship.  Mr.  Sanborn  is  not  a  regular 
river  pilot,  but  a  raftsman,  partly  pressed  into  the 
service,  and  I  think  a  good  Union  man.  Some 
notice  from  you,  sir,  I  think  would  be  appreciated 
by  him,  and  others  like  him  in  the  fleet. 

Herewith  I  transmit  the  return  of  ammunition  ex 
pended  in  the  engagement  of  this  morning. 

I   am,   sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser 
vant,  ED.  T.  NICHOLS, 

Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  IROQUOIS,"  ) 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  June  30,  1862.      J 

SIR — Agreeably  to  your  order,  I  submit  the  fol 
lowing  report: 

At  two  in  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  signal  be 
ing  made  from  the  flag-ship,  I  got  under  way  and 
steamed  slowly  up  (the  programme  being  that  the 
"Iroquois"  was  to  lead  the  attack  upon  Vicksburg), 
and  was  up  close  into  the  lower  battery  before  we 
were  discovered,  when  they  opened  fire,  which  was 
immediately  returned.  We  so  fought  our  way  up, 
running  close  into  the  town,  having  a  raking  fire 
from  the  fort  above  and  a  plunging  fire  from  the 
batteries  on  the  hill,  together  with  broadsides  from 
the  cannon  planted  in  the  streets,  and,  what  is  most 
strange,  through  all  this  heavy  concentrated  fire, 
with  the  exception  of  cutting  away  both  our  main 
stays,  and  some  other  immaterial  damage  to  the 
rigging,  we  escaped  without  injury.  One  shell  burst 
on  board  of  us,  scattering  its  fragments  around,  and 
yet  no  casualty  occurred. 

We  remained  off  the  upper  battery  until  joined  by 
the  flag-ship,  when,  following  your  motions,  we 
anchored  out  of  range.  My  men  and  officers  be 
haved  with  the  same  coolness  which  I  learn  so  dis 
tinguished  them  in  the  attack  on  the  forts  below 
New  Orleans. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant,  J.  S.  PALMER, 

Commander. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "WISSAHICKON,"  ) 
OFF  THE  YAZOO  RIVER,  June  29,  1862.      ) 

SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  re 
port  of  our  engagement  with  the  rebel  batteries  on 
the  heights  of  Vicksburg.  Yesterday  morning,  at 
about  two  o'clock,  observing  the  signal  from  the 
flag-ship  for  the  fleet  to  weigh  anchor  and  proceed 
to  the  attack,  as  arranged  by  general  order,  we  were 
soon  under  way  and  steaming  slowly  up  the  river. 
By  four  o'clock  we  were  in  our  station,  astern  of 
the  "  Iroquois,"  and  on  the  port  quarter  of  the 
"Richmond,''  the  "  Oneida"  ahead  and  close  to  us, 
the  remainder  of  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  not  in 
sight. 

At  4.15,  the  batteries  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  us, 
which  we  immediately  returned  with  our  Parrott 
rifle  and  eleven-inch  gun.  Arriving  opposite  the 
city,  and  within  four  hundred  yards  of  the  lower 
batteries,  our  two  24-pounder  howitzers,  charged 
with  shrapnel,  were  brought  into  operation,  and  did 
good  service  in  clearing  the  batteries  of  their  crews. 
The  action  continued  for  one  hour,  during  which 
the  "  Wissahickon"  received  four  shots.  Our  port 
main  rigging  was  shot  away,  and  an  eight-inch 
shell  struck  the  vessel  at  the  water  line,  entering 
the  berth-deck,  where  it  killed  one  man  and 
wounded  all  the  men  stationed  to  pass  shot  and 
powder  on  that  deck.  Our  loss  in  the  battle,  though 
not  heavy,  is  still  severe.  Master's  Mate  Charles  M 
Bird,  received  a  compound  fracture  of  the  left  arm- 
ward-room,  cook  killed,  and  five  of  the  crew 


wounded.  A  severe  attack  of  fever  had  confined  me 
to  bed  for  several  days  previous  to  the  action,  and  I 
could  do  but  little  during  its  continuance  except  to 
encourage,  by  my  presence  on  deck,  the  crew  to  do 
their  duty  faithfully. 

To  Lieutenant  E.  E.  Potter,  the  executive  officer, 
belongs  the  credit  of  our  success,  and  it  affords  me 
pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  officers  and  crew  of 
the  "  Wissahickon  "  did  their  duty  faithfully,  and 
to  my  entire  satisfaction. 

After  passing  the  batteries,  I  proceeded,  accord 
ing  to  my  orders,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  River, 
but  the  gun  boats  named  in  your  order,  which  were 
to  join  me,  not  having  come  up,  I  deemed  it  im 
prudent  to  attempt  the  ascent  of  the  river  alone.  I 
shall,  therefore,  await  your  further  orders. 

I  am,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  DECAMP, 

Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  U.  S.  N. 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Squadron,  near  Vicks 
burg,  Miss. 


FLAG-OFFICER  FARRAGUT'S  REPORT  OF  AFFAIRS 

ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  JULY  6,  1862. 
UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP,  "HARTFORD,"^ 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  July  6,  1862.     } 

SIR — I  have  to  inform  you  that  we  are  still  at  this 
place,  bombarding  it  by  the  mortars  from  both 
sides  of  the  peninsula.  Flag-officer  Davis  has  four 
mortars,  and  Commander  Porter  sixteen.  Com 
mander  Porter  has  hard  work  to  keep  them  from 
attacking  him  with  riflemen;  thus  far,  however, 
he  has  always  got  the  best  of  them,  and  forced 
them  to  retreat.  He  reported  yesterday  that  he 
had  found  five  dead  bodies  in  the  swamp  near  him, 
and  large  quantities  of  shoes,  knapsacks,  muskets, 
etc.,  showing  that  he  had  driven  them  precipitately 
from  the  woods. 

I  received  a  telegram  yesterday  from  General  Hal- 
leek,  a  copy  of  it  is  herewith  enclosed,  by  which  it 
appears  that  he  will  not  be  able  to  co-operate  with 
us  for  some  weeks  yet. 

Flag-officer  Davis  received  a  letter  from  General 
Grant  at  the  same  time,  at  Memphis,  stating  that  it 
was  reported  that  Richmond  was  taken.  Should 
this  be  true,  no  doubt  but  what  Vicksburg  will  soon 
fall,  but  it  must  be  by  troops  coming  down  in  the 
rear.  The  city  is  sacrificed  by  the  soldiers  ;  it  has 
been  abandoned  by  the  inhabitants.  The  ditch 
across  the  peninsula  will  soon  be  deep  enough  for 
the  water  to  run  through,  unless  the  river  should 
fall  very  fast.  We  are  now  in  hopes  of  a  little  rise, 
a  foot  or  so  will  accomplish  the  object. 

I  have  the  gun-boats  looking  to  the  bluffs  below, 
and  giving  convoy  to  our  supply  vessels. 

I  hear  nothing  of  the  "Cayuga"or  "Kearsage." 

I  hope  the  department  will  not  supersede  Com 
mander  Bell  in  the  command  of  the  "Brooklyn," 
for  you  may  depend  upon  it  the  Navy  has  not  a 
braver  man  or  better  officer.  ******* 

I  hear  by  a  deserter  to  General  Williams  that 
General  Breckinridge  is  in  command  at  Vicksburg, 
and  they  are  seizing  every  one  for  the  army. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obd't  serv't. 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Flag-officer. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  Navy,  Washington. 


UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH,  ) 
MEMPHIS,  July  3,  1862.         j 

The  scattered  and  weakened  condition  of  my 
forces  renders  it  impossible  for  me,  at  the  present, 
to  detach  any  troops  to  co-operate  with  you  on 
Vicksburg.  Probably  I  shall  be  able  to  do  so  as 
soon  as  I  can  get  my  troops  more  concentrated  ; 


OF  THE  CIVIL     WAR. 


257 


this  mav  delay  the  clearing  of  the  river,  but  its  ac 
complishment  will  be  certain  in  a  few  weeks. 

Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  great  suc 
cess. 

H.  W.  HALLECK, 

Major  General. 
Flag-officer  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  United  States  flotilla  in  the  Missis 
sippi. 

COMMA  NDKR  D.  D.  PORTER'S  REPORT  OF  THE 

OPERATIONS  OP  THE  MORTAR  FLEET  AT 

VICKSBURG. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,"  ) 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  MISSISSIPPI, 

July  7,  1862.  \ 

SIR — I  herewith  forward  the  report  of  Com 
mander  I).  D.  Porter  of  his  operations  since  the  re 
ceipt  of  his  orders  to  join  me  at  Vicksburg  up  to 
date,  and  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  say  that 
nothing  could  exceed  that  officer's  perseverance  in 
getting  to  the  scene  of  his  labors,  or  the  steadiness 
with  which  his  officers  and  men  have  carried  on  his 
work  of  demolition  and  annoyance  to  the  enemy, 
while  I  deeply  regret  the  chance  shots  which 
caused  the  death  of  his  brave  men.  But,  as  I  stated 
in  my  last  communication,  Commander  Porter's 
service  has  been  hard  upon  his  officers  and  crew, 
though  they  have  performed  it  well,  willingly  and 
unflinchingly. 

We  hope  soon  to  have  the  pleasure  of  recording 
the  combined  attack  by  Army  and  Navy,  for  which 
we  all  so  ardently  long. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

t>.  (T.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 
{Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  OCTORORA,'' 
VICKSBURG,  July  3,  1862. 

SIR — Agreeably  to  the  orders  received  from  you 
I  sailed  from  Pensacola  on  the  3d  of  June,  and*  on 
the  9th  had  all  the  mortar  vessels  in  New  Orleans. 
On  the  13th,  sixteen  vessels,  in  tow  of  the  steamers, 
had  left  for  Vicksburg,  on  half  rations,  the  officers 
and  men  being  desirous  to  arrive  at  the  scene  of  ac 
tion  in  good  time.  On  the  20th,  we  were  before 
Vicksburg,  ready  for  service,  having  met  with  no 
delay  or  accidents  on  the  passage.  On  one  occasion 
the  flotilla  was  attacked  with  field-pieces  at  Ellis 
Bluffs,  but  the  rebels  were  handsomely  repulsed  by 
the  "Owasco"  and  "Jackson,"'  Lieutenants  Com 
manding  Guest  and  Woodworth.  The  mortar 
schooners  "George  Mangham"  and  "Arietta," 
Acting-Masters  John  Collins  and  Thomas  E.  Smith, 
and  the  "Horace  Beales1'  and  "Sarah  Bruin," 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Breese  and  Acting-Master 
A.  Christian,  were  also  attacked  at  different  times, 
but  they  whipped  off  the  rebels,  and  pursued  their 
voyage  in  peace.  The  latter  schooner  had  two 
men  seriously  hurt,  having  each  lost  an  arm  by  a 
12-pound  shot.  Lieutenant-Commanding  Breese 
gives  his  officers  full  credit  for  behaving  hand 
somely  under  a  troublesome  fire  from  field-pieces 
and  concealed  riflemen. 

On  the  21st,  with  a  mortar  schooner  alongside,  I 
proceeded  up  toward  the  city  of  Vicksburg,  to  ob 
tain  ranges  and  draw  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  forts, 
about  which  we  had  no  information.  The  rebels 
allowed  us  to  get  within  good  range,  when  they 
opened  on  us  with  all  their  batteries,  without, 
however,  doing  any  harm,  and  enabled  us  to  get 
the  desired  information.  I  gave  them  four  bombs, 
to  let  them  see  they  were  in  range,  and  some  100- 
pound  rifle  shots,  and  returned  to  the  anchorage, 
after  satisfying  myself  about  the  proper  position 
to  place  the  mortar  vessels  in. 


On  June  26,  I  was  employed  all  night  getting  the 
mortars  in  position.  Nine  on  the  right-hand  side 
going  up,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Corn 
manding  Smith,  and  eight  on  the  left  side,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant-Commanding  Queen. 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Breese  was  left  at  New 
Orleans  to  bring  up  the  last  vessels.  He  was  de 
tained,  also,  getting  the  "Sea  Foam  v  afloat,  which 
vessel  had  grounded  badly  on  a  sand-bar,  where 
she  will  most  likely  remain  for  the  rest  of  the  sea 
son.  The  position  selected  here  for  the  mortars 
was  a  beautiful  one  on  the  starboard  side  of  the 
river,  at  2,500  yards  from  the  main  battery,  and 
2,200  from  the  water  battery.  The  vessels  on  the 
port  side  about  700  yards,  further  off,  were  rather 
exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire,  but  were  so  covered  up 
with  bushes  that  it  was  not  easy  to  see  them  at 
that  distance,  much  less  to  fire  accurately  at  them. 

When  the  mortars  were  all  in  position  they 
opened  their  fire  deliberately  for  the  purpose  mainly 
of  getting  ranges,  which  they  succeeded  in  doing 
after  a  few  fires.  The  enemy 'opened  on  them  from 
all  their  batteries  in  range,  but,  though  they  fired 
all  around  and  over  them,  none  were  struck.  A 
kind  Providence  seems  to  look  out  for  this  little 
fleet.  They  soon  silenced  the  batteries,  and  were 
enabled  to  pursue  their  experiments  unmolested. 

On  June  27,  the  mortars  opened  again  on  the 
forts  at  5.45  A.  M.,  firing  rapidly.  The  rebels  at 
tempted  to  respond,  but  were  driven  away  from 
their  guns,  after  we  had  fired  a  little  less  than  an 
hour.  The  steamers  were  also  employed,  throwing 
in  an  effective  fire  with  their  rifle-guns.  The  prac 
tice  was  kept  up  during  the  day  with  good  effect, 
many  of  the  bomb  shells  going  into  the  forts  or 
bursting  over  them.  Only  one  vessel,  the  "  C.  P. 
Williams,"  was  struck  on  this  day,  a  7-inch  shell 
lodging  in  her  bow  and  sticking  there,  showing  that 
the  enemy's  powder  was  bad.  At  sunset  we  ceased 
firing,  and  at  8  o'clock  opened  again  with  all  the 
mortars,  on  the  town,  doing  much  damage.  At  8.30, 
I  sent  the  "Owasco,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Guest,  up  abreast  of  the  town  to  throw  some  incen 
diary  shells,  which  proved  to  be  failures,  as  they 
did  not  explode. 

June  28,  at  3  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  squadron  made  a 
move  to  pass  the  batteries,  and  the  flotilla  steamers 
got  under  way  to  take  their  position,  which  was  to 
enfilade  the  water  batteries  as  the  ships  passed. 
The  headmost  vessels  of  the  squadron  passed  along 
a  little  before  time,  unsupported,  and  our  vessels 
could  not  get  near  enough  to  them  to  be  of  any 
service.  Five  of  the  above  mentioned  vessels  went 
gallantly  on,  despite  the  fire  of  the  batteries,  throw 
ing  in  their  grape  and  canister,  favored  much  by 
the  heavy  atmosphere  and  early  morning  light.  At 
4  o'clock,  the  flag-ship  came  along,  with  two  gun 
boats.  By  that  time  the  mortar  steamers  had  got 
nearly  into  position,  and  moved  up  toward  the  bat 
teries,  throwing  in  a  quick  fire.  Nearly  all  the 
mortars  had  commenced  as  the  "  Richmond" 
passed,  and  the  shells  were  falling  very  well  and 
rapidly,  the  "Hartford"  and  gun-boats  opening 
their  batteries  with  grape,  canister  and  shrapnel. 
The  air  seemed  to  be  filled  with  projectiles.  The 
lower  batteries  were  silenced  for  the  time,  though  I 
saw  that  the  rebels  would  manage  to  get  a  shot  or 
so  at  the  ships  after  they  had  passed  along.  The  bat 
teries  out  of  range  of  the  mortars  were  verv  severe, 
and  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  some  ships  lost,  in  killed 
and  wounded,  as  many  as  they  did  at  Forts  Jack 
son  and  St.  Philip,  f  regret  that  the  mortars  were 
not  able  to  reach  these  batteries. 

About  the  time  the  "  Hartford  "  passed,  the 
"  Octorora's ''  wheel  ropes  got  jammed  below,  and 
there  was  a  fair  prospect  of  drifting  out  of  action, 
or  into  some  of  the  vessels  astern.  As  I  went  drift 
ing  by  the  "  Miami,"  I  hailed  her  commander,  and 
ordered  him  up  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the 
battery.  Also  hailed  the  u  Jackson,"  and  ordered 


258 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


the  "Westfield"and  "Clifton"  to  go  ahead  of  rne 
until  I  could  relieve  myself  from  my  unpleasant 
position.  The  "Owasco,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Guest,  and  "Harriet  Lane,"  Lieutenant  Command 
ing  Wain-Wright,  had  been  ordered  to  act  at  discre 
tion,  and  throw  on  their  fire  to  the  best  advantage, 
which  they  did  effectually.  The  river  being  narrow, 
and  the  current  very  strong,  it  was  impossible  to 
manoeuvre  so  many  vessels  to  advantage,  and  leave 
room  for  the  squadron  of  ships  to  pass. 

I  had  cleared  my  wheel-ropes,  and  succeeded  in 
getting  again  to  my  place  ahead,  and  was  in  fine 
position  (with  all  the  steamers  firing  very  rapidly 
and  effectually  i  to  cover  the  "Brooklyn,"  "Katah- 
din,"  and  "  Kennebec  "  as  they  came  along,  presum 
ing  that  they  were  going  to  follow  the  "  Hartford." 
That  vessel  was  now  two  miles  ahead,  and  appeared 
to  be  under  a  heavy  fire  from  a  battery  of  six  guns 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  city,  out  of  mortar  range. 
The  "Brooklyn'1  came  up  a  little  ahead  of  the 
mortar  vessels  and  opened  fire,  as  did  the  gun-boats 
astern  of  her,  but  did  not  pass  through. 

Not  a  shot  had,  up  to  this  time,  struck  one  of  the 
mortar  steamers;  when,  finding  it  necessary  to  slow 
the  engines,  to  get  out  of  the  line  of  the  "Brook 
lyn's  "  fire,  the  vessel  became  stationary,  and  a  fair 
target  for  what  guns  the  enemy  were  able  to  fire. 
The  "Jackson,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  Wood- 
worth,  was  struck  badly  with  rifle  shells,  one  of 
which  exploded  in  her  wheel-house,  disabling  the 
man  at  the  wheel  by  cutting  off  his  leg,  and  knock 
ing  her  steering  apparatus  to  pieces  which  disabled 
her.  The  other  struck  the  pillar  block  support,  al 
most  cutting  it  in  two.  This  steamer  being  dis 
abled,  the  "Clifton,''  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Baldwin,  went  to  her  assistance  (by  signal"*,  and, 
while  in  the  act  of  taking  her  in  tow,  a  7-inch  shot 
passed  in  on  the  "Clifton's"  port  bow,  going 
through  her  boiler.  By  this  catastrophe,  six  of  the 
men  in  and  about  the  magazine  were  scalded  to 
death,  and  others  were  scalded  severely.  The  steam 
drove  eight  or  ten  men  overboard,  one  of  whom  was 
drowned.  The  "Jackson,"  Lieutenant-Command 
ing  Woodworth,  now  became  the  helping  ship,  and 
picked  up  out  of  the  water  the  "Clifton's"  men, 
that  steamer  being  completely  disabled.  The 
"  Westfield,"  on  approaching  to  assist  her,  was 
struck  on  the  frame  of  her  engine  by  a  heavy  rifle 
shot,  which,  fortunately,  did  not  go  through,  hav 
ing  struck  butt-end  foremost,  and  consequently 
caused  but  short  delay.  In  the  meantime,  the 
"  Octorora''  dropped  out  of  fire,  took  the  "  Clifton" 
in  tow,  and  removed  her  to  a  place  of  safety.  The 
"  Jackson  "  drifted  out  clear.  No  further  necessity 
existing  for  the  flotilla  steamers  remaining  under  fire 
(the  "Brooklyn"  and  those  astern  of  her  having 
slowed  their  engines,  and  proceeding  no  further^, 
the  signal  was  made  to  retire  under  cover  of  the 
woods,  having  been  sixty-five  minutes  under  fire. 
Although  the  steamers  disabled  were  in  a  strong 
current,  and  narrow,  crowded  river,  they  were 
handled  and  taken  out  of  action  without  confusion 
of  any  kind,  beyond  that  occasioned  by  the  escap 
ing  steam  on  board  the  "Clifton."  Such  a  calamity 
is  always  appalling  to  those  unused  to  the  effects  of 
such  a  terrible  enemy  on  board  their  own  vessel. 
The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  on  board  the 
"  Clifton  "  was  creditable  in  the  highest  degree,  and 
I  regret  to  say  that  those  scalded  to  death  were  some 
of  the  leading  men  of  the  vessel. 

No  further  casualties  occurred  of  any  conse 
quence.  The  "Jackson"  and  "Clifton"  are  tem 
porarily  repaired,  the  latter  working  under  one 
boiler.  All  the  steamers  took  good  positions,  and 
their  commanders  did  their  duty  properly.  It  is  to 
be  regretted  that  a  combined  attack  of  Army  and 
Navy  had  not  been  made.by  which  something  more 
substantial  might  have  been  accomplished.  Such 
an  attack,  I  think,  would  have  resulted  in  the  cap 
ture  of  the  city.  Ships  and  mortar  vessels  can  keep 


full  possession  of  the  river,  and  places  near  the 
water's  edge,  but  they  cannot  crawl  up  hills  three 
hundred  feet  high,  and  it  is  that  part  of  Vicksburg 
which  must  be  taken  by  the  Army.  If  it  was  in 
tended  merely  to  pass  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg, 
and  make  a  junction  with  the  fleet  of  Flag-officer 
Davis, the  Navy  did  it  most  gallantly  and  fearlessly. 

It  was  as  handsome  a  thing  as  had  been  done  dur 
ing  the  war;  for  the  batteries  to  be  passed  extended 
full  three  miles,  with  a  three-knot  current,  against 
ships  that  could  not  make  eight  knots  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances.  Again,  sir,  I  have 
to  mention  favorably  the  divisional  officers,  and 
the  acting-masters  commanding  mortar  vessels. 
Anchored  at  all  times  in  a  position  selected  by  my 
self,  more  with  regard  to  the  object  to  be  accom 
plished  than  to  any  one's  comfort  or  safety;  know 
ing  that  they  will  have  to  stay  there  without  a 
chance  of  getting  away  till  I  think  proper  to  remove 
them  (no  matter  how  thick  the  shot  and  shells  may 
fly,  there  has  always  existed  a  rivalry  as  to  who 
shall  have  the  post  of  honor  (the  leading  vessel*,  al 
most  certain  to  be  struck,  if  not  destroyed. 

They  know  no  weariness,  and  they  really  seem  to 
take  a  delight  in  mortar  firing,  which  is  painful 
even  to  those  accustomed  to  it.  It  requires  more 
than  ordinary  zeal  to  stand  the  ordeal.  Though  I 
may  have  at  times  been  exacting  and  fault-finding 
with  them  for  not  conforming  with  the  rules  of  the 
service  i which  requires  the  education  of  a  life-time 
to  learn\  yet  I  cannot  withhold  my  applause 
when  I  see  these  men  working  with  such  earnest 
and  untiring  devotion  to  their  duties  while  under 
fire. 

The  officers  and  crew  of  the  "  Octorora  "  behaved 
like  veterans;  and  I  am  much  indebted  to  that  ex 
cellent  officer,  Lieutenant  George  Brown,  for  the 
drill  of  the  crew,  and  the  perfect  arrangements 
made  for  going  into  action.  On  the  day  the  squad 
ron  passed  up,  the  mortars  were  engaged  in  divis 
ions  in  firing  on  the  enemy  and  keeping  his  guns 
quiet,  and  so  on  up  to  the  1st  of  July. 

Two  or  three  deserters  came  in,  one  of  them  as 
serting  a  marvelous  story  that  the  ships  and  mor 
tars  had  killed  and  wounded  seven  hundred  per 
sons.  No  doubt  some  were  killed,  but  very  likely 
fewer  than  stated,  and  only  in  and  about  the  forts. 
Only  two  schooners  were  struck.  One,  the  "C.  P. 
Williams,"  Acting-Master  Amos  R.  Langthorne,  in 
the  bow;  the  other,  the  "  Orvetta,"  Acting-Master 
Blanchard,  through  the  foremast.  Nobody  has 
been  hurt,  so  far,  in  the  mortar  vessels. 

On  the  first  of  July,  our  pickets  (which  were 
thrown  out  about  a  hundred  yards)  were  surprised 
by  a  large- body  of  rebels  close  to  them,  evidently 
intending  to  surprise  the  mortar  schooners.  They 
immediately  came  in  to  report,  the  enemy  firing  on 
them  as  they  retreated.  In  a  moment  all  the  guns 
of  the  mortar  vessels  and  flotilla  steamers  opened  on 
the  woods  with  grape,  shrapnel,  canister,  shells, 
and  round  shot  (the  mortars  throwing  in  bombs 
with  small  charges),  and  we  knew  if  an  enemy  was 
there  he  could  not  face  a  fire  like  ours,  from  fifty 
guns,  spread  out  along  the  levee  for  about  a  mile. 
After  the  woods  were  well  shelled,  the  pickets  went 
in  and  captured  three  rebel  soldiers,  who  were  help 
lessly  stuck  in  the  mud,  from  which  they  had  much 
difficulty  in  extricating  themselves,  and  cried  out 
lustily  that  they  had  surrendered.  They  were 
brought  in,  with  their  arms  and  accoutrements. 
These  men  state  that  two  regiments,  one  from  Ten 
nessee,  the  other  from  Mississippi,  were  put  under 
arms,  and  made  to  believe  that  they  were  going  to 
attack  some  United  States  troops.  Finding  the 
head  of  our  schooners  guarded,  the  rebels  attempted 
to  pass  through  the  middle  of  the  wood  and  enfilade 
us,  but  got  helplessly  stuck  in  the  middle  of  the 
swamp,  or  the  thick  mud  which  exists  here.  While 
in  this  condition,  our  guns  commenced  shelling  the 
woods,  and  the  two  regiments  were  panic  stricken. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


259 


They  threw  away  their  knapsacks,  cartridge  boxes, 
and  everything  that  would  impede  their  progress. 
In  going  over  the  ground  afterwards,  our  men  found 
evidences  of  a  general  stampede  throughout  the 
woods;  amongst  other  things  they  picked  up  from 
the  mud  the  heavy  boots  of  a  general  officer,  with 
silver  spurs  on.  There  was  evidence  in  the  marks 
that  the  enemy  had  been  completely  "  bogged,"  or 
sunk  in  the  mud,  and  our  prisoners  informed  us 
that,  had  we  gone  into  the  woods  at  that  moment 
with  two  hundred  men,  we  could  have  captured 
the  two  regiments,  as  they  were  for  a  time  per 
fectly  helpless,  having  thrown  away  many  of  their 
arms.  etc.  It  was  on  this  marsh  I  depended  for 
safety  when  I  placed  the  schooners  in  position;  for, 
without  such  a  natural  defence,  we  should  have  been 
at  the  mercy  of  the  concealed  riflemen. 

Not  wishing  to  have  any  mishaps,  I  landed  five 
howitzers,  threw  up  works,  posted  fifty  marines  as 
pickets,  and  had  a  large  bell  slung  up  in  the  woods 
with  lines  leading  to  it  from  different  points,  so 
that  the  pickets  might  give  immediate  alarm.  After 
which  the  mortar  flotilla  went  to  their  repose  with 
great  confidence.  We  have  held  the  position  we 
first  took.  We  have  advanced,  indeed,  300  yards 
with  the  mortars.  We  are  within  2,100  yards  of  the 
enemy's  batteries,  and  in  short  distance  of  an  Army 
i  which  they  sav  consists)  of  thirty  thousand  men — 
a  very  doubtful  estimate,  as  it  will  not  amount  to 
a  half  or  a  third  of  that  number.  From  what  I  can 
learn  from  pretty  reliable  sources,  the  regiments  are 
small,  and  do  not  average  500  men  each.  I  do  not 
think  there  are  6,000  men  in  this  town  and  the  sur 
rounding  country,  and  many  of  them  are  sick. 

I  respectfully  submit  a  list  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  on  board  the  steamers  "  Clifton  "  and  "  J. 
P.  Jackson.1'  On  the  "Clifton"  there  were  eight 
killed  and  one  wounded  :  Thomas  Collins,  gunner's 
mate  ;  Robert  Sargeant,  ship's  cook  ;  John  Burke, 
ordinary  seaman  ;  William  Morris,  captain's  cook; 
John  B.  Carlton,  landsman,  and  George  B.  Der- 
went  (colored),  wardroom  steward,  killed ;  and 
John  Hudson,  master-at-arms,  severely  wounded  ; 
John  Connor.  2d-class  fireman,  was  drowned.  On 
the  "Jackson."  Alexander  Green  wall,  seaman,  was 
severely,  if  not  mortally,  wounded. 

On  the  2d  of  July  the  enemy  made  another  at 
tack  on  our  pickets  and  drove  them  in,  wound 
ing  two  of  them,  and  succeeded  in  getting  so  close 
cas  to  fire  on  our  decks  ;  but  they  soon  met  with  the 
fire  of  five  field-pieces  which  I  had  placed  near  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  and  which  must  have  inflicted 
severe  punishment.  Five  dead  bodies  have  since 
been  found  and  evidences  of  some  wounded,  from 
the  muskets  and  other  arms  thrown  away,  I  sup 
pose,  in  the  retreat.  Since  then  we  have  fortified 
ourselves  so  that  they  cannot  annoy  us  without 
getting  the  worst  of  it.  They  have  shelled  our  po 
sition,  fired  hot  shot  and  rifled  shot  in  abundance  ; 
and  though  they  have  made  some  holes  in  the  mor 
tar  vessels,  we  have  held  our  own,  and  shell  them 
out  whenever  we  open  on  them  with  mortars. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 
Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Squadron. 


REPORTS  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING   CROSBY, 

OF   THE    "PINOLA,"   AND    LIEUTENANT-COM- 

MANDING   WOODWORTH,    OF   THE    "j.    P. 

JACKSON,"  OK  THE  ATTACK  OX  VICKS- 

BURG,  JUNE  28,  1862. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"  } 

ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  July  8,  1862.  I" 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  forward  the  report  of 

Lieutenant-Commanding  P.  Crosby,  of  the  attack 

on   Vicksburg,  June  28,   1862  ;  also  the  report  of 

Lieutenant-Commanding    Seliin    E.    Woodworth, 


commanding  the  gun-boat  "  J.  P.  Jackson,"  of  the 
same  affair. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Flag-officer,  Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 

Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 


UNITED  STATES  GUN  BOAT  "PINOLA," 

ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  June  30, 1862. 
SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  took  my 
position  in  line  of  battle  on  the  28th  instant  at  3.10 
A.  M.,  in  obedience  to  signals,  and  stood  up  the 
river  in  company  with  the  squadron.  At  4  A.  M., 
opened  fire  on  the  enemy  s  batteries,  which  we  con 
tinued  until  6.10  A.  M.,  when  we  had  passed  Vicks 
burg  and  were  beyond  the  range  of  our  stern  guns 
(24-pound  howitzers',  but  within  range  of  the  en 
emy's  heavy  rifled  guns  for  some  twenty  minutes 
after  we  had  ceased  tiring.  At  6.40  A.  M.,  anchored 
above  Vicksburg  ;  fired  from  the  11-inch  gun  20 
shells,  3  grape  and  1  shrapnel ;  from  the  Parrott 
rifle  29  shells,  from  the  howitzers  13  shells,  and 
20  shrapnel — total  86.  Owing  to  the  smoke 
and  remarkably  scattered  positon  of  the  enemy's 
guns,  we  labored  under  great  disadvantage  in 


LIEUT.-COMMANDING   (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  PIERCE  CROSBY. 

aiming,  which  hindered  us  from  firing  more 
rapidly.  The  fire  from  the  enemy  upon  us  was 
very  severe,  owing  in  a  great  measure,  I  think,  to 
our  being  the  last  vessel  that  passed  their  batteries. 
But,  I  am  thankful  to  say,  only  a  few  shots  struck 
us,  one  of  which,  a  heavy  shot,  struck  John  Brown, 
ordinary  seaman,  at  the  11-inch  gun,  seriously 
wounding  him  ;  another,  a  50  pound  rifle  shot,  cut 
away  the  timber-head  of  the  starboard  after  port  : 
struck  the  howitzer  and  carriage,  slightly  defacing 
the  former  and  slightly  injuring  the  latter  ;  it  also 
struck  the  cabin  hatch,  destroyed  the  barometer 
and  thermometer,  and  landed  in  the  port  water 
ways ;  and,  I  regret  to  say,  it  killed  William  H. 
Thomas,  quarter-gunner  and  captain  of  the  gun, 
while  sighting  the  piece,  and  mortc-illy  wounded 
Thomas  Graham,  landsman,  who  died  in  a  few 
minutes  after  ;  it  also  slightly  wounded  William  H. 
Shucks,  landsman.  Daniel  Colleran,  landsman, 
was  wounded  by  a  musket  ball,  volleys  of  which 
were  fired  at  us  from  hills  and  bushes.  We  re 
ceived  some  four  or  five  large  grape  shot  in  the  hull 
just  below  the  water-ways.  I  am  happy  to  say  that 
neither  the  vessel  nor  guns  were  disabled.  The 
howitzer  continued  firing  after  the  accident,  under 
the  direction  of  Acting-Master's  Mate  William.  H. 


260 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


Thompson,  who,  by  his  brave  example,  restored 
confidence  to  his  crew,  and  did  great  service  in  the 
action. 

I  have  again  the  pleasant  duty  of  bearing  testi 
mony  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  officers  and 
crew  of  this  vessel,  and  the  spirit  and  zeal  exhibited 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties  on  this  occasion. 
John  R.  Tennant,  quartermaster,  gave  the  sound 
ings  with  as  much  coolness  as  though  he  had  been 
making  an  ordinary  survey.  Mr.  John  McHugh, 
our  pilot,  behaved  in  a  remarkably  cool  and  self- 
possessed  manner,  and  gave  me  great  assistance. 
Great  credit  is  due  Lieutenant  A.  P.  Cooke  for  the 
efficient  manner  in  which  the  guns  were  worked, 
and  for  the  good  training  of  the  ship's  company. 
Accompanying  this  report  I  send  Assistant-Surgeon 
L.  M.  Lyon's  report  of  casualties. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser 
vant,  PIERCE  CROSBY, 

Lieutenant-  Co  m  manding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

U.S.  N.,  Commanding  Western  Divisionof  United 
States  Stockading  Squadron. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  J.  P.  JACKSON,"  I 
OFF  VICKSBURG,  July  30, 1862.          ) 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  following 
casualties  onboard  the  United  States  steamer  "  J. 
P.  Jackson  "  during  the  engagement  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  28th  ultimo,  before  Vicksburg.  In  en 
deavoring  to  obtain  the  position  assigned  me,  by 
your  order,  in  front  of  the  lower  "water  battery," 
my  vessel  was  struck  by  a  7-inch  rifle  projectile, 
which,  entering  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  forward 
bulkhead,  passed  obliquely  through  the  forward 
wheel-house,  destroying  the  wheel,  and  passed 
out  through  the  hurricane  deck,  taking  off  the 
right  foot  of  one  of  the  steersmen,  and  wounding 
the  left  foot. 

The  vessel  was  for  awhile  rendered  unmanage 
able,  but,  by  the  aid  of  a  jury  tiller,  we  were  en 
abled  to  steer  down  the  river  out  of  the  action, 
when  the  signal  to  retire  was  made.  We  received 
another  7-inch  rifle  projectile  in  our  starboard 
wheel,  cutting  away  one-half  of  the  bridge  piece 
supporting  the  other  end  of  the  shaft  immediately 
under  the  pillar  block.  We  were  struck  slightly  by 
two  grape,  or  other  shot,  doing  no  damage.  We 
fired  from  our  guns  during  the  engagement  117  shot, 
shells,  grape  and  shrapnel.  I  take  pleasure  in  stat 
ing  that  the  gallant  conduct  of  my  men  and  offi 
cers  during  the  action  met  with  my  highest  com 
mendations. 

Enclosed  I  send  you  the  report  of  Surgeon  Thomas 
Yard,  containing  list  of  wounded. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

SELIM  E.  WOODWORTH, 

Lieutenant- Commanding,  United  States  Navy. 
Commander  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Mortar  Flotilla. 


ENGAGEMENT       WITH      THE       RAM      "ARKANSAS," 
JULY  15,  1862. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"  ) 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  July  17,  1862.     f 

SIR — It  is  with  deep  mortification  that  I  an 
nounce  to  the  department  that,  notwithstanding 
my  prediction  to  the  contrary,  the  iron-clad  ram 
"Arkansas"  has  at  length  made  her  appearance 
and  taken  us  all  by  surprise.  We  had  heard  that 
she  was  up  at  Liverpool,  in  the  Yazoo  River,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Ellet  informed  me  that  the 
river  was  too  narrow  for  our  gun-boats  to  turn, 
and  was  also  shallow  in  places,  but  suggested  that 
Flag-officer  Davis  might  send  up  some  of  his  iron 
clad  boats,  which  draw  only  six  or  seven  feet  of 
water. 

When  this  was  proposed  to  Flag-officer  Davis  he 
consented  immediately,  and  General  Williams  of 


fered  to  send  up  a  few  sharpshooters.  The  next 
morning  they  went  off  at  daylight,  and  by  six  in 
the  morning  we  heard  firing  up  the  river,  but  sup 
posed  it  to  be  the  gun-boats  firing  at  the  flying  ar 
tillery,  said  to  be  lining  the  river,  In  a  short  time, 
however,  the  gun-boats  appeared,  and  the  ram  in 
pursuit.  Although  we  were  lying  with  low  fires, 
none  of  us  had  steam,  or  could  we  get  it  up  in  time 
to  pursue  her ;  but  she  took  the  broadside  of  the 
whole  fleet.  It  was  a  bold  thing,  and  she  was  only 
saved  by  our  feeling  of  security.  She  was  very 
much  injured,  arid  was  only  able  to  drift  or  go  at 
the  slowest  speed — say,  one  knot,  and  with  the  cur 
rent  she  got  down  to  the  forts  of  Vicksburg  before 
any  of  us  had  steam  up. 

I  had  a  consultation  with  Flag-officer  Davis,  and 
we  thought  it  best  to  take  the  evening,  when  he 
dropped  down  to  take  the  fire  of  the  upper  battery, 
and  my  squadron  passed  down  with  the  determin 
ation  of  destroying  the  ram,  if  possible ;  but,  by 
delays  of  getting  into  position,  etc.,  it  was  so  dark 
by  the  time  we  reached  the  town  that  nothing 
could  be  seen  except  the  flashes  of  the  guns,  so  that, 
to  my  great  mortification,  I  was  obliged  to  go  down 
and  anchor,  with  the  rest  of  my  fleet,  to  protect  the 
transports,  mortar  boats,  etc. 

The  ram  is  now  repairing  damages — for  we  put 
many  holes  through  her — though  we  do  not  know 
the  extent  of  damage  done  to  her.  Be  assured,  sir, 
however,  that  I  shall  leave  no  stone  unturned  to 
destroy  her.  I  regret  to  report  that  the  loss  from 
this  vessel  was  one  officer  and  two  men  killed,  and 
five  wounded.  The  total  loss  in  the  fleet  was  five 
killed  and  sixteen  wounded.  I  enclose  herewith 
the  fleet  surgeon's  report  of  casualties. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Flag-officer,  Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 

Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"        ) 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  July  16,  1862.  f 

SIR — I  respectfully  report  the  following  list  of 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  fleet  during  the  engage 
ments  on  the  15th  instant,  viz  : 

FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD." 

Killed. — George  H.  Loundsberry,  master's  mate ; 
Charles  Jackson,  officers'  cook,  and  John  Cameron, 
seaman,  by  cannon  shot. 

Wounded. — Captain  John  L.  Broome,  marine 
corps,  and  Thomas  Hoffman,  paymaster's  steward, 
severe  contusions  ;  John  D.  Barnes,  fireman,  and 
Michael  Martin,  landsman,  contusions ;  George 
Royer,  marine,  and  Henry  Downs,  boy,  slightly. 
"  WISSAHICKON." 

Killed. — John  Garrett,  ordinary  seaman,  by  a 
cannon  shot. 

Wounded. — Edward  York,  fireman,  and  Daniel 
Hayes,  ordinary  seaman,  and  Joseph  Ranahan, 
landsman,  severely ;  James  Revell,  ordinary  sea 
man,  slightly. 

"WlNONA." 

Killed. — John  H.  Harway,  landsman,  by  a  shell. 
Wounded. — John  Jones,  captain  afterguard,  se 
verely  ;  William  Malley,  landsman,  slightly. 

"SCIOTA." 

Wounded. — James  H.  Mathist,  landsman,  and 
Peter  Lasher,  ordinary  seaman,  severely. 

"RICHMOND." 

Wounded. — William  Somes  and  William  Nelson, 
seamen,  slightly. 
Total— 5  killed  ;  16  wounded. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  M.  FOLTZ, 

Fleet  Surgeon. 

Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Commanding  Western  Division  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


261 


UNITED  STATES  STEAM-SLOOP  "OXEIDA,"  ) 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  July  16.  1862.        ) 

SIR — I  make  the  following  report  of  the  action 
with  the  batteries  and  with  the  rebel  iron-clad  ram 
"Arkansas,"  last  evening,  in  passing  Vicksburg. 

At  6.  40  P.  M.,  flag-ship  made  general  signal  1,218  ; 
got  under  way,  steaming  as  necessary,  whilst  the 
fleet  was  formed  according  to  the  plan  for  the 
morning  of  the  28th  ultimo.  Renshaw's  mortars 
were  now  firing  at  the  batteries.  At  6.55,  the  army 
mortars  commenced  firing;  at  7,  the  "Benton" 
opened  fire  on  the  new  upper  battery ;  at  7.20, 
passed  two  of  the  army  gun-boats — now  holding 
their  fire  to  allow  us  to  pass — our  fleet  having 
formed  and  closed  up  ;  at  7.30,  we  opened  fire  on 
the  new  upper  battery  ;  fired,  in  passing,  at  the  up 
per  batteries  and  rifle-pits  with  our  battery  and 
small  arms,  whilst  under  like  fire  from  the  rebels. 

W e  passed  near  the  left  t  east )  bank,  stopped  the 
engine,  and  drifted  by  the  town  ;  saw  the  wharf 
boat :  fired  bolts  from  two  rifled  guns  and  solid 
shot  from  the  two  11  -inch  pivot  guns  at  the  "Ar 
kansas,"  which  lying  under  the  bank,  exposed  her 
position  by  firing.  Stopped  firing  at  7.50,  having 
expended  the  following  projectiles :  6  shells,  11- 
inch,  5m.  fuze;  9  grape,  11-inch  ;  2  solid  shot,  11- 
inch  (at  the  ram  ;  10  shells,  82-pounders,  5m. 
fuze  ;  1  stand  32-pounder  grape  ;  2  solid  32-pounder 
shot ;  16  bolts  and  1  shell  from  the  30-pounder 
Dahlgren  rifle  gun.  No  casualties  occurred  on 
board.  The  officers  and  men  on  the  sick  list  who 
were  able  to  go  to  their  guns  did  so.  Anchored 
with  the  fleet. 

Respectfully  yours, 

S.  PHILLIPS  LEE, 

Commander. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding,  etc.,  etc. 

FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"        / 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  July  22,  1862.  f 
SIR — I  herewith  enclose  the  reports  of  these  ves 
sels,  the  "Iroquois,"   "Richmond,"   "Scipta,"  and 
"Wmona,"  of  their  passage  down  the  river  from 
above  this  place,  and  the  encounter  with  the  ram 
"  Arkansas.'' 
I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

FLAG  SHIP  "  HARTFORD," 
BELOW  VICKSBURG,  July  16,  1862. 

SIR — The  following  officers  and  crew  of  this  ship 
were  killed  and  wounded  in  the  engagement  last 
night,  viz  : 

Killed. — George  H.  Loundsberry,  master's  mate, 
killed  by  a  cannon  ball ;  Charles  Jackson,  officers' 
cook,  killed  by  a  cannon  ball ;  John  Cameron,  sea 
man,  killed  by  a  cannon  ball. 

Wounded. — Thomas  Hoffman,  paymaster's  stew 
ard,  struck  in  head  and  chest  with  splinters ; 
John  D.  Barnes,  fireman,  contusion  of  shoulder ; 
Michael  Martin,  landsman,  contusion  of  arm, 
slightly  ;  George  Royer,  marine,  contusion  of  arm, 
slightly;  Henry  Downs,  boy  (colored),  contusion 
of  arm,  slightly  ;  Captain  John  Broome,  marine, 
contusion  of  head  and  shoulder. 

Total.— Killed,  3  ;  wounded,  6. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  M.  FOLTZ, 

Fleet  Surgeon. 
Commander  R.  WAINWRIGHT, 

Commanding  United  States  Steamer  "  Hartford.'' 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  IROQUOIS,"  ) 

BELOW  VICKSBURG,  July  17,  1862.      ) 

SIR— At  twenty  minutes  after  six  in  the  afternoon 

of  the  15th,  signal  being  made  from  the  flag-ship  to 


weigh  and  form  the  line  ahead  (the  "Iroquois" 
being  ordered  to  lead),  I  was  immediately  under 
way,  and  stood  down  the  river  toward  the  newly 
erected  battery,  having  been  preceded  about  half 
an  hour  by  Flag-officer  Davis  and  the  "Benton,'' 
with  two  other  iron-clad  gun-boats,  whose  instruc 
tions  were  to  keep  in  play  the  upper  battery,  whilst 
we  passed  on  to  the  attack. 

At  seven  we  passed  the  head  of  their  line,  and  were 
immediately  under  fire,  which  we  returned  at  once  ; 
and  very  soon  after  the  hill  battery,  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  town,  commenced  its  raking  fire,  the 
shot  and  shells  flying  over  us,  their  guns  not  being 
sufficiently  depressed.  In  a  short  time  we  were 
abreast  of  the  town,  from  which  we  received  vol 
leys  of  musketry  and  artillery,  which  we  returned 
with  shrapnel  and  grape.  Now  the  lower  hill  bat 
teries  commenced  their  plunging  fire  and  at  this 
critical  moment  our  worn-out  engines  suddenly 
stopped,  and  we  drifted  for  twenty  minutes  under 
fire  which,  as  night  was  now  setting  in,  was  ill-di 
rected,  and  very  soon  gave  me  no  concern. 

As  we  dropped  down,  the  lower  water  battery , 
and  what  I  supposed  might  be  the  iron-clad  ram, 
opened  upon  us.  This  we  returned  with  solid  shot. 
But  with  all  this  fire  of  heavy  shot  and  shells  from 
the  batteries,  of  musketry  and  field-pieces  with 
which  the  town  was  crowded,  with  the  exception  of 
a  6-pound  shell,  fired  from  a  field-piece,  left  stick 
ing  in  our  side  between  wind  and  water,  we  escaped 
without  damage. 

By  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  our  chief  engi 
neer  the  engine  was  set  going  again,  and  when  be 
low  their  line  of  fire,  I  turned  and  stood  up  again 
for  the  batteries,  thinking  the  flag-ship  was  still 
above.  But  afterwards,  finding  that  in  the  dark 
ness  she  had  passed  below  unobserved  by  us,  I 
dropped  down  and  anchored  beside  her. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  S.  PALMER, 

Commander. 
Flag-officer  DAVID  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Squadron. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "RICHMOND,"  > 
NEAR  VICKSBURG,  July  16,  1862.     j 
SIR — I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  enclose  the 
surgeon's  report  of  casualties,  and  also  those  of  the 
boatswain  and  carpenter,  showing  the  injury  done 
to  this  vessel  by  the  enemy's  shot  during  the  action 
of  last  evening.     Every  one  on  board  behaved  well. 
A  careful  lookout  was  kept   for  the  rani    as  we 
passed,  but  owing  to  the  obscurity  of  the  night  we 
could  not  make  her  out. 
Respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  ALDEN, 

Commander. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

UNITED  STATES  GUN  BOAT  "  SCIOTA,"  { 
ABOVE  VICKSBURG,  July  15,  1862.  ( 
SIR — This  morning,  about  6.10  o  clock,  heavy 
firing  was  heard  on  board  this  vessel  apparently  from 
the  direction  of  the  Yazoo  River,  the  cause  of  which 
soon  manifested  itself  in  the  appearance  of  the  gun 
boat  "Taylor,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  Gwinn, 
running  before,  and  closely  followed  by  an  iron-clad 
rebel  rani — since  ascertained  to  be  the  Arkansas" — 
escaped  out  of  the  Yazoo  River.  This  vessel— of  a  simi 
lar  construction  to  the  "Louisiana"  and  "Mississippi" 
destroyed  at  New  Orleans;  that  is,  with  a  screw  pro 
peller  and  inclined  iron  sides,  armed  with  nine 
guns — seemed,  from  her  movements,  to  trust  entirely 
to  her  invulnerability  for  a  safe  run  to  the  cover  of 
the  Vicksburg  batteries.  The  "  Taylor''  made  a  run 
ning  fight  until  within  our  lines,  when  the  vessels 
opened  as  their  guns  bore,  the  rebel's  speed  diminish 
ing  very  visibly.  This  gun-boat  was  anchored  fourth 


262 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


in  line  from  up  river,  without  steam,  and  engines 
under  repairs;  but  as  soon  as  I  heard  the  firing  I 
ordered  fire  started  and  steam  to  be  raised  with  all 
dispatch.  My  eleven-inch  gun  being  loaded  with  a 
ten-second  shell,  which  I  had  endeavored  in  vain  to 
draw,  as  the  rebel  came  within  my  train  I  fired, 
striking  him  fair,  but  the  shell  glanced  off  almost 
perpendicularly  into  the  air  and  exploded.  At  the 
same  time  I  opened  a  brisk  fire  with  all  my  small 
arms  against  his  ports,  which,  I  am  confident,  pre 
vented  them  from  manning  her  port  guns  till  after 
she  had  passed  us.  I  observed  one  man  in  the  act 
of  sponging,  tumble  out  of  the  port,  sponge  and  all, 
evidently  shot  by  a  rifle  ball. 

I  found  my  officers  and  men  ready,  but  such  was 
the  suddenness  of  the  appearance  and  passing  of 
this  formidable  vessel  of  the  enemy  that  but  little 
time  was  afforded  for  any  continued  attack  upon 
her  with  the  unwieldy  gun  carried  by  this  vessel. 
After  passing  down  stream  out  of  my  line  of  fire, 
which  he  did  in  from  four  to  six  minutes,  I  was  un 
fortunately  only  a  spectator  of  the  final  result  of 
this  event. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
R.  B.  LOWRY, 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  U.  S.  Gun-boat "  Scwta." 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "SCIOTA,"  | 
BELOW  YICKSBURG,  July  16,  1862.      j 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  obedi 
ence  to  general  signal,  made  yesterday  at  7  P.  M.,  I 
got  under  way  and  took  position  fifth  in  line  and 
steamed  down  the  river.  On  nearing  the  point 
opposite  the  city,  found  an  active  bombardment 
kept  up  from  the  iron-clad  vessels  of  Flag-officer 
Davis's  fleet,  while  the  rebels  were  replying  with 
great  spirit  from  all  the  hill  and  water  batteries, 
strengthened  by  large  bodies  of  sharpshooters  posted 
in  rifle-pits  and  in  the  woods.  As  we  turned 
the  point  the  bullets  began  to  fly  over  us  very 
thickly.  We  opened  on  the  riflemen  with  small 
arms,  in  the  hands  of  our  sick  and  disabled  officers 
and  men,  who,  too  feeble  to  work  the  heavy  guns, 
still  zealously  used  their  little  strength  to  annoy  the 
enemy  bv  a  return  fire  of  musketry.  Our  two  24- 
pounder  howitzers  were  worked  rapidly  and  efficient 
ly,  throwing  shrapnel  into  the  enemy's  troops,  which 
were  seen  to  burst  with  good  range  and  effect.  I 
proceeded  under  this  fire  and  the  cross  fire  of  the 
batteries  till  beyond  range,  when  I  rounded  to  and 
anchored  at  8. 10  p.  M. 

On  passing  Vicksburg  could  see  nothing  distinctly 
of  the  ram,  though  1  received  a  fire,  as  from  a  bat 
tery,  at  or  near  the  level  with  the  water.  A  shell 
from  this  batteiy  passed  horizontally  through  this 
vessel,  tearing  the  metallic  boat,  cutting  bulwarks 
on  port  side,  starting  wood-ends  and  bolts  on  deck, 
and  finally  bursting  in  the  starboard  spirketing, 
tearing  water-ways,covering-board,futtockends  and 
timbers,  and  breaking  boat  davit  on  starboard  side. 
Several  grape  and  other  shots  passed  through  the 
ship,  and  one  heavy  shot  struck  under  port  bow — a 
plunging,  grazing  shot  from  the  hill  forts. 

I  have  to  report,  and  thankfully  so,  but  two  casu 
alties — two  men  wounded,  as  per  surgeon's  report. 
My  officers  and  men  behaved  well  and  bravely. 
******** 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  B.  LOWRY, 

Lieutenant-Commanding  "  Sciota."1 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron. 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  '•  WINONA,"  \ 

BELOW  VICKSBURG,  July  16.  1862.     \ 

SiR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  this  vessel 

got  under  way  last  evening,  and  passed,  in  company 

with  the  rest  of  your  fleet,  from  the  anchorage  above 


Vicksburg  to  that  below.  All  the  vessels  were  sub 
jected  to  a  heavy  fire  from  the  numerous  batteries, 
as  also  to  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry.  We  were 
enabled  to  fire  our  11-inch  gun  but  three  times, 
owing  to  having  received  a  shot  on  our  port  side, 
which  started  a  heavy  leak.  Started  our  deck 
pumps  immediately,  but  finding  the  water  gaining, 
ran  in  and  pivoted  the  11-inch  gun  to  starboard  to 
raise  the  leakout  of  water ;  water  still  gaining,  pivoted 
rifle  gun  to  starboard  ;  shifted  port  howitzer  over, 
and  shifted  shot  and  shells  to  starboard.  My  orders 
being  to  anchor  at  the  old  anchorage  below  Vicks 
burg,  I  ran  down  to  the  lower  end  of  the  island  and 
rounded  to,  with  the  intention  of  anchoring,  but 
finding  the  leak  still  gaining  fast  on  the  pumps,  the 
water  up  to  the  top  of  the  ash-pit  doors,  and  being 
ignorant  of  the  position  and  nature  of  the  damage 
causing  the  leak,  I  deemed  it  the  safest  plan  to  run 
the  vessel  on  shore,  which  was  done  at  the  foot  of 
the  island,  her  bow  in  eight  and  stern  in  eleven  feet 
water.  Upon  examination,  we  found  that  a  shot 
had  entered,  just  above  water  line,  and  close  to 
opening  of  outboard  delivery,  breaking  valve  and 
cast  iron  valve-chest.  I  enclose  herewith  the  report 
of  Mr.  Purdy,  senior  engineer  in  charge.  Our  other 
shot  struck  the  spirketing  in  wake  of  long  port,  but 
did  not  penetrate.  One  shell  burst  among  the  crew  of 
11-inch  gun,  killing  one  man  and  very  slightly 
wounding  two  others.  The  fragments  of  this  shell 
tore  up  the  deck  water-ways,  hatch-combings,  and 
gun-carriage,  but  the  injuries  are  not  serious.  In 
the  engagement  with  the  iron-clad  gun-boat  our  side 
was  perforated  in  several  places  by  fragments  of  a 
shell  which  exploded  near  the  vessel,  wounding  two 
men. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  conduct  of  all  on 
board.  I  enclose  herewith  reports  of  Assistant 
Surgeon  Matthewson,  of  the  casualties  of  yesterday; 
also  report  of  ammunition  expended, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
ED.  T.  NICHOLS, 
Lieutenant-Commanding. 
Flag-officer  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Commanding  Western  Division  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron. 

COMMODORE  W.  D.  PORTER'S  REPORT  OF   RECON- 

KOISSANCE,  WITH  ACCOUNT  OF  ENGAGEMENT 

OF  THE  "ANGLO-AMERICAN,"  ON  THE  28TH 

OF  AUGUST,  AT  PORT  HUDSON,  LA. 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  ESSEX,"  \ 
OFF  NEW  ORLEANS,  Sept.  9,  1862.     f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  on  the  23d 
ultimo,  having  remained  off  the  city  of  Baton  Rouge 
two  days  after  its  evacuation  by  our  troops,  I  pro 
ceeded  "up  the  river  to  reconnoitre  reported  batteries 
in  progress  at  Port  Hudson,  Louisiana,  and  also 
coal  my  vessel  at  Bayou  Sara,  the  only  place  I  could 
obtain  any,  save  New  Orleans.  Arriving  there,  I 
found  the  town  entirely  deserted,  and  the  coal  burn 
ing.  Sending  a  boat's  crew  on  shore,  they  were 
fired  at  by  guerillas  from  the  houses  in  heavy  force. 
My  men  drove  them  out.  and  burnt  the  buildings  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  town  to  prevent  such  being 
used  to  protect  the  enemy.  These  guerillas  had  a 
few  days  previously  fired  at  and  wounded  several  of 
the  crew  of  the  United  States  gun-boat  "Sumter."'  On 
the  24th,  I  was  necessitated  to  send  the  wooden  gun 
boat  "Anglo-American,"  which  I  had  fitted  out  and 
armed,  to  New  Orleans  for  coal,  and  I  again  dropped 
down  the  river  and  awaited  her  return  off  Port 
Hudson.  I  could  discover  no  guns  at  this  place, 
but  earthworks  were  in  progress,  and  whilst  destroy 
ing  these  I  had  the  misfortune  to  burst  my  heavy 
10-inch  gun.  The  "  Anglo-American  "  not  arriving, 
I  returned  to  Bayou  Sara,  where  we  were  again 
fired  at  from  buildings  left,  on  which  I  ordered  those 
remaining  to  be  destroyed. 

The  "  Anglo- American"  joined  me  on  the  29th, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


263 


and  reported  three  batteries  as  having  opened  on 
her  whilst  passing  Port  Hudson.  She  received 
seventy-three  shots  in  her  en  passant.  I  had  received 
information  that  the  rebel  gun-boat  "Webb"  was 
at  Natchez,  to  which  city  she  had  convoyed  trans 
ports  with  supplies  from  Red  River.  I  followed  to 
that  city,  but  found  they  had  sought  the  protection 
of  the  Vicksburg  guns.  At  Natchez,  a  boat's  crew 
from  the  "  Essex "  were  sent  on  shore  to  procure  some 
ice  for  my  sick,  when  they  were  wantonly  attacked 
by  over  two  hundred  armed  citizens,  wounding  the 
officer  in  command,  and  killing  one  and  wounding 
five  seamen.  I  immediately  opened  tire  on  the 
lower  town,  and  set  a  considerable  number  of  the 
houses  from  whence  they  were  firing  on  us  on  fire. 
After  bombarding  the  place  for  an  hour,  the  mayor 
unconditionally  surrendered  the  city. 

I  followed  the  rebel  gun -boat  "'Webb "  to  the 
batteries  at  Vicksburg,  under  the  guns  of  which  she, 
with  two  transports,  lay.  Heavy  ordnance  bat 
teries,  extending  three  miles  further  down  the  river 
than  during  the  siege  in  July,  prevented  my  nearer 
approach  to  these  boats.  Having  exchanged  some 
shots,  and  ascertained  that  the  upper  fleet  was  not 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  town,  being  short  of  provisions, 
my  battery  weakened  by  the  loss  of  two  guns  burst, 
and  also  short  of  ammunition,  I  determined  to  steam 
down  the  river  to  New  Orleans  for  supplies,  and,  if 
possible  ascertain  the  strength  of  Port  Hudson  bat 
teries.  On  the  7th  instant,  at  4.15,  A.  M.,  we  were 
off  that  place,  and,  on  coming  within  range,  the 
enemy  opened  on  us  a  vigorous  fire  with  heavy  siege 
guns.  The  "Essex"  was  struck  with  heavy  shot 
fourteen  times.  As  nearly  as  I  can  judge,  the  enemy 
had  in  position  from  thirty-five  to  forty  guns  of  10- 
inch,  9-inch,  and  8-inch  calibre,  in  three  batteries 
commanding  the  river  to  the  extent  of  five  miles. 
A  68-pound,  32-pound,  and  also  a  10-inch  shot,  lodged 
in  the  "  Essex,"  but  without  material  damage.  We 
were  under  fire  an  hour  and  three-quarters,  during 
which  time  the  guns  were  worked  well  and  inces 
santly,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  the  enemy  was 
considerably  damaged.  Mr.  J.  Harry  Wyatt,  acting 
fourth  master,  and  my  secretary,  had  command  of 
the  forward  battery,  and  his  conduct  met  my  entire 
approbation. 

A  land  force  will  be  necessary  to  complete  the  des 
truction  of  this  fort,  which,  if  allowed  to  again  be 
restored,  would  seriously  interrupt  the  free  naviga 
tion  of  the  Lower  Mississippi. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  I).  PORTER, 
Commodore,  United  States  Navy. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

P.  S. — In  the  various  encounters  I  have  had  since 
leaving  St.  Louis  on  the  last  cruise  (July  6),  the 
"  Essex  "  has  been  struck  by  heavy  shot  perceptibly 
one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  times — glancing  shot 
have  left  no  record  ;  three  have  broken  the  iron,  and 
but  one  through,  and  that  at  a  distance  of  a  few 
feet  from  the  battery  delivering  it.  W.  D.  P. 


UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "ANGLO-AMERICAN,"  ) 
OFF  BAYOU  SARA,  LOUISIANA,  Aug.  29,  1862.  <j 
SIR — In  pursuance  of  your  order.  I  proceeded 
down  stream  on  the  24th  instant,  for  New  Orleans, 
arriving  there  on  the  morning  of  the  25th.  We 
loaded  up  with  coal,  and  left  that  city  at  3.15  p.  M., 
on  Thursday,  the  28th  instant.  Nothing  of  import 
ance  occurred  until  I  reached  Port  Hudson.  1 
noticed  earthworks  had  been  thrown  up  on  the 
bluffs  as  well  as  the  water  line,  but  no  guns  being 
in  sight,  I  kept  on  for  about  a  mile,  when  another 
line  of  earthworks  was  discovered,  as  well  as  indi 
cations  of  rifle-pits.  I  immediately  ordered  my  rifle 
50-pounder  to  be  fired.  At  this  moment  the  enemy 
opened  on  the  boat.  My  rifle  gun  unfortunately 


could  not  lie  used,  as  the  cartridge  had  been  made 
wet  by  a  jusc  passed  heavy  rain.  Our  howitzer  Avas 
useless,  as  no  ammunition  could  be  obtained  for  it 
at  New  Orleans.  We  were  now  just  abreast  of  the 
last  mentioned  earthworks,  the  enemy's  guns  play 
ing  on  us  with  great  rapidity.  I  could  see  two 
32-pounder  cannons  and  eighteen  field-pieces,  6  and 
12-pounders.  The  fire  was  so  heavy  on  my  frail 
wooden  boat,  that  had  it  not  been  a  matter  of 
urgent  necessity  to  reach  you,  I  should  have 
dropped  back,  as  I  had  no  protection  for  the 
machinery,  and  the  fire  was  so  heavy  that  the 
firemen  were  driven  from  their  post.  1  determined, 
from  the  importance  of  the  case,  to  push  on  and 
rejoin  vou,  if  possible.  I  am  happy  to  report  we 
succeeded. 

The  following  casualties  occurred  :  Mr.  Parker, 
pilot,  severely  wounded  in  the  back  from  a  burst 
ing  shell,  and  James  Banes,  seaman,  slightly 
wounded  by  splinter  over  the  eye.  We  received 
seventy-three  shots — fifteen  heavy  shots,  the  bal 
ance  12-pounder  and  grape.  One  32-pounder  struck 
the  upright  brace  of  the  walking  beam,  breaking 
it  in  two. 

It  is  with  pleasure,  I  here  state  the  gallant  con 
duct  of  Mr.  H.  Glasford,  executive  officer,  and  Mr. 
B.  S.  Williams,  pilot,  who  never  left  their  post  of 
danger,  and,  by  their  energy  and  coolness,  con 
tributed  to  the  saving  of  the  boat.  Mr.  Miller, 
chief  engineer,  Mr.  Parker,  third  master,  and  Mr. 
Jacobi,  of  the  "  Essex,"  all  did  their  duty  nobly. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

R.  K.  RILEY, 

Commanding  Own-boat  '"Anglo-American.'1'1 
Commodore  W.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Naval  Forces  below  Vicksburg. 


DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAM  "ARKANSAS." 

FLAG-SHIP  "  HARTFORD,"        / 
BATON  ROUGE,  Aug.  7,  1862.  f 

SIR — It  is  one  of  the  happiest  moments  of  my 
life  that  I  am  enabled  to  inform  the  department  of 
the  destruction  of  the  ram  "Arkansas;"  not  be 
cause  I  held  the  iron-clad  in  such  terror,  but  be 
cause  the  community  did. 

On  the 4th  instant  1  sent  the  "Tennessee"  up  to 
Baton  Rouge  with  provisions  for  Commander  Por 
ter  and  the  gun-boats  stationed  at  that  place.  On 
the  night  of  the  5th,  she  returned  with  the  infor 
mation  that  the  enemy  had  made  a  combined  at 
tack  upon  Baton  Rouge  bv  the  ram  and  two  gun 
boats,  the  "Webb"  and  lt  Music,"  and  calling  for 
assistance.  At  daylight,  the  "Hartford"  was  un 
der  way  for  this  place,  with  orders  for  the  other 
vessels  to  follow  me  as  fast  as  ready. 

I  arrived  here  to-day  at  12  M.,  in  company  with 
the  "Brooklyn,"  "  Westfield."  "Clifton,"  "Jack 
son,"  and  "  Sciota."  I  had  sent  the  "Cayuga"  up 
before  lue,  agreeably  to  a  request  of  General  But 
ler,  in  consequence  of  some  of  the  guerillas  firing 
into  some  of  his  transports.  On  my  arrival  I  was 
informed  by  Commodore  W.  D.  Porter  that  yester 
day  morning  at  2  o'clock  the  enemy's  forces, 'under 
General  Hreckinridge.  attacked  General  Williams, 
drove  in  his  pickets,  etc.  General  Williams,  having 
had  ample  warning,  we  all  prepared  for  him.  The 
fight  was  continued  with  great  energy  on  both 
sides  until  10  A.  M.,  by  which  time  the  enemy 
had  been  driven  back  two  or  three  miles,  but.  un 
fortunately,  the  gallant  General  Williams,  while 
cheering  on  his  men,  received  a  Minie  ball  through 
his  heart. 

General  Williams  had  informed  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Ransom  the  evening  before  of  his  plans, 
and  requested  him  not  to  fire  a  gun  until  he  noti 
fied  him  ;  and  when  he  did  so,  our  gun-boats — 
the  "Kineo"  and  "  Katahdin '' — opened  with  fine 
effect,  throwing  their  shells  directly  in  the  midst 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


of  the  enemy,  producing  great  dismay  and  con 
fusion  among  them.  Lieutenant  Ransom  had  an 
officer  on  the  State  house,  which  overlooks  the 
adjacent  country,  arid  could  direct  the  fire  of  every 
shell. 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  was  repulsed,  Commander 
Porter,  with  the  gun-boats,  went  up  stream  after 
the  ram  "  Arkansas,"  which  was  lying  about  five 
miles  above,  apparently  afraid  to  take  her  share  in 
the  conflict,  according-  to  the  preconcerted  plan. 
As  he  came  within  gunshot  he  opened  on  her, 
and  probably  soon  disabled  some  of  her  machinery 
or  steering  apparatus  for  she  became  unmanage 
able,  continuing,  however,  to  fire  her  guns  at  the 
"Essex." 

Commander  Porter  says  he  took  advantage  of  her 
presenting  a  weak  point  towards  him,  and  loaded 
with  incendiary  shells.  After  his  first  discharge  of 
this  projectile,  a  gush  of  fire  came  out  of  her  side, 
and  from  that  moment  it  was  discovered  that  she 
was  on  fire,  which  he  continued  his  exertions  to 
prevent  from  being  extinguished.  They  backed  her 
ashore  and  made  a  line  fast,  which  soon  burnt,  and 
she  swung  off  into  the  river,  where  she  continued 
to  burn  until  she  blew  up  with  a  tremendous  ex 
plosion,  thus  ending  the  career  of  the  last  iron-clad 
ram  of  the  Mississippi.  There  were  many  persons 
on  the  banks  of  the  river  witnessing  the  fight, 
in  which  they  anticipated  a  triumph  for  Secessia ; 
but  on  the  return  of  the  "  Essex  "  not  a  soul  was 
to  be  seen. 

I  will  leave  a  sufficient  force  of  gun-boats  here  to 
support  the  Army,  and  will  return  to-morrow  to 
New  Orleans,  and  depart  immediately  for  Ship 
Island,  with  a  light  heart  that  I  have  left  no  bug 


bear  to  torment  the  communities  of   the   Missis 
sippi  in  my  absence. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Flag-officer,  Commanding  Western  Gulf  Blockading 

Squadron. 

Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

ON  GUN-BOAT  "ESSEX,"          ) 
OFF  BATON  ROUGE,  August  6,  1862.  ) 
SIR — This  morning  at  8  o'clock,  I  steamed  up  the 
river,  and  at  10  o'clock  attacked  the  rebel  ram 
"  Arkansas,"  and  blew  her  up.     There  is  not  now  a 
fragment  of  her  left. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Division  of  Flotilla  in  Western  Waters. 
Rear-admiral  D.  G.  FARRAGUT. 

When  New  Orleans  fell,  the  towns  all 
along  the  river  were  ablaze  with  defiance, 
and  did  all  they  could  to  delay  Union  ves 
sels  by  firing  on  them  on  their  way  up  river; 
all  of  which  will  be  better  understood  by 
reading  the  dispatches  of  the  times.  Thus 
ended  the  first  attack  on  Vicksburg.  It 
failed  from  the  fact  that  the  combined 
forces  of  the  Army  and  Navy  delayed  too 
long  in  New  Orleans.  The  opportunity 
slipped  away,  and  one  of  the  best  planned 
expeditions  of  the  war  was  not  fully 
carried  out. 


CH  A  PTER      XXII. 


THE  POTOMAC  FLOTILLA. — NAVAL  OPERATIONS  IN  THE  POTOMAC. — DESTRUCTION  OP 
CONFEDERATE  BATTERIES. — CONFEDERATE  RAMS. — CONDITION  OF  THE  NAVY,  AND 
LIST  OF  VESSELS  IN  DECEMBER,  1862. — LOSSES  BY  SHIPWRECK,  IN  BATTLE,  ETC.,  ETC. 


ON  the  Potomac,  the  flotilla  seems  to 
have  been  actively  employed  from 
December,  1861,  to  May  2d,  1862. 
Although    no    important   event 
occurred  on  this  water  highway  to 
Washington,  early  in  the  war  the  Confed 
erates  left  nothing  undone  to  stop  the  pas 
sage  of  transports,  and  even  men-of-war, 
but  they  were  not  very  successful.     Cockpit 
Point  was  one  of  the  places   made   quite 
strong  by  the  enemy,  and  for  a  time  it  was 
considered  quite  a  dangerous  place  to  pass. 

No  persistent  attack  was  made  upon  it  un 
til  March.  1862,  and  as  our  Army  was  ad 
vancing  into  Virginia  at  the  same  time, 
the  Confederates  were  now  compelled  to 
abandon  this  troublesome  battery  and  blow 
up  the  magazine. 

Before  retreating,  they  destroyed  all  the 
guns  and  carriages,  munitions  of  war, 
stores  and  provisions,  having  no  means  of 
transportation  by  which  they  could  be  taken 
away.  The  guns  were  of  heavy  calibre, 
having  been  mostly  obtained  from  the  Nor 
folk  Navy  Yard,  where  they  had  been 
abandoned  by  our  forces  early  in  the  war. 
But  for  that  affair,  we  would  not  have 
encountered  so  many  forts  in  the  South  and 
West,  and  would  have  escaped  the  disgrace 
of  having  the  public  river  way  to  Washing 
ton  obstructed  for  so  long  a  time. 

An  expedition  under  Lieutenant  Wyman 
penetrated  the  Rappahannock  as  far  as 
Fredericksburg  after  this  place  had  sur 
rendered  to  the  Army,  and  captured  twenty 
small  vessels  and  a  quantity  of  stores. 

Some  of  his  command  also  penetrated  the 
Severn,  Pianketank  and  North  Rivers,  and 
captured  some  small  vessels  that  had,  no 
doubt,  been  used  in  transporting  goods  and 
information  from  the  Maryland  shore. 

The  Union  vessels  were  frequently  at 
tacked  by  field-pieces  and  riflemen,  but  they 


always  managed  to  give  a  good  account  of 
themselves,  while  they  demoralized  the 
enemy  by  their  persistent  pursuit  of  him 
— but  these  adventures  were  not  very  ex 
citing. 

The  Potomac  may  be  said  to  have  been 
opened  with  the  fall  of  the  forts  at  Cockpit 
Point,  for  though  the  flotilla  was  main 
tained,  and  there  were  skirmishes  with  the 
enemy  from  time  to  time,  there  was  nothing 
to  hinder  the  passage  of  vessels  up  and 
down  the  river. 

About  the  end  of  the  year  1861,  the 
United  States  Government  began  to  real 
ize  the  necessity  of  building  vessels  that 
would  be  able  to  contend  with  the  heavy 
iron-clads  which  had  been  constructed  by 
the  Confederates. 

By  May,  1862,  the  latter  had  finished  the 
powerful  "  Merrimac,"  together  with  the 
"Louisiana"  and  "Arkansas,"  both 
equally  powerful  with  the  "Merrimac," 
and  had  nearly  completed  the  "  Missis 
sippi  "at  New  Orleans,  the  "  Albemarle," 
the  "Atlanta,"  the  "  Tennessee,"  at  Mobile, 
and  several  other  iron-clads  on  the  tribu 
taries  of  the  Mississippi. 

Up  to  this  time  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment  had  only  Ericsson's  little  "Moni 
tor"  to  show,  but  the  success  of  that  fam 
ous  vessel  stirred  the  Navy  Department  up 
to  building  iron-clads  able  to  cope  with 
anything  in  the  way  of  ships  or  forts 
that  the  Confederates  could  devise.  Previ 
ous  to  the  memorable  encounter  between 
the  "Monitor"  and  the  "Merrimac"  the 
Department  had  exhibited  neither  zeal  nor 
intelligence  in  dealing  with  this  important 
problem. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  vessels  of  our 
Navy,  published  by  the  Navy  Department 

in     T)<^r»£>ml»£>r      1  Sfi9,    •     nil     £>mima-raf inn   -itrVii/^Vi 


in  December,  1862  ;  an  enumeration  which 
is  calculated  to  mislead,   for  if   any   one 


(265) 


266 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


supposes  that  the  vessels  therein  described 
as  "  iron-clads ''  bore  any  comparison  to 
those  built  by  the  Confederates,  he  is 
mistaken.  The  Northern  States,  with  all 
their  resources,  all  their  vessels  which 
could  have  been  cut  down  and  made  im 
pervious  to  shot  and  shells,  had  not  an  iron 
clad  stronger  than  those  hastily  built  on  the 
Mississippi  River.  Naval  commanders  had 
to  take  whatever  would  carry  a  gun, no  mat 
ter  how  frail  or  vulnerable,  and  attempt 
impossible  things  with,  at  times,  deplorable 
consequences  to  themselves,  their  officers 
and  crews,  from  bursting  steam  pipes  and 
boilers,  which  added  new  horrors  to  the 
ordinary  havoc  of  war. 

The  work  performed  by  Foote  and  Davis 
and  their  officers  and  men  on  the  Western 
rivers,  with  the  so-called  "iron-dads,"  was 
herculean  from  the  time  the  first  gun-boats 
got  afloat  in  January,  until  July  1863.  They 
had  captured,  or  assisted  to  capture,  seven 
heavy  forts  armed  with  one  hundred  and 
ninety-eight  guns,  and  manned  or  sup 
ported  by  over  fifty  thousand  men,  besides 
destroying  thirteen  or  more  of  the  enemy's 
vessels  armed  with  forty  guns  and  a  float 
ing  battery  of  sixteen  guns;  and  all  this  with 
out  the  enemy's  capturing  a  single  vessel. 

In  the  Navy  Department  list,  the  Western 
"iron-clads"  are  put  down  as  twenty-six 
armed  vessels,  a  formidable  force  on  paper, 
but  in  this  number  are  included  at  least  fif 
teen  "tin-clads" — small  stern  wheel  mer 
chant  steamers,  covered  with  quarter-inch 
iron  to  turn  musket  balls,  but  easily  pene 
trated  by  a  twelve  pound  shot  or  shell. 

The  list  may  be  interesting  as  showing 
the  ''  historical  account "  of  our  naval  forces 
in  December,  1862,  but  it  conveys  no  idea 
of  the  frail  barks  in  which  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  Navy  had  to  fight  the  heaviest 
kind  of  earth  works,  of  ten  perched  at  a  great 
height  above  the  water  where  their  plung 
ing  fire  could  perforate  the  vessels'  decks 
and  boilers,  or  even  pass  down  through  their 
bottoms. 

NAVAL  FORCE  AT  DATE  OF  THE  LAST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 


LOSSES  BY   SHIPWRECK   AND   IN   BATTLE. 


DESCRIPTION. 

NUMBER. 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

OldNavv  ... 

76 
136 

52 

1,783 
518 

256 

105,271 
71,297 

41,448 
218,016 

Purchased  ve 
New  vessels, 
etruction 

Total 

seels  ... 

completed  atid  under  con- 

264 

2.557 

PRESENT  NAVAL  FORCE. 

DESCRIPTION. 

NUMBER. 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

OldNavv  

74 

1,691 

100  008 

Purchased  vessels  

180 

688 

86  910 

Transferred  from  War  and  Treasury  De 
partments  

50 

230 

32  828 

New  vessels,  completed  and  under  con 
struction  

123 

659 

120  290 

Total  

427 

3,268 

340  036 

Increase  since  last  reported  

163 

711 

122020 

NAME. 


CLASS,    i  GUNS.  TONNAGE 


REMARKS. 


R.  B.  Forbes  .  .  . 

Steamer. 

3 

329      Wrecked  Feb..  1862,  coast 

of  North  Carolina. 

Congress       ..  .. 

Frigate. 

50 

1,807      In  action  with  Merriniac, 

March  8,  1862. 

Cumberland  .  .  . 

Sloop. 

24 

1,726                    do. 

Whitehall  

Steamer 

4 

323      At    Old    Point,    March   9, 

1862.  bv  lire. 

M.  J.  Carlton  .  .  . 

Mortar 
schooner 

3 

178 

Attack   on   Forts   Jackson 
and  St.  Philip,  April  19, 

1862. 

Varuna  

Steamer. 

9 

1,300 

In  action  with  confederate 

gun-boats  below  New  Or 

leans,  April  24,  1862. 

Sidney  C.  Jones. 

Alortar 
schooner 

3 

245 

Grounded     below    Vicks- 
burg  and  burned  to  pre 

vent     falling     into    the 

hauds  of  the  enemy. 

Island  Belle  

Steamer. 

2 

123 

Grounded  in  Appomattox 

river    June,    1862,     and 

burned  to  prevent   fall 

ing  into  the  hauds  of  the 

0 

enemy. 

Adirondack  

screw 

9 

1,240 

Wrecked  near  Abaco.  Aug. 

sloop. 

23,  1862. 

Henry  Andrew.. 

Steamer 

3 

177     -Wrecked   in   a    gale    near 

Sumter  

Steam 

o 

400 

Cape  Henry  Aug.  24,  18(12. 
Grounded    in    Mississippi 

Ram. 

river  and  abandoned. 

112 

7,908 

VESSELS     ADDED    SINCE    FOURTH     OF     MARCH,     EIGHTEEN 
HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-ONE.     (EXCLUSIVE  OF  THOSE  LOST.) 


No.  or 
VESSELS. 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

Bv  purchase.         

180 

688 

86.910 

50 

230 

32,828 

123 

659 

120,290 

353 

1,577 

240.028 

ADDED   BY   CONSTRUCTION. 


DESCRIPTION. 

!    No.  OF 
VESSELS. 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

13 

116 

16,3S6 

.  .  .  '         27 

108 

14,033 

Side  wheel  gun-boats   ...         

39 

296 

36,337 

Armored  wooden  vessels.  ...         .... 

.  .  .  '          12 

65 

20,893 

Armored  iron  vessels  .  .  . 

32 

74 

32,631 

659     '  120,290 


IRON-CLAD   NAVY. 


DESCRIPTION. 

No.  OF 
VESSELS. 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

Seaboard. 
Armored  wooden  vessels  

8 

56 

19.005 

Armored  iron  vessels  .... 

20 

42 

22,611 

Western  Rivers. 
Armored  wooden  vessels  

4 

9 

1,883 

Armored  wooden  vessels  (transferred  from 
War  Department)  

10 

122 

6.284 

Armored  iron  vessels  .... 

12 

32 

10.020 

54 

•-61 

59.808 

NAVY   OX   WESTERN   WATERS. 


DESCRIPTION. 

No.  OF 
VESSELS. 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

Armored  vessels 

•26 

261 

59,808 

18 

79 

6.380 

Transports  and  ordnance  steamers  

10 

2 

9,000 

Rams  

5 

24 

11,200 

Armed  tugs  

13 

13 

650 

72 

379 

87,038 

OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR, 


20? 


When   the  vessels  now  under  construction  are 
completed,  the  2favy  will  consist  of 

SAILING    VESSELS. 


STEAM   VESSELS. 


DESCRIPTION. 

NUMBER. 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

6 

504 

16,094 

6 

hOO 

10.237 

16 

289 

14,305 

Bri^        

4 

20 

999 

Ships,    including    store    and    receiving 

23 

139 

18.087 

29 

69 

b  821 

Barks                         .          ... 

18 

92 

8  432 

2 

2 

200 

Total     

104 

1  415 

74,175 

DESCRIPTION. 

NUMBER      GUNS. 

Toss. 

Screw  friga 
Screw  slooj 
Screw  sloo] 
Screw  guu- 
Iron-clad  v 
Side  wheel 
Side  wheel 
Side  wheel 
Screw  steal 
Side  wheel 
Screw  steal 
Gun-boats, 
from  o 

Tot 

5               228 
6               133 
21               167 
27               108 
54               261 
4                 49 
39               296 
5                  11 
53                215 
63                250 
C                 27 

40                108 

18,272 
11,955 
23,9i»2 
14,033 
59,80? 
8,003 
36,367 
2.190 
23,490 
38,617 
2.590 

26,544 

sssels  

uers  (purchased)         . 
steamers  (purchased)  

uers  (old  Navv)  

transports,   etc.,    transferred 

al        

323            1.853 

265,861 

RECAPITULATION. 


DE.SCRIPTION. 

NUMBER. 

Guns. 

Toss. 

Sailiup 

vessels  

104 

1,415 

74,175 

Steam 

323 

1  853 

265  861 

Total  .. 

427 

3.268 

340.036 

CHAPTER      XXIII. 


REMARKS  ON  LETTING  THE  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  BELOW  VICKSBURG  FALL  INTO  THE  HANDS  OP 
THE  CONFEDERATES  AGAIN.— DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAM  "ARKANSAS.''— CAPTURE  OF 
GALVESTON  BY  A  PORTION  OF  FARRAGUT'S  SQUADRON.— RECAPTURE  OF  GALVESTON  BY 
THE  CONFEDERATES. — DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  "  WESTFIELD." — COMMANDER  RENSHAW 
AND  A  PORTION  OF  HIS  CREW  BLOWN  UP.— THE  STEAMER  "  HARRIET  LANE"  CAPTURED 
BY  THE  CONFEDERATES.— THE  BLOCKADE  ABANDONED. — APPEARANCE  OF  THE  •'*'  ALA 
BAMA."— SINKING  OF  THE  "  HATTERAS  "  BY  THE  -ALABAMA."— HARDSHIPS  ENDURED 
BY  OFFICERS  AND  CREW  OF  THE  "  HATTERAS  ''—ATTEMPT  TO  PASS  PORT  HUDSON  BY 
FARRAGUT'S  SQUADRON  AND  Loss  OF  THE  FRIGATE  '•  MISSISSIPPI."— CASUALTIES.— 

THE  EFFECT  OF  THE  RETURN  OF  FARRAGUT'S  FLEET   BEFORE   VlCKSBURG.—  CAPTURE   OF 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA. — EFFECT  OF  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAM  "  ARKANSAS." — CON 
FEDERATES  ATTACK  BATON  ROUGE  AND  ARE  REPULSED. — HONOR  TO  WHOM  HONOR  is 
DUE. — ATTACK  ON  DONALDSONVILLE. — FIGHT  WITH  THE  CONFEDERATE  IRON-CLAD 
"  COTTON."— CAPTURE  OF  THE  "  A.  B.  SEGER."— ASCENDING  THE  LOUISIANA  BAYOUS.— 
MISCELLANEOUS  ENGAGEMENTS  OF  THE  GUN-BOATS. — DEATH  OF  COMMANDER  BUCHANAN. 
—VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  THE  WEST  GULF  SQUADRON,  JANUARY  1,  18G3. 


LP  to  the  time  of  the  escapade  of  the 
ram  "  Arkansas,"  a  general  idea 
has  been  given  of  the  performances 
of  Farragut's  fleet. 
After  leaving  Rear  -  Admiral 
Davis  and  running  the  Vicksburg  batteries, 
he  proceeded  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans 
with  the  "  Hartford."  "  Richmond,"  "  Brook 
lyn,"  "Pinola"  and  "Kennebec."  The  old 
mortar  fleet,  which  under  Commander 
Porter  had  done  such  good  service  at  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  and  at  Vicksburg, 
had  been  divided  up  and  withdrawn  from 
the  upper  Mississippi,  and  the  river  from 
Baton  Rouge  to  Vicksburg  was  now  virtually 
left  to  the  Confederates,  who  deliberately 
went  to  work  and  lined  the  banks  with  guns, 
making,  besides  Vicksburg.  another  Gibral 
tar  at  Port  Hudson,  which  caused  much 
trouble  to  the  Union  commanders  before 
they  were  able  to  retake  it. 

The  Mississippi  had  been  so  easily  opened, 
all  the  way  from  New  Orleans  to  Vicksburg, 
that  it  ought  never  to  have  been  closed 
again,  even  if  it  required  the  whole  power 
of  the  Federal  government  to  keep  it  open. 
The  importance  of  this  river  to  the  Confed 
erates  was  too  great  for  them  not  to  strain 
every  nerve  to  keep  possession  of  its  banks  ; 
but  the  reader  will  naturally  wonder  that 
the  Federal  government  should  have  al 
lowed  such  important  positions  to  fall  back 
into  their  hands. 


It  is  certain  that  great  ignorance  or  indif 
ference  was  shown  with  regard  to  the  im 
portance  of  Vicksburg  and  the  part  it  was 
to  play  in  the  war,  and  this  ignorance  or 
indifference,  or  whatever  it  may  be  called, 
cost  the  United  States  many  millions  of 
dollars  to  remedy. 

The  several  historians  of  the  war  have 
managed  to  glide  by  this  subject  with  only 
a  passing  notice,  but  it  is  worthy  of  careful 
investigation. 

The  great  importance  of  the  Mississippi 
to  both  parties  had  been  manifest  from  the 
beginning,  but  its  importance  was  much 
greater  to  the  Confederates  than  to  the  Fed 
erals.  It  washed  the  shores  of  ten  different 
states,  northern  and  southern,  and  received 
the  waters  of  fifty  or  sixty  navigable  rivers. 
It  was  the  great  connecting  link  between 
the  two  sections,  and  was  in  fact  the  back 
bone  of  the  rebellion.  We  had  provided 
the  Confederates  with  guns  enough  at  Nor 
folk  to  fortify  it  in  all  its  length,  and  they 
had  not  failed  to  make  the  most  of  all  their 
means  of  defence. 

The  possession  of  the  great  river  was 
equally  sought  by  both  parties  ;  for  it  was 
evident  from  the  first  that  whichever  side 
obtained  control  of  it  and  its  tributaries 
would  possess  an  immense  advantage. 

If  the  Confederates  lost  it  they  would  be 
cut  off  from  their  great  source  of  supplies 
and  be  compelled  to  obtain  everything  from 

268) 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY  OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


269 


Europe  through  blockade  runners.  This 
consideration  alone  would  have  been  suffi 
cient  to  account  for  all  the  blood  and  treasure 
which  was  expended  in  its  defence,  and  the 
strength  of  the  fortifications  upon  its  banks 
show  that  the  importance  of  the  Mississippi 
had  been  well  estimated  by  the  Confeder 
ate  generals  at  the  very  beginning  of  the 
war. 

All  of  the  strongholds  to  the  north  of 
Vicksburg  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
Federals  as  early  as  the  spring  of  180:2,  and 
they  were  now  brought  face  to  face  with 
the  great  Gibraltar  of  the  West,  which  still 
barred  the  way  down  the  river,  although 
all  that  portion  below  it  had  been  opened 
after  the  capture  of  New  Orleans.  But  it 
now  seems  that  we  were  about  to  give  up 
all  the  advantages  we  had  gained,  and 
allow  the  Confederates  to  obtain  fresh 
strength  by  again  yielding  to  them  the 
most  important  part  of  the  river,  after  we 
had  so  firmly 
secured  it. 

While  the 
river  was  held 
by  our  g  u  n  - 
boats,  the  Con 
federates  were 
prevented  from 
obtaining  cattle 
and  supplies 
from  Texas.  A 
report  of  Lieut.  - 
Commanding 
Ransom,  U.S.N., 
shows  that  at 
one  blow  he  cap 
tured  1500  head 
of  cattle  which 
theConfederates 
were  trying  to 
pass  across  the 
river,  and  succeeded  in  getting  them  down 
to  New  Orleans,  where  they  became  the 
property  of  the  Federal  Army. 

Had  the  original  plan  been  carried  out 
(to  push  on  to  Vicksburg  after  the  fall  of 
New  Orleans,  and  hold  it  with  ten  thousand 
men)  the  Mississippi  would  never  again 
have  been  closed  against  us.  We  sent  a 
few  soldiers  up  to  Vicksburg,  it  is  true,  but 
scarcely  enough  to  form  a  corporal's  guard, 
and  instead  of  landing  at  Vicksburg  they 
took  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river  and  com 
menced  digging  a  ditch,  but  soon  they  all 
became  sick  and  returned  to  Baton  Rouge. 

The  building  of  the  forts  at  Port  Hudson 
had  so  far  emboldened  the  Confederates 
that  they  refitted  the  "  Arkansas  "  and  sent 
her  down  to  Baton  Rouge  to  co-operate 
with  their  Army  against  that  port;  but  both 
the  ram  and  the  Army  came  to  grief. 

The  fire  of  the  Union  gun-boats  "  Keneo  " 
and  "  Katahdin"  repulsed  the  Confederates 


DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAM  "ARKANSAS"  BY  THE  U.  S.  GUN-BOAT 

COMMANDER   \VM.    D.  PORTER. 
(FKOM  A  SKETCH  BY  REAR-ADMIBAL  WALKE.) 


when  they  attacked  our  Army  with  a  supe 
rior  force,  and  the  ram  "Arkansas"  was 
engaged  by  the  "Essex,"  Captain  W.  D. 
Porter,  accompanied  by  the  "  Cayuga  "  and 
"  Sumter."  .She  was  soon  set  on  fire  and 
totally  destroyed — whether  from  the  shells 
of  the  "Essex"  or  by  the  Confederates  to 
escape  capture  is  not  known.  The  Confed 
erates  claim  that  one  of  her  engines  was 
disabled,  and  that  she  was  destroyed  by 
them  ;  but,  be  that  as  it  may,  her  destruc 
tion  was  due  to  the  presence  of  the  ''  Essex  " 
and  her  two  consorts. 

It  was  a  great  relief  to  Farragut  and  his 
officers  to  get  rid  of  the  ram  "Arkansas," 
as  she  had  been  a  regular  bete  noir  to 
them,  and  no  one  could  sleep  comfortably 
while  she  was  about.  Farragut  could  now 
go  to  the  Gulf  and  arrange  for  blockading 
the  coast  off  Galveston. 

The  mortar  flotilla  steamers  were,  in 
October  1862,  placed  under  the  command  of 

Commander  W. 
B.  R  e  n  s  h  a  w . 
These  vessels 
were  the  "  Har 
riet  Lane,"  Com 
mander  Wain- 
wright,  "Owas- 
co,"  Commander 
Guest,"Clifton," 
Lieut.  -  Com 
mander  Richard 
L .  Law  and 
the  schooner 
"Henry  Janes." 
The  mortar 
vessels  which 
had  been  left 
at  New  Orleans 
were  after- 
wards  employed 
at  the  siege 
of  Port  Hudson  with  good  effect. 

On  October  6th,  Commander  Renshaw  re 
ported  to  Rear-Admiral  Farragut  that  with 
the  above  named  vessels  he  had  captured  the 
city  of  Galveston  after  a  feeble  resistance, 
and  now  held  it  ready  for  a  garrison.  This 
was  an  important  capture  as  it  closed  up 
effectually  one  of  the  favorite  resorts  of 
blockade  runners.  It  was  at  once  garrisoned 
by  the  Army,  and  Renshaw's  vessels  took 
positions  in  the  several  entrances  of  the 
harbor  to  prevent  the  exit  or  entrance  of  the 
enemy. 

We  did  not  hold  this  place  long.  On 
January  1st,  1863,  General  Magruder  at 
tacked  our  vessels  with  three  steamers, 
fitted  with  cotton-bale  defences,  and 
manned  by  sharpshooters.  At  11.30  A.  M., 
these  steamers  were  discovered  coming 
down  the  bay  towards  our  fleet.  The  "  Har 
riet  Lane"  was  above  the  city  and  she  was 
first  attacked.  At  4  A.  M.,  two  of  the  ene- 


ESSEX,' 


270 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


mv's  steamers  ran  alongside  of  her  and 
swept  her  decks  with  a  fire  from  hundreds 
of  rifles.  Commander  Wainwright  was 
killed  while  gallantly  leading  his  men; 
Lieutenant-Commander  Lea,  the  Executive, 
fell  mortally  wounded,  the  next  officer  was 
severely  wounded  and  half  the  people  on 
deck  shot  down.  It  was  a  case  of  complete 
slaughter,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  "  Harriet 
Lane"  was  in  the  enemy's  possession.  The 
other  Union  vessels  opened  their  batteries 
but  were  not  able  to  do  much  execution  while 
the  enemy's  steamers  were  alongside  the 
"Harriet  Lane." 
At  the  same  time  that  he  attacked  the 


would  be  allowed  to  take  any  one  vessel, 
put  his  people  on  board  of  her,  and  leave 
the  harbor.  This  proposition  was  indig 
nantly  rejected  by  the  Union  commander, 
who  seeing  that  his  steamer  was  immove- 
able,  resolved  to  destroy  her  and  transfer 
his  crew  to  the  Army  steamer  "  Saxon,"  at 
the  same  time  giving  orders  to  Lieutenant - 
Commander  Richard  L.  Law  to  go  outside 
of  the  harbor  with  all  the  vessels  that  could 
move. 

In  the    meantime   the  Confederates  had 

posted  their  steamers  and  batteries  for  a 

•  renewed  attack.     Commander  Renshaw  got 

all  his  men  into  the  boats  and  sent  them 


CAPTURE    OF    THE  U.   S.   STEAMER   "HARRIET  LANE"   BY    THE    CONFEDERATES,   UNDER   GEN'L  MAGRUDER,    IN   GALVESTON 

HARBOR  ON   THE  NIGHT  OF  JANUARY  IST,    1863. 


Union  fleet,  General  Magruder  filled  the 
streets  of  Galveston  with  a  superior  force 
of  troops,  captured  all  our  soldiers  and 
stationed  heavy  batteries  of  artillery  at 
prominent  points  to  prevent  our  other  ves 
sels  (which  were  mostly  aground  at  low 
tide)  from  escaping. 

It  was  a  well  conceived  plan  and  carried 
out  with  great  gallantry. 

The  ;'Westfield"  was  at  this  moment 
hard  and  fast  aground,  and  could  not 
be  moved.  The  Confederates  seeing  her 
helpless  condition  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to 
Commander  Renshaw,  to  inform  him  that 
if  he  would  surrender  his  command  he 


off,  remaining  with  his  own  boat  and  a  few 
officers  to  set  the  "  Westfield  "  on  fire.  This 
they  did,  but  the  flames  spread  so  rapidly 
that  they  reached  the  magazine  just  as 
Renshaw  entered  his  boat,  and  he,  with 
Lieutenant  Zimmerman,  Chief  Engineer 
Green,  and  a  dozen  men,  were  blown  up. 

A  flag  of  truce  had  been  flying  during  the 
negotiations  but  it  was  soon  hauled  down 
on  our  side  and  our  remaining  vessels  suc 
ceeded  in  leaving  the  harbor,  after  some  of 
them  had  made  a  gallant  resistance. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Law,  (now  senior 
officer),  seeing  that  he  had  only  one  vessel, 
(the  "Owasco"),  that  was  in  any  condition 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


271 


to  meet  the  "  Harriet  Lane  "  in  case  she  was 
refitted  by  the  enemy,  decided  to  abandon 
the  blockade,  and  return  to  New  Orleans  ! 
This  lie  did,  and  reported  to  Admiral  Far- 
ragut  the  sad  disaster. 

The  "Harriet  Lane''  and  two  coal  vessels 
were  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Confederates, 
and  they  naturally  exulted  a  great  deal  over 
their  victory.  They  had  good  reason  to  do 
so  for  the  force  opposed  to  them  was  greatly 
superior,  and  many  officers  consider  the 
retreat  from  before  the  harbor  a  disgrace 
ful  affair.  Had  the  gallant  Renshaw  lived, 
it  would  have  been  different. 

In  January,  1863,  another  disaster  befell 
Farragut's  fleet.  As  soon  as  he  heard  of 
the  capture  of  Galveston,  he  sent  Captain 
Bell  with  the  "  Brooklyn  "  and  six  gun -boats 
to  retake  the  place.  They  had  not  all 
arrived  on  the  llth  of  January,  1863,  when 
in  the  evening  of  that  day  a  sail,  which 
afterwards  proved  to  be  the  Confederate 
steamer  "Alabama.''  appeared  in  the  offing 
and  Captain  Bell  sent  the  "Hatteras"  in 
pursuit  of  her.  On  approaching  the  stranger, 
Captain  Blake  of  the  "Hatteras"  hailed 
her  and  asked  for  her  name.  The  reply  was, 
"Her  majesty's  steamer  'Vixen."  The 
Union  commander  then  said  that  he  would 
send  a  boat,  and  one  was  immediately  low 
ered  and  shoved  off  from  the  ship's  side. 
At  this  moment  the  stranger  opened  his 
broadside  upon  the  "  Hatteras"  from  a  dis 
tance  of  only  one  hundred  yards  with  terri 
ble  effect.  The  "  Hatteras.'' though  taken 
by  surprise,  returned  the  fire  with  spirit, 
and  both  vessels  steamed  ahead  leaving  the 
boat  behind.  The  action  was  a  short  one 
and  ended  disastrously  for  the  Federal  ves 
sel,  as  her  inferior  guns  were  no  match  for 
the  armament  of  the  "Alabama,"  (six  rifles 
in  broadside  and  two  pivot  guns),  and  the 
"  Hatteras  "  soon  went  to  the  bottom  ;  her 
crew  was  picked  up  by  the  enemy,  and  the 
latter  steamed  away. 

The  appearance  "of  the  "Alabama"  on 
the  coast  created  much  excitement.  No 
doubt  she  came  with  the  intention  of  cap 
turing  the  small  blockading  force  on  the 
Southern  coast,  where  no  very  large  vessels 
were  maintained. 

A  s  soon  as  the  flashes  of  the  guns  were  seen 
from  the  "Brooklyn"  she  got  underway 
and  steamed  in  that  direction,  but  did  not 
discover  anything  until  the  next  morning 
when  the  masts  of  the  "Hatteras"  were 
seen  above  the  water  with  the  pennant 
gaily  flying.  She  had  gone  down  in  nine 
fathoms  of  water,  twenty  miles  south  of 
Galveston  light. 

This  action  offers  a  good  moral,  "never 
send  a  boy  on  a  man's  errand."  Had  Com 
modore  Bell  sent  two  gun-boats  instead  of 
one,  the  "No.  290"  or  "Alabama,"  would 
probably  have  fallen  into  our  hands,  and 


her  wild  career  would  have  ended  then  and 
there.  As  it  was  she  gained  great  prestige 
abroad  by  sinking  a  United  States  vessel  of 
war,  for  people  never  stopped  to  inquire 
whether  the  conquered  vessel  had  one  gun 
or  twenty. 

"  When  put  on  shore  the  condition  of  officers  and 
men  was  pitiable,  no  one  saved  an  article  of  extra 
clothing,  and  many  had  not  sufficient  to  protect 
their  bodies  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather — 
landed  on  an  unfriendly  shore  in  a  state  of  abject 
destitution  that  should  have  commanded  the  sym 
pathy  of  even  avowed  enemies.  The  officers  and 
men  of  the  "  Hatteras  "  were  made  to  feel  keenly 
the  unkind  criticisms  of  those  who  professed  no 
unkind  feeling  towards  the  United  States  or  its 
people." 

From  January.  1863,  Farragut  was  em 
ployed  in  conjunction  with  General  Banks 


COMMANDER   WILLIAM   D.   PORTER, 
(AFTERWARDS    COMMODORE    U.    S.    NAVY.) 

in  forcing  his  way  into  the  interior  of 
Louisiana,  and  bringing  all  of  the  country 
that  could  be  secured  under  subjection. 
This  was  a  difficult  task,  for  the  Confeder 
ates  opposed  our  forces  at  every  step,  with 
a  courage  and  determination  very  difficult 
to  overcome.  The  lives  of  some  valuable 
officers  were  sacrificed,  among  them  that  of 
Lieutenant -Commander  Thomas  McKean 
Buchanan,  who  had  been,  while  living,  the 
leading  spirit  of  the  fleet. 

In  the  enterprises  which  were  undertaken 
to  possess  the  enemy's  inlets  and  harbors 
some  reverses  were  met  with  and  some 
small  vessels  lost.  These  were  mostly  sail 
ing  vessels  which  were  captured  pretty 


272 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


much  as  the  "  Harriet  Lane  "  had  been,  by 
river  steamers  protected  by  cotton-bales 
and  manned  by  large  numbers  of  sharp 
shooters. 

The  fact  of  our  government  using  sailing 
vessels  for  blockade  duty  was  simply  absurd. 
Only  steamers  make  a  blockade  effective, 
and  they  should  have  speed  enough  to 
escape  from  a  superior  foe  or  capture  an 
inferior  one. 

On  the  14th  of  March.  1863,  it  was  decided 
by  Rear -Admiral  Farragut  and  General 
Banks  that  the  former  should  move  with 
his  fleet  past  Port  Hudson,  which  was  at 
that  time  well  fortified  with  nineteen  heavy 
guns  bearing  on  the  water  approaches. 
General  Banks  was  to  make  a  diversion 
with  his  Army  against  the  forts,  and  what 
was  left  of  the  mortar  flotilla  was  to  open 
on  the  batteries  prior  to  and  during  the 
passage  of  the  fleet. 

Farragut  seldom  undertook  to  make  a 
passage  by  a  fort  unless  he  had  the  mortar 
boats  stationed  where  they  could  back  him, 
notwithstanding  would-be  historians  have 
stated  that  he  did  not  desire  their  services. 
On  every  occasion  he  spoke  of  them  in  the 
highest  terms,  and  the  statements  which 
have  been  made  in  a  "Life  of  Farragut,  ' 
written  after  his  death,  and  in  an  article  on 
the  subject  by  a  gwcm'-statesman,  which 
pretend  to  give  his  opinions,  are  fabrications 
and  unworthy  of  any  one  who  undertakes 
to  write  history. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  out  why  Gen 
eral  Banks  allowed  these  formidable  works 
to  be  built  within  striking  distance  of  his 
Army,  and  at  a  place  which  effectually 
blocked  the  way  against  our  forces  and 
secured  the  Red  River  to  the  Confederates 
as  a  great  highway  for  their  supplies.  They 
had  for  the  time  being  completely  turned 
the  tables  on  us,  and  although  it  was  their 
last  stand  in  this  part  of  the  country,  it  was 
a  stubborn  one  and  a  great  expenditure  of 
force  was  necessary  to  overcome  it. 

When  General  Banks  reported  his  Army 
ready  to  move  on  the  enemy's  works,  and 
the  mortar  boats  were  in  position,  Farragut 
made  his  final  preparations  and  at  about 
11  P.  M.  got  underway  with  the  following 
vessels  :  "  Hartford,"  "  Mississippi,"  "Rich 
mond,"  "Genesee,"  "  Kineo"  and  "Alba 
tross."  Each  of  the  larger  vessels,  except 
the  "  Mississippi,"  had  a  gun-boat  lashed  to 
her  port  quarter. 

The  "Hartford"  attended  by  the  "Alba 
tross  "  led  the  attack,  and  was  well  fought 
and  skillfully  handled  by  her  commander 
Captain  James  S.  Palmer,  who  passed 
close  to  the  enemy's  works  and  delivered 
an  effective  fire.  "The  Confederates  were 
at  first  taken  by  surprise,  but  soon  rushed 
to  their  guns  and  opened  a  rapid  fire 
upon  the  fleet,  which  was  passing  within 


one  hundred  yards  of  the  muzzles  of  their 
guns. 

The  "Richmond,"  Captain  James  Alden, 
came  next  to  the  "  Hartford."  with  the 
"  Genesee  "  as  her  consort.  These  vessels 
were  admirably  handled,  but  their  com 
manders  and  pilots  were  greatly  bothered 
by  the  smoke  from  the  "  Hartford's  "  guns 
which  hung  over  the  river  obscuring  their 
view  of  the  enemy's  works  and  the  other 
vessels  in  line.  It  required  great  vigilance 
to  prevent  getting  out  of  line  or  running 
ashore,  but  the  "Richmond"  had  reached 
the  turn  of  the  river  in  safety  and  was  about 
passing  the  last  battery  when  a  plunging 
shot  carried  away  the  safety  valves  of  her 
boilers  and  allowed  so  much  steam  to  escape 
into  her  fire-room,  that  the  pressure  was 
reduced  to  nine  pounds.  The  "  Richmond  " 
being  thus  deprived  of  her  motive  force, 
it  was  found  that  the  "Genesee"  was  not 
able  to  drag  both  vessels  up  against  the 
strong  current  then  running,  and  under 
these  circumstances  there  was  nothing  left 
to  do  but  to  drop  down  the  stream  again 
and  anchor  below  the  forts. 

The  "  Monongahela"  and  "Kineo"  came 
next  in  line,  and  these  vessels  also  met  with 
bad  luck.  The  firing  from  the  "  Hartford  " 
and  "Richmond"  had  by  this  time  so  filled 
the  air  with  smoke  that  it  was  found  impos 
sible  to  distinguish  objects  near  by,  and  the 
pilots  were  completely  at  sea.  At  11.30.  the 
"  Monongahela  "  grounded  on  the  west  shore 
and  the  "  Kineo,"  not  touching,  broke  away 
from  her,  and  ranging  ahead  a  short  distance 
grounded  also.  The  enemy  soon  got  the 
range  of  these  vessels  and  disabled  their 
principal  guns.  A  heavy  shot  carried  away 
the  supports  of  the  bridge  on  which  Com 
mander  McKinstry  was  standing  and  pre 
cipitated  him  to  the  deck,  by  which  he  was 
seriously  injured  and  incapacitated  for 
further  duty.  The  command  of  the  "  Mon 
ongahela  "  then  devolved  upon  Lieut. -Com 
mander  N".  W.  Thomas,  the  executive  offi 
cer,  who  with  great  coolness  and  judgment 
backed  the  vessel  off  and  continued  on  his 
way  up  the  river.  As  he  was  nearing  the 
bend,  however,  the  engines  suddenly  ceased 
to  move,  owing  to  a  hot  crank-pin /and  the 
ship  being  unmanageable,  she  drifted  down 
and  was  obliged  to  anchor  below  the  bat 
teries. 

The  steamship  "  Mississippi,"  Captain 
Melancton  Smith,  followed  up  in  the  wake 
of  the  "  Monongahela,"  firing  whenever  her 
guns  could  be  brought  to  bear.  At  11.30, 
she  had  reached  the  turn  which  seemed  to 
give  our  vessels  so  much  trouble,  and  Cap 
tain  Smith  was  congratulating  himself  on 
the  prospect  of  soon  catching  up  with  the 
flag-officer,  when  his  ship  grounded  and 
heeled  over  three  streaks  to  port.  The 
engine  was  instantly  reversed  and  the  port 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


273 


guns  run  in  in  order  to  bring  her  on  an 
even  keel,  while  the  fire  from  her  starboard 
battery  was  reopened  upon  the  forts.  The 
engines  were  backed  with  all  the  steam 
that  could  be  put  upon  them  and  the  back 
ing  was  continued  for  thirty  minutes  but 
without  avail  :  it  was  now  seen  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  get  the  ship  afloat. 
Captain  Smith  gave  the  order  to  spike  the 
port  battery  and  throw  the  guns  overboard, 
but  it  was  not  done,  for  the  enemy's  fire 
was  becoming  so  rapid  and  severe  that  the 
Captain  deemed  it  judicious  to  abandon  the 
ship  at  once  in  order  to  save  the  lives  of 
his  men.  While  preparations  were  being 
made  to  destroy  the  ship,  the  sick  and 
wounded  were  lowered  into  the  boats  and 
conveyed  ashore,  while  the  men  at  the  star 
board  battery  continued  to  fight  in  splendid 
style,  firing  at  every  flash  of  the  enemy's 

funs.  The  small  arms  were  thrown  over- 
card,  and  all  possible  damage  was  done  to 
the  engines  and  everything  else  that  might 
prove  of  use  to  the  enemy,  The  ship  was 
first  set  on  fire  in  the,  foreward  storeroom, 
but  three  shots  came  through  below  the 
water  line  and  the  water  rushed  in  and  put 
out  the  flames.  She  was  then  set  fire  to  in 
four  places  aft,  between  decks,  and  when 
the  names  were  well  underway  so  as  to 
make  her  destruction  certain.  Captain  Smith 
and  his  first- lieutenant  left  the  ship,  (all  the 
officers  and  crew  having  been  landed). 

The  "Mississippi"  was  soon  in  a  blaze, 
fore-and-aft,  and  as  she  was  now  relieved 
of  a  great  deal  of  weight,  (by  the  removal 
of  her  crew  and  the  destruction  of  her  upper 
works)  she  floated  off  the  bank,  and  drifted 
down  the  river  much  to  the  danger  of  the 
Union  vessels  below;  but  she  passed  without 
doing  them  any  injury  and  at  5.30.  blew  up 
and  went  to  the  bottom.  The  detonation 
was  heard  for  miles  around,  and  exceedingly 
rejoiced  the  hearts  of  the  Confederates 
along  the  river  banks. 

Thus  ended  the  career  of  this  old  ship, 
which  had  been  dear  to  many  a  naval  officer 
and  sailor.  Many  pleasant  memories  clus 
tered  about  her,  and  no  ship  ever  performed 
more  faithful  service,  or  came  to  a  more 
glorious  end.  Her  commander,  officers  and 
men  lost  no  credit  by  the  manner  in  which 
they  performed  their  duty  on  this  occasion; 
on  the  contrary  everyone  who  knows  any 
thing  about  the  matter  is  aware  that  every 
possible  exertion  was  made  to  get  the  ship 
afloat,  and  that  when  she  was  finally  aban 
doned  it  was  done  in  a  cool  and  orderly  man 
ner.  It  is  in  such  trying  moments  that  men 
show  of  what  metal  they  are  made,  and  in 
this  instance  the  metal  was  of  the  very  best. 
Farragut  in  the  "  Hartford,"  with  the 
"Albatross"  alongside,  reached  the  mouth 
of  Red  River,  and  Port  Hudson  was  as  com 
pletely  cut  off  from  supplies  as  if  fifty  gun- 
is 


boats  had  been  there.  But  this  affair  was  a 
great  triumph  to  the  enemy  a.nd  equally 
depressing  to  the  Federals  for  the  time 
being.  It  was  soon  seen  however  that  the 
object  aimed  at  had  been  gained — the  works 
at  Port  Hudson  were  cut  off  from  supplies 
and  the  fate  of  the  garrison  sealed. 

Farragut  was  much  disappointed  at  the 
loss  of  the  "Mississippi"  and  the  failure  of 
the  other  vessels  to  get  up,  but  he  bore  it 
with  his  usual  equanimity  and  looked  upon 
it  as  the  fortune  of  war. 

He  was  satisfied  that  his  commanders  had 
all  done  their  duty  and  was  well  aware  of 
the  fact  that  the  "  Hartford  "  had  fewer  dif 
ficulties  to  contend  with  than  the  vessels  in 
her  rear.  Her  pilot  could  see  everything 
ahead,  while  those  astern  were  blinded  by 
the  smoke  of  her  guns. 

The  list  of  killed  and  wounded  is  as  fol 
lows  : 

"Hartford,"  2  killed,  6  wounded;  "Rich 
mond."  3  killed,  12  wounded ;  Missis 
sippi,"  64  missing,  of  which  25  were  believed 
to  have  been  killed;  " Monongahela,"  6 
killed,  21  wounded: — Total  114 killed,  wound 
ed  and  missing,  nearly  as  heavy  a  loss  as 
was  sustained  by  the  whole  fleet  at  the  pas 
sage  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip. 

Rear- Admiral  Farragut  steamed  on  up  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Red  River  which  he  closely 
blockaded,  and  remained  there  until  relieved 
by  Rear- Admiral  Porter  in  the  "Benton" 
on  May  2d,  1863,  when  he  returned  over 
land  to  his  fleet  below  Port  Hudson. 

The  effect  of  the  return  of  Farragut's 
squadron  from  before  Vicksburg  was  bad 
for  the  people  living  along  the  river.  The 
population  of  the  towns  that  had  abstained 
from  hostile  acts,  and  in  fact  had  assumed 
a  very  humble  attitude,  now  became  quite 
defiant — the  mayors  of  the  little  municipal 
ities  putting  on  the  airs  of  autocrats,  their 
importance  being  doubtless  stimulated  by 
the  fact  that  Farragut  and  his  officers  did 
not  seem  disposed  to  molest  them  or  even 
question  their  loyalty  to  the  United  States. 

When  the  news  of  Farragut's  victory  was 
carried  up  the  river  by  escaping  steamers, 
there  was  a  panic  all  through  the  region, 
and  for  the  moment  every  one  seemed  dis 
posed  to  submit  to  the  Federal  authority. 
Many  persons  were  in  their  hearts  glad  to 
see  the  Union  flag  once  more  triumphant, 
and  looked  forward  with  pleasure  at  the 
idea  that  the  old  order  of  things  would  soon 
be  restored.  But  when  the  mayor  of  Vicks 
burg  at  first  mildly  then  defiantly  treated 
Farragut's  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the 
city,  and  the  other  towns  learned  of  the  un 
successful  attempt  of  the  fleet  to  obtain 
possession  of  Vicksburg,  either  by  per 
suasion  or  force,  their  ardor  in  the  Cop- 
federate  cause  was  suddenly  stimulated. 
Each  little  hamlet  determined  to  share  in 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  glory  that  enveloped  Vicksburg  and 
not  only  to  forswear  allegiance  to  the  United 
States  but  fire  upon  the  Union  flag  when 
ever  it  appeared  in  their  neighborhood. 

This  may  have  been  heroic,  but  it  was 
far  from  wise,  as  the  Confederates  had  at 
that  period  few  troops  along  the  river  and 
no  guns  except  field-pieces,  which  although 
they  might  annoy  would  hardly  arrest  the 
progress  of  vessels  of  war.  Baton  Rouge, 
Natchez,  and  in  fact  every  town  along  the 
river,  seemed  to  have  entered  into  a  league 
against  the  Federal  vessels,  putting  it  out 
of  the  power  of  the  Union  officers  to  exer 
cise  that  forbearance  they  desired  to  show 
both  from  motives  of  policy  and  humanity. 

It  was  desirable  to  satisfy  the  people 
living  along  the  Mississippi,  that  the  mis 
sion  of  the  Navy  was  simply  to  restore  the 
authority  of  the  Federal  government,  not 
to  destroy  property  or  do  harm  to  non-com 
batants  ;  but  this  course,  instead  of  con- 


vessels,  well  knowing  that  they  could  inflict 
no  serious  damage  on  their  hulls  although 
they  might  kill  or  wound  some  of  their 
crews.  Such  acts  were  bound  to  lead  to 
retaliation,  and  create  a  bitter  feeling  on 
the  Federal  side.  Military  and  naval  men 
do  not  stop  long  to  think  when  a  battery  is 
opened  upon  them  and  the  shot  are  falling 
in  their  midst.  They  naturally  fire  back 
without  much  considering  whom  they  may 
hurt.  This  is  one  of  the  results  of  war. 
It  is  not  intended  to  excuse  the  retaliatory 
measures  of  the  Federal  officers  but  merely 
to  give  their  reasons. 

Baton  Rouge  was  one  of  those  defiant 
towns,  notwithstanding  its  proximity  to 
New  Orleans  and  the  large  Federal  Army 
stationed  at  the  latter  place.  When  sum 
moned  to  surrender  by  Captain  Palmer  of 
the  "  Iroquois,"  the  mayor  replied  that 
"Baton  Rouge  will  not  be  voluntarily  sur 
rendered  to  any  power  on  earth!"  Upon 


BATON   ROUGE.  THE  CAPITAL  OF  LOUISIANA,  CAPTURED  BY  CAPTAIN   PALMER  OF  THE   "IROQUOIS,"   AND  AFTER 
WARDS  OCCUPIED  BY  GENERAL    WILLIAMS. 


ciliating  the  populace,  only  inflamed  their 
dislike  to  the  ''invaders,"  as  they  were 
pleased  to  call  the  Union  forces.  The  mild 
propositions  of  the  naval  commander  were 
considered  as  proof  of  the  weakness  of  the 
Federal  government,  and  finally  the  mili 
tary,  which  had  but  little  to  lose  in  the  way 
•of  property,  became  so  harassing  that 
retaliation  had  to  be  resorted  to  in  self- 
defence  and  the  innocent  often  suffered  in 
consequence. 

Never  in  the  course  of  any  war  was  there 
so  great  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Navy 
to  abstain  from  harsh  measures,  and  if  the 
Confederate  troops  had  confined  themselves 
to  firing  upon  naval  vessels  at  places  away 
from  towns,  our  officers  would  have  been 
satisfied  to  try  consequences  with  them  on 
their  own  terms.  Such,  however,  was  not 
the  case,  the  Confederate  artillery  gen 
erally  selected  points  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  towns  and  sometimes  in  the 
towns  themselves  to  fire  upon  the  passing 


receiving  this  reply  Captain  Palmer  in 
formed  the  mayor  that  he  would  stand  no 
nonsense  and  forthwith  landed  his  men, 
hoisted  the  Union  flag,  and  took  possession 
of  the  public  property.  Fortunately  this 
capture  was  accomplished  without  blood 
shed,  although  that  might  easily  have  fol 
lowed  owing  to  the  contumacy  of  the 
municipal  authorities. 

In  this  case  the  rights  and  property  of 
all  citizens  were  respected,  and  only  the 
property  claimed  by  the  Confederate  gov 
ernment  was  taken  possession  of.  These 
were  easy  terms  for  people  who  had  sturdily 
defied  the  Federal  authority  and  refused  to 
listen  to  any  terms. 

Natchez  offered  fewer  impediments  to  the 
Union  commander.  The  mayor  was  a 
sensible  man,  compared  with  the  one  at 
Baton  Rouge,  and  on  receiving  a  communi 
cation  from  Captain  Palmer  to  the  effect 
that  the  city  must  surrender,  he  replied  : 
"Coming  as  a  conquerer,  you  will  need  not 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


the  interposition  of  the  city  authorities  to 
possess  the  place.  An  unfortified  city,  an 
entirely  defenceless  people,  have  no  alterna 
tive  but  to  yield  to  an  irresistible  force, 
or  uselessly  to  imperil  innocent  blood. 
Formalities  are  absurd  in  the  face  of  such 
reality.  So  far  as  the  authorities  are  con 
cerned  there  will  be  no  opposition  to  your 
possession  of  the  city.  They  cannot  how 
ever  guarantee  that  your  flag  shall  be 
unmolested  in  the  sight  of  an  excited 
people,"  etc.,  etc.  As  if  the  people  who  for 
a  lifetime  had  existed  under  the  protection 
of  that  flag  were  now  unable  to  endure  the 
sight  of  it. 

The  mayors  of  these  little  cities  used  high 
sounding  words,  which  seemed  rather 
ridiculous  coming  from  people  who  had 
neither  guns  nor  soldiers.  It  would  have 
been  more  to  their  credit  to  have  accepted 
the  situation  without  trying  to  delude  the 
more  ignorant  part  of  the  population  with 
the  idea  that  the  Union  fleet  sought  the 
destruction  of  their  lives  and  property. 
The  course  taken  by  these  municipal 
authorities  led  to  very  bad  results  and  its 
evil  influence  was  felt  by  the  inhabitants 
all  along  the  river. 

The  same  summons  was  given  at  Vicks- 
burg,  where  the  mayor  in  the  first  instance 
bade  defiance  to  the  Army  and  Xavy  under 
Butler  and  Farragut.  The  result  of  the 
negotiations  with  the  authorities  of  Vicks- 
burg  is  best  told  in  the  account  of  the  attack 
by  Farragut' s  squadron,  where,  owing  to 
the  long  drawn  out  negotiations,  all  the 
energies  of  the  Confederates  had  time  to 
concentrate  on  the  defences  of  the  city, 
which  in  a  month  was  rendered  impreg 
nable  against  a  purely  naval  attack. 

Grand  Gulf,  at  that  moment  a  place  of 
no  importance,  following  in  the  footsteps 
of  its  illustrious  neighbor  Vicksburg,  set  to 
work  to  erect  batteries  and  opened  fire  on 
the  gun-boats.  In  consequence  of  this.  Cap 
tain  Palmer,  in  the  "  Iroquois,"  with  the 
other  vessels  under  his  command,  dropped 
down  the  river  and  shelled  the  town,  the 
first  instance  of  such  a  proceeding  on  the 
part  of  our  Navy.  The  little  town  was  set 
on  fire  and  destroyed.  This  was  considered 
a  great  outrage  by  the  Confederates,  and 
was  taken  advantage  of  to  inflame  the 
minds  of  the  people  against  the  Union 
forces. 

From  this  time  forth  the  Confederate 
artillery  began  to  assemble  at  command 
ing  positions  along  the  river  banks,  and  the 
ouce  peaceful  scene  was  marred  by  burn 
ing  plantations,  from  whence  the  enemy 
attacked  the  gun-boats.  There  was  no 
longer  a  hope  of  peace  for  the  inhabitants 
of  the  river  region. 

It  was  a  great  relief  to  Admiral  Farra 
gut  to  know  that  the  ram  "Arkansas" 


was  disposed  of,  and  that  thus  terminated 
the  existence  of  one  of  the  most  troublesome 
vessels  the  Confederates  had  built.  She  was 
at  that  time  the  last  Confederate  ram  on  the 
Mississippi  River.  At  the  moment  of  her  de 
struction  there  was  considerable  excitement 
along  the  river  on  hearing  of  her  approach 
towards  Baton  Rouge,  where  General  "Wil 
liams  was  in  command  of  the  Federal  mili 
tary  forces,  and  expecting  an  attack  from, 
the  Confederate  troops  under  General  Breck- 
enridge,  to  be  supported  by  the  ram  "Ark 
ansas"  and  the  gun-boats  "Webb"  and 
"Music." 

The  Union  vessels  that  were  on  the  spot 
to  meet  the  enemy  and  co-operate  with  the 
Army,  were  the  "  Katahdin,"  Lieut. -Com 
mander  Roe,  and  the  "Kineo,"  Lieut. -Com 
mander  Ransom.  The  report  that  the  enemy 
were  approaching  Baton  Rouge  for  the  pur 
pose  of  attacking  that  place,  was  not  an  idle 
one,  for  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  April, 
at  one  o'clock,  General  Breckenridge  at 
tacked  General  Williams'  position  with 
great  vigor.  The  Union  troops  withstood 
the  attack  bravely,  while  the  "  Kineo  "  and 
"  Katahdin"  poured  in  a  heavy  fire  on  the 
enemy's  lines.  This  battle  was  kept  up 
fiercely  until  one  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  the 
enemy  would  no  doubt  have  succeeded  but 
for  the  accurate  firingof  the  gun-boats,which 
threw  their  shells  right  into  the  midst  of  the 
Confederate  lines,  causing  great  dismay. 

Lieut.-Commander  Ransom,  commanding 
the  "  Kineo,"  had  an  officer  stationed  on  the 
State-house,  who  directed  the  firing  by  signal 
so  successfully  that  the  enemy  was  obliged 
to  retreat. 

Unfortunately  the  gallant  General  Wil 
liams  fell  in  this  engagement,  and  the  Gov 
ernment  lost  the  services  of  a  most  valuable 
officer. 

The  ram  "Arkansas"  and  her  consorts 
did  not  appear  upon  the  scene  of  battle,  or  it 
might  have  been  still  more  hotly  contested, 
or  even  ended  disastrously  for  the  Federal 
cause,  for  if  the  attention  of  the  gun-boats 
could  have  been  diverted  by  the  Confederate 
vessels,  the  Army  would  not  have  received 
that  aid  which  contributed  so  much  toward 
the  repulse  of  the  enemy;  and  there  is  no 
knowing  how  deplorable  a  defeat  the  Fed 
eral  forces  would  have  met  with  or  what  the 
consequences  might  have  been. 

Soon  after  this  affair  was  ended  the  smoke 
of  a  steamer  (supposed  to  be  the  "Arkan 
sas")  was  seen  coming  down  the  river  with 
rapidity,  to  act  apparently  in  concert  with 
the  land  forces.  She  stopped  about  a  mile 
above  the  bend  of  the  river,  moving  up  and 
down  as  if  uncertain  how  to  act.  Later,  she 
was  passed  by  her  two  consorts,  the  "  Webb  " 
and  "Music." 

The  "  Essex,"  Commander  Porter,  ac 
companied  by  the  "Cayuga"  and  "Sum- 


276 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


ter,"  then  moved  up  towards  the  bend  to 
meet  the  Confederate  squadron,  which  was 
apparently  afraid  to  take  its  share  in  the 
conflict  according  to  the  preconcerted  plan; 
a  general  signal  was  made  for  the  "  Katah- 
din"  and  "Kineo"  to  follow  the  other 
vessels. 

As  the  "  Essex"  came  within  gunshot  of 
the  "Arkansas,"  Commander  Porter  opened 
fire  on  her,  and  in  a  short  time  the  ram  ap 
peared  to  be  disabled,  though  she  still  con 
tinued  her  fire  on  the  "Essex."  Some  in 
cendiary  shells  were  now  fired  from  the 
latter;  directly  after,  there  was  seen  a  gush 
of  flame  from  the  "Arkansas'"  side,  and 
she  was  soon  enveloped  in  fire.  Her  crew 
attempted  to  make  her  fast  to  the  bank  with 
a  hawser,  and  then  escaped  to  the  shore, 
the  "Essex"  still  keeping  up  her  fire  to 
prevent  the  flames  from  being  extinguished. 
The  lines  which  had  held  the  "Arkansas  " 
to  the  bank  soon  burned  away,  and  the  Con 
federate  ram  swung  off  into  the  river,  where 
she  blew  up  with  a  terrible  explosion, 
and  went  to  the  bottom.  Thus  ended  the 
career  of  one  of  the  most  formidable  rams 
the  Confederates  had  ever  built. 

Up  to  the  time  the  "  Essex  "  attacked  the 
"  Arkansas,"  the  machinery  of  the  latter 
was  in  perfect  order,  and  she  went  into  ac 
tion,  no  doubt,  certain  of  vanquishing  her 
clumsy  foe,  which  could  not  do  much  more 
than  stem  the  current  of  the  river.  But  the 
"Arkansas"  was  driven  ashore  and  des 
troyed  after  a  short  engagement. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  take  from  Com 
mander  W.  L>.  Porter,  his  officers  and 
crew,  the  credit  of  destroying  this  vessel, 
because  some  of  her  crew  that  were  picked 
up,  stated  that  one  of  the  engines  was  out 
of  order,  and  that  the  captain  tied  up  to  the 
shore  to  keep  his  vessel  from  drifting  down 
the  river,  and  that  the  Confederates  set  fire 
to  her  themselves.  This  is  a  very  unlikely 
story.  It  is  not  credible  that  a  vessel, 
which  had  run  the  gauntlet  of  the  twTo 
fleets,  under  Farragut  and  Davis,  at  Vicks- 
burg,  inflicting  great  injury  upon  them  and 
receiving  no  vital  injury  in  return,  would 
avoid  a  conflict  with  the  "  Essex  "  (a  vessel 
of  weaker  hull  and  very  much  less  speed), 
unless  she  had  been  first  so  crippled  by  the 
"Essex's"  guns  that  her  commander  saw  no 
hope  of  success.  Certain  it  is  that  the  com 
mander  of  the  "Essex"  did  not  hesitate  to 
attack  a  Confederate  ram  that  had  defied 
the  whole  Union  fleet,  and  she  sunk  while 
under  his  fire. 

The  two  Confederate  gun-boats  escaped 
up  the  river  when  they  witnessed  the  fate 
of  their  powerful  companion  which  was  to 
have  driven  all  the  Union  naval  forces 
from  before  Baton  Rouge. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  what  the  enemy 
depended  on  the  ram  "  Arkansas  "  and  her 


two  consorts  for  his  success  at  Baton  Rouge, 
as  General  Williams  depended  upon  the 
Union  gun-boats  for  success  over  any  force 
that  could  be  brought  against  him.  It 
shows  what  important  factors  in  war  the 
so-called  gun-boats  were  (on  either  side). 
They  could  move  about  with  their  heavy 
guns,  take  positions  which  the  enemy  could 
not  outflank  and  pour  in  a  destructive  fire, 
directed  by  the  best  drilled  gunners  in  the 
world,  dealing  death  and  destruction  on  any 
enemy  that  might  venture  to  face  them. 

The  result  of  this  battle  was  a  complete 
victory  for  the  Union  forces  by  land  and 
by  water,  and  there  would  have  been  cause 
for  great  rejoicing  on  the  Federal  side  but 
for  the  untimely  fate  of  the  gallant  General 
Williams,  who  fell  with  a  Minie-ball 
through  his  heart  while  cheering  on  his 
men,  who  chased  the  Confederates  three 
or  four  miles  away  from  the  scene  of 
battle  and  then  returned  to  their  entrench 
ments. 

When  Admiral  Farragut,  who  was  at 
New  Orleans,  heard  of  the  attack  on  Baton 
Rouge,  he  proceeded  to  that  point  without 
delay  with  the  "  Hartford,"  and  on  learning 
of  the  happy  result,  and  the  destruction 
of  the  Confederate  ram,  he  was  de 
lighted;  for  although  the  admiral,  on  the 
whole,  "  did  not  attach  much  importance  to 
Confederate  rams,"  he  had  seen  enough  of 
the  performances  of  the  "Arkansas"  to 
know,  that  if  properly  managed,  she  was 
the  most  formidable  vessel  on  the  Missis 
sippi  River,  and  that  there  would  be  no  se 
curity  against  her  while  she  floated. 

To  render  everything  secure  at  Baton 
Rouge,  Farragut  left  a  sufficient  force  there 
to  guard  against  all  contingencies,  and  re 
turned  to  New  Orleans,  satisfied  that  for  the 
present  he  would  hear  no  more  of  Confed 
erate  rams.  He  was  not  aware  at  the  time, 
that  the  enemy  had  been  so  well  satisfied 
with  the  performances  of  the  "Arkansas" 
that  they  had  commenced  to  build  at  Yazoo 
City  two  more  rams,  more  powerful  than 
any  they  had  yet  planned. 

Great  credit  was  due  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  little  flotilla,  which  co-operated 
so  handsomely  with  General  Williams  in 
defeating  General  Breckenridge.  particu 
larly  to  Lieutenant  Roe  of  the  "  Katahdin  " 
and  Lieutenant  Ransom  of  the  "Kineo," 
who  threw  the  enemy's  ranks  into  confu 
sion  by  the  remarkable  accuracy  of  their 
fire. 

The  commander  of  the  "  Arkansas,"  on 
this  occasion,  was  Lieutenant  H.  K.  Stev 
ens  of  the  Confederate  Navy,  her  former 
fearless  commander,  Lieutenant  Brown, 
having  been  taken  sick  at  Vicksburg.  The 
events  that  took  place  on  board  the  ram, 
except  through  vague  reports,  have  never 
come  to  light. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


277 


Notwithstanding  the  want  of  success  of 
the  Confederates  in  their  attacks  on  the 
approaches  or  outposts  to  New  Orleans, 
they  still  kept  up  a  guerilla  warfare  on  the 
vessels  moving  up  and  down  the  river — a 
mode  of  warfare  of  no  avail  whatever,  and 
calculated  only  to  bring  distress  upon  the 
small  towns  where  these  roving  bands  held 
their  headquarters. 

For  a  long  time  this  practice  of  firing  on 
armed  and  unarmed  vessels  had  been  prac 
ticed  with  impunity,  and  Farragut  deter 
mined  to  repress  it  if  possible.  He  had  sent 
messengers  several  times  to  the  town  of 
Donaldson ville,  to  inform  the  authorities 
that,  unless  steps  were  taken  to  stop  this 
useless  and  inhuman  practice,  the  town 
would  be  held  responsible. 

When  passing  up  the  river  to  the  support 
of  Baton  Rouge,  he  anchored  the  '*  Hart 
ford  "  two  miles  above  Donaldsonville  and 
heard  them  firing  on  vessels  ascending  the 
river  (the  transport,  "  Sallie  Robinson  "  and 
the  steamer  "Brooklyn  ").  in  the  latter  case, 
the  enemy  getting  more  than  they  bar 
gained  for  and  being  driven  to  cover.  The 
next  night  they  fired  upon  the  transport 
"St.  Charles/' 

Farragut,  inconsequence  of  these  wanton 
and  useless  attacks,  notified  the  authorities 
to  send  their  women  and  children  out  of 
the  town  as  he  intended  to  destroy  it  on 
his  way  down  the  river,  and  he  fulfilled  his 
threat  to  a  certain  extent.  He  burned  the 
hotels  and  wharf  buildings,  also  all  build 
ings  belonging  to  one  Phillippe  Landry, 
who  was  said  to  be  a  captain  of  the 
guerilla  band.  Landry  attacked  the  firing 
party  but  the  sailors  gave  chase  to  him 
and  he  fled.  Some  twenty  negroes  were 
taken  from  this  place  and  a  number  of 
cattle  and  sheep  for  the  use  of  the  squad 
ron. 

Thus  Farragut,  while  inflicting  necessary 
punishment,  endeavored  to  make  it  fall  as 
lightly  as  possible  on  the  innocent,  and 
only  those  suffered  who  invited  it  by  setting 
at  defiance  their  conquerors,  who  were  dis 
posed  to  extend  the  greatest  liberality  to 
all  those  residing  within  reach  of  the  Fed 
eral  guns — all  that  was  required  of  them 
being  to  abstain  from  hostile  proceedings 
against  Federal  vessels. 

This  punishment  of  towns  may  smack 
somewhat  of  barbarity,  and  should  not, 
in  fact,  be  practiced  but  for  very  grave 
offenses,  as  an  indiscriminate  burning  in 
flicts  severe  punishment  upon  innocent 
people.  But  in  this  instance  the  punish 
ment  fell  on  the  guilty  ones,  who  took 
advantage  of  the  security  the  town 
gave  them  to  commit  their  hostile  acts 
against  Federal  vessels,  supposing  that 
the  Federal  authorities  would  respect  the 
towns  where  these  acts  were  committed. 


They  did  so  until  forbearance  ceased  to  be 
a  virtue. 

One  of  the  most  gallant  officers  under 
the  command  of  Rear-Admiral  Farragut, 
was  Lieutenant-Commander  Thomas  Mc- 
Kean  Buchanan,  commanding  the  steamer 
"Calhoun."  He  had  been  employed  on 
Lake  Pontchartrain,  where  he  performed 
good  service,  and  on  October  25th,  he  pro 
ceeded  to  Southwest  Pass,  expecting  to  be 
met  by  the  gun-boats  "Estrella"  and  "St. 
Mary's,"  and  intending  to  co-operate  with 
General  Weitzel  in  the  waters  of  Atchafal 
aya.  He  had  on  board  the  21st  Indiana 
regiment.  With  a  great  deal  of  difficulty 
he  succeeded  in  getting  the  "  Estrella,"  "  St. 
Mary's,''  "  Kinsman  "  and  "  Calhoun  "  into 
Atchafalaya  Bay,  from  the  channels  of 
which  the  enemy  had  removed  all  the 
stakes  and  buoys.  Entering  the  Atchafal 
aya  River  the  little  flotilla  met  the  Confed 
erate  iron-clad  '•  Cotton,"  which  after  a 
sharp  engagement  made  her  escape  up  the 
river.  (The  guns  of  this  vessel  were  in 
iron  casemates  and  she  was  very  fast.) 
That  same  night.  Lieutenant -Commander 
Buchanan  captured  the  steamer  "A.  B. 
Seger."  belonging  to  the  Confederate  Navy. 

Notwithstanding  the  shoals  and  low  tides, 
Buchanan  brought  up  the  "St.  Mary's" 
and  anchored  her  off  Brashear  city,  show 
ing  the  enemy  that  there  was  no  point  the 
Union  gun-boats  would  not  reach  when 
commanded  by  an  energetic  officer.  No 
one  who  had  not  tried  it  could  estimate  the 
difficulties  of  ascending  these  Louisiana 
bayous  and  rivers.  It  was  on  these  occa 
sions  (where  men  held  their  lives  in  their 
hands),  that  the  most  daring  deeds  of  the 
war  were  performed. 

It  cannot  be  said  that  these  expeditions 
were  always  of  advantage  to  the  Union 
cause,  for  a  great  deal  of  energy  was  often 
wasted,  and  frequently  valuable  lives  were 
lost.  But  at  Army  headquarters  these 
operations  were  called  for  under  the  pre 
text  that  they  were  important  strategic 
movements,  and  our  naval  officers  were 
too  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  face  danger 
and  aid  the  cause,  to  interpose  any  objec 
tions  to  them. 

Buchanan's  expedition  having  forced  its 
way  through  the  narrow  and  shallow  chan 
nels  with  great  difficulty,  reached  Brashear 
City  only  to  find  that  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  had  crossed  over  and  was  making 
its  way  up  to  Franklin.  They  were  im 
mediately  followed  by  the  flotilla  up  the 
Atchafalaya  River,  through  Bayou  Teche 
to  a  point  "five  miles  above  Pattersonville, 
and  three  from  the  mouth  of  the  Teche — 
where  the  enemy  was  found  posted  in 
force.  The  gun-boats  opened  fire,  and  the 
enemy  retreated  to  a  point  two  miles  fur 
ther  up  the  river,  where  they  had  obstructed 


278 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


the  approaches  with  piles,  and  where  they 
were  also  supported  by  the  gun-boat  ''Cot 
ton,*'  which    vessel    was   posted   above   a 
bridge. 

The  "  Calhoun's  "  Parrott  gun  became  dis 
abled  almost  at  the  first  fire,  and  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Cooke  was  sent  ahead  with 
the  other  two  vessels  to  open  the  way.  The 
second  shot  from  the  Confederate  gun-boat 
struck  the  "  Estrella  "  in  her  port  bow.  kill 
ing  two  soldiers  and  wounding  another, 
and  also  carrying  away  the  vessel's  wheel- 
ropes,  which  caused  her  to  run  into  the 
bank.  The  "Diana,"  having  her  gun 
mounted  on  an  iron  carriage,  got  it  disar 
ranged  and  had  to  stop,  while  the  "  Kins 
man  "  (Acting -Master  George  Wiggins) 
pushed  on  right  up  to  the  batteries  (which 
contained  eleven  field-pieces),  and  to  within 
1,000  yards  of  the  iron-clad  "Cotton,"'  as 
close  as  he  could  get. 

This  courageous  attack  seemed  to  demor 
alize  the  enemy  on  shore,  for  they  retreated 
immediately  with  their  field-pieces.  The 
"  Kinsman  "  then  opened  her  guns  on  the 
"Cotton."  and  kept  up  the  unequal  contest 
until  relieved  by  the  "Calhoun,"  which 
vessel  backed  up  to  the  bridge  and  brought 
her  guns  to  bear  upon  the  enemy.  After  en 
during  a  hot  fire  for  about  twenty  minutes, 
the  "  Cotton"  escaped  up  the  river. 

While  the  "  Kinsman  "  was  under  fire  of 
the  enemy's  guns  she  received  fifty-four  shot 
through  her  hull  and  upper  works,  and  three 
through  the  flag,  which  still  waved.  One 
round  shot  passed  through  the  magazine 
and  shell-room,  demolishing  shell-boxes  but 
doing  no  other  damage.  One  man  \vas  killed 
and  five  wounded — among  the  latter  being 
the  pilot,  who  died  next  day. 

By  the  time  the  "Cotton"  withdrew,  the 
"Estrella"  and  "Diana"  succeeded  in  get 
ting  up,  and  Buchanan  landed  his  men  and 
tried  to  remove  the  obstructions  and  haul 
the  "Diana"  over  the  shoals  to  pursue  the 
enemy,  but  without  effect  Not  deeming  it 
prudent  to  lie  in  the  Teche  all  night  (where 
the  enemy  could  surround  him  and  open  fire 
from  concealed  places),  he  dropped  down  to 
Brashear  City  to  repair  damages  and  bury 
the  dead. 

The  Confederate  gun-boat  "Cotton  "  was 
no  trifling  enemy;  she  was  heavily  armed 
and  gallantly  fought,  and  besides  the  fifty- 
four  shot  she  put  in  the  "  Kinsman"  she  put 
eight  into  the  "Calhoun,"  three  into  the 
"Diana,"  and  three  into  the  "Estrella." 
Fortunately  their  machinery  was  not 
touched. 

The  enemy  had  exhibited  a  great  deal  of 
intelligence  in  blocking  the  river.  The  ob 
structions  consisted  of  the  steamer  "Fly 
catcher,"  thrown  across  the  river  and  sunk, 
backed  by  a  schooner,  with  heavy  oak  logs 
thrown  in  between  and  around  the  two  ves 


sels  in  such  quantities  that  it  was  found  im 
possible  to  remove  them  without  the  aid  of 
a  stronger  land  force  than  Buchanan  had  at 
his  command;  for  the  men  of  the  expedition 
could  not  have  worked  under  such  a  fire  as 
the  enemy  would  have  brought  to  bear  upon 
them  from  the  rifles  and  field  artillery,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  guns  of  the  iron-clad  which 
were  still  intact. 

The  Confederate  force  was  under  the 
command  of  General  Monson,  and  num 
bered  from  three  to  four  thousand  men. 
They  were  badly  cut  up.  and  finally  moved 
their  camp  to  Centreville.  three  miles  above 
the  obstructions,  keeping  only  their  cavalry 
and  artillery  below. 

All  that  day  the  gun-boats  were  busy  re 
pairing  damages.  Ruchanan,  no  way  dis 
heartened  at  the  superiority  of  the  enemy's 
force,  started  up  the  river,  on  the  5th. 
with  the  "Estrella,"  leaving  the  other 
vessels  to  continue  their  repairs.  The 
enemy  was  driven  off  as  before,  but  the  ves 
sel  did  not  fare  so  well  as  formerly,  a  shot 
from  the  indomitable  "Cotton"  disabled 
the  Parrott  gun,  killing  two  men  instantly, 
and  finding  that  he  could  do  no  more,  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Buchanan  withdrew 
down  the  river. 

The  encounter  with  this  heavy  work,  and 
the  greatly  superior  force  defending  it. 
showed  the  character  of  this  brave  officer 
who  had  forced  a  well-equipped  and  well- 
posted  enemy  from  a  strong  position,  and 
only  ceased  his  exertions  when  the  Confed 
erates  had  reached  a  defence  from  which 
it  was  impossible  to  dislodge  them  without 
the  assistance  of  a  large  body  of  troops. 

Buchanan  was  ably  seconded  by  his  offi 
cers  and  men.  and  although  he  was  unsuc 
cessful  in  forcing  the  barricades  and  cap 
turing  the  Confederate  gun-boat,  yet  he 
compelled  her  to  retreat  up  the  river  to 
a  point  where  she  was  unable  to  do  any 
damage. 

The  next  day,  the  gallant  Acting-Master 
Wiggins,  commanding  the  "Kinsman," 
started  with  that  vessel  and  the  captured 
steamer  "Seger,"  in  pursuit  of  two 
steamers  said  to  to  be  concealed  in  some  of 
the  bayous.  The  latter  were  eventually 
captured  in  Bayou  Cheval,  nine  miles  from 
Grand  Lake.  As  the  vessels  were  aground 
and  it  was  impossible  to  move  them,  they 
were  set  on  fire  and  destroyed.  The  result 
of  this  expedition  was  the  evacuation  of  the 
district  by  the  enemy  for  the  time,  but  be 
fore  leaving  they  burned  over  a  hundred 
railroad  cars  and  destroyed  many  planta 
tions,  which  compelled  the  planters  to  de 
sert  their  homes,  carrying  their  negroes 
off  with  them.  These  constant  attacks  re 
sulted  in  driving  the  enemy  from  that  part 
of  the  country,  and  gave  our  officers  a 
knowledge  of  the  topography  and  hydro- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


279 


graphy  of  the  region,  which  was  of  much 
benefit  later  in  the  war. 

In  the  management  of  these  small  expedi 
tions  our  younger  officers  showed  the  metal 
of  which  they  were  made,  and  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Buchanan  became  particularly 
conspicuous.  This  gallant  officer  lost  his 
life  January  14.  1863. being  killed  by  a  Mime- 
ball  fired  from  a  rifle-pit.  He  died  regretted 
by  all  who  knew  him,  and  by  none  more 
sincerely  than  Admiral  Farragut. 

Buchanan  had  long  been  operating  in  the 
waters  of  the  Atchafalaya.  In  October, 
1SG2,  he  attacked  the  enemy  as  before  men 
tioned,  in  the  Teche.  drove  him  from  a 

•  strongly  fortified  position  and  blockaded  the 
Confederate   iron-clad   above  the   obstruc 
tions  near  Patterson ville.    In  January.  18(53, 
he  was  again  on  the  Teche  chasing  the  Con 
federate  forces  and  was  this  time  accom 
panied  by  a  brigade  of  infantry  and  cavalry 

•  under  General  Weitzel.     The  enemy  were 
strongly  posted  and  covered  by  the  Confed 
erate  iron-clad  "Cotton."'     Buchanan  was 
advancing  on  the  river,  side  by  side  with  the 
troops  who  were  marching  along  the  banks, 
when  they  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  po 
sition. 

The  "  Cotton"  at  once  opened  fire  while 
the  Federal  troops  were  deployed  as  skir 
mishers  to  pick  off  the  gunners  of  the  Con 
federate  vessel,  a  task  they  speedily  ac 
complished.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy's 
field-pieces  were  driven  back  and  the  only 
part  of  his  forces  remaining  were  the  rifle 


men,  who  from  their  pits  kept  up  a 
fire.  Buchanan  was  not  the  man  to  let  any 
one  get  ahead  of  him,  especially  the  sol 
diers  whom  it  was  his  duty  to  cover  with 
his  guns;  he  pushed  on  in  the  '"Calhoun" 
to  me  attack  and  was  soon  in  advance  of 
the  troops,  but  he  paid  with  his  life  the  pen 
alty  of  his  gallantry  and  was  shot  through 
the  head  by  a  concealed  rifleman  while 
standing  on  deck  directing  affairs.  A  num 
ber  of  his  men  fell,  killed  or  wounded  at 
the  same  time.  Had  Buchanan  lived  five 
minutes  longer  he  would  have  had  the  satis 
faction  of  seeing  the  enemy  fleeing  in  every 
direction. 

At  the  same  time  the  gallant  Acting- 
Master  Wiggins  was  severely  wounded  by 
a  Minie-ball  through  the  shoulder,  and  Act 
ing-Ensign  Foster  through  the  cheek.  On 
board  the  "  Calhoun  "  on  this  occasion  three 
were  killed  and  six  wounded,  and  on  board 
the  "  Kinsman  "  one  was  wounded. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Buchanan  was 
a  great  loss  to  the  Union  cause,  but  the  ob 
ject  for  which  he  had  labored  many  months, 
—the  opening  of  the  Teche — had  been  ac 
complished.  This  would  have  happened 
earlier  if  a  sufficient  number  of  troops  had 
been  sent  to  accompany  the  gun-boats  in 
the  first  instance,  but  it  seems  seldom  to 
have  been  realized  that  these  expeditions 
would  be  comparatively  fruitless  unless 
conducted  as  combined  military  and  naval 
operations,  when  they  were  generally  suc 
cessful. 


WEST   GULF   SQUADRON,   JANUARY   IST,    1863 

REAR-ADMIRAL    DAVID    G.     FARRAGUT,    COMMAXDER-IX-CHIEF. 


STEAMER   "HARTFORD,"   FLAG-SHIP. 

Captain,  James  S.  Palmer;  commanding ;  Fleet 
Captain,  Thornton  A.  Jenkins;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Lewis  A.  Kimberly;  Lieutenants,  J.  C. 
Watson  and  H.  B.  Tyson;* Fleet  Surgeon,  J.  M. 
Foltx;  Surgeon,  W.  M.  King;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
Joseph  Hugg;  Paymaster,  W.  T.  Meredith;  Chief 
Engineer,  J.  B.  Kimball;  Marine  Officers:  Captain, 
J.  L.  Broome;  1st  Lieutenant,  J.  H.  Higbee;  Ensigns, 
J.  H.  Read,  J.  J.  Read,  D.  D.  Wempleand  C.  D.  Jones; 
Midshipman.  H.  J.  Blake;  Assistant  Engineers,  E. 
B.  Latch,  F.  A.  Wilson.  Isaac  de  Graaf,  C.  M.  Bur- 
chard,  A.  K.  Fulton,  H.  H.  Pilkington  and  J.  E. 
Speights;  Boatswain,  James  Walker;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  J.  L.  Staples;  Carpenter,  O.  T.  Stimson;  Sail- 
niaker,  J.  A.  Holbrook;  Acting  Master,  T.  L.  Peter 
son;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  H.  Judson  and  Henry 
Western,  Jr. 

STEAMER    "  PEXSACOLA." 

Commodore.  Henry  W.  Morris;  Lieutenants,  Geo. 
H.  Perkins  and  C.  E".  McKay;  Surgeon,  J.  W.  Tay 
lor;  Assistant  Surgeons.  W.  B.  Dick  and  Chas.  Gib- 
erson;  Paymaster,  G.  L.  Davis;  Chief  Engineer,  D. 
D.  Hibbert;  3d  Lieutenant  Marines,  J.  C.  Harris; 
Assistant  Engineers.  S.  L.  P.  Ayres,  C.  H.  Ball,  F. 
G.  Smith,  J.  L.  Vauclain,  J.  T.  Hawkins,  J.  C. 
Huntley  and  E.  A.  Magee;  Boatswain.  Nelson  Good 
rich;  Gunner,  D.  A.  Roe;  Carpenter,  J.  E.  Cox;  Sail- 
maker,  Charles  Lawrence  ;  Acting-Masters,  G.  C. 
Schulze,  F.  H.  Grove  and  Edw.  Herrick ;  Acting- 


Masters1  Mates,  G.  A.  Storm,  Joseph  Kent  and  Chas. 
Gainsford. 

STEAMER    "BROOKLYN."' 

Commodore,  H.  H.  Bell;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
Chester  Hatfield;  Lieutenant,  A.  X.  Mitchell;  Sur 
geon,  Samuel  Jackson;  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  J.  S. 
Wells;  Paymaster,  C.  W.  Abbot;  Chief  Engineer, 
W.  B.  Brooks;  1st  Lieutenant  Marines,  James  For 
ney;  Ensign,  M.  W.  Saunders;  Midshipmen,  John 
R.  Bartlettand  H.  T.  Grafton;  Assistant  Engineers, 

B.  E.  Chassaing,  James  Atkins,  A.  V.  Fraser,  Jr., 

C.  F   Mayer,  Jr.,  J.  L.  Bright,  James  Morgan  and 
J.  F.  Walton;  Boatswain,  J.  A.  Selmer;  Gunner,  T. 
H.    Fortune;    Carpenter,    W.    T.   Toy:  Sailmaker, 
Jacob  Stevens;  Acting-Masters,  T.  L.  Pickering,  J. 
C.  Stafford,    Lyman  Wells  and  W.  C.  Gibbs;  Act 
ing-Masters'  Mates,  E.  S.  Lowe,  H.  C.  Leslie,  Robert 
Beardsley,  H.  S.  Bolles  and  James  Buck. 

STEAMER   "SUSQUEHAXXA."' 

Commodore,  R.  B.  Hitchcock;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Montgomery  Sicard;  Lieutenant,  Louis 
Kempff ;  Surgeon,  Joseph  Beals;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
H.  C.  Nelson;  Chief  Engineer,  George  Sewell;  Cap 
tain  of  Marines,  P.  R.  Fendall,  Jr.;  Ensign,  Walter 
Abbott;  Assistant  Engineers,  J.  M.  Hobby,  James 
Butterworth,  E.  R.  Arnold,  Nelson  Ross',  R.  H. 
Buel  and  F.  T.  H.  Ramsden;  Boatswain,  Charles 
Miller;  Gunner,  E.  J.  Waugh;  Carpenter,  G.  M. 
Doughty;  Sailmaker,  J.  C.  Herbert;  Acting-Masters, 
G.  B.  Livingstone,  A.  L.  B.  Zerega  and  W.  L. 


280 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Churchill;  Acting-Masters1  Mates,  F.  G.  Adams  and 
E.  B.  Pratt. 

STEAMER   "ONEIDA." 

Captain,  Samuel  F.  Hazard;  Lieutenants,  W.  N. 
Allen  and  F.  S.  Brown;  Surgeon,  John  Y.  Taylor; 
Paymaster,  C.  W.  Hassler;  Chief  Engineer,  F.  C. 
Dade;  Assistant  Engineers,  Horace  McMurtrie,  J.  H. 
Morrison,  R.  H.  Fitch,  W.  I>.  Mcllvaine  and  A.  S. 
Brower ;  Boatswain,  James  Herold;  (runner,  Win. 
Parker;  Acting-Masters,  F.  M.  Green,  Thos.  Ed 
wards  and  Elijah  Ross;  Acting-Masters1  Mates,  Ed 
ward  Bird  and  D.  H.  Clark. 

STEAMER  "MONONGAHELA." 

Captain,  James  P.  McKinstry;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Jos.  Walters ;  Lieutenant,  N.  W.  Thomas; 
Surgeon,  David  Kindleberger;  Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  Forbes  Parker;  Acting- Ensigns,  C.  R.  Pomeroy, 
H.  W.  Grinnell  and  Robert  Barlow;  Acting-Masters1 
Mates,  H.  B.  Rowe,  W.  S.  Arnaud,  Frederick  Beldon 
and  C.  H.  Blount;  Engineers:  Chief,  Geo.  F.  Kutz; 
Joseph  Frilley,  N.  B.  Clark,  P.  G.  Eastwick,  Edw. 
Cheney,  G.  J.  Bissett  and  P.  J.  Langer;  Boatswain, 
William  Green;  Gunner,  J.  D.  Fletcher. 

STEAMER   "MISSISSIPPI." 

Captain,  Melancton  Smith;  Lieutenant,  George 
Dewey;  Surgeon,  R.  T.  Maccoun;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
J.  W.  Shively;  Paymaster,  T.  M.  Taylor;  Chief  En 
gineer,  W.  H.  Rutherford;  Captain  of  Marines,  P.  H. 
W.  Fontane;  Ensigns,  A.  S.  Barker,  O.  A.  Batchel- 
ler  and  E.  M.  Shepard;  Assistant  Engineers,  G.  B. 
N.  Tower,  J.  Cox  Hull,  F.  G.  McKean,  S.  R.  Brooks, 
J.  J.  Noble  and  H.  W.  Phillips;  Boatswain,  Joseph 
Lewis;  Gunner,  Win.  Cope;  Carpenter,  John  Green; 
Acting-Masters,  F.  T.  King,  George  Munday,  C.  F. 
Chase,  B.  L.  Kelly  and  F.  E.  Ellis;  Acting-Masters' 
Mate,  H.  B.  Francis. 

STEAMER  "COLORADO." 

Captain,  John  R.  Goldsborough;  Lieutenant- 
Commander,  Edw.  W.  Henry ;  Lieutenant,  H.  W. 
Miller;  Assistant  Surgeons,  T'.  H.Whitney  and  Mat 
thew  Chalmers;  Paymasters,  J.  O.  Bradford  and 
W.  H.  H.  Williams;  Chaplain,  D.  X.  Junkin;  Mar 
ine  officers  :  Captain,  George  R.  Graham;  1st  Lieu 
tenant,  S.  C.  Adams;  Acting-Masters,  Thomas  Han- 
rahan  and  C.  G.  Folsom;  Ensign,  G.  K.  Haswell; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Henry  Arey  and  J.  J.  Butler;  Act 
ing-Masters1  Mates,  J.  S.  Russ,  A.  O.  Child,  C  H 
Littlefield,  W.  G.  Perry  and  J.  L.  Vennard ;  Engineers: 
Chief,  Richard  M.  Bartleman;  Acting-Assistants,  C. 
W.  Pennington,  G.  L.  Perkins,  C.  G.  Stevens,  T.  J. 
Lavery.  A.  E.  McConnell,  Robert  Wallace  and  H. 
B.  Green;  Boats  wain,  A.W  Pomeroy;  Gunner,  Rob 
ert  H.  Cross;  Carpenter,  John  A.  Dixon;  Sailmaker. 
William  Maull. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR  "PORTSMOUTH." 
Commander,  Samuel  Swartwout;  Surgeon,  J.  S. 
Dungan;  Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  Baumgarten;  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Caspar  Schenck;  1st  Lieutenant 
Marines,  Win.  H.  Hale;  Boatswain,  John  Ross;  Gun 
ner,  T  S.  Cassidy;  Carpenter,  John  Shannon;  Sail- 
maker,  H.  T.  Hayden  ;  Acting- Masters,  Gilbert 
Redmond,  W.  G.  Mitchell  and  E.  A.  Terrell;  Acting 
Masters1  Mates,  T.  P.  Jones  and  T.  B.  Gannon. 

FRIGATE   "POTOMAC" — STORESHIP. 

Commander,  Alex.  Gibson;  Lieutenant,  A.V.  Reed; 
Surgeon,  J.  D.  Miller;  Assistant  Surgeon.  N.  H.  Ad 
ams  and  G.  R.  Brush;  1st  Lieutenant  Marines,  Geo. 
AV.  Collier;  Boatswain,  C.  A.  Bragdon;  Gunner.  Win. 
H.  French;  Carpenter,  J.  C.  Hoffman;  Acting-Mast 
ers,  W.  H.  Wood  and  G.  D.  Upharn;  Act  ing- Masters' 
Mates,  S.  H.  Johnson  and  Win.  Baker;  Acting-As 
sistant-Paymaster,  W.  W.  Bassett. 

STEAMER  "RICHMOND." 

Commander,  James  Alden  ;  Lieut. -Commander, 
A.  B.  Cummings  ;  Lieutenant,  Edward  Terry  ;  Sur 


geon,  A.  A.  Henderson  ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  D. 
Murphy;  Paymaster,  Edwin  Stewart;  Chief  Engi 
neer,  John  W.  Moore;  Captain  of  Marines,  Alan 
Ramsay;  Ensign,  Benj.  F.  Haskin;  Assistant  Engi 
neers,  Eben  Hoyt,  Jr.,  A.  W.  Morley,  G.  W.  W. 
Dove,  R.  B.  Plotts,  C.  E.  Emery,  John  D.  Ford 
and  Robert  Weir;  Boatswain,  Isaac  T.  Choate; 
Gunner,  James  Thayer;  Carpenter,  H.  L.  Dixon; 
Sailmaker,  H.  T.  Stocker;  Acting- Volunteer-Lieu 
tenant,  Fredk.  S.  Hill;  Acting-Master,  Chas.  Gibbs; 
Acting-Ensign,  R.  P.  Swan;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
W.  R.  Cox,  J.  R  Howelland  T.  S.  Russell. 

STEAMER    "R.    R.    CUYLER." 

Commander,  Geo.  F.  Emmons;  Lieutenant,  James 
O'Kane;  Acting-Masters.  P.  C.  Gibbs  and  J.  F.  Al- 
corn;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  Collins,  C.  C.  Gill  and  J. 
O.  Morse;  Acting- Assistant-Surgeon,  Henry  Shaw; 
Acting- Assistant-Pay  master,  Emory  Wright;  Act 
ing-Masters1  Mates,  N.  M.  Dyer  and  N.  R.  Davis;  Act 
ing-Engineers  Henry  AVaite,  W.  D.  Adair,  Wm. 
Morris,  T.  D.  Hulse  and  T.  W.  Bolman. 

STEAMER    "  WESTFIELD." 

Commander,  W.  B.  Renshaw;  Lieutenant,  C.  W. 
Zimmerman;  Acting-Masters,  F.  C.  Miller,  L.  D. 
Siualley  and  J.  H.  Warren;  Acting- Masters'  Mates,  J. 
P.  Arnett  and  J.  B.  Johnson;  Acting-Assistant-Sur 
geon,  E.  H.  Allis;  Acting-Assistant-Paymaster,  C.  C. 
Walden;  Acting-Engineers,  Wm.  R.  Greene,  G.  S. 
Baker  and  C.  W.  Smith. 

STEAMER  "HARRIET  LANE." 

Commander,  J.  M.  Wainwright;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Edward  Lea;  Paymaster,  J.  J.  Richardson; 
Assistant  Surgeon  T.  N.  Penrose. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER   "ESSEX/' 

Comrnander,C.  H.  B.Caldwell;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
Wm.  F.  Terry;  Acting- Vol. -Lieutenant,  H.  A.  Glass- 
ford;  Acting-Masters,  J.  C.  Parker  and  M.  B.  Sny- 
der;  Acting-Masters'  Mate,  J.  H.  Mainmen;  Acting- 
Gunner,  R.  M.  Long;  Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, 
C.  W.  Slamm:  Acting-Engineers,  J.  K  Heap  and 
W.  H.  Manning. 

STEAMER  "MONTGOMERY." 

Commander,  Charles  Hunter ;  Acting-Masters, 
Geo.  H.  Pendleton  and  C.  G.  Arthur  ;  Acting-En 
signs,  Robert  Wiley  and  W.  O.  Putnam  ;  Acting- 
Masters'  Mates,  H.  M.  Mather,  C.  H.  Walker  and 
Henry  Hamre;  Acting-Assistant-Surgeon,  D.  F.  Lin 
coln;  Acting- Assistant-Pay  master,  Joseph  Watson; 
Acting-Engineers, G.  H.  Wade,  James  Pollard,  John 
Mulholland,  F.W.  H.  Whitaker  and  John  McEwan. 

STEAMER  "KANAWHA." 

Commander,  John  C.  Febiger  ;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
J.  H.  Tinkham ;  Assistant  Engineers,  Edward 
Farmer,  F.  S.  Barlow,  Hiram  Parker  and  W.  S. 
Cherry;  Acting-Master,  T.  C.  Dunn;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  E.  L.  Hubbell,  R.  P.  Boss  and  R.  B.  Smith ; 
Acting- Assistant -Pay  master,  L.  L.  Penniman. 

STEAMER   "NEW  LONDON." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Abner  Read  :  Lieuten 
ant,  Benj.  F.  Day  ;  Acting-Master,  W.  D.  Roath  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  Peter  Faunce;  Acting- Assist 
ant-Surgeon,  L.  H.  Kindall ;  Acting-Assistant-Pay 
master,  F.  H.  Thompson;  Acting-Engineers,  H.  P. 
Powers,  D.  M.  Howell,  John  Brooks  and  Henry 
Farmer. 

GUN-BOAT  "KINEO." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  George  M.  Ransom ; 
Lieutenant,  Frederick  Rodgers;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
A.  S.  Oberly  ;  Assistant  Engineers,  S.  W.  Cragg, 
James  Maughlin,  C.  F.  Hollingsworth  and  C.  J. 
McConnell;  Acting-Masters,  Oliver  Colburn  and  L. 
A.  Brown;  Acting-Masters'  Mates, W.S.  Keen,  John 
Bartol,  Jr.,  W.  H.  Davis  and  G.  A.  Faunce;  Acting- 
Assistant-Paymaster,  S.  P.  N.  Warner. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


281 


GUN-BOAT   "PEMBINA." 

LientenantOommaader,  Win.  G.  Temple;  Lieu 
tenant,  Roderick  Prentiss;  Assistant  Surgeon,  A. 
W.  H.  Hawkins;  Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  L.  Wait; 
Assistant  Engineers,  Jefferson  Young,  John  Van 
Vovenberg,  Absalom  Kirby  and  J.  F.  Bingham; 
Acting-Masters,  Win.  Rogers  and  J.  A.  Jaekaway; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Win.  Sydden  and  B.  M.  Chester; 
Acting-Masters'  Mate,  H.  C.  Cochrane. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR    "  VINCENNES." 

Lieutenant-Commander.  John  Madigan,  Jr.;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  D.  M.  Skinner;  Second-Lieutenant 
Marines,  N.  L.  Nokes;  Acting-Boatswain,  John 
Smith;  Acting-Gunner,  Win.  Wilson;  Acting-Car 
penter,  A.  O.  Goodsoe;  Acting-Sailmaker,  Nicholas 
Lynch;  Acting-Masters,  W.  H.  Churchill,  J.  T. 
Seaver,  J.  R.  Hamilton  and  O.  B.  Warren;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  J.  A.  Kissam. 
STEAMER  "HATTERAS." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Homer  C.  Blake;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  E.  S.  Matthews;  Acting-Masters,  H.  O. 
Porter,  Enoch  Brooks  and  G.  D.  Hoffner;  Acting- 
Masters'  Mates.  J.  W.  Hazlitt,  A.  H.  Berry  and  T.  G. 
McGrath;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  A.  Conk- 
ling;  Acting-Engineers,  A.  M.  Covert,  J.  C.  Cree, 
Jacob  Colp  and  B.  C.  Bourne. 

GUN-BOAT    "SCIOTA.1" 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Reigart  B.  Lowry;  Lieu 
tenant  F.  O.  Davenport:  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  H. 
Clark;  Assistant  Engineers,  C.  E.  De  Valin,  H.  M. 
Quig,  A.  H.  Price  and  Edw.  Curtis;  Acting  Master, 
A.  McFarlane;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  H.  Field  and  S.  S. 
Beck;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  S.  H.  Bemis;  Acting  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  C.  H.  Lockwood. 

GUN-BOAT    "CAYUGA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  D.  A.  McDermot;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  Edw.  Bogart;  Assistant  Engineers, 
J.  M.  Harris,  W.  W.  Sydney,  J.  C.  Chaffee  and  Ralph 
Aston;  Act  ing- Masters,  E.  D.  Percy  and  John  Han 
son;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  James  Gillin,  W.  W. 
Patten,  F.  P.  Stevens,  and  R.  O.  Lanfere;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  W.  Whiffen. 

STEAMER   "CLIFTON." 

Lieutenant-Commander  Richard  L.  Law;  Midship 
man,  H.  T.  French;  Acting -Masters,  Robert  Rhodes 
and  B.  S.  Weeks;  Acting  Ensign,  W.  W.  Weld; 
Acting-Masters'  Mate,  Loring  Cannon;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  D.  D.  T.  Nestell;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  S.  Carels;  Acting-Engineers,  James 
A.  Fox,  S.  S.  Vollum,  F.  J.  Bradley  and  G.  W.  Spies. 

GUN-BOAT    "AROOSTOOK." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Samuel  R.  Franklin; 
Lieutenant,  T.  S.  Spencer;  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  J. 
Cleborne;  Assistant  Engineers,  W.  J.  Buehler, 
George  R.  Holt,  James  Entwistle  and  Samuel  Gragg; 
Acting-Masters,  Eben  Hoyt  and  W.  A.  Maine;  Act 
ing-Masters'  Mates,  Louis  R.  Hammersly,  C.  F. 
Palmer,  Edw.  Culbert  and  J.  C.  Henry;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  W.  L.  Pynchon. 

GUN-BOAT  "KATAHDIN." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Francis  A.  Roe;  Lieu 
tenant,  Nathaniel  Green;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Som 
erset  Robinson;  Assistant  Engineers,  T.  M.  Duke- 
hart,  W.  J.  Reid,  W.  W.  Heaton  and  John  Mclntyre; 
Acting-Ensigns,  J.  H.  Hartshorn  and  J.  G.  Green; 
Acting-Masters'  Mates,  Geo.  Leonard,  John  Leeds 
and  Frank  K enable;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
H.  LeRoy  Jones. 

GUN-BOAT    "ALBATROSS." 

Lieutenant-Commander.  John  E.  Hart;  3d  Assistv 
ant  Engineer,  C.  H.  Ball;  Acting- Masters,  T.  B. 
Dubois  and  C.  S.  Washburne;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  H. 
Harris;  Acting-Masters'  Mate,  Win.  Harcourt;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  J.  Burge;  Acting  Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  G.  R.  Martin,  Acting  Engineers,  J. 
W.  Smyth,  L.  J.  M.  Boyd  and  C.  H.  Slack. 


STEAMER   "  POCAHONTAS." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  W.  M.  Gamble;  Lieuten 
ant,  J.  F.  McGlensey;  Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  C. 
Rhoades;  Assistant  Engineers,  Caleb  E.  Lee,  W.  F. 
Fort  and  G.  C.  Julan;  Acting-Masters,  Edw.  Baker 
and  Thomas  Symmes;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  J.  M. 
Braisted,  O.  S.  Willey  and  Caleb  Fellowes;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Theo.  Kitchen;  Acting-Engi 
neer,  John  Jordan. 

GUN-BOAT    "  KENNEBECK." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  H.  Russell;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Chas.  H.  Perry;  Assistant  Engineers, 
Henry  W.  Fitch,  B.  C.  Gowing,  E.  E.  Roberts  and 
L.  W.  Robinson;  Acting-Masters,  H.  C.  Wade  and 
Wm.  Brooks;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  J.  W.  Merry- 
man,  H.  E.  Tinkham  and  J.  D.  Ellis;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  C.  L.  Burnett. 

GUN-BOAT   "ITASCA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  R.  F.  R.  Lewis;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Heber  Smith;  Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  J. 
Pritchard;  Assistant  Engineers,  T.  Jones  and  John 
Borthwick;  Acting-Masters,  Edmund  Jones  and 
Sylvanus  Nickerson;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  J.  B. 
Crane,  AV.  E.  Bridges,  George  Spencer  and  Henry 
Miron;  Acting-Engineers,  David  Frazier,  H.  C.  Hen- 
shaw  and  M.  Gerry. 

•  STEAMER  "TENNESSEE." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  P.  C.  Johnson;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  H.  M.  Wells;  Acting-Masters,  J.  D.  Childs, 
Ezra  Leonard,  G.  E.  Nelson  and  S.  V.  Bennis;  Act 
ing-Masters'  Mates,  M.  W.  McEntee,  A.  P.  Sampson 
and  Oscar  Peck;  Acting-Gunner,  Nathaniel  Hobbs; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  B.  F.  D.  Fitch;  Acting- 
Engineers.  J.  E.  Schultz,  G.  L.  Harris,  Samuel  Rob 
inson,  E.  C.  Mayloy  and  Thomas  Fitzgerald. 

GUN-BOAT   "OWASCO." 

Lietenant-Commander,  Henry  Wilson;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  W.  Leavitt;  Assistant  Engineers.  W. 
K.  Purse.  J.  A.  Scott,  C.  H.  Greenleaf  and  D.  M. 
Egbert;  Acting-Masters,  S.  A.  Swimmerton  and  T. 
D.  Babb;  Acting-Masters' Mates,  John  Ulter  and  J. 
G.  Arbona;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Richard 
Beardsley. 

GUN-BOAT    "WINONA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Aaron  W.  Weaver;  Lieu 
tenant,  W.  S.  Schley;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Arthur 
Mathewson;  Assistant  Engineers,  E.  S.  Boynton, 
Edward  Gay  and  R.  L.  Wamaling;  Acting-Master, 
Charles  Hallet;  Acting  Ensign,  F.  H.  Beers;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  H.  D.  Burdett  and  Alfred  Staigg; 
Act  ing- Assist  ant  Paymaster,  S.  F.  Train;  Acting- 
Assistant  Engineer,  J.  W.  Milestead. 

GUN-BOAT    "PINOLA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  James  Stillwell;  Lieu 
tenant,  G.  Watson  Sumner;  Assistant  Surgeon,  L. 
M.  Lyon;  Assistant  Engineers,  John  Johnson,  B.  B. 
Clemens,  W.  F.  Law,  John  Everding  and  W.  F. 
Pratt;  Acting-Masters,  W.  P.  Gibbs  and  J.  G.  Loyd; 
Acting-Masters'  Mates,  W.  H.  Thompson,  C.  V. 
Rummell  and  J.  G.  Rosling;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  C.  Stewart  Warren. 

STEAMER   "  J.  P.  JACKSON." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Henry  A.  Adams;  Acting- 
Masters,  M.  B.  Crowell,  J.  F.  Dearborn  and  Wm. 
Hedger;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  Wm.  H.  Howard, 
Jeremiah  Murphy  and  W.  J.  B.  Laurence;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  S.  Yard;  Assistant  Paymaster, 
H.  Melville  Hanna;  Acting-Engineers,  J.  B.  Morgan 
and  J.  D.  Caldwell. 

STEAMER   "  CALHOUN." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  T.  McK.  Buchanan ;  Act 
ing-Master,  M.  Jordan;  Acting-Ensign,  H.  D.  Foster; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  R.  C.  Bostwick  and  J.  L. 
Blauvelt;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  Ira  C.  White- 
head;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  M.  Wat- 
mough;  Acting-Engineers,  W.  D.  Brown,  R.  W. 
Mars,  G.  W.  Baird  and  P.  H.  Fales. 


282 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


STEAMER    "ESTRELLA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  P.  Cooke;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  L.  Richards:  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  B.  F.  Wilson;  Acting-Engineer,  Robert  Stott, 
STORE-SHIP  "RELIEF." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  B.  D.  Manton;  Act 
ing-Master,  N.  S.  Morgan;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Wm.  Jennevand  M.  J.  Nicholson;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon.  Celso  Pierucci;  Act  ing- Assistant  Pay 
master,  E.  K.  Gibson. 

STEAMER   "KINSMAN." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Geo.  Wiggins;  Act 
ing-Master,  A.  S.  Wiggins. 

STEAMER  "KENSINGTON." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Fred.  Crocker;  Act 
ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  N.  W.  Hammond;  Act 
ing-Masters,  Geo.  Taylor,  C.  M.  Tinker  arid  C.  W. 
Wilson;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  Robert  Finney  and 
F.  A.  Leach;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  John  E. 
Cobb;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  John  F.  Tar- 
bell;  Acting-Engineers,  Alex.  Auchinbeck,  T.  W.  O. 
Conner,  W.  S.  Harden,  S.  B.  Runnels,  A.  B.  Besse 
and  J.  C.  Mockabee. 

BARK   "ARTHUR." 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  Thomas  F.  Wade 
Acting-Masters,  W.  O.  Lunt  and  Albert  Cook;  Act 
ing  Masters1  Mates,   Wm.  Barker,  J.  C.  Constant 
and  C.  S.  Bellows;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  O.  D. 
Root;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  M.  B.  Osborn. 
SCHOONER  "RACHEL  SEAMAN." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Quincy  A.  Hooper; 
Acting-Ensign,  Edwin  Janorin;  Acting  Master's 
Mate,  Wm.  H.  Metz. 

SCHOONER    "HENRY  JANES." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Lewis  W.  Penning- 
ton. 

SCHOONER   "ORVETTA."     (BOMB.) 

Acting-Master,  F.  E.  Blanchard;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  E.  O.  Adams  and  W.  H.  Monroe. 
BRIG  "BOHIO." 

Acting-Masters,  Geo.  W.  Browne  and  W.  M.  Stan- 
nard;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  James  Sheppard  and 
S.  C.  Heath;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  M. 
Skillman. 

SCHOONER    "JOHN   GRIFFITHS."      (BOMB.) 

Acting- Master,    Henry    Brown;    Acting- Master's 
Mates,  Asa  Hawes  and  John  McAllister. 
SCHOONER  "CHARLOTTE." 
Acting-Master,  E.  D.  Bruner. 

SCHOONER  "SARAH  BRUEN."    IBOMB.) 
Acting -Master,     A.   Christian;    Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  Sylvester  Rowland,  B.  G.  Cahoon  and  J.  M. 
Chad  wick. 

SCHOONER  "MARIA  A.  WOOD." 
Acting-Master,  Samuel  C.  Cruse;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  F.  C.  Way  and  Charles  Fort. 

SHIP  "MORNING  LIGHT." 

Acting-Masters,  John  Dillingham,  H.  W.  Wash- 
burn,  W.  W.  Fowler  and'  L.  H.  Partridge;  Acting- 
Masters'  Mates,  Geo.  H.  Rice  and  J.  L.  Chambers- 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  John  W.  Shrify;  Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  W.  S.  Blunt. 


BARK    "W.    G.   ANDERSON." 

Acting-Masters,  N.  D'Oyly  and  Wm.  Bailey;  Act 
ing-Masters'  Mates,  Roswell  Davis  and  R.  H.  Carey; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon.  Winthrop  Butler;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Louis  L.  Scovel. 

STEAMER  "DIANA." 

Acting-Master,  Ezra  S.  Goodwin-  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  John  D.  Trott. 

BARK    "  HORACE   BEALES." 

Acting-Master,  D.  P.  Heath;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
R.  T.  Edes;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  F.  Perkins;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  James  West  and  Eugene  Biondi. 

STORE-SHIP  "NIGHTINGALE." 

Acting-Masters,  D.  B.  Home  and  Edwin  E.  Drake; 

Acting-Masters'  Mates,  Thomas  Stevens  and  Alonzo 

Gowdy;  Acting-Assistant   Surgeon,  Arthur  Ricket- 

son;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  D.  Kimberly. 

COAL-SHIP    "PAMPERO." 

Acting-Master,  Charles  Huggins;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Charles  Bostwick;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
J.  H.  Langsley;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  A. 
Pancoast. 

STEAMER  "SACHEM." 

Acting-Master,  Amos  Johnson;  Acting-Ensign,  A. 
H.  Reynolds;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  G.  C.  Dolliver 
and  L.  C.  Grainger;  Acting-Engineers,  John  Fraser, 
J.  R.  Wall  and  G.  C  M.  Wolfe. 

SCHOONER  "KITTATINNY." 

Acting-Masters,  G.  W.  Lamson  and  A.  H.  Atkin 
son;  Acting-Masters'  Mate,  J.  G.  Crocker;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  C.  Bowman. 

BARK  "KUHN." 
Acting-Masters,  R.  G.  Lee,  J.  T.  Harden  and  W- 

F.  Hunt;  Acting- Masters' Mate,  Wm.  Edgar;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J  B.  Hazelton. 

STORE-SHIP  "FEARNOT." 

Acting-Masters,  Daniel  S.  Murphy  and  T.  W.  Wil 
liams;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  Fred.  Furbish  and  G. 
H.  Benson;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Augustus 
Esenwein. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR    "PREBLE." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  F.  Shankland;  Acting-En 
signs,  B.  B.  Knowlton,  L.  B.  King  and  J.  S.  Clark; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  S.  Knight;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  F.  P.  Parks;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W. 
J.  Hoodless;  Boatswain,  John  Bates;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  J.  A.  Cummins;  Carpenter,  J.  McFarlane:  Sail- 
maker,  G.  W.  Giet. 

YACHT    "CORYPHEUS." 

Acting-Master,  A.  T.  Spear. 

SCHOONER  "OLIVER  H.  LEE."    (BOMB.) 
Acting-Master,  Washington  Godfrey;  Acting  Mas 
ter's  Mates,  A.  T.  Parsons,  J.  A.  Chadwick  and  T. 

G.  Hall. 

SCHOONER    "SAM  HOUSTON." 

Act  ing- Master,  Geo.  W.  Ward;  Acting  Ensign,  J. 
J.  Kane. 

BRIG    "SEA   FOAM." 

Acting-Ensign,  Thomas  H.  Baker;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  D.  F.  O'Brien  and  Joseph  Moss. 


CHAPTER     XXIV. 


SECOND   ATTACK  ON  VICKSBURG,   ETC. 

REAR-ADMIRAL  PORTER  TAKES  COMMAND  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON.— GUERILLA  WAR 
FARE. — GENERAL  GRANT'S  PLANS. — THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  CO-OPERATE. — EXPEDITION 
UP  THE  YAZOO. — THE  "CAIRO"  SUNK  BY  TORPEDOES. — DIFFICULTIES  SURMOUNTED  BY 
THE  ARMY. — OPERATIONS  OF  EARL  VAN  DORN  AND  FORREST. — REPULSE  OF  GENERAL 
SHERMAN  NEAR  CHICKASAW  BAYOU. — ATTACK  ON  HAINES'  BLUFF  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES 
STEAMER  "BENTON,"  ETC.,  AND  DEATH  OF  LIEUT. -COM.  GWINN. — ARRIVAL  OF  GENERAL 

McCLERNAND  TO  RELIEVE  SHERMAN. — EXPEDITION  TO  ARKANSAS   POST. — LAST    ACT   OF 
THE  NAVY  IN  THE  YAZOO. — VESSELS  THAT  TOOK  PART  IN  THE  YAZOO  EXPEDITION. 


REAR-ADMIRAL     PORTER    took 
command    of    the    Mississippi 
Squadron  in  October.  1862. 
Rear-Admiral    Davis    had    or 
dered  all  the  vessels  except  the 
"  Benton  "  and  the  "Carondelef'upto  Cairo 
for  repairs,  for  what   with  being  rammed 
and   shaken   up  by  constant   firing  of  the 
guns,  they  required  a  thorough  overhaul 
ing. 

There  being  at  this  moment  no  actual  op 
erations  in  progress,  Rear- Admiral  Porter 
devoted  his  attention  to  putting  the  vessels 
in  thorough  order,  changing  their  batteries 
to  Dahlgren  guns,  and  adding  a  number  of 
small  stern-wheel  vessels,  covered  with 
light  iron  (called  "tin-clads"),  to  the  squad 
ron. 

Up  to  this  time  the  gun-boats  had,  strictly 
speaking,  been  under  the  control  of  the 
Army,  but  now  all  this  was  changed,  and 
the  Mississippi  Squadron,  like  all  the  other 
naval  forces,  was  brought  directly  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
The  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  squadron 
had  no  longer  to  receive  orders  from  Gen 
eral  Halleck  or  Army  headquarters,  but  was 
left  to  manage  his  command  to  the  best  of 
his  ability,  and  to  co-operate  with  the  Army 
whenever  he  could  do  so.  This  was  a  much 
better  arrangement,  as  it  allowed  the  naval 
Commander-in-chief  to  exercise  his  judg 
ment,  instead  of  being  handicapped,  as 
Foote  and  Davis  were. 

It  may  be   remembered  when  Donelson 


fell,  and  Foote  suggested  to  Halleck  the  im 
portance  of  pushing  on  with  the  gun-boats 
to  Nashville,  General  Halleck  forbade  his 
doing  so.  The  new  arrangement  left  the 
commander  of  the  squadron  at  liberty  to 
undertake  any  expedition  he  thought 
proper,  and  he  was  not  in  the  least  ham- 

B3red  by  any  instructions  from  the  Navy 
epartment  regarding  his  movements  ;  so 
that  when  the  Army  was  operating  in  the 
interior  of  Tennessee,  which  seemed  at  that 
time  the  great  battleground,  the  Navy 
could  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
and  make  raids  on  the  enemy  along  the 
Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  keeping  down 
guerillas,  and  enabling  army  transports  to 
go  and  come  without  hindrance. 

In  October,  18G2,  the  guerillas  were  ex 
ceedingly  troublesome  all  along  the  rivers, 
firing  at  every  unarmed  steamer  which 
passed.  Large  quantities  of  goods  were 
shipped  from  St.  Louis  to  points  along  the 
river  professedly  Union,  which  ultimately 
reached  the  Confederates.  All  this  was 
stopped,  and  the  guerillas,  when  captured, 
were  summarily  dealt  with,  and  the  houses 
where  they  were  harbored  laid  in  ashes. 
No  commerce  was  allowed  on  the  Missis 
sippi  except  with  Memphis,  and  the  river 
looked  almost  as  deserted  as  in  the  early 
days  of  its  discovery,  its  silence  being  sel 
dom  disturbed  except  by  gun-boats  and  army 
transports,  and  the  sharp  report  of  the  how 
itzers  as  they  sent  the  shrapnel  shells  into 
the  dense  woods  or  over  the  high  banks 


(283) 


284 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


where  it  might  be  supposed  guerillas  were 
lying  in  wait  to  fire  on  the  transports. 

This  was  slow  work  compared  to  the  ac 
tive  warfare  the  iron-clads  had  been  engaged 
in  under  Foote  and  Davis,  but  they  were 
merely  getting  ready  for  the  hard  work  be 
fore  them  and  will  be  heard  from  ere  long 
again. 

Before  Admiral  Porter  left  Washington 
he  was  informed  by  the  President  that  Gen 
eral  McClernand  had  been  ordered  to  raise 
an  Army  at  Springfield,  111.,  to  prosecute  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg.  The  President  ex 
pressed  the  hope  that  the  rear-admiral 
would  co-operate  heartily  with  General  Mc 
Clernand  in  the  operations  to  be  carried  on. 
But  as  Vicksburg  never  would  have  been 
taken  if  it  had  depended  on  General  Mc- 
Clernand's  raising  an  Army  sufficient  for  the 
purpose,  the  admiral,  immediately  on  his 
arrival  at  Cairo,  sent  a  message  to  General 
Grant,  at  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  informing 
him  of  McClernand's  intention,  that  he, 
Porter,  had  assumed  command  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  Squadron,  and  was  ready  to  co 
operate  with  the  Army  on  every  occasion 
where  the  services  of  the  Navy  could  be 
useful. 

A  few  days  afterwards  General  Grant 
arrived  at  Cairo  and  proposed  an  expedition 
against  Vicksburg,  and  asking  the  rear- 
admiral  if  he  could  furnish  a  sufficient 
force  of  gun-boats  to  accompany  it.  Grant's 
plan  was  to  embark  Sherman  from  Mem 
phis,  where  he  then  was,  with  thirty  thou 
sand  soldiers,  to  be  joined  at  Helena,  Ar 
kansas,  by  ten  thousand  more.  Grant  him 
self  would  march  from  Holly  Springs  with 
some  sixty  thousand  men  upon  Granada. 
General  Pemberton  would  naturally  march 
from  Vicksburg  to  stop  Grant  at  Granada 
until  reinforcements  could  be  thrown  into 
Vicksburg  from  the  south,  and  while  Pem 
berton  was  thus  absent  with  the  greater 
part  of  his  Army  Sherman  and  Porter  could 
get  possession  of  the  defences  of  Vicksburg. 

General  Grant  having  been  informed  that 
the  gun-boats  would  be  ready  to  move  at 
short  notice,  and  having  sent  orders  to 
Sherman  to  put  his  troops  aboard  the  trans 
ports  as  soon  as  the  gun-boats  arrived  in 
Memphis,  returned  immediately  to  Holly 
Springs  to  carry  out  his  part  of  the  pro 
gramme. 

This  interview  between  Grant  and  Porter 
lasted  just  half  an  hour,  and  thus  was 
started  the  expedition  against  Vicksburg, 
which,  after  a  long  and  arduous  siege  and 
a  great  expenditure  of  men  and  money,  re 
sulted  in  the  capture  of  the  strongest  point 
of  defence  occupied  by  the  enemy  during 
the  war. 

The  expedition  from  Memphis  got  away 
early  in  December,  1862,  Commander 
Walke,  in  the  "  Carondelet,"  being  sent 


ahead  with  the  "  Cairo,"  "Baron  DeKalb," 
and  "Pittsburg,"  (iron-clads.)  and  the 
"Signal"  and  "Marmora"  ("  tin-clads").  to 
clear  the  Yazoo  River  of  torpedoes  and  cover 
the  landing  of  Sherman's  Army  when  it 
should  arrive.  This  arduous  and  perilous 
service  was  well  performed.  On  the  llth 
of  December, Commander  Walke  dispatched 
the  two  "  tin-clads  "  on  a  reconnoisance  up 
the  Yazoo.  They  ascended  some  twenty 
miles,  when  they  were  apprized  of  the  pres 
ence  of  torpedoes  by  a  great  number  of  small 
boats  along  the  channel  of  the  river  and  an 
explosion  near  the  "  Signal."  Another  tor 
pedo  was  exploded  from  the  "  Marmora  "  by 
firing  into  it  with  a  musket  as  it  appeared 
just  below  the  surface.  The  commanding 


LIEUT.-COJIMANDER   T.    O.    SELFRIDGE, 
(NOW  CAPTAIN   U.    S.   NAVY.) 

officers  of  these  two  vessels  reported  that 
with  the  assistance  of  two  iron-clads  to  keep 
down  the  sharpshooters,  they  could  clear 
the  river  of  torpedoes,  but  not  otherwise,  as 
there  were  rifle-pits  all  along  the  left  bank 
of  the  Yazoo,  and  the  enemy  were  supplied 
with  light  artillery.  At  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Selfridge's  request  he  was  sent  on 
this  duty  in  the  "Cairo."  with  the  "  Pitts- 
burg,"  Lieut. -Commanding  Hoel,  and  the 
ram  "  Queen  of  the  West."  Colonel  Charles 
Ellet,  Jr.,  commanding.  These  officers  were 
cautioned  to  be  particularly  careful  and  run 
no  risks. 

On  the  12th  of  December  the  vessels  pro 
ceeded  on  the  duty  assigned  them  under  a 
shower  of  bullets  from  the  rifle-pits,  which 
was  only  checked  by  the  gun-boats  dropping 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


285 


close  into  the  left  bank  and  enfilading  the 
rifle-pits  with  shrapnel.  This  cleared  the 
enemy  out,  and  the  boats  from  the  vessels 
were  enabled  to  drag  for  the  infernal  ma 
chines  and  haul  them  to  the  shore,  where 
they  were  destroyed  by  firing  volleys  of 
musketry  into  them. 

After  this  work  had  been  prosecuted  for 
some  time  Lieut. -Comr.  Self  ridge  proceeded 
ahead  in  the  "Cairo"'  to  cover  the  "Mar 
mora,''  which  was  thought  to  be  sorely  be 
set  by  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  The 
"Cairo"  encountered  a  floating  torpedo. 
T\vo  explosions  in  quick  succession  occur 
red,  which  seemed  almost  to  lift  the  vessel 
out  of  the  water.  Everything  was  done  to 
keep  the  "Cairo"  afloat,  but  without  avail, 
and  she  sank  in  twelve  minutes  after  the 
explosion,  in  six  fathoms  of  water,  with 
nothing  but  the  tops  of  her  chimneys  show 
ing  above  the  surface.  All  the  crew  were 
saved.  No  fault  was  imputed  to  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  "  Cairo."  It  was  an 
accident  liable  to 
occur  to  any  gal 
lant  officer  whose 
zeal  carries  him 
to  the  post  of 
danger,  and  who 
is  loath  to  let 
others  do  what  he 
thinks  he  ought 
to  do  himself. 

This  was  a  bad 
day's  work  for  a 
beginning,  but 
the  admiral 
looked  upon  it 
simply  as  an 
accident  of  war, 
and  Self  ridge 
was  immediately 
given  command  of  the  "Conestoga."  The 
loss  of  the  "  Cairo  "  was  the  more  regretted 
as  she  had  lately  been  made  "shot  proof," 
by  covering  her  weakest  points  with  rail 
road  iron.  It  appeared  on  examination  of 
the  river  banks  that  the  torpedo  wires  were 
connected  with  galvanic  batteries,  and  that 
the  enemy  was  prepared  with  a  system  of 
torpedo  defence  that  would  require  the 
utmost  caution  in  ascending  the  Yazoo  and 
seizing  a  point  at  which  to  land  an  Army. 

Rear- Admiral  Porter  arrived  in  the  Yazoo 
a  day  or  two  after  the  loss  of  the  "Cairo," 
and  the  whole  squadron  was  set  to  work  to 
clear  the  river  of  torpedoes.  The  gun-boats 
ascended  to  within  range  of  the  forts  on 
Haines'  Bluff  and  brought  on  an  engage 
ment  with  the  enemy's  batteries,  during 
which  the  boats  of  the  squadron  pushed 
ahead,  and  succeeded  in  destroying  num 
bers  of  torpedoes. 

General  Sherman  moved  his  transports  to 
a  point  on  the  river  called  Chickasaw  Bayou 


U.   S.   IRON-CLAD   "CAIRO"   SUNK   BY   A  TORPEDO. 

(FROM  A  SKETCH  BY  BEAR- ADMIRAL  WALKE.) 


without  the  loss  of  a  man  from  torpedoes  or 
sharpshooters,  his  landing  being  covered  in 
every  direction  by  the  gun-boats. 

Sherman  first  made  a  feint  on  Haines' 
Bluff  as  if  to  attack  the  works  and  then 
landed  at  Chickasaw  Bayou.  Owing  to  the 
late  heavy  rains  he  found  the  roads  to  Vicks- 
burg  heights  almost  impassable,  and  when 
he  attempted  to  advance  with  his  Army  he 
was  headed  off  by  innumerable  bayous, 
which  had  to  be  bridged  or  corduroy  roads 
built  around  them.  It  was  killing  work. 

Even  at  this  time  Vicksburg  had  been 
fortified  at  every  point,  and  its  only  ap 
proaches  by  land  led  through  dense  swamps 
or  over  boggy  open  ground,  where  heavy- 
guns  were  placed,  so  as  to  mow  down  an  ad 
vancing  Army.  A  general  has  seldom  had 
so  difficult  a  task  assigned  him,  and  there 
was  little  chance  of  Sherman's  succeeding 
unless  Pemberton  had  drawn  off  nearly  all 
his  forces  to  oppose  Grant's  advance  on 
Granada,  thus  leaving  Vicksburg  without 

a  garrison  ;  for 
even  a  small 
force  could  hold 
the  place  against 
a  vastly  superior 
attacking  one. 

There  was  only 
one  point  where 
the  Confederates 
had  possibly  left 
a  loophole  open 
for  an  enemy  to 
get  in ;  if  they 
neglected  that 
point  it  would 
be  because  they 
never  supposed 
any  one  would 
attempt  to  pene 
trate  swamps  where  men  had  to  wade  up  to 
their  middle  in  mud  and  water,  and  the 
passage  of  artillery  was  almost  an  impossi 
bility. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing  the 
rain  had  fallen  in  such  torrents  that  the  low 
lands  in  the  vicinity  of  Vicksburg  were  sub 
merged,  the  water  extending  nearly  to  the 
base  of  the  frowning  hills  covered  with 
earthworks  and  rifle-pits,  against  which  an 
Army  would  have  made  little  impression. 
There  was,  then,  no  other  course  but  to  at 
tack  the  enemy's  works  by  the  road  leading 
from  Chickasaw  Bayou  and  attempt  to  reach 
the  landing  at  the  foot  of  the  high  hills 
overlooking  river  and  plain,  where  nature 
had  placed  obstacles  nearly  as  formidable 
as  the  enemy's  guns  at  other  places. 

Sherman  gained  that  point  and  established 
himself  under  the  high  hills  it  was  neces 
sary  to  assault  before  he  could  see  the  inside 
of  Vicksburg ;  but  what  was  encountered 
in  reaching  that  point  no  one  but  the  brave 


286 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


officers  and  men  of  that  Army  will  ever 
know.  An  Army  of  thirty  thousand  men 
can  accomplish  a  great  deal  when  well 
•directed  but  it  cannot  convert  swamps  into 
dry  land. 

But  the  enemy  had  not  neglected  the 
swamps  around  Chickasaw  Bayou  or  the 
approaches  to  Vicksburg  on  that  side.  On 
the  contrary  they  seemed  to  have  exercised 
their  ingenuity  to  make  that  route  impass 
able.  '  Acres  of  wood  had  been  felled,  the 
trees  overlapping  one  another  and  form 
ing  a  chevaux  de  frise  which  extended 
through  the  swamp  for  several  miles. 

The  difficulties  seem  great  enough  in  the 
description,  but  this  falls  far  short  of  the 
reality.  However  Sherman  and  his  Army 
overcame  everything  and  at  last  reached 
terra firma. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  Navy  was  doing 
what  it  could  to  help  the  Army,  but  its  work 
was  necessarily  confined  to  the  water,  shell 
ing  the  edges  of  the  woods  all  around  the 
peninsula  where  Sherman  and  his  Army 
were  struggling,  and  keeping  the  enemy 
from  bringing  their  artillery  to  bear. 

Sherman  was  of  course  aware  of  the 
perilous  character  of  his  undertaking,  and 
the  probability  of  his  being  driven  back,  but 
he  had  one  strong  motive  to  induce  him  to 
extra  exertions  and  that  was  his  loyalty  to 
General  Grant.  The  latter  had  run  consid 
erable  risk  in  leaving  his  base  at  Holly 
Springs  to  draw  Pemberton  from  Vicks 
burg.  Time  was  precious  and  Sherman  had 
to  act  with  promptness,  and  he  felt  that  it 
was  due  to  his  chief  that  he  should  leave 
nothing  untried  that  would  help  Grant  to 
carry  out  his  plans.  Those  plans  were  well 
conceived  but  the  best  calculations  in  the 
world  were  liable  to  be  upset  in  the  face  of 
such  elements  as  prevailed  at  Chickasaw 
Bayou,  when  Sherman  found  himself  in  the 
swariip  beneath  the  heights  of  Vicksburg. 

Grant  had  left  Holly  Springs  with  a  large 
Army  at  the  time  he  had  appointed,  merely 
with  the  design  of  drawing  Pemberton  from 
Vicksburg  and  thus  helping  Sherman  in  his 
attack  on  that  place.  This  was  all  Grant 
proposed  to  do,  although  it  was  suggested 
that  in  case  Pemberton  retreated  before 
him,  Grant  would  follow  him  up. 

Grant  moved  towards  Granada  and  every 
thing  looked  well,  but  the  Confederate 
general,  Earl  Van  Dorn,  dashed  into  Holly 
Springs  twenty-eight  miles  in  the  rear  of 
the  Union  Army,  capturing  the  garrison  and 
all  their  stores.  At  the  same  time  General 
Forrest  pushed  his  cavalry  into  West  Ten 
nessee,  cutting  the  railroad  to  Columbus  at 
several  points  between  that  place  and  Jack 
son.  This  completely  cut  Grant  off  from 
his  only  line  of  communication  with  the 
North  and  also  from  his  several  commands. 
Due  precautions  had  been  taken  to  prevent 


this  mishap  by  leaving  a  strong  force  be 
hind  at  Holly  Springs,  but  the  commanding 
officer  was  not  on  the  alert  and  his  capture 
was  a  complete  surprise.  In  this  raid  of 
the  Confederates  a  million  dollars'  worth  of 
stores  were  destroyed. 

Under  the  circumstances  it  was  impossi 
ble  for  Grant  to  continue  his  march  on 
Granada,  which  Pemberton  perceiving,  the 
latter  returned  to  Vicksburg  in  time  to 
assist  in  Sherman's  repulse. 

Had  Grant  been  satisfied  that  he  could 
subsist  his  Army  in  the  enemy's  country,  he 
would  have  doubtless  pushed  on  to  Vicksburg 
at  all  hazards  and  the  place  would  have 
fallen  at  that  time,  but  such  was  not  to  be. 
"There's  a  divinity  that  shapes  our  ends, 
rough  hew  them  as  we  may."  Had  Vicks 
burg  been  taken  at  that  moment,  one  of  the 
best  opportunities  of  displaying  the  strength 
and  resources  of  the  North  would  have  been 
lost. 

Sherman  made  all  his  arrangements  to 
attack  the  enemy's  works  on  the  29th  of 
December,  18G2,  and  the  assault  took  place 
early  on  that  day.  One  division  succeeded 
in  occupying  the  batteries  on  the  heights 
and  hoped  shortly  to  reach  those  command 
ing  the  city  of  Vicksburg,  but  the  division 
that  was  to  follow  the  advance  was  behind 
time  and  the  opportunity  was  lost.  A  por 
tion  of  Pemberton's  Army  had  returned  from 
Granada,  just  in  time  to  overwhelm  and 
drive  back  the  small  force  that  had  gained 
the  hills.  The  latter  were  outnumbered 
four  to  one  and  were  driven  back.  The 
enemy  did  not  follow,  being  satisfied  with 
driving  our  troops  from  the  heights  and 
there  was  nothing  left  for  Sherman  to  do 
but  to  get  his  Army  safely  back  to  the  trans 
ports. 

Throughout  these  operations  the  Navy 
did  everything  that  could  be  done  to  ensure 
the  success  of  General  Sherman's  move 
ment.  As  the  soldiers  pushed  their  way 
through  the  swamps  the  "  Benton  "  and  two 
other  iron-clads  with  the  "Marmora"  and 
ram  "Queen  of  the  West,"  moved  up  to 
within  easy  range  of  Haines'  Bluff.  The 
"  Ben  ton  "  opened  on  the  Confederate  bat 
teries  and  also  shelled  the  road  leading  to 
Vicksburg  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  send 
ing  reinforcements  to  Vicksburg  and  also 
to  make  them  believe  that  Haines'  Bluff 
was  the  intended  point  of  attack. 

Boats  were  sent  towards  the  forts  to  drag 
for  torpedoes  with  the  intention  if  the  latter 
could  be  removed  to  advance  the  gun-boats 
to  close  quarters.  When  the  small  boats 
approached  the  enemy's  works  a  rapid  fire 
was  opened  on  them,  but  they  did  not  retire 
until  it  was  supposed  that  the  torpedoes 
were  removed  and  the  way  was  clear.  Then 
the  "  Benton  "  advanced  to  the  point  where 
the  boats  had  ceased  work,  some  twelve 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


287 


hundred  yards  from  the  fort,  or  as  near 
as  the  boats  could  operate  against  such 
a  fire. 

At  this  point  the  Yazoo  River  was  very 
narrow  and  only  one  iron-clad  could  pass  up 
at  a  time.  There  was  no  room  for  two  ves 
sels  to  fight  abreast,  consequently  the  "  Ben- 
ton  "  had  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle, 
which  lasted  two  hours.  During  this  time 
the  •' Benton"  received  many  heavy  blows 
from  the  enemy's  shot  and  shells,  while  her 
consorts  had  to  lie  idle,  for  if  they  threw 
shells  over  the  "  Benton "  they  might  en 
danger  those  on  board.  Although  the  "  Ben- 
ton  "  was  much  cut  up  her  efficiency  was 
not  impaired.  She  was  hit  on  her  bow  case 
mates,  which  were  "  shot-proof,"  thirty 
times  without  damage,  but  plunging  shots 
passed  through  her  decks.  Lieut. -Com 
manding  Gwinn.  stood  on  the  upper  deck 


LIEUT.-COMMANDER  WILLIAM  GWIXN,   U.    S.   NAVY. 

during  the  whole  action,  as  he  was  of  opin 
ion  that  a  pilot-house  or  casemate  was  no 
place  for  the  commander  of  a  ship  of  war 
in  battle.  This  idea  cost  him  his  life,  for 
he  was  struck  with  a  fifty-pound  rifle  shell 
which  tore  away  the  muscles  of  his  right 
arm  and  breast.  His  executive  officer,  Act 
ing  Lieutenant  George  P.  Lord,  was  severely 
wounded,  and  ten  of  the  crew  were  killed 
and  wounded. 

It  was  impossible  for  gun-boats  alone  to 
capture  the  works  at  Haines'  Bluff,  as  but 
one  vessel  at  a  time  could  operate  against 
them.  Their  reduction  required  a  combined 
Army  and  Navy  attack.  The  Confederates 
proved  themselves  good  artillerists  but  had 
two  of  their  guns  dismounted  by  the  "  Ben- 
ton's  "  fire.  The  gallant  commander  of  the 
"Benton"  notwithstanding  his  dreadful 
wounds,  lingered  two  days  and  died  in  the 
admiral's  cabin  deeply  regretted  by  every 


officer  and  man  in  the  squadron.  The  gun 
boats  withdrew  from  before  Haines'  Bluff 
for  it  appeared  evident  that  Vicksburg  could 
not  be  taken  from  that  direction. 

General  Sherman  came  to  the  same  con 
clusion  with  regard  to  attacking  it  from 
the  Chickasaw  Bayou.  He  met  with  no 
loss  in  withdrawing  his  troops  to  the  trans 
ports,  but  in  the  assault  he  lost  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  seventeen  hundred 
men,  a  large  number  considering  the  short 
time  his  Army  was  actually  engaged.  The 
soldiers  had  to  work  their  way  back  to  the 
Yazoo  through  heavy  rains,  and  the  hard 
ships  they  encountered  in  the  march  can 
hardly  be  realized  by  those  who  did  not 
share  them.  That  evening  the  sun  came 
out  again  as  if  to  let  the  soldiers  dry  them 
selves  and  all  the  signs  promised  fair 
weather. 

Rear- Admiral  Porter  being  still  hopeful, 
proposed  to  run  the  iron-clads  at  night  close 
up  under  the  forts  and  attack  at  close  quar 
ters  with  grape  and  canister,  while  a  divis 
ion  of  the  Army  disembarked  and  assaulted 
Haines'  Bluff  in  the  rear.  General  Sherman 
approved  the  plan  and  General  Steele  and 
his  division  were  assigned  to  co-operate 
with  the  Navy  on  the  following  night,  but 
the  good  weather  indications  proved  a  delu 
sion  and  a  snare,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
day  when  the  attack  was  to  have  been  made 
on  Haines'  Bluff,  a  fog  set  in  that  shut  out 
all  objects  at  a  distance  of  fifty  feet,  and 
this  continued  until  the  next  day. 

The  proposed  expedition  could  do  nothing 
on  such  a  foggy  night,  At  noon  the  follow 
ing  day  it  began  to  rain  again  heavier  than 
ever  and  the  land  almost  disappeared  from 
sight.  There  was  no  longer  any  chance  for 
a  successful  attack  on  Haines'  Bluff  and 
nothing  was  left  but  for  the  Army  and 
Navy  to  retire  from  the  scene  where  they 
had  been  so  unsuccessful. 

General  Sherman,  on  visiting  the  rear- 
admiral  on  board  his  flag-ship,  opposed 
further  operations  and  at  once  proposed 
that  Vicksburg  should  be  given  up  for  the 
present,  and  as  his  troops  were  somewhat 
demoralized  he  must  go  with  them  to  attack 
Arkansas  Post  and  secure  a  success  which 
would  impart  new  confidence  to  them. 
He  desired  the  admiral  to  go  along  with 
the  gun-boats,  and  this  being  agreed  to, 
preparations  were  made  to  start  next  day 
on  the  new  expedition. 

The  following  morning  General  Sherman 
learned  that  Major-General  McClernand  had 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  to  take 
command  of  Sherman' s  Army.  This  was  a 
surprise  to  every  one,  for  although  it  was 
known  that  McClernand  had  received  orders 
to  proceed  to  Illinois  and  raise  troops  for 
the  purpose  of  undertaking  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  yet  it  never  was  supposed 


288 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


that  he  would  take  command  of  forty 
thousand  men  of  Grant's  Army,  without 
even  paying  the  latter,  his  superior  offi 
cer,  the  compliment  of  informing  him  of 
his  intention.  However,  General  McCler- 
nand  came  with  such  orders  from  Wash 
ington  that  Sherman  unhesitatingly  agreed 
to  turn  over  the  command  to  him. 

As  Admiral  Porter  did  not  come  under 
Army  rule  and  knew  exactly  the  terms  on 
which  General  McClernand  had  received 
his  orders,  he  declined  to  have  anything  to 
do  with  the  proposed  expedition  to  Arkansas 
Post,  unless  General  Sherman  should  go  in 
command  of  the  troops.  To  this  McCler 
nand  agreed,  only  stipulating  that  he  should 
accompany  the  expedition.  So  the  matter 
was  arranged,  and  the  expedition  started. 

The  last  act  of  the  Navy  in  the  Yazoo  was 
one  to  be  remembered  by  the  Confederates 
who.  finding  that  our  troops  were  re-embark 
ed  and  ready  to  depart,  determined  to 
pounce  on  the  rear  transports  and  give  them 
a  parting  remembrance. 

Two  regiments  made  an  attack  with  field- 
pieces  which  were  hauled  along  the  road 
made  by  Sherman's  soldiers,  but  unfortun 
ately  for  the  enemy  they  mistook  the  "  Lex 
ington,"  "  Marmora,"  "  Queen  of  the  West" 
and  ''Monarch" — the  two  latter  Colonel 
Ellet's  rams — for  transports.  Before  the 
Confederates  could  fire  a  second  round, 
these  vessels  opened  on  them  with  shrapnel, 


grape  and  canister,  cutting  them  up  and 
sending  them  flying  in  all  directions  without 
the  loss  of  a  man  on  our  side. 

In  the  meantime  the  transports  steamed 
down  the  river  in  good  order  leaving  noth 
ing  behind  that  could  be  of  any  use  to  the 
enemy. 

The  following  named  vessels  took  part  in 
the  Yazoo  expedition  :  ';  Black  Hawk. "(flag 
ship)  Lieutenant-Commander  K.  R.  Breese, 
"Benton,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Wm. 
Gwinn,  ' '  Baron  DeKalb, ' '  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Jno.  G.  Walker.  "Carondelet," 
Commander  Henry  Walke,  "  Louisville." 
Lieutenant-Commander  E.  K.  Owen,  "Cin 
cinnati,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  G.  M. 
Bache,  "Lexington,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  James  W.  Shirk.  "  Signal,"  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  John  Scott."  Romeo," 
Acting-Ensign  R.  B.  Smith.  "  Juliet,"  Act 
ing- Volunteer-Lieutenant  Edward  Shaw, 
"Forest  Rose,"  Acting-Master  Geo.  W. 
Brown,  "  Rattler."  Lieutenant-Commander 
Watson  Smith,  "  Marmora,"  Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant  Robert  Getty,  "Monarch," 
(ram)  "Queen  of  the  West,"  (ram)  Colonel 
Chas.  Ellet.  Jr. 

The  second  attack  on  Vicksburg  termin 
ated  quite  as  unsatisfactorily  as  the  first, 
and  every  one  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
Vicksburg  could  only  be  conquered  by  a 
long  and  troublesome  siege  which  would 
severely  test  the  endurance  of  both  parties. 


CH  A  PTER      XXV, 


CAPTURE  OF  FORT  HIXDMAX  OR  ARKANSAS  POST. 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  EXPEDITION. — THE  ARMY  ix  THE  REAR  OF  ARKANSAS  POST. — PLAN  OF 
THE  FORT. — THE  GUN-BOATS  IN  POSITION. — THE  FORT  OPENS  FIRE. — THE  GUNS  OF  THE 
FORT  SILENCED  BY  THE  GUN-BOATS. — SAD  HAVOC. — THE  "  RATTLER'S  "  HOT  RECEPTION. 
—THE  BATTLE  RENEWED  AT  DAYLIGHT. — THE  GUNS  OF  THE  FORT  AGAIN  SILENCED.— 
SHERMAN  STORMS  THE  FORT  IN  THE  REAR. — THE  ARMY  MEETS  WITH  AN  UNEXPECTED 
RECEPTION. — THE  FORT  SURRENDERS.— THE  HONOR  OF  THE  DEFENDERS  OF  THE  FORT 
DIMMED. — HARROWING  SCENES. — TERRIBLE  Loss  OF  LIFE. — MCCLERNAND  ON  HAND.— 
EXPEDITION  UP  THE  WHITE  RIVER. — ST.  CHARLES  DESERTED. — MUNITIONS  OF  WAR 
CAPTURED. — GRANT  ASSUMES  COMMAND  OF  ALL  THE  FORCES. 


expedition  against  Arkansas 
Post  arrived  at  a  point  four  miles 
below  the  enemy's  works,  January 
10th,  1863. 

The  Army  landed  without  delay 
at  10  A.  M.,  and  proceeded  on  their  march 
to  get  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  works;  but 
they  had  bad  roads  011  which  to  travel  and 
thick  undergrowth  to  make  their  way 
through.  Fifteen  miles  had  to  be  marched 
over  before  the  back  of  Arkansas  Post  could 
be  reached,  and  the  major  part  of  the  night 
was  occupied  in  achieving  their  purpose. 
There  were  some  extensive  rifle-pits  and 
works  thrown  up  from  which  to  operate 
with  field  pieces.  These,  as  the  Army  started 
on  their  march,  were  manned  and  prepared 
to  contest  the  advance,  but  the  flag-ship 
'•  Black  Hawk,"  Lieutenant-Commander 
Breese,  and  the  "  Rattler,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Watson  Smith,  closed  up  on  the 
enemy's  works  and  drove  them  into  the 
woods,  so  that  the  Army  had  no  impedi 
ment  in  its  way. 

General  McClernand  had  accompanied 
the  expedition,  it  was  supposed  merely  as  a 
spectator,  but  about  3  o'clock,  he  rode  up  to 
the  bank  near  which  the  gun-boats  laid  and 
informed  Admiral  Porter  that  Sherman  was 
in  position  in  the  rear  of  the  work,  and 
waiting  for  the  gun-boats  to  begin  the 
attack  on  the  fort.  This  could  not  very  well 
be  the  case,  but  the  gun-boats  '"  Louisville.'' 
Lieutenant-Commander  Owen,  the  "  De 


Kalb,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Walker, 
and  the  "Cincinnati,"  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  George  Bache,  were  ordered  to  go 
up  within  400  yards,  while  the  smaller  ves 
sels  were  to  follow  and  use  their  howitzers 
as  circumstances  would  admit. 

Arkansas  Post  was  a  large,  well  con 
structed  fort  built  with  the  best  engineering 
skill.  It  mounted  thirteen  guns  :  two  ten- 
inch  Columbiads,  one  nine-inch  Dahlgren, 
and  ten  rifled  guns  of  various  calibres.  The 
Columbiads  were  mounted  in  casemates 
covered  in  with  four  layers  of  heavy  rail 
road  iron,  neatly  fitted  together  to  offer  a 
smooth  surface,  and  slanting  iron  roof  to 
make  the  shot  glance  off.  These  were 
simply  after  the  plan  of  the  iron-clads  afloat 
and  were  formidable  structures. 

The  nine-inch  gun  was  mounted  in  an  em 
brasure  protected  by  sand-bags,  as  were 
the  ten  rifled  guns.  All  the  guns  except 
one  bore  down  the  river  and  on  the  vessels 
coming  abreast  of  the  forts.  The  fort  itself 
was  built  close  to  the  river;  the  front  not 
being  more  than  twenty  yards  from  the 
bank. 

There  was  nothing  known  to  the  military 
art  that  had  been  neglected  in  constructing 
these  works,  and  to  look  at  them  one  would 
suppose  they  could  defy  a  naval  force  three 
times  as  strong  as  that  now  about  to  be 
brought  against  them. 

As  was  afterwards  learned,  the  Confeder 
ates  supposed  the  gun-boats  would  attack 


19 


(289) 


290 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


the  works  from  a  distance  of  1200  yards,  and 
range  buoys  had  been  placed  at  that  dis 
tance  by  which  to  regulate  the  enemy's  fire, 
and  they  had  been  practicing  at  that  dis 
tance  on  targets  so  that  the  gunners  would 
become  expert.  But  all  these  calculations 
were  upset  by  the  "  DeKalb  "  leading,  and 
the  "Cincinnati"  and  Louisville"  close 
behind  her,  running  up  and  taking  position 
close  to  the  fort  where  the  current  was  slack 


LIEUT.-COMMANDER  JOHN  G.   \VALKER   (NOW  CAPTAIN) 
U.   S.  NAVY. 

and  the  vessels  could  maintain  their  places 
without  any  difficulty;  while  the  other  ves 
sels  could  take  such  positions  in  the  river 
as  best  suited  and  throw  in  shrapnel  from 
their  small  shell  guns. 

The  fort  opened  on  the  iron-clads  as  soon 
as  they  reached  the  range  buoys — made 
some  good  shots,  and  then  lost  their  range, 
during  which  time  the  gun-boats  were 
within  150  yards  of  them  and  firing  accu 
rately  and  steadily  through  their  iron  case 
mates,  and  committing  sad  havoc  in  the 
rear  amongst  the  soldiers.  It  was  evident 
from  the  first  that  this  fort  was  doomed  to 
fall,  under  the  fire  of  the  gun-boats.  The 
superiority  of  their  fire  over  that  of  the 
guns  in  the  fort  was  such  that  the  latter 
were  silenced  in  the  space  of  an  hour,  and 
the  gun-boats  ceased  firing.  As  darkness 
was  coming  on  and  the  smoke  hung  densely 
over  the  river,  the  gun-boats  dropped  down 
and  tied  up  to  the  bank. 

Just  before  the  gun -boats  dropped  down 
the  tin-clad  "Rattler"  was  ordered  to  run 
past  the  fort  and  try  to  reach  a  point  seven 
miles  up  the  river,  and  cut  off  the  enemy's 
troops  in  case  they  should  attempt  to  es 


cape  by  that  way,  the  only  road  open  to 
retreat  by. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Smith  performed 
this  duty  handsomely  as  far  as  he  could,  but 
after  passing  the  fort  he  became  entangled  in 
some  piles  the  enemy  had  driven  down,  and 
which  were  just  awash,  the  enemy  opened  on 
him  while  in  this  condition,  and  raked  him 
very  effectually  fore  and  aft,  knocking  his 
cabins  to  pieces  and  doing  a  good  deal  of 
damage  to  his  hull,  but  as  the  iron-clads 
opened  their  batteries  again  the  firing  from 
the  forts  ceased,  and  the  "Rattler"  drifted 
back  out  of  the  enemy's  range. 

In  this  attack,  all  the  gun-boats  were  beau 
tifully  handled  and  not  much  injured;  the 
success  of  the  afternoon  gave  good  promise 
for  the  morrow.  The  "Lexington,"  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Shirk,  held  a  position 
400  yards  below  the  forts,  and  although 
pretty  well  cut  up  had  no  casualties. 

General  McClernand's  report  that  General 
Sherman  had  arrived  in  the  rear  of  the 
works  with  his  troops,  might  have  led  to  ill 
results,  for  the  enemy  might  have  escaped 
that  night  with  all  his  forces  across  the 
ferry;  but  fortunately  General  Churchill, 
the  Confederate  commander-in-chief.  was 


PLAN  OF  FORT  HINDJIAN  OR  ARKANSAS  POST. 

five  miles  away  from  the  fort,  waiting  to 
anticipate  Sherman  and  attack  him  at  a 
disadvantage,  and  knew  not  how  roughly 
the  forts  were  being  handled  by  the  gun 
boats  ;  and  Colonel  Dunnington,  the  com 
mander  of  the  fort,  (who  had  formerly  been 
a  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S.  Navy)  being  a  brave 
man  and  having  a  brave  set  of  naval  offi 
cers  with  him,  did  not  consider  himself  as 
worsted  by  a  great  deal. 

For  many  hours  the  garrison  worked  with 
great  zeal  to  repair  damages,  and  the  heavy 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


291 


strokes  of  their  hammers  on  the  iron 
covering  could  be  heard  all  through  the 
night. 

At  daylight,  the  enemy  seemed  prepared 
for  action  again,  and  this  time  General 
Sherman  having  sent  a  messenger  to  inform 
the  admiral  that  he  was  in  position  and 
was  gradually  encircling  the  Confederate 
Army,  the  gun-boats  were  ordered  to  take 
position  again  not  further  than  50  yards 
from  the  fort  and  begin  to  fire  as  soon  as 
they  pleased. 

The  battle  commenced  and  soon  became 
very  hot:  when  the  tin-clads  "Glide,"  Lieu- 
tenant-CommandingWoodworth,  and  "  Rat 
tler/'  Lieutenant-Commander  Smith,  and 
the  ram  "Monarch,"'  Colonel  Ellet,  were 
ordered  by  the  admiral  to  force  their  way 
through  the  obstructions  above  the  forts, 
reach  the  ferry  and  cut  off  the  enemy's 
retreat. 

In  a  short  time  all  the  guns  in  the  works 
were  silenced  and  the  flag-ship  "  Black 
Hawk''  was  run  to  the  bank  alongside  the 
fort  to  board  it  with  her  crew;  at  the  same 


APPEARANCE   OF   IX-INCH   GUN   SILENCED   BY  THE 
"CINCINNATI." 

time  a,  messenger  was  sent  to  General  Sher 
man  informing  him  of  the  condition  of 
affairs,  and  that  if  he  would  send  a  storm 
ing  party  from  the  rear,  the  Navy  would 
board  from  the  water  side. 

While  waiting  for  Sherman's  troops  the 
"  Black  Hawk  "  laid  alongside  the  fort,  her 
high  upper  works  on  a  level  with  the  em 
brasures,  while  three  boat-guns  on  wheels, 
on  the  upper  deck,  completely  commanded 
the  inside  of  the  works,  which  presented  a 
dreadful  scene  of  killed  and  wounded.  A 
large  number  of  artillery  horses  had  been 
kept  in  the  fort  for  some  reason,  and  the 
shells  and  shrapnel  had  made  sad  havoc 
with  the  dead  and  dying  men,  mixed  up 
with  the  killed  and  wounded  animals.  It 
was  a  scene  ever  to  be  remembered. 

In  the  meantime,  while  waiting  for  Sher 
man's  assaulting  party,  all  firing  had 
ceased  on  both  sides  and  the  victorious 
sailors  were  quietly  looking  on  at  the  dread 
ful  havoc  that  had  been  made  inside  the 
works,  not  anticipating  that  the  enemy 
would  make  any  more  resistance.  Their 


colors   had  been   shot  away  and  had  not 
been  hoisted  again. 

At  one  time  the  admiral  determined  to 
assault  without  waiting  for  the  Army,  but 
courtesy  to  the  general  required  that  the 
Navy  should  wait  until  the  Army  assault 
ing  party  should  appear,  which  they  did  in 
a  few  minutes,  then  there  was  a  simultan 
eous  movement  from  all  parts  of  the  fort 
by  the  Confederates  (who  had  been  con 
cealed  behind  or  underneath  the  buildings 
that  had  been  knocked  down),  and  with 
muskets  in  their  hands  they  rushed  to  the 
rear  parapet  and  crouched  down  behind  the 
works. 

It  was  not  known  what  this  movement 
signified,  the  boat-guns  on  the  flag-ship's 
upper  deck  (the  flag-ship  was  a  large  river 
steamer  unaltered),  could  have  cut  them  to 
pieces,  but  there  had  been  so  much 
slaughter,  the  admiral  would  not  fire  on 
them,  thinking  they  would  throw  down 
their  arms  as  soon  as  Sherman's  men  got 
within  twenty  yards  of  them;  but  not  so, 
for  when  our  troops  got  within  thirty  or 
forty  yards  the  Confederates  rose  together 
and  poured  in  a  withering  volley  from 
about  450  muskets,  and  nearly  every  bullet 
told. 

Our  soldiers  staggered  at  this  unexpected 
reception,  stopped,  and  then  retreated, 
while  at  the  same  moment  there  appeared 
a  white  handkerchief  or  white  cloth  held  up 
by  every  one  of  the  Confederate  shooters. 
The  officers  and  men  from  the  "Black 
Hawk  "  boarded  the  fort  as  the  enemy  fired 
their  volley,  when  the  latter  all  laid  down 
their  arms  and  surrendered ;  the  com 
mander  and  officers  handing  their  swords 
to  the  admiral. 

It  was  an  embarrassing  moment  when 
the  Federal  troops  were  moving  to  the 
assault,  and  the  enemy  were  waiting  to  re 
ceive  them  with  bullets.  The  Navy  could 
not  fire  without  hitting  the  Federal  troops, 
and  the  whole  thing  was  so  sudden  and  un 
expected  that  the  guns  were  not  fired  from 
the  "Black  Hawk." 

It  seems  that  the  garrison  of  the  fort  be 
longed  to  the  Confederate  Navy  and  deter 
mined  to  surrender  only  to  the  U.  S.  Navy; 
yet  they  wanted  to  have  a  last  blow  at  the 
soldiers,  which  they  did  ;  but  it  dimmed  the 
honor  they  had  won  in  so  gallantly  defend 
ing  the  fort  ;  for  there  could  be  nothing 
gained  by  this  act,  their  capture  was  too 
certain.  They  could  not  run  away  from 
the  forts,  for  Sherman's  army  surrounded 
the  entire  Confederate  force  on  the  outside, 
including  General  Churchill  and  G,000 
troops,  and  the  ferry  was  blockaded  by  the 
light  gun-boats  above — but  these  were  some 
of  the  things  the  Confederates  did  which 
might  properly  have  prevented  them  from 
receiving  any  quarter. 


292 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


Besides  the  6,000  men  that  surrendered  to 
General  Sherman,  there  were  500  left  alive 
in  the  forts,  and  it  was  curious  in  looking 
over  the  list  of  prisoners  to  see  added  to 
the  names,  "  Seaman."  "  Ordinary  Sea 
man."  "Coal-heaver,"  "Fireman,"  etc. 
These  men  were  part  of  the  crew  and  offi 
cers  of  the  Confederate  ram  "Ponchartrain," 
built  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  the  guns 
in  the  fort  had  been  intended  to  form  the 
battery  of  that  vessel,  which  was  destroyed 
by  the  enemy  on  hearing  of  the  capture  of 
Fort  Hindman  (Arkansas  Post). 

General  McClernand  assumed  all  the  di 
rection  of  affairs  on  the  surrender  of  the 
fort  and  the  Confederate  troops,  and  wrote 
the  report  of  this  affair,  in  which  he  gave 
fair  credit  to  the  Navy  ;  but  he  actually 


at  Little  Rock,  which  could  have  caused 
the  Federal  Navy  in  the  West  a  great  deal 
of  trouble,  was  ensured. 

In  the  battle,  everything  went  on  so 
smoothly,  there  were  no  mistakes  made, 
and  the  officers  and  seamen  gained  confi 
dence  in  the  gun-boats  which  they  lacked 
before.  But  these  had  been  much  strength 
ened  and  improved  since  the  battles  of 
Forts  Donelson  and  Henry,  and  had  entire 
new  guns  on  them  instead  of  the  inferior 
batteries  they  started  out  with  ;  moreover, 
the  officers  had  learned  that  the  way  to 
fight  these  batteries  was  at  close  quarters. 

Lieutenant-Commanders  Walker,  Owen, 
Bache,  Shirk,  Watson,  Smith,  Woodworth, 
Breese,  and  the  commander  of  the  "  Mon 
arch  "  were  all  handsomely  mentioned  by 


CASEMATE  NO.  1  DESTROYED  BY  THE  U.  S.  GUN-BOAT 
"BARON  DE  KALB." 


CASEMATE   NO.   2   DESTROYED   BY   THE  U.    S.    GUN-BOAT 
•  LOUISVILLE." 


APPEARANCE  OF  CASEMATES  BEFORE  THE  ATTACK 
(COVERED  WITH   RAILROAD   IRON). 

had  nothing  to  do  with  the  management  of 
the  Army,  and  was  down  four  miles  below 
the  forts  during  all  the  operations.  Sher 
man  was  virtually  the  military  commander. 
But  from  this  time  the  Army  was  under 
McClernand's  command,  and  after  the  pris 
oners  were  received  and  sent  off  in  trans 
ports  and  the  forts  and  guns  demolished  as 
far  as  could  be  done  by  the  Army,  the  fleet 
and  transports  retraced  their  steps  towards 
Vicksburg,  and  landed  at  Milliken's  Bend  or 
Young's  Point  about  seven  miles  above 
Vicksburg. 

The  fight  at  Fort  Hindman  was  one  of 
the  prettiest  little  affairs  of  the  war,  not 
so  little  either,  for  a  very  important  post 
fell  into  our  hands  with  6.500  prisoners, 
and  the  destruction  of  a  powerful  ram 


REAR  VIEW  OF   CASEMATE   NO.   2. 

the  admiral  in  his  report  to  the  Navy  De 
partment. 

This  battle  gave  general  satisfaction  to 
the  public.  It  was  unexpected  and  few 
knew  where  Fort  Hindman  was  situated. 

Directly  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Hind 
man,  Lieutenant -Commander  Walker  in 
the  "DeKalb,"and  Lieutenant  Commander 
George  Bache  in  the  "Cincinnati.-'  were 
sent  up  the  White  River  to  capture  the 
forts  erected  there  by  the  Confederates, 
and  General  Gorman.  U.  S.  A.,  accompan 
ied  the  expedition  with  troops  in  the  trans 
ports. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  expedition  at  St. 
Charles,  the  fort  under  construction  was 
evacuated  and  the  guns  carried  off  in  the 
steamer  "  Blue  Wing.''  but  these  were  re- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


293 


captured  at  DuvalFs  Bluff,  shipped  in  cars 
ready  to  be  transported  to  Little  Rock,  the 
Confederates  deserting  the  place.  The 
railroad  depot  was  destroyed  by  fire,  all  the 
rolling  stock  burned,  and  all  the  munitions 
of  war  placed  on  board  the  transports. 

This  was  the  last  expedition  necessary  to 
send  up  the  White  River  for  some  time.  It 
remained  open  during  the  war  excepting 
on  several  occasions  when  guerillas  in 
fested  its  banks.  The  Arkansas  River  also 
remained  open  :  its  difficult  navigation  of 
fered  no  inducement  for  any  one  to  seek 
adventures  in  its  treacherous  waters. 

To  show  how  carelessly  the  history  of  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  has  been  written  as 
regards  the  Navy,  the  following  quotation 
from  a  military  historian  is  inserted  here  : 

"  McClernand  immediately  acquiesced  in  Sher 
man's  proposition  and  moved  his  force  up  the  Ar 
kansas,  the  fleet  under  Porter  accompanying.  A 
naval  bombardment  lasting  several  days  occurred, 
and  on  the  llth  the  troops  assaulted  the  works, 
when  the  Post  surrendered  after  a  fight  of  three 
hours,  in  which  the  squadron  bore  a  conspicious 
part.  McClernand  [Sherman  it  should  be]  lost 
about  1,000  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
The  guns  of  the  fort  were  silenced  by  the  fleet,  and 
Admiral  Porter  received  the  sword  of  its  com 
mander. 

General  Grant  did  not  approve  of  this 
movement  on  Arkansas  Post  when  he  first 
heard  of  it,  as  he  thought  it  improper  to  di 
vert  the  army  from  the  original  design  to 
capture  Vicksburg.  He  supposed  the  idea 


originated  with  General  McClernand  ;  but 
when  he  knew  all  the  circumstances  con 
nected  with  the  movement,  and  that  the 
Army  left  Vicksburg  because  no  longer 
able  to  operate  owing  to  the  floods,  and 
that  the  troops  wanted  a  success  after  their 
late  discouraging  defeat,  he  became  recon 
ciled  to  the  attack  on  Arkansas  Post,  though 
it  was  a  side  movement  and  could  in  no 
way  contribute  to  the  final  overthrow  of 
Vicksburg. 

Certain  it  is,  the  success  at  Arkansas 
Post  had  a  most  exhilarating  effect  on  the 
troops,  and  they  were  a  different  set  of  men 
when  they  arrived  at  Milliken's  Bend  than 
they  were  when  they  left  the  Yazop  River. 

After  the  troops  were  settled  in  their 
tents  opposite  Vicksburg,  it  became  appar 
ent  that  there  could  be  no  harmonious  co 
operation  while  McClernand  remained  in 
command  of  all  the  military  forces.  His 
peculiarities  unfitted  him  for  such  a  com 
mand,  and  these  peculiarities  became  so 
offensive  to  Generals  Sherman  and  Mc- 
Pherson.  and  to  Admiral  Porter,  that  they 
urged  General  Grant  to  take  command 
himself  as  the  only  chance  for  the  success 
of  the  enterprise,  and  in  consequence,  the 
latter  hastened  to  Milliken's  Bend  or 
Young's  Point  and  assumed  the  command 
of  all  the  forces,  which  he  was  entitled  to 
do,being  military  commander  of  the  depart 
ment. 


MISSISSIPPI   SQUADROX,   JANUARY   1,    1863. 

(Excepting  some  of  the  vessels  engaged  at  Vicksburg.) 
ACTING    REAR-ADMIRAL    DAVID    D.     PORTER,    COMMANDER-IX-CHIEP. 


RECEIVIXG-SHIP   "  CLARA  DOLSOX."     (CAIRO.) 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Thomas  Pattison,  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Emile  Gavarret;  Paymas 
ter,  Edward  May;  Acting-Master,  John  C.  Bunner; 
Acting-Ensigns,*  E.  C.  Van  Pelt  and  D.  W.  Tainter; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  H.  G.  Masters  and  John  D. 
Holmes;  Acting-Engineer,  Geo.  W.  Fulton;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  G.  W.  Armstrong. 

STEAMER  "EASTPORT." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  S.  L.  "Phelps;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Adrian  Hudson;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  W.  H.  Gilman;  Acting- Master,  J.  L.  A  very; 
Acting-Ensign,  R.  M.  Williams;  Acting- Masters 
Mates,  J.  W.  Litherbury  and  E.  A.  Decamp;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Chief,  Henry  Hartwiy;  Acting-Assist 
ants,  T.  P.  Ackerman,  James  Vanzant.  G.  W.  Heisel 
and  G.  W.  Aiken;  Acting-Gunner,  Reuben  Apple- 
gate;  Acting-Carpenter,  James  Kirkland. 
STEAMER  "LEXIXGTOX." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  James  W.  Shirk;  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Martin  Dunn;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  L.  M.  Reese;  Assistant  Paymaster, 
Geo.  A.  Lyon;  Acting-Master,  James  Fitzpatrick; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Sylvester  Pool  and  James  Marshall; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  G.  Magler,  W.  E.  Ander 
son,  F.  O.  Blake  and  S.  8.  \Villett;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Chief.  Wm.  H.  Meredith;  Acting- Assistants, 
Michael  Kelly,  J.  H.  Hilliard,  Wm.  Bishop  and  Job 
Cummins. 


IRON-CLAD  STEAMER   "  BAROX-DE-KALB." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  G.  Walker;  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  V.  Johnston;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  John  Wise;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  Win.  A.  Mann;  Acting-Masters,  Chas.  Keh- 
drick  and  R.  H.  Medill;  Acting-Ensign,  Charles 
Hunter;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  H.  H.  Gorringe,  E. 
D.  Breed,  F.  E.  Davis  and  J.  M.  Meacham;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Chief,  Thomas  Hebron;  Acting- Assist 
ants,  J.  L.  Smith,  J.  S.  Wilcoxen  and  Geo.  Britton. 

STEAMER    ''CONESTOGA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Thomas  O.  Selfridge; 
Assistant-Surgeon,  J.  Otis  Burt;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  E.  D.  Ellsley;  Acting-Master,  George 
Hentig;  Acting-Ensigns,  Benj.  Sebastian,  James 
Kearney,  Charles  Pease  and  John  Swaney;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  S.  J.  Dewight,  Henry  Haskins, 
Thomas  Devine  and  J.  C.  Petterson;  Engineers: 
Acting-Chief,  Thomas  Cook,  Alex.  McGee,  Michael 
Norton,  James  O'Neil  and  Andrew  Lusk;  Acting- 
Gunner,  Gilbert  Morton;  Acting-Carpenter,  J.  J. 
Hays. 

STEAMER    "  FAIRPLAY." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Le  Roy  Fitch;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  D.  Bolton;  Acting-Master, 
Geo.  J.  Groves;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  C.  Coyle  and 
Thud.  Conant;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  C.  Coul- 
son,  John  Reville  and  Isaac  Summons;  Acting-Engi 
neers,  Robert  Mahatha,  G.  S.  Collins,  Chas.  Egster 
and  Wm.  Bell;  Acting-Carpenter,  Thomas  Manning. 


294 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


STEAMER  "TAYLOR." 

Lieutenant,  James  M.  Prichett;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  W.  Ballentine;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  C.  A.  Gardiner;  Acting-Master,  W.  H.  Minor; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Eliphalet  Loring,  C.  T.  Stanton,  J. 

F.  Holmes  and  S.  E.  Brown ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Charles  Ackley,  H.  S.  Wetmore  and  Ira  Athearn; 
Engineers:  Acting-Chief,   James  Fleming;  Acting 
Assistants,  J    R.   Ramsey,  Win.  Furch  and  E.  M. 
Bumpus;  Acting-Carpenter,  A.  B.  Chapman. 

,    STEAMER  "ROBB." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant.  Jason  Goudy;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  Rob't  Wilkinson,  W.  Stoneall  and  E. 
C.  Roe;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Llovd  Thomas  and 
E.  F.  Rowe;  Acting-Engineers,  Benj.  Emerson  and 
John  Miller. 

STEAMER   "ST.  CLAIR." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  S.  Hurd;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  D.  Winslow;  Acting-Master, 

G.  W.  Fontly;  Acting- Ensign,  Jos.  Watson;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  H.  A.  Proctor,  Jos.  Hurd  and  E.  C. 
Williams;  Acting-Engineers,  Wm.  McLain,  Edward 
Lozier  and  C.  C.  Hamilton. 

STEAMER  "BRILLIANT." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Chas.  G.  Perkins; 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  W.  Howard;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Horace  Talcott;  Acting-En 
signs,  J.  B.  Dales,  George  Munday  and  G.  D.  Little; 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  J.  J.  Perkins;  Acting-Engi 
neers,  W.  A.  Willey,  Samuel  Ecoff  and  James  Cutter. 
RAM  "LITTLE  REBEL." 

Acting- Volun  teer-Lieutenant,  Thomas  B.  Gregory ; 
Acting-Ensign,  N.  T.  Rennell;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
J.  S.  Flint;  Acting-Engineers,  A.  E.  Giles,  A.  M. 
Smith  and  Robert  Russell. 

STEAMER  "GREAT  WESTERN." 
Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Wm.  F.  Hamilton; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  S.  Harvey ;  Acting 
Master,  J.  C.  Little;  Acting-Ensign,  Richard  Ellis; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  L.  F.  Knapp  and  Richard 
Mitchell;  Acting-Chief  Engineer,  Chas.  Christopher; 
Engineers,  Jos.  Goodwin,  B.  A.  Farmer  and  G.  S. 
Baker;    Acting-Gunner,  Robert  Sherman;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  Jos.  Morton. 

STEAMER  "JUDGE  TORRENCE." 
Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  F.  Richardson; 
Acting-Ensign,  Jeremiah  Irwin;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  James  Ross;  Acting-Chief  Engineer,  P.  R. 
Hartwig;  Engineers,  J.  Stough,  J.  C.  Barr  and  W. 
Y.  Sedman. 

STEAMER   "NEW  ERA." 

Acting-Master,  F.  W.  Flammer;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  Wm.  B.  Purdy:  Acting-Ensigns,  Win. 
C.  Hanford  and  Geo.  L.  Smith;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  G.  E.  Cheever,  W.  C.  Renner,  W.  B.  Shillits 
and  Wm.  Wharry;  Acting-Engineers,  Israel  Marsh, 
John  Darragh  and  Richard  Fengler;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  Louis  Fredericks. 

RECEIVING  SHIP  "NEW  NATIONAL." 
Acting-Masters,  Alex.  M.  Grant  and  O.  H.  Pratt; 
Acting-Ensign,   John  Hill;    Acting-Master's  Mate, 
Wm.  C.   Herron;  Acting- Engineers,   W.  H.   Price, 
James  Wilkins  and  C.  C.  Rensford. 


STORESHIP  "SOVEREIGN." 

Acting-Master,  Thomas  Baldwin;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Geo.  L.  Meade;  Acting-Ensign,  A. 
M.  Rowland;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  H.  Gulick, 
T.  J.  Sheets  and  G.  V.  Meade;  Acting-Engineers.  T 
W.  Blair,  A.  L.  Mann,  Patrick  Scanlon  and  Benj. 
Cainda. 

MEDICAL  STAFF. 

Fleet  Surgeon,  Ninian  Pinkney;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeons,  G.  H.  Bixby  and  Geo.  Hopkins. 
STEAMER  "GENERAL  PILLOW." 
Acting-Ensign,    Joseph    Mover;    Acting-Master's 
Mates,  J.  H.  Rives  and  E.  M.  Woods;  Acting-Engi 
neers,  Peter  Wagner  and  Jos.  J.  Wagner. 

INSPECTION  SHIP    "ABRAHAM." 

Acting-Ensign  Wm.  Wagner;  1st  Assistant-Engi 
neer,  E.  Hozier, 

STEAM-TUG  "  PANSY." 

Acting-Ensign,  Amos  Bolander;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Anthony  McCarthy:  Acting-Engineers,  John 
Gilliss  and  A.  F.  Gardiner. 

STEAM-TUG  "FERN." 

Acting-Ensign  Alpheus  Semms;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  John  M.  Kelly;  Acting-Engineer,  John  Reed. 

STEAM-TUG    "MISTLETOE.'' 

Acting-Ensign,  W.  H.  H.  Ford;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Hamilton  Bateman;  Acting-Engineers,  W.  F. 
Sandford  and  Silas  Hasky. 

STEAM-TUG   "  SAMSON." 

Acting-Ensign,  James  D.  Buckley;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mate,  Wilmot  Duley;  Acting-Engineers,  Geo. 
Kimber  and  C.  F.  Yager. 

STEAM-TUG    "LILLY." 

Acting-Ensign,  Richard  H.  Smith ;  Acting  Engi 
neers,  James  Miller  and  J.  C.  Jones. 

STEAM-TUG   "MYRTLE." 

Acting-Engineer,  Thomas  Guernsey. 

NAVAL  STATION  AT   CAIRO,   ILL. 

Commander,  Alex.  M.  Pennock,  Fleet-Captain; 
Paymaster,  A.  E.  Watson,  Inspector-in-charge;  W. 
Brenton  Botjgs,  Purchasing  Paymaster  and  Navy 
Agent;  E.  W.  Dunn,  Paymaster  attached  to  Squad" - 
ron;  A.  H.  Gilman,  Paymaster  attached  to  Station; 
Acting-Lieutenant,  J.  P.  Sandford,  Ordnance  Offi 
cer;  Acting-Chief-Engineer,  AV.  D.  Faulkner,  Super 
intendent;  Acting-Chief-Engineer,  Samuel  Bicker- 
staff,  Superintendent  of  light  draughts;  Acting- 
Master  John  W.  Atkinson,  Superintendent  of  tugs; 
Acting-Ensign,  Peter  O'Kell,  Executive-Officer;  Act 
ing-Ensign,  A.  H.  Edson,  and  Gunner,  John  T. 
Ritter  on  Ordnance  Duty. 

MARINE  OFFICERS. 

Captain,  Mathew  R.  Kintzing;  1st  Lieutenants, 
Frank  Munroe  and  S.  H.  Mathews;  2nd  Lieuten 
ant,  Frank  L.  Church. 

OFFICER  AT  NAVAL  RENDEZVOUS,   CINCINNATI. 

Acting-Master,  A.  S.  Brown. 

OFFICERS  AT   N4VAL   STATION,    MEMPHIS. 

Acting-Master,  John  R.  Neild;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  Wm.  P.  Baird;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  J.  H.  Benton 


CHAPTER     XXVI. 


SIEGE  OF  VICKSBURG. 


Loss  OF  THE  "  QUEEN  OF  THE  WEST,"  AFTER  RUNNING  THE  VICKSBURG  BATTERIES  AND 
DESTROYING  A  GREAT  DEAL  OF  THE  ENEMY'S  PROPERTY. — RUNNING  OF  THE  BATTERIES 
BY  THE  IRON-CLAD  "INDIANOLA."— COMBAT  BETWEEN  THE  ••  INDIANOLA"  AND  CON 
FEDERATE  FLOTILLA,  CONSISTING  OF  THE  "WEBB."  "  QUEEN  OF  THE  WEST"  AND  TWO 
ARMED  TRANSPORTS. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "INDIANOLA"  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES. — AN 
ACCOUNT  WRITTEN  BY  HER  COMMANDING  OFFICER  LIEUT. -COMMANDER  GEORGE  BROWN. 
—ATTEMPT  TO  CUT  A  CANAL  TO  LAKE  PROVIDENCE. — YAZOO  PASS  EXPEDITION  BY  GUN 
BOATS  AND  TRANSPORTS. — ENGAGEMENT  WITH  FORT  PEMBERTON  ON  THE  T ALLAH ATCHIE 
RIVER,  ETC. 


THE  siege  of  Vicksburg  may  be  said 
to  have  commenced  January  2Gth, 
18G2,  on  which  day  the  Army  was 
landed    at  Young's   Point,    seven 
miles  above  Vickburg,  and  at  Mil- 
liken's  Bend,    two    or  three   miles    above 
Young's  Point. 

This  was  rather  a  desperate  movement, 
but  there  was  no  other  alternative.  When 
Sherman  first  came  down  with  the  gun 
boats  in  company,  he  did  not  start  out  with 
the  idea  that  he  was  to  undertake  a  siege, 
but  that  Vicksburg  was  to  be  taken  by  an 
unexpected  attack.  Time  was  an  important 
factor  in  this  expedition,  and  that  could  not 
be  lost  by  delaying  for  the  purpose  of  col 
lecting  siege  tools,  etc.  Therefore,  when 
the  Union  Army  landed  above  Vicksburg, 
it  was  deficient  in  all  the  many  appliances 
for  undertaking  a  siege.  They  had  but 
four  siege  guns,  and  three  were  supplied  by 
the  Navy. 

Their  position  opposite  Vicksburg  was 
sucli  a  poor  one  that  a  sudden  rise  of  water 
would  have  drowned  them  out;  and,  worst 
of  all,  they  had  a  leader  in  whom  not  an 
officer  of  the  expedition  could  put  any  con 
fidence.  McClernand  had  come  to  super 
sede  Sherman  in  the  Yazoo  River  just  after 
the  troops  had  fallen  back  to  the  transports, 
and  he  had  accompanied  the  Army  to  Ar 
kansas  Post,  but  with  the  express  under 
standing  with  Admiral  Porter  that  he  would 
not  interfere  with  General  Sherman.  This 


he  refrained  from  doing  until  the  enemy 
was  beaten,  and  at  that  moment  he  as 
sumed  command  and  made  all  the  reports 
himself. 

There  were  splendid  generals  in  that  Army, 
all  men  of  the  highest  military  acquire 
ments,  such  as  Sherman,  McPherson,  Steele 
and  Smith,  who  now  saw  placed  at  their  head 
an  officer  who  had  not  only  no  qualifica 
tions  for  managing  an  Army  of  such  a  size, 
but  had  not  the  necessary  knowledge  to  be 
the  leader  of  anything  more  than  a  division 
under  another  general.  These  and  many 
other  considerations  induced  General  Grant 
to  take  the  command  of  the  Army  at  Vicks 
burg  himself.  He  had  become  convinced 
that  the  siege  would  be  a  long  one.  and 
made  his  preparations  accordingly.  He  ar 
rived  in  person  at  Young's  Point  on  the 
29th  of  January,  1803.  and  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  Army  on  the  30th.  McClernand 
at  once  protested  against  this  arrangement, 
but  in  vain,  and  thereafter  was  simply  a 
divisional  commander. 

At  this  time  the  naval  force  at  Vicksburg 
consisted  of  the  following  vessels  :  '•  Ben- 
ton,"  "Cincinnati."  "  De  Kalb,"  "Louis 
ville,"  "  Mound  City,"  "Carondelet"  "  Pitts- 
burg,"  and  "  Chillicothe, "  iron-dads; 
"Rattler,"  "Glide,"  "Linden,"  "Signal," 
"Romeo,"  "Juliet."  "Forest  Rose,"  and 
"Marmora,"  light-draughts;  the  "Taylor" 
and  "  Black  Hawk,"  wooden  armed  steam 
ers;  "Queen  of  the  West,"  "Monarch," 


(295) 


296 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


"Switzerland."  and  -'Lioness,"  rams; 
During  the  following  month  the  "Lafay 
ette"  and  "Indianohi."  iron-clads,  joined 
the  fleet.  The  carpenter  shops,  machine 
shops,  provision  boats,  ordnance  depart 
ment,  hospital,  etc.,  (all  on  large  steamers) 
were  ordered  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  ; 
also  ten  of  the  mortar  boats  which  hadjbeen 
used  by  Foote  and  Davis  at  Island  No.  10 
and  Fort  Pillow. 

Besides  these,  there  were  a  number  of 
"tin-clads"  with  light  batteries  stationed 
all  along  the  river  from  Cairo  to  Vicksburg, 
each  vessel  having  its  beat. 

In  this  manner  the  Army  transports  were 
conveyed  from  one  station  to  another,  and 
the  gun-boats  performed  this  duty  so  effi 
ciently  that  during  the  whole  siege  of  seven 
months,  the  transportation  of  troops  and 
stores  was  not  interrupted.  The  guerillas 
along  the  bank  were  so  handled  by  these 
small  vessels,  and  so  summarily  dealt  with, 
that  they  soon  withdrew  to  other  parts. 

General  Grant  soon  saw  that  Vicksburg 
could  not  be  taken  by  the  Army  sitting 
down  and  looking  at  it  from  Young's  Point. 
The  wide  and  swift  running  Mississippi  was 
between  them.  No  force  could  land  in 
front  of  the  city  with  its  long  line  of  heavy 
batteries  on  the  hills  and  at  the  water  front, 
with  42.000  men  in  garrison  under  a  very 
clever  general  (Pemberton),  and  Gen.  J.  E. 
Johnston  witli  40.000  more  troops  at  Jack 
son  (the  capital  of  Mississippi),  within 
easy  distance  of  the  besieged — if  those 
may  be  so  called  who  had  ten  times 
as  much  freedom  and  a  hundred  times 
more  dry  land  to  travel  about  on,  than  the 
besiegers. 

There  was  no  use  attempting  to  attack 
the  place  on  either  flank.  The  attempt  had 
been  made  by  Sherman  at  Chickasaw 
Bayou  without  effect,  and  since  then  that 
point  had  been  made  doubly  secure  against 
invasion.  The  Federal  Army  could  not  cross 
the  river  below  the  town,  for  there  were  no 
transports  on  that  side  of  the  batteries,  and 
it  was  then  thought  impossible  to  pass 
them. 

General  Banks  at  one  time  received  or 
ders  to  march  up  to  Vicksburg  and  as 
sist  Grant,  and  so  envelop  the  city,  but  for 
some  reason  this  movement  was  delayed 
from  time  to  time,  and  the  latter  had  to  de 
pend  upon  his  own  resources. 

Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  were  both 
receiving  large  supplies  via  the  Red  River, 
and  the  first  step  necessary  to  be  taken  was 
to  send  a  vessel  (or  vessels)  to  establish  a 
blockade.  This,  it  was  thought,  would 
hasten  the  evacuation  of  Port  Hudson,  and 
thus  leave  Banks  at  liberty  to  ascend  the 
Mississippi  in  steamers. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1863,  the  ram, 
"Queen  of  the  West,"  Colonel  Charles  R. 


Ellet,  was  selected  to  perform  the  perilous 
duty  of  running  the  batteries  and  carrying 
out  Admiral  Porter's  orders.  Ellet  was  a 
gallant  young  fellow,  full  of  dash  and  en 
terprise,  and  was  delighted  with  this  oppor 
tunity  to  distinguish  himself;  and,  although 
his  vessel  was  a  very  frail  one  for  such 
an  enterprise,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  accept 
the  risk  when  this  duty  was  proposed  to 
him. 

The  admiral  depended  a  great  deal  on 
the  darkness  of  the  night  to  shield  the  ves 
sel  during  the  passage,  and  gave  his  orders 
accordingly.  The  "Queen  of  the  West" 
started  on  her  mission  after  midnight,  but 
owing  to  the  bad  position  of  the  wheel  for 
maneuvering,  Ellet  stopped  on  his  way  to 
shift  it  to  a  point  from  which  he  thought  he 
could  manoeuvre  his  vessel  better,  and  lost 
so  much  time  by  the  operation  that  the  ad 
vantages  of  the  darkness  were  lost.  It  was 
nearly  daylight  when  he  reached  the  first 


ELLET'S  STERN    WHEEL   -RAM." 

battery,  which  he  passed  at  full  speed. 
The  alarm  gun  was  fired  from  the  fort  and 
in  an  instant  the  gunners  of  the  lower  bat 
teries  were  at  their  posts,  and  when  the 
"Queen"  arrived  abreast  of  the  city  battery 
after  battery  opened  upon  her.  As  it  was 
supposed  that  Colonel  Ellet  would  pass  dur 
ing  the  night-time,  he  had  been  ordered  to 
ram  a  large  steamer  (the  "  Vicksburg") 
lying  at  the  levee,  and  also  to  throw  lighted 
tow  balls  on  board  of  her  to  set  her  on  fire. 
This  could  have  been  easily  done  at  night, 
but  it  was  almost  certain  destruction  to  at 
tempt  it  in  the  day-time,  but  the  gallant 
young  fellow  determined  to  carry  out  his  or 
ders  at  all  hazards,  rammed  the  vessel  as  di 
rected  and  endeavored  to  set  her  on  fire,  but 
by  this  time  the  enemy's  shot  were  rattling 
about  him,  and  the  current  carrying  him 
past  the  steamer,  he  was  obliged  to  speed 
on. 

This  being  the  first  vessel  to  run    their 
batteries  the    Confederate    gunners    were 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


297 


nervous  and  did  not  at  first  get  the  proper 
range  and  many  a  screaming  rifle  shell  went 
over  Ellet's  head,  and  passed  harmlessly 
by.  The  steamer  at  the  levee  burst  into 
flames  but  they  were  afterwards  extin 
guished  by  the  Confederates. 

The  "  Queen  of  the  West  "  had  been  well 
packed  with  cotton-bales  to  make  her  shot 
proof,  but  it  did  not  make  her  shell  proof, 
for  at  the  moment  she  struck  the  "  Vicks- 
burg"  and  became  stationary  a  shell  from 
the  enemy  exploded  in  a  cotton  bale  and  in 
a  moment  the  vessel  was  all  ablaze.  The 
flames  spread  rapidly  and  the  dense  smoke 
suffocated  the  engineers  in  the  engine- 
room — so  all  attempts  to  ram  the  Vicksburg 
again  were  given  up  and  the  "Queen" 
turned  her  head  down  stream.  Every  one 
was  set  to  work  to  extinguish  the  fire,  which 
was  done  by  cutting  away  the  barricades 
and  throwing  the  cotton  overboard.  The 
enemy  of  course  were  not  idle  but  continued 
to  pour  their  shot  and  shells  into  the  Missis- 


"THE   QUEEN   OF   THE   WEST." 

(FKUM     A     DRAWTSG     BY    REAB-ADMIRAL    WALKE,     MAY    15,     1862.) 

sippi  River  without  stint.  The  ''Queen" 
was  struck  twelve  times,  twice  just  above 
the  water  line. 

Ellet  reached  Ked  River  and  committed 
great  havoc  along  the  shore.  He  had  been 
ordered  to  sink  or  destroy  all  steamers  he 
might  capture,  and  to  blockade  the  river  so 
closely  that  no  provisions  could  get  to  Port 
Hudson  or  Vicksburg.  Almost  immedi 
ately  on  his  arrival  he  captured  and  burned 
three  large  steamers  loaded  with  army 
stores  for  Port  Hudson.  Five  army  officers 
were  also  captured. 

Ellet  then  proceeded  ten  miles  up  the  Red 
River  where  the  enemy  were  known  to  have 
had  a  number  of  fine  steamers  engaged  as 
army  transports — but  they  all  fled  on  hear 
ing  that  a  Federal  gun-boat  was  approach 
ing.  Ellet  got  out  of  coal  and  took  advan 
tage  of  this  panic  to  run  up  to  Warrenton 
just  below  Vicksburg,  to  obtain  a  fresh 
supply  and  report  progress. 


He  was  again  sent  off  to  burn,  sink  and 
destroy  or  capture,  and  did  good  execution. 
He  captured  two  steamers  loaded  with  army 
stores  for  Port  Hudson,  and  destroyed 
a  wagon  train  returning  from  Shreveport  : 
then  the  "  Queen  of  the  West  "  started  up 
Red  River  but  a  treacherous  pilot  grounded 
her  under  the  guns  of  a  fort  ;  the  enemy 
opened  upon  her  with  four  32  pounders, 
every  shot  from  which,  struck  her  and 
killed  or  wounded  many  of  the  crew.  At 
length  a  shot  cut  the  steam  pipe  and  the 
scalding  steam  amidst  the  wounded  and 
dying  made  a  never-to-be-forgotten  scene. 
Every  one  who  was  able  to  do  so  jumped 
overboard  to  escape  being  scalded,  and 
Ellet  with  what  was  left  of  his  crew  floated 
down  the  river  on  cotton-bales  until  he  fell 
in  with  one  of  his  prizes,  the  "New  Era," 
when  all  got  on  board  and  made  their 
escape  up  to  the  Federal  landing  below 
Vicksburg. 

The  Confederates  soon  repaired  the 
"Queen  of  the  West,"  manned  her  with  a 
good  crew  of  sharpshooters,  and  sent  her 
in  company  with  the  "Webb,"  (another 
powerful  ram)  in  pursuit  of  the  "  New 
Era." 

The  ''Queen  of  the  West"  had  been  so 
successful  it  was  determined  (to  make  mat 
ters  doubly  sure)  to  send  down  an  iron 
clad,  and  the  "Indianola,"  with  a  bow  bat 
tery  of  two  11-inch  guns,  was  prepared  to 
pass  the  batteries  at  night.  She  was  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant-Commander  George 
Brown,  an  officer  whose  gallantry  and 
prudence  had  been  well  established.  She 
carried  a  coal-barge  on  each  side  of  her 
with  orders  to  cut  them  adrift  if  she  should 
meet  the  "  Webb,"  and  every  precaution  was 
taken  to  prevent  her  being  captured  in  case 
she  got  into  an  action. 

She  passed  the  batteries  in  safety,  but  a 
few  days  after  her  departure  two  of  her 
crew  appeared  and  stated  that  she  had 
fallen  in  with  the  rams  "Queen  of  the 
West  "  and  "Webb,"  in  company  ;  that  she 
had  been  rammed  six  times  and  being  in  a 
sinking  condition  had  surrendered.  This 
was  a  great  disappointment  to  the  ad 
miral  and  General  Grant,  but  she  was 
blown  up  next  night  by  a  Yankee  ruse, 
and  the  Confederates  did  not  benefit  by  her 
capture. 

In  justice  to  Lieutenant-Commander 
Brown,  his  account  of  this  affair  is  inserted. 
It  will  show  the  kind  of  fighting  that  took 
place  on  the  Mississippi,  and  the  desperate 
character  of  the  foe  the  Federals  had  to  con 
tend  with. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  May  28,  1863. 
SIR — At  this  my  earliest  opportunity,  I  respect 
fully  submit  to   the  department  a   report  of  the 
operations    of    the    U.     S.    steamer    "  Indianola," 
while  below  Vicksburg,   Mississippi ;  also  the  par- 


298 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


ticulars  of  the  engagement  with  the  rebel  armed 
rams  "Queen  of  the  West"  and  "William  H. 
Webb,''  and  armed  cotton-clad  steamers  "Dr. 
Batey"  and  "Grand  Era,  '  in  which  the  "India 
nola"  was  sunk  and  her  officers  and  crew  made 
prisoners. 

In  obedience  to  an  order  from  Acting-Rear-Ad- 
miral  Porter,  commanding  Mississippi  squadron,  I 
passed  the  batteries  at  \  icksburg  and  Warrenton 
on  the  night  of  the  13th  of  February  last,  having 
in  tow  two  barges  containing  about  7,000  bushels 
of  coal  each,  without  being  once  struck,  although 
eighteen  shots  were  fired,  all  of  which  passed  over 
us. 

I  kept  on  down  the  river,  but  owing  to  dense  fogs 
made  but  slow  progress  until  the  morning  of  the 
16th,  when,  about  ten  miles  below  Natchez,  I  met 
the  steamboat  "  Era  No.  5,"  having  on  board  Colo 
nel  Ellet,  of  the  ram  fleet,  and  a  portion  of  the  offi 
cers  and  crew  of  the  steamer  "  Queen  of  the  AVest." 
I  then  learned  for  the  first  time  of  the  loss  of  that 
boat,  and  after  consulting  with  Colonel  Ellet,  I 
concluded  to  continue  on  down  as  far  as  the  mouth 
of  the  Red  River.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day  I  got  under  way,  the  "  Era  No.  5,''  leading.  On 
nearing  Ellis's  Cliffs  the  "Era''  made  the  pre 
arranged  signal  of  danger  ahead,  soon  after  which. 
I  made  out  the  rebel  steamer  "  Webb." 

Before  I  got  within  range  of  the  "Webb"  she 
had  turned  and  was  standing  down  stream  with 
great  speed.  I  fired  two  shots  from  the  11-inch 
guns  but  both  fell  short  of  her.  She  soon  ran  out 


THE   IKON -CLAD    "  1NDIAXOLA." 


of  sight,  and  in  consequence  of  a  thick  fog  setting 
in  I  could  not  continue  the  chase  but  was  obliged 
to  anchor. 

I  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River  on  the  17th 
of  February,  from  which  time  until  the  21st  of  the 
same  month  I  maintained  a  strict  blockade  at  that 
point. 

I  could  procure  no  Red  River  pilots  and  therefore 
did  not  enter  that  river.  The  "Era  No.  5,"  being 
unarmed,  and  having  several  prisoners  on  board, 
Colonel  Ellet  decided  to  go  up  the  river  and  com 
municate  with  the  squadron,  and  sailed  at  noon  on 
the  18th  of  the  same  month  for  that  purpose. 

On  learning  that  the  "Queen  of  the  West"  had 
been  repaired  by  the  rebels,  and  was  nearly  ready 
for  service,  also  that  the  "William  H.  Webb"  and 
four  cot ton-clads,  with  boarding  parties  on  board, 
were  fitting  out  to  attack  the  "Indianola,"  I  left 
the  Red  River  for  the  purpose  of  getting  cotton  to 
fill  up  the  space  between  the  casemate  and  wheel- 
houses  so  as  to  be  better  able  to  repel  the  boarding 
parties. 

By  the  afternoon  of  the  22d  of  the  same  month,  I 
had  procured  as  much  cotton  as  I  required,  and 
concluded  to  keep  on  up  the  river,  thinking  that  I 
would  certainly  meet  another  boat  the  morning 
following,  but  I  was  disappointed. 

I  then  concluded  to  communicate  with  the  squad 
ron  as  soon  as  possible,  thinking  that  Colonel  Ellet 
had  not  reached  the  squadron,  or  that  Admiral 
Porter  would  expect  me  to  return  when  I  found 
that  no  other  boat  was  sent  below. 


I  kept  the  bunkers  of  the  "  Indianola  "  full  of 
coal,  and  would  have  sunk  what  remained  in  the 
barges  ;  but  knowing  that  if  another  boat  was  sent 
below  Vicksburg,  I  would  be  expected  to  supply 
her  with  coal,  1  concluded  to  hold  on  to  the  barges 
as  long  as  possible. 

In  consequence  of  having  the  barges  alongside 
we  could  make  but  slow  progress  against  the  cur 
rent,  the  result  of  which  was,  that  I  did  not  reach 
Grand  Gulf  until  the  morning  of  the  24th,  at  which 
point  and  at  others  above  we  were  fired  on  by  par 
ties  on  shore. 

As  I  knew  that  it  would  be  as  much  as  I  could 
do  to  get  by  the  AVarrenton  batteries  before  day 
light  the  next  morning,  I  returned  the  fire  of  but 
one  party. 

At  about  9.30  P.  M.  on  the  24th,  the  night  being 
very  dark,  four  boats  were  discovered  in  chase  of  us. 
I  immediately  cleared  for  action,  and  as  soon  as 
all  preparations  had  been  completed  I  turned  and 
stood  down  the  river  to  meet  them.  At  this  time 
the  leading  vessel  was  about  three  miles  below,  the 
others  following  in  close  order.  As  we  neared  them 
I  made  them  out  to  be  the  rams  "  Queen  of  the 
West"  and  "William  H.  Webb,"  and  two  other 
steamers,  cotton-clad  and  filled  with  men. 

The  "Queen  of  the  West"  was  the  first  to  strike 
us,  which  she  did  after  passing  through  the  coal 
barge  lashed  to  our  port  side,  doing  us  no  serious 
damage. 

Next  came  the  "  Webb  "  I  stood  for  her  at  full 
speed  ;  both  vessels  came  together  bows  on,  with  a 
tremendous  crash,  which  knocked  nearly  every  one 
down  on  board  both  vessels,  doing  no  damage  to 
us,  while  the  "Webb's"  bow  was  cut  in  at  least 
eight  feet,  extending  from  about  two  feet  above  the 
water  line  to  the  keelson. 

At  this  time  the  engagement  became  general  and 
at  very  close  quarters. 

I  devoted  but  little  attention  to  the  cotton-clad 
steamers,  although  they  kept  up  a  heavy  fire  with 
field-pieces  and  small  arms  as  1  knew  that  every 
thing  depended  on  my  disabling  the  ram.  The 
third  blow  crushed  the  starboard  barge,  leaving 
parts  hanging  by  the  lashings,  which  were  speedily 
cut.  The  crew  of  the  "  Indianola,'  not  numbering 
enough  men  to  man  both  batteries,  I  kept  the  for 
ward  guns  manned  all  the  time,  and  fired  them 
wrhenever  I  could  get  a  shot  at  the  rams.  The  night 
being  very  dark,  our  aim  was  very  uncertain,  and 
our  fire  proved  less  effective  than* I  thought  it  at 
the  time.  The  peep-holes  in  the  pilot-house  were 
so  small  that  it  would  have  been  a  difficult  matter 
to  have  worked  the  vessel  from  that  place  in  day 
light,  so  that  during  the  whole  engagement  the 
pilots  were  unable  to  aid  me  by  their  knowledge  of 
the  river  as  they  were  unable  to  see  anything. 
Consequently  they  could  do  no  more  than  obey  such 
orders  as  they  received  from  me  in  regai'd  to  work 
ing  the  engines  and  the  helm.  No  misunderstand 
ing  occurred  in  the  performance  of  that  duty,  and 
I  was  enabled  to  receive  the  first  five  blows*  from 
the  rams  forward  of  the  wheels,  and  at  such  angles 
that  they  did  no  more  damage  than  to  start  the 
plating  where  they  struck.  • 

The  sixth  blow  we  received  was  from  the  "Webb." 
which  crushed  in  the  starboard  wheel,  disabled  the 
starboard  rudder  and  started  a  number  of  leaks 
abaft  the  shaft.  Being  unable  to  work  the  starboard 
engine,  placed  us  in  an  almost  powerless  condi 
tion  ;  but  1  continued  the  fight  until  after  we  re 
ceived  the  seventh  blow,  which  was  given  us  by  the 
"  Webb." 

She  struck  us  fair  in  the  stern  and  started  the 
timbers  and  starboard  rudder-box  so  that  the 
water  poured  in  in  large  volumes.  At  this  time  I 
knew  that  the  "  Indianola  "  could  be  of  no  more 
service  to  us,  and  my  desire  was  to  render  her  use 
less  to  the  enemy,  which  I  did  by  keeping  her  in 
deep  water,  until  there  was  two  and  a  half  feet  of 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


299 


water  over  the  floor,  and  the  leaks  were  increasing 
rapidly  as  she  settled,  so  as  to  bring  the  opening 
made  by  the  "Webb  "  under  water. 

Knowing  that  if  either  of  the  rams  struck  us 
again  in  the  stern,  which  they  then  had  excellent 
opport  unites  of  doing  on  account  of  our  disabled 
condition,  we  would  sink  so  suddenly  that  few  if 
any  lives  would  be  saved,  I  succeeded  in  running 
her  bows  on  shore  by  starting  the  screw  engines. 
As  further  resistance  could  only  result  in  a  great 
loss  of  life  on  our  part,  without  a  corresponding 
result  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  I  surrendered 
the  "  Indianola,"  a  partially  sunken  vessel,  fast 
filling  with  water,  to  a  force  of  four  vessels, 
mounting  ten  guns  and  manned  by  over  one  thou 
sand  men. 

The  engagement  lasted  one  hour  and  twenty- 
seven  minutes.  I  lost  but  one  killed,  one  wounded 
and  seven  missing,  while  the  enemy  lost  two 
officers  and  thirty-three  men  killed  and  many 
wounded. 

Before  the  enemy  could  make  any  preparations 
for  endeavoring  to  save  the  ''  Indianola,"  her  stern 
was  under  water.  Both  rams  were  so  very  much 
crippled  that  I  doubt  whether  they  would  have 
tried  to  ram  again  had  not  their  last  blow  proved 
so  fatal  to  us. 

Both  signal  books  were  thrown  into  the  river  by 
me  a  few  minutes  before  the  surrender. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  state  that  the  9-inch 
guns  of  the  u  Indianola ''  were  thrown  overboard, 
and  the  11-inch  guns  damaged  by  being  loaded  with 
heavy  charges  and  solid  shot,  placed  muzzle  to 
muzzle  and  fired  by  a  slow  match,  so  that  they  were 
rendered  useless. 

This  was  done  in  consequence  of  the  sham  moni 
tor,  sent  from  above,  having  grounded  about  two 
miles  above  the  wreck  of  the  "  Indianola." 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

GEORGE  BROWX, 
Lieut.-Commander  U.  S.  Navy. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Other  means  had  now  to  be  invented  to 
get  into  the  rear  of  the  enemy  or  down  the 
river  in  order  to  stop  his  supplies. 

The  importance  of  this  late  move  can 
not  be  estimated.  The  communications 
between  Texas  and  Vicksburg  had  been  cut 
off,  and  the  capture  of  so  many  steamers 
loaded  with  army  stores  for  Port  Hudson 
had  sealed  the  fate  of  that  place;  thev  could 
not  hold  out,  and  Bank's  Army  would  soon 
be  free  to  march  upon  Vicksburg  by  the  left 
shore  of  the  river. 

At  this  time  Vicksburg  mounted  seventy- 
five  heavy  guns,  and  possessed  a  number  of 
heavy  rifled  field-pieces,  which,  being  able 
to  move  about,  were  quite  as  annoying  to 
vessels  running  the  blockade. 

The  guns  at  Vicksburg  were  so  scattered 
about  and  so  cunningly  concealed  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  detect  them.  A 
clever  plan  was  adopted  by  a  naval  photo 
grapher  to  bring  all  the  guns  to  light.  A 
large  photograph  of  the  city  was  taken, 
and  that  again  enlarged,  when  by  means  of 
magnifying  glasses,  every  gun  was  re 
vealed.  They  were  situated  in  many  queer 
places ;  some  inside  the  railroad  depot, 
one  in  an  engine  house,  others  screened 
by  carts  tipped  up,  etc.,  etc.;  but  from 


that  time  forth  the  Federal  mortars  and 
rifled  guns  sent  their  missiles  to  the  right 
place. 

Eight  mortars  on  rafts  were  kept  playing 
on  the  town  and  enemy's  works  day  and 
night,  and  three  heavy  rifled  guns  that 
could  reach  any  part  of  Vicksburg,  were 
placed  on  scows  to  protect  the  mortars. 

Vicksburg  was  by  nature  the  strongest 
point  on  the  river,  but  art  had  rendered  it 
almost  impregnable.  It  was  very  certain 
even  in  the  early  part  of  February, that  this 
was  to  be  a  long  and  tiresome  siege,  and  so 
General  Grant  viewed  it. 

A  naval  contingent  could  not  do  more 
than  give  protection  to  the  Army,  which 
was  very  important ;  but  as  to  the  vessels 
alone  possessing  the  power  to  knock  down 
these  inaccessible  forts,  it  was  not  to  be 
thought  of.  If  batteries  should  be  placed 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  they  would 
soon  be  driven  out  by  the  plunging  shot  and 
shells  from  the  enemy. 

The  military  engineers  in  Vicksburg  had 
employed  many  expedients  to  render  the 
Federal  fire  ineffectual.  For  a  distance 
of  six  miles  all  their  heavy  guns  were 
scattered  except  at  two  points  where  water 
batteries  were  placed  to  concentrate  their 
fire  upon  passing  vessels.  One  of  these 
batteries  mounted  thirteen  guns  and  the 
other  eleven. 

The  fire  of  the  Navy  upon  Vicksburg 
might  in  time  have  destroyed  the  city  and 
its  fine  public  buildings,  but  that  would 
have  brought  the  Army  no  nearer  the  de 
sired  object  :  the  possession  of  this  strong 
hold  and  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi. 

When  General  Williams  ascended  the 
river  in  company  with  Farragut,  with  3,000 
men,  he  announced  that  this  force  was  not 
sufficient  to  hold  Vicksburg,  even  if  he 
could  capture  it.  In  which  opinion  he  was 
right.  He  set  his  troops  to  work  to  cut  a 
canal  across  the  isthmus,  hoping  to  direct 
the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  into  this  cut 
and  make  the  river  take  a  new  direction,  by 
which  the  city  would  have  been  left  out  in 
the  cold;  but  the  plan  did  not  work  as  it 
had  done  in  many  other  cases,  and  when 
General  Williams  departed  he  left  only  a 
dry  ditch. 

General  Grant  being  anxious  to  get  trans 
ports  past  Vicksburg,  determined  to  try  the 
ditch  again,  and  had  dredges  brought  down 
to  work  on  it.  It  was  hoped  that  when  the 
river  rose  it  would  cut  its  way  through, 
but  that  wished  for  event  did  not  come  to 
pass  until  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  The 
enemy  mounted  heavy  guns  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  canal,  and  prevented  any 
work  upon  it. 

General  Grant  now  hit  upon  a  new  expe 
dient — which  was  to  deepen  Lake  Provi 
dence.  This  Lake  communicated  with  the 


300 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Tensas  River  (a  deep  stream),  and  the 
Tensas  emptied  into  the  Washita,  and  this 
latter  into  the  Red  River — thus  forming  a 
beautiful  system  of  inland  navigation  which 
if  properly*  opened  and  intelligently  directed 
would  have  been  of  great  service  to  the 
country  bordering  on  the  rivers  mentioned. 
But  it  was  not  to  be,  the  engineers  were  not 
successful.  Several  transports  were  taken 
in,  but  there  were  miles  of  forest  to  work 
through  and  trees  to  be  cut  down.  The 
swift  current  drove  the  steamers  against 
the  trees  and  injured  them  so  much  that 
this  plan  had  to  be  abandoned. 

Then  some  one  proposed  to  cut  away  the 
levee  at  a  place  called  Delta  near  Helena 
and  open  Yazoo  Pass.  This  used  to  be  the 
main  way  to  Yazoo  City  and  to  the  Talla- 
hatchie  and  Yallabusha  Rivers,  before  the 
Southern  railroad  was  built,  and  it  had  been 
closed  up  to  reclaim  some  millions  of  acres 
of  land.  It  led  into  the  Tallahatchie,  and 
if  our  Navy  could  succeed  in  getting  through 
it.  a  way  would  be  opened  for  the  Army  to 
get  into  the  rear  of  Vicksburg. 

The  levee  was  cut  and  the  Mississippi 
being  on  the  rise  the  water  rushed  through 
the  opening  with  great  force,  sweeping 
everything  before  it  and  cutting  a  channel 
200  yards  wide  at  the  mouth.  It  took 
several  days  for  the  water  to  reach  its  level, 
as  it  had  at  first  a  fall  of  nine  feet. 

In  the  mean  time  gun-boats  were  detailed 
and  prepared  for  the  expedition.  These 
vessels  were  the  "  Chillicothe/'  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Foster,  the  "  Baron  DeKalb." 
Lieutenant-Commander  Walker,  the  tin- 
clad  "Rattler."  ''Lioness  "  (ram)  and  two 
other  light  draft  vessels.  All  were  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant-Commander 
Watson  Smith,  who  had  instructions  to 
open  the  way  to  the  Yazoo  River  and 
destroy  all  of  the  enemy's  means  that  could 
not  be  carried  away.  General  Grant  sent 
an  Army  contingent  along  with  the  gun 
boats  to  assist  in  forcing  the  way  through 
the  obstructions.  This  force  was  com 
manded  by  Brigadier-General  Ross. 

To  describe  the  difficulties  which  attended 
this  expedition  would  be  impossible  and 
they  could  only  be  realized  by  those  who 
saw  them.  The  pass  had  been  closed  for 
many  years  and  trees  had  grown  up  in  the 
middle  of  the  channel  which  had  become 
dry  after  the  levee  was  built  across  its 
mouth.  Great  rafts  were  left  in  this  dry 
channel  as  the  water  ran  off  and  bushes 
and  vines  now  grew  thickly  around  them 
and  tied  them  together  as  with  withes. 
Overhanging  trees  joined  together  over  the 
channel — and  their  branches  were  so  low 
that  steamers  could  not  pass  without  having 
their  smoke-pipes  knocked  down  and  all 
their  boats  and  upper-works  swept  away. 

The  current  was  running  swiftly,  for  the 


vessels  entered  the  cut  before  the  water  had 
reached  its  level.  On  the  first  day,  not 
more  than  six  miles  was  made,  and  this 
was  only  accomplished  by  all  hands  going 
to  work  and  sawing  or  cutting  away  the 
obstructions. 

Colonel  Wilson,  an  Army  engineer,  who 
directed  all  this  kind  of  work,  was  a 
thoughtful,  energetic  man.  and  he  con 
ducted  the  operations  in  an  intelligent  man 
ner,  and  though  the  vessels  did  not  make 
very  rapid  headway,  they  did  wonderfully 
well  considering  the  difficulties.  They  all 
had  to  be  carefully  handled  with  hawsers 
around  the  bends,  for  the  Yazoo  Pass,  fol 
lowing  the  example  of  the  mother  Missis 
sippi,  was  as  crooked  as  a  ram's  horn. 

On  the  second  day.  the  vessels  were  so 
torn  to  pieces  that  no  more  harm  could  be 
done  to  them — they  had  hulls  and  engines 
left  and  that  had"  to  suffice.  The  officers 
and  men  performed  a  great  deal  of  manual 


U.   S.   NAVAL   HOSPITAL   BOAT    "RED   ROVER"   PASSING 
RANDOLPH   NEAR   FULTON,   TENN. 

(FROM    A    SKETCH    BY    HEAB-ADMIKAL    WAI.KE.) 

labor,  but  no  one  found  fault,  and  their 
jolly  songs  echoed  turough  the  woods  as 
they  worked,  frightening  the  birds  out  of 
their  quiet  retreats,  where  they  had  rested 
undisturbed  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

The  men  were  rewarded  after  four  days' 
of  terrible  labor  by  getting  forty  miles 
on  their  journey  through  such  obstructions 
as  they  had  never  dreamed  of.  At  last  they 
arrived  at  the  Tallahatchie  (a  clear  and 
swift  running  river),  and  the  vessels  form 
ing  in  some  kind  of  order,  with  the  gun 
boats  leading,  hastened  on.  Much  time 
had  been  lost  at  Helena  in  getting  the 
troops  on  board  the  transports,  and  the  pass 
was  not  entered  until  the  Sth  of  March,  and 
not  passed  until  the  llth;  then,  when  every 
one  thought  the  way  clear  before  them, 
they  suddenly  came  upon  a  formidable 
fort,  with  a  large  steamer  sunk  in  the  mid 
dle  of  the  channel  to  obstruct  the  passage 
of  the  Federal  fleet.  Here  \vas  a  surprise 
to  all  parties.  The  Confederates  did  not 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


301 


expect  to  see  iron-clads  in  these  waters,  nor 
the  Federals  to  find  forts  where  the  contra 
bands  had  reported  the  way  clear  before 
them. 

Fortunately  the  people  in  the  fort  had 
not  yet  removed  the  powder  from  the 
steamer,  and  the  transports  had  time  to 
back  up  the  stream  and  take  position  be 
hind  the  woods  in  a  bend,  and  there  make 
their  preparations  for  attack.  The  "  Chil- 
licothe,"  Lieutenant -Commander  Foster, 
and  the  "  DeKalb.''  Lieutenant-Commander 
Walker,  took  position,  side  by  sid<i,  tied  up 
to  the  bank  with  bows  down,  and  began  the 
action  with  a  mortar  boat  that  had  ac 
companied  the  expedition,  in  the  rear. 

At  this  time,  unfortunately,  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Watson  Smith  gave  evidence 
of  aberration  of  mind,  and  much  hampered 
Foster  and  Walker  by  contradictory  orders 
which  they  felt  bound  to  obey. 

The  "Cnillicothe"  was  temporarily  dis 
abled  by  having  her  port  shutter  closed  by 
a  shot  from  the  fort,  which  returned  the  fire 
of  the  gun-boats  as  soon  as  the  Confed 
erates  got  their  powder  from  the  steamer; 
and  when  they  did  get  to  work  they  kept 
up  a  rapid  and  well  directed  fire.  In  obedi 
ence  to  the  order  of  Lieutenant-Commander 
Smith,  the  two  iron-clads  had  to  with 
draw  from  action,  and  this  was  put  down 
as  a  reconnaissance. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the 
"  Chillicothe ''  went  down  and  attacked  the 
fort  at  close  quarters,  but  got  the  worst  of 
it.  She  proved  herself  to  be  a  poor  vessel 
for  resisting  shot.  During  the  afternoon 
fight  she  lost  four  men  killed  and  fifteen 
wounded. 

<  )n  the  13th,  the  two  iron-clads  again  went 
into  action,  lying  alongside  of  each  other  as 
before.  The  "  Chillicothe''  remained  in  ac 
tion  one  hour  and  thirty-eight  minutes,  and 
then  had  to  withdraw  for  want  of  ammuni 
tion,  besides  being  much  cut  up  by  the  ene 
my.  The  '•  DeKalb"  remained  in  position 
and  finally  silenced  the  Confederate  bat 
tery,  after  losing  but  three  killed  and  three 
wounded. 

The  only  way  this  fort  could  be  taken 
was  by  siege  guns  brought  up  close  to  the 
works  ;  but  this  was  not  done.  The  general 
commanding  the  military  contingent  did 
not  consider  himself  strong  enough  to  at 
tempt  anything  of  consequence,  and  after  a 
delay  of  thirteen  days,  in  which  neither  side 
did  anything,  the  Federal  forces  with 
drew. 

The  Navy  did  all  that  was  required  of  it 
on  this  occasion,  but  there  was  no  hearty 
co-operation  on  the  part  of  the  Army.  Fort 
Pemberton,  though  well  fortified  and  in  a 
strong  position,  ought  to  have  been  taken. 
This  would  have  given  the  Federals  com 
mand  of  the  Tallanatchie,  Yallabusha  and 


Yazoo  Rivers,  and  of  course  a  clear  way  to 
the  rear  of  Vicksburg. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  Lieutenant  Com 
mander  Watson  Smith,  owing  to  aberration 
of  mind,  gave  up  the  command  of  the  Naval 
force  to  Lieutenant -Commander  Foster, 
who  after  trying  all  that  could  be  thought 
of,  followed  the  Army  which  had  been  or 
dered  to  retire  from  before  Fort  Pemberton. 

A  great  deal  of  cotton  was  taken  by  this 
expedition,  but  the  result  was  a  failure  in 
the  main  object.  The  enemy  burned  two 
large  steamers  loaded  with  cotton,  or  they 
were  set  on  fire  by  the  shells  of  the  gun 
boats. 

The  Confederates  had  a  narrow  escape 
here,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  delay  in 
embarking  the  troops  at  Helena  the  Fed 
erals  would  have  been  successful.  As  soon 
as  the  Confederates  discovered  the  object 
of  this  movement  (which  they  did  as  soon 
as  the  levee  was  cut  at  Delta)  they  went  to 
work  and  built  the  two  formidable  forts, 
Pemberton  and  Greenwood  on  the  Talla- 
hatchie  and  Yallabusha,  and  blocked  the 
way  effectually. 

General  Pemberton  showed  a  great  deal 
of  ability  in  his  defense  of  Vicksburg.  all 
through,  and  won  the  respect  of  his  oppo 
nents  by  his  zeal  and  fidelity  to  his  cause, 
to  say  nothing  of  his  spirit  of  endurance. 
But  in  nothing  did  he  show  more  energy 
than  in  watching  the  Federal  tactics,  and 
guarding  against  all  attempts  made  to  turn 
his  flanks,  especially  by  way  of  the  streams 
which  would  have  commanded  the  ap 
proaches  to  Vicksburg  if  held  by  an  enemy. 

Pemberton  took  care  that  these  passes 
should  never  be  left  unguarded  in  the  future. 
These  attempts  to  turn  his  flanks  sharpened 
his  wits  and  set  them  to  work  in  other  direc 
tions  to  make  Vicksburg  stronger  than 
ever. 

The  vessels  which  composed  the  expedi 
tion  through  Yazoo  Pass,  worked  their  way 
back  by  the  route  they  had  entered.  The 
zeal  they  exhibited  in  getting  in  had  all 
left  them,  their  vessels  were  much  injured 
and  their  labors  seemed  interminable.  It 
was  a  happy  day  to  all  when  they  found 
themselves  on  the  wide  Mississippi,  which 
seemed  to  the  explorers  like  an  ocean  in 
comparison  with  the  small  and  tortuous 
streams  over  which  they  had  been  fighting 
their  way. 

The  shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy  were 
nothing  compared  to  the  manual  labor  of 
soldiers  and  sailors  in  removing  obstruc 
tions  which  to  many  seemed  insurmount 
able.  Yet  all  alike  wrere  these  difficulties 
to  be  overcome  in  getting  into  Vicksburg, 
and  this  was  only  one  in  a  number  of  cases 
where  the  energy  and  courage  of  our  Army 
and  Navy  were  taxed  to  the  utmost. 

In    reading    over   some  of  the  Western 


302 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


papers  of  those  days  one  would  suppose  that 
the  two  branches  of  the  service  were  sitting 
down  quietly  before  Vicksburg,  watching 
the  daily  performances  of  the  besieged 
without  making  any  efforts  to  get  inside  the 
city,  while,  in  fact,  from  the  general  down, 
there  was  but  one  feeling, — a  total  disregard 
of  personal  comfort  and  a  stern  determina 
tion  to  capture  Vicksburg  at  any  cost. 

Disappointment  after  disappointment  was 
met  with  a  stern  philosophy  which  showed 
that  the  word  "  fail"  was  not  understood 


in  that  Army  and  Navy.  Whenever  our 
soldiers  and  sailors  laid  aside  their  work 
for  a  short  time  to  rest,  it  was  the  signal  for 
renewed  libelous  newspaper  attacks  upon 
their  commanders,  but  these  articles  were 
read  by  our  men  with  the  same  feeling 
of  contempt  which  has  been  felt  in  later 
times  by  those  who  have  wasted  life  and 
health  in  saving  the  unity  of  this  great 
country  for  millions  yet  unborn,  whom,  it 
is  hoped,  will  feel  more  grateful  than  their 
forefathers. 


CH  A  PTER      XXVII, 


EXPEDITION  THROUGH   STEELE'S   BAYOU   AND   DEER  CREEK. 

THE  NAVAL  EXPEDITION  THROUGH  THE  WOODS. — SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS. — THROUGH  BLACK 
AND  STEELE'S  BAYOU.— A  HAZARDOUS  JOURNEY.— DESTRUCTION  OF  COTTON  AND  OTHER 
PROPERTY  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES. — A  SKIRMISH  WITH  TREE  CUTTERS. — SHERMAN 
MARCHING  TO  THE  RELIEF  OF  THE  GUN-BOATS. — DREADFUL  WORK  OF  THE  SHARP 
SHOOTERS. — THE  CONFEDERATES  ATTEMPT  TO  CAPTURE  THE  FLEET. — SHERMAN  ARRIVES. 
—REPULSE  OF  THE  CONFEDERATES. — RETREAT  OF  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY. — REPAIRING 
DAMAGES. — GOOD  EFFECT  OF  THE  EXPEDITION. — Loss  TO  THE  CONFEDERATES. — GRAND 
GULF  FORTIFIED.— A  COUNCIL  OF  WAR.— GRANT'S  DECISION.— THE  RAMS  RUN  THE 
BATTERIES —THE  "  LANCASTER"  SUNK.— THE  "SWITZERLAND"  JOINS  FARRAGUT. — 
BRAVE  VOLUNTEERS,  ETC.,  ETC. 


ABOUT  the  time  of  the  Yazoo  Pass 
expedition,  Lieutenant  McLeod 
Murphy,  U.  S.  N.,  discovered  a 
pass  through  the  woods  some  ten 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Yazoo,  by  which  it  was  thought  the  gun 
boats  could  reach  the  valley  of  Deer  Creek, 
and,  perhaps  get  into  the  Yazoo  River  by 
the  Sunflower  and  Yallabusha,  thereby 
reaching  the  rear  of  Vicksburg.  The  water 
in  the  Mississippi  had  risen  remarkably,  so 
much  so  that  land  usually  dry  for  miles  in 
the  interior,  now  had  seventeen  feet  of 
water  over  it.  The  question  was,  could  the 
gun-boats  get  througn  the  woods  and  thick 
underbrush  which  abounded  in  that  local 
ity.  The  route  was  examined  by  General 
Grant  and  Admiral  Porter,  and  being 
found  apparently  practicable  for  the  pur 
pose  intended,  it  was  determined  between 
the  Army  and  Naval  leaders  that  an  at 
tempt  should  be  made  to  get  to  the  rear  of 
Vicksburg  in  this  way. 

So  important  was  this  route  considered 
that  Admiral  Porter  determined  to  go  him 
self  in  charge  of  the  naval  part  of  the  expe 
dition,  while  General  Sherman  was  to  lead 
an  army  contingent  of  8,000  or  10,000  men. 
A  man  who  knew  all  about  the  country, 
and  who  gave  his  opinion  that  this  was  a 
favorable  opportunity  to  get  into  the  de 
sired  position  in  rear  of  the  beleagured  city, 
was  employed  to  accompany  the  expedi 


tion  as  pilot ;  and  at  the  start  everything 
promised  well. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  Admiral  Porter 
started  with  the  following  vessels  :  "  Cin 
cinnati,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  Bache ; 
"  Louisville,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Owens ;  "  Carondelet,"  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Murphy;  "Mound  City,"  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  Byron  Wilson;  "Pitts 
burgh,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  Hoel ; 
two  mortar  floats  and  four  tugs. 

When  the  fleet  came  to  the  pass  into 
which  it  was  to  turn,  after  having  ascended 
the  Yazoo,  the  entrance  could  scarcely  be 
made  out,  so  dense  was  the  growth  of  the 
overhanging  bushes  and  trees,  but  these 
the  men  cut  away  with  cutlasses  and  axes, 
and  a  pass  wide  enough  for  three  vessels 
abreast,  showed  itself,  lined  out  by  heavy 
trees,  and  through  this  the  gun-boats  fol 
lowed  one  another  in  line,  their  leadsmen 
singing  out  in  melodious  song,  "  quarter 
less  three."  There  was  no  more  channel 
here  than  elsewhere,  as  the  water  over 
flowed  every  place  alike,  but  there  was  a 
long,  straight  pass  opening  through  the  for 
est,  about  170  feet  wide,  which  was,  no 
doubt,  a  road  cut  through  the  woods  for 
hauling  cotton  to  some  landing. 

It  was  a  novel  scene.  Thousands  of 
crows  flew  from  their  perches,  and  broke 
the  silence  of  the  forest  with  their  dis 
cordant  notes,  no  doubt  wondering  what 


(303) 


304 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


could  have  caused  those  great  "mud- 
turtles"  to  invade  their  hitherto  inaccessible 
abode,  where  for  centuries  they  had  reared 
their  young  and  digested  their  plunder 
without  interruption. 

On  went  the  gun-boats,  officers  and  sail 
ors  alike,  delighted  with  the  romantic 
scenery,  which  baffled  description  ;  every 
heart  was  cheered  with  the  hope  that  the 
long  sought  for  road  to  Vicksburg  had  been 
found,  and  that  the  great  prize  would  soon 
be  in  their  hands.  Now  and  then,  a  stray 
tree  as  much  as  three  feet  in  diameter  would 
be  found  standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
channel  as  if  to  dispute  the  way.  The  ves 
sels  might  have  passed  on  either  side,  but 
the  desire  to  try  the  strength  of  these  outly 
ing  sentinels  proved  so  great  that  the  flag 
ship  "Cincinnati "  would  run  into  them  with 
her  strong,  broad  bow,  and  topple  them 
over,  a  feat  rendered  possible  by  the  soft 
ening  action  of  the  water  upon  the  earth 
about  their  roots.  The  vessels  in  the  rear 
were  told  to  haul  them  out  of  the  way. 
This  was  good  practice,  and  came  into  play 
before  the  expedition  had  proceeded  many 
miles.  It  was  all  fair  sailing  at  first,  but 
became  rough  work  in  the  end. 

After  some  ten  miles  of  easy  progress 
through  the  woods,  the  fleet  arrived  at 
Black  Bayou,  a  place  about  four  miles  long, 
leading  into  Deer  Creek — and  here  the  plain 
sailing  ended.  The  gun-boats,  being  too 
wide  to  pass  between  the  trees,  had  to  go  to 
work  and  knock  them  down,  and  pull  them 
up  by  the  roots.  The  line  of  vessels  was 
broken,  and  each  went  to  work  to  make  her 
way  through  the  tangle  as  best  she  could. 
Saws  and  axes  now  came  into  use,  and 
every  means  was  resorted  to  for  clearing 
the  way.  The  narrow  tugs  and  the  mor 
tar  floats  had  no  difficulty  in  getting  along, 
but  the  wider  iron-clads  were,  for  a  time, 
brought  to  a  stand.  The  open  roadway  had 
vanished,  and  the  pilot  confessed  his  igno 
rance  of  this  locality.  There  was  plenty 
of  water,  and  the  stentorian  voice  of  the 
leadsman  was  still  heard  singing  out  "quar 
ter  less  three  ! " 

There  is  nothing  that  will  daunt  the 
American  sailor  but  a  lee  shore  and  no  sea 
room.  There  was  plenty  of  sea  room  here, 
but  no  room  to  pass  between  the  tangle. 
The  obstruction  was  passed,  after  working 
twenty-four  hours  consecutively,  and  that 
four  miles  overcome,  leaving  a  good  road 
for  those  coming  after,  but  a  number  of 
trees  were  moved  away.  Titans  of  the 
forest  that  had  reigned  there  for  a  century 
or  more. 

Sherman  had  arrived  at  Black  Bayou 
with  part  of  his  force,  another  part  had 
started  to  march  over  from  a  point  twenty 
miles  above  the  Yazoo  River,  on  the  Mis 
sissippi,  following  a  ridge  oi'  land  not  in 


undated.  The  part  of  the  Army  embarked 
had  been  transported  in  small  stern-wheel 
steamers,  which  being  very  narrow,  suc 
ceeded  in  passing  between  the  trees  with 
only  the  loss  of  a  few  smoke-stacks.  From 
Black  Bayou,  the  gun-boats  turned  again 
into  Steele's  Bayou,  a  channel  just  one  foot 
wider  than  the  vessels,  and  here  came  the 
tug  of  war,  such  as  no  vessels  ever  encoun 
tered  before.  The  keel  of  the  skiff  was  the 
largest  thing  that  had  ever  floated  in  waters 
now  bearing  vessels  of  GOO  tons  burthen. 
These  had  to  break  through  bridges  span 
ning  this  muddy  ditch,  pass  through  the 
smoke  and  fire  of  burning  cotton-bales 
(which  the  enemy  set  in  a  blaze  as  soon  as 
the  fleet  was  discovered),  and  work  on.  at 
the  rate  of  half  a  mile  an  hour,  through 
lithe  willows  growing  in  the  middle  of  the 
stream,  which  at  intervals  was  choked  up 
with  rafts  that  had  been  there  for  years. 
The  pilot  proved  to  be  a  fraud,  he  had  never 
seen  the  place  before. 

This  bayou  was  bordered  on  both  sides  with 
overhanging  trees,  whose  Briarean  arms 
would  cling  around  the  passing  vessels  and 
sweep  away  boats  and  smoke-stacks,  while 
the  limbs  of  decayed  trees  would  fall  upon 
the  decks,  smashing  skylights  to  pieces,  and 
injuring  the  people. 

It  was  dreadful  to  witness  the  infatua 
tion  of  the  Confederate  Government  agents, 
who,  riding  about  on  horseback,  were  set 
ting  fire  to  the  cotton  far  and  near.  They 
must  have  imagined  the  expedition  sent  to 
gather  cotton — a  purpose  never  thought  of. 

Houses  were  often  consumed  with  the 
cotton  piles,  and  everything  betokened  a 
Moscow  affair.  It  was  the  cotton  of  the 
Confederate  government,  and  they  were 
allowed  to  burn  it.  It  was  the  Confederate 
sinews  of  war  they  were  destroying  ;  they 
were  burning  up  their  cash  with  which 
they  had  expected  to  carry  on  the  struggle. 

The  leaders  of  the  expedition  soon  saw 
they  were  discovered;  the  move  was  cer 
tainly  known  in  Vicksburg,  and  the  whole 
Confederacy  would  be  at  work  to  defeat  this 
measure,  as  they  had  at  Fort  Pemberton. 
The  expedition  hurried  on  to  get  into  the 
Rolling  Fork,  and  thence  into  the  Sun 
flower,  whence  it  could  reach  the  Yazoo 
above  Haines'  Bluff.  It  seemed  insane  to  pro 
ceed,  there  were  so  many  dreadful  obstacles 
in  the  way,  yet  no  one  apparently  minded 
them.  The  work  was  hard  on  the  sailors, 
nevertheless  they  only  made  a  lark  of  it. 

Vicksburg  was  never  so  aroused  as  on 
hearing  of  the  raid  right  into  the  heart  of 
her  preserves.  The  expedition  had  struck 
that  city's  store-house:  here  were  the  flesh- 
pots  that  would  make  any  people  glad ; 
cattle,  corn,  "hog  and  hominy  "  enough  to 
subsist  a  great  Army. 

The    government    agents    assembled    in 


OF  THE  CIVIL     WAR. 


305 


numbers,  they  seemed  to  spring  from  the 
earth:  the  cattle,  pigs  and  poultry  were  all 
driven  to  the  woods.  Corn  ricks  were  set 
on  fire  that  the  Federals  might  not  have  a 
grain.  The  latter  were  not  thinking  of  the 
flesh-pots,  they  were  too  intent  upon  getting 
to  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  too  intent  upon 
clearing  out  the  obstructions  in  the  muddy 
Bayou  to  think  of  "  hog  and  hominy." 

In  the  first  twenty-four  hours  of  this 
work,  the  fleet  made  four  miles!  At  dark 
it  tied  up  for  the  night  that  the  hard  worked 
men  might  rest,  but  there  was  no  rest  for 
any  one  there.  At  ten  o'clock  that  night, 
lights  were  flitting  about  in  the  woods,  and 
the  sounds  of  wood  chopping  fell  upon  the 
ears  of  the  watchers  in  the  fleet,  and  the 
falling  of  trees  satisfied  them  that  the  enemy 
was  on  the  alert,  cutting  down  trees  across 
their  path  to  pen  in  the  gun -boats. 

Armed  landing  parties  were  made  up 
from  each  vessel,  and  put  ashore;  a  tug, 
with  a  boat  howitzer  mounted  on  board, 
was  sent  up  the  bayou,  and  found  two  trees, 
two  and  a  half  feet  in  diameter  each,  cut 
down  and  lying  across  the  stream,  com 
pletely  obstructing  it.  The  tug  fired  after 
the  tree  cutters,  and  the  landing  party  of 
300  men,  under  Lieutenant  McLeod  Murphy, 
worked  all  night  with  axes  and  tackles  to 
remove  the  fallen  timber.  The  fleet  moved 
on  at  night,  the  banks  being  lighted  by 
lanterns.  They  were  determined  not  to  be 
detained  by  tree  cutters.  The  tug  went 
ahead  for  twelve  miles,  firing  her  gun 
wherever  a  white  man  and  an  axe  could 
be  heard  of. 

Twenty-five  trees  had  been  commenced 
upon  by  the  cutters,  but  the  latter  were 
driven  off  by  the  howitzer.  It  was  found 
that  a  large  gang  of  negroes  had  been 
pressed  into  service  by  the  Confederate 
agents  who.  with  pistols  at  their  heads, 
compelled  them  to  cut  the  trees;  but  when 
the  shrapnel  from  the  howitzer  began  to 
rattle  through  the  woods,  government 
agents,  woodcutters  and  all,  left  in  a  panic. 

Slowly  as  the  naval  vessels  moved,  they 
made  greater  progress  than  the  troops,  and 
got  ahead  of  them  some  twenty  miles;  the 
troops  met  difficulties  they  were  not  pre 
pared  for,  and  the  fleet  moved  on  in  ad 
vance.  After  four  days  of  the  greatest 
labor  one  can  imagine,  the  fleet  arrived  at 
or  near  the  entrance  to  the  Rolling  Fork, 
where  it  was  supposed  all  difficulties  would 
be  at  an  end.  Here,  for  a  distance  of  600 
yards,  a  bed  of  willows  blocked  the  way. 
The  flag-ship  "Cincinnati,"  ran  into  it 
under  a  full  head  of  steam,  and  there  she 
stuck;  the  willow  wythes  caught  in  the 
rough  iron  of  her  overhang,  and  held  her 
as  if  in  a  vise.  All  the  arts  of  seamanship 
could  not  displace  this  obstacle,  it  would 
have  taken  weeks  to  remove  the  willows. 

20 


After  working  a  whole  day  and  night 
with  saws,  chisels  and  cutlasses,  the  men 
stopped  for  a  breathing  spell,  during  which 
a  steamer  landed  at  the  bank,  four  miles 
off  on  the  Rolling  Fork.  Another  soon  came 
higher  up,  and  both  landed  artillery,  which, 
in  two  hours,  opened  a  cross  fire  on  the  fleet 
with  about  twenty  shells  a  minute,  driving 
the  men  on  the  banks  to  seek  the  shelter  of 
the  iron-clads.  The  mortars  were  brought 
to  bear  on  the  enemy,  and  for  a  time, 
checked  the  fire.  Spy-glasses,  used  from 
the  top  of  an  Indian  mound — disclosed  the 
fact  that  the  enemy  were  landing  a  large 
force  of  infantry — the  guns  of  the  iron-clads 
were  so  far  below  the  banks  of  the  bayou 
that  they  were  not  a  particle  of  use,  the 
vessels  themselves  were  so  jammed  up 
against  the  bank  on  either  side  that  there 
was  danger  of  their  crews  being  kept  pris 
oners  on  board  by  sharpshooters.  Sher 
man's  troops  were  not  in  sight  and  it  became 
necessary  to  send  back  a  messenger  to  the 
general  urging  him  to  hurry  up  to  the  assist 
ance  of  the  gun -boats,  which  were  very 
helpless  at  one  time. 

The  united  efforts  of  the  steamers  astern 
of  the  *' Cincinnati "  pulled  her  out  of  the 
willows,  but  not  without  great  trouble,  the 
people  on  deck  and  on  the  banks  being 
exposed  to  the  artillery  which  kept  up  a 
sharp  fire. 

There  was  but  one  thing  to  be  done  under 
the  circumstances,  and  that  was  to  fall  back 
and  meet  the  Army,  which  the  admiral  re 
ceived  assurances  was  moving  on  as  fast  as 
possible.  As  soon  as  Sherman  received  the 
dispatch  announcing  the  condition  of  the 
gun-boats,  he  started  off  his  troops,  though 
it  was  night,  and  made  his  way  along  the 
tortuous  route  by  the  light  of  pine  knots. 
He  got  into  swamps  and  cane  brakes,  and 
made  but  slow  progress.  This  did  not  prove 
to  any  one  the  fair  road  to  Vicksburg. 
The  soldiers  were  as  severely  tried  as  the 
sailors. 

As  night  came  on,  the  gun-boats  were 
ordered  to  unship  their  rudders,  and  drop 
down  with  the  current;  and,  the  water  now 
running  rapidly  into  the  bayou,  owing  to 
the  cut  at  Delta — which  was  overflowing 
the  whole  country — the  vessels  bumped 
along  at  double  the  rate  they  had  ascended, 
bounding  from  tree  to  tree,  and  bringing 
down  the  dead  branches  on  the  decks,  to 
the  destruction  of  everything  around— 
boats  were  smashed,  and  more  or  less  in 
jury  done  to  everything. 

As  the  gun-boats  departed, the  enemy  ap 
peared  upon  the  Indian  mound,  and  owing 
to  the  tortuous  windings  of  the  stream,  kept 
the  fleet  under  fire  without  the  latter  being 
able  to  fire  more  than  an  occasional  gun  un 
til  nightfall,  when  it  was  found  necessary 
to  tie  up.  A  watch  of  armed  men  and  all 


306 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  howitzers  were  put  ashore  in  prepara 
tion  for  emergencies 

In  the  night  the  patrolling  parties  cap 
tured  two  of  the  enemy's  officers  and  some 
men,  who  stated  that  two  batteries  had  been 
landed,  and  three  thousand  sharpshooters, 
and  that  they  were  quite  satisfied  they 
would  capture  the  gun-boats  in  twenty-four 
hours.  They  were  not  aware  that  an  army 
was  with  the  fleet;  they  took  this  for  a  raid 
of  gun-boats  only,  and.  as  one  of  them  re 
marked,  ';  a  crazy  one  at  that." 

At  daylight  the  fleet  started  down  stream 
again,  stern  foremost,  hoping  to  meet  the 
army  by  noon,  but  at  8  A.  M.,  they  were 
surrounded  by  sharpshooters,  who  kept  up 
such  a  fire  that  it  was  almost  impossible  for 
any  one  to  show  himself  on  deck.  The 
riflemen  on  board,  lying  behind  defences, 
kept  up  a  brisk  fire  -whenever  they  saw  a 
curl  of  smoke.  The  howitzers  were  kept 
at  work  from  behind  the  deck-houses,  and 
the  mortars,  which  were  fired  with  small 
charges,  landed  I  heir  shells  in  amongst  the 
enemy,  and  kept'  them  at  a  distance.  Now 
and  then  a  mortar  shell,  landing  at  the  foot 
of  a  tree  behind  which  was  a  sharpshooter, 
would  overthrow  the  tree  as  it  exploded- 
making  trees  unsafe  as  a  protection.  Still, 
the  sharpshooters  increased  in  numbers, 
when,  suddenly,  the  fleet  had  to  come  to  a 
stand.  Eight  or  ten  large  trees,  some  three 
feet  in  diameter,  had  been  felled  right 
across  their  track,  from  either  side  of  the 
bayou,  thus  completely  blocking  the  way, 
and  the  loud  cheers  of  the  Confederates  as 
they  rang  through  the  woods  showed  they 
thought  their  prey  entrapped. 

The  officers  and  men  of  the  fleet,  un 
daunted  by  this  state  of  things,  went  to 
work  to  surmount  the  difficulty  and  re 
move  the  trees.  Five  hundred  armed  men 
were  put  on  shore,  and  took  to  the  trees  to 
meet  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  while  how 
itzers  and  mortars  kept  up  a  rapid  fire 
which  was  more  than  the  enemy  cared  to 
face. 

The  working  party  from  the  vessels  com 
menced  operations  below  the  banks,  out  of 
reach  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  by  using 
hawsers,  tackles,  and  that  powerful  ad 
junct,  steam,  in  six  hours  the  trees  were  all 
removed,  and  the  fleet  went  on  its  way 
down  rejoicing. 

Sherman  had  heard  the  firing,  and  had 
pushed  on  to  get  to  the  aid  of  the  gun-boats. 
In  the  meantime,  the  enemy  had  landed 
more  infantry  —  there  were  about  four 
thousand  in  all.  Pemberton,  at  Vicksburg, 
was  well  posted  in  all  that  was  going  on, 
and  was  determined  to  leave  nothing  un 
done  to  capture  the  venturesome  fleet. 

Again  the  fleet  came  to  a  stand-still, 
but  this  time  only  two  large  trees  had  been 
felled.  The  crews  of  the  vessels  commenced 


the  work  of  removal,  when  a  large  body  of 
Confederate  troops  were  seen  advancing 
directly  through  the  woods  upon  the 
steamers,  while  the  sharpshooters  in  re 
doubled  numbers  opened  fire  on  the  fleet 
from  behind  trees  not  more  than  fifty  yards 
distant. 

The  working  parties  were  called  on  board 
to  defend  the  vessels,  but  before  they  could 
get  to  their  arms,  there  was  a  rattle  of  mus 
ketry  in  the  woods,  a  cheering  of  the  crews, 
and  a  rapid  retreat  by  the  Confederates. 
They  had  fallen  in  witli  the  head  of  Sher 
man's  column,  which  was  a  great  surprise 
to  them,  and  after  one  or  two  A'olleys,  they 
broke  and  fled  back  to  their  steamers.  Sher 
man  arrived  just  in  the  nick  of  time. 
Whether  the  gun-boats  could  have  held 
their  own  under  the  circumstances  is  im 
possible  to  say.  They  were  well  prepared 
for  a  brave  fight,  and  from  behind  the 
banks  they  could  have  mown  down  the 
enemy  as  they  rushed  on,  but  it  was  better 
as  it  was,  and  they  were  not  subjected  to 
the  trial. 

The  broadside  guns  of  the  vessels  had  been 
given  their  greatest  elevation,  and  loaded 
with  grape  and  cannister.  The  iron  sides 
of  the  vessels  had  all  been  well  greased,  and 
nothing  was  left  for  assailants  to  hold  on 
by.  Fourteen  hundred  good  men,  with 
breech-loaders  and  howitzers,  were  ready 
to  repel  boarders'  but  there  is  no  knowing 
what  a  desperate  set  of  men  under  good 
leaders  might  have  accomplished,  with  such 
a  prize  in  view  as  the  best  vessels  of  the 
Mississippi  squadron.  No  set  of  people 
were  ever  so  glad  to  see  the  soldiers  as  the 
men  of  that  fleet  were  to  see  Sherman  and 
his  Army;  and,  as  the  gallant  general  rode 
up  to  the  gun-boats,  he  was  received  with 
the  warmest  cheers  he  ever  had  in  his  life. 

That  was  the  end  of  the  Steele's  Bayou 
expedition;  the  impossibility  of  going  on 
again  in  the  face  of  all  the  difficulties  was 
conceded  by  all  parties,  and  it  was  decided 
to  get  the  fleet  out  of  that  ditch  before  the 
enemy  blocked  up  the  entrance  in  the  rear 
and  left  it  in  the  mud. 

The  impracticability  of  the  campaign  had 
been  fully  demonstrated.  So  much  time 
had  been  consumed  by  the  numerous  obsta 
cles  the  Army  and  Navy  had  to  contend 
with  that  the  enemy  had  the  opportunity  to 
produce  the  means  of  checkmating  the 
expedition. 

The  point  where  the  gun-boats  would 
have  to  leave  Steele's  Bayou  to  get  into  the 
Rolling  Fork  was  so  blocked  up  that  it 
would  take  many  days  to  remove  the 
obstacles,  and  the  Confederates  could  throw 
in  such  a  force  as  would  prevent  their  op 
ponents  from  working  at  it. 

The  enemy  had  clear,  open  rivers  to  work 
in;  and,  in  two  days,  could  transport  any 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


307 


number  of  troops  and  guns  they  desired. 
The  country  would  not  answer  for  a  base 
of  operations,  so  the  Union  forces  returned 
to  the  woods  and  deep  water,  having  gained 
a  great  deal  of  experience,  and  the  know 
ledge  that  Vicksburg  could  not  be  taken  in 
that  direction. 

This  expedition  greatly  alarmed  the  Vicks 
burg  people:  the  Army  and  Navy  had  there 
by  found  the  way  right  into  the  store-house 
from  which  the  besieged  had  been  fed,  and 
upon  which  they  depended  in  the  future. 

This  greatly  changed  their  system  of  de 
fence;  guns  were  removed  from  prominent 
points  along  the  Mississippi,  while  the  rivers 
Tullahatchie.  Sunflower  and  Yazoo  were 
strongly  fortified,  and  were  guarded  against 
any  attack  in  the  future.  Every  precaution 
was  likewise  taken  to  protect  the  flanks  of 
the  city,  but  the  soldiers  and  sailors  reveled 
in  all  the  good  things  whicli  abounded  in 
this  district,  and  thinking  there  was  vastly 
more  food  there  than  the  Confederates  could 
possibly  want,  the  gun-boats  and  transports 
carried  off  an  astonishing  amount  of  loot, 
whicli  reconciled  them  in  a  measure  for 
their  disappointment  in  not  fully  succeeding 
in  their  attempt  to  reach  the  rear  of  Vicks 
burg. 

The  Navy  carried  away  over  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  cotton,  marked 
"C.  S.  A.."  winch  the  Confederates  had 
collected  for  the  use  of  their  government, 
only  waiting  for  the  opportunity  to  carry 
it  to  the  sea-board.  Over  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  cotton  was  de 
stroyed  by  fire,  by  command  of  Confeder 
ate  agents,  who  determined  that  it  should 
not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Federals. 
This  was  all  a  great  loss  to  the  enemy,  but 
unimportant  in  comparison  with  what  the 
combined  forces  had  hoped  to  attain. 

When  it  was  decided  that  no  more  could 
be  done  on  this  expedition,  the  Army  re 
turned  to  their  transports,  and  the  Navy 
led  the  way  out  of  the  woods,  the  men  at 
the  leads  singing  out  "quarter  less  three," 
in  cheery  tones,  as  if  everything  had  gone 
on  smoothly  with  them,  and  the  gun-boats 
had  not  been  almost  smashed  to  pieces 
while  rebounding  from  tree  to  tree  in 
Steele's  Bayou. 

On  the  2Gth  of  March,  the  fleet  arrived 
at  its  old  anchorage  on  the  Yazoo.  All  the 
machinists,  carpenters,  boatbuilders,  etc., 
from  the  shops  afloat  were  set  to  work  to 
repair  damages,  and  in  a  week,  with  the 
finishing  touch  of  a  new  coat  of  paint,  they 
looked  as  good  as  new. 

This  expedition,  though  in  a  measure  un 
successful,  still  had  a  good  effect  on  the 
Army  and  Navy.  While  the  men  were 
kept  so  employea  on  what  were  really  very 
exciting  expeditions,  they  had  no  time  to 
become  disheartened  by  only  looking  at 


the  frowning  hills  of  Vicksburg,  which 
they,  as  well  as  the  officers,  could  see  were 
not  to  be  taken  in  front.  It  inured  both 
services  to  hard  work  which  would  the  bet 
ter  enable  them  to  overcome  like  obstacles 
in  the  future  ;  the  constant  employment 
hardened  their  bodies,  while  it  benefited 
their  minds,  and  kept  them  in  good  spirits. 
They  gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
difficulties  they  had  to  encounter,  and  all 
this  prepared  them  to  battle  with  others  of 
the  same  kind. 

These  persistent  attempts  of  the  Army 
and  Navy  to  overcome  all  the  obstacles  in 
the  way  of  getting  into  Vicksburg,  kept 
the  enemy  continually  on  the  alert,  and 
obliged  them  to  be  moving  through  a 
country  filled  with  all  kinds  of  obstacles, 
and  made  them  doubtful  where  the  blow 
would  fall.  On  this  account,  Pemberton 
had  to  reduce  his  Army  in  the  city,  and 
keep  a  larger  portion  of  it  at  points  remote 
from  the  real  objective  point  at  whicli  the 
Union  general  aimed. 

The  Confederate  soldiers  were  worn  out 
and  dispirited  by  the  numerous  marches 
and  countermarches  they  were  obliged  to 
make.  They  were  compelled  to  live  upon 
the  country  when  they  went  to  expel  the 
invaders,  and  this  soon  exhausted  the  stores 
in  the  invaded  district  on  which  the  people 
in  Vicksburg  depended  when  the  hardest 
time  should  come.  Besides  the  Confederates 
were  raiders  even  among  their  own  people. 
The  Union  soldiers  did  pay  a  little  respect 
to  private  property,  but  the  former  paid  no 
such  compliment  to  anything  that  could 
add  to  their  comfort,  or  fill  their  commis 
sariat  ;  and,  on  the  whole,  the  Federal  in 
vaders  were  more  acceptable  to  the  people 
on  the  estates  than  were  the  Confederates. 
In  this  invasion,  the  Army  and  Navy 
both  inflicted  serious  losses  on  the  owners 
of  slaves,  and  large  numbers  of  the  latter 
went  off  either  in  the  transports  or  011  the 
gun- boats.  The  negroes  stated  that  they 
had  been  employed  in  working  on  the  for 
tifications  at  Vicksburg,  Haines'  Bluff,  etc., 
and  the  fact  that  they  had  been  employed 
to  cut  down  the  trees  on  Steele's  Bayou, 
thereby  to  hem  in  the  gun-boats,  was  a 
good  reason  for  taking  them  away.  The 
last  and  best  reason  was  that  the  undeni 
able  right  of  freedom  was  theirs,  and  it 
was  the  duty  of  every  Christian  officer  and 
man  to  help  them  escape  from  the  most 
miserable  slavery  that  ever  existed  in  any 
part  of  the  world. 

General  Grant,  though  disappointed  in 
the  result  of  this  last  expedition,  was  not 
discouraged  He  saw  that  this  was  the  last 
attempt  that  could  be  made  in  this  direc 
tion,  and  turned  his  attention  to  other  ways, 
believing,  with  the  Duke  of  Marlborough, 
that  though  all  trials  might  fail,  there  was 


308 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


always  one  way  left  to  get  into  a  fortified 
city. 

So  evident  was  it  to  the  Confederates 
that  in  both  the  Yazoo  Pass  and  the  Steele's 
Bayou  expedition  they  had  left  the  north 
ern  flank  of  Vicksburg  unprotected,  that 
they  removed  the  depot  at  once.  Not  only 
that,  though  there  was  no  apparent  neces 
sity  for  it,  they  went  to  work  to  strengthen 
their  left  flank  also,  as  far  down  the  river 
as  Grand  Gulf,  thinking,  perhaps,  that  the 

gun-boats  might  pass  the  batteries  at  Vicks- 
urg,  pass  up  the  Black  River,  and  gain 
the  rear  of  the  besieged  city  by  arriving  at 
Jackson,  the  capital  of  Mississippi — a  thing 
much  more  easily  done  than  getting  through 
Steele's  Bayou. 

Whether  they  were  influenced  by  these 
ideas  or  not,  they  proceeded  at  once  to  for 
tify  Grand  Gulf  in  such  a  manner  that  no 
vessel  could  pass  up  Black  River,  and  with 
hope  that  the  forts  would  be  strong  enough 
to  prevent  vessels  of  war  from  passing  up 
and  down  the  Mississippi  itself.  While  the 
Confederates  were  considering  these  mat 
ters,  Admiral  Farragut  arrived  in  the 
"  Hartford,"  just  below  Warrenton,  in  pur 
suit  of  coal  and  provisions.  This  was  after 
his  passage  of  the  Port  Hudson  batteries. 
From  him  Grant  obtained  information  of 
affairs  at  the  latter  place,  and  the  little 
probability  there  was  of  General  Banks 
making  the  Confederates  evacuate  it. 

On  hearing  this,  General  Grant  thought 
of  sending  an  army  corps  to  co-operate  with 
Banks,  get  possession  of  the  works  at  Port 
Hudson,  and  then  bring  all  Banks'  forces 
to  operate  against  Vicksburg.  But  this 
idea  did  not  exist  long,  the  general  coming 
to  this  opinion  through  the  fact  that  the 
water  had  overflowed  everything  about  the 
upper  part  of  Vicksburg,  and  dry  land 
could  only  be  found  on  the  heights.  There 
was  no  foot-hold  for  an  army,  and  Grant 
thought  a  better  chance  of  turning  Vicks 
burg  might  be  found  below,  between  War 
renton  and  Grand  Gulf. 

Having  consulted  with  Admiral  Porter 
regarding  the  possibility  of  passing  the  bat 
teries  at  Vicksburg  with  a  sufficient  force 
— a  point  on  which  his  mind  was  made  easy 
—he  called  a  council  of  war,  at  which  all 
the  divisional  commanders, except  Sherman 
and  McClernand,  were  present. 

The  plan  proposed  to  the  council  was  to 
send  the  gun-boats  below  Vicksburg  with  a 
sufficient  number  of  transports,  well  packed 
with  cotton— to  protect  their  boilers  and 
machinery — to  march  the  Army  over  to 
Carthage,  and  thence  transport  it  to  the 
Vicksburg  side,  as  circumstances  war 
ranted. 

This  proposition  was  respectfully  but 
strongly  opposed  by  all  the  generals  pres 
ent.  Sherman  sent  his  objections — which 


were  good  ones — in  writing;  and  McCler 
nand,  to  whom  Grant  had  spoken  on  the 
subject,  wrote  a  letter,  and  proposed  the  plan 
of  going  below,  as  originating  with  himself, 
which  was  a  habit  this  general  had  when 
anything  of  importance  was  about  to  be  un 
dertaken. 

This  plan  of  Grant's  seemed  to  those 
around  him  to  be  full  of  danger,  and  they 
left  no  eloquence  untried  to  persuade  him 
not  to  undertake  a  move  threatening  so 
much  peril  to  his  Army.  They  urged  that 
to  move  his  Army  below  Vicksburg  was  to 
cut  himself  off  from  his  base  of  supplies  at 
the  North,  to  cut  his  own  communications, 
and  do  exactly  what  his  enemies  most  de 
sired  him  to  do:  to  place  himself  in  a  posi 
tion,  where,  if  defeated,  the  defeat  would 
be  overwhelming.  The  inundated  state  of 
the  country  was  pointed  out  to  him,  and 
the  difficulty  of  moving  an  Army  and  sup 
plies  over  such  roads  as  there  were.  Some 
of  the  most  accomplished  soldiers  in  his 
Army,  men  who  had  won  their  way  to  fame, 
urged  him,  with  all  the  power  of  eloquence, 
not  to  undertake  the  rash  movement. 
Grant  listened  to  them  respectfully,  and 
when  the  last  had  spoken,  he  said:  *'  I  am 
sorry  to  differ  with  you  all,  but  my  mind  is 
made  up;  the  Army  will  move  to-morrow 
at  ten  o'clock." 

When  Grant  was  asked  how  he  would  get 
the  transports  past  the  batteries,  he  replied: 
"  That  is  the  Admiral's  affair.  Where  the 
'  Queen  of  the  West '  and  '  Switzerland  '  can 
go  in  broad  daylight,  the  transports  can 
pass  at  night." 

A  few  days  before  this  council.  Admiral 
Farragut.  who  had  come  up  from  Red  River, 
as  before  mentioned,  requested  Colonel 
Alfred  Ellet  to  let  him  have  two  of  the  Ram 
fleet  (to  run  the  batteries  at  night)  for  the 
purpose  of  returning  with  him  to  the  block 
ade  of  the  Red  River — saying  he  would  make 
it  all  right  with  Admiral  Porter,  etc.  To 
this  Colonel  Ellet  at  once  agreed.  Accord 
ingly  the  rams  "Lancaster"  and  "•  Switzer 
land  "  were  prepared  to  run  the  batteries, 
the  former  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  John  A.  Ellet,  the  latter  by  Charles 
Rivers  Ellet.  These  Ellets  were^all  brave 
fellows,  and  were  full  of  the  spirit  of  adven 
ture.  Instead  of  going  past  the  batteries 
with  comparative  ease  at  night,  they  chose 
a  time  near  daylight,  and  by  the  time  they 
got  abreast  of  the  city  all  the  batteries 
opened  on  them.  The  ''Lancaster's  "  boilers 
were  exploded  by  a  shell,  and  being  a  frail 
vessel,  she  went  to  pieces  and  sunk  imme 
diately.  The  '"Switzerland  "  had  her  boilers 
perforated  by  a  plunging  shot,  and  received 
a  number  of  hits,  but  otherwise  the  damage 
done  to  her  was  not  material,  and  she  joined 
Farragut,  and  afterward  performed  good 
service  down  river. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


309 


If  such  frail  boats  as  these  could  pass  in 
open  daylight,  there  was  no  reason  why 
transports  could  not  pass  at  night,  under 
the  lee  of  the  iron-dads.  A  number  of 
transports  were  prepared  by  packing  them 
well  with  cotton-bales.  Their  crews  in  most 
cases  declining  to  serve,  their  places  were 
filled  by  volunteers  from  the  Army.  The 
pilots,  as  a  rule,  determined  to  stay  by 
their  vessels,  and  put  them  through,  if  pos 
sible.  It  was  a  hazardous  task,  but  the 


pilots,  a  brave  set  of  officers,  got  used  to  it 
after  awhile,  and  running  the  batteries  came 
to  be  considered  by  them  as  not  much  more 
dangerous  than  racing  with  another  steamer, 
with  the  captain  sitting  on  the  safety-valve. 
This  seemed  to  be  the  spirit  which  animated 
soldier  volunteers  who  were,  in  many 
cases,  sailors. 

With  these  preparations  the  expedition 
was  ready  to  move  at  the  appointed  time — 
the  night  of  April  IGth. 


CH  A  PTE  R     XXVIII. 


PASSAGE  OF  THE  FLEET  BY  YICKSBURG  AXD  CAPTURE  OF  GRAND  GULF. 

—CAPTURE   OF   ALEXANDRIA,    ETC. 

PLANS  FOR  RUNNING  THE  BATTERIES. — THE  FLEET  UNDERWAY. — THE  BATTERIES  OPEN  FIRE. 
—THE  TRANSPORT  "  HENRY  CLAY  "  SUNK. — A  GRAND  SCENE.— THE  BATTERIES  RUN.— 
THE  FLEET  ANCHORS  BELOW  THE  CITY. — MCCLERNAND  CONFRONTED  WITH  "QUAKER 
GUNS." — GRANT  PUSHES  ON  TO  GRAND  GULF. — THE  ''PRICE''  IN  FRONT  OF  THE  BAT 
TERIES. — INSUBORDINATION  OF  MCCLERNAND. — GRAND  GULF  DESCRIBED. — THE  GUN 
BOATS  COMMENCE  THE  ATTACK. — THE  FIGHT  FIERCELY  CONTESTED. — THE  "  BENTON'S" 
WHEEL  DISABLED.— DAMAGES  TO  THE  VESSELS.— THE  GUN-BOATS  TIE  UP  AT  HARD 
TIMES.— BURYING  THE  DEAD. — THE  ATTACK  RENEWED.— THE  CONFEDERATES  STAND  TO 
THEIR  GUNS.— SO-CALLED  "  HISTORY."— GRANT'S  BRIGHTEST  CHAPTER.— ATTACK  ON 
HAINES'  BLUFF.— CAPTAIN  WALKE  CAPTURES  SHARPSHOOTERS.— GRAND  GULF  CAP 
TURED. — PORTER  CONFERS  WITH  FARRAGUT. — UP  THE  RED  RIVER.— FORT  DERUSSY 
PARTIALLY  DESTROYED. — CAPTURE  OF  ALEXANDRIA. — GENERAL  BANKS  TAKES  POSSES 
SION  —Up  THE  BLACK  RIVER. — HARRISONBURG  SHELLED. — OPERATIONS  OF  THE  MISSIS 
SIPPI  SQUADRON  SUMMARIZED. 


THE  Army  had  already  moved  on 
the  loth  of  April,  1803.  and  that 
night  was  selected  for  the  naval 
vessels  to  pass  the  batteries  of 
Vicksburg. 

Orders  had  been  given  that  the  coal  in 
the  furnaces  should  be  well  ignited,  so  as  to 
show  no  smoke,  that  low  steam  should  be 
carried,  that  not  a  wheel  was  to  turn  except 
to  keep  the  vessel's  bow  down  river,  and  to 
drift  past  the  enemy's  works  fifty  yards 
apart. 

Most   of    the  vessels   had   a  coal   barge 
lashed  to  them  on  the  side  away  from  the 
enemy,  and  the  wooden  gun-boat  "  General . 
Price,"  was  lashed  to   the   off  side  of  the 
iron-clad  ''Lafayette." 

When  all  was  ready  the  signal  was  made 
to  get  under  way  and  the  squadron  started 
in  the  following  order:  "Benton"  (flag 
ship)  Lieutenant-Commander  James  A. 
Greer ;  "Lafayette,"  Commander  Henry 
Walke  ;  "  General  Price,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Selim  Woodworth  :  "Louisville," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  E.  K.  Owen ; 
"Mound  City,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Byron  Wilson ;  "  Pittsburg."  Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  Hoel ;  "  Carondelet."  Lieuten 


ant  -  Commander  J.  McL.  Murphy,  and 
"Tuscumbia."  Lieutenant-Commander  J. 
W.  Shirk.  The  tug  "  Ivy  "  was  lashed  to 
the  "Benton."  three  army  transports  were 
in  the  rear  and  the  "  Tuscumbia  "  was  at  the 
end  of  the  line  to  take  care  of  them. 

The  "Benton,"  passed  the  first  battery 
without  receiving  a  shot,  but  as  she  came 
up  with  the  second,  the  railroad  station  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  river  was  set  on  fire, 
and  tar  barrels  were  lighted  all  along  the 
Vicksburg  shore,  illuminating  the  river 
and  showing  every  object  as  plainly  as  if 
it  was  daylight.  Then  the  enemy  opened 
his  batteries  all  along  the  line,  and  the 
sharpshooters  in  rifle-pits  along  the  levee 
commenced  operations  at  the  same  instant. 
The  fire  was  returned  with  spirit  by  the 
vessels  as  they  drifted  on.  and  the  sound 
of  falling  buildings  as  the  shells  burst 
within  them  attested  the  efficiency  of  the 
gun-boats'  fire. 

The  vessels  had  drifted  perhaps  a  mile 
when  a  shell  exploded  in  the  cotton  barri 
cades  of  the  transport  "  Henry  Clay,"  and 
almost  immediately  the  vessel  was  in  a 
blaze  ;  another  shell  soon  after  bursting  in 
her  hull,  the  transport  went  to  pieces  and 


(310) 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


oil 


sank.  The  i%  Forest  Queen,"  another  trans 
port,  was  also  disabled  by  the  enemy,  but 
she  was  taken  in  tow  by  the  "  Tuscumbia  " 
and  conveyed  safely  through. 

The  scene  while  the  fleet  was  passing  the 
batteries  was  grand  in  the  extreme,  but  the 
danger  to  the  vessels  was  more  apparent 
than  real.  Their  weak  points  on  the  sides 
were  mostly  protected  by  heavy  logs  which 
prevented  "many  shot  and  shells  going 
through  the  iron.  Some  rents  were  made 
but  the  vessels  stood  the  ordeal  bravely  and 
received  no  damage  calculated  to  impair 
their  efficiency. 


Texas  would  be  cut  off  and  they  would  have 
to  depend  on  what  they  could  receive  from 
Richmond. 

General  Steele  had  been  sent  up  to  the 
Steele's  Bayou  region  to  destroy  all  the  pro 
visions  in  that  quarter,  and  Pemberton  knew 
that  if  Grant's  Army  once  got  below  Vicks- 
burg  it  would  eat  up  everything  in  the  way 
of  food  between  Warrenton  and  Bruens- 
burg. 

Although  the  squadron  was  under  tire 
from  the  time  of  passing  the  first  battery 
until  the  last  vessel  got  by,  a  period  of  two 
hours  and  thirty  minutes,  the  vessels  were 


THE  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,  UNDER  ADMIRAL  PORTER,  PASSING  THE  BATTERIES  AT  V1CKSBURG 

ON  THE  NIGHT  OF  APRIL  15,  1863. 


The  management  of  the  vessels  on  this 
occasion  was  virtually  in  the  hands  of  the 
pilots,  who  handled  them  beautifully  and 
kept  them  in  line  at  the  distance  apart 
ordered. 

The  enemy's  shot  was  not  well  aimed; 
owing  to  the  rapid  fire  of  shells,  shrapnel, 
grape  and  canister  from  the  gun-boats,  the 
sharpshooters  were  glad  to  lay  low.  and  the 
men  at  the  great  guns  gave  up  in  disgust 
when  they  saw  the  fleet  drift  on  apparently 
unscathed. 

They  must  have  known  that  Vicksburg 
was  doomed,  for  if  the  fleet  got  safely  below 
the  batteries  their  supplies  of  provisions  from 


struck  in  their  hulls  but  sixty-eight  times 
by  shot  and  shells,  and  only  fifteen  men 
were  wounded.  At  2.30  A.  M.,  all  the  ves 
sels  were  safely  anchored  at  Carthage, 
ten  miles  below  Vicksburg,  where  was  en 
camped  the  advanced  division  of  the  Army 
under  General  McClernand. 

The  plantation  at  this  place  was  owned  by 
an  ultra  Confederate  who  exulted  over  the 
expected  loss  of  all  the  gun-boats  when  he 
heard  that  they  were  to  attempt  the  passage 
of  the  batteries,  but  when  at  two  o'clock  he 
saw  them  one  after  another  heave  in  sight 
their  night  numbers  up  and  signaling  to  the 
flag-ship,"  all's  well,"  he  went  off  in  despair, 


312 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


got  drunk,  set  fire  to  his  house  and  all  the 
negro  cabins,  and  -departed  to  parts  un 
known.  The  negroes  had  already  joined 
the  Union  Army,  having  no  attachment  to 
their  brutal  master,  who  had  become  so 
debased  that  he  scarcely  bore  resemblance 
to  a  man. 

When  the  day  broke  after  the  arrival  of 
the  squadron  at  Carthage,  some  four  hun 
dred  men,  the  advance  guard  of  McCler- 
nand's  division,  were  found  behind  iii- 
trenchments  hastily  thrown  up  with  a  log 
on  a  pair  of  cart-wheels,  to  represent  a  field 
piece,  while  less  than  a  thousand  yards  in- 
front  of  them  was  a  formidable  looking  set 
of  earth-works  with  four  large  guns  in  posi 
tion;  and  Generals  McClernand  and  Oster- 
haus  were  momentarily  expecting  an  attack. 


LIEUT.-COMMANDER   (NOW  CAPTAIN;   JAMES  A.   GKEER, 
COMMANDING  FLAG-SHIP  "BENTON." 

The  enemy's  works  appeared  to  be  full  of 
men,  and  as  the  Union  troops  had  been  un 
der  arms  all  night,  the  arrival  of  the  gun 
boats  was  a  great  relief  to  them.  The 
"  Tuscumbia  "  was  sent  down  to  shell  the 
enemy  out,  but  the  latter  scampered  off  as 
soon  as  they  saw  the  gun-boat  coming. 
The  Confederates  had  been  playing  a  "  bluff 
game  "  with  McClernand,  and'  held  him  in 
check  until  part  of  their  force  could  get  away 
with  some  light  field-pieces.  The  frowning 
guns  on  the  parapet  proved  on  examination 
to  be  nothing  but  logs— such  are  the  de 
vices  in  war  ! 

The  advance  of  General  Grant's  Army 
moved  but  slowly  on  its'  way  to  Carthage. 
The  roads  were  in  wretched  condition,  and 
the  artillery  and  wagons  were  continu 


ally  stalled.  The  soldiers  had  therefore  to 
"  corduroy  "  the  roads  so  that  those  coming 
after  could  get  along  faster,  but  it  was  ter 
rible  marching  at  the  best. 

From  the  little  damage  that  had  been  in 
flicted  on  the  gun- boats,  General  Grant  felt 
satisfied  he  could  send  transports  by  the 
batteries  of  Vicksburg,  and  shortly  after 
wards  six  of  these,  011  a  dark  night,  passed 
down  in  charge  of  their  pilots — a  daring 
set  of  men  who  never  shrunk  from  any 
dangerous  service. — only  one  steamer  was 
sunk  by  the  enemy's  shot. 

A  sufficient  number  of  gun  boats  had 
been  left  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  River 
to  take  care  of  the  upper  Mississippi,  and  to 
look  out  for  two  formidable  rams  that  were 
building  at  Yazoo  City,  forty  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river. 

Sherman  remained  with  his  division  at 
Young's  Point,  ready  to  make  another  at 
tack  from  the  Yazoo  if  opportunity  offered, 
and  also  to  protect  the  supplies  *at  Milli- 
ken's  Bend  from  General  Sterling  Price, 
who  with  a  large  Confederate  force  was  en 
camped  some  thirty  miles  away  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  Mississippi  Marine  Brigade,  consist 
ing  of  two  thousand  men,  under  Brigadier- 
General  Alfred  Ellet,  in  six  or  seven  large 
steamers,  was  left  there.  These  flying 
troops  were  attached  to  the  Navy.  Every 
precaution  had  been  taken  to  prevent  a  sur 
prise  from  the  Confederates,  or  any  attempt 
on  their  part  to  fortify  the  river  banks 
again  in  the  absence  of  the  Army. 

General  McClernand  had  been'ordered  by 
Grant  to  push  forward  with  his  division, 
and  with  the  help  of  the  Navy,  to  seize 
upon  Grand  Gulf.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
great  overflow  at  that  time,  the  Union  Army 
might  have  landed  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  but  Vicksburg  was  now  almost  sur 
rounded  by  water,  which  obliterated  all 
roads  except  those  on  the  high  lands. which 
could  only  be  reached  by  going  further 
down  the  Mississippi.  Hence  it  was  that 
after  a  careful  examination  of  the  left  bank 
of  the  river,  Grant  decided  to  push  on  to 
Grand  Gulf,  a  long  and  tedious  march. 

General  McClernand  had  been  given  the 
advance  to  satisfy  his  ambition,  but  he  was 
not  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  this  desire  of 
General  Grant  to  show  McClernand  that 
he  was  anxious  to  give  him  an  opportunity 
for  distinction,  might  have  hazarded  the 
success  of  the  campaign.  Had  McClernand 
pushed  on  at  once  with  the  Navy  to  back  him 
Grand  Gulf  and  its  batteries  would  have 
easily  fallen  into  Federal  hands;  Big  Black 
River,  which  led  up  to  the  rear  of  Jackson, 
would  have  been  kept  open  by  the  gun 
boats;  and  the  main  Army  instead  of  having 
to  land  at  Bruensburg.  eight  or  ten  miles 
below  Grand  Gulf,  could  have  disembarked 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


313 


at  the  latter  point  and  marched  to  the  rear 
of  Vicksburg  by  favorable  roads.  Instead 
of  carrying  out  his  instructions,  McCler- 
nand  advanced  only  to  Perkins'  Landing, 
where  he  pitched  his  tents  (although  he  had 
been  directed  to  leave  these  behind  on  ac 
count  of  the  difficulties  of  transportation), 
and  called  upon  General  McPherson  for 
rations,  of  which  he  had  failed  to  provide 
himself  a  sufficient  supply.  Perkins'  Land 
ing  seemed  to  have  such  a  fascination 
for  McClernand  that  he  remained  there  un 
til  Grant  ordered  him  to  move  on. 

Admiral  Porter  proceeded  in  the  wooden 
gun-boat  ''General  Price''  to  reconnoitre 
Grand  Gulf  .and  ascertained  that  large  num 
bers  of  troops  were  engaged  in  construct 
ing  extensive  fortifications.  Some  guns 
were  already  mounted  and  others  lying  on 
the  ground. 

The  "  Price  "  had  but  two  guns  and  with 
these  Lieutenant-Commanding  Woodworth 
was  ordered  to  proceed  within  twelve  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  upper  battery,  and  open 
fire.  'The  shells  exploded  in  the  battery, 
and  the  workers  sought  the  shelter  of  the 
hills.  The  ''  Price  "  kept  up  a  fire  for  over 
an  hour,  the  Confederates  firing  only  two 
shots  from  a  Whitworth  field-piece;  for,  as 
was  afterwards  ascertained,  they  had  at 
that  time  received  no  ammunition  for  the 
great  guns. 

The  Admiral  having  satisfied  himself 
that  the  works  could  be  easily  carried  by 
assault  under  cover  of  the  fire  of  the  gun 
boats,  hastened  back  to  Perkins'  Landing, 
and  stated  the  case  to  General  McClernand, 
urging  the  co-operation  of  two  thousand 
soldiers  to  enable  him  to  occupy  Grand 
Gulf,  but  no  heed  was  given  to  the  applica 
tion;  for  McClernand,  wrapped  in  his  dig 
nity,  scorned  all  advice. 

Failing  in  that  direction,  the  Admiral 
wrote  to  General  Sherman,  detailing  the 
state  of  affairs  and  begged  him  to  induce 
General  Grant  to  come  to  the  front  and 
take  charge  in  person,  before  the  favorable 
opportunity  should  pass  away. 

Grant  was  then  at  Milliken's  Bend,  forty 
miles  distant.  It  took  Sherman  twenty 
hours  to  get  the  dispatch  to  him,  and 
twenty-four  hours  more  for  Grant  to  reach 
Perkins'  Landing,  where  he  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  advance  in  spite  of  McCler- 
nand's  objections,  which  were  manifested 
in  such  an  insubordinate  way  that  most 
commanding  generals  would  have  at  once 
relieved  him  from  duty. 

Three  or  four  days  had  passed  since  the 
reconnoissance  of  Grand  Gulf  by  the 
Admiral  and  time  was  lost  which  could 
never  be  regained.  The  Confederates  con 
cluded  from  the  reconnoissance  that  meas 
ures  were  on  foot  to  attack  Grand  Gulf,  and 
they  worked  incessantly  to  strengthen  the 


defences.  Men  and  munitions  of  war  were 
poured  in  from  Vicksburg,  and  the  enemy 
were  prepared  to  make  a  strong  resistance 
to  the  gun-boats  or  to  any  assault  from  the 
land  forces. 

Grand  Gulf  was  by  nature  as  strong  as 
Vicksburg,  the  Confederates  in  their  pride 
called  it  "  the  Little  Gibraltar."  The  princi- 

Eal  work  called  Bald  Head,  was  on  a  bold 
luff  promontory  at  a  bend  in  the  river  com 
manding  a  view  for  miles  up  and  down  the 
Mississippi.  The  current  of  the  river,  which 
ran  here  five  miles  an  hour  with  innumera 
ble  eddies,  had  cut  away  the  shore  until 
beneath  the  fort  was  a  perpendicular  wall 
more  than  eighty  feet  in  height,  while  in 
the  rear  hills  rising  three  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  above  the  river  were  dotted  with  field 
works  to  protect  the  flanks  of  Bft-ld  Head, 
which  fort  mounted  four  heavy  guns, 
Brooke  rifles  and  8-inch  Columbiads.  In 
front  of  this  the  river  formed  a  large  circu 
lar  bay  or  gulf  from  which  the  place  took 
its  name.  Black  River  emptied  into  the 

gulf  and  the  approach  to  it  was  commanded 
y  two  8-inch  Columbiads. 

The  lower  forts  were  half  a  mile  below 
Bald  Head,  and  were  connected  with  the 
latter  by  intrenchments  by  which  troops 
could  pass  under  cover  from  one  fort  to 
another.  The  lower  batteries  mounted  nine 
heavy  guns  situated  on  the  brow  of  a  hill 
eight  hundred  yards  from  the  river  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  it.  The  guns 
were  mostly  long  32-pounders  and  8-inch. 
There  were  some  smaller  batteries  in  which 
were  rifled  field  pieces.  All  these  batteries 
were  more  formidable  from  the  fact  that 
they  were  in  very  elevated  positions,  giving 
them  a  plunging  fire,  while  it  was  difficult 
to  elevate  the  guns  afloat  so  that  their  shot 
would  reach  the  enemy. 

After  Grant  had  got  his  Army  in  motion 
part  of  McClernand's  division  was  embarked 
on  transports,  the  rest  of  the  troops  being 
obliged  to  march  to  Hard  Times,  twenty- 
two  miles  from  Perkins'  Landing. 

Five  barges  and  a  steamer  were  sunk  by 
the  batteries  at  Vicksburg  when  the  last 
six  transports  ran  the  blockade,  which  made 
transportation  by  water  for  all  of  the 
troops  out  of  the  question. 

When  the  troops  arrived  at  the  point 
abreast  of  Bald  Head,  and  the  soldiers  on 
the  transports  were  ready  to  land  as  soon 
as  the  batteries  should  be  silenced,  Admiral 
Porter  got  under  way  with  the  squadron 
and  commenced  the  attack  at  8  A.  M.,  on  the 
29th  of  April,  1863. 

The  "  Pittsburg  "  "  Louisville,"  "  Mound 
City,"  and  "  Carondelet "  attacked  the 
lower  batteries,  while  the  "  Benton,"  "Tus- 
cumbia,"  and  ''Lafayette"  attacked  Bald 
Head  battery,  the  two  former  as  close  as 
they  could  get,  and  the  ';  Lafayette"  lying 


314 


THE  XAVAL    HISTORY 


in  an  eddy  four  hundred  yards  above  the 
fort  where  she  could  enfilade  it. 

As  the  vessels  approached  the  works  the 
enemy  opened  fire  and  in  ten  minutes  the 
battle"  was  raging  all  along  the  line.  The 
fight  was  severely  contested,  and  it  was 
not  until  three  hours  after  the  first  gun  was 
fired,  that  the  enemy  deserted  his  guns  at 
the  lower  batteries,  and  then  only  after  the 
'•Lafayette''  had  been  ordered  from  her 
first  position  to  reinforce  the  gun-boats  be 
low. 

In  the  meantime  the  flag-ship  ''  Benton, 
and  the  "  Tuscumbia  "  were  doing  their  best 
to  silence  the  upper  battery,  getting  close 
under  the  guns  and  endeavoring  to  knock 


minutes — the  "Pittsburg"  lost  six  killed 
and  had  twelve  wounded. 

After  all  the  vessels  concentrated  their 
fire  on  Bald  Head,  there  was  less  resistance, 
although  the  Confederates  still  stood  to 
their  guns.  When  the  battle  had  lasted 
more  than  five  hours,  General  Grant,  who 
from  a  tug  up  the  river,  was  looking  on. 
made  signal  to  the  Admiral  that  he  wished 
to  communicate,  and  the  '•  Benton"  joined 
him  t\vo  miles  above  the  forts.  The  Con 
federates  had  now  ceased  firing,  but  the 
gun-boats  maintained  their  position  around 
Bald  Head,  occasionally  firing  a  shell  to 
keep  the  enemy  out  of  the  works. 

When  General  Grant  went  on  board  the 


fc  n 


BATTERIES  AT    "GRAND  GULF"   CAPTURED   BY  THE  U.    S.    MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,    MAY  3,   1S63. 


off  their  muzzles,  when  they  were  run  out 
to  fire.  The  current  was  so  strong,  how 
ever,  that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  the  two 
vessels  in  position  and  they  sheered  about 
very  much.  In  one  of  these  sheers,  a 
shot  entered  the  ''  Benton's  ''  pilot  house, 
disabled  the  wheel  and  cut  Pilot  Williams' 
foot  nearly  off.  Though  the  brave  pilot 
never  left  his  post  it  was  impossible  to  man 
age  the  vessel  and  she  was  accordingly  run 
into  the  bank  to  repair  damages. 

The  gun-boats  at  the  lower  batteries  had 
been  signalled  to  double  up  on  Bald  Head, 
the  "  Lafayette"  to  resume  her  old  position, 
and  the  "  Pittsburg,"  Volunteer  -  Lieu 
tenant  Hoel,  arrived  opportunely  to  take  the 
"Benton's"  place.  During  the  time  the 
latter  vessel  was  out  of  action — twenty -five 


flag-ship,  he  decided  that  it  would  be  too 
hazardous  to  attempt  to  land  troops,  as  it 
did  not  appear  that  the  guns  in  the  enemy's 
works  were  dismounted  and  the  gunners 
would  therefore  jump  to  their  batteries 
again,  open  on  the  unprotected  transports 
and  destroy  many  of  the  troops.  For  the 
same  reason  the  general  concluded  not  to 
send  the  transports  past  the  batteries  with 
the  soldiers  on  board  but  to  march  the  lat 
ter  around  by  land.  In  this  he  was  quite 
right,  as  afterwards  appeared. 

As  there  was  no  longer  any  object  in 
keeping  the  gun-boats  under  the  batteries, 
all  but  the  ';  Lafayette"  were  recalled,  and 
the  latter  was  left  in  her  old  position  to 
keep  the  enemy  from  reoccupying  the  works 
and  repairing  damages.  This  duty  Com- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


S15 


rnander  Walke  effectually  performed,  firing 
a  shell  every  five  minutes  into  the  works 
until  darkness  set  in. 

The  engagement  was  fought  under  great 
disadvantages:  the  current  around  the  pro 
montory  of  Bald  Head  ran  with  great 
rapidity,  and  it  was  as  much  as  the  gun 
boats  could  do  to  stem  it.  Clumsy  vessels 
at  best,  the  iron-clads  would  frequently  be 
turned  completely  round,  presenting  their 
weak  points  to  the  enemy,  of  which  the 
expert  Confederate  gunners  were  not  slow 
to  take  advantage,  and  seldom  missed  their 
mark  so  close  were  the  vessels  to  the  forts. 
The  light  armor  plates  of  most  of  the  ves 
sels  offered  but  an  imperfect  resistance  to 
the  heavy  missiles  of  the  enemy,  and,  in 
consequence,  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded 
in  the  squadron  was  large. 

The  "  Tuscumbia."  on  which  vessel  great 
'  reliance  was  placed  to  resist  heavy  shot, 
proved  herself  the  weakest  vessel  in  the 
squadron,  although  Lieutenant-Commander 
Shirk  stood  up  to  his  work  manfully. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  engagement,  a  rifle 
shell  struck  the  outer  edge  of  the  shutter  of 
the  midship  port — she  fought  three  11-inch 
guns  in  the  bo\v — opened  the  port  and  en 
tered  the  casemate,  killing  six  men  and 
wounding  several  others. 

Another  shell  jammed  the  shutters  of  the 
same  port  so  tightly,  that  the  gun  could  not 
be  used  for  the  remainder  of  the  action.  A 
shell  from  the  lower  battery  entered  the 
stern  port,  disabling  every  man  at  the  9- 
inch  gun.  and  yet  this  vessel  was  supposed 
to  be  shot  proof  !  Some  of  the  armor  on  the 
forward  casemate  fell  overboard  from  re 
peated  blows,  and  all  of  it  was  started  from, 
its  seat. 

The  "  Tuscumbia  "  was  struck  eighty-one 
times  by  shot  and  shells,  and  was  com 
pletely  riddled;  one  engine  was  disabled, 
six  men  killed  and  twenty-four  wounded, 
some  of  them  mortally. 

The  flag-ship  "Benton."  although  the 
strongest  of  the  gun-boats,  was  badly  cut 
up.  A  shell  passed  through  her  armor  on 
the  starboard  quarter  and  exploded  in  a 
stateroom,  setting  fire  to  the  vessel. 

The  "Benton"  was  struck  forty-seven 
times  in  the  casemates,  and  seventy  times 
in  all  by  heavy  shot,  the  three-quarter  inch 
iron  was  perforated  twelve  times,  the  two 
and-a-half  inch,  four  times.  A  hundred 
pound  shot  passed  through  the  pilot-house, 
smashing  the  wheel  and  severely  wound 
ing  the  pilot,  nine  men  were  killed  and 
nineteen  wounded. 

The  •'  Lafayette,"  Commander  Walke. 
proved  herself  an  excellent  fighting  vessel. 
She  was  struck  by  cannon  shot  forty-five 
times,  but  only  five  shots  did  any  serious 
damage.  She  had  only  one  officer 
wounded. 


The  "Pittsburgh  Volunteer-Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Hoel,  was  struck  in  the  hull 
thirty-five  times,  and  had  six  killed  and 
thirteen  wounded. 

The  other  vessels,  although  considerably 
cut  up,  were  not  materially  damaged,  and 
all  reported  "ready  for  service''  half  an 
hour  after  the  action,  when  the  gun-boats 
tied  up  to  the  bank  at  Hard  Times. 

Then  came  the  melancholy  duty  of  bury 
ing  the  dead,  who  were  followed  mourn 
fully  to  their  graves  by  their  messmates  and 
friends. 

Three  hours  afterwards  the  squadron  got 
underway  and  again  attacked  the  batteries, 
while  the  transports  all  passed  in  safety 
below  Hard  Times.  Some  of  the  Confederate 
gunners  fired  at  the  gun -boats  but  did  no 
damage.  During  the  whole  engagement  the 
Confederates  stood  to  their  guns  manfully, 
and  certainly  pointed  them  to  some  purpose. 
Colonel  Wade,  the  commanding  officer  at 
Bald  Head,  was  killed:  his  chief-of-staff 
also,  and  eleven  men  were  reported  killed 
by  the  Confederates,  although  more  graves 
than  that  were  counted.  The  enemy  had 
many  wounded,  but  the  number  was  not 
mentioned  in  the  returns. 

Rear- Admiral  Porter,  in  his  report,  speaks 
in  the  highest  terms  of  Commander  Walke, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Murphy.  Lieuten 
ant-Commanders  Shirk  and  Owen.  Lieu 
tenants-Commanding  Hoel  and  Wilson, 
some  of  whom  had  already  distinguished 
themselves  on  the  upper  Mississippi. 

The  remarks  on  this  battle  of  Grand  Gulf 
by  military  historians  show  how  reluctant 
they  are  to  give  the  Xavy  credit.  The  fol 
lowing  quotation  from  a  well  known  writer, 
is  an  instance  in  point.  Speaking  of  Grand 
Gulf  he  says  : 

"The  vessels  were  handled  with  skill  and  bold 
ness,  but  the  rebel  batteries  were  too  elevated  for 
Porter  to  accomplish  anything.  He  was  not  able  to 
dismount  a  solitary  piece  and  it  would  have  been 
madness  to  attempt  a  landing  under  unsilenced 
guns  like  these.  No  serious  injury  was  sustained 
by  any  of  the  fleet.  [!]  The  Admiral  withdrew 
after  the  utter  futility  of  his  effort  had  been  amply 
demonstrated.  The  enemy  also  suspended  fire." 

Such  are  the  statements  that  have  for 
years  passed  for  '*  history/' one"  historian" 
repeating  another  only  changing  a  little 
the  language  of  his  predecessor  to  make  it 
pass  for  his  own.  The  above  quotation 
reads  like  an  excuse  for  the  Army  not  land 
ing,  although  no  excuse  was  needed.  It 
was  General  Grant's  opinion  that  it  would 
be  wiser  to  land  the  Army  lower  down,  in 
which  opinion  the  naval  commanding  offi 
cer  concurred.  Grant  had  too  few  men 
with  him  to  run  the  risk  of  losing  any  of 
them,  and  there  was  no  particular  advan 
tage  to  be  gained  by  landing  immediately  at 
Grand  Gulf,  as  was  afterwards  proven. 

The  military   historian   whom  we   have 


316 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


quoted  has  not  stated  the  case  truthfully, 
but  his  statements  are  in  keeping  with 
those  of  many  other  writers  who  seem 
to  fear  that  by  giving  credit  to  the  Navy, 
they  may  detract  from  that  which  is 
due  the  other  arm  of  the  service.  An 
intelligent  reader  will  readily  understand 
that  a  campaign  such  as  is  here  described 
must  have  been  a  failure  without  the  assist 
ance  of  the  Navv.  In  default  of  credit  from 
the  "military  historians,"  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  Navy  must  rely  on  the  reports 
of  their  own  chiefs  to  do  them  justice. 

The  night  following  the  attack  on  Grand 
Gulf  information  was  obtained  from  a  ne 
gro,  that  there  was  a  good  landing  at  Bru- 
ensburg,  six  miles  below  Grand  Gulf,  and 
that  from  Bruensburg  an  excellent  road  led 
to  Port  Gibson,  twelve  miles  in  the  interior. 
In  consequence  of  this  information  the  gun 
boats  and  transports  were  next  morning 
crowded  with  troops,  and  steamed  down 
the  river.  About  noon.  Grant  disembarked 
thirty -two  thousand  men  with  four  days' 
rations,  and  without  transportation  deter 
mined  to  live  upon  the  enemy,  as  he  was 
satisfied  the  supply  of  provisions  in  the 
district  was  ample  to  meet  all  his  require 
ments. 

Here  Grant  started  on  that  remark 
able  march  against  an  enemy  who  out 
numbered  his  forces  two  to  one;  he  outgen 
eraled  the  Confederates,  fought  battle  after 
battle  and  finally  reached  the  rearofVicks- 
burg,  shutting  General  Pemberton  inside 
the  fortifications  and  causing  General 
Joseph  E.  Johnston  to  evacuate  Jackson 
and  retreat. 

Grant's  conduct  of  this  campaign  forms 
the  brightest  chapter  in  his  military  record 
and  can  only  be  appreciated  by  those  who 
know  the  difficulties  with  which  he  had  to 
contend,  and  particularly  the  nature  of  the 
country  through  which  he  had  to  march  his 
Army. 

General  Grant  had  made  arrangements 
for  Sherman's  division  to  make  a  feint  up 
Yazoo  River  the  same  day  the  gun-boats 
attacked  Grand  Gulf.  Accordingly,  on  that 
day  Sherman  moved  up  the  Yazoo  in  trans 
ports  preceeded  by  "  the  gun-boats,"  as  the 
military  historian  puts  it.  Most  of  these  gun 
boats  were  what  were  called  "  workshops," 
i.  e.,the  machine  vessel,  carpenter  shop,  store 
vessel,  powder  vessel  and  hospital  vessel. 
These  were  simply  river  steamers  painted 
black.  The  naval  forces  were  led  by  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  K.  R.  Breese  in  the 
"  Black  Hawk"  and  comprised  the  "  Baron 
DeKalb,"  Lieutenant-Commander  John  G. 
Walker,  '  '  Choctaw,' '  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  F.  M.  Ramsay,  "Taylor."  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Prichett,  "Signal," 
"Romeo,"  "Linden"  and  "Petrel"  with 
three  13-inch  mortars. 


The  naval  demonstration  was  really  a  fine 
one,  calculated  to  impress  the  Confederates, 
who  had  seen  so  many  nondescripts  pass 
Vicksburg  that  they  hardly  knew  a  gun 
boat  from  a  transport. 

While  Pemberton  was  making  his  prepa 
rations  to  meet  Grant's  Army  on  Big 
Black  River,  he  received  a  dispatch  inform 
ing  him  that  Haines'  Bluff  was  the  real 
point  of  attack  and  that  a  large  Army  sup 
ported  by  numerous  gun-boats  was  moving 
against  that  place.  It  was  desirable  that 
the  Confederates  should  be  encouraged  in 
the  belief  that  Haines'  Bluff  was  the  real 
point  of  attack,  and  the  "DeKalb,"  "Choc- 
taw"  and  "Taylor,"  approaching  as  near 
as  they  could  get,  opened  a  heavy  fire  on 
the  works  while  Sherman  disembarked  his 
troops. 

There  was  but  one  narrow  road  which  led 
along  the  levee,  and  this  was  wide  enough 
for  but  four  men  to  march  abreast.  As 
Sherman  advanced  along  this  road  towards 
Haines'  Bluff  the  three  gun-boats  main 
tained  their  incessant  fire  and  confirmed 
the  Confederates  in  their  belief  that  this 
was  really  the  point  of  attack,  although  the 
condition  of  the  country  ought  to  have  as 
sured  them  that  no  Army  would  be  likely  to 
attack  a  place  so  strongly  fortified,  under 
the  circumstances. 

The  fire  of  the  gun-boats  was  kept  up  as 
long  as  possible,  and  videttes  and  skirm 
ishers  were  thrown  out  by  the  Army  on  the 
road  leading  to  the  Bluff;  upon  this  road 
the  enemy  opened  with  heavy  guns  and 
apparently  could  have  swept  away  any 
force  approaching  from  that  direction.  At 
dark,  General  Sherman  re-embarked  his 
men,  having  accomplished  the  object  of 
his  movement,  which  was  simply  to  deceive 
the  Confederates. 

Notwithstanding  the  movement  was  but 
a  feint,  the  three  gun-boats.  "Choctaw," 
"DeKalb,"  and  "Taylor,"  together  with 
the  "  Black  Hawk,"  kept  up  a  hot  fire  for 
three  hours  as  well  as  they  could— wedged 
in  a  stream  which  was  here  not  over  forty 
yards  wide;  as,  since  the  demonstration 
was  considered  of  such  importance  by  Gen 
eral  Sherman,  it  was  necessary  to  do  every 
thing  that  would  make  the  attack  appear 
a  real  one.  The  morning  after  these  trans 
actions,  it  was  discovered  that  new  works 
had  been  thrown  up  by  the  Confederates 
during  the  night,  that  the  old  ones  had  been 
extended,  and  several  additional  heavy 
guns  had  been  placed  in  position. 

This  feint  against  Haines'  Bluff  continued 
for  several  days,  and  Pemberton  was 
obliged,  in  answer  to  solicitations,  to  send 
re-inforcements,  thus  weakening  his  Army 
below.  Ox  teams  were  observed  hauling 
heavy  guns  to  mount  at  Haines'  Bluff,  to 
check  the  advance  of  the  Federal  forces, 


OF   TfJE   CIVIL    WAR. 


317 


showing1  that  the  enemy  was  exerting  all 
his  energy  to  strengthen  the  threatened 
position. 

During  this  movement,  the  "DeKalb," 
while  temporarily  dropping  out  of  action 
was  attacked  hy  sharpshooters  from  some 
buildings  on  the  eastern  bank.  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Walker  immediately  ran  the 
vessel  into  the  bank  and  landed  twenty-five 
men  under  command  of  Acting-Master  C. 
S.  Kendrick.  who  dislodged  the  enemy  and 
chased  them  into  the  swamp,  killing  one 
officer  and  three  privates,  and  taking  a  lieu 
tenant  of  the  Third  Louisiana  Infantry 
prisoner.  This  officer  was  captured  in  a 
hand-to-hand  fight  by  Mr.  Kendrick,  who 
knocked  him  down  with  a  pistol.  In  two 
days  firing,  the  "DeKalb''  expended  two 
hundred  rounds  of  shot  and  shells,  did  not 
suffer  materially  in  her  hull,  and  had  only 
one  casualty. 

The  ''Choctaw."  Lieutenant-Commander 
Ramsay,  had  an  opportunity  of  show 
ing  her  fighting  qualities.  She  was  a  sister 
ship  to  the  "Lafayette,"  and  had  lately 
joined  the  squadron.  She  was  struck  forty- 
'  seven  times  in  her  hull,  and  had  thirteen 
shots  through  her  smoke-stack.  The  turret 
was  struck  six  times.  A  ten-inch  shot  pene 
trated  the  crown,  and  a  six  inch  rifle  shot 
buried  itself  in  the  iron  plating.  Two  shots 
struck  below  the  water  line  on  the  starboard 
side  forward  of  the  turret.  With  the  ex 
ception  that  the  good  order  of  the  vessel 
was  rather  marred,  no  great  injury  was 
done,  and,  fortunately,  no  one  was  killed. 

The  '•  Taylor,"  being  a  wooden  vessel, 
could  only  take  an  occasional  part  in  the 
bombardment.  She  was  struck  below  the 
water  line  with  a  rifle  shot,  and  made  to 
leak  so  badly  that  she  had  to  withdraw  from 
action  to  repair  damages. 

At  one  time  the  fire  of  the  gun-boats  was 
so  effective  that  the  enemy's  fire  almost 
ceased,  and  but  for  a  raft  which  blocked  the 
further  advance  of  the  vessels,  the  latter 
would  have  endeavored  to  get  close  enough 
to  use  grape  and  canister,  which  might 
have  made  quite  a  difference  in  the  state  of 
affairs.  As  it  was.  everything  turned  out  to 
General  Sherman's  satisfaction,  and  return 
ing  to  Young's  Point,  he  started  with  his 
division  to  join  General  Grant,  crossing  the 
river  at  Grand  Gulf  and  overtaking  the 
main  body  of  the  Army  in  time  to  be  pres 
ent  during  the  important  events  which  laid 
Vicksburg  at  the  mercy  of  the  Federal  Army. 

After  General  Grant  and  his  troops 
landed  at  Bruensburg,  Admiral  Porter  re 
turned  the  same  night  to  Grand  Gulf  with 
the  intention  of  trying  to  get  possession  of 
the  enemy's  works.  As  seven  o'clock,  on 
the  following  morning,  the  "Lafayette" 
was  sent  up  to  draw  the  fire  of  the  forts. 
As  she  approached,  the  magazine  in  the 


lower  battery  blew  up,  throwing  a  vast 
cloud  of  dust  into  the  air.  Several  other 
magazines  in  the  smaller  forts  followed, 
and  the  Confederate  troops  evacuated  all 
the  works. 

The  fort  at  Bald  Head,  on  Point  of  Rocks, 
was  left  intact,  and  a  tiny  Confederate  flag 
was  left  sticking  in  a  flower-pot  to  show 
that  the  enemy  did  not  surrender. 

There  is  no  other  instance  during  the  war 
of  a  fort  holding  out  so  determinedly  as 
this  one  at  Bald  Head.  The  destruction 
wrought  inside  the  work  was  marvellous — 
one  would  suppose  that  no  living  thing 
could  have  continued  there  under  such  a 
fire.  The  military  historian  whom  we  have 
quoted  was  wrong,  for  every  gun  in  the  fort 
was  rendered  useless  by  the  shot  and  shells 
from  the  gun-boats;  only  one  gun  could  be 
fired  and  that  could  not  be  trained,  owing 
to  the  destruction  of  its  carriage. 

Some  of  the  guns  in  the  lower  batteries 
were  still  intact,  and  these  opened  on  the 
fleet.  In  the  evening,  the  guns  were  all  dis 
mounted  by  the  sailors  and  laid  along  the 
levee,  where  they  could  be  shipped  to  Cairo. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  report  made 
by  T.  M.  Farrell,  U.  S.  N.,  May,  1863  : 

"These  batteries  mounted  one  100-pounder,  two 
64-pounders,  two  7-inch  rifles,  one  30-pounder 
Parrott,  two  30-pounder  Parrotts  in  battery,  two 
20-pounder  Parrotts  in  main  magazine,  three  10- 
po under  Parrotts  on  the  hills. 

"Batteries  engaged  by  the  gun-boats  for  five  hours 
and  thirty-five  minutes,  the  lower  battery  silenced 
in  three  hours,  the  upper  battery  silenced  with  the 
exception  of  one  gun.  The  "  Lafayette ''  laid  oppo 
site  this  battery  and  kept  the  people  from  working 
until  dark,  when  it  was  partially  repaired.  The 
defences  were  all  earthworks. 

"In  addition  to  the  above,  four  or  five  small  field- 
pieces  were  used  by  the  rebels  and  shifted  about 
from  place  to  place." 

Admiral  Farragut  was  still  at  the  mouth 
of  Red  River  in  the  flag-ship  "  Hartford," 
where  he  had  remained  ever  since  he 
had  made  the  passage  by  Port  Hudson, 
and  Admiral  Porter  having  left  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Owen  in  charge  at  Grand 
Gulf  with  the  "  Louisville  "  and  "  Tuscum- 
bia,"  proceeded  down  the  river  to  meet  Far 
ragut  and  relieve  him  of  the  command  of 
that  part  of  the  river. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1863,  Admiral  Porter 
reached  the  mouth  of  Red  River  and  after 
conferring  with  Admiral  Farragut,  pro 
ceeded  up  that  stream  with  the  "  Benton." 
"  Lafayette,"  "  Pittsburg,"  "General  Price," 
tug  "  Ivy  "  and  ram  "  Switzerland."  Meet 
ing  two  of  Admiral  Farragut's  vessels,  the 
"•Arizona"  and  the  "Estella,"  they  were 
turned  back  and  accompanied  Admiral 
Porter's  squadron  which  arrived  next  morn 
ing  at  Fort  DeRussy. 

This  work  was  a  casemated  battery  built 
in  the  most  substantial  manner  and  plated 
after  the  style  of  the  rams  with  railroad 


318 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


iron.  On  the  rumored  approach  of  the  gun- 
boats  the  Confederates  nastily  dismounted 
and  carried  off  all  the  guns  except  one  G-4- 
pounder. 

There  were  at  Fort  DeRussy,  three  case 
mates  intended  for  two  guns  each,  and  a 
flanking  battery  at  right  angles  to  the  case 
mates  calculated  to  mount  seven  guns 
more.  There  was  also  a  large  square  earth 
work  eight  hundred  yards  inland  not  yet 
ready  for  guns. 

These  works  would  have  been  very 
formidable  had  they  been  finished,  and  it 
was  as  well  they  were  not  completed  and 
manned.  They  were  a  monument  of  the 
energy  and  determination  of  the  enemy, 
which  seemed  to  be  without  limit. 

After  partially  destroying  the  works  at 
Fort  DeRussy.  the  squadron  proceeded  up 
to  Alexandria  which  place  submitted  with 
out  a  dissenting  voice,  many  of  the  inhabi 
tants  professing  themselves  Unionists.  The 
day  after  the  arrival  of  the  gun-boats  Major- 
General  Banks  marched  into  Alexandria 
and  the  town  was  turned  over  to  him  by 
the  Navy.  The  following  day  the  squad 
ron  returned  down  the  Red  River  with  the 
exception  of  the  ''Lafayette,"  "Estella" 
and  "Arizona,''  and  the  ram  "Switzer 
land  "  which  were  left  to  co-operate  with 
General  Banks  in  case  he  should  require  the 
assistance  of  the  Navy. 

While  in  Red  River,  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Wood  worth  was  sent  up  Black 
River,  a  branch  of  the  former  stream,  to 
make  a  reconnaissance  with  the  "General 
Price,"  "Pittsburg,"  "Estella,"  and  "Ari 


zona."  These  vessels  ascended  as  far  as 
Harrisonburg  which  was  found  to  be 
strongly  fortified.  The  works  were  shelled 
for  some  time  with  little  apparent  effect 
and  after  destroying  a  large  amount  of  Con 
federate  Army  stores,  amounting  to  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  value,  the  gun 
boats  returned  to  Red  River,  and  the  "  Ben- 
ton  "  and  consorts  proceeded  to  Grand 
Gulf  to  co-operate  with  General  Grant  in 
any  of  his  plans  where  the  Xavy  could  be 
useful. 

Thus  within  ten  days  the  flag-ship  and 
her  consorts,  after  dismantling  the  fortifica 
tions  at  Grand  Gulf,  had  ascended  Red 
River,  had  destroyed  the  works  at  Fort 
DeRussy,  broken  up  an  immense  raft 
intended  to  obstruct  Red  River,  captured 
Alexandria,  destroyed  a  large  amount  of 
the  enemy's  stores  on  Black  River,  and 
returned  to  Grand  Gulf,  where  it  was  found 
that  General  Grant  had  moved  his  Army  to 
wards  Vicksburg. 

The  whole  squadron  then  ascended  the 
river  to  a  point  two  miles  below  Vicksburg. 
and  the  admiral  again  hoisted  his  flag  on 
board  the  "  Black  Hawk."  at  Young's  Point, 
ready  to  communicate  with  General  Grant 
the  moment  his  Army  should  arrive  in  the 
rear  of  the  besieged  city. 

In  less  than  a  month,  the  Mississippi 
squadron  had  passed  through  a  sharp  and 
exciting  campaign,  had  failed  in  nothing  it 
had  undertaken,  and  had  given  the  Army 
the  assistance  necessary  to  enable  it  to 
reach  a  position  which  ensured  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg. 


CHAPTER      XXIX. 


SIEGE   OF  VICKSBURG— CONTINUED. 


THE  ARMY  MARCHES  FROM  BRUENSBURG  TOWARDS  VICKSBURG. — DESTRUCTION  OP  THE  LAST 
WORKS  BUILT  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI. — ADMIRAL  PORTER  OPENS 
COMMUNICATION  WITH  GENERAL  GRANT  IN  THE  REAR  OF  VICKSBURG.  AND  OCCUPIES 
HAINES'  BLUFF. — MIDNIGHT  ATTACK  ON  VICKSBURG  BY  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY. — ATTACK 
ON  YAZOO  CITY  BY  THE  GUN-BOATS  AND  DESTRUCTION  OF  THREE  IRON-CLAD  RAMS.— 
ATTACK  ON  THE  VICKSBURG  WORKS.'  MAY"  2-2.  BY  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY. — Loss  OF  THE 
'•CINCINNATI''  BEFORE  VICKSBURG. — HER  GUNS  TRANSFERRED  TO  THE  REAR  OF  THE 
CITY. — DESTRUCTION  OF  NINE  CONFEDERATE  STEAMERS  UP  THE  YAZOO,  BY  LIEUTEN 
ANT-COMMANDER  WALKER.— ATTACK  ON  VICKSBURG.  JUNE  19,  BY  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY. 
—ALL  THE  ENEMY'S  GUNS  SILENCED. — GENERAL  PRICE'S  ARMY  REPULSED  BY  GENERAL 
MOWER  AND  THE  MARINE  BRIGADE. — ENERGY  SHOWN  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES  IN  VICKS 
BURG. — SHORT  SUMMARY  OF  THE  WORK  ACCOMPLISHED  BEFORE  VICKSBURG  BY  THE 
NAVY. — SURRENDER  OF  VICKSBURG.  JULY  4,  1863. — MEETING  OF  THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE 
ARMY  AND  NAVY  ON  BOARD  THE  FLAG-SHIP  "  BLACK  HAWK." — LETTERS  FROM  GENERAL 
SHERMAN  TO  ADMIRAL  PORTER.— GENEROUS  TERMS  GRANTED  THE  BESIEGED  AFTER  THE 
CAPTURE  OF  VICKSBURG. — TRUE  HISTORY. — HARMONY  IN  ARMY  AND  NAVY  CO-OPERA 
TION. — LAST  WORDS  OF  GRANT. — DETAILED  REPORT  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  PORTER. — CON 
GRATULATORY  LETTER  OF  SECRETARY  WELLES. 


AS   THE  Army  had  marched  from 
Bruensburg1,  and  was  well  on  the 
way  to  Vicksburg,  Admiral  Porter 
changed   his   station   from  Grand 
Gulf  to  the  flag-ship  "  Black  Hawk  " 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  River,  ready  to 
co-operate  with  the  Army  the  moment  it 
should  make  its  appearance  in  the  rear  of 
Vicksburg. 

Two  iron-dads  were  left  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Red  River,  blocking  it  up  closely,  which 
sealed  the  fate  of  Fort  Hudson.  No  more 
supplies  would  get  to  the  Confederates  from 
that  quarter. 

One  iron-clad  was  left  at  Carthage,  three 
at  Warrenton,  (where  the  enemy  aimed  at 
building  heavy  works),  and  two  or  three  in 
the  Yazoo. 

Notwithstanding  the  Confederates  were 
so  hardly  pressed,  they  still  clung  to  the  idea 
that  they  would  beat  the  Federal  Army  back 
from  its  hard-won  positions,  and  they  were 
not  even  willing  that  the  gun-boats  should 
have  the  satisfaction  of  going  to  the  landing 
opposite  Warrenton  to  obtain  provisions  and 


coal.  They  proceeded  to  erect  a  heavy  work 
there  that  would  command  the  river  both 
ways,  and  particularly  the  opposite  landing. 

The  enemy  had  labored  hard  on  these 
works,  night  and  day,  in  hopes  of  having 
them  ready  by  the  time  the  vessels  of  the 
fleet  returned.  It  was  intended  to  mount 
eight  10-  inch  guns  and  some  100-pound  rifles. 
The  work  was  built  of  cotton-bales  covered 
with  logs — the  logs  to  be  covered  with  several 
layers  of  railroad  iron  and  the  whole  to  be 
covered  with  bags  of  earth — a  fort,  in  fact, 
impervious  to  shot  or  shells. 

Lieutenant-Commanding  Wilson,  in  the 
"Mound  City,"  appeared  below  Warrenton 
about  the  12th  of  May,  and  seeing  these 
works  and  no  persons  about,  sent  a  party 
on  shore  to  reconnoitre.  These  mounted  the 
parapets  and  discovered  a  number  of  artil 
lerists  inside  the  fort,  who,  to  make  them 
selves  secure  from  observation, were  crouch 
ing  under  the  parapets. 

The  Federal  party  emptied  their  revolvers 
into  the  enemy  and  then,  jumping  down, 
hailed  the  "  Mound  City  "  and  told  those  on 


(319) 


320 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


board  to  open  fire  on  the  works,  which  was 
done.  A  stray  shell  found  its  way  into  a 
cotton-bale — in  ten  minutes  this  formid 
able  work  was  in  a  blaze,  and  in  less  than 
an  hour  the  whole  fabric  was  consumed. 

This  was  the  last  work  built  by  the  Con 
federates  on  the  Mississippi  River.  All  the 
appliances  of  a  fort  and  a  quantity  of  stores 
were  in  the  houses  at  Warrenton.  which  the 
Confederates  set  fire  to  and  destroyed.  And 
what  houses  were  left  in  the  town  were  de 
stroyed  by  the  "Mound  City's  "  men.  War 
renton  had  been  a  troublesome  place  and 
merited  its  fate. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  the  admiral  joined 
the  fleet  in  the  Yazoo.  and  on  the  10th  firing 
was  heard  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg — a  sign 
that  General  Grant's  Army  was  not  far  off, 
and  that  he  was  driving  Pemberton  into  the 


LIEUT. -COMMANDING  (NOW  CAPTAIN)  BYRON  WILSON,  U.  S.  N. 

city.  The  flag-ship  pushed  up  the  river  as 
near  as  she  could  get  to  the  combatants,  and 
it  was  soon  discovered  by  the  aid  of  glasses 
that  General  Sherman's  division  was  com 
ing  in  on  the  left  of  Snyder's  Bluff,  cutting 
off  the  enemy  at  that  place  from  joining  the 
troops  in  the  city. 

The  "DeKalb,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Walker,  the  "  Choctaw,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Ramsay,  the  "  Linden,"  "Romeo," 
and  "  Forest  Rose,"  all  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant-Commander  Breese,  were  now 
sent  up  the  Yazoo  to  open  communication 
with  the  Army.  In  three  hours,  letters 
were  received  by  the  Admiral  from  Generals 
Grant,  Sherman  and  Steele,  informing  him 
of  their  complete  success  in  driving  Gen 
eral  J.  E.  Johnston  away  with  his  Army 
of  40,000  men,  and  forcing  Pemberton  into 


Vicksburg  with  about  the  same  number  of 
troops. 

In  the  meantime  the  "DeKalb"  pushed 
on  to  Haines'  Bluff,  which  had  been  the 
great  obstacle  to  our  advance  in  that  direc 
tion,  and  which  the  enemy  had  commenced 
evacuating  the  day  before.  A  part  of  the 
garrison  had  remained  behind  in  hopes  of 
carrying  off  a  quantity  of  stores,  but  they 
were  driven  away  by  the  "DeKalb"  and 
were  cut  off  by  some  of  Sherman's  com 
mand  who  had  marched  in  that  direction. 

The  Confederates  had  been  so  completely 
surprised  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  pur 
gun-boats  and  Army  that  they  had  not  time 
to  destroy  anything — guns,  tents,  equipage 
and  all  kinds  of  stores  were  left  in  good  or 
der  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Federals. 

As  soon  as  the  Army  appeared,  driving 
the  Confederates  into  Vicksburg,  all  the 
gun-boats  below  the  city  were  ordered  up 
to  attack  the  batteries,  which  fire  was  kept 
up  for  three  hours.  At  midnight  the  fire 
was  reopened  and  directed  to  all  points 
where  it  might  be  possible  to  harass  the  en 
emy's  troops,  and  it  was  continued  all  night. 
The  Confederates  must  have  had  an  un 
comfortable  time  of  it,  after  marching  and 
fighting  all  day  with  little  hope  of  rest 
within  their  trenches.  Shot  and  shells  were 
whistling  about  them  and  every  now  and 
then  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  city,  threaten 
ing  destruction  to  their  stores  and  muni 
tions  of  war. 

The  Admiral  ordered  up  the  army  trans 
ports  with  stores  and  provisions,  which  the 
Union  forces  were  glad  to  get  that  day  be 
fore  sunset. 

The  works  at  Haines'  Bluff  were  found 
to  be  very  formidable — far  too  much  so  to 
have  been  taken  by  our  Army;  or  from  the 
water  side ;  there  were  eighteen  of  the 
heaviest  guns  (8-inch  and  10-inch  colum- 
blads,  and  7^-inch  rifles)  with  ammuni 
tion  enough  to  last  a  long  siege,  and  much 
of  it  suited  for  the  guns  of  the  naval  vessels. 
The  works  and  encampment  (which  con 
sisted  of  permanent  houses),  covered  many 
acres  of  ground,  and  the  fortifications  and 
rifle-pits  extended  over  one  mile  and  a 
quarter.  Wide  ditches,  chevaux-de-frise, 
and  net  works  (obstructions  that  would  de 
light  any  military  engineer,)  formed  part  of 
their  defenses;  and  these  were  but  a  coun 
terpart  of  miles  of  the  same  kind  of  work,  in 
and  around  Vicksburg.  Most  of  these 
works  were  destroyed  as  not  conducing  in 
any  way  to  the  requirements  of  the  Federal 
Army,  and  to  prevent  their  being  used  to 
check  the  advance  of  the  gun-boats,  in  case 
the  enemy  by  superior  force  caused  the 
siege  to  be  raised. 

As  soon  as  the  Confederates  had  evacu 
ated  Haines'  Bluff,  and  all  the  rafts  which 
blocked  the  river  above  had  been  removed, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


321 


Lieutenant -Commander  Walker,  in  the 
"DeKalb."  was  sent  up  the  Yazoo  River 
•with  a  sufficient  force  to  destroy  all  the 
•works  at  Yazoo  City,  which  had  been  used 
in  the  construction  of  their  rams. 

As  this  naval  force  approached  Yazoo 
City,  the  Confederate  property  was  set  on 
fire  by  Lieutenant  Brown, late  commander  of 
the  "  Arkansas,"  and  our  men  had  only  to 
add  fuel  to  the  flames  which  were  well  un 
der  way.  Three  powerful  rams  were  burned: 
the  * '  Mobile,"  a  screw  steamer  ready  for  her 
plating;  the  "Republic."  already  plated 
with  railroad  iron,  and  a  monster  steamer 
on  the  stocks  (310  feet  long  and  70  beam), 
intended  to  be  the  most  powerful  vessel  of 
the  kind  ever  built.  She  was  to  have  had  six 
engines,  four  side  wheels  and  two  propel 
lers,  with  a  speed  of  sixteen  knots. 

The  Confederates  were  unfortunate  in 
their  rams — they  built  them  only  to  lose 
them.  But  the  amount  of  energy  they  ex 
hibited  in  endeavoring  to  obtain  vessels 
of  this  class  was  remarkable,  and  what 
they  accomplished,  in  this  line,  was  more 
astonishing  still.  Every  ram  which  they 
built  was  either  destroyed  by  our  Navy,  or 
by  themselves  to  prevent  the  Navy  from 
capturing  them.  Naval  officers  knew  how 
much  damage  one  of  these  vessels  would 
commit,  if  she  could  ever  get  fairly  afloat, 
and  when  one  was  heard  of  as  building  at 
any  point,  no  effort  was  left  untried  to 
reach  the  place  and  destroy  her. 

Yazoo  City  fared  badly  for  its  misfortune 
in  being  selected  as  a  site  for  a  Navy  Yard. 
The  expedition  which  had  been  directed  to 
do  its  work  with  all  dispatch  and  return  as 
quickly  as  possible  to  headquarters,  set  fire 
to  everything  of  a  public  character.  The 
Navy  Yard  contained  five  saw-mills,  be 
sides  planing-mills,  machine  shops,  carpen 
ter  and  blacksmith  shops,  in  fact  all  the  ap 
pliances  for  building  a  Navy.  Saw-mills 
above  the  city  were  also  destroyed  and  the 
Federal  forces  left  nothing  that  could  be 
used  towards  building  a  boat  even. 

Yazoo  never  built  another  ram;  the  people 
were  quite  satisfied  to  have  their  houses  left 
standing. 

The  expedition  returned  down  the  river, 
having  fullv  accomplished  all  they  went 
for. 

They  were  attacked  at  Liverpool  Land 
ing,  at  a  very  sharp  bend  in  the  narrow 
river,  by  three  field-pieces  and  200  rifle-men 
concealed  in  the  bushes;  but  these  were 
soon  made  to  retreat.  The  vessels  only  lost 
one  man  killed  and  eight  wounded — but  the 
amount  of  destruction  which  they  caused 
can  hardly  be  realized. 

The  Confederates  now  lost  all  hope  of  be 
ing  able  to  build  rams  or  any  other  vessels 
on  the  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
though  Yazoo  City  was  for  some  time  after 

21 


the  rendevous  of  the  cowardly  guerillas,  yet 
it  no  longer  formed  a  source  of  anxiety  to 
the  Union  forces. 

On  the  evening  of  the  21st  of  May,  Ad 
miral  Porter  received  a  communication 
from  General  Grant  to  the  effect  that  he  in 
tended  to  make  a  general  attack  upon  the 
Confederate  works  at  Vicksburg  at  10  A.  M. 
the  next  day.  He  had  closely  invested  the 
enemy's  works  and  was  so  near  that  he 
thought  he  could  get  inside.  The  Admiral 
was  requested  to  attack  on  the  water  side, 
and  shell  all  the  batteries  from  9.30  to  10.30 
A.  M.,  to  annoy  the  garrison  and  draw  off  as 
many  as  possible  from  the  trenches. 

In  the  meantime  the  Admiral  with  the 
"  Benton,"  li  Tuscumbia,"  "  Carondelet," 
and  "  Mound  City  "  opened  on  the  hill  bat 
teries  and  silenced  them  one  after  another, 
and  the  "  Mound  City  "  had  the  honor  of 
disabling  the  heaviest  gun  the  enemy  had 
mounted,  called  "Whistling  Dick,"  a  gun 
that  had  hitherto  defied  the  best  marksmen. 


"WHISTLING   DICK." 

(SKETCHED    BY    BEAB-ADMIBAL    WALKE    FROM    A    PHOTOGRAPH     BY 
PAYMASTER   BENTON.) 

The  Confederates  did  not  stand  to  their 
guns  this  day  as  they  had  been  accustomed 
to  do.  They  were  receiving  a  heavy  fire  in 
the  rear  as  well  as  in  front,  and  the  shriek  of 
the  shells  from  the  army  field-pieces,  as  they 
fell  by  the  hundred  in  the  Confederate  works, 
could  be  heard  down  on  the  water  amid  the 
roar  of  the  heavy  cannon.  The  batteries 
one  after  another  were  silenced,  as  the  gun 
boats,  firing  bow  and  broadside  guns,  moved 
upon  them  until  they  came  to  the  13-gun 
battery  in  front  of  the  city. 

This  battery  was  commanded  by  Colonel 
Higgins  (formerly  a  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy),  who  had  so  gallantly  defended  Fort 
Jackson.  He  felt  called  upon  to  show  his 
old  naval  friends  that  he  would  not  flinch 
from  his  post  no  matter  what  force  was 
brought  against  him.  But  the  water  was  high 
(nearly  level  with  the  banks),  and  the  gun 
boats  were  above  the  enemy's  water  batter 
ies;  the  first  time  they  had  ever  enjoyed  this 
advantage.  They  had  nothing  but  this  one 
battery  to  engage  their  attention,  as  all  the 


322 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


others  had  been  silenced.  This  was  the 
hottest  fire  the  gun-boats  had  yet  been 
under,  as  Col.  Higgins  clung  to  his  works 
with  the  greatest  tenacity  and  placed  a 
number  of  shot  (fortunately  they  were  not 
shells)  below  the  water-line.  This  went  on 
for  two  hours  and  a  quarter  when  it  was 
quite  time,  according  to  rule,  that  the  enemy 
should  abandon  his  post,  but  he  still  held  on. 

The  "Tuscumbia"  was  brought  up  with 
her  11-inch  guns,  but  Higgins  soon  made 
her  turret  untenable,  and  she  was  finally 
completely  disabled  and  had  to  drop  out  of 
action. 

The  gun-boats  had  started  down  the  river 
with  a  large  amount  of  ammunition,  but 
they  had  been  under  fire  a  good  deal  and 
up  to  this  time  had  had  no  opportunity  of 
replenishing  their  supply.  Reports  came 
up  from  below  that  the  ammunition  was 
running  short  and  would  be  out  in  a  few 
minutes.  This  was  provoking.  Colonel 
Higgins'  fire  had  begun  to  slacken  and  in 
half  an  hour  more  he  would  have  been 
silenced;  but  no;  one  after  another  the  gun 
boats  got  out  of  ammunition,  and  were 
obliged  to  drop  down,  and  finally  the  last 
one  was  obliged  to  retire  and  Colonel  Hig 
gins  was  left  master  of  the  field.  It  is  not 
likely  that  he  enjoyed  the  sport  however, 
as  he  afterwards  confessed  to  losing  a  great 
many  of  his  men. 

The  gun-boats  had  done  what  was  re 
quired  of  them  by  General  Grant,  and 
more.  He  asked  an  hour's  attack  to  annoy 
the  garrison,  while  his  Army  assaulted  in 
the  rear;  they  fought  the  batteries  for  two 
hours  and  a  half,  more  than  twice  as  long 
as  was  required,  and  with  what  success 
will  be  seen  from  the  following  letter  of 
General  McArthur. 


HEADQUARTERS,  GTH  DIVISION,  I?TH  ARMY 
CORPS,  IX  FIELD  NEAR  VlCKSBURG, 

MlSS.,  May  23,  1863. 
ADMIRAL — I  received  your  communication  with 
regard  to  silencing  the  two  batteries  below  Vicks 
burg,  and  in  reply  would  say  that  I  witnessed  with 
intense  interest  the  firing  on  that  day,  it  being  the 
finest  I  have  yet  seen. 

I  would  have  taken  advantage  of  the  results  thus 
gained  by  your  vessels,  and  had  given  the  necessary 
orders  to  do  so,  when  I  received  peremptory  orders 
from  Major-General  McClernand  to  move  my  com 
mand  around  to  the  right  of  my  position,  to  sup- 
Eort  a  portion  of  his  troops  who   had  gained  a 
)dgment  in  the  enemy's  works. 
I  arrived,  however,  too  late,  and  have  now  been 
ordered  back  to  my  former  position  and  to  follow 
up  any  advantage  your  vessels  may  gain. 

I  have  made  a  request  to  have  some  rifle  guns 
sent  me,  which  I  require,  and  on  receipt  of  which  I 
expect  to  enfilade  "  Whistling  Dick's  "  position  ;  at 

any  rate  I  will  try 

I  am,  your  obedient  servant, 

I.  MCARTHUR, 
Brig. -Gen.  Com" ding  6th  Division,  nth  Corps. 

Had  Gen.  McArthur  been  let  alone,  and 
not  been  prevented  from  occupying  the 


works  from  which  the  Navy  had  driven  the 
Confederates,  he  would  have  kept  posses 
sion  of  every  fort  on  the  ridge  of  hills  which 
overlooked  Vicksburg,  and  decided  the  fate 
of  the  city. 

To  show  that  these  attacks  of  the  gun 
boats  were  not  child's  play,  the  reports  of 
some  of  the  injuries  received  by  them  are 
herewith  mentioned  : 

"  '  MOUND  CITY,'  May  22d,  1863. 

"  A  shot  struck  and  lodged  in  starboard  bow  near 
the  stern,  and  five  feet  under  water 

"  A  shot  went  through  the  forecastle  on  port  side 
into  the  coal  bunkers;  a  shot  on  starboard  side 
went  through  the  hammock  netting  and  starboard 
chimney  at  the  lower  band,  tearing  the  chimney 
half  off,  then  through  the  galley  and  overboard.  A 
shot  in  front  passed  through  two  heavy  thicknesses 
of  boiler  iron,  the  iron  of  the  the  pilot-house  near 
the  deck,  and  through  the  deck,  cutting  away  car- 
lines,  and  lodged  in  a  mess-chest. 

"  A  shot  on  starboard  side  passed  through  half 
of  the  hog -chain  stanchion,  passed  through  wheel- 
house,  cutting  away  iron  wheel  and  brace;  then 
through  the  steerage,  tearing  up  eight  feet  of  the 
planks  and  breaking  carlines  and  woodwork  in 
ward  room.  A  shell  burst  close  to  No.  6  gun, 
knocking  off  part  of  the  muzzle.  A  shot  on  star 
board  side  struck  the  iron  near  the  top,  cutting 
half  through  and  bending  one  of  the  plates, 
knocking  out  a  stanchion  and  starting  the  bolts  on 
the  inside.  A  shot  on  starboard  side  struck  the 
muzzle  of  No.  7  gun,  wrecking  the  gun,  then 
glanced,  went  through  the  hammock  netting  and 
fell  into  the  pitman.  A  shot  struck  the  iron  on 
starboard  side,  over  shell-room,  knocking  off  the 
plate  and  driving  a  piece  of  it  through  the  iron 
plating  of  the  casemate.  A  shot  on  starboard  side 
cut  away  an  awning  stanchion,  and  passed  through 
cabin  skylight  tearing  up  the  plank. 

"A  shot  struck  front  chimney  twenty  feet  from 
deck.  A  shot  through  brace  of  forward  stanchion 
and  skylight.  A  shot  on  starboard  side  struck  iron 
plating  between  guns  Nos.  4  and  5,  three  feet  above 
the  water,  and  glanced  off  bending  the  plates  and 
starting  the  bolts.  A  shot  on  starboard  side  at 
shell  room  two  feet  below  water;  a  shot  struck  bin- 
acle  on  port  quarter,  and  glanced  knocking  hole  in 
the  plating  of  casemate.  A  shot  struck  boat  davit 
and  bent  it,  etc." 

Half  the  number  of  these  shots  striking  a 
wooden  vessel  would  have  destroyed  her. 

The  "Benton"  was  struck  in  her  hull 
thirteen  times;  four  times  at  the  water  line, 
etc. 

While  this  was  going  on,  the  Army  as 
saulted  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  but  did  not 
succeed  in  getting  in.  Pemberton  had  at 
this  time  42,000  men  to  man  his  ramparts. 

The  gun-boats  kept  up  their  attack  until 
the  27th  when  there  was  a  lull  for  a  time. 

On  the  29th.  General  W.  T.  Sherman  sig 
nalled  to  the  flag-ship,  requesting  that  two 
gun-boats  be  sent  down  to  clear  out  a  battery 
of  two  guns  that  prevented  him  from  ex 
tending  his  right  flank.  It  being  a  rule  with 
the  Navy  never  to  refuse  a  request  from  the 
Army,  the  "Cincinnati"  was  prepared  for 
the  adventure. 

Sherman  was  under  the  impression  that 
the  enemy  had  moved  a  battery  of  eleven 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


323 


heavy  guns  from  a  bluff  commanding  the 
Mississippi  to  the  land  side,  but  the  guns 
had  only  been  lowered  from  their  car 
riages  to  avoid  the  naval  fire,  and  Col 
onel  Higgins  (who  had  made  out  all  the 
signals  passing  between  our  Army  and 
Navy),  quickly  remounted  them  under 
cover  of  the  night  and  screened  them  with 
bushes. 

Next  morning  the  "Cincinnati,"  Lieuten 
ant  George  M.  Bache,  started  down  the 
river  to  attack  the  small  battery  mentioned 
by  Sherman,  but  as  the  vessel  rounded  to 
and  opened  her  broadside,  the  battery  on 
the  bluff  opened  on  her  stern  with  its  heavi 
est  guns. 

The   first  shot  from  the    enemy  passed 
through  the  magazine  and  then  through  the 
bottom,  causing  the    "Cincinnati"   to   fill 
rapidly.     Then  the  starboard  tiller  was  shot 
away,    the    enemy 
firing    rapidly    and 
with     great     accu 
racy  ;    8  -  i  ii  c  h   and 
10-inch   shot  went 
clear   through    the 
bulwarks    of  hay 
and  logs. and  plung 
ing     shots     from 
the    heights     went 
through   the    deck 
and  did  much  dam 
age. 

The  vessel  could 
not  return  this  fire 
and  putting  on 
steam  crept  along 
the  shore,  up  river, 
making  against  the 
current  not  more 
than  three  miles  an 
hour. 

The  "Cincinnati" 
was  soon  in  a  sink 
ing  condition,  and 
her  gallant  com 
mander  ran  her  into  the  bank  and  got  out 
a  plank  to  save  his  crew  before  the  vessel 
went  down.  A  hawser  was  taken  on  shore 
and  made  fast  to  a  tree,  but.  unfortunately, 
it  was  not  properly  secured,  and  giving  way 
allowed  the  vessel  to  slide  off  into  deep 
water.  All  this  time  the  enemy  continued 
to  pour  in  a  destructive  fire.  Bache  would 
not  haul  down  his  flag,  but  nailed  it  to  the 
stump  of  his  flag-pole  which  had  been  shot 
away. 

As  the  vessel  was  now  sinking  the  order 
was  given  for  all  who  could  to  swim  to 
the  shore,  which  was  not  far  off;  the  boats 
had  all  been  shot  to  pieces  and  were  of  no 
use.  There  were  but  three  fathoms  of  wa 
ter  where  the  "Cincinnati"  went  down,  and 
her  colors  and  smoke-pipes  remained  in 
sight.  Fifteen  men  were  drowned  in  at- 


LIEUTENANT  GEORGE  M    BACHE,  NOW  COMMANDER  U.  S.  N. 


tempting  to  reach  the  bank  and  twenty  more 
were  killed  or  wounded. 

This  was  an  unfortunate  affair,  but  the 
calamity  was  somewhat  deprived  of  its 
sting  by  the  cool  and  courageous  conduct 
of  the  commander,  officers  and  crew,  who 
withstood  the  Confederate  fire  unflinch 
ingly  and  preferred  to  sink  rather  than  haul 
down  their  colors.  The  Confederates  kept 
up  their  fire  on  the  flag,  and  many  of  the 
plunging  shot  found  their  way  through  the 
vessel's  hull. 

As  soon  as  General  Sherman  saw  what 
had  happened  he  sent  a  company  of  the 
76th  Ohio  to  the  relief  of  our  officers  and 
men. 

Sherman  wrote  to  the  Admiral,  deploring 
the  loss  of  the  vessel,  but  said:  "  the  impor 
tance  of  the  object  desired  to  be  accom 
plished  fully  warranted  the  attempt.  It  has 

proved  successful 
and  will  stimu 
late  us  to  further 
efforts  to  break 
the  line  which  ter- 
m i n a t e s  on  the 
Mississippi  in  such 
formidable  bat 
teries." 

In  a  few  days  the 
water  in  the  river 
fell  sufficiently  for 
the  guns  to  be  re 
moved  from  the 
"Cincinnati."  This 
\vas  done  by  the 
Army  at  night 
when  the  enemy 
could  not  see  what 
was  going  on. 
Some  of  the  guns 
were  mounted  in 
front  of  Sherman's 
division,  and  were 
under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  T.  O.  Self  ridge,  with 
blue-jackets  to  work  them;  and  this  battery 
finally  accomplished  what  the  "Cincinnati " 
had  not  time  to  do;  viz.,  clear  out  the  bat 
teries  which  threatened  Sherman's  right 
flank.  These  guns  were  also  employed  in 
firing  upon  such  points  as  Sherman  pointed 
out,  where  he  thought  it  advantageous  to 
clear  a  way  for  the  Army  in  case  of  another 
assault. 

The  "  Cincinnati's  "  9-inch  guns  were  tem 
porarily  mounted  in  the  rear  of  the  city, 
and  worked  by  a  party  of  blue -jackets 
under  Lieut.-Commander  Walker.  Both  of 
these  batteries  did  good  service  during  the 
siege. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  wrote  a  hand 
some  letter  to  Lieutenant  Bache,  concluding 
as  follows: 


324 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


41  Amid  an  incessant  fire  of  shot  and  shells,  even 
•when  the  fate  of  the  vessel  had  been  sealed,  and  de 
struction  both  from  the  elements  and  the  enemy 
was  threatened,  the  officers  and  men  appear  to  have 
stood  bravely  at  their  posts,  and  it  is  a  proud  record 
of  the  "  Cincinnati "  that  when  her  last  moments 
came,  she  went  down  with  her  colors  nailed  to  the 
mast. 

"  It  is  with  no  ordinary  pleasure  that  I  express  to 
you  and  the  surviving  officers  and  crew  of  the  "  Cin 
cinnati  "  the  department's  appreciation  of  your 
brave  conduct." 

There  was  still  work  for  the  Navy  to  do  in 
the  Yazoo,  whileGeneralGrant  was  starving 
the  Confederates  out  in  Vicksburg.  There 
was  no  use  in  wasting  life  in  assaulting  a 
place  with  such  defences,  and  the  Army 
continued  to  make  their  approaches  and 
mount  their  batteries  until  they  were  within 
fifty  feet  of  the  enemy's  works.  The  sur 
render  was  but  a  matter  of  time,  and  a  short 
time  at  that.  Every  opening  was  stopped 
up,  no  one  inside  could  get  out,  nor  those 
outside  get  in. 
The  enemy  now 
had  to  subsist  on 
what  provisions 
they  had  on 
hand,  which  was 
not  much,  and 
unless  relieved 
by  a  superior 
force  a  month 
more  or  less 
would  bring 
about  a  surren 
der.  It  was  not 
likely  that  the 
siege  would  be 
raised,  for  if  the 
Federal  Army, 
with  all  the  dis 
advantages  un 
der  which  it 
labored,  could 
manage  to  dispose  of  an  enemy  80,000  strong 
in  a  country  where  the  latter  occupied 
all  the  strong  positions,  it  could  prevent  the 
escape  of  that  portion  of  them  which  had 
been  driven  into  the  city. 

It  is  not  the  province  of  the  writer  to  give 
an  account  of  the  military  operations  of  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg;  this  book  is  mostly  con 
fined  to  the  naval  operations,  and  he  is  not 
sufficiently  informed  on  the  subject  to  do 
full  justice  to  the  movements  of  the  Army. 
He  knows  enough,  however,  to  be  satisfied 
that  everything  was  done  by  the  gen 
erals  of  our  Army  in  a  masterly  manner, 
and  that  they  had  posted  themselves  so 
securely  around  Vicksburg  that  all  the 
power  of  the  Confederacy  could  not  affect 
them  in  any  way,  and  that  while  our 
soldiers  were  fed  by  a  commissariat  that 
had  no  equal  in  any  part  of  the  world, 
Pemberton  and  his  troops  inside  the  city 
were  living  on  short  rations.  The  Con- 


U.   8.  GUN-BOAT   "CINCINNATI 


federates  were  now  acknowledging  one 
to  another  that  Pemberton  (clever  as  he 
was)  had  more  than  met  his  match  in  the 
leader  of  the  Federal  Army,  and  that  the 
Union  soldiers,  when  well  commanded, could 
meet  a  larger  number  of  the  enemy  and  de 
feat  them  with  ease. 

There  were  still  a  number  of  steamers  on 
the  Yazoo  that  might  in  some  way  be  ser 
viceable  to  the  enemy  and  an  expedition 
under  Lieutenant-Commander  Walker  of 
the  "DeKalb"  was  sent  up  that  river  to 
capture  or  destroy  them. 

The  "  Forest  Rose,"  -'Linden,"  "Signal" 
and  ''Petrel"  (vessels  whose  names  have 
appeared  frequently  in  this  history)  accom 
panied  the  expedition.  The  "  Signal  " 
knocked  down  her  chimney  among  the  trees 
the  first  night,  and  had  to  return.  Walker 
pushed  on  with  the  smaller  vessels  (leaving 
the  '•  DeKalb"  to  follow  after)  to  within 

fifteen  miles  of 
Fort  Pemberton, 
where  the  steam- 
e  r  s  ''John 
Walsh,"  "Lock- 
wood,"  "Golden 
Age"  and  "Scot- 
land"  were 
found  sunk  on  a 
bar,  completely 
blocking  the 
way.  Failing  in 
his  efforts  to 
make  a  passage 
t  h  r  o  u  g  h  the 
boats,  he  set  fire 
to  them  and 
they  were  all 
destroyed. 

The  expedition 
was  attacked  at 
this  point  by 
artillery  and  sharp-shooters  in  force,  but 
they  were  driven  off  with  loss.  Saw-mills 
were  burned,  the  corn  on  which  an  enemy 
could  subsist  was  destroyed,  and  at  Yazoo 
City  the  crews  landed  and  brought  away 
all  the  bar,  round  and  flat  iron  intended 
to  be  used  in  the  building  of  their  iron 
clads. 

Armed  boats  were  sent  through  the  Roll 
ing  Fork  and  into  bayous  which  were  inac 
cessible  at  that  moment  to  the  gun-boats. 
Four  other  steamers  were  found  hidden 
away  in  snug  retreats  and  burned — almost 
rivalling  the  mischief  done  by  the  "  Ala 
bama,"  who  had  taught  us  how  to  retaliate 
upon  an  enemy. 

This  was  a  terrible  raid  and  involved  a  loss 
to  the  enemy  of  more  than  two  millions  of 
dollars.  The  performance  showed  how  eas 
ily  the  Delta  expedition  could  have  obtained 
possession  of  the  Yazoo  River  and  district 
as  far  as  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  but  for  the 


SUNK   BY  THE  UPPER  WATER   BATTERY 
AT  VICKSBURG,   MAY   27,    1863. 

(FROM    A    PEN-AND-INK    SKETCH    BY    BEAK- ADMIRAL    WALKE.) 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


325 


delay  at  Helena.  It  also  assured  the  success 
of  the  Steele's  Bayou  expedition,  which  was 
undertaken  soon  after  the  expedition  to 
Yazoo  Pass. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  Admiral  Porter 
received  a  notification  from  General  Grant 
that  he  intended  to  open  a  general  bom 
bardment  on  the  city  at  4  A.  M.  and  con 
tinue  it  until  10  o'clock.  At  the  appointed 
time  the  bombardment  commenced  all  along 
the  army  line  and  was  joined  on  the  water 
side  by  every  gun-boat,  the  guns  on  scows 
and  the  mortars,  until  the  earth  fairly  shook 
with  the  thundering  noise.  The  gun-boats 
spread  themselves  all  along  in  front  of  the 
city — cross  firing  on  everything  in  the  shape 
of  a  battery — but  there  was  no  response 
whatever — the  works  were  all  deserted ; 
even  the  indefatigable  Colonel  Higgins, 
who  loved  to  give  his  old  shipmates  a 
reminder  of  his  gallantry,  failed  to  fire  a 
shot  from  his  spiteful  water-battery  which 
had  so  often  defied  them. 

After  the  fire  was  all  over  on  the  Union 
side,  the  city  of  Vicksburg  was  as  quiet  as 
the  grave — not  a  soul  could  be  seen.  The 
women  had  all  taken  refuge  in  the  shelters 
built  in  the  hillsides,  and  every  man  that 
could  hold  a  musket  or  point  a  bayonet  was 
in  the  trenches.  There  they  would  stay  for 
days  and  nights,  lying  in  the  mud  and  hav 
ing  what  food  they  could  get  served  out  to 
them  there. 

The  trials  and  privations  which  the  Con 
federates  suffered  at  this  time  can  only  be 
described  by  those  who  took  part  in  the 
defence.  The  day  on  which  they  surren 
dered  was  a  day  of  jubilee  to  them,  for  the 
Federal  commanders  served  out  full  rations 
to  everybody,  which  were  eaten  with  an 
enjoyment  that  can  only  be  realized  by 
people  who  have  been  on  quarter  rations 
for  a  month. 

Every  effort  was  made  to  bring  relief  to 
the  Confederates  through  Louisiana.  Gen 
eral  Price  had  been  moving  about  some 
twelve  miles  from  Young's  Point  among 
the  swamps  and  bayous,  and  it  was  reported 
that  he  intended  to  seize  Young's  Point  with 
some  ten  thousand  men  and  try  to  provision 
Vicksburg  by  the  front. 

There  was  only  a  small  force  of  Federal 
troops  at  Young's  Point  and  Milli ken's 
Bend  at  this  time,  and  Price  might  have 
gained  a  partial  success,  but  nothing  sub 
stantial. 

One  attempt  was  made  on  Milliken's 
Bend,  and  quite  a  number  of  the  garrison 
killed,  but  the  gun-boats  "Choctaw"  and 
"Lexington"  went  immediately  to  the 
relief  of  our  troops  and  the  Confederates 
were  driven  off  with  loss 

The  Marine  Brigade  under  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Alfred  Ellet  had  joined  the  squadron 
and  reported  to  Admiral  Porter.  This 


organization  consisted  of  about  two  thous 
and  men,  well  equipped  and  fairly  dis 
ciplined.  General  Mower,  a  very  brave  offi 
cer,  had  about  8,000  men  at  Young's  Point, 
and  uniting  the  marine  brigade  with  his 
troops  he  marched  out  to  hunt  up  General 
Price's  army, — found  it  and  scattered  it 
after  a  short  and  decisive  battle.  Price's 
army  now  left  this  district  and  troubled  it 
no  more.  This  was  the  last  hope  of  the 
besieged,  if  they  had  ever  hoped  anything 
from  so  forlorn  a  scheme,  and  they  sat  in 
their  trenches  waiting  for  the  time  when 
the  last  ration  should  be  served  out. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  this  was  the  con 
dition  of  affairs  in  the  city.  The  gun-boats 
were  by  turns  throwing  shells  day  and  night; 
the  mortars  kept  up  an  incessant  bombard 
ment,  which  if  it  damaged  no  works  demor 
alized  the  enemy's  troops;  a  constant  fire 
from  the  Army  and  Navy  guns  in  the  rear 
was  kept  up,  day  and  night,  and  a  6-inch 
rifle  battery  taken  from  the  gun-boats  was 
served  with  great  skill  by  General  Mc- 
Arthur  on  the  left  flank.  General  Mc- 
Pherson  had  blown  up  what  was  called  the 
citadel  of  the  Confederate  works,  and 
mounted  on  the  debris  four  9-inch  guns 
from  the  squadron,  and  some  rifled  30- 
pounders. 

These  guns  now  commanded  a  large 
portion  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  when 
they  opened  fire  the  requiem  of  Vicksburg 
was  sung  by  the  shrieking  shell,  as  they 
flew  through  the  air  carrying  death  and 
destruction  all  over  the  city. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1863,  that  historic  day 
was  rendered  more  memorable  by  the  sur 
render  of  Vicksburg  to  the  Federal  forces 
after  a  desperate  but  vain  resistance,  in 
which  the  Confederates  had  won  the  respect 
of  their  conquerors  by  the  bravery  and 
endurance  displayed  during  a  siege  of  seven 
months. 

Southern  historians  have  eulogized  them 
for  their  faithful  adherence  to  a  cause 
which  received  its  death-blow  when  they 
surrendered,  but  as  this  history  is  more  par 
ticularly  connected  with  the  boys  in  blue 
than  with  the  boys  in  gray  we  must  leave 
the  latter  to  the  'future  military  historian, 
who,  when  the  excitements  and  prejudices 
of  the  time  have  worn  away,  will  no  doubt 
do  them  justice. 

It  was  from  no  want  of  ability  on  the  part 
of  our  military  leaders  that  this  surrender 
was  not  brought  about  sooner,  but  owing  to 
the  magnitude  of  the  Confederate  defences, 
which  were  intended  to  keep  at  bay  any 
force  the  Federal  Government  could  bring 
against  them,  and  calculating  that  even 
were  the  city  to  be  enveloped  by  troops  the 
Confederacy  could  always  send  a  sufficient 
number  from  the  South  to  raise  the  siege. 
No  doubt  the  will  and  energy  were  with  the 


320 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Confederates  to  do  as  they  thought  could 
be  done,  but  the  great  oak  that  has  been 
torn  and  twisted  by  the  winds  for  centuries 
must  succumb  at  last  to  a  tornado:  the  Con 
federacy  had  now  received  many  telling 
blows,  and  its  strength  had  begun  to  fail. 

Many  could  see  the  end  of  the  rebellion, 
and  no  one  knew  how  near  it  was,  better 
than  the  Confederates  themselves.  If  doubts 
still  remained  with  any  of  them,  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg,  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi 
from  the  Northern  States  to  the  sea,  and 
the  complete  severance  of  the  three  most 
important  States  (as  regarded  supplies 
from  others)  would  have  removed  their  de 
lusion.  But  they  still  fought  on,  though  it 
was  only  with  the  spirit  of  the  game-cock 
which  strikes  at  random  while  the  life-blood 
is  flowing  from  its  veins 

History  has  seldom  had  an  opportunity  of 
recording  so  desperate  a  defence  on  one  side, 
with  so  much  ability,  courage,  perseverance 
and  endurance' on  the  other.  The  Army  of 
the  Tennessee  covered  itself  with  honor  of 
which  no  one  can  ever  deprive  it. 

Though  the  Navy  performed  naturally  a 
less  conspicuous  part  than  the  Army,  yet  it 
did  its  duty  in  a  manner  which  not  even 
the  most  exacting  could  find  fault  with. 
Less  zeal  on  the  part  of  its  officers  and 
men  would  doubtless  have  extended  the 
siege  to  some  indefinite  time. 

A  short  summary  of  the  work  done  by  the 
Navy  during  the  last  forty  days  of  the  siege, 
may  not  be  amiss.  It  will  assure  those  who 
served  at  this  critical  period  in  the  Navy, 
that  they  are  not  forgotten,  and  that  their 
names  will  go  down  to  history,  honored  as 
they  deserve  to  be. 

The  mortar  boats  were  kept  at  work  for 
forty  days,  night  and  day.  throwing  shells 
into  every  part  of  Vicksburg  and  its  works, 
some  of  them  even  reaching  the  trenches  in 
the  rear  of  the  city.  Three  heavy  guns 
placed  011  scows,  one  9-inch,  one  10-inch, 
and  a  100-pounder  rifle  were  placed  in  posi 
tion  a  mile  from  the  town,  and  commanded 
all  the  important  water  batteries.  They 
kept  up  an  incessant  and  accurate  fire  for 
fourteen  days,  while  the  path  of  the  mis 
siles  was  filled  with  destruction. 

Five  8-inch,  four  9-inch,  two  42-pounder 
rifled  guns  and  four  32-pounder  shell  guns 
were  landed  from  the  gun-boats  at  different 
points  during  the  siege  at  the  request  of  the 
officers  commanding  divisions,  or  of  Gen 
eral  Grant,  and  whenever  officers  and  men 
could  be  spared  from  the  fleet  they  were 
sent  on  shore  to  work  the  guns.  As  no  dis 
satisfaction  was  expressed  by  the  officers 
in  command,  it  was  presumed  that  the 
sailors  performed  their  duty  well. 

The  banks  of  the  Mississippi  were  so 
watchfully  guarded  from  Vicksburg  to 
Cairo  that  the  Army  transports  went 


through  with  troops  and  stores,  for  a  dis 
tance  of  about  450  miles,  without  molesta 
tion.  The  marine  brigade,  under  Briga 
dier-General  Ellet,  was  constantly  landing 
along  the  river  to  break  up  guerilla  warfare. 
Without  a  watchful  eye  on  the  Mississippi, 
on  the  part  of  the  Navy,  the  operations  of 
the  Army  would  have  been  often  inter 
rupted  Only  one  Army  steamer  was  dis 
abled  during  the  siege  operations,  and  six 
or  seven  men  killed  on  board  of  her. 

When  the  whole  of  our  Army  was  in  the 
rear  of  Vicksburg,  with  the  exception  of  a 
small  force  at  Young's  Point  under  General 
Mower,  and  that  place  was  attacked  by 
Major-General  Price  with  ]2,000  men,  the 
marine  brigade  and  the  gun-boats  united 
with  General  Mower's  force  to  put  the  Con 
federates  down,  which  was  effectually  done; 
and  General  Grant  was  satisfied  that 
Young's  Point  would  be  taken  care  of  by 
the  Navy,  while  he  was  engaged  in  reduc 
ing  the  monster  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Mississippi. 

When  the  Army  and  Navy  started  out  to 
capture  Vicksburg  the  Mississippi  was 
closed  against  the  Federal  forces  from 
Helena  to  Port  Hudson.  This  latter  place 
fell  shortly  after  the  surrender  of  Vicks 
burg  and  the  river  was  thus  open  to  the 
sea. 

There  was  no  longer  a  doubt  that  the  re 
bellious  states  were  divided,  and  that  the 
uninterrupted  navigation  of  the  "  father 
of  waters"  and  its  tributaries  was  soon 
to  be  restored  to  the  Union.  So  satis 
fied  were  the  Confederate  leaders  that 
Vicksburg  was  the  key  to  this  great  net 
work  of  water  which  enriched  the  vast  do 
main  through  which  it  found  its  way  to  the 
sea,  that  they  staked  their  cause  upon  its 
retention.  When  they  failed  in  this  effort 
they  were  almost  in  their  last  throes, 
though  their  vitality  enabled  them  to  pro 
long  the  struggle  (that  was  impoverishing 
and  ruining  their  country,)  for  some  time 
longer. 

But  there  could  be  no  hope  of  success  for 
the  Southern  cause,  when  the  great  slave 
power  which  had  controlled  so  many  miles 
of  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  no  longer 
existed.  The  chain  which  held  slavery  to 
gether  was  broken,  and  the  commerce  of 
the  nation  went  rejoicing  on  its  way  to  the 
great  ocean,  once  more  to  barter  with  the 
people  of  the  outside  world. 

That  4th  of  July  was  a  happy  day  to  all 
those  who  had  joined  in  the  herculean  ef 
forts  to  bring  about  the  desired  end.  At  a 
certain  hour  the  American  flag  was  to  be 
hoisted  on  the  court-house  where  the  Con 
federate  emblem  had  so  long  flaunted  in  the 
face  of  the  Union  forces.  At  the  moment 
the  flag  went  up  every  vessel  in  the  river, 
gun-boats  and  transports,  decked  with  flags, 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


327 


started  from  above  and  below  to  reach  the 
levee  in  front  of  the  city,  sounding  their 
steam  whistles  and  firing  a  national  salute 
that  seemed  like  a  renewed  attack. 

The  flagship  "  Black  Hawk  "  had  scarcely 
reached  the  levee  when  General  Grant  and 
many  of  his  officers  rode  up,  and  dismount 
ing.  Vent  on  board,  where  they  were  re 
ceived  with  that  warmth  of  feeling  and 
hospitality  that  delights  the  heart  of  a 
sailor.  The  leader,  who  with  his  Army  had 
achieved  the  greatest  victory  of  the  war,  now 
received  the  congratulations  of  the  officers 
of  both  Army  and  Navy,  and  although  no 
one  would  judge  from  his  manner  that  any 
thing  remarkable  had  happened  yet  he  must 
have  felt  that  this  was  the  triumph  of  his  life. 

Sherman  was  one  of  those  whose  absence 
was  regretted  by  all,  but  he  was  off  with  a 
division  of  the  Army  in  pursuit  of  General 
Johnston,  who  had  been  lingering  in 
the  vicinity  of  Jackson  in  hopes  of  render 
ing  aid  to  the  besieged.  He  was  too  for 
midable  an  enemy  to  be  allowed  to  remain 
near  the  prize  which  had  been  so  hardly 
won,  and  Sherman  had  gone  to  show  him 
that  he  must  move  his  headquarters  some 
where  else. 

But  even  while  engaged  on  so  important 
a  duty,  Sherman  did  not  forget  those  of 
the  Navy  with  whom  he  had  co-operated 
for  so  many  months,  and  he  wrote  a  letter 
to  the  Admiral  in  which  he  expressed  his 
satisfaction  at  the  final  result  of  the  siege. 
This  letter  is  so  like  the  warm-hearted  and 
gallant  soldier,  that  no  one  can  help  feeling 
pleasure  when  he  reads  it,  and  it  is  here  in 
serted. 

HEADQUARTERS  EXPEDITIONARY  ARMY,  } 
BLACK  RIVER,  July  4,  1863.         f 

DEAR  ADMIRAL— No  event  in  my  life  could  have 
given  me  more  personal  pride  or  pleasure  than  to 
have  met  you  to-day  on  the  wharf  at  Vicksburg — a 
Fourth  of  July  so  eloquent  in  events  as  to  need  no 
words  or  stimulants  to  elevate  its  importance. 

I  can  appreciate  the  intense  satisfaction  you  must 
feel  at  lying  before  the  very  monster  which  has  de 
fled  us  with  such  deep  and  malignant  hate,  and  see 
ing  your  once  disunited  fleet  again  a  unit,  and  bet 
ter  still,  the  chain  that  made  an  enclosed  sea  of  a 
link  in  the  great  river  broken  forever. 

In  so  magnificent  a  result  I  stop  not  to  count  who 
did  it.  It  is  done  and  the  day  of  our  nation's  birth 
is  consecrated  and  baptized  anew  in  a  victory  won 
by  the  united  Navy  and  Army  of  our  country. 

God  grant  that  the  harmony  and  mutual  respect 
that  exist  between  our  respective  commanders,  and 
shared  by  all  the  true  men  of  the  joint  service,  may 
continue'forever.  and  serve  to  elevate  our  national 
character,  threatened  with  shipwreck. 

Thus  I  muse  as  1  sit  in  my  solitary  camp  out  in 
the  woods,  far  from  the  point  for  which  we  have 
jointly  striven  and  so  well,  and  though  personal 
curiosity  would  tempt  me  to  go  and  see  the  frown 
ing  batteries  and  sunken  pits  that  have  defied  us  so 
long,  and  sent  to  their  silent  graves  so  many  of  our 
early  comrades  in  the  enterprise,  I  feel  that  other 
tasks  lie  before  me,  and  time  must  not  be  lost. 

Without  casting  anchor,  and  despite  the  heat  and 
the  dust,  and  the  drought,  I  must  again  into  the 
bowels  of  the  land,  to  make  the  conquest  of  Vicks 


burg  fulfill  all  the  conditions  it  should  in  the  pro 
gress  of  this  war. 

Whether  success  attend  my  efforts  or  not,  I  know 
that  Admiral  Porter  will  ever  accord  to  me  the  ex 
hibition  ot  a  pure  and  unselfish  zeal  in  the  service 
of  our  country. 

It  does  seem  to  me  that  Port  Hudson,  without 
facilities  for  supplies  or  interior  communication, 
must  soon  follow  the  fate  of  Vicksburg  and  leave 
the  river  free;  and  to  you  the  task  of  preventing 
anymore  Vicksburgs  or  Port  Hudsons  on  the  bank 
of  the  great  inland  sea. 

Though  further  apart,  the  Navy  and  Army  will 
still  act  in  concert,  and  I  assure  you  I  shall  never 
reach  the  banks  of  the  river  or  see  a  gun-boat  but 
I  will  think  of  Admiral  Porter,  Captain  Breese,  and 
the  many  elegant  and  accomplished  gentlemen  it 
has  been  my  good  fortune  to  meet  on  armed  or  un 
armed  decks  of  the  Mississippi  Squadron. 

Congratulating  you  and  the  officers  and  men  of 
your  command  at  the  great  result  in  which  you 
have  borne  so  conspicuous  a  part, 

I  remain,  your  friend  and  servant, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major-general. 
Admiral  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Fleet. 

Army  and  Navy  vied  with  each  other  in 
their  efforts  to  alleviate  the  discomforts  of 
those  who  had  spent  so  many  months  under 
a  merciless  fire  and  suffered'all  the  miseries 
attending  a  siege.  The  commanding  Gen 
eral  set  the  example  by  giving  all  the  pro 
visions,  stores  and  transportation  General 
Pemberton  required  for  the  officers  and  men 
of  his  Army,  who  had  been  paroled  and  al 
lowed  to  return  to  their  homes.  The  naval 
officers  opened  their  stores  for  those  officers 
who  had  families,  and  though  they  did  not 
leave  Vicksburg  in  much  style,  they  were 
comparatively  comfortable  after  suffering 
so  many  evils. 

It  was  curious  to  see,  an  hour  after  the 
surrender,  the  soldiers  of  the  two  armies 
fraternizing  as  if  they  belonged  to  the  same 
party;  there  was  not,  in  fact,  much  differ 
ence  between  them,  only  one  party  had  gone 
off  on  the  wrong  track,  and,  owing  to  bad 
leaders,  had  drifted  considerably  out  of  their 
course.  Confederate  officers  on  horseback 
would  join  naval  officers,  who,  mounted 
on  the  sorry-looking  steeds  which  had  been 
loaned  them,  were  riding  about  the  city, 
and  chat  with  them  as  pleasantly  as  if  they 
were  honored  guests.  Groups  of  officers  in 
blue  and  gray  mingled  together  in  the  most 
friendly  manner. 

Officers  who  visited  houses  where  there 
were  ladies,  were  received  courteously  if 
not  warmly,  and  it  was  difficult  to  realize 
that  the  people  of  this  battered  city  had  been 
within  a  few  days  doing  all  they  could  to 
harm  those  with  whom  they  now  seemed  to 
be  on  such  pleasant  terms.  The  people  of 
Vicksburg  were  thoroughly  subdued,  they 
had  gone  through  so  much  misery  and  en 
dured  so  many  privations  that  any  change 
was  acceptable. 

Besides,  their  conquerors  had  been  gener 
ous  far  beyond  their  expectations,  and  had 


328 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


furnished  them  the  means  to  depart  and 
meet  again  their  absent  friends,  with  whom 
they  had  not  communicated  for  many  days. 

The  regret  of  being  conquered  was  miti 
gated  by  the  promised  pleasure  of  seeing 
their  loved  homes,  and  getting  away  from 
scenes  which  continually  reminded  them  of 
the  horrors  which  they  had  undergone  for 
so  many  months.  Over  5,000  had  died  in 
hospital  or  been  killed  in  the  trenches  since 
the  close  siege  had  commenced,  and  many 
must  have  left  there  with  deep  regrets  for 
the  loss  of  loved  ones,  who  were  buried  in 
the  soldier's  cemetery  without  a  stone  to 
mark  their  resting  places. 

As  time  moves  on  and  the  military  and 
naval  history  of  the  war  are  being  chron 
icled  by  impartial  authors,  the  facts  con 
nected  with  the  most  important  events  are 
being  brought  to  light. 

The  war  has  been  mostly  written  up 
through  the  reporters,  who  accompanied  the 
Armies  of  the  Republic,  and  although  they 
have  described  the  scenes  in  a  most  graphic 
manner,  yet  their  accounts  were  given  a 
coloring  that  detracted  from,  rather  than 
embellished,  the  picture. 

There  was  no  scene  of  action  during  the 
war  where  more  misrepresentations  were 
made,  or  where  less  desire  seemed  to  be 
manifested  by  the  newspaper  correspond 
ents  to  do  justice  to  both  the  naval  and 
military  movements,  than  at  Vicksburg,  and 
to  read  the  numberless  accounts  that  were 
transmitted  from  these  to  the  various  news 
papers,  one  would  form  an  altogether  erro 
neous  opinion  of  what  took  place. 

Some  of  these  descriptions  of  events 
were  written  with  only  a  desire  to  please 
the  public,  and  they  were  of  a  sensational 
character — pleasant  reading  over  a  break 
fast  table,  but  far  from  being  history. 

Many  of  the  correspondents  wrote  from 
hearsay,  and  were  not  near  the  scene  of  ac 
tion  which  they  so  graphically  described, 
and  the  people  at  the  North,  greedy  to  drink 
in  the  news  from  distant  battlefields,  were 
satisfied  to  believe  the  wanton  mistakes 
which  were  sent  abroad  without  revision, 
and  adopted  them  as  the  true  version  of 
affairs. 

It  was  not,  and  is  not  now,  generally 
understood,  that  the  operations  against 
Vicksburg  were  a  combination  of  Army 
and  Navy,  in  which  each  commander  acted 
on  his  own  responsibility,  neither  having 
received  any  instructions  from  their  several 
Departments. 

The  plans  for  the  capture  of  Vicksburg 
from  the  first  to  the  last  were  arranged  by 
General  Grant  and  Admiral  Porter,  and 
carried  out  to  the  end  with  that  unanimity 
of  purpose  which  always  leads  to  success. 

General  Grant  never  undertook  any  move 
ment  without  consulting  the  commander  of 


the  Mississippi  Squadron,  while  the  latter 
never  did  anything  without  consulting 
General  Grant,  and  thus  a  harmony  of 
action  prevailed  which  probably  never 
was  obtained  in  any  other  military  and 
naval  co-operation. 

Grant  and  Porter  were  of  assimilated 
rank,  and  neither  could  give  an  order  to 
the  other;  therefore  it  was  only  through 
that  high  courtesy  bred  in  a  purely  mili 
tary  school,  that  so  perfect  an  understand 
ing  could  be  arrived  at,  or  that  the  wishes 
of  either  military  or  naval  commander 
could  be  anticipated. 

Some  naval  officers,  after  the  reduction  of 
Vicksburg,  were  disposed  to  find  fault  with 
General  Grant  for  not  being  more  demon 
strative  in  his  remarks  concerning  the 
work  the  Navy  had  performed  ;  but  Grant 
was  never  a  demonstrative  man;  he  left  it 
to  the  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Missis 
sippi  Squadron  to  mention  the  services  of 
his  own  officers  and  vessels,  and  would,  no 
doubt,  have  thought  it  peculiar  if  the  naval 
commander  had  undertaken  to  go  into  an 
elaborate  eulogy  on  the  performances  of 
the  Army.  But  Grant,  in  his  last  days,  did 
not  forget  the  great  help  he  received  from 
the  naval  part  of  the  expedition  to  capture 
Vicksburg.  In  his  reminiscences  of  the 
war,  he  says  : 

"  The  Navy  under  Porter  was  all  it  could  be  dur 
ing  the  entire  campaign.  Without  its  assistance 
the  campaign  could  not  have  been  successfully  made 
with  twice  the  number  of  men  engaged.  It  could 
not  have  been  made  at  all  in  the  way  it  was,  with 
any  number  of  men  without  such  assistance.  The 
most  perfect  harmony  reigned  between  the  two 
arms  of  the  service.  There  never  was  a  request 
made,  that  I  am  aware  of,  either  of  the  Flag-officer 
or  any  of  his  subordinates,  that  was  not  promptly 
complied  with." 

This  should  afford  satisfaction  to  those 
naval  officers  who  for  a  time  doubted  Gen 
eral  Grant's  generosity.  Words  of  ordinary 
praise  coming  from  him  were  of  more  im 
port,  than  words  from  a  man  who  was  too 
lavish  of  his  commendations.  Those  last 
words  of  Grant's  were  grains  of  gold,  and 
will  go  down  in  history,  never  to  be  erased 
from  the  book  of  fame. 

The  commander  of  the  Mississippi  Squad 
ron  was  contented  with  General  Grant's  re 
ticence  in  regard  to  naval  movements  before 
Vicksburg.  He  felt  satisfied  that  he  alone 
could  do  full  justice  to  the  brave  officers  and 
men  who  served  under  him,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  letter  written  after  the 
surrender  of  Vicksburg. 

[DETAILED    REPORT   OP   ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL 

PORTER.] 

U.  S.  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,  FLAG-SHIP  ) 

"BLACK  HAWK,"  OFF  VICKSBURG,  > 

July  13,  1863.      ) 

SIR — I  have  made  reports  to  the  Department  of 
the  different  actions  that  have  occurred  on  this 
river  since  the  investment  of  Vicksburg;  and  it  now 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


329 


remains  for  me  to  give  credit  to  the  different  offi 
cers  who  have  participated  in  the  events  transpir 
ing  here. 

When  I  took  command  of  this  squadron  this  river 
was  virtually  closed  against  our  steamers  from  Hel 
ena  to  Vicksburg.  It  was  only  necessary  to  impress 
the  officers  and  men  with  the  importance  of  open 
ing  communication  with  New  Orleans,  and  every 
one,  with  few  exceptions,  have  embarked  in  the 
enterprise  with  a  zeal  that  is  highly  creditable  to 
them,  and  with  a  determination  that  the  river 
should  be  opened  if  their  aid  could  effect  it. 

With  such  officers  and  the  able  general  who  com 
manded  the  Army  I  have  not  feared  for  the  result, 
though  it  has  been  postponed  longer  than  I 
thought  it  would  be. 

First  and  foremost,  allow  me  to  speak  of  Captain 
Pennock,  fleet  captain  and  commandant  of  station 
at  Cairo.  To  him  I  am  much  indebted  for  the 
promptness  with  which  he  has  kept  the  squadron 
supplied  with  ah1  that  was  required  or  could  be 
procured. 

His  duty  has  been  no  sinecure,  and  he  has  per 
formed  it  with  an  ability  that  could  not  have  been 
surpassed  by  any  officer  of  the  Navy.  He  has  ma 
terially  assisted  nie  in  the  management  of  the  Ten 
nessee  and  Cumberland  squadrons,  keeping  me 
promptly  informed  of  all  the  movements  of  the  en 
emy,  and  enabling  me  to  make  the  proper  disposi 
tions  to  check  him,  exercising  a  most  discreet  judg 
ment  in  moving  the  vessels  to  meet  the  rebels  when 
there  was  no  time  to  hear  from  me. 

The  war  on  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee  and  Cum 
berland  has  been  carried  on  most  actively.  There 
has  been  incessant  skirmishing  between  the  guerril 
las  and  gun-boats,  in  which  the  rebels  have  been 
defeated  in  every  instance.  So  constant  are  these 
attacks  that  we  cease  to  think  of  them  as  of  any 
importance,  though  there  has  been  much  gallantry 
displayed  on  many  occasions. 

Lieutenant-Commanders  Phelps  and  Fitch  have 
each  had  command  of  the  Cumberland  and  Ten 
nessee  Rivers,  and  have  shown  themselves  to  be 
most  able  officers.  I  feel  no  apprehension  at  any 
time  with  regard  to  movements  in  that  quarter. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  activity  and  energy  dis 
played  by  Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch,  Captain 
Pennock  and  Lieutenant-Commander  Phelps,  Gen 
eral  Rosecrans  would  have  been  left  without  pro 
visions. 

To  Captain  Walke,  Commander  Woodworth, 
Lieutenant-Commanders  Breese,  Foster,  Greer, 
Shirk,  Owen,  Wilson,  Walker,  Bache,  Murphy,  Sel- 
f ridge,  Prichett,  Ramsay  and  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  Hoel,  I  feel  much  indebted  for  their  ac 
tive  and  energetic  attention  to  all  my  orders,  and 
their  ready  co-operation  with  the  Army  corps  com 
manders,  at  all  times,  which  enabled  them  to  carry 
out  their  plans  successfully. 

The  "Benton,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Greer, 
"  Mound  City,"  Lieutenant  Byron  Wilson,  "  Tus- 
cumbia,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Shirk.  "  Caron- 
delet,"  Acting  Lieutenant  Murphy,  and  the  "Ster 
ling  Price,"  Commander  Woodworth,  have  been 
almost  constantly  under  fire  of  the  batteries  at  Vicks 
burg  since  the  forty-five  days1  siege  commenced. 

The  attack  of  the  22d  of  May,  by  the  "Benton," 
"Mound  City,"  "  Carondelet''  and  "Tuscumbia'1 
on  all  the  water  batteries,  in  which  three  were  si 
lenced  and  four  guns  injured  or  dismounted,  was 
one  of  the  best  contested  engagements  of  the  kind 
during  the  war. 

On  the  next  attack  of  the  same  gun-boats,  when 
General  Grant  opened  all  his  batteries  for  six  hours, 
the  river  batteries  were  all  silenced  and  deserted, 
and  the  gun  boats  moved  up  and  down  the  river 
without  having  a  shot  fired  at  them,  showing  the 
moral  effect  of  the  first  attack. 

The  attack  of  the  "Cincinnati"  (Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Bache  \  on  the  outer  water  battery 


will  long  be  ranked  among  the  most  gallant  events 
of  this  war;  and  though  Lieutenant  Bache  had  the 
misfortune  to  have  his  vessel  sunk  under  him,  he 
well  deserves  the  handsome  commendations  be 
stowed  upon  him  by  the  Department. 

To  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Ramsey,  of  the 
"  Choctaw,"  was  assigned  the  management  of  three 
heavy  guns  placed  on  scows  and  anchored  in  a 
position  to  command  the  town  and  water  batteries. 
Every  gun  the  enemy  could  bring  to  bear  on  these 
boats  was  fired  incessantly  at  them,  but  without 
one  moment's  cessation  of  fire  on  the  part  of  our  sea 
men,  though  the  enemy's  shots  and  shells  fell  like 
hail  among  them.  This  floating  battery  completely 
enfiladed  the  enemy  s  batteries  and  rifle-pits  in  front 
of  General  Sherman,  and  made  them  untenable. 

The  mortar-boats  were  under  charge  of  gunner 
Eugene  Mack,  who  for  thirty  days  stood  at  his  post, 
the  firing  continuing  night  and  day. 

He  performed  his  duty  well  and  merits  approval. 
The  labor  was  extremely  hard,  and  every  man  at 
the  mortars  was  laid  up  with  sickness,  owing  to  ex 
cessive  labor.  After  Mr.  Mack  was  taken  ill,  Ensign 
Miller  took  charge  and  conducted  the  firing  with 
marked  ability.  We  know  that  nothing  conduced 
more  to  the  end  of  the  siege  than  the  mortar  firing, 
which  demoralized  the  rebels,  killed  and  wounded 
a  number  of  persons,  killed  the  cattle,  destroyed 
property  of  all  kinds,  and  set  the  city  on  fire.  On 
the  last  two  days  we  were  enabled  to  reach  the 
outer  works  of  the  enemy  by  firing  heavy  charges 
of  twenty -six  pounds  of  powder;  the  distance  was 
nearly  three  miles,  and  the  falling  of  shells  was  very 
annoying  to  the  rebels,  to  use  the  words  of  a  rebel 
officer,  "your  shells  intruded  everywhere." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander  Breese  has  been  very 
efficient  in  relieving  me  of  a  vast  amount  of  duty, 
superintending  personally  all  the  requirements 
made  on  the  Navy,  and  facilitating  the  operations 
of  the  Army  in  every  way  that  laid  in  his  power. 
In  every  instance  where  it  was  at  all  possible  to 
bring  the  "Black  Hawk"  into  action  against  the 
enemy's  batteries,  he  has  not  hesitated  to  do  so, 
though  she  is  not  fortified  exactly  for  such  a  pur 
pose.  His  long  range  guns  have  done  most  excel 
lent  service  at  different  times. 

I  beg  leave  to  mention  the  different  commanders 
of  the  light  draughts  who  have  carried  out  my  or 
ders  promptly,  aided  in  keeping  guerillas  from  the 
river,  convoyed  transports  safely,  and  kept  their 
vessels  in  good  condition  for  service,  viz  :  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  George  W.  Brown,  command 
ing  "Forest  Rose";  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
C.  Dominey,  commanding  "Signal";  Acting-Vol 
unteer  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Hurd,  commanding  "Cov- 
ington " ;  Ensign  Win.  C.  Hanford,  commanding 
"Robb";  Acting-Master  J.  C.  Bunner,  command 
ing  "New  Era";  Acting- Volunteer-Lieu  tenant 
John  Pierce,  commanding  "Petrel'';  Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant  J.  V.  Johnstone,  commanding 
"Romeo";  Acting-Master  W.  E.  Fentress,  com 
manding  "Rattler";  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
T.  E.  Smith,  commanding  "  Linden  ''  ;  Acting- Vol 
unteer-Lieutenant  E.  C.  Brennan,  commanding 
"Prairie  Bird'';  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  J. 
Goudy,  commanding  "Queen  City.1'  There  are 
others  who  deserve  commendation,  but  these  seem 
to  be  the  most  prominent. 

The  action  of  the  4th  of  July,  at  Helena,  wherein 
the  "Taylor1'  participated  so  largely,  has  already 
been  reported  to  the  Department. 

There  is  no  doubt  left  in  the  minds  of  any,  but 
that  the  "  Taylor  "  saved  Helena,  for,  though  Gen 
eral  Prentiss  fought  with  a  skill  and  daring  not  ex 
celled  in  this  war,  his  little  force  of  thirty-five  hun 
dred  men  were  fast  being  overpowered  by  the 
enemy  with  eighteen  thousand  men,  when  the 
"Taylor  ''took  a  position  and  changed  the  fortunes 
of  the  day. 

I   must  not  omit   to   mention  Acting- Volunteer- 


330 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


Lieutenants  Hamilton  and  Richardson  of  the  pow 
der  vessels  "Great  Western"  and  "Judge  Tor- 
rence."  They  were  unremitting  in  their  attention  to 
their  duties  during  the  siege,  supplying  without  de 
lay  every  requisition  made  on  them  by  the  Army 
and  Navy,  and  volunteering  for  any  service. 

When  the  Army  called  on  the  Navy  for  siege 
guns,  I  detailed  what  officers  and  men  I  could  spare 
to  man  and  work  the  batteries. 

Lieutenant  Commander  Selfridge  had  command 
of  the  naval  battery  on  the  right  wing  in  General 
Sherman's  corps.  This  battery  was  worked  with 
marked  ability,  and  elicited  the  warmest  praises 
from  the  commanding  general.  One  thousand 
shells  were  fired  into  the  enemy's  works  from  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Selfridge's  guns.  His  services 
being  required  up  the  river,  I  relieved  him  a  few 
days  before  the  surrender,  and  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Walker  supplied  his  place  and  conducted 
the  firing  with  the  same  ability. 

Acting-Master  Charles  B.  Dahlgren  was  ordered 
to  report  to  General  McPherson  for  duty,  and  was 
assigned  the  management  of  the  9-inch  guns,  which 
were  admirably  served. 

Acting-Master  Reed,  of  the  "  Benton,''  had  charge 
of  the  batteries  at  Fort  Benton — so  named  by  Gen 
eral  Herron  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  General 
Herron  generously  acknowledged  the  services  of 
those  I  sent  him,  which  communication  I  enclose 
with  this  report. 

I  have  endeavored  to  do  justice  to  all  who  were 
immediately  engaged  in  the  struggle  for  the  mastery 
of  the  Mississippi.  To  the  Army  do  we  owe  imme 
diate  thanks  for  the  capture  of  Vicksburg;  but  the 
Army  was  much  facilitated  by  the  Navy,  which 
was  ready  at  all  times  to  co-operate.  This  has  been 
no  small  undertaking.  The  late  investment  and 
capture  of  Vicksburg  will  be  characterized  as  one 
of  the  greatest  military  achievements  ever  known. 
The  conception  of  the  siege  originated  with  Gen 
eral  Grant,  who  adopted  a  course  in  which  great 
labor  was  performed,  great  battles  were  fought  and 
great  risks  were  run.  A  single  mistake  would  have 
involved  us  in  difficulty,  but  so  well  "were  all  the 
plans  matured,  so  well  were  all  the  movements 
timed,  and  so  rapid  were  the  evolutions  performed, 
that  not  a  mistake  has  occurred  from  the  passage 
of  the  fleet  by  Vicksburg  and  the  passage  of  the 
Army  across  the  river,  up  to  the  present  time.  So 
confident  was  I  of  the  ability  of  General  Grant  to 
carry  out  his  plans  when  he  explained  them  to  me, 
that  I  never  hesitated  to  change  my  position  from 
above  to  below  Vicksburg.  The  work  was  hard, 
the  fighting  severe,  but  the  blows  struck  were  in 
cessant. 

In  forty-five  days  after  our  Army  was  landed,  a 
rebel  Army  of  40,000  men  had  been  captured,  killed 
and  wounded,  or  scattered  to  their  homes  perfectly 
demoralized,  while  our  loss  has  been  only  about  5,000 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  and  the  temporary 
loss  of  one  gun-boat. 

The  fortifications  and  defences  of  the  city  exceed 
anything  that  has  been  built  in  modern  times,  and 
are  doubly  unassailable  from  their  immense  height 
above  the  bed  of  the  river. 

The  fall  of  Vicksburg  insured  the  fall  of  Port 
Hudson  and  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
which,  I  am  happy  to  say,  can  be  traversed  from  its 
source  to  its  mouth,  without  apparent  impediment, 
the  first  time  during  the  war. 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  give  to  Mr.  Fendall 
and  Mr.  Straus,  assistants  in  the  Coast  Survey, 
the  full  credit  they  deserve  for  their  indefatigable 
industry. 

Since  they  have  been  attached  to  the  Squadron, 
they  have  been  connected  with  almost  every  expe 
dition  that  has  been  undertaken;  they  have  kept 
both  Army  and  Navy  supplied  with  charts,  when 
they  could  not  otherwise  be  obtained;  they  were 
found  ready  at  all  times  to  go  anywhere  or  do  any 


thing  required  of  them,  whether  it  was  on  a  gun 
boat  expedition  or  in  the  trenches  before  Vicksburg, 
engineering,  when  the  general-commanding  asked 
for  volunteers  from  the  Navy. 

They  have  added  to  our  collection  of  maps  many 
geographical  corrections  which  are  valuable,  and 
they  have  proved  to  me  that  no  squadron  can 
operate  effectively  without  a  good  corps  of  sur 
veyors. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 
Acting  Rear- Admiral,    Commanding    Mississippi 

Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C, 


CONGRATULATORY      LETTER     TO      REAR-ADMIRAL 
PORTER  ON  THE   SURRENDER    OF    VICKSBURG. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  July  13,  1863. 

SIR — "Your  dispatch  of  the  4th  instant  announc 
ing  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  on  the  anniversary 
of  the  great  historic  day  in  our  national  annals, 
has  been  received. 

The  fall  of  that  place  insures  a  severance  of  the 
rebel  territory,  and  must  give  to  the  country  the 
speedy  uninterrupted  navigation  of  the  rivers 
which  water  and  furnish  the  ocean  outlet  to  the 
great  central  valley  of  the  Union. 

For  the  past  year  the  key  to  the  Mississippi  has 
been  Vicksburg,  and  so  satisfied  of  this  was  the 
rebel  chief  who  pioneered  the  rebellion  and  first 
gave  the  order  to  open  the  fires  of  civil  strife,  that 
he  staked  his  cause  upon  its  retention. 

By  the  herculean  efforts  of  the  Army  under  the 
admirable  leadership  of  General  Grant,  and  the 
persistent  and  powerful  co-operation  of  the  Navy, 
commanded  by  yourself,  this  great  result,  under  the 
providence  of  Almighty  God,  has  been  achieved. 

A  slave  empire,  divided  by  this  river  into  equal 
parts,  with  liberty  in  possession  of  its  banks,  and 
freedom  upon  its  waters,  cannot  exist. 

The  work  of  rescuing  and  setting  free  this  noble 
artery,  whose  unrestricted  vital  current  is  essential 
to  our  nationality,  commenced  with  such  ability  by 
the  veteran  Farragut  and  the  lamented  Foote,  and 
continued  by  Davis,  is  near  its  consummation. 

You  have  only  to  proceed  onward  and  meet  that 
veteran  chief  whose  first  act  was  to  dash  through 
the  gates  by  which  the  rebels  assumed  to  bar  the 
entrance  to  the  Mississippi,  whose  free  communica 
tion  to  and  above  New  Orleans  he  has  ever  since 
proudly  maintained. 

When  the  squadrons  of  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Mississippi  shall  combine,  and  the  noble  river  be 
again  free  to  a  united  people,  the  nation  will  feel 
its  integrity  restored,  and  the  names  of  the  heroic 
champions  who  signalized  themselves  in  this  invalu 
able  service,  will  be  cherished  and  honored. 

Present  and  future  millions  on  the  shores  of 
those  magnificent  rivers  which  patriotism  and  valor 
shall  have  emancipated,  will  remember  with  un 
ceasing  gratitude,  the  naval  heroes  who  so  well 
performed  their  part  in  these  eventful  times. 

To  yourself,  your  officers,  and  the  brave  and  gal 
lant  sailors  who  have  been  so  fertile  in  resources,  so 
persistent  and  enduring  through  many  months  of 
trial  and  hardship,  and  so  daring  under  all  circum 
stances,  I  tender,  in  the  name  of  the  President,  the 
thanks  and  congratulations  of  the  whole  country 
on  the  fall  of  Vicksburg. 

Very  respectfully,  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  Mississippi  Squadron,  Vicksburq, 
Miss. 


CHAPTER      XXX 


NAVAL  AND  MILITARY  EXPEDITION  TO  YAZOO  CITY. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  ENEMY'S  WORKS. — 
THE  "  BARON-DE-KALB"  BLOWN  UP  BY  TORPEDOES. — EXPEDITION  UP  THE  RED,  BLACK 
AND  TENSAS  RIVERS.  UNDER  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  SELFRIDGE. — DESTRUCTION  OF 
ENEMY'S  VESSELS  AND  STORES. — THE  MARINE  BRIGADE,  ITS  IMPORTANT  SERVICES. — 
OPERATIONS  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  LE  ROY  FITCH  ON  THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER.— 
ATTACK  ON  COLORED  TROOPS  AT  MILLIKEN'S  BEND. — ATTACK  ON  HELENA,  ARKANSAS, 
BY  GENERAL  PRICE. — DEFEAT  OF  THE  ENEMY  OWING  TO  THE  FIRE  OF  THE  GUN-BOAT 
'"LEXINGTON." — THE  RAID  OF  GENERAL  JOHN  MORGAN  INTO  OHIO  AND  INDIANA,  AND 
THE  CAPTURE  OF  HIS  FORCES  OWING  TO  THE  ENERGY  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  LE 
ROY  FITCH  WITH  HIS  GUN-BOATS. — GALLANT  CONDUCT  OF  ENGINEER  DOUGHTY  IN  CAP 
TURING  TWO  OF  THE  ENEMY'S  STEAMERS. — EULOGY  UPON  THE  PILOTS  AND  ENGINEERS 
OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON. — IMPORTANT  SERVICES  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER 
PHELPS  IN  THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER. — VESSELS  EMPLOYED  AT  VICKSBURG  DURING  THE 
SIEGE,  WITH  LIST  OF  OFFICERS. — VESSELS  EMPLOYED  AT  OTHER  POINTS  ON  THE  MISSIS 
SIPPI  RIVER,  1863-65. 


AFTER  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg, 
there  was  still  much  to  be  done 
in  the  vicinity,  particularly  in 
driving  off  the  Confederates,  who 
lingered  on  the  banks  of  the  Ya- 
zoo  and  fired  on  our  small  gun-boats  as 
they  patrolled  that  river. 

A  report  reached  Vicksburg  that  General 
Joseph  E.  Johnston  was  fortifying  Yazoo 
City,  with  the  apparent  intention  of  occu 
pying  that  neighborhood  with  his  Army. 
For  this  the  region  was  well  adapted,  being 
rich  in  cattle  and  grain,  "hog  and  hominy." 

It  was  also  reported  that  a  number  of 
large  river-steamers  that  had  been  em 
ployed  by  the  enemy,  and  had  been  hiding 
in  the  Tallahatchie,  were  at  Yazoo  City  and 
employed  in  supplying  Johnston's  troops. 

A  military  and  naval  expedition  was 
therefore  arranged  to  go  after  these  steam 
ers  and  break  up  the  enemy's  resort  at  Ya 
zoo  City. 

The  "Baron  de  Kalb,"  " New  National," 
"Kenwood"  and  "Signal"  composed  the 
naval  part  of  the  expedition  under  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  John  G.  Walker,  while 
General  Herron,  with  five  thousand  troops 
in  transports,  composed  the  military  part. 

On  approaching  Yazoo  City  the  enemy 
appeared  in  force,  and  the  "  DeKalb,"  being 
the  heaviest  vessel,  pushed  ahead  and 


opened  her  batteries  to  ascertain  the  num 
ber  and  position  of  the  enemy's  guns.  Find 
ing  the  defences  formidable,  Walker  drop 
ped  back  and  notified  General  Herron,  who 
at  once  landed  his  troops  and  the  Army  and 
Navy  made  a  combined  attack.  After  a 
sharp  conflict  the  enemy  fled,  previously 
setting  fire  to  the  four  large  steamers  in 
their  possession,  which  before  the  war  had 
been  considered  the  finest  passenger  ves 
sels  on  the  Mississippi  River.  General  Her 
ron  captured  the  enemy's  rear-guard  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men  and  pressed  on  after 
the  retreating  foe,  taking  prisoners  every 
minute. 

There  were  six  heavy  guns  mounted  in 
the  enemy's  works  and  one  vessel  was  cap 
tured  which  had  formerly  been  a  gun-boat. 
Unfortunately,  while  the  "De  Kalb"  was 
moving  slowly  along  and  firing  on  the  en 
emy  she  ran  foul  of  a  floating  torpedo, 
which  exploded,  and  the  vessel  sank  almost 
immediately,  a  second  torpedo  exploding 
under  her  stern  as  she  went  down. 

The  squadron  had  pushed  ahead  with  too 
much  enthusiasm  to  bring  the  enemy  to 
close  quarters  where  grape-shot  and  canister 
would  tell.  It  seems  that  Lieutenant  Isaac 
N.  Brown,  of  the  Confederate  Navy,  had  on 
a  former  occasion  been  prevented  by  the 
citizens  from  placing  torpedoes  in  front  of 


(331) 


332 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Yazoo  City,  and  it  was  supposed  that  it 
would  not  be  permitted  on  this  occasion  for 
fear  of  the  consequences  in  the  destruction 
of  the  property  of  the  inhabitants,  should 
the  Union  forces  get  possession  of  Yazoo 
City.  Lieutenant-Commander  Walkerthere- 
fore  felt  confident  that  he  could  proceed 
without  encountering  any  of  these  destruc 
tive  machines. 

The  loss  of  the  "DeKalb"  was  a  serious  one 
— four  of  the  armored  gun-boats  lay  at  the 
bottom  of  the  rivers — the  "Cincinnati"  be 
fore  Vicksburg,  and  the  "  Cairo  "  and  ''De 
Kalb"  in  the  Yazoo,  while  the  "  Indianola" 
was  sunk  below  Vicksburg.  But  this  is  the 
fortune  of  war— to  achieve  anything  risks 
must  be  run,  and  while  a  Confederate  flag 
floated  in  the  breeze  the  officers  and  men 
of  the  Mississippi  squadron  never  stopped 
to  count  the  cost  in  pursuit  of  it. 

With  the  exception  of  the  loss  of  the  "De 
Kalb,"  whose  officers  and  men  were  all 
saved,  the  expedition  was  a  complete  suc 
cess.  The  enemy's  rendezvous  was  broken 
up,  and  a  large  amount  of  cotton,  beef  and 
pork  captured,  the  enemy's  forces  driven 
away  and  many  of  them  captured  by  Gen 
eral  Herron.  Yazoo  City  was  never  again 
troubled  by  the  Confederates  planting  bat 
teries  there. 

It  had  been  an  important  place  for  the 
Confederates,  and  but  for  the  constant  at 
tention  it  received  from  the  Navy  and  the 
destruction  of  all  the  vessels  hiding  there, 
they  would  probably  have  sent  down  a 
force  that  would  have  destroyed  our  iron 
clad  gun-boats,  and  perhaps  have  made  a 
material  change  in  the  final  result  of  the 
campaign. 

The  Confederate  government  relied  a 
great  deal  on  the  completion  of  the  three 
iron-clad  rams  building  at  Yazoo  City,  and 
with  their  assistance  hoped  to  drive  off  the 
Federal  squadron  from  below  Vicksburg 
and  thereby  cause  the  siege  to  be  raised — 
while  Haines'  Bluff  could  block  the  way 
with  its  guns  and  the  huge  raft  which  filled 
up  the  Yazoo  River  for  half  a  mile.  The 
Confederates  worked  on  their  iron-clads 
without  molestation,  and  even  when  Gen 
eral  Grant  had  gained  the  rear  of  Vicks 
burg  they  relied  on  General  J.  E.  Johnston's 
army  to  protect  them  while  they  completed 
the  work  on  the  rams. 

If  the  "  Arkansas,"  which  ran  the  gaunt 
let  of  Farragut  and  Davis'  squadrons,  was 
a  specimen  of  the  iron-clad  that  could  be 
built  at  Yazoo  City,  the  Federals  had  cause 
to  congratulate  themselves  that  the  Yazoo 
was  open  by  the  evacuation  of  Haines'  Bluff, 
and  the  last  attempt  of  the  Confederates  to 
carry  on  naval  operations  in  that  quarter 
abandoned. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  expedition  was 
sent  up  the  Yazoo  another  was  dispatched 


up  the  Red  River,  ascending  the  Black  and 
Tensas  Rivers.  Lieutenant-Commander 
Selfridge  penetrated  to  the  head  of  naviga 
tion  on  the  latter  stream,  at  Tensas  Lake 
and  Bayou  Macon,  thirty  miles  above  Vicks 
burg,  and  within  five  or  six  miles  of  the 
Mississippi  River. 

Parties  of  the  enemy's  riflemen  were  in 
the  habit  of  crossing  this  narrow  strip  of 
land  and  firing  upon  transports  passing  up 
and  down  the  Mississippi,  sometimes  killing 
women  and  children  who  happened  to  be 
on  board.     Quite  a  large  force  of  Confed 
erates  were  assembled  in  that  quarter,  con 
sidering  themselves  secure  from  the  attacks 
of  the   gun-boats,   the   distance  by  water 
from  Vicksburg  being  so  great :  the  route 
being  first  to  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River, 
then  up  the  Black  and  Tensas,  both  narrow 
streams,  to  Tensas  Lake  and  Bayou  Macon. 
The  guerillas  fancied  they  could  carry  on 
their  raids  with  impunity.     So  when   Sel 
fridge  appeared  with  his  little  flotilla  on  the 
12th  of  July,  they  were  taken  by  surprise. 
As  soon  as  the  gun-boats  hove  in  sight  the 
enemy's  transports,  of  which   there   were 
here  quite  a  number,    made  their   escape 
among  the  intricate  water-ways  with  which 
that  region  abounds,  and  where  for  want  of 
pilots  they  could  not  be  immediately  fol 
lowed. 

Selfridge  now  divided  his  forces,  sending 
the  "  Manitou  "  and  "  Rattler  "  up  the  Little 
Red  River,  a  small  tributary  of  the  Black, 
and  the  "Forest  Rose"  and  "Petrel"  up 
the  Tensas.  The  night  was  dark  and  rainy 
and  the  vessels  had  to  grope  their  way  care 
fully  along,  keeping  a  good  lookout  ahead. 
Suddenly  the  "Manitou"  and  "Rattler"' 
came  upon  a  very  large  steamer,  the  finest 
of  those  now  remaining  afloat,  which  had 
been  the  pride  of  the  Mississippi  River 
before  the  war.  This  was  the  "  Louisville," 
afterwards  converted  into  a  war-vessel  car 
rying  fifty  guns. 

Selfridge's  other  two  vessels  about  the 
same  time  captured  the  steamer  "  Elmira," 
loaded  with  stores  for  the  Confederate 
army  under  General  Walker,  who  on  hear 
ing  of  the  arrival  of  the  Federal  gun -boats 
embarked  his  army  and  disappeared  up  some 
of  the  tortuous  channels  known  only  to 
pilots.  Selfridge  started  in  pursuit  and  soon 
overtook  two  of  the  transports,  but  the  Con 
federates  immediately  abandoned  the  ves 
sels  after  setting  them  on  fire,  and  they 
were  totally  destroyed. 

One  steamer  loaded  with  ammunition 
escaped  above  the  fort  at  Harrisonburg,  a 
strong  work  impregnable  to  wooden  gun 
boats  with  light  batteries.  The  expedition 
could  proceed  no  further  in  this  direction. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Selfridge  fortu 
nately  learned  of  a  large  amount  of  ammuni 
tion  that  had  been  sent  up  from  Natchez, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


333 


whence  large  quantities  of  provisions,  stores 
and  ammunition  were  often  transported. 
Natchez  took  no  part  in  the  war  beyond 
making  money  by  supplying  the  Confeder 
ate  armies. 

Selfridge  captured  at  one  place  fifteen 
thousand  rounds  of  smooth-bore  ammu 
nition,  one  thousand  rounds  of  Enfield 
rifle  and  two  hundred  and  twenty  four 
rounds  of  fixed  ammunition  for  guns,  a 
rifled  thirty-pounder  Parrott  gun-carriage, 
fifty-two  hogsheads  of  sugar,  ten  puncheons 
of  rum,  nine  barrels  of  flour  and  fifty  barrels 
of  salt ;  and  General  Walker's  army  being 
left  without  a  supply  of  ammunition,  he 
moved  his  forces  into  the  interior  and 
troubled  the  Mississippi  no  more.  Thus 
these  constant  raids  of  the  gun-boats  har 
assed  and  weakened  the  enemy,  broke  up 
the  steamboat  transportation  so  necessary 
for  their  movements,  and  deprived  them  of 
ammunition  and  provisions,  without  which 
they  could  not  fight. 

One  portion  of  Admiral  Porter's  com 
mand — the  Marine  Brigade — is  entitled  to 
special  mention.  When  he  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  Mississippi  Squadron,  the 
Admiral  applied  for  a  force  of  marines  to  be 
carried  in  suitable  vessels  accompanying 
the  gun-boats  and  to  be  landed  at  points 
where  parties  of  guerillas  were  wont  to 
assemble.  The  gun-boats  alone  could  not 
break  these  parties  up,  and  it  was  therefore 
necessary  to  have  trained  soldiers  at  hand 
to  chase  and  annihilate  them. 

The  Navy  Department  could  not  furnish 
the  marines  asked  for,  but  the  War  Depart 
ment  undertook  to  organize  a  Marine  Brig 
ade,  and  also  to  furnish  the  necessary 
vessels  to  carry  these  soldiers  about.  The 
command  was  given  to  Brigadier -General 
Alfred  Ellet,  and  as  the  members  of  this 
family  had  before  proved  themselves  brave 
and  enterprising  men  several  of  them 
were  given  appointments  in  the  Marine 
Brigade. 

As  soon  as  this  organization  was  fully 
equipped  General  Ellet  was  ordered  by 
the  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Mississippi 
squadron  to  proceed  to  the  Tennessee  River 
before  reporting  at  Vicksburg,  and  help  put 
down  the  numerous  guerilla  bands  that  in 
fested  the  banks  of  that  stream.  These 
guerillas,  although  enlisted  by  the  Confed 
erates  in  the  usual  way  as  soldiers,  were  in 
fact  made  up  of  men  too  cowardly  to  join 
the  regular  Army  and  worthless  fellows 
who  would  rather  hang  around  home,  pre 
tending  to  save  the  Confederacy,  than  go 
where  bullets  were  flying  thick  and  fast  on 
the  field  of  battle.  During  the  whole  war 
bitterness  and  treachery  flourished  in  Ten 
nessee  owing  to  this  guerilla  system.  In 
some  parts  of  the  State  almost  every  family 
had  one  or  more  of  these  quasi-soldiers  be 


longing  to  a  gang  whose  occupation  was 
firing  on  unarmed  steamers,  and  seldom  or 
ever,  even  when  supported  by  artillerv, 
making  a  successful  stand  against  the  light 
gun-boats  called  "tin-clads."  Now  and 
then  they  would  receive  severe  punishment 
and  some  of  them  get  killed;  occasionally 
when  overtaken  they  were  summarily  dealt 
with. 

In  April,  1863,  Lieutenant-Commander 
LeRoy  Fitch  was  patrolling  the  Tennes 
see  River  with  the  gun-boats  "Lexing 
ton,"  "Robert,"  and  "  Silver  Lake."  This 
active  officer  made  matters  so  uncomfort 
able  for  the  guerillas  that  they  did  not 
often  come  within  range  of  his  guns.  One 
of  his  first  acts  was  to  take  on  board  his 
vessels  one  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers  from 
Fort  Hindman,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Craig,  and  visit  the  landings  infested  by 
guerillas.  At  Savannah,  where  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Fitch  landed  two  hundred 
soldiers  and  sailors,  he  burned  a  mill  which 
was  used  in  making  cloth  to  clothe  the  gue 
rillas;  a  quantity  of  horses,  mules,  and 
wagons  belonging  to  the  Confederate  cav 
alry  were  also  made  prize  of  war. 

The  plantations  of  those  persons  who 
were  known  to  have  aided  and  abetted  the 
outrages  of  the  guerillas  were  destroyed,  as 
an  example  to  others.  The  war  had  been 
carried  on  by  these  worthless  marauders  in 
such  a  way  that  this  course  was  found  to 
be  necessary  to  put  a  check  on  operations 
which  had  the  effect  of  embittering  both 
parties  without  in  any  way  benefiting  the 
Confederate  cause. 

On  the  bodies  of  some  of  the  guerillas 
who  were  killed  in  one  of  the  attacks  was 
found  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United 
States  Government.  A  certain  class  of  per 
sons  would  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  United  States  one  day,  to  secure  protec 
tion,  and  the  next  would  be  found  firing 
upon  unarmed  vessels. 

The  command  of  Lieutenant-Commander 
Fitch  was  increased  as  fast  as  the  small 
stern-wheel  merchant-steamers  could  be  al 
tered  into  gun-boats,  the  Navy  Department 
having  authorized  Admiral  Porter  to  pur 
chase  as  many  of  these  as  he  deemed  requi 
site  to  put  down  the  guerillas  and  pro 
tect  loyal  citizens,  and  a  large  number  of 
naval  vessels  were  soon  in  commission  on  the 
western  waters.  One  requisition  alone  for 
seven  hundred  pieces  of  ordnance  will  show 
how  this  tin-clad  service  was  increased. 
Many  engagements  occurred  when  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Fitch  had  a  sufficient 
number  of  vessels  to  effectually  patrol  the 
Tennessee,  where  by  night  and  day  he  was 
indefatigable  in  trying  to  put  down  the  ma 
rauders.  The  gun-boats  never  remained  at  a 
bank  for  fear  of  a  surprise,  and  when  anch 
ored  in  the  stream  men  were  always  at  the 


334 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


guns,  and  at  night  all  lights  were  kept 
covered. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when 
Brigadier-General  Alfred  Ellet,  with  the 
marine  brigade,  entered  the  Tennessee  in 
five  steamers,  admirably  equipped  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  men,  and  united 
with  Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch  to  sup 
press  the  guerillas.  These  combined  forces 
penetrated  to  the  furthest  part  of  the  river 
when  the  water  would  permit,  and  when 
the  river  was  very  low  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Fitch  was  provided  with  a  class 
of  gun-boats  drawing  only  sixteen  inches 
of  water,  which  could  almost  always  make 
their  way  to  any  desired  point.  The  re 
markable  energy  and  perseverance  of  Fitch 
won  the  approbation  of  the  Union  men  in 
Tennessee,  and  gained  the  entire  confidence 
of  his  Commander-in-chief.  His  officers 
were  all  volunteers,  but  with  his  example 
and  training  they  were  quite  equal  to  any 
in  the  regular  service  for  the  duty  in  which 
they  were  engaged. 

The  Confederates  were  much  surprised  at 
the  advent  of  the  Marine  Brigade,  who  were 
gun-boat  men  and  soldiers  at  the  same  time, 
and  could  land  fifteen  hundred  troops  with 
field  artillery  at  a  moment's  notice  to  pur 
sue  the  enemy.  In  fact,  when  Fitch  and  El- 
let  co-operated,  they  made  short  work  of  the 
Confederates,  who  had  really  been  a  scourge 
to  both  parties  in  Tennessee. 

General  Ellet's  command  included  cav 
alry,  with  which  he  made  night  marches  to 
pounce  on  the  camps  of  the  guerillas  and 
destroy  the  stores  on  which  these  maraud 
ers  relied  for  subsistence.  The  Marine 
Brigade  also  co-operated  with  the  Army  un 
der  General  Dodge  and  afforded  material 
assistance  in  breaking  up  the  command  of 
the  Confederate  general,  Cox,  some  eigh 
teen  miles  above  Savannah  on  the  Tennes 
see. 

General  Ellet's  command  was  not  popular 
with  the  Confederate  inhabitants,  as  the 
former  did  not  trouble  themselves  much 
about  the  ''amenities  of  war."  They  saw 
so  many  "  irregularities  "  committed  by  the 
enemy  that  they  retaliated  in  many  in 
stances  by  destroying  the  property  of  dis 
loyal  persons,  and  often  returned  from  an 
expedition  with  sufficient  stores  captured 
from  the  enemy  to  last  the  command  a 
month. 

On  the  morning  of  April  25,  18G3,  the 
Marine  Brigade  was  attacked  at  a  place 
called  Duck  River  by  a  Confederate  force 
of  seven  hundred  men  and  two  field-pieces 
under  Colonel  Woodward.  It  seems  the 
enemy  mistook  the  Marine  Brigade  vessels 
for  transports  and  were  quite  unprepared 
for  the  reception  they  encountered.  As 
soon  as  possible  a  landing  was  effected  and 
the  enemy  pursued  for  twelve  miles.  Maj  or 


White,  of  the  6th  Texas  Rangers,  was  found 
mortally  wounded  in  a  house  four  miles 
from  the  field  of  battle  where  eight  of  the 
Confederates  were  killed. 

The  water  in  the  Tennessee  River  becom 
ing  too  low  for  the  Marine  Brigade  steamers 
to  operate,  they  left  the  river  on  the  7th  of 
May,  having  destroyed  great  numbers  of 
boats  and  scows  and  all  the  ferry-boats  they 
could  find.  Tennessee  became  not  only  a 
battle-ground  for  the  contending  armies, 
but  her  vindictive  home -guards  brought 
upon  her  more  misery  than  can  be  compen 
sated  for  by  fifty  years  of  prosperity. 

On  his  way  down  to  Vicksburg  General 
Ellet  heard  of  some  Confederate  troops  at 
a  place  called  Austin  and  dispatched  a  cav 
alry  force  of  two  hundred  men,  commanded 
by  Major  Holland,  in  pursuit,  followed  by 
infantry.  The  cavalry  encountered  the 
main  body  of  the  Confederates,  one  thous 
and  strong,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery. 
Holland  found  his  retreat  cut  off,  but  by 
getting  a  good  position  and  dismounting 
his  men  he  managed  to  hold  his  ground  until 
the  infantry  came  up,  when  the  enemy  re 
treated  leaving  five  of  their  number  dead 
on  the  field.  The  Union  loss  was  two  killed 
and  nineteen  wounded.  A  wagon  train  and 
a  quantity  of  arms  were  captured,  together 
with  three  prisoners,  and  the  town  of  Austin 
was  set  on  fire  and  destroyed  with  a  large 
amount  of  provisions,  thus  breaking  up  a 
nest  of  guerillas  who  were  making  prepara 
tions  to  commence  a  system  of  firing  on 
vessels  as  they  had  done  on  the  Tennessee. 

While  the  town  was  on  fire  numerous 
explosions  showed  where  arms  and  am 
munition  had  been  secreted. 

On  the  29th  of  May  the  Marine  Brigade 
reached  the  Yazoo  River,  after  having  per 
formed  much  valuable  service. 

After  the  Brigade  left  the  Tennessee 
River  the  guerillas  re-commenced  their 
operations,  but  the  commanding  officers  of 
the  small  gun-boats  exerted  themselves  to 
the  utmost  to  make  up  for  the  loss  of  the 
landing  parties.  On  the  19th  of  June  Act 
ing-Master  W.  C.  Hanford,  commanding 
the  U.  S.  S.  "Little  Rebel,"  heard  that  a 
party  of  guerillas  under  Colonel  Bissell 
were  lying  in  wait  for  gun-boats,  proposing 
to  give  them  one  round  from  their  battery 
and  then  make  off.  Hanford  mounted  two 
howitzers  as  field-pieces,  manned  them  with 
sixteen  of  his  best  men,  and  started  them 
in  search  of  the  marauders. 

On  the  following  morning,  June  19th,  on 
hearing  the  firing  of  guns  the  "  Robb"  and 
the  "Silver  Cloud"  got  underway  and  ran 
down  to  the  point  where  the  battery  had 
been  placed.  Here  Hanford  found  that  Bis 
sell  had  attacked  his  battery  with  four  hun 
dred  men,  but  as  the  Confederates  advanced, 
four  abreast,  the  Union  guns  opened  on 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


335 


them,  making  large  gaps  in  their  ranks 
and  firing  so  rapidly  that  they  at  length 
turned  and  fled,  having  lost  about  fifty  in 
killed  and  wounded,  while  Hanford  had  but 
one  killed  and  two  wounded. 

On  this  occasion  the  gun -boats  fired  with 
grape  and  canister  at  close  quarters,  and 
the  enemy's  column  was  enfiladed  on  both 
sides  as  it  advanced.  The  Confederates 
had  dismounted  from  their  horses  to  charge 
the  battery. 

In  June,  1863,  a  great  sensation  was  cre 
ated  throughout  the  country  by  a  thrilling 
account  of  an  attack  made  on  a  body  of 
colored  troops  stationed  at  Milliken's  Bend, 
by  a  portion  of  the  Confederate  army  under 
General  Price.  Milliken's  Bend  is  but  two 
or  three  miles  above  Young's  Point  and  was 
in  daily  communication  with  that  place. 

It  was  a  mooted  question  whether  the 
blacks  enlisted  as  soldiers  would  be  reliable 
in  battle  and  they  were  mostly  employed, 
as  at  Milliken's  Bend,  in  guarding  stores  or 
in  other  duty,  where  they  could  relieve  white 
soldiers  sent  to  the  front.  As  far  as  appear 
ances  went,  the  colored  troops  were  good 
soldiers  and  many  enthusiasts  declared  that 
they  would  stand  the  shock  of  arms  as  well 
as  the  whites. 

At  Milliken's  Bend  was  also  a  portion  of  a 
white  regiment  which  was  looked  upon  by 
those  who  were  not  enthusiasts  as  by  far 
the  most  reliable  part  of  the  garrison. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  the  Admiral,  who 
had  general  charge  of  matters  in  that  quar 
ter,  hearing  that  some  of  the  enemy's 
troops  had  been  seen  hovering  around  Mil 
liken's  Bend,  sent  the  "  Choctaw,"  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  F.  M.  Ramsay,  up  to  that 
place  with  orders  to  be  ready  for  an  emer 
gency.  At  2.15  A.  M.,  on  the  ?th  instant,  an 
Army  officer  hailed  the  "Choctaw "and  re 
ported  that  his  pickets  had  been  attacked 
and  driven  in  by  the  enemy.  A  few  min 
utes  later  firing  was  heard  in  the  main 
camp.  The  "  Choctaw "  immediately 
opened  in  direction  of  the  enemy  with  a 
hundred  -  pounder  rifle  and  a  nine-inch 
shell-gun,  the  Federal  troops,  with  the 
exception  of  the  23d  Iowa,  retreating  at  the 
first  attack  of  the  enemy. 

It  was  impossible  for  the  "  Choctaw"  to 
fire  except  by  signs  from  those  on  shore,  who 
pointed  out  the  direction  of  the  enemy;  but 
the  practice  turned  out  to  be  good,  and  at 
8.30  the  Confederates  retreated  much  cut 
up.  The  "Lexington,"  Lieutenant  Com 
manding  George  M.  Bache,  reached  the 
scene  of  action  as  the  enemy  were  making 
off  and  opened  on  the  retreating  columns 
with  eight-inch  shells. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  presence  of  a  gun 
boat,  the  enemy  would  have  captured  every 
thing  at  Milliken's  Bend,  for  they  were  in 
strong  force  and  charged  right  over  the  col 


ored  troops,  who  fled  to  the  trenches  and 
thence  fired  at  random.  The  enemy  then 
swarmed  over  the  parapets  and  shot  right 
down  among  the  crouching  blacks,  filling 
the  trenches  with  killed  and  wounded.  A 
majority  of  the  slain  had  bullet-holes  in 
the  top  of  their  heads,  showing  that  the 
brilliant  defence  made  by  the  black  troops 
was  altogether  imaginary,  the  only  resist 
ance  being  made  by  the  white  soldiers. 

Such  statements  were  often  made  by 
sensational  correspondents  during  the  war. 
In  the  present  instance  the  black  troops 
were  given  credit  for  bravery  which  they 
did  not  display  and  the  23d  Iowa  regiment 
and  the  Navy  were  completely  ignored. 

In  justice  to  the  colored  troops  it  may  be 
said  that  their  white  officers  were  the  first 
to  run  away,  and  that  with  better  leaders 
the  soldiers  might  have  stood  their  ground. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  General  Ellet,  with 
the  Marine  Brigade,  was  ordered  to  proceed 
to  Goodrich  Landing,  where  some  Confeder 
ate  raiders  had  attacked  a  detachment  of 
United  States  troops  there  stationed.  When 
the  brigade  reached  Goodrich  Landing  the 
troops  were  found  under  arms,  and  the  pres 
ence  of  the  enemy  was  indicated  by  the 
burning  mansions,  cotton-gins  and  negro 
quarters  in  the  vicinity — one  of  those  acts 
of  wanton  destruction  for  which  the  class 
of  Confederate  soldiers  along  the  river  banks 
were  famous.  If  they  could  not  find  an 
enemy  to  harass  they  would  often  destroy 
the  property  of  their  own  people. 

The  entire  Marine  Brigade,  artillery,  in 
fantry  and  cavalry,  was  immediately  landed 
and  started  in  pursuit  of  the  Confederate 
forces;  Colonel  Wood,  who  commanded  the 
colored  troops  at  this  point,  accompanying 
the  brigade.  The  cavalry  overtook  the 
enemy  at  Bayou  Tensas,  and  detained  him 
until  the  main  body  of  the  Union  forces  ar 
rived.  The  enemy  had  a  strong  force  of 
cavalry  and  several  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
endeavored  to  recross  the  Bayou  and  turn 
the  right  flank  of  the  brigade.  In  this  move 
ment  he  met  with  a  severe  repulse.  The 
brigade  then  advanced  on  the  enemy,  who 
rapidly  retreated,  throwing  away  all  the 
plunder  taken  from  the  houses  that  had 
been  burned,  including  a  fine  piano  !  These 
were  some  of  the  men  enlisted  to  "protect" 
the  Southern  people,  who,  finding  the  latter 
already  well  treated  and  cared  for  by  the 
Union  forces,  turned  their  vengeance 
against  the  inhabitants  of  their  own  section, 
and  overcoming  the  small  garrison  at  Good 
rich  Landing  destroyed  and  carried  off 
everything  on  which  they  could  lay  hands. 

But  this  is  the  kind  of  war  one  must  ex 
pect  to  be  waged  by  a  government  with 
out  power  to  maintain  the  position  it  has 
assumed  and  liable  at  any  moment  to  col 
lapse.  As  the  cause  of  rebellion  became 


336 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


more  hopeless,  the  rancor  of  the  guerillas 
increased,  and  there  were  frequent  occur 
rences  which  curdled  the  blood  in  the  veins 
of  loyal  people.  Yet  some  of  the  people, 
while  well  satisfied  to  receive  protection 
from  the  Union  forces,  would  give  informa 
tion  to  these  predatory  bands  and  secrete 
them  when  in  danger. 

General  Ellet  gave  the  party  at  Goodrich 
Landing  a  lesson  they  did  not  soon  forget, 
and  having  completely  routed  the  enemy 
re-embarked  his  command  and  returned  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  River. 

We  have  dwelt  on  these  events  to  show 
the  character  of  the  war  as  waged  by  the 
Confederates  in  that  section  of  the  country, 
and  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  the  offi- 
ers  and  men  of  the  Mississippi  squadron. 

The  Army  under  General  Price,  or  his 
subordinate.  General  Holmes,  which  hung 
about  the  swampy  region  to  the  west  of 
Vicksburg,  found,  on  the  surrender  of  that 
place,  their  occupation  gone.  All  the  Federal 
stores  and  munitions  of  war  were  transfer 
red  from  Young's  Point  and  Milliken's  Bend 
to  Vicksburg,  and  the  Confederates  could  no 
longer  hope  to  replenish  their  stock  by  raids 
on  these  points.  General  Price  therefore 
determined  to  change  his  base  and  carry  on 
operations  elsewhere.  He  was  an  active, 
enterprising  officer,  and  had  under  his  com 
mand  some  twelve  or  fourteen  thousand 
men  who  were  inured  to  hardships  and  ca 
pable  of  long  and  rapid  marches. 

In  the  latter  part  of  June,  Admiral  Porter 
received  information  from  deserters  that 
General  Price  was  moving  with  a  large 
force  from  Arkansas  towards  the  Missis 
sippi,  intending  to  unite  with  other  troops 
near  Vicksburg  to  operate  along  the  river. 
The  Admiral  immediately  made  arrange 
ments  to  meet  this  force  by  sending  gun 
boats  to  such  points  as  it  would  be  most 
likely  to  attack.  The  "  Taylor,"  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Prichett,  "Bragg,"  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  Bishop,  and  the  "Hast 
ings,"  were  sent  to  Helena,  where  Major- 
General  B.  M.  Prentiss  was  in  command  of 
the  U.  S.  forces. 

That  officer  was  rather  astonished  when 
the  gun-boats  arrived  and  he  was  informed 
that  he  might  soon  expect  an  attack.  He 
had  expected  nothing  of  the  kind  and  felt 
sure  he  could  defend  his  post  without  the 
aid  of  gun-boats,  although  he  was  glad  to 
welcome  them.  The  "  Bragg"  came  to  an 
chor  off  Helena,  and  the  "Taylor"  and 
"  Hastings  "  cruised  up  and  down  the  river 
in  search  of  guerillas,  Lieutenant  Com 
mander  Prichett  quite  neglecting  the  in 
structions  he  had  received — under  no  cir 
cumstances  to  leave  Helena  without  posi 
tive  orders  from  the  Admiral. 

However,  on  one  of  his  expeditions,  Prich 
ett  happened  to  read  his  orders  over  again, 


and  seeing  how  positively  they  were  worded, 
hastened  back  to  Helena,  where  he  learned 
that  General  Prentiss  was  expecting  an  at 
tack  from  Price  with  twelve  to  fourteen 
thousand  troops,  to  oppose  which  the  Union 
commander  had  about  three  thousand  five 
hundred  men.  Prentiss  made  the  best  dis 
position  possible  of  his  small  force,  deter 
mined  to  hold  the  works  as  long  as  he  could. 
This  was  on  the  4th  of  July,  the  very  day 
of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg. 

Prichett  had  hardly  got  into  the  position 
he  deemed  most  desirable  to  render  the  fire 
of  the  gun-boats  effective,  when  the  enemy 
appeared  in  sight  and  attacked  the  centre 
defences  in  overwhelming  force.  These 
were  soon  carried,  as  also  a  battery  on  the 
hills  in  the  rear  which  commanded  Helena 
and  all  the  other  defences. 

The  enemy  then  pushed  his  forces  down 
the  slope  of  the  ridge  into  the  gorges,  and 
his  sharpshooters  under  cover  commenced 
driving  the  artillerists  from  their  guns  in 
the  main  fort.  The  Confederates  had 
planted  their  artillery  above  and  below  the 
turn  in  the  most  commanding  positions  and 
opened  fire  on  the  line  of  defensive  works 
across  the  river  bottom,  about  one  thousand 
yards  in  width,  and  large  bodies  of  troops 
were  massed  near  to  secure  the  advantages 
the  capture  of  the  forts  on  the  heights 
would  offer  for  closing  upon  the  town  of 
Helena. 

The  "Taylor"  at  once  covered  the  ap 
proach  to  Helena  by  what  was  called  the 
"old  farm  road;"  but  discovering  the 
enemy  pouring  down  the  hills,  after  captur 
ing  the  works  in  the  Federal  centre,  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Prichett  took  up  a  new 
position  where  his  broadside  guns  enfiladed 
the  ravines  which  were  filled  with  Confed 
erates,  and  bow -guns  at  the  same  time 
played  upon  the  enemy's  batteries  above, 
and  his  stern  guns  upon  those  below. 

This  was  a  reception  General  Price  had 
never  dreamed  of.  He  had  attacked  Helena 
with  the  expectation  of  "walking  over  the 
course,"  and  his  first  success  in  capturing 
the  most  commanding  position  in  the  de 
fences  confirmed  him  in  his  idea  of  an  easy 
victory,  but  the  broadsides  of  the  gun-boat 
soon  put  a  new  face  on  affairs.  The 
slaughter  caused  by  the  "Taylor's"  guns 
was  terrible,  the  shells  falling  in  the  thickly 
massed  troops  of  the  enemy  and  tearing 
them  to  pieces.  A  panic  seized  the  enemy 
and  he  was  soon  in  full  retreat,  pursued  by 
the  fire  of  the  gun-boat,  until  the  road  was 
strewed  with  the  killed  and  wounded. 

Those  of  the  Confederates  who  had 
gained  the  inside  of  the  Union  works,  see 
ing  the  slaughter  and  retreat  of  their  com 
rades,  lost  no  time  in  moving  to  the  rear, 
urged  on  by  the  Federal  garrison,  who,  en 
couraged  by  the  success  of  the  "  Taylor," 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


837 


added  the  fire  of  their  batteries  to  that  of 
the  gun-boat. 

The  victory  was  complete,  and  it  took 
little  more  time  than  we  have  occupied  in 
telling  the  story.  The  whole  affair  was 
one  continuous  roar  of  cannon  and  burst 
ing  of  shells,  the  latter  thrown  with  an 
accuracy  the  crew  of  the  %i  Taylor"  had 
acquired  by  long  experience.  Three  hun 
dred  and  eighty  of  the  Confederates  were 
left  dead  on  the  field  near  the  forts  and  in 
the  ravines,  eleven  hundred  were  wounded 
and  as  many  more  taken  prisoners.  For 
several  days  the  Federal  cavalry  were  con 
stantly  discovering  killed  and  wounded, 
and  steamboats  on  the  river  were  hailed  by 
deserters  from  Price's  army,  asking  to  be 
taken  on  board.  No  troops  were  ever  worse 
beaten  or  more  demoralized. 

A  Ithough  the  Union  troops  hadstood  man 
fully  against  the  attack  of  Price's  appar 
ently  overwhelming  force,  the  slaughter  in 
the  enemy's  ranks  was  due  to  the  judgment 
shown  by  Lieutenant-Commander  Prichett 
in  taking  such  an  admirable  position,  where 
he  could  use  his  guns  effectively.  On  two 
previous  occasions — at  Belmont  and  at 
Pittsburg  Landing — the  "Taylor"  had 
saved  the  day  to  the  Union  cause,  yet  we 
doubt  if  a  vast  majority  of  the  American 
people  are  aware  that  such  a  vessel  ever 
existed,  and  we  deem  it  only  fair  to  say 
that  the  garrison  of  Helena,  although  they 
fought  with  a  courage  unsurpassed  during 
the  war,  owed  their  victory  over  an  enemy 
which  so  greatly  outnumbered  them  entirely 
to  the  batteries  of  the  sturdy  wooden  gun 
boat.  General  Prentiss,  like  a  brave  sol 
dier  as  he  was,  grows  eloquent  in  his  praise 
of  Lieutenant-Commander  Prichett  and  his 
officers  and  men  for  the  service  they  had 
performed.  In  his  report  to  the  Admiral 
he  says:  "  I  attribute  not  a  little  of  our  suc 
cess  in  the  late  battle  to  his  (Lieutenant- 
Commander  Prichett's)  full  knowledge  of 
the  situation  and  his  skill  in  adapting  the 
means  within  his  command  to  the  end  to  be 

attained Permit  me  to  add,  sir, 

that  I  can  conceive  of  no  case  wherein  pro 
motion  would  be  more  worthily  bestowed 
than  in  that  of  Lieutenant-Commander 
Prichett,  and  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure 
to  learn  that  his  services  have  received  a 
proper  reward."  Prichett  never  received 
any  "  reward  "  save  an  eloquent  letter  from 
Mr.  Secretary  Welles,  which  that  gentle 
man  knew  so  well  how  to  indite,  but  he  had 
the  satisfaction  of  not  having  dimmed  the 
lustre  of  that  4th  of  July  made  so  glorious 
by  the  capture  of  Vicksburg  and  the  victory 
of  Gettysburg. 

On  the  9th  of  August  the  "  Mound  City," 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Byron  Wilson, 
while  at  Lake  Providence,  gave  the  enemy 
a  severe  lesson.  Captain  John  McNeil, 


C.  S.  A.,  notorious  raider,  made  a  descent  on 
Lake  Providence  with  some  seventy  men, 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  off  some  mules, 
horses  and  wagons,  a  number  of  the  latter 
having  congregated  there  during  the  occu 
pation  of  the  place  by  a  part  of  the  Federal 
army. 

As  McNeil's  men  entered  the  town  the 
"Mound  City"  opened  on  them  with  her 
portbattery  and  the  enemy  fled  to  the  woods, 
leaving  seven  dead  on  the  field  and  carrying 
off  many  wounded.  The  enemy  never  ex 
pected  to  see  an  ironclad  at  Lake  Providence 
and  never  troubled  the  place  again. 

It  was  exceedingly  difficult  to  suppress 
this  system  of  guerilla  warfare,  but  it  was 
finally  put  an  end  to  by  the  Navy  when  the 
surrender  of  Vicksburg  relieved  a  large 
number  of  gun-boats  from  imperative  du 
ties  which  could  not  be  neglected  for  minor 
matters. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  incidents  of 
the  civil  war  was  the  raid  of  General  John 
Morgan,  one  of  the  daring  partisan  lead 
ers  of  the  Confederate  Army,  and  the  man 
ner  in  which  the  raid  was  averted  from 
Indiana — the  point  aimed  at  by  the  auda 
cious  Morgan — by  three  or  four  so-called 
'' tin-dads,"  armed  with  boat-howitzers. 

Hearing  that  Morgan  was  moving  in 
force  up  the  left  bank  of  the  Ohio  River, 
pursued  by  the  Union  forces  under  General 
Judah,  Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch  de 
termined,  if  possible,  to  cut  him  off.  The 
water  in  the  river  was  very  low  and  the  five 
light  draft  gun-boats  which  Fitch  had  with 
him  worked  night  and  day  to  intercept  the 
raiders,  who  were  seeking  for  a  place  to 
ford  the  Ohio. 

To  get  the  gun-boats  over  the  shoal  places 
it  was  often  necessary  to  "  jump  them  "  by 
placing  two  heavy  spars,  carried  for  the 
purpose,  forward  of  the  bow  at  an  angle 
and  set  taut,  a  heavy  tackle  leading  from 
the  head  of  the  spars  to  the  deck.  Steam 
was  then  put  on,  and  as  the  vessel  pushed 
ahead  her  bow  was  raised  and  she  was 
forced  forward  eight  or  ten  feet;  this  oper 
ation  was  repeated  until  the  shoal  was 
passed,  and  this  was  the  way  the  officers 
and  men  on  the  Ohio  had  to  work  to  pre 
vent  Morgan  from  reaching  Indiana,  whose 
people  were  wholly  unprepared  for  a  move- 
ment  which,  had  it  succeeded,  must  have 
been  most  disastrous  to  the  State. 

Morgan's  object  after  devastating  Indi 
ana  was  to  march  into  Ohio  with  the  hope 
of  capturing  Cincinnati  and  plundering  it. 
This,  to  say  nothing  of  the  loss  to  the  citi 
zens  of  their  property,  would  have  been  an 
indelible  disgrace  to  the  Federal  cause. 

Morgan  pushed  his  way  leisurely  along 
the  bank  of  the  Ohio,  calculating  that  he 
could  cross  from  one  side  to  the  other  as 
circumstances  might  require  in  order  to 


338 


THE  KA  VAL   HISTORY 


elude  any  pursuing  f°rce,  although  he 
knew  of  none  in  the  vicinity  that  he  need 
fear,  and  he  intended  that  his  followers 
should  enjoy  themselves  among  the  flesh- 
pots  of  the  North,  and  leave  the  marks  of 
their  trail  so  wide  that  the  Union  people 
would  remember  John  Morgan's  raid  for 
a  century  to  come.  Indeed  he  marched  so 
leisurely  and  committed  so  many  depre 
dations  that  the  people  began  to  rise  and 
arm  themselves  in  the  interior  on  his  left, 
which  induced  him  to  cling  to  the  river 
bank,  little  dreaming  of  the  danger  threat 
ened  him  from  the  gun-boats.  General 
Judah's  forces  pushing  after  him,  Mor 
gan  determined  to  cross  the  river,  but  here 
he  was  confronted  by  Fitch  and  his  "tin- 
clads,"  which  were  spread  out  for  the  space 
of  two  miles  ready  to  prevent  his  passage. 
As  the  river  was  fordable  in  many  places, 
Morgan  could  easily  have  crossed  with  all 
his  forces  but  for  the  presence  of  the  gun 
boats. 

As  soon  as  the  Confederate  column  ap 
peared  in  sight,  they  received  a  volley  that 
staggered  them  so  they  gave  up  the  idea  of 
crossing  at  that  point  and  continued  up  the 
river,  while  the  gun-boats  kept  ahead  shell 
ing  the  enemy  whenever  they  showed  them 
selves.  It  was  a  novel  sight,  a  flotilla  of  gun 
boats  (very  "  gallinippers  ")  in  pursuit  of  a 
land  force.  It  was  in  every  respect  a  new 
feature  of  the  war. 

When  Morgan  found  himself  hemmed  in 
on  the  left,  on  the  right,  and  in  the  rear,  he 
saw  that  his  best  course  was  to  push  on  up 
the  Ohio  to  a  point  where  the  water  was  too 
low  to  float  the  gun-boats,  probably  not 
dreaming  that  the  vessels  had  been  selected 
for  just  such  an  emergency  and  drew  barely 
sixteen  inches.  With  all  he  could  do,  Mor 
gan  could  find  no  place  to  cross,  for  the 
gun-boats  pressed  close  to  him  night  and 
day,  firing  upon  his  men  whenever  they  ap 
proached  the  river. 

This  odd  march  of  the  Confederates  and 
the  pursuit  of  the  gun-boats  continued  up  the 
river  for  five  hundred  miles.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the  19th  of  July,  Fitch  attacked  Mor 
gan's  troops  just  above  Buffington  Island. 
The  enemy  made  a  desperate  resistance 
with  artillery  and  musketry  for  over  an 
hour,  at  the  end  of  which  time  they  broke 
and  fled,  leaving  behind  two  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  wagons,  horses,  arms,  etc.  A.  portion 
of  them  rallied  and  moved  rapidly  up  along 
the  river  bank;  but  Fitch  followed  them  so 
closely  that  they  soon  scattered  among  the 
hills  out  of  the  reach  of  the  shells. 

The  road  along  the  bank  was  strewed  with 
plunder  left  by  the  Confederates— cloth, 
boots,  shoes,  and  dainties  of  every  descrip 
tion.  Among  the  articles  abandoned  were 
some  carriages,  one  of  which  was  said  to 
have  been  used  by  Morgan  when  weary  of 


horseback  exercise.  The  gunboats  pushed 
on  up  river  to  look  after  the  remnant  of 
Morgan's  band,  leaving  it  to  General  Judah 
to  pick  up  the  stragglers  in  the  rear. 

About  fifteen  miles  above  the  scene  of 
his  last  conflict,  Fitch  encountered  another 
portion  of  Morgan's  command  who  were 
fording  the  river.  The  current  was  here  so 
swift  and  the  channel  so  narrow  and 
crooked,  that  it  was  sometime  before  the 
gun-boat  could  get  within  range.  At  length 
Fitch  opened  on  the  enemy,  emptying  a 
number  of  saddles  and  driving  most  of 
them  back  to  the  bank,  whence  they  started 
off  up  the  river  again;  a  few  got  across  the 
river  and  escaped  ;  and  twenty  horses, 
whose  riders  had  perhaps  been  drowned  or 
shot,  were  left  standing  on  the  bank.  On 
went  Fitch  till  no  more  enemies  were  to  be 
seen  and  he  was  brought  to  a  stand  by 
shoals  he  could  not  pass. 

This  was  the  end  of  Morgan's  raid,  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  events  of  the  civil 
war,  and  the  very  boldness  of  which  almost 
insured  its  success.  It  could  not  have  been 
intended  to  benefit  the  Confederate  cause, 
and  must  be  regarded  as  an  insane  military 
frolic.  The  rude  partisan  who  had  con 
ceived  the  plan  which  he  carried  out  with 
such  bravery  and  zeal,  meeting  at  first  with 
no  opposition,  seems  to  have  fancied  him 
self  master  of  the  situation.  He  lost  his 
head,  and  when  he  took  to  riding  in  a  car 
riage  his  followers  began  to  lose  faith  in 
him,  which  may  account  for  the  numerous 
desertions  and  for  the  rapidity  with  which 
the  raiders  fled  from  the  gun-boats. 

But  for  the  energy  of  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Fitch,  Morgan's  enterprise  would 
doubtless  have  been  disastrous  to  the  people 
of  Indiana  and  Ohio  and  disgraceful  to  the 
United  States  Government,  which  had 
taken  so  little  pains  to  guard  against  such 
incursions. 

Morgan  and  most  of  his  men  were  cap 
tured,  and  although  he  had  committed  no 
greater  infractions  of  the  laws  of  war  than 
many  others,  he  and  his  officers  were  sent 
to  the  Ohio  penitentiary.  To  have  shot  him 
as  he  stood  at  bay,  like  a  wild  boar  in  the 
forest,  would  have  been  kinder  and  more  in 
keeping  with  the  romantic  nature  of  his 
enterprise. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  wrote  to  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Fitch,  eulogizing  his 
conduct  in  the  highest  terms.  Maj.-Gen. 
Burnside  and  Brig. -Gen.  Cox  also  wrote 
the  warmest  acknowledgements  to  Admiral 
Porter  for  the  part  Fitch  had  taken  in  the 
capture  of  Morgan.  Fitch  certainly  demon 
strated  the  importance  of  the  little  "  tin- 
clads,"  which  seemed  from  their  appearance 
to  have  been  gotten  up  more  for  pleasure- 
boats  than  for  war  purposes,  where  a  strong 
shot  was  liable  to  send  them  to  the  bottom. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


339 


After  the  loss  of  the  "Cincinnati,"  on 
which  occasion  Lieutenant  Bache  and  his 
officers  and  men  exhibited  so  much  coolness 
and  bravery,  Bache  was  ordered  to  Com 
mand  the  ''Lexington.*'  sister-ship  to  the 
"  Taylor,"  and  one  of  the  gun-boats  that  had 
braved  the  storm  of  battle  at  Belmont, 
Shiloh,  Fort  Henry,  Donelson  and  Arkan 
sas  Post. 

The  Confederates  were  again  assembling 
in  White  River,  where  it  was  easy  for  them 
to  get  from  Little  Rock.  Arkansas,  and 
escape  back  again  if  attacked.  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Bache  was  ordered  up  White 
River  to  suppress  these  raiders,  whose  zeal 
and  persistency  seemed  without  limit.  The 
great  Confederate  armies  of  the  West 
appeared  to  have  been  divided  into  small 
bodies,  which  could  move  with  greater 
celerity.  The  "  Lexington,"  "Cricket"  and 
''Marmora"  were  the  vessels  comprising 
Lieutenant  Bache's  command. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  expedition  at  Des 
Arc,  it  burned  a  large  warehouse  filled 
with  Confederate  stores,  which  the  thought 
less  enemy  had  supposed  was  safe  from  the 
attack  of  gun-boats.  On  the  second  morn 
ing,  on  arriving  off  the  mouth  of  Little 
Red  River,  a  narrow  and  tortuous  tributary 
of  the  White,  the  "Cricket"  was  sent  up 
that  stream  in  pursuit  of  two  Confederate 
steamers,  while  the  "Lexington"  went 
twenty-five  miles  further  up  the  White  to 
Augusta.  At  that  place  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Bache  was  informed  that  the  inde 
fatigable  General  Price  was  assembling  an 
army  at  Brownsville,  and  that  two  kindred 
spirits,  Generals  Kirby  Smith  and  Marma- 
duke,  were  with  him. 

Lieutenant  Bache  immediately  proceeded 
up  the  Little  Red  River  and  met  the 
"Cricket"  returning  with  her  two  prizes, 
after  having  destroyed  a  pontoon  bridge 
constructed  by  General  Marmaduke.  As 
the  two  captured  steamers  were  the  only 
ones  relied  on  for  transportation  in  this 
river,  the  schemes  of  the  Confederates  were 
thwarted  for  the  time  being,  and  the  fact 
that  gun-boats  had  penetrated  their  lines 
and  were  destroying  their  pontoons  and 
stores  quite  dampened  the  ardor  of  the 
three  chiefs. 

Although  no  blood  was  spilled,  this  incur 
sion  of  the  little  flotilla  was  equal  to  a  vic 
tory  over  General  Price,  whom  it  would 
have  required  an  army  of  twenty  thousand 
men  to  drive  back.  By  these  movements 
of  the  gun-boats  the  Confederate  transporta 
tion  on  the  rivers  was  broken  up — they  had 
not  a  steamer  left  in  this  vicinity  except 
one  on  the  White  River. 

A  little  later,  Volunteer-Lieutenant  J. 
P.  Couthouy,  commanding  the  "  Osage," 
who  had  been  sent  to  cruise  in  Red  River, 
receiving  information  of  a  Confederate 


steamer  tied  to  the  bank  in  his  neighbor 
hood,  fitted  out  an  expedition  of  twenty 
men  under  command  of  Chief  Engineer 
Thomas  Doughty.  The  party,  after  incred 
ible  labor,  forcing  their  way  through  the 
thick  undergrowth  and  vines,  surprised  the 
steamer  lying  at  the  bank  and  captured  her. 
A  few  moments  later  Mr.  Doughty  caught 
sight  of  another  steamer,  which  he  also 
captured  in  a  similar  manner,  and  besides 
her  crew  found  himself  in  possession  of 
nine  Confederate  soldiers,  commanded  by 
an  aide  to  General  ("  Dick  ")  Taylor.  The 
aide  had  been  sent  up  for  the  "  Fulton,"  a 
remarkably  fine  vessel,  to  transport  some 
troops  across  Atchafalia  Bay.  The  other 
steamer  was  filled  with  military  stores. 

There  was  an  impassable  shoal  across  the 
Red  River  at  that  time,  and  as  Chief  Engi 
neer  Doughty  could  not  take  the  steamers 
out  of  the  river  he  burned  them  with  all 
their  stores,  and  returned  safely  to  his  ves 
sel.  These  steamers  were  a  great  loss  to 
the  Confederates  in  that  quarter  as  their 
means  of  transporting  troops  and  supplies 
by  water  was  greatly  impaired,  growing 
smaller  by  degrees  and  beautifully  less,  and 
confining  the  raiders  within  narrower  limits 
than  ever. 

After  the  capture  of  Vicksburg  the  gun 
boats  were  stationed  all  along  the  Missis 
sippi  from  Cairo  to  Red  River,  and  on  the 
Ohio,  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers. 
The  gun-boats  were  in  divisions  extending 
between  specified  points,  each  under  com 
mand  of  an  officer  in  the  regular  Navy. 
Strict  discipline  was  maintained  and  all  the 
spare  time  was  devoted  to  exercising  the  men 
with  the  great  guns  and  small  arms.  Most 
of  the  officers  in  the  squadron  were  volun 
teers,  natives  of  the  West,  who  had  never 
had  any  naval  experience  previous  to  the 
war,  but  it  was  wonderful  to  see  how 
quickly  they  accommodated  themselves  to 
circumstances  and  what  excellent  officers 
they  became.  Their  energy  and  zeal  was 
equal  to  their  courage,  and  many  of  them 
made  fine  records  before  the  war  ended. 
The  commanding  officers  of  the  divisions 
were  well  qualified  as  instructors  as  well  as 
leaders,  and  the  exploits  of  many  of  the 
vessels,  if  properly  set  forth,  would  adorn 
the  pages  of  history. 

Some  of  the  boldest  and  most  enterpris 
ing  officers  in  the  fleet  were  pilots  and  engi 
neers,  who,  leaving  the  steering-wheel  or 
the  engine,  and  buckling  on  sword  and  pis 
tols,  would  start  out  on  the  most  hazard- 
pus  expeditions.  These  officers  would  go 
into  action  as  if  it  were  pastime,  the  engi 
neers  well  knowing  that  a  single  shot  strik 
ing  the  boiler — which  in  many  cases  stood 
unprotected  on  the  deck — would  scald  every 
one  near  it  to  death,  and  the  pilots  feeling 
that  they  were  special  targets  for  the  enemy 


340 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


to  shoot  at.  To  kill  a  pilot  or  an  engineer 
at  his  post  of  duty  would  excite  as  much 
glee  among  the  Confederates  as  if  they  had 
gained  an  important  victory. 

The  men  who  served  in  the  Mississippi 
squadron  as  pilots  and  engineers  are  to  this 
day  ostracized  by  Confederate  sympa 
thizers  for  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
their  country.  The  pilots  received  neither 
prize  -  money  nor  pension,  and  there  are 
some  of  them  who  now  suffer  from  the 
wounds  and  exposure  to  which  they  were 
subjected.  Comparatively  few  of  them  re 
main  to  read  this  tribute  to  their  fidelity 
to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  but  those  who 
still  live  well  know  the  estimation  in  which 
they  are  held  by  their  Commander-in-chief, 
who  has  never  failed  to  press  their  claims 
on  the  gratitude  of  their  country  whenever 
an  opportunity  occurred. 

Lieutenant-Commander  S.  L.  Phelps  per 
formed  important  service  in  the  Tennessee 
River,  his  command  extending  from  Fort 
Henry  as  far  up  stream  as  his  vessels  could 
ascend.  He  chose  command  of  this  dis 
trict  to  enable  him  to  attend  to  the  recon 
struction  of  the  "Eastport."  a  vessel  cap 
tured  by  him  in  the  Tennessee  after  the  fall 
of  Fort  Henry.  At  the  time  of  her  cap 
ture  the  Confederates  were  transforming 
the  vessel  into  an  iron-clad  ram.  This  was 
the  "  Eastport,"  hitherto  mentioned  in  our 
narrative. 

Phelps  was  very  active  in  harassing  the 
enemy,  and  gave  them  no  rest.  His  first 
act  after  assuming  command  on  the  Ten 
nessee  was  to  proceed  from  Paducah,  Ky., 
with  the  "Covington,"  "Queen  City," 
"Argosy,"  "Silver  Cloud"  and  "Cham 
pion,"  up  the  river,  destroying  everything 
on  the  way  that  could  be  of  any  use' to  the 
enemy.  All  boats  and  scows  were  destroyed, 
so  that  communication  from  one  bank  to 
another  was  pretty  effectually  cut  off.  The 
"Covington"  ascended  as  far  as  Eastport, 
the  highest  point  attainable  at  that  stage 
of  the  river,  offering  protection  to  Unionists 
and  bringing  out  of  the  country  those  desir 
ing  to  escape  conscription;  for  at  that  time 
the  enemy  had  strong  parties  going  through 
Tennessee  seizing  upon  all  the  able-bodied 
men  they  could  find  to  recruit  the  Confeder 
ate  army.  Among  these  were  many  who 
would  not  willingly  have  served  against  the 
Union.  Thus  the  Confederate  government, 
after  dragging  Tennessee  out  of  the  Union, 
making  it  the  theatre  of  war,  destroying  its 
resources  and  reducing  its  people  to  penurv 
gave  the  final  stroke  in  the  shape  of  con 
scription.  The  conscripts  were  seized  and 
bundled  off  pretty  much  as  slaves  were 
transported  in  former  days. 

This  was  the  "liberty"  promised  the 
Southern  people  by  their  leaders  when  they 
started  on  their  wild  crusade  against  the 


Union.  Had  they  succeeded,  there  would 
have  been  such  a  depotism  established  in 
this  country  as  was  never  dreamed  of. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander  Phelps  deter 
mined  to  try  and  break  up  these  conscription 
raids  if  possible,  and  as  he  could  not  land 
parties  of  sufficient  force  to  cope  with  the 
enemy,  he  made  an  arrangement  with  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Breckenridge  at  Fort  Henry 
to  supply  a  body  of  cavalry  for  the  purpose. 

There  was  a  conscription  party  at  Linden, 
Tennessee,  which  had  made  itself  particu 
larly  odious,  and  it  was  arranged  that  Col 
onel  Breckenridge  should  be  landed  with  his 
men  at  a  certain  point,  and  the  gun-boats 
should  be  spread  along  the  river,  so  that  the 
troops  could  retreat  to  them  in  case  the 
enemy  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted. 

The  gun-boats  being  placed  at  night  in 
the  positions  assigned  them,  Phelps  dropped 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  8.  LEDYARD  PHELPS. 

down  to  Decatursville,  where  he  took  on 
board  Colonel  Breckenridge  and  fifty 
mounted  men  and  landed  them  on  the  op 
posite  side  of  the  river. 

At  daybreak  Colonel  Breckenridge  reached 
Linden,  twelve  miles  from  the  river-bank, 
and  completely  surprised  the  enemy.  The 
latter  made  little  resistance,  and  only  three 
of  their  number  were  killed.  These  men 
were  evidently  not  anxious  to  fight  them 
selves,  but  were  looking  for  others  to  fight 
in  their  places. 

The  small  Union  force  returned  to  the 
gun-boats  with  one  lieutenant-colonel,  one 
captain,  four  lieutenants,  and  forty  privates 
as  prisoners,  besides  fifty  horses  and  equip 
ments,  two  transportation  wagons,  arms, 
etc.  The  Court  House,  which  was  the  ren 
dezvous  of  the  conscriptors,  was  burned 
with  a  quantity  of  arms  and  stores.  The 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


341 


Union  party  lost  only  a  horse  killed.  This 
was  the  end  of  the  conscription  business  in 
that  quarter. 

In  the  latter  part  of  June,  18G3.  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Phelps  crossed  fifteen  hun 
dred  cavalry  under  Colonel  Conger,  of  the 
10th  Missouri  Volunteers,  over  the  river. 
Colonel  Conger  made  a  forced  marcli  on 
Florence.  Alabama,  and  captured  the  place 
after  a  sharp  engagement.  The  expedition 
destroyed  an  immense  amount  of  property 
of  various  kinds,  valued  at  two  millions  of 
dollars,  among  which  were  three  large  cot 
ton  mills  and  magazines  of  corn;  they  also 
captured  sixty-five  prisoners. 

Meanwhile  one  hundred  and  fifty  cavalry 
had  landed  at  Savannah,  under  cover  of  the 
guns  of  the  "Covington."  intending  to  op 
erate  in  that  neighborhood  and  keep  open 
communication  between  Colonel  Conger  and 
the  gun-boats.  The  ''Forest  Rose''  and 
'*  Robb"  covered  the  landing  opposite  Ham 
burg.  The  force  at  Savannah  had  captured 
some  stock  and  brought  it  in;  but  on  one 
occasion,  while  returning  from  an  expedi 
tion,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  party, 
being  pressed  by  a  superior  force  of  the 
enemy,  abandoned  his  captured  stock  and 
barely  succeeded  in  reaching  Savannah, 
where  Lieutenant-Commander  Phelps  found 
his  troops  covered  by  the  "  Covington." 

Colonel  Bissel,  the  Confederate  com 
mander,  had  invested  the  town,  and  given 
one  hour  for  the  removal  of  the  women  and 
children  before  proceeding  to  the  attack. 
The  answer  of  the  two  Union  commanders 
to  this  summons  was,  "  Come  and  take  it." 

That  night  Colonel  Conger  arrived,  and 
the  Confederates  raised  the  siege  and  de 
parted.  The  same  night  the  gun-boats 
crossed  Colonel  Conger's  force  safely  over 
the  river,  during  which  brisk  skirmishing 
was  going  on,  and  a  number  of  Union  fami 
lies  were  taken  away  by  the  gun-boats  to 
escape  the  vengeance  of  the  Confederate 
raiders. 

Large  quantities  of  hides  were  carried 
off  by  the  gun  boats  to  keep  them  from 
falling  into  the  enemy's  hands,  for  the  Con 
federates  maintained  quite  a  large  body  of 
men  in  the  State,  whose  business  it  was  to 
collect  such  material  as  would  be  useful  to 
their  army. 

Thus  the  war  was  carried  on  in  the  region 


of  the  Tennessee  with  much  bitterness,  the 
Federal  authorities  being  obliged  in  self- 
defence  to  resort  to  extreme  measures,  and 
to  follow  a  system  which  they  naturally  ab 
horred  It  was  found  that  by  practicing  the 
amenities  of  war  we  only  gave  encourage 
ment  to  the  bands  of  guerillas  and  conscrip- 
tors  to  pursue  their  work  of  bloodshed  and 
rapine.sothe  Union  forces  gradually  became 
almost  as  indifferent  to  suffering  as  their 
opponents.  Unfortunately,  this  reacted  in 
many  cases  on  those  citizens  who  claimed  to 
be  Unionists  and  to  be  willing  to  acknowl 
edge  the  government  if  they  could  only 
receive  protection. 

This  protection,  however,  could  not 
always  be  given,  as  we  had  only  a  certain 
number  of  soldiers  in  the  Western  army, 
which  with  its  extended  lines  was  taxed  to 
its  utmost.  It  was  slowly  but  certainly 
making  its  way  South,  and  although  its 
rear  was  not  unprotected,  yet  it  was  not 
always  strong  enough  to  follow  up  the  rov 
ing  bands  of  irregulars  who  to  avoid  con 
scription  had  perhaps  become  conscriptors 
themselves. 

Sympathizers  with  the  Southern  cause 
may  affirm  that  every  Southerner  had  a 
right  to  fight  for  life  and  liberty,  and  that 
all  combatants  were  entitled  to  be  treated 
alike,  but  if  they  could  not  secure  what 
they  wanted  by  the  weight  of  their  numbers 
or  appeals  to  reason,  they  should  not  have 
attempted  to  bring  on  civil  war;  and  those 
who  were  fighting  to  preserve  law  and 
order,  though  themselves  justified  in  pursu 
ing  extreme  measures  to  put  an  end  to  a 
struggle  which  by  all  the  rules  of  warfare 
should  have  terminated  when  Vicksburg 
fell;  for  the  Federal  government  was  daily 
increasing  its  strength. and  the  Confederates 
were  fighting  from  foolish  pride  or  pure 
vindictiveness  to  inflict  all  the  injury  pos 
sible  on  the  North. 

Although  the  strength  of  our  army  along 
the  Tennessee  and  other  rivers  was  not 
great,  it  had  powerful  coadjutors  in 
those  little  gun-boats  which  the  enemy  at 
first  professed  to  despise,  but  which  they 
were  anxious  to  avoid  when  circumstances 
brought  them  near  together.  On  many  oc 
casions  a  few  gun-boats  were  of  more  advan 
tage  than  a  division  of  soldiers  would  have 
been. 


342 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


MISSISSIPPI    SQUADRON. 

VESSELS  EMPLOYED  AT  VICKSBURG  DURING  THE  SIEGE,  WITH  LIST  OF   OFFICERS. 

Names  of  vessels,  officers,  etc.,  are  obtained   from  the  Navy  Register  of  January,  1863,  unless  some  other  date  is  appended  thus  (1864),  (1865). 
Officers  who  received  favorable  notice  in  Admiral  Porter's  official  report,  dated  July  13,  1863   (concerning  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  operations 

on  the  river),  are  marked  thus  ». 


FLAG-SHIP  "BLACK-HAWK  "  (3D  BATE). 
*Lieutenant-Commander,  K.  R.  Breese;  Fleet-Sur 
geon,  Ninian  Pinkney;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  C. 
Bertolette;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  H. 
Sells;  Ensigns,  W.  B.  Bridgeuian,  Merrill  Miller,  S. 
H.  Hunt  and  G.  M.  Brown;  Acting  Ensigns,  G.  D. 
Gove,  W.  Wardrop,  E.  W.  Clark,  R.  R.  Hubbell  and 
D.  P.  Rosenruiller;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  F.  J. 
Turner,  P.  H.  Brown,  James  DeCauip,  C.  H.  Porter 
and  F.  D.  Campbell;  Engineers.  G.  W.  Walker, 
O.  G.  Ritchie,  A.  P.  Sutherland  and  Frandford 
Shepard. 

IRON-CLAD    STEAMER    "LOUISVILLE"   (4TH    RATE). 

*Lieutenant-Commander,  E.  K.  Owen;  Acting-As 
sistant  Surgeon,  W.  D.  Hoffman;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  D.  L.  Ruth;  Acting-Ensigns,  F.  Bates; 
J.  T.  Blackford,  J.  G.  Waters  and  S.  M.  B.  Servos; 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  H.  D.  Coffenberry;  Engi 
neers,  J.  B.  Fulton,  A.  W.  Hardy.  C.  W.  Reynolds 
and  C.  W.  Degelman;  Acting-Gunner,  Win.  Shields, 
Acting-Carpenter,  D.  H.  Curry.  (Jan.,  1864.) 

IRON-CLAD    STEAMER   "CHOCTAW"  (3D    RATE). 

*Lieutenant-Commander,  F.  M.  Ramsay;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Wm.  N.  Whitehpuse;  Acting- 
Master,  W.  A.  Griswold;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.  Bea- 
man,  W.  C.  Bennett,  A.  S.  Palmer  and  L.  R.  Ham- 
ersly;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  T.  Hopkins  and  H. 
Marsh;  Engineers,  N.  P.  Baldwin,  C.  E.  Arbuthnpt, 
Joseph  Blake,  S.  C.  Babbitt  and  E.  H.  Austin; 
Acting-Gunner,  Reuben  Applegate;  Acting-Carpen 
ter,  J.  A.  Stewart. 

IRON-CLAD    STEAMER  "LAFAYETTE"    (4TH    RATE). 

*Captain,  Henry  Walke;  Acting-Volunteer-Lieu- 
tenant,  James  Laning;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
Collins  D.  White ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
James  P.  Kelly ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  L.  Moran, 
Elias  Smith  and  W.  C.  Bennet;  Acting- Master's 
Mates  H.  G.  Warren,  C.  H  Slocum,  H.  C.  Marsh, 
S.  O.  Lovell,  S.  R.  Winram,  W.  P.  Higbee,  Thomas 
Twitchell  and  Paul  Morgan ;  Engineers,  Robert 
Tate,  A.  M.  Rowe,  E.  B.  Hill  and  J.  W.  Paull;  Act 
ing-Gunner,  G.  W.  Price;  Acting-Carpenter,  C.  M. 
Underwood. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER   " CARONDELBT "  (4TH  RATE). 

*Lieutenant,  J.  McLeod  Murphy;  Acting- Volun 
teer- Lieu  tenant,   E.    E.   Brennard;  Assistant  Sur- 
§eon,   D.   R.  Brannan;    Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
.  B.   Harriman  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  F. 
M.  Hawley ;  Acting  Ensigns,  W.  E.  H.  Fentress,  O. 
Donaldson,  J.  C.  Gipson,  M.  F.  Benjamin  and  R.  P. 
Petty;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  Bath,  and  C.  W. 
Miller;  Engineers,  C.  H.  Gavin,   John  Huff  and  L. 
Fulton;  Acting-Gunner,  F.  Beaufort. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "  CHILLICOTHE  "  (4TH  RATE). 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  P.  Foster;  Acting-As 
sistant  Surgeon,  J.  C.  Foster;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  J.  H.  Hathway ;  Acting  Ensigns.  W.  j. 
Power  and  Walter  Mu'ir;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Henry  Baker,  H.  A.  Hannon  and  Joseph  Brown; 
Engineers,  A.  W.  Hardy,  J.  G.  Briggs,  G.  L.  Kings- 
ley,  Charles  Trotter  and  W.  B.  Fleming;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  James  C.  Hall. 

IRON-CLAD    STEAMER     "PITTSBURGH   (4TH    RATE). 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenants,  *William  R.  Hoel 
and  J.  C.  Bentley;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  H. 
M.  Miner;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  H.  Gould; 
Acting-Master,  Charles  Germain;  Acting-Ensigns. 
G.  W.  Paulding  and  G.  W.  Rogers;  Acting-Master's 


Mates,  G.  W.  Garlick,  F.  Vincent  and  James  Ovett; 
Engineers,  S.  B.  Goble,  G.  H.  Atkinson,  J.  L.  Auble, 
Win.  Mills  and  W.  H.  Mitchell;  Acting-Gunner,  Jos. 
Simons. 

STEAM  GUN-BOAT  "TAYLOR  ''   (4TH  RATE). 

*Lieutenant,  Jas.  M.  Prichett;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  W-  Ballentine;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  C.  A.  Gardner  ;  Acting- Master,  AVm.  H. 
Minor  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.  Loring,  C.  T.  Stanton,  J. 
F.  Holmes  and  S.  E.  Brown;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Charles  Ackley,  H.  S.  Wetniore  and  Ira  Athearn; 
Engineers,  James  Fleming,  J.  R.  Ramsey  ;  Wm. 
Finch  and  E.  M.  Bumpus;  Acting-Carpenter,  A.  B. 
Chapman. 

STEAMER  "  HASTINGS  "  (4TH  RATE). 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  A.  R.  Langthorne; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  M.  Flint;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  P.  J.  Stone;  Acting-Master,  J. 
W.  Morehead;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  C.  Turner  and 
C.  H.  Reed;  Acting  Master's  Mates,  E.  C.  Urner, 
Frank  Seymour  and  F.  M.  Clark;  Engineers,  J.  H. 
Scott,  Edwin  Senior,  Samuel  Weaver,  A.  M.  Wasson 
and  G.  W.  Amsden. 

STEAMER  "FOREST  ROSE  "  (4TH  RATE). 

*Acting-Master,  Geo.  M.  Brown;  Acting-Ensigns, 
James  Kearney  and  F.  F.  Smith;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Jacob  Rutherford,  J.  Robinson,  C.  W.  John 
son  and  W.  B.  Anderson;  Engineers,  Francis  Marsh, 
Edw.  H.  Goble  and  J.  Lozier. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "CINCINNATI"  (4TH  RATE\ 

*Lieutenant,  George  M.  Bache;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  R.  R.  Hall;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
S.  R.  Hinsdale;  Acting-Masters,  J.  Pearce  and  C. 
Germaine;  Acting-Ensigns,  A.  F.  O'Neil,  G.  L. 
Coleman  and  P.  R.  Starr;  Acting-Masters'  Mates, 
Henry  Booby,  Daniel  Winget  and  D.  W.  Stebbins; 
Engineers,  W.  O.  McFarland,  Simon  Shultice,  Reu 
ben  Storey  and  F.  Hense;  Acting-Gunner,  J.  F. 
Ribbitt;  Acting  Carpenter,  G.  H.  Stevens. 

STEAMER  "JULIET"  (4TH  RATE). 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Edward  Shaw;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  W.  Winans;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  W.  L.  Holcomb,  W.  C.  Turner  and  M.  K. 
Haines;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Hugh  Kuhl,  D.  F. 
Davids  and  Raymond  Wigand;  Engineers,  P.  M. 
Strickland,  Joseph  Bolejack  and  Julius  Gale. 

IRON-CLAD    STEAMER    "iNDIANOLA  "    (4TH    RATE). 

*Lieutenant -Commander,  George  Brown;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  J.  A.  Yates,  W.  S.  Pease  and  Thomas 
McElevell;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Thomas 
Carstairs;  Acting-Master's  Mates',  P.  W.  Frost.  W. 
S.  Ward,  James  Williams,  Gardner  Phipps  and  L. 
Kenney ;  Engineers,  Thomas  Doughty,  David 
Hawksworth,  W.  B.  Hovey,  G.  W.  Voice,  George 
Wadell  and  Josephus  Blake ;  Acting-Carpenter, 
James  E.  Green. 

STEAM  GUN-BOAT  "  GENERAL  BRAGG  "  (4TH  RATE). 

Lieutenant,  Joshua  Bishop  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  A.  Collins;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  J.  H.  Jenkins;  Acting-Ensigns,  T.  J.  McLaugh- 
lin  and  Edw.  F.  Phelps;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Alex.  Lee,  John  Lawson  and  John  Ackley;  Engi 
neers,  Oliver  Titcomb,  E.  W.  Andrews  and  Joseph 
Anderson;  Acting-Gunner,  Lewis  Dawsoii;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  L.  D.  Johnston. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER    "MOUND    CITY"    (4TH  RATE). 

*Lieutenant,  Byron  Wilson;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  R.  Cad wallader;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR 


343 


B.  J.  Donohue;  Acting  Ensigns,  James  Martin,  F. 
T.  Coleiuan,  S.  B.  Coleuian  and  De Wayne  Stebbins; 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  R.  V.  Lamport;  Engineers, 
Ed\v.  Merriman,  R.  M.  Gardiner.  A.  N.  Derby, 
Elihu  Stephens  and  J.  N.  Hartnett;  Gunner,  Her 
man  Peters. 

STEAMER  "  GENERAL  PRICE  "  (4TH  RATE). 

*  Acting-Lieutenant,  S.  E.  Woodworth  (1803);  Act 
ing- Assistant  Surgeon,  George  Harvey;  Acting- Assis 
tant  Paymaster,  J.  W.  McLellan;  Acting-Ensigns,  G. 
W.  Pratt,  J.  H.  Seeverand  D.  P.  Boseworth;  Act 
ing  Master's  Mates,  I).  McKay  and  Peter  Barclay; 
Engineers,   D.   E.    Weaver,   W.   H.   Coulter,  Alex. 
Campbell,  J.  B.  Baldwin  and  R.  A.  Kyle. 

STEAMER  "MARMORA"  (4TH  RATE). 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Robert  Getty;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Fayette  Clapp;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  G.  S.  Sproston;  Acting-Master, 
Elias  Reese;  Acting-Ensigns,  Edw.  Alford,  H.  H. 
Walker,  Elliot  Callender  and  Edward  Morgan  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  W.  Foster,  D.  B.  Lawrence 
and  D.  C.  Bond;  Engineer,  G.  W.  Smith,  W.  C. 
Armstrong  and  J.  S.  Armstrong. 

STEAMER  "CRICKET  "  (4TH  RATE). 

Acting-Master,  A.  R.  Langthorne;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  H.  A.  Bod  man;  Acting- Assist  ant  Paymas 
ter,  S.  T.  Savage;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  W.  Murehead; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  C.  Hubbell,  Win.  Gregg 
and  W.  O.  Stephenson;  Engineers,  B.  Hand,  David 
Chillas  and  George  Shipley. 

STEAMER  "  ROMEO  "  (4TH  RATE). 

*  Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  J.  V.  Johnston; 
(Admiral's  Report,  '86)  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  J. 
S.  McXeely;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  R.  Maf- 
fat;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  B.  Dwyer,  Pat.  Murphy,  Rob 
ert  P.  Smith  and  Eugene  Zimmerman;  Acting- Mas 
ter's  Mates,  J.  E.  Ernest,  R.  P.  Shaw  and  G.  C.  Cox  ; 
Engineers,  J.  McCurdy,  Joseph  Grippen  and  J.  P. 
Williams. 

STEAMER  "  RATTLER  "  (4TH  RATE). 

*  Acting  Master,  W.  E.  Fentress;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  H.   Wilson;  Acting- Master,  W.  E.  H. 
Fentriss;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  S.  West,  Wm.  Fergu 
son  and  John  Bath;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  E. 
Church,  Daniel  Welsh  and  S.  H.  Strunk;  Engineers, 
James  Whitaker,  Jefferson  Bell  and  A.  J.  Bashloe; 
Acting-Gunner,  T.  Carpenter. 

MAIL-BOAT  "NEW  NATIONAL"  (4TH  RATE). 
Acting- Masters,    Alexander  M.   Grant    and   Os 
car     H.    Pratt;     Act  ing- Ensign,    J.    Hill;    Acting- 
Masters'    Mate,  W.  C.    Herron ;  Engineers,  W.    H. 
Price,  James  Wilkins  and  E.  C.  Reusford. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "BENTON"(4TH   RATE). 

*Lieutenant-Commander,  James  A.  Greer;  Acting- 
Master,  G.  P.  Lord;  *Ensign,  J.  F.  Reed;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  C.  A.  Wright,  J.  M.  Walker,  W.  J.  Lees 
and  Frank  Reed;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C. 
G.  Lowndes-  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  C.  Brennan 
and  W.  H.  Lemassena;  Engineers,  J.  V.  Starr,  C. 
W.  Fairfowl,  R.  Hoffman,  C.  W.  Ridgely,  Robert 
Long  and  Oliver  Bragg;  Gunner,  N.  B.  Willetts  ; 
Carpenter,  R.  Blackl'ord. 

HOSPITAL-SHIP  "  RED  ROVER." 

Acting-Master,  W.  R.  Welles;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  A.  N.  Pearson  ;  Acting-Ensign,  Wm. 
Harris;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  King  and  F.  Lowe; 
Engineers,  W.  J.  Buffington,  G.  W.  Gimbeo,  W. 
O.  Logne,  Julius  Eliter  and  J.  A.  Goodloe;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  H.  Kenney;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeons, 
George  H.  Bixby  and  George  Hopkins  (Jan.  1864). 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "  TUSCUMBIA." 

*Lieutenant-Comtuander,  James  W.  Shirk;  Assis 
tant  Paymaster, George  A.  Lyon;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Lewis  l£enny  and  E.  M.  Clark;  Engineers,  John 
W.  Hartupee,  Perry  South  and  William  J.  Mil- 
ligan. 


TUG  "  IVY." 

Acting-Ensign,  E.  C.  Boss;  Acting- Master's  Mate, 
S.  H.  Carson ;  Engineers,  A.  Miller  and  E.  Cal- 
lahan. 

STEAMER  "  W.    H.  BROWN"   (4TH  RATE). 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  A.  French;  Act 
ing-Ensign,  J.  B.  Hawthorne  ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  Jacob  Shinn  and  William  Cassidy;  Engi 
neers,  G.  L.  Scott  and  Geo.  W.  Taylor. 

TUG  "LAUREL." 

Engineers,  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  X.  Mier- 
stang,  and  Acting-Third-Assistant  O.  Rosebush. 

TUG  "DAHLIA." 

Acting-Ensign,  Thomas  \Vright;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  W.  H.  Strope ;  Engineers,  B.  Nannah  and 
H.  Sullivan. 

TUG  "PANSY." 

Acting-Ensign,  D.  C.  Bowers ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  S.  Johnson;  Acting-Second-Assistant  En 
gineers,  J.  W.  Lindsey  and  F.  H.  Majors. 

STEAMER  "GREAT  WESTERN"  (POWDER  VESSEL.) 
*Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Wm.  F.  Hamilton; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Jos.  S.  Harvey;  Act 
ing-Master,  J.  C.  Little ;  Acting-Ensign,  Richard 
Ellis;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  L.  F.  Knapp  and  R. 
Mitchell ;  Engineers,  Chas.  Christopher,  Joseph 
Goodwin,  B.  A.  Farmer  and  G.  S.  Baker;  Acting- 
Gunner,  Robert  Sherman;  Acting-Carpenter,  Joseph 
Morton. 

STEAMER  "JUDGE  TORRENCE  "  (POWDER  VESSEL). 
*  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  J.  F.  Richardson; 
Acting-Ensign,  Jeremiah  Irwin;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  James  Ross ;  Engineers,  P.  R.  Hartwig,  J. 
Stough,  John  C.  Barr  and  W.  Y.  Sedman. 

MORTAR  BOATS. 

Commanded  by  Gunner  *  Eugene  Mack,  after 
wards  by  *Ensign  Miller. 


VESSELS    EMPLOYED    AT    OTHER    POINTS     ON    THE 
RIVER   (1863-5). 

Steamer  "Peosta"  (4th  rate).— Acting-Volunteer- 
Lieutenant.  T.  E.  Smith  (1864). 

Steamer  "Kenwood"  (4th  rate). — Acting-Master 
John  Swaney  (1864). 

Steamer  "Paw-Paw"  (4th  rate). — Acting-Master  A. 

F.  Thompson  (1864). 

Steamer  "Conestoga"  (4th  rate). — Lieutenant-Com 
mander  *  T.  O.  Selfridge. 

Steamer  "Argosy  "(4th  rate). — Acting-Ensign  J.  C. 
Morong  (1864). 

Steamer  "  Alexandria"  (4th  rate). — Acting-Master 
D.  P.  Rosenmiller  (1864). 

Steamer  "Fairplay  "  (4th  rate).  —  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Le  Roy  Fitch  (1863j;  Act  ing-Master  Geo. 

G.  Groves  (1864). 

Steamer  "  Fawn ''  (4th  rate). — Acting-Master  J.  R. 
Grove  (1863'. 

Steamer  "  Silver  Cloud"  (4th  rate). — Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant  A.  F.  O'Neil  (1864). 

Steamer  " Silver  Lake"  (4th  rate). — Acting-Master 
J.  C.  Coyle  (1864-5). 

Steamer  "  Springfield  "  (4th  rate). — Acting-Master 
Joseph  Watson  (1864;;  Acting- Master  Edward 
Morgan  (1865'. 

Steamer  "  Victory  "  (4th  rate). — Ensign  Frederick 
Read  (1864-5). 

Steamer  "Champion"  (4th  rate). — Acting-Master 
Alf red  Phelps  ( 1864). 

Steamer  "Curlew"  (4th  rate.) — Acting-Ensign  H. 
A.  B.  O'Neil  (1864). 

Steamer  "Little  Rebel,"  (4th  rate). — Acting-Volun 
teer-Lieutenant  T.  B.  Gregory;  Acting  Ensign 
J.  B.  Petts  (1865). 


344 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


Steamer  "  Signal".  —  *  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant, 

C.    Dominey  (1863)  ;  Acting  Ensign  W.   P.  Lee 

(1864). 
Steamer  "  Covington."  —  Acting-  Volunteer-  Lieuten 

ant."  —  *  J.   S.    Hurd   a863  ;    Acting-  Volunteer- 

Lieutenant  George  P.  Lord  (1864\ 
Steamer  "Robb."—  *  Ensign  W.  C.  Handford;  Act 

ing-Ensign  Lloyd  Thomas  (1864). 
Steamer  "New  Era."  —  *  Acting  Master  J.  C.  Bren 

ner;  Acting-Master  John  Marshall  (1864). 
Steamer    "Romeo."  —  Act  ing-  Volunteer-Lieutenant 

J.  V.  Johristone  ;  Acting-  Master  Thomas  Bald 

win  (1864  . 
Steamer     "  Petrel."  —  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant 

*  John  Pierce;  Acting-  Master  Thomas  McElroy 

(1864  >. 
Steamer   "  Linden.'1  —  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant 

*T.  E.  Smith;  Acting-Master  T.  M.  Farrell  1864). 
Steamer   "  Prairie    Bird."  —  Acting-  Volunteer-  Lieu 

tenant  *E.   C.  Brennard  (1863);  Acting-Ensign 

J.  W.  Chambers  (1864). 
Steamer    "  Queen     Cit-y.''—  Acting-  Volunteer-  Lieu 

tenant^.  Goudy  (1863  ;  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieu 

tenant  G.  W.  Brown  (1864  . 
Steamer  "  Sybil.''  —  Lieutenant-Commander  J.    G. 

Mitchell  (1865). 
Steamer   "  Neosho.''  —  Acting-  Volunteer-  Lieutenant 

Samuel  Howard  (1864). 
Steamer  "  Moose."  —  Lieutenant-Commander  Le  Roy 

Fitch  (1864). 
Steamer    '  Ouichita."  —  Acting-Ensign  E.   Zimmer 

man  (1864). 
Steamer  "Osage."—  Acting-Master  Thomas  Wright 

U864\ 
Steamer  "Reindeer."  —  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant 

H.  A.  Glassford  (1864>. 
Steamer  "St.  Clair.''  —  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant 

J.  S.  Hurd;  Acting-  Volunteer-  Lieutenant  T.  B. 

Gregory  .  1864). 
Steamer    "Lexington."  —  Lieutenant    G.   M.  Bache 

(1864\ 
Steamer  "Nauinkeag."—  Acting-Master  John  Rogers 

(1864\ 
Steamer  "Fort  Hindman."  —  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieu 

tenant  J.  Pearce  (18641. 
Steamer     "  Winnebago.1'  —  Building    at    St.    Louis 


Steamer    "Tensas"   <4th  rate\  -Acting-Ensign   E. 

C.  Van  Pelt  (1864-5). 
Steamer  "  Gen.  Pillow  "  (4th  rate\  —  Acting-Ensign 

Joseph  Moyer. 
Tug     "Fern."—  Acting-Ensign    Alpheus    Semines; 

Acting-Ensign  J.  M.  Kelly  (1864). 
Tug  •'  Mistletoe/1—  Acting-Ensign  W.  H.   H.   Ford 

vl  863);  Jas.  M.  Quigley  (1864). 
Tug  "Mignonette.'1  —  Acting-Ensign  E.   S.   Hamlin 

(1863';  Acting-Ensign  H.  D.  Green  ,1864  . 
Tug  "Myrtle."—  Second  Assistant-Engineer  Thomas 

Guernsey  (1863  ;  Acting-  Ensign  J.  N.  Goldsmith 

(1864\ 
Tug  "Hyacinth."  —  Acting  Ensign  J.  B.  Heizerman 

(1863-4\ 
Tug   "  Thistle.'1—  Acting-Ensign   P.    H.    Timmons; 

Acting-Ensign  R.  E.  Ettingham  <  1864\ 
Tug  "  Daisy."—  Acting-Ensign  I).  C.  Bowers  (1833-4). 
Despatch  Steamer    "Gen.   Lyon.'1  —  Pilot     R.     E. 

Birch. 


Steamer  "  Brilliant.'' — Acting- Volunteer- Lieuten 
ant  C.  G.  Perkins  (1864\ 

Tug  "  Lilly.''— Acting-Ensign  R.  H.  Smith. 

Steamer  "'Vindicator." — Acting- Volunteer-Lieuten 
ant  H.  H.  Gorringe  (1865). 

Iron-clad  "  Essex." — Commander  Robert  Townsend 
(1864);  Commander  Andrew  Bryson  (18651. 

Steamer  "  Ozark."— Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
G.  W.  Brown  (1865). 

Steamer  "  Chickasaw.1 —  Building  at  St  Louis 
(1864  . 

Steamer  "  Kickapoo." — Building  at  St.  Louis   1864  . 

Steamer  "Milwaukee.'1 — Building  at  St.  Louis 
(1864  . 

Steamer  "  Tawah." — Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant 
Jason  Goudy  (18641. 

Steamer  "Key west." — Acting-Volunteer  Lieutenant 
E.  M.  King  (1864). 

Steamer  "Exchange.1 —  While  commanding  "Cov 
ington."  See  page  18.)  *  Acting-  Volunteer-Lieu 
tenant  J.  S.  Hurd  (1864);  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  J.  C.  Gipson  U865\ 

Steamer  "  Gazelle."— Acting-Ensign  A.  S.  Palmer 
(1865X 

Steamer  "Avenger." — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
C.  A.  Wright  (1865  . 

Steamer  "Elfin." 

Steamer  "Naiad." — Acting-Master  Henry  T.  Keene 
(1865). 

Steamer  "Nymph.'' — Acting-Master  Patrick  Don 
nelly. 

Steamer  "Undine." 

Steamer  "Siren." — Acting-Master  James  Fitzpat- 
rick  (1865\ 

Steamer  "Huntress.'1 — Acting-Master  John  L.  Den 
nis  (1865). 

Steamer  "Peri." — Acting  -  Master  T.  M.  Farrell 
(1865). 

Store  ship  "Sovereign.11 — Acting-Master  Thomas 
Baldwin. 

Steamer  "  Glide." — Acting-Lieutenant  S.  E.  Wood- 
worth. 

Iron  clad  "Eastport." — Lieutenant-Commander  S. 
L.  Phelps  (1864). 

Steamer  "  Tennessee." — Lieutenant-Commander  E. 
P.  Lull  (1865). 

Steamer  "Gen.  Burnside."— Lieutenant  Moreau 
Forest  (1865). 

Steamer  "  Gen.  Thomas." — Acting-Master  Gilbert 
Morton  1865). 

Steamer  "General  Sherman.'1— Acting-Master  J.  W. 
Morehead  (1865\ 

Steamer  "General  Grant." — Acting-Master  Joseph 
Watson  (1865'. 

Steamer  "Volunteer.'1— Acting- Ensign  M.  K.  Haines 
<1865\ 

Iron  -  clad  ' '  Baron  -  de  -  Kalb." — *  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  J.  G.  Walker. 

VESSELS  STATIONED  AT  CAIRO. 

Inspection-ship  "  Abraham." — Acting-Ensign  Win. 
Wagner. 

Tug  "  Sampson." — Acting  Ensign  J.  D.  Buckley. 

Receiving-ship  "Clara  Dolson." — Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Thomas  Pattison. 

Receiving-ship  "Grampus." — Acting- Master  Elijah 
Sells  (1864). 


CHAPTER     XXXI. 


BOUNDS  OF  FARRAGUT'S  COMMAND  UP  TO  1863. — OPERATIONS  OF  FARRAGUT'S  VESSELS  ON 
THE  COAST  OF  TEXAS. — GALLANT  ATTACK  ON  CORPUS  CHRISTI  BY  VOLUNTEER-LIEU 
TENANT  KlTTREDGE. — GALVESTON,  SABINE  PASS  AND  CORPUS  CHRISTI  FALL  INTO  THE 

FEDERAL  HANDS. — AN  EXPEDITION  OF  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  DEFEATED  AT  SABINE  PASS. 
— FARRAGUT  BLOCKADES  RED  RIVER  IN  THE  "  HARTFORD." — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "  DIANA" 
BY  THE  CONFEDERATES. — Loss  OF  THE  UNION  GUN-BOAT  "  BARRATARIA." — DESTRUCTION 
OF  THE  "  QUEEN-OF-THE-WEST ''  BY  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  A.  P.  COOKE. — FARRA 
GUT  RELIEVED  FROM  COMMAND  IN  THE  MISSISSIPPI.  MAY  ?TH.  1863.  —  EXPEDITION 

UP  RED  RIVER  UNDER  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  HART. — FARRAGUT  ARRIVES  BELOW 
PORT  HUDSON.  AND  COMMENCES  ACTIVE  OPERATIONS  AGAINST  THAT  PLACE. — ATTACK 
ON  DONALDSONVILLE  BY  CONFEDERATE  GENERAL  GREEN. — HlS  RETREAT  UNDER  THE 
FIRE  OF  THE  GUN  BOAT  ''PRINCESS  ROYAL.'' — ATTACK  OF  CONFEDERATE  ARTILLERY  ON 
THE  GUN-BOAT  "  NEW  LONDON." — GALLANT  CONDUCT  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  GEO. 
H.  PERKINS. — DEATH  OF  COMMANDER  ABNER  REED. — REJOICING  OF  THE  ARMY  AND 
NAVY  AT  NEW  ORLEANS  ON  HEARING  OF  THE  FALL  OF  VICKSBURG  AND  PORT  HUDSON. — 
GENERAL  REMARKS. 


WHILE    Flag  -  officer    Farragut 
was  engaged  in  the  operations 
before  Vicksburg,  down  to  the 
time  when  he  passed  the  bat 
teries  at   Port  Hudson,  many 
events  occurred  in  the  fleet  which  have  not 
been  mentioned  heretofore,  as  it  could  not 
have  been  done  without  interrupting  the 
narrative  of  current  events. 

Farragut's  command  up  to  May,  1863,  in 
cluded  the  Mississippi  River  as  far  as 
Vicksburg,  and  all  its  tributaries  below ; 
also  the  coasts  of  Louisiana,  Florida  and 
Texas,  extending  from  Pensacola  on  the 
east  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  in 
cluding  that  network  of  bays,  streams,  in 
lets,  bayous,  sounds,  and  island  groups 
which  extends  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  as  far  west  as  Sabine  Pass,  and  the 
difficult  bars  and  channels  leading  to  Gal- 
veston.  Matagorda  and  Corpus  Christi. 
where  none  but  the  smallest  vessels  could 
enter,  and  which  afforded  safe  refuges  for 
blockade-runners  during  the  entire  war. 

This  coast,  with  its  indentations,  is  over 
600  miles  in  length,  and  had  to  be  guarded 
with  great  care  to  prevent  supplies  reaching 
the  Confederates  through  the  numerous 
gates  leading  into  Louisiana  and  Texas. 
The  Federal  officers  had  to  exercise  great 


watchfulness  in  guarding  against  the 
people  they  had  to  contend  with,  for  they 
were  a  brave,  hardy  set  of  men,  regardless 
of  danger,  and  amply  supplied  with  small- 
arms  and  field-artillery  to  withstand  any 
attack  that  could  be  made  upon  them  by 
the  combined  forces  of  our  Army  and 
Navy. 

Tlie  blockade  of  this  part  of  the  Southern 
coast  had  been  indifferently  carried  on 
while  Farragut  was  confined  to  his  opera 
tions  in  the  Mississippi,  for  it  took  every 
vessel  he  had  to  control  that  part  of  the 
river  which  was  under  his  command;  and 
it  was  not  until  after  the  fall  of  Port  Hud 
son,  when  the  navigation  of  the  river  was 
once  more  free,  that  the  smaller  vessels 
could  be  spared. 

All  this  time  the  Confederates  on  the 
coasts  of  Louisiana  and  Texas  kept  up 
active  operations  with  their  blockade- run 
ners,  which  had  nothing  to  interfere  with 
them  until  August,  1862,  when  Farragut 
sent  down  a  small  force  of  sailing-vessels 
and  one  small  steamer  (the  "  Sachem  '')  to 
try  and  close  some  of  the  Texan  ports. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  J.  \V.  Kit- 
tredge,  with  the  bark  '"  Arthur,"  the  above- 
mentioned  steamer,  and  an  armed  launch, 
proceeded  on  this  duty.  He  captured  Corpus 


(345) 


346 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


Christ!  and  the  adjacent  waters,  from 
whence  so  many  small  craft  had  been  run 
ning  to  Havana. 

Lieutenant   Kittredge   showed   not   only 

great  cleverness  in  the  performance  of  this 
uty  but  cool  courage.  He  had  under  his 
command  a  small  yacht  (the  "  Corypheus ") 
and  with  the  aid  of  her  crew  he  removed 
some  obstructions  which  the  Confederates 
had  placed  in  Corpus  Christi  "dug-out'' 
to  protect  several  small  schooners  which 
they  had  collected  at  that  point.  Lieuten 
ant  Kittredge  ran  his  vessel  through  the 
gut  and  attacking  one  of  the  schooners,  she 
was  soon  driven  ashore  and  burned.  An 
other  one  was  also  set  on  fire  by  the  enemy. 
He  then  ran  across  the  bay  to  Corpus 
Christi,  with  his  little  flotilla  following  him, 
and  called  upon  the  authorities  to  surrender 
and  for  the  military  forces  to  evacuate  the 
town. 

The  Confederates  set  fire  to  a  sloop  on  his 
approach  and  asked  for  a  truce  of  forty- 
eight  hours.  At  the  end  of  that  time  they 
refused  to  evacuate  the  place,  and  on  Au 
gust  16th  opened  fire  on  Kittredge's  vessel 
from  a  battery  planted  behind  the  levee. 
This  was  replied  to  with  spirit  by  the  Union 
vessels,  which  kept  up  such  an  incessant 
and  accurate  fire  on  the  enemy,  that  they 
were  three  times  driven  from  their  guns  on 
that  day.  At  night-fall  the  Union  forces 
withdrew  out  of  range.  The  next  day  the 
Confederates  set  fire  to  a  steamer  that  had 
run  aground  and  could  not  be  moved. 

On  August  20th,  Lieutenant  Kittredge 
went  to  work  again  on  the  enemy.  He 
landed  a  12-pounder  howitzer  under  com 
mand  of  Master's  Mate  A.  H.  Reynolds, 
placed  the  schooner  "  Reindeer,"  Master's 
Mate  William  Barker,  in  position  to  cover 
the  landing  party,  and  proceeded  to  enfi 
lade  the  enemy's  battery  and  pour  shrapnel 
and  canister  into  his  flank. 

Master's  Mate  Reynolds  moved  up  his 
howitzer  to  within  musket  range,  and 
mowed  the  enemy  down,  the  latter  de 
ployed  100  infantry  to  the  right  of  the  land 
party  with  the  intention  of  flanking  it,  but 
they  were  soon  scattered  and  driven  off  by 
the  fire  of  the  "  Reindeer  "  and  her  consorts. 
The  Confederates  then  charged  the  12-pound 
howitzer  with  250  men,  and  for  a  time  its 
capture  seemed  certain.  But  Lieutenant 
Kittredge  moved  the  "  Corypheus"  and 
"  Sachem "  close  in  shore,  and  met  the 
enemy  with  so  heavy  a  fire  of  canister  that 
they  wavered  and  retreated  with  consider 
able  loss.  The  engagement  continued  all 
day,  the  enemy's  battery  was  silenced  and 
the  vessels  shelled  the  town. 

This  was  a  very  gallant  affair,  conducted 
entirely  by  volunteer  officers,  who,  although 
they  had  not  received  a  regular  naval  train 
ing,  displayed  as  much  ability  as  if  they  had. 


Not  having  the  force  to  hold  the  town,  the 
flotilla  laid  out  in  the  bay  and  blockaded  it. 
Unfortunately  the  gallant  Kittredge  was 
surprised  and  with  his  boat's  crew  captured 
while  reconnoitering. 

Galveston.  Sabine  Pass  and  Corpus 
Christi  fell  into  the  Federal  hands  a  short 
time  afterwards;  the  former  place  being 
captured  by  Commander  Renshaw  without 
the  loss  of  a  man.  This  for  a  time  put  a 
stop  to  blockade-running  on  the  Texas  coast. 
Its  unfortunate  recapture,  the  loss  of  the 
"•  Harriet  Lane"  and  the  blowing  up  of  the 
"  Westfield,"  have  been  already  related,  and 
Galveston  once  more  became  a  shelter  to 
blockade-runners,  which  much  rejoiced  the 
hearts  of  our  enemies  in  Texas.  Their  suc 
cess  at  thispointfired  the  hearts  of  the  Texan 
soldiers  and  they  assembled  in  large  num 
bers  along  the  coast,  making  it  very  danger 
ous  to  attempt  any  landing  operations 
without  the  assistance  of  the  army,  which 
it  seems  was  not  prepared  for  such  a  pur 
pose. 

Several  unimportant  affairs  occurred 
along  the  coast,  but  nothing  of  a  very  satis 
factory  nature. 

Maj.-Gen.  Banks,  who  had  relieved  Gen 
eral  Butler  at  New  Orleans,  wishing  to  com 
memorate  his  appointment  by  a  signal  vic 
tory  over  the  enemy,  proposed  a  combined 
expedition  against  Sabine  Pass,  which  had 
been  retaken  and  fortified  by  the  enemy. 
The  defences  on  shore,  it  was  supposed,  con 
sisted  only  of  two  32-pounders,  while  on  the 
water  the  Confederates  had  two  steamboats 
converted  into  rams. 

The  Army  organization  consisted  of  4,000 
men  under  General  Franklin  ;  and  Com 
modore  H.  H.  Bell,  who  commanded  the 
naval  force  at  New  Orleans  in  the  absence 
of  the  Flag-officer,  detailed  Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  Frederick  Crocker  to  command 
the  naval  part  of  the  expedition,  consisting 
of  the  steamer  "  Clifton,"  the  steamer 
"Sachem,"  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant  Amos 
Johnson;  steamer  "Arizona."  Acting-Mas 
ter  H.  Tibbetts,  and  steamer  "  Granite 
City,"  Acting-Master  C.  W.  Lamson.  This 
force  was  considered  quite  sufficient  for  the 
purpose  intended. 

It  was  concerted  with  General  Franklin 
that  the  gun-boats  should  make  the  first 
attack  alone,  led  by  Lieutenant  Crocker, 
assisted  by  180  sharp-shooters  divided 
amongst  the  vessels,  and  after  driving  the 
enemy  from  his  defences  and  destroying  or 
driving  off  the  rams,  the  transports  were 
to  advance  and  land  the  troops.  In  all, 
these  vessels  carried  twenty-seven  guns, 
which  one  would  suppose  was  enough  to 
dispose  of  the  few  guns  the  enemy  had 
mounted. 

The  attack,  which  was  to  have  been  a 
surprise  at  early  dawn,  was  not  made  until 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


347 


3  P.  M.  on  the  8th  of  September,  1SG3, 
twenty-eight  hours  after  the  expedition  had 
appeared  off  the  Sabine. 

A  reconnaissance  had  been  made  in  the 
morning  by  Generals  Franklin  and  Weit- 
zel  and  Lieutenant  Crocker,  when  they  de 
cided  on  a  plan  of  attack.  Commodore 
Bell  had  sent  two  good  pilots  down  in  the 
••  Granite  City/'  At  3  P.  M.  the  transports 
were  over  the  bar,  the  "Granite  City'' 
leading  them  in,  for  the  purpose  of  cover 
ing  the  landing  of  the  troops 

The  "Clifton,"  " Sachem"  and  "Arizona" 
engaged  a  battery  of  seven  guns.  A  shot 
struck  the  boiler  of  the  "  Sachem  "  and  she 
was  soon  enveloped  in  steam.  The  "Clifton  " 
ran  directly  under  the  fort  and  for  twenty 
minutes  fired  rapidly  grape,  canister  and 
shell,  receiving  a  heavy  fire  in  return.  She 
soon  afterwards  got  on  shore,  and  not  being 
able  to  back  off,  hauled  down  her  colors — 
as  did  also  the  "  Sachem." 

The  "'  Arizona  "  stood  down  the  channel 
and  took  her  station  ahead  of  the  trans 
ports.  She  got  ashore  also;  several  of  the 
transports  were  aground  and  the  "  Granite 
City  "  went  to  the  support  of  the  "  Arizona," 
which  it  was  necessary  to  do,  for  a  Con 
federate  steamer  (probably  one  of  the  rams) 
was  coming  down  the  river.  This  steamer, 
whatever  she  was,  got  the  "  Clifton  "  and 
"  Sachem  "  afloat  and  towed  them  up  the 
river. 

The  "Arizona,"  "Granite  City  "  and  trans 
ports  got  over  the  bar  and  made  the  best  of 
their  way  to  South  West  Pass,  the  army 
having  made  no  attempt  to  land.  The 
"Granite  City"  and  "Arizona"  do  not 
appear  to  have  received  any  injuries,  but 
they  made  no  attempt  to  rescue  the  two 
steamers  that  had  surrendered. 

This  was  rather  a  melancholy  expedition 
and  badly  managed  It  resulted  in  the  loss 
of  some  twenty  men  killed  and  many 
wounded  on  board  the  ••Clifton"  and  "  Sach 
em,"  and  was  somewhat  injurious  to  the 
prestige  of  the  Navy.  It  did  not,  however, 
reflect  any  discredit  upon  the  officers  of  the 
"Clifton"  or  "Sachem. "as  both  of  these 
vessels  were  gallantly  fought. 

This  affair,  with  some  minor  matters, 
ended  the  operations  of  the  West  Gulf  block 
ading  squadron  on  the  coast  up  to  Septem 
ber,  18G3.  The  latter  year  had  not  been  as 
successful  as  the  one  previous,  yet  the 
squadron  did  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  and 
its  officers  were  engaged  in  scenes  where 
they  gained  reputation,  and  the  Union  flag 
was  in  no  ways  dimmed. 

After  Farragut  had  passed  Port  Hudson 
with  the  "Hartford  "and  "Arizona,"  he  was 
quite  isolated  from  the  rest  of  his  squad 
ron,  but  was  finally  re-enforced  by  the  gun 
boat  "Estrella,"  which  worked  its  way  up 
through  the  Atchafalaya  into  the  "Red 


River  and  joined  the  other  vessels  at  its 
mouth,  at  the  same  time  running  the  risk 
of  being  mistaken  for  a  Confederate  ram 
and  getting  a  broadside  from  her  consorts. 

Farragut  might  have  run  past  Port  Hud 
son  with  his  vessels  in  the  night  without 
firing  a  gun  or  receiving  a  shot,  but  he  was 
doing  more  good  where  he  was.  Port  Hud 
son  was  completely  cut  off  from  supplies 
via  Red  River,  and  the  two  gun-boats  could 
patrol  it  perfectly  fifty  or  more  miles  up, 
and  prevent  any  supplies  from  being  sent 
overland  to  the  side  of  the  river  opposite 
Port  Hudson. 

It  was  now  simply  a  case  of  starving  out 
the  garrison,  for  there  seemed  no  prospect 
of  the  place  being  taken  by  the  Army,  for 
as  late  as  May  8th,  1863,  General  Banks 
marched  a  large  portion  of  his  army  to 
Alexandria,  La.,  at  the  very  time  he  should 
have  been  closely  besieging  Port  Hudson. 
For  what  purpose  he  marched  no  one  could 
ever  discern,  for  the  gun-boats  under  Ad 
miral  Porter  had  arrived  there  before  him, 
taken  possession  of  and  destroyed  the  de 
fences  along  the  river,  and  opened  it  so 
thoroughly  that  there  was  no  danger  of  its 
being  closed  against  the  Federal  vessels. 

While  Farragut  was  away  up  the  Missis 
sippi,  after  the  passage  of  Port  Hudson, 
Commodore  Morris  was  left  in  charge  at 
New  Orleans  with  directions  to  co-operate 
with  the  military  commander  at  that  place, 
and  perform  all  the  duties  which  would  have 
devolved  upon  the  Flag-officer  had  he  been 
present  in  person. 

Some  of  the  expeditions  fitted  out  by 
Commodore  Morris,  and  later  by  Commo 
dore  Bell,  properly  belong  to  this  history,  as 
showing  the  numerous  duties  performed  by 
the  Navy,  and  also  that,  notwithstanding 
Farragut  was  not  at  New  Orleans  himself 
to  conduct  matters,  his  orders  were  carried 
out,  and  there  was  the  heartiest  co-opera 
tion  between  the  Army  and  Navy. 

On  the  28th  of  March  the  "  Diana,"  Act 
ing-Master  Thos.  L.  Peterson,  was  sent  into 
Grand  Lake  on  a  reconnaissance,  with 
Lieutenant  Allen,  U.  S.  A.,  of  General 
Weitzel's  staff,  and  two  companies  of  in 
fantry  on  board.  She  was  ordered  to  pro 
ceed  down  the  Atchafalaya  River  as  far  as 
the  mouth  of  the  Teche  and  return  by  the 
lake. 

Disobeying  this  order,  Acting-Master 
Peterson,  attempted  to  return  to  Berwick 
Bay  by  the  way  of  Atchafalaya.  After  pass 
ing  the  mouth  of  the  Teche  he  was  attacked 
from  shore  by  field-pieces  and  sharp-shoot 
ers.  The  men  fought  well,  and  the  action 
lasted  two  hours  and  three-quarters.  The 
captain  of  the  "  Diana"  was  killed  early  in 
the  action,  and  his  executive  officer,  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate  Thomas  G.  Hall,  was  mor 
tally  wounded  ;  also  Master's  Mate  Geo.  C. 


348 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Dolliver  and  Engineer  Jas.  McNally,  leav 
ing  only  one  officer  (Masters  Mate  Charles 
P.  Weston),  who  carried  on  the  fight  and 
behaved  most  admirably.  The  tiller-ropes 
were  shot  away  and  the  engine  disabled 
so  that  the  "  Diana  "became  unmanageable 
and  drifted  ashore,  when  it  was  impossible 
to  longer  defend  her. 

As  soon  as  the  firing  was  heard  at  the 
bay,  the  "  Calhoun,"  Acting-Master  M.  Jor 
dan,  was  sent  into  the  lake  to  ascertain  the 
cause  of  it.  She  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Atchafalaya,  where  she  grounded  and  re 
mained  until  midnight. 

Several  of  the  crew  of  the  "  Diana  "  had 
escaped,  and  they  informed  the  command 
ing  officer  of  the  "Calhoun"  that  the 
"  Diana  "  had  been  captured  near  Peterson- 
ville.  Acting  Master  Jordan  threw  over 
board  part  of  his  ballast,  his  coal,  provi 
sions,  and  even  ammunition,  and  finally 
reached  the  bay  at  2  A.  M.  ;  but  the 
"  Diana"  was  a  prize  to  the  enemy. 

Another  of  the  United  States  vessels  was 
lost  a  short  time  after,  the  "  Barrataria," 
Acting-Ensign  Jas.  T.  Perkins,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Amite  River,  on  Lake  Mari- 
posa  She  was  on  a  reconnaissance  with 
some  army  officers  in  Lake  Mariposa, 
intending  to  examine  the  mouth  of  the 
Amite  River.  The  pilot  stated  that  there 
was  always  five  feet  of  water  there,  but  the 
vessel  struck  on  a  sunken  snag  and  stuck 
fast.  Everything  possible  was  being  done 
to  relieve  the  vessel  and  get  her  off,  when 
they  were  attacked  by  a  force  of  concealed 
riflemen  and  a  brisk  engagement  took 
place,  in  which  the  "  Barrataria"  used  her 
guns  and  also  musketry  with  good  effect. 

There  were  on  board  the  "  Barrataria" 
Colonel  Clarke,  Captain  Gordon,  Lieuten 
ant  Ellis,  and  ten  privates  of  the  6th  Michi 
gan  Volunteers;  the  latter  did  good  service 
with  their  rifles.  The  engagement  lasted 
over  half  an  hour,  when  the  enemy  ceased 
firing. 

Efforts  were  still  made  to  get  the  "  Bar 
rataria"  off,  but  without  avail.  The  bow 
gun  was  spiked  and  thrown  overboard  and 
the  water  blown  out  of  the  boilers;  the 
"  Barrataria"  still  stuck  fast. 

Fearing  that  the  vessel  might  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  Acting  Ensign  Perkins 
got  his  crew  and  passengers  into  boats,  and 
after  spiking  all  the  guns,  shoved  off  under  a 
fire  of  musketry  from  the  concealed  enemy. 
Mr.  Gregory,  Acting  -  Masters  Mate,  who 
was  left  behind  to  set  fire  to  the  vessel,  then 
ignited  the  inflammable  matter  and  shoved 
off  in  a  small  boat.  The  vessel  was  soon  in 
flames  and  shortly  afterwards  blew  up. 
After  being  assured  of  the  vessel's  destruc 
tion,  the  party  made  the  best  of  its  way  back 
and  arrived  at  South  Pass  in  safety.  " 

In  the  case  of  the  "Diana "there  were 


six  killed  and  three  wounded;  in  the  case  of 
the  "Barrataria"  there  was  only  one 
wounded.  Affairs  of  this  kind  were  very 
provoking  and  harassing  to  a  Commander- 
in-chief,  but  the  officers  seem  to  have  per 
formed  their  duty  faithfully.  Some  of  them 
died  at  their  posts — there  could  be  no  fault 
found  with  them. 

The  navigation  through  all  these  lakes, 
bayous  and  so-called  rivers  was  full  of  snags 
and  shoal  places,  and  was  of  the  most  per 
plexing  kind.  Most  of  the  officers  in  the 
above-mentioned  vessels  were  volunteers, 
full  of  zeal  and  courage  and  anxious  not  to 
have  it  said  of  them  that  the  case  would 
have  been  better  managed  if  a  regular  line- 
officer  had  been  present.  Acting-Ensign 
Perkins  may  have  lacked  a  little  in  judg 
ment  in  pushing  ahead,  but  when  it  came 
to  the  point  about  letting  his  vessel  fall  into 
the  enemy's  hands,  there  was  nothing  want 
ing,  and  he  abandoned  his  command  in  open 
boats  at  the  risk  of  the  lives  of  his  crew, 
conscious  that  the  enemy  could  derive  no 
benefit  from  anything  left  behind. 

A  short  time  afterwards  an  expedition 
was  fitted  out  in  Berwick  Bay  under  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  A.  P.  Cooke,  who,  with 
the  "  Estrella"  and  other  vessels,  engaged 
the"  Queen-of-the-West "  (formerly  cap 
tured  from  Colonel  C.  R.  Ellet),  and  after  a 
fight  of  twenty  minutes  destroyed  her. 
He  also,  a  short  time  after,  destroyed  two 
other  steamers,  the  "  Diana"  and  "Hart." 

Farragut  was  relieved  by  Acting-Rear- 
Admiral  Porter  at  the  mouth  of  the  Red 
River,  May  7th,  1803,  and  crossing  overland, 
joined  his  squadron  below  Port  Hudson.  He 
might  have  run  by  the  batteries  at  night,  but 
the  old  "  Hartford  "  he  thought  had  been 
subjected  to  enough  of  that  kind  of  work, 
and  it  was  scarcely  worth  while  to  expose 
her  officers  and  crew  to  any  more  such  trials, 
especially  as  it  was  expected  that  Port  Hud 
son  would  soon  be  evacuated  by  the  enemy. 
So  Captain  Palmer  remained  with  the  "Hart 
ford  at  the  mouth  of  Red  River  until  after 
the  fall  of  Port  Hudson,  it  having  been  left 
discretionary  with  him  to  pass  the  batteries 
or  not. 

Before  Farragut's  departure  overland  he 
had  sent  an  expedition  up  the  Red  River  to 
co-operate  with  General  Banks,  who  was 
expected  at  Alexandria  with  a  large  military 
force  (he  being  under  the  impression  that 
there  were  military  stores  at  this  point  and 
that  it  was  heavily  fortified  on  the  water 
side,  or  would  be  in  a  short  time). 

There  were  also  some  other  military 
movements  under  consideration  to  discon 
cert  General  Kirby  Smith  (Confederate), 
who  had  gone  to  Alexandria,  so  it  was  said^ 
to  provide  troops  with  which  to  reinforce 
General  Dick  Taylor.  Neither  of  these 
generals  had  any  idea  of  operating  below 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


349 


Alexandria,  which  was  their  natural  base  ; 
for  the  gun-boats  might  get  up  that  far  very 
easily,  but  would  find  it  a  difficult  matter 
to  proceed  further,  as  was  proved  in  the 
end. 

The  expedition  sent  by  Farragut  was 
composed  of  the  wooden  gun-boats  "Alba 
tross/'  "  Estrella,"  Lieutenant-Commander 
A.  P.  Cooke,  and  '•  Arizona,"  Volunteer- 
Lieutenant-Commanding  D.  P.  Upton,  all 
under  Lieutenant  -  Commander  John  E. 
Hart.  It  arrived  off  Fort  de  Russy  on 
May  3d.  and  found  the  enemy  in  the  act  of 
abandoning  the  works  and  removing  their 
guns.  Two  steamers  were  engaged  in  this 
duty,  and  two  others  were  moored  to 
the  bank  alongside  the  earthworks,  with 
their  bows  down  stream.  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Hart  at  once  attacked  them  with 


LIEUTENANT  COMMANDER   'NOW  CAPTAIN)   AUGUSTUS  P. 
COOKE,   U.  8.  N. 

his  broadside  guns  and  a  regular  battle 
commenced,  the  Confederate  steamers  re 
turning  the  fire  promptly,  and  it  was  kept 
up  on  both  sides  until  a  dense  smoke  envel 
oped  the  river. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Hart  states  that 
the  enemy  had  the  most  guns  and  fired  shot 
and  shell  with  great  rapidity,  and  certainly 
with  accuracy.  The  "Albatross  "  went  into 
action  alone,  but  the  enemy  had  too  many 
guns  for  her  and  she  was  considerably  cut 
up,  and  finally  obliged  to  retire,  having  got 
aground  on  the  very  spot  where  the 
"  Queen-of -the- West  "  had  been  disabled 
and  captured.  Hart  claims  that  the  other 
two  vessels  did  not  assist  him ;  but  the 
probability  is  that  the  pilots  did  not  think 


there  was  room  for  three  vessels  to  get  into 
action  at  one  time,  as  this  was  the  worst 
point  on  the  river  to  manage  a  vessel  in  — 
the  current  ran  rapidly  and  the  eddies  were 
very  annoying  to  the  best  pilots;  besides, 
that  class  of  vessel  was  not  at  all  suited  for 
this  work. 

The  "Albatross"  lost  two  killed,  one  being 
the  pilot,  Mr.  J.  B.  Hamilton,  and  four 
wounded — a  small  number,  considering  that 
her  commander  reported  such  a  severe  en 
gagement. 

The  Confederate  steamers  carried  off  the 
guns,  but  left  a  large  raft  across  the  river 
to  obstruct  the  passage.  The  Confederate 
commanders  had  already  heard  of  the  ar 
rival  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  a  large 
force  of  iron-clads,  and  of  the  advance  of 
Bank's  Army,  and  their  object  now  was  to 
get  the  guns  to  Shreveport.  All  idea  of 
fortifying  Alexandria  was  abandoned  and 
two  or  three  days  afterwards  the  place  sur 
rendered  to  Rear-Admiral  Porter  without 
any  resistance. 

On  Farragut's  arrival  below  Port  Hudson 
he  again  commenced  operations  against 
that  place,  in  conjunction  with  General 
Banks,  who,  as  he  reported,  had  the  forts 
closely  invested. 

Farragut  furnished  a  breaching-battery 
of  four  9-inch  guns,  under  Lieutenant 
Terry,  and  the  army  mounted  four  24- 
pounders.  These  guns  were  kept  firing  day 
and  night  to  harass  the  enemy,  and  also 
when  the  Confederates  opened  fire  upon  the 
Federal  troops.  The  mortar  schooners  also 
kept  up  a  continuous  fire  upon  the  interior 
of  the  works,  to  distress  the  enemy  as  much 
as  possible. 

It  was  expected  that  Port  Hudson  would 
hold  out  as  long  as  Vicksburg  did,  for  the 
officers  of  the  fort  declared  that  they  would 
never  surrender  as  long  as  that  stronghold 
remained  to  them. 

In  the  meantime  the  enemy  were  as 
sembling  quite  a  large  force  from  Texas, 
under  a  very  clever  leader  (General Green). 
Demonstrations  had  been  made  by  this 
party  against  Donaldsonville,  but  they 
were  driven  off  by  the  fire  of  the  gun 
boats,  and  finally  settled  down  in  Brashear 
City  to  await  the  arrival  of  their  main  body 
of  troops  from  Texas.  The  object  of  this 
raid  was  no  doubt  to  raise  the  siege  of  Port 
Hudson,  or  draw  off  enough  of  General 
Banks'  troops  to  enable  the  garrison  to 
evacuate  that  place. 

As  soon  as  Admiral  Farragut  heard  of 
these  Confederate  movements  he  went 
down  the  river  to  attend  to  affairs  person 
ally,  and  placed  the  gun-boats  where  they 
would  do  the  most  good.  Unfortunately, 
there  was  only  one  vessel  (the  "  Princess 
Royal."  Commander  M.  B.  Woolsey)  sta 
tioned  at  Donaldsonville.  the  place  the  en- 


350 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


emy  was  marching  to  attack,  but  this  officer 
was  equal  to  the  emergency. 

About  noon  on  the  2?th  of  June,  hearing 
the  long  roll  beaten  in  the  fort  where  the 
Federal  troops  were  assembled,  he  sent  to 
inquire  the  cause,  and  was  informed  that 
General  Green  had  written  a  letter  to  the 
commander  of  the  post  to  notify  the  women 
and  children  of  the  town  to  remove  three 
miles  outside  of  it,  as  it  was  his  intention 
to  attack  the  place.  A  reply  was  sent  back 
by  the  flag's  truce  notifying  the  Confederate 
general  that  the  inhabitants  would  be  duly 
warned.  Commander  Woplsey  got  under 
way  early  in  the  evening — his  vessel 
cleared  for  action — ready  to  take  any  posi 
tion  that  might  be  required  of  him.  At 
midnight  a  red  light  was  burned  in  the  fort 
(the  pre-arranged  signal  denoting  that  the 
enemy  was  in  motion),  and  at  a  little  past 
1  A.M.  the  Confederates  attacked  the  Federal 
post  with  musketry,  which  the  latter  re 
turned  with  great  guns.  At  the  same  mo 
ment  the  "  Princess  Royal  "  opened  on  the 
enemy,  in  a  wood  to  the  right  of  the  fort, 
with  shells,  and  also  fired  shells  over  the 
fort  up  the  bayou  for  the  purpose  of  disturb 
ing  troops  that  were  in  the  rear. 

Finding  that  the  enemy  was  pressing 
upon  the  water-side  of  the  fort  for  the  pur 
pose  of  assaulting  it,  the  "  Princess  Royal" 
sheered  close  in  to  the  levee  and  kept  up  a 
rapid  fire  of  shrapnel  and  canister  from  all 
her  guns  until  2  A.  M.  ,  when  the  smoke  be 
came  so  dense  that  it  was  impossible  to  see 
the  fort  from  the  steamer.  Commander 
Woolsey  then  stood  up  the  river  two  hun 
dred  yards  and  continued  his  fire  upon  the 
enemy,  who  were  in  a  wood  north  of  and  at 
a  distance  of  four  hundred  yards  from  the 
Federal  fort.  Their  position  was  indicated 
by  their  yelling,  as  the  flashes  of  their  guns 
could  not  be  seen  for  the  smoke. 

The  "  Princess  Royal  "then  stood  up  river 
for  an  opening  in  the  levee  which  her  com 
mander  remembered,  and  when  abreast  of 
it,  he  poured  in  upon  the  enemy  grape  and 
canister  at  point-blank  range  and  enfiladed 
them. 

The  enemy  then  attacked  the  steamer 
with  rifles  and  she  turned  down  river  and 
presented  her  other  broadside.  The  enemy 
opened  on  her  from  the  town,  when  Com 
mander  Woolsey  fired  one  broadside  up  the 
main  street  and  another  one  up  the  north 
side  of  the  bayou.  He  then  stood  up  stream 
again  and  took  position  to  enfilade  the 
north  side  of  the  fort.  In  fact  this  flying 
battery  of  heavy  guns  seemed  to  be  every 
where  at  the  same  time,  disconcerting  all 
the  plans  of  the  Confederate  general,  who 
had  evidently  placed  his  men  expecting  to 
have  an  easy  victory. 

This  fire  was  kept  up  until  3.30  A.  M., 
while  the  Confederate  riflemen  returned  it 


so  steadily  that  the  men  of  the  "  Princess 
Royal "  had  several  times  to  lie  flat  on  the 
deck  until  the  line  of  fire  was  passed. 

At  about  4  A.  M.,  the  yelling  of  the  Con 
federates  ceased  and  their  fire  slackened, 
and  shortly  afterwards  cheers  went  up 
from  the  Federal  ramparts. 

At  this  moment  the  gun-boat  "  Winona," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  A.  W.  Weaver, 
joined  in  the  engagement,  and  continued 
in  it  until  the  end. 

At  daylight  the  American  flag  floated 
gaily  over  the  fort — none  of  its  stars  dim 
med.  General  Green  and  his  army  re 
treated  and  left  Donaldsonville  in  peace. 
One  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  Confeder 
ates  got  inside  of  the  fort,  and  were  cap 
tured  and  distributed  among  the  different 
vessels  for  safe-keeping. 

Take  it  altogether,  this  was  a  handsome 
affair.  There  is  no  knowing  what  might 
have  happened  had  it  not  been  for  the 
skill  with  which  the  naval  steamer  was 
handled  and  the  bravery  of  her  commander, 
officers  and  crew,  who  at  times  fought  their 
guns  lying  on  the  deck,  which  they  were 
obliged  to  do  to  escape  the  riflemen's  uner 
ring  aim. 

What  vessels  remained  of  the  mortar  flo 
tilla  had  been  for  three  months  in  front  of 
Port  Hudson  bombarding  that  place,  and 
the  vessels,  with  their  commanders,  officers 
and  crews  were  spoken  of  by  those  who 
witnessed  their  work  in  the  most  enthusi 
astic  manner.  Not  only  naval  officers,  but 
officers  of  the  Army  who  witnessed  the 
practice,  acknowledged  the  efficiency  of 
the  mortar-shells  when  managed  by  intelli 
gent  officers  and  men.  And  yet  a  high 
official,  whose  duty  it  was  to  perform  a  fair 
and  impartial  part  towards  every  officer 
and  man  in  the  Navy,  attempted  to  depreci 
ate  the  services  of  this  gallant  little  flotilla 
that  had  more  than  once  helped  Army  and 
Navy  on  to  victory. 

Admiral  Farragut  on  June  3d,  1863,  rec 
ommended  for  promotion  a  young  Ensign 
(Adams)  who  had  commanded  one  of  the 
mortar  vessels  (the  "Orvieto")  at  Port 
Hudson,  at  the  same  time  calling  the  atten 
tion  of  the  department  to  his  heroism,  en 
durance  and  obstinate  determination  to 
hold  his  ground  until  compelled  by  his  com 
mander  to  fall  back,  when  his  vessel  was 
being  cut  to  pieces. 

The  last  affair  of  any  importance  that 
took  place  in  the  river  before  July  10th, 
1863,  was  the  attack  of  some  Confederate 
field  batteries  upon  the  U.  S.  steamer  "  New 
London,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  G.  H. 
Perkins. 

The  "  New  London  "  was  on  her  way  from 
Port  Hudson,  having  on  board  a  bearer  of 
dispatches  from  General  Banks,  announcing 
the  unconditional  surrender  of  that  place. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


351 


On  his  arrival  at  Donaldsonville,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Perkins  was  directed  to 
proceed  to  New  Orleans,  the  "Winona" 
to  accompany  him  past  some  batteries  at 
Whitehall  Point. 

At  1  o'clock,  A.  M.,  as  the  "New  London" 
was  passing  this  point,  the  enemy  opened 
on  her  with  artillery  and  musketry.  The 
third  shell  entered  one  of  the  boilers,  and 
exploding,  made  seven  holes  in  a  line  with 
the  upward  flues,  scalding  six  persons 
severely.  Another  perforated  the  steam- 
drum,  and  the  vessel  was  disabled  and  en 
veloped  in  steam.  The  Captain  put  the  ves 
sel's  head  toward  the  eastern  shore,  but  the 
steam  escaped  so  rapidly  that  the  men 
could  not  stay  at  the  wheel  and  the  "  New 
London  "  grounded  under  the  battery.  A 
rocket  was  sent  up  to  call  the  attention  of 
the  "  Winona  "  that  she  might  come  to  the 
assistance  of  her  consort,  but  she  was  not 
in  sight.  The  port  battery  was  manned 
and  commenced  playing  on  the  opposite 
shore  where  the  Confederates  were  posted. 
The  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries  was  very 
severe,  and  though  it  was  night  their  range 
was  improving  all  the  time. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Perkins  lowered 
all  his  boats  and  got  kedges  out  astern  to 
haul  his  vessel  off  the  bottom,  which  he 
succeeded  in  doing,  and  drifted  down  the 
river  until  out  of  range  of  the  upper  batter 
ies.  The  principal  battery  being  below, 
Lieutenant-Commander  Perkins  towed  the 
"  New  London"  with  his  boats  to  the  east 
bank  and  made  her  fast  During  this  oper 
ation,  a  continuous  fire  was  kept  up  by  the 
enemy's  infantry  upon  the  boats  and  also 
on  the  vessel.  It  was  nearly  daylight  and 
the  Union  commander,  expecting  a  re 
newed  attack  by  the  enemy,  sent  his  men 
on  shore  under  cover  of  the  levee  to  guard 
against  it.  Pickets  were  stationed  up  and 
down  the  river  and  messengers  sent  to  Don 
aldsonville  to  state  the  condition  of  affairs, 
and  also  down  the  river  to  obtain  the  assist 
ance  of  the  iron-clad  "Essex"  and  steam- 
sloop  "  Monongahela." 

The  messengers  returned  from  Donald 
sonville,  stating  that  no  assistance  could  be 
rendered,  and  the  two  couriers  from  below 
returned  with  the  unsatisfactory  news  that 
the  "Essex"  and  "Monongahela"  could 
not  be  found. 

This  was  not  the  kind  of  an  answer  the 
Army  would  have  received  from  the  Navy 
if  the  general  in  command  had  made  a 
requisition  for  gun-boats  when  attacked  by 
the  Confederates.  It  was  not  the  kind  of 
message  Commander  Woolsey  sent  from 
the  "Princess  Royal"  when  the  post  at 
Donaldsonville  was  attacked  by  General 
Green,  who  with  his  large  force  would 
have  carried  the  works  but  for  the  tremen 
dous  enfilading  fire  of  the  Federal  gun-boat. 


But  General  Weitzel  was  in  command  at 
Donaldsonville  and  he  did  not  seem  to 
think  a  gun-boat  of  much  importance,  or 
perhaps  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  weaken 
his  garrison  while  there  were  Confederate 
field-pieces  in  the  neighborhood. 

But  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Perkins, 
knowing  that  the  Confederates  would  at 
tack  him  at  night  with  a  force  he  could  not 
resist,  determined  to  go  and  convince  Gen 
eral  Weitzel  of  the  necessity  there  was  for 
sending  troops  to  the  assistance  of  his  ves 
sel,  and  succeeded  in  doing  so;  but  on  re 
turning  to  the  place  where  he  had  left  the 
"  New  London,"  he  found  her  gone.  Dur 
ing  his  absence,  which  was  only  of  two 
hours'  duration,  the  "Essex"  and  "Mo 
nongahela"  had  come  up  the  river  and  towed 
the  "  New  London  "  down  ! 

The  Confederates  did  not  easily  relinquish 
what  no  doubt  they  considered  a  certain 
prize.  They  contested  the  passage  of  the 
"Essex"  and  "Monongahela"  with  much 
determination,  and  the  infantry  even  stood 
up  for  some  time  against  the  fire  of  the 
heavy  guns  of  three  vessels;  but  they  were 
scattered  by  grape,  canister  and  shrapnel, 
which  proved  too  much  for  them. 

This  affair  was  well  managed  by  Lieu 
tenant  -  Commander  Perkins,  who  did  all 
that  lay  in  his  power  to  prevent  his  vessel 
falling  into  the  enemy's  hands;  displaying 
cool  judgment  and  bravery  through  all. 
Some  officers  under  the  circumstances 
might  have  abandoned  the  gun-boat  in  the 
night,  and  escaped  in  the  boats  after  setting 
fire  to  her;  but  Perkins  preferred  to  use  his 
boats  to  tow  her  out  of  range  of  the  en 
emy's  guns  until  he  could  obtain  assistance, 
which  by  his  perseverance  he  succeeded  in 
doing.  Farragut  blamed  him  for  leaving 
his  ship  to  go  after  assistance  himself.  No 
doubt  the  principle  that  every  commanding 
officer  should  be  the  last  man  to  leave  his 
vessel,  is  the  right  one,  but  here  there  was 
no  danger  of  capture  in  his  absence,  as  the 
enemy  was  on  the  opposite  shore  and  could 
not  reach  his  vessel  in  the  short  time  that 
he  was  away  from  her. 

The  last  of  the  reports  from  Admiral 
Farragut  to  the  Navy  Department,  pub 
lished  in  the  year  18G3,  conveyed  the  mel 
ancholy  news  of  the  death  of  Commander 
Abner  Reed  of  the  "Monongahela."  He 
was  mortally  wounded  by  a  rifle-shell  while 
passing  the  batteries,  twelve  miles  below 
Donaldsonville,  and  Farragut  says  of  him: 
"  Commander  Reed  was  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  gallant  officers  in  my 
squadron,  and  the  very  mention  of  his 
name  was  a  source  of  terror  to  the  Confed 
erates — the  country  could  well  have  spared 
a  better  man."  No  higher  eulogium  was 
ever  passed  upon  any  officer,  and  it  should 
be  recorded  in  history. 


352 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


Captain  T.  A.  Jenkins,  who  was  on  board, 
was  severely  wounded. 

This  brings  the  narrative  of  events  up  to 
July  28th,  18G3. 

The  news  of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg 
had  been  received  in  New  Orleans,  and  that 
of  Port  Hudson  immediately  followed. 

The  Father  of  Waters  flowed  peacefully 
to  the  sea,  free  and  untrammelled.  The 
great  chain  of  slavery  was  broken,  never 
to  be  again  united.  The,  work  of  setting 
free  the  great  artery  of  the  North  and 
South,  so  essential  to  our  nationality,  had 
been  accomplished,  and  the  foul  blot  of 
human  slavery  had  disappeared  forever 
from  our  escutcheon.  The  squadrons  of  the 
Upper  and  Lower  Mississippi  had  shaken 


COMMANDER  ABNER  REED 

hands  in  New  Orleans,  and  the  great  high 
way  between  Cincinnati  and  the  Queen 
City  of  the  South  was  once  more  open  to 
commerce  with  the  North  and  with  foreign 
countries.  The  power  of  the  United  States 
Government  had  been  restored  and  its  au 
thority  vindicated  in  more  than  half  the 
territory  claimed  by  the  insurgents. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  future  millions 
who  will  dwell  along  the  banks  of  these 
mighty  waters,  which  were  emancipated 
by  the  valor  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  will 
not  withhold  a  due  share  of  credit  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Navy,  who  per 
formed  their  important  part  in  those 
eventful  times  with  such  an  unflinching  de 
votion  to  the  Union. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed  away 


since  the  events  took  place  which  are  here 
narrated.  Many  of  the  men  who  figured 
in  those  scenes  have  been  overtaken  by  age, 
and  Time,  the  great  destroyer,  has  some 
what  impaired  their  faculties,  but  they  are 
the  same  in  spirit  as  in  1SG1,  and  still  en 
titled  to  the  gratitude  of  their  country 

The  men  in  civil  life  who  read  the  stir 
ring  incidents  of  the  war  by  their  cosy 
firesides  should  not  forget  that  they  have 
reaped  the  benefits  arising  from  the  in 
cessant  toil  of  the  Navy,  and  should  there 
fore  forbear  to  speak  unkindly  of  a  pro 
fession  whose  officers  and  men  would  to 
morrow —  if  war  should  again  arise — ex 
hibit  the  same  zeal,  energy  and  courage  as 
was  shown  by  those  who  so  well  performed 
their  parts  in  the  late  conflict. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg  and  Fort  Hudson  at  New  Or 
leans,  on  the  10th  of  July,  there  was  great 
rejoicing  on  the  part  of  our  Army  and  Navy. 
The  commanding  officers  of  both  branches 
of  the  service  ordered  salutes  of  one  hun 
dred  guns  to  be  fired — the  sound  of  which 
carried  joy  to  the  hearts  of  those  who  sym 
pathized  with  the  Union  cause,  and  dismay 
to  the  hearts  of  the  Confederates.  The 
latter  element  predominated  very  largely, 
yet  on  the  whole  the  people  of  New  Orleans 
were  pleased  with  the  hope  of  seeing  the 
commerce  of  the  North  and  West  return  to 
their  once  flourishing  city  and  again  crowd 
its  levees  with  the  splendid  steamers  that 
formerly  kept  their  storehouses  supplied 
witli  the  products  of  the  Upper  Mississippi. 
But  war  had  made  sad  ravages  in  this  class 
of  vessels;  hundreds  of  them  had  been  sunk 
or  burned  in  the  Red,  Yazoo,  Arkansas  and 
White  Rivers,  and  the  few  that  now  came 
creeping  out  of  the  bayous  and  small  streams 
where  they  had  been  laid  away,  were  in  so 
dilapidated  a  condition  that  on  their  appear 
ance  at  the  levee,  the  very  sight  of  these 
vessels  called  to  mind  the  decayed  con 
dition  of  this  once  flourishing  city  and 
brought  tears  of  sorrow  to  many  an  eye. 
These  people  were  only  repaid  for  their  faith 
lessness  to  a  form  of  government  under 
which  they  had  reaped  so  much  prosperity 
and  from  which,  even  in  their  wildest  en 
thusiasm  for  the  Confederacy,  they  received 
protection. 

Few  of  the  seceders  would  believe  that 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  had  surren 
dered,  for  they  were  so  infatuated  with  the 
Confederacy  that  they  could  not  but  believe 
that  it  was  the  strongest  government  on  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  that  its  resources  were 
illimitable;  forgetting  that  it  only  derived 
its  present  strength  from  coming  into  pos 
session  of  the  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
which  had  been  taken  from  the  true  gov 
ernment  by  the  very  persons  for  whose  pro 
tection  they  had  been  built. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


353 


New  Orleans,  after  it  had  been  conquered 
by  Farragufs  fleet,  became  a  model  city  as 
regards  its  police  and  sanitary  departments, 
for  the  first  time  in  its  history.  No  city  in 
the  world  ever  possessed  a  more  turbulent 
mob — and  in  no  city  were  the  municipal 
laws  less  respected  (before  its  capture) — at 
the  end  of  1862  its  streets  were  as  well  kept 
as  those  of  the  cleanest  village  at  the  North 
and  the  citizens  had  never  enjoyed  such 
safety  as  they  did  under  the  Butler  regime, 
when  General  Shipley  was  the  military 
governor  of  the  city. 

With  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hud 
son  the  flying  detachments  of  Confederates 
that  lingered  along  the  Mississippi  and  in 
the  bayous  and  inland  rivers  drew  back 
into  the  western  part  of  Louisiana,  or  into 
Texas,  where  most  of  them  came  from. 
They  were  a  fearless  set  of  men  (unlike  the 
home-guards  of  Tennessee),  who  seem  to 
have  been  drawn  to  the  banks  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  their  be 
sieged  friends  in  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hud 
son:  and  although  they  were  sufficiently 
active  in  annoying  gun-boats  and  trans 
ports  going  up  or  down  the  river,  they  did 
not  resort  to  the  vile  measures  of  the  Ten 
nessee  home-guards  or  commit  depredations 
upon  inoffensive  citizens.  They  were  sol 
diers  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  risked 
their  lives  fearlessly  in  making  attacks  on 
the  Union  fortifications;  fighting  in  what 
they  considered  the  defence  of  their  own 
soil,  until  the  last  Confederate  stronghold 
on  the  Mississippi  had  fallen. 

The  surrender  of  the  two  great  fortifica 
tions  relieved  a  large  force  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  from  close  confinement  around  the 
enemy,  and  allowed  them  to  be  used  all 
along  the  river  and  coast.  This,  too.  in  a 
measure  helped  to  get  rid  of  the  artillery 
and  mounted  rangers,  who,  though  not  nu 
merous  enough  to  make  a  stand  against  the 
Federal  troops,  had  been  very  annoying. 
The  Federals  had  frequently  to  acknowledge 
that  the  Texas  and  Louisiana  troops  were 
more  than  a  match  for  them;  and  if  they 
had  not  been  so  strongly  backed  by  the 
naval  force,  it  is  doubtful  whether  Butler  or 


Banks  could  have  held  their  positions  for  a 
month. 

After  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  Rear-Admiral 
Porter  descended  the  Mississippi  as  far  as 
New  Orleans,  where  the  command  of  the 
entire  river  and  all  its  tributaries  was  turned 
over  to  him  by  Farragut,  who  could  now 
give  his  whole  attention  to  the  coast  and  its 
inlets,  which  were  still  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

Farragut  had  calculated  on  capturing 
some  of  the  enemy's  strongholds  on  the 
coast  as  early  as  1862,  but  the  latter  held 
out  defiantly — very  much  strengthened, 
doubly  armed  and  trebly  manned — their 
commanders  arrogantly  flying  the  Confed 
erate  flag  and  bidding  our  wooden  vessels 
to  come  to  the  sacrifice  that  awaited  them. 

After  Farragut  had  turned  over  his  part 
of  the  command  in  the  Mississippi,  it  be 
longed  to  his  successor  to  see  that  the  enemy 
built  no  more  forts  along  the  banks  of  the 
great  river;  to  guarantee  a  safe  passage  to 
army  transports  and  commercial  steamers, 
and  to  see  that  110  provisions  or  troops 
reached  the  Confederates  from  Arkansas, 
Louisiana  or  Texas. 

These  duties  were  faithfully  performed. 
The  tin-dads  and  gun-boats,  now  amount 
ing  to  about  112,  were  spread  along  the 
whole  length  of  the  river  (below  Vicks 
burg)  and  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  all  tribu 
taries.  The  vessels  were  divided  into  squad 
rons  under  young  and  competent  officers, 
who  vied  with  each  other  in  carrying  out 
the  orders  that  were  issued  from  time  to 
time  "to  keep  open  the  free  navigation  of 
the  rivers." 

It  cannot  be  said  that  peace  was  actually 
established,  but  the  transit  from  Cairo  to 
New  Orleans  was  not  at  all  hazardous  for 
the  travelling  community;  the  little  towns 
began  to  exhibit  a  desire  to  trade,  and  the 
people  on  the  plantations  soon  found  that 
they  received  more  protection  from  the 
gun-boats  than  they  did  from  the  half- 
starved  Confederates,  who  had  been  accus 
tomed  to  make  frequent  raids  upon  the 
coast  (as  they  called  the  river-banks)  in 
search  of  food  and  plunder. 


•23 


CHAPTE'R      XXXII. 


CONDITION  OF  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT  AT  THE  BREAKING  OUT  OF  THE  REBELLION.— SECRE 
TARY  WELLES,  HIS  CHARACTER  AND  ABILITY.— COMMODORES  STRINGHAM  AND  PAULD- 
ING  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT  TO  ASSIST  SECRETARY  WELLES. — PAULD- 

ING  DRIVES  THE  SECESSIONISTS  OUT   OF  THE  DEPARTMENT.— PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  SELECTS 

MR.  G.  V.  Fox  AS  ASSISTANT  TO  SECRETARY  WELLES.— PREPARATIONS  OF  THE  CONFED 
ERATE  LEADERS.— CONFEDERATE  IRON-CL ADS. —POLICY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERN 
MENT  IN  BUILDING  SHIPS  AND  MOUNTING  GUNS.— SLOWNESS  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  IN- 
TAKING  IN  THE  SITUATION.— APPARENT  SUPINENESS  OF  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT.— 
DEPARTMENT  OVERWHELMED  WITH  PLANS  AND  CONTRACTORS.  BUT  RISES  TO  THE  OC 
CASION  AND  PUTS  FORTH  ITS  ENERGY. — DIFFICULTIES  IN  THE  WAY  OF  ADOPTING  THE 

RIGHT  KIND  OF  IRON-CLAD. — THE  DEPARTMENT  AT  FIRST  DOUBTFUL  OF  THE  PLANS  OF 
ERICSSON'S  "  MONITOR."— BOARDS  APPOINTED  TO  Discuss  THE  MATTER  OF  IRON-CLADS. 

—MISTAKE    IN  NOT    CUTTING    DOWN   SOME  OF  OUR  HEAVY  STEAMSHIPS  AND  CONVERTING 

THEM  INTO  IRON-CLADS.— MR.  Fox  BENDS  ALL  HIS  ENERGIES  TOWARDS  INTRODUCING 
IRON-CLADS  INTO  THE  NAVY.— MR  LENTHALL  CHIEF-CONSTRUCTOR.— MR.  LSHERWOOD 
CHIEF  OF  BUREAU  OF  ENGINEERING. — REAR-ADMIRAL  DAHLGREN  AND  HIS  GUNS.— MR. 
Fox  INTRODUCES  THE  15-INCH  GUN  INTO  THE  NAVY.— ERICSSON'S  CLAIM  AS  AN  IN 
VENTOR.— CONGRESS  WAKES  UP  IN  REGARD  TO  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  THE  NAVY.— 
CITIZENS  TO  WHOM  CREDIT  WAS  DUE.— TWENTY  SINGLE  AND  FOUR  DOUBLE  TURRETED 
MONITORS  CONTRACTED  FOR. — PREPARATIONS  TO  ATTACK  CHARLESTON. 


out, 
like 
the 


WHEN  the  civil  war  broke 
the    Navy     Department, 
every    other    branch     of 
government,   was  totally   un 
prepared  for  the  event. 
The  right  of  secession  had  been  openly 
declared  in  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rep 
resentatives,  and  Southern  members  were 
daily  leaving  their  seats;  yet  the  Adminis 
tration  held  back,  and,  deluded  by  Confed 
erate  sympathizers,  sat  still  and  looked  on 
with  dismay  at  the  dismemberment  of  the 
country  without  seeming  to  take  any  steps 
to  prevent  it. 

Xo  department  of  the  government  seemed 
to  rise  to  the  occasion,  and  the  Navy  De 
partment  was  no  exception  to  the  rule. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Mr.  Gideon 
Welles,  was  not  a  naval  man  in  any  sense 
of  the  word.  His  life  had  been  passed  amid 
civil  pursuits,  and  the  only  connection  he 
had  ever  had  with  the  Navy  was  for  a  short 
time  when  he  was  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of 
Provisions  and  Clothing — a  purely  political 


appointment.  He  had  spent  many  years  of 
his  life  as  editor  of  a  newspaper,  and  during 
his  administration  of  affairs  in  the  Navy 
Department  gave  evidence  of  ability  in  the 
use  of  his  pen.  The  numerous  dispatches 
and  reports  which  he  wrote  during  the  war 
showed  that  as  a  literary  man  he  had  few 
superiors. 

But  Mr.  Welles  was  far  advanced  in  years 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  Navy,  and  had 
reached  a  period  when  men  generally  desire 
to  retire  to  the  shades  of  private  life,  and 
follow  pursuits  more  congenial  to  their 
tastes.  He  was  not  a  rapid  thinker— was 
cautious  by  nature  and  extremely  methodi 
cal  in  all  he  did.  Having  been  at  the  head 
of  a  bureau  where  he  constantly  came  in 
contact  with  contractors,  he  naturally  sur 
rounded  himself  with  guards  of  all  kinds, 
and  introduced  so  much  red  tape  into  the 
Department,  that  it  must  have  been  a  bold 
man  who  would  have  attempted  to  break 
through  it  all  with  the  hope  of  overreaching 
the  chief  or  his  assistants. 


(354) 


THE  XAVAL    HISTORY  OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


355 


Some  of  the  bureau  officers  were  inocu 
lated  with  secession  sentiments,  and  their 
rooms  were  daily  filled  with  officers  who 
exchanged  opinions  hostile  to  the  govern 
ment,  meanwhile  leaving  the  Secretary  to 
assume  that  they  were  loyal.  The  Secre 
tary,  as  a  matter  of  course,  received  no  aid 
from  these  men:  on  the  contrary,  they  held 
him  back  and  delayed  his  doing  what  good 
he  attempted. 

Mr.  Welles  began  to  find  out  gradually 
that  he  was  not  surrounded  by  the  kind  of 
men  it  was  desirable  to  have  about  him 
under  the  circumstances,  and  he  called  to 
his  aid  in  the  department  Commodore 
Stringham.  the  best  clock-yard  officer  in  the 
Navy  and  a  thorough  seaman,  loyal  to  the 
last  degree  and  of  a  most  honorable  char 
acter.  But  he  possessed  no  administrative 
•  abilities,  disliked  an  office  life,  and  soon 
sought  relief  from  it  by  applying  for  active 
duty  afloat.  He  was  therefore  appointed  to 
the  command  of  a  small  squadron,  to  at 
tempt  the  capture  of  the  forts  at  Hatteras 
Inlet,  which  he  succeeded  in  doing. 

To  show  how  slowly  secretaries  or  officers 
had  risen  to  the  occasion,  and  how  little  all 
concerned  could  form  any  estimate  of  what 
was  actually  necessary  to  be  done  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  (though  the 
coming  events  cast  their  shadows  plainly 
before  them),  the  Hatteras  expedition  was 
looked  upon  as  a  great  event,  and  it  was 
thought  that  the  success  of  it  was  likely  to 
carry  such  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the  Con 
federates  that  it  would  break  up  any  further 
attempt  to  fortify  the  Southern  coast! 

Commodore  Paulding  relieved  Commo 
dore  Stringham  in  the  Navy  Department. 
He  was  a  faithful  officer,  who  looked  upon 
the  flag  of  his  country  as  the  emblem  of 
all  that  was  great  and  glorious.  He  re 
garded  secession  as  the  worm  at  the  root  of 
the  flower,  sure  to  destroy  it  unless  speedily 
removed,  and  he  was  in  favor  of  extermi 
nating  every  man  in  the  Xavy  of  whose  loy 
alty  there  was  even  a  doubt.  He  had 
served  many  years  of  his  life  in  active  duty 
at  sea,  but  he  now  began  to  show  the  ad 
vance  of  age,  and  did  not  at  once  realize 
the  gravity  of  the  situation.  Running  in  a 
groove,  as  he  had  done  for  so  many  years,  he 
was  not  able  to  change  his  nature  suddenly 
and  adopt  new  methods. 

He  soon  found  that  he  did  not  suit  the 
place,  nor  the  place  him,  and  as  his  ideas 
of  naval  discipline  were  so  dissimilar  to 
the  system  which  governed  a  civil  depart 
ment  that  he  had  at  times  to  defer  to  the 
opinions  of  the  chief  clerk,  and  the  associa 
tions  were  not  pleasant,  he  soon  tired  of  the 
position,  especially  when  he  found  that  he 
would  have  to  bear  responsibilities  which 
he  did  not  care  to  shoulder. 

In   fact,  Commodore   Paulding    disliked 


the  atmosphere  of  the  Navy  Department  as 
much  as  Commodore  Stringham  had  done, 
and  soon  obtained  duty  at  the  New  York 
Navy  Yard,  where  he  thought  he  could  be 
of  more  service  to  his  country.  But  before 
he  left  the  Department  he  not  only  rooted 
out  the  disloyal  officers  who  were  attached 
to  the  different  bureaus,  but  forbade  any 
man  who  uttered  disloyal  sentiments,  or 
who  hesitated  to  espouse  the  Union  cause, 
from  entering  the  building. 

It  never  struck  these  loyal  old  officers, 
when  they  heard  that  the  Confederates  were 
building  iron-clads,  that  something  might 
be  done  in  that  direction  by  the  North. 
They  had  fought  their  battles  on  the  open 
decks  of  ships  and  they  thought  that  was  a 
good-enough  way  for  any  one  to  fight. 
They  did  not  believe  in  men  who  would 
resort  to  a  shelter  of  iron  for  protection 
against  shot  or  shell,  and  rather  had  a  con 
tempt  for  any  one  who  would  suggest  such 
a  mode  of  fighting.  Consequently,  their 
thoughts  did  not  run  in  the  direction  of 
iron-clads. 

It  was  absolutely  necessary  that  Mr. 
Welles  should  have  an  adviser  in  his  de 
partment  who  could  take  charge  of  the  prac 
tical  part  of  naval  affairs,  and  who  by  his 
knowledge  of  the  wants  of  the  Navy  could 
assist  him  to  meet  the  difficulties  which  were 
daily  accumulating,  and  almost  overpower 
ing  him.  It  would  not  have  been  looked  upon 
favorably  had  he  selected  a  naval  officer  be 
low  the  highest  grades,  no  matter  what  his 
abilities  were,  for  such  a  thing  had  never 
occurred  in  the  Navy  !  That  was  argument 
enough,  without  mentioning  that  it  would 
have  been  a  reflection  upon  the  older  offi 
cers.  It  was  for  this  reason  that  Mr.  G.  V. 
Fox,  late  a  lieutenant  in  the  Navy,  was  se 
lected  by  President  Lincoln  as  naval  ad 
viser,  and  finally  appointed  Assistant  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy.  It  was  not  until  Mr. 
Fox  was  appointed  that  due  attention  was 
paid  to  the  building  of  iron-clads  and  other 
vessels  appropriate  for  coast  and  river  ser 
vice,  and  it  was  to  Mr.  Fox  that  we  were 
indebted  during  the  war  for  the  life  and 
energy  that  pervaded  the  naval  adminis 
tration,  and  his  ready  compliance  with  the 
requisitions  of  officers,  which  enabled  them 
to  carry  on  naval  operations  with  vigor. 

Secretary  Welles  was  not  an  eminent 
statesman,  yet  he  had  qualities  of  a  high 
order.  He  was  loyal  to  his  government, 
held  no  intercourse  with  men  of  dis 
loyal  sentiments,  and  drove  out  of  the 
service  all  those  officers  who  wavered  in 
their  allegiance.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
judgment  in  many  matters  relating  to  the 
business  that  came  before  him,  and  he 
never  showed  more  wisdom  than  when  he 
acquiesced  in  the  President's  appointment 
of  Mr.  Fox  as  his  naval  adviser. 


356 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


The  civil  war  had  now  assumed  such  large 
proportions,  and  so  rapidly,  that  even  the 
wisest  men  were  at  fault  as  to  what  should 
be  done  to  meet  the  style  of  warfare  which 
the  Confederates  were  inaugurating  all 
over  the  South.  With  the  assumed  re 
sources  of  the  North,  every  step  the  Con 
federates  made  in  military  or  naval  warfare 
should  have  been  more  than  met  by  a  cor 
responding  move  on  the  Federal  side;  but 
this  was  not  done.  It  was  known  early  in 
the  war  that  the  Confederates  were  build 
ing  iron-dads  of  a  peculiar  character,  but 
no  one  seemed  to  know  exactly  what  their 
character  was. 

There  is  no  doubt  of  one,  thing,  viz.,  that 
long  before  the  prominent  secession  leaders 
had  signified  their  intention  of  leaving  their 
seats  in  Congress,  every  move  had  been  de 
termined.  It  was  known  exactly  how  many 
small  arms  were  wanted,  and  how  many 
great  guns  and  pieces  of  artillery;  and  it 
was  known  that  for  a  beginning  there  were 
enough  of  these  arms  stowed  away  in  the 
Government  arsenals  scattered  through  the 
Southern  States,  to  say  nothing  of  the  great 
armament  that  had  been  supplied  from  time 
to  time  to  the  States  for  the  use  of  their 
militia.  It  is  thus  seen  that  in  respect  to 
arms  the  Confederates  had  no  right  to  com 
plain  of  deficiencies.  At  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run  they  were  as  well  supplied  with  all  the 
appliances  of  war  as  were  the  government 
troops,  who  were  forced  to  retreat  on  that 
day  before  the  fire  of  this  first  army  of 
the  insurgents. 

For  some  time  all  these  matters  had  been 
considered  by  the  southern  leaders;  and 
when  the  time  came  to  act,  eleven  States  rose 
as  one  man,  and  the  government  had  not 
only  to  put  down  the  State  of  South  Caro 
lina,  with  a  small  number  of  insurrection 
ists,  but  millions  of  people  from  Kentucky 
to  Maryland,  all  armed  and  equipped  and 
formed  into  battalions,  as  if  they  had  been 
the  great  reserve  of  the  nation,  ready  to 
jump  to  their  arms  at  the  call  of  the  gen 
eral  government.  This  system  of  prepara 
tion  extended  to  the  Navy  as  well  as  to  the 
Army.  The  Confederate  leaders  knew,  two 
years  before  the  war,  what  officers  of  the 
Navy  would  unite  with  them  in  humiliating 
the  old  flag,  and  though  these  officers  made 
no  pledges,  and  doubtless  hoped  that  the 
event  would  never  take  place  that  would 
disturb  their  position  under  the  United 
States  Government,  yet  they  had  made  up 
their  minds  what  to  do  in  case  the  struggle 
ensued. 

It  is  not  likely  that  the  Southern  leaders 
would  lose  any  opportunity  of  gaining  in 
formation  from  Southern  officers  that  would 
enable  them  to  carry  out  their  plans,  and  it 
is  free  to  presume,  from  what  we  now  know, 
that  a  full  discussion  of  all  matters  was 


carried  on  between  the  promoters  of  seces 
sion  and  officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy  up 
to  the  last  moment;  many  of  the  latter  may 
have  entered  into  these  discussions  and 
given  all  the  desired  information  without 
realizing  that  they  were  unfaithful  to  the 
trusts  confided  to  them  by  their  lawful  gov 
ernment. 

We  believe  that  all  the  iron-clads  that 
finally  got  afloat  or  wer<;  burned  on  the 
stocks  were  calculated  for  before  the  war. 
the  places  of  building  them  decided  upon, 
the  difficulties  the  Federal  Government 
would  have  to  contend  with  to  get  at  them, 
the  material  required  for  their  construction, 
the  time  required  to  build  them,  and  the 
officers  and  artisans  who  were  to  be  em 
ployed  in  the  work  selected.  This  may  seem 
doubtful,  but  the  Confederates  could  never, 
with  all  their  energy  and  determination  to 
win.  have  achieved  such  work  as  they  per 
formed  in  the  building  of  an  iron-clad  navy 
without  having  had  preconceived  plans. 

It  is  a  compliment  to  their  energy  and 
ingenuity  to  say  that  they  could  build 
anything  at  all  at  the  South  beyond  their 
light  river-steamers.  They  had  so  long  de 
pended  upon  the  Northern  machine-shops 
for  all  heavy  work  needed  in  the  South, 
that  they  had  no  great  factories  of  their 
own.  Even  the  Tredegar  Works  at  Rich 
mond,  which  supplied  a  large  number  of 
the  Brooke  rifles  for  the  Confederacy,  owed 
its  existence  to  the  fact  that  it  was  sus 
tained  by  the  United  States  Government 
in  the  first  instance,  and  by  large  contracts 
given  it  for  naval  ordnance  up  to  1861,  some 
of  which  was  on  the  lathe  when  Sumter  fired 
the  first  gun. 

If  the  Southerners  did  not  make  their 
plans  before  the  war  actually  broke  out, 
they  deserve  unbounded  credit  for  the 
energy  displayed  in  getting  into  existence 
such  formidable  vessels  as  they  did  before 
the  North  had  done  anything  but  build  the 
little  "Monitor,"  which  was  ready  nearly  on 
the  same  day  that  the  "  Merrimac  "  created 
such  consternation  at  Hampton  Roads. 

It  is  true,  that  through  the  enterprise  and 
energy  of  a  western  man.  Mr.  James  B. 
Eads.  we  got  some  iron-clads  afloat  on  the 
Mississippi,  but  it  was  not  until  the  17th  of 
June,  1861.  that  the  Quartermaster-general 
of  the  Army  issued  proposals  for  building 
the  vessels.  Great  progress  was  made 
upon  these  quasi  iron-clads  when  the  work 
was  once  under  full  headway;  but  with  all 
the  remarkable  services  they  performed, 
what  were  they  when  compared  with  the 
"Virginia,"  the  "Louisiana."  the  "  Albe- 
marle,"  "Atlanta,"  "Mobile,"  and  three 
large  vessels  built  or  building  at  Yazoo  City 
—the  "Mississippi,"  burnt  at  New  Orleans 
—the  "Tennessee,"  that  fought  a  whole 
squadron  (including  three  iron-clads)  in  Mo- 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


357 


bile  Bay — and  the  "  Arkansas.''  that  passed 
through  a  fleet  of  vessels  (carrying  150 
guns),  without  receiving  more  serious  in 
jury  than  the  wounding  of  some  fifteen  men 
and  the  slight  derangement  of  part  of  her 
armor  and  machinery? 

Previous  to  the  civil  war  it  had  been 
the  aim  of  the  United  States  Government 
to  excel  all  other  nations  in  the  quality 
and  size  of  its  vessels-of-war.  If  a  steam- 
frigate  was  built  in  Europe  of  large  size 
and  heavily  armed,  the  U.  S.  Government 
at  once  laid  down  the  lines  of  a  larger 
vessel  carrying  many  more  guns,  and  these 
guns  of  a  calibre  hitherto  unknown  in  naval 
warfare.  We  had,  in  fact,  reached  the 
point  of  excellence  in  our  ships  some 
years  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  the  great  steam- frigates 
which  figured  during  the  war  in  attacks  on 
heavy  earth-works  were  sample  vessels  of 
our  Navy.  They  had  all  steamed  to  differ 
ent  parts  of  the  world,  and  their  appearance 
and  power  called  forth  the  applause  of  all 
foreign  officers  who  visited  them.  There 
were  no  vessels  in  Europe  of  this  class  that 
could  compare  with  them;  yet,  with  all 
these  triumphs  over  foreigners,  we  had  only 
one  vessel  at  the  time  of  the  "  Merrimac's" 
appearance  that  was  able  to  compete  with 
her.  The  only  vessels  we  had  building 
were  the  "New  Ironsides'"  (a  splendid  ship 
of  her  class)  and  the  •'Galena."  a  perfect 
failure  as  an  iron-clad,  as  proved  by  her 
weakness  on  the  James  River,  where  she 
attacked  the  Confederate  batteries. 

It  required  some  time  for  the  Department 
to  take  in  the  true  situation  of  affairs,  and 
it  was  not  until  after  the  battle  between  the 
"Monitor"'  and  "Merrimac"  that  they  saw 
how  nearly  the  nation  escaped  a  great 
calamity,  which  had  been  averted  by  the 
invention  of  John  Ericsson,  and  the  gallant 
officer  who  fought  the  Union  iron-clad  with 
so  much  skill  and  bravery.  Then  the  Navy 
Department  rose  to  the  occasion,  and  put 
ting  forth  all  its  energy,  more  than  re 
deemed  itself  for  the  apparent  supineness 
of  the  past. 

At  first  neither  the  constructors  nor  the 
Navy  Department  had  a  fair  conception 
of  what  was  needed  in  the  Navy  to  meet 
the  new  order  of  vessels  that  were  being 
built  in  the  South.  The  Department  was 
overwhelmed  with  a  multiplicity  of  plans 
that  were  presented  by  outside  parties,  who 
were  backed  by  strong  political  friends  in 
Congress  whom  it  was  advisable  the  Sec 
retary  should  conciliate.  Some  of  these 
plans  were  so  wild  and  impracticable  that 
they  could  not  be  considered  for  a  moment. 
The  attention  required  by  these  claimants 
and  their  political  backers  hampered  the 
Department  greatly:  and  they  were  not  so 
much  indebted  to  John  Ericsson  for  driving 


the  '' Merrimac"  into  port,  as  for  getting 
rid  of  the  pack  of  inventors  and  advisers 
who  had  been  hanging  about  the  doors  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. until  none  but  a  person 
of  Mr.  Welles'  placid  temper  or  Mr.  Fox's 
inflexible  will  could  have  been  able  to  stand 
the  strain.  The  little  ''Monitor"  settled  all 
these  inventors  at  the  same  time  that  she 
settled  the  "  Merrimac,"  and  Ericsson  not 
only  rose  at  once  in  the  estimation  of  the 
public,  but  his  standing  with  the  Govern 
ment  became  assured. 

From  that  time  forth  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  may  be  said  to  have  assumed  new  life 
and  vigor,  and  the  most  hypercritical  his 
torian  can  scarcely  find  fault  with  it  for 
want  of  energy  displayed  in  building  ves 
sels  of  the  new  type,  which,  when  finished, 
could  bid  defiance  to  the  heaviest  ships  of 
any  foreign  navy. 

There  was  at  one  time  in  England  a  large 
number  of  British  naval  officers  who  Avould 
not  listen  to  the  idea  of  having  an  iron-clad 
navy.  The  French  were  trying  to  introduce 
iron~-clads  into  their  service,  but  on  a  small 
scale;  and  their  want  of  success  did  not  en 
courage  Englishmen  to  copy  their  tradi 
tional  enemies.  They  still  clung  to  their 
idols,  the  staunch  old  wooden  three-deck 
ers,  seventy-fours  and  frigates,  and  scouted 
the  idea  of  laying  aside  these  noble  struc 
tures  for  a  class  of  vessel  that  had  never 
been  tested  at  sea,  and  which,  in  the  opin 
ion  of  many,  would  go  to  the  bottom  in 
the  first  gale  of  wind  they  encountered. 
They  had  in  some  cases  partially  protected 
the  wood-work  abreast  of  the  guns,  but  not 
to  any  extent. 

There  was  no  master-mind  to  take  hold 
of  the  subject,  and  to  evoke  a  system  that 
would  at  once  show  up  the  weakness  of  the 
British  navy,  and  convince  the  authorities 
that  the  days  of  the  wooden  monarchs  of 
the  sea  were  numbered. 

The  Federal  Navy  Department  long  before 
had  its  eyes  on  the  great  English  navy  that 
made  no  move  in  the  direction  of  changing 
the  character  of  its  vessels — a  navy  full  of 
clever  and  scientific  men,  who  should  have 
been  ever  alive  to  any  theory  that  makes 
one  navy  superior  to  another,  but  who  now 
refused  to  listen  to  the  talk  about  iron-clad 
ships  and  scouted  the  idea  of  adopting  them. 

It  would  have  been  a  bold  man,  indeed, 
who,  as  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  would  have 
taken  the  responsibility  of  building  any 
number  of  untried  "Monitors"  without 
something  to  justify  him  in  doing  so.  The 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  himself  and  those 
about  him  had  no  positive  belief  at  first^  in 
the  success  of  Ericsson's  "Monitor."  The 
plan  was  so  contrary  to  all  preconceived 
ideas  of  a  fighting-ship  that  they  could  not 
believe  it  would  do  what  Ericsson  predicted 
for  it. 


35* 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


The  chief  constructor  of  the  navy,  Mr. 
John  Lenthall,  at  first  condemned  the 
"Monitor"  in  toto,  and  he  was  at  that 
time  the  ablest  naval  architect  in  any  coun 
try,  having  built  some  of  the  most  effective 
ships  afloat. 

All  these  things  were  enough  to  have  de 
terred  Secretary  Welles  from  embarking  in 
the  iron-clad  business;  but  he  did  take  hold 
of  the  Ericsson  plan,  and  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  it  was  necessary  to  have  something 
with  which  to  meet  the  "Merrimac."  he 
made  a  contract  with  this  inventor  which 
in  the  end  led  to  much  larger  vessels.  As 
soon  as  the  in  vulnerability  of  the  "  Monitor" 
was  established  by  her  en 
counter  with  the  most  pow 
erful  iron -clad  afloat,  Secre 
tary  Welles  was  no  longer 
backward  in  advocating  this 
class  of  vessel. 

To  show  how  little  was 
known  about  iron-clads  in 
the  U.  S.  Navy  and  how  lit  • 
tie  support  the  Department 
received  from  that  direction: 
A  Board,  established  by  Act 
of  Congress,  "to  consist  of 
three  skillful  line  officers  of 
the  Navy,"  was  appointed  to 
look  into  the  subject  of  iron 
clads;  and,  if  their  report 
was  favorable,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  was  to  be  au 
thorized  to  build  one  or  more 
armored  or  iron  -  clad,  or 
steel-clad,  steamships  or 
floating  batteries,  etc.,  etc. 
This  law  was  passed  in  Sep 
tember,  1861.  The  Board  of 
Officers  appointed  to  decide 
upon  this  matter  approached 
the  subject  very  carefully, 
saying:  "Distrustful  of  our 
own  ability  to  discharge  this 
duty,  which  the  law  requires 
should  be  performed  by  three 
skillful  naval  officers,  we 
approach  the  subject  with 
diffidence,  having  no  experi 
ence  and  but  scanty  knowl 
edge  in  this  branch" of  naval  architecture." 
This  Board  was  governed  very  much  in 
their  reports  by  the  information  and  opin 
ions  which  they  could  obtain  from  English 
authorities.  They  recommended  three  out 
of  seventeen  plans  that  had  been  submitted 
(one  of  them  John  Ericsson's),  but  with 
reservations  and  a  proviso  (which  was 
enough  to  frighten  off  any  constructor) 
that  the  vessels  must  be  a  success  in  all 
respects,  or  else  be  thrown  back  on  the 
hands  of  the  contractors  !  " 

The  Board  on  their  own  account  recom 
mended  that  armor   and    heavy   guns    be 


placed  on  one  of  our  river  craft;  "  or.  if  none 
will  bear  it.  to  construct  a  scow  that  will 
answer,  to  plate  and  shield  the  guns  for 
river  service  on  the  Potomac:  to  be  con 
structed  or  prepared  at  the  Washington 
Navy  Yard  for  immediate  use  ! "  The 
Board  did  not  say  how  this  iron-clad  war 
rior  was  to  be  propelled. 

When  three  of  the  most  skillful  officers 
of  the  Navy  could  give  the  Secretary  no 
better  information  than  this,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  he  was  doubtful  of  his  own  ability  to 
decide  in  such  a  case:  but  he  did  decide, 
and  in  favor  of  Ericsson,  who  proposed 
not  only  the  most  reasonable  price  for 


JOHN  LENTHALL,  CHIEF  OF  BUREAU  OF  CONSTRUCTION. 


his  vessels,  but  the  unity  of  the  design 
seemed  to  strike  the  Board  as  something 
likely  to  succeed.  The  "New  Ironsides" 
was  also  contracted  for  with  Cramp  & 
Sons  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  "Galena."  to 
be  armored  with  three -inch  iron,  to  be 
built  by  Bushnell  &  Co.,  New  Haven.  Con 
necticut.  These  three  vessels,  it  is  said,  were 
to  represent  the  three  types  of  the  American 
idea  of  iron-clads — though,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  the  "New  Ironsides,"  very  few  per 
sons  had  any  faith  in  them. 

This  was  the  first  attempt  at  building  an 
iron-clad  navy  for  operations  on  the  coast, 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


359 


and  the  "  Monitor "  was  the  only  one  of 
them  that  was  ready  to  meet  the  enemy's 
greatest  fighting-machine,  '•  just  in  the  nick 
of  time." 

There  was  one  thing  which  the  Navy  De 
partment  lost  sight  of  altogether,  and  that 
was  that  the  '•  Merrimac"  was  simply  a 
large  frigate  heing  metamorphosed  into 
an  iron-clad.  We  had  five  vessels  similar 
to  the  "  Merrimac,"  and  any  two  of  them 
could  have  been  cut  down  and  armored 
much  more  effectively  than  the  *'  Merrimac'' 
was.  The  work  could  have  been  done  at 
our  northern  navy  yards  in  half  of  the 
time  it  could  be  done  by  the  Confederates, 
and  we  would  have  had  two  heavy  iron 
clads  ready  to  meet  the  Confederate  mon 
ster  if  ever  she  should  get  out  of  Norfolk. 

What  matters  it  ?  some  wrill  say.  The 
''Monitor''  drove  the  "Merrimac"  back, 
and  demonstrated  the  superiority  of  the 
American  type  of  iron-clad  over  the  most 
powerful  war-ship  ever  until  that  time  built 
in  any  navy,  placed  us  on  an  equality  with 
England  and  France,  and  gave  our  govern 
ment  a  sure  plan  they  could  follow  with 
safety. 

Yes,  but  we  would  have  been  saved  the 
disgrace  and  disaster  of  seeing  two  of  our 
finest  frigates  sunk  or  destroyed  at  New 
port  News,  550  gallant  officers  and  men  slain 
almost  in  cold  blood,  three  frigates  run  on 
shore  and  at  the  mercy  of  the  "  Merrimac," 
and  every  ship  at  Hampton  Roads  thrown 
into  a  state  of  panic,  which  unfortunately 
was  witnessed  by  a  foreign  man-of-war 
lying  at  anchor  off  Fortress  Monroe.  It 
would  have  saved  the  government  a  shock 
which  it  did  not  recover  from  for  some  time, 
and  the  Northern  people  from  the  mortifica 
tion  of  knowing  that  our  entire  fleet  at 
Hampton  Roads  had  been  beaten  by  one 
Confederate  vessel  in  the  first  naval  encoun 
ter  of  the  war. 

With  all  this,  the  lesson  learned  was  a 
useful  one.  It  opened  the  eyes  of  Congress 
to  the  necessity  of  making  more  liberal  ap 
propriations  for  the  Navy,  and  made  them 
listen  at  last  to  the  appeals  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  to  strengthen  this  branch  of  the 
service. 

The  Board  above  referred  to  recommended 
that  the  Department  should  ask  Congress, 
at  the  next  session,  to  appropriate  810,000 
for  experiments  on  iron  plates  of  different 
kinds  !  As  if  the  Department  could  wrait 
while  the  enemy  was  thundering  at  its 
doors!  But  it  is  due  to  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  to  state  that  it  was  not  at  all  influ 
enced  by  such  a  procrastinating  policy. 
Mr.  Welles  while  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
received  his  share  of  abuse,  and  on  no 
point  was  he  more  severely  criticised  than 
on  his  selection  of  the  "Monitor''  as  the 
type  of  American  iron-clads,  for  the  princi 


ple  did  not  meet  with  favor  among  that 
class  of  officers  who  were  expected  to  serve 
in  them.  Mr.  Welles  could  not  expect  to 
be  exempt  from  criticism,  or  be  excused 
from  the  responsibility  of  any  failure  that 
might  attend  his  experiments  with  the 
Navy.  He  was  in  the  position  of  the 
commander  of  a  fleet,  being  alone  re 
sponsible  for  success  or  failure.  Though 
his  subordinates  may  do  a  great  deal  of  the 
work,  and  make  a  great  many  suggestions, 
yet  the  Commander-in-chief  is  entitled  to 
all  the  honors  in  case  of  success,  and  must 
also  bear  the  blame  of  failure.  Such  has 
been  the  history  of  war  since  wars  began. 
This  rule  also  applies  to  heads  of  depart 
ments.  They  may  have  the  ablest  subordi 
nates  and  be*  relieved  of  many  of  the  cares 
of  office,  yet  they  must  shoulder  all  responsi 
bility  and  take  the  odium  of  every  case  of 
failure. 

In  writing  history,  one  must  be  careful 
not  to  let  his  predilections  in  favor  of  one 
man  lead  him  to  do  injustice  to  another, 
especially  if  this  other  is  the  head  of  a  de 
partment  and  the  responsible  party. 

No  matter  what  the  abilities  of  the  sub 
ordinates  are,  or  how  much  their  services 
have  conduced  to  the  desired  end,  one  must 
look  only  to  the  head  of  his  department 
for  reward,  as  a  lieutenant  does  to  his  cap 
tain. 

It  is  not  always  that  men  receive  in  their 
life-time  the  amount  of  credit  due  for  their 
work;  it  oftener  happens  that  they  receive 
more  honor  after  death.  In  the  course  of 
years  history  will  do  them  justice.  The  pa 
tient,  plodding  historian  will  come  along, 
and  taking  no  account  of  time,  will  delve  into 
the  mass  of  records  which  lie  at  his  dis 
posal,  when  every  word  is  carefully  scanned, 
and  the  truth  is  sure  to  be  evolved.  Then 
men  are  weighed  according  to  their  merits, 
and  assigned  to  their  rightful  positions. 

All  the  sensational  histories  written  dur 
ing  the  war,  or  directly  after  it,  have  long 
since  been  consigned  to  that  bourne  from 
which  sensational  history  never  returns. 
He  who  now  undertakes  to  write  of  the  war 
must  prepare  himself  for  severe  criticism 
if  he  tries  to  deprive  any  one  of  credit. 

Time  is  a  great  promoter  of  good  feeling 
and  softener -down  of  asperities,  enabling 
a  writer  of  the  present  day  to  view  things 
in  a  different  light  from  what  he  did  twenty 
years  ago.  It  would  be  better,  nevertheless, 
that  a  century  should  pass  before  the  historv 
of  a  war  is  written,  when  all  the  partici 
pators  in  it  are  dead ;  for  history  can  be 
better  told  from  the  written  or  printed 
records  of  the  day  than  from  the  recollec 
tions  of  any  one  who  lived  among  the  scenes 
he  attempts  to  describe;  but,  if  men  will 
write,  they  must  lay  aside  all  personal  feel 
ing,  and  keeping  the  records  before  their 


360 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


eyes,  do  their  duty  "  tho'  the  heavens  should 
fall." 

Thus,  in  this  history,  in  speaking  of  the 
work  done  by  the  Navy  Department  to  bring 
to  an  end  the  terrible  rebellion  that  was 
devastating  the  country,  the  writer  can 
only  recognize  Mr.  Welles,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  as  the  one  who  controlled 
the  great  machine  that  was  turning  out 
ships,  gun -boats,  iron-clads,  etc.,  with  a 
rapidity  that  astonished  the  powers  of  Eu 
rope,  who  were  looking  on  with  amazement 
at  the  Federal  Government  while  the  latter 
was  building  a  Navy  capable  of  setting  at 
defiance  even  France  or  England. 

While  Mr.  Fox.  the  Assistant  Secretary, 
was  bending  all  his  energies  to  devise  the 
class  of  vessels  best  suited  for  the  purposes 
of  our  war,  and  to  meet  the  necessities 
of  the  occasion,  and  Mr.  Faxon,  the  chief 
clerk,  was  giving  his  undivided  attention  to 
the  civil  branch  of  the  Department,  Mr. 
Welles  was  presiding  over  all  and  giving  to 
each  his  moral  support. 

Mr.  Welles  was  the  responsible  head;  it 
was  his  judgment  that  decided  almost  all 
matters;  it  was  his  coolness  and  placidity 
of  temper  that  controlled  those  around  him 
and  smoothed  over  the  little  asperities  and 
jealousies  which  would  spring  up  among 
his  subordinates — with  a  smooth  word  he 
brought  back  to  his  proper  position  anyone 
who  attempted  to  assume  more  than  his 
rightful  authority — in  this  way  making  a 
unit  of  the  department.  Mr.  Fox  was  the 
able  assistant,  in  charge  of  the  general 
naval  duties  that  had  in  years  gone  by  per 
tained  to  the  Board  of  Naval  Commission 
ers,  while  Mr.  Faxon  was  the  chief  clerk 
in  charge  of  the  Civil  Department  and  the 
records. 

Secretary  Welles  was  the  judicial,  finan 
cial,  and  political  head,  under  whose  direc 
tion  everything  was  done;  all  plans  were 
submitted  to  him,  and  no  movement  was 
made  without  his  consent,  and  he  weighed 
every  matter  before  coming  to  a  conclusion. 
He  knew  everything  that  was  going  on  in 
the  Navy;  and  as  a  proof  that  he  under 
stood  and  appreciated  all  that  was  taking 
place,  and  that  he  was  observing  the  proper 
steps  to  provide  for  the  future,  it  is  only 
necessary  for  one  to  read  the  numerous 
able  reports  he  wrote  from  time  to  time  on 
the  condition  of  the  Navy  and  its  require 
ments,  or  his  descriptions  of  the  operations 
of  the  different  squadrons.  These  docu 
ments  will  convince  any  one  that  Secretary 
Welles  had  abilities  of  no  ordinary  kind, 
and  that,  with  few  omissions,  he  did  everv- 
thing  that  could  be  done  to  put  the  Navy  in 
a  creditable  condition. 

That  he  could  have  accomplished  all 
he  did  without  Mr.  Fox's  assistance  no 
one  pretends  to  claim ;  but  he  showed 


his  judgment  in  listening  to  this  gentle 
man's  recommendations,  and  by  placing 
confidence  in  one  who  had  the  best  interests 
of  the  service  at  heart.  Hereafter,  then, 
when  speaking  of  the  Navy  Department, 
we  shall  regard  Secretary  Welles  as  the  re 
sponsible  head  to  whom  all  under  him  owed 
proper  obedience  and  their  best  efforts  to 
aid  in  the  difficult  task  he  had  before  him. 

In  all  that  regarded  the  general  increase 
of  the  Nav}r.  the  Department  had  made 
good  use  of  the  means  at  its  disposal.  The 
Navy  Yards  and  private  establishments 
were  full  of  work  to  overflowing.  Mr.  John 
Lenthall,  a  constructor  of  the  highest  order, 
was  always  ready,  with  his  practical  skill 
and  science,  for  any  emergency.  He  had 
planned  the  great  frigates.  "Colorado." 
"  Wabash,"  "Minnesota.''  "  Merrimac,"and 
"  Franklin,"  which  had  elicited  the  applause 
of  the  world.  He  planned  the  "90-day 
gun-boats "  immediately  after  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Avar  (a  small  class  of  vessel  car 
rying  one  11-inch  gun  forward  and  two 
light  32-pounders  aft,  drawing  only  eight 
or  ten  feet  of  water,  and  therefore  able  to 
enter  any  of  the  Southern  ports).  These 
vessels  were  of  the  greatest  use  during  the 
war,  and  their  value  could  not  be  over 
estimated. 

On  a  requisition  from  Mr.  Fox,  Mr.  Len 
thall  designed  the  double-enders,  with  their 
heavy  batteries  of  9  and  11-inch  guns  and 
ten  feet  draft  of  water,  that  could  follow 
the  "90-day  gun-boats"  through  the  most 
narrow  and  tortuous  streams,  where,  not 
having  room  to  turn,  they  could  go  out 
again  stern  foremost,  like  a  New  York 
ferry-boat  going  from  slip  to  slip. 

And  when  Mr.  Lenthall  was  notified  that 
the  Confederates  were  having  built  in  Eng 
land  fast  clippers  armed  with  English  guns, 
manned  by  English  seamen,  and  com 
manded  by  Confederate  officers,  he  at  once 
designed  a  score  of  swift  and  beautiful  cor 
vettes,  that  were  able  to  overtake  any  of 
the  Confederate  cruisers  and  capture  them 
when  they  got  them  under  their  guns.  One 
of  these  "did  actually  destroy  the  "  Ala 
bama." 

Mr.  Lenthall  also  designed  those  large 
ships-of-war  of  over  3,000  tons  (on  Mr.  Fox's 
suggestion),  the  first  of  which  made  seven 
teen  and  one-half  knots  per  hour  for  twenty- 
four  consecutive  hours,  the  greatest  speed 
that  had  been  attained  at  that  time  by  any 
naval  power.  In  this  case  the  ability  of  Mr. 
Isherwood,  chief  of  Bureau  of  Steam  Engi 
neering,  was  brought  into  play.'  He  designed 
the  engines  and  boilers  of  these  ships,  as  he 
did  the  machinery  of  all  others  planned  by 
Mr.  Lenthall. 

Mr.  Lenthall  could  not  at  first  be  made  to 
admit  that  a  vessel  of  the  "Monitors" 
build  could  be  made  efficacious  for  war  pur- 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


361 


poses,  or  live  in  a  sea-way,  and  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  say,  while  she  was  building,  that 
she  would  go  down  as  soon  as  she  was 
launched.  It  was  not  until  after  the  battle 
of  the  "  Monitor''  and  "  Merrimac"  that  he 
had  any  confidence  in  the  former.  Then  Mr. 
Lenthall's  ideas  underwent  a  radical  change, 
and  while  he  sighed  over  what  he  knew 
would  be  the  end  of  all  his  beautiful  wooden 
vessels,  with  whose  fine  models  he  had 
spent  so  many  hours  of  his  life,  his  practi 
cal  mind  at  once  grasped  the  subject,  with 
new  ideas  engrafted  on  the  first  project, 
and  in  the  end  he  produced  vessels  of  the 
Monitor  type  that  had  not  their  equals  at 
that  time  in  any  European  navy. 

Whatever  alterations  may  have  been 
made  in  the  Monitor  system,  the  original 
idea  was  that  of  John  Ericsson;  any  change 


B.  F.  ISHERWOOD,  U.  S.  NAVY,  CHIEF  OF  BUREAU  OF 
STEAM-ENGINEERING. 

or  improvement  that  left  the  hull  submerged, 
or  nearly  so,  and  retained  the  revolving 
turret,  was  his  by  right.  The  criticisms  on 
his  first  invention  led  him  to  consider  the 
importance  of  some  what  changing  his  plans, 
and  out  of  this  came  the  ;%  Miantonomah." 
"  Monadnock,"  etc.,  double-turreted  moni 
tors,  which,  with  their  four  15-inch  guns, 
were  more  than  a  match  for  any  three- 
decker. 

Though  there  were  some  objections  to 
the  first  Monitor,  there  was  nothing  to  call 
for  the  bitter  criticisms  with  which  the  ves 
sel  was  assailed.  Theoretically,  the  original 
plan  had  advantages  over  the  later  ideas: 
for  instance,  the  armor  projected  over  the 
sides,  stern  and  bow  on  what  was  called 
the  overhang,  which  carried  out  the  idea 


Ericsson  first  conceived  of  building  a  raft 
that  could  not  sink;  which  could  not  be 
struck  by  shot  below  the  water  line;  which 
could  not  be  rammed:  where  the  rudder  and 
propeller  were  entirely  secure  from  shot  or 
ramming;  and  where  raising  the  anchor 
and  all  other  operations  could  be  performed 
without  a  single  person  appearing  on  deck. 

If  the  '"Monitor"  was  not  as  efficient  a 
vessel  as  some  of  those  that  came  after  her, 
it  is  no  reason  why  any  of  her  arrange 
ments  should  be  condemned.  She  performed 
a  more  important  part  in  the  history  of  the 
war  than  any  of  her  successors,  and  her 
name  will  go  down  in  history  when  the 
names  of  other  vessels  of  her  class  will 
have  been  forgotten.  Had  the  original  de 
sign  been  received  by  the  government  as 
it  ought  to  have  been,  and  money  spent 
without  stint  to  produce  at  the  first  such 
vessels  as  the  ;'  Miantonomah"  and ''  Mon 
adnock,"  either  of  them  would  have  de 
stroyed  the ';  Merrimac  "  in  twenty  minutes. 

We  prided  ourselves  in  those  days  on  the 
character  of  our  ordnance,  which  was  the 
best  of  its  kind  in  the  world — we  refer  to 
the  11-inch  and  9-inch  smooth-bore — rifled 
cannon  had  not  at  that  time  made  such 
an  advance  as  to  satisfy  us  that  it  would  be 
the  gun  of  the  future.  Admiral  Dahlgren, 
who  had  brought  our  naval  ordnance  to 
a  state  of  perfection,  considered  the  11-inch 
the  most  powerful  gun  in  the  world;  and 
having  accomplished  what  he  considered 
the  grandest  feat  of  gun-making  in  modern 
times,  he  was  contented  to  rest  upon  his 
laurels. 

There  was  a  diversity  of  opinion  at  that 
time  between  the  ordnance  authorities  of 
the  Army  and  Navy  in  regard  to  the  kind 
of  guns  that  were  required,  which  engen 
dered  some  ill-feeling  between  the  heads  of 
the  two  branches  of  the  service,  the  result 
of  which  was  that  there  was  no  interchange 
of  ideas.  The  Naval  Chief  of  Bureau  was 
satisfied  that  he  had  found  in  the  11-inch 
gun  all  that  was  desirable  for  naval  pur 
poses,  never  considering  the  great  change 
that  might  occur  at  any  moment  in  the 
shape  and  character  of  war  ships  that 
would  involve  the  necessity  of  using  larger 
guns.  The  result  was  that  the  new  era 
came  and  found  us  with  only  the  11-inch 
gun  on  hand  in  the  Navy. 

It  is  not  certain  that  the  original  Moni 
tor  would  have  carried  two  guns  of  larger 
size,  but  her  dimensions  and  steam  power 
might  easily  have  been  increased  at  small 
additional  expense,  and  she  could  have  been 
provided  with  15-inch  guns. 

The  ordnance  department  of  the  Army 
had  gone  to  work  very  quietly  and  cast 
some  guns  of  that  size,  somewhat  on  the 
Dahlgren  pattern.  Whether  the  Naval  Ord 
nance  Department  knew  of  the  casting  of 


3C2 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


this  15-inch  gun  we  are  not  prepared  to  say, 
but  it  is  certain  neither  Secretary  Welles  nor 
Mr.  Fox  knew  anything  about  it  until  after 
the  battle  of  the  "Monitor"  and  "Merrimac." 

The  account  of  the  destruction  of  the 
"  Cumberland"  and  "Congress"  had  been 
flashed  over  the  wires  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  and  Mr.  Fox  started  at  once  for 
Hampton  Roads  to  see  if  he  could  be  of  any 
service,  and  to  report  011  the  condition  of 
affairs. 

Mr.  Fox  was  on  the  dock  at  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  where  he  could  witness  the  fight  be 
tween  the  iron-clads.  He  noticed  that  the 
shot  from  the  "Monitors"  guns  glanced 
off  from  the  sloping  sides  of  the  "Merri 
mac,"  while  the  rifled  shot  of  the  "Merri 
mac  "  seemed  to  have  no  effect  on  the  turret 
of  the  "Monitor."  "I  wonder,"  he  said, 
mentally,  "why  no  one  has  ever  thought  of 
casting  larger  guns  with  heavier  shot,  that 
would  knock  in  that  fellow's  sides  at  the 
first  broadside."  As  this  idea  struck  him, 
he  cast  his  eyes  on  a  monster  gun  that  was 
lying  on  the  dock  under  the  lifting-crane, 
and  on  examining  it  he  found  it  to  be  a 
15-inch  gun,  army  pattern,  intended  to  be 
mounted  at  Fortress  Monroe.  This  was  a 
revelation  to  the  Assistant  Secretary,  and 
he  returned  to  Washington  with  his-  ideas 
much  enlarged,  and  said  to  the  Secretary, 
"We  must  have  Monitors  that  will  carry 
turrets  large  enough  for  15-inch  guns;"  and 
Mr.  Welles,  on  hearing  his  story,  agreed 
with  him  in  his  conclusions. 

When  an  invention  which  has  been  doubt 
ed  and  decried  shows  its  superiority  over 
all  its  competitors,  and  its  detractors  are 
set  at  naught,  it  immediately  rises  to  the 
extreme  of  popularity;  and  so  it  was  with 
the  Monitor  system,  though  some  officers, 
who  thought  more  of  their  personal  com 
fort  than  they  did  of  results  to  be  achieved, 
greatly  preferred  the  "New  Ironsides,"  with 
her  sixteen  11-inch  guns,  to  a  Monitor  with 
two,  or  even  four,  15-inch  guns. 

The  "New  Ironsides"  was  without  doubt 
a  splendid  vessel,  and  we  ought  to  have 
built  more  of  the  same  kind;  but  although 
she  was  better  suited  for  attacking  fortifica 
tions  under  certain  conditions  than  the 
Monitors  were  (owing  to  the  number  of 
her  guns  and  the  consequent  rapidity  of 
her  fire),  she  would  have  stood  no  chance  in 
a  contest  with  one  of  the  single-turreted 
class — much  less  with  the  "  Monadnock  " 
or  "  Miantonomah." 

The  "New  Ironsides"  did  not  represent 
an  idea  that  could  be  carried  out  in  all 
future  naval  ships;  no  vessels  built  on  her 
plans  have  maintained  their  positions,  while 
the  Monitor  system  has  been  combined  in 
all  the  grand  fighting-ships  of  the  line  in 
England.  The  Monitor  turret  has  even  been 
used  for  land  fortifications,  and  it  will  no 


doubt  in  the  future  be  extensively  applied 
to  the  defence  of  bays  and  harbors. 

That  Ericsson  deserves  the  credit  for  the 
original  idea  of  the  Monitor  system,  no  one 
will  deny;  but,  next  to  Mr.  Ericsson,  the 
Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy  did  more 
than  any  one  else  to  improve  on  this  idea, 
and  apply  it  to  naval  warfare.  It  was  a 
matter  which  the  Navy  Department  had  to 
handle  cautiously;  for  though  the  "Moni 
tor"  had  demonstrated  her  superiority  over 
the  "Merrimac,"  yet  the  plan  was  not  alto 
gether  acceptable  to  the  majority  of  naval 
officers;  their  objections  were  taken  up  by 
members  of  Congress,  particularly  those 
belonging  to  the  "opposition,"  who  were 
averse  to  giving  liberal  appropriations  to 
"oppress  the  Southern  people;"  and  it  was 
only  when  anxiety  was  felt  lest  we  might 
be  involved  in  a  war  with  France  or  Eng 
land  that  patriotic  feelings  got  the  upper 
hand  of  sectional  tendencies,  and  Congress1 
came  forward  and  voted  the  necessary 
money  to  build  as  many  vessels  of  the 
Monitor  type  as  the  Navy  Department  asked 
for. 

To  go  further  into  an  explanation  of  all 
the  merits  of  the  Monitor  class  of  vessels 
would  take  the  writer  beyond  the  limits  as 
signed  to  this  history.  The  reader  must 
judge  of  their  merits  from  what  has  been 
done  with  them  by  intelligent  officers. 

To  the  uninitiated  the  history  of  the  diffi 
culties  attending  the  introduction  of  this 
new  type  of  vessel  into  the  Navy  will  bo 
very  much  less  interesting  than  the  battles 
in  which  they  engaged  and  the  hard  service 
they  performed  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  in 
shelling  forts  and  riding  out  heavy  gales. 
while  anchored  out  at  sea  —  defying  the 
elements  in  their  most  disastrous  forms. 

It  is  not  only  in  regard  to  the  men  who 
fought  the  battles  of  the  war  that  the  pub 
lic  should  be  interested,  but  they  should 
also  be  glad  to  understand  the  work  done 
by  those  in  official  positions  at  headquarters 
in  overcoming  tiresome  details,  in  fighting 
against  ignorance  and  prejudice,  or  in  pro 
viding  for  the  thousand  wants  of  fleets  and 
ships,  which,  without  proper  forethought 
on  their  part,  might  have  been  paralyzed, 
perhaps  in  a  time  of  great  danger  to  the 
nation. 

When  the  United  States  was  drawn  into 
the  dreadful  contest,  which  brought  sorrow 
and  desolation  to  so  many  homes,  the 
country  was  in  no  condition  to  go  into  a 
war  of  any  kind.  Had  we  become  involved 
at  that  time  with  a  fifth-rate  naval  power, 
we  should  have  been  humiliated  beyond 
anything  one  can  conceive;  our  cities  would 
have  been  bombarded  and  laid  waste,  our 
commerce  would  have  been  driven  from  the 
ocean  to  seek  shelter  under  some  neutral 
flag,  and  our  Navy,  instead  of  being  in 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


303 


condition  to  take  the  sea  against  our  ene 
mies,  would  have  been  laid  up  to  prevent 
its  being  captured. 

That  is  not  exactly  the  kind  of  Navy  a 
great  country  like  this  should  possess,  fit 
only  to  cruise  in  peaceful  times  and  over 
summer  seas.  But  such  has  been  the  policy 
of  our  statesmen  from  decade  to  decade, 
and  the  Navy  has  never  received  proper  at 
tention.  Even  the  great  civil  war  did  not 
seem  to  stir  up  Congress  to  remedy  the  evils 
that  had  fallen  upon  it  during  the  long 
peace. 

The  cry  was  in  the  halls  of  Congress, 
"  We  want  no  Xavy,''  and  the  Secretaries 
of  the  Navy,  up  to  1801,  echoed  the  oft-told 
tale  that  we  only  wanted  a  '*'  small  but  effi 
cient  Navy!''  As  if  a  small  Navy  could 
be  at  all  efficient,  when  it  would  have  been 
obliged  to  retire  under  the  guns  of  our  forts 
in  case  of  a  foreign  war.  or  else  be  towed 
up  some  inaccessible  river  and  stowed  away 
until  peace  was  restored. 

We  at  times  almost  think  that  the  rebel 
lion  was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  if  only  to 
show  how  unprepared  we  were  for  hostili 
ties  with  a  foreign  foe,  by  whom  we  would 
to  a  certainty  have  been  humiliated  and  no 
doubt  have  been  mulcted  in  damages  to  an 
amount  that  would  have  crippled  the  coun 
try  for  years  to  come.  Though  we  might 
incur  great  losses  by  a  civil  war,  yet  there 
would  be  no  humiliation  in  it.  What 
chagrin  may  have  been  felt  on  both  sides, 
we  could  share  it  alike;  and  having  set  fire 
to  our  estates  and  burned  up  each  other's 
houses,  it  would  be  our  free  fight  and  not 
the  business  of  any  one  else.  We  could  put 
our  shoulders  to  the  wheel  after  the  fight 
was  over,  and  with  the  energy  possessed  by 
no  other  people  we  could  gather  the  frag 
ments  of  our  greatness  together  again,  and 
become  stronger  than  ever.  There  would 
be  no  humiliation  to  the  nation  in  such  a 
strife,  and  we  would  show  the  world  at 
large  how  impossible  it  would  be  for  any 
foreign  army  to  land  on  our  shores  with 
out  being  exterminated.  The  naval  officers 
"vyho  gained  success  in  the  war  of  the  rebel 
lion  ought  not  to  forget,  amidst  the  honors 
and  rewards  they  won,  how  much  they  were 
indebted  to  the  herculean  efforts  of  those 
in  the  Navy  Department  for  the  support 
they  received  under  the  most  trying  cir 
cumstances — how,  after  the  first  surprise  of 
being  forced  into  a  great  war,  and  the  slow 
process  of  realizing  the  situation  had  been 
passed,  ships  and  guns  were  furnished  as 
if  by  magic;  when  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  few  officers  counted  on  obtaining  com 
mands,  and  there  was  little  prospect  of  our 
acquiring  a  class  of  vessels  that  would  be 
impregnable  against  the  heavy  shot  and 
shell  which  the  enemy  seemed  to  possess 
in  abundance,  even  a  year  after  the  war 


began.  Yet  all  this  was  provided  for  in 
less  than  a  year. 

Though  the  Navy  Department  has  been 
at  times  severely  criticised  by  those  in 
opposition  to  it,  yet  the  naval  officers,  as 
a  whole,  can  but  acknowledge  that,  with  the 
exception  of  not  keeping  pace  in  the  early 
part  of  the  war  with  the  Confederates  in  the 
building  of  heavy  iron-dads,  there  was  a 
remarkable  degree  of  efficiency  in  all  the 
civil  branches  of  the  Navy  as  well  as  in  the 
Navy  afloat. 

It  would  occupy  a  large  space  to  enumer 
ate  all  that  was  done  by  the  Department: 
the  difficulties  overcome,  the  resources  cre 
ated  almost  out  of  nothing,  the  opposition 
of  partisans,  the  strife  that  had  to  be  con 
ciliated  and  the  enemies  that  had  to  be  op- 


CAPTAIX  H.  A.  WISE,  U.  S.  NAVY,  CHIEF  OF  BUREAU  OF 
ORDNANCE. 

posed,  out  of  all  which  grew  up  a  Na.vy  that 
at  one  time  bade  defiance  to  France  and 
England,  who,  in  consequence,  let  us  alone 
to  work  out  our  own  destiny. 

Among  others  who  were  in  favor  of  build 
ing  up  an  iron  -  clad  navy  were  citizens 
whose  names  should  ever  be  remembered. 
At  the  time  when  the  greatest  opposition 
was  being  manifested  against  Ericsson's 
invention,  and  the  government  would  only 
authorize  the  construction  of  the  first 
"Monitor"  on  a  guarantee  that  she  should 
prove  a  success  in  battle,  John  A.  Griswold, 
Bushnell  and  Winslow.  and  Erastus  Corn 
ing,  came  forward  to  the  inventor's  assist 
ance,  and  it  was  mainly  due  to  the  capital 
furnished  by  these  gentlemen  that  the 


364 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


"Monitor"  was  ready  in  time  to  meet  the 
*;  Merrimac."  It  is  thus  seen  that,  although 
there  was  a  want  of  liberality  in  Congress, 
our  private  citizens  were  more  generous, 
and  would  not  let  an  invention  which  com 
mon-sense  told  them  was  invaluable,  be  lost 
for  want  of  money,  even  though  they  ran 
the  risk  of  losing  all  that  they  ventured. 

Men  frequently  occupy  subordinate  posi 
tions  where  their  lives  are  expended  in  car 
rying  on  important  work  which  without 
their  services  would  result  in  failure.  To 
such  men  great  credit  is  due,  although  they 
generally  receive  but  little. 

Captain  Henry  A.  Wise,  Chief  of  the 
Bureau  of  Ordnance  in  the  Navy  Depart 
ment,  was  one  of  those  steady  workers  who 
labored  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the 


HORATIO  BRIDGE.  PAY  DIRECTOR,  U.  S.  NAVY,  (CHIEF  OF 
BUREAU  OF  PROVISIONS  AND  CLOTHING.) 

war.  Of  him  it  may  be  truly  said  that  the 
right  man  was  in  the  right  place  while  he 
occupied  his  important  post. 

Everything  in  Captain  Wise's  bureau 
moved  like  clockwork,  and  ships  and 
squadrons  lost  no  valuable  time  in  waiting 
for  guns  and  ammunition.  The  occasions 
were  many  in  which  commanding  officers 
paid  the  highest  eulogiums  to  Captain 
Wise's  energy  and  ability,  and  he  was 
thoroughly  appreciated  by  the  head  of  the 
Department  and  by  Assistant  Secretary 
Fox. 

The  Board  of  Admirals  convened  at  the 
close  of  the  civil  war  paid  Captain  Wise 
the  high  compliment  of  recommending  his 
promotion  to  the  grade  of  commodore,  but 
owing  to  the  wording  of  the  law  Mr.  Secre 


tary  Welles  did  not  feel  himself  authorized 
to  recommend  to  the  President  to  send  Cap 
tain  Wise's  name  to  the  Senate. 

Paymaster  Horatio  Bridge.  Chief  of  the 
Bureau  of  Provisions  and  Clothing,  also 
made  his  mark  in  the  Navy  Department  un 
der  the  administration  of  Mr.  Welles.  He 
was  Paymaster-General  and  Commissary- 
General  of  the  Navy,  and  had  over  six  hun 
dred  vessels-of-war  of  all  classes  to  keep 
supplied.  This  important  duty  he  performed 
in  a  most  satisfactory  manner,  and  his  ex 
ertions  contributed  much  to  the  success  of 
naval  operations. 

Surgeon  P.  J.  Horintz,  Chief  of  the  Bureau 
of  Medicine  and  Surgery,  displayed  marked 
ability  in  the  Management  of  the  Bureau 
over  which  he  presided.  Of  the  importance 
of  the  duties  of  Surgeon-General,  particu 
larly  in  time  of  wTar.  it  is  not  necessary  to 
speak,  and  we  can  only  say  that  Dr.  Horintz 
did  his  duty  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner. 

To  Rear- Admiral  Joseph  Smith.  Chief  of 
the  Bureau  of  Yards  and  Docks,  the  coun 
try  was  largely  indebted  for  the  practical 
advice  which  he  gave  the  Department,  the 
fruit  of  his  long  and  varied  experience. 

Rear-Admiral  Smith,  with  the  other  offi 
cers  whom  Mr.  Secretary  Welles  had  to 
assist  him.  formed  a  fine  combination,  and 
although  the  former  was  advanced  in  years 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  not  very 
robust,  yet  he  was  ever  punctual  in  the 
performance  of  his  duties. 

Such  men  as  we  have  mentioned  assisted 
greatly  in  lightening  the  labors  of  the  ven 
erable  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  enabled 
him  to  carry  the  Navy  successfully  through 
a  great  crisis. 

It  was  sometime  in  April,  1862,  that  the 
Department  determined  to  build  up  an  iron 
clad  navy  on  the  Ericsson  idea,  and  by  De 
cember  of  that  year  twenty  single-turreted 
Monitors  were  contracted  for,  or  under  con 
struction,  all  their  plans  having  been  made 
ready  for  the  assembling  of  Congress. 
These  vessels  were  to  be  of  about  614  tons 
displacement,  excepting  a  few  of  844  tons. 
They  were  very  much  larger  than  the  orig 
inal  "  Monitor''  and  were  designed  to  carry 
two  15-inch  guns  in  a  revolving  turret.  The 
idea  of  the  first  "Monitor"  was  carried  out 
in  these  vessels  to  a  great  extent,  but  with 
such  modifications  as  experience  warranted. 
The  side-armor  was  five  inches  thick,  fast 
ened  to  a  three-foot  oak  backing,  and  the 
turrets  of  eleven  1-inch  plates,  bolted  to 
gether  with  all  the  skill  and  ingenuity 
American  mechanics  were  capable  of. 

There  were  also  contracted  for,  or  under 
construction,  f our  double-turreted  Monitors, 
to  be  armed  .with  four  15-inch  guns,  the 
object  of  the  government  in  building  these 
vessels  being  to  provide  a  turreted  ocean- 
cruiser.  They  were  large  vessels  of  1.564 


OF   THE   CIVIL     WAR. 


3G5 


tons  displacement,  257  feet  in  length,  and 
56  feet  in  breadth,  and  drawing  about  18 
feet  of  water.  The  side-armor  was  equal  to 
1 1  inches  of  solid  iron,  not  counting  the 
wood  backing;  the  turrets  were  12  inches 
thick,  of  laminated  plates.  Weight  of  broad 
side  1,800  pounds,  more  than  equalling  the 
broadsides  of  the  heaviest  French  or  Eng 
lish  frigate. 

This  was  a  wonderful  step  for  the  Navy 
Department  to  take  after  hesitating  so  long 
over  the  contract  for  the  first  ••  Monitor." 
but  that  little  vessel  had  so  effectually  dem 
onstrated  her  capability  of  coping  with  the 
great  leviathan  of  the  Confederacy  that 
there  was  no  longer,  as  regarded  the 'Moni 
tor  system,  a  pin  to  hang  a  doubt  on.  It 
was  evident  that  the  principle  could  be  car 
ried  out  to  any  extent,  and  that  vessels-of- 
war  of  this  construction  could  be  built  to 
cross  the  ocean  and  withstand  the  heaviest 
weather. 

Xine  of  the  single-turreted  Monitors  were 
pushed  to  completion  for  the  purpose  of  tak 
ing  Charleston,  and  for  such  other  work  as 
could  not  be  accomplished  by  wooden  ships. 

From  the  time  Rear- Admiral  Dupont  took 
command  of  the  squadron,  Charleston  had 
been  closely  watched  from  outside  the  bar, 
and  the  whole  southern  coast  blockaded  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Department. 

This  was  good  work  to  accomplish  from 
November,  1861.  to  October,  1862,  for  it  in 
cluded,  in  addition  to  keeping  up  a  vigorous 
blockade,  a  great  many  expeditions  against 
the  enemy  in  the  numerous  sounds  and  in 
lets:  and  these  expeditions  had  often  to  be 
undertaken  at  the  risk  of  neglecting  the 
blockade  for  a  day  or  two. 

The  Navy  Department  had  not  yet  been 
supplied  with  a  sufficient  number  of  vessels 
to  comply  with  all  the  demands  made  upon 
it.  There  was  a  large  amount  of  coast 
under  blockade  from  the  capes  of  Virginia 
to  the  Rio  Grande  in  Texas,  and  every 
commander  of  a  squadron  was  applying  for 
more  vessels  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  his 
instructions. 

The  great  desire  of  Secretary  Welles  had 
been  for  the  Navy  to  capture  Charleston, 
the  original  seat  of  insurrection  and  dis 
union.  Preparations  were  made  for  the 
occupation  of  the  harbor  and  the  reduction 
of  the  defences  of  this  city.  The  comple 
tion  of  the  iron-clad  vessels  was  pushed 
with  all  the  power  of  the  Department, 
though  it  was  found  a  difficult  matter  to 
urge  the  contractors  to  move  faster  than 
their  limited  means  would  permit.  It  was 
a  new  work  on  which  they  were  engaged, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  feel  the  way  for 
fear  of  making  mistakes;  besides,  in  almost 
all  cases,  it  was  necessary  to  get  up  a  new 
plant. 

In  order  to  enable  Rear-Admiral  Dupont 


to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  Department, 
his  squadron  Avas  now  re-inforced  by  the 
following  iron-clads :  ''New  Ironsides/' 
"Weehawken."  "  Montauk,"  "Keokuk." 
'•  Patapsco."  "  Nahant,"  "  Nantucket"  and 
"  Catskill."  This  was  a  powerful  fleet,  and 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  depended  upon  it 
to  close  the  port  of  Charleston  so  effectively 
that  nothing  in  the  shape  of  an  enemy  could 
get  in  or  out;  and  finally,  if  opportunity  of 
fered,  to  make  an  attack  on  the  batteVies, 
remove  the  obstructions,  and  go  on  up  to 
the  city. 

The  '"New  Ironsides"  carried  sixteen  11- 
inch  guns  and  one  heavy  rifle:  the  Monitors 
each  carried  one  15-inch  and  one  11-inch 
gun  (except  one  that  carried  a  heavy  rifle 
instead  of  the  11-inch). 

This  was  the  force  that  would  be  called 
into  play  in  case  Dupont  determined  to 
attack  the  batteries,  and  with  which  he 
was  expected  to  be  victorious.  For  after 
the  fight  of  the  "Monitor"  with  the  "Mer- 
rimac,"  and  her  success,  theturreted  vessels 
had  grown  in  favor  with  all  classes  of 
people,  and  many  ran  to  the  other  extreme 
of  supposing  that  the  Monitors  were  invul 
nerable,  that  all  they  had  to  do  was  to 
haul  up  alongside  -the  Confederate  fortifi 
cations  and  drive  the  gunners  away. 

Some  of  these  vessels  arrived  at  Charles 
ton  bar  as  early  as  January,  1863,  and  Du 
pont,  who  was  a  sagacious  and  prudent 
officer,  considered  it  his  duty,  before  com 
mencing  any  important  operations,  to  have 
them  tested  to  see  what  their  turrets  and 
hull  would  bear,  and  to  ascertain  whether 
anything  could  be  done  to  improve  their 
defensive  power. 

The  turret  principle  had  only  been  tried 
once  in  battle,  and  then  only  against  guns 
the  largest  of  which  were  the  7-inch  rifles 
in  the  Dow  and  stern  of  the  "Merrimac." 
neither  of  which,  it  is  clear,  ever  struck 
the  <;  Monitor"  in  hull  or  turret.  To  deter 
mine  this  point.  Commander  John  L.  Wor- 
den  was  sent  down  to  Ossabawr  Sound  to 
operate  up  the  Great  Ogeechee  River  and 
capture,  if  he  could,  a  fort  at  Genesee  Point, 
under  cover  of  which  the  steamer  "  Nash 
ville  "  was  lying,  fitted  out  as  a  privateer, 
and  only  waiting  an  opportunity  to  get  to 
sea  and  prey  upon  Federal  commerce.  He 
was  also  instructed  to  destroy  the  railroad 
at  that  point,  if  successful  in  taking  the  fort 
and  destroying  the  '"Nashville." 

Commander  Worden  arrived  off  the  bar 
at  Ossabaw  Sound  on  January  24th.  1863, 
but  a  thick  fog  prevailed  at  the  time,  and 
the  '"  Montauk  "  did  not  get  under-way  and 
stand  up  the  river  until  the  next  morning. 
When  just  outside  of  the  range  of  Fort  Mc 
Allisters  guns  Worden  again  anchored, 
and  was  there  joined  by  the  gun-boats 
'•Seneca."  "  Wissahickon."  and  "Dawn." 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


The  enemy  had  range -stakes  or  buoys 
planted  in  the  river,  and  a  boat  expedition 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Davis  was  sent  up  to  destroy  them, 
and  any  obstructions  or  torpedoes  that  he 
might  find  in  the  way. 

At  7  A.  M.,  on  the  27th,  Commander 
Worden  got  underway  with  the  "  Montauk" 
(the  gun-boats  following),  moved  up  to  150 
yards  below  the  obstructions — anchored— 
and  opened  lire  on  the  fort.  The  enemy 
returned  the  "Montauk's"  fire  very  briskly 
at  first,  no  doubt  wondering  what  kind  of 
a  nondescript  they  were  firing  at.  After 
about  an  hour's  practice  the  "  Montauk  " 
had  the  enemy's  range  so  well  that  his  fire 
began  to  slacken.  At  11.15,  A.  M.,  all  the 
shells  of  the  "  Montauk  "  had  been  expended 
and  solid  shot  had  to  be  used  in  their  stead — 
but  as  they  did  not  seem  to  have  the  same 
effect  upon  the  enemy  as  the  shells,  Com 
mander  Worden,  considering  that  he  was 
throwing  away  ammunition,  got  underway 
and  stood  down  the  river,  accompanied  by 
his  consorts. 

The  practice  of  the  Confederates  during 
this  battle  was  very  fine,  striking  the  '•  Mon 
tauk  "  a  number  of  times  but  doing  no  dam 


age,  and  towards  the  end  only  firing  at 
intervals.  The  report  does  not  say  what 
weight  of  shot  or  shell  the  enemy  fired, 
whether  smooth-bore  or  rifle,  or  how  many 
times,  or  in  wrhat  part  of  the  vessel,  the 
"Montauk"  was  struck;  but  we  presume 
that  Commander  Worden  was  satisfied 
with  the  result  of  his  experiment,  and  so 
reported  to  Rear- Admiral  Dupont. 

Worden,  whose  experience  in  the  lighter 
"Monitor"  at  Hampton  Roads  ought  to 
have  made  him  a  good  judge  of  the  strength 
of  the  "  Montauk  "  on  this  occasion,  seemed 
to  treat  the  matter  lightly,  and  it  is  prob 
able  that  he  thought  his  vessel  would  give 
a  good  account  of  herself  when  she  was 
brought  into  action  against  the  Charleston 
defenses. 

As  no  battle  of  the  war  has  been  so  closely 
criticised  as  the  one  between  our  iron-dads 
and  the  forts  at  Charleston,  we  will  give  a 
separate  chapter  to  the  operations  of  Rear- 
Admiral  Dupont  while  he  commanded  at 
that  point. 

In  the  next  chapter  we  will  also  give  an 
account  of  such  events  as  occurred  prior  to 
this  attack,  which  cannot  help  but  be  inter 
esting  to  the  reader. 


CHAPTER     XXXIII. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  "PRINCESS  ROYAL." — REMARKS  ON  BLOCKADING  THE  SOUTHERN  PORTS, 
AND  THE  DIFFICULTY  IN  PREVENTING  BLOCKADE-RUNNERS  GETTING  IN  AND  OUT. — ATTACK 
ON  BLOCKADING  VESSELS  BEFORE  CHARLESTON  BY  CONFEDERATE  RAMS. — SURRENDER 
OF  THE  U.  S.  S.  "MERCEDITA." — "KEYSTONE  STATE"  DISABLED  BY  THE  RAMS,  WHICH 
AFTERWARDS  ATTACK  THE  "AUGUSTA,"  "QUAKER  CITY"  AND  "MEMPHIS." — RAMS 
ESCAPE  CHASED  BY  THE  "  JUNIATA." — CONFEDERATES  CLAIM  THE  BLOCKADE  IS  RAISED. 
-THE  CLAIM  NOT  ADMITTED  AND  THE  BLOCKADE  STRENGTHENED. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  GUN 
BOAT  "ISAAC  SMITH." — THE  IRON-CLAD  "MONTAUK,"  COMMANDER  JOHN  L.  WORDEN, 

ENGAGES  THE  FORTS  AT  OGEECHEE  RlVER. — CONFEDERATE  STEAMER  "NASHVILLE"  DE 
STROYED  BY  THE  "MONTAUK"  AND  OTHER  VESSELS. — IRON-CLADS  "PASSAIC,"  "PA- 
TAPSCO"  AND  "  NAHANT"  ATTACK  FORT  MCALLISTER. — SINKING  VESSELS  ON  CHARLESTON 
BAR  AS  OBSTRUCTIONS. — EXPECTATIONS  OF  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT  FROM  THE  IRON-CLAD 
VESSELS. — ADMIRAL  DUPONT  ATTACKS  THE  BATTERIES  IN  CHARLESTON  HARBOR.  APRIL  7, 
1803.  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  HARBOR  OF  CHARLESTON. — ORDER  OF  ADMIRAL  DUPONT 
PREVIOUS  TO  ATTACKING  THE  FORTS. — LIST  OF  IRON-CLADS  ENGAGED  IN  THE  ATTACK.— 
IRON-CLADS  RETIRE  BEFORE  THE  HEAVY  FIRE  OF  THE  BATTERIES. — THE  "  KEOKUK"  DIS 
ABLED  AND  AFTERWARDS  SUNK. — LlST  OF  DAMAGES  TO  THE  IRON-CLADS. — COMPARISON 

BETWEEN  THE  GUNS  ON  SHORE  AND  THOSE  AFLOAT. — VlEW  OF  THE  CASE. — REFLECTIONS 
ON  CHIEF  ENGINEER  STIMER'S  LETTER  TO  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT. — DIFFICULTIES  EN 
COUNTERED  BY  THE  MONITORS. — MISREPRESENTATIONS  OF  THE  ATTACK  ON  CHARLESTON. 
—GENERAL  RIPLEY'S  INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  REPELLING  THE  FEDERAL  ATTACK  ON  CHARLES 
TON. — CORRESPONDENCE  BETWEEN  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  AND  ADMIRAL  DUPONT,  AND 
BETWEEN  MR.  SECRETARY  WELLES  AND  ADMIRAL  DUPONT. — ADMIRAL  DUPONT  RETIRES 
TO  PORT  ROYAL. — COMBINED  ATTACK  OF  ARMY  AND  NAVY  ON  BUFFINGTON.— CAPTURE 
OF  CONFEDERATE  IRON-CLAD  "ATLANTA"  BY  THE  U.  S.  S.  "WEEHAWKEN." — ADMIRAL 
DUPONT  RETIRES  FROM  COMMAND  OF  THE  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON  AND  is  SUC 
CEEDED  BY  REAR-ADMIRAL  DAHLGREN.  —  SECRETARY  WELLES'  LETTER  TO  REAR- 
ADMIRAL  DUPONT  ON  HIS  GIVING  UP  HIS  COMMAND. — LIST  OF  OFFICERS  WHO  SERVED 
UNDER  ADMIRAL  DUPONT. 

OPERATIONS  commenced  in  Janu-  shore  in  a  north-west  direction,  guided  by  a 
ary,  18G3,  by  some  of  the  vessels  of  rocket  thrown  up  apparently  by  the  "Blunt," 
Rear  -  Admiral   Dupont's  squadron  and  indicating  the   course   of  a  vessel  at- 
capturing  a  large  blockade-running  tempting  to  run  the  blockade.     After  pro- 
steamer,  which  proved  to  be  one  of  ceeding  inshore  a  mile  and  a  half,  a  steamer 
the  most  valuable  prizes  of  the  war.  was  observed  from  the  '' Unadilla"  stand- 
To   show   the  nature  of    the   blockading  ing  along  close  to  the  shore,  and  heading 
service,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  give  for  Charleston.   Two  shots  were  fired  at  her 
an  account  of  the  capture   of  the  above-  by    the    "Unadilla."   when    the    strange 
mentioned  vessel.  steamer  changed  her  course  and  ran  upon 
On  the  morning  of  the  29th  of  January  a  the  beach,   where    she   was    immediately 
blue  light  was  observed  from  the  U.  S"  S.  taken  possession  of.     The  prize  proved  to  be 
'•  Unadilla."  Lieutenant-Commander  S.  P.  the  iron  steam-propeller  "Princess  Royal," 
Quackenbush,  in  an  easterly  direction,  sup-  four    days  out  from  Bermuda — one  of  the 
posed  to  be  from  the  U.  S.S.  "Blunt."    The  principal   depots   of  the  blockade-runners 
"  Unadilla  "  slipped  her  cable  and  stood  in  —loaded  with   rifle-guns,  small-arms,  am- 

(367) 


368 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


munition,  steam-engines  for  iron-dads,  etc., 
etc. 

Thus  was  the  Confederacy  kept  afloat  by 
our  cousins  across  the  water,  not  so  much 
from  sympathy  with  the  Southern  people  as 
from  a  desire  to  obtain  cotton,  which  was 
so  necessary  for  them  to  have  to  keep  their 
mills  going  and  prevent  a  revolt  of  the 
factory  operatives.  The  English  Govern 
ment  did  nothing  to  prevent  blockade-run 
ning,  and  doubtless  considered  it  a  fair 
business  enterprise.  If  a  vessel  got  safely 
in  past  the  blockaders,  her  cargo  sold  at 
a  large  profit,  and  she  loaded  with  cotton, 
worth  three  times  as  much  as  the  ingoing 
cargo.  There  was  great  excitement  as  well 


blockade  -  running  continued,  the  task  of 
putting  down  the  Rebellion  was  greatly  in 
creased,  and  it  could  only  be  prevented  by 
the  untiring  energy  and  watchfulness  of  the 
Navy,  incited  somewhat  by  the  hope  of 
prize-money,  which  is  a  great  incentive  to 
extra  exertions  in  time  of  war  both  to 
officers  and  men.  Blockade-runners  were 
captured  in  large  numbers,  and  the  vessels 
and  cargoes  condemned  by  our  Admiralty 
Courts,  without  protest  from  the  British 
Government. 

There  was  plenty  of  timber  in  the  South, 
and  the  Southerners  could  build  vessels  as 
fast  as  Perry  did  on  Lake  Erie,  but  they  could 
not  build  engines  of  the  kind  they  required. 


SURRENDER  OF  THE  U.  S.  STEAMER  "  MERCEDITA  "  TO  THE  CONFEDERATE  RAM,   "PALMETTO  STATE,"  OFF  CHARLESTON 

HARBOR,  JAN.  31.  1863. 


as  profit  to  the  hardy  Britons  who  engaged 
in  this  trade. 

In  some  respects  the  Confederates  had  ad 
vantages  superior  to  our  own.  The  markets 
of  Europe  were  glutted  with  rifled  guns  and 
engines,  and  almost  all  the  blockade-runners 
carried  rifled  field-guns  for  the  Confederates, 
while  the  conservative  Army  and  Navy 
Departments  of  the  North  felt  it  due  to  the 
people  that  all  the  implements  of  war  should 
be  made  at  home.  The  result  was  that  the 
Confederates  at  an  early  stage  of  the  war 
had  their  forts  partly  armed  with  heavy 
rifled  guns,  while  in  our  vessel s-of -war  a 
rifled  gun  was  an  exception. 

It  was  plainly  to  be  seen  that,  as  long  as 


The  British  merchants  who  went  into 
blockade-running  with  such  alacrity  proba 
bly  never  dreamed  of  the  facility  with  which 
the  United  States  Government  could  equip 
a  large  number  of  vessels  exactly  calculated 
to  run  down  and  capture  their  own.  There 
was  another  factor  that  these  traders  had 
not  taken  into  account — the  watchfulness 
and  energy  of  the  American  naval  officers, 
who  were  ever  on  the  alert,  and  would 
either  run  the  blockade-runners  off  the  coast 
or  upon  the  beach,  where  they  would  fall 
into  Federal  hands,  often  with  their  cargoes 
in  perfect  order.  This  \vas  the  case  with 
the  "Princess  Royal,"  which  was  floated 
off  without  sustaining  the  least  injury,  and 


OF   THE   CIVIL     WAR, 


369 


was  fitted  up  by  the  Navy  Department  as 
a  gun-boat,  and  performed  good  service, 
under  Commander  M.  B.  Woolsey,  at  the 
capture  of  the  forts  at  Donaldsonville, 
La. 

During  January,  1SG3,  the  harbor  of 
Charleston  was  not  occupied  by  the  Federal 
squadron,  but  the  vessels  lay  outside  the 
bar,  keeping  a  bright  look-out.  Towards 
the  end  of  the  month  two  of  the  heaviest 
ships,  the  "Powhatan"  and  "  Canandai- 
gua."  had  to  proceed  to  Port  Royal  for  coal, 
leaving  some  lighter  vessels  to  continue  the 
blockade.  The  Confederates  had  two  iron 
clad  rams,  the  "Chicora"  and  "  Palmetto 
State,"  under  Commodore  D.  N.  Ingraham, 
in  Charleston  Harbor,  and  on  the  31st  of 
January,  about  4  A.  M.,  they  succeeded  in 
crossing  the  bar  unperceived  in  the  darkness 
and  attacked  the  "  Mercedita,"  Captain  H. 
S.  Stellwagen,  which  had  just  returned  from 
the  chase  of  a  strange  vessel. 

The  captain  was  below,  and  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Abbott  in  charge  of  the  deck, 
when  the  faint  appearance  of  a  vessel 
showing  black  smoke  was  seen  through 
the  gloom.  All  the  Federal  vessels  burned 
anthracite,  while  the  Confederates  and 
blockade-runners  burned  bituminous  coal, 
the  smeke  from  which  can  be  seen  even  in 
the  darkness  of  night. 

All  hands  were  called  to  quarters,  the  cap 
tain  appeared  on  deck,  and  saw  what,  for 
all  he  knew,  might  be  a  tug  belonging  to  the 
squadron.  The  guns  were  trained  on  the 
approaching  stranger,  who  was  then  hailed 
and  ordered  to  heave-to.  The  answer  to  the 
first  hail  from  the  "Mercedita"  was  "Hello!" 
The  other  replies  were  purposely  indistinct, 
and  the  stranger  crashed  into  the  Federal 
vessels,  with  the  reply,  "  This  is  the  Confed 
erate  States' steam-ram,  'Palmetto  State."3 

The  order  was  given  to  fire,  but  no  gun 
could  be  brought  to  bear  on  the  enemy  as  she 
approached.  At  the  moment  of  striking,  the 
"Palmetto  State"  fired  a  rifle-shell  diago 
nally  through  the  Federal  steamer,  which 
penetrated  the  condenser,  the  steam-drum 
of  the  port-boiler,  and  exploded  against  the 
port-side  of  the  vessel,  making  a  hole  four 
or  five  feet  square  in  its  exit.  The  "  Merce 
dita"  was  instantly  enveloped  in  vapor,  while 
cries  came  from'  below:  "Shot  through 
the  boiler!  Fires  put  out — gunner  and  one 
man  killed  and  a  number  fatally  scalded- 
water  over  fire-room  floor — vessel  sinking 
fast !  The  ram  has  cut  us  through  at  and 
below  water  line,  and  the  shell  has  burst 
at  the  water  line  on  the  other  side  !" 

This  was  appalling  information,  and  it 
must  be  a  well-trained  crew  that  would 
not  feel  nervous  at  such  intelligence.  Cap 
tain  Stellwagen  could  do  nothing,  for  the 
enemy's  ram  was  under  his  counter.  He  had 
made  a  mistake  in  not  firing  on  the  stranger 

24 


as  soon  as  she  appeared,  for  none  but  an  en 
emy  would  have  approached  so  stealthily. 

He  should  have  had  steam  up  and  chain 
ready  to  slip  at  a  moment's  notice.  No  one 
expected  that  the  enemy's  rams  would  dare 
cross  the  bar,  but  the  same  love  of  adventure 
existed  in  the  Confederate  navy  as  in  the 
Federal,  and  this  affair  was  another  illustra 
tion  of  the  importance  of  never  underrating 
a  foe. 

After  the  "Palmetto  State"  struck  the 
"Mercedita"  she  swung  round  under  the 
latter's  counter,  and  the  Confederate  com 
mander  called  out,  "Surrender,  or  I  will  sink 
you!"  Captain  Stellwagen  replied,  "I  can 
make  no  resistance,  my  boiler  is  destroyed." 
"Then,  do  you  surrender?"  inquired  the 
other.  "  I  do,"  replied  Stellwagen. 

The  Confederate  commander  hailed  sev 
eral  times  for  a  boat  to  be  sent  him,  threat 
ening  to  fire  in  case  of  further  delay.  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Abbott  then  proceeded 
on  board  the  ram,  where  the  parole  of  the 
officers  and  crew  of  the  "  Mercedita"  was 
demanded;  after  receiving  which,  the  ram 
started  in  the  direction  of  the  "Keystone 
State,"  which  vessel  and  three  other  block- 
aders  Captain  Stellwagen  had  tried  to  alarm 
by  burning  signal-lights. 

Soon  after  the  ram  left  the  "Mercedita" 
the  people  on  board  that  vessel  saw  a  shell 
from  the  "  Keystone  State  "  explode  against 
her  armor,  and  several  shells  from  the  ram 
hit  the  "Keystone  State,"  followed  by  smoke 
and  vapor,  which  poured  from  the  latter. 
The  firing  then  receded  to  the  north  and 
east  and  finally  died  away,  and  it  was  sup 
posed  the  ram  had  engaged  all  the  block 
ading  vessels  in  turn. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  "Merce 
dita  "  now  set  to  work  to  save  his  vessel, 
about  which  nothing  had  been  said  on 
board  the  ram.  The  enemy  supposed  the 
vessel  was  sinking,  and  probably  thought 
those  on  board  could  take  care  of  themselves. 
In  two  hours  repairs  were  made,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  the  "  Stettin  "  and  "  Flag  " 
the  "  Mercedita  "  reached  Port  Royal. 
.  When  the  "Keystone  State"  was  attacked, 
Commander  Le  Roy  gallantly  returned  the 
enemy's  fire,  but  the  ram  lodged  a  shell  in 
the  fore-hold  of  his  vessel,  which  set  the 
"Keystone  State  "  on  fire  and  obliged  her  to 
shear  off  till  it  could  be  extinguished.  By 
this  time  the  ram  "Chicora,"  Commander 
John  R.  Tucker,  had  attacked  the  "Key 
stone  State"  and  Le  Roy  turned  upon  the 
enemy,  and  putting  on  full  steam  ran  right 
for  one  of  the  rams  at  the  rate  of  twelve 
knots  an  hour,  when  a  shell  from  the  enemy 
penetrating  both  steam-chests  rendered  the 
"Keystone  State"  powerless.  Two  rifle- 
shells  burst  on  the  quarter-deck,  but  most 
of  them  struck  the  hull,  and  there  were  two 
feet  of  water  in  the  hold;  but  some  of  the 


370 


THE  XAYAL    HISTORY 


other  vessels  of  the  blockading  squadron 
now  came  to  the  assistance  of  the  "  Keystone 
State  "  and  took  her  in  tow.  These  vessels 
were  the  •'  Augusta,"  Commander  E.  G.  Par- 
rott,  the  "Quaker  City,"  Commander  J.  M. 
Frailey,  and  the  "Memphis,"  Acting-Lieu 
tenant  P.  G.  Watmough. 

All  these  steamers  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  on 
the  enemy's  rams  while  the  "'Keystone 
State"  was  towed  out  of  their  reach.  The 
"  Augusta  "  and  "  Quaker  City  "were  both 
struck  in  their  hulls,  but  the  "Memphis" 
only  in  her  rigging. 

As  daylight  approached,  the  rams  hauled 
off  to  the  north-west,  chased  by  the  U.  S.  S. 
"  Juniata,"  and  anchored  inside  the  shoals 
of  the  swash-channel,  their  commanders 
doubtless  thinking  they  had  done  enough 
for  one  night  and  that  they  must  reserve 
their  strength  for  a  future  occasion. 

On  board  the  "  Mercedita "  there  were 
twenty  killed  and  as  many  wounded,  a 
number  being  scalded  to  death,  among 
whom  was  Assistant  Surgeon  Jacob  H. 
Gotwold  and  his  steward.  It  was  a  heavy 
list  of  killed  and  wounded  for  so  short  an 
engagement,  but  the  Confederates  wasted 
very  few  shots,  and  the  striking  of  the 
boilers  of  two  of  the  Federal  vessels  was  no 
doubt  a  matter  of  calculation  and  not  mere 
accident. 

The  attack  of 'the  Confederate  rams  on 
the  Union  squadron  was  a  gallant  affair, 
and  the  one  that  encountered  the  "Merce 
dita"  might  have  sunk  that  vessel  while 
the  commanding  officer  was  hesitating  to 
answer  the  hails.  After  disabling  the  ' '  Mer 
cedita"  and  encountering  four  other  vessels, 
finding  doubtless  that  the  Federal  ships  were 
too  numerous  to  be  agreeable,  the  rams 
moved  off  uninjured  and  sought  the  safety 
of  well-known  channels.  Admiral  Dupont 
was  much  chagrined  when  he  received  the 
news  of  this  engagement;  but  a  nation  can 
not  expect  to  carry  on  a  war  with  a  skillful 
and  energetic  enemy  without  mishaps,  es 
pecially  under  circumstances  like  the  above, 
where  the  Confederates  could  slip  out  in  the 
darkness,  make  a  dash  at  the  blockading 
vessels  and  retire  when  necessary  to  do  so. 

The  Confederate  authorities  endeavored 
to  make  great  capital  out  of  this  affair, 
and  General  Beauregard.  who  commanded 
the  defences,  proclaimed  officially  that  the 
blockade  had  been  raised,  as  the  United 
States  Navy  was  powerless  to  maintain 
it.  However,  next  morning,  the  blockading 
vessels  were  at  their  posts  as  usual,  ready 
to  prevent  the  ingress  or  egress  of  any 
vessel. 

The  claim  of  the  Confederates  that  the 
blockade  had  been  raised  by  the  raid  of 
their  two  rams  was,  of  course,  absurd.  To 
raise  a  blockade,  it  would  be  necessary  to 
drive  away  the  blockading  vessels  alto 


gether  and  hold  the  positions  they  occupied, 
yet,  strange  to  say,  the  foreign  consuls  at 
Charleston,  and  an  officer  commanding  one 
of  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  ships-of-war, 
united  in  a  statement  that  the  blockade  of 
Charleston  had  been  raised  ! 

The  "New  Ironsides."  "Powhatan,"  and 
"  Canandaigua  "  were  immediately  added 
to  the  force  off  Charleston,  which,  without 
further  argument,  settled  the  question.  The 
port  of  Charleston  remained  blockaded  more 
closely  than  ever,  and  it  was  generally  ac 
cepted  by  the  world  that  the  gentlemen  who 
had  put  their  names  to  a  paper  stating  the 
blockade  had  been  raised  had  prostituted 
their  offices,  by  giving  currency  to  a  state 
ment  which  could  not  have  been  forced 
upon  their  conviction  as  truth. 


CAPTAIN  PERCIVAL  DRAYTOX,  U.  S.  N. 

On  the  1st  of  February  Admiral  Dupont 
received  notice  of  the  capture  of  a  gun 
boat.  It  seems  that  the  "  Isaac  Smith," 
Acting-Lieutenant-Commanding  F.  S.  Con- 
over,  was  sent  up  Stone  River  to  make  a 
reconnaissance.  No  enemy  was  seen;  but 
when  the  vessel  was  on  her  way  back  three 
concealed  batteries  opened  a  concentrated 
fire  on  her  from  heavy  rifle-guns.  The 
gun-boat  "McDonough."  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Bacon,  was  at  anchor  down  the 
river,  and  on  hearing  the  firing  got  under 
way,  and  went  to  the  assistance  of  the 
"Isaac  Smith;"  but  owing  to  the  number, 
position  and  weight  of  the  enemy's  guns 
could  render  no  aid  without  the  certainty 
of  losing  his  own  vessel.  The  "  Isaac  Smith  " 
was  aground  and  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of 
vapor,  and  the  "McDonough"  was  soon 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


371 


driven  off  by  the  superior  range  of  the 
enemy's  fire. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  "  Isaac 
Smith"  endeavored  to  get  out  of  the  trap  in 
which  he  found  himself  by  dropping  below 
the  batteries;  but  for  upwards  of  a  mile,  on 
account  of  a  bend  in  the  river,  the  vessel 
was  subjected  to  a  raking  fire  of  30  guns, 
and  was  only  able  now  and  then  to  answer 
with  her  pivot-gun.  To  add  to  the  difficulty, 
a  large  number  of  concealed  riflemen  were 
tiring  upon  the  vessel.  Eight  of  the  gun 
boat's  crew  were  killed  and  17  wounded. 
But  for  the  latter,  the  commanding  officer 
would  have  set  fire  to  his  vessel  and  escaped 
with  his  officers  and  men;  but  to  escape 
with  the  vessel  was  impossible,  and  she 
was  therefore  surrendered. 

It  may  have  been  observed  by  the  reader 
that  many  cases  occurred  during  the  civil 
war  where  vessels  were  entrapped  as  the 
''Isaac  Smith"  was;  but,  as  a  rule,  the 
defence  of  these  vessels  was  characterized 
by  great  courage.  In  such  cases  it  was 
not  possible  to  ascertain  the  loss  of  the 
enemy,  and  we  abstain  from  unreliable  con 
jectures. 

It  was  impossible  to  circumvent  the  en 
emy  without  running  such  risks  as  were 
encountered  by  the  "  Isaac  Smith."  "  Noth 
ing  venture,  nothing  have,"  is  a  maxim 
which  all  should  profit  by  who  go  to  war. 
Though  now  and  then  the  Federals  met 
with  losses  of  vessels,  yet  the  experience 
gained  was  beneficial  and  stimulated  the 
younger  officers  to  deeds  of  daring,  while 
teaching  them  at  the  same  time  the  necessity 
of  prudence. 

On  the  1st  of  February  the  "Montauk," 
Commander  John  L.  Worden.  was  ordered 
to  engage  the  forts  at  Ogeechee  River,  a 
duty  which  was  well  performed;  but  the 
Confederates  shifted  their  guns  from  point 
to  point,  as  the  range  of  the  "Montauk" 
improved,  and  finally  the  vessel  withdrew 
from  action  after  expending  a  large  amount 
of  ammunition  and  being  struck  thirty-nine 
times  without  apparent  injury. 

The  Confederate  steamer"  "Nashville" 
had  been  closely  watched  for  eight  months 
by  the  blockading  steamers  "Wissahickon." 
Lieutenant-Commander  John  L.  Davis,  the 
"Dawn,"  Lieutenant  John  S.  Barnes,  and 
the  "Seneca,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Wil 
liam  Gibson.  The  "Nashville"  lay  under 
Fort  McAllister  loaded  with  cotton,  and  al 
though  a  swift  and  well-appointed  steamer, 
never  ventured  to  run  out.  After  several 
months  she  withdrew  up  the  Ogeechee  River 
and  returned  in  the  guise  of  a  privateer, 
presenting  a  formidable  appearance. 

Fort  McAllister  was  strengthened  and 
the  river  lined  with  torpedoes  to  prevent 
the  ascent  of  vessels  to  attack  the  "Nash 
ville." 


The  vessel  frequently  came  near  the  fortsT 
watching  an  opportunity  to  run  out  and 
perform  the  part  of  the  "Alabama"  or 
"Florida."  The  "Nashville"  was  armed 
with  a  heavy  pivot-gun,  and,  being  fast, 
would  no  doubt  have  rivalled  the  other 
Confederate  cruisers  that  had  done  so  much 
injury  to  our  commerce.  For  this  reason 
she  was  closely  watched,  and  it  was  as 
great  a  triumph  to  dispose  of  such  a  craft 
as  it  would  have  been  to  win  a  considerable 
victory. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  Commander 
Worden.  on  making  a  reconnaissance,  ob 
served  that  the  "  Nashville"  had  grounded 
in  that  portion  of  the  river  known  as  "Seven 
Mile  Reach,"  and  on  the  28th  at  daylight  the 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  DANIEL  AMMEN. 

"  Montauk  "  "  Seneca  "  and  "  Dawn  "  moved 
up  the  river.  Worden  was  able  to  approach 
within  twelve  hundred  vards  of  the  "  Nash 
ville,"  though  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
fort.  The  •'  Montauk"  opened  on  the  priva 
teer,  while  the  gun-boats  enfiladed  the  fort 
at  long  range. 

In  a  short  time  Commander  Worden  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  "  Nashville  " 
in  flames  from  the  shells  exploding  in  dif 
ferent  parts  of  her.  The  * '  Nashville's"  pivot- 
gun  was  soon  exploded  by  the  heat,  and  in 
a  short  time  the  vessel  blew  up  with  a  ter 
rific  crash.  The  fort  continued  a  brisk  fire 
on  the  "Montauk,"  but  only  struck  her  five 
times,  and  inflicted  on  her  no  damage  what 
ever,  which  indicated  that  she  was  imper 
vious  to  shot  and  shell.  A  torpedo  exploded 


372 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


near  the  vessel  as  she  dropped  down  the 
river  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  guns, 
but  did  no  harm,  and  that  night  Commander 
Worden  had  the  satisfaction  of  reporting 
to  Rear- Admiral  Dupont  the  destruction  of 
a  vessel  that  might  have  proved  as  trouble 
some  as  the  "  Alabama." 

It  was  deemed  advisable  to  try  the  iron 
clads  of  the  squadron  in  action  with  some 
fort,  so  as  to  be  certain  of  their  impenetra 
bility,  and  fully  test  the  working  of  the 
turrets.  Captain  Percival  Dray  ton,  com 
manding  the  "Passaic,"  was  directed  to 
Broceed  with  the  "  Patapsco,"  Commander 
aniel  Ammen,  and  the  "Nahant,"  Com 
mander  John  Downes,  up  the  Ogeechee 
River,  and  make  an  attack  on  Fort  McAl 
lister. 

The  fort  had  been  subjected  to  thre^e  pre 
vious  attacks  from  the  "Montauk;"  but 
damages  to  earth-works  are  easily  repaired, 
and  the  work  made  stronger  than  ever,  un 
less  the  guns  have  been  dismounted,  as  dur 
ing  a  bombardment  the  weak  points  are 
discovered  and  strengthened. 

Fort  McAllister  was  20  feet  above  the 
river,  solidly  built,  with  high  traverses  be 
tween  the  guns,  protecting  them  from  any 
thing  but  a  direct  fire.  It  contained  one  10- 
inch  columbiad,  a  100-pounder  rifle,  four  32- 
Eounders,  and  one  Whit  worth  rifle,  throwing 
olts. 

The  three  vessels  anchored  1,200  yards 
below  the  fort,  at  8  A.  M.,  March  3,  18G3, 
opened  fire,  and,  as  Captain  Dray  ton  re 
ported,  the  parapets  were  much  cut  up  and 
large  holes  made  by  the  bursting  shell,  but 
no  damage  was  done  that  could  not  be  re 
paired  in  a  few  hours. 

Captain  Dray  ton  did  not  consider  the 
fort  nearly  as  great  an  obstacle  to  his  ad 
vance  as  the  piles  which  were  driven  in  the 
channel  of  the  river,  and  which  rendered  it 
impassable  till  they  could  be  removed. 

The  iron-clads  were  subjected  to  the  fire 
of  Fort  McAllister  for  eight  hours  without 
receiving  any  serious  injury,  but  the  same 
thing  was  true  of  the  fort. 

Captain  Drayton  expressed  some  mortifi 
cation  at  what  he  called  his  want  of  success 
in  this  attack;  but  experience  has  proved 
that  iron-clads,  although  so  valuable  against 
ships,  or  fortifications  built  of  masonry,  are 
not  so  serviceable  against  earth- works  as 
vessels  carrying  a  greater  number  of  lighter 
guns. 

The  power  of  the  15-inch  gun  as  a  breach 
ing  force  against  masonry  is  considerable, 
but  against  a  work  constructed  of  sand-bags 
it  has  not  the  value  of  a  11-inch  gun,  and 
nothing  like  the  power  of  a  100-pounder 
rifle  for  boring  through  the  sand.  The  15- 
inch  gun  in  a  turret  is  slow  firing,  not  being 
able  to  discharge  oftener  than  once  in  five 
minutes,  while  the  breech-loading  rifle  can 


be  pointed  and  fired  once  a  minute,  which 
in  an  hour  would  give  GO  shots  from  the 
rifled-gun  to  12  from  the  15-inch. 

While  the  iron-clads  were  turning  their 
turrets,  the  enemy  would  wait  until  the 
port-holes  appeared,  would  fire,  knowing 
the  exact  range,  hide  in  their  bomb-proofs 
until  the  iron-clads  had  fired,  then  stand  to 
their  guns  again,  until  the  port-holes  once 
more  came  round. 

In  attacking  forts,  in  conjunction  with 
other  vessels  carrying  many  guns,  iron-clads 
are  valuable  for  distances  not  exceeding  GOO 
yards;  but  the  initial  velocity  of  the  15-inch 
shot  is  only  about  1,500  feet  per  second, 
which  is  much  reduced  even  at  the  distance 
of  1,200  yards.  At  800  yards  a  15-inch  shot 
would  not,  with  the  charges  assigned  to  the 
gun,  penetrate  a  4-inch  iron  plate. 

More  was  expected  from  our  iron-clads 
during  the  war  than  they  had  power  to  ac 
complish.  Any  one  of  them  armed  with  15- 
inch  guns  could  have  destroyed  a  vessel  like 
the  "  Merrimac"  in  half  an  hour,  but  against 
earth  works,  sand  especially,  none  of  the 
monitor  class  were  equal  to  the  "New  Iron 
sides,"  with  her  quick-firing  batteries  of  11- 
inch  guns. 

All  these  matters  were  fully  discussed 
during  the  siege  of  Charleston.  Admiral 
Dupont  had  a  great  responsibility  on  his 
shoulders,  as  he  was  the  first  officer  to  whom 
these  iron-clads  had  been  assigned.  He 
was  determined  to  leave  nothing  undone  to 
give  these  vessels  a  full  trial  to  determine 
their  capabilities.  It  cannot  be  doubted 
that  the  experience  to  which  the  iron-clads 
had  been  subjected  in  the  attack  on  Fort 
McAllister  afforded  valuable  information  in 
relation  to  their  qualities,  and  several  im 
perfections  were  detected  which  could  be 
remedied  in  other  vessels  of  their  class. 

The  capture  of  Fort  McAllister,  in  itself, 
was  of  no  special  importance,  except,  per 
haps,  to  prevent  its  protecting  some  other 
privateer  or  blockade-runner. 

Captain  Draytoirs  opinion  was  that  the 
fire  of  the  iron-clads  was  not  effective,  and 
that  the  fort  fired  more  rapidly  towards  the 
end  than  it  did  at  the  beginning  of  the  action. 

In  the  demonstration  against  Fort  Mc 
Allister  it  was  discovered  that  the  fuses  for 
the  shells  were  not  good,  and  the  shells  ex 
ploded  at  irregular  intervals — a  very  impor 
tant  matter  to  ascertain  before  the  grand 
engagement  with  the  forts  at  Charleston 
took  place.  The  "Patapsco"  carried  one 
15-inch  gun.  and  one  150-pounder  rifle.  She 
fired  fourteen  15-inch  shells  and  46  shells 
from  the  one  150-pounder  rifle — over  three 
to  one  in  favor  of  the  rifle. 

The  "  Nahant "  was  not  struck  by  the 
shells  from  Fort  McAllister,  the  enemy 
seeming  to  concentrate  his  fire  on  the  "  Pas- 
saic." 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


373 


Up  to  the  10th  of  March  was  a  busy  and 
successful  time  with  the  blockaders  of 
Admiral  Dupont's  squadron.  Two  large 
steamers,  the  *'Queen-of  -the-  Wave"  and  the 
"Georgian,"  loaded  with  munitions  of  war 
for  the  Confederates,  were  destroyed,  which 
served  to  indicate  that  the  blockade  was 
still  effective. 

As  Charleston  had  taken  the  lead  in  the 
movement  for  a  division  of  the  Union,  the 
government  naturally  desired  that  the  laws 
should  be  vindicated  there  at  as  early  a  date 
as  practicable,  and  the  Navy  Department 
wished  to  have  the  honor  of  bringing  about 
so  desirable  an  end.  Therefore.  Assistant 
Secretary  Fox.  with  the  approbation  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  directed  all  his 
energies  towards  getting  as  large  a  number 
of  iron-clads  as  possible  to  Charleston  to 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  WILLIAM  E.  LE  ROY. 

enable  Admiral  Dupont  to  force  his  way 
up  to  the  city. 

The  harbor  of  Charleston  had  been  closely 
guarded  and  many  blockade-runners  cap 
tured,  but  the  Confederates  calculated  to 
strengthen  their  fortifications  and  add  new 
ones,  so  as  to  hold  the  hot-bed  of  secession 
against  all  the  forces  that  could  be  brought 
to  bear. 

Besides  establishing  a  close  blockade,  an 
attempt  had  been  made  by  the  Federals  to 
obstruct  the  passage  across  the  bar  with 
sunken  vessels,  which  proved  unsuccessful, 
as  the  vessels  soon  disappeared  in  the  quick 
sands,  or  the  currents  washed  out  new 
channels.  So  the  blockade-runners,  though 
closely  watched,  continued  to  run  into 
Charleston  and  supply  the  Confederacy 
with  munitions  of  war. 

Several  plans   for  the   reduction   of    the 


Confederate  stronghold  were  proposed,  but 
none  were  thought  advisable,  and  in  the 
absence  of  a  large  land  force  it  seemed  that 
the  duty  must  devolve  entirely  upon  the 
Navy. 

This  was  a  most  serious  task  for  the  Navy 
to  undertake  without  any  support  from  the 
Army;  but  even  at  that  stage  of  the  war 
the  Government  had  not  learned  the  im 
portance  of  using  large  laud  and  naval 
forces  in  conjunction  when  attacking 
heavily  fortified  places — attacks  which, 
when  conducted  with  good  judgment, 
seldom  or  ever  failed.  The  Navy  Depart 
ment  was.  doubtless,  very  willing  to  have 
the  co-operation  of  the  Army,  but  they  were 
frequently  unable  to  obtain'it.  and  the  War 
Department  did  not  attach  the  same  im 
portance  to  the  capture  of  Charleston  as  did 
the  Navy. 

Much  was  expected  of  the  iron  vessels  by 
the  Navy  Department,  and  their  hopes 
were  confirmed  by  the  attacks  on  Fort  Mc 
Allister,  where  none  of  the  vessels  were 
seriously  injured,  and  none  of  their  crew 
killed.  The  Department  had  been  abused 
for  expending  so  much  money  on  these 
vessels,  which  their  detractors  affirmed 
would  perform  no  effective  service,  and 
would  founder,  as  the  •'  Monitor"  had  done  ; 
not  taking  into  consideration  the  fact  that 
they  were  superior  to  the  original  •'Moni 
tor,"  and  that  the  defects  of  the  latter  had 
been  eliminated  in  these  later  structures. 
The  Department  naturally  wanted  to  show 
that  it  had  made  no  mistakes  in  this  in 
stance,  and  they  pushed  on  the  work  of  prep 
aration  regardless  of  the  criticism  of  those 
who  were  in  favor  of  a  different  class  of  ves 
sel  carrying  more  guns.  Some  of  these  de 
tractors  were  persons  whose  plans  had  been 
rejected,  and  who  thought  there  was  no 
other  mode  but  their  own  of  bringing  the 
contumacious  city  under  subjection. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Department  had 
rather  too  much  faith  in  these  vessels,  and 
was  inclined  to  expect  from  them  more  than 
they  could  perform,  and  was.  therefore, 
disinclined  to  listen  to  the  advice  of  offi 
cers  who,  by  their  standing  and  length 
of  service,  were  entitled  to  consideration. 
Almost  everybody  admitted  the  value  of  the 
turret- vessels  as  harbor  defences,  but  many 
doubted  their  efficiency  against  the  earth 
works  of  Charleston. 

Admiral  Dupont  was  pressed  by  the  Navy 
Department  to  attack  the  batteries,  and  oh 
the  7th  of  April.  18G3.  he  determined  to  at 
tempt  what  he  was  far  from  certain  would 
be  a  success,  in  order  to  carry  put  the  wishes 
of  the  government,  and  meet,  if  possible,  the 
public  expectations. 

To  understand  the  harbor  of  Charleston, 
with  its  intricate  shoals  and  channels,  re 
quires  the  study  of  a  chart.  In  some  respects 


374 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


it  resembles  the  harbor  of  New  York,  al 
though  it  is  on  a  much  smaller  scale.  The 
city  of  Charleston  stands  on  a  neck  of  land, 
bounded  by  two  rivers,  and  projecting  into 
a  narrow  bay.  The  bay  was  protected  by 
Fort  Pinkney,  Fort  Ripley,  Fort  Moultrie, 
Fort  Beauregard.  Fort  Sumter.  Battery  Bee, 
Battery  Gregg,  Battery  Wagner,  etc.  These 
defences  were  so  placed  that  a  vessel  at 
tempting  to  pass  Sumter  would  be  under  a 
cross-fire  from  them  all.  every  fort  being 
armed  with  the  heaviest  and  most  destruc 
tive  ordnance  then  known. 

After  crossing  the  bar.  there  were  several 
channels  leading  into  Charleston  harbor — 
the  "Main-Ship  Channel."  "North  Chan 
nel"  and  "Swash  Channel."  In  taking 
either  of  these,  a  vessel  would  be  under  a 
raking  and  cross  fire.  Should  she  get  by 
Sumter,  she  would  still  be  subjected  to  a 
raking  fire  from  that  work  and  the  \vorks 
on  the  upper  part  of  Sullivan's  Island — from 
Battery  Gregg,  Fort  Johnson,  Fort  Ripley 
and  Castle  Pinkney,  and  some  smaller  bat 
teries.  To  run  past  these  defences,  if  there 
were  no  obstructions  in  the  channel,  would 
be  much  easier  with  a  small  squadron  than 
to  stop  and  give  the  forts  battle  with  iron 
clads.  This  fact  was  established  during 
the  civil  war,  and  the  subject  has  been  ably 
treated  in  a  work  published  in  1868  by  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Von  Sheliha. 

Before  proceeding  to  attack  the  defences 
of  Charleston,  Rear-Admiral  Dupont  issued 
the  following  order: 

The  bar  will  be  buoyed  by  the  "  Keokuk,'1  Com 
mander  Rhind,  assisted  by  C.  O.  Boutelle,  Assistant 
United  States  Coast  Survey,  commanding  the 
"Bibb,"  by  Acting-Ensign  Platt,  and  by  the  pilots 
of  the  fleet. 

The  commanding  officers  will,  previous  to  cross 
ing,  make  themselves  acquainted  with  the  value  of 
the  buoys. 

The  vessels,  on  signal  being  made,  will  form  in 
the  prescribed  order  ahead  at  intervals  of  one  cable's 
length. 

The  squadron  will  pass  up  the  Main  Ship  Chan 
nel  without  returning  the  fire  of  the  batteries  on 
Morris  Island,  unless  signal  should  be  made  to  com 
mence  action. 

The  ships  will  open  fire  on  Fort  Sumter  when 
within  easy  range,  and  will  take  up  a  position  to 
the  northward  and  westward  of  that  fortification, 
engaging  its  left  or  north-west  face  at  a  distance 
of  from  600  to  800  yards,  firing  low,  and  aiming  at 
the  centre  embrasure. 

The  commanding  officers  will  instruct  their  offi 
cers  and  men  to  carefully  avoid  wasting  a  shot,  and 
will  enjoin  upon  them  the  necessity  of  precision 
rather  than  rapidity  of  fire. 

Each  ship  will  be  ready  to  render  assistance  to 
any  vessel  that  may  require  it. 

The  special  code  of  signals  prepared  for  the  iron 
clads  will  be  used  in  action. 

After  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter,  it  is  probable 
that  the  next  point  of  attack  will  be  the  batteries  on 
Morris  Island. 

The  line  of  battle  will  be  inline  ahead,  as  follows  : 

1.  "Weehawken,1'     Captain  John  Rodgers. 

2.  "Passaic,"  Captain  Percival  Drayton. 
8.  "Montauk,"  Captain  John  L.  Worden. 


4.  "  Patapsco,"  Commander  Daniel  Ammen. 

5.  "  New  Ironsides."     Captain  T.  Turner. 

6.  "  Catskill,"  Commander  (T.  W.  Rodgers. 
7-  "Nantucket,"  Commander  D.  M   Fairfax. 

8.  "Nahant,"  Commander  John  Downes. 

9.  "Keokuk,''  Commander  A.  C.  Rhind. 

A  squadron  of  vessels,  of  which  Captain  J.  F. 
Green  will  be  the  senior  officer,  will  be  formed  out 
side  the  bar,  near  to  the  entrance  buoy,  consisting 
of  the  following  vessels:  "Canandaigua,"  "Housa- 
tonic,"  ''Huron,  "  Unadilla,"  "  Wissahickon,"  and 
will  be  held  in  readiness  to  support  the  iron-clads 
when  they  attack  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island. 

S.  F.  DUPOXT, 

Rear-Admiral  commanding  South- Atlantic  Block 
ading  Squadron. 

When  Admiral  Dupont  hoisted  his  flag 
on  board  the  "  New  Ironsides,"  he  took  with 
him  his  personal  staff,  who  remained  with 
him  during  the  operations  at  Charleston. 
To  the  officers  of  the  staff  he  pays  the  high 
est  encomiums  for  the  assistance  they  ren 
dered  him  in  the  battle  and  otherwise.  They 
were  as  follows: 

Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers,  Fleet  Cap 
tain;  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Preston,  Flag  Lieu 
tenant;  Lieutenant  A.  S.  Mackenzie,  Ord 
nance  Officer;  Ensign  M.  L.  Johnson,  Aide 
and  Signal  Officer.  All  these  gentlemen 
are  mentioned  with  that  warmth  of  feeling 
which  distinguished  Dupont  in  cases  where 
officers  under  him  performed  their  duty 
faithfully. 

On  the  7th  of  April  the  vessels  moved  to 
the  attack,  the  "  Weehawken  "  leading  with 
a  torpedo  raft  in  front.  On  the  way  up  the 
Main  Ship  Channel,  the  leading  vessel 
passed  a  number  of  buoys  indicating  tor 
pedoes,  one  of  which  exploded  near  the 
"Weehawken,"  without,  however,  doing 
any  harm. 

At  2  P.  M.,  the  squadron  approached  the 
obstructions  extending  across  the  harbor 
from  Fort  Moultrie  to  Fort  Sumter.  These 
were  indicated  by  several  lines  of  casks,  be 
yond  which  piles  were  seen  extending 
"from  James  Island  to  the  Middle  Ground." 

At  2.50  P.  M.,  the  guns  of  Fort  Moultrie 
opened  upon  the  "Weehawken,"  followed 
shortly  after  by  Fort  Sumter,  and  all  the 
batteries  on  Sullivan's  Island. 

Being  unable  to  pass  the  obstructions, 
the  iron-clads  were  obliged  to  turn,  which 
threw  the  line  into  confusion.  The  flag 
ship  became  entangled  with  the  Monitors, 
and  could  not  bring  her  batteries  to  bear  on 
the  enemy  without  danger  of  firing  into 
them.  The  ' '  New  Ironsides  "  was  compelled 
to  anchor  twice  to  prevent  going  ashore, 
— on  one  of  these  occasions  the  Monitors 
and  the  "Keokuk  "  were  able  to  get  within 
easy  range  of  Fort  Sumter — at  distances 
varying  from  550  to  800  yards — in  which 
position  they  were  subjected  to  a  fire  from 
the  batteries  on  Sullivan's  Island,  Morris 
Island  and  Sumter. 

The  effect  of  the  concentrated  fire  of  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


375 


forts  on  the  Monitors  would  have  been 
bewildering1  to  officers  and  men  whose 
nerves  were  not  of  the  strongest  kind.  The 
enemy  had  been  anxiously  looking  forward 
to  the  time  when  they  could  get  the  Federal 
iron-dads  in  just  such  a  position,  and  their 
only  apprehension  was  that  the  opportunity 
would  not  be  offered  them.  The  Confeder 
ate  engineers  felt  that  it  would  be  impossible 
for  any  force  of  vessels  such  as  the  Federals 
possessed  to  pass  the  forts  and  obstructions 
to  Charleston.  Owing  to  repeated  practice 
at  targets,  the  Confederate  officers  felt  cer 
tain  of  planting  two  out  of  three  of  their 
heaviest  shots  on  the  Monitors'  turrets  at 
the  rate  of  sixty  shots  a  minute. 

The  trial  of  the  Monitors  before  Fort 
McAllister  afforded  no  real  test  of  their  en 
durance,  for  there  could  be  no  comparison 
between  such  a  work  as  McAllister  and  the 
defences  of  Charleston.  The  fire  on  the  iron 
clads  was  such  as  an  equal  number  of  the 
heaviest  European  ships-of-war  could  not 
have  withstood  many  minutes. 

The  severity  of  the  fire  was  shown  by  the 
effect  on  the  Monitors  and  the  sinking  of 
one  of  their  number,  and  yet  the  vessels  re 
tired  from  the  conflict  without  confusion. 

That  attack  will  always  stand  the  sever 
est  criticism  from  those  disposed  to  be  hy 
percritical;  and  those  capable  of  judging 
will  admit  that  it  was  conducted  with  skill 
and  judgment.  It  was  very  well  in  those 
who  could  sit  in  their  cosy  arm-chairs  and 
direct  great  naval  and  military  movements, 
who  seldom  reflect  that  while  undertaking 
to  direct  battles  from  a  distance  they  are 
meddling  with  that  which  pioperly  should 
be  managed  by  the  professional  leader,  and 
uselessly  sacrificing  the  lives  of  officers  and 
men. 

Admiral  Dupont  found  it  impossible,  ow 
ing  to  currents  and  an  unmanageable  ship, 
to  place  the  "  New  Ironsides  "  where  he  de 
sired,  although  he  was  within  one  thousand 
yards  of  Fort  Sumter;  night  was  coming 
on,  and  the  squadron  in  some  disarray. 
He  therefore  signalled  the  vessels  to  with 
draw  from  action,  intending  to  renew  the 
engagement. 

That  evening  the  commanding  officers  of 
the  iron-clads  visited  the  flag-ship  to  report 
the  condition  of  affairs  on  board  their  re 
spective  vessels,  which  caused  Admiral  Du 
pont  to  change  his  mind  about  renewing  the 
attack  next  morning,  for  he  was  now  satis 
fied  that  it  was  impossible  to  take  Charles 
ton  with  the  force  under  his  command. 

And  here  arises  the  question — Was  it  wise 
to  undertake  so  great  a  task  as  the  capture 
of  Charleston  at  one  blow  ?  It  would  have 
been  a  good  beginning  to  have  taken  Fort 
Wagner.  To  have  attacked  that  place  eight 
hundred  yards  to  the  southward  would  have 
placed  the  squadron  two  and  a  half  miles 


from  the  forts  on  Sullivan's  Island  and  a 
mile  and  three-quarters  from  Sumter.  Of 
course,  if  the  iron-clads  could  not  reduce 
Wagner,  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to 
go  up  to  the  city.  There  was  a  great  desire, 
on  the  part  of  the  Northern  people,  that 
Charleston  should  be  taken,  and  the  officer 
who  could  at  that  moment  have  captured 
the  place  would  have  won  unbounded  popu 
larity.  It  was  certainly  the  hardest  task 
undertaken  by  the  Navy  during  the  war. 
In  fact,  without  the  co-operation  of  an 
army,  the  taking  of  Charleston  was  an  im 
possibility. 

Charleston  was  approached  by  tortuous 
channels  filled  with  obstructions,  that  even 
without  the  fortifications  would  have  been 
formidable  to  the  squadron  that  went  to  at- 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  A.  C.  RHIND. 

tack  it.  It  is  difficult  to  manoeuvre  a  squad 
ron  in  a  narrow  space  with  strong  currents 
running;  how  much  more  difficult  must  it 
be,  then,  when  crooked  channels  are  filled 
with  obstructions  ? 

In  such  a  case  a  Commander-in-chief  is 
entitled  to  use  his  own  discretion,  and  not 
undertake  a  movement  against  a  place  un 
less  he  is  confident  the  obstructions  are  not 
of  a  character  to  impede  the  progress  of  his 
fleet.  Had  Dupont  persevered  and  entan 
gled  his  vessels  in  the  contrivances  placed 
in  the  channels  for  that  purpose,  those  who 
urged  him  on  would  have  put  the  blame  of 
the  necessary  failure  upon  his  shoulders. 
He  discontinued  the  attack  in  good  time, 
and  let  us  see  the  result: 

No  ships  had  been  exposed  to  the  severest 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


fire  of  the  enemy  more  than  forty  minutes, 
yet  in  that  brief  period  five  iron-clads  were 
wholly  or  partiallv  disabled. 

Commander  Rhind,  in  the  "  Keokuk,"  had 
been  able  to  fire  only  three  times  during  the 
period  he  was  exposed  to  the  guns  of  the 
enemy,  when  he  was  obliged  to  withdraw 
from  action  to  prevent  his  vessel  from  sink 
ing,  which  event  did  happen  on  the  follow 
ing  morning.  The  "  Nahant."  Commander 
Downes.  was  seriously  damaged,  her  turret 
so  jammed  as  to  prevent  its  turning,  many 
of  the  bolts  of  both  turret  and  pilot  house 
broken,  and  the  latter  rendered  nearly  un 
tenable  by  flying  bolts  and  nuts.  Captain 
Drayton,  in  the  "  Passaic."  after  the  fourth 
fire  from  her  11-inch  gun.  found  himself  un 
able  to  use  it  again  during  the  action.  His 
turret,  also,  became  jammed,  although  he 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  D.  Mr.  N.  FAIRFAX. 

was  finally  enabled  to  get  it  in  motion  again. 
Commander  Ammen,  of  the  "  Patapsco,*' 
lost  the  use  of  his  rifled-gun  after  the  fifth 
fire,  owing  to  the  carrying  away  of  the  bolts 
of  the  forward  cap-square.  "Commander 
Fairfax,  of  the  "Nantucket,"  reports  that 
after  the  third  shot  from  the  15-inch  gun, 
the  port-stopper  became  jammed,  several 
shot  striking  near  the  port,  driving  in  the 
plates  and  preventing  the  further  use  of  the 
gun  during  the  action. 

The  other  iron-clads,  although  struck 
many  times,  were  still  able  to  use  their 
guns,  but  it  seems  probable  that  in  a  short 
time  they  would  have  been  placed  hors-de- 
combat. 

The  position  of  the  squadron  was  simply 
that  of  being  in  a  trap,  and  having  to  beaV 
the  cross-fire  of  all  the  forts  within  a  circle 


of  two  miles.  Only  one  hundred  and  thirty 
shot  and  shell  were  fired  by  the  iron-clads 
during  the  action,  while  many  hundred 
were  fired  by  the  enemy,  the  character  of 
which  is  well  described  by  a  contemporary 
writer,  who  remarks  : 

In  order  to  more  fully  understand  the  terrible  se 
verity  of  the  fire  to  which  these  vessels  were  to  be 
exposed,  it  is  necessary  to  consider  some  statements 
in  the  circular  of  the  Confederate  General  Ripley. 
He  mentions  three  circles  of  fire  which  had  been 
prepared  for  the  reception  of  the  fleet.  He  meant 
that  there  were  three  points  beyond  each  other  in 
passing  up  the  harbor  upon  which  circles  the  bat 
teries  on  shore  would  concentrate  their  fire  as  upon 
a  focus,  and  to  these  points  the  range  of  the  guns 
had  been  actually  adjusted  by  experimental  firing, 
and  the  points  were  marked  by  guides,  Imoys  and 
obstructions,  so  that  no  shot  could  miss  its  mark. 

The  first  focus  of  fire  into  which  the  fleet  would 
come  was  formed  between  Sumter  and  Moultrie. 
Three  obstructions  of  various  kinds  were  placed 
in  and  across  the  channel,  through  which  it  was 
thought  the  fleet  could  not  pass,  and  where  the  lead 
ing  vessels  being  stopped  the  line  would  be  thrown 
into  confusion,  and  the  Monitors  would  be  huddled 
together  and  could  be  crushed  by  the  concentrating 
fire  of  the  circle  (A  forts  and  batteries. 

According  to  the  Confederate  accounts  seventy- 
six  guns  bore  on  this  single  point,  while  our  own 
officers  placed  the  number  at  a  hundred.  If  now 
it  is  considered  that  bearing  on  this  spot  were  7- 
inch,  8-inch,  Brooke  and  Blakely  rifles,  10-inch 
columbiads,  for  which  had  been  prepared  square 
head  bolts,  with  chilled  ends,  much  heavier  than 
the  ordinary  shot,  and  guns  for  hot  shot  and  shells 
containing  moulten  iron,  an  idea  may  be  formed  of 
what  these  iron-clads  were  to  meet.  The  enemy's 
guns,  moreover,  had  been  so  tried  that  there  could 
be  no  random  shooting.  The  Confederate  plan  of 
defence  lacked  nothing  which  skill,  experience  and 
science  could  suggest. 

So  far  the  writer  whom  we  quote  pictures 
in  glowing  terms  the  difficulties  with  which 
the  Monitors  would  have  to  contend  in  an 
attack  on  Charleston;  but  after  stating  the 
damages  received  by  the  Federal  vessels. 
and  quoting  the  opinions  of  all  the  princi 
pal  officers  that  a  continuation  of  the  at 
tack  would  have  resulted  in  the  destruction 
of  the  squadron,  the  chronicler  suddenly 
changes  his  course,  as  if  impressed  by  a 
new  idea,  and  attempts  to  show  that  a  pro 
longation  of  the  struggle  would  have  led  to 
a  Union  victory,  and  that  the  opinions  of 
ten  brave  and  experienced  officers  were  of 
no  account  whatever ! 

There  was  no  officer  in  the  Navy  whose 
reputation  stood  higher  than  that  of  Du- 
pont.  He  had  gallantly  won  the  first  naval 
battle  of  any  importance  in  the  war,  and 
had  shown  so  much  ability  at  Port  Royal 
as  to  entitle  him  to  the  full  confidence  of 
the  Government,  and  his  opinions  should 
have  been  preferred  in  all  matters  relating 
to  his  command  to  those  of  any  other  per 
son.  The  belief  was  general  "at  the  time 
that  Dupont  was  not  well  treated  by  the 
Navy  Department — a  belief  which  prevails 
in  the  Navy  to  this  day. 

When  the  Department  commenced  build. 


"^-CHyll 


^       h  ks 

iif 

••-,>%  /         k    V 

\M|::.-:\;/^^      31  *  : 

-^Vf^i  DRl'M         ft/./          ~ 

5^</  -    S,.    AVTV//.7  ^ 


^v^vasf: 

c    .^:^:V,-*:*^V        -^Vv 


^O-^jU'J-  iH'  ij  i"-1'-?""" 

f^v^triMi-i     ! — •.— ',"  i  iff'A 


o  psBj 


GENERAL    MAP 


SOOTH  CAROLBNA. 

CONFEDERATE   DEFENCES   AND    OBSTRUCTIONS. 


trrtnron  KnrATran  CT  eoirer~w«cL< 

n  H    R 


lt.  u   c  cncnnnnnnnccnnnnnn£rrrcn.:nnrcnnnnminn  n   c 
.  occU^L^Onc  D  cnia.  cnn  JMJicn^u 

[__ ^t 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


377 


ing  small  Monitor  -  shaped  vessels  -with 
great  rapidity,  the  Secretary  and  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  were  unjustly  as 
sailed  from  various  quarters  for  adopting 
the  Monitor  system  in  preference  to  all 
others. 

In  this  matter.  Mr.  Secretary  Welles  and 
Mr.  Fox  showed  good  judgment,  for  the 
'•  Keokuk,"  which  was  not  a  Monitor-built 
vessel,  was  shattered  so  by  the  enemy's  fire 
at  Charleston  that  in  a  few  minutes  she 
withdrew  from  action  to  avoid  sinking,  and 
-did  sink  some  hours  afterwards  from  the 
effects  of  the  enemy's  shot. 

Having    prepared    these     Monitors,    the 
Navy  Department  were  naturally  anxious 
to  prove  to  their  detractors  that  this  was 
the  right  form  of  vessel  to  carry  out  the 
•-ideas  of  the  government;    but  the  Depart 
ment  did  not  take  into  consideration  that 
seven  Monitors,  each  with  two  slow-firing 
guns,  were  no  match  for  seventy-six  pieces 
of  ordnance  of  the  heaviest  calibre  then  in 
use.     If  v"<>  further  consider  that  half  of  the 
gunc         the  Monitors  were   11-inch,   there 
hut  seven  15-inch  guns  with  which 
u  bmicu  the  masonry  of  Fort  Sumter  and 
the  thick  earth- works  of  the  numerous  other 
fortifications. 

The  Confederate  accounts  disagree  in  the 
number  of  their  guns,  but  it  is  probable  that 
in  the  aggregate  they  fell  riot  much  short  of 
a  hundred. 

In  their  anxiety  to  triumph  over  those 
who  had  attacked  them  so  unjustly,  the 
Navy  Department  required  of  Dupont  more 
than  could  be  accomplished  with  his  small 
force,  and  did  not  pay  that  deference  to 
his  opinion  to  which  his  reputation  and 
position  entitled  him.  On  Dupont  alone 
would  have  rested  the  responsibility  of  de 
feat  had  he  entangled  his  vessels  in  the 
meshes  prepared  to  receive  them,  and  ren 
dered  them  targets  for  the  enemy  to  destroy 
at  their  leisure.  In  that  event  there  would 
have  been  such  an  outcry  at  the  North 
against  the  Monitor  system  that  the  Navy 
Department  could  not  have  withstood  if. 
All  the  blame  would  have  been  thrown 
upon  Dupont  in  the  same  way  that  the 
blame  of  failing  to  continue  his  attack  was 
ascribed  to  him. 

But  the  Navy  did  not  look  upon  the  ac 
tion  of  the  7th  of  April  as  a  defeat,  by  any 
means.  It  was  a  prudent  withdrawal  from 
engagement  with  a  force  more  than  six 
times  its  superior.  It  must  not  be  forgot 
ten  that  the  Monitors  had  to  take  position 
and  get  their  range  under  a  most  terri 
fic  fire;  and  although  none  were  so  disabled 
that  they  could  not  have  resumed  the  ac 
tion  next  day,  they  were  enough  so  to  be 
obliged  to  retire  temporarily. 

The  difficulty  lay  in  having  too  few  ves 
sels  to  accomplish  so  great  a  work  —  an 


opinion  which  was  generally  acquiesced  in 
by  those  cognizant  of  the  facts  of  the  case. 
It  is  now  an  axiom  that,  no  matter  how 
strong  you  may  build  an  iron-clad,  guns  can 
be  made  that  will  knock  her  to  pieces  in  a 
given  space  of  time.  In  the  case  of  the 
Monitors,  the  enemy  had  in  forty  minutes 
weakened  some  of  them,  and  an  hour  longer 
would  perhaps  have  made  it  necessary  for 
them  to  go  to  the  machine-shop. 

We  do  not  consider  the  official  report  of 
Chief  Engineer  A.  C.  Stimers  to  the  Navy 
Department  as  carrying  any  weight  with  it, 
particularly  in  view  of  the  terrible  mistakes 
made  by  that  officer  in  the  building  of  a 
number  of  light-draft  Monitors  which  were 
consigned  to  the  scrap-heap  as  worthless. 
In  his  communication  to  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  Mr.  Stimers  says:  "  In  consideration  of 
the  vast  importance  to  our  country  that  this 
strongholdof  the  rebellion  should  be  reduced, 
I  take  the  liberty  to  express  to  the  Depart 
ment  my  firm  opinion  that  the  obstructions 
could  be  readily  passed  with  the  means  al 
ready  provided,  and  our  entire  fleet  of  iron 
clads  pass  up  successfully  to  the  wharves  at 
Charleston,  and  that  the  Monitors  will  retain 
sufficient  enduring  power  to  enable  them  to 
pass  all  the  forts  and  batteries  which  may 
reasonably  be  expected." 

Mr.  Stimers  also  expressed  great  confi 
dence  in  the  efficiency  of  the  torpedo  rafts 
designed  by  Mr.  Ericsson,  for  the  purpose 
of  removing  torpedoes  and  blowing  up 
obstructions,  which  the  historian  of  the 
Navy  says  "naval  officers  were  unwilling 
to  use  " 

Mr.  Stimers — or  any  other  person  in  like 
circumstances — could  express  what  opinion 
he  pleased,  as  he  had  no  responsibility  in 
the  matter  and  was  not  likely  to  have  any. 
The  intelligent  reader  will  doubtless  attach 
more  importance  to  the  opinion  of  the  Com 
mander-in-chief  and  his  well-tried  officers, 
who  always  did  their  duty  faithfully  in 
whatever  situation  they  were  placed. 

To  show  that  the  commanding  officers  of 
the  Monitors  did  not  lose  their  coolness,  and 
that  they  were  not  deficient  in  courage  dur 
ing  the  time  they  were  under  the  fire  of  so 
many  guns,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  the 
accuracy  of  the  fire  of  those  vessels.  One 
hundred  and  twenty-four  shots  were  fired  at 
Sumter.  and  during  the  engagement  the 
Monitors  had  to  be  kept  in  position  to  pre 
serve  their  range  under  the  storm  of  shot 
that  was  showered  upon  them. 

The  Confederate  accounts  state  that  fifty- 
five  of  the  Monitors'  shot  struck  the  walls  of 
Sumter.  and  others  struck  inside  the  works, 
which  was  excellent  practice  considering 
the  situation.  The  firing  also  showed  that 
the  1 5-inch  shot  had  a  breaking  force  against 
masonry  that  it  did  not  possess  against 
earth -works. 


378 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


The  distance  at  which  the  vessels  were 
from  the  fort  is  differently  stated  by  the 
Federal  and  Confederate  officers,  the  former 
placing  it  at  600,  the  latter  at  1,000,  yards. 
As  both  were  liable  to  error,  we  will  take 
the  mean  of  the  two,  or  800  yards,  as  cor 
rect,  at  which  distance  both  the  15-inch  and 
the  11-inch  guns  must  have  great  breach 
ing  power.  Only  two  of  the  15-inch  shot 
passed  through  the  walls  of  Fort  Sumter 
and  exploded — one  in  a  casemate,  the  other 
in  the  parade-ground.  Other  15-inch  shells 
exploded  against  the  walls,  making  deep 
craters,  but  not  essentially  injuring  the 
fort;  "  embrasures  were  destroyed,  and  one 
shot  cracked  the  masonry  for  twenty-four 
feet  in  length;"  "one  large  shell  went  over 
the  parapet,  demolished  the  officers'  quar 
ters,  and  damaged  several  walls."  "Other 
15-inch  shells  and  shot  and  fragments  of 
shells  were  picked  up  in  and  about  the 
fort."  These  facts  we  glean  from  the  Con 
federate  official  account. 

We  quote  the  historian  of  the  Navy,  who 
is  anxious  to  show  that  Admiral  Dupont 
and  his  officers  had  no  idea  of  the  damage 
they  were  doing  to  the  fort,  otherwise  they 
would  have  continued  the  attack.  The  fact 
is,  if  the  Monitors  had  been  filled  with  shot 
and  shell  and  every  one  had  struck  Fort 
Sumter,  they  would  not  materially  have  in 
jured  its  powers  of  resistance  unless  they 
could  have  disabled  the  guns. 

The  naval  historian  says:  "  That  nothing 
was  more  certain,  in  view  of  what  was 
actually  done,  than  that  Sumter  could  not 
long  have  resisted  even  such  a  fire  as  the 
Monitors  delivered  that  day.  The  result 
would  have  been  not  such  a  gradual  crum 
bling  of  the  walls  as  took  place  under  the 
long-range  firing  of  the  heavy  rifles  after 
wards  from  the  land  batteries,  but  they 
would  have  come  down  with  a  crash,  and 
the  whole  interior  of  the  fort  would  have 
been  torn  in  pieces  by  the  enormous  shells." 
In  giving  such  opinions,  it  is  very  plain  the 
Naval  historian,  whom  we  quote,  had  never 
seen  a  fort  after  a  bombardment,  where  the 
ground  was  strewn  with  shells  and  debris, 
yet  remaining  in  fair  fighting  condition. 
He  seems  not  to  consider  that  while  the  fort 
is  getting  battered  the  iron-clads  are  at  the 
same  time  receiving  a  severe  hammering, 
and  that,  when  the  bombardment  is  con 
tinued  for  a  length  of  time,  the  iron  turrets 
will  be  likely  to  yield  to  repeated  blows,  on 
the  same  principle  that  the  trunnions  of  a 
heavy  gun  can  be  broken  off  by  repeated 
strokes  from  an  ordinary  hammer. 

There  was  another  argument  urged  in 
favor  of  the  Monitors  maintaining  the  fight 
with  Sumter,  viz.:  "  That,  in  judging  of 
the  actual  power  of  these  large  guns,  one 
very  important  point  must  be  considered. 
These  guns  were  novel  weapons,  and  there 


was  an  apprehension  that  they  would  burst 
in  firing,  and  consequently  were  used  with 
a  caution  which  in  the  light  of  subsequent 
experience  appears  like  timidity.  The 
charge  of  powder  was  limited  to  thirty-five 
pounds.  They  have  since  been  fired  re 
peatedly  and  safely  with  double  that 
amount — with  seventy  pounds  of  powder, 
or  one  hundred  of  mammoth  powder,  which 
is  equal  to  seventy  or  seventy-five  of  com 
mon  powder.  From  the  results  that  were 
actually  reached  with  only  thirty-five 
pounds  of  powder,  it  is  rendered  certain 
that,  if  the  charges  had  been  suitably  in 
creased,  every  shot  and  shell  striking  fairly 
would  have  gone  through  the  walls  and  the 
fort  would  have  been  destroyed,  or,  at  the 
very  least,  it  would  have  been  so  shattered 
that  none  would  have  doubted  the  propriety 
of  a  second  attack,  for  it  could  be  seen  that 
it  could  easily  be  destroyed  by  a  second 
attack." 


CAPTAIN  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  THOMAS  TURNER. 

This  kind  of  "argument''  will  not  stand 
against  the  statement  of  the  facts.  Its  pur 
pose  was  to  throw  on  Dupont  the  odium  of 
failure  in  the  attack  on  Charleston. 

All  the  talk  of  increasing  the  charges  of 
the  guns  to  obtain  more  breaching  power 
was  sheer  folly,  for  the  charges  for  the  guns 
were  established  by  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance 
in  the  Navy  Department,  and  no  officer 
could  take  the  responsibility  of  doubling  the 
charges  of  the  guns  during  an  action  for 
should  they  burst  and  kill  his  own  mrn  he 
would  be  held  blamable. 

The  Naval  historian  labors  in  all  this  to 
show  that  there  was  wanting  the  energy 
in  the  attack  on  Sumter  which  character 
ized  subsequent  proceedings;  but  it  must 
be  remembered  that  Rear  -  Admiral  Dahl- 
gren,  who  relieved  Dupont,  with  the  light 
of  the  latter's  experience  to  guide  him, 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


accomplished  no  more  than  his  predecessor 
In  fact,  the  historian  admits  as  much,  and 
acknowledges  that  nothing  was  effected 
until  Fort  Wagner,  the  key  to  the  situation, 
was  attacked  by  the  Army  and  Navy  at  the 
same  time,  when,  to  use  his  words:  "Ihe 
Monitors  and  *  New  Ironsides '  played  a  most 
conspicuous  part."  In  fact,  he  says,  "it  does 
not  appear  how  Wagner  could  have  been 
taken  without  their  assistance."  The  north 
end  of  the  island  was  in  possession  of  the 
Confederates,  and,  of  course,  in  communica 
tion  with  Charleston  and  the  other  forts, 
and  Wagner  could  at  any  time  be  re-in- 
forced,  and  it  would  have  been  just  as  easy 
for  the  Confederates  to  have  advanced  by 
sap  towards  Gilmore's  batteries  as  for  him 
to  approach  them,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
presence  of  the  iron-clads;  but  the  latter 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER    NOW  REAR  ADMIRAL)  8.  B.  LUCE. 

effectually  prevented  any  operations  outside 
the  walls  of  the  fort,  nor  were  the  enemy 
even  able  to  make  a  sortie  to  check  the 
working-parties  of  Gilmore,  nor  use  their 
batteries  with  effect  upon  the  position,  for 
the  men  could  not  stand  to  their  guns  under 
the  fire  of  the  Monitors  or  "  New  Ironsides." 

Day  by  day,  and  even  by  night,  it  was  the 
business  of  the  Monitors  to  go  up  and  attack 
the  forts,  gradually  weakening  their  de 
fence  till,  on  the  day  when  Gilmore  ex 
pected  to  make  the  final  assault,  Rear- Ad 
miral  Dahlgren,  the  successor  of  Duppnt, 
reported  that  he  had  knocked  the  fort  into 
sand-heaps  under  the  fire  of  the  land  and 
naval  batteries;  it  was  no  longer  tenable, 
and  that  night  Morris  Island  was  evacu 
ated. 

No  one  will  pretend  that  Fort  Wagner 


compared  in  strength  to  Fort  Sumter, 
which  it  was  expected  six  Monitors  would 
knock  down;  the  Commander-in-chief  of 
the  squadron,  indeed,  being  blamed  for  not 
settling  it  in  the  first  attack;  and  when  we 
consider  all  the  events  at  Charleston,  from 
Dupont's  first  attack  until  the  evacuation 
of  the  place  on  the  advance  of  General 
Sherman's  army,  we  are  confirmed  in  our 
idea  that  Rear-Admiral  Dupont  was  right 
in  saying  that  "the  place  can  only  be  taken 
by  a  combined  attack  of  the  Army  and 
Navy;  and  attacking  the  forts  with  the 
Monitors  and  iron-clads  alone  would  never 
end  in  any  favorable  results." 

It  was  not  until  after  the  fall  of  Morris 
Island,  when  General  Gilmore  could  erect 
batteries  armed  with  heavy  rifled-guns, 
that  Fort  Sumter  began  to  crumble,  day  by 
day,  until  it  became  a  mere  heap  of  rubbish 
to 'outward  seeming,  although  still  power 
ful,  even  in  its  crippled  condition,  and  pro 
tecting  the  obstructions  from  the  Monitors 
and  "  New  Ironsides,"  so  that  no  one  could 
tell  any  more  of  their  character  than  was 
known  to  Dupont  when  he  relinquished  his 
command. 

To  show  the  Confederate  determination  to 
hold  Charleston  at  all  hazards,  we  here  insert 
the  circular  of  General  Ripley.  It  shows 
that  the  Confederates  were  alive  to  every 
thing  necessary  to  circumvent  an  enemy. 

[CIRCULAR.] 
HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  MILITARY  DISTRICT,  ) 

SOUTH  CAROLINA,  GEORGIA  AXD  FLORIDA.     \ 
CHARLESTON,  December  26,  1862. ) 

In  case  the  proposed  attack  on  this  harbor  is 
known  beforehand,  special  directions  will  be  given 
for  the  service  of  the  different  batteries.  As,  how 
ever,  it  may  happen  that  a  surprise  may  be  at 
tempted,  or  that  the  intervening  time  between  the 
knowledge  of  the  intention  and  the  event  may  be 
too  short,  the  instructions  hereinafter  contained 
will  be  carefully  attended  to. 

Each  commanding  officer  of  a  fort  or  battery  will 
give  his  attention  immediately  to  the  strengthening 
of  his  carriages  and  the  complete  preparation  of  his 
material.  Besides  making  the  proper  requisitions 
on  the  staff  departments,  let  him  endeavor  to  do  as 
much  as  possible  from  his  own  resources.  While 
staff  departments  are  to  a  great  extent  crippled  for 
want  of  material  and  workmen,  much  can  be  ac 
complished  by  ready  expedients  without  their  aid. 
Every  carriage  must  be  kept  carefully  screwed  up, 
and,  if  any  defects,  made  at  least  temporarily  effi 
cient.  All  the  elevating  screws,  eccentric  wheels,  and 
traversing  gear  must  be  put  in  order  and  kept  so, 
and  especial  care  must  be  taken  to  see  that  a  full 
supply  of  small  implements  is  constantly  on  hand. 

Ammunition  should  be  examined,  and  immedi 
ately  apportioned  to  the  several  guns,  reference  be 
ing  had  to  the  orders  heretofore  given  on  that  sub 
ject;  but  where  the  quantity  is  not  sufficient,  the 
greater  portion  should  be  given  to  the  heavier  guns, 
as  on  them  principally  the  success  of  the  defence 
must  depend. 

Officers  and  men  of  each  command  must  be  kept 
on  the  alert,  and  instructions  given  to  go  to  each 
battery  at  once,  upon  an  alarm;  and  especial  care 
must  be  taken  that  each  battery  is  in  readiness  for 
instant  action  as  the  men  arrive  at  their  guns. 

It  is  hoped  and  believed  that  most  of  these  things 


380 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


are  habitually  attended  to ;  but,  as  constant  vigi 
lance  is  our  only  security,  they  cannot  be  too  forcibly 
insisted  upon. 

Upon  observing  a  disposition  to  attack  on  the 
part  of  the  enemv,  the  nearest  fort  or  battery  will 
give  the  alarm.  By  day  a  shotted  gun  and  dipping 
the  flag  will  communicate  the  danger  to  the  other 
fortifications  and  head-quarters.  All  commands  will 
go  at  once  to  battery,  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
alarm  communicated  to  the  head-quarters  by  tele 
graph  or  signal. 

By  night  a  shotted  gun  and  a  rocket  will  give  the 
intelligence. 

In  whatever  way  the  attack  is  made  by  the  en 
emy,  he  is  to  be  engaged  as  soon  as  possible,  to  do  so 
effectually,  with  a  few  long-range  guns  from  every 
fort  that  will  bear.  The  number  of  guns  must 
be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  commanding  offi 
cer,  who  must  see  that  the  fire  is  as  accurate  as  pos 
sible.  They  must  not  engage  too  great  a  number, 
and  be  careful  not  unduly  to  excite  their  men,  or 
strain  their  guns  and  carriages.  While  the  long- 
range  fire  is  valuable,  if  accurate,  to  annoy  the  en 
emy  and  force  him  to  develop  his  attack,  it  is  not 
to  be  depended  on  for  more.  Other  things  being 
equal,  it  will  be  well  that  the  guns  to  leeward  are 
first  engaged.  The  remaining  guns  of  the  batteries 
will  be  trained  by  battery  on  different  points  where 
the  enemy  must  pass,  care  being  taken  to  have  the 
fire  of  each  battery  concentrated. 

As  the  enemy  approaches,  let  the  distance  he  will 
be  in  passing  be  accurately  estimated  by  the  dis 
tance-buoys,  and  the  elevation  made  to  correspond, 
making  it  too  little  rather  than  too  great  for  direct 
fire.  If  the  vessels  are  passing  rapidly  the  guns 
should  be  discharged  by  battery,  just  as  the  prows 
of  the  vessels  come  across  the  line  of  sight. 

In  the  case  of  wooden  vessels,  the  object  will  be 
to  hit  them  near  the  water  line,  just  abaft  the 
smoke-stack.  In  the  case  of  iron-clad  vessels,  to  hit 
the  deck  or  turrets  at  the  intersection  with  the 
deck,  and  especially  to  let  all  the  shots  strike  at 
once. 

The  first  fire  will  be  concentrated  upon  the  lead 
ing  vessels,  and  will  be  continued  upon  them  as 
long  as  the  guns  by  battery  will  bear  well,  and 
especially  if  they  become  entangled  in  obstructions, 
even  if  certain  vessels  engage  to  draw  off  the  atten 
tion  of  the  outermost  batteries  and  remain  behind. 
Should  some  of  the  vessels  succeed  in  passing,  the 
action  must  then  pass  into  the  hands  of  command 
ing  officers  of  batteries.  They  will  pour  in  their  fire 
as  far  as  practicable  by  battery,  and  as  fast  as  it  can 
be  done  with  accuracy,  on  whatever  vessels  of  the 
enemy  may  be  nearest  them. 

The  guns  of  Beauregard  Battery,  Fort  Moultrie, 
Battery  Bee,  and  the  eastern,  north-eastern,  and 
north-western  faces  of  Fort  Sumter,  will  be  used  to 
form  the  first  circle  of  fire  to  which  the  enemy  must 
besubjected,  the  centre  being  a  little  to  the  eastward 
of  a  line  between  the  forts  and  midway.  Every  ef 
fort  must  be  made  to  crush  his  vessels  and  repel  his 
attack  within  this  circle,  and  especially  while  he  is 
entangled  in  the  obstructions. 

All  the  mortars  of  Fort  Sumter  and  Fort  Moultrie 
will  be  trained  on  the  centre  above  indicated.  The 
fuses  will  be  of  the  full  length,  and  the  shells  have 
large  bursting  charges,  it  being  better  to  have  the 
fuses  fail  than  the  shells  to  burst  in  the  air,  arid 
the  full  effect  of  the  explosions  being  desirable  if 
successful.  The  mortar  batteries  will  be  fired  by 
battery  when  the  enemy's  vessels  are  about  two 
ships'  length  from  the  'point  on  which  they  are 
trained. 

If  the  fleet  is  large,  the  mortars  will  be  kept  trained 
on  the  same  point  and  fired  by  battery  as  rapidly  as 
possible  while  the  fleet  is  passing.  If  small,  and  a 
portion  has  passed  the  first  circle  of  fire,  the  mor 
tars  of  Fort  Sumter  will  be  trained  to  operate  on  the 
second  circle,  the  centre  of  which  will  be  at  a  point 


about  midway  between  Forts  Sumter  and  Ripley, 
and  to  the  southward  of  the  middle-ground  shoal. 
It  will  l>e  formed  by  the  heavy  guns  of  Fort  John 
ston,  Fort  Ripley,  Castle  Pinckney,  Battery  Bee,  the 
north-western  and  western  faces  of  Fort  Sumter. 

The  guns  of  Forts  Johnston  and  Ripley  and  Castle 
Pinckney  will  open  on  the  leading  vessels  as  they 
come  within  easy  range,  care  being  taken  that  every 
shot  finds  its  mark.  Those  of  Fort  Sumter  and  Bat 
tery  Bee  will  continue  upon  the  leading  vessels  as 
long  as  they  are  close  ;  but,  if  they  elongate  their 
distance,  the  fire  will  concentrate  on  the  vessels 
nearest  them. 

Should  any  vessel  succeed  in  passing  the  second 
circle  of  fire,  the  third  will  be  formed  and  put  into 
action  by  the  guns  of  White  Point  Battery  and  Bat 
tery  Glover,  with  such  guns  of  Forts  Johnston  and 
Ripley  and  Castle  Pinckney  as  will  bear.  Concen 
tration  011  the  leading  vessels  will  be  the  object,  as 
before. 

During  the  action  care  will  be  taken,  as  far  as 
possible,  to  prevent  the  chances  of  shot  from  the 
batteries  taking  the  direction  of  our  own  works. 
The  best  way  of  doing  this  will  be  to  let  none  miss 
the  enemy,  and  when  he  is  between  the  works  most 
especial  accuracy  will  be  striven  for. 

The  vessels  of  the  Confederate  navy  will  engage 
during  the  action,  and  they  may  often  pass  our 
batteries.  In  this  case  officers  and  gunners  cannot 
be  too  careful  to  avoid  hitting  them.  The  fire  by 
battery,  as  a  general  thing,  will  be  discontinued  at 
those  vessels  of  the  enemy  which  our  ships  engage 
closely;  but,  if  occasion  offers,  endeavors  will  be 
made  to  hit  the  ports  of  the  revolving  turrets  on 
the  enemy's  vessels  when  turned  from  our  ships,  to 
disarrange  and  throw  out  of  gear  the  machinery 
for  closing  the  ports. 

Accurate  fire  by  single  guns  will  be  concentrated 
on  the  enemy's  vessels,  if  two  or  more  attack  one  of 
ours  ;  and  should  the  distance  admit,  then  it  will  be 
advisable  to  pour  upon  one  of  them  a  heavy  fire  by 
battery. 

The  plunging  fire  from  Fort  Sumter  is  expected 
to  be  particularly  effective,  and  when  single-rifled 
guns  are  tired  from  the  barbettes  of  that  fort,  it  will 
be  well  to  hit  the  grated  roofs  of  the  turrets  with 
square-headed  bolts,  followed  by  shells  filled  with 
molten  iron. 

The  square-headed  bolts  for  the  10-inch  colum- 
biads  and  the  heavier  guns  will  be  fired  by  battery 
when  the  enemy  is  within  close  range.  Solid  shot 
and  bolts  will  be  used  generally  against  iron-clads 
during  the  action. 

The  furnaces  for  melting  iron  and  heating  shot 
will  be  kept  in  heat,  and  heated  projectiles  will  be 
used  whenever  occasion  offers  advantage. 

Should  it  happen  that  any  of  the  enemy's  vessels 
become  disabled  and  endeavor  to  get  out  of  fire,  the 
outermost  batteries  must  pay  particular  attention 
to  prevent  them;  and  in  case  "other  of  the  enemy's 
ships  come  to  the  assistance  of  the  disabled,  let 
every  gun  and  mortar  which  will  bear  be  turned 
upon  them  by  battery. 

The  great  object  of  the  enemy  will  probably  be 
to  run  by,  and  every  effort  must*  be  made  to  crush 
him  in  each  successive  circle  of  fire  which  he  en 
counters. 

Hog  Island  Channel  will  be  obstructed,  and  the 
obstructions  must  be  guarded  by  the  long-range 
guns  of  Fort  Sumter  and  the  columbiads  of  Battery 
Bee  nearest  it. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  the  enemy  will  attempt  to 
pass  by  Folly  Channel.  If  he  does,  a  circle  of  fire 
will  be  formed  by  the  guns  of  Fort  Ripley,  Castle 
Pinckney  and  White  Point  Battery. 

The  position  of  torpedoes  will  be  communicated 
to  commanding  officers,  and  the  effort  made  to 
drive  the  enemy's  vessels  upon  them  if  he  is  taking 
other  courses. 

The  obstructions  will   also  be   designated,    and 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


381 


under  no  circumstances  will  the  enemy  be  permitted 
to  reconnoitre  them. 

The  headquarters  of  the  undersigned  will  be  at 
Fort  Sumter,  and  directions  will  be  sent  by  tele 
graph  and  signal  to  different  posts,  should  anything 
require  special  directions. 

Batteries  Marshall  and  Wagner  will  be  worked  to 
the  extent  of  their  capacity  for  injuring  the  enemy, 
by  their  commanding  officers,  without  unduly  ex 
posing  their  commands. 

The  directions  given  above  relate,  generally,  to 
the  defeat  of  an  attack  by  the  enemy's  fleet  alone 
Should  a  combined  attack  be  made  by  land  and 
water,  other  orders  can  be  issued,  as  nothing  of  that 
kind  can  be  done  by  surprise. 

The  present  circular  will  be  studied  and  reflected 
upon  by  all  officers  who  will  be  engaged  in  this 
honorable  duty  of  the  coming  defence.  With  careful 
attention,  coolness  and  skillful  gunnery,  success  is 
far  more  than  possible. 

R.  S.  RIPLEY, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
Official  : 

WM.   F.   NANEE,  Acting- Assistant  Adjutant- 
General. 


COMMANDER    NOW  REAR  ADMIRAL)  JOHN  H.  UPSHUR. 

We  think  we  have  established  that  Ad 
miral  Dupont  was  right  in  the  conclusions 
which  he  submitted  to  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  immediately  after  the  engagement  of 
the  Tth  of  April.  The  public,  knowing  that 
lie  retired  from  his  command  directly  after 
this  affair,  might  suppose  that  some  blame 
was  attached  to  him. 

Dupont  was  too  popular  an  officer  to  be 
treated  with  injustice,  and  in  the  course  of 
a  month  it  was  seen  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  that  his  views  were  correct,  and  that 
the  siege  of  Charleston  by  the  Navy  still 
continued  with  no  better  results  than  before. 

Overtures  were  then  made  to  the  Admiral 


and  he  could  have  had  any  command  he  de 
sired,  but  Dupont  was  a  proud  man  and 
would  not  listen  to  terms  from  those  whom 
he  thought  had  censured  him  for  doing  his 
duty  and  forced  him  from  his  command  at 
Charleston.  To  accept  another  command, 
Dupont  thought,  would  imply  that  he  con 
curred  in  the  views  of  the  Department. 

The  following  letters  will  explain  in  a 
measure  the  reasons  for  the  misunderstand 
ing  between  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and 
Rear -Admiral  Dupont.  The  Secretary's 
letter  is  an  implied  order  for  Dupont  to  suc 
ceed  at  all  hazards,  while  the  Admiral's 
undertakes  to  show  the  Department  how 
little  prospect  there  was  of  meeting  its  ex 
pectations: 

SECRETARY  WELLES  TO  REAR-ADMIRAL  DUPONT. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  / 
April  11,  1863.          J 

SIR  —  It  has  been  suggested  to  the  Department 
by  the  President,  in  view  of  operations  elsewhere, 
and  especially  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  that 
you  should  retain  a  strong  force  off  Charleston,  even 
should  you  find  it  impossible  to  carry  the  place. 
You  will  continue  to  menace  the  rebels,  keeping 
them  in  apprehension  of  a  renewed  attack,  in  order 
that  they  may  be  occupied;  and  not  come  North  or 
go  West  to  the  aid  of  the  rebels,  with  whom  our 
forces  will  soon  be  in  conflict.  Should  you  be  suc 
cessful,  as  we  trust  and  believe  you  will  be,  it  is  ex 
pected  that  General  Hunter  will  continue  to  keep 
the  rebels  employed  and  in  constant  apprehension, 
so  that  they  shall  not  leave  the  vicinity  of  Charles 
ton.  This  "detention  of  the  iron-clads,  should  it  be 
necessary,  in  consequence  of  a  repulse,  can  be  but 
for  a  few  days. 

I  trust  your  success  will  be  such  that  the  iron-clads 
can  be,  or  will  have  been,  dispatched  to  the  Gulf 
when  this  reaches  you.  There  is  intense  anxiety  in 
regard  to  your  operations. 

This  day  is  the  anniversary  of  the  assault  on  Sum 
ter,  and  God  grant  that  its  recurrence  may  witness 
the  destruction  of  that  fortress  by  our  naval  forces 
under  your  command. 

I  am  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Rear- Admiral  S.  F.  DUPONT, 

Commanding  S.  A.  B.  Squadron,  Port  Royal,  S.  C. 

President  Lincoln  was  greatly  disturbed 
at  the  want  of  success  at  Charleston,  and 
sent  the  following  communications  to  Ad 
miral  Dupont: 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION, 

(TELEGRAM.)  WASHINGTON.  April  13,  1863.  f 

Hold  your  position  inside  the  bar  near  Charleston  ; 

or,  if  you  shall  have  left  it,  return  to  it  and  hold  it 

till  further  orders. 
Do  not  allow  the  enemy  to  erect  new  batteries  or 

defences  on  Morris  Island.     If  he  has  begun  it,  drive 

him  out.     I  do  not  herein  order  you  to  renew  the 

general  attack.     That  is  to  depend  upon  your  own 

discretion  or  a  further  order. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

Admiral  DUPONT. 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,        ) 
WASHINGTON,  April  14,  1863.  f 
This  is  intended  to  clear  up  an  apparent  incon 
sistency  between  the  recent  order  to  continue  oper 
ations  before  Charleston,  and  the  former  one  to  re 
move  to  another  point  in  a  certain  contingency.  No 


382 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


censure  upon  you  or  either  of  you  is  intended  ;  we 
still  hope  that  by  cordial  and  judicious  co-operation 
you  can  take  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island  and 
Sullivan's  Island  and  Fort  Suinter.  But  whether 
you  can  or  not,  we  wish  the  demonstration  kept  up 
for  a  time  for  a  collateral  and  very  important  ob 
ject ;  we  wish  the  attempt  to  be  a  real  one  (though 
not  a  desperate  one  ,  if  it  affords  any  considerable 
chance  of  success.  But  if  prosecuted  as  a  demon 
stration  only,  this  must  not  become  public,  or  the 
whole  effect  will  be  lost.  Once  again  before  Charles 
ton,  do  not  leave  till  further  orders  from  here  ;  of 
course,  this  is  not  intended  to  force  you  to  leave  un 
duly  exposed  Hilton  Head,  or  other  near  points  in 
vour  charge.  Yours  truly, 

A.  LINCOLN. 
General  HUXTER  and  Admiral  DUPOXT. 

P.  S. — Whoever  receives  this  first,  please  send  a 
copy  to  the  other  immediately.  A.  L. 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  CHARLES  STEEDMAN, 
COMMANDING  FLANKING  DIVISION,  BATTLE  OF  PORT  ROYAL. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  DUPOXT  TO  SECRETARY  WELLES. 

FLAG-SHIP  "WABASH," 
PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR,  S.  C.,  April  16, 1863. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re 
ceipt  this  morning,  by  the  "Freeborn,"  of  your 
communication  of  the  11th  instant,  directing  the 
maintaining  of  a  large  force  off  Charleston  to 
menace  the  rebels  and  keep  them  in  apprehension 
of  a  renewed  attack  in  the  event  of  our  repulse. 

I  have  also  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  a  copy 
of  a  telegraphic  despatch  of  the  13th  instant,  from 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  sent  from 
Fortress  Monroe. 

The  Department  will  probably  have  known,  on 
the  12th  instant,  the  result  of  the  attack.  In  my 
dispatch  of  the  llth  instant,  dated  off  Charleston, 
the  department  was  made  aware  of  my  withdrawal, 
with  the  iron-clads,  from  the  very  insecure  anchor 
age  inside  the  bar,  and  just  in  time  to  save  the 
Monitors  from  an  easterly  gale,  in  which,  in  my 


opinion  and  that  of  their  commanders,  they  would 
have  been  in  great  peril  of  being  lost  on  Morris 
Island  Beach.  Their  ground-tackling  has  been 
found  to  be  insufficient,  and  from  time  to  time  they 
have  dragged  even  in  close  harbors. 

I  have  since  been  doing  all  in  my  power  to  push 
forward  their  repairs  in  order  to  send  them  to  the 
Gulf  as  directed;  but  I  presume  that  your  dispatch 
of  the  llth  instant,  and  the  telegraphic  message 
from  the  President,  revoke  your  previous  order 

1  shall  spare  no  exertions  in  repairing,  as  soon  as 
possible,  the  serious  injuries  sustained  by  the  Moni 
tors  in  the  late  attack,  and  shall  get  them  inside 
Charleston  bar  with  all  dispatch,  in  accordance 
with  the  order  of  the  President.  I  think  it  my 
duty,  however,  to  state  to  the  Department  that  this 
will  be  attended  with  great  risk  to  these  vessels 
from  the  gales  which  prevail  at  this  season,  and 
from  the  continuous  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries, 
which  they  can  neither  silence  nor  prevent  the 
erection  of  new  ones. 

The  "  New  Ironsides  "  can  only  cross  the  bar  with 
certainty  at  spring-tides,  which  are  twice  a  month. 
She  is  more  vulnerable  than  the  Monitors,  and  at 
the  distance  she  must  necessarily  anchor  could  not 
elevate  her  guns  sufficiently  to  reach  any  batteries 
of  the  enemy,  while  at  the  same  time  she  would  be 
liable  to  injury,  particularly  in  her  wooden  ends, 
from  a  fire  which  she  could  not  return.  If  this  ves 
sel  is  withdrawn  from  the  blockade  and  placed  in 
side,  the  blockade  may  be  raised  by  the  rebel  rams 
coming  out  of  Charleston  harbor  at  night  by 
Maffifs  Channel,  in  which  case  she  could  give  no 
assistance  to  the  fleet  outside.  But  for  the  "New 
Ironsides,''  the  raid  of  the  31st  of  January  would 
have  been  repeated  with  more  serious  effect. 

The  lower  and  greater  part  of  Morris  Island  ex 
hibits  a  ridge  or  row  of  sand-hills,  affording  to  the 
enemy  a  natural  parapet  against  the  fire  of  shipping 
and  facilities  for  erecting  batteries  in  very  strong 
position.  The  upper  part  of  the  island  is  crossed 
by  Fort  Wagner,  a  work  of  great  strength,  and  cov 
ered  by  the  guns  of  Fort  Sumter.  The  island  is  in 
full  communication  with  Charleston,  and  can,  in 
spite  of  us,  draw  fresh  re-inforcements  as  rapidly  as 
they  may  be  required.  Shoals  extend  from  the 
island,  which  prevent  the  near  approach  of  the 
Monitors,  and  our  experience  at  Fort  McAllister 
does  not  encourage  me  to  expect  that  they  will  re 
duce  well-defended  sand  batteries,  where  the  damage 
inflicted  by  day  is  readily  repaired  by  the  unstinted 
labor  of  the  night.  The  ships,  therefore,can  neither 
cover  the  landing  nor  afterwards  protect  the  ad 
vance  of  the  small  force  of  the  army  available  for 
operations  in  this  quarter,  which  Avill  meet  fresh 
troops  at  every  sand-hill,  and  may  look  also  for  a 
reverse  fire  from  the  batteries  on  James  Island. 

As  it  is  considered  necessary  to  menace  Charleston 
by  a  demonstration  of  land  and  naval  forces,  North 
Edisto  will  afford  a  better  point  from  which  to 
threaten  an  advance,  and  a  concentration  of  troops 
and  ships  in  that  quarter  would  accomplish  the  pur 
pose  of  the  Government  mentioned  in  your  dispatch 
of  the  llth  instant,  as  it  is  a  military  point  from 
which  Charleston  could  be  attacked  now,  James 
Island  being  fully  occupied  by  the  enemy's  bat 
teries. 

I  have  deemed  it  proper  and  due  to  myself  to  make 
these  statements,  but  I  trust  I  need  not  add  that  I 
will  obey  all  orders  with  the  utmost  fidelity,  even 
when  my  judgment  is  entirely  at  variance  with 
them, such  as  the  order  to  re-occupy  the  unsafe  anch 
orage  for  the  iron-clads  off  Morris  Island,  and  an 
intimation  that  the  renewal  of  the  attack  on  Charles 
ton  may  be  ordered,  which,  in  my  judgment,  would 
be  attended  with  disastrous  results,  involving  the 
loss  of  this  coast. 

For  eighteen  months  in  these  waters  I  have  given 
whatever  of  professional  knowledge,  energy  and  zeal 
I  possess  to  the  discharge  of  my  duties,  and  to  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


383 


close  study  of  our  military  and  naval  position  in  the 
tenure  of  the  sea-coasts  within  the  limits  of  my  com 
mand,  and  I  claim  to  know  what  best  pertains  to 
the  disposition  of  my  fleet  in  carrying  out  the  in 
structions  of  the  Department. 

I  know  not  yet  whether  the  confidence  of  the  De 
partment  so  often  expressed  to  me  has  been  shaken 
by  the  want  of  success  in  a  single  measure  which  I 
never  advised,  though  intensely  desirous  to  carry 
out  the  Department's  orders  and  justify  expecta 
tions  in  which  I  could  not  share. 

I  am,  however,  painfully  struck  by  the  tenor  and 
tone  of  the  President's  order,  which  seems  to  imply 
a  censure,  and  I  have  to  request  that  the  Depart 
ment  will  not  hesitate  to  relieve  me  by  an  officer, 
who,  in  its  opinion,  is  more  able  to  execute  that  serv 
ice  in  which  I  have  had  the  misfortune  to  fail — the 
capture  of  Charleston.  No  consideration  for  an  in 
dividual  officer,  whatever  his  loyalty  and  length  of 
service,  should  weigh  an  instant  if  the  cause  of  his 
country  can  be  advanced  by  his  removal. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

8.  F.  DUPOXT, 

Rear-Admiral,  Commanding  S.  A.  B.  Squadron. 
Hon.  GriDEOX  WKLLBS, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 


CAPTAIN  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  WM.  ROGERS  TAYLOR. 

After  the  attack  on  Charleston.  Rear- Ad 
miral  Dupont  returned  to  Fort  Royal  and 
the  blockade  continued  as  before  with  the 
wooden  gun-boats. 

In  the  latter  part  of  April,  Major-General 
Hunter  applied  for  a  gun-boat  to  assist  a 
land  force  in  an  expedition  against  Buffing- 
ton,  on  May  River,  which  town  had  been 
the  head-quarters  of  Confederate  marauders 
for  some  time. 

The  army  force  numbering  one  thousand 
men,  under  Colonel  Barton,  embarked  on 
board  the  gun-boat  "Mayflower"  and  a 
transport,  and  were  landed  near  Buffingtoii 
under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  "  Commodore 
McDonough,"  and  took  possession  of  the 
town  from  which  the  Confederates  had  re 
treated.  By  order  of  Colonel  Barton  the 


town  was  destroyed  by  fire,  the  church 
alone  being  spared.  The  enemy  returned 
and  made  several  charges  on  the  Federal 
troops,  but  were  driven  back  by  the  shells 
of  the  "McDonough,"  which  burst  in  their 
ranks. 

The  burning  of  the  town  seems  to  have 
been  an  unnecessary  act  of  severity,  but 
such  is  the  tendency  of  civil  war.  The 
inhabitants  of  a  town  are  held  responsible 
for  the  acts  of  lawless  guerillas,  and  pun 
ished  for  aiding  and  abetting  the  enemy, 
when  perhaps  they  may  not  have  been  to 
blame. 

While  the  blockade  of  Charleston  still 
continued,  the  Confederates,  with  the  per 
sistent  energy  by  which  they  were  distin 
guished,  were  constructing  iron-dads  at 
Savannah,  They  had  been  for  some  time 
past  engaged  in  altering  the  blockade-run 
ner  "Fingal"  into  a  casemated  vessel  of 
the  same  type  as  the  "  Merrimac  "  and 
others  so  popular  in  the  South. 

The  fancy  for  this  description  of  iron 
clad  arose  doubtless  more  from  necessity 
than  from  anything  else.  The  Confederates 
had  few  machine-shops,  and  it  was  hardly 
practicable  to  roll  out  a  sufficiency  of  wide 
plates,  but  they  had  a  plenty  of  railroad 
iron,  and  of  this  they  made  liberal  use. 
The  Southern  iron-clads  were  very  formid 
able  vessels  when  brought  into  conflict  with 
wooden  ships-of-war  of  the  old  type.  It 
is  only  necessary  to  recall  to  the  reader's 
memory  the  two  small  iron-clads  which 
slipped  out  of  Charleston  and  did  such 
damage  to  the  Federal  gun-boats,  not  to 
mention  other  instances,  to  show  the  value 
of  the  Confederate  war  machines. 

The  slanting  roof  was  the  Southern  idea 
pitted  against  the  Monitor  plan,  which  was 
that  of  the  North.  These  represented  the  two 
most  powerful  types  of  fighting-ships  in  ex 
istence,  and,  if  the  "Merrimac"  had  de 
stroyed  the  "  Monitor,"  the  former  would 
no  doubt  have  been  the  type  of  vessel  used 
for  coast  and  harbor  defence  the  world 
over. 

The  Confederates  never  conceded  the 
Northern  claim  that  the  "Monitor"  drove 
the  "  Merrimac  "  back  to  Norfolk.  The  Con 
federate  naval  authorities  knew  how  the 
Federal  Navy  Department  was  abused  and 
criticised  throughout  the  North  for  adopt 
ing  the  Ericsson  principle  instead  of  some 
of  the  numerous  other  devices  that  were 
offered,  and  the  South  took  the  view  of  the 
question  which  coincided  with  their  own 
preconceived  ideas.  They  believed  in  their 
plan  of  vessel  with  rifled  guns,  and  rather 
derided  the  Monitors  with  their  slow-moving 
turrets  and  short-range  guns. 

The  want  of  success  of  the  Monitors  at 
Charleston  also  lowered  their  prestige, 
though  this  was  unjust  to  the  vessels,  for 


384 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORF 


they  certainly  showed  their  endurance  at 
that  place  sufficiently  to  prove  that  they 
could  stand  the  attack  of  the  "Atlanta."' 

The  "  Atlanta,"  then  called  the  "  Fingal," 
had  succeeded  in  running  the  blockade  and 
getting  into  Savannah  soon  after  the  cap 
ture  of  Port  Royal.  She  had  since  been 
closely  watched,  and  finding  it  would  be  al 
most  impossible  to  get  out  of  port  again  as 
a  blockade-runner,  she  was  sold  to  the 
Confederate  Government  and  converted  into 
an  iron-clad,  supposed  to  be  one  of  the  best 
that  had  been  built  in  the  South. 

The  "Weehawken,"  Captain  John  Rod- 
gers,  and  the  "Nahant."  Commander  John 
Downes,  were  employed  blockading  the 
" Atlanta"  at  the  mouth  of  Wilmington 
River. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  June  17th,  18G3, 


the  "  Nahant."  At  this  time  the  "  Atlanta  " 
lay  across  the  channel  waiting  the  attack  of 
the  Monitors.  Commander  William  A. 
Webb,  her  commanding  officer,  showed 
more  courage  than  judgment,  as  he  was 
not  called  upon  to  await  the  attack  of  two 
vessels  which  together  were  superior  in 
force. 

The  "  Weehawken  "  approached  within 
three  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy  and  at 
5.15  A.  M.  opened  fire.  In  fifteen  minutes 
the  '•  Atlanta's'' colors  were  hauled  down 
and  a  white  flag  was  hoisted.  The  "Wee 
hawken"  fired  but  five  shots  altogether,  but 
that  number  was  quite  sufficient. 

As  soon  as  the  Confederate  steamer  struck 
her  colors,  Captain  Rodgers  steamed  close 
to  her  and  ordered  a  boat  to  be  sent  on 
board  the  "Weehawken.''  Lieutenant 


JI1ON-CLAD    'ATLANTA,"  CAPTURED  IN  WARSAW  SOUND.  JUNE  17,  18C3. 


CONFEDERATE  IRONCLAD  "ATLANTA,"  CAPTURED  IN  WARSAW  SOUND. 


it  was  reported  to  Captain  Rodgers  that  a 
Confederate  iron-clad  was  coming  down 
the  river.  The  "Weehawken"  was  im 
mediately  cleared  for  action,  the  cable 
slipped,  and  the  Monitor  steamed  slowly 
towards  the  northeast  end  of  Warsaw  Isl 
and,  then  turned  and  stood  up  the  Sound, 
heading  for  the  enemy,  who  came  on  with 
confidence,  as  if  sure  of  victory.  Two  steam 
ers  followed  the  Confederate  iron  -  clad, 
filled  with  people  who  had  come  down  to 
see  the  Union  vessels  captured  or  driven 
away.  The  "Nahant."  having  no  pilot 
followed  in  the  wake  of  the  "  Weehawken." 
When  the  "Atlanta"  was  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  the  "  Weehawken "  she 
fired  a  rifled  shot  which  passed  across  the 
stern  of  the  later  vessel  and  struck  near 


Alexander,  of  the  Confederate  Navy,  went 
on  board  to  surrender  the  "  Atlanta," 
which  he  informed  Captain  Rodgers  was 
aground  on  a  sand-spit.  Soon  after.  Com 
mander  Webb  of  the  "  Atlanta  "  repaired 
on  board  the  "  Weehawken  "  to  deliver  up 
his  sword,  and  a  prize  crew,  under  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  D.  B.  Harmony,  was 
sent  to  take  charge  of  the  prize. 

The  "Weehawken"  received  no  damage 
from  the  "'  Atlanta's  "  shot,  the  only  injury 
she  received  was  from  her  consort  run 
ning  foul  of  her.  The  "Nahant"  took  no 
part  in  the  battle,  which  was  ended  before 
she  could  obtain  a  position  to  use  her  guns. 

The  "  Atlanta  "  was  struck  four  times  by 
the  "  Weehawken's  "  shot,  first  on  the  in 
clined  side  by  a  15-inch  cored  shot,  which 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


385 


broke  through  the  armor  and  wood-backing, 
strewing  the  deck  with  splinters,  prostrating 
about  forty  men  by  the  force  of  the  concus 
sion,  and  wounding  several  by  splinters  and 
fragments  of  armor.  The  second  shot — 11- 
inch  solid — struck  the  "knuckle"  or  edge 
of  the  overhang,  and  did  no  damage  except 
breaking  a  couple  of  plates.  The  third  shot 
—15-inch — struck  the  top  of  the  "  Atlanta's  " 
pilot-house,  knocking  it  off,  wounding  the 
pilots  and  stunning  the  man  at  the  wheel. 
The  fourth  shot  —  11-inch — struck  a  port- 
stopper  in  the  centre,  breaking  it  in  two 
and  driving  the  fragments  through  the 
port. 

The  "  Atlanta  "  had  sixteen  wounded,  one 
of    whom    died    from    the    effects    of    his 


we  have  before  stated,  viz.,  that  the  15-inch 
shot  could  not  penetrate  four  inches  of  iron 
with  the  ordinary  backing  at  a  distance  of 
800  yards. 

The  "Atlanta"  was  considered  by  the 
Confederates  the  best  iron-clad  they  had 
built,  and  in  the  capture  was  verified  the 
statement  we  have  made,  that  either  of  the 
Monitor-built  vessels,  armed  with  15-inch 
guns,  could  have  destroyed  the  "Merrimac  " 
in  half  an  hour.  The  "  Weehawken " 
defeated  a  better  ship  than  the  "Merrimac  " 
in  half  .the  time  mentioned. 

It  was  probably  the  intention  of  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  "Atlanta"  to  get 
out  where  he  could  have  plenty  of  sea- 
room  and  choose  his  distance — which  the 


CAPTUKE  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  RAM  "ATLANTA"  BY  THE  MONITOR  " WEEHAWKEN." 


wounds,  but  there  is  no  mention  of  any  one 
being  killed  outright. 

The  armament  of  the  Confederate  vessel 
was  two  6-inch  rifles  in  broadside,  and  two 
7-inch  rifles  working  on  pivots,  either  as 
broadside  or  bow  and  stern  guns.  The 
"  Atlanta  "  had  a  complement  of  145  officers 
and  men,  including  marines. 

The  fact  that  the  vessel  was  aground 
when  she  struck  her  colors  does  not  ac 
count  for  the  feeble  defence  she  made  after 
running  down  so  defiantly  and  engaging 
two  Monitors,  whose  strength  must  have 
been  well  known  to  the  Confederates.  Only 
two  of  the  shots  which  struck  the  '"At 
lanta"  did  any  great  damage,  and  the 
armor  and  backing,  though  much  shattered, 
were  not  penetrated.  This  confirms  what 

26 


great  speed  of  the  "  Atlanta"  would  have 
enabled  him  to  do — and  attack  the  Moni 
tors  at  long  range,  which  would  only  have 
ended  in  the  expenditure  of  a  large  amount 
of  ammunition  without  any  result,  except 
that  the  "  Atlanta"  might  have  escaped  to 
do  harm  elsewhere. 

It  seemed  to  be  the  fate  of  all  the  Confed 
erate  iron-clads  to  be  either  captured,  or 
destroyed  by  their  officers  to  prevent  them 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Federals, 
and  the  "Merrimac"  was  about  the  only 
one  of  them  which  effected  much  previous 
to  her  destruction. 

The  "  Atlanta  "  had  a  speed  of  ten  knots, 
and  her  officers  had  confidently  counted  on 
capturing  both  the  Monitors.  From  the 
nautical  instruments  on  board  the  Confed- 


386 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


erate  vessel,  her  commanding  officer  evi 
dently  intended  to  go  to  sea  or  cruise  along 
the  coast,  and  her  excellent  engines  and 
equipments  and  good  model  would  have 
justified  such  an  attempt.  The  15-inch  shot 
which  struck  the  "Atlanta "  dispelled  all 
these  illusions  and  demoralized  the  crew, 
and,  although  the  vessel  fired  some  shots, 
they  all  went  wide  of  the  mark. 

When  it  was  determined  to  fit  the  "At 
lanta  "  as  an  iron-clad,  she  was  cut  down  so 
as  to  have  the  deck  two  feet  above  the 
water.  Upon  this  deck  was  built  a  casemate 
with  inclined  sides  similar  to  the  "Merri 
mac,"  with  ports  in  which  to  mount  four 
heavy  rifle-guns  of  the  Brooke  pattern.  Her 
armor  was  four  inches  thick,  composed  of 
two  layers  of  plates  seven  inches  wide 
placed  horizontally  and  vertically  to  each 
other. 

The  vessel  was  two  hundred  and  four  feet 


CAPTAIN  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  J.  F.  GREEN. 

long,  forty -one  feet  breadth  of  beam,  and 
about  sixteen  feet  draft  of  water.  The  bow 
terminated  in  an  iron  beak  for  ramming, 
and  the  vessel  carried  a  torpedo  apparatus 
on  the  bow,  to  be  used  when  opportunity 
offered.  The  "Atlanta"  was,  in  fact,  an 
improved  "Merrimac." 

This  is  a  general  description  of  a  vessel 
from  which  so  much  was  expected  and  so 
little  realized,  and  which  instead  of  captur 
ing  two  Monitors,  was  captured  by  one  of 
them  in  fifteen  minutes. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  ingenuity  dis 
played  in  the  construction  of  the  "Atlanta," 
but  the  question  of  the  superiority  of  the 
Monitor  type  over  the  flat  or  angular  type 
of  vessel  may  be  considered  set  at  rest  by 
her  capture. 

Notwithstanding  the  battle  of  the  original 
"Monitor"  with  the  "Merrimac,"  many 
people  declined  to  believe  in  the  superiority 


of  the  turret  system.  The  English,  even 
after  the  news  reached  them,  commenced 
building  armed  ships  with  plated  sides  like 
the  "Warrior"  class,  judging  from  the  ef 
fect  of  the  "  Monitors  "  shot  on  the  "  Mer 
rimac,"  that  they  could  build  vessels  with 
teak  or  oak  backing  and  four  inches  of  iron 
that  would  resist  the  most  powerful  Amer 
ican  gun.  But  here  was  a  new  and  more 
powerful  gun,  of  which  they  had  taken  no 
account,  and  which,  exceeding  in  size  any 
thing  in  the  ordnance  line  heretofore  manu 
factured,  might  smash  in  the  sides  of  the 
"Warrior  "  class,  even  if  the  shot  did  not 
pass  clear  through  them. 

This  fight  with  the  "Atlanta,"  therefore, 
set  Europe  to  thinking,  and  convinced  the 
Navy  Department  it  had  taken  a  step  in  the 
right  direction.  If  their  little  floating  bat 
teries  could  not  demolish  the  heaviest  forti 
fications,  they  could  break  up  and  send  to 
the  bottom  the  heaviest  ships. 

The  battle  between  the  "  Weehawken  " 
and  the  "Atlanta"  satisfied  the  United 
States  Government  that  it  could  safely  in 
timate  to  the  governments  of  Europe  that 
we  would  submit  to  no  interference  in  our 
domestic  concerns  so  long  as  we  complied 
with  the  law  of  nations.  There  was  es 
tablished  a  more  hopeful  feeling  for  the 
speedy  suppression  of  the  rebellion,  now 
that  we  had  demonstrated  that  we  could 
build  vessels  that  were  more  than  a  match 
for  the  war-ships  of  Europe. 

The  news  of  this  engagement  was  received 
in  Europe  with  great  interest.  It  was  a 
contest  between  English  and  American 
ideas.  The  American  idea  was  the  Monitor- 
built  vessel  with  the  15-inch  gun;  the  Eng 
lish  idea  was  the  "Atlanta  "  with  her  plated 
sides  and  rifled  guns.  No  persons  were 
more  interested  in  the  result  of  the  conflict 
than  the  Lords  of  the  British  Admiralty, 
ever  alive  to  what  might  exercise  an  influ 
ence  upon  their  navy.  They  had  com 
menced  the  plating  system  and  seemed  to 
cling  to  the  idea,  but  the  success  of  the 
"Weehawken  "  shattered  their  faith.  The 
Monitor  system  remained  master  of  the 
field  and  has  so  continued  to  this  day. 

On  this  occasion  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  was  eloquent  in  his  praise  of  Captain 
Rodgers,  recognizing  in  the  handsomest 
manner  his  services  not  only  on  the  present 
occasion,  but  also  on  the  Mississippi  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war  and  at  Drury's 
Bluff  on  the  James,  where  Rodgers  at 
tacked  the  enemy's  fortifications  in  the  so- 
called  iron-clad  "  Galena."  The  Secretary 
also  dwelt  on  the  moral  courage  exhibited 
by  Captain  Rodgers  in  putting  to  sea  in  the 
face  of  a  violent  storm  to  test  the  sea-going 
qualities  of  the  "  Weehawken  "—one  of  a 
class  of  vessels  so  unjustly  decried  by  many 
persons. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


387 


For  his  important  services,  the  Secre 
tary  informed  Captain  Rodgers  that  he  had 
presented  his  name  to  Congress  for  a  vote 
of  thanks,  and  certainly  the  distinction  was 
well  deserved,  for  John  Rodgers  was  one  of 
the  most  gallant  officers  in  the  Navy.  He 
had  that  cool  courage  which  would  flinch 
from  no  danger,  and  his  capacious  mind 
was  ever  ready  to  meet  emergencies  which 
might  have  unnerved  many  clever  officers. 
All  of  Rodgers'  friends  and  associates  in 
the  Navy  felt  that  his  honors  were  fairly 
earned,  and  they  were  worn  with  the  mod 
esty  which  distinguished  him. 

The  capture  of  the  "Atlanta"  was  the 
last  important  event  that  occurred  while 
the  South  Atlantic  squadron  was  under 
the  command  of  Dupont,  and  he  was  well 
pleased  to  terminate  his  official  communi 
cations  to  the  Navy  Department  with  such 
gratifying  intelligence;  and  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1863,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  re 
lieved  from  the  command  of  the  squad 
ron  by  Rear-Admiral  John  A.  Dahlgren. 

In  the  later  communications  which 
passed  between  Rear- Admiral  Dupont  and 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  some  asperity 
may  be  observed  on  both  sides;  but  the  cap 
ture  of  the  "  Atlanta "  seemed  to  have 
smoothed  all  this  away,  and  Admiral  Du 
pont' s  friends  hoped  on  his  arrival  in  Wash 
ington  he  would  be  appointed  to  some  im 
portant  command  where  he  could  give  the 
country  the  benefit  of  his  talents  and  ex 
perience.  On  his  retirement  from  the  com 
mand  of  the  squadron,  Mr.  Secretary  Welles 


wrote  the  Admiral  the  following  letter, 
which  would  seem  to  indicate  that  if  he  had 
ever  had  any  feeling  against  Dupont  he 
had  outgrown  it: 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
June  26,  1863.      J 

SIR — The  Department  has  received  your  several 
dispatches  announcing  the  capture  of  the  rebel  iron 
clad  steamer  "  Fingal, "  alias  "Atlanta,"  and  en 
closing  the  detailed  reports  of  Captain  John  Rodgers 
and  Commander  John  Downes  of  the  affair. 

I  take  occasion  to  express  the  Department's  ap 
preciation  of  your  prompt  measures  to  prepare  for 
the  expected  appearance  of  the  rebel  iron-clad  by 
sending  off  Savannah  two  of  our  own  ably  com 
manded  ships,  and  congratulate  you  on  the  acquisi 
tion  of  so  powerful  a  vessel,  which  promises  to  be  of 
important  service  on  the  station. 

To  your  ceaseless  vigilance  and  that  of  the  offi 
cers  under  your  command  were  we  indebted  some 
months  since  for  the  destruction  of  the  steamer 
"Nashville, "  which  the  enemy  had  armed  and  fruit 
lessly  endeavored  to  send  out  to  destroy  our  com 
merce,  and  now  to  your  timely  measures  and  to  the 
efficient  means  provided  do  we  owe  the  capture  of 
one  of  the  most  powerful  iron-clads  afloat,  a  vessel 
prepared  after  several  months  of  toil  and  great  ex 
penditure  of  money,  and  sent  forth  with  confidence 
to  disperse  our  blockading  fleet  and  overcome  our 
Monitors. 

You  may  well  regard  this,  and  we  may  with  pleas 
ure  look  upon  it,  as  a  brilliant  termination  of  a  com 
mand  gallantly  commenced  and  conducted  for 
nearly  two  years  with  industry,  energy  and  ability. 

The  Department  desires  you  to  recommend  to  it 
an  officer  of  the  South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squad 
ron  to  command  the  "Atlanta."' 

Very  respectfully, 
GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  theNavy. 
Rear-Admiral  S.  F.  DUPONT, 
Commanding  8.  A.  B.  Squadron,  Port  Royal,  S.  C. 


SOUTH    ATLANTIC   SQUADRON,   JANUARY,   1863. 
LIST  OF  VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL  SAMUEL  F.  DUPONT. 


CAPTAIN   C.    R.    P.    RODGERS,    CAPTAIN   OF   THE   FLEET. 


STEAM-FRIGATE   "  WABASH,"  FLAG-SHIP. 

Commander,  Thomas  G.  Corbin ;  Lieutenant- 
Commander,  John  Irwin;  Lieutenant  Alexander 
S.  Mackenzie,  Ordnance-Officer;  Lieutenant  Samuel 
W.  Preston,  Flag-Lieutenant;  Lieutenants,  Lloyd 
Phenix,  John  H.  Rowland  and  James  P.  Robertson; 
Fleet  Surgeon,  George  Clymer;  Assistant  Surgeons, 
Henry  F.  McSherry  andTheoron  Woolverton;  Pay 
master,  John  S.  Cunningham;  Chaplain,  George 
W.  Dorrance ;  Acting-Master,  Townsend  Stiles ; 
Marine  Officers:  Captain,  James  Lewis  ;  First-Lieu 
tenant,  H.  B.  Lowry;  Ensigns,  James  Wallace,  M. 
L.  Johnson,  Philip  W.  Lowry,  La  Rue  P.  Adams 
and  Frederick  Pearson;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm. 
A.  Duer,  W.  F.  Horton  and  Joel  R.  Hinman;  En 
gineers:  Chief,  Robert  W.  McCleery,  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  J.  B.  Hathaway;  Third-Assistants,  J.  S. 
Green,  Thomas  Crummey;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
J.  L.  Marshall,  J.  B.  Place  and  J.  T.  Dennett;  Boat 
swain,  Zachariah  Whitmarsh  ;  Gunner,  Thomas 
Stewart;  Carpenter,  Charles  Bordman;  Sailmaker, 
G.  T.  Lozier 

IRON-CLAD    STEAMER    "NEW    IRONSIDES." 

Captain,  Thomas  Turner;  Lieutenant-Command 
er,  Geo.  E.  Belknap;  Lieutenant,  H.  B.  Robeson; 


Surgeon,  Marius  Duvall;  Assistant  Surgeons,  W.  T. 
Plant  and  Edward  Kershner;  Paymaster,  Alex.  W. 
Russell;  Marine  Officers :  First-Lieutenant,  H.  A. 
Bartlett ;  Second-Lieutenant,  J.  B.  Young ;  Act 
ing-Masters,  G.  W.  Domett,  J.  M.  Skillings  and  J. 
M.  Butler ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  W.  Howard, 
G.  H.  Bradley,  S.  S.  Hand,  T.  E.  Harvey,  B.  F. 
Morris  and  Robert  Shepherd;  Engineers :  Chief, 
Harmon  Newell;  First- Assistant,  N.  B.  Littig;  Sec 
ond-Assistants,  O.  H.  Lackey,  R.  L.  Harris  ;  Third- 
Assistants,  Edward  Battelle,  H.  C.  Beckwith  and 
W.  S.  Wells;  Boatswain,  Thomas  Bennett;  Gunners, 
Charles  Stuart  and  R.  J.  Hill;  Carpenter,  Theodore 
Bishop;  Sailmaker,  J.  B.  Birdsall. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER   "NANTUCKET."  [JAN.  1864.] 

Lieutenant-Commander,  S.  B.  Luce;  Lieutenant, 
H.  L.  Howison;  Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  B.  Jud- 
son  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  L.  L.  Brighain; 
Acting-Master,  W.  H.  Maies;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  T. 
Otis,  C.  C.  Starr  and  John  Meyers;  Engineers:  Sec 
ond-Assistants,  Geo.  H.  White,  Isaac  McNary; 
Third-Assistants,  W.  W.  Buckhout,  J.  K.  Smedley 
and  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant  A.  L.  Grow.  [Com 
mander  Donald  McN.  Fairfax  commanded  the 
"  ISfantucket "  at  Charleston.] 


388 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "CATSKILL."  [JAN.  18G4.] 

Lieutenant-Coiumander,  F.  M.  Bunee;  Assistant- 
Surgeon,  Robert  Willard;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  G.  F.  Barker;  Acting-Master,  G.  W.  Parker; 
Acting-Ensigns,  C.  P.  Walters  and  George  M.  Prm- 
dle  ;  Engineers  :  Second-Assistant,  G.  D.  Einmons; 
Third -Assistant,  J.  F.  Booth;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  Frank  Marsh  and  James  Plunket-t;  Acting- 
Master  s  Mate,  Peter  Trescott.  [Commander  George 
W.  Rodgers  commanded  the  "Catskill  "  at  Charles 
ton.] 

STEAM-SLOOP    "  POWHATAN." 

Captain,  S.  W.  Godon;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
E.  P.  Williams;  Lieutenants,  A.  R.  McNair  and  F. 
J.  Higginson;  Surgeon,  Henry  O.  Mayo;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Edw.  D.  Payne;  Paymaster,  L.  J.  Brown; 
First-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  P.  C.  Pope;  Acting- 
Masters,  Jas.  Ogilvie,  Lothrop  Baker,  C.  R.  AVil- 
kins  and  E.  L.  Haines;  Acting-Ensign,  C.  P.  Wal 
ters:  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  W.  S.  Curtis,  Wm. 
Frost  and  C.  H.  Rowland;  Engineers  :  Chief,  John 
A.  Grier;  First  Assistant,  H.  B.  Nones;  Second-As 
sistant.  Henry  Brown;  Third- Assistants,  W.  H.  Gla- 
ding,  R.  A.  Wright,  G.  W.  Carrick,  John  Franklin 
and  M.  Cuthbert ;  Boatswain,  Wm.  Long;  Gunner, 
G.  W.  Omensetter  ;  Carpenter,  Amos  Chick ;  Sail- 
maker,  W.  S.  L.  Brayton. 

IRON-CLAD   STEAMER    UPASSAIC." 

Captain,  Percival  Drayton;  Lieutenant- Com 
mander,  Joseph  N.  Miller;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Ed 
gar  Holden;  Asbistant  Paymaster,  J.  P.  Woodbury; 
Acting-Ensigns,  H.  B.  Baker  and  L.  G.  Emerson ; 
Engineers:  First-Assistant,  G.  S.  Bright;  Second- 
Assistant.  H.  W.  Robie  ;  Third-Assistants,  W.  A. 
Dripps  and  Joseph  Hoops. 

STEAM  SLOOP  "  CANANDAIGUA." 

Captain,  Joseph  F.  Green;  Lieutenant-Command 
er,  J.  J.  Corivwell;  Lieutenant,  H.  De  H.  Manley; 
Surgeon,  James  Suddards;  Paymaster,  C.  H.  El- 
dredge;  Acting-Master,  Samuel  Hall-  Ensign,  Ben 
jamin  H.  Porter;  Acting-Ensign,  John  L.  Gifford; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  S.  Eldridge,  J.  N.  Pease, 
W.  T.  Vincent  and  C.  S.  McCarty;  Engineers:  Chief, 
Wm.  S.  Stamm;  First-Assistant,  H.  C.  Victor;  Sec 
ond-Assistant,  G.  W.  Rogers  ;  Third-Assistants, 
Albert  Jackson,  Alfred  Hedrick,  Philip  Miller  and 
E.  S.  Phillippi ;  Boatswain,  Thomas  Smith ;  Gun 
ner,  John  Gaskins  ;  Carpenter,  S.  N.  Whitehouse  ; 
Sailinaker,  David  Bruce. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER   "  WEEHAWKEN." 

Captain,  John  Rodgers;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
L.  H.  Newman;  Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  M.  Stein, 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Pynchon;  Act 
ing-Master,  B.  W.  Loring ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  C. 
Cox  and  Stephen  Balles;  Engineers:  Second-Assist 
ants,  J.  H.  Bailey  and  David  Hardie;  Third-Assist 
ants,  H.  W.  Merian  and  Augustus  Mitchell. 

STEAM-SLOOP    "  HOUSATONIC." 

Captain,  Wm.  Rogers  Taylor;  Lieutenants,  M.  S. 
Stuy  vesant  and  E.  T.  Brower;  Surgeon,  S.  F.  Coues; 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  S.  Woolson,  Acting-Mas 
ters,  J.  W.  Congdon  and  J.  K.  Crosby  ;  Acting  En 
sign,  AVeston  Gregory,  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  D. 
Bordman,  E.  A.  Butler,  G.  A.  Harriman  and  B.  F. 
Jacobs;  Engineers:  Chief,  John  S.  Albert;  Second- 
Assistant,  P.  A.  Rearick  ;  Third-Assistants,  I.  R. 
McNary,  F.  L.  Cooper,  G.  W.  Geddesand  J.  H.  Har- 
maiiy;  Boatswain,  H.  P.  Grace;  Gunner,  Benjamin 
Roberts. 

STEAMER   "MERCEDITA." 

Captain,  Henry  S.  Stellwagen  ;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Trevot  Abbott;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
C.  H.  Mason  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  C. 
Stellwagen;  Act  ing- Masters,  C.  B/ Wilder,  F.  J. 
Gover  and  T.  J.  Dwyer;  Master's  Mates,  Edward 
Rogers  and  G.  A.  Steins  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  Alexander  Doig;  Acting-Third- Assistants, 


Simon  Rockefellow,  E.   F.  Martin  and  J.  A.  Mun- 
ger;  Gunner,  Jacob  Amee. 

STEAM  GUN-BOAT   "  PAUL  JONES." 

Commander,  Charles  Steedman,  Lieutenant,  Ed 
ward  A.  Walker;  Acting-Masters,  Wm.  Buckholdt  ; 
C.  H.  Boutelle  and  J.  O.  Ormond ;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  J.  H.  Hazleton;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  A.  Berry;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  V.  Kelly, 
Jeremiah  Potts  and  Charles  AVeidenbine;  Engineers: 
First- Assistant,  Alexander  Greer;  Second-Assistant, 
James  Sheriden;  Third- Assistants,  J.  H.  Chassmar, 
W.  H.  G.  West  and  E.  D.  Weems;  Acting-Gunner, 
O.  B.  Holden. 

STEAMER    "SOUTH    CAROLINA." 

Commander,  John  J.  Almy  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  A.  Bright;  Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  S. 
Kenny;  Acting  Masters,  J.  W.  Magune,  G.  A. 
Crabb,  W.  H.  Garfield  and  F.  W.  Baury  ;  Acting- 
Ensign,  C.  T.  Taylor  ;  Acting -Master's  Mates, 
Eliphalet  Hoi  brook,  Win.  C.  Nye,  A.  S.  Hitch  and 
S.  S.  Withington;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assist 
ants,  B.  B.  Carney,  B.  D.  Mulligan  and  J.  H.  Rowe; 
Acting  Third-Assistants,  Henry  Gormley  and  James 
Jamison. 

STEAMER  "FLAG." 

Commander,  James  H.  Strong;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  C.  W.  Sartori;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  Lynford  Lardner ;  Acting  -  Master,  Wm.  H. 
Latham;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  E.  G.  Welles,  G. 
W.  VeacockandC.  S.  Lawrence:  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  L.  H.Flowry;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ants,  John  Harris,  W.  W.  Tunis  and  M.  Dandreau; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  S.  Johnson  and  Edw. 
Alin;  Acting-Gunner,  B.  F.  Ritter. 

STEAMER    "  QUAKER  CITY." 

Commander,  James  M.  Frailey;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  S.  Livingston  Breese;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  J.  Brownlee;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  H.  J.  Bullay;  Acting  Master,  H.  S.  Blanchard  ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  T.  F.  DeLuce,  A.  Delano,  Jr.,  and 
J.  H.  Bennett;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  H.  Dewey 
and  E.  W.  Hale;  Engineers;  Acting-First-Assistant, 
G.  W.  Farrer  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  James 
Barnes,  E.  F.  McGinniss,  Henry  AVauklin,  J.  F. 
King  and  John  Proshero ;  Gunner,  Daniel  Duns- 
more. 

STORE-SHIP    " VERMONT. " 

Commander,  William  Reynolds;  Surgeon,  Charles 
Eversfield;  Assistant-Surgeon,  I.  H.  Hazleton;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  S.  Isaacs;  Second-Lieu 
tenant  Marines,  Alfred  Devereaux;  Acting-Masters, 
Howard  Tibbatts  and  C.  C.  Kingsbury;  Acting  En 
signs,  C.  A.  Pettit  and  R.  T.  AVestcott;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  AV.  Van  AVyck,  O.  F.  AVixen,  J.  G.  Rose, 
Sidney  Gray,  Arthur  Taffe  and  J.  S.  Griscom; 
Boatswain,  AVilliam  Winchester ;  Acting-Gunners, 
G.  AV.  Allen  and  J.  G.  Bills;  Carpenter,  C.  AV.  Bab 
bitt;  Sailinaker,  John  Joins. 

STEAMER  "KEYSTONE  STATE.'' 

Commander,  AVm.  E.  Le  Roy;  Lieutenant  Com 
mander,  T.  H.  Eastman,  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  H. 
Gotwold;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  S.  Stim- 
son;  Acting- Masters,  C.  H.  Corser,  Curtis  Redman 
and  L.  E.  Degn;  Acting-Ensign,  C.  M.  Bird;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  C.  Murphy,  J.  E.  Jones  and  J. 
T.  Ridge  way ;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant, 
A.  K.  Eddowes;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  James 
Doran;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  AVm.  F.  AVarbur- 
ton,  John  Smith  and  Pearson  L.  Fry;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  David  L.  Briggs. 

STEAMER    "CIMMERONE." 

Commander,  Maxwell  AVoodhull  ;  Lieutenant- 
Commander,  B.  B.  Taylor;  Acting-Masters,  G.  E. 
Thurston,  Edward  D.  March  and  Samuel  A.  AVater- 
bury;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Eugene  S.  Olcott;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  D.  AV.  Hale;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  John  F.  Miller,  Peter  J.  Marcoe,  AVm.  H. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


389 


Herring  and  Augustus  Lippitt:  Engineers:  First- 
Assistant,  E.  A.  C.  Du  Plaine;  Second-Assistant, 
Reynold  Driver;  Third  Assistants,  G.  J.  Burnap, 
George  W.  Beard  and  David  Jones;  Gunner,  John 
Caulk. 

STEAMER  "BIENVILLE."' 

NOTE. — List  of  officers  not  given  in  the  Navy 
Register. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER    "MONTAUK." 

Commander,  John  L.  Worden;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  C.  H.  Cushman;  Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  N. 
Brayton ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  S.  T. 
Browne;  Acting  -  Master,  Pierre  Giraud;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  I.  J.  McKinley  and  Geo.  A.  Almy  ;  Engi 
neers  :  Second- Assistants,  Robert  Potts  and  T.  A. 
Stephens;  Third- Assistants, D.  P.  McCartney  and 
Geo.  M.  Greene. 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT      <  CONEMAUGH." 

Commander,  Reed  Werden,  Lieutenant,  B.  J. 
Cromwell;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  J.  Allingham;  Pay 
master,  George  Lawrence  ;  Acting-Masters,  J.  W. 
Stapleford  and  J.  L.  Lee  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  F. 
Reading  and  G.  F.  Morse;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J.  H.  Wainwright,  A.  R.  Bashford,  John  Brown 
and  G.  H.  French;  Engineers:  Second- Assistant, 
L.  J.  Allen;  Third- Assistants,  C.  P.  Gardner,  P.  H. 
Hendrickson,  John  Lloyd  and  J.  W.  Boynton. 

STEAMER    "  JAMES  ADGER." 

Commander,  Thomas  H.  Patterson  ;  Acting-As 
sistant  Surgeon,  R.  N.  Atwood;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  W.  W.  T.  Greenway;  Acting  -  Master. 
R.  O.  Patterson;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  F.  Keith  and 
J.  T.  Chadwell;  Acting-Masters  Mates,  W.W.  Reed, 
George  Couch  and  Wm.  B.  Dyer,  Jr.;  Engineers: 
Acting-First-Assistant,  E.  A.  AVhipple;  Acting-Sec 
ond- Assistant,  John  Carren;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants.  Andrew  McTurk,  Wm.  Moranand  W.  R.  Nutz; 
Acting-Gunner,  J.  H.  Pennington. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER    "PATAPSCO." 

Commander,  Daniel  Ammen;  Lieutenant,  Henry 
Erben,  Jr. ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  L.  Wheeler;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  Daniel  Leach,  Jr. ;  Acting- 
Master,  William  Hamilton;  Acting-Ensigtis,  J.  T. 
Ross  and  Henry  Kloeppel ;  Engineers:  First -Assist 
ant,  B.  B.  H.  \Vhartori;  Second- Assistant,  John  B. 
Carpenter;  Third- Assistants,  J.  W.  Huxley  and  G. 
C.  Cook. 

STEAM-SLOOP    ' '  PAWNEE. " 

Commander,  G.  B.  Balch ;  Lieutenant,  F.  M. 
Bunce:  Surgeon,  W.  T.  Hord;  Assistant -Paymaster, 
F.  R.  Curtis;  Acting-Masters,  J.  C.  Champion  and  J. 
P.  Lindsay;  Acting-Ensign,  Thomas  Moore;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  C.  J.  Rogers,  J.  G.  Bache  and  A.  A. 
Franzen  ;  Engineers  :  Second  -  Assistant,  Alfred 
Adainson;  Third-Assistants,  H.  D.  Sellman,  Ben 
jamin  Bunce,  \V.  J.  Clark,  Jr.,  John  G.  Brosnahan 
and  Arthur  Price;  Boatswain,  James  Brown. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER    "NAHANT." 

Commander,  John  Downes  ;  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander,  D.  B.  Harmony;  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  E. 
Stedman ;  Assistant  Paymaster,  Edwin  Putnam; 
Acting-Master,  Wm.  W.  Carter;  Acting-Ensigns,  C. 
C.  Ricker  and  C.  E.  Clark;  Engineers:  First-Assist 
ant,  F.  J.  Lovering;  Second-Assistant,  T.  H.  Bord- 
ley  ;  Third-Assistants,  Abram  Michener  and  W.  S. 
Neal. 

STEAMER    "NORWICH." 

Commander,  James  M.  Duncan:  Ensign,  A.  H. 
McCormick ;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  E.  Mc- 
Pherson;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  C.  Board- 
man;  Acting-Masters,  C.  F.  Mitchell  and  R.  B.  Ar- 
rants;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Peter  Mookler,  A.  J. 
L.  Baker  and  G.  M.  Smith;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  Nicholas  Coyle ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  A.  A.  Odell,  Benjamin  Cobb,  Jr.,  and  W. 
W.  Thain. 


STEAM   GUN-BOAT    "SEBAGO." 

Commander,  John  C.  Beaumont;  Lieutenant,  H. 
M.  Blue;  Assistant  Surgeon,  John  P.  Quinn;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  S.  G.  Thorn ;  Acting- 
Masters,  Thomas  M.  Gardner,  Wm.  C.  Mallard  and 
J.  F.  Anderson;  Acting-Ensign,  C.  B.  Dorrance ; 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  E.  D.  Martin  ;  Engineers: 
First-Assistant,  S.  F.  Savage ;  Third-Assistants, 
G.  E.  Tower,  W.  H.  De  Hart,  O.  W.  Allison  and 
J.  A.  Bullard. 

STEAMER    "MOHAWK." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Aaron  K.  Hughes;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  W.  Woods;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  G.  H.  Andrews;  Acting-Masters,  G.  R. 
Durand,  Anthony  Sinally  and  Alex.  Tillinghast  ; 
Acting-Masters  Mates,  T.  Holland  and  T.  J. 
Speights;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  Alfred 
Lapoint;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  William  King, 
Geo.  E.  Whitney  and  R.  K.Morrison. 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT    "  HURON." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Geo.  A.  Stevens;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  C.  H.  White;  Acting  -  Assistant  Pay 
master,  Charles  Stewart;  Acting  Masters,  J.  W.  Gill, 
W.  H.  Baldwin  and  Wm.  A.  Mills;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Peter  O'Conner,  Sam'l  Delano,  J.  M.  Blake 
and  Wm.  Henderson  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  First- 
Assistant,  Wm.  Craig  ;  Third-Assistants,  Sylvanus 
Mclntyre,  J.  P.  Kelley,  John  Lowe  and  F.  C. 
Russell. 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT    "UNADILLA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  S.  P.  Quackenbush;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  C.  T.  Hubbard;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Geo.  B.  Tripp;  Acting-Masters,  Edw. 
Van  Sice,  W.  L.  Tuttle  and  P.  N.  Cruse;  Acting- 
Ensign,  R.  M.  Cornell;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Geo. 
E.  Thomas,  C.  N.  Hall  and  Wm.  Field;  Engineers: 
Second-Assistant,  R.  S.  Talbot ;  Third-Assistants, 
R.  H.  Thurstori,  Fred'k  Bull,  Jr.,  and  M.  N.  Knowl- 
ton. 

STEAMER    "FLAMBEAU." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  H.  Upshur;  Lieu 
tenant,  Fred'k  R.  Smith;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  J.  R.  Layton;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  F. 
V.  D.  Horton;  Acting- Masters,  W.  B.  Sheldon,  A. 
C.  Megathlinand  Wm.  L.  Kempton;  Acting-Ensign, 
Gardner  Cottrell;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  J.  F.  Bur 
rows;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  A.  G.  Pern- 
ble  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant ;  Alex.  Gillanders ; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  William  Richardson. 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT    "OTTAWA." 

Lieutenant -Commander,  Wm.  D.  Whiting;  Lieu 
tenant.  Geo.  B.  White;  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  O.  Car 
penter;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  H.  Noyes; 
Acting-Master,  Samuel  Hanes;  Acting-Ensigns,  J. 
L.  Gamble  and  B.  Mitchell;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
E.  M.  Dimon,  A.  W.  Tripp  and  David  McKewan; 
Engineers:  Second-Assistant,  J.  P.  Sprague;  Third- 
Assistants,  E.  W.  Koehl,  F.  C.  Prindle  and  R.  B. 
Hine. 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT    "SENECA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  William  Gibson;  Lieu 
tenant,  Thomas  C.  Bo  wen;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J 
H.  Macomber;  Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  W.  Beaman; 
Acting  Masters,  J.  H.  Rodgers,  Henry  Vaughanand 
G.  W.  Ewen;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  W.  Fiske, 
J.  W.  Paine  and  C.  E.  Culver;  Engineers:  Second- 
Assistant,  J.  W.  De  Krafft;  Third- Assistants,  H.  H. 
Burritt,  Thomas  Lynch  and  R.  T.  Bennett. 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT    "  WISSAHICKON." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  L.  Davis;  Lieuten 
ant,  Silas  Casey;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Henry  Ackley; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  W.  Kelsey;  Acting- 
Masters,  Geo.  W.  Parker  and  T.  S.  Steel;  Acting- 
Ensign,  J.  W.  Hathorn;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  R. 
B.  Crapo.  G.  E.  Senter  and  A.  L.  Pendleton;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  F.  Riley;  Acting- 


390 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


Third-Assistants,  J.  J.  Newton,  C.   A.   Stuart   and 
H.  J.  Tarr. 

STEAM  OUN  BOAT    "  MARBLEHEAD." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  R.  W.  Scott;  Lieutenant, 
Geo.  C.  Remey;  Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  H.  Kidder; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Mulfprd;  Acting- 
Masters,  Geo.  Martin  and  B.  Allen;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  D.  S.  Gross,  B.  O.  Low,  G.  F.  Winslow  and 
Harry  West ;  Engineers  :  Second-Assistant,  Clark 
Fisher;  Third-Assistants,  W.  L.  Nicoll,  James  Long 
and  H.  W.  Bulkley. 

STEAMER    "WATER   WITCH." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Austin  Pendergrast ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Pierson;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  L.  G.  Billings;  Acting-Masters. 
C.  W.  Buck  and  H.  S.  Kimball;  Acting-Ensign,  J. 
M.  Forsyth;  Acting-Masters'  Mates,  J.  J.  Bigley 
and  E.  D.  Parsons  ;  Engineers:  Acting- First- Assist 
ant  Samuel  Genther;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  P. 
Cooper,  John  Hawkins  and  John  Overn. 

STEAMER   "COMMODORE    M'DONOUGH." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  George  Bacon;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  W.  Gibson;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  F.  Quintard;  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm. 
Knapp  and  J.  A.  Buxton;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J.  K.  Winn,  J.  W.  Goodwin  and  D.  B.  Hallett;  En 
gineers  :  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  O.  Reynolds, 
J.  T.  Booth  and  S.  S.  Hetrick. 

STEAMER   "ISAAC   SMITH." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  F.  S.  Conover ;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon.  G.  H.  Marvin;  Acting-Assistant- 
Paymaster,  F.  C.  Hills;  Acting-Masters,  J.W.  Dicks 
and  Robert  Tarr;  Acting-Ensigns,  Whitman  Chase, 

F.  J.  Brentonand  H.  S.  Borden;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Jacob  Tucker  ;  Acting-Second- As 
sistant,  J.  S.  Turner  ;  Acting-Third- Assistants,  Wm. 
Ross  and  Erastus  Barry. 

STEAMER    "DAWN." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  John  S.  Barnes ;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  A.  R.  Holmes  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  R.  C.  Pierce;  Acting-Masters,  James 
Brown  and  J.  W.  Saunders;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
A.  Hartshorn,  P.  W.  Morgan  and  Charles  Myers; 
Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  N.  D.  Bates;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  Sam'l  Tomlinson,  M.  V.  B. 
Darling  and  W.  P.  Ayres. 

STEAMER   "WHITEHEAD." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Chas.  A.  French- 
Acting-Ensigns,  J.  M.  Holmes  and  J.  R.  Dickinson; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  T.  E.  Quayle  and  T.  M.  Nel 
son  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Moses 
Petersen:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  R.  H.  Ryan  and 

G.  B.  McDermott. 

BARK   "  GEM-OF-THE-SEA." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  B.  Baxter-  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  B.  (1.  Walton;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  H.  A.  Strong;  Acting-Masters, 

.  F.  Coffin  and  H.  B.  Carter;  Acting  -  Ensign, 
Samuel  Bliss. 

STEAMER    "POTOMSKA." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, William  Budd-  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  C.  Smith;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  F.  H.  Swan;  Acting-Masters  R  P 
Walter,  B.  W.  Leary  and  Abner  West;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  D.  Wells  and  Woodward  Carter- 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  H  Guver- 
Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  C.  A.  Martine,  Edwin 
Vaughan  and  W.  L.  McKay. 

STEAMEK    "MEMPHIS." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  P.  G.  Watmough;  Acting-As 
sistant  Surgeon,  S.  H.  Brown;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Paymaster,  W.  E.  Foster;  Acting-Master,  C.  A 
Curtis;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.  A.  Magone  and  J  B 
Childs ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  N.  P.  Dickinson,' 
Silas  Owens  and  J.  M.  Moore;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First- As.  istant,  J.  L.  Peake;  Acting-Second-Assist 


ant,  C.  H.  McCarty;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  H.  L. 
Churchill,  Chas.  Hardwick  and  J.  H.  Vaile. 

STEAMER    "STETTIN." 

Acting-Master,  C.  J.  Van  Alstine;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  J.  S.  Cohen;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  E.  P.  Heberton;  Acting-Master,  G.  P.  Lee; 
Acting-Ensigns,  G.  R.  Bailey  and  Joseph  Frost: 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  G.  E.  Short,  Marcus  Baird 
and  G.  N.  Ryder;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  J.  B.  Edwards;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  P.  B. 
Robinson,  Thomas  Slater  and  S.  B.  Cornell. 

BARK    "RESTLESS." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  R.  Brown;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  B.  Calkins;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  W.  S.  Cushman;  Acting  -  Masters,  Maurice 
Digard  and  J.  B.  Rogers;  Acting-Ensigns,  Henry 
Eason,  J.  J.  Russell  and  C.  N.  Hicks;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  J.  W.  Mackie  and  Henry  Oakley. 

STEAMER    "MADGIE." 

Acting-Master,  F.  B.  Meriam;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  Louis  Michel;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  B.  Huscull;  Acting-Ensign,  W.  C.  Underbill; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  H.  Vail,  E.  P.  Blague  and 
Jason  Ryan  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
G.  L.  Palmer;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  A.  F.  Rock- 
feller,  Maurice  McCarty  and  C.  M.  Goodwin. 

BARK    ' '  MIDNIGHT. " 

Acting- Master,  Nicholas  Kirby;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  G.Bacon;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
F.  Miller;  Acting-Masters,  S.  D.  Joy  and  Edwin 
Coffin;  Acting-Ensign,  ZeraL.  Tanner;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  A.  K.  Noyes,  Nicholas  Pratt  and  Thos. 
Hollins. 

SHIP   "VALPARAISO." 

Acting-Master,  A.  S.  Gardner;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  A.  B.  C  Sawyer;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  Tracy  Coit;  Acting-Masters,  J.  W.  Godfrey 
and  Wm.  Haffords ;  Acting-Masters  Mates,  John 
Blitz  and  Charles  Cooke. 

STEAMER    "TTNCAS." 

Acting-Master,  William  Watson;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  H.  Van  Deusen;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  C.  E.  Taylor;  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  L.  Pavy; 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  Geo.  Newlin ;  Engineers : 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  C.  Dandreau ;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  Paul  Dandreau. 

STEAMER    "WAMSUTTA." 

Acting-Master,  S.  C.  Gray;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  S.  F.  Quimby;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
Sam.  Jorden;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  G.  F.  Good 
rich,  Chas.  Cray  ton  and  Thomas  Kennedy;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Wm.  A.  Andress, 
John  Seaman  and  W.  J.  Carman. 

SHIP   "COURIER." 

Acting-Master,  W.K.Cressy;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  W.  R.  Bonsall,  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
M.  W.  Blake;  Acting-Master,  W.  B.  Stoddard;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  W.  P.  O'Brien  and  Wm.  McDermott; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  J.  Hill  and  E.  H.  Shee. 

BARK    "FERNANDINA." 

Acting-Master,  Edward  Moses;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  S.  P.  Boyer;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
T.  N.  Murray;  Acting-Masters,  R.  B.  Hines  and  C. 
C.  Childs;  Acting- Ensigns,  Wm.  H.  Thomas;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  B.  Henderson,  W.  C.  Gibson  and 
Alonzo  Townsend. 

BARK    "KINGFISHER." 

Acting-Master,  J.  C.  Dutch ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  H.  Westcott;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  A.  N.  Blakeman;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  W. 
Rhodes  and  T.  E.  Chapin;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Tom.  Nelson,  H.  G.  Seaman  and  Frank  Jordan. 

BARK    "  BRAZILIERA." 

Acting-Master,  W.  T.  Gillespie;  Acting- Assistant 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


Surgeon,  S.  N.  Fisk;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
C.  H.  Longstreet;  Acting- Masters,  J.  J.  N. "Webber 
and  Jeremiah  Chadwick;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
W.  N.  Smith,  J.  B.  F.  Smith  and  W.  H.  Roberts. 

STEAMER  "COLUMBINE." 

Acting-Master,  J.  S.  Dennis;  Acting-Ensign,  C. 
S.  Flood;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Edwin  Daly  and 
F.  W.  San  born;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  W.  H.  Ogden  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  H. 
Lawrence  and  S.  C.  Clark. 

TUG   "DAFFODIL." 

Acting-Master,  E.  M.  Baldwin;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Francis  Such  and  S.  C.  Bishop ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant  Engineer,  J.  P.  Rossinan;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant  Engineer,  Geo.  Cunningham. 

TUO    "  DANDELION." 

Acting-Master,  A.  S.  Gardner;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  John  Brittingham;  Engineers :  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  J.  M.  Case;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  E.  F. 
Hedden. 

SCHOONEB    "C.  P.  WILLIAMS." 

Act  ing- Master,  S.  N.  Freeman;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  F.  W.  Towne,  John  Gunn  and  F.  E.  Dag- 
gett. 

SCHOONER  "NORFOLK  PACKET." 

Acting-Ensign,  G.  W.  Wood  ;  Assistant-Surgeon, 
A.  B.  Judson ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  T. 
Merritt;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  Leaken  Barnes, 
Jackson  Kingsley  and  Tim.  Ryan. 

SCHOONER    "HOPE." 

Acting- Master,  J.  E.   Rockwell ;   Acting-Master's 


Mates,  J.  B.  Williamson,  J.  C.  Sanborn  and  Jacob 
Cocbrane. 

SCHOONER  "PARA." 

Acting-Master,  E.  C.  Furber ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Edward  Ryan,  John  McDonough  and  W.  H. 
Morse. 

YACHT    "AMERICA." 

Acting-Master,  Jonathan  Baker;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  G.  H.  Wood,  August  Adler  and  W.  H. 
Thompson. 

SCHOONER    "a.  W.  BLUNT." 

Acting  -  Master,  J.  R.  Beers;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  B.  D.  Reed,  A.  H.  Comstock  and  G.  W. 
Cleaves. 

STEAMER   "RESCUE." 

Acting-Ensign,  C.  A.  Blanchard;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  E.  D.  Smith;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  M.  C.  Heath  and  G.  W.  Howe. 

TUG  "  O.    M.  PETTIT." 

Acting-Ensign,  T.  E.  Baldwin;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  Reuben  McClenahan ;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  Augustus  Wandell. 

IRON-CLAD    "KEOKUK." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  C.  Rhind;  Lieutenant, 
Moreau  Forrest;  Acting-Master,  James  Taylor;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  W.  H.  Bullis,  Ira  T.  Halstead  and  Alex 
Mclntosh;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  D.  Slo- 
cum;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  John  Read ;  First- 
Assistant  Engineer,  Win.  H.  King;  Second-Assistant 
Engineer,  J.  H.  Hunt;  Third- Assistant  Engineers, 
J.  M.  Emanuel  and  H.  A.  Smith. 


LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE  BATTLE  OF  PORT  ROYAL  AND  OCCUPATION 

OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  FORTS. 


FROM    FLAG  -  OFFICER    DUPONT,     COMMANDER    STEEDMAN,     AND     LIEUTENANTS  -  COMMANDING 

C.  R.  P.  RODGERS.  AMMEN.  STEVENS  AND  WATMOUGH — MAJOR  JOHN  G.  REYNOLDS,  U.  S.  M.  C. 

—COMMENDATORY  LETTERS  OF  SECRETARY  WELLES — GENERAL  ORDERS,  ETC 


REPORT  OF  FLAG-OFFICER  DUPOXT: 

FLAG-SHIP  "  WABASH,"  OFF  HILTON  HEAD,  \ 
PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR,  Nov.  8,  1861.  J 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  yester 
day  I  attacked  the  enemy's  batterfes  on  Bay  Point 
and  Hilton  Head  (.Forts  Beauregard  and  Walker), 
and  succeeded  in  silencing  them  after  an  engage 
ment  of  four  hours'  duration,  and  driving  away  the 
squadron  of  rebel  steamers  under  Commodore  Tat- 
iiall.  The  reconnoissance  of  yesterday  made  us 
acquainted  with  the  superiority  of  Fort  Walker, 
and  to  that  I  directed  my  especial  efforts,  engaging 
it  at  a  distance  of,  first,  eight,  and  afterwards  six, 
hundred  yards.  But  the  plan  of  attack  brought 
the  squadron  sufficiently  near  Fort  Beauregard  to 
receive  its  fire,  and  the  ships  were  frequently  fight 
ing  the  batteries  on  both  sides  at  the  same  time. 

The  action  was  begun  on  my  part  at  twenty-six 
minutes  after  9,  and  at  half-past  2  the  Ameri 
can  ensign  was  hoisted  on  the  flag-staff  of  Fort 
Walker,  and  this  morning  at  sunrise  on  that  of 
Fort  Beauregard. 

The  defeat  of  the  enemy  terminated  in  utter  rout 
and  confusion.  Their  quarters  and  encampments 
were  abandoned  without  an  attempt  to  carry  away 
either  public  or  private  property.  The  ground  over 
which  they  fled  was  strewn  with  the  arms  of  private 
soldiers,  and  officers  retired  in  top  much  haste  to 
submit  to  the  encumbrance  of  their  swords. 

Landing  my  marines  and  a  company  of  seamen.  I 
took  possession  of  the  deserted  ground,  and  held 
the  forts  on  Hilton  Head  till  the  arrival  of  General 
Sherman,  to  whom  I  had  the  honor  to  transfer  its 
occupation. 


We  have  captured  forty-three  pieces  of  cannon, 
most  of  them  of  the  heaviest  calibre  and  of  the  most 
improved  description. 

Ihe  bearer  of   these  dispatches  will   have  the 
honor  to  carry  with  him  the  captured  flags  and  two 
small    brass    field-pieces,   lately  belonging  to  the 
State  of  South  Carolina,  which  are  sent  home  as 
suitable  trophies  of  the  day.     I  enclose  herewith  a 
copy  of  the  general  order,  which  is  to  be  read  in  the 
fleet  to-morrow  morning  at  muster.     A  detailed 
account  of  this  battle  will  be  submitted  hereafter. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 

S.  F.  DuPoNT, 
Flag-Officer,  Commanding 
South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

P.  S. — Bearer  of  dispatches  will  also  carry  with 
him  the  first  American  ensign  raised  upon  the  soil 
of  South  Carolina  since  the  rebellion  broke  out. 

S.  F.  D. 

GENERAL  ORDER   JfO.    2. 

FLAG-SHIP  "WABASH,"  HILTOX  HEAD,  ) 
PORT  ROYAL  BAY,  .Nov.  8,  1861.     f 
It  is  the  grateful  duty  of  the  Commander-in-chief 
to  make  a  public  acknowledgment  of  his  entire 
commendation  of  the  coolness,  discipline,  skill  and 
gallantry  displayed  by  the  officers  and  men  under 
his  command  in  the  capture  of  the  batteries  on 
Hilton  Head  and  Bay  Point,  after  an  action  of  four 
hours'  duration. 


392 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


The  flag-officer  fully  sympathizes  with  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  squadron  in  the  satisfaction  they 
must  feel  at  seeing  the  ensign  of  the  Union  flying 
once  more  in  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  which 
has  been  the  chief  promoter  of  the  wicked  and 
unprovoked  rebellion  they  have  been  called  upon 
to  suppress.  S.  F.  DuPoxx, 

Flag-  Office  r,  Com  m  and  ing 
South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron. 

REPORT  OP  FLAG-OFFICER  DUPO3TT. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  WABASH,"  \ 
PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR,  S.  C.,  Nov.  11,  1861.     f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
detailed  account  of  the  action  of  the  7th  of  No 
vember  : 

From  the  reconnoissance  of  the  5th  we  were  led  to 
believe  that  the  forts  on  Bay  Point  and  Hilton 
Head  were  armed  with  more  than  twenty  guns 
each,  of  the  heaviest  calibre  and  longest  range,  and 
were  well  constructed  and  well  manned,  but  that 
the  one  on  Hilton  Head  was  the  strongest.  The 
distance  between  them  is  two  and  two-tenths  nau 
tical  miles — too  great  to  admit  of  their  being  advan 
tageously  engaged  at  the  same  time,  except  at  long 
shot.  I  resolved,  therefore,  to  undertake  the  reduc 
tion  of  Hilton  Head  (or,  as  I  shall  hereafter  call  it, 
Fort  Walker)  first,  and  afterwards  to  turn  my  atten 
tion  to  Fort  Beauregard — the  fort  on  Bay  Point.  The 
greater  part  of  the  guns  of  Fort  Walker  were  pre 
sented  upon  two  water-fronts,  and  the  flanks  were 
but  slightly  guarded,  especially  on  the  north,  on 
which  side  the  approach  of  an  enemy  had  not  been 
looked  for. 

A  fleet  of  the  enemy — consisting  of  seven  steam 
ers,  armed,  but  to  what  extent  I  was  not  informed 
further  than  that  they  carried  rifle-guns — occupied 
the  northern  portion  of  the  harbor,  and  stretched 
along  from  the  mouth  of  Beaufort  River  to  Scull 
Creek. 

It  was  high  water  on  the  7th  instant  at  llh.  35m. 
A.  M.  by  the  tables  of  the  Coast  Survey. 

These  circumstances  —  the  superiority  of  Fort 
Walker  and  its  weakness  on  the  northern  flank,  the 
presence  of  the  rebel  fleet,  and  the  flood-tide  of  the 
morning — decided  the  plan  of  attack  and  the  order 
of  battle. 

The  order  of  battle  comprised  a  main  squadron 
ranged  in  line  ahead,  and  a  flanking  squadron, 
which  was  to  be  thrown  off  on  the  northern  section 
of  the  harbor,  to  engage  the  enemy's  flotilla  and 
prevent  them  taking  the  rear  ships  of  the  main 
line  when  it  turned  to  the  southward,  or  cutting  off 
a  disabled  vessel. 

The  main  squadron  consisted  of  the  frigate  "Wa 
bash,"  Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers,  the  leading 
ship;  the  frigate  " Susquehanna,"  Captain  J.  L. 
Lardner  ;  the  sloop  "Mohican,"  Commander  S.  W. 
Godon ;  the  sloop  "Seminole,"  Commander  J.  P. 
Gillis;  the  sloop  "Pawnee,"  Lieutenant-Command 
ing  R.  H.  Wyrnan ;  the  gun-boat  "  Unadilla,'' 
Lieutenant-Commanding  N.  Collins  ;  the  gun-boat 
"Ottawa,''  Lieutenant-Commanding  T.  H.  Stevens; 
the  gun-boat  "Pembina,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
J.  P.  Bankhead  ;  and  the  sailing  sloop  "  Vandalia,' 
Commander  F.  S.  Haggerty,  towed  by  the  "Isaac 
Smith,"  Lieutenant-Commanding  J.  W.  A.  Nichol 
son. 

The  flanking  squadron  consisted  of  the  gun-boat 
"Bienville,"  Commander  Charles  Steedman,  the 
leading  ship;  the  gun-boat  "Seneca,"  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Daniel  Ammen  ;  the  gun-boat  "  Cur 
lew,1'  Lieutenant  Commanding  P.  G.  Watmough  ; 
the  gun-boat  "Penguin,"  Lieutenant  Commanding 
T.  A.  Budd  ;  and  the  gun-boat  "Augusta,"  Com 
mander  E.  G.  Parrott,  the  closing  ship  of  that  line. 

The  plan  of  attack  was  to  pass  up  mid-way 
between  Forts  Walker  and  Beauregard  (receiving 
and  returning  the  fire  of  both)  to  a  certain  distance, 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  latter.  At 


that  point  the  line  was  to  turn  to  the  south  around 
by  the  west,  and  close  in  with  Fort  Walker,  encoun 
tering  it  on  its  weakest  flank,  and  at  the  same  time 
enfilading,  in  nearly  a  direct  line,  its  two  water- 
faces.  While  standing  to  the  southward  the  vessels 
were  head  to  tide,  which  kept  them  under  command, 
whilst  the  rate  of  going  was  diminished. 

When  abreast  of  the  fort,  the  engine  was  to  be 
slowed  and  the  movement  reduced  to  only  as  much 
as  would  be  just  sufficient  to  overcome  the  tide,  to 
preserve  the  order  of  battle  by  passing  the  batteries 
in  slow  succession,  and  to  avoid  becoming  a  fixed 
mark  for  the  enemy's  fire.  On  reaching  the  ex 
tremity  of  Hilton  Head  and  the  shoal  ground 
making  off  from  it,  the  line  was  to  turn  to  the  north 
by  the  east,  and,  passing  to  the  northward,  to  en 
gage  Fort  Walker  with  the  port  battery  nearer  than 
when  first  on  the  same  course.  These  evolutions 
were  to  be  repeated.  The  accompanying  plan  will 
explain  the  preceding  description. 

The  captains  of  the  ships  had  been  called  on 
board  and  instructed  as  to  the  general  formation  of 
the  lines  and  their  own  respective  places. 

At  8  o'clock  the  signal  was  made  to  get  under 
way.  At  8h.  10m.  the  ship,  riding  to  the  flood, 
tripped  her  anchor ;  and  at  8h.  30m.  the  ship 
turned,  and  was  headed  in  for  the  forts.  At  9  the 
signal  was  made  for  close  order.  At  9h.  26m.  the 
action  was  commenced  by  a  gun  from  Fort  Walker, 
immediately  followed  by  another  from  Fort  Beau- 
regard.  This  was  answered  at  once  from  this  ship, 
and  immediately  after  from  the  "Susquehanna." 
At  10  o'clock  the  leading  ship  of  the  line  turned  to 
the  southward,  and  made  signal  to  the  "Vandalia" 
(which  ship,  in  tow  of  the  "Isaac  Smith,"  was 
dropping  astern,  and  was  exposed,  without  support, 
to  the  fire  of  Fort  Beauregard)  to  join  company. 
At  lOh.  15m.  the  signal  was  made  for  closer  action, 
the  "Wabash"  slowly  passing  Fort  Walker  at  a 
distance,  when  abreast,  of  eight  hundred  yards. 
At  11  the  signal  was  made  to  get  into  and  preserve 
stations,  and  at  llh.  15m.  to  follow  the  motions  of 
the  Commander-in-chief. 

Standing  to  the  northward,  nearly  in  the  line 
shown  in  the  diagram,  the  ship's  head  was  again 
turned  to  the  southward,  and  she  passed  the  guns 
of  Fort  Walker  at  a  distance  less  than  six  hundred 
yards  (the  sights  wrere  adjusted  to  five  hundred  and 
fifty  yards).  At  llh.  30m.  the  enemy's  flag  was 
shot  away. 

The  second  fire  with  the  starboard  guns  of  the 
"Wabash,"  and  Captain  Lardner,  in  the  "Susque 
hanna,"  my  second  in  command,  who  always  kept 
so  near  as  to  give  me  the  entire  support  of  his 
formidable  battery,  seems  at  this  short  distance 
to  have  discomforted  the  enemy.  Its  effect  was 
increased  by  the  shells  thrown  from  the  smaller 
vessels  at  the  enfilading  point.  It  was  evident 
that  the  enemy's  fire  was  becoming  much  less  fre 
quent,  and  finally  it  was  kept  up  at  such  long 
intervals  and  with  so  few  guns  as  to  be  of  little 
consequence. 

After  the  "Wabash"  and  "Susquehanna"  had 
passed  to  the  northward,  and  given  the  fort  the 
fire  of  their  port  battery  the  third  time,  the  enemy 
had  entirely  ceased  to  reply  and  the  battle  was 
ended. 

At  Hi.  15m.  the  "Ottawa"  signalled  that  the 
works  at  Hilton  Head  were  abandoned.  This  in 
formation  was,  a  few  minutes  later,  repeated  by  the 
"Pembina."  As  soon  as  the  starboard  guns  of  this 
ship  and  the  "  Susquehanna"  had  been  brought  to 
bear  a  third  time  on  Fort  Walker,  I  sent  Com 
mander  John  Rodgers  on  shore  with  a  flag  of  truce. 
The  hasty  flight  of  the  enemy  was  visible,  and  was 
reported  from  the  tops.  At  twrenty  minutes  after 
two  Captain  Rodgers  hoisted  the  flag  of  the  Union 
over  the  deserted  post.  At  forty-five  minutes  after 
two  I  anchored  and  sent  Commander  C.  R.  P. 
Rodgers  on  shore  with  the  marines  and  a  party  of 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


393 


seamen  to  take  possession  and  prevent,  if  necessary, 
the  destruction  of  public  property. 

The  transports  now  got  underway,  and  came 
rapidly  up,  and  by  nightfall  Brigadier -General 
Wright's  brigade  had  landed  and  entered  upon  the 
occupation  of  the  ground. 

I  have  said,  in  the  beginning  of  this  report,  that 
the  plan  of  attack  designed  making  the  reduction 
of  Fort  Walker  the  business  of  the  day.  In  passing 
to  the  northward,  however,  we  had  improved  every 
opportunity  of  firing  at  long  range  on  Fort  Beaure- 
gard.  As  soon  as  the  fate  of  Fort  Walker  was 
decided,  I  dispatched  a  small  squadron  to  Fort 
Beauregard  to  reconnoitre  and  ascertain  its  condi 
tion,  and  to  prevent  the  rebel  steamers  returning 
to  carry  away  either  persons  or  property. 

Near  sunset  it  was  discovered  that  the  flag  upon 
this  fort  was  hauled  down,  and  that  the  fort  was 
apparently  abandoned. 

At  sunri.se  the  next  day  the  American  ensign  was 
hoisted  on  the  flag-staff  at  Fort  Beauregard  by 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Ammen. 

The  "Pocahontas,"  Commander  Percival  Dray- 
ton,  had  suffered  from  the  gale  of  Friday  night  so 
badly  as  not  to  be  able  to  enter  Port  Royal  until 
the  morning  of  the  7th.  He  reached  the  scene  of 
action  about  12  o'clock,  and  rendered  gallant  ser 
vice  by  engaging  the  batteries  on  both  sides  in  suc 
cession. 

Lieutenant-Commanding  H.  L.  Neweoinb,  of  the 
"  R.  B.  Forbes/'  which  vessel  had  been  employed 
in  towing  in  the  "Great  Republic,"'  arrived  in  time 
to  take  good  part  in  the  action. 

And,  finally,  the  tug  "Mercury,"  Acting-Master 
Martin  commanding,  employed  his  single  Parrott 
gun  with  skill  and  effect. 

After  congratulating  you  upon  the  success  thus 
far  of  our  expedition,  which  had  its  origin  in  the 
counsels  of  the  Department,  and  which  the  Depart 
ment  h-xs  fostered  and  labored  to  render  efficient, 
the  gratifying  duty  remains  to  be  performed  of 
according  to  each  and  all  their  due  share  of  praise 
for  good  conduct  in  their  encounter  with  the  en 
emy.  This  duty,  though  most  welcome,  is  still 
delicate. 

I  am  well  aware  that  each  one  did  his  part  in  his 
place,  and  when  I  discriminate  it  is  in  cases  that 
necessarily  fell  under  my  own  immediate  observa 
tion.  I  have  no  doubt  that  all  would  have 
embraced  and  improved  the  same  opportunities  of 
distinction  ;  and  in  noticing  those  who  were  made 
prominent  by  their  stations,  or  who  were  near  me 
during  the  action,  I  am  showing  no  invidious  pref 
erence. 

The  General  Order  No.  2,  already  forwarded  to 
the  Department,  expressed  in  genera!  terms  my 
commendation  of  the  gallantry  and  skill  of  the 
officers  and  men. 

The  reports  of  the  commanding  officers  of  the 
several  ships,  herewith  enclosed,  do  justice  to  those 
under  them  ;  while  the  results  speak  for  the  com 
manding  officers  themselves.  The  names  of  the 
latter  are  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  this  dis 
patch.  I  refer  with  pleasure  to  them  again.  They 
did  their  duty  to  my  satisfaction,  and  t  am  most 
happy  to  bear  testimony  to  their  zeal  and  ability. 

The  officers  of  this  ship,  to  whom  1  am  deeply 
indebted,  will  be  mentioned  by  her  commander, 
C.  R.  P.  Rodgers,  in  his  special  report. 

It  affords  me  the  highest  gratification  to  speak  of 
the  manner  in  which  this  ship  was  handled  during 
the  engagement,  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the 
professional  skill,  the  calm  and  rapid  judgment  and 
the  excellent  management  of  Commander  C.  R.  P. 
Rodgers.  His  attention  was  divided  between  this 
duty  and  the  effective  service  of  the  guns,  which 
involved  the  estimation  of  distances,  the  regulation 
of  fuses  and  the  general  supervision  of  the  divisions. 
His  conduct  and  judicious  control  of  everything 
within  the  sphere  of  his  duty,  though  no  more  than 


was  to  be  expected  from  his  established  reputation, 
impressed  me  with  a  higher  estimation  than  ever 
of  his  attainments  and  character. 

I  had  also  an  opportunity  to  remark  the  admirable 
coolness  and  discrimination  of  the  first-lieutenant, 
T.  G.  Corbin.  The  good  order,  discipline  and  effi 
ciency,  in  every  respect,  of  this  ship  are,  to  a  great 
extent,  the  results  of  his  labors  as  executive  officer, 
and  they  were  conspicuous  on  this  occasion.  Acting- 
Master  Stiles,  acting  as  pilot,  was  devoted  and  in 
telligent  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  ;  and  the 
third-assistant  engineer,  Missieveer,  who  attended 
the  bell,  was  prompt  and  always  correct. 

Acting-Master  S.  W.  Preston,  acting  as  my  flag- 
lieutenant,  displayed  throughout  the  day  an  undis 
turbed  intelligence  and  a  quick  and  general  obser 
vation,  which  proved  very  useful.  His  duties  as 
signal -officer  were  performed  without  mistake. 
This  gentleman  and  the  young  officers — Mr.  R.  H. 
Lamson,  Mr.  J.  P.  Robertson  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Row 
land,  who  were  also  under  my  eye,  in  immediate 
command  of  the  pivot-guns  and  spar-deck  divisions 
— sustained  the  reputation  and  exhibited  the  bene 
fits  of  the  Naval  Academy,  the  training  of  which 
only  could  make  such  valuable  officers  of  such 
young  men. 

Commander  John  Rodgers,  a  passenger  in  this 
ship,  going  to  take  command  of  the  steamer  "Flag," 
volunteered  to  act  upon  my  staff.  It  would  be 
difficult  for  me  to  enumerate  the  duties  he  per 
formed,  they  were  so  numerous  and  varied,  and  he 
brought  to  them  all  an  invincible  energy  and  the 
highest  order  of  professional  knowledge  and  merit. 
I  was  glad  to  show  my  appreciation  of  his  great 
services  by  allowing  him  the  honor  to  hoist  the 
first  American  flag  on  the  rebellious  soil  of  South 
Carolina. 

My  secretary,  Mr.  Alexander  McKinley,  was  by 
my  side  throughout  the  engagement,  making  mem 
oranda  under  my  direction.  He  evinced  the  same 
cool  bravery  which  he  once  before  had  an  oppor 
tunity  of  showing  under  fire  in  a  foreign  land.  It 
gives  me  pleasure  to  mention  him  here  as  a  gentle 
man  of  intelligence,  of  great  worth,  and  of  heartfelt 
devotion  to  his  country. 

I  have  yet  to  speak  of  the  chief  of  my  staff  and 
fleet-captain,  Commander  Charles  H.  Davis.  In 
the  organization  of  our  large  fleet  before  sailing, 
and  in  the  preparation  and  systematic  arrangement 
of  the  duties  of  our  contemplated  work — in  short, 
in  all  the  duties  pertaining  to  the  flag-officer — I 
have  received  his  most  valuable  assistance.  He 
possesses  the  rare  quality  of  being  a  man  of  science 
and  a  practical  officer,  keeping  the  love  of  science 
subordinate  to  the  regular  duties  of  his  profession. 
During  the  action  he  watched  over  the  movements 
of  the  fleet,  kept  the  official  minutes,  and  evinced 
that  calmness  in  danger,  which,  to  my  knowledge, 
for  thirty  years  has  been  a  conspicuous  trait  in  his 
character. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  respectfully, 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 

S.  F.  DuPoxT, 
Flag -Officer,  Commanding 
South  Atlantic  blockading  Squadron. 

Hon.  GIDKOX  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy, 

Washington. 


REPORT    OF     LIEUTEXAXT-COMMAXDING     C.     R.    P. 
RODGERS. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  WABASH,"  \ 
PORT  ROYAL,  Nov.  10,  1861.     f 
SIR — Although  I  know  that  the  conduct  of  the 
officers  and    crew  of  the  "Wabash"  are  warmly 
Commended  by  you  in  the  action  of  the  7th  instant, 
yet,  in  obedience  to  your  demand  fora  special  re 
port.  I  respectfully  submit  the  following  : 
The  men  did  their  duty,  as  became  American 


394 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


seamen,  with  calmness,  precision  and  resolute 
earnestness.  They  fought  their  guns  with  energy, 
and  pointed  them  with  admirable  coolness. 

The  three  gun-deck  divisions  of  9  inch  guns, 
under  Lieutenants  Luce,  Upshur  and  Barnes,  were 
commanded  by  those  officers  in  a  manner  which 
illustrated  the  highest  power  of  both  men  and 
guns,  and  exhibited  the  greatest  effect  of  manhood 
and  training.  I  beg  leave  to  commend  these  officers 
in  terms  of  the  warmest  praise,  both  for  skill  and 
conduct ;  and  also  Lieutenant  Irwin,  who,  in  com 
mand  of  the  powder  division,  did  everything  that  a 
brave  and  earnest  man  could  do  to  make  his  ship 
efficient. 

Acting-Masters  Lamson,  Rowland  and  Robert 
son,  in  command  of  the  spar-deck  guns,  followed 
the  example  of  their  seniors  on  the  gun-deck,  and 
did  honor  to  the  Naval  School,  which  had,  at  their 
early  age,  trained  them  to  do  such  efficient  service 
in  battle. 

Acting-Masters  W  H.  West,  Rockwell,  Gregory 
and  Palmer,  stationed  at  the  various  divisions, 
evinced  patriotic  zeal  and  courage. 

Mr.  Coghlan,  the  boatswain,  not  only  did  his 
duty  in  the  sixth  division,  but  also  skillfully  served 
the  rifled  boat-guns,  with  which  he  did  good  service. 
.  The  gunner,  Mr.  Stewart,  in  the  magazine,  and 
the  carpenter,  Mr.  Boardrnan,  with  his  shot-plugs, 
did  their  duty  manfully. 

The  engine  and  steam,  during  the  whole  action, 
•were  managed  with  consummate  skill,  which  did 
great  credit  to  Chief  Engineer  King  and  his  assist 
ants.  Third-Assistant  Engineer  Missieveer,  who 
stood  upon  the  bridge  by  my  side  during  the  action, 
impressed  me  very  favorably  by  his  cool  intelligence 
and  promptness. 

All  the  other  officers,  in  their  various  depart 
ments,  did  their  whole  duty  faithfully. 

Acting-Master  Stiles  rendered  most  valuable  ser 
vice  by  his  careful  attention  to  the  steerage  and 
soundings  of  the  vessel,  and  by  his  skill  and  vigi 
lance  in  keeping  the  ship  clear  of  the  shoals.  I 
desire  to  commend  him  especially  to  your  notice. 

My  clerk,  Mr.  Blydenburgh,  acted  as  iny  aide,  and 
did  prompt  and  good  service. 

The  two  oldest  seamen  in  the  ship,  John  Dennis 
and  Henry  L.  Coons,  both  quartermasters — the  one 
at  the  wheel  and  the  other  at  the  signals — well  rep 
resented  the  gallantry  of  their  class  and  generation. 
The  marines  were  used  as  a  reserve,  and,  when 
ever  called  upon,  rendered  prompt  assistance  at 
the  guns,  with  the  good  conduct  that  has  always 
characterized  their  corps. 

It  only  remains  for  me  to  speak  of  the  executive 
officer,  Lieutenant  Corbin,  who  has  filled  that  post 
since  the  "Wabash"  was  commissioned.  The  ad 
mirable  training  of  the  crew  may,  in  a  high  degree, 
be  attributed  to  his  professional  merit ;  and  his 
gallant  bearing  and  conspicuous  conduct  through 
out  the  whole  action  were  good  illustrations  of  the 
best  type  of  a  sea-officer. 

At  the  close  of  the  action  the  "Wabash"  was  en 
gaged  with  Fort  Walker  at  a  distance  of  six  hun 
dred  yards  or  less,  and  her  officers  and  men  may 
well  feel  satisfied  with  the  precision  of  their  aim 
and  the  overwhelming  power  of  their  rapid  fire. 
Eight  hundred  and  eighty  shells  were  fired  from 
her  guns,  chiefly  with  5-second  fuses  Some  grape 
was  fired  with  good  effect  from  the  10-inch  gun,  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  action. 

I  have  to  thank  that  most  brave  and  distinguished 
officer.  Captain  C.  H.  Davis,  the  captain  of  the 
fleet,  for  the  aid  he  gave  me  when  not  engrossed  by 
the  important  duties  of  his  special  station  ;  and  I 
desire  to  pay  the  same  tribute  to  Commander  John 
Rodgers,  who,  being  a  passenger  on  board,  had 
volunteered  to  serve  on  your  staff,  and  never  failed 
to  give  me  most  valuable  assistance.  Nor  must  I 
fail  to  bear  witness  to  the  gallant  bearing  and 
striking  coolness  of  your  young  flag-lieutenant,  Mr. 


Preston.  1  thank  you,  sir,  in  the  name  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  your  flag-ship,  for  the  example 
you  gave  us. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

C.  R.  P.  RODGERS, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  U.  S.  Steamer  "Wabash.'' 

Flag-Officer  S.  F.  DuPoxT, 
Commanding  South  Atlantic  blockading  Squadron. 

REPORT  OF  COMMANDER  CHARLES  STEEDMAN. 
UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  BIENVILLE,"  } 
PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR,  Nov.  8,  1801.      i 

SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  the  ac 
tion  of  yesterday  with  the  forts  this  vessel  was 
struck  several  times,  one  shot  passing  through  and 
through  her,  another  striking  bulwarks,  forward, 
unfortunately  mortally  wounding  two  men,  Pat 
rick  McGuigan  and  Alexander  Chambers  <  since 
dead),  and  slightly  wounding  three  others,  Peter 
Murphy,  Alexander  Finey  and  William  Gilchrist, 
while  gallantly  fighting  at  their  guns. 

The  other  shots  did  but  little  damage.  It  affords 
me  the  utmost  gratification  to  bring  to  your  notice 
the  excellent  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men.  It 
would  be  impossible  to  particularize  the  bearing  of 
any  one  officer  or  man,  such  was  their  gallant  con 
duct. 

During  the  engagement,  we  fired  from  this  vessel 
eighty-four  32  solid  shots,  thirty-nine  32  pound 
shell,  and  sixty-two  rifle-shell. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
CHARLES  STEEDMAN, 

Commander. 
Flag-Officer  S.  F.  DuPoNT, 

Commander-in-CMef  of  Naval  Forces,  etc.,  etc. 

REPORT   OF   LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING  DANIEL 
AMMEN. 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  SENECA,"  ) 
PORT  ROYAL,  S.  C.,  Nov.  15,  1861.     f 

SIR— In  obedience  to  your  order  of  this  date,  I 
nave  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report : 

On  Monday,  the  4th,  this  vessel  entered  Port 
Royal,  and  sounded  the  channel  until  within  three 
miles  of  Bay  Point,  when  we  were  signalled  from 
the  "Ottawa"  to  return  and  anchor,  which  we  did 
at  4  P.  M.,  near  her,  about  a  mile  further  out  and  a 
cable's  length  nearer  the  batteries.  The  fleet  gen 
erally,  at  this  time,  was  standing  in  and  anchoring. 
An  hour  later,  three  rebel  steamers  approached  us 
and  opened  fire  with  rifled  guns,  but  at  a  distance 
which  proved  ineffective.  The  "Ottawa,"  "  Pem- 
bina"  and  this  vessel  got  underway,  and,  standing 
in  at  an  angle,  allowing  our  heavy  guns  to  bear, 
drove  them  before  us.  At  sunset  we  returned,  and 
anchored  as  before. 

At  daylight  on  Tuesday  several  rebel  steamers 
again  attacked  us.  We  got  underway,  and,  obey 
ing  signals  from  the  "Ottawa,"  accompanied  her, 
with  the  "Pembina,"'  "Curlew,"  "Isaac  Smith,1' 
and  afterwards  the  "Pawnee,"  drove  them  until  we 
were  within  a  cross-fire  of  the  batteries  of  Hilton 
Head  and  Bay  Point,  both  opening  upon  us.  No  ma 
terial  damage  was  sustained.  A  heavy  shell — or 
shot,  probably — struck  the  vessel  on  the  port-side, 
but  I  have  been  unable  to  find  it,  and  probably 
will  not  until  we  get  in  a  sea-way.  Our  rigging  was 
struck  three  times.  The  object  being  effected — that 
of  ascertaining  the  strength  of  the  rebel  batteries — 
we  returned  and  anchored,  as  before,  about  half- 
past  8- 

Two  or  three  hours  after,  the  rebel  steamers  again 
approached  us,  and,  finding  that  they  were  within 
range,  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  firing  an  11 -inch 
shell  at  the  flag-ship,  which  was  seen  from  aloft,  as 
well  as  by  several  persons  on  deck,  to  strike  just 
abaft  the  starboard  wheel-house.  The  vessel  put 
into  Bay  Point,  and  on  returning,  or  rather  show- 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


ing  herself,  in  the  afternoon,  had  a  large  white 
plank  forward  of  the  port  wheel  house,  probably 
where  the  shell  went  out.  On  the  morning  of  the 
7th,  obeying  signal,  we  took  position  assigned  us  in 
the  line,  and,  passing  up,  delivered  our  fire  at  Bay 
Point,  and  on  arriving  out  of  fire  of  the  batteries, 
made  chase — as  directed  by  instructions — to  the 
rebel  steamers.  They,  being  river  boats,  soon  left 
us,  and  I  had  the  chagrin  of  having  wasted  several 
shells  at  them  at  ineffective  distance. 

Returning  to  the  attack  on  Hilton  Head,  we 
passed  so  near  to  the  shore  as  to  be  fired  upon  by 
riflemen,  who  kept  quiet  on  being  fired  on  by  our 
Parrott  20-pounder.  From  an  enfilading  position 
we  began  with  10-second  fuses,  and,  closing  up, 
found  ourselves  within  effective  5-second  range. 
As  to  the  latter  part  of  the  action,  we  were  within 
howitzer  range,  and  were  using  both  howitzers 
effectively,  as  well  as  11-iiich  gun  and  Parrott  20- 
pounder. 

During  the  engagement  we  fired  sixty-three  11-inch 
shells,  9  with  Id-second  fuses,  28  with  id-second  fuses 
and  26  with  5-second  fuses.  Thirty-three  projectiles 
from  the  Parrott-gun  were  also  fired,  and  twelve 
24-pounder  shrapnel. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  Parrott  shell  appears 
defective  ;  its  flight  was  wild  and  range  short.  As 
I  fired  once  myself,  I  know  they  were  not  to  be  de- 

S ended  on,  arid  the  captain  of  the  gun  was  much 
isappointed  at  his  results. 

During  the  engagement  an  officer  was  kept  at  the 
mast -head,  whose  duty  it  was  to  report  our  firing, 
by  which  we  were  governed.  I  have,  therefore, 
reason  to  believe  that  our  fire  was  effective. 

Few  of  our  crew  have  served  before  in  a  vessel-of- 
war,  and  as  we  went  into  commission  only  three 
weeks  before  the  engagement,  Mr.  Sproston,  the 
first-lieutenant  of  the  vessel,  fired  nearly  all  the  11- 
inch  shells  with  his  own  hands.  Of  him,  as  well  as 
of  the  officers  and  crew  generally,  I  have  to  express 
my  warmest  commendations,  and  my  surprise  that 
amidst  such  a  shower  of  shot  and  shells  we  received 
no  damage. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

DANIEL,  AMMEN, 

Lieutenant- Commanding  " Seneca" 
Flag-Officer  SAMUEL  F.  DuPoNT, 

Commanding  South  Atlantic  Blockading 
Squadron. 

REPORT    OF    LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING    T.    H. 

STEVENS. 

UNITED  STATES  GUN-BOAT  "  OTTAWA,"  { 
OFF  HILTON  HEAD,  Nov.  8,  1861.  f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  as  soon  as 
the  "  Ottawa,"  under  my  command,  could  take  up 
her  position  in  the  order  of  battle,  I  weighed  anchor, 
following  in  the  wake  of  our  leading  vessel.  When 
abreast  of  Bay  Point  battery,  finding  that  our  11- 
inch  gun  was  doing  good  execution.  I  stopped  the 
engine  to  engage  it,  and  threw  about  a  dozen  shells 
in  and  about  the  fortifications.  Discovering,  how 
ever,  that  we  were  under  a  cross-fire,  I  steamed  up 
to  take  distance,  in  the  order  assigned.  About  this 
time  a  32-pound  shot  struck  the  "Ottawa"  in  the 
port -waist,  just  abaft  the  pivot -gun  (11 -inch), 
wounding  severely  Mr.  Kerne,  one  of  the  acting- 
masters  v  who  subsequently  lost  his  leg  by  amputa 
tion),  one  other  man  seriously,  and  four  others 
slightly,  and  doing  considerable  damage  to  the 
deck  of  the  vessel,  the  coamings  of  the  forward 
coal-bunker  hatch,  and  splitting  two  of  the  upper- 
deck  beams. 

Discovering,  as  we  ranged  up  with  the  fort  on 
Hilton  Head,  that  we  occupied  an  enfilading  posi 
tion,  I  continued  to  occupy  it  until  the  enemy 
deserted  their  batteries,  when,  being  nearest  to 
them,  I  signalized  the  same  to  the  flag-ship  and 


stopped  firing,  about  500  yards  from  the  fort. 
While  engaging  at  a  distance  of  about  1,000  yards, 
and  when  within  300  yards  of  the  beach  of  Hilton 
Head,  some  of  the  riflemen  of  the  enemy  commenced 
firing  upon  us,  when  we  opened  with  the  howitzers 
charged  with  shrapnels,  and  quickly  dispersed 
them. 

It  only  remains  for  me  to  notice  the  good  con 
duct,  coolness  and  gallantry  of  both  officers  and 
men  upon  the  occasion,  who  behaved  with  the 
steadiness  of  veterans,  and  to  commend  them  to 
your  favorable  notice,  and  the  notice  of  the  Depart 
ment,  as  worthy  supporters  of  the  cause  we  have 
espoused. 

Very  respectfully, 

T.  H.  STEVENS, 

Lieutenant-Commanding,  U.  8.  2f. 
Flag-Officer  S.  F.  DuPoNT, 

Commanding  South  Atlantic  Blockading 
Squadron. 

ORDER    FOR    "  UNADILLA "  AND    OTHER    SHIPS  TO 

TAKE  POSSESSION  OF  BEAUFORT,  S.  C. 

FLAG-SHIP,  "WABASH,") 
PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR,  Nov.  10,  1861.     f 

SIR — It  has  been  reported  to  me  by  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Ammen  that,  on  taking  possession  of 
the  town  of  Beaufort,  under  my  orders  of  the  8th 
instant,  he  found  that  most  of  the  white  inhab 
itants  had  abandoned  the  town,  and  that  the  ne 
groes  were  committing  excesses  and  destroying  pri 
vate  property. 

You  will  proceed  with  the  most  convenient  dis 
patch  in  the  gun-boat  "Unadilla,"  under  your 
command,  to  Beaufort,  where  you  will  find  the 
gun-boat  "  Pembina  "  (Lieutenant  -  Commanding 
Bankhead),  and  the  gun-boat  "Curlew"  (Lieuten 
ant-Commanding  VVatmough),  and  assume  com 
mand  of  the  station. 

You  will  employ  your  forces  in  suppressing  any 
excesses  on  the  part  of  the  negroes;  and  you  will 
take  pains  to  assure  the  white  inhabitants  that 
there  is  no  intention  to  disturb  theiu  in  the  exer 
cise  of  their  private  rights,  or  in  the  enjoyment  of 
their  private  property. 

Acting  on  this  principle  of  conduct,  you  will  pur 
sue  any  other  measures  that  may  tend  to  create 
confidence,  to  bring  back  the  people  to  their  houses 
and  to  re-establish  order. 

You  will  please  send  Lieutenant  -  Commanding 
Watmough  to  report  to  me  to-morrow  morning  in 
person  upon  the  actual  state  of  things,  and  upon 
the  steps  you  may  have  found  it  expedient  to 
take. 

Any  information  you  may  have  it  in  your  power 
to  collect,  concerning  the  state  of  the  surrounding 
country,  will  be  valuable. 

S.  F.  DuPoNT, 
Flag-Officer,  Commanding  South  Atlantic 

Blockading  Squadron. 
Lieutenant  NAPOLEON  COLLINS,  U.  S.  N., 
United  States  ffun-boat  "  Unadilla,'''1  Port 
Royal  Harbor. 

LETTER  COMMENDING  THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE 
"CURLEW  '  BY  ACTING-LIEUTENANT- 
COMMANDING  WATMOUGH. 
UNITED  STATES  GUNBOAT  "CURLEW,  ) 
PORT  ROYAL,  S.  C.,  Nov.  17,  1861.     f 
SIR — It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  speak  with 
praise  of  the  general  gallantry,  coolness,  and  cheer 
fulness  of  the  officers  and  men  under  my  command 
during  the  several  actions  with  the  rebel  squadron 
and  batteries  on  the  4th,  5th,   and  7th    instants. 
Master  H.  E.  Mullan,  acting  executive  officer,  ren 
dered  efficient  service  by   his  readiness  and  zeal. 
Acting-Master  C.  A.   Curtis,  in  charge  of  the  bat 
tery  of  32s,  is  deserving  of  all  praise  for  the  spirit 
he  instilled  the  men  with,  and  effectualness  and  ac- 


396 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


curacy  of  the  divisional  firing.  Acting-Master 
Spavin's  steadiness  at  the  wheel  merits  commenda 
tion  Acting-Master  H.  N.  Parish,  who  had  charge 
of  the  Parrott  pivot-gun,  disabled  early  in  the  ac 
tion  of  the  7th  by  the  enemy's  shot,  afterwards  as 
sisted  with  his  crew  at  the  broadside  battery. 

The  pay  master,  Win.  A.  A.  Kerr,  acting  as  signal- 
officer,  by  his  coolness  and  watchfulness  was  of 
material  assistance;  he  also  kept  a  careful  record  ot 
the  incidents  of  the  several  actions.  Messrs.  ^uiury, 
Swasey,  McConnell  and  Lloyds,  engineers  ot  tiie 
vessel  with  great  difficulties  to  contend  against,  in 
the  general  unfitness  of  the  engine,  boilers  and  con 
densing  apparatus  for  such  rough  service,  managed 
to  carry  us  through  the  action,  for  which  I  was 
thankful. 

Fortunately,  the  readiness  of  our  medical  officer, 
Mr.  Perucer,  was  not  called  upon.  Master's  Mate 
Duncan,  acting  as  gunner,  provided  a  bountiful  sup 
ply  of  ammunition  for  the  battery. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

PEN.  G.  WATMOUGH, 
Acting-Lieutenant-Commanding. 

Flag-Officer  S.  F.  DuPoNT, 

Commanding  South  Atlantic  Squadron. 
Respectfully  forwarded,         S.  F.  DuPoNT, 

F  lag-Officer. 


COMMENDATORY     LETTER    TO     FLAG-OFFICER 
DUPONT. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 
November  16,  1861. 

SIR — It  is  with  no  ordinary  emotion  that  I  ten 
der  to  you  and  your  command  the  heartfelt  con 
gratulations  and  thanks  of  the  Government  and  the 
country  for  the  brilliant  success  achieved  at  Port 
Royal.  In  the  war  now  raging  against  the  Govern 
ment  in  this  most  causeless  and  unnatural  rebellion 
that  ever  afflicted  a  country,  high  hopes  have  been 
indulged  in  the  Navy,  and  great  confidence  reposed 
in  its  efforts. 

The  results  of  the  skill  and  bravery  of  yourself 
and  others  have  equalled  and  surpassed  our  highest 
expectations.  To  you  and  your  associates,  under 
the  providence  of  God,  we  are  indebted  for  this 
great  achievement  by  the  largest  squadron  ever 
fitted  out  under  that  flag,  which  you  have  so  gal 
lantly  vindicated,  and  which  you  will  bear  onward 
to  continued  success.  On  the  receipt  of  your  dis 
patches  announcing  the  victory  at  Port  Royal,  the 
Department  issued  the  enclosed  general  order, 
which,  with  this  letter,  you  will  cause  to  be  read 
to  your  command. 

I  am,  respectfully,  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES. 
Flag-Officer  SAMUEL  F.  DUPONT, 

Commanding  South  Atlantic  Blockading 
Squadron. 


GENERAL  ORDER. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
November  13,  1861.    \ 

The  Department  announces  to  the  Navy  and  to 
the  country  its  high  gratification  at  the  brilliant 
success  of  the  combined  Navy  and  Army  forces, 
respectively  commanded  by  Flag-officer  S.  F.  Du- 
Pont  and  Brigadier-General  W.  T.  Sherman,  in  the 
capture  of  Forts  Walker  and  Beauregard,  com 
manding  the  entrance  of  Port  Royal  harbor,  South 
Carolina. 

To  commemorate  this  signal  victory,  it  is  ordered 
that  a  national  salute  be  fired  from  each  Navy  Yard 
at  meridian  on  the  day  after  the  receipt  of  this  order, 
GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


FLAG-OFFICER    DUPONT'S   REPORT    CONCERNING 
THE  MARINE  BATTALION,  NOV.  15. 

FLAG-SHIP  "WABASH,"' 
PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR,  S.  C.,  Nov.  15,  1861. 
SIR— I  avail  myself  of  the  first  moment  of  leisure 
to  transmit  to  you  the  report  of  Major  John  George 
Reynolds,  commanding  the  battalion    of  marines 
attached  to  my  squadron,  in  which  he  relates  all 
the  circumstances  attending  the  loss  of  the  chart 
ered  steamer  "  Governor,"  and  the  rescue  of  him 
self  and  his  command   by  the  frigate   "Sabine," 
Captain  Ringgold. 

The  Department  will  find  this  report  exceedingly 
interesting,  and  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that  the 
conduct  of  the  officers  and  of  nearly  all  the  men 
of  the  battalion  was  such  as  to  command  Major 
Reynolds'  approval,  as  it  will,  I  doubt  not,  receive 
the  favorable  notice  of  the  Department.  The  es 
tablished  reputation  and  high  standing  of  Major 
Reynolds  might  almost  dispense  with  any  observa 
tions  of  uiy  own  upon  the  bravery  and  high  sense 
of  honor  which  he  displayed  in  disputing  with  Mr. 
Weidman  (though  not  a  seaman)  the  privilege  of 
being  the  last  to  leave  the  wreck. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

S.  F.  DuPoNT, 
Flag-Officer,  Commanding  South  Atlantic 

Blockading  Squadron. 
Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

REPORT  OF  MAJOR  JOHN  GEO.  REYNOLDS,  U.  S.  M.  C. 

UNITED  STATES  SHIP  "SABINE,"  / 

AT  SEA,  Novembers,  1861.       y 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  marine 
battalion  under  my  command  left  Hampton  Roads 
on  transport  steamboat  "Governor,"  on  the  morn 
ing  of  Tuesday,  the  29th  of  October,  with  the  other 
vessels  of  the  fleet,  and  continued  with  them,  near 
the  flag-ship  "Wabash,"  until  Friday,  the  1st  of 
November. 

On  Friday  morning,  about  10  o'clock,  the  wind 
began  to  freshen,  and  by  12  or  1  blew  so  violently 
that  we  were  obliged  to  keep  her  head  directly  to 
the  wind,  and  thereby  leave  the  squadron,  which 
apparently  stood  its  course.  Throughout  the  after 
noon  the  gale  continued  to  increase,  though  the 
"  Governor"  stood  it  well  till  about  4  o'clock.  About 
this  time  we  were  struck  by  two  or  three  heavy 
seas,  which  broke  the  port  hog-brace  in  two  places, 
the  brace  tending  inward.  This  was  immediately 
followed  by  the  breaking  of  the  hog-brace  on  the 
starboard  side.  By  great  exertions  on  the  part  of 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  battalion,  these  braces 
were  so  well  stayed  and  supported  that  no  imme 
diate  danger  was  apprehended  from  them.  Up  to 
this  time  the  engine  worked  well.  Soon  after,  the 
brace-chains,  which  supported  the  smoke-stack, 
parted,  and  it  went  overboard.  Some  three  feet  of 
it  above  the  hurricane-deck  remained,  which  ena 
bled  us  to  keep  up  the  fires.  Soon  after  the  loss  of 
the  smoke-stack,  the  steam-pipe  burst.  After  this 
occurrence  we  were  unable  to  make  more  than  four 
teen  pounds  of  steam,  which  was  reduced,  as  soon 
as  the  engine  commenced  working,  from  three  to 
five  pounds.  The  consequence  was,  we  had  to  stop 
the  engine  frequently  in  order  to  increase  the  head 
of  steam.  At  this  period  the  steamer  was  making 
water  freely,  but  was  easily  kept  clear  by  the 
pump  of  the  engine,  whenever  it  could  be  worked. 
About  5  o'clock  we  discovered  a  steamer  with  a  ship 
in  tow,  which  we  supposed  to  be  the  "Ocean 
Queen."  _  To  attract  attention,  we  sent  up  rockets, 
which  signals  she  answered.  When  our  rockets, 
six  in  all,  were  gone,  we  kept  up  a  fire  of  musketry 
for  a  long  time,  but  the  sea  running  high  and  the 
wind  being  violent,  she  could  render  us  no  assist 
ance.  She  continued  on  her  course,  in  sight  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


397 


greater  part  of  the  night.  About  3  o'clock  Saturday 
morning  the  packing  around  the  cylinder -head 
blew  out,  rendering  the  engine  totally  useless  for 
some  time.  The  engine  was  finally  put  in  running 
order,  although  it  went  very  slowly.  The  rudder- 
chain  was  carried  away  during  the  night,  the  water 
gaining  constantly  on  us,  and  the  boat  laboring 
violently.  At  every  lurch  we  apprehended  the  hog- 
braces  would  be  carried  away,  the  effect  of  which 
would  have  been  to  tear  out  the  whole  starboard- 
side  of  the  bout,  collapse  the  boiler,  and  carry  away 
the  wheel-house.  Early  in  the  morning  the  rudder- 
liead  broke,  the  engine  was  of  very  little  use — the 
water  still  gaining  on  us  rapidly — and  we  entirely 
at  the  mercy  of  the  wind.  It  was  only  by  the  un 
tiring  exertions  of  our  men  that  we  were  kept 
afloat.  Nearly  one  hundred  of  them  were  kept 
constantly  pumping  and  bailing,  and  the  rest  were 
holding  fast  to  the  ropes  which  supported  the  hog- 
braces.  Towards  morning,  the  weather,  which 
during  the  night  had  been  dark  and  rainy,  seemed  to 
brighten  and  the  wind  to  lull.  At  daybreak  two 
vessels  were  seen  on  our  starboard-bow,  one  of  which 
proved  to  be  the  United  States  steamer  "Isaac  P. 
Smith,"  commanded  by  Lieutenant  J.W.  A.  Nichol 
son,  of  the  Navy.  She  descried  our  signal  of  dis 
tress — which  was  ensign  half-mast,  union  down — 
and  stood  for  us.  About  10  o'clock  we  were  hailed 
by  the  "Smith,"  and  given  to  understand  that,  if 
possible,  we  would  all  be  taken  on  board.  A  boat 
was  lowered  from  her,  and  we  were  enabled  to  take 
a  hawser.  This,  through  the  carelessness  of  Cap 
tain  Litchfield,  of  the  "  Governor,"  was  soon  cut  off 
or  unavoidably  let  go.  The  water  was  still  gaining 
on  us.  The  engine  could  be  worked  but  little,  and 
it  appeared  our  only  hope  of  safety  was  gone.  The 
"  Smith"  now  stood  off,  but  soon  returned,  and  by 
1  o'clock  we  had  another  hawser  from  her,  and 
were  again  in  tow.  A  sail  (the  propeller  -  bark 
"Young  Rover"  ,  which  had  been  discovered  on 
our  starboard-bow  during  the  morning,  was  soon 
within  bailing-distance.  The  captain  proffered  all 
the  assistance  he  could  give,  though  at  the  time  he 
could  do  nothing,  owing  to  the  severity  of  the 
weather.  The  hawser  from  the  "Smith"  again 
parted,  and  we  were  once  more  adrift.  The  "Young 
Rover"  now  stood  for  us  again,  and  the  captain  said 
he  would  stand  by  us  to  the  last,  for  which  he  re 
ceived  a  heartfelt  cheer  from  the  men.  He  also 
informed  us  a  large  frigate  was  ahead,  standing  for 
us.  H  e  then  stood  for  the  frigate,  made  signals  of 
distress,  and  returned.  The  frigate  soon  came  into 
view,  and  hope  once  more  cheered  the  hearts  of  all 
on  board  the  transport.  Between  2  and  3  o'clock 
the  United  States  frigate  "Sabine"  (Captain  Ring- 
gold)  was  within  hail,  and  the  assurance  given  that 
all  hands  would  be  taken  on  board.  After  a  little 
delay,  the  "  Sabine  "  came  to  anchor.  We  followed 
her  example,  and  a  hawser  was  passed  to  us.  It 
was  now  late  in  the  day,  and  there  were  no 
signs  of  an  abatement  of  the  gale.  It  was  evident 
that  whatever  was  to  be  done  for  our  safety  must 
be  done  without  delay.  About  8  or  9  o'clock  the 
"  Sabine"  had  payed  out  enough  chain  to  bring  her 
stern  close  to  our  bow.  Spars  were  rigged  out  over 
the  stern  of  the  frigate,  and  every  arrangement 
made  for  whipping  our  men  on  board,  and  some 
thirty  men  were  rescued  by  this  means.  Three  or 
four  hawsers  and  an  iron  stream-cable  were  parted 
by  the  plunging  of  the  vessels.  The  "Governor," 
at  this  time,  had  three  feet  of  water,  which  was 
rapidly  increasing.  It  was  evidently  intended  by 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  "Sabine"  to  get  the 
"  Governor"  alongside,  and  let  our  men  jump  from 
the  boat  to  the  frigate.  In  our  condition  this  ap 
peared  extremely  hazardous.  It  seemed  impossible 
for  us  to  strike  the  frigate  without  instantly  going 
to  pieces.  We  were,  however,  brought  alongside, 
and  some  forty  men  succeeded  in  getting  on  board 
the  frigate  ;  one  was  crushed  to  death  between  the 


frigate  and   the  steamer  in  attempting  to  gain  a 
foot-hold  on  the  frigate. 

Shortly  after  being  brought  alongside  the  frigate, 
the  starboard  quarter  of  the  "Sabine''  struck  the 
port -bow  of  the  "Governor,"  and  carried  away 
about  twenty  feet  of  the  hurricane-deck  from  the 
stem  to  the  wheel-house.  The  sea  was  running  so 
high,  and  we  were  being  tossed  so  violently,  it  was 
deemed  prudent  to  slack  up  the  hawser  and  let  the 
"  Governor ''  fall  astern  of  the  frigate  with  the  faint 
hope  of  weathering  the  gale  till  morning.  All  our 
provisions  and  other  stores — indeed,  every  movable 
article — were  thrown  overboard,  and  the  water- 
casks  started,  to  lighten  the  vessel.  From  half-past 
3  till  daylight  the  "Governor"  floated  in  com 
parative  safety,  notwithstanding  the  water  was 
gaining  rapidly  on  her.  At  daybreak,  preparations 
were  made  for  sending  boats  to  our  relief,  although 
the  sea  was  running  high,  and  it  being  exceedingly 
dangerous  for  a  boat  to  approach  the  guards  of  the 
steamer;  in  consequence,  the  boats  laid  off,  and  the 
men  obliged  to  jump  into  the  sea  and  then  hauled 
into  the  boats.  All  hands  were  thus  providentially 
rescued  from  the  wreck,  with  the  exception,  I  am 
pained  to  say,  of  one  corporal  and  six  privates,  who 
were  drowned  or  killed  by  the  crush  or  contact  of 
the  vessels. 

Those  drowned  were  lost  through  their  disobedi 
ence  of  orders  in  leaving  the  ranks  or  abandoning 
their  posts.  After  the  troops  were  safely  re-em 
barked,  every  exertion  was  directed  to  securing  the 
arms,  accoutrements,  ammunition  and  other  prop 
erty  which  might  have  been  saved  after  lightening 
the  wreck.  I  am  gratified  in  being  able  to  say 
nearly  all  the  arms  were  saved  and  about  half  the 
accoutrements.  The  knapsacks,  haversacks  and 
canteens  were  nearly  all  lost.  About  ten  thousand 
rounds  of  cartridges  were,  fortunately,  saved,  and 
nine  thousand  lost.  Since  being  on  board  this  ship 
every  attention  has  been  bestowed  by  Captain 
Ringgold  and  his  officers  towards  recruiting  the 
strength  of  our  men,  and  restoring  them  to  such 
condition  as  will  enable  us  to  take  the  field  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment.  Too  much  praise  cannot 
be  bestowed  upon  the  officers  and  men  under  my 
command — all  did  nobly.  The  firmness  with  which 
they  performed  their  duty  is  beyond  all  praise. 
For  forty-eight  hours  they  stood  at  ropes  and  passed 
water  to  keep  the  ship  afloat.  Refreshments  in 
both  eating  and  drinking  were  passed  to  them  at 
their  posts  by  non-commissioned  officers.  It  is  im 
possible  for  troops  to  have  conducted  themselves 
better  under  such  trying  circumstances.  The  trans 
port  continued  to  float  some  hours  after  she  was 
abandoned,  carrying  with  her  when  she  sunk,  I  am 
grieved  to  say,  company  books  and  staff  returns. 
In  order  to  complete  the  personnel  of  the  battalion, 
I  have  requested  Captain  Ringgold  to  meet  a  re 
quisition  for  seven  privates,  to  which  he  readily  as 
sented.  I  considered  this  requisition  in  order,  as  I 
have  been  informed  by  Captain  Ringgold  it  is  his 
intention,  or  orders  were  given,  for  his  ship  to  repair 
to  a  Northern  post,  in  which  event  he  can  be  easily 
supplied,  and  my  command,  by  the  accommodation, 
rendered  complete,  in  order  to  rueet  any  demand 
you  may  make  for  our  services. 

Under  God,  we  owe  our  preservation  to  Captain 
Ringgold  and  the  officers  of  the  "  Sabine,"  to  whom 
we  tender  our  heartfelt  thanks  for  their  untiring 
labors  while  we  were  in  danger,  and  their  unceas 
ing  kindness  since  we  have  been  on  board  the 
frigate. 

This  report  is  respectfully  submitted. 

I  am,  Commodore,  very  respectfully,  your  obedi 
ent  servant,  JOHX  GEO.  REYNOLDS, 
Commanding  Battalion  Marines^  Southern 

Division. 
Flag-Officer  SAMUEL  F.  DuPoxr, 

Commanding  United  States  Naval  Expedition, 
Southern  Coast,  U-  S.  N.  America. 


398 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  TTBEE  ISLAND,  GEORGIA. 

FLAG  SHIP  "  WABASH,"  ) 
PORT  ROYAL  HARBOR,  Nov.  25, 1861.  f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  the  Department 
that  the  flag  of  the  United  States  is  flying  over  the 
territory  of  the  State  of  Georgia. 

As  soon  as  the  serious  injury  to  the  boilers  of  the 
"Flag"  had  been  repaired,  I  dispatched  Com 
mander  John  Rodgers  to  Tybee  entrance,  the  mouth 
of  Savannah  River,  to  report  to  Commander  Miss- 
roon,  the  senior  officer,  for  a  preliminary  examina 
tion  of  the  bars,  and  for  the  determination  of  the 
most  suitable  place  for  sinking  the  proposed  ob 
structions  to  the  navigation  of  the  river. 

Captain  Rodgers  was  instructed  to  push  his  re- 
connoissance  so  far  as  to  "form  an  approximate  esti 
mate  of  the  force  on  Tybee  Island,  and  of  the  possi 
bility  of  gaining  access  to  the  inner  bar ; "'  and 
further,  "if  the  information  acquired  by  this  re- 
connoissance  should  be  important,  to  return  and 
communicate  it  to  me  immediately." 

I  was  not  surprised  when  he  came  back  and 
reported  that  the  defences  on  Tybee  Island  had 
probably  been  abandoned.  Deeming  it  proper, 
however,  to  add  the  "Seneca,"  Lieutenant  Com 
manding  Ammen,  and  "  Pocahontas,"  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Balch,  to  his  force,  I  directed  him 
to  renew  his  approaches  with  caution,  and,  if  no 
opposition  was  met  with,  to  occupy  the  channel. 


I  am  happy  now  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  inform 
the  Department  that  the  "Flag,  "the  "Augusta/' 
and  the  "Pocahontas,"  are  at  anchor  in  the  harbor 
abreast  of  Tybee  beacon  and  light,  and  that  the 
"Savannah"  has  been  ordered  to  take  the  same 
position. 

The  abandonment  of  Tybee  Island,  on  which 
there  is  a  strong  Martello  tower,  with  a  battery  at 
its  base,  is  due  to  the  terror  inspired  by  the  bom 
bardment  of  Forts  Beauregard  and  Walker,  and  is 
a  direct  fruit  of  the  victory  of  the  ?th  inst. 

By  the  fall  of  Tybee  Island,  the  reduction  of  Fort 
Pulaski,  which  is  within  easy  ruortar  distance,  be 
comes  only  a  question  of  Jtime. 

The  rebels  have  themselves  placed  sufficient  ob 
structions  in  the  river  at  Fort  Pulaski,  and  thus  by 
the  co-operation  of  their  own  fears  with  our  efforts, 
the  harbor  of  Savannah  is  effectually  closed. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your 
most  obedient  servant, 

S.  F.  DuPoNT,  Flag-Officer, 
Commanding  South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron. 

Hon.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

/Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


NOTE. — The  reports  of  the  other  commanding 
officers  do  not  contain  any  statements  of  historical 
interest,  being  general  in  their  character,  and  are 
therefore  omitted. 


CHAPTER     XXXIV. 


FURTHER  OPERATIONS  OF  FLAG-OFFICER  GOLDSBOROUGH  IN  THE  SOUNDS  OF  NORTH  CARO 
LINA. — IMPORTANCE  OF  GUN-BOATS  IN  CO-OPERATING  EXPEDITIONS  OF  THE  ARMY  AND 
NAVY. — COMMANDER  S.  C.  ROWAN'S  GENERAL  ORDER  TO  THE  OFFICERS  AND  MEN  UNDER 
HIS  COMMAND. — OPERATIONS  IN  THE  BLACK  WATER  RIVER  UNDER  LIEUTENANT  FLUSSER. 
-THE  GUN-BOATS  EXTRICATE  THEMSELVES  FROM  A  DILEMMA. — NOTICE  OF  LIEUTENANT 
GUSHING,  HIS  ATTACK  ON  THE  TOWN  OF  JACKSONVILLE  AND  HIS  GALLANT  DEFENCE  OF 
THE  "  ELLIS." — CAPTURE  OF  FORT  MACON  BY  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY. — SURRENDER  OF 
YORKTOWN,  MAY  5,  1862. — CO-OPERATION  OF  THE  NAVY. — ATTACK  ON  SEWELL'S  POINT 
BY  FLAG-OFFICER  GOLDSBOROUGH. — EVACUATION  OF  SEWELL'S  POINT  AND  CRANEY 
ISLAND. — "  MERRIMAC  "  BLOWN  UP  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES,  JUNE  11. — "  SUSQUEHANNA," 
"  SEMINOLE "  AND  "DAKOTA"  ANCHOR  BEFORE  NORFOLK. — THE  RETREATING  ENEMY  SET 
FIRE  TO  THE  NAVY  YARD. — ATTACK  ON  DRURY'S  BLUFF  BY  COMMANDER  JOHN  RODGERS 
WITH  THE  "GALENA,"  THE  " MONITOR,"  AND  OTHER  VESSELS.  —  REMARKS  ON  THE 
SERVICES  OF  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON. — FLAG-OFFICER  GOLDSBOROUGH  AND 
COMMANDER  ROWAN  RECEIVE  THE  THANKS  OF  CONGRESS. — ATTACK  ON  HAMILTON  BY 
LIEUTENANT  FLUSSER. — ATTACK  ON  CONFEDERATE  TROOPS  AT  WASHINGTON,  N.  C.,  BY 
LIEUTENANT  R.  T.  RENSHAW. — BLOWING  UP  OF  THE  ARMY  GUN-BOAT  "PICKET." — 
EXHIBIT  OF  THE  WORK  DONE  BY  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON  UNDER  FLAG-OFFICER 
GOLDSBOROUGH. 


AS  soon  as  Flag-officer  Goldsborough 
received  the  news  of  the  battle  of 
the  ''Monitor"  and  "Merrimac," 
he  returned  to  Hampton  Roads  to 
superintend  matters  in  that  quar 
ter,    leaving  Commander  S.  C.  Rowan  in 
charge  of  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina. 

The  gallant  service  performed  by  Com 
mander  Rowan,  in  the  capture  of  Newburn 
and  Elizabeth  City,  has  already  been  re 
lated,  though  complete  justice  has  not  been 
done  to  the  officers  and  men  who  embarked 
in  frail  vessels  never  intended  to  go  under 
the  fire  of  a  battery,  and  who  exhibited  as 
much  courage  as  if  they  were  fighting  be 
hind  the  bulwarks  of  stout  frigates.  The 
manner  in  which  the  little  flotilla  in  the 
sounds  of  North  Carolina  operated  is  worthy 
of  all  praise,  and  confers  the  highest  honors 
on  the  able  commander  and  his  officers,  who, 
scorning  all  the  dangers  of  an  intricate 
navigation,  concealed  riflemen,  and  masked 
batteries,  pushed  on  up  the  sounds  and 
rivers  wherever  a  Confederate  flag  could 
be  heard  of  or  a  Confederate  gun  was 
mounted,  and  who  never  failed  to  achieve 


victory  when  there  was  an  enemy  to  en 
gage. 

There  was  a  large  army  force  in  the 
sounds,  commanded  by  brave  and  energetic 
officers,  but  it  is  no  disparagement  to  them 
to  say  that,  without  the  hearty  co-operation 
of  the  gun-boats,  they  would  not  have 
achieved  half  the  success  they  did.  It  be 
came  evident,  at  a  very  early  period  of  the 
war,  that  no  army  operations  along  rivers 
or  sounds  could  be  successful  unless  aided 
by  gun-boats.  Most  of  these  vessels  carried 

guns  of  heavy  calibre  which  could  not  have 
een  dragged  along  by  an  army,  and  these 
guns  always  proved  to  be  more  than  a  match 
for  the  lines  of  defence  thrown  up  by  the 
Confederates  all  along  the  rivers  and  sounds. 
The  Federal  Army  could  not  have  held  these 
works  unless  the  gun-boats  were  at  hand  to 
drive  off  or  capture  the  improvised  vessels- 
of-war,  which  it  has  been  seen  were  equally 
as  well  armed  as  the  Union  vessels,  and  for 
a  time  made  a  sturdy  opposition  to  the  ad 
vance  of  the  Navy. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  Federal 
officers  and  men  conquered  the  enemy  with- 


399) 


400 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


out  a  struggle,  or  that  their  victories  were 
easy  ones;  if  they  were,  it  was  because  the 
enemy  were  not  prepared  for  the  bold  dashes 
that  were  made  upon  them,  and  did  not 
suppose  that  any  officer  would  lead  a  weakly 
built  flotilla  right  up  to  the  mouths  of  heavy 
batteries,  around  which  the  enemy's  gun 
boats  had  assembled  for  safety  and  protec 
tion. 

The  good  account  his  officers  and  men 
gave  of  themselves  in  their  various  en 
counters  with  the  enemy  drew  from  Com 
mander  Rowan  the  following  General  Order, 
which  is  as  remarkable  for  the  handsome 
compliments  it  pays  to  all  who  served  under 
him,  as  for  its  brevity  and  truthfulness;  he 
could  have  said  no  more  had  he  used  a 
folio  of  words: 

[ORDER.] 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "DELAWARE." 
OFF  ELIZABETH  CITY. 
FEBRUARY  llth,  1862. 

The  commander  of  the  flotilla  in  Albemarle 
Sound  avails  himself  of  the  earliest  moment  to 
make  a  public  acknowledgment  of  the  coolness, 
gallantry  and  skill  displayed  by  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  command  in  the  capture  and  de 
struction  of  the  enemy's  batteries  and  squadron  at 
Cobb's  Point. 

The  strict  observance  of  the  plan  of  attack  and 
the  steady  but  onward  course  of  the  ships,  without 
returning  a  shot  until  within  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  of  the  fort,  excited  the  admiration  of  our 
enemies. 

The  undersigned  is  particularly  gratified  at  the 
evidence  of  the  high  discipline  of  the  crews  in  re 
fraining  from  trespassing  in  the  slightest  degree 
upon  the  private  property  of  defenceless  people  in 
a  defenceless  town;  the  generous  offer  to  go  on  shore 
to  extinguish  the  flames  applied  by  thejiands  of  a 
vandal  soldiery  to  the  houses  of  their  own  defence 
less  women  and  children,  is  a  striking  evidence  of 
the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  must  have  its  effect  in 
teaching  our  deluded  countrymen  a  lesson  in  hu 
manity  and  civilization. 

S.  C.  ROWAN, 
Commanding  Flotilla,  Albemarle  Sound, 

For  the  present  we  must  discontinue  the 
narrative  of  operations  in  the  sounds  of 
North  Carolina. 

As  has  been  seen,  there  was  scarcely  a 
large  gun  left  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  of 
the  many  that  were  mounted  when  the  lit 
tle  naval  flotilla  entered  the  sounds  through 
Hatteras  Inlet,  January  19,  1862,  and  the 
preparations  which  were  made  by  the  Navy 
Department  for  carrying  on  the  war  in  this 
important  section  of  the  Confederate  strong 
holds  had  been  carried  out  with  a  judgment 
and  success  which  entitled  all  concerned  to 
the  highest  praise. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  1862,  a 
joint  expedition  of  the  Army  and  Navy 
was  prepared  to  operate  against  Franklin, 
a  small  town  on  the  Blackwater  River.  It 
was  agreed  between  the  military  command 
er,  General  Dix,  and  the  commander  of  the 
gun-boats,  that  the  attack  should  be  made 
on  the  3d  of  October. 


The  expedition  was  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant  C.  W.  Flusser,  on  board  the 
steamer  "Commodore  Perry."  Acting-Lieu 
tenant  Edmund  R.  Colhoun  commanded  the 
"Hunchback."  and  Acting-Master  Charles 
A.  French  the  "  Whitehead." 

On  the  morning  of  October  3d,  1862,  the 
three  above-mentioned  steamers  got  under 
way  and  proceeded  up  the  river,  which  was 
so  crooked  and  narrow  in  some  places  that 
these  vessels,  small  as  they  were,  could  not 
turn  the  bends  without  the  aid  of  hawsers. 
At  7  o'clock  the  "  Perry,"  being  ahead,  came 
to  one  of  three  short  turns,  and.  while  en 
gaged  in  running  out  a  line,  a  heavy  fire  was 
opened  upon  her  from  a  steep  bluff,  almost 
overhead,  by  a  body  of  the  enemy's  con 
cealed  riflemen. 

The  guns  of  the  steamer  could  not  be 
brought  to  bear,  and  the  only  way  to  escape 
the  fire  of  the  riflemen  was  to  work  by  the 
point  and  obtain  a  position  where  the  great 
guns  could  be  brought  into  play.  This  was 
attempted,  but  the  vessel  ran  ashore.  At 
this  moment,  a  daring  color-bearer  of  the 
enemy  started  towards  the  gun-boat,  try 
ing  to  get  his  companions  to  follow  him  and 
board  her.  But  he  was  instantly  shot  down 
and  the  enemy  were  driven  back  to  their 
cover. 

In  a  few  moments  the  gun- boat  was  off 
the  bottom,  and  pushed  ahead  until  she 
could  bring  her  guns  to  bear,  and  from  this 
position  cover  the  passage  of  the  other  two 
steamers.  Having  passed  the  turn  in 
safety,  these  vessels  joined  the  "Com 
modore  Perry  "  above, where  they  were  still 
fired  upon  from  the  bluff,  without  being  able 
to  make  any  effective  return. 

To  make  their  position  more  critical,  they 
now  came  upon  a  barricade  which  they 
found  it  impossible  to  pass.  The  enemy 
soon  noticed  the  dilemma  of  the  gun-boats, 
and  began  to  flatter  themselves  that  they 
were  about  to  have  an  easy  victory.  A 
large  body  of  men  collected  below  the  Fed 
eral  vessels  and  commenced  felling  trees 
across  the  narrow  stream  to  cut  off  their 
retreat,  after  which  they  calculated  to  cap 
ture  them  all  by  driving  the  men  from  the 
decks  with  their  rifles. 

In  his  anxiety  to  get  ahead,  Lieutenant 
Flusser  had  not  waited  for  the  troops,  and 
he  now  found  himself  caught  in  a  trap.  He 
had  got  into  the  difficulty  through  an  error 
of  judgment,  and  the  only  way  to  get  out 
of  it  seemed  to  be  to  fight  until  the  troops 
came  up. 

It  was  most  difficult  to  work  the  guns  un 
der  such  a  terrific  fire  from  concealed  rifle 
men  without  a  great  loss  of  life,  but  there 
was  no  alternative.  Flusser  threw  11-inch 
shells  towards  the  town  of  Franklin,  while 
with  the  forward  32-pounder  he  poured 
grape  and  canister  into  the  woods  on  his 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


401 


left.  With  the  after  32-pounder  and  a  field- 
gun  he  fought  the  enemy  on  the  right  and 
with  his  9-inch  gun  aft  he  shelled  the  bluff, 
from  whence  the  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire 
proceeded.  Thus  he  fought  on  like  a  lion 
at  hay,  scattering  shell,  grape  and  canister 
on  all  sides,  while  his  men  were  exposed  to 
a  deadly  fire  from  marksmen  no  one  could 
see. 

The  other  steamers  were  not  idle,  but  fol 
lowed  the  tactics  of  their  leader,  and  their 
rapid  fire  disconcerted  the  aim  of  the  rifle 
men. 

When  a  lull  occurred,  the  steamers  made 
a  dash  down  the  river,  and  although  their 
decks  were  still  swept  by  the  enemy's 
fire,  they  succeeded  in  passing  the  bluffs. 
During  this  movement  the  Union  com 
manders  kept  their  men  under  cover,  and 
thus  saved  many  lives.  When  they  came 
to  the  fallen  timber  they  put  on  a  full  head 
of  steam  and  pierced  their  way  through 
and  over  it,  It  was  "neck  or  nothing" 
with  them,  and  it  was  only  through  great 
exertions  that  they  succeeded  in  getting 
beyond  the  range  of  the  enemy's  fire  by 
nightfall. 

The  "Commodore  Perry"  lost  two  killed 
and  eleven  wounded  (a  severe  loss  for  so 
small  a  vessel).  The  "  Hunchback  "  had  two 
killed  and  one  wounded. 

This  was  not  a  great  battle,  but  it  was 
more  trying  than  some  great  battles  have 
been,  and  was  accompanied  by  much  more 
danger.  It  shows  that  the  gun-boat  com 
manders  were  of  good  metal,  determined  to 
sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible.  There 
is  nothing  in  the  world  so  harassing  as  to 
be  caught  in  a  narrow  river  under  such  cir 
cumstances,  and  there  is  scarcely  anything 
to  justify  it,  unless  the  vessels  are  sup 
ported  by  a  land  force.  In  the  above  case 
the  land  force  unfortunately  did  not  come 
up. 

Flusser  was  a  cool  and  daring  officer,  and 
his  name  has  already  been  mentioned  sev 
eral  times  in  the  course  of  this  narrative. 
He  was  always  to  be  found  where  fighting 
was  going  on. 

There  was  another  young  officer  in  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron  at  this  time.  Lieu 
tenant  William  B.  Gushing,  who  made  a 
name  for  himself  by  his  total  disregard  of 
danger. 

He  would  undertake  the  most  desperate 
adventures,  where  it  seemed  impossible  for 
him  to  escape  death  or  capture,  yet  he 
almost  always  managed  to  get  off  with 
credit  to  himself  and  with  loss  to  the  enemy. 
He  commanded  the  small  gun-boat  "  Ellis," 
and  in  November.  1862,  it  struck  him  that 
he  would  enter  New  River  Inlet,  push  up 
the  river,  sweep  it  clear  of  vessels,  capture 
the  town  of  Jacksonville  or  Gnslow  Court 
house,  take  the  Wilmington  mail  and  de 


stroy  any  salt-works  he  could  find  on  the 
banks.  He  expected  to  surprise  the  en 
emy  on  going  up,  and  then  fight  his  way 
out. 

Five  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  inlet  he 
came  in  sight  of  a  vessel  bound  out  with  a 
load  of  cotton  and  turpentine.  The  enemy 
set  fire  to  her  in  order  to  prevent  her  falling 
into  Cushing's  hands  ;  but  this  officer  did 
not  waste  time  over  her.  After  assuring 
himself  that  she  was  thoroughly  ignited, 
and  that  the  owner  could  not  return  and 
extinguish  the  flames,  he  proceeded  on  his 
way  up  the  river.  He  reached  the  town  of 
Jacksonville,  landed,  threw  out  pickets  and 
placed  guards  over  the  public  buildings. 

Jacksonville  was  the  county-seat  of  Ons- 
low  County,  and  quite  an  important  place. 
Here  he  captured  25  stand  of  arms  in  the 
Court-house,  and  a  large  mail  in  the  post- 
office.  He  also  took  two  schooners  and  con 
fiscated  the  negroes  of  the  Confederate  post 
master. 

Jacksonville  being  situated  on  the  main 
road  to  Wilmington,  it  wras  not  long  before 
the  news  of  Cushing's  performances  reached 
the  latter  place,  and  the  Confederates  at 
once  took  measures  to  prevent  his  escape. 

As  soon  as  he  had  finished  with  the  town, 
Gushing  dropped  down  with  his  two  prizes 
until  he  came  in  sight  of  a  camp  011  the  river- 
bank,  which  he  shelled  very  thoroughly. 
The  enemy  opened  fire  on  the  "Ellis"  with 
rifles,  but  they  were  soon  dispersed.  Night 
coming  on,  the  pilots  declined  to  take  the 
vessels  out  of  the  river  until  daylight  next 
morning.  In  consequence,  Lieutenant  Gush 
ing  anchored  five  miles  from  the  outer 
bar,  took  his  prizes  alongside  and  prepared 
for  an  attack.  All  night  the  signal  fires  of 
the  enemy  could  be  seen  on  the  banks,  and 
the  Union  commander  had  very  little  doubt 
that  he  would  be  attacked  at  daylight. 

As  soon  as  possible  next  morning  Gush 
ing  got  underway,  and  had  nearly  reached 
the  most  dangerous  place  in  the  river  when 
the  enemy  opened  upon  him  with  two  field- 
pieces.  He  placed  his  vessels  in  position, 
hoisted  the  battle-flag  at  the  fore,  his  crew 
gave  three  cheers  and  he  went  into  action. 
In  one  hour  he  had  driven  the  enemy  from 
his  guns  and  from  the  bluff,  and  he  passed 
on  within  a  hundred  yards  of  their  position 
without  being  fired  at. 

Up  to  this  time  the  fortune  of  the  Federal 
party  had  been  in  the  ascendant,  but  they 
were  destined  to  meet  with  an  accident 
which  changed  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  and 
resulted  in  the  destruction  of  the  "  Ellis." 
About  500  yards  from  the  bluff,  the  pilots, 
making  a  mistake  in  the  channel,  ran  the 
steamer  hard  and  fast  aground.  All  hands 
set  to  work  at  once  to  lighten  her  and  every 
effort  was  made  to  get  her  afloat,  but  with 
out  avail.  When  the  tide  fell,  Gushing  sent 


402 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


a  party  on  shore  to  take  posses 
sion  of  the  artillery  which  had 
been  abandoned  by  the  enemy, 
but  found  it  gone.  There  was 
nothing  now  left  but  for  Gush 
ing  to  save  his  crew  from  the 
overwhelming  force  which  he 
knew  would  soon  be  brought  to 
bear  upon  the  gun-boat.  So, ' '  all 
hands  "  were  ' '  called  to  muster  " 
and  told  that  they  could  go  on 
board  the  schooners  and  get  off 
down  the  river  and  over  the  bar. 
He  called  for  six  volunteers  to 
stay  with  him  and  defend  the 
steamer  until  the  last.  The  vol 
unteers  came  forward  at  once; 
also  two  Master's  Mates,  Valen 
tine  and  Barton. 

The  schooners  were  ordered  to 
drop  down  the  channel  out  of 
range  of  any  guns  the  enemy 
might  mount  on  the  bluff,  and 
there  to  wait  the  termination  of 
the  action,  and  if  the  "Ellis" 
was  destroyed  to  proceed  to  sea. 
Early  in  the  morning  the 
enemy  opened  fire  upon  the 
steamer  with  three  heavy  guns 
and  one  Whitworth.  It  was  a 
cross-fire  and  very  destructive. 
Gushing  replied  as  well  as  he 
could,  but  in  a  short  time  the  en 
gine  was  disabled  and  the  ves 
sel  so  much  cut  up  that  the  only 
alternative  was  surrender  or  a 
pull  of  a  mile  and  a  half  in  an 
open  boat  under  the  enemy's 
fire. 

The  last  expedient  was  adopt 
ed.  The  "  Ellis "  was  set  on 
fire  in  five  places,  and  leaving 
the  battle-flag  flying,  Gushing 
trained  his  guns  upon  the  enemy 
so  that  the  vessel  could  fight  to 
the  last,  started  down  the  river, 
reached  the  schooners  and  put 
to  sea.  A  party  of  Confederates 
attempted  to  cut  off  his  retreat, 
but  they  were  unsuccessful,  and 
the  sailors  gave  three  cheers  and 
hoisted  the  Union  flag  as  they 
sailed  out  over  the  bar. 

Gushing  brought  away  all  his 
men,  his  rifled  howitzer  and  am 
munition,  the  ship's  stores  and 
clothing,  the  men's  bags  and 
hammocks,  and  most  of  the 
small-arms.  As  he  crossed  the 
bar  the  "Ellis  "  blew  up  and  the 
enemy  were  disappointed  in  get 
ting  her. 

Gushing  was  famous  for  this 
kind  of  adventure,  and  he  will 
be  heard  of  frequently  here- 


O 

_4 

u. 


UJ 

X 
E- 

>- 

OQ 

25 
O 


O 

u- 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


403 


after.  He  was  what  might  be  called  a  "  Free 
lance,"  who  was  always  ready  to  perform 
any  act  of  daring;  and  although  he  was  not 
always  successful,  the  honor  of  the  flag 
never  suffered  at  his  hands. 

There  were  plenty  of  young  officers  in 
the  Navy  who  were  equally  brave,  and  with 
more  judgment,  but  Gushing  was  of  a  pe 
culiar  temperament,  always  doing  some 
thing  to  astonish  his  commanders,  and 
whether  fortunate  or  not  in  his  undertak 
ings,  he  was  sure  to  create  a  sensation. 

The  account  of  the  loss  of  the  "Ellis" 
is  given  as  an  illustration  of  this  young 
officer's  character  and  his  fancy  for  seek 
ing  adventures.  There  was  nothing  par 
ticularly  to  be  gained  by  his  trip  up  New 
Inlet  River,  and  there  was  a  chance  of 
losing  his  vessel.  He  lost  her,  but,  in  doing 
so,  showed  his  spirit  of  adventure,  risking 
his  life  and  the  lives  of  his  men,  and  then 
escaping  with  his  crew,  arms,  provisions 
and  clothing,  setting  fire  to  his  vessel  and 
training  her  guns  upon  the  enemy  so  that 
she  might  give  them  a  broadside  as  she 
went  out  of  existence. 

Among  the  captures  made  by  co-operating 
vessels  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron  was 
that  of  Fort  Macon,  Beaufort  Harbor.  N  C. 
A  combined  expedition  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  attacked  this  place  on  April  25,  1SG3, 
and  after  a  bombardment  of  some  hours,  by 
land  and  sea,  the  American  flag  was  hoisted 
over  the  fort. 

The  naval  part  of  the  expedition  consisted 
of  the  following  vessels  under  the  com 
mand  of  Commander  Samuel  Lock  wood: 

Steamer  "Daylight"  (flag-ship). 

Steamer  "State  of  Georgia."  -Com 
mander  J.  F.  Armstrong. 

Steamer  "  Chippewa." —  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  A  Bryson. 

Bark  "  Gemsbok."  —  Acting  -  Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  Edward  Cavendy. 

Steamer  "  Ellis." — Lieutenant-Command 
ing  C.  L.  Franklin. 

The  gun-boats  attacked  the  fort  by  pass 
ing  it  in  an  ellipse  and  firing  when  abreast 
of  it. 

Major-General  Burnside  commanded  the 
land  forces,  and  to  him  the  fort  surrendered. 

The  losses  were  small  on  both  sides,  which 
was  rather  remarkable,  as  Commander 
Lockwood  states  that  the  interior  of  the 
fort  was  literally  covered  with  fragments 
of  bombs  and  shells,  and  many  of  the  guns 
disabled. 

Beaufort  was  a  valuable  acquisition  to 
the  North  Atlantic  squadron,  and  a  fine 
rendezvous  for  the  smaller  vessels  engaged 
in  blockading  the  coast. 

With  regard  to  the  bombardment,  the  re 
ports  of  both  Army  and  Navy  are  somewhat 
obscure,  but  it  appears  that^a  good  deal  of 


damage  was  inflicted  upon  the  fort  in  spite 
of  a  heavy  sea,  which  rendered  the  firing 
from  the  vessels  somewhat  uncertain.  The 
gun- boats  themselves  suffered  little  damage. 

On  May  5,  1862,  Yorktown  was  evacuated 
by  the  Confederates,  and  General  McClellan 
telegraphed  to  Captain  Wm.  Smith  of  the 
"Wachusett"  to  assist  in  communicating 
with  Gloucester  and  to  send  some  of  the 
gun-boats  up  York  River  to  reconnoitre. 

The  flotilla  was  immediately  underway, 
and  proceeded  to  Gloucester  Point,  where 
the  American  flag  was  hoisted.  The  "  Cor- 
win,"  Lieutenant  T.  S.  Phelps,  and  the  "Cur- 
rituck."  Acting-Master  W.  F.  Shankland, 
pushed  on  some  twelve  miles  further  up. 
Commander  T.  H.  Patterson,  in  the  "Cho- 
cura,"  proceeded  up  the  river  as  far  as 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  (NOW  REAK-ADMIRAL)  T.  S.  PHELPS. 

West  Point,  which  had  been  deserted  by 
the  enemy.  White  flags  were  flying  all 
along  the  river.  A  few  small  vessels  were 
captured,  but  the  enemy  had  fled  from  that 
quarter. 

About  the  7th  of  June,  Flag-officer  Golds- 
borough  was  ordered  by  the  President  to 
make  an  attack  on  Se well's  Point  and  to 
ascertain  the  possibility  of  landing  a  body 
of  troops  thereabouts.  The  wooden  vessels 
were  to  enfilade  the  works,  while  the  "Mon 
itor,"  accompanied  by  the  "Stevens,"  went 
up  as  far  as  the  wrecks  to  engage  the  "  Mer- 
rimac"  in  case  she  made  her  appearance. 

The  "Monitor"  had  orders  to  fall  back 
into  fair  channel-way  and  only  to  engage 
the  "  Merrimac  "  seriously  in  such  a  posi 
tion  that  the  "Minnesota,"  together  with 


404 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  merchant-ships  prepared  for  the  occa 
sion,  could  run  her  down  if  an  opportunity 
presented  itself.  The  ramming-vessels  were 
directed  to  run  at  the  "Merrimac"  at  all 
hazards,  and  the  "Baltimore,"  an  unarmed 
steamer  with  a  curved  bow  of  light  draft 
and  high  speed,  was  kept  in  the  direction 
of  the  ''Monitor,"  to  throw  herself  at  the 
'•Merrimac"  forward  or  aft,  as  circum 
stances  might  require. 

The  demonstration  was  made,  and  the 
ships  shelled  Sewell's  Point,  and  ascertained 
the  fact  that  the  number  of  the  enemy's 
guns  had  been  materially  reduced  and  did 
not  amount  to  over  seventeen. 

Whether  it  was  this  demonstration,  or 
the  fact  that  the  Confederates  found  that 
they  could  not  hold  their  works  at  Sewell's 
Point  in  the  face  of  even  a  small  number  of 
troops,  or  that  they  did  not  care  to  stand  a 
shelling  from  the  Federal  ships,  is  not 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  A.  L.  CASE,  U.  S.  N. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  GOLDSBOROUGH'S  FLEET  CAPTAIN. 

known,  but  on  the  10th  of  May;  1862,  Nor 
folk  surrendered  to  a  Federal  'force  under 
General  Wool,  who  had  landed  at  Willough- 
by's  Point.  All  the  works  on  Sewell's  Point 
were  evacuated,  and  also  those  at  Craney 
Island,  and  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
llth  the  "  Merrimac"  was  blown  up. 

Thus  ended  the  farce  of  the  Confederate 
occupation  of  Norfolk.  It  should  never 
have  fallen  into  their  hands,  and  could  have 
been  retaken  at  any  time  by  a  force  of  ten 
thousand  men  and  the  vessels  at  Hampton 
Roads. 

Flag-officer  Goldsborough,  supposing  that 
Sewell's  Point  and  Craney  Island  might 
not  have  surrendered,  ordered  all  the  fleet 
to  get  underway  and  proceed  to  the  attack 
of  those  places,  but  remembering  that  when 
the  army  had  got  into  their  rear  that  the 
enemy  would  no  longer  stay  there,  he  sent 


Lieutenant  Selfridge  in  a  tug  to  Sewell's 
Point,  and  Commander  Case  in  another  to 
Craney  Island,  to  ascertain  the  position  of 
affairs. 

Selfridge  landed  at  Sewell's  Point  and 
found  that  the  enemy  had  departed,  on 
which  lie  hoisted  the  American  flag  on  the 
ramparts.  When  Commander  Case  arrived 
at  Craney  Island  he  also  found  the  forts 
deserted.  Two  Confederate  flags  were  still 
flying  over  the  works,  which  he  hauled  down 
and  replaced  with  the  American  colors. 

The  "  Susquehanna,"  "  Seminole,"  "Da 
kota"  and  "San  Jacinto"  proceeded  up  to 
Norfolk  without  difficulty,  and  cast  their 
anchors  before  the  town.  The  deserting 
Confederates  played  the  same  part  that  had 
been  played  by  the  Federal  forces  when 
they  gave  up  the  Navy  Yard.  They  set  fire 
to  all  the  useful  buildings,  and  most  of  them 
were  destroyed;  the  commandant's  and  the 
officers'  quarters  being  left  intact,  in  hopes 
that  the  Confederate  officers  might  have  a 
chance  some  day  to  live  in  them  again. 

Thus  Norfolk  became  the  head  quarters 
of  the  Navy,  as  it  ought  to  have  been  from 
the  beginning  of  the  war  to  the  end.  There 
had  been  no  good  reason  for  deserting  the 
place,  for  there  were  as  many  ships  in  front 
of  the  town  at  the  time  when  the  Navy 
Yard  was  burned,  as  on  May  9,  1862,  while 
the  Confederates  were  much  weaker.  The 
retreat  from  Norfolk  was  caused  by  a  panic 
which  sometimes  seizes  upon  people,  and 
leads  them  to  do  things  at  the  moment  for 
which  they  rebuke  themselves  when  they 
come  to  their  senses. 

The  re-occupation  of  Norfolk  Navy  Yard 
was  a  great  convenience  to  the  North  At 
lantic  squadron,  which  had  been  obliged  to 
send  most  of  its  vessels  to  Philadelphia  and 
New  York  for  repairs,  and  now  the  opera 
tions  up  the  James  River  could  be  carried 
on  more  effectively. 

On  May  18,  1862,  Flag-officer  Golds- 
borough  reports  to  the  Department  an  en 
gagement  which  took  place  on  the  James 
River  between  some  gun-boats  under  Com 
mander  John  Rodgers  and  a  heavy  battery 
on  Drury's  Bluff  (a  high  point  commanding 
a  long  reach  of  the  river). 

The  vessels  which  attacked  this  strong 
hold  were  the  iron-clad  (so-called)  "Galena.'' 
Commander  John  Rodgers,  the  ''Monitor." 
Lieutenant  W.  N.  Jeffers,  andtheunarmored 
steamers  "  Aroostook,"  "Port  Royal"  and 
'Naugatuck." 

These  vessels  moved  up  the  James  River 
on  the  15th  of  May  and  encountered  no  ar 
tificial  impediments  until  they  reached 
Drury's  Bluff,  eight  miles  below  Richmond, 
where  the  Confederates  had  erected  bat 
teries  and  placed  two  separate  obstructions 
in  the  river.  These  barriers  were  made  by 
driving  piles,  and  sinking  vessels  loaded 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


405 


with  stone.  It  was  said  that  the  enemy's 
gun -boats,  ''Jamestown''  and  '"York- 
town,"  were  among  the  vessels  sunk. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  these  obstacles 
were  too  formidable  for  the  gun-boats  to 
pass,  unless  they  could  succeed  in  dis 
mounting  the  guns  on  Drury's  Bluff,  which 
was  not  easily  done.  Any  attempt  to  re 
move  these  obstructions  (even  if  the  fort 
was  silenced)  without  the  aid  of  a  large 
land  force  would  have  been  unavailing, 
for  the  banks  of  the  river  all  along,  up  to 
and  past  the  bluff,  were  lined  with  rifle-pits 
filled  with  marksmen,  who  made  it  almost 
impossible  for  the  Federals  to  stand  at  their 
guns. 

The  "  Galena,"  leading,  ran  within  600 
yards  of  the  batteries,  and  as  near  to  the 
obstructions  as  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  go. 
She  let  go  her  anchor,  and  swinging  with 
a  spring  across  the  channel,  not  more  than 
twice  the  length  of  the  ship,  opened  fire  on 
the  enemy  at  Drury's  Bluff.  The  wooden 
vessels  anchored  about  1,300  yards  below, 
and  the  "  Monitor  "  anchored  just  above  the 
"Galena."  but  finding  that  her  guns  could 
not  be  elevated  sufficiently  to  reach  the 
forts,  she  dropped  to  a  position  to  enable 
her  to  do  so. 

After  an  action  of  three  hours  and  fifteen 
minutes,  the  ' 'Galena"  had  expended  nearly 
all  her  ammunition,  having  but  six  charges 
left  for  the  rifled  Parrott  gun  and  not  a  9- 
inch  shell  filled.  Thirteen  men  had  been 
killed  and  eleven  wounded  on  board.  Sig 
nal  was  made  to  discontinue  the  action,  and 
the  vessels  dropped  out  of  fire. 

The  ''Monitor"  was  unhurt,  though  struck 
once  squarely  on  the  turret  by  an  8-inch 
shot,  and  twice  on  her  side  armor.  The 
rifled  100-pounder  burst  on  board  the  "Nau- 
gatuck,"  and  disabled  her. 

Commander  Rodgers  reported  that  the 
"  Galena  "  was  not  shot-proof,  exactly  what 
was  predicted  of  her  when  she  was  on  the 
stocks.  The  vessel  was  so  much  cut  up  that 
it  was  reported  she  would  have  to  be  thor 
oughly  repaired  before  she  could  go  to  sea. 

It  was  intended  to  ascertain  by  this  ac 
tion  whether  the  "  Monitor  "  or  ''  Galena" 
was  the  best  vessel  for  fighting  forts.  It 
was  settled  in  favor  of  the  ''Monitor," 
which  was  not  damaged  seriously. 

It  was  a  one-sided  battle  altogether,  for 
the  forts  on  Drury's  Bluff  could  not  be 
taken  by  a  naval  force  alone.  They  could 
only  be  taken  by  a  combined  attack  of  the 
Army  and  Navy. 

If  it  was  intended  to  show  the  enemy  that 
the  courage  of  naval  officers  would  under 
take  anything,  this  was  amply  demon 
strated  by  the  cool  manner  in  which  the 
vessels  anchored  and  went  at  what  they 
must  have  known  was  hopeless  work.  There 
was  not  an  officer  there  who  did  not  know 


that,  no  matter  how  often  they  might  drive 
the  enemy  away  from  their  guns  by  an 
overwhelming  fire,  that  they  would  just 
step  inside  their  bomb-proofs  until  a  good 
opportunity  offered  to  return  to  their  guns. 

The  Confederates  knew  that  no  naval 
force  would  attempt  to  land  and  scale  the 
bluff,  200  feet  high.  In  fact,  it  was  simply 
good  practice  for  the  enemy  :  and  whatever 
defects  their  works  showed  were  remedied 
in  twenty-four  hours. 

That  Commander  Rodgers  and  his  officers 
showed  the  greatest  courage,  in  attacking 
works  so  far  superior  to  them  in  every  way. 
every  one  will  admit.  The  ''  Galena"  was 
simply  a  slaughter  -  house,  and  the  other 
vessels,  except  the  "  Monitor,"  would  have 
fared  worse  than  the  "Galena"  had  not 
the  enemv  been  intent  upon  destroying  the 
vessel  which  carried  the  divisional  flag  at 
her  main. 

Commander  Rodgers  still  thought  that  the 
"Galena"  and  "Monitor"  could  reduce  the 
works  if  they  had  plenty  of  ammunition; 
but  experience  had  by  this  time  taught  most 
of  our  commanders  that  very  few  expedi 
tions  of  this  kind  were  successful  unless  the 
Army  and  Navy  acted  together,  and  it  was 
only  the  desire  of  a  brave  man  to  try  and 
get  even  with  the  enemy. 

This  expedition  convinced  Commander 
Rodgers  "that  an  army  could  be  landed 
on  the  James  River  within  ten  miles  of 
Richmond,  on  either  bank,  and  that  this 
land  force  with  naval  co-operation  could 
march  into  Petersburg;  that  such  a  move 
would  cause  the  evacuation  of  Drury's  Bluff 
in  its  then  condition,  and  other  forts  along 
the  James  River ;  that  obstructions  could 
then  be  removed,  and  perhaps  the  gun-boats 
might  work  their  way  on  to  Richmond." 

This  was  the  hardest  fight  that  had  oc 
curred  on  the  James.  The  duties  on  that 
river  were,  as  a  rule,  monotonous  in  the  ex 
treme,  and  the  officers  of  the  Navy  were  de 
lighted  with  this  opportunity  to  show  that 
the  same  spirit  existed  at  this  point  as  else 
where  to  perform  the  most  hazardous  un 
dertakings. 

The  work  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron 
in  the  James  and  York  rivers  was  deficient 
in  those  dashing  strokes  which  had  been 
made  in  other  squadrons,  and  which  so  at 
tracted  the  attention  of  the  Northern  peo 
ple.  With  the  single  exception  of  the  affair 
of  the  "  Merrimac,"  nothing  had  been  done 
by  the  northern  portion  of  this  squadron  to 
attract  much  notice,  yet  it  was  in  some  re 
spects  the  most  important  squadron  afloat. 
The  security  of  Washington  greatly  de 
pended  on  its  efficiency,  for,  in  the  event  of 
a  move  of  the  Confederates  upon  the  Cap 
ital,  a  large  force  of  gun-boats  could  be  sent 
up  the  Potomac  and  prevent  the  enemy  from 
marching  directly  upon  the  city,  and  give 


406 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


time  to  assemble  troops  enough  to  meet  him 
in  the  field.  Washington  City  would  have 
been  cut  off  entirely  in  its  river  communi 
cations  with  the  North,  in  the  earlier  part 
of  the  war,  but  for  the  presence  of  this 
squadron  at  Hampton  Roads,  where  it  was 
within  easy  reach.  Without  it,  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Potomac  could  not  have  been 
moved  so  successfully  to  the  Peninsular; 
and  it  is  scarcely  yet  forgotten  how,  in 
the  most  trying  times,  when  that  army 


its  great  discipline,  the  energy  of  the  offi 
cers  and  the  skill  of  its  commanders,  it  not 
only  often  arrested  defeat,  but  sometimes 
changed  defeat  into  victory. 

It  might  appear  to  some  people  that  there 
was  a  larger  number  of  vessels  lying  idle 
in  Hampton  Roads  than  was  necessary,  and 
that  these  might  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
war  have  pushed  on  up  the  James  and  kept 
that  river  free  of  batteries  until  the  Fed 
erals  could  mount  guns  enough  afloat  to 


COMMANDER  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  JOHN  RODGERS. 


seemed  to  be  in  danger  of  annihilation, 
the  Navy  was  at  hand  to  give  shelter  under 
its  guns  to  our  retiring  and  weary  troops, 
and  drive  back  the  excited  and  victorious 
foe.  who  would  have  driven  our  soldiers  into 
the  river,  or  made  them  lay  down  their  arms. 
These  things  are  mentioned  not  for  the 
purpose  of  claiming  undue  credit  for  the 
Navy,  but  to  show  that  it  was  always  on 
hand  to  perform  its  part  of  the  duty  in  put 
ting  down  the  rebellion,  and  that, 'through 


push  on  up  to  Richmond.  But  war  cannot 
be  carried  on  without  mistakes,  and  these 
occurred  in  the  Navy  as  well  as  in  the  Army; 
but  we  will  venture  to  say  that  there  were 
not  near  so  many  in  the  Navy.  The  sins 
of  the  Navy  were  more  those  of  omission 
than  commission.  The  situation  wras  a  new 
one  to  all  concerned,  and  the  stern  reality 
could  only  be  learned  by  wading  through 
battle-fields,  or  in  the  slaughter-pens  of  gun 
boats  when  under  the  fire  of  heavy  artillery. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


407 


Owing  to  the  change  of  the  head-quarters 
of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron,  reports  of 
naval  occurrences  were  not  always  received 
at  the  Navy  Department  in  regular  order, 
and  heing  quickly  recorded  as  they  were 
received,  it  happens  that  many  of  the 
events  of  the  war  are  narrated  out  of  their 
proper  order,  and  the  earlier  performances 
are  behind  the  later  ones.  This  cannot  well 
l)e  helped,  and  it  would  probably  make 
confusion  if  the  writer  attempted  to  remedy 
the  evil. 

When  General  McClellan  had  captured 
Yorktown  he  almost  immediately  moved 
part  of  his  army  up  the  river  in  transports 
in  the  direction  of  West  Point. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1865,  Lieutenant  T.  H. 
Stevens  reported  that,  hearing  the  firing  of 
heavy  cannon,  he  proceeded  on  board  the 


LIEUTENANT  LEONARD  PAULDING. 


"Wachusett."  for  the  purpose  of  joining 
his  command,  which  he  had  passed  on  the 
way  up;  when  General  Franklin  telegraphed 
him  that  he  was  attacked  by  a  superior 
force  and  desired  the  assistance  of  the  gun 
boats —  "that  he  wanted  immediate  sup 
port,"  etc. 

At  this  moment  the  gun-boat  "  Mara- 
tanza"  was  engaged,  two  miles  below,  in 
endeavoring  to  haul  the  gun-boat "  Marble- 
head"  off  a  shoal.  Receiving  Captain  Wil 
liam  Smith's  orders  to  go  on  board  the 
"Maratanza"  and  bring  her  into  action. 
Stevens  took  a  boat  from  the  "  Wachusett" 
and  joined  his  vessel. 

The  "  Wachusett  "  and  "Sebago"  went 
into  action  with  some  batteries  that  had 
been  posted  on  hills  to  prevent  the  advance 
of  the  Union  Army.  The  gun-boats  shelled 
the  Confederate  artillerv  for  nearlv  an  hour 


with  their  heavy  rifled  guns,  when  the  en 
emy  retired.  It  was  the  opinion  of  General 
Franklin's  officers  that  the  rapid  and  accu 
rate  fire  of  the  gun-boats  "  was  greatly  in 
strumental  in  saving  the  Army  from  severe 
disaster,  if  not  defeat." 

The  gun-boats  followed  along  on  the 
flanks  of  the  Army,  ready  to  aid  it  in  every 
way.  until  the  river  became  so  narrow  and 
crooked  that  they  could  go  no  farther,  and 
in  returning  had  to  drop  stern  foremost. 

General  Franklin's  object  in  advancing 
on  West  Point  was  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of 
the  Confederates  from  Yorktown.  But  he 
encountered  a  much  larger  force  than  he 
had  expected,  and  but  for  the  gun-boats 
would  have  been  roughly  handled. 

Acting-Rear- Admiral  S.  P.  Lee  assumed 
command  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron 
on  July  10,  1865,  taking  the  place  of  Flag- 
officer  Goldsborough.  who  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Rear- Admiral,  and  relieved  at 
his  own  request.  Though  the  services  of 
the  latter  officer  had  not  been  brilliant,  yet 
his  duties  had  been  well  performed  and  his 
record  is  that  of  a  faithful,  zealous  officer, 
who,  if  he  had  been  employed  in  a  wider 
field  of  operations,  would  no  doubt  have 
made  his  name  more  conspicuous.  The 
President  considered  that  his  services  in 
the  sounds  of  North  Carolina  entitled  him 
to  a  vote  of  thanks  from  Congress  and  sent 
in  his  name,  and  afterwards  that  of  Com 
mander  Rowan. 

Goldsborough  was  a  Southerner  by  birth, 
and  although  no  officer  deserves  particular 
credit  for  standing  by  the  Government  that 
had  taken  care  of  him  for  fifty  years,  yet 
he  showed  an  example  of  live  patriotism 
which  entitled  him  to  respect  and  to  any 
honors  his  country  had  to  bestow. 

From  July  llth  up  to  November  30th, 
1862.  there  was  little  done  by  the  North  At 
lantic  squadron  except  in  the  sounds  of 
North  Carolina,  which  for  a  time  were 
under  the  control  of  Commander  Rowan. 

The  operations  in  the  sounds,  after  the 
time  mentioned,  were  not  of  a  very  impor 
tant  nature,  but  as  they  form  part  of  the 
history  of  the  war  we  will  give  a  brief  sketch 
of  them.  There  was  great  danger  in  some 
of  the  expeditions,  and  good  judgment  and 
gallantry  shown  in  all. 

Lieutenant  C.  W.  Flusser.  who  has  al 
ready  figured  as  a  brave'  and  energetic 
officer,  was  a  leading  spirit  in  every  enter 
prise  set  on  foot.  He  seemed  to  delight  in 
making  explorations  where  little  was  to  be 
gained  except  hard  knocks,  and  it  is  re 
markable  that  in  the  severe  river-fighting 
to  which  he  was  exposed  he  did  not  sooner 
lose  his  life. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1862,  he  left  Plymouth 
for  Hamilton  in  the  steamer  "  Commodore 
Perry."  having  taken  on  board  Captain  W. 


408 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


W.  Hammell,  Company  F.,  9th  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  twenty  of  his  men,  with 
the  steamers  "  Shawsheen " and  "Ceres"  in 
company;  the  latter  vessel  having  on  board 
Second  -  Lieutenant  Joseph  A.  Green  and 
ten  men. 

While  ascending  the  river,  at  1  o'clock 
p.  M.,  the  flotilla  was  fired  upon  from 
the  south  bank  by  riflemen.  Flusser  re 
turned  the  fire  and  pushed  on,  expecting  to 
meet  the  enemy  at  Hamilton  in  force.  The 
vessels  were  under  fire  from  the  banks  and 
rifle-pits  for  two  hours,  during  which  time 
they  had  to  run  very  slowly,  looking  out 
for  *  batteries.  When  they  reached  Hamil 
ton,  the  enemy,  who  had  been  firing  from 
concealed  places,  retreated,  being  afraid  to 
meet  Flusser's  little  force  of  100  sailors  and 
soldiers  in  the  open  field. 

The  only  reward  which  they  received  for 
all  their  exposure  was  the  capture  of  an 
unimportant  town  and  a  small  schooner. 

The  loss  on  board  the  vessels,  fortunately, 
was  small  (two  killed  and  ten  wounded), 
but  these  casualties  often  repeated  ran  up 
in  time  to  a  large  number.  In  this  warfare 
not  much  was  to  be  gained  except  gunshot 
wounds.  There  was  no  prize  -  money,  but 
the  officers  and  men  of  this  expedition  were 
spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms  of  praise, 
which  cheered  them  on  in  the  absence  of 
other  rewards. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  John  Mac- 
dearmid  and  Acting  -  Master  Thomas  J. 
Woodward,  who  commanded  the  steamers 
"Ceres"  and  "Shawsheen"  on  this  expedi 
tion,  were  highly  spoken  of. 

Acting-Lieutenant  R.  T.  Renshaw,  com 
manding  U.  S.  steamer  "  Louisana,"  reports 
that  while  at  Washington,  N.  C. ,  on  the  6th 
of  September,  18G2,  the  enemy  attacked  that 
place  in  force  and  opened  on  his  vessel 
"  with  volleys  of  musketry."  "  That  he  re 
turned  the  fire  with  grape  and  shell,  killing 
a  number  and  finally  driving  them  back.'' 


He  also  followed  them  up  with  shell  and 
killed  a  number  in  their  retreat. 

During  this  action  the  Army  gun-boat 
"  Picket  "  blew  up,  killing  the  captain  and 
18  men,  and  wounding  others,  who  were 
taken  on  board  the  "  Louisiana"  and  prop 
erly  cared  for. 

Acting  -  Master  Edward  Hooker  is  well 
spoken  of  for  the  manner  in  which  he 
managed  the  guns  of  the  "Louisiana." 
The  action  must  have  lasted  some  time,  as 
137  shot,  shell,  stands  of  grape,  and  howitzer 
shell  were  fired  from  the  "Louisiana;"  and, 
if  less  justice  is  done  the  occasion  than  it 
deserves,  it  is  because  the  accounts  of  the 
commanding  officer  are  so  obscure. 

This  closes  the  account  of  the  opera 
tions  of  the  Navy  in  the  sounds  of  North 
Carolina  up  to  November  10th,  1862,  at 
which  time  these  waters  were  in  charge  of 
Commander  H.  K.  Davenport.  The  sounds 
at  this  time  were  virtually  in  possession  of 
the  Federal  Army  and  Navy,  though  the 
enemy  would  make  useless  raids  along  the 
banks  of  the  rivers  for  the  purpose  of  firing 
on  the  gun-boats. 

During  the  command  of  Flag  -  officer 
Goldsborough  all  the  sounds  had  been  taken 
possession  of  under  the  admirable  manage 
ment  of  Commander  Rowan,  Lieutenant 
Flusser  and  others.  Newbern,  Plymouth, 
Elizabeth  City,  and  every  important  place, 
was  in  charge  of  a  gun-boat  or  was  garri 
soned  by  soldiers,  and  most  of  the  Confeder 
ate  troops  that  had  been  sent  to  resist  the 
Union  forces  had  returned  to  Richmond, 
where  at  that  time  an  attack  was  expected. 

The  harbor  of  Beaufort  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  Federals  and  part  of  the  coast  of 
North  Carolina  was  under  blockade. 

All  of  which,  when  closely  examined,  ex 
hibits  as  much  gallantry,  energy  and  hard 
work,  in  proportion  to  the  means  at  hand 
and  the  objects  in  view,  as  appears  else 
where. 


LIST  OF  VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS  IN  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC  BLOCKADING 
SQUADRON,  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL  L.  M.  GOLDSBOROUGH. 

COMMANDER  A.  LUDLOW  CASE,  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  FLEET. 

OBTAINED   FROM  THE   SECRETARY'S  REPORT   OF   1862,    AND   NAVY   REGISTER  OF   SEPT.    1862. 


STEAM-FRIGATE   "  MIXNESOTA"— FLAG-SHIP. 

Commander,  A.  L.  Case;  Lieutenant-Commanders, 
E.  C.  Grafton  and  John  Walters;  Lieutenant,  Adol- 
phus  Dexter;  Midshipman,  R.  S.  Chew;  Fleet  Sur 
geon,  W.  M.Wood;  Surgeon,  J.  S.  Kitchen;  Assistant 
Surgeons,  S.  J.  Jones,  Edgar  Holden  and  E.  R 
Dodge;  Paymaster,  Robert  Pettit;  Chaplain,  T.  G. 
Salter ;  Captain  of  Marines,  W.  L.  Shuttleworth  • 
First-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  W.  H.  Cartter;  Chief 
Engineer,  C  H.  Loring;  Assistant  Engineers,  J.  H. 
Bailey,  E.  J.  Whittaker,  Alfred  Colin,  L.  A.  Haverly 
T.  W.  Rae  and  G.  W.  Thorn;  Acting-Masters,  D.  A. 
Campbell,  W.  G.  Saltonstall  andWm.  Wright;  Boat 


swain, Paul  Atkinson;  Gunner,  C.  W.  Homer;  Carpen 
ter,  Ebenezer  Thompson;  Sailmaker,  A.  A.  Warren. 
STEAMER  "  MARATANZA." 

Commander,  G.  H.  Scott;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
Win.  P.  McCann;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Job  Corbin; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  S.  Perley;  Acting- 
Masters,  Charles  Cortney,  Jacob  Kimball  and  J.  B. 
Wood,  Jr. ;  Acting-Engineers,  Edward  Scattergood, 
Win.  H.  Kilpatrick,  L.  H.  Harvey  and  R.  L.  Webb; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  J.  Creighton  and  E.  W. 
Flowers. 

STEAMER  "MORSE." 

Acting-Masters,  Peter  Hayes  and  G.  W.  Caswell; 


OF    THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


409 


Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Henry  Russell,  Acting- 
Assistant  Engineers,  Thomas  Divine,  Tim.  Flanders 
and  George  Wext;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  William 
Dunne  and  C.  E.  Rich. 

IRON-CLAD  "  MONITOR. " 

Commanders,  John  L.  Worden,  Win.  N.  Jeffers 
and  T.  H.  Stevens  [commanding  at  different  times]; 
Lieutenant.  8.  Dana  Greene;  Acting- Volunteer-Lieu 
tenant,  Wm.  Five;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  C. 
Logue;  Acting  Asssistant  Paymaster,  W.  F.  Keeler; 
Acting-Master,  L.  M.  Stodder;  Assistant  Engineers, 
A.  B.  Campbell,  Geo.  H.  White,  R.  W.  Hands  and 
M.  T.  Sunstroin;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Geo.  Fred- 
erickson  and  Peter  Williams. 

STEAMER     "  JACOB   BELL." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  E.  P.  McCrea;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  O.  J.  Bissell ;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  Samuel  Anderson;  Acting-Assistant  En 
gineers,  Arthur  Clements,  Nelson  Ross  and  R.  H. 
Buel;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  E.  McConnell. 

STEAMER   "PORT  ROYAL." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  George  U.  Morris,  Act 
ing -Volunteer -Lieutenant,  Wm.  P.  Randall  [com 
manding  at  different  times] ;  Lieutenant,  H.  D. 
Todd ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  S.  Fort ;  Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  A.  Bates,  Jr.;  Assistant  Engineers, 
W.  C.  Selden,  G.  W.  Sensner,  O.  C.  Lewis,  F.  B.  Allen 
and  E.  M.  Breese;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  F.  Rey 
nolds,  Jr.,  E.  V.  Tyson  and  Benj.  AVoods. 

STEAMER   "SUSQUEHANNA." 

Captain,  R.  B.  Hitchcock ;  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander.  J.  H.  Gillis;  Surgeon,  Joseph  Beale;  Pay 
master.  W.  H.  Thompson;  Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  C. 
Nelson  ;  Captain  of  Marines,  P.  R.  Fendall ;  Chief 
Engineer,  George  Sewell;  Assistant  Engineers,  J.  M. 
Hobby,  James  Renshaw,  James  Butterworth  and 
E.  R.  Arnold;  Acting-Masters,  W.  L.  Churchill  and 
G.  B.  Livingston;  Boatswain,  Chas.  Miller;  Gunner. 
Wm.  Summers;  Carpenter,  G.  M.  Doughty;  Sail- 
maker.  J.  C.  Herbert. 

STEAMER  "AROOSTOOK." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  S.  R.  Franklin;  Lieuten 
ant,  T.  S.  Spencer;  Acting-Masters,  Eben  Hoyt  and 
W.  A.  Maine ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  L. 
Pynchon:  Assistant  Engineers,  W.  G.  Buehler,  Geo. 
R.  Holt,  James  Entwistleand  Samuel  Gragg;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  C.  F.  Palmer,  Louis  Hammersley 
and  Edw.  Culbert. 

STEAMER  "DACOTAH." 

Captain,  J.  P.  McKinstry ;  Lieutenant,  G.  C. 
Wiltse:  Surgeon,  Delavan  Bloodgood;  Acting  Mas 
ters,  Wm.  Earle  and  W.  Moslander;  Assistant  Pay 
master.  Richard  Washington:  Chief  Engineer,  P.  G. 
Peltz:  Assistant  Engineers,  Elijah  Laws,  G.  P.  Hunt, 
Geo.  W.  Melville  and  Jas.  H.  Perry;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  Charles  Trathen,  Paul  Borner,  C.  H.  Chase 
and  C.  H.  Davidson;  Boatswain,  G.  C.  Abbott;  Gun 
ner,  Geo.  Edrnond. 

STEAM-FRIGATE   "SAN  JACIXTO." 

Commander,  Wm.  Rockendorff;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Ralph  Chandler;  Lieutenant,  B.  P.  Smith; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  I.  W.  Bragg;  Assistant  Paymas 
ter.  T.  C.  Masten;  Acting-Masters,  John  Baker,  H. 
J.  Coop  and  D.  G.  McRitchie;  Captain  of  Marines. 
L.  L.  Dawson  ;  First-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  Rob 
ert  Kidd  ;  Chief  Engineer,  M.  Kellogg ;  Assistant 
Engineers,  G.  W.  Hall,  H.  8.  Davids,  H.  C.  Mcllvaine, 
Edwin  Wells,  H.  W.  Scott.  Edm.  Lincoln  and  N.  P. 
Towne:  Boatswain,  John  Marley;  Carpenters.  J.  W. 
North  and  R.  A.  Williams ;  Gunner.  C.  A.  Stephen- 
son;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  D.  Weed,  H.  T.  Keen 
and  A.  H.  Fuller. 

TUG  "DRAGON." 

Acting-Assistant  Engineer,  John  Jordan. 


IRON-CLAD    "GALENA." 

Captain,  John  Rodgers;  Lieutenant  Commander, 
L.  H.  Newman;  Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  E.Van  Giesen-, 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Sellman;  Acting- 
Masters,  S.  B.Washburnand  B.W.  Loring;  Assistant 
Engineers,  J.  W.  Thompson,  T.  T.  Millholland,  F. 

A.  Breman,  James  Dodd  and  A.  S.  Chipman;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Jenks,  Andrew  McCleary, 
Alex.  Meldrum  and  E.  A.  Galindo;  Gunner,  J.  D. 
Boorom;  Boatswain,  Rob't  DLxon. 

STEAMER  "STEVENS." 

Lieutenant,  D.  C.  Constable. 

STEAMER  "DAYLIGHT." 

Commander,  Samuel  Lockwood;  Acting-Master, 
J.  D.  Warren,  [commanding  at  different  times]; 
Acting-Masters,  J.  R.  Dickinson  and  J.  H  Gleason; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  M.  Dearbprne;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  J.  Clark;  Acting-Assistant 
Engineers,  C.  D.  Kiersted,  Wm.  Emmons  and  T. 
Mclntosh  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Chas.  Attmore 
and  James  Corlace. 

STEAMER   "GENESEE." 

Commander,  Wm.  H.  Macomb;  Lieutenant- Com 
mander,  Wm.  H.  Dana ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  B. 
Slough ;  Acting-Masters,  Wm.  Hanson,  C.  M.  Mer 
chant  and  R.  T.  Wyatt;  Acting- Engineers,  W.  H. 
Green,  C.  H.  Harrab,  G.  H.  Griggs,  M.  McLoughlin 
and  C.  Moulton ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  W.  J. 
Crosby,  John  Connor,  G.  M.  Fludder  and  E.  W. 
Halcro. 

STEAMER.  "  ELLIS.'' 

Lieutenant,  C.  L.  Franklin;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mate,  Omar  Smith;  Midshipman,  B.  H.  Porter; 
Acting-Assistant  Engineer,  F.  A.  Whitfield. 

STEAMER   "HUNCHBACK." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  E.  R.  Colhoun;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  Ric'd  Pasquell;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
Henry  Gushing;  Acting- Assistant  Engineers,  Henry 
Armstrong  and  John  Wall;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Wm.  Weaver  and  Chas.  Weaver. 

STEAMER   "HENRY    BRINKER." 

Acting-Master,  John  E.  Giddings;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  W.  B.  Miles:  Acting-Engineers,  J.  W.  Kelsey, 
Robt.  Ross  and  W.  H.  Yates. 

SLOOP   "  GRANITE." 

Acting-Master,  E.  Boomer. 

STEAMER  "HETZEL." 

Commander,  H.  K.  Davenport;  Lieutenant,  C.  L. 
Franklin;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  N.  L.  Camp 
bell;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster.  G.  W.  Morton  ; 
Acting-Assistant  Engineers,  Joshua  Eddowes,  J. 

B.  Dick,  T.  B.  Cole,  J.  H.  Paget  and  W.  H.  Tower; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  John   Rudrow  and   Benj. 
Walker. 

STEAMER    "I.    N.  SEYMOUR." 

Acting-Master,  F.  S.  Wells;  Acting-Assistant  En 
gineers,  N.  Eggleston,  Stephen  Mealeus,  Philip 
Hublitz  and  J.  A.  Whittaker. 

STEAMER  "MONTICELLO.  ' 

Lieutenant-  Commander,  Daniel  L.  Braine  ;  Act 
ing-Masters,  L.  A.  Brown  and  Richard  Hustace  ; 
Acting-Ensign,  A.  G.  Stebbins ;  Acting- Assistant 
Engineers.  W.  S.  Montgomery,  John  Pick,  C.  O. 
Morgan,  Thomas  McGough,  "j.  Thomas  and  H. 
Webster,  Acting-Master's  Mate,  E.  A.  Nassau. 

STEAMER  "MYSTIC." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  H.  N.  T.  Arnold;  Acting- 
Masters,  R.  S.  Coffin,  B.  W.  Loring  and  S.  B. 
Meaders;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  F.  Browne; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  E.  Smith;  Acting- 
Assistant  Engineers,  J.  B.  Lovell,  J.  B.  Allen,  H. 
F.  Loveaire,  S.  Rockefeller  and  G.  W.  Shank;  Act- 


410 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ing-Master's  Mates,  G.  R.  Durand,  J.  M.  C.  Reville 
and  J.  B.  Swett. 

STKAMER    "LOUISIANA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Alex.  Murray,  and  Act 
ing-Lieutenant,  R.  T.  Renshuw  [commanding at  dif 
ferent  times]  ;  Lieutenant-Commander,  Alfred  Hop 
kins;  Acting-Master  Edward  Hooker;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  Michael  Bradley;  Assistant  Paymaster, W.  W. 
Williams;  Assistant  Engineers,  J.  M.  Lay,  D.  P. 
McCartney,  J.  H.  Huxley  and  T.  J.  McK.  Daniels. 

STEAMER    "MT.   VERNON." 

Commanders,  O.  S.  Glisson  and  A.  G.  Clary  [com 
manding  at  different  times]  •  Acting-Masters,  J.  W. 
Simmons  and  E.  W.  White;  Acting-Assistant  Sur- 

f^ons,  S.  B.  Hoppin  and  Joseph  McKnight;  Acting- 
nsign,  O.  L.   S.    Roberts;    Acting  Assistant  Engi 
neers,  J.    H.    Hosford  and  John  Lardner;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  G.  C.  Kellogg  and  Lloyd  Rogers. 

STEAMER    "  MAHASKA." 

Lieutenant,  N.  H.  Farquhar ;  Acting- Master,  C. 
L.  Moses;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  C.  Spear;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Chas.  Fairchild;  Midshipman, 
E.  C.  V.  Blake;  Engineers.  B.  B.  H.  Wharton,  Elisha 
Harsen,  Thos.  Le  Blanche,  J.  C.  Stevens  and  E.  L. 
Hewitt;  Acting  Master's  Mates,  N.  W.  Black,  G.  E. 
French,  Thomas  Smith  and  B.  F.  Trask. 

STEAMER    "SABAGO." 

Commander,  Daniel  Ammen ;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  E.  W.  Henry;  Acting-Masters,  Ben}.  Dyer, 
J.  F.  Anderson,  T.  M.  Gardner  and  W.  H.  Mallard  ; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  P.  Quinn ;  Assistant  Engi 
neers,  G.  F.  Savage,  G.  E.  Tower,  W.  H.  De  Hart, 
O.  W.  Allison  and  J.  A.  Bullard;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  Win.  Manning  and  E.  D.  Martin. 

STEAMER    "OCTORARA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  George  Brown;  Acting- 
Master,  L.  G.  Cook;  Surgeon.  James  Laws;  Assist 
ant  Paymaster  W.  S.  Higbee;  Midshipman,  Chas. 
W.  Tracy;  Acting-Ensign,  G.  F.  Hollis;  Assistant 
Engineers,  Jackson  McElwell.  E.  J.  Brooks,  C.  R. 
Morgan,  J.  G.  Cooper  and  E.  W.  Clark. 

STEAMER    "WHITEHEAD." 

Acting-Master,  Charles  A.  French;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Engineers,  Morris  Petersen  and  W.  AV.  Baker. 
STORK-SHIP  "WILLIAM  BADGER/' 

Acting-Master's  Mate,  Reuben  Rich  ;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  W.  M.  Whittemore. 

MORTAR  SCHOONERS,  "  ARLETTA''  AND  "PARA." 
FRIGATE   "ST.  LAWRENCE/' 

Captain,  H.  Y.  Purviance,  and  Commander  J.  F. 
Schenck  [at  different  times  in  command] ;  Lieu 
tenant,  H.  F.  Picking;  Acting- Masters,  G.  L.  Allyn, 
G.  J.  Murray  and  Win.  H.  Smith  ;  Second-Lieuten 
ant  of  Marines,  R.  S.  Collum;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
John  Fisher,  V.  W.  Jones  and  T.  W.  Jones  ;  Boat 
swain,  J.  A.  Briscoe;  Gunner,  C.  De  Bevoise;  Car 
penter,  J.  A.  Krim;  Sailmaker,  L.  Rogers. 
STEADIER  "DELAWARE." 

Lieutenant-Commander.  S.  P.  Quackenbush;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  Lorenzo  Traver;  Assistant  Pay 
master,  F.  R.  Curtis  ;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  H.  Keren's; 
Acting-Engineers,  J.  D.  Williamson,  T.  .1.  Brown, 

A.  Dunbar   and    James    Mellen  ;    Acting-Master's 
Mate,  J.  H.  Springman. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR  "CUMBERLAND." 
Commander,  William  Radford  ;  Lieutenants, 
George  U.  Morris,  T.  O.  Selfridge,  and  M.  S.  Stuy- 
vesant;  Chaplain,  J.  H.  Lenhart;  Acting-Masters, 
W.  P.  Randall  and  W.  W.  Kennison  ;  Surgeon, 
Charles  Martin;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Edward  Kersh- 
ner;  Lieutenant  of  Marines,  Charles  Hay  wood;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  Henry  Wyman,  E.  V.  Tyson, 
Chas.  O'Neil  and  J.  M.  Harrington;  Boatswain,  E. 

B.  Bell;  Gunner,  Eugene  Mack;   Carpenter,  W.  M. 
Leighton;  Sailmaker,  David  Bruce. 


STEAMER  "JOHN   L.  LOCKWOOD." 

Acting-Masters,  G.  W.  Graves  and  W.  F.  North  : 
Acting- Assistant  Engineers,  J.  T.  Newton,  W.  W. 
Whiting  and  J.  T.  Miller;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
Samuel  Horton. 

STEAMER  "  WACHUSETT." 

Commander,  Wm.  Smith  and  Capt.  T.  A.  Jen 
kins  [commanding  at  different  times];  Lieutenant- 
Commanders,  C.  A.  Babcock  and  C.  E.  Fleming  ; 
Surgeon,  J.  H.  Otis;  Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  K. 
Moore;  Lieutenant  Wm.  Whitehead;  Acting-Masters, 
Ediu.  Kimble,  S.  P.  LathropandP.  Leach;  Midship 
man,  H.  C.  Tallman  ;  Chief  Engineer,  W.  C. 
Wheeler  ;  Assistant  Engineers,  W.  D.  Pendleton. 
W.  H.  Messinger,  C.  J.  Coney,  H.  Holmes  and  M. 
H.  Knapp;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  Ellwell,  Wm. 
McCreary  and  C.  A.  Stewart ;  Boatswain,  John 
Burrows;  Gunner,  Samuel  Cross. 

FRIGATE  "CONGRESS."' 

Lieutenants,  Joseph   B.  Smith  and   Austin  Pen- 
dergrast  ;  Acting- Master,  Thomas  Moore  ;  Master's 
Mate,  Peter  J.  Hargous;  Pilot,  Wm.  Rhodes. 
BARK  "GEMSBOK." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Edward  Cavendy  ; 
Acting-Masters,  J.  E.  Giddings,  O.  Thatcher.  T. 
Werthoff  and  Samuel  Very;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  Thomas  Welch;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
E.  H.  Roberts. 

SHIP  "SUPPLY." 

Commander,  Geo.  Colvocoresses ;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  W.  L.  Wheeler;  Paymaster,  Edw.  Foster; 
Acting-Masters,  Zac.  Kempton  and  J.  D.  Wood  ; 
Acting-Ensign,  A.  B.  Axteli;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
Peter  Faunce. 

STEAMER  "STARS  AND  STRIPES." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Reed  Werderi  and  Lieu 
tenant,  R.  S.  McCook  [commanding  at  different 
times]. 

STEAMER  "STATE  OF  GEORGIA.*" 

Commander,  J.  F.  Armstrong  ;  Acting-Masters, 
A.  D.  Littlefield  and  J.  J.  Rogers;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  W.  Hamilton ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  T.  H.  Haskell ;  Acting-Engineers,  James 
Wilkinson,  David  Pyke,  Wm.  H.  Miller,  Thomas 
Nesbitt  and  J.  D.  Rogers;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J.  T.  Hughes  and  Isaac  Halleck. 

STEAMER  "  SOUTHFIELD." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  C.  F.  W.  Behm  : 
Acting-Master,  W.  F.  Pratt;  Acting-Assistant  Engi 
neers,  George  Ash  by  and  James  Kennedy. 

STEAMER  "SHAWSHEEN." 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  T.  C.  Woodward; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  G.  W.  Barrett  and  G.  C. 
Williams;  Acting- Assistant  Engineers,  Richard  An 
derson  and  M.  Smith. 

STEAMER  "PENOBSCOT." 

Commander,  J.  M.  B.  Glitz  ;  Lieutenant,  F.  M. 
Bunce;  Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  C.  Ver  Meulen;  Assist 
ant  Engineers,  T.  J.  Jones,  Thos.  Petherick,  G.  P. 
Wilkinson,  G.  W.  Hall;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  G. 
H.  Smith,  J.  P.  Semple.  S.  H.  Daman,  H.  P.  Ed 
wards  and  S.  K.  Luce;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
Addison  Pool. 

STEAMER  "  PHILADELPHIA." 

Commander,  S.  C.  Rowan,  Flag-officer ;  Acting- 
Master,  Silas  Reynolds,  Commanding  ;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Sam'l  J.  Jones;  Carpenter,  H.  M.  Griffith. 
STEAMER  "RESCUE." 

Acting- Assistant  Engineers,  W.  H.  Capen  and  B. 
D.  Mulligan. 

STEAMER  "UNDERWRITER." 

Lieutenant,  Alfred  Hopkins  and  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Wm.  N.  Jeffers  [commanding  at  different 
times];  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Dan'l  Harman; 


OF    THE    CIVIL     WAR. 


411 


Acting- Assistant  Engineers,  John  Cohill,  John 
Morse  and  John  Whittaker;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Win.  K.  Engell  and  Daniel  Ward. 

STEAMER  "VALLEY  CITY.' 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  C.  Chaplin  and  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant,  H.  K.  Furniss  [commanding 
at  different  times];  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon.  F.  E. 
Martindale ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  W. 
Moore;  Acting- Assistant  Engineers,  Perry  Short. 
James  Hitchcock  and  B.  Hiklebrand;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  C.  W.  Campbell,  John  Cullaton,  H. 
Dickenson  and  T.  Langton;  Gunner,  John  Davis. 
STEAMER  "VICTORIA." 

Lieutenant  Commander,  G.  A.  Stevens  ;  Acting- 
Masters.  Alfred  Everson  and  H.  A.  Phelan;  Acting- 
Kiisign,  W.  H.  Mayer;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
J.  G.  Parke ;  .Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  S. 
Bradford:  Acting- Assistant  Engineers,  J.  M.  Barren, 
E.  A.  Kurd  and  T.  D.  Webster :  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  G.  B.  Howard. 

STEAMER  "CAMBRIDGE." 

Commander,  Win.  A.  Parker  :  Acting-Masters, 
J.  A.  J.  Brooks  ;  W.  H.  Maies,  F.  W.  Strong;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Ezra  Pray;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster.  J.  C.  Canning;  Midshipman,  C.  L.  Hun- 
tington  :  Acting  Engineers,  G.  B.  Orswell,  C.  C. 
Pennington,  S.  B.  Ellis,  H.  F.  Haydeii  and  James 
Powers;  Acting- Master's  Mate,  W.  F.  Durgin ; 
Gunner,  W.  Ferguson;  Carpenter,  T.  D.  Wilson. 

STEAMER   "CHOCURA." 

Commander,  T.  H.  Patterson  ;  Lieutenant- Com 
mander,  R.  F.  Bradford:  Assistant  Surgeon,  Charles 
Carter  ;  Acting-Masters,  P.  S.  Borden  and  T.  B. 
Sears;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  L.  Turner  : 
Assistant  Engineers,  Z.  Talbot,  W.  H.  Harrison, 
Theo.  Cooper  and  Andrew  Blythe;  Acting-Master's 
Mate.  A.  P.  Atwood. 

STEAMER    "  CURRITUCK." 

Acting-Master,  W.  F.  Shankland;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Henry  Johnson;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  L.  S.  Yorke ;  Acting- Assistant  Engineers, 
Alfred  Clum.  W.  H.  Borcum  and  Win.  Godard  : 
Acting- Master's  Mate,  T.  H.  Strong. 


STEAMER  "COMMODORE  PERRY.'' 

Lieutenant  Commander,  Charles  W.  Flusser;  Act 
ing-Masters,  F.  J.  Thomas  and  W.  B.  Gushing;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  Henry  Anderson;  Acting 
Assistant  Engineers,  J.  W.  Cross,  J.  L.  Bowers  and 
G.  W.  Richards  ;  Acting- Master  s  Mates,  R.  Dolly, 
John  Lynch  and  H.  C.  Webster. 

STEAMER  "CORWIN." 

Lieutenant  Commander,  T.  S.  Phelps. 

STEAMER    "  COMMODORE  BARNEY." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  R.  T.  Renshaw;  Acting-Master, 
J.  R.  Grace;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  R.  Mann; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, '  Benj.  Page  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Engineers,  Strong  Conklin  and  Lemuel 
Albert  :  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  Aspinwall,  Jr., 
AVm.  Betts,  John  Hill  and  C.  Washburn. 

STEAMER  "COHASSET." 

[Commander  not  found];  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
Win.  P.  Burke  and  Jacob  Daggett;  Acting- Assistant 
Engineers,  Sidney  Smith  and  Chas  Robinson. 
STEAMER  "CERES." 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  John  Macdearmid; 
Acting-Master,  G.  B.  Thompson. 

STEAMER  "A.   C.  POWELL." 

Acting-Master's  Mate,  A.  P.  Matthews  ;  Acting- 
Engineer  Wm.  Mahan. 

STEAMER  "  W.  G.  PUTNAM." 

Acting-Master,  W.  J.  Hotchkiss:  Acting- Assistant 
Engineers,  James  Osborne  and  John  Henry. 

STEAMER  "  YOUNG  AMERICA." 

Acting-Master,  G.  W-  Graves  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Engineers,  James  Hamilton,  C.  E.  Rainer  and  AV. 
B.  Whitmore. 

STEAMER    "ZOUAVE." 

Acting-Assistant  Engineers,  John  Badgely  and 
Isaac  Buck. 


. — The  above  list  of  officers  is  necessarily  in 
complete  and  not  strictly  correct,  from  the  fact  that 
the  Navy  Register  for  September,  1862,  does  not  fur 
nish  the'information  usually  given. 


CHAPTER     XXXV. 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  1863. 

SUCCESSFUL  EXPEDITION  OFF  YORKTOWN  AND  UP  NEUSE  RIVER.  —  Loss  OF  "MONITOR." 
—GALLANT  RESCUE  OF  GREATER  PORTION  OF  "MONITOR'S"  CREW  BY  THE  "RHODE 
ISLAND."— SERIOUS  Loss  TO  THE  GOVERNMENT.— OPERATIONS  OF  LIEUTENANT  FLUSSER 

ON    THE    CHOW  AN    RlVER.— ATTACK   ON    PLYMOUTH,    N.    C.—  THE    "  SOUTHFIELD "    DlS- 

ABLED. — ACHIEVEMENTS  OF  GENERAL  J.  G.  FOSTER. — ARMY  AND  NAVY  CO-OPERATE 
IN  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  GOLDSBOROUGH,  N.  C. — LIEUTENANT  CUSHING'S  EXPEDITION 
AGAINST  WILMINGTON  PILOTS.  —  GUSHING  CAPTURES  A  FORT  AND  PUTS  ENEMY  TO 
FLIGHT. — OTHER  ADVENTURES. — LIEUTENANT  FLUSSER'S  EXPEDITION  TO  HERTFORD, 
N.  C. — CONFEDERATES  ATTACK  FORT  ANDERSON. — ASSISTANCE  RENDERED  BY  GUN-BO  ATS. 
-ENEMY  WITHDRAWS. —  LETTER  OF  COL.  BELKNAP. —  GREAT  HAVOC  COMMITTED  BY 
STEAMER  "  HETZEL." — VESSELS  DISPATCHED  TO  OCCUPY  NAXSEMOND  RIVER.  —  GUN 
BOATS  IN  DEMAND. — LIEUTENANT  LAMSON  DISTINGUISHES  HIMSELF  AT  HILL'S  POINT.— 
GUSHING  PREVENTS  LONGSTREET  AND  FORCES  FROM  CROSSING  RIVER. — REPULSE  OF 
CONFEDERATES  AT  SUFFOLK. — GENERAL  GETTY  ACKNOWLEDGES  MERIT. — THE  "MOUNT 
WASHINGTON"  FIGHTS  HER  WAY  OUT  OF  MUD. — THE  "BARNEY"  ENGAGES  ENEMY. 
—BRAVERY  OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEN. — NOBLE  ACTS. — LIEUTENANT  LAMSON  RUNS  HIS  VES 
SELS  UNDER  ENEMY'S  GUNS. — CAPTURE  OF  CONFEDERATE  ARTILLERY. — COMMENDATION 
OF  LAMSON  AND  GUSHING  BY  SECRETARY  WELLES. — CAPTURE  AND  DESTRUCTION  OF 
BLOCKADE-RUNNERS.  —  OPERATIONS  IN  SOUNDS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. —  CONFEDERATES 
INVEST  WASHINGTON,  N.  C.,  BUT  COMPELLED  TO  RETIRE. — GUN-BOATS  ENGAGE  AND 
SILENCE  MANY  BATTERIES  ON  PAMLICO  RIVER. — NAMES  OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEN  WHO 
RECEIVED  COMMENDATIONS.  —  GENERAL  SPINOLA'S  TESTIMONY  IN  REGARD  TO  GAL 
LANT  CONDUCT  OF  NAVY.  —  LIEUTENANT  FRENCH'S  EXPEDITION.  —  IMPORTANT  CAP 
TURES.  —  GENERAL  Dix  EVACUATES  WEST  POINT,  COVERED  BY  GUN-BOATS.  —  EXPE 
DITIONS  UP  NORTH,  YORK,  AND  MATTAPONY  RIVERS. — CUTTING  OUT  OF  CONFEDERATE 
STEAMER  "KATE"  FROM  UNDER  GUNS  OF  FORT  FISHER.  —  ACTS  OF  BRAVERY  DIS 
PLAYED. —  ATTEMPT  TO  DESTROY  STEAMER  "HEBE." — LIEUTENANT  GUSHING  "CUTS" 
OUT  AND  DESTROYS  BLOCKADE-RUNNER  "ALEXANDER  COOPER."  -DESTRUCTION  OF 
THE  ' '  VENUS.  " — MISCELLANEOUS. 

WHEN  Acting-Rear- Admiral  S.  P.  From  September  1st  up  to  January  there 
Lee   succeeded    Rear- Admiral  was  but  little  of  moment  to  report"  in  the 
Goldsborough  in  the  command  North  Atlantic  squadron,  beyond  the  opera- 
of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron  tions  in  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina  and 
there  was  not  much  left  to  be  the  naval    expedition    under   Commander 
done  except  keeping  up  a  strict  blockade  of  Foxhall   A.   Parker,  off  Yorktown,  which 
the  coast  and  keeping  the   Albemarle   and  proved  successful,  the  Navy  being  of  much 
Pamlico  Sounds  under  subjection.  service  to  the  Army  contingent  under  Gen- 
All  the  naval  force  of  the  enemy  between  eral  Negley  ;  also  a  successful  military  ex- 
JSorrolk   and   Howlet  batteries    had  either  pedition  up  the  Neuse  River  under  General 
been  destroyed  or  made  its  escape  to  Rich-  Foster,  in  which  the  Navy  participated,  with 
mond,  enabling  the  Navy  Department  to  much  credit  to  its  commander,  Commander 
decrease  the  large  force  kept  in  and  about  Alexander  Murray. 
Hampton  Roads.  On  December  31st,  1862,  the  Government 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTOR1'  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR, 


413 


met  with  a  serious  loss  by  the  sinking  at 
sea  of  the  famous  little  "Monitor,"  which 
had  set  the  huge  "  Merrimac "  at  defiance 
and  driven  her  back  to  Norfolk.  This  was 
not  only  the  great  actual  loss  of  a  fighting 
vessel,  but  in  addition  there  were  associa 
tions  connected  with  this  little  craft  which 
made  her  name  dear  to  every  Union-loving 
man,  and  it  was  hoped  by  all  those  who 
had  faith  in  her  that  she  might  be  long 
permitted  to  float  the  flag  of  the  Union  at 
her  staff  and  become  a  terror  to  its  enemies. 
But  it  seems  that  she  was  only  permitted 
to  perform  the  great  service  for  which  she 
was  built,  an  event  that  made  her  name  as 
famous  as  that  of  the  old  "Constitution," 
and  then  she  sank  from  sight  in  the  depth 
of  ocean,  leaving  behind  her  not  as  much 
of  her  hull  as  would  serve  to  make  a  small 
memento  of  the  past. 

The  "  Monitor  "  left  Hampton  Roads  in 
tow  of  the  U.  S.  steamer  "  Rhode  Island.''  on 
the  29th  of  December,  1862,  at  2.30  p.  M., 
witli  a  light  southwest  wind,  and  clear, 
pleasant  weather,  with  a  prospect  of  its  con 
tinuance.  At  5  A.  M..  the  next  morning,  a 
swell  set  in  from  the  southward  with  an 
increase  of  wind  from  the  southwest,  the 
sea  breaking  over  the  pilot-house  forward 
and  striking  the  base  of  the  turret,  but  not 
with  sufficient  force  to  break  over  it.  But 
it  was  found  that  the  packing  of  oakum 
under  and  around  the  base  of  the  turret  had 
worked  out,  as  the  "Monitor"  pitched  and 
rolled,  and  water  made  its  way  into  the  ves 
sel,  though  for  some  time  the  bilge  pumps 
kept  her  free. 

The  wind  hauled  to  the  south,  increasing 
all  the  time,  the  vessel  towing  badly  and 
yawing  about  very  much.  By  8  p.  M.  ,  the 
wind  began  to  blow  heavily,  causing  the 
"  Monitor  "  to  plunge  deeply,  the  sea  wash 
ing  over  and  into  the  turret,  and  at  times 
into  the  hawse-pipes.  Commander  J.  P 
Bankhead,  of  the  "  Monitor."  signalled  sev 
eral  times  to  the  "  Rhode  Island  "  to  stop 
towing,  in  order  to  see  whether  that  would 
prevent  the  influx  of  water  into  his  vessel, 
but  she  only  fell  off  into  the  trough  of  the 
sea  and  made  matters  worse,  the  water 
coming  on  board  so  rapidly  that  it  became 
necessary  to  start  the  centrifugal  pumps. 

It  was  quite  evident  to  many  on  board 
that  the  last  days  of  the  "  Monitor  "had  come 
unless  the  wind  should  abate  and  the  sea  go 
down,  which  did  not  seem  at  all  likely ;  but  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  commander,  officers  and 
men  kept  them  at  their  posts  until  it  be 
came  necessary  to  signal  to  the  "Rhode 
Island  "  for  assistance,  which  was  promptly 
given.  The  officers  and  men  of  the  "  Rhode 
Island"  (Commander  Stephen  D.  Trenchard) 
did  not  hesitate  to  jump  into  their  boats  in 
that  tempestuous  weather  and  go  to  the 
relief  of  their  comrades.  The  Commander 


of  the  ''Monitor.''  in  order  to  keep  his  ves 
sel  afloat  as  long  as  possible,  cut  the  large 
cable  by  which  she  was  towed  and  ran 
down  to  the  "  Rhode  Island,"  which  enabled 
him  to  use  all  the  pumps. 

Two  boats  reached  the  ''Monitor"  from 
the  "Rhode  Island,"  and  the  Commander 
ordered  Lieutenant  S.  Dana  Green  (who  had 
been  first-lieutenant  during  the  fight  with 
the  "  Merrimac")  to  put  as  many  of  the  crew 
in  them  as  they  would  safely  carry.  This 
was  a  very  dangerous  operation,  and  it 
brought  into  play  that  cool  courage  which  is 
more  admirable  than  that  shown  in  battle. 
A  heavy  sea  was  breaking  entirely  over  the 
deck  and  there  was  great  danger  of  the 
boats  being  crushed  by  the  overhang,  if  not 
pierced  by  the  sharp  prow  which  was  first 
high  above  the  waves,  then  completely  sub 
merged  by  the  crushing  billows.  The 
"  Rhode  Island  "  herself  was  in  great  dan 
ger,  as  she  was  lying  close  by  and  liable  at 
any  moment  to  be  struck  by  the  "Moni 
tor's  "  bow. 


THE  "MONITOR"  LOST  IN  A  GALE. 

The  first  two  boat-loads  safely  reached  the 
"  Rhode  Island"  amid  the  storm  and  dark 
ness,  and  again  returned  on  their  mission 
of  mercy  to  rescue  the  remaining  persons, 
the  vessel  being  most  difficult  to  find  in  the 
gale.  In  the  meantime  the  captain  and  the 
remnant  of  his  crew  retired  to  the  turret 
and  there  held  on,  though  several  of  the 
men  were  washed  overboard  and  lost. 
Fortunately  the  vessel  was  on  soundings, 
and  the  captain  gave  the  order  to  let  go  an 
anchor  in  hopes  it  would  bring  the  "  Moni 
tor's  "  head  to  wind,  and  that  the  chain 
would  hold  her  there  long  enough  to  get 
the  crew  out.  At  this  moment  the  water 
was  over  the  ash-pans  and  increasing 
rapidly,  and  the  engine-room  had  to  be 
abandoned. 

Fortunately  the  "  Monitor  "  came  head  to 
wind,  when  the  cable  brought  her  up.  By 
this  time  the  vessel  was  filling  rapidly,  the 
deck  was  on  a  line  with  the  water,  and  all 
the  men  left  on  the  turret  were  ordered  by 


414 


THE   NAVAL  HISTORY 


the  captain  to  gain  the  deck  and  endeavor 
to  reach  the  two  boats  that  were  again  ap 
proaching.  At  that  time  there  were  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  men  left  on  board. 

The  boats  had  to  approach  the  "Moni 
tor  "  very  carefully.  She  was  as  dangerous 
as  a  reef  of  rocks  just  above  the  water 
over  which  the  sea  was  breaking  furiously. 
Several  men  were  washed  overboard  in 
their  attempt  to  reach  the  boats,  and  only 
one  of  them  was  picked  up.  With  great 
difficulty  one  of  the  boats  succeeded  in  get 
ting  into  a  position  where  a  number  of  the 
crew  could  get  into  her,  but  there  were 
several  persons  still  on  the  turret  who 
would  not  come  down,  either  being  un 
manned,  or  not  supposing  the  vessel  would 
sink  so  soon.  These  went  down  in  her. 

The  captain  had  done  all  a  good  officer 
could  do  to  save  his  vessel  and  his  crew. 
He  had  stood  at  his  post  like  a  hero,  help 
ing  the  men  into  the  boats,  and  now  finding 
that  he  could  be  of  no  more  use  he  jumped 
into  the  already  deeply  laden  boat  and 
shoved  off,  the  heavy,  sluggish  motion  of 
the''  Monitor"  giving  evidence  that  she 
would  soon  go  down. 

The  boats  had  scarcely  reached  the 
'•Rhode  Island"  when  the  gallant  little 
craft  that  had  done  so  much  to  save  the 
honor  of  the  nation,  and  had  by  her  one 
battle  destroyed  the  prestige  of  the  best 
fighting  ships  in  Europe,  sank  to  the  bottom, 
the  wild  winds  howling  a  requiem  over  her 
resting-place! 

While  regrets  remain  that  not  all  her 
crew  were  saved  (many  of  whom  had  served 
in  the  fight  with  the  "  Merrimac"),  it  is 
wonderful,  considering  the  dangerous  con 
dition  of  the  "  Monitor."  that  so  many  were 
rescued. 

In  mustering  the  crew  of  the  "  Monitor," 
on  the  deck  of  the  "Rhode  Island,"  two 
officers  and  twelve  men  were  found  to  be 
missing.  All  honor  to  their  memories  ! 
Two  great  battles  had  they  fought  in  a  short 
time,  one  witli  the  Confederate  monster, 
the  other  with  the  wrath  of  the  ocean,  and 
in  both  cases  had  they  shown  that  indomita 
ble  courage  and  skill  which  are  among  the 
highest  attributes  of  the  American  sailor. 

There  was  no  instance  during  the  war 
where  greater  courage,  skill  and  coolness 
were  exhibited  than  on  this  ever-to  be-re- 
membered  occasion,  and  it  is  due  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  ill-fated  "  Monitor" 
that  this  small  tribute  should  be  paid  them 
for  standing  so  manfully  by  the  historic 
vessel  which  had  added  some  of  the  greenest 
laurels  to  the  fame  of  the  American  Navy. 
The  position  of  the  vessel  on  that  dark 
and  tempestuous  night  was  enough  to  appall 
the  stoutest  heart,  but  neither  officers  nor 
men  quailed  before  the  danger  which  seemed 
to  cut  off  all  hope  of  rescue.  Lieutenant  S. 


Dana  Greene  and  Acting-Master  L.  N.  Stod- 
der  stood  by  Commander  Bankhead  to  the 
last,  and  Acting-Master's  Mate  Peter  Wil 
liams,  and  Richard  Anjier,  Quartermaster, 
showed  conduct  entitling  them  to  all  praise. 
The  quartermaster  remained  at  his  post 
until  the  vessel  was  sinking,  and  when  or 
dered  by  the  captain  to  get  into  the  boat, 
said,  ''No.  sir.  not  until  you  do  so." 

This  may  seem  to  be  a  long  and  tedious 
description  of  an  event  the  like  of  which 
happens  so  often  in  peace  or  war,  and  fre 
quently  without  grave  comment  ;  but  the 
"Monitor"  was  an  historic  vessel  whose 
name  and  fame  should  be  handed  down  to 
posterity,  and  as  the  memorable  event  of 
her  great  battle  is  known  to  almost  every 
school-boy,  it  is  but  fitting  that  the  story  of 
her  tragical  end  should  be  told  also. 

One  of  the  boats  of  the  "  Rhode  Island," 
which  had  been  successful  in  taking  off  a 
load  from  the  "Monitor."  was  driven  off 
by  the  storm  and  supposed  to  be  lost. 
Search  was  made  for  her  all  the  following 
day,  but  without  success,  and  she  was  given 
up.  But.  fortunately,  after  many  perils,  she 
was  picked  up  by  the  schooner  "  Colby," 
of  Buckport,  Maine,  and  restored  to  the 
steamer  "  Rhode  Island."  The  poor  fellows 
in  this  boat  suffered  great  hardships,  and 
their  adventures  would  form  by  themselves 
an  interesting  chapter  of  incidents. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Flusser,  so  prom 
inent  under  the  command  of  Rear- Admiral 
Goldsborough.  continued  to  hold  his  repu 
tation  under  Rear-Admiral  Lee.  He  was 
a  terror  to  the  marauding  troops  of  the 
enemy,  who  made  a  note  of  all  his  move 
ments. 

On  December  9th,  1862.  he  left  Plymouth 
to  operate  on  the  Chowaii  River,  leaving  the 
"  Southfield,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
C.  F.  W.  Behm,  to  protect  the  place.  He 
had  not  much  more  than  started  when  the 
enemy  appeared  and  commenced  a  heavy 
musketry  fire  from  the  shore.  Lieutenant 
Behm  immediately  beat  to  quarters  and 
trained  his  guns  so  as  to  command  the  Ply 
mouth  shore  The  river-bank  was  lined  with 
people  flying  before  the  Confederates,  who 
were  firing  alike  on  friend  and  foe.  and  it 
was  difficult  for  the  "  Southfield  "  to  open 
fire,  for  fear  of  harming  those  citizens  who 
had  proved  themselves  friendly  and  favor 
able  to  the  Union  cause.  The  steamer  im 
mediately  got  underway  and  stood  up  the 
river  where  her  guns  could  be  brought  to 
bear  upon  the  enemy,  who  now  opened  upon 
her  with  their  artillery,  and  succeeded  in 
putting  a  shell  through  her  steam-chest  and 
filling  the  gangways  and  hold  so  full  of 
hot  steam  that  the  powder  -  passers  could 
not  get  to  the  magazines.  Of  course,  the 
"Southfield"  could  no  longer  use  her  guns, 
and  the  boats  had  to  be  lowered  to  tow 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR, 


415 


her  down  the  river.  In  the  meantime  the 
enemy  committed  all  the  mischief  possible 
and  then  decamped. 

Lieutenant -Commander  Flusser  hove  in 
sight  a  short  time  after,  and  taking  the 
"  Southfield"  in  tow  returned  to  Plymouth, 
where  his  presence  restored  confidence  and 
quiet. 

Thus  the  Confederate  marauding  parties 
continued,  on  every  favorable  opportunity, 
to  molest  the  citizens  in  the  sounds  of  North 
Carolina,  determined  that  no  loyal  feeling 
should  exist  among  them.  or.  if  it  did,  that 
the  citizens  should  pay  the  penalty  for  their 
allegiance  to  the  Xorth.  The  mistake  of 
the  Navy  Department  at  that  moment  was 
that  it  did  not  keep  a  larger  force  of  ves 
sels  in  the  sounds  to  gain  the  confidence  of 
the  inhabitants  and  secure  them  against 
the  raids  of  the  Confederate  troops. 


COMMANDER  [AFTERWARDS  CAPTAIN)  J.  P.  BANKHEAD. 

One  of  the  most  energetic  of  the  military 
commanders  in  this  neighborhood  was 
General  J.  G.  Foster,  who  was  always  on 
the  alert  to  circumvent  the  enemy  in  his 
movements. 

The  war  in  North  Carolina  was  not  prose 
cuted  on  a  scale  that  could  accomplish  any 
decisive  results.  The  military  force  in  that 
region  was  only  sufficient  to  keep  down  the 
Confederate  raids,  which  were  made  with 
forces  consisting  of  five  or  six  hundred 
men.  These  seldom  accomplished  anything 
beyond  oppressing  the  inhabitants  of  towns 
along  the  rivers  where  Federal  troops  were 
stationed,  covered  by  the  gun-boats.  Not 
withstanding  the  apparent  insignificance 
of  these  small  bands,  if  they  could  have 
united  they  would  have  driven  the  Federal 
troops  out  of  the  country.  The  difficulty  of 
the  Confederates  was  that  the  naval  vessels 


were  always  at  hand,  and  they  had  received 
so  many  proofs  of  the  effectiveness  of  their 
•'batteries"  that  they  seldom  attacked  the 
military  posts  except  in  the  absence  of  the 
gun-boats. 

General  Foster  was  fully  alive  to  the  value 
of  the  naval  branch  of  the  forces,  and  availed 
himself  on  all  occasions  of  its  services. 
In  December,  1805,  he  planned  an  attack 
upon  the  Confederate  fortifications  of  Kin- 
ston  and  the  railroad  at  or  near  Golds- 
borough,  and  asked  the  co-operation  of  the 
naval  flotilla,  at  that  time  commanded  by 
Commander  A.  Murray. 

The  following  gun-boats  were  assigned 
to  this  expedition:  "Delaware,"  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  A.  P.  Foster:  ' 'Shaw- 
sheen."  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  T.  C. 
Woodward  :  "Lockwood,"  Acting  -  Master 
G.  W.  Graves ;  ' '  Seymour, "  Acting-Master  F. 
S.  Wells,  and  the  Army  transports,  "Ocean 
Wave,"  Major  Uliam;  "Allison,"  Gunner, 
E.  A.  McDonald,  U.  S.  N.;  "Port  Royal," 
Acting-Master  G.  B.  Thompson,  U.  S.  N. ; 
"Wilson."  Captain  Rodgers,  and  "North 
State,"  Captain  Berry. 

This  flotilla  left  Newbern  on  the  evening 
of  the  15th  of  December.  The  "  Allison," 
"Port  Royal,"  "Ocean  Wave"  and  "Wil 
son"  were  in  the  advance,  under  Colonel 
Manchester  of  the  "  Marine  Artillery."  with 
orders  to  push  ahead  and  reconnoitre,  and 
in  case  of  an  attack,  or  the  discovery  of  the 
enemy's  batteries,  to  fall  back  on  the  heavier 
vessels. 

Colonel  Manchester,  in  charge  of  the  mili 
tary  expedition,  anchored  his  steamers  for 
the  night  and  made  preparations  to  ascend 
the  Neuse  River.  At  daylight  next  morning 
he  got  underway  and  with  great  difficulty 
forced  his  way  up  to  within  two  miles  of 
Kinston,  meeting  with  but  slight  opposition 
from  the  guerilla  bands  which  infested  that 
neighborhood,  and  only  losing  one  man. 

About  two  miles  from  Kinston  the  officers 
of  the  vessels,  on  turning  a  bend,  suddenly 
found  themselves  faced  by  a  10-gun  bat 
tery,  while  they  were  penned  within  the 
river  with  a  space  of  only  a  hundred  feet 
in  which  to  move  their  boats.  The  "  Port 
Royal."  Ocean  Wave"  and  "  Wilson  "  were 
ordered  to  back  out,  and  the  "  Allison  "  was 
interposed  between  them  and  the  battery, 
which  now  opened  a  rapid  fire.  It  took 
some  minutes  to  back  the  vessels  down  the 
river,  it  was  so  narrow.  The  "Allison" 
replied  to  the  enemy's  fire  with  her  Parrott 
gun,  the  first  fire  being  within  canister 
range.  Three  shells  were  exploded  within 
the  enemy's  batteries  with  good  effect  and 
the  Confederates  were  silenced. 

It  was  sunset  when  the  firing  commenced, 
and  darkness  came  on  so  rapidly  that  the 
vessels  could  hardly  see  their  wTay,  the  en 
emy's  shell  exploding  around  them  all  the 


416 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


time.  The  "  Allison  "  received  three  shell  in 
her  upper  works.  The  vessels  dropped  be 
hind  the  bend  of  the  river  and  there  anch 
ored  in  double  line,  hay,  beef,  bread,  etc., 
being  packed  along  the  sides;  the  guns  put 
in  battery  ready  for  service,  and  bags  of 
oats  spread  over  the  decks.  In  this  manner 
the  commander  of  the  expedition  waited 
until  daylight,  in  expectation  of  an  attack 
from  the  enemy,  who  could  move  about 
unseen  and  ascertain  where  the  flotilla  was 
stationed.  Several  attempts  were  made  at 
early  morn  to  reconnoitre  the  position,  but 
the  enemy  were  driven  off  by  the  fire  of  the 
Federal  outposts. 

The  active  force  had  to  return  down  the 
river,  owing  to  the  falling  water,  and  half 
the  night  was  spent  in  hauling  over  the 
steamers  that  had  grounded  in  the  mud. 
After  proceeding  about  five  miles.  Colonel 
Manchester  heard  of  a  force  concentrating 
about  a  mile  below,  with  the  intention  of 
disputing  his  passage.  The  "North  State" 
was  sent  ahead  to  ascertain  the  enemy's 
position,  while  the  other  vessels  followed 
prepared  to  shell  them  out.  A  mile  further 
on,  the  flotilla  was  attacked  by  sharp 
shooters,  who  kept  up  a  galling  fire  during 
the  next  five  miles. 

At  a  place  called  Old  Dam  the  enemy  had 
assembled  in  force,  with  the  intention  of 
obstructing  the  river,  and  both  banks 
seemed  to  be  well  manned  with  sharp 
shooters.  The  position  of  the  Confederates 
was  well  chosen,  as  they  were  enabled 
to  rake  the  vessels  with  artillery  as  they 
turned  the  river-bend.  The  steamers  now 
underwent  a  running  fire  from  unseen  foes, 
to  which  they  answered  as  best  they  could 
with  grape  and  canister,  and  with  such  good 
effect  that  the  last  gun  -  boat  could  find 
nothing  to  fire  at.  The  distance  of  the  gun 
boats  was  from  one  to  two  hundred  feet 
from  the  Confederates  and  their  guns  did 
serious  injury  to  them. 

The  vessels  were  much  shattered  by  shot 
and  falling  trees,  but  by  good  luck  and  good 
management  they  worked  their  way  out  of 
the  net  in  which  they  had  injudiciously  be 
come  entangled.  Yet  these  were  the  services 
in  which  both  Army  and  Navy  were  called 
upon  frequently  to  embark,  where,  in  nine 
out  of  ten  times,  the  loss  and  capture  of  the 
expedition  might  have  been  counted  upon. 
Fortunately,  in  this  expedition,  only  two 
men  were  killed  and  six  wounded. 

Commander  Murray  says,  in  his  report  : 
;'  This  expedition  was  partially  strategic 
and  was  very  successful.  The'  attack  on 
the  batteries  and  the  falling-back  of  the 
light  boats,  the  shelling  of  the  woods,  and 
the  feint  to  land  a  force  011  the  north  bank, 
had  the  desired  effect."  [!] 

What  the  desired  effect  was,  history  does 
not  say,  and  it  seems  to  the  writer  that  this 


was  simply  an  expedition  where  men's  lives 
were  sacrificed  without  any  apparent  good. 
The  Army  was  frittering  away  its  forces  in 
these  small  attempts  to  score  a  point,  while 
the  true  course  to  pursue  would  have  been 
to  concentrate  all  the  troops,  drive  the  en 
emy  out  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
tear  up  the  railroads  leading  to  Richmond, 
and  destroy  all  the  means  of  subsisting  an 
army  in  the  State. 

Though  it  may  have  been  said  that  the 
Federals  held  North  Carolina,  yet  it  was  by 
a  most  precarious  tenure;  and  this  section, 
which  should  in  the  beginning  have  been 
completely  conquered,  remained  simply  a 
skirmishing  -  ground  for  the  contending 
forces  throughout  the  war. 

On  January  5th  the  indefatigable  Lieu 
tenant  Gushing  started  on  an  expedition  to 
capture  some  Wilmington  pilots,  and  hav 
ing  heard  that  there  was  a  pilot  station  at 
''Little  River,"  thirty  miles  below  Fort 
Caswell.  he  made  sail  for  that  point,  and 
reached  it  on  the  morning  of  January  oth, 
1863.  He  crossed  the  bar  at  8  o'clock  at 
night  with  twenty -five  men,  in  three  cut 
ters,  and  proceeded  up  the  river.  He  was 
in  hopes  of  finding  pilots  above  and  also 
some  schooners. 

About  a  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the  river 
the  expedition  received  a  volley  of  mus 
ketry  from  a  bluff  on  the  left.  Gushing 
beached  his  boats  the  moment  he  was  fired 
upon,  without  returning  the  fire,  and  formed 
his  men  about  200  yards  from  the  point  of 
attack,  and  gave  the  order:  '' Forward — 
double-quick — charge !" 

The  fearless  fellow  never  stopped  to  con 
sider  whether  he  was  charging  fifty  men  or 
a  thousand.  It  seemed  immaterial  to  him, 
when  his  blood  was  up.  how  many  of  the 
enemy  faced  him;  and  his  men.  inspired  by 
his  intrepid  example,  followed  him  without 
hesitation. 

There  was  a  wood  in  front  of  the  charg 
ing  party,  through  which  they  passed,  and 
on  getting  into  the  clearing  Gushing  found 
himself  before  a  fort  plainly  to  be  seen  by 
the  light  of  the  camp-fires,  which  were 
burning  freely.  Knowing  that  the  enemy 
were  ignorant  of  his  numbers,  he  charged 
with  the  bayonet,  giving  three  cheers,  and 
as  he  went  over  one  side  of  the  works  the 
enemy  went  out  of  the  other. 

The  fort  was  an  earthwork  surrounded 
by  a  ditch  ten  feet  wide  and  five  deep,  with 
a  block-house  inside  pierced  for  musketry, 
No  guns  were  mounted  on  the  work.  If 
there  had  been,  the  daring  and  impetuosity 
of  the  attack  would  have  captured  them. 
The  enemy  left  in  such  haste  that  all  their 
clothes,  ammunition,  stores,  and  the  larger 
portion  of  their  arms  wrere  left  in  the  hands 
of  the  sailors,  and  all  that  could  not  be 
brought  away  was  destroyed. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


417 


Notwithstanding  that  there  was  a  possi 
bility  of  the  enemy  returning  with  increased 
numbers,  Gushing  pushed  on  up  the  river, 
where  he  met  another  party  of  Confeder 
ates,  and  a  skirmish  took  place  in  which 
the  sailors  used  up  all  their  ammunition 
and  had  to  return  to  their  boats,  with  only 
the  loss  of  one  man. 

This  was  not  an  important  affair,  but  it  is 
selected  as  showing  the  indomitable  cour 
age  of  a  young  officer  who  received  a  share 
of  honor  during  the  war  that  seldom  falls 
to  the  lot  of  one  holding  so  subordinate  a 
position;  his  performances  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy  had  already  attracted  the  notice 
of  his  commander;  and,  finally,  the  Govern 
ment,  having  confidence  in  his  valor  and 
judgment,  intrusted  him  with  duties  of  a 
hazardous  character,  which  he  always  per 
formed  with  credit  to  himself. 

Not  to  be  outdone  by  Gushing,  that  gal 
lant  and  efficient  officer.  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Flusser,  started  on  the  29th  of 
January  for  Jamesville,  hearing  that  a 
regiment  of  Confederates  were  fortifying 
that  place,  it  being  one  of  the  best  points  on 
the  river  for  annoying  the  gun-boats;  and 
was  too  important  a  position  and  too  near 
Plymouth  to  allow  the  enemy  to  hold  it. 

On  the  30th,  Flusser  took  on  board  his 
vessel  (the  "  Commodore  Perry  ")  fifty  sol 
diers  of  the  27th  Massachusetts,  under  Cap 
tain  Sanford,  landed  them  at  Hertford  with 
about  ninety  sailors,  marched  into  the  coun 
try  eight  or  ten  miles,  destroyed  two  bridges 
over  the  Purquimenous  River,  and  returned 
that  same  night  to  Plymouth.  Thus  was 
cut  off  one  of  the  means  by  which  the  enemy 
had  supplied  themselves  with  goods  from 
Norfolk  and  Richmond,  by  the  south  side 
of  the  Chowan  River,  enabling  the  Navy 
to  guard  that  ford  with  a  gun-boat;  for  a 
large  amount  of  contraband  traffic  had 
been  carried  on  from  the  Albemarle  Sound 
and  its  rivers  by  means  of  small  boats 
which  kept  along  the  shore  and  could  slip 
into  the  small  creeks  if  a  gun-boat  hove  in 
sight. 

These  little  expeditions,  though  not  very 
damaging  to  the  enemy,  showed  the  spirit 
of  the  naval  officers  and  their  determina 
tion  to  give  the  enemy  no  rest. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  18G3,  the  Confed 
erates  made  an  attack  on  Fort  Anderson,  a 
work  built  by  the  Union  troops  opposite 
Newbern,  and  occupied  by  a  regiment  of 
volunteers.  The  enemy  bombarded  the 
works  with  field-pieces,  and  kept  up  the 
fire  all  night.  In  the  morning  they  made 
a  spirited  attack  in  force,  with  masked  bat 
teries  on  the  right.  The  gun-boat  "  Hunch 
back"  and  an  armed  schooner  were  brought 
up  to  strengthen  the  Federal  position;  when 
Lieutenant-Commander  McCann,  bringing 
his  batteries  to  bear,  and  keeping  up  a  well- 

27 


directed  fire,  with  the  aid  of  the  schooner, 
silenced  the  enemy's  guns. 

There  was  an  intermission  of  an  hour  on 
the  enemy's  part,  who  made  a  demand  for 
the  surrender  of  the  fort;  but  this  was  evi 
dently  to  give  them  time  to  bring  up  more 
guns.  (The  fort  had  no  guns  mounted.) 
Perceiving  that  their  demand  received  no 
attention,  they  brought  up  fourteen  more 
guns  and  renewed  the  attack,  the  "  Hunch 
back"  and  armed  schooner  throwing  in 
their  shells  until  the  enemy  drew  off. 
Before  doing  so,  they  were  attacked  by  the 
gun-boats  "Hetzel"  and  "  Shawsheen," 
which  vessels,  being  in  a  disabled  condi 
tion,  had  to  be  towed  into  action  by.tugs. 

The  firing  of  the  Federal  vessels  was  ex 
cellent,  and  so  well  aimed  were  their  guns 
that  the  enemy  was  unable  to  use  his  artil 
lery  with  much  effect.  The  "  Hunchback  v 
was  only  struck  twice,  but  the  schooner  was 
placed  in  a  sinking  condition. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  prompt  assistance 
rendered  to  Fort  Anderson  by  the  gun  boats, 
it  would  certainly  have  fallen  into  the  ene 
my's  hands.  From  the  fact  that  the  Army 
undertook  to  hold  several  places  with  skele 
ton  regiments  and  few  or  no  guns,  it  re 
quired  the  utmost  watchfulness  on  the  part 
of  the  Navy  to  prevent  disastrous  results. 

This  affair  was  a  surprise  on  the  part  of 
the  Confederates,  for  which  the  Union 
troops  were  not  at  all  prepared,  and  they 
thanked  their  stars  that  so  watchful  a 
friend  as  the  Navy  was  at  hand  to  succor 
them  in  their  hour  of  need.  The  Army 
were  not  unmindful  of  the  service  rendered 
by  the  Navy  on  this  occasion,  and  their 
feeling  of  gratitude  is  well  expressed  by 
Colonel  J.  C.  Belknap,  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE,  ) 
WESSEL'S  DIVISION,     >• 
NEWBERX,  N.  C.,  March  15,  1863.  ) 
COMMODORE— When,  on  the  14th  of  March,  1863, 
General  Pettigrew,  with  eighteen  pieces  of  artillery 
and  over  three  thousand  men,  made  his  furious 
assault  on  Fort  Anderson,  an  unfinished  earth-work 
garrisoned  by  three  hundred  men  of  my  command 
(the  92d  New  York   Volunteers \   the  capture  or 
destruction  of  the  brave  little  band  seemed  inevit 
able,  but  the  gun-boats  under  your  command,  the 
pride  of  loyal  men  and  the  terror  of  traitors,  came 
promptly  to  the  rescue. 

Your  well-directed  fire  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
field,  covered  the  landing  of  the  8oth  New  York, 
sent  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison,  and  the  repulse  of 
the  rebel  army  was  complete. 

Allow  me,  Commodore,  in  the  name  of  the  officers 
and  members  of  my  command,  to  express  to  you 
my  admiration  for  the  promptitude  and  skill  dis 
played  by  your  command  on  that  occasion. 
The  Army  is  proud  of  the  Navy. 
I  remain  your  most  obedient, 

J.  C.  BKLKXAP, 
Colonel  85th  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers, 

Commanding  1st  Brigade. 
COMMANDER  DAVEXPORT, 
Newbern,  N.  C. 

The  steamer  "Hetzel"  committed  great 


418 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


havoc  among  the  enemy  on  this  occasion 
by  the  accuracy  of  her  fire.  One  of  her 
shells  struck  a  Parrott  gun  and  destroyed 
it ;  bursting,  it  killed  a  number  of  the 
enemy,  scattering  their  bones  and  frag 
ments  of  their  clothing  over  the  ground. 

The  army  on  the  Newbern  side  of  the 
river  had  to  be  lookers-on  during  this  fight, 
and  could  give  no  assistance  to  their  com 
rades,  consequently  it  was  altogether  a 
naval  affair;  but  no  one  doubted  what  the 
result  would  be  when  they  saw  the  rapidity 
and  accuracy  of  the  naval  fire.  In  this 
action  the  revenue-cutter  "Agassiz"  also 
took  part  at  close  quarters,  embarrassing 
the  enemy  in  his  retreat. 

As  the  enemy  retreated,  the  gun-boats 
"  Lock  wood"  and  "  Allison"  hung  upon  his 
rear  for  ten  miles  up  the  river,  inflicting 
severe  punishment;  all  these  gun-boats,  be 
it  understood,  being  flimsy  vessels,  that 
could  not  encounter  a  moderate  gale  of 
wind  at  sea  without  danger  of  foundering. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  affairs 
that  had  occurred  in  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron  since  Rear  -  Admiral  Lee  took 
command,  and  was  an  instance  of  how 
necessary  was  the  aid  which  the  Navy 
stood  always  ready  to  afford  the  other 
branch  of  the  service.  Moreover,  it  was 
not  an  assistance  that  was  sought  by  the 
Army,  but  one  which  the  Navy  anticipated 
by  being  on  hand  at  the  right  moment. 

In  April  the  Confederates  seemed  to  be 
making  more  zealous  efforts  to  obtain  a 
firm  footing  in  North  Carolina,  and  the  naval 
officer  in  command  of  the  Sounds  urged  the 
commander  of  the  North  Atlantic  squad 
ron  to  increase  his  flotilla,  suggesting  that, 
if  the  Army  also  was  not  re-enforced,  that 
the  Union  forces  would  be  driven  out  of  the 
State. 

The  policy  of  keeping  small  detachments 
of  troops  at  the  different  towns  on  the 
rivers,  with  the  gun-boats  to  look  after 
them,  had  no  permanent  effect  towards 
bringing  the  State  under  subjection,  for  the 
roving  bands  of  Confederates  were  ever  on 
the  alert  to  gain  some  advantage  over  the 
Union  forces,  which  may  be  said  to  have 
been  kept  penned  up  under  the  protection 
of  the  gun  boats. 

About  the  same  time  the  enemy  seemed 
to  be  making  a  move  upon  Williamsburg, 
Va.,  and  on  the  morning  of  April  llth  they 
attacked  that  place,  and  commenced  con 
centrating  a  heavy  force  on  Fort  Magruder, 
which  was  not  far  from  Williamsburg. 

Gun-boats  were  immediately  required  by 
the  Army  to  move  up  and  down  between 
Yorktown  and  Queen's  Creek,  and  also  to 
lie  near  Jamestown  Island.  Every  effort 
was  made  to  comply  with  the  demands 
made  upon  the  Navy,  and  on  an  announce 
ment  being  made  to  Rear- Admiral  Lee  bv 


General  Peck  that  the  enemy  were  advan 
cing  in  an  attempt  to  surround  the  Federal 
forces  at  Suffolk,  the  Admiral  dispatched 
the  following  vessels  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant  R.  H.  Lamson,  with  instruc 
tions  to  occupy  the  Nansemond  River  be 
tween  Suffolk  and  the  bar,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  western  branch,  and  to  render  all  pos 
sible  assistance  to  the  Army: 

"Mount  Washington"  (river  steamer), 
with  a  30-pounder  Parrott.  3  howitzers,  and 
a  detachment  from  the  "  Minnesota." 

"  Cohasset"  (tug).  20-pounder  Parrott  and 
a  24-pound  howitzer. 

"Alert"  (tug),  one  12  and  one  24-pound 
howitzer. 

"Stepping  Stones"  (light  ferry-boat), with 
a  battery  of  howitzers. 

The  "Commodore  Barney,"  Lieutenant  W. 
B.  Gushing,  was  also  detached  from  other 
duty  and  sent  to  Jamestown  Island. 


COMMANDER  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  STEPHEN  D. 
TRENCHARD. 

The  above  list  of  vessels  will  show  to 
what  shifts  the  Navy  was  put  to  meet  the 
calls  made  upon  it  by  the  Army.  Gun-boats 
were  called  for  everywhere,  and  these  de 
mands  were  more  than  the  naval  com 
mander  could  comply  with. 

On  the  llth,  Major-General  Keyes  tele 
graphed  that  the  Federal  troops  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Williamsburg  were  being 
driven  by  a  large  force  of  Confederates 
down  towards  the  mouth  of  Queen's  Creek, 
and  that,  if  a  large  force  of  gun-boats  was 
not  sent  to  Yorktown.  even  Yorktown  itself 
might  fall.  The  "  Commodore  Morris"  (the 
only  available  vessel)  was  sent  immediately 
to  the  York  River  to  co-operate  with  the 
"Crusader,"  then  there. 

Any  one  can  imagine  the  embarrassment 
the  commander-in-chief  laboredunder  to  sat 
isfy  all  these  demands,  first  in  the  Sounds, 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


419 


then  on  the  Nansemond,  James,  or  York 
rivers.  After  all.  most  of  these  gun-boats 
were  merely  improvised  for  the  occasion, 
and  the  Army  transports,  armed  with  field- 
artillery,  would  have  answered  the  same 
purpose.  But  the  soldiers  were  not  used  to 
managing  steamers  up  the  narrow  streams 
or  handling  guns  behind  the  frail  bulwarks 
of  wooden  gun-boats.  Only  sailors  could  do 
that  kind  of  work,  and  the  Army  were  only 
too  glad  to  have  them  do  it. 

During  the  demonstrations  made  by  the 
enemy  on  this  occasion  there  was  much 
hard  service  performed,  frequent  attacks 
from  and  repulses  of  the  enemy.  Some 
clever  young  officers  were  employed  in  this 
service,  among  them  Lieutenant  Lamson 
and  the  indomitable  Gushing — both  brave, 
energetic  men — Lamson  with  the  capacity 
of  one  older  and  more  experienced,  and 
Gushing  with  dash  and  vigor  never  ex 
ceeded.  Lamson  especially  distinguished 
himself  by  planning,  and  with  the  co-oper 
ation  of  troops  under  Brigadier-General 
Getty,  effecting  the  capture  of  five  guns 
and  130  men  on  Hill's  Point.  This  position 
commanded  the  communication  between 
the  Upper  and  Lower  Xansemond,  and  the 
Confederates  had,  from  it,  greatly  harassed 
the  flotilla.  Here  Lamson  captured  a  24- 
pound  howitzer  and  the  sword  of  the  Con 
federate  commander. 

Lieutenant  Gushing  again,  on  this  occa 
sion,  exhibited  those  high  qualities  which 
he  was  known  to  possess  in  so  remarkable 
a  degree,  being  in  a  fight  of  some  kind  from 
the  time  the  expedition  came  in  sight  of  the 
enemy  until  the  latter  retreated. 

The  enemy's  forces  were  under  the  com 
mand  of  General  Longstreet.  a  brave  and 
able  officer,  who  with  10,OUO  men  on  tho  left 
bank  of  the  river  and  a  large  force  on  the 
right  bank,  including  strong  field  and  siege 
batteries,  was  attempting  to  combine  his 
forces  and  surround  General  Peck  at 
Suffolk. 

It  was  Gushing  who  prevented  the  Confed 
erates  from  crossing  the  river,  and  kept  up 
the  communication  with  the  Union  troops. 
The  enemy  were  given  no  rest  by  the  flotilla. 
They  were  frequently  driven  from  their  rifle- 
pits,  but  continually  returned  to  them  with 
indomitable  courage  whenever  the  fire  of 
the  gun-boats  slackened  for  a  moment. 

While  Gushing  was  operating  with  his 
vessel,  he  also  kept  pickets  on  shore  to  pre 
vent  a  surprise,  and  a  party  of  these  men 
captured  the  engineer-in-chief  on  the  staff 
of  the  Confederate  General  French,  who 
had  come  down  near  the  gun-boats  with  the 
intention  of  locating  batteries. 

General  Peck  and  General  Getty  both  re 
lied  very  much  on  the  aid  of  the  Xav'y  in 
repulsing  the  Confederate  attack  on  Suffolk, 
and  they  were  largely  indebted  to  the  officers 


and  men  of  the  vessels  for  the  hearty  co 
operation  which  they  afforded,  either  by 
scattering  the  enemy  with  their  guns  or 
carrying  the  batteries  on  shore  by  assault. 
This  latter  work  was  done  on  several  occa 
sions  in  the  most  handsome  manner,  the 
assaulting  party  being  always  led  by  Lieu 
tenant  Lamson.  General  Getty,  that  brave 
old  soldier,  who  never  failed  to  acknowl 
edge  merit  when  it  came  under  his  notice, 
was  profuse  in  his  acknowledgments  of 
Lieutenant  Lamson's  conduct  in  the  man 
agement  of  the  flotilla. 

It  would  require  too  long  an  account  to 
tell  the  whole  story  of  this  expedition,  where 
fighting  was  carried  on  from  the  12th  of 
April  to  the  23d,  where  the  sailors  took  their 
share  of  the  fighting  on  shore,  and  where 
the  gun-boats,  under  the  incessant  fire  of 
the  enemy,  were  nearly  knocked  to  pieces. 

But  General  Getty  shall  speak  for  him 
self.  On  April  20th  he  writes  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS,  3o  DIVISION,  9TH  CORPS,  ) 

U.  S.  S.  "STEPPING  STONES," 
NANSEMOND  RIVER,  April  20th,  1863.  ) 
ADMIRAL : 

I  beg  to  express  my  most  sincere  thanks  to  Cap 
tain  Lamson,  U.  S.  N.,  his  officers  and  crews,  for 
the  gallantry,  energy  and  ability  displayed  by  them 
in  the  operations  of  yesterday,  resulting  in  the  cap 
ture  of  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries  of  five  guns,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Nansemond,  and  a  number  of 
prisoners. 

All  did  their  duty  most  handsomely. 
Very  respectfully,  etc., 

GEORGE  W.  GETTY, 
Brigadier-General,  U.  S,  Volunteers. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  LEE. 

Also  the  following  letters: 

U.  S.  GUN-BOAT  "STEPPING  STONES,") 

SLEEPY  HOLE  LANDING, 
NANSEMOND  RIVER,  April  21st,  1863.  ) 
ADMIRAL : 

I  have  again  to  express  my  obligation  to  Lieuten 
ant  R.  H.  Lamson,  commanding  gun-boats  in  upper 
Nansemond,  for  the  admirable  disposition  of  gun 
boats  during  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops,  etc.,  last 
night,  from  Hill's  Point,  and  for  the  efficient  aid  ren 
dered  by  him,  his  officers  and  crews  in  effecting  the 
withdrawal,  which  was  successfully  accomplished, 
the  last  man  having  recrossed  the  river  at  12  o'clock. 

All  was  accomplished  without  confusion  or  acci 
dent. 

The  artillery,  trophies,  material,  etc.,  have  been 
landed  from  the  "Stepping  Stones"  at  this  point, 
and  are  now  on  the  way  to  Suffolk. 

The  prisoners  were  landed  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Nansemond  immediately  after  the  battery  was 
carried,  and  sent  to  Suffolk. 

I  remain,  Admiral,  etc.,  etc., 

GEORGE  W.  GETTY, 

Brigadier-General,  etc. 

To  REAR-ADMIRAL  LEE,  etc.,  etc. 


HEADQUARTERS  3o  DIVISION,  OTH  CORPS,  ) 

IN  THE  FIELD, 

NANSEMOND  RIVER,  April  29th,  1863.     ) 
ADMIRAL : 

I  deem  it  proper  to  state  that  all  the  arrange 
ments  made  by  Captain  Lamson.  U.  S.  N.,  com 
manding  gun-boats  in  the  upper  Nansemond 
during  the  operations  of  the  19th  and  20th  instants, 
were  fully  known  to  and  approved  by  me. 


420 


THE    NAVAL    HISTORY 


The  conduct  of  Captain  Lainson,  his  officers  and 
men,  was  bold  and  gallant  in  the  extreme. 
I  remain,  Admiral,  etc., 

GEORGE  W.  GETTY, 
Brigadier-General,  Commanding. 
REAR- ADMIRAL  S.  P.  LEE,  etc.,  etc. 

The  operations  to  which  these  brief  let 
ters  alluded  were  those  which  took  place 
between  April  12th  and  April  23d,  in  which 
Lieutenant  Lamson,  commander  of  a  small 
flotilla,  co-operated  with  Generals  Peck 
and  Getty  for  the  protection  of  Suffolk, 
Virginia. 

During  this  time  the  fighting  was  hard 
and  incessant,  and  but  for  the  aid  of  the 
naval  force  Suffolk  would,  without  doubt, 
have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  General  Long- 
street,  who,  with  a  large  army,  attempted 
unsuccessfully  to  cross  the  river  and  sur 
round  the  Union  works. 

That  little  fleet  of  gun -boats  was  under 
a  constant  fire  for  days  without  once  flinch 
ing  from  the  post  of  duty.  Often  ground 
ing  while  under  a  heavy  pelting  from  the 
enemy's  field-pieces  (which  seemed  to  know 
no  fatigue),  they  were  almost  cut  to  pieces. 
The  commander  expressed  it,  in  his  modest 
way,  when  he  on  one  occasion  said:  "The 
enemy  soon  obtained  our  range,  and  his 
artillery  told  with  fearful  effect  on  the 
timbers  and  machinery  of  these  lightly- 
built  vessels."  But  his  reports  all  end  with 
a  cheering  account  of  having  silenced  the 
enemy's  batteries,  and  scattered  the  sharp 
shooters. 

One  who  knows  anything  about  such 
matters  can  imagine  what  targets  these 
quasi  gun-boats  must  have  been  to  Long- 
street's  well -trained  gunners,  and  how 
hardly  pummelled  these  veterans  must 
have  been,  when  they  were  obliged  to  re 
treat  again  and  again  before  the  well- 
directed  fire  of  these  "paper-clad"  vessels. 

The  Confederate  artillery  was  no  sooner 
silenced  in  one  position  than  it  opened  from 
another  upon  the  vessels,  which  had  not 
the  option  of  choosing  their  position  in 
these  narrow  rivers.  At  times  they  would 
lie  in  the  mud,  bow  on  to  the  enemy,  who 
was  too  intelligent  not  to  take  advantage 
of  their  apparently  helpless  condition.  But, 
with  a  brave  energy  that  never  flagged, 
Lamson  would  hoist  his  guns  to  the  upper 
or  hurricane  deck,  without  considering 
whether  the  deck  would  bear  their  weight, 
and  open  fire  upon  the  enemy  until  they 
were  driven  off. 

The  guns  so  mounted  were  often  struck 
by  the  expert  artillerymen  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  decks  were  plowed  up  by  their 
shot  and  shell;  but  the  gun-boats  never 
gave  in,  and  only  changed  their  positions 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  more  guns  to 
bear. 

The  Confederates  would  yell  with  delight 
when  they  could  get  one  of  the  larger  ves 


sels,  like  the  "Mount  Vernon,"  fast  in  the 
mud,  where  they  could  bring  all  their  artil 
lery  and  sharpshooters  to  bear  on  her;  but 
the  "  Stepping  Stones,"  or  some  other  spir 
ited  little  craft,  would  get  alongside,  and  tow 
her  into  deeper  water,  and  receive  without 
flinching  the  shot  and  shell  intended  for 
her  helpless  companion. 

General  Getty  might  well  say  that  the 
officers  and  men  did  their  duty.  From  such 
a  liberal  old  soldier,  as  he  was,  this  was 
but  faint  praise.  It  may  be  that  the  Army 
commanders  considered  brevity  to  be  a  vir 
tue  when  dealing  with  such  matters,  for, 
as  a  rule,  the  Army  was  not  eulogistic  of 
the  Navy  at  any  time  during  the  war.  We 
should  not  attach  much  importance  to  the 
mere  brevity  of  these  dispatches,  for  some 
times  much  may  be  expressed  in  a  very 
few  words;  but  the  "Records  of  the  War" 
show  to-day  that,  on  almost  all  occasions 
where  the  Army  and  ISTavy  co-operated,  the 
reports  of  army  operations  were  very  volu 
minous,  and  even  concerning  points  which 
could  not  have  been  held  except  by  the  guns 
of  the  Navy,  the  Army  came  in  for  the 
largest  share  of  praise. 

An  affair  which  occurred  on  the  14th  of 
April  in  the  Nansemond  River,  where  Lieu 
tenant  Lamson  in  the  "Mount  Washing 
ton,"  and  Acting-Master  T.  A.  "^Harris  in 
the  "Stepping  Stones,"  fought  the  enemy's 
batteries  for  six  hours  under  the  most  ad 
verse  circumstances,  was  one  of  the  most 
gallant  affairs  of  the  *war. 

The  reports  of  these  actions  are  long  and 
voluminous,  and  only  a  condensation  of 
them  can  be  given  in  this  history.  But 
they  can  all  be  found  in  the  Report  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  for  1863,  where  may 
be  seen  the  most  faithful  and  interesting 
account  of  these  events  that  has  yet  been 
written ;  in  fact,  a  better  story  of  the  doings 
of  the  Navy  throughout  the  war  is  given  in 
these  official  reports  than  any  historian  can 
ever  compile.  They  were  written  by  the 
men  who  did  the  work;  and  who  can  so  well 
describe,  not  only  the  acts  that  were  done, 
but  the  motives  that  inspired  them? 

Now  and  then  a  paragraph  forcibly  strikes 
our  attention,  and,  though  it  lengthens  this 
work  beyond  bounds,  we  cannot  leave  it 
out.  On  the  14th,  when  the  "Mount  Wash 
ington"  was  fighting  her  way  out  of  the 
mud,  and  was  getting  out  hawsers  to  bring 
her  broadside  to  bear,  Lamson  says: 

*  *  *  The  hawser  slipped,  and  the  channel 
being  so  narrow,  she  was  obliged  to  run  down  some 
distance  before  she  could  turn,  when  the  enemy's 
artillery  was  again  turned  on  the  "Mount  Wash 
ington.1'  Captain  Harris  soon  ran  up  to  me  again, 
and  I  was  towed  out  of  the  enemy's  range.  The 
"Barney  "  still  remained  engaging  the  enemy,  and 
continued  to  fire  till  their  artillery  ceased  and  with 
drew. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  action  the  "Mount 
Washington's "  flag-staff  was  shot  away  even  with 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


421 


the  upper  deck,  when  Mr.  Birtwistle  and  seaman 
Thidbtrg  assisted  me  to  haul  it  up  out  of  the  water 
by  the  ensign  halliards,  raise  it,  and  lash  it  along 
side  the  stump. 

And  further — 

I  cannot  find  words  to  express  my  admiration  of 
the  courageous  conduct  of  my  officers  and  men,  who 
fought  the  guns  for  six  hours,  aground  in  a  disa 
bled  vessel,  under  such  a  fire  of  artillery  and  mus 
ketry,  and  who  did  not  flinch  even  from  working  a 
gun  on  the  open  hurricane  deck,  or  from  going  out 
in  boats  to  carry  hawsers.  I  wish  through  you  to 
express  my  thanks  to  Captain  Haynes,  of  the 
"  Mount  Washington,"  and  his  executive  officer,  Mr. 
Griffith,  who  nobly  refused  to  leave  the  vessel  when 
his  crew  were  sent  away,  and  who  rendered  the 
most  valuable  assistance  during  the  action. 

Masters  -  Mate  Birtwistle,  of  the  "Minnesota," 
behaved  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  and  I  respect 
fully  recommend  him  to  you  as  a  most  brave  and 
efficient  officer. 

There  was  much  heroic  conduct  displayed 
on  this  occasion: 

A  seaman,  Joachim  Sylvia,  was  instantly  killed 
and  knocked  overboard  by  a  shell  from  the  enemy, 
when  Samuel  Woods,  captain  of  the  gun,  jumped 
overboard  to  rescue  the  body,  but,  before  he  reached 
it,  it  sank  to  rise  no  more.  This  gallant  seaman 
then  swam  back  to  the  vessel,  went  again  to  his 
gun,  and  fought  it  to  the  close  of  the  action,  in  a 
manner  that  attracted  the  attention  of  every  one. 

How  many  noble  acts  of  this  kind  occur 
in  war  without  any  notice  being  taken  of 
them  !  The  smaller  glories  are  swallowed 
up  by  the  greater  and  apparently  more 
brilliant  events,  while,  if  the  aggregate 
minor  affairs  were  summed  up.  they  would 
show  an  amount  of  gallantry  far  outweigh 
ing  that  of  some  of  the  grandest  sea-fights. 

We  would  gladly  chronicle  all  these  little 
events,  but  our  space  will  not  permit  it.  It 
is  seldom  that  the  sailors,  who  are  so  much 
exposed,  have  their  names  handed  down  in 
history,  and  it  is  a  mistake  commanders  of 
vessels  commit  in  failing  to  notice  the  gal 
lant  tars  who,  in  all  the  wars  which  the 
United  States  has  had  with  foreign  nations, 
have  performed  acts  of  heroism  that  could 
not  be  excelled  by  the  bravest  officers. 

Lieutenant  Lamson  shows  a  praiseworthy 
example  by  commending  the  deeds  of  his 
gallant  sailors  as  well  as  those  of  his  offi 
cers.  Henry  Thielberg,  Robert  Jourdan 
and  John  Sullivan,  seamen;  Robert  Woods, 
boats wain's-mate;  Quartermaster  De  Lunn; 
Third- Assistant  Engineer,  John  Healey; 
William  Jackson  and  James  Lody  ( both 
colored),  are  all  handsomely  spoken  of. 
They,  no  doubt,  received  medals  (the  high 
est  reward  a  sailor  can  aspire  to),  but  let 
their  names  go  down  in  history  as  part  of 
the  gallant  band  who  so  nobly  sustained 
the  reputation  of  the  Navy  on  April  14th, 
1863,  the  anniversary  of  the  day  when 
Sumter,  battered  and  torn,  had  to  lower 
her  flag  to  those  who  gave  the  first  stab  to 
our  free  institutions. 

Another  one  of  the  events  of  this  expe 
dition,  which  General  Getty  alludes  to,  oc 


curred  on  April  19th,  when  Lieutenant  Lam- 
son  received  on  board  the  "Stepping  Stones" 
a  portion  of  the  89th  New  York  Volunteers, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  England,  and  the 
8th  Connecticut,  under  Colonel  Ward,  the 
whole  consisting  of  300  men.  Lieutenant 
Lamson  had  four  12-pound  howitzers  ready 
for  landing,  manned  by  sailors. 

Near  6  o'clock  A.  M.,  at  a  preconcerted 
signal  from  the  steam-whistle,  a  heavy  fire 
was  opened  from  all  the  gun-boats  on  the 
Confederate  batteries,  and  from  General 
Getty's  two  batteries  on  Colham's  Point, 
opposite,  under  Captains  Morris  and 
Valler,  U.  S.  A. 

When  all  was  in  position,  Lamson  steamed 
slowly  down  the  river,  as  if  about  to  run 
the  batteries  (which  he  had  done  several 
times  before),  until  he  got  nearly  abreast  of 
the  enemy's  works,  when  he  signalled  to 
the  gun  -  boats  and  Federal  batteries  to 
cease  firing,  and  putting  his  helm  hard-a- 
starboard,  ran  into  the  bank  immediately 
under  the  upper  end  of  the  enemy's  works, 
and  so  close  to  them  that  the  Confederates 
could  not  bring  a  gun  to  bear.  The  screens 
that  had  been  used  to  hide  the  troops  were 
triced  up,  gang-planks  were  launched,  and 
with  a  cheer  from  all  the  boats  and  Union 
batteries  the  89th  New  York  rushed  ashore, 
followed  by  the  naval  howitzer-battery  and 
the  8th  Connecticut. 

The  Confederate  works  consisted  of  two 
lines,  with  an  impassable  ravine  between 
them.  The  Federal  troops  carried  the  first 
line  at  once,  but  while  the  89th  New  York 
were  running  around  the  head  of  the  ravine, 
the  enemy  swung  round  some  of  their  guns, 
and  poured  a  charge  of  grape  into  the 
assaulting  party,  which  was  immediately 
answered  by  a  discharge  of  canister  from 
the  naval  battery,  that  had  been  judi 
ciously  planted  on  the  crest  of  the  ravine, 
overlooking  the  inner  line  of  defences.  The 
brave  89th  were  into  the  works  by  this 
time,  and  the  Confederates  did  not  fire 
another  shot. 

The  victory  was  a  complete  one.  The 
Federals  captured  161  prisoners  and  5 
pieces  of  artillerv  (12  and  24  pound  field- 
guns,  captured  by  the  Confederates  at 
Harper's  Ferry  or  from  Western  Virginia), 
with  a  large  amount  of  ammunition.  Not 
a  Confederate  escaped. 

Owing  to  the  decisive  charge  made  upon 
the  enemy  and  the  fortunate  position  occu 
pied  by  the  naval  battery,  the  loss  to  the 
Federal  side  was  small ;  but  never  was 
there  a  better  commanded  affair,  and  Lam 
son  gives  due  credit  to  those  of  his  officers 
and  men  who  were  engaged  in  it. 

Though  the  work  of  the  Navy  in  this 
affair  is  lightly  spoken  of  by  the  Army 
authorities,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  saw 
in  it  something  worth  noticing,  and  he 


422 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


issued  the  following  communication,  which 
in  part  repaid  Lieutenant  Lainson  for  the 
hard  work  he  had  performed  throughout 
the  campaign: 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  April  4, 1863. 

SIR— Your  recent  important  and  meritorious  ser 
vices  on  the  upper  Nansemond  deserve  the  special 
commendation  of  the  Department,  The  ability 
displayed  in  the  discharge  of  the  important  and 
responsible  duties  which  devolved  on  the  naval 
force  during  the  late  demonstration  of  the  enemy 
reflected  the  greatest  credit  upon  yourself  and  the 
officers  and  men  under  your  command.  Their  zeal 
and  courage  in  the  hazardous  positions  in  which 
they  were  placed  have  not  failed  to  receive  the 
approbation  of  both  the  naval  and  military 
authorities. 

General  Getty,  with  whom  you  have  been  co 
operating,  has  expressed  his  obligations  to  you  and 
your  command  for  gallantry  and  energy  displayed, 
especially  in  the  capture  of  a  rebel  battery  on  the 
Nansemond,  and  for  valuable  assistance  rendered 
to  him  during  his  operations  in  repelling  the  enemy; 
and  your  immediate  commanding  officer,  Acting 
Rear- Admiral  Lee,  has  reported  in  terms  of  admira 
tion  of  your  discretion  and  valor. 

The  Department  congratulates  you  on  your  suc 
cess,  and  is  proud  to  see  in  the  younger  members  of 
the  corps  such  evidence  of  energy  and  gallantry 
and  execution  and  ability,  scarcely  surpassed  by 
those  of  more  age  and  experience. 

GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Gushing  also  came  in  for  a  share  of  com 
mendation  for  his  success  on  the  Nanse- 
mond,  and  Secretary  Welles  was  no  less 
enthusiastic  in  his  praise  than  in  the  case 
of  Lieutenant  Lamson: 

NAATY  DEPARTMENT,  May  4, 1863. 

SIR — Your  gallantry  and  meritorious  services 
during  the  recent  demonstrations  of  the  enemy  on 
the  ^Nansemond,  and  in  co-operating  with "  the 
Army,  are  entitled  to  the  especial  notice  and  com 
mendation  of  the  Department.  Your  conduct  on 
this  occasion  adds  additional  lustre  to  the  character 
you  had  already  established  for  valor  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy. 

The  energy  and  ability  displayed  by  yourself  and 
the  officers  and  men  under  your  command  in  defence 
of  the  lower  Nanseinond  are  most  creditable,  and 
are  appreciated  by  the  Department. 

The  Department  desires  to  express  to  you  more 
especially  its  admiration  of  your  gallantry  and  en 
terprise,  in  conducting  an  important  armed  recon 
naissance  with  a  party  from  the  gun-boats,  some 
miles  into  the  enemy's  country  to  the  village  of 
Chuckatuck,  and  putting  to  flight  a  party  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  and  safely  returning  to  your  vessel. 

Accept  my  congratulations  for  yourself  and  the 
officers  and  men  who  were  under  your  command. 
GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Lieutenant  W.  B.  GUSHING, 

Commanding  Steamer  "  Commodore  Barney." 

These  were  very  complimentary  words,  and 
should  have  made  these  officers  proud  of  the 
distinction  that  had  been  shown  them— dis 
tinctions  superior  even  to  those  received  by 
officers  who  had  commanded  fleets  and  per 
formed  services  that  had amost  decisive  bear 
ing  on  the  war.  Without  doubt,  these  young 
officers  deserved  all  that  was  said  of  "them, 
and  their  performances  in  after  service  show 
that  the  commendations  were  not  misplaced. 


The  result  of  this  expedition  was  the  re 
pulse  of  the  enemy  and  the  security  of  the 
Federal  forces  in  the  intrenched  works  at 
Suffolk.  But  this  was  not  war  on  a  grand 
scale,  such  as  should  have  been  inaugurated 
by  the  Federal  Government  at  that  time, 
when  its  troops  were  almost  numberless. 
and  great  armies  were  posted  from  Wash 
ington  to  Missouri.  These  little  skirmishes 
and  reconnaissances  had  no  material  effect 
upon  the  war.  It  was  a  great  waste  of  men 
on  shore  and  a  great  destruction  of  gun 
boats  afloat. 

It  was  quite  evident  to  those  who  could 
judge,  that,  under  such  a  system  as  the  Gov 
ernment  was  pursuing,  the  war  must  lan 
guish  for  want  of  one  efficient  leader,  who 
could  arrange  and  direct  the  great  armies 
which  were  scattered  from  one  end  of  the 
States  to  the  other,  without  apparently 
working  for  one  common  object.  These 
comparatively  small  demonstrations  had 
no  actual  value  beyond  making  the  troops 
familiar  with  the  duties  of  soldiers  in  the 
field,  and  the  establishment  of  positions  at 
places  like  Suffolk  (which  they  could  not 
hold  without  a  force  of  improvised  gun 
boats  carrying  the  heaviest  guns)  gave  evi 
dence  that  the  art  of  war  had  not  progressed 
much,  in  1863,  when  such  small  operations 
were  held  in  such  high  estimation.  There 
was  a  great  waste  of  military  force,  and  in 
most  cases  waste  of  time,  frequently  with 
out  any  effect  (one  way  or  the  other),  beyond 
demonstrating  the  zeal,  energy  and  courage 
of  the  two  arms  of  the  service. 

If  one  good- sized  army  had  been  stationed 
upon  the  Peninsula,  its  lines  gradually  clos 
ing  in  the  direction  of  Richmond,  with  its 
centre  resting  upon  the  principal  river,  as  it 
advanced,  and  covered  by  a  large  flotilla  of 
well-constructed  gun-boats,  all  the  rivers  in 
that  part  of  Virginia  would  have  been  so 
completely  under  the  Federal  control  that 
the  Confederates  would  have  had  no  oppor 
tunity  to  keep  up  their  incessant  raids, 
which  seemed  to  keep  the  Army  and  Navy 
in  a  continual  state  of  excitement. 

In  some  cases  the  Army  had  hardly  got 
possession  of  some  point  and  made  them 
selves  warm  in  it,  when  the  strategy  of 
war  turned  it  over  to  the  hands  of  the  Con 
federates,  who  would  erect  batteries  after 
their  mode  of  defence,  and  then  abandon 
it  in  as  summary  a  manner  as  the  Federals 
had  done  before  them.  The  same  course 
seems  to  have  been  taken  in  Virginia  as 
was  tried  in  North  Carolina— small  bodies 
of  men  detailed  to  hold  prominent  positions, 
with  a  few  ill -built  and  worse  -  equipped 
gun-boats  to  protect  them. 

There  was  no  want  of  activity,  courage 
and  zeal  on  the  part  of  the  officers  of  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron,  but  there  was  so 
small  a  field  of  operations,  with  the  excep- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


lion  of  such  as  has  been  mentioned,  that 
the  officers  and  men  had  not  the  same  op 
portunity  for  distinction  as  was  enjoyed  on 
other  stations;  though  in  war  the  true 
secret  is  to  make  the  opportunity.  It  is 
what  seldom  comes  to  any  one.  It  must  be 
sought  for.  and  though  it  is  a  shy  spirit,  not 
easily  wooed  and  won,  yet  it  puts  itself  in 
the  way  of  those  who  are  determined  to 
pursue  and  overtake  it  in  spite  of  all  obsta 
cles.  The  proof  of  this  was  demonstrated 
in  the  case  of  Lieutenants  Lamson  and 
Gushing,  two  daring  young  fellows,  who 
lost  no  opportunity  of  bringing  their  names 
before  the  Navy  Department,  and  who  were 
as  well  known  in  the  Navy  as  the  most 
successful  commanders  of  fleets. 

A  great  many  of  the  vessels  of  the  North 
Atlantic  squadron  were  employed  in  the 
blockade  of  the  coast  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Chesapeake  to  below  Cape  Fear  shoals. 
The  Cape  Fear  River  had  (since  the  com 
plete  blockade  of  Charleston)  become  the 
principal  ground  for  blockade-runners,  that 
river  having  two  entrances,  by  either  of 
which  blockade-runners  could  enter,  pro 
tected  by  Fort  Caswell  on  the  south  side 
of  Cape  Fear,  and  by  strong  earth-works 
(which  finally  grew  to  be  Fort  Fisher)  on 
the  north  side. 

Many  reports  are  made  of  the  capture  or 
destruction  of  blockade-runners,  and  in 
chasing  up  these  vessels  great  activity  was 
displayed.  On  the  6th  of  May,  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Braine  reports  a  boat  expedi 
tion  from  the  steamer  "Monticello"  and  the 
mortar  schooner  "Matthew  Vassar"  (Act 
ing-Master  L.  A.  Brown),  mentioning  the 
destruction  of  one  of  the  vessels  in  Morrell's 
Inlet,  an  English  schooner  called  the 
"Golden  Liner,"  of  Halifax,  with  a  large 
cargo,  and  also  the  burning  of  two  large 
store-houses.  Destruction  of  this  kind  of 
property  always  caused  serious  loss  to  the 
enemy,  and  it  could  not  be  replaced. 

On  May  26th,  Rear- Admiral  Lee  reports 
the  operations  in  the  sounds  of  North  Car 
olina.  It  appears  that  the  Confederates 
had  invested  Washington,  on  the  Pamlico 
River,  which  investment  lasted  eighteen 
days,  and  after  a  fruitless  effort  to  take  the 
place  (which  would  have  been  of  no  use  to 
them  if  they  had  succeeded),  the  enemy  re 
tired  on  the"  15th  of  April. 

Washington,  N.  C.,  had  been  pretty  ex 
tensively  fortified  by  the  Confederates 
while  they  held  it,  but  they  had  been  driven 
away  from  it  by  the  Federal  forces. 

On  the  morning  of  March  31st  the  ene 
my  appeared  in  force,  and  took  possession 
of  their  old  works  (seven  miles  below  the 
town),  which  had  been  built  to  cut  off  the 
water  communication.  The  "Commodore 
Hull"  and  "Louisiana"  (two  light-built  and 
vulnerable  gun-boats)  were  at  the  time  sta 


tioned  at  Washington,  and,  on  the  appear 
ance  of  the  Confederates,  opened  fire  upon 
them  with  their  great  guns. 

At  5:45,  the  enemy  took  position  at  Rod 
man's  Point,  and  opened  fire  with  artillery 
upon  the  "  Commodore  Hull,"  which  vessel 
had  been  stationed  at  that  point  to  prevent 
their  occupying  it.  The  fire  was  returned 
with  vigor,  and,  after  a  smart  action  of  one 
hour  and  a  half,  the  "Commodore  Hull,"  in 
changing  her  position,  got  aground,  where 
she  remained  until  eight  p.  M.  exposed  to 
a  continuous  and  accurate  fire.  Her  com 
mander  (Acting -Master  Saltonstall)  de 
fended  her  most  gallantly  until  all  his 
ammunition  was  expended.  The  vessel 
was  much  cut  up,  but  received  no  vital 
injury. 

Meantime  the  "Ceres,"  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  J.  Macdearmid  ;  "  Lockwood," 
Acting- Volunteer-Lieu  ten  ant  G.W.  Graves; 
the  sloop  "Granite,"  Acting  -  Master  E. 
Boomer,  and,  finally,  the  "Hunchback," 
Lieutenant-Commander  McCann,  were  dis 
patched  by  Commander  Davenport  to  the  re 
lief  of  the  besieged  forces  at  Washington, 
but  they  were  stopped  below  Hill's  Point  by 
the  re-establishment  of  the  enemy's  batteries 
there,  and  by  the  removal  of  the  buoys  at 
the  old  obstructions.  This  prevented  the 
steamers  from  going  ahead,  for  fear  of 
being  grounded  on  the  old  wrecks,  in  which 
case  they  would  easily  have  been  destroyed. 
It  was  not  possible  to  send  out  boats  and 
place  other  buoys  on  account  of  the  ene 
my's  sharpshooters  and  flying  artillery, 
which  would  have  destroyed  the  boats. 
Under  the  circumstances  there  was  no 
remedy,  and  the  above-mentioned  steamers 
had  to  remain  outside;  but  during  the  siege 
communications  were  opened  at  great  risks 
between  the  vessels  above  and  below  the 
batteries,  thus  conveying  ammunition  and 
dispatches. 

On  the  3d  of  April,  the  flotilla  below  Hill's 
Point  was  reinforced  by  the  "Southfield," 
"Whitehead"  and  "Seymour,"  from  Ply 
mouth.  In  the  meantime  the  "  Commodore 
Hull"  and  "Louisiana,"  and  an  armed 
transport  called  the  "  Eagle,"  under  charge 
of  Second- Assistant  Engineer  J.  L.  Lay  and 
Assistant  Pay  master  W.W.Williams,  of  the 
"Louisiana,"  as  volunteers,  were  almost 
continually  engaged  with  the  enemy's  bat 
teries  opposite  Washington,  until  the  morn 
ing  of  the  4th,  when  the  "Ceres"  made  a 
gallant  dash  past  the  forts,  with  a  full  sup 
ply  of  ammunition,  and  joined  the  besieged 
force  above. 

On  the  6th,  a  small  naval  battery  of  two 
light  guns  was  established  on  shore,  com 
manding  the  channel  from  above,  to  repel 
any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to 
attack  the  gun-boats  from  that  quarter  by 
water. 


424 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


On  the  7th  inst.  112,  on  the  8th  107.  and 
on  the  9th  55  shot  and  shell  were  fired  by 
the  enemy  at  the  gun-boats  without  inflict 
ing  any  serious  damage. 

On  the  10th.  Acting  -  Ensign  J.  B.  De 
Camarra  succeeded  in  getting  a  schooner 
tli rough  from  the  lower  fleet,  loaded  with 
naval  ammunition. 

On  the  12th.  the  gun-boats  silenced  and 
destroyed  by  their  fire  a  battery  which  the 
enemy  had  erected  with  sand-bags  and 
cotton-bales,  abreast  of  the  town,  and  which 
for  seven  days  previously  had  maintained 
an  active  and  dangerous  fire  on  them. 

On  the  13th,  the  Confederate  boats  filled 
with  infantry,  as  pickets  on  the  river  below 
the  forts,  were  driven  ashore  by  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  Macdearmid,  with  a 
howitzer  on  a  small  schooner.  On  the  same 
night  the  army  transport  "  Escort"  gallantly 
ran  the  blockade,  with  reinforcements  for 
the  Federal  troops  at  Washington,  having 
safely  passed  Hill's  Point  under  cover  of 
the  gun-boats  below. 

On  the  14th  and  15th,  the  enemy  kept  up 
a  vigorous  fire  with  their  artillery,  which 
was  returned  by  the  gun-boats. 

An  opportunity  occurred  about  the  time 
mentioned  for  the  Army  and  Navy  to  score 
a  strong  point  on  the  Confederates.  There 
were  a  number  of  troops  in  transports  below 
Hill's  Point  waiting  the  opportunity  to  re 
inforce  the  troops  above,  either  by  running 
the  batteries  or  turning  them  by  land 
marches.  Under  cover  of  the  gun-boats 
the  troops  could  easily  have  carried  the 
enemy's  works  at  Hill's  Point,  but  it  was 
not  attempted.  The  Confederate  batteries 
were  behind  strong  natural  banks  of  earth 
works,  perforated  at  points  with  embra 
sures.  The  gun- boats  had  attacked  them 
several  times  without  any  apparent  effect. 
The  position  was  deemed  too  strong  to 
carry  by  assault  with  a  limited  number  of 
troops,  so  the  gun-boats  and  transports  had 
to  lie  at  anchor  before  it  and  make  no  sign, 
until  troops  could  be  marched  overland 
from  Newbern. 

On  the  morning  of  the  loth,  the  steamer 
"Escort"  arrived  with  General  Foster  on 
board,  who  seemed  to  think  the  situation  so 
serious  that  his  presence  was  demanded. 
The  day  after  his  arrival  the  enemy  sud 
denly  disappeared,  and  the  siege  was  raised. 

The  commander  of  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron  seemed  to  be  well  satisfied  with 
the  conduct  of  those  under  his  command, 
and  reported  that  the  credit  of  the  Navy 
had  been  well  maintained  throughout. 

Commander  Renshaw,  at  Washington, 
and  Lieutenant-Commander  McCann.  be 
low  on  the  river,  conducted  affairs  with 
prudence  and  zeal.  The  former  held  a 
position  of  great  responsibility  and  severe 
trial,  and  he  met  the  various  emergencies 


with  promptness  and  decision.  He  had  the 
direction  of  naval  matters,  and  would  have 
been  held  responsible  if  the  town  had  fallen 
into  the  enemy's  hands. 

On  the  3d  inst.,  the  enemy  had  established 
their  batteries  abreast  of  the  town,  one  of 
them  a  rifled  12-pounder.  distant  600  yards. 
The  batteries  succeeded  in  firing  only  five 
shots  before  they  were  silenced  by  the  Fed 
eral  shell,  which  fairly  demolished  the 
works. 

During  the  siege  (if  it  may  be  so  called) 
there  was  an  incessant  peal  of  artillery, 
and  the  enemy  seemed  determined  to  carry 
the  place,  no  matter  what  the  cost  might 
be  to  them;  but,  whether  aground  on  the 
river-bed  or  lying  in  the  stream,  the  fire  of 
the  gun -boats  was  incessant  and  well 
directed — so  well  directed,  indeed,  that  the 
enemy  frequently  seemed  to  be  firing  at 
random. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  Macdearmid 
is  spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms  for  his 
coolness  and  valor.  This  is  not  the  first 
time  that  his  name  has  appeared  in  this 
narrative,  and  it  will  not  likely  be  the  last. 

Acting-Master  Saltonstall  was  promoted 
by  the  Department  for  the  steady  gallantry 
with  which  he  fought  his  disabled  vessel 
for  nearly  a  day  against  great  odds,  and  for 
his  good  conduct  during  the  siege. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  Graves  and 
Acting-Master  Welles  were  commended  for 
faithful  and  efficient  service,  and  were  pro 
moted  in  consequence. 

Acting-Ensign  De  Camarra.  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates  E.  MacKeever,  A.  H.  Hicks  and 
Edward  S.  Austin  were  commended  for 
their  good  conduct  and  bravery  in  battle. 

Acting -Master  F.  Josselyn,  Acting- 
Ensigns  J.  O.  Johnson  and  J.  B.  De  Cam 
arra.  Acting-Master's  Mates  A.  F.  Haraden 
and  Henry  W.  Wells.  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant  Engineers  H.  Rafferty  and  John  E. 
Harper,  and  Paymaster's  Steward  John  C. 
Cross,  were  recommended  to  especial  notice 
for  their  bravery  in  battle. 

These  commendations  were  probably 
only  known  to  the  parties  who  secured 
them;  and,  as  their  names  have  not  been 
handed  down  in  history,  it  may  be  some 
compensation  to  them  at  this  late  day  to 
know  that  they  are  remembered.  De  Cam 
arra,  Johnson,  Wells  and  Hicks  were  recom 
mended  for  promotion. 

That  the  Navy  performed  excellent  ser 
vice  in  defending  the  garrison  at  Washing 
ton,  N.  C.,  there  can  be  little  doubt.  The 
naval  force  appeared  promptly  on  the  scene 
of  action,  and  was  so  well  handled  that  it 
saved  the  garrison  from  capture;  yet  all 
this  zeal,  gallantry  and  efficiency  is  merely 
mentioned  by  General  Spinola  as  follows: 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  bearing  testi 
mony  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  the*  Navy  while 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


4*5 


acting  in  conjunction  with  my  command,  particu 
larly  Captain  Macdearniid,  of  the  gun-boat  "Ceres." 

The  conduct  of  the  lieutenant-commanders  of  the 
pun-boats  engaged  was  all  that  could  have  been  ex 
pected  of  them ;  they  manifested  great  bravery, 
coupled  with  a  willingness  to  do  all  in  their  power  to 
relieve  the  garrison. 

These  are  not  the  hearty  expressions  that 
should  come  from  the  pen  of  a  gallant  sol 
dier,  who  should  have  felt  and  expressed  a 
warmer  gratitude  for  the  services  rendered 
to  his  army;  but  this  seems  to  have  been 
the  style  of  noticing  the  work  of  the  Navy 
throughout  the  war.  Very  few  cases  oc 
curred  where  the  Army  could  help  the 
Navy;  but,  when  such  wras  the  case,  the  lat 
ter  acknowledged  the  obligation  in  a  most 
eulogistic  manner. 

This  affair  on  the  Pamlico  River  was  very 
much  like  that  on  the  upper  Nansemond— 
there  were  too  few  troops  for  the  occasion. 
These  scattered  garrisons,  in  badlv-built 
and  poorly-armed  earth-works. offered  great 
temptations  to  the  Confederate  roving 
bands,  who,  through  their  spies,  watched 
the  Federal  movements  closely,  and  when 
the  military  commanders  grew  less  watch 
ful,  or  the  gun-boats  were  out  of  the  way, 
pounced  upon  them,  expecting  an  easy 
victory.  The  enemy  would  often  fight  with 
a  pertinacity  bordering  on  desperation,  and, 
after  firing  away  all  their  ammunition, 
would  retire  as  suddenly  as  they  appeared. 

What  the  Federals  needed  in  order  to 
break  up  these  raids  was  a  large  force  of 
cavalry,  moving  from  one  part  of  the  State 
to  the  other  with  such  rapidity  and  ener 
getic  action  that  the  Confederates  could 
make  no  headway  against  them.  This 
course  would  have  placed  the  Army  in  a 
more  independent  position,  and  they  would 
not  have  become  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  "  every  soldier  ought  to  carry  a  gun 
boat  in  his  pocket." 

On  May  27th.  Lieutenant  Flusser  reports 
an  expedition  under  Acting- Volunteer-Lieu 
tenant  Charles  A.  French,  who  went  in  the 
steamer  "  Whitehead"  to  cruise  in  the  east 
ern  end  of  Albemarle  Sound,  and  break  up 
the  contraband  trade,  a  great  deal  of  which 
was  carried  on  in  that  vicinity.  Lieutenant 
French  reports  the  capture  of  a  large  two- 
masted  boat,  containing  500  barrels  of  to 
bacco.  In  Alligator  River  he  captured  or 
destroyed  several  boats  engaged  in  illicit 
trade,  and  also  along  the  shore  a  large 
quantity  of  pork,  bacon,  leather,  tobacco 
bags,  lard  and  tallow  ready  for  shipment 
to  the  enemy.  Many  grist  mills,  grinding 
corn  for  the  enemy,  were  burned  by  the 
officers  of  the  "  Valley  City." 

At  this  time  the  Confederate  commis 
saries  were  out  in  great  force  gathering 
stores  for  the  Army  near  Suffolk,  and  it  was 
desirable  to  destroy  as  much  provisions  as 
possible— even  though  the  non-combatants 


suffered  considerably.  Such  is  the  law  of 
war — no  distinction  can  be  drawn  in  such 
cases,  and  on  this  occasion  the  duty  was 
performed  very  thoroughly. 

On  May  31st  1863,  General  Dix  concluded 
to  evacuate  West  Point,  at  the  head  of  York 
River,  and  on  that  day  the  Federal  Army 
marched  out,  covered  by  the  gun -boats 
"Commodore  Morris,"  "Commodore  Jones," 
"  Morse"  and  "  Mystic,"  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant-Commander  Gillis.  The  oper 
ation  was  effected  without  the  slightest  ac 
cident,  and  without  any  demonstration  on 
the  part  of  the  enemy.  Everything  belong 
ing  to  the  United  States  Government  was 
safely  removed,  the  gun-boats  taking  on 
board  the  forage,  provisions  and  ammuni 
tion,  and  landing  them  safely  at  Yorktown. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May,  Lieutenant- 
Commander  James  H.  Gillis  participated 
in  an  expedition  with  Brigadier-General 
Kilpatrick  in  Matthews  County.  The  object 
of  the  expedition  was  to  mount  all  the  dis 
mounted  men  in  Kilpatrick's  command. 

Lieutenant -Commander  Gillis  took  on 
board  the  "Commodore  Morris"  100  men 
from  the  4th  Delaware  Volunteers,  under 
Major  La  Mott,  and  with  the  "  Winnissim- 
met"  in  company  proceeded  to  North  River, 
where  he  arrived  at  half -past  five  P.M.  Here 
were  captured  300  horses,  150  head  of  cattle 
and  a  large  number  of  sheep.  At  the  same 
time  the  troops  destroyed  all  the  property 
that  could  be  of  any  use  to  the  Confederates. 

A  large  amount  of  property  was  destroyed 
in  these  raids.  It  was  impossible  to  dis 
criminate,  and,  in  consequence,  a  great 
many  innocent  people  suffered. 

One  of  the  mail-boats  (the  "Swan")  was 
fired  upon  by  a  party  of  Confederate  raid 
ers,  on  York  River,  below  West  Point,  the 
result  of  which  was  the  burning  by  the 
gun-boat  "Morse"  of  twelve  houses,  in 
front  or  behind  which  the  enemy  had 
placed  their  batteries.  The  object  evidently 
was  to  have  these  houses  burned,  in  order 
to  embitter  the  inhabitants  against  the 
Union  troops.  The  justification  given  for 
firing  the  buildings  was  that  an  unarmed 
mail-boat,  which  was  in  the  habit  of  carry 
ing  women  and  children  as  passengers,  had 
been  fired  upon  by  the  Confederates. 

It  was  rather  a  severe  punishment  to  in 
flict  on  an  unoffending  people,  because  the 
Confederates  would  not  stay  to  be  captured, 
and  it  certainly  was  not  the  best  method  of 
gaining  the  confidence  of  the  citizens,  whom 
the  Army  and  Navy  claimed  to  protect. 
The  amenities  of  war  were  entirely  forgot 
ten  on  this  occasion,  and  such  wantonness 
could  only  insure  retaliation  on  the  first 
favorable  opportunity. 

On  the  morning  of  June  4th,  an  expedi 
tion  of  400  soldiers  embarked  at  Yorktown 
on  board  the  United  States  steamers  "Com- 


426 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


modore  Morris"  (Lieutenant -Commander 
Gillis),  "Commodore  Jones"  (Lieutenant- 
Commander  Mitchell),  the  army  gun-boat 
"  Smith  Briggs"  and  the  transport  •'  Win- 
nissimmet." 

These  vessels  proceeded  to  Walkertown, 
about  twenty  miles  above  West  Point,  on 
the  Mattapony  River.  Here  the  troops 
were  landed  and  marched  to  Aylett's,  where 
the  object  of  the  expedition  was  success 
fully  accomplished:  a  large  foundry,  with 
all  its  machinery,  grist  mills,  and  a  quantity 
of  grain  were  destroyed,  and  a  number  of 
horses  captured. 

The  affair  was  carried  through  without 
any  accident,  the  gun -boats  keeping  the 
river  open,  though  several  attempts  were 
made  by  the  enemy  to  annoy  them  at  dif 
ferent  points.  This  expedition  was  fitted 
out  (as  appears  from  a  general  order  of  Gen 
eral  Keyes)  with  the  purpose  of  "striking 
an  effective  blow  at  the  enemy,"  but  the 
results  were  only  as  above  stated. 

These  events  do  not  appear  very  striking 
on  paper,  but  in  a  campaign  which  did  not 
offer  a  very  large  scope  for  military  and 
naval  operations,  they  hold  a  place  worthy 
of  being  mentioned,  as  exhibiting  the  zeal, 
bravery  and  enterprise  of  the  Federal  offi 
cers,  who  showed  a  determination  to  annoy 
and  cripple  the  enemy  in  every  possible  way. 

But  still  this  was  not  war,  in  the  true 
sense  of  the  word — it  was  simply  raiding — 
when  we  had  quite  a  respectable  force  that 
should  have  been  gaining  victories  over  the 
enemy,  who  did  not  seem  unwilling  to  meet 
the  encounters  of  the  Federal  troops,  and 
who  held  their  own  positions  and  checked 
the  advance  beyond  the  upper  Nansemond 
whenever  it  was  attempted. 

The  records  of  the  times,  in  speaking  of 
the  military  movements  on -the  Peninsula, 
have  constant  accounts  of  the  Federal's  get 
ting  possession  of  West  Point  and  then  evac 
uating  it,  to  fall  back  on  Yorktown,  which 
latter  place  seems  to  have  been  kept  for  a 
harbor  of  safety,  or  a  resort  from  whence  the 
Army  could,  by  aid  of  the  gun- boats,  make  a 
dash,  carry  off  some  heads  of  beef  and  horses, 
and  return  with  little  or  no  loss.  But  at  that 
moment  it  was  the  only  field  of  adventure 
which  offered  itself  to  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron,  and  the  Navy  was  glad  of  the 
opportunity  to  share  with  the  Army  the 
dangers  (if  there  were  any)  of  these  'expe 
ditions. 

We  are  aware  that  the  doings  of  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron  afford  dry  reading, 
in  comparison  with  the  more  brilliant 
achievements  enacting  elsewhere;  but  it  is  a 
part  of  the  history  of  the  war,  in  which  the 
Navy  bore  its  part,  if  not  with  any  impor 
tant  success,  yet  with  patience,  zeal  and 
gallantry,  under  circumstances  which  were 
ofttimes  more  trying  than  was  the  case  in 


other  squadrons,  where  a  wider  field  of 
action  was  offered. 

It  may  seem  to  the  reader  that  we  have 
dwelt  longer  than  necessary  on  what  might 
be  considered  unimportant  events,  but  the 
small  matters  are  the  links  in  the  chain  of 
history,  which,  if  omitted,  would  leave  the 
story  incomplete.  Officers  themselves  have 
attached  so  much  importance  to  some  of 
these  events,  and  have  made  such  minute 
reports  of  them,  that  they  possess  more  in 
trinsic  value  than  appears  upon  their  face. 

A  good  many  of  the  later  reports  are 
taken  up  with  accounts  of  small  expeditions 
in  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina,  the  gun 
boats  being  evidently  constantly  employed 
attacking  small  bodies  of  the  enemy  in 
narrow  and  crooked  streams,  destroying 
granaries,  and  detecting  Confederate  sym 
pathizers.  But  with  all  our  desire  to  do 
justice  to  the  praiseworthy  efforts  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron,  and  to  mention  all  those  who  in 
any  way  distinguished  themselves  or  scored 
a  good  point  on  the  enemy,  we  feel  obliged 
to  omit  many  accounts  of  expeditions  which 
would  take  up  the  place  of  more  important 
matters  having  a  greater  bearing  on  the 
war.  Therefore,  we  will  confine  ourselves 
to  such  expeditions  as  accomplished  im 
portant  results.  Our  pages  are  limited,  and 
we  desire  to  make  them  as  bright  as  pos 
sible. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  1863,  the  steamer 
"Kate,"  belonging  to  the  Confederates, 
while  going  into  Wilmington,  was  driven 
on  Smith's  Island  Beach  by  the  gun-boat 
"  Penobscot,"  but  was  eventually  floated 
off  by  the  enemy,  and  towed  under  the 
batteries  at  New  Inlet. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  August, 
the  blockading  vessels,  "James  Adger," 
"Mount  Vernon"  and  "  Iroquois,"  ap 
proached,  and  the  "Mount  Vernon,"  dis 
covering  the  condition  of  the  Confederate 
steamer,  reported  it  to  Captain  Case,  of  the 
"Iroquois."  This  officer  immediately  or 
ganized  an  expedition  to  cut  the  vessel  out 
from  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher  (which 
had  not  at  that  time  assumed  such  formid 
able  proportions  as  it  did  later  on). 

The  Confederates  were  at  this  time  towing 
the  "  Kate  "  in  towards  New  Inlet,  and  Com 
mander  Patterson,  in  the  "James  Adger," 
was  ordered  to  assist  the  "  Mount  Vernon  " 
in  cutting  her  out,  and  prevent  her  reaching 
the  protection  of  the  batteries. 

At  seven  o'clock,  the  "Mount  Vernon" 
opened  fire  upon  the  steamer,  when  her 
commander  ( Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant 
James  Trathen)  received  orders  from  Cap 
tain  Case  to  "drag  the  'Kate'  out."  Two 
boats  were  called  away  from  the  "  Mount 
Vernon"  and  sent  to  board  the  "Kate," 
while  the  vessel  herself  went  alongside,  and 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


427 


sent  another  party  on  board  at  the  same 
time.  A  hawser  was  made  fast  to  the 
prize,  and  she  was  towed  out. 

The  Confederate  batteries  at  New  Inlet 
opened  with  great  vigor,  and  a  masked 
battery  of  Whitworth  guns  on  Smith's 
Island"  kept  up  a  furious  fire.  The  enemy 
did  not  seem  to  be  particular  in  his  aim, 
as  an  80  -  pounder  Armstrong  rifle  -  shot 
passed  through  the  port-side  of  the  "  Kate," 
and  out  through  the  starboard  bulwarks, 
just  as  the  "Mount  Vernon  "  and  her  boats 
boarded  her.  Several  shots  from  heavy 
Armstrong  guns  and  Whitworth  12-pouiul- 
ers  struck  the  "Mount  Vernon."  One 
Whitworth  projectile  passed  through  the 
engine-room,  instantly  killing  Edwin  H. 
Peck,  first-class  fireman.  This  shot  lodged 
in  the  engineer's  tool-chest,  demolishing 
the  contents.  An  Armstrong  rifle-shot  cut 
away  all  the  shrouds  of  the  port  fore-rig 
ging.  A  Whitworth  shot  cut  away  the 
fore-topmast  rigging,  and  another  the  fore- 
gaff.  A  shot  from  the  mound  battery  car 
ried  away  the  stock  of  the  port-anchor. 
Many  shot  passed  over  the  vessel  and  all 
around  her,  and  the  firing  from  the  enemy's 
work  was  lively  enough  to  make  the  affair 
very  exciting.  But  the  commander  of  the 
"  Mount  Vernon  "  did  not  abandon  his  prize; 
he  towed  her  out,  and  delivered  her  to  the 
"  Iroquois,"  which  vessel  took  her  to  Beau 
fort. 

This  cutting  -  out  was  gallantly  done, 
and  the  parties  concerned  deserve  great 
credit.  Captain  Case  speaks  handsomely 
of  the  manner  in  which  Lieutenant  Trathen 
boarded  the  "Kate"  and  towed  her  off 
shore.  It  was  not  only  the  coolness  and 
bravery  with  which  this  affair  was  con 
ducted,  but  also  the  professional  skill  with 
which  the  "  Mount  Vernon"  was  managed 
by  her  commander  that  gives  it  special 
merit. 

There  were  lively  times  when  a  blockade- 
runner  was  sighted.  Starting  a  hare  with 
a  pack  of  hounds  would  not  create  a  greater 
excitement  than  when  a  long,  lean,  English- 
built  steamer,  with  a  speed  of  sixteen  knots 
an  hour,  suddenly  found  herself  almost 
in  the  grip  of  the  blockaders,  which,  being 
usually  on  the  alert,  would  give  her  a  hard 
chase,  if  they  did  not  capture  her  outright. 

To  look  at  the  beautiful  lines  of  one  of 
these  small  steamers  (which  often  carried 
cargoes  worth  half  a  million)  as  she 
skimmed  over  the  water,  it  would  seem  im 
possible  that  our  improvised  cruisers  could 
overtake  her.  These  vessels,  built  in  Eng 
land  with  all  the  science  known  to  English 
ship-builders,  were  sent  fearlessly  upon  our 
coast,  with  a  certainty  that  nothing  we  had 
could  overtake  them.  Yet  how  mistaken 
the  British  builders  were  with  regard  to 
Yankee  watchfulness  and  naval  pluck  ! 


Every  mail  would  carry  the  news  to  Eng 
land  of  their  fastest  vessels  having  been 
picked  up  by  Federal  cruisers  —  though 
they  may  have  made  several  successful 
runs  ere  they  came  to  grief.  It  is  said  that 
if  one  blockade-runner  out  of  three  could 
make  a  successful  passage,  it  would  more 
than  cover  the  cost  of  all. 

On  August  18th,  one  of  these  clippers,  the 
"  Hebe,"  attempted  to  run  into  Wilmington 
by  the  New  Inlet  channel.  There  were 
several  blockaders  on  the  alert,  and  among 
them  the  "Niphon" — which  vessel,  being 
in-shore  of  the  "  Hebe,"  attempted  to  head 
her  off.  But,  instead  of  surrendering  when 
he  saw  that  his  vessel  was  cut  off,  the  com 
mander  of  the  "Hebe"  beached  her,  and 
escaped  in  his  boats,  with  his  crew  and 
passengers. 

It  was  then  blowing  a  gale  from  the 
northeast,  with  a  heavy  sea  on,  and  the 
waves  broke  over  the  doomed  vessel. 

Lieutenant  W.  B.  Gushing  commanded 
one  of  the  vessels  present  on  this  occasion 
(the  "  Shokokoii"),  and  from  the  two  vessels 
a  boarding-party  was  formed  which  started 
through  the  breakers  to  destroy  the  "  Hebe." 

There  were  always  companies  of  Confed 
erate  artillery  moving  up  and  down  the 
coast  to  prevent  vessels  driven  on  shore 
from  being  destroyed  by  blockaders.  The 
boarding-party  had  no  sooner  landed  and 
boarded  the  steamer,  with  the  intent  to  fire 
her,  than  they  were  opened  upon  by  Con 
federate  artillery,  well  posted  behind  the 
sand-hills,  and  these  kept  up  a  warm  fire, 
not  only  on  the  boarders,  but  on  the  two 
gun-boats,  which  the  latter  were  unable  to 
return  with  any  certainty,  owing  to  the 
heavy  sea  running.  The  result  was  that 
the  *•  Niphon"  lost  two  boats,  which  were 
swamped  in  the  breakers,  and  fifteen  per 
sons  by  capture,  four  of  whom  were  offi 
cers.  One  ensign  (E.  H.  Dewey)  and  three 
men  were  saved  by  the  boats  of  the  two 
gun-boats. 

On  this  occasion,  though  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  gallantry  displayed,  there  was 
bad  luck  for  the  blockaders,  and  the  enemy 
succeeded  in  getting  a  large  part  of  the 
damaged  cargo  on  shore. 

Later  in  the  month  the  Federal  vessels 
came  in  for  a  share  of  the  cargo,  and  de 
stroyed  the  steamer,  but  not  until  the  ene 
my  liad  shown  a  strong  determination  to 
hold  on  to  all  of  the  "  Hebe "  that  they 
could. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  Commander  T.  H. 
Patterson,  in  the  "James  Adger,"  was  di 
rected  to  proceed  to  the  "  Hebe,"  and  try  to 
destroy  her.  When  within  500  yards  of  her, 
he  opened  fire  upon  the  vessel's  hull  and 
upon  the  enemy's  artillery,  which  was 
located  behind  the  sand-hills  on  the  beach, 
about  100  vards  from  the  "Hebe."  This 


428 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


fire  was  kept  up  until  the  steamer  was 
pretty  well  cut  to  pieces.  (A  boat  had  been 
sent  in  before  the  firing  commenced  to  see 
if  it  were  practicable  to  get  the  vessel 
afloat,  but  it  was  opened  upon  by  the  en 
emy  with  musketry  and  a  Whitworth  gun, 
and  all  hopes  of  saving  her  were  aban 
doned.)  The  enemy  also  concentrated  the 
fire  of  their  fielxl-pieces  on  the  "James  Ad- 
ger,"  striking  her  three  times  in  the  hull, 
one  shot  passing  through  the  air-jacket  of 
the  donkey-engine,  and  another  cutting  the 
rim  of  the  starboard-wheel. 

Notwithstanding  the  fire  of  the  enemy, 
the  boats  of  the  blockading  vessels  brought 
off  some  Whitworth  guns  that  had  been 
abandoned;  and  the  "Hebe,"  being  now 
practically  of  no  use,  was  left  upon  the 
beach  to  be  broken  up  by  the  winds  and 
waves.  A  great  deal  of  ammunition  was 
expended  upon  this  vessel — 163  shot  and 
shells  from  the  "James  Adger,"  and  145 
from  the  flag-ship  "  Minnesota.'' 

On  the  22d  of  August,  1863,  quite  a  gal 
lant  affair  took  place,  when  Lieutenant 
Gushing  cut  out  and  destroyed  the  block 
ade-running  schooner  "  Alexander  Cooper." 
On  the  12th,  Gushing  made  a  reconnais 
sance,  in  the  boats  of  the  '•  Shokokon,"  of 
"  New  Topsail  Inlet,"  and  was  driven  off  by 
the  fire  of  four  Confederate  field-pieces  sta 
tioned  near  the  entrance  of  the  inlet.  But 
before  he  was  driven  back  he  discovered  a 
schooner  at  anchor  at  a  wharf  about  six 
miles  up  the  sound.  This  schooner  he  de 
termined  to  destroy. 

On  the  evening  of  the  22d  the  "Shoko 
kon  "  anchored  close  to  the  sea  -  beach, 
about  five  miles  from  the  inlet,  and  sent 
on  shore  two  boats'  crews — who  shouldered 
the  dinghy,  and  carried  it  across  the  neck 
of  land  that  divided  the  sea  from  the  sound 
(this  was  half  a  mile  in  width,  covered  with 
a  dense  thicket).  This  crossing  placed  the 
landing  party  some  miles  in  the  rear  of  the 
artillery  force  guarding  the  entrance.  The 
dinghy  being  launched  on  the  inside  waters, 
six  men,  under  the  executive  officer,  Acting 
Ensign  J.  S.  Cony,  started,  with  orders  to 
capture  or  destroy  anything  that  might  be 
of  use  to  the  enemy. 

A  12-pound  howitzer  was  stationed  at  the 
point  towards  which  the  expedition  was 
bound,  and  the  smoke-stack  of  the  "Sho 
kokon"  having  been  seen  over  the  trees, 
Captain  Adams  (the  Confederate  officer  in 
charge  of  the  post)  went  over  to  see  that 
a  bright  look-out  was  kept.  While  the 
Confederates  at  the  schooner's  mast-heads 
were  straining  their  eyes  in  looking  to  the 
southward,  the  boat  was  approaching  them 
from  another  direction,  and  the  Federals 
succeeded  in  landing  fifty  yards  from  the 
wharf  without  being  discovered. 
The  master -at -arms  (Robert  Clifford) 


creeping  into  the  Confederate  camp,  counted 
their  men ;  when,  having  returned  to  his 
shipmates,  a  charge  was  ordered,  and  the 
seven  men  bore  down  upon  the  enemy  with 
three  cheers.  In  a  moment  the  Confed 
erates  (who  out-numbered  our  sailors  three 
to  one)  were  routed,  leaving  in  Ensign 
Cony's  hands  ten  prisoners  (including 
Captain  Adams  and  Lieutenant  Latham), 
one  12-pound  howitzer,  eighteen  horses,  one 
schooner  and  some  extensive  salt-works. 
Mr.  Cony  then  threw  out  two  pickets,  de 
tailed  two  men  to  guard  the  prisoners,  and, 
with  the  remaining  two,  fired  the  schooner 
and  salt-works,  which  were  entirely  con 
sumed. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  having  been 
accomplished,  the  men  returned  to  their 
vessel,  taking  with  them  three  prisoners, 
all  that  the  boat  would  hold.  The  Confed 
erate  officers  and  men  were  all  dressed 
alike,  and  Mr.  Cony  could  not  tell  them 
apart,  so  he  was  at  a  loss  to  know  which  to 
retain.  He  settled  the  matter  by  picking 
out  the  three  best-looking,  who  all  turned 
out  to  be  privates  ! 

This  performance  almost  sounds  like  ro 
mance,  but  Cushing's  officers  were  all  ani 
mated  with  his  spirit,  and  were  always 
ready  to  undertake  anything,  no  matter 
how  hazardous.  As  many  risks  were  run, 
and  as  many  dangers  faced,  as  fell  to  Deca- 
tur's  lot  when  he  cut  out  the  "Philadelphia" 
in  Tripoli  harbor. 

The  later  operations  of  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron,  in  1863,  were  merely  attempts  to 
co-operate  with  the  Army  up  the  shoal 
rivers  within  the  limits  of  the  command, 
keeping  down  the  Confederate  raiders,  and 
intercepting  dispatches  between  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  in  which  every  light-draft 
vessel  was  continually  employed.  It  was 
not  a  very  brilliant  service,  but  it  was  a 
useful  one.  Without  it  the  Confederates 
would  have  seriously  harassed  the  impor 
tant  Army  posts,  and  driven  in  the  smaller 
ones.  They  dreaded  those  frail  vessels, 
with  their  heavy  guns  and  fearless  seamen, 
and  a  gun-boat  was  often  worth  more  to 
the  Army  than  two  or  three  stout  regi 
ments. 

The  last  act  chronicled  in  the  records  of 
the  North  Atlantic  squadron  for  this  year 
is  the  destruction  of  the  blockade-runner 
"Venus."  on  October  21st. 

The  "  Venus  "  was  from  Nassau,  bound  to 
Wilmington,  and.  while  attempting  to  run 
the  blockade,  was  chased  by  the  steamer 
"Nansemond,"  Lieutenant  Lamson,  and 
overtaken.  As  the  chase  did  not  comply 
with  his  orders  to  heave-to,  Lieutenant 
Lamson  opened  fire  upon  her.  One  shot 
struck  her  foremast,  another  exploded  in 
her  ward-room,  a  third  passed  through  the 
funnel  and  killed  one  man,  and  a  fourth> 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR, 


429 


•striking  an  iron  plate  near  the  water  line, 
caused  her  to  leak  so  badly  that  it  was 
necessary  to  run  her  on  shore,  where  (as  it 
was  found  impossible  to  save  her)  she  was 
set  fire  to  and  burned,  her  boilers  blown  up, 
and  her  machinery  destroyed. 

The  "  Venus  "  was  a  splendid  vessel  of 
1,000  tons  burden,  and,  had  she  not  been 
destroyed,  would  have  made  a  useful  addi 
tion  to  the  gun-boat  fleet. 

During  all  this  time,  be  it  remembered, 
many  vessels  of  this  squadron  were  engaged 
in  that  dreary  blockade  duty,  which,  though 


somewhat  wanting  in  incidents  of  a  despe 
rate  character,  was  continually  adding  his 
tory  to  the  Navy  by  successful  captures  of 
arms  and  munitions  of  war,  and  creating 
great  astonishment  abroad  at  the  ability  of 
the  Federals  to  keep  up  such  an  effective 
blockade,  contrary  to  the  predictions  of 
able  statesmen  and  experienced  admirals. 
This  duty  was  relieved  somewhat  of  its 
monotony,  as  it  paid  well  in  prize-money, 
which  amply  compensated  officers  and 
sailors  for  any  hardships  they  had  to  un 
dergo  in  winter  storms  or  summer  heats. 


NORTH    ATLANTIC    SQUADRON,    JANUARY    1,    1863. 
ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  SAMUEL  P.  LEE. 


COMMANDER   PIERCE   CROSBY,    FLEET   CAPTAIN,    JULY,    1863.— LIEUTENANT  R.    H.    LAMSON, 

FLAG   LIEUTENANT,    APRIL,    1863. 


STEAM-FRIGATE  "  MINNESOTA"— FLAG-SHIP. 

Commander,  N.  B.  Harrison;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  E.  C.  Graf  ton;  Lieutenant,  Adolphus  Dex 
ter;  Fleet  Surgeon,  \V.  Maxwell  Wood ;  Surgeon, 
John  S.  Kitchen;  Assistant  Surgeons,  S.  J.  Jones 
and  E.  R.  Dodge;  Paymaster,  C.  C.  Upham;  Chap 
lain,  T.  (Jr.  Salter;  Marines:  Captain,  W.  L.  Shuttle- 
worth,  Second-Lieutenant,  C.  F.Williams  ;  Acting- 
Masters,  D.  A.  Campbell  and  Win. Wright;  Ensigns, 
J.  H.  Porter,  R.  S.  Chew,  C.  S.  Cotton  and  S.  W. 
Terry;  Acting  Ensigns,  F.  R.  Webb  and  Amos 
Brown;  Master's  Mates,  Win.  Hunter,  C.  W.  Camp 
bell,  W.  R.  Hunter,  James  Birtwistle  and  P.  B. 
Doran;  Engineers:  Chief,  Philip  G.  Peltz;  Second- 
Assistant,  G.  W.  Sensner;  Third-Assistants,  Alfred 
Colin,  T.  W.  Ray,  G.  W.  Thorn,  Webster  Lane  and 
Guy  Samson;  Boatswain,  Win.  Bunker;  Gunner, 
C.  \V.  Homer;  Carpenter,  E.  Thompson;  Sailinaker, 
T.  O.  Fassett. 

STEAMER   ':OSSIPEE." 

Captain,  John  P.  Gillis ;  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander,  Robert  Boyd,  Jr.;  Lieutenant,  John  A. 
Ho  well;  Surgeon,  Thomas  T.  Turner,  Paymaster, 
Edward  Foster ;  Acting-Master,  C.  E.  Bunker ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  H.  S.  Lambert  and  C.  W.  Adams; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm.  Knapp,  Jr.,  Charles 
Putnam,  Wm.  Wingood,  W.  W.  Gregg  and  W.  W. 
Black;  Engineers:  Acting -First -Assistant,  J.  M. 
Adams;  Second-Assistants,  Jas.  Renshaw  and  John 
^yilson  ;  Third  -  Assistants,  C.  S.  Maurice,  W.  W. 
Vanderbilt  and  Monroe  Murphy  ;  Acting  -  Third  - 
Assistants,  J.  R.  Webb  and  G.  W.  Kidder ;  Boat 
swain,  Andrew  Milne  ;  Acting  -  Gunner,  John.  Q. 
Adams. 

STEAMER  "DACOTAH." 

Captain,  Benj.  F.  Sands ;  Lieutenants,  G.  C. 
Wiltse  and  S.  D.  Ames;  Surgeon,  Delavan  Blood- 
good;  Paymaster,  Richard  Washington;  Acting- 
Masters,  Wm.  Earle  and  Wm.  Moslander ;  Acting- 
Ensign,  Isaac  Francis;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Paul 
Borner,  Charles  Trathen,  John  McMillen  and  C. 
H.  Chase;  Engineers:  Chief,  Win.  W.  Dungan;  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  Wm.  H.  Dobbs;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  G.  R.  Bennett,  Wm.  Best  and  Charles 
Cranston:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  H.  Perry  and 
G.  W.  Wilkinson;  Acting-Gunner,  Geo.  Edmond. 

STORE-SHIP    "BRAND  TWINE." 

Commander,  Benj.  J.  Totten:  Acting-Lieutenant, 
S.  J.  Shipley;  Paymasters,  C.  J.  Emery  and  Thos. 
H.  Looker;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  J.  Sow- 
erby;  Acting- Masters,  A.  B.  Mulford,  G.  W.  Hyde, 


W.  B.  Newman,  J.  F.  D.  Robinson  and  Wm.  H. 
Hubbs;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Bryant,  J.  J. 
Everhardt,  J.  L.  Robins  and  J.  B.  Cawood. 

STEAMER     "IROQUOIS." 

Commander,  A.  Ludlow  Case;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Wm.  E.  Fitzhugh:  Lieutenants,  H.  E. 
Mullan;  Surgeon,  Wm.  E.  Taylor;  Assistant  Pay 
master,  John  A.  Bates ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Joseph 
Avant,  Thos.  Stothard  and  J.  D.  Dexter;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  John  Roberts,  Horace  Dexter,  W. 
F.  Halsalland  Matthew  Crimmen;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  J.  W.  Storms;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  Warren  Ewen  and  W.  J.  Howard;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  J.  H.  Mathews,  W.  J.  Bar- 
rington  and  H.  S.  Short;  Boatswain,  J.  H.  Downs; 
Acting-Gunner,  J.  C.  Clapham. 

STEAMER    "HARATANZA." 

Commander,  GustavusH.  Scott;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Chas.  S.  Norton;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Job 
Cor  bin;  Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  S.  Perley;  Acting- 
Masters,  Chas.  Courtney,  Jacob  Kimball  and  J.  B. 
Wood,  Jr. ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  C.  Gibney  and  Geo. 
Smith;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Henry  Wheeler;  En 
gineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  C.  L.  Carty;  Second- 
Assistant,  Edward  Scattergood;  Third -Assistants, 
W.  H.  Kilpatrick,  L.  R.  Harvey  and  R.  L.  Webb. 

STEAMER  "STATE  OF  GEORGIA." 

Commander,  James  F.  Armstrong ;  Acting  -  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  W.  W.  Myers;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  T.  H.  Haskell;  Acting-Masters,  J.  S. 
Rogers  and  A.  D.  Littlefleld ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
David  Mason  and  N.  Broughton;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Isaac  Halleck.  J.  W.  Buck  and  Wm.  B.  Mix, 
Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  James  Wilkin 
son;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  David  Pyke;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  J.  D.  Rodgers,  Thomas  Nesbit  and 
E.  F.  Maxfield;  Acting-Gunner,  Andrew  Hannen. 

STEAMEB   "  CAMBRIDGE." 

Commander,  Wm.  A.  Parker;  Acting-Master,  F- 
W.  Strong ;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Ezra  Pray; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  C.  Canning;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  E.  A.  Small,  S.  H.  Meade,  Jr.,  and  D. 
W.  Glenny;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  T.  Dungin, 
H.  B.  Nickerson  and  G.  K.  Knowlton;  Engineers: 
Acting-First-Assistant,  Geo.  B.  Orswell  ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  J.  F.  Powers;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  H.  F.  Haydenand  John  Whitaker;  Acting- 
Gunner,  Wm.  Fisk;  Carpenter,  Theo.  D.  Wilson. 

STEAMER    "MAHASKA." 

Commander,   Foxhall  A.    Parker ;    Lieutenants, 


430 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


N.  H.  Farquhar  and  E.  C.  V.  Blake;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  John  C.  Spear  ;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
Chas.  Fairchild;  Acting  Master,  Benj.  Dyer;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  N.  W.  Black  and  Frederick  Elliott;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  G.  E  French  and  F.  M.  Drake; 
Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  Geo.  E.  Ashby; 
Third- Assistants,  Elisha  Harsen,  Thomas  La  Blanc, 
J.  C.  Stevens  and  E.  L.  Hewitt. 

STEAMEE   "HETZEL." 

Commander,  H.  K.  Davenport;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  N.  L.  Campbell;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  G.  W.  Morton;  Acting -Masters,  G.  B. 
Thompson  and  G.  W.  Caswell ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Benj.  Walker  and  John  Rudrow;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  B.  Dick;  Third- Assist 
ants,  J.  H.  Padgett,  T.  B.  Cole  and  Eli  Tempeny. 

SLOOP-OF-WAB    t;  VANDALIA.'' 

Lieutenant,  M.  B.  Woolsey ;  Surgeon,  A.  C. 
Gorgas;  Paymaster,  Rufus  Parks;  First-Lieutenant 
of  Marines,  C.  H.  Nye;  Acting-Masters,  E.  M.  King, 
C.  Folsom  and  A.  Washburn;  Acting-Ensign,  F.  H. 
Bacon;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Richard  Burk;  Boat 
swain,  P.  J.  Miller;  Gunner,  Win.  Cheney;  Sail- 
maker,  Wm.  Rogers. 

STEAMER    "MYSTIC." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  H.  N.  T.  Arnold;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Wm.  F.  Brown;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  T.  E.  Smith;  Acting-Masters,  S.  B. 
Meader  and  R.  F.  Coffin ;  Acting-Ensign,  A.  F. 
Hamblin;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  J.  M.  C.  Reville  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  B.  Lovell 
and  J.  B.  A.  Allen;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  H.  F. 
Loveaire,  George  W.  Shank  and  Isaac  Buck. 

IBON-CLAD   STEAMER    "GALENA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Leonard  Paulding;  Act 
ing-Lieutenant,  James  Parker;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
R.  E.  Van  Gieson;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J. 
H.  Sellman;  Acting  -  Masters,  I.  D.  Seyburn  and 
Edmund  Keuible;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Andrew 
McCleary,  J.  H.  Jenks  and  E.  A.  Galindo:  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  G.  Young;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  B.  F.  Beckett  and  A.  S.  Chip- 
man;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Thomas  Millholland, 
Wm.  Deaver  and  C.  W.  Kenyon;  Boatswain,  J.  H. 
Polly;  Gunner,  William  Hardison. 

STEAMER     -'PEN'OBSCOT." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  E.  de  Haven;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Edw.  A.  Pierson;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Addison  Poole;  Acting-Master,  Charles 
E.  Jack;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  K.  Luce  and  H.  D.  Ed 
wards;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  G.  H.  Smith;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Geo.  W.  Cobb;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  Wm.  M.  Rodes,  Wm.  C.  Bur- 
rett  and  G.  W.  Hall. 

STEAMER    "  CHOCtTRA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Wm.  T.  Truxton;  Lieu 
tenant,  John  McFarland;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Chas. 
Carter;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  L.  Turner; 
Acting  Masters,  P.  S.  Borden  and  T.  B.  Sears;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  D  M.  Carver,  Win.  Leonard 
and  A.  P.  Atwood;  Engineers:  Second  -  Assistant 
Zeph.  Talbot;  Third- Assistants,  Andrew  Blythe, 
Theodore  Cooper  and  Wm.  H.  Harrison. 

STEAMER    "MONTICELLO." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  D.  L.  Braine;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  Wm.  Gale;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  G.  de  F.  Barton ;  Acting-Masters,  J.  F. 
Winchester,  L.  A.  Brown  and  Richard  Hustace 
Acting-Ensign,  A.  G.  Stebbins  ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  Henry  Baker  and  T.  J.  Gildersleeve;  Engi 
neers:  Acting  Second-Assistants,  John  Pick  and  W. 
S.  Montgomery;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Thomas 
McGough  and  A.  L.  Koones. 

STEAMER   "COMMODORE  PERRY. " 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Charles  W.  Flusser,  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  W.  Gale;  Acting-Assist 


ant  Paymaster,  W.  H.  Anderson;  Acting-Master, 
H.  A.  Phelon;  Acting-Ensign,  Wm.  P.  Burke  ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  George  B.  Howard  and  Daniel 
Laken;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  W. 
Richards;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  L.  Bowers 
and  F.  A.  Whitfield. 

STEAMER    "HUNCHBACK." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Wm.  P.  McCann;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  George  R.  Mann;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Henry  Gushing;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  Richard  Pasquell;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  AV. 
*L.  Weaver,  C.  H.  Weaver.  R.  P.  Boss,  John  Mad- 
dock  and  T.  C.  Barton;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Henry  Armstrong;  Acting  Third-Assist 
ants,  John  Wall,  James  Dodd  and  Bryce  Wilson. 

STEAMER    "COMMODORE   MORRIS." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  James  H.  Gillis;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  M.  H.  Henry;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  C.  G.  Hutchinson;  Acting  Master,  A.  A. 
Lewis;  Acting-Ensigns,  P.  B.  Low  and  H.  M.  Pierce; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  R.  C.  J.  Pendleton,  W.  H. 
Otis  and  C.  E.  Blanchard:  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant.  Volney  Cronk;  Acting-Third-Assistants. 

B.  F.  Harris,  Henry  Harbinson  and  H.  J.  Watkins. 

STEAMER     "COMMODORE  BARNEY." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  J.  C.  Chaplin;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  James  Kinnier;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Benj.  Page;  Acting- Ensigns,  Win. 
Betts,  Cornelius  Washburn  and  B.  P.  Trask  ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  David  Fader  and  John  As- 
pinwall,  Jr. ;  Engineers:  Acting -Second -Assistant, 
Thos.  Pemblett;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  L.  M. 
Kensil  and  Hiram  Warner. 

STEAMER    "MORSE." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Chas.  A.  Babcock;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  F.  Winslow  ;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Henry  Russell;  Acting-Ensigns, 

C.  F.   Russell  and  J.   F.    Merry;    Acting-Master's 
Mates,   C.    E.   Rich.    J.    W.   Thompson  and   Wm. 
Dunne;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Thos. 
Devine;  Acting -Third -Assistants,  Geo.  West  and 
Tim.  Flanders. 

STEAMER    "VICTORIA." 

Acting  -  Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Edward  Hooker; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon.  John  G.  Parke;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  S.  Bradford;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  Alfred  Everson;  Acting-Ensign,  Wm.  H.  Meyer; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  B.  W.  Tucker  and  Win. 
Moodey;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  T.  D. 
Webster;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  M.  Berron, 
John  Haversfield  and  J.  E.  Robinson. 

STEAMER    "UNDERWRITER." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Wm.  Flye;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  L.  R.  Boyce;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  C.  H.  Brown;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
W.  K.  Engell,  W.  B.  Griffith  and  Daniel  Ward;  En 
gineers:  Acting- Third- Assistants,  John  Morse,  S.  B. 
Ellis  and  H.  R.  Steever. 

MER   "COLUMBIA." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Jas.  P.  Couthouy; 
Acting-Masters,  J.  W.  Balch  and  E.  A.  Howell;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  J.  S.  Williams  and  E.  T.  Manter;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  E.  Morse,  E.  L.  Bourne  and  E.  M. 
Clarke;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Passmore  Tread- 
well;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  Q.  Hill;  En 
gineers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  G.  M.  Bennett ; 
Second -Assistant,  W.  W.  Shipman;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Samuel  Lemmon;  Acting -Third -Assist 
ants,  J.  H.  Pelton  and  W.  H.  Crawford. 

STEAMER    "MIAMI." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  Robert  Townsend;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Wm.  B.  Mann;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  Frank  W.  Hackett;  Acting-Masters.  W.  N. 
Welles,  Milford  Rogers  and  John  Lear;  Acting- 
Ensign,  R.  W.  Rountree;  Acting  Master's  Mate, 
John  Quevedo;  Engineers:  Acting- Second -Assist- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


431 


ant,  L.  W.  Simomls;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  C. 
Davis  H.  D.  Heiser,  W.  A.  Windsor  and  J.  W.  Sav- 
ille. 

STEAMER    "DELAWARE." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Amos  P.  Foster; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Lorenzo  Travrer;  Acting- 
Assistant-Paymaster,  G.  T.Benedict;  Acting-Mas 
ter.  H.  H.  Foster;  Act  ing- Ensign,  J.  H.  Kerens; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Sprigman  and  Win. 
Thompson  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  Second  -  Assistant, 
.J.  I).  Williamson;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  J. 
Brown,  James  Mellon  and  R.  O.  Dennett. 

STEAMER    "VALLEY   CITY." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Hartman  K.  Fur- 
niss;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  E.  Martinsdale; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  T.  Whitmore;  Act 
ing-Master.  J.  A.  J.  Brooks;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
John  C'ullaton  and  Thos.  Langton;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant  -  Engineers,  B.  Hilderbrand  and  Joseph 
Peddle. 

STEAMER    "SOUTHFIELD." 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  C.  F.  W.  Behm; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Holmes;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  Goldsborough;  Acting-Mas 
ters,  Richard  Vevers,  W.  F.  Pratt  and  W.  G.  Nut 
ting;  Acting-Ensign,  Thos.  B.  Stokes;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  C.  A.  Stewart,  G.  W.  Pratt  and  John 
Woodman;  Acting-Third-Assistant  Engineers, Wal 
ter  Bradley,  H.  M.  Tuell  and  J.  B.  Ferrand. 

STEAMER    "MOUNT   VERNON." 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  James  Tathern; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  B.  Hoppin;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  Y.  Glisson;  Acting- Masters, 
E.  W.  White  and  W.  T.  Buck;  Acting-Ensign,  F.  M. 
Page;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Lloyd  Rogers,  Ernest 
Hodderand  G.  C.  Kellogg;  Engineers:  Acting-Sec 
ond-Assistant,  Jos.  McKnight;  Acting  -  Third  -  As 
sistants,  J.  H.  Horsford,  Win.  Emmons  and  Esubius 
Minne. 

STEAMER    "CERES." 

Acting-Voluiiteer-Lieutenant,  John  Macdearmid; 
Acting-Master's  Mates.  M.  Tallmadge  Ryan  and  H. 

A.  Hudson;  Engineers:  Acting -Second -Assistant, 
Hugh  Rufferty;  Third-Assistant,  John  S.  Harper. 

SCHOONER    "SAMUEL   ROT  AN." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  W.  W.  Kennison; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  Thos.  Moore,  C.  H.  Packer 
and  D.  M.  Gaskins. 

STEAMER    "JOHN   L.    LOCKWOOD." 

Acting-Master,  G.  W.  Graves;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  A.  H.  Hicks  and  Edw.  Austin;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  T.  Newton  and  W.  W. 
Whiting;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  T.  Miller. 

STEAMER    "GENERAL   PUTNAM." 

Acting-Master,  Win.  J.  Hotchkiss;  Acting-Ensign, 
Wm.  Jennings:  Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  C.  Haw 
kins,  A.  P.  Kirkhain  and  C.  A.  Jones;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  James  Osburn  and  R.  A. 
Copeland;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  John  Henry 
and  W.  P.  Higgins. 

STEAMER   "HENRY   BRINKER." 

Acting-Master,  James  H.  Hardesty;  Acting-En 
sign,  H.  S.  Livermore;  Acting-Master's  Mate.  Wm. 

B.  Miles;  Engineers:  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  J. 
W.  Kelsey;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  Robert  Ross 
and  W.  H.  Tate. 

STEAMEB    "  YOUNG  ROVER." 

Acting-Masters,  Ira  B.  Studley  and  T.  W.  Dodge; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Rob't  Cowie;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  W.  Stone;  Acting-Ensigns, 
D.  S.  Thompson,  J.  A.  Edgren  and  E.  M.  Ryder; 
Act  ing -Master's  Mates,  W.  F.  Gragg  and  Joshua 
Simmons;  Engineers:  Acting- Second  -  Assistant, 
James  Patterson;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Samuel 
McAvoy. 


STEAMER    "PHILADELPHIA." 

Acting-Master,  Silas  Reynolds;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  C.  A.  Norris;  Acting  -Third-  As 
sistants,  W.  H.  Capin  and  Robert  Mulready. 

STEAMER    "STEPPING   STONES." 

Acting-Master,  T.  A.  Harris;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
G.  M.  Lawrence:  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assist- 
ant,  James  A.  Brown;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Edw. 
Aspald. 

SHIP   "ROMAN." 

Acting-Master,  Francis  P.  Allen. 

STEAMER    "DAYLIGHT." 

Acting-Masters,  Joshua  D.  Warren  and  J.  H.  Glea- 
son  ;  Acting-  Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  M.  Dearborne; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  M.  Rogers;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  Wm.  H.  Brice.  J.  W.  Willard  and  W.  H. 
Penfield;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  E.  Barrett  and 
Charles  Attmore;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant.  C.  D.  Kiersted;  Acting  Third-Assistants,  C.  O. 
Morgan  and  J.  M.  Battin. 

STEAMER   "SEYMOUB." 

Act  ing-  Master,  Francis  S  Wells;  Acting-Ensign, 
Chas.  Ringot;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Edwin  Smith; 
Engineers:  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  Newton  Eg- 
gleston;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  A.  Whittaker 
and  Philip  Hublitz. 

STEAMER    "  WYANDOTTE." 

Acting-Master,  Thomas  Wright;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  James  Pennoyer;  Assistant-Paymaster, 
Alex.  McC.  Bishop;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  A.  Hodge, 
Benj.  Wood  and  Wm.  Henry;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
M.  E.  Wandell  and  Wm.  Chandler;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  Cornelius  Carr;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  G.  R.  Dunkley,  Wm.  Veitch  and  John 
Heane. 


STEAMER    "COMMODORE 

Acting-Masters,  Win.  G.  Saltonstall  and  Francis 
Josselyn;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon.  C.  F.  P.  Hil- 
drethf  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Jonathan  Chap 
man;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  O.  Johnson  and  J.  B.  da 
Camera  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  E.  F.  Bowen,  J. 
H.  Wilkinson  and  A.  F.  Haradon:  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  B.  F.  Bell;  Acting-  Third  - 
Assistants,  D.  R.  Wylee,  M.  O.  Stimson  and  Wm. 
Lannan. 

STEAMER    "  CRUSADER  " 

Acting-Master,  Thomas  Andrews;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon.  E.  A.  Arnold;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  T.  McC.  Brower;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  W. 
Nelson,  T.  W.  Sheer  and  T.  S.  Smythe;  Acting-  Mas 
ter's  Mates,  Albert  Buhner,  Henry  Parsons  and  E. 
D.  Edmunds;  Engineers:  Acting  Second-Assistant, 
P.  O.  Brightinari;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  S.  T. 
Strude  and  W.  T.  Waterman. 

SLOOP    "GRANITE." 

Acting-Master,  E.  Boomer. 

SCHOONER    "WM.    BACON." 

Acting-Master.  Wm.  P.  Rogers;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  C.  D.  Thompson,  H.  E.  Ripley  and  Daniel 
McLaughlin. 

SHIP    "  CHARLES   PHELPS." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  F.  North. 

SHIP    "BEN.    MORGAN." 

Acting-Master,  Win.  Shankland. 

STEAMER    "ZOUAVE  " 

Pilot,  John  A.  Phillips;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  P. 
B.  Doran;  Acting-Third-Assistant  Engineer,  H.  N. 
Ames. 

TUG    "COHASSET." 

Pilot,  Thomas  Eveans;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  J. 
F.  Doggett;  Engineers:  Acting  -Second  -Assistant, 
Sydney  Smith  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant,  Charles 
Robinson. 


CHAPTER     XXXVI. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  DAHLGREN  SUCCEEDS  REAR-ADMIRAL  DuPoNT.— DAHLGREN'S  DIFFICULT 
TASK. — GENERAL  GILLMORE  REQUESTS  NAVAL  CO-OPERATION. — CHARLESTON  HARBOR.— 
PLAN  OF  GENERAL  GILLMORE. — ATTACK  ON  ENEMY'S  WORKS  BY  ARMY  AND  NAVY.— 
CAPTURE  OF  CONFEDERATE  WORKS  ON  SOUTH  END  OF  MORRIS  ISLAND. — ASSAULT  ON 
FORT  WAGNER. — GILLMORE  REPULSED. — SECOND  ATTACK  ON  FORT  SUMTER. — CAPTURE 
OF  ENEMY'S  DEFENCES. — THE  CATSKILL  SEVERELY  HANDLED. — ANOTHER  COMBINED  AT 
TACK  ON  FORT  WAGNER. — THE  FORT  SILENCED. — ARMY  BADLY  REPULSED  IN  AN  ASSAULT. 
ACTIVE  OPERATIONS  SUSPENDED. — BRAVERY  OF  TROOPS  UNDER  GENERAL  STRONG  AND 
COLONEL  PUTNAM. — DREADFUL  HAND-TO-HAND  CONFLICT.— EARTH -WORKS  ERECTED  BY 
GILLMORE.— THE  "  SWAMP  ANGEL."— GUN-BOATS  ENGAGE  BATTERIES  IN  STONO  RIVER. 
—THE  "COMMODORE  MCDONOUGH"  SILENCES  CONFEDERATE  ARTILLERY  NEAR  SECES- 
SIONVILLE. — LIEUTENANT  ROBESON  PLANTS  THE  FLAG  ON  MORRIS  ISLAND. — LANDING  OF 
TROOPS  AT  FOLLY  AND  JAMES  ISLANDS. — ATTACK  ON  FORTS  SUMTER  AND  WAGNER.— 
RESULTS  OF  BOMBARDMENT. — GILLMORE  DEMANDS  SURRENDER  OF  "SUMTER." — LETTER 
OF  BEAUREGARD. — GILLMORE'S  REPLY. — DEATH  OF  COMMANDER  GEORGE  W.  RODGERS.— 
GREAT  EFFORTS  MADE  TO  REDUCE  WAGNER,  SUMTER  AND  GREGG. — EFFECT  OF  THE 
FIRE  ON  CHARLESTON. — THE  MONITORS  AGAIN  OPEN  FIRE  ON  FORTS  SUMTER  AND  MOUL- 
TRIE. — ENGINEERING  WORK. — DAHLGREN  AND  GILLMORE  DIFFER. — FORTS  WAGNER  AND 
BATTERY  GREGG  EVACUATED.— THE  "  WEEHAWKEN"  GROUNDED. — DISASTROUS  NAVAL 
ASSAULT  ON  SUMTER.  —  GREAT  GALLANTRY  DISPLAYED  BY  BOAT-CREWS.— ENSIGN 
WALLACE'S  REPORT. — TORPEDO-BOAT. — ATTEMPTS  TO  DESTROY  '-NEW  IRONSIDES. "- 
PRAISE  OF  DAHLGREN  AND  OFFICERS. — THE  MONITORS  AND  "NEW  IRONSIDES"  CON 
TRASTED. — BOYNTON'S  CRITICISMS,  ETC. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  DAHLGREN  suc 
ceeded  Rear-Admiral  DuPont,  at 
Port  Royal,  on  July  4th,  1863.  the 
latter  having  been  relieved  at  his 
own  request,  owing  to  a  difference 
of  opinion  between  himself  and  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  Navy  in  regard  to  the  opera 
tions  before  Charleston  and  the  attempt  to 
take  the  Confederate  works  with  the  Moni 
tors. 

Dahlgren  had 'a  difficult  task  before  him. 
In  the  first  place,  he  had  relieved  an  officer 
who  maintained  as  high  a  prestige  as  any 
in  the  Navy,  at  home  and  abroad,  for  skill 
and  bravery.  The  attack  upon  and  capture 
of  Port  Royal  had  given  DuPont  a  foreign 
reputation  in  addition  to  that  he  bore  at 
home,  and  European  officers  of  distin 
guished  merit  did  not  hesitate  to  say  that 
the  battle  of  Port  Royal  was  one  of  the  best 
exhibitions  of  naval  tactical  skill  that  had 
been  seen  for  years.  Compare  it,  even  now. 


with  the  late  English  attack  in  Egypt,  with 
their  heavy  iron-clads  and  monstrous  guns, 
and  note  the  rapidity  with  which  DuPont's 
squadron  captured  the  works  at  Hilton 
Head,  etc.,  in  comparison  with  the  long- 
drawn-out  battle  at  Alexandria  against 
forts  only  a  trifle  superior  to  those  at  Port 
Royal,  and  the  palm  will  be  given  to  the 
American  squadron  as  an  exhibition  of 
skill.  That  affair  did  a  great  deal  to  impress 
foreign  Governments  with  the  power  of  our 
guns,  and  the  indomitable  energy  of  our 
officers  and  seamen;  and  though  Great 
Britain,  about  that  time,  or  shortly  after, 
did  threaten  us  in  a  manner  that  was  any 
thing  but  agreeable  to  the  American  people, 
yet  that  Government  would  have  entered 
upon  the  fulfillment  of  their  threats  with 
misgivings — the  growth  of  former  disap 
pointments  in  the  War  of  1812.  Aside  from 
his  recently  acquired  renown,  there  was  no 
officer  in  the  United  States  Navy  better 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


433 


'known  abroad  than  Rear- Admiral  DuPont. 
Many  years  of  his  life  had  been  passed  in 
the  Mediterranean  Squadron,  where  he  trav 
eled  and  made  many  European  friends. 
He  had  commanded  one  of  our  best  squad 
rons  in  China  and  Japan,  and  his  bland 
manners,  high  standing1  as  an  officer,  gen 
eral  knowledge  on  all  subjects,  in  and  put  of 
his  profession,  made  him  an  authority  to 
whom  foreign  officers  deferred.  He  was  as 
well  posted  in  all  naval  matters  as  any  offi 
cer  at  home  or  abroad,  and  his  opinions, 
which  did  not  in  1863  run  in  accord  with 
those  of  the  Navy  Department,  were  adopted 
by  his  friends  and  acquaintances  in  every 
quarter.  DuPont  had  said  that  the  forts 
in  Charleston  harbor  could  not  be  taken 
by  the  force  with 
which  he  had  at 
tacked  them,  and 
his  opinion  was  ac 
cepted  as  that  of 
an  expert  who  had 
tried  the  matter  to 
satisfy  the  Navy 
Department,  and 
had  failed,  and  who 
considered  that  to 
attempt  it  again, 
under  the  same  cir 
cumstances,  with 
the  same  force, 
would  only  entail 
a  loss  of  men  and 
material,  if  not  a 
loss  of  naval  pres 
tige.  The  victory 
at  Port  Royal  had 
settled  the  question 
of  the  future  use 
fulness  of  Charles 
ton  and  Savannah 
to  the  Confeder 
ates,  for  it  offered 
the  means,  if  we 
had  properly  used 
them,  of  sealing  up 
those  two  harbors 
as  effectually  as  if  we  had  actual  possession 
of  them,  which  we  now  know  fully.  The 
capture  of  Port  Royal  included  in  its  direct 
consequences  all  that  was  essential  to  the 
occupation  of  adjacent  places  —  as  far  as 
their  value  to  the  Confederate  cause  was 
concerned,  they  could  be  rendered  useless  if 
the  proper  steps  were  taken,  without  lead 
ing  to  a  loss  of  vessels  and  men,  a  sacrifice 
not  at  all  called  for  by  the  circumstances 
of  the  case. 

Therefore,  when  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren 
entered  upon  his  command,  it  must  have 
been  with  the  consciousness  that  he  had  a 
difficult  task  before  him,  and  that  he  could 
scarcely  hope  to  succeed  with  the  force  that 
had  been  so  unmercifully  tried  by  DuPont. 

28 


REAR-ADMIRAL  JOHN  A.  DAHLGREN. 


Dahlgren  had  no  sooner  taken  command 
than  he  received  a  letter  from  Brigadier- 
General  Gillmore,  informing  him  that  he 
(Gillmore)  was  about  to  commence  military 
operations  against  Morris  Island,  and  looked 
for  naval  co-operation. 

This  should  have  been  the  first  step  taken 
at  Charleston  on  the  arrival  of  the  Moni-  i 
tors,  and  the  operations  carried  on  should 
have  been  by  an  able  and  hearty  co-opera 
tion  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  with  well- 
digested  plans  drawn  up,  and  an  exact 
knowledge  of  the  difficulties  to  be  encoun 
tered  and  overcome.  The  capture  of 
Charleston  necessitated  a  somewhat  long 
and  patient  siege  by  naval  and  military 
forces,  as  was  the  case  during  the  war  with 

places  superior  in 
strength  to  Charles 
ton.  In  such  cases, 
the  Confederates 
had  to  succumb, 
owing  to  the  great 
er  resources  of  the 
Federal  Govern- 
ment;  for  the  well- 
known  advantage 
besiegers  in  force 
have  over  a  beleag 
uered  place  is  that 
the  latter  must 
eventually  fall  un 
der  the  accumulat 
ed  power  that  is 
concentrated 
against  it. 

R  e  a  r-  A  d  m  i  r  a  1 
Dahlgren  must 
have  congratulated 
himself  when  he 
saw  that  the  Army 
was  at  once  coming 
to  his  aid,  and  that 
he  would  not  be 
obliged  to  repeat 
the  attack  made  by 
DuPont  upon  the 
uninjured  forts  in 

Charleston  harbor,  with  the  same  Monitors 
that  had  failed  so  badly,  and  left  one  of 
their  number  resting  on  the  bottom. 

Dahlgren  was  not  an  engineer,  but  he 
must  have  known  that  the  method  about 
to  be  pursued  by  General  Gillmore  was  the 
only  feasible  way  of  getting  possession  of 
Charleston,  and  he  at  once  assured  the  Gen 
eral  that  he  was  ready  to  assist  him  with  all 
his  resources,  if  required.  In  making  this 
announcement  to  the  Navy  Department, 
Rear -Admiral  Dahlgren  remarks:  "Of 
course,  the  most  that  is  expected  from  the 
action  of  these  vessels  is  to  relieve  the 
troops  as  much  as  possible,  and  is  to  be 
considered  of  no  other  consequence."  Thus, 
early  in  the  operations,  Dahlgren  prepared 


434 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  Navy  Department  not  to  expect  as 
much  from  the  Monitors  as  was  required  of 
DuPont:  as,  with  others,  he  had  made  up 
his  mind  that  operations  against  the  whole 
circle  of  forts  should  not  be  undertaken 
with  a  force  that  had  proved  itself  totally 
inadequate  on  a  former  occasion. 

Charleston  harbor,  in  its  general  config 
uration,  may  be  likened  to  that  of  New 
York,  the  city  being  on  a  neck  of  land 
somewhat  resembling  Manhattan  Island; 
Cooper  River,  on  the  east,  may  be  compared 
to  the  East  River;  while  the  Ashley  River, 
on  the  west,  resembles  the  Hudson.  Morris 
and  Sullivan  Islands  may  pass  for  the  de 
fensive  points  at  the  Narrows,  though  the 
channel  between  them  is  much  wider;  and 
the  interior  fortifications  —  Sumter,  Moul- 
trie,  Cumming's  Point,  Battery  Gregg, 
Fort  Johnson,  etc. — were  all  within  the 
lines  of  Morris  and  Sullivan  Islands.  An 
attack  on  Fort  Wagner  could  be  made  by  a 
naval  force  without  bringing  the  ships  com 
posing  it  within  range  of  the  heavy  bat 
teries  which  successfully  resisted  the  attack 
of  the  Monitors  on  the  first  occasion. 

The  plan  of  General  Gillmore  was  to  dis 
possess  the  enemy  of  Morris  Island  by 
opening  batteries  placed  on  the  north  end 
of  Folly  Island,  to  command  those  of  the 
enemy  on  Morris  Island,  and  by  occupying 
the  sandy  eminences  that  form  the  southern 
portion  of  that  island  for  a  mile  south  of 
Light-house  Inlet.  It  would  require  an  ac 
curate  map  of  the  harbor  and  forts  to  give 
one  a  good  idea  of  the  enemy's  defences. 
A  hostile  force  approaching  from  the  sea, 
with  the  intention  of  attacking  the 
Charleston  batteries,  would  be  obliged  to 
pass  between  Sullivan's  Island  on  the  north 
and  Morris  Island  on  the  south,  both  of 
which  had  heavy  batteries,  including  Moul- 
trie  and  Wagner;  while  above  Moultrie,  and 
forming  a  triangle  with  it  and  Battery 
Gregg,  stands  Sumter.  These  works  ami 
the  accessories  within  this  line  of  defence 
remained  pretty  much  the  same  after  Dahl- 
gren's  accession  as  they  were  on  the  day 
DuPont  attacked  them. 

"  The  circle  of  fire,"  and  the  plan  of  meet 
ing  an  advancing  enemy,  is  minutely  de 
scribed  in  the  circular  issued  by  the  Confed 
erate  Brigadier-General  to  all  the  officers  in 
command  of  the  forts,  a  copy  of  which  will 
be  found  in  th$  chapter  entitled,  "  First  At 
tack  on  Sumter." 

A  squadron,  making  an  attack  on  the 
Morris  Island  works  (Fort  Wagner),  would 
be  two  and  one-quarter  miles  from  Fort 
Moultrie,  two  miles  from  Sumter,  one  mile 
from  Battery  Gregg,  and  half  a  mile  from 
Wagner;  therefore,  a  squadron  of  Monitors 
would  not  be  subjected,  as  they  were  in  Du- 
Pont's  battle,  to  a  cross-fire  from  five  or  six 
heavy  batteries,  but  would  be  open  only  to 


the  fire  of  Battery  Gregg.  Moultrie  and 
Wagner  at  long  range,  with  the  Monitors 
presenting  their  bows  to  the  enemy  (the 
least  vulnerable  point,  and  the  most  diffi 
cult  for  gunners  to  strike) . 

This  was  the  only  way  Charleston  could 
be  taken.  Why  was  not  this  course  pursued 
in  the  first  instance  ?  The  question  is  easily 
answered.  The  Navy  Department  was  so 
fully  impressed  with  the  power  of  the  Mon 
itors  (those  before  Charleston  being  great 
improvements  in  strength  over  the  original) 
that  they  had  urged  upon  DuPont  the  ne 
cessity  of  making  a  grand  stroke  at  the 
first  trial  of  these  formidable  vessels.  This 
was  more  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  great 
impression  upon  the  French  and  English 
Governments,  which  were,  it  is  said,  at  that 
moment  watching  for  a  favorable  excuse  to 
recognize  the  independence  of  the  Southern 
States.  At  the  same  time,  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy  would  have  considered  it  a  great 
triumph  to  have  the  Navy  conquer  this  nest 
of  secession ;  and  though  he  did  not  demand 
success,  he  felt  so  assured  of  it  that  his 
expressed  wishes  amounted  to  almost  an 
order. 

Seeing  the  ill-success  of  the  first  attack, 
and  having  been  somewhat  surprised  at 
Rear-Admiral  DuPont's  hint  that  he  was 
willing  the  Department  should  send  some 
one  to  undertake  the  capture  of  Charles 
ton  in  whom  the  Secretary  had  more  con 
fidence,  it  was  determined  not  to  hamper 
Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  with  specific  in 
structions,  but  allow  him  and  the  military 
engineers  to  work  out  the  problem  after 
their  own  plans. 

At  the  same  time,  it  must  be  said,  in  jus 
tice  to  the  Navy  Department,  that  Secretary 
Welles  represented  to  the  War  Depart 
ment  that  "a  second  attack  was  pre 
paring  against  the  forts  in  Charles 
ton  harbor,  and  that  its  success  re 
quired  the  military  occupation  of  Morris 
Island,  and  the  establishment  of  land  bat 
teries  on  that  island,  to  assist  in  the  reduc 
tion  of  Sumter,''  and,  as  this  was  a  task 
requiring  engineering  skill  of  the  highest 
ability,  Brigadier-General  Q.  A.  Gillmore 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  De 
partment. 

General  Gillmore  commenced  his  advance 
upon  Charleston  by  the  movement  of  troops 
to  Folly  Island  on  July  3d,  1863,  where  they 
remained  concealed  as  much  as  possible, 
and  erected  batteries  to  command  those  of 
the  enemy  on  the  south  end  of  Morris 
Island. 

With  the  foregoing  explanations,  we  will 
proceed  to  relate  what  followed,  namely, 
the  attack  on  the  enemy's  works  by  the 
Army  and  Navy. 

At  4  A.  M.  of  July  10th,  1863,  four  iron 
clads — the  "  Catskill,"  Commander  George 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


435 


W.  Rodgers.  "  Montauk,"  Commander  Don 
ald  McX.  Fairfax.  "Xahant,"'  Commander 
John  Dowries,  and  the  '•  Weehawken." 
Commander  E.  R.  Colhoun,  passed  over  the 
bar,  the  flag  of  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren 
flying  on  the  *' Catskill."  One  hour  later, 
at  5  A.  M.,  General  Gillmore  made  an  attack 
on  the  Confederate  fortified  positions  on  the 
south  end  of  Morris  Island,  and  after  an  en 
gagement  of  three  hours  and  a  quarter  he 
had  captured  all  the  enemy's  works  upon 
that  part  of  the  island,  and  pushed  forward 
his  infantry  to  within  six  hundred  yards  of 
Fort  Wagner. 

As  the  fleet  of  Monitors  passed  the  bar, 
General  Gillmore  commenced  the  attack 
with  his  batteries,  and  as  soon  as  the  Moni 
tors  could  get  sufficiently  near  to  fire  with 
effect,  they  opened  with  shell  upon  the 
Confederate  works,  which  were  replying  to 


beach,  the  iron-clads  steamed  parallel  to  the 
low,  flat  ground  that  extended  northward 
from  the  sand-hills  toward  Fort  Wagner, 
and  as  near  to  it  as  the  depth  of  the  water 
would  allow,  sending  shells  in  every  direc 
tion  over  its  surface  to  clear  away  any 
bodies  of  troops  that  might  be  gathered 
there.  Gillmore's  troops  pushed  on,  and,  as 
they  reached  Fort  Wagner,  two  or  three 
buildings  standing  apart  from  each  other 
were  seen  to  be  in  flames,  supposed  to  be  the 
work  of  the  enemy  to  unmask  the  guns  of 
Fort  Wagner  bearing  down  the  beach. 

The  iron-clads  at  this  time  were  laid 
abreast  of  Fort  Wagner.  This  was  an  open 
sand-work  about  two  and  three-quarter 
miles  from  the  southern  end  of  Morris  Isl 
and,  and  lying  about  one  and  three-quarter 
miles  north  of  the  sand-hills,  and  command 
ing  the  intervening  level. 


FORT  WAGNER  DURING  THE  BOMBARDMENT. 


General  Gillmore's  guns,  and  dispersed  the 
enemv  wherever  thev  were  seen  to  assem 
ble. 

At  S  o'clock,  being  nearly  abreast  the 
northern  end  of  the  ridge  of  sand-hills,  Gill 
more's  batteries  ceased  firing,  and  his  troops 
were  seen  from  the  Monitors  making  their 
way  upon  Morris  Island.  The  assaulting  col 
umn,  led  by  Brigadier-General  Strong,  had 
passed  the  waterway  between  Folly  and 
Morris  Islands  in  small  boats,  under  cover 
of  his  batteries.  He  then  held  all  the  island, 
except  a  mile  on  the  north  end,  including 
Fort  Wagner  and  the  battery  on  Cumming's 
Point,  which,  as  near  as  could  be  judged, 
contained  fourteen  or  fifteen  heavy  guns. 
Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  speaks  of*  an  as 
saulting  party  of  troops  that  were  landed 
on  Morris  Island  by  Lieutenant  McKenzie, 
but  General  Gillmore  leads  one  to  infer  that 
these  were  landed  in  small  army-boats. 

As  the  troops  moved  rapidly  along  the 


It  was  9  o'clock  before  the  first  shot  was 
fired  from  the  Monitors  at  Wagner,  the 
Rear-Admiral  desiring  to  get  close  enough 
to  use  grape  shot,  but  the  state  of  the  tide 
would  not  permit  his  vessels  to  approach 
nearer  than  twelve  hundred  yards.  The  fire 
from  the  Monitors  was  promptly  met,  and 
w^as  kept  up  vigorously  until  noon,  when 
the  vessels  dropped  down  out  of  range  to  en 
able  their  men  to  get  dinner,  after  which 
the  previous  position  was  re-occupied,  and 
the  attack  continued  until  6  p.  M.  Then 
the  signal  was  made  to  "cease  action,"  for 
the  men  had  been  at  work  for  fourteen 
hours,  and  the  weather  was  excessively  hot. 

The  four  iron-clads  fired  during  this  ac 
tion  five  hundred  and  thirty -four  shell  and 
shrapnel,  making  excellent  practice,  wThile 
the  vessels  themselves  proved  their  endur 
ance.  The  flagship  "Catskill"  was  struck 
sixty  times,  a  large  percentage  of  the  hits 
being  very  severe.  The  pilot-house,  turret, 


436 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


side-armor  and  decks  were  all  more  or  less 
damaged.  Some  of  the  projectiles  were 
large.  One,  found  on  deck,  where  it  fell 
after  striking  the  turret,  proved  to  be  of  10- 
inch  calibre.  When  these  heavy  shot  struck 
the  turret  the  concussion  was  very  great. 
The  iron  of  the  pilot-house  was  broken  en 
tirely  through,  a  nut  from  one  of  the  bolts 
being  driven  against  the  lining  so  as  to  break 
it  also.  The  deck-plates  were  cut  through 
in  so  many  places  as  to  make  the  entrance 
of  water  troublesome.  Though  the  test 
was  a  severe  one,  the  "  Catskill,"  after  fir 
ing  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  rounds, 
came  out  of  action  in  good  working  order, 
as  was  proved  by  her  renewal  of  the  fight 
on  the  following  day.  Naturally,  the  enemy 
made  a  mark  of  the  "  Catskill,"  that  vessel 
carrying  the  Rear-Admiral's  flag.  The 
"Nahant"  was  only  struck  six  times,  the 
"Montauk"  twice,  while  the  "Weehaw- 
ken  "  escaped  altogether. 

On  the  following  morning.  July  llth, 
Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  received  a  note 
from  General  Gillmore  stating  that  he  "  had 
made  an  assault  on  Fort  Wagner  at  early 
daylight,  and  had  been  repulsed."  At  the 
same  time  he  stated  that  he  learned  the 
enemy  were  about  to  throw  reinforcements 
into  Wagner,  and  asked  for  some  action  to 
prevent  it.  The  four  Monitors  were  again 
moved  into  position  near  Fort  Wagner, 
and  scoured  the  ground  in  the  direction  from 
which  the  expected  reinforcements  would 
approach. 

So  far  the  acquisitions  of  the  combined 
forces  had  not  been  of  a  very  important 
nature ;  still,  a  foothold  was  gained  on 
Morris  Island,  and  the  officers  in  command 
felt  satisfied  that  it  would  eventually  lead 
to  the  possession  of  Sumter. 

When  General  Gillmore  made  his  at 
tempt  to  carry  Wagner,  the  parapets  were 
gained,  but  the  supports  recoiled  under  the 
fire  to  which  they  were  exposed,  and  could 
not  be  got  forward.  The  loss  of  the  army 
was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners.  In  the  morning 
they  captured  in  the  defences  of  the  enemy 
eleven  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  and  a 
large  quantity  of  camp  equipage. 

Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  issued  his  first 
general  order,  thanking  the  commanders, 
officers  and  crews  of  the  Monitors,  and  the 
members  of  his  personal  staff:  Fleet-Cap 
tain  William  Rogers  Taylor,  Flag-Lieuten 
ant  S.  W.  Preston,  and  Ensign  La  Rue  P. 
Adams,  for  the  zealous  and  efficient  man 
ner  in  which  they  had  performed  their  du 
ties  during  the  attacks  of  the  10th  and  llth 
of  July;  also  the  ordnance  officer,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  O.  C.  Badger,  for  the  sys 
tematic  promptness  with  which  he  had  sup 
plied  the  iron-clads  with  all  requisite  ord 
nance  stores. 


This  battle  was  a  strong  endorsement  of 
Rear-Admiral  DuPont's  opinion  regarding 
another  attack  on  the  enemy's  works.  With 
in  the  "circle  of  fire"  were  seventy-five 
guns,  that  being  about  the  number  the  Con 
federates  stated  were  used  in  DuPont's  at 
tack.  On  the  10th  of  July  four.  Monitors 
were  brought  up  with  their  guns  bearing  on 
only  fourteen  of  this  number;  yet,  after 
fourteen  hours  of  severe  firing,  the  works 
not  only  remained  "  practically  uninjured," 
but  a  heavy  assaulting  party  were  driven 
off,  and  the  "  Catskill "  was  struck  sixty 
times  by  the  shot  from  Fort  Wagner.  The 
whole  fire  of  the  fort,  however,  was  evi 
dently  concentrated  on  this  vessel,  the  en 
emy  having  soon  learned  that  this  was  the 
only  way  to  disable  the  fleet. 

The  report  of  Commander  G.  W.  Rodgers 
goes  to  show  that  the  "  Catskill  "  was  very 
severely  handled,  the  chief  injury  being  in 
flicted  by  the  10-inch  smooth-bores  of  the 
enemy,  their  rifle-shot  glancing. 

It  can  readily  be  imagined,  if  the  four 
teen  guns  of  Wagner  did  so  much  damage, 
how  the  seventy-five  guns  of  Sumter  and 
adjacent  works  would  have  cut  up  DuPont's 
small  squadron  after  fourteen  hours  of 
cross-fire  !  Under  the  circumstances,  they 
would  have  been  literally  knocked  to  pieces. 
At  this  day  DuPont's  opinion  on  these  mat 
ters  have  been  endorsed  by  a  large  majority 
of  the  officers  of  the  Navy;  and,  as  the  siege 
of  Charleston  is  related,  it  will  be  seen  that 
he  followed  the  path  of  wisdom  in  declining 
to  risk  the  loss  of  his  vessels  and  their 
crews  without  adequate  compensation. 

On  the  18th  of  July  another  combined  at 
tack  of  the  Army  and  Navy  was  made  on 
Fort  Wagner.  After  the  failure  of  the  as 
sault  by  the  troops,  General  Gillmore  pro 
ceeded  to  bring  his  heaviest  guns  into  posi 
tion  to  play  upon  the  besieged  earth-work, 
as  well  as  to  throw  his  shot  and  shell  into 
such  of  the  enemy's  works  as  he  could 
reach,  and,  if  possible,  to  throw  shells  into 
Charleston  itself.  The  plan  of  the  contest 
now  consisted  in  pushing  the  siege-works 
up  as  close  as  possible  to  Wagner,  and  to 
annoy  the  enemy  as  much  as  possible  with 
sharp-shooters  and  bursting  shells,  which 
plan  the  latter  were  not  slow  to  follow. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  General  Gillmore  had 
succeeded  in  getting  into  position,  to  bear 
on  the  opposing  works,  twelve  heavy  guns 
and  eight  mortars,  within  eight  hundred 
yards  of  Wagner;  and  when  his  arrange 
ments  were  all  completed  he  notified  Rear- 
Admiral  Dahlgren  that  he  was  ready  to 
open  fire. 

The  naval  commander  was  not  averse  to 
an  engagement,  and  at  11:30  A.  M.  of  the 
above  date  led  up  to  Fort  Wagner  with  his 
flag  flying  on  the  "  Montauk,"  followed  by 
the  "New  Ironsides" — which  had  crossed  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


437 


bar— the  "  Catskill."  "Nantucket."  "Wee- 
hawken,"  '*and  ''Patapsco."  Upon  arrival 
abreast  of  the  fort,  the  •'  Montauk  "  was  an 
chored  and  fired  the  first  gun,  which  was 
immediately  followed  by  the  other  vessels 
—  a  nearer  approach  than  twelve  hundred 
yards,  however,  being  prevented  by  an  ebb 
tide.  Meanwhile,  the  gun-boats  "  Paul 
Jones, "Commander  A.C.  Rhind,  "  Ottawa," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  W.  D.  Whiting, 
"Seneca."  Lieutenant- Commander  Wil 
liam  Gibson.  * '  Chippewa,'' Lieutenant-Com 
mander  T.  C.  Harris,  and  "Wissahickon," 
Lieutenant-Commander  John  L.  Davis  (all 
under  charge  of  Commander  Rhind),  were 
detailed  to  use  their  great  guns  at  long 
range,  which  they  did  with  good  effect ;  at 
w  the  same  time  the  batteries  were  delivering 
a  very  steady  and  deliberate  fire. 

At  4  P.  M.  the  tide  changed  to  flood,  and 
the  iron-dads  got  underway  and  closed  in 
with  the  fort  to  a  distance  of  three  hundred 
yards,  when  the  vessels  opened  fire  again. 
Wagner  was  speedily  silenced,  and  did  not 
fire  another  shot  or  shell  at  the  vessels  dur 
ing  the  day;  neither  was  there  a  man  of  the 
enemy's  force  to  be  seen  on  or  about  the 
works.  No  troops  in  open  earth-works  could 
stand  the  terrible  cross-fire  on  Fort  Wagner 
from  the  vessels  and  General  Gillmore's 
batteries,  and  the  Confederates  all  went  to 
cover,  biding  their  time  when  the  assault 
should -come.  This  they  knew  was  pretty 
sure  to  follow  the  bombardment. 

The  iron-clads  continued  their  fire  until 
it  became  too  dark  to  distinguish  friend 
from  foe,  when  they  ceased  from  neces 
sity. 

Very  soon  after,  the  rattle  of  musketry 
and  the  flashes  of  light  artillery  announced 
that  the  Federal  troops  were  mounting  the 
parapets  of  Fort  Wagner.  This  continued 
without  intermission  until  9:30  P.  M.,  then 
died  away  gradually,  and  finally  ceased 
altogether.  The  Army  had  been  badly  re 
pulsed  a  second  time. 

One  gun  in  Wagner  was  known  to  have 
been  dismounted,  and  another  had  burst, 
and  General  Gillmore,  supposing  from  the 
terrible  fire  which  had  been  poured  upon 
the  fort  that  the  Confederates  must  be  very 
much  demoralized,  determined  upon  a  sec 
ond  assault  without  having  men  enough  to 
overcome  so  powerful  a  work  and  its  nu 
merous  and  hardy  defenders. 

It  may  be  desirable,  perhaps,  to  know  what 
kind  of  a  work  this  was  that  endured  such 
a  tremendous  cross-fire  from  thirty-seven 
heavy  guns  on  shore  and  afloat.  It  was 
seldom  that  an  earth-work  so  situated  could 
stand  the  fire  of  naval  vessels,  much  less  a 
combined  attack. 

All  that  part  of  Mcvris  Island  not  taken 
by  General  Gillmore  was  well  fortified;  it 
may  be  said  that  the  batteries  planted  about 


were  the  outposts  of  Fort  Wagner.  This 
work,  though  not  mounting  many  guns, 
was  built  with  remarkable  care  and  skill;  it 
was  in  shape  partly  a  lunette,  with  one  end 
fortified  with  guns  looking  down  the  beach, 
the  other  end  commanding  the  upper  beach. 
The  whole  work  was  constructed  of  im 
mense  timbers,  forming  bomb-proofs,  and 
these  were  covered  with  sand- bags  to  a  thick 
ness  of  over  twenty  feet.  Its  air-line  dis 
tance  from  Sumter  was  one  and  three-quar 
ter  miles,  and  from  Battery  Gregg  less  than 
one  mile,  and  by  these  two  works  it  might 
be  said  to  be  covered.  It  was  very  plain  to 
a  mere  tyro  in  engineering  that  Wagner 
was  the  key  to  the  destruction  of  Sumter 
and  the  acquisition  of  the  enemy's  works 
on  Sullivan's  Island. 

A  new  era  had  dawned  in  engineering, 
and  the  clever  enemy,  with  sand-bags  and 
timber,  had  built  a  work  far  excelling  any 
thing  in  the  shape  of  mortar,  brick  and 
stone,  and  had  armed  it  with  the  heaviest 
guns  at  that  time  known  in  the  United 
States.  This  was  the  fort  (Wagner)  which 
so  far  had  defied  the  -forces  of  both  the 
Army  and  the  Navy. 

It  now  became  necessary  to  prosecute  the 
siege  of  Wagner  with  patience  and  perse 
verance,  as  it  was  felt  that  the  number  of 
Union  troops  was  inadequate  to  carry  the 
work  without  throwing  away  the  lives  of 
the  men  and  the  useless  expenditure  of  ma 
terials,  therefore  active  operations  were  for 
the  moment  suspended. 

It  was  very  evident  that  the  fire  of  the 
naval  vessels  could  silence  Wagner's  guns 
at  any  time,  but  General  Gillmore  could 
only  raise  one  single  column  for  attack, 
while  the  Confederates  could  throw  into 
Wagner  at  night  any  number  of  men  that 
might  be  required  to  fill  up  vacancies  by 
casualties.  These  points  had  been  made 
known  to  the  War  Department;  but,  with 
a  degree  of  negligence  that  cannot  be  ac 
counted  for,  the  notice  was  so  slow  in  being 
heeded  that  it  gave  the  enemy  opportunity 
to  strengthen  their  weak  points,  and  repair 
damages  to  such  an  extent  that  the  com 
bined  operations  would  have  to  be  repeated. 
If  General  Gillmore  had  been  furnished  with 
five  thousand  more  troops,  Wagner,  with 
out  doubt,  would  have  fallen  at  the  first 
assault.  It  is  not  the  writer's  intention  to 
criticise  the  action  of  the  Government — he 
only  states  facts — but  it  is.  nevertheless, 
very  remarkable,  considering  the  great  de 
sire  of  the  American  people  to  see  Charles 
ton  (the  hot-bed  of  secession  and  the  pioneer 
in  the  revolution)  fall  into  Union  hands, 
that  prompter  measures  were  not  taken  to 
strengthen  the  Army  corps  and  the  Navy 
when  required.  Here,  again,  was  demon 
strated  the  necessity  for  having  at  the  head 
of  the  Army  one  great  military  mind  that 


438 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


would  know  how  to  direct  such  important 
operations. 

While  giving  credit  to  the  Navy  for  the 
part  it  took  in  this  affair,  we  deem  it  a 
duty  we  owe  to  the  gallant  army  under 
General  Gillmore  to  give  an  account  of  the 
more  desperate  adventures  that  befel  the 
brave  corps,  which,  after  keeping  up  an 
energetic  fire  for  so  long  a  time,  undertook 
the  assault  of  Wagner.  For  this  purpose 
two  brigades  were  selected,  consisting  of 
the  7th  Connecticut  regiment,  the  3d  New 
Hampshire,  the  9th  Maine,  the  ?Gth  Penn 
sylvania  and  the  48th  New  York,  under 
Brigadier-General  Strong;  and  the  7th  New 
Hampshire,  the  6th  Connecticut,  the  62d 
Ohio,  the  100th  NewYork,  and  the  54th  Mas 
sachusetts  (colored),  under  Colonel  Putnam. 

The  brigades  were  formed  in  line  on  the 
beach,  with  the  regiments  disposed  in 
columns,  the  colored  regiment  being  in  the 
advance.  This  movement  was  observed 
from  Sumter,  and  fire  opened  on  the  troops 
from  that  work,  but  without  effect. 

At  dark  the  order  was  given  for  both 
brigades  to  advance,  General  Strong  lead 
ing  and  Colonel  Putnam  within  supporting 
distance.  The  troops  went  forward  in  quick 
time,  preserving  the  greatest  silence,  until 
the  54th  Massachusetts,  led  by  Colonel 
Shaw,  was  within  two  hundred  yards  of 
Wagner,  when  the  men  gave  a  cheer  and 
rushed  up  the  glacis,  closely  followed  by 
the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade. 

The  enemy — hitherto  silent,  but  aware  of 
all  transpiring — opened  upon  the  advancing 
columns  a  most  furious  fire  of  grape  and 
canister,  as  well  as  a  rapid  fire  of  musketry. 
The  negro  troops  plunged  on,  and  some  of 
them  crossed  the  ditch,  though  it  contained 
four  feet  of  water,  and  reached  the  parapets. 
They  were  dislodged,  however,  in  a  few 
minutes,  with  hand-grenades,  and  re 
treated,  leaving  more  than  half  their  num 
ber  on  the  field.  The  6th  Connecticut, 
under  Lieutenant -Colonel  Rodman,  was 
next  in  support  of  the  54th  Massachusetts, 
and  they  also  suffered  a  terrible  repulse. 
The  next  in  line  —  the  9th  Maine  —  was 
broken  up  by  the  retiring  colored  troops 
(who  rushed  through  their  lines),  and  re 
tired  in  confusion,  with  the  exception  of 
three  companies,  which  stood  their  ground. 

It  now  devolved  upon  the  3d  New  Hamp 
shire  regiment  to  push  forward,  and,  led 
by  General  Strong  and  Colonel  Jackson  in 
person,  they  dashed  up  against  the  fort. 
Three  companies  gained  the  ditch,  and, 
wading  through  the  water,  found  shelter 
against  the  embankment.  Here  was  the 
critical  point  of  the  assault,  but  the  second 
brigade,  which  should  have  been  up  and 
ready  to  support  the  leading  troops,  were, 
for  some  unknown  reason,  delayed.  Gen 
eral  Strong,  finding  that  he  was  not  sup 


ported,  gave  the  order  to  fall  back  and  lie 
down  on  the  glacis,  which  was  obeyed 
without  confusion.  While  waiting,  in  this 
position,  under  a  heavy  fire.  General  Strong 
was  wounded.  Finding  that  the  supports 
still  failed  to  come  up,  he  gave  the  order  to 
his  brigade  to  retire,  and  the  movement 
was  effected  in  good  order. 

Soon  after  this  the  other  brigade  came 
up,  much  impeded  by  the  retreating  troops; 
but  they  made  up  for  their  tardiness  by 
their  valor,  rushing  in  impetuously,  unde 
terred  by  the  fury  of  the  enemy,  whose  fire 
had  continued  without  intermission.  Sev 
eral  of  the  regiments  succeeded  in  crossing 
the  ditch,  scaling  the  parapet,  and  getting 
inside  the  fort.  Here  a  terrible  hand-to- 
hand  conflict  ensued;  the  Union  troops 
fought  with  desperation,  and  were  able  to 
drive  the  enemy  from  one  side  of  the  work 
to  seek  shelter  between  the  traverses,  while 
the  former  held  possession  for  something 
more  than  an  hour.  This  piece  of  gallantry 
was,  unfortunately,  of  no  avail.  The  en 
emy  rallied,  and,  having  received  reinforce 
ments,  made  a  charge,  and,  by  the  force  of 
numbers,  drove  the  Union  troops  from 
their  position. 

One  of  the  regiments  engaged  in  this 
brilliant  dash  was  the  48th  New  York, 
Colonel  Barton,  and  it  came  out  of  the  con 
flict  almost  decimated.  The  48th  was 
among  the  first  to  enter  the  fort,  and  was 
fired  upon  by  a  Union  regiment  that  had 
gained  the  parapet,  under  the  impression 
that  it  was  the  enemy.  About  midnight, 
seeing  that  it  was  impossible  to  hold  what 
had  been  gained  of  the  fort,  an  order  was 
given  to  the  Union  troops  to  retire,  and 
they  fell  back  to  the  rifle-pits  outside  their 
own  works,  with  a  loss,  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing,  of  1,530  men. 

After  this  most  gallant  but  unsuccessful 
attack,  General  Gillmore  came  to  the  con 
clusion  that  Wagner  could  not  be  taken  in 
that  way  by  his  depleted  forces,  and  he  de 
cided  to  bombard  that  fort,  Fort  Sumter, 
and  even  Charleston,  to  either  cause  a  sur 
render  or  to  lay  them  in  ruins. 

Had  the  enemy  been  in  great  force  at 
that  moment,  they  could  have  massed  all 
their  troops,  landed  them  on  Morris  Island, 
and  captured  Gillmore's  army  and  every 
thing  belonging  to  it.  But  they  were  quite 
satisfied  with  the  position  as  it  was;  they 
held  the  great  chain  of  works  which  blocked 
the  way  to  Charleston,  and  were  very  glad 
to  see  the  Federals  apparently  wasting 
their  strength  in  futile  efforts  to  obtain 
possession  of  their  strongholds. 

In  this  last  dreadful  assault  on  Wagner, 
the  ground  in  and  aiound  the  fort  was  cov 
ered  with  the  Union  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  naval  force  could  not  continue  the 
fire  the  following  day,  nor  until  they  were 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


439 


removed.  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  sent  a 
communication  to  the  commander  of  Fort 
Wagner,  offering  to  bury  the  dead  and  to 
remove  and  care  for  the  wounded.  This 
proposition  was  politely  declined,  the  Con 
federate  commander  sending  word  that  he 
would  bury  the  dead  and  see  the  wounded 
cared  for.  Judging  from  the  manner  in 
which  he  had  defended  his  fort,  his  chival- 
ric  character  no  doubt  caused  him  to  keep 
his  word. 

The  first  thing  General  Gillmore  did 
toward  securing  possession  of  Morris 
Island,  which  he  determined  to  hold,  was 
to  construct  parallels.  These  extended 
from  the  beach  on  the  right  to  the  marsh 
on  the  left.  The  first  was  distant  from 
Wagner  1,200  yards.  The  second,  and  prin 
cipal  one,  was  so  constructed  that  its  left 
was  600  yards  from  the  fort,  and  its  right 
750  yards.  The  third  parallel  was  425  yards 
from  Wagner.  The  parallels  were  built  in 
a  direction  diagonal  to  the  length  of  Morris 
Island,  having  the  highest  points  resting 
on  the  marsh.  The  rifle-pits,  forming  the 
foundation  of  the  first  parallel,  were  thrown 
up  shortly  after  the  troops  gained  pos 
session  of  the  lower  part  of  the  island. 
These  pits  were  thrown  up  in  a  single 
night,  and  were  first  used  on  the  17th  of 
July  in  the  attack  on  Wagner.  The  inter 
stices  were  subsequently  filled,  and  the 
first  parallel  constructed.  The  moment 
this  parallel  was  finished,  the  enemy  were 
preparing  to  make  a  sortie  on  the  work; 
but  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  got  underway 
with  the  iron-clads,  assisted  by  the  gun 
boats  at  long  range,  and  opened  fire  on 
Wagner,  soon  silencing  that  work  and 
driving  the  men  to  cover. 

At  that  time  General  Gillmore  reported 
his  advance  position  had  been  secured. 
The  length  of  this  parallel  was  220  yards. 
The  length  of  the  second  parallel  was  325 
yards.  The  siege-guns  used  for  the  offen 
sive  were  mounted  in  the  rear  of  this  paral 
lel.  Its  distance  from  Sumter  was  3,350 
yards.  The  third  parallel  was  100  yards  in 
length.  On  the  left,  earth-works  were  con 
structed  containing  some  of  the  heaviest 
siege -guns.  Their  mean  distance  from 
Sumter  was  4,100  yards.  Still  further  to 
the  left,  on  the  marsh,  was  another  earth 
work,  facing  Fort  Sumter.  On  this  work 
was  mounted  that  celebrated  gun,  called 
the  "Swamp  Angel,"  which  sent  its  shells 
into  the  city  of  Charleston — a  distance  of 
five  miles. 

This  work  was  built  on  a  spot  inaccessi 
ble  to  the  enemy's  troops.  At  low  water  it 
was  a  deep  bog;  at  high  water  the  tide  cov 
ered  the  ground  to  a  depth  of  four  feet, 
enabling  scows  to  approach  the  spot  and 
supply  all  the  material  necessary  for  the 
erection  of  earth-works.  Sand-bags,  and 


everything  else  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  work,  sank  out  of  sight  in  the  soft  ooze, 
at  first,  until  a  good  foundation  was  secured. 
At  each  succeeding  tide  the  scows  brought 
their  loads  of  material,  which  produced,  in 
the  end,  a  great  mound  above  the  marsh. 
This  was  an  engineering  feat  worthy  of  the 
clever  officer,  General  Gillmore,  who  exe 
cuted  it.  Strong  traverses  were  erected  on 
this  bank,  and,  after  due  time  given  every 
thing  to  settle,  the  "Swamp  Angel"  was 
floated  to  the  point  on  one  of  the  scows, 
and  mounted.  The  work  was  all  done  at 
night,  as  it  was  in  full  view  of  Fort  Johnson 
and  the  James  Island  batteries. 

In  reference  to  the  last  two  engagements 
with  Wagner,  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  does 
not  speak  of  any  casualties  or  damage  to 
the  Monitors  or  other  vessels  of  the  fleet, 
and  it  is  presumed  that  the  cross-fire  from 
shore  and  afloat  drove  the  Confederate 
gunners  to  cover  before  damage  could  be 
inflicted.  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  had  a 
great  adjunct  in  these  affairs  in  the  staunch 
"  New  Ironsides,"  Captain  Rowan,  wrhose 
11-inch  guns,  rapidly  fired,  did  more  to 
silence  Wagner  than  any  three  Monitors 
in  the  fleet. 

While  General  Gillmore  was  perfecting 
his  plans,  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  were  not 
idle.  A  smart  affair  came  off  in  the  Stono 
River,  in  which  the  "  Pawnee"  (Commander 
Balch),  "  Marblehead "  (Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Scott),  and  the  "Huron"  were 
engaged.  The  "Pawnee"  and  "Marble- 
head"  were  at  anchor  near  Fort  Grimball, 
when  they  were  hotly  attacked  by  batteries 
of  the  enemy  posted  six  hundred  yards  away, 
the  first  shot  striking  the  "Pawnee,"  and 
the  others  admirably  directed  by  the  enemy. 
The  position  of  the  "Pawnee"  was  such  that 
she  could  bring  no  guns  to  bear,  and  she 
was  obliged  to  drop  down  stream  until  a 
point  was  reached  whence  the  guns  could 
be  trained  on  the  enemy.  The  "Marble- 
head  "  was  requested  to  dp  likewise,  and, 
meeting  the  "Huron"  in  this  position,  they 
all  opened  fire  on  the  hostile  batteries, 
which  had  been  cutting  them  up  severely 
while  shifting  their  berths,  resulting  in 
the  retreat  of  the  enemy.  The  "Pawnee" 
was  struck  thirty-three  times  in  the  hull, 
three  times  in  the  smoke-stack,  had  three 
boats  damaged,  and  six  shot  in  the  rig 
ging.  Fortunately,  the  "Pawnee"  had 
chain-cables  triced  up  and  down  her  sides, 
or  the  boilers  would  have  been  perforated. 
Those  South  Carolina  artillerymen  were 
just  as  spunky  and  annoying  as  were  those 
on  the  Mississippi,  and  never  lost  an  oppor 
tunity  to  attack  the  wooden  gun-boats,  fre 
quently  with  effect.  There  were  but  four 
persons  wounded  in  this  affair,  and  it  is 
remarkable  that  a  number  were  not  killed, 
considering  the  precision  of  the  enemy's  fire. 


440 


THE  KA  VAL   HISTORY 


Commander  Balch,  tlie  senior  officer  011 
the  Stono  River,  speaks  in  the  handsomest 
terms  of  the  conduct  of  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Bacon  for  his  unremitting  atten 
tion  to  duties  in  that  locality,  where,  for  a 
period  of  five  months,  he  had  been  co-oper 
ating  with  the  Army.  On  the  16th  of  July 
the  Confederates  commenced  an  artillery 
fire  on  General  Gillmore's  pickets  at  Seces- 
sipnville,  but  were  speedily  silenced  by 
Lieutenant-Commander  Bacon  moving  up 
the  river  with  the  "Commodore  McDon 
ough,"  and  firing  into  their  camp  with  his 
rifled  gun. 

In  a  report  by  Lieutenant  A.  S.  McKenzie, 
referring  to  the  landing  of  the  brigade, 
which  was  transported,  under  his  charge, 
on  the  boats  of  the  "  Weehawken  "  for  the 
assault  on  Fort  Wagner,,  he  mentions  the 
fact  that  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Robeson,  of  the 
"New  Ironsides,"  was  the  first  to  plant  the 
American  flag  on  Morris  Island,  Brigadier- 
General  Strong  landing  with  him. 

During  the  operations  for  the  possession 
of  Morris  Island,  Commander  Balch,  with 
the  "  Commodore  McDonough,"  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Bacon  and  Lieutenant  F.  M. 
Bunce,  in  charge  of  boats  with  howitzers 
mounted,  were  employed  in  landing  troops 
on  Folly  Island,  which  had  to  be  done  at 
night.  By  the  most  active  exertions  of 
these  officers  the  duty  was  fully  accom 
plished,  every  effort  being  made  to  effect  a 
successful  landing ;  and  the  Army  was  in 
a  great  measure  indebted  to  them  for  the 
perfect  manner  in  which  all  the  troops  were 
debarked. 

While  part  of  General  Gillmore's  forces 
were  being  landed  on  Folly  Island,  General 
Terry,  commanding  a  division,  was  directed 
to  proceed  up  the  Stono  in  transports,  pre 
ceded  by  the  "  Pawnee,"  "  Nantucket  "  and 
the  "Commodore  McDonough,"  and  make  a 
landing  on  James  Island,  which  was  done. 
This  manoeuvre — a  part  of  the  programme 
of  attack  on  Morris  Island — was  success 
fully  accomplished  under  cover  of  the  ves 
sels  mentioned. 

While  General  Gillmore  was  making  his 
advances  the  Confederates  were  increasing 
and  improving  their  defences,  and  among 
other  things  were  laying  torpedoes  and 
planting  obstructions  to  prevent  the  ad 
vance  of  the  fleet,  and  the  greatest  watch 
fulness  was  required  to  avoid  them;  but 
these  measures  did  not  affect  the  move 
ments  of  General  Gillmore,  who,  on  August 
17th,  opened  fire  on  Sumter  with  all  his 
guns,  over  Wagner  and  the  intervening 
space. 

About  the  same  time  Rear- Admiral  Dahl- 
gren,  with  the  "Weehawken,"  carrying  his 
flag,  moved  forward  with  the  entire  naval 
force.  The  "  Catskill,"  "Nahant"  and 
"Montauk"  following  the  flag -ship,  the 


"Passaic"  and  "Patapsco"  being  held  in 
reserve  for  an  attack  on  Sumter.  The 
"New  Ironsides."  Captain  Rowan,  moved 
up  abreast  of  Wagner,  and  the  following 
sloops  and  gun-boats  fired  at  long  range: 
"Canandaigua,"  Captain  J.  F.  Green,  "Ma- 
haska,"  Commander  J.  B.  Creighton,  "  Cim- 
marone,"  Commander  A.  K.  Hughes,  "  Ot 
tawa."  Commander  W.  D.  Whiting.  "Wis- 
sahickon,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  John 
L.  Davis,  "Dai  Chingy'  Lieutenant- Com 
mander  J.  C.  Chaplin,  "  Lodona,"  Acting- 
Lieutenant  E.  Broadhead. 

As  the  tide  rose,  the  "  Weehawken"  closed 
to  four  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  Wag 
ner;  the  other  three  Monitors  followed,  and 
the  "  New  Ironsides "  lay  as  near  as  her 
great  draft  of  water  would  permit.  The 
fort  was  silenced  after  a  steady  and  well- 
directed  fire. 

General  Gillmore  had  opened  with  his  bat 
teries  soon  after  daylight,  in  answer  to  a. 
fire  from  Wagner,  Battery  Gregg  and  Sum 
ter,  which  was  continued  with  great  vigor 
for  several  hours.  A  200-pounder  rifled  gun 
was  brought  to  bear  on  Sumter  for  the  pur 
pose  of  testing  the  powder  intended  for  use 
in  these  guns.  Seven  shots  were  fired,  the 
distance  being  two  and  five-eighths  miles. 
The  first  three  fell  short,  but.  of  the  remain 
ing  four,  two  went  directly  through  the 
gorge  wall  a  short  distance  above  the  sally 
port,  and  two  struck  the  parapet,  sending 
a  large  amount  of  brick  and  mortar  into  the 
ditch  and  into  the  fort.  The  solid  shot  that 
passed  through  made  holes  from  four  to  five 
feet  in  diameter. 

General  Gillmore  had  sixty  guns  of  differ 
ent  calibres  mounted,  .and  with  these  he 
kept  up  an  incessant  fire  on  Sumter,  while 
the  fleet  kept  its  guns  playing  rapidly  on 
Wagner  until  there  was  no  answer  from 
that  work.  Then  the  flag  was  shifted  to 
the  "  Passaic,"  that  vessel  and  the  "Pa 
tapsco  "  having  rifled  guns,  and  these  two 
steamed  up  the  channel  to  within  two 
thousand  yards  of  Sumter,  when  fire  was 
opened  on  the  gorge  angle  and  southeast 
front  of  the  work.  The  guns  of  the  "Pa 
tapsco"  were  well  aimed,  and  their  project 
iles  struck  the  southeast  front  nine  times 
in  succession.  To  all  this  fire  Sumter  only 
replied  now  and  then  ;  Wagner  was  si 
lenced,  and  Battery  Gregg  alone  kept  up  an 
obstinate  fire  on  the  "Passaic"  and  "Pa 
tapsco." 

At  noon  the  iron-clad s  drew  off  to  let  the 
men  go  to  dinner.  This  was,  no  doubt,  a 
deliberate  movement;  but  a  better  one 
would  have  been  to  have  divisions  of  the 
fleet  relieve  each  other,  and  never  to  cease 
fire  on  Wagner,  even  at  night,  until  it  lay 
a  heap  of  ruins.  The  fertility  of  the  Con 
federates,  and  their  pertinacity  in  repairing 
damages,  were  too  well  known  to  suppose 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


441 


that  they  would  lose  an  opportunity  to  act 
when  the  guns  stopped  firing  on  them. 

All  the  afternoon  of  the  Kth  the  shore 
batteries  continued  to  fire  upon  Sumter, 
with  little  or  no  reply.  The  "  Passaic  "  and 
"  Patapsco  v  were  sent  up  again  in  the  af 
ternoon  to  open  on  Wagner,  and  prevent 
the  repairing  of  damages.  The  fort  an 
swered  actively  for  awhile,  but  in  a  short 
time  ceased  its  fire. 

On  the  whole,  the  day's  work  was  satis 
factory  to  the  combined  forces.  The  Army 
had  demonstrated  the  feasibility  of  reach 
ing  Sumter  and  inflicting  serious  damage 
on  the  work  ;  the  Navy  had  shown  that  it 
could  silence  Wagner  whenever  it  pleased 
to  do  so.  It  was  not  possible  yet  to  ascertain 
what  damage  had  been  done  to  Sumter  by 
the  combined  fire,  but  enough  was  known 
to  assure  the  respective  commanders  that 
they  had  not  yet  demonstrated  their  full 
power,  and  that  the  enemy's  works  would 
be  so  seriously  damaged  in  a  short  time  that 
they  would  not  be  able  to  repair  them. 

The  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  may 
be  said  to  have  commenced  in  earnest  from 
this  date,  August  17th,  with  what  result 
can  be  better  judged  from  the  bulletins  that 
were  issued  day  after  day  in  Charleston, 
as  the  following: 

CHARLESTON",  Thursday,  August  20th,  1863. 

The  firing  of  the  Parrott  guns  on  Sumter  to-day 
was  exceedingly  heavy,  but  not  so  accurate  as 
heretofore.  About  noon  the  flag  was  shot  away, 
but  soon  replaced;  no  casualties  are  reported.  Col. 
Alfred  Rhett  is  commanding,  and  the  garrison  is 
stout-hearted. 

The  battery  of  Parrott  guns  is  distant  from  Sum 
ter  2H  miles.  The  missiles  used  aie  200  -  pdr.  bolts, 
eight  inches  in  diameter  and  two  feet  long,  with 
flat  heads  of  chilled  iron.  Shells  of  the  same  di 
mensions  are  also  used. 

Up  to  Wednesday  night,  the  third  day  of  the  at 
tack,  1,972  of  these  missiles  struck  Sumter,  and,  in 
cluding  to-day,  2,500  have  struck.  The  damage  is, 
of  course,  considerable,  and  for  the  last  two  days 
all  the  guns  on  the  south  face  of  the  fort  have  been 
disabled. 

Yesterday  the  iron-clads  formed  in  line  of  battle 
to  renew  the  attack,  but  the  fort  opened  at  long 
range  from  the  east  face,  and  they  retired  without 
attacking. 

To-day  the  '"Ironsides"  and  two  Monitors  kept 
up  a  fire  on  Wagner  at  intervals,  and  the  Yankee 
sappers  have  begun  to  make  approaches  on  that 
battery  from  the  nearest  work.  A  shot  from  Wag 
ner  disabled  one  of  the  Parrott  guns ;  and  the  James 
Island  batteries,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Yates, 
exploded  two  of  the  enemy  s  amiuunitioii  chests. 

Thus,  at  last,  Charleston  was  reaping 
some  of  the  whirlwind  it  had  sown,  and  re 
tribution  came  for  the  dishonor  it  had  done 
the  flag  that  had  once  waved  on  Sumter. 
Through  Sumter,  the  Union  was  being 
avenged  for  the  first  blows  the  Confederates 
had  struck.  This  once  sturdy  old  fort,  in  a 
few  days  after  Gillmore  opened  his  batteries, 
began  to  show  signs  of  great  weakness.  Its 
great  distance  from  the  Federal  batteries 
could  not  save  it;  science  had  surmounted 


all  the  difficulties,  and.  if  the  American  flag 
did  not  float  over  it,  it  would  remain  but 
a  heap  of  ruins — a  mere  memento  of  the 
past. 

CHARLESTOX,  Friday,  August  21st,  1863. 

The  fire  of  the  enemy's  land  batteries  has  been 
heavier  to-day  than  ever.  A  new  battery  of  Parrott 
guns  opened  on  Sumter  this  morning,  and  the  fire 
has  been  concentrated  upon  the  east  battery  and  its 
guns. 

The  south  side  of  the  fort  is  now  a  pile  of  rubbish. 

On  the  south  the  wall  is  also  crumbling  into  a 
heap  of  ruins.  The  flag  has  been  shot  away  twice 
to-day,  and  six  times  during  the  attack.  The  flag 
staff  is  shot  off,  and  the  flag  flies  from  the  ruins  of 
the  south  wall. 

Just  before  sunset  Sumter  fired  several  shot  at 
the  iron-clads  which  were  engaging  Wagner. 

A  Monitor  this  morning  fired  at  Sumter  while 
making  a  reconnaissance,  but  was  not  replied  to. 

There  is  no  report  of  casualties.  The  sappers  are 
making  a  regular  approach  on  Battery  Wagner. 

CHARLESTON,  Saturday,  August  22d,  1863. 

From  5  o'clock  A.  >i.  until  7  o'clock  p.  M.  the  ene 
my's  fire  on  Fort  Sumter  was  very  heavy  ;  923  shots 
were  fired,  and  704  struck  the  fort,  either  outside  or 
inside.  The  eastern  face  of  the  fort  was  badly  bat 
tered  ;  some  guns  on  the  east  face  and  on  the  north 
end  were  disabled.  The  flag  was  shot  down  four 
times.  Five  privates  and  two  negroes  were 
wounded. 

The  enemy's  fire  on  Wagner  caused  five  casual 
ties,  including  Captain  Robert  Pringle,  killed. 

Last  night  a  communication  from  the  enemy  (un 
signed)  was  sent  to  General  Beauregard,  demand 
ing  the  surrender  of  Sumter  and  the  Morris  Island 
batteries,  with  a  notification  that  the  city  would 
be  shelled  in  four  hours  if  the  demand  was  not  com 
plied  with.  General  Beauregard  was  on  a  recon 
naissance,  and  General  Jordan  returned  it  for  the 
signature  of  the  writer. 

About  2  o'clock  this  afternoon  the  enemy  began 
throwing  shells  into  the  city  from  a  battery  on  the 
marsh  between  James  and  Johnson's  Islands,  and 
distant  five  miles  from  the  city.  Twelve  8-inch 
Parrott  shells  fell  into  the  city,  but  caused  no  casu 
alties.  The  transaction  is  regarded  as  an  outrage 
on  civilized  warfare.  The  shelling  had  a  good  effect 
in  hastening  the  exodus  of  the  non-combatants. 

At  daylight  this  morning  the  enemy  opened 
again  vigorously  on  Sumter.  The  "  Ironsides  "  has 
since  opened  on  Wagner.  Sumter  is  replying. 
Wagner  is  firing  briskly  on  the  enemy's  advance 
works,  four  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  bat 
tery. 

CHARLESTON,  August  22d. 

The  fire  of  the  enemy's  land  batteries  has  been 
kept  up  on  Sumter,  and  more  guns  disabled.  There 
was  only  one  casualty. 

There  was  also  a  heavy  fire  opened  on  Battery 
Wagner  from  the  fleet ;  also  on  Battery  Gregg. 
The  casualties  at  Wagner  were  one  officer  and  five 
privates.  General  Gillmore's  demand  for  the  sur 
render  of  Sumter  and  Morris  Island  was  a  threat  to 
shell  Charleston  in  four  hours  from  the  delivery  of 
the  paper  at  ^yagne^.  It  was  signed  and  returned 
at  7  o'clock  this  morning. 

General  Beauregard,  in  his  reply,  charges  inhu 
manity  and  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  war,  and 
affirms  that,  if  the  offence  be  repeated,  he  will 
apply  stringent  measures  of  retaliation. 

Up  to  this  time  the  threat  to  shell  the  city  has 
not  been  executed. 

There  seems  to  be  a  discrepancy  between 
these  two  bulletins  about  General  Gillmore 
shelling  the  city. 


442 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


CHARLESTON,  Friday,  August  23d. 

To-day  the  land  batteries  opened  from  south  to 
north,  and  the  Monitors  from  east  to  west,  coming 
close  up  ;  the  fire  was  very  damaging.  The  east 
wall  was  crushed  and  breached,  and  the  shot  swept 
through  the  fort.  A  shell  burst,  wounding  Lieu 
tenant  Boylston,  Colonel  Rhett  and  three  other 
officers. 

The  fort  (Sumter)  is  now  in  ruins.  Colonel  Rhett 
is  ordered  to  hold  this  outpost,  even  as  a  forlorn 
hope,  until  relieved  or  taken. 

Colonel  Gaillard  was  killed. 

General  Gillmore  sent  a  communication  at  11 
o'clock,  giving  notice  that  at  11  o'clock  to-morrow 
he  would  open  fire  again  on  Charleston. 

CHARLESTON,  August  24th. 

The  enemy's  fire  on  Sumter  slackened  to-day. 
The  fleet  has  not  participated. 

At  12  o'clock  last  night  the  enemy's  guns  opened 
on  the  city,  firing  fifteen  8-inch  Parrot!  shells.  No 
casualties  resulted.  Non-combatants  are  leaving 
the  city  in  continuous  streams. 


I  deem  it  unnecessary  at  present  to  continue  the 
fire  upon  the  ruins  of  Fort  Sumter. 

I  have  also  (under  a  heavy  fire  from  James  Island) 
established  batteries  on  my  left,  within  effective 
range  of  the  heart  of  Charleston  city,  and  have 
opened  with  them,  after  giving  General  Beauregard 
due  notice  of  my  intention  to  do  so. 

My  notification  to  General  Beauregard,  his  reply 
thereto,  with  the  threat  of  retaliation  and  my  re 
joinder,  have  been  transmitted  to  Army  head 
quarters. 

The  projectiles  from  my  batteries  entered  the 
city,  and  General  Beauregard  himself  designates 
them  as  the  most  destructive  missiles  ever  used  in 
war.  *  *  *  * 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE. 

Colonel  John  W.  Turner,  Chief  of  Artil 
lery,  reports  to  General  Gillmore  as  follows: 

The  gorge  wall  of  the  fort  is  almost  a  complete 
mass  of  ruins  for  the  distance  of  several  casemates 
about  midway  of  this  face,  the  ramparts  are  re- 


APPEARANCE  OF  FORT  SUMTER  AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  ATTACK. 


On  the  24th  of  August  General  Gillmore 
wrote  the  following  dispatches  to  Wash 
ington: 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH  ) 
T   irM-OBRiIS  ISLA*D<  s-  C-,  August  24th,  1863.     ' 
To 'Major-General H.  W.  Halleck,  Genera.l-in-chief  • 

R,~!  haye  the  honor  to  report  the  practical 
demolition  of  Fort  Sumter  as  the  result  of  the  seven 
days  bombardment  of  the  work,  during  two  days 
of  which  a  powerful  northeasterly  storm  most  se 
verely  affected  the  accuracy  of  our  fire 

Fort  Sumter  is  to-day  a  shapeless  and  harmless 
mass  of  rums.  My  chief  of  artillery,  Colonel  J  W 
1 urner  reports  its  destruction  so  far  complete  that 
t  is  no  longer  of  any  avail  in  the  defence  of  Charles 
ton.  He  also  says  that  by  a  longer  fire  it  could 
be  made  more  completely  a  ruin  and  a  mass  of 
broken  masonry,  but  could  scarcely  be  made  more 
powerless  for  the  defence  of  the  harbor. 

My  breaching  batteries  were  located  at  distances 
varying  from  between  3,320  yards  and  4,240  vards 
from  the  works,  and  now  remain  as  efficient  as'ever 


moved  nearly,  and  in  places  quite  to  the  arches, 
and  but  for  the  sand-bags  with  which  the  case 
mates  are  filled,  and  which  has  served  to  sustain 
the  broken  arches  and  masses  of  masonry,  it  would 
have  long  since  been  entirely  cut  away,"  and  with 
it  the  arches  to  the  floor  of  the  second  tier  of  case 
mates. 

The  debris  in  this  point  now  forms  a  ramp  as 
high  as  the  floor  of  the  casemates.  The  parapet 
wall  of  the  two  northeasterly  faces  is  completely 
carried  away,  a  small  portion  "being  left  at  the  angle 
made  with  the  gorge  wall,  and  the  ramparts  of  these 
faces  are  also  a  total  ruin.  .  .  .  The  ruin  ex 
tends  around,  taking  in  the  northeasterly  face  as  far 
as  can  be  seen.  .  .  .  The  ramparts  "in  this  an 
gle,  as  well  as  in  the  southeasterly  face,  must  be 
ploughed  up  and  greatly  shattered,  the  parapet 
in  this  latter  face  being  torn  off,  as  could  be  seen, 
and  it  was  thought  that  the  platforms  of  these  re 
maining  faces  could  not  have  escaped  the  universal 
destruction. 

With  the  assistance  of  powerful  glasses 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


443 


all  the  damages  could  be  accurately  ascer 
tained,  even  to  the  injury  done  to  the  gun- 
carriages.  Colonel  Turner  ends  his  report 
by  recommending  that  no  more  shot  be 
wasted  on  Sumter,  as  it  was  practically  of 
no  further  use  in  the  defence  of  the  harbor. 

When  all  these  facts  were  fully  ascer 
tained  to  the  satisfaction  of  General  Gill- 
more,  that  officer  wrote  to  General  Beaure- 
gard  demanding  the  immediate  evacua 
tion  of  Morris  Island  and  the  surrender  of 
Sumter,  otherwise  he  would  proceed  "to 
open  fire  on  Charleston  from  batteries  al 
ready  established  within  easy  range  of  the 
city."  To  this.  General  Beauregard  re 
plied,  using  the  following  language,  which 
may  be  interesting  from  the  fact  that  he 
tries  to  place  the  Federal  soldiers  in  the  light 
of  barbarians,  while,  at  that  very  time,  the 
harshest  treatment  was  imposed  upon  the 
Union  prisoners  of  war,  and  the  Confeder 
ates  themselves  did  not  in  all  cases  observe 
war's  amenities.  What  General  Gillmore 
proposed  to  do  was  according  to  the  rules 
of  war.  he  having  given  notice  that  he 
wras  about  to  bombard  the  city,  six  hours  in 
advance — quite  time  enough  for  the  non- 
combatants,  women  and  children,  to  leave 
the  place. 

We  cut  down  General  Beauregard's  let- 
ler  owing  to  its  length,  but  the  following 
gives  the  substance  of  it  : 

Among  nations,  not  barbarous,  the  usages  of 
war  prescribe  that,  when  a  city  is  about  to  be  at 
tacked,  timely  notice  shall  be  given  by  the  at 
tacking  commander  in  order  that  non-combatants 
shall  have  an  opportunity  for  withdrawing  beyond 
the  limits.  Generally,  the  time  allowed  is  from 
one  to  three  days.  That  is  time  for  the  withdrawal 
in  good  faith  of  the  women  and  children.  You, 
sir,  give  only  four  hours,  knowing  that  your  notice, 
under  existing  circumstances,  could  not  reach  me 
in  less  than  two  hours,  and  then,  not  less  than  the 
same  time  would  be  required  for  an  answer  to  be 
conveyed  from  this  city  to  Battery  Wagner. 

With  this  knowledge,  you  threaten  to  open  fire 
on  the  city — not  to  oblige  its  surrender,  but  to  force 
me  to  evacuate  those  works  which  you,  assisted  by 
a  great  naval  force,  have  been  attacking  in  vain  for 
more  than  forty  days. 

Battery  Wagner,  Gregg  and  Fort  Sumter  are 
nearly  due  north  from  your  batteries  on  Morris 
Island,  and  in  distance  therefrom  varying  from  half 
a  mile  to  two  and  a  quarter  miles  ;  the  city,  on  the 
other  hand,  is  to  the  northwest,  and  distant  quite  five 
miles  from  the  battery  opened  on  us  this  morning. 

It  would  appear,  sir,  that,  despairing  of  reducing 
those  works,  you  now  resort  to  the  novel  measure  of 
turning  your  guns  against  the  old  men,  the  women 
and  children  and  hospitals  of  a  sleeping  city — 
an  act  of  inexcusable  barbarity  from  your  own  con 
fessed  point  of  sight,  inasmuch  as  you  allege  that 
the  complete  demolition  of  Fort  Sumter  within  a 
few  hours,  by  your  guns,  seems  to  you  "  a  matter 
of  certainty." 

I  am  only  surprised,  sir,  at  the  limits  you  have 
set  to  your  demands.  If,  in  order  to  attain  the 
abandonment  of  Morris  Island  and  Fort  Sumter, 
you  feel  authorized  to  fire  on  this  city,  why  did  you 
not  also  include  the  works  on  Sullivan  and  James 
Islands — nay,  even  the  city  of  Charleston — in  the 
same  dispatch  ? 


Since  you  have  felt  warranted  in  inaugurating 
this  matter  of  reducing  batteries  in  your  imme 
diate  front,  which  were  found  otherwise  impregna 
ble,  and  a  mode  of  warfare  which  I  confidently 
pronounce  to  be  atrocious  and  unworthy  of  any 
soldier,  I  now  solemnly  warn  you  that  if  "you  fire 
again  from  your  batteVies  upon  this  city  without 
giving  a  somewhat  more  reasonable  time  to  re 
move  non-combatants,  I  shall  feel  compelled  to 
employ  such  stringent  means  of  retaliation  that 
may  be  available  during  the  continuance  of 
this  attack.  Finally,  I  reply  that  neither  the 
works  on  Morris  Island  nor  Fort  Sumter  will  be 
evacuated  on  the  demand  you  have  been  pleased  to 
make.  However,  I  am  making  preparations  to  re 
move  all  non-combatants,  who  are  now  fully  alive 
to  what  they  may  expeqt  at  your  hands. 
Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

General  Gillmore  answered  the  different 
points  of  this  letter,  and  concluded  with  the 
following  pertinent  remarks: 

If,  under  the  circumstances,  the  life  of  a  single 
non-combatant  is  exposed  to  peril  by  the  bombard 
ment  of  the  city,  the  responsibility  rests  with  those 
who  have  first"  failed  to  apprise  the  non-combat 
ants,  or  secure  the  safety  of  the  city,  after  having 
held  control  of  all  the  approaches  for  a  period  of 
two  years  and  a  half  in  the  presence  of  a  threaten 
ing  force,  and  who  afterwards  refuse  to  accept  the 
terms  on  which  the  bombardment  might  have  been 
postponed. 

From  various  sources  (official  and  otherwise)  I 
am  led  to  believe  that  all  the  women  and  children 
of  Charleston  have  long  since  been  removed  from 
the  city;  but,  upon  your  assurance  that  the  city  is 
still  full  of  them,  I  shall  suspend  the  bombardment 
until  11  o'clock  p.  M.  to-morrow,  thus  giving  you  two 
days  from  the  time  you  first  acknowledged  to  have 
received  my  communication  of  the  21st  inst. 
Very  respectfully,  etc.,  etc.. 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE, 
Brigadier-General,  etc.,  etc. 

In  the  naval  bombardment  of  the  17th, 
the  Navy  lost  the  services  of  a  brilliant 
young  officer  through  the  death  of  Com 
mander  George  W.  Rodgers,  commanding 
the  Monitor  "  Catskill."  Commander  Rod 
gers  had  more  than  once  asked  the  rear- 
admiral  if  he  should  go  with  him  as  usual 
or  take  command  of  the  "Catskill."  In 
each  instance  the  commander-in-chief  an 
swered,  "Do  as  you  choose."  Rodgers 
finally  concluded  to  go  in  the  "Catskill." 
He  got  his  vessel  underway,  and,  while  en 
deavoring  to  get  a  berth  closer  to  the  enemy, 
and  inside  the  "  Weehawken's "  position, 
the  "Catskill"  was  struck  by  a  shot  from 
Wagner,  and  Rodgers  was  instantly  killed. 
This  shot  first  struck  the  top  of  the  pilot 
house,  fracturing  the  outer  plate  and  tear 
ing  off  an  irregular  piece  of  the  inside  plate 
about  one  foot  in  area,  and  forcing  out  sev 
eral  of  the  bolts  by  which  the  pieces  were 
held  together,  fragments  of  which  struck 
Commander  Rodgers  and  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster  J.  G.  Woodbury,  killing  both  in 
stantly,  besides  wounding  the  pilot.  Mr.  Pen- 
ton,  and  Acting-Master's  Mate  Trescott. 
When  the  commander  fell,  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Charles  C.  Carpenter  hove  up  the 


444 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


anchor,  steamed  down  to  the  tug  "Dande 
lion."  and,  depositing  the  bodies  in  her,  re 
turned  to  his  station  and  continued  the 
action. 

Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  pays  the  highest 
tribute  to  Commander  Rodgers,  whose 
death  was  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him. 
The  latter's  relations  to  the  commander-in- 
chief  (as  fleet-captain)  were  so  close  that 
the  rear-admiral  felt  his  loss  very  sorely, 
and  could  ill  supply  the  place  of  so  efficient 
an  officer.  He  was  one  of  those  to  whose 
gallantry  there  were  no  bounds. 

In  the  action  of  August  17th,  the  iron 
clads,  though  frequently  hit,  suffered  no 
material  injury.  The  "  Catskill  "  was 
struck  thirteen  times,  with  the  casual 
ties  already  mentioned.  The  "Ironsides," 
Captain  S.  C.  Rowan,  was  hit  thirty - 


COMMAXDER  GEORGE  W.  RODGERS. 

one  times,  exclusive  of  some  shots  sup 
posed  to  have  struck  her  under  water. 
Most  of  the  hits  were  from  10-inch  solid 
shot,  which  seemed  to  have  been  fired  with 
extra  heavy  charges  ;  and,  when  the  shot 
struck,  they  cut  and  broke  everything  to 
pieces.  There  are  no  reports  of  damage  to 
other  vessels,  hence  it  is  probable  that  the 
enemy  concentrated  their  fire  on  the  "  Iron 
sides"  and  "Catskill." 

No  mention  is  made  in  Rear- Admiral 
Dahlgren's  report  of  the  establishment  of  a 
naval  battery  against  Sumter.  but  there 
was  one  under  command  of  Commander 
Foxhall  A.  Parker,  and  it  performed  good 
service.  That  battery  fired,  on  the  17th  of 
August,  170  shells  and  125  solid  shot  against 
the  exposed  face  of  Sumter,  doing  much 
dam-age.  Commander  Parker  was  assisted 
in  this  service  by  Lieutenant  E.  T.  Brower, 


Ensign  James  Wallace  and  Acting-Ensign 
Owens,  who  deserve  great  credit  for  the 
work  they  performed  for  fifteen  hours  under 
a  burning  sun. 

Though  great  efforts  were  made  to  reduce 
Wagner.  Sumter  and  Gregg,  these  strong 
works  stood  apparently  as  defiant  as  ever, 
notwithstanding  the  great  shot  seams  that 
could  be  seen  in  Sumter's  side.  It  was 
pretty  well  ascertained  from  Gillmore's  bat 
teries,  by  the  aid  of  good  glasses,  that  it 
had  been  rudely  dealt  with;  yet,  though 
sixty  more  heavy  guns  were  brought  against 
it  than  were  used  in  DuPont's  attack,  the 
Federal  naval  forces  did  not  seem  any 
nearer  to  the  attainment  of  their  wishes 
than  DuPont  was. 

The  effect  of  the  fire  on  Charleston  had 
not,  up  to  the  24th  of  August,  proved  of  a 
serious  nature.  Twelve  8-inch  shells  had 
fallen  into  the  city,  thirteen  having  been 
fired  altogether.  These  shells  flew  in  the 
direction  of  St.  Michael's  steeple,  and  fell 
either  in  the  vacant  lots  in  the  burnt  dis 
trict  on  King  Street,  or  in  Queen  and  Rut- 
ledge  Streets.  Some  loose  straw  was  set  on 
fire  by  them,  and  the  firemen  turned  out  to 
extinguish  the  flames.  The  pieces  of  shell 
picked  up  in  the  city  caused  great  curiosity 
and  wonder,  that  such  large  missiles  should 
have  been  thrown  to  such  a  distance  from 
the  point  where  the  Federal  battery  was 
located  in  the  swamp. 

On  August  23d,  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren 
got  underway  and  moved  the  Monitors  to 
within  eight  hundred  yards  of  Sumter,  and 
opened  fire.  During  a  portion  of  the  time 
a  clear  sight  of  the  fort  was  prevented  by 
fog.  When  the  Monitors  opened.  Sumter 
only  replied  with  six  guns;  but  Moultrie. 
with  its  extended  lines,  opened  heavily,  ac 
cording  to  reports,  and  struck  the  Moni 
tors  frequently  with  heavy  shot.  The 
"Weehawken"  received  two  heavy  and 
damaging  blows  on  the  pilot-house.  There 
was  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  in  working  the 
Monitors  in  the  narrow  channels,  and  they 
drew  off  under  the  fire  of  Moultrie,  which 
being  as  yet  intact  was  more  than  a  match 
for  them.  No  casualties  in  the  fleet  were  re 
ported  in  this  action. 

In  this  reconnaissance — which  it  will  be 
well  to  call  it — the  injuries  to  Fort  Sumter 
were  clearly  observed,  but  it  did  not  yet 
come  under  the  head  of  "'useless  ruin." 
Fort  Wagner  is  spoken  of  in  the  reports  as 
being  "quite  as  strong  as  ever,  perhaps 
more  so;"  so  that  in  this  state  of  affairs  the 
naval  forces  were  about  as  far  from,  the 
central  prize  as  ever. 

Sumter  was  now  considered  "useless  to 
the  Confederate  system  of  defence,"  only 
it  yet  remained  to  be  turned  fully  to  account 
as  a  Union  acquisition,  and  this  advantage 
could  not  be  realized  because  the  Federal 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


445 


forces  could  not  occupy  the  work.  Such 
occupation,  if  possible,  would  have  made  a 
great  difference  in  the  plans  of  the  besieg 
ing  forces,  but  could  not  be  likely  to  occur 
until  the  works  on  Sullivan's  Island  were 
invested  simultaneously  with  those  on  Mor 
ris  Island,  and  here  was  the  great  defect  in 
the  plan  of  this  campaign.  There  was,  no 
doubt,  good  engineering  skill  displayed,  as 
far  as  it  went,  but  what  use  could  Sumter 
have  been  to  the  Federals  while  Moultrie — 
(one  of  the  heaviest  works  in  Charleston 
'harbor — and  others  stood  ready  to  drive 
out  of  Sumter  any  Federal  force  that  might 
undertake  to  enter  it,  which  could  only  be 
by  assault?  It  was,  we  may  say,  a  heap  of 
rubbish  that  had  all  fallen  inside,  but  which 
j?ould  still  afford  a  tremendous  defence 
against  any  assaulting  party  brought 
against  it.  The  true  plan  would  have  been 
for  our  forces  to  land  on  Sullivan's  Island 
and  Morris  Island  at  the  same  time,  and 
pursue  the  same  methods  that  had  been 
carried  out  at  the  latter.  Of  course,  this 
would  have  required  a  greater  number  of 
troops  and  guns,  but  it  was  the  only  way 
to  take  Charleston. 

While  the  Federals  were  making  the  most 
assiduous  efforts  to  get  into  Sumter  by  the 
way  of  Wagner  and  Gregg,  they  overlooked 
entirely  the  obstacles  still  remaining  on  Sul 
livan's  Island  to  prevent  their  holding  it 
after  capture;  while  Fort  Johnson,  Fort  Rip- 
ley.  Castle  Pinckney  and  the  iron  batteries 
stood  ready  to  pour  in  their  cross-fire,  as  they 
had  done  when  their  attack  on  Sumter 
opened  the  Rebellion.  The  capture  of 
James  Island  and  the  occupation  of  the 
works  upon  it,  which  was  feasible,  would 
have  been  a  greater  military  feat  than  the 
capture  of  Wagner.  In  such  event,  Charles 
ton  would  have  been  obliged  to  surrender 
or  be  destroyed,  and.  in  consequence,  its 
forts  would  have  been  obliged  to  follow  her 
example. 

The  engineering  work  accomplished  was 
of  a  splendid  order,  and  the  greatest 
bravery  was  displayed  in  its  performance; 
yet  engineers  often  become  so  absorbed  in 
some  favorite  plan,  which  seems  to  promise 
all  they  desire,  that  they  overlook  other 
points  which  are  the  real  keys  to  the  situ 
ation.  So  it  was  at  Sebastopol:  all  the  best 
Russian,  French  and  English  engineers  had 
overlooked  the  hill  on  which  the  Malakoff 
Tower  stood,  until  the  great  Todelben  ap 
peared,  and  with  his  practiced  eye  dis 
covered  that  to  be  the  key.  If  either  the 
French  or  the  English  had  seized  it,  Sebas 
topol  would  not  have  stood  a  day  before  the 
fire  of  the  allied  batteries. 

Four  months  had  now  passed  since  the 
first  attack  on  Charleston,  and  many  hun 
dreds  of  heavy  shells  had  been  fired,  with 
out  any  great  advance  of  the  Federal  forces 


toward  their  objective  point;  and  this  not 
from  any  want  of  skill  in  the  naval  or  mili 
tary  commanders,  but  from  the  fact  that 
the  authorities  at  Washington  did  not  have 
a  comprehensive  idea  of  what  was  required 
to  carry  out  so  great  a  work,  and  from  their 
absurd  supposition,  in  the  first  instance, 
that  the  whole  net-work  of  forts  could  be 
taken  by  a  small  fleet  of  Monitors,  armed 
principally  with  guns  of  small  penetrative 
power,  when,  moreover,  the  endurance  of 
these  vessels  had  scarcely  been  tested. 

It  is  very  easy,  though,  to  see  all  that 
was  required  when  what  was  considered  to 
be  the  best  means  had  failed ;  but  herein 
lies  the  ability  of  the  engineer  and  the 
naval  officer  co-operating:  they  should  be 
able  to  see  the  best  points  ere  the  opera 
tions  have  advanced  too  far  to  allow  of 
retraction. 

General  Gillmore  was  of  the  opinion  that 
Sumter  could  not  be  taken  possession  of 
until  Wagner  was  subdued,  and  all  his 
siege-guns  were  advanced  as  close  as  pos 
sible  to  the  north  end  of  Morris  Island, 
while  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  thought  he 
could  pass  the  batteries  with  his  fleet,  and 
go  on  to  Charleston. 

Here  the  naval  officer  and  the  military 
commander  began  to  differ.  Gillmore  de 
sired  that  the  Monitors  and  the  "  Ironsides" 
should  move  pari  passu  with  him.  Dahl 
gren  thought  he  could  go  alone,  regardless 
of  the  obstructions  which  had  to  be  forced, 
and  which  were  defended  by  at  least  seventy 
guns,  under  the  full  range  of  which  the 
fleet  would  be  exposed,  even  as  far  as  Sum 
ter,  which  fort  might  or  might  not  still 
have  guns  mounted  upon  it  that  would  do 
serious  injury  to  the  vessels.  Under  the 
circumstances.  General  Gillmore  deemed 
that  the  assistance  of  the  Navy,  in  all  its 
strength,  was  indispensable  to  success. 

At  midnight  of  September  1st.  and  just 
before  slack  high  water,  the  "Ironsides" 
and  the  Monitors  were  moved  up  the  chan 
nel.  The  primary  purpose  of  this  move 
ment  was  to  make  certain  that  Sumter  had 
no  guns  remaining  in  service.  It  was  be 
lieved  that  the  Confederates  had  remounted 
a  few  guns  on  the  northeast  and  northwest 
faces.  On  the  same  evening.  General  Gill- 
more's  batteries  had  opened  fire  on  Sumter, 
and  the  general  had  informed  Rear-Admi 
ral  Dahlgren  that  he  had  knocked  down 
some  four  or  five  pieces  that  were  observed 
on  the  more  remote  fronts,  and  this  encour 
aged  Dahlgren  to  attack.  The  nearest  ap 
proach  of  the  Monitors  to  Sumter  was  five 
hundred  yards,  the  flag  being  carried  on  the 
"  Weehawken;"  but  the  ebb-tide  was  now  so 
strong  that  it  was  nearly  12  o'clock  before 
the  first  shot  was  fired  from  the  flag-ship. 

Two  shots  were  fired  from  the  fort,  Avhen 
the  '"  Weehawken"  was  laid  off  the  angle 


446 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


of  the  northeast  and  southeast  fronts.  The 
'•Ironsides"  was  brought  up  to  an  easy 
range,  and  joined  in  the  action  which  fol 
lowed,  the  vessels  all  firing  steadily  and 
accurately.  Meanwhile,  Moultrie  opened 
a  rapid  and  well-sustained  fire  from  its  ex 
tended  lines,  which  told  on  the  vessels, 
though  the  obscurity  of  the  night  interfered 
with  the  accuracy  of  the  enemy's  aim  at 
such  small  targets  as  the  turrets  of  the 
Monitors. 

The  fire  of  the  Monitors  was  also  directed 
against  the  floating  obstructions  which  had 
been  reported  from  day  to  day.  At  day 
light  the  fleet  withdrew  without  being  able 
to  ascertain  the  effect  of  their  fire.  This 
engagement  lasted  five  hours,  during  which 
time  the  fleet  fired  245  shots,  and  received 
in  all  71  hits,  of  which  numbers  the  "  Iron 
sides  "  fired  50  shots  and  received  7  hits. 

From  all  accounts  there  was  no  serious 
damage  done  to  the  vessels,  notwithstand 
ing  all  the  pounding,  and  the  "  Ironsides  " 
stood  the  brunt  of  the  battle  as  well  as  the 
Monitors.  Fleet-Captain  Badger  was  struck 
by  a  fragment  of  the  turret  knocked  off  by 
one  of  the  enemy's  shot,  and  his  leg  broken 
by  it.  This  was  the  third  fleet- captain 
Dahlgren  had  had  injured  or  killed  in  the 
short  space  of  two  months.  He  speaks 
of  Captain  Badger  in  the  warmest  terms  of 
praise,  and  as  an  officer  whose  place  it 
would  be  very  difficult  to  fill. 

The  commanders  of  the  iron-dads,  Cap 
tain  S.  C.  Rowan,  Commander  T.  H.  Stevens, 
Commander  Andrew  Bryson,  Commander 
E.  R.  Colhoun,  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Edward  Simpson,  Lieutenant-Commander 
John  L.  Davis  and  Lieutenant-Commander 
J.  J.  Cornwell,  are  spoken  of  in  terms  of 
high  cpmmendatipn  for  their  gallantry  and 
the  ability  they  displayed  in  handling  their 
vessels  in  the  narrow  channel  on  an  ob 
scure  night. 

On  September  7th,  arrangements  were 
made  to  open  fire  upon  Wagner  from  the 
trenches,  and  from  all  the  iron-dads, which 
fire  was  to  be  followed  at  9  o'clock  at  night 
by  an  assault.  A  steady  cannonade  had 
been  maintained  against  the  work  on  the 
6th  from  the  trenches  and  from  the  "Iron 
sides;"  but  in  the  meantime  a  deserter  had 
gone  over  to  General  Gillmore  with  the  in 
formation  that  the  Confederates  were 
evacuating  the  works;  they  had  stood  the 
siege  as  long  as  they  could,  had  gone 
through  fire  enough  to  drive  out  any  but 
American  troops,  and  now  evacuated  to  es 
cape  the  assault  which  they  knew  would 
come  at  night.  We  cannot  help  but  admire 
the  courage  of  these  brave  fellows,  though 
they  were  fighting  against  us  in  a  bad 
cause.  We  cannot  help  thinking  how  those 
men  would  fight  against  a  foreign  foe! 
On  the  7th  of  September,  General  Gill- 


more  made  the  following  report  to  General 
Halleck  : 

GENERAL— I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  Fort 
Wagner  and  Battery  Gregg  are  ours.  Last  night 
our  sappers  mined  the  counterscarp  of  Fort  Wag 
ner  in  its  sea-point,  unmasking  all  its  guns,  and  the 
order  was  given  to  carry  the  place  by  assault  at 
9  o'clock  this  morning,  that  being  the  hour  of  low 
tide. 

About  10  o'clock  last  night  the  enemy  commenced 
to  evacuate  the  island,  and  all  but  seventy -five  of 
them  made  their  escape  from  Cumming's  Point  in 
small  boats. 

Captured  dispatches  show  that  Fort  Wagner  was 
commanded  by  Col.  Keitt,  of  South  Carolina,  and 
garrisoned  by  1,400  effective  men,  and  Battery 
Gregg  by  from  100  to  200  men. 

Fort  Wagner  is  a  work  of  the  most  formidable 
kind.  The  bomb-proof  shelter,  capable  of  contain 
ing  1.800  men,  remains  intact  after  the  most  terri 
ble  bombardment  to  which  any  work  was  ever  sub 
jected. 

We  have  captured  nineteen  pieces  of  artillery 
and  a  large  supply  of  excellent  ammunition. 

The  city  and  harbor  of  Charleston  are  now  com 
pletely  covered  by  my  guns. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE, 
Brigadier-General,  Commanding. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Wagner  and 
Gregg,  Rear -Admiral  Dahlgren.  having 
ineffectually  demanded  the  surrender  of 
Fort  Sumter,  on  the  ground  of  its  indefensi 
bility,  determined  to  try  a  plan  by  which 
that  work  might  be  captured  ;  and,  as  a 
preliminary,  ordered  the  "  Weehawken  " 
to  pass  in  by  a  narrow  channel  winding 
about  Cumming's  Point,  so  as  to  cut  of  all 
communication  in  that  direction.  In  so 
doing,  the  "Weehawken"  grounded,  and, 
though  at  low  water,  did  not  succeed  in 
floating  on  the  next  high  tide.  Later 
in  the  day,  the  rear-admiral  moved  up  in 
the  "Ironsides,"  with  the  Monitors,  to  feel 
and,  if  possible,  pass  the  obstructions  north 
of  Sumter.  Moultrie,  Battery  Bee  and  Fort 
Beauregard  quickly  opened  on  the  iron 
clads,  which  returned  the  fire  very  warmly, 
and  continued  to  do  so  until  it  became 
necessary  to  pay  attention  to  the  "Wee 
hawken."  Steam-tugs  and  hawsers  were 
provided  for  getting  her  off,  but  without 
success,  even  at  high  water,  as  already 
stated.  At  7  A.  M.  the  enemy  perceived 
her  condition,  and  began  to  fire  upon  her 
from  Moultrie,  about  3,000  yards  distant. 
The  iron-clads  were  ordered  up  to  cover  the 
grounded  Monitor,  which  meanwhile  re 
plied  to  the  enemy's  fire,  and,  in  less  than 
half  an  hour,  blew  up  one  of  the  Confed 
erate  magazines.  At  the  next  high  water 
the  "Weehawken"  was  fortunately  floated, 
after  the  most  strenuous  efforts  of  Com 
mander  Colhoun,  officers  and  crew.  The 
only  casualties  on  board  the  "  Weehawken" 
on  this  occasion  were  three  men  wounded 
by  a  shot  from  Battery  Bee. 

Up  to  this  time  the  operations  of  the 
Navy  had  been  well  conducted.  There  was 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


447 


a  perfect  co-operation  between  the  com 
manders  of  the  respective  forces;  and,  as 
the  Army  advanced  its  parallels  and  breach 
ing  batteries  toward  Wagner,  the  ••Iron 
sides"  and  the  Monitors  advanced  on  the 
water,  keeping  up  a  well-directed  fire,  the 
effect  of  all  which  is  shown  by  its  evacua 
tion  on  the  7th  of  September. 

General  Gillmore  and  his  chief  of  artillery 
had  given  the  most  satisfactory  account  of 
the  damage  done  to  Sumter  by  the  breach 
ing  of  the  gorge  wall  and  the  dismounting 
of  most  of  the  guns,  and  had  also  asserted 
"that  it  was  no  longer  of  any  practical 
use  to  Charleston  harbor  as  an  offensive 
work."  This  was  pretty  well  demonstrated 
when  the  "  Weehawkeir'  got  hard  and  fast 
aground  in  the  channel,  between  Sumter 
•  and  Gumming' s  Point,  and  Sumter  could 
not  fire  upon  her  for  lack  of  guns.  Sumter 
was  now,  in  fact,  nothing  but  an  outpost  to 
be  held  by  the  enemy  as  a  matter  of  pride — 
nothing  more — and  without  power  to  in 
flict  a  particle  of  injury  on  any  one,  unless 
it  might  be  a  party  that  attempted  to  gain 
admission  over  the  debris  that  blocked  the 
entrances,  and  afforded  no  footing  for  a 
party  of  boarders.  A  small  party  within, 
however,  could  easily  bar  the  way  or  inflict 
serious  injury  upon  an  attacking-party  that 
might  attempt  to  take  the  work  by  assault. 

All  these  matters  had  been  very  fully  dis 
cussed,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  General 
Gillmore  was  consulted  as  to  the  feasibility 
of  an  attempt  to  take  Sumter  by  assault,  or 
applied  to  for  the  assistance  of  his  steady 
and  practiced  assaulters,  who  had  had  con 
siderable  experience  in  attacking  forts. 
Brave  and  dashing  as  sailors  may  be,  for 
this  kind  of  business  they  lack  that  steady 
movement  and  discipline  which  makes  an 
attacking  force  a  unit,  and  carries  every 
thing  before  it ;  while  sailors,  drilled  to 
board  a  ship  with  a  cheer  and  a  rush,  have 
a  less  methodical  way,  which  may  succeed; 
if  checked  for  one  moment  by  regulars  and 
steady  troops  in  an  operation  of  the  kind 
on  shore,  the  chances  are  that  they  will  be 
driven  back  and  cut  to  pieces  or  captured 
in  the  retreat. 

Whether  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  consid 
ered  these  matters  or  not  is  not  known,  but 
he  nevertheless  determined  to  make  a  naval 
assault  on  Sumter  on  the  night  of  Septem 
ber  8th.  The  supposition  is  that  he  did  not 
consider  military  assistance  requisite. 
Viewed  as  a  military  move,  the  attempt  to 
assault  Sumter  was  a  grave  mistake;  there 
was  no  necessity  for  it,  and  General  Gill- 
more  was  already  moving  forward  his 
heavy  breaching-guns  to  cover  Charleston 
and  all  the  forts  in  the  upper  harbor;  and 
would,  in  a  few  days,  have  made  Sumter  a 
still  more  useless  heap  of  rubbish  than  it 
was  already.  Again,  it  is  questionable 


whether  the  military  etiquette  properly  ob 
servable  on  such  an  occasion  was  not  vio 
lated  in  attempting  to  take  possession  of  a 
work  destroyed  principally  by  army  guns, 
without  extending  an  invitation  to  the  gen 
eral  commanding  to  participate  in  the  pro 
jected  assault. 

Dahlgren  claimed  that,  if  successful,  the 
assault  would  enable  him  to  pass  the  ob 
structions  in  the  main  channel  with  his 
fleet.  He  therefore  directed  that  a  storm 
ing  party  should  be  formed,  and  called  for 
volunteers.  No  matter  what  may  be  the 
danger  for  officers  and  sailors  to  face,  there 
is  never  any  difficulty  in  getting  volunteers 
in  the  American  Navy,  and  such  was  the 
case  on  this  ocasion.  The  following  offi 
cers  came  forward  and  offered  their  services 
at  once:  Commander  T.  H.  Stevens,  Lieu 
tenant  Moreau  Forrest,  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  E.  P.  Williams.  Lieutenant  George 
C.  Remey,  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Preston,  Lieu 
tenant  F.  J.  Higginson,  Ensign  Charles  H. 
Craven,  Lieutenant -Commander  F.  M. 
Bunce,  Lieutenant  E.  T.  Brower,  Ensign 
James  Wallace  and  Ensign  B.  H.  Porter; 
also  the  following  officers  of  the  Marine 
Corps :  Captain  C.  G.  McCawley,  First- 
Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Bradford,  First- 
Lieutenant  John  C.  Harris,  Second -Lieu 
tenant  R.  L.  Meade,  Second  -  Lieutenant 
Lyman  P.  Wallace  and  Second-Lieutenant 
L"  E.  Fagan. 

Of  these  officers,  Commander  T.  H.  Ste 
vens  was  selected  to  command  the  expedi 
tion,  while  the  following  were  appointed  to 
command  divisions  of  the  assaulting  force: 
First  division,  Lieutenant-Commander  E. 
P.Williams;  2d  division,  Lieutenant  George 
C.  Remey;  3d  division,  Lieutenant  S.  W. 
Preston ;  4th  division,  Lieutenant  F.  J. 
Higginson;  and  5th  division,  Ensign  Charles 
H.  Craven. 

Upon  applying  to  General  Gillmore  for 
more  boats  to  carry  the  sailors  and  marines, 
Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  learned/or  the  first 
time  that  Gillmore  was  about  to  make  an 
assault  on  Sumter  the  same  night.  It  is 
stated  that  when  this  information  was  re 
ceived  by  Dahlgren  it  was  late  in  the 
evening,  and,  owing  to  the  want  of  inter- 
service  signals,  there  was  no  concert  with 
the  Army  contingent  in  the  further  move 
ments.  It  was  10  o'clock  at  night  when  the 
boats  started  off  for  Sumter  in  tow  of  a  tug. 
On  the  way,  the  party  communicated  with 
the  "  Passaic  "  and  "  Montauk,''  giving  or 
ders  to  their  respective  commanders  to 
move  up  to  their  support.  When  within 
eight  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  the  tug 
cast  off  the  boats,  and  the  orders  regarding 
the  operations  of  the  night,  as  well  as  the 
watchword,  were  given  out 

Lieutenant  Higginson  was  ordered  to 
move  up  to  the  northwest  front  of  the  fort, 


448 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


with  his  division,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
a  diversion,  while  the  remainder  of  the  di 
visions  were  ordered  to  close  up  and  wait 
for  the  order  to  advance  upon  the  southeast 
point.  The  intention  of  Commander  Ste 
vens  was  to  wait  until  he  had  the  full  bene 
fit  of  Lieutenant  Higginsoii's  diversion;  but 
mistaking  his  movement,  no  doubt,  as  a 
general  one,  and  with  a  true  spirit  of  emu 
lation  and  gallantry,  many  of  the  other 
boats  dashed  on  to  the  fort.  Finding  it 
impossible  to  stop  them,  the  order  was 
given  along  the  line  for  all  to  advance. 

The  Confederates  were  quite  prepared  for 
this  adventure,  as  was  natural  for  good 
soldiers  who  had  received  orders  to  hold 
Sumter  at  all  hazards,  and  as  soon  as  the 
boats  came  within  good  range  they  were 
met  with  a  fire  of  musketry  and  hand- 
grenades,  lighted  shells  and  grape  and  can 
ister;  and  simultaneously,  at  a  signal  from 
Sumter,  Moultrie,  together  with  the  gun 
boats  and  rams,  opened  fire  on  the  base  of 
the  fort,  where  all  the  boats  were  landing 
pell-mell,  each  man  of  the  crew  wanting  to 
be  the  first  to  scale  the  walls. 

This  is  exactly  what  ought  to  have  been 
anticipated  under  the  circumstances,  for 
to  suppose  that  the  Confederates,  having 
such  a  commanding  position,  with  all  the 
means  of  offence  and  defence  for  such  an 
occasion,  would  not  avail  themselves  of 
them, would  be  underrating  that  gallantry, 
energy  and  fertility  of  purpose  for  which 
they  had  been  remarkable  in  defending 
these  fortifications  from  the  very  begin 
ning. 

It  must  have  been  mere  sport  to  the  Con 
federates  to  see  those  boats  rushing  on 
heedlessly  to  destruction  or  capture,  for 
only  a  miracle — something  that  never  oc 
curs  in  war — could  save  such  an  assault 
from  annihilation.  That  there  was  great 
gallantry  exhibited  in  this  attempt  to  cap 
ture  Sumter  no  one  will  deny;  but  there  was 
not  a  ghost  of  a  chance  of  success  from  the 
very  commencement. 

Several  of  the  boats,  among  them  two 
from  the  "Powhatan,"  had  gained  a  land 
ing;  but  the  evidences  of  the  garrison's 
preparation  were  so  apparent,  as  well  as 
the  impossibility  of  scaling  the  walls  or 
even  effecting  a  permanent  landing,  that 
orders  were  given  for  the  boats  to  be  with 
drawn,  which  was  done  under  a  withering 
fire.  All  who  succeeded  in  leaving  the 
boats  were  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners; 
boats  were  smashed  by  the  fire  of  the  ene 
my's  batteries  and  gun-boats,  and  it  was 
as  much  as  the  survivors  could  do  to  get 
clear  of  the  base  of  the  fort. 

In  this  affair  there  was  naturally  great 
confusion  when  the  officers  and  men  dis 
covered  that  a  fort  they  had  been  led  to  be 
lieve  lay  a  heap  of  ruins  and  powerless  was 


filled  with  men  armed  with  breech-loading 
rifles,  plenty  of  hand-grenades  and  shells 
ready  for  lighting,  besides  having  grape 
and  canister  to  fire  from  selected  positions 
into  crowded  boats.  The  defences  only  re 
quired  a  dozen  or  more  Gatling  guns  to 
make  them  complete. 

As  it  was,  all  the  sailors  in  the  fleet  could 
not  have  taken  Sumter,  even  with  the  as 
sistance  of  the  contingent  General  Gillmore 
intended  to  supply.  We  know  that  now  ; 
we  ought  to  have  known  it  then.  But,  with 
all  the  disaster  which  followed  this  unfor- 
tuate  assault,  there  was  exhibited  the  most 
unflinching  courage,  the  sternest  devotion 
to  a  duty  which,  at  the  outset,  must  have 
seemed  to  many  beyond  the  possibility  of  ex 
ecution. 

To  show  the  difficulties  attending  night 
operations  of  this  kind,  we  will  give  part 
of  the  report  of  Ensign  Wallace,  in  which 
that  officer  explains  how.  in  the  melee,  he 
followed  the  leading  boat  around  the  fort, 
pulled  back  and  examined  •  the  sea-face  in 
search  of  a  landing;  then,  on  coming  to  the 
right  bastion  of  the  sea-face,  he  found  the 
marines  firing  from  boats.  He  could  find 
no  officer  to  report  to,  and  no  one  could  tell 
him  whether  the  men  had  landed,  or  where 
they  were.  Seeing  a  sinking  boat,  he  pulled 
toward  it,  but  found  that  all  its  crew  had 
been  removed  or  were  drowned.  Upon  re 
turning  to  the  fort,  he  examined  the  sea- 
face  and  gorge  wall;  he  observed  all  the 
boats  retreating,  and,  on  inquiring  from 
one  of  them,  was  told  that  Commander 
Stevens  had  given  the  order  to  retreat.  En 
sign  Wallace  could  obtain  no  information 
upon  which  to  act.  and  seeing  no  boats 
between  him  and  the  fort,  he  pulled  back 
to  the  flag-ship,  where  he  first  learned  that 
Lieutenant  Remey,  with  his  boat's  crew, 
had  landed  on  Sumter. 

This  report  is  a  fair  example  of  all.  and 
the  affair  was  like  many  night  expeditions, 
which  generally  end  unfortunately,  especi 
ally  when  not  well  planned  beforehand.  A 
further  unhappy  feature  of  this  expedition 
was  the  delusion,  under  which  the  assault 
ing  party  labored,  that  it  was  going  to  an 
easy  victory.  Instead,  a  well-manned  fort 
was  found,  supplied  with  all  the  disagree 
able  missiles  known  in  war,  and  well  sup 
ported  by  powerful  batteries  within  easy 
range. 

The  less  said  about  this  expedition  the 
better ;  it  was  a  most  unfortunate  failure, 
and  its  acts  of  gallantry  and  daring  cannot 
compensate  for  the  repulse.  Certain  it  is, 
however,  that  no  blame  could  attach  to  the 
members  of  the  expedition,  who  could  not 
be  expected  to  achieve  success  under  condi 
tions  so  adverse,  and  who  could  not  for 
the  darkness  even  see  the  difficulties  they 
were  obliged  to  contend  with.  The  Coii- 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


449 


federates,  it  appears,  knew  all  about  the  at 
tempt  that  was  to  be  made  on  Sumter,  and 
met  it  with  every  precautionary  measure 
that  ingenuity  could  devise.  Had  the  army 
of  General  Gillmore  joined  in  the  assault 
there  would  have  been  the  same  result, 
with  the  addition  of  a  longer  list  of  casual 
ties. 

A  flag  of  truce  notified  Rear -Admiral 
Dahlgren  on  the  following  morning  that 
there  were  one  hundred  and  thirty  prisoners 
in  the  enemy's  hands,  besides  three  of  the 
killed.  Among  the  prisoners  were  the  fol 
lowing  officers:  Lieutenants  S.  W.  Preston 
and  E.  T.  Brower,  Ensigns  B.  H.  Porter  and 
Charles  H.  Craven,  Third- Assistant  En 
gineer  J.  H.  Harmany,  Sail-maker  D.  C. 
Bray  ton.  Acting-Master's  Mates  E.  Butler, 
C.  P.  Hovey  and  C.  S.  McCarty.  Captain 
McCawley,  of  the  Marine  Corps,  reports 
that  there  were  two  lieutenants  (C.H.Brad 
ford  and  R.  L.  Meade).  two  sergeants,  two 
corporals  and  twenty-six  privates  missing, 
and  that  great  confusion  existed  at  the 
landing. 

Thus  ended,  for  the  time,  the  offensive 
operations  against  Charleston,  with  the  ex 
ception  that  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  remained 
at  their  posts,  ready  for  any  service  required 
of  them,  and  in  no  way  disabled  from  con 
tinuing  the  attacks  in  conjunction  with  the 
Army  or  otherwise.  The  iron-clads  had 
bravely  sustained  their  reputation  as  good 
fighting  machines,  and  all  the  officers  had 
fairly  earned  the  title  of  gallant  men  and 
able  seamen,  which  was  demonstrated  time 
after  time  in  the  shallow  and  difficult  chan 
nel  leading  up  to  Wagner  and  Sumter. 

Among  the  vessels  of  the  fleet,  the  "New 
Ironsides,''  which  was  not  considered  com 
parable  with  the  Monitors  in  invulnerability, 
took  more  than  her  share  of  the  pounding, 
and  came  out  of  the  contest  with  Wagner 
with  as  many  honorable  scars  as  any  vet 
eran  in  the  fleet  could  boast  of.  The  hand 
some  manner  in  which  her  gallant  com 
mander,  Captain  S.  C.  Rowan,  handled  her 
and  took  her  into  action,  always  elicited  the 
applause  of  the  fleet;  and  it  was  only  neces 
sary  for  her  to  get  her  broadside  guns  prop 
erly  ranged  on  the  enemy's  ponderous  earth 
works  for  their  defenders  to  go  to  cover 
after  a  few  well-directed  shots,  only  to 
renew  their  fire,  however,  when  her  bat 
teries  were  silent. 

It  was  remarkable  how  much  hammering 
this  good  old  ship  could  bear,  even  from  the 
heaviest  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  When 
the  "Weehawken"  went  ashore  in  the 
channel,  between  Sumter  and  Cumming's 
Point,  Captain  Rowan  placed  his  ship  right 
between  the  batteries  of  Moultrie  and  the 
Monitor,  on  which  they  had  opened  fire. 
As  Rowan  anchored  and  swung  head-on  to 
the  fort,  the  enemy  opened  a  rapid  fire  upon 


him,  which  was  soon  replied  to  from  the 
"Ironsides'"  port  battery.  By  this  time 
the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  getting  the 
ship's  range.  The  sturdy  old  ''Ironsides" 
opened  slowly  at  first  for  range,  but  soon 
increased  the  rapidity  of  her  fire,  until  its 
spirit  forced  Moultrie  to  slacken.  Two  guns 
from  each  of  the  10-inch  batteries  between 
Moultrie  and  Beauregard,  however,  still 
caused  the  "Ironsides"  to  suffer,  and  only 
after  one  of  the  heaviest  guns  was  seen  to 
be  dismounted  did  the  forts  slacken  their 
fire  again.  Having  quieted  her  enemies, 
the  "Ironsides"  now  fired  an  occasional 
gun  to  keep  them  under  cover.  This  cessa 
tion,  however,  immediately  brought  them 
from  behind  their  sand-bags  to  their  guns, 
from  which  a  rapid  fire  was  opened,  show 
ing  that  the  "Ironsides'"  practice  was  too 
accurate  to  suit  them.  Rowan  then  re 
newed  his  rapid  fire,  and  the  forts  were 
silenced  again — it  was  but  a  repetition  of 
what  had  been  done  at  Wagner.  By  this 
time  there  were  but  thirty  shells  left  in  the 
ship,  and  the  order  was  given  to  weigh  the 
anchor.  Under  a  rapid  fire,  the  "Iron 
sides"  quietly  went  out  of  action,  after 
having  been  engaged  two  hours  and  a  half 
in  an  artillery  duel  such  as  was  never  sus 
tained  by  any  ship  in  the  Navy,  and  against 
batteries  that  would  have  sunk  the  heaviest 
three-decker  then  afloat. 

In  this  action  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Robeson, 
Acting  -  Masters  George  W.  Domett  and 
John  M.  Skillings,  Ensign  B.  H.  Porter  and 
Acting -Ensign  Charles  W.  Howard  are 
spoken  of  in  terms  of  the  highest  praise  for 
their  coolness  and  manly  bearing;  while 
Lieutenant-Commander  George  E.  Belknap, 
the  executive  officer  of  the  "  Ironsides,"  is 
highly  lauded  for  his  zeal  and  ability  in 
putting  the  vessel  in  such  an  efficient  fight 
ing  condition,  and  for  the  hearty  manner 
in  which  he  had  carried  out  Captain 
Rowan's  orders  as  commander  of  the  gun- 
deck  during  the  fourteen  times  the  "Iron 
sides  "  had  been  under  fire.  Encounters  of 
this  kind  were  well  calculated  to  develop 
the  highest  qualities  of  young  officers,  and 
the  names  of  those  above  mentioned  will 
be  found  prominent  wherever  an  opportu 
nity  to  distinguish  themselves  was  offered. 

There  was  no  vessel  in  the  fleet  the  en 
emy  so  heartily  dreaded  as  the  "Ironsides." 
Her  well-drilled  crew  and  expert  gunners 
made  her  anything  but  welcome  when  she 
brought  her  broadside  to  bear  upon  any  of 
the  forts.  The  Confederates  made  several 
attempts  to  destroy  her  with  torpedoes,  but 
without  effect.  On  the  night  of  the  5th  of 
October,  1803,  however,  they  very  nearly 
succeeded. 

An  ingenious  torpedo-boat — for  the  day — 
was  fitted  out  at  Charleston,  and  placed  in 
charge  of  Lieutenant  W.  T.  Glassell,  of  the 


450 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Confederate  navy,  with  orders  to  operate 
against  and  destroy  as  many  of  the  iron 
clads  as  possible.  Glassell  was  assisted  by 
Captain  Theodore  Stoney  as  first-officer,  J. 
H.  Toombs,  engineer,  and  .Charles  Scemps 
and  Joseph  Abies  as  assistants.  The  vessel 
belonged  to  a  class  known  as  "Davids." 
and  was  shaped  like  a  cigar,  being  supplied 
with  a  small  engine  and  propeller,  and  was 
of  the  following  dimensions  :  Length,  fifty 
feet;  beam  (or  diameter),  nine  feet.  For 
offence,  a  torpedo  was  carried  at  the  end  of 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  (NOW  COMMODORE)  GEORGE  E. 
BELKNAP,  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER  OF  THE  "IRONSIDES." 

a  stout  spar,  extending  some  fifteen  feet 
ahead  of  the  sharp  bow. 

When  the  attempted  destruction  of  the 
"  Ironsides  "  occurred,  that  vessel  was  an 
chored  off  Morris  Island,  and  the  time,  9:15 
p.  M.  ,  was  one  at  which  a  ship's  deck  is  apt 
to  be  deserted  except  by  the  look-outs.  A 
small  object  on  the  dark  water,  close  at 
hand,  was  suddenly  discovered  by  the  sen 
tinels,  and  hailed  by  them,  and  the  officer 
of  the  deck,  Acting-Ensign  C.  W.  Howard. 
No  response  being  made,  the  officer  of  the 
deck  ordered  the  sentries  to  fire  into  the  ob 
ject.  The  sentries  delivered  their  fire,  and. 
simultaneously,  the  ship  received  a  severe 
shock  from  the  explosion  of  a  torpedo,  which 


threw  a  large  column  of  water  into  the  air, 
whence  it  descended  upon  the  spar-deck 
and  into  the  engine-room.  Acting-Ensign 
Howard  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  shot 
from  the  torpedo  -  boat,  dying  five  days 
later.  The  proximity  of  the  "  David  "  and 
the  limited  target  presented  by  its  only 
visible  part — a  hatch  ten  feet  by  two — pre 
cluded  the  use  of  great  guns  upon  it;  but  a 
brisk  musket  fire  was  kept  upon  it  by  the 
marines  until  it  drifted  out  of  sight.  Two 
of  the  Monitors  soon  came  under  the  stern, 
of  the  "Ironsides"  in  pursuit  of  this  new 
device  of  the  enemy,  but,  although  two- 
boats  were  lowered  to  assist  in  the  search, 
nothing  was  seen. 

Fortunately,  no  damage  to  the  "Iron 
sides"  resulted  from  this  explosion,  and  her 
salvation  was,  no  doubt,  due  to  a  miscalcu 
lation  of  the  distance  of  the  torpedo  from 
the  hull.  Lieutenant  Glassell  was  afterward 
picked  up  by  a  coal  schooner,  and  stated 
that  the  explosion  had  swamped  the  torpedo- 
boat,  and  that  he  and  the  two  officers  with 
him  had  been  obliged  to  leave  her  and  swim 
for  their  lives. 

Here  was  a  new  danger  for  the  fleet  to 
contend  with,  and  even  more  than  the  cus 
tomary  watchfulness  would  have  to  be  ob 
served.  The  North,  with  all  its  resources, 
had  not  then  developed  a  torpedo-boat  (nor 
are  we  yet,  in  1886,  possessed  of  an  efficient 
one),  while  the  fleet  at  Charleston  should 
have  been  supplied  with  at  least  twenty  of 
them!  They  would  have  removed  all  ob 
structions  much  faster  than  our  energetic 
enemy  could  have  put  them  down,  and  the 
way  to  Charleston  would  have  been  open  to 
the  fleet. 

The  5th  of  October  was  memorable  for 
the  advent  of  this  new  device  of  the  enemy, 
and  we  were  no  nearer  Charleston  than  we 
were  on  April  7th,  when  DuPont  attacked 
the  circle  of  forts  without  success.  Wagner 
and  Gregg  had,  indeed,  been  taken,  but 
Sumter,  that  had  been  pronounced  a  harm 
less  heap  of  rubbish,  had  not  only  repulsed 
the  naval  assaulters,  but  had  captured  one 
hundred  and  thirty  prisoners,  whom,  under 
the  circumstances,  the  Confederates  dealt 
with  very  tenderly,  considering  the  fact 
that  they  had  them  in  a  trap,  and  might 
have  destroyed  the  whole  of  them.  Thi& 
leniency  gives  a  proof  that,  as  the  war  con 
tinued,  both  sides  were  learning  to  conduct 
it  on  civilized  principles,  and  the  bitterness 
with  which  it  had  commenced  was  subsid 
ing,  so  far  that  it  was  not  considered  un- 
warlike  to  capture  prisoners  instead  of  kill 
ing  them,  and  that  it  was  to  the  advantage 
of  all  concerned  to  observe  the  amenities 
of  war  as  practiced  by  all  civilized  nations. 

In  considering  the  attacks  of  Dahlgren 
with  his  little  fleet  of  iron-clads  on  Charles 
ton's  defences,  too  much  cannot  be  said  in 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


451 


praise  of  the  persistent  gallantry  and  untir 
ing  energy  or  the  commander-in-chief  and 
his  officers;  but  in  the  work  accomplished 
there  was  the  strongest  endorsement  of 
Rear- Admiral  DuPont  and  of  the  views  of  his 
officers — that  the  naval  force  was  not  strong 
enough  to  contend  successfully  with  the 
well-built  and  formidable  forts  included  in 
the  great  "circle  of  fire,"  to  say  nothing  of 
the  submarine  and  other  obstructions  bar 
ring  the  way  to  Charleston. 

With  all  Dahlgren's  incessant  fighting, 
from  the  time  of  his  first  attack  to  the  8th 
of  September,  1863,  he  had  not  advanced  be 
yond  the  line  whence  DuPont  had  engaged 
the  batteries  on  the  7th  of  April  previously. 
True,  some  of  the  Confederate  force  had 
been  broken  in  the  fall  of  Wagner  and 
Gregg,  but  only  after  the  junction  of  Gill- 
more's  sixty  guns  with  those  of  the  iron 
clads  in  cross-fire.  It  was  the  same  result 
that  obtained  on  the  Western  rivers,  success 
always  attended  a  hearty  co-operation  be 
tween  the  military  and  naval  forces,  and 
failure  as  surely  met  the  single  -  handed 
siege  operations  of  either. 

Too  much  was  expected  of  the  Monitors 
in  the  first  instance.  The  conception  of  such 
vessels  was  a  grand  one,  and  for  it  the 
inventor  and  his  supporters  will  live  long  in 
the  memory  of  the  American  people;  but 
the  vessels  did  not  possess  all  the  qualities 
required  of  them,  since  much  had  to  be 
sacrificed  in  their  design.  Against  wooden 
ships  or  vessels  more  lightly  clad  than  them 
selves,  they  would  have  proved  perfectly 
destructive — premising  equality  of  speed 
for  all — but  against  forts  they  lacked  Quali 
ties  possessed  by  the  "Ironsides."  They 
could  not  concentrate  the  rapid  fire  possible 
for  a  broadside-ship  upon  the  enemy's  em 
brasures,  and  while  they  were  slowly  load 
ing — harmless  for  five  or  more  minutes  at  a 
time — the  guns  of  their  opponents  could  be 
concentrated  upon  them  with  destruc 
tive  effect,  as  on  the  7th  of  April.  It  was  a 
matter  of  frequent  observation  during  the 
attacks  on  the  batteries,  that  the  rapid  fire 
of  the  "New  Ironsides"  always  relieved  the 
Monitors  after  she  had  settled  into  position, 
and  fairly  obtained  the  range. 

There  was  one  great  mistake  made  in  the 
armament  of  the  Monitors  :  they  should 
have  been  armed  throughout  \vith  the 
heaviest  rifled  guns  they  could  carry.  With 
these  they  could  have  taken  position  be 
tween  four  and  five  thousand  yards  from 
Sumter  and  cut  it  down  at  their  leisure, 
without  receiving  a  shot  in  return.  This  was 
exactly  what  Gillmore  did  with  his  sixty 
breaching-guns,lodging  over  three  thousand 
shells  in  the  devoted  fort,  and  making  it  a 
ruin  in  seven  days.  The  15-inch  guns  of  the 
Monitors  would,  no  doubt,  have  breached 
the  walls  and  have  effected  the  same  results, 


but  the  short  range  necessary  would  have 
subjected  these  vessels  to  a  combined  fire 
of  all  the  batteries,  which  they  were  not 
fitted  to  endure  for  any  protracted  period. 

The  disappointment  felt  at  the  Navy 
Department  over  the  failure  of  the  first  at 
tack,  and  the  resulting  controversies,  no 
doubt,  prevented  a  calm  investigation  of 
the  facts,  from  which  the  iron-clads  might 
have  profited.  If  a  careful  study  of  the 
case  had  been  made  by  unprejudiced  men, 
or  if  DuPont  had  been  listened  to,  the  Moni 
tors  would  have  had  their  batteries  changed 
for  the  200-pounder  rifles.  The  author  saw 
enough  of  the  firing  of  the  Monitors — at 
pretty  short  ranges — at  sand-bags,  to  know 
that  the  effect  was  trifling  compared  with 
the  more  rapid  fire  of  the  4i  Ironsides'  "  11- 
inch  guns  with  their  higher  velocity,  and 
these  were  greatly  exceeded  by  the  larger 
rifled  guns  made  for  the  Navy.  The  age  of 
smooth-bores  departed  with  the  advent  of 
iron-clad  vessels,  and  the  most  probable 
reason  for  their  retention  during  the  war 
was  the  treacherous  character  of  the  rifled 
substitutes  of  large  calibre,  besides  the  fact 
that  the  Dahlgren  shell-guns  were  favorite 
weapons,  the  11-inch  standing  next  in  effi 
ciency  to  the  heavy  rifles.  The  earlier  use 
of  rifles  might  have  followed  from  the  ex 
ample  shown  at  Pulaski.  a  fort  built  by 
Colonel  Totten.  a  veteran  chief  of  engineers, 
to  resist  any  fleet  that  could  be  brought 
against  it.  With  a  few  30-pdr.  and  GO-pdr. 
rifles,  the  work  was  bored  through  and 
through  its  masonry  until  honeycombed, 
when  a  few  shot  from  10-inch  guns  brought 
the  disintegrated  structure  down  about  its 
defenders'  ears. 

The  naval  historian  Boynton  attempts  to 
show  that  the  15-inch  guns  of  the  Monitors 
had  great  smashing  eff ect,because  two  of  the 
shells  passed  through  the  walls  of  Sumter, 
"  one  exploding  in  a  casemate,  another  ex 
ploding  on  the  parade  ground;  other  15-inch 
shells  exploded  against  the  wall,  making- 
great  craters."  And  this,  the  historian 
thought,  settled  the  point  that  these  guns 
were  of  great  smashing  power.  He,  how 
ever,  fails  to  mention  what  number  of  the 
many  that  struck  the  walls  did  not  go 
through,  and  how  little  damaged  Sumter 
was  when  the  iron-clads  drew  off.  Mr. 
Boynton,  though  a  very  pleasant  historian, 
was  not  good  authority  upon  the  matter  of 
which  lie  wrote,  and,  with  all  his  desire  to 
do  justice,  he  allowed  himself  to  be  guided 
in  his  opinions  by  those  riding  a  hobby,  and, 
unfortunately,  a  defective  one. 

Concerning  the  siege  of  Charleston :  at  this 
day,  when  men  can  sit  down  coolly,  and 
untrammeled  by  prejudice,  read  over  all  the 
operations  of  the  naval  force,  there  can  be 
but  one  conclusion  resulting — there  was  too 
great  a  hurry  in  the  effort  to  capture  a  posi- 


452 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


tion  particularly  strong,  and  in  which  all 
the  arts  of  war  had  heen  exercised  for  abil 
ity  to  hurl  defiance  at  the  Federal  forces. 

Notwithstanding  the  actual  strength  of 
Charleston, exaggerated  accounts  have  been 
given  out  stating  the  number  of  guns  to  be 
as  high  as  three  hundred  and  thirty.  The 
Confederate  accounts,  which  there  seems 
no  reason  to  doubt,  gave  the  armament  of 
the  works  as  follows:  Sumter  44,  Moultrie 
21,  Battery  Bee  G,  Fort  Beauregard  2.  Cum- 
ming's  Point  2,  and  Wagner  19;  total  94. 
To  these  must  be  added  the  batteries  at  Fort 
Ripley,  Castle  Pinckney,  Mount  Pleasant, 
Fort  Johnson,  Battery  Gregg,  and  the  Creek 
batteries. 

Altogether,  the  naval  commanders,  and 
all  with  them,  deserve  high  commendation 
for  accomplishing  what  they  did  before 
Charleston;  their  efforts,  though  not  success 
ful  in  capture,  rendered  the  place  of  not  the 
slightest  use  to  the  Confederacy  even  as  a 
resort  for  blockade-runners,  whence  sup 
plies  from  abroad  could  be  received.  On 
the  contrary,  its  possession  was  a  drawback, 
to  them,  for  its  defence  necessitated  the  re 
tention  there  of  a  large  number  of  troops, 
elsewhere  sadly  needed  by  the  enemy  in  the 
field,  and  it  may  be  said  that  the  place  was 
only  held  as  a  matter  of  pride,  that  the  spot 
where  secession  first  took  root  and  sprouted 
should  be  the  last  to  surrender. 

By  some  persons  the  conduct  of  the  war  by 
the  naval  commanders  has  been  criticised, 
on  the  ground  that  they  did  not  rush  through 
the  obstructions  and  go  right  on  to  the 
wharves  of  Charleston.  As  if,  indeed,  the 
Confederates  would  plant  obstructions  with 
out  due  care  that  they  should  stop  any 
vessel  attempting  to  pass  them  under  the 
guns  of  the  forts  !  What  a  predicament  for 
the  commander  of  a  squadron  to  be  in,  to  get 
his  vessels  entangled  in  a  network  of  piles, 
ropes,  chains,  and  torpedoes — all  the  while 
under  a  terrific  cross-fire — and  then  to  be 
blamed  for  his  stupidity! 

Mr.  Boynton  admits  that,  on  the  7th  of 
April,  DuPont's  fleet  "  was  huddled  together 
helplessly  in  the  very  focus  of  a  hundred 
guns,  and  held  there  during  the  stress  of 
the  fight."  How  it  was  to  be  otherwise  the 
historian  does  not  say,  but  further  along 
remarks:  "  A  short  time  only  was  needed  to 
show  that  Admiral  DuPont  was  mistaken  in 
all  his  main  opinions;  the  subsequent  use  of 
the  Monitors  by  Admiral  Dahlgren  proved 
that  they  could  safely  have  endured  another 
fight  with  the  forts.  He  found  that  the 
broadsides  of  the  "  New  Ironsides  "  could 
sweep  the  Confederates  from  their  guns 
whenever  she  was  brought  in  proper  range, 
and  that  she  was  a  valuable  co-worker  with 
the  Monitors.  Dahlgren  also  demonstrated 
that  the  "Ironsides"  and  Monitors  could 


lie  safely  within  the  bar,  and  that  with  his 
iron-clads  the  harbor  of  Charleston  was  ef 
fectually  closed." 

The  iron-clads,  under  Dahlgren,  never 
came  within  the  "great  circle  of  fire  of  the 
forts,"  and  though  it  is  true  that  the  fire  of 
the  "Ironsides"  would  silence  Wagner's 
guns,  yet  she  was  not  brought  into  close 
contact  with  that  fort  until  she  had  the  as 
sistance  of  Gillmore's  batteries.  Firing  at 
Wagner,  and  forcing  the  passage  of  all  the 
forts  entangled  in  obstructions,  are  two 
different  things  altogether,  as  would  have 
been  ascertained  by  a  practical  comparison. 

Fortunately,  the  representations  made  at 
the  close  of  the  war  have  been  carefully  ex 
amined,  and,  in  most  cases,  found  un 
worthy  of  record.  In  this  case,  for  instance, 
how  could  it  be  expected  that  a  man  who 
had  no  naval  training,  and  had  failed  to 
post  himself  from  official  documents,  could 
write  a  true  history  of  naval  operations  ? 
Throughout  his  account  of  the  naval  work 
before  Charleston  he  has  labored  most  ar 
duously  to  take  from  a  gallant  officer  the 
high  reputation  he  had  so  fairly  won,  while 
endeavoring  to  elevate  another  at  his  ex 
pense. 

Dahlgren  himself  must  have  seen,  from 
DuPont's  first  attack,  that  all  efforts  in  that 
particular  direction  would  be  futile  ;  he 
wisely  concluded  to  avail  himself  of  the  ad 
vantages  to  be  gained  by  a  close  co-opera 
tion  with  the  Army.  If  he  did  not  succeed 
in  all  he  hoped  for,  he  at  least  demonstrated 
that  a  naval  force  alone  could  have  no  ef 
fect  on  the  capture  of  Charleston. 

The  most  remarkable  piece  of  assurance 
in  connection  with  the  Charleston  affairs 
was  that  of  an  engineer  in  the  Navy,  who, 
in  view  of  DuPont's  failure,  addressed  the 
Navy  Department,  and  criticised  the  con 
duct  of  the  fleet  in  a  manner  that  should 
have  brought  him  before  a  court-martial. 
How  could  any  commander-in-chief  hope 
to  possess  the  confidence  of  his  Government 
while  officious  subordinates  were  allowed 
to  give  their  views  directly  in  opposition  to 
his  plans,  and  suggesting  what,  in  their 
opinion,  should  be  the  mode  of  attack  ?  Yet 
this  man  not  only  stated  that  the  passage 
of  the  forts  was  possible,  but  that  the  squad 
ron  could  go  up  to  the  Charleston  wharves. 

Again,  we  say,  that  the  best  endorsement 
of  DuPont's  opinions  is  the  hard  work  of 
Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  from  the  first  co 
operation  with  General  Gillmore,  July  10th, 
to  the  unfortunate  assault  of  September  8th 
on  Sumter,  two  months  in  which  the  fleet 
never  succeeded  in  passing  the  fort  that 
was  "  useless  for  all  offensive  purposes." 

With  this  chapter  ends  the  operations  of 
the  Navy  before  Charleston  to  October, 
1863. 


CHAPTER     XXXVII. 


OPERATIONS  OF  THE   EAST   GULF  SQUADRON  TO  OCTOBER,  18C3. 

ACTING  REAR-ADMIRAL  BAILEY  APPOINTED  TO  COMMAND  EAST  GULF  SQUADRON. — VESSELS 
CAPTURED  OR  DESTROYED. — PLACES  OF  SAFETY. — DESTRUCTION  OF  CONFEDERATE  SALT 
WORKS  A  NECESSITY. — ATTEMPT  TO  "CUT"  OUT  SCHOONER  IN  MOSQUITO  INLET.— 
EXPEDITION  UP  INDIAN  RIVER  AND  OTHER  POINTS.  —  CAPTURE  OF  SCHOONER  AND 
SLOOP. — LIEUTENANT -COMMANDER  ENGLISH  IN  GUN-BOAT  ''SAGAMORE''  EXPLORES 
COAST.  —  VALUE  OF  PROPERTY  SEIZED.  —  VIOLATION  OF  BLOCKADE.  —  THE  SLOOP 
•'  HELEN  "  BURNT. — BRISK  ENGAGEMENT  WITH  CONFEDERATE  BATTERIES. — DESTRUC 
TION  OF  SCHOONER. — RIVER  EXPEDITIONS  UNDER  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  MCCAULEY. 
—DISASTROUS  RECONNAISSANCE  AT  ST.  ANDREW'S  BAY. — FLAG  OF  TRUCE  USED  AS 
DECOY  BY  THE  NATIVES. — THE  "  TAHOMA''  SHELLS  A  TOWN. — BOAT'S  CREW  FROM  BARK 
"AMANDA"  CUT  OUT  SCHOONER  "  FORWARD." — Loss  OF  PRIZE." — HEROIC  CONDUCT  OF 
MASTER  HOFFNER  AND  MEN. — TRIBUTE  TO  GALLANT  VOLUNTEERS. — DESTRUCTION  OF 
IMPORTANT  SALT  WORKS  BY  BOAT'S  CREW  FROM  STEAMER  k%  SOMERSET." — "TAHOMA" 
AND  "ADELA"  SHELL  CONFEDERATE  BATTERIES.— DESTRUCTION  OF  Two  BLOCKADE- 
RUNNING  STEAMERS  IN  HILLSBORO  RIVER. — BLOCKADE-RUNNING  BROKEN  UP. — LIST  OF 
VESSELS  COMPOSING  EAST  GULF  SQUADRON  UNDER  ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  BAILEY.— 
LIST  OF  OFFICERS. 


ACTING    Rear -Admiral    Theodoras 
Bailey  was  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  East   Gulf  squadron 
on  the  4th  of  June,  1862. 
The  Navy  Department  had  found 
an  opportunity  to  reward  this  gallant  offi 
cer  for  his  services  at  New  Orleans,  and 
although    no  important  military  or  naval 
movements  were  going  on  within  the  limits 
of  this  command,  it  was  the  only  way   in 
which  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  could  show 
his  high  appreciation  of  Bailey's  gallantry 
and  devotion  to  his  country's  service. 

The  limits  of  this  command  extended 
along  the  Florida  Peninsula  from  Cape 
Canaveral  on  the  east,  to  Pensacola  on  the 
west. 

Up  to  December,  1863,  the  little  squad 
ron  under  Bailey  had  exercised  the  great 
est  watchfulness  along  the  coast,  had 
captured  many  prizes,  and  had  apparently 
broken  up  the  illicit  traffic  by  which  the 
Confederates  had  been  supplied  with  mu 
nitions  of  war.  Lying  adjacent  to  Cuba, 
and  at  no  great  distance  from  the  English 


possessions  of  Nassau  and  Bermuda,  the 
'coast  of  Florida  presented  many  available 
points  for  the  introduction  of  all  kinds 
of  material  by  means  of  small  vessels 
that  could  enter  the  shallow  harbors, 
streams  and  inlets  with  which  this  State 
abounds. 

But  notwithstanding  the  advantages  these 
small  craft  possessed  for  eluding  the  block- 
aders.  they  could  not  carry  on  their  trade 
with  impunity.  From  the  time  that  Bailey 
took  command,  up  to  the  end  of  the  year, 
more  than  100  vessels  were  captured  or 
destroyed  by  the  squadron. 

From  Cape  Canaveral,  all  along  the  east 
ern  shore  of  Florida  to  Cape  Sable,  are 
numerous  passages  and  inlets  where  ves 
sels  could  with  safety  land  their  cargoes 
of  arms  or  provisions  in  a  night  and  be 
out  of  sight  of  the  blockaders  when  day 
light  came. 

Following  the  coast  up  to  the  northward 
were  the  Ten  Thousand  Islands,  Charlotte 
Harbor,  Tampa  Bay,  Crystal  River.  Cedar 
Keys,  Suwanee  River,  Appalache  Bay,  St. 


453) 


454 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


George's  Bay,  Appalachicola,  St.  Andrew's 
Bay,  and  a  thousand  other  places  of  refuge 
too  numerous  to  mention.  Arms  and  muni 
tions  of  war  of  all  kinds  could  have  been 
landed  hut  for  the  watchfulness  of  the  naval 
vessels. 

Florida,  with  its  inaccessible  and  tortu 
ous  channels,  and  numerous  islands  sur 
rounded  by  impenetrable  swamps,  was  just 
the  place  to  tempt  smugglers,  they  being 
led  there  by  the  quantity  of  game  and  the 
romantic  scenery,  and  a  delicious  cli 
mate  that  harbored  no  diseases  and  ren 
dered  the  shelter  of  houses  unnecessary.  It 
was  a  hard  place  to  find  smugglers,  and 
the  Federal  sailors  had  great  difficulty  in 
breaking  up  the  traffic;  but  it  was  done  in 
spite  of  all  obstacles,  and  no  more  disagree 
able  and  at  times  dangerous  duty  was  per 
formed  anywhere. 

Florida  (especially  the  west  coast)  was 
one  of  the  great  depots  where  the  Confeder 
ates  made  their  salt.  This  was  an  article 
without  which  they  could  not  exist,  and  it 
could  only  be  made  in  certain  localities 
near  salt  water.  It  may  have  been  noticed 
in  the  naval  reports  of  the  war  that  certain 
vessels  were  mentioned  as  having  destroyed 
salt  works,  and  persons  may  have  ex 
claimed,  "Why  distress  the  poor  by  destroy 
ing  their  salt  works?  What  good  can  it  do 
to  destroy  salt?"  It  was  the  life  of  the 
Confederate  army  which  they  were  destroy 
ing.  They  could  not  pack  their  meats 
without  it.  A  soldier  with  a  small  piece  of 
boiled  beef,  six  ounces  of  corn-rneal  and 
four  ounces  of  salt,  was  provisioned  for 
a  three  days'  march.  And  though  we 
might  have  pitied  the  Confederate  army 
in  the  straits  to  which  it  was  often  re 
duced,  yet  the  Federal  officers,  by  way  of 
shortening  the  war,  did  all  they  could 
to  destroy  salt  works  wherever  they  found 
them.  This  distressed  the  soldiers  more 
than  the  loss  of  blockade-runners,  for  al 
though  these  vessels  generally  brought 
plenty  of  guns  and  powder,  their  owners 
were  rarely  thoughtful  enough  to  lay  in  a 
supply  of  salt.  The  history  of  these  salt- 
destroying  expeditions  may  appear  tame, 
but  they  are  part  of  the  history  of  the  war, 
and  if  possible  a  place  must  be  found  for 
them. 

Early  in  the  year  18G3,  Acting-Master  J. 
A.  Pennell  reports  the  destruction  of  large 
salt  works  near  St.  Joseph.  He  commanded 
the  bark  "  Ethan  Allen  "  (a  sailing  vessel), 
and,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  January, 
got  underway  and  stood  up  St.  Joseph's 
Bay.  He  anchored  at  daylight  abreast  of 
where  he  supposed  the  saltworks  to  be,  and 
sent  three  armed  boats  (in  charge  of  Acting- 
Master  A.  Weston.  his  executive  officer), 
with  forty  men,  to  destroy  them.  The  men 
in  charge  of  the  works  fled  when  the  boats 


landed,  and  everything  was  set  on  fire  and 
destroyed. 

This  establishment  could  make  75  bushels 
of  salt  daily,  and  it  was  the  fourth  of  the 
kind  that  Master  Pennell  had  destroyed 
within  a  short  time.  At  the  same  rate  of 
doing  work,  these  four  manufactories  could 
have  turned  out  for  the  Confederate  army 
110,000  bushels  of  salt  in  a  year.  (The 
Confederates  had  their  agents  in  every  State 
where  salt  could  be  made,  and  in  those  days 
the  wants  of  the  Army  were  first  considered.) 

Sometimes  the  boats  of  the  squadron 
would  have  something  more  interesting  to 
report  than  the  capture  of  a  salt  crop.  Late 
in  February,  Lieutenant-Commander  Earl 
English,  in  command  of  the  gun-boat  "Saga 
more,"  received  information  that  a  schooner 
was  in  Mosquito  Inlet,  Florida,  loading  up 
with  cotton,  the  captain  being  of  the  opin 
ion  that  there  was  no  blockading  vessel  in 
the  vicinity. 

English  proceeded  to  that  point  at  once, 
arriving  there  on  the  28th.  when  the 
schooner  was  discovered  inside.  An  ex 
pedition  was  organized  to  cut  her  out  or 
burn  her. 

It  was  placed  under  the  command  of 
Acting -Master's  Mate  J.  A.  Slamm,  a  very 
young  officer,  but  one  who  was  full  of 
zeal.  He  took  the  ship's  launch,  with 
Third  -  Assistant  Engineer  F.  G.  Coggin, 
thirteen  men  and  a  howitzer;  the  first  cutter 
in  charge  of  Acting-Master's  Mate  Frank  E. 
Ford  with  seven  men;  the  second  cutter  in 
charge  of  Acting- Master's  Mate  C.  R. 
Fleming  with  eleven  men,  and  the  gig  in 
charge  of  Acting-Master's  Mate  George  B. 
Sidell,  five  men;  in  all,  forty -one  officers 
and  men. 

The  boats  proceeded  up  the  river  and 
sighted  the  schooner  without  meeting  any 
resistance,  when  suddenly  she  was  set  on 
fire  by  a  party  that  ran  on  board  of  her. 
The  cutters  were  then  ordered  to  board, 
extinguish  the  fire  and  bring  the  schooner 
out,  while  the  launch  shelled  the  banks 
and  bushes  with  her  howitzer. 

While  boarding,  the  sailors  were  fired 
upon  by  a  party  of  twenty-five  men  con 
cealed  in  the  bushes  behind  the  embank 
ment.  Finding  that  the  schooner  was  hard 
and  fast  on  the  bottom,  and  that  it  was 
impossible  to  extinguish  the  fire,  the  young 
officer,  having  accomplished  the  object  of 
the  expedition,  determined  to  return  to  his 
vessel. 

Unfortunately,  while  in  the  act  of  board- 
ing,Hugh  Maguire,  a  seaman,  was  shot  dead, 
and  most  of  the  crew  of  the  first  cutter  were 
wounded.  Acting-Master's  Mate  Ford,  of  the 
first  cutter,  though  wounded  himself,  shot 
one  of  the  enemy  who  was  in  the  act  of 
firing  upon  the  boarding  party. 

While  the  boats  were  returning,  the  enemy 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


455 


continued  to  fire  upon  them,  but  a  heavy 
return  fire  of  musketry  and  shrapnel  was 
kept  up  by  the  men,  and  some  punishment 
was.  no  doubt,  inflicted. 

The  schooner  was  of  150  tons  burden,  all 
ready  to  sail,  but  instead  was  given  to  the 
flames  by  the  advent  of  this  brave  little 
party,  which  lost  one  killed  and  five 
wounded.  So  it  will  be  seen  that  this 
affair,  which  lasted  only  twenty  minutes, 
was  gallantly  managed  and  was  not  with 
out  danger. 

On  March  4th.  Acting-Master's  Mate  Henry 
A,  Crane  reports  the  results  of  an  expedi 
tion  up  Indian  River,  under  the  instructions 
of  Lieutenant-Commander  Earl  English. 

On  the  morning  of  February  23d,  he  started 
in  a  boat  and  reached  a  cove  five  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  St.  Sebastian  River, 
.and  at  2  o'clock  p.  M.  discovered  a  schooner 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  EARL 
ENGLISH. 

bearing  down,  apparently  filled  with  men. 
From  their  number  and  appearance  it  was 
supposed  that  they  were  Confederates  pre 
pared  to  act  on  the  offensive.  Mr.  Crane's 
boat  was  so  disguised  as  to  look  like  a  boat 
from  a  merchantman,  so  that  the  Confeder 
ates  passed  him  unsuspiciously  and  went 
on  down  the  river. 

He  allowed  the  schooner  to  get  well  ahead 
and  then  followed  in  her  wake,  until  night 
came  on  and  she  got  into  shoal  water. 
While  her  crew  were  employed  in  getting 
her  over  the  bar,  the  Union  boat  dashed 
alongside  and  captured  her.  There  were 
twelve  men  on  board,  who  no  doubt  would 
have  made  a  good  fight  if  they  had  not  been 
taken  by  surprise. 

Ordering  the  schooner's  sails  hoisted, 
Mr.  Crane  started  down  the  river,  when  he 
discovered  a  sloop  ahead,  which  he  deter 


mined  to  run  into  and  capture,  but  was  in 
formed  by  one  of  his  prisoners  that  she  had 
no  crew  and  was  full  of  cotton.  He  placed 
two  men  in  her,  thus  reducing  his  party  to 
five,  and  ran  down  for  the  inlet  (some  eigh 
teen  miles),  reaching  there  on  the  morning 
of  the  27th,  having  been  seventy -two  hours 
on  the  expedition  with  no  sleep  and  very 
little  food.  He  took  his  prizes  off  to  the 
''Gem  of  the  Sea,"  where  he  obtained  assist 
ance  to  secure  his  prisoners  and  take  care 
of  his  vessels. 

This  was  a  small  party,  but  of  inflexible 
firmness,  to  which  they  were  indebted  for 
securing  two  vessels  that  netted  them  a 
nice  little  sum  in  prize-money.  Even  so 
small  an  affair,  when  well  executed,  is  more 
creditable  than  a  great  one  poorly  managed. 

The  only  way  of  reaching  the  Confeder 
ates  up  the  crooked  and  shallow  streams 
in  Florida  was  by  boat  expeditions,  and 
Rear- Admiral  Bailey  kept  his  officers  and 
men  well  employed,  giving  all  those  who 
deserved  it  an  opportunity  to  distinguish 
themselves. 

On  March  24th,  18G3,  he  directed  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Earl  English  to  proceed  to 
Cedar  Keys  with  the  gunboat  "  Sagamore," 
taking  with  him  two  armed  launches  from 
the  flag-ship  "St.  Lawrence." under  the  im 
mediate  command  of  Acting  -  Lieutenant 
E.  Y.  McCauley.  for  the  purpose  of  scour 
ing  the  coast  between  the  Suwanee  River 
and  the  Anclote  Keys,  where  it  was  reported 
a  number  of  small  craft  were  engaged  in 
violating  the  blockade. 

There  was  no  end  to  this  kind  of  traffic 
wherever  there  was  a  slip  of  land  to  haul  a 
boat  upon,  or  a  shallow  stream  where  a 
schooner  could  scrape  her  keel  over  the  sand 
bar  and  proceed  inland.  When  one  con 
siders  that  this  was  going  on  all  along  3. 000 
miles  of  coast,  it  will  appear  wonderful 
how,  even  with  the  force  the  Federals  had 
on  hand,  they  were  able  to  put  a  stop  to 
the  traffic  which  alone  kept  the  Confederate 
armies  in  the  field. 

During  the  war,  over  $30.000,000  worth  of 
this  kind  of  property  was  seized  and  turned 
into  the  Treasury — not  a  tithe  of  its  value, 
for  a  large  portion  of  it  went  into  the  pos 
session  of  land -sharks,  who  rarely  gave  a 
fair  account  of  the  money  which  passed 
through  their  hands.  But  when  the  big 
holes  and  the  small  leaks  on  the  blockade 
were  all  closed  up,  the  tale  was  told  at 
Appomattox.  where  General  Grant  had  to 
serve  out  rations  to  Lee's  soldiers  and  give 
them  enough  to  enable  them  to  reach  their 
homes. 

A  launch  and  cutter  from  the  "  Saga 
more  "  and  others  from  the  *'  Fort  Henry," 
including  an  ambulance  boat,  were  added 
to  this  expedition  and  the  whole  force  pro 
ceeded  direct  to  Bayport,  while  the  ''Saga- 


450 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


more"  remained  in  the  offing  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  Confederate  vessels. 

Great  difficulties  attended  this  expedition, 
as  the  weather  was  very  unfavorable,  hut 
the  main  object  was  handsomely  carried 
out. 

The  sloop  "Helen,"  of  Crystal  River.loaded 
with  corn,  was  burnt,  and  the  boats  pushed 
on  for  a  large  schooner  on  the  inside,  loaded 
with  cotton  and  said  to  contain  three  hun 
dred  bales. 

As  they  pulled  for  the  schooner  the  boats 
were  opened  upon  by  a  battery  of  two  guns 
on  shore,  and  by  quite  a  number  of  rifle 
men  concealed  in  the  woods.  A  brisk  en 
gagement  of  half  an  hour  ensued  and  the 
bushwhackers  were  driven  from  their  works 
and  rifle-pits,  with  one  killed  and  three 
wounded.  Unfortunately,  the  howitzers  in 
the  launches  were  partly  disabled,  by  their 
recoil,  from  rapid  use,  but  they  kept  up  such 
a  fire,  while  they  could,  with  shrapnel  and 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER    NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  EDWARD 
YORK  McCAULEY. 

grape,  that  the  enemy's  fire  was  very  wild, 
and  went  over  the  boats. 

This  little  affair  was  conducted  with  cool 
ness  and  judgment,  and  also  with  the  right 
spirit. 

When  the  Confederates  found  that  the 
boats  could  not  be  driven  off,  they  set  fire 
to  the  schooner.  The  engagement  was  still 
continued  from  the  boats  until  there  was 
no  chance  of  extinguishing  the  flames,  and 
it  is  quite  probable  the  Confederates  were 
delighted  to  think  the  attacking  party 
would  secure  no  prize.  The  object  of  the 
expedition  having  been  effected,  the  party 
in  the  boats  returned,  after  seeing  the  ves 
sel  and  cargo  totally  consumed. 

This  boat  expedition  then  proceeded  to  the 
Chassahowitzka.  thence  to  Crystal  River, 
the  Homosassa,  the  Withlacoochee  and  the 


Wakassa — beautiful  Indian  names,  that  sig 
nified  anything  rather  than  the  lawless- 
scenes  that  were  carried  on  in  their  waters. 
'  The  expedition  had,  however,  been  so  de 
layed  by  head-winds  and  currents,  and  by 
the  sluggishness  of  one  of  the  launches, 
that  they  only  made  seventy-five  miles  in 
five  days,  so  that  the  news  of  their  coming 
preceded  them,  and,  on  the  appearance  of 
the  boats,  everything  had  been  moved  out 
of  the  way.  This  expedition  was  well  man 
aged  by  Lieutenant-Commander  McCauley. 

An  expedition  fitted  out  on  March  20th 
by  Acting-Master  John  Sherrill,  command 
ing  bark  "  Roebuck."  did  not  fare  so  well. 
Sherrill  sent  a  launch  up  St.  Andrew'^ 
Bay  on  a  reconnaissance;  but,  on  the  return 
of  the  boat,  they  were  attacked  by  a  party 
of  fifty  men,  with  rifles,  one  man  killed 
and  six  severely  wounded,  including  the 
officer  in  charge,  Acting-Master  Jas.  Folger. 

Two  brave  seamen,  Thomas  Wylie  and 
James  Kitchen,  brought  the  boat  off,  all 
the  rest  being  killed  or  wounded.  The  fire 
from  the  bushwhackers  was  very  severe, 
and  most  of  the  men  shot  were  mortally 
wounded.  These  were  dangerous  enemies 
to  encounter.  They  were  not  soldiers,  but, 
more  properly  speaking,  smugglers. 

There  was  not  a  particle  of  loyalty  in 
these  parts  and  the  only  object"  of  the 
inhabitants  was  gain.  They  were  fighting, 
not  to  preserve  the  independence  of  the 
South,  but  to  make  rich  harvests  by  smug 
gling  and  to  set  the  laws  at  defiance.  This- 
region  at  that  time  could  boast  of  the  worst 
and  most  reckless  set  of  men  in  the  South, 
and  they  would  have  been  just  as  willing  to 
put  to  death  a  Confedera!  e  party  as  a  Union 
one,  if  it  should  attempt  to  interfere  with 
their  vocation. 

They  had  no  military  notions  of  honor, 
and  would  not  respect  a  flag  of  truce  if  the 
bearer  of  it  had  anything  on  his  person 
worth  taking.  As  a  proof  of  this  we  relate 
the  following  incidents,  which  are  officially 
reported: 

On  the  27th  of  March,  as  the  bark  "  Pur 
suit "  was  lying  in  Tampa  Bay,  a  smoke 
was  discovered  on  the  beach  and  three  per 
sons  made  their  appearance  with  a  white 
flag.  The  commanding  officer,  supposing 
them  to  be  escaped  contrabands,  sent  a  boat 
in  charge  of  Acting-Master  H.  K.  Lapham 
with  a  flag  of  truce  flying.  On  nearing  the 
beach,  two  of  the  parties  were  seen  to  be 
clothed  in  women's  apparel  with  their  faces, 
blackened  and  seemed  to  be  overcome  with 
joy  at  the  idea  of  obtaining  their  freedom, 
exclaiming,  "Thank  God,  thank  God,  I  am 
free!" 

When  the  boat  touched  the  beach  the 
female  apparel  was  thrown  off.  and  it  then 
became  evident  that  these  were  white  men 
disguised,  and  using  a  flag  of  truce  to  decoy 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


457 


the  boat  on  shore.  Immediately  after,  a 
hundred  armed  men  rose  from  the  bushes 
where  they  had  been  concealed,  and  de 
manded  the  surrender  of  the  boat,  which 
being"  refused,  the  enemy  opened  fire, wound 
ing  the  officer  in  charge  and  three  of  the 
crew.  But  the  brave  fellows  who  were  left 
un  wounded  returned  the  fire  and  the  attack 
ing  party  took  to  the  trees.  Some  of  the 
men  in  the  boat  kept  up  a  rapid  fire  with 
their  breech-loading  guns,  while  the  others 
pushed  off  the  boat,  and  they  finally  got 
out  of  range. 

As  soon  as  the  first  volley  was  fired,  the 
broadside  of  the  "  Pursuit"  was  opened  on 
the  bushwhackers,  and  the  shells  bursting 
among  them  sent  them  scampering  away. 
**  Next  day  the  gun-boat  "Tahoma"  arrived, 
and  her  commander,  having  heard  of  the 
outrage  committed,  brought  two  vessels  up 
and  threw  some  shells  into  the  town,  which 
was  called  barbarous  at  the  time,  but  it  was 
the  only  way  to  prevent  the  indiscriminate 
slaughter  that  would  have  been  inflicted  on 
a  boat's  crew  that  attempted  to  land  on 
any  part  of  that  coast  unsupported  by  gun 
boats. 

It  is  dreadful  to  think  of  the  bitter  feel 
ing  that  sprang  up  among  the  lower  classes 
of  men  against  the  flag-  which  they  once 
thought  they  honored;  but  the  rough  life 
led  in  that  section  of  the  country,  the 
years  spent  in  hunting  the  Indian  in  dis 
mal  swamps  and  forest  fastnesses,  had  pro 
duced  a  class  of  people  far  more  barbarous 
than  the  Indians  themselves — men  without 
any  sentiment  but  a  love  of  plunder,  who 
placed  no  more  value  on  human  life  than 
on  the  life  of  a  dog.  Yet  they  were  in 
trepid  and  defied  all  laws,  human  and  di 
vine,  and  the  only  way  to  touch  their  un 
derstanding  was  by  the  most  severe  retalia 
tion. 

On  Friday,  March  20th,  an  expedition 
left  the  United  States  bark  "Amanda,"  for 
the  purpose  of  proceeding  to  the  Ocklockon- 
nee  River,  to  cut  out  the  schooner  "  For 
ward,"  supposed  to  be  loaded  with  cotton. 
The  expedition  was  under  the  charge  of 
Acting-Master  R.  J.  Hoffner,  and  consisted 
of  two  boats  and  twenty-seven  men,  with  a 
boat  howitzer. 

Great  difficulty  was  encountered  in  find 
ing  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  the  boats 
constantly  grounded  on  oyster  beds,  over 
which  they  had  to  be  hauled  in  the  night 
for  fear  of  discovery,  but  at  daylight  the  en 
trance  of  the  river  was  found  and  the  boats 
proceeded  up.  At  8  A.  M..  of  the  23d,  a  dis 
masted  schooner  was  discovered  lying  close 
to  the  starboard  bank.  At  the  same  time 
the  expedition  was  discovered  by  some  peo 
ple  on  the  schooner,  who  jumped  into  the 
small  boat  and  made  their  escape,  no  doubt 
carrying  news  of  its  arrival. 


The  boats  boarded  the  schooner  and  took 
possession,  hove  up  the  anchor  and  com 
menced  towing  her  down  the  river,  having 
two  hours'  tide  left.  They  anchored  when 
the  tide  was  too  low  to  proceed,  got  under 
way  again  at  5  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
by  8  o'clock  were  clear  of  the  entrance  to 
the  river.  They  steered  for  the  bay  chan 
nel,  and  again  grounded  when  nearly  over 
all  the  difficulties  of  the  navigation.  Again 
the  tide  served  and  the  vessel  was  got  under 
way,  but  this  time  they  followed  the  wrong 
channel  and  grounded  again,  and  all  thei  r  en 
deavors  to  get  her  afloat  proved  unavailing. 

These  brave  fellows  had  worked  for 
twenty-four  hours  with  an  energy  unsur 
passed,  hoping  to  receive  a  large  share  of 
prize-money,  but  now  they  saw  that  all 
their  work  had  been  in  vain,  and  prepared 
to  set  fire  to  the  vessel.  The  arms  were 
all  put  in  order  in  case  they  should  be 
needed  suddenly;  the  howitzer  was  loaded 
with  canister  and  every  preparation  made 
to  repel  the  attack  which  Mr.  Hoffner  con 
fidently  expected.  At  about  noon,  a  party 
of  forty  horsemen  was  discovered  approach 
ing  at  some  distance.  They  turned  and  ap 
peared  to  be  going  off,  but  soon  re-ap 
peared  with  some  squads  of  infantry  (about 
200  in  all)  jumping  from  tree  to  tree,  and 
taking  position  to  attack  the  sailors.  The 
boat  howitzer  was  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  Confederates,  and  fired  with  grape  and 
canister,  but  without  marked  effect,  as  the 
enemy  was  protected  by  the  trees.  At  the 
same  time  ten  sailors  with  muskets  (behind 
such  defences  as  they  could  throw  up  on 
board  the  vessel)  kept  up  a  continuous  fire 
whenever  anything  could  be  seen  to  shoot 
at.  Once  a  squad  of  twenty  exposed  them 
selves,  and  a  shrapnel  was  exploded  in  their 
midst,  and  a  number  of  them  seemed  to 
have  been  hurt. 

A  rapid  fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides, 
each  party  protecting  themselves  behind 
their  barricades,  until  the  tide  began  to  run 
flood,  and  the  boats  floated.  Then  Mr. 
Hoffner  determined  to  fire  the  vessel,  as  an 
attempt  to  save  her  would  involve  too  great 
a  loss  of  life.  The  schooner  was  only  two 
hundred  yards  from  the  shore,  and  directly 
under  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy's  rifles. 
The  howitzer  was  hoisted  into  the  boat, 
while  the  enemy  fired  rapidly  (though  not 
accurately),  and  the  boats  were  kept  on  the 
off-side  until  the  sailors  were  able  to  shove 
off  with  safety.  In  an  hour  and  a  half  the 
tide  was  supposed  to  be  high  enough,  and 
the  boats'  crews  embarked  and  shoved  off; 
but,  with  the  weight  of  the  crews,  the  boats 
grounded,  and  the  enemy  opened  upon 
them  again.  The  sailors  j umped  overboard, 
and.  taking  hold  of  the  boats,  commenced 
dragging  them  over  the  bottom — slow  work 
under  a  heavy  fire. 


458 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


James  Mooney,  a  seaman,  was  killed  in 
stantly,  shot  thVough  the  heart.  At  the 
same  moment,  the  officer  in  charge,  Mr. 
Hoffner,  received  a  rifle-ball  in  the  right 
side  of  the  neck,  passing  around  the  back 
and  lodging  in  the  left  side,  deeply  im 
bedded  in  the  muscles.  Other  men  were 
struck  at  the  same  time,  but  only  one 
of  them  so  seriously  that  he  could  not 
work.  Every  one  was  doing  his  best  to  get 
the  boats  over  the  bottom,  or  else  firing  at 
the  pursuers,  who  were  keeping  up  with 
them  along  the  banks.  Mr.  Shaffer,  the 
second  officer,  was  conspicuous  in  setting 
an  example  of  gallantry  very  much  to  be 
commended. 

At  length,  after  being  nearly  exhausted 
by  the  hard  work,  the  sailors  got  their  boats 
afloat  in  deep  water,  jumped  in,  and,  giving 
the  enemy  a  parting  volley  and  a  cheer, 
they  sprang  to  their  oars,  and  soon  put 
themselves  out  of  range. 

The  bushwhackers  had  kept  themselves 
so  well  protected  by  the  trees  that  they 
could  be  detected  only  by  the  flashes  of 
their  guns.  Under  such  circumstances  and 
with  so  greatly  a  superior  force,  some  offi 
cers  would  have  felt  themselves  justified  in 
surrendering  to  save  the  lives  of  their  men. 
But  there  was  not  a  word  said  about  surren 
dering  in  this  party.  The  commanding 
officer,  Mr.  Hoffner,  though  dangerously 
wounded,  stuck  to  his  work  like  a  hero  and 
brought  his  boats  off  safely,  with  one  man 
killed  and  six  (besides  himself)  seriously 
wounded. 

During  this  engagement,  which  lasted 
several  hours,  some  heroic  acts  occurred, 
which  would  have  done  credit  to  any  ser 
vice,  and  the  determination  shown  not  to 
be  captured  proved  the  stuff  the  officers  and 
men  were  made  of.  These  gallant  fellows 
abhorred  the  idea  of  letting  their  flag  (which 
was  kept  flying  in  the  boat  all  the  time)  fall 
into  such  an  enemy's  hands,  for  though  the 
people,  who  performed  the  part  of  soldiers 
on  shore, were  at  the  farthest  extreme  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  not  inspired  by  the  excit 
ing  scenes  which  were  daily  taking  place 
between  the  Federal  and  Confederate  forces, 
yet  they  were  as  bitter  in  their  hostility  to 
everything  Union  as  if  they  had  received 
some  great  injury  at  the  hands  of  the 
Government. 

These  people,  no  doubt,  considered  it  an 
outrage  for  the  Federal  naval  forces  to  in 
terfere  with  their  smuggling  articles  con 
traband  of  war,  but  they  never  stopped  to 
reflect  that  war  could  not  be  ended  merely 
by  the  Navy  sailing  up  and  down  the  coast  of 
Florida  and  looking  at  them  violating  the 
laws.  Hence  all  this  talk  of  the  Confeder 
ates  about  the  inhuman  treatment  to  these 
smugglers  (for  they  were  nothing  more)  is 
simply  absurd.  War  is  not  a  pleasant  pas 


time.  Its  object  is  to  bring  about  law  and 
order,  and  the  most  stringent  measures  are 
those  most  likely  to  succeed.  There  was 
no  way  of  arresting  this  war  but  by  sacri 
ficing  every  object  that  would  tend  to  keep 
it  going  on. 

Let  it  be  understood  that  most  of  these 
little  expeditions,  which  were  fitted  out  and 
did  so  well,  were  commanded  and  officered 
by  those  gallant  volunteers  from  the  mer 
chant  marine,  who,  sacrificing  all  their 
interests  in  commercial  affairs,  joined  the 
Navy  to  devote  life  and  all  they  held  dear  to 
the  defence  of  their  country's  rights  and 
honor.  They  gave  such  a  guarantee,  by 
their  matchless  adaptation  to  the  rules  and 


LIEUTENANT  (AFTEKWAKPS  COMMODORE)  A.  A.  SEMME3. 

regulations  of  the  Navy,  of  their  ability  to 
learn  the  science  of  war  from  officers  edu 
cated  for  the  naval  service,  that  the  country 
must  not  forget,  while  awarding  credit  to 
the  Navy  proper,  to  allow  a  full  share  of 
the  honor  to  fall  upon  the  volunteer  officers 
from  the  American  mercantile  marine. 

On  July  6th,  Rear- Admiral  Bailey  reports 
the  destruction  of  important  salt  works, 
under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  A.  F.  Crosman,  of  the  steamer 
'•Somerset." 

This  duty  was  well  performed  by  Acting- 
Master  Thomas  Chatfield,  who  landed  in 
boats  under  the  guns  of  the  "Somerset," 
and,  with  sixty-five  sailors  and  marines, 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


459 


destroyed  four  distinct  stations.  Sixty-five 
salt-kettles  were  demolished,  over  two  hun 
dred  bushels  of  salt  destroyed,  and  thirty 
houses,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were 
burned.  The  whole  establishment  was 
completely  blotted  out  without  the  loss  of  a 
man.  in  which  these  expeditions  were  not 
always  so  fortunate. 

On  the  KJth  of  October  an  expedition  was 
fitted  out  to  destroy  two  blockade-running 
steamers  in  Hillsboro  River. 

Lieutenant-Commander  A.  A.  Semmes,  in 
the  gun-boat  "  Tahoma"  (assisted  by  the 
"Adela"),  was  directed  to  divert  attention 
from  the  expedition  by  shelling  the  town 
and  fort  and  to  land  men  under  cover  of 
the  night  at  a  point  in  Old  Tampa  Bay. 
some  distance  from  the  fort,  to  proceed 
overland  to  the  point  on  the  Hillsboro  River 
where  the  blockade-runners  lay,  and  destroy 
them. 

On  the  date  mentioned,  the  "Tahoma" 
and  "Adela"  ran  in  abreast  of  the  bat 
teries,  and  shelled  them  slowly  during  the 
day.  their  fire  being  unusually  accurate. 
As  soon  as  the  moon  went  down  that  even 
ing,  a  force  of  sixty  men,  under  Acting- 
Ensigns  J.  P.  Randall  and  J.  G.  Koehler, 
from  the  "  Tahoma."  and  forty  men.  under 
Acting-Ensigns  F.  A.  Strandberg  and  Ed 
ward  Balch,  and  Acting- First -Assistant 
Engineer  G.  M.  Bennett,  from  the  ''Adela," 
with  Acting-Master's  Mate  Crane  and  Mr. 
J.  A.  Thompson  as  guides,  was  landed  at 
Ballast  Point.  The  whole  expedition  was 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Acting- 
Master  T.  R.  Harris,  executive  officer  of  the 
"  Tahoma." 

The  line  of  march  was  quietly  taken  up 
under  guidance  of  Mr.  Thompson  (who,  be 
ing  too  ill  to  walk,  was  carried  in  a  litter). 
A  march  of  fourteen  miles  brought  the 
party,  before  daylight,  to  the  river-bank. 

As  soon  as  it  was  light  the  two  steamers 
were  discovered  on  the  opposite  side.  The 
force  was  assembled  abreast  of  the  steamers, 
and  those  on  board  brought  under  aim  of 
the  rifles,  and  ordered  to  send  a  boat,  which 
was  done.  A  detachment  was  then  sent  to 
bring  over  the  vessels  and  to  make  pris 
oners  of  their  crews. 

At  this  time  two  men  succeeded  in  es 
caping  from  the  steamers,  and  carried  the 
alarm  to  the  garrison.  The  prizes  were 
meantime  set  on  fire  effectually,  and  the 
Union  force  set  out  on  its  return. 

Encountering  an  armed  party  near  the 
beach,  a  charge  was  made  and  two  of  the 
Confederates  were  captured.  The  beach 
was  finally  reached  without  loss,  pickets 
were  stationed,  and  the  party  rested,  wait 
ing  the  arrival  of  their  boats. 

While  so  resting  (after  a  twenty-eight- 
mile  march),  word  was  brought  the  com 
mander  of  the  expedition  that  a  detach 


ment  of  cavalry  and  one  of  infantry  were 
advancing,  and  the  party  was  formed  to 
resist  an  attack;  the  boats,  however,  hav 
ing  arrived,  the  embarkation  commenced  ; 
and  while  this  was  going  on  the  Confeder 
ates  opened  fire. 

The  first  and  second  divisions  of  sailors, 
with  seven  prisoners,  proceeded  in  an  or 
derly  manner  to  the  boats;  the  third  divis 
ion  deployed  as  skirmishers  and  returned 
the  fire  of  the  enemy  with  great  spirit ;  the 
"  Adela"  in  the  meantime  shelled  the  woods 
and  drove  the  Confederates  from  cover. 
The  first  two  divisions  having  embarked, 
the  rear  guard  followed,  after  having  stood 
at  their  posts  and  protected  the  retreat  with 
the  coolness  of  veteran  soldiers.  Finally, 
the}',  at  the  order,  entered  the  boats,  taking 
their  wounded  with  them. 

The  Confederate  troops  \vere  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Westcott.  and  were 
the  so-called  regulars,  who  could  act  as 
smugglers  or  bushwhackers  as  suited  their 
purpose;  but  they  did  not  seem  inclined  on 
this  occasion  to  come  out  boldly  and  "  try 
conclusions  "  with  the  sailors. 

The  retreat  to  the  boats  was  conducted  by 
Acting-Master  Harris,  with  the  most  admir 
able  coolness,  and  the  expedition  through 
out  was  characterized  by  a  degree  of  disci 
pline,  courage  and  energy  not  often  met 
with  even  among  the  best  trained  troops,  it 
shows  how  carefully  the  men  of  the  Navy 
were  drilled  and  how  well  commanded.  On 
this  occasion,  although  the  Union  force  suf 
fered  a  good  deal  while  on  the  beach,  they 
never  swerved  for  one  instant.  Three  of 
the  sailors  wTere  killed,  and  their  names  are 
mentioned  as  an  inducement  for  others  to 
show  an  equal  bravery. 

They  were  James  Warrall,  John  Roddy 
and  Joseph  O'Donnell,  all  seamen. 

Ten  men  were  wounded  severely,  and 
we  are  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  chronicle 
their  names  also,  for  no  seamen  ever  de 
served  better!  Acting  Ensigns  Randall  and 
Koehler  were  wounded,  and  four  men  were 
made  prisoners. 

This  is  the  last  of  Rear-Admiral  Bailey's 
operations  up  to  October,  1803.  and  although 
they  were  not  remarkably  important,  they 
show  a  determination  to  break  up  the 
blockade-running,  and  it  was  done  effectu 
ally.  Of  fifty-two  vessels  that  attempted 
to  run  the  blockade,  only  seven  succeeded, 
the  rest  being  taken  into  the  port  of  Key 
West.  Nearly  one  hundred  were  captured 
in  the  space  of  six  months. 

The  command  of  this  station,  although  a 
compliment  to  Admiral  Bailey,  was  scarcely 
a  reward  commensurate  with  his  character 
and  services.  He  was  not  a  man  whose 
appearance  would  attract  attention,  except 
from  those  who  could  appreciate  the  honest 
and  simple  character  of  an  old-time  naval 


400 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


officer,  but  he  was  a  man  who  had  no  supe 
rior  in  the  Navy  in  point  of  dash. energy  and 
courage,  and.  if  he  had  ever  had  the  oppor 
tunity  of  commanding  a  fleet  in  action,  he 


would  have  done  it  with  the  coolness  and 
bravery  of  Nelson. 

No    higher   compliment    could    be    paid 
him. 


LIST   OF  VESSELS  COMPOSING  THE  EAST   GULF   BLOCKADING   SQUADRON. 

UNDER  ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  THEODORUS  BAILEY:  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER 
WILLIAM  G.  TEMPLE,  FLEET-CAPTAIN. 

AS   OBTAINED  FROM  THE   NAVY   REGISTER   OF  JANUARY,    1803,    WITH   NAMES   OF   COMMANDING 

AND    OTHER    OFFICERS. 


FRIGATE   "ST.    LAWRENCE  " — FLAG-SHIP. 

Commander,  James  F.  Schenck;  Fleet  Surgeon, 
G.  R.  B.  Horner  ;  Paymaster,  Washington  Irving  ; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  AV.  K.  Van  Reypen  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  B.  Poor;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  A.  Shirk;  Acting-Masters,  Wm.  H.  Smith, 
John  Fuller,  Chas.  DeBevoise  and  George  J.  Mur 
ray;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  Pavys,  E.  S.  D. 
Rowland.  John  Boyle,  V.  W.  Jones  and  T.  W. 
Jones;  Marine  Corps:  Second  -  Lieutenant,  R.  S. 
Collum;  Boatswain,  J.  A.  Briscoe. 

STEAMEB    "SAN  JACINTO." 

Commander,  Wm.  Ronckendorff  ;  Lieutenant- 
Commander,  Ralph  Chandler;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
I.  W.  Bragg;  Paymaster,  Cramer  Burt  ;  Marine 
Officers, Capt.  J.  Schermerhorn;  Second-Lieutenant, 
L.  W.  Powell;  Acting-Masters,  1).  G.  McRitchie,  H. 
J.  Coop  and  John  Baker,  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
H.  H  Fuller,  H.  T.  Keene,  J.  D.  Weed  and  T.  C. 
Jones;  Engineers:  Chief,  Mortimer  Kellogg;  Assist 
ants,  H.  S.  Davids,  H.  C.  Mcllvaine,  Edwin  Wells, 
H.  AV.  Scott,  Edmund  Lincoln  and  N.  P.  Towne  ; 
Boatswain,  John  Marley;  Acting-Gunner,  C.  A. 
Stevenson  ;  Carpenter,  R.  A.  Williams  ;  Sailmaker, 
J.  H.  North. 

STEAMER   "PENGUIN  '' 

Commander,  J.  C.  Williamson  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  B.  Higginbotham;  Acting -Assistant 
Paymaster,  W.  C.  Cook  ;  Acting-Masters,  T.  Dur 
ham,  S.  B.  Rathbone,  G.  V.  Cassedy  and  C.  H. 
Rockwell;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  E.  Anderson, 
S.  E.  Foote,  W.  A.  Beattie  and  W.  A.  Randlett- 
Engineers,  F.  W.  Warner,  M.  P.  Randall,  A.  B. 
Kinney  and  John  Webster 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT    "SAGAMORE." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Earl  English;  Assistant- 
Surgeon,  W.  K.  Scofield;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  J.  F.  Wood;  Acting-Masters,  Wm.  Fal^s  and 
Edwin  Babson  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  J  A 
Slamm,  C.  R.  Fleming,  F.  E.  Ford  and  G.  B.  Sidell- 
Engineers,  Henry  Snyder,  W.  H.  Harris,  F.  G. 
Coggin  and  G.  J.  Lam'berson. 

STEAM  GUN-BOAT   ' '  TAHOMA  " 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  A.  Semmes;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  H.  Gunning;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  Wm.  Hennesy  ;  Acting- Ensigns,  W.  H.  Harri 
son,  D.  W.  Jackson  and  J.  C.  Hamlin  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  J.  G.  Koehler,  C.  H.  Tillinghastand  R 
G.  Richards;  Engineers,  J.  N.  Cahill,  J.  K.  Bots- 
ford,  John  Fornance  and  A.  M.  Rankin. 

STEAM  GUN-BOAT    "POET  ROYAL." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  George  U.  Morris;  Lieu 
tenant.  C.  J.  McDougal;  Acting-Volunteer-Lieuten 
ant,  Win.    P.    Randall;   Assistant  Surgeon,    H    D 
Burlingham;  Assistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  A  Sawyer- 
Acting-Masters,   Edgar  Van   Slyck  and  L    D    D' 
Voorhees;    Acting-Masters   Mates,   Win.    F     Rev- 
nolds.  E.  V.    Tyson,  H.    ]).   Baldwin  nnd  Wm     A 
Prescott;  Engineers,  Wm.  C.  Selden,  E.  M    Breese' 
O.  C.  Lewis,  F.  B.  Allen  and  Henry  Snyder. 


STEAMER   "SOMERSET." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  F.  Crosman;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  James  Mecray,  Jr.;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  S.  W.  Adams;  Acting-Masters, 
W.  E.  Dennison,  J.  8.  Higbee,  E.  C.  Healv  and 
Thos.  Chatfield  ;  Acting -Master's  Mates,  C.  H. 
Brantingham,  T.  M.  Toombs  and  J.  H.  Stotsen- 
burg;  Engineers,  W.  D.  Peters,  W.  H.  Smith,  E. 
Choppell  and  John  Doyle. 

STEAMER    "  LODONA." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  E.  R.  Colhoun;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  T.  W.  Meckley  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  A.  M.  Stewart;  Acting-Masters,  Lewis  West 
and  J.  P.  Carr;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  G.  McKenna 
and  N.  W.  Rathbone;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Le 
Grand  B.  Brigham,  W.  A.  Byrnes  and  F.  E.  Brecht; 
Engineers,  F.  A.  Bremen,  I.  B.  Hewett,  S.  D.  Lor- 
ing,  O.  B.  Mills  and  James  Mollineaux. 

STEAMER   "FORT  HENRY." 

Acting-Lieutenant,  Edward  Y.  McCauley;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Joseph  Stevens  ;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Daniel  Whalen ;  Acting-Masters, 
R.  B.  Smith,  F.  AV.  Partridge  and  Geo.  Leinas; 
Acting-Ensign,  Geo.  W.  Bogue ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  John  Hancock,  W.  J.  Haddock  and  AV.  E. 
Rice;  Engineers,  F.  H.  Fletcher,  James  AVard  and 
Chas.  Minnerly. 

STEAMER    "  HUNTSVILLE.'' 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  AVm.  C.  Rogers, 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  J.  Sweet  ;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  E.  M.  Hart ;  Acting-Masters, 
T.  R.  Harris,  J.  H.  Platt  and  G.  A.  Smith;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  E.  B.  J.  Singleton,  Charles  Labden 
and  C.  R.  Scoffin;  Engineers,  J.  L.  Parry,  N.  N. 
Buckingham,  AV.  A.  Leavitt  and  John  Kanealy. 

BARK   "PURSUIT  " 

Acting- ATolunteer-Lieutenant,  David  Gate;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  K.  AVheeler,  Acting  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  D.  P.  Shuler;  Acting-Masters, 
Robert  Spavin,  H.  K.  Lapham  and  C.  R.  Harris  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Barry  and  ATan  Buren 
Blum. 

BARK  "  GEMSBOK    ' 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Edward  Cavendy; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  Thomas  AVelsh;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  H.  Roberts  ;  Acting-Mas 
ters,  O.  Thatcher  and  Theo.  AVerlhop  ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  T.  J.  Pray,  M.  AV.  Stone  and  N.  AV. 
AVait. 

SLOOP-OF-WAB    "DALE." 

Acting-Master,  J.  O.  Barclay  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  F.  B.  Lawson;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter.  R.  B.  Rodney;  Acting-Master,  B.  F.  Cook;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  J.  A.  Denman  and  J.  T.  Mendall;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  D.  C.  Kiersted,  M.  Jackson  and 
AVm.  Morris. 

STEAMER     "MAGNOLIA.'' 

Acting- Master,  Chas.  Potter;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  E.  D.  G.  Smith;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas- 


OF  THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


4G1 


ter,  W.  J.  Coite ;  Acting-Masters,  Francis  Burgess 
and  Alex.  Wallace ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  David 
Scyler,  Peter  McGuire  and  O.  Sundstrom;  Engi 
neers,  Edward  Eldridge,  E.  D.  Leavitt,  Jr.,  and  R. 
H.  Shultis. 

STEAMER   "STABS  AND  STBIPES." 

Acting-Master,  C.  L.  Willcombe  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Benj.  Marshall ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  J.  Pratt;  Acting-Masters,  L  W.  Hill, 
Geo.  Ashhury,  Thomas  Smith  and  G.  H.  Cole; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  B.  Conklin,  C.  P.  Turner 
and  Alex.  Cushman;  Engineers,  John  Briggs,  T.  D. 
Coffee,  John  Burns  and  H.  F.  Brown. 

BARK   "JAMES  L.   DAVIS." 

Acting-Master,  John  West;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  E.  B.  Jackson;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
B.  S.  Price;  Acting-Masters,  Alex.  Waugh  and  Geo. 
F.  Hammond;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  J.  Lyon, 
S.  E.  Willetts  and  G.  H.  Disley. 

BARK  "  ROEBUCK." 

-.  Acting-Master,  John  Sherrill;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  M.  G.  Raefle  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  Win  Sellew;  Acting-Masters,  H.  F.  Coffin,  Jas. 
Folger  and  A.  M.  Newman;  Acting-Ensign,  Timo 
thy  Delano;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Brad 
ford  and  C.  F.  Dunderdale. 

BARK   "JAMES  S.    CHAMBERS." 

Acting- Master,  Luther  Nickerson;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Win.  Clendaniel ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  C.  H.  West;  Acting- Masters,  A.  B. 


Pierson  and  Win.  H.  McLean;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  W.  J.  Eldredge,  W.  A.  Smith  and  David 
Axe. 

BARK   "AMANDA." 

Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenants,  Geo.  E.  Welch 
and  Samuel  Howard:  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  A. 
H.  Hershey ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  B. 
Southworth;  Acting-Masters,  R.  J.  Hoffner  and  J. 
E.  Jones  ;  Acting  Master's  Mates,  G.  C.  Campbell 
and  N.  L.  Ledyard. 

BARK  "ETHAN  ALLEN." 

Acting-Master,  J.  A.  Pennell ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  M.  Flint,  Acting-Master,  Alfred  Wes- 
ton;  Acting-Ensign,  Samuel  McCormick ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  E.  Stickney,  John  Wilcoxand  E. 
R.  Davidson. 

BARK    "HOTJGHTON." 

Acting-Master,  Newell  Graham;  Acting  Assistant 
Paymaster,  O.  F.  Browning. 

SCHOONER    "ETJGENrE." 

Acting  Master,  Wm.  McClintock;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  W.  C.  Blackwell. 

SCHOONER  "BEATJREGAKD." 

Acting- Master,  Wm.  A.  Arthur  ;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  W.  H.  Melson. 

SCHOONER    "WANDERER." 

Acting-Master,  E.  S.  Turner  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  Thomas  McHenry;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
L.  H.  Livingston  and  Ezra  Robbing. 


CH  A  PTER     X  XXVIII. 


REVIEW  OF  THE  WORK  DONE  BY  THE  NAVY  IN  THE  YEAR  1863. 


A  SUMMARY  of  the  events  of  18G3 
may  serve  to  keep  in  mind  the  de 
tails  of  the  several  squadrons  that 
were  operating  along  a  sea-coast 
of  over  3,500  miles  in  extent,  and 
in  the  Western  rivers,  a  further  distance  of 
4,000  miles.  The  harbors  and  indentations 
of  the  Atlantic  coast,  which  afforded  refuge 
for  blockade-runners,  or  points  for  landing 
their  munitions  of  war,  amounted  to  at 
least  180  in  number. 

Thus  the  Navy  had  to  guard  a  line  of 
coasts  and  rivers  over  7,500  miles  in  extent, 
a  task  compared  with  which  the  famous 
blockade  of  the  French  coast  by  the  British, 
during  the  wars  with  Napoleon,  was  a  mere 
bagatelle. 

Day  by  day  the  blockade  of  the  Southern 
sea-coast  became  more  stringent,  and  as 
Congress  was  made  to  feel  the  urgent  ap 
peals  of  Mr.  Secretary  Welles  for  an  in 
crease  of  the  Navy,  and  became  aware  that 
the  resources  of  the  enemy  diminished  in 
proportion  as  those  of  the  Navy  increased, 
and  realized  that,  without  an  adequate  force 
of  war-vessels,  the  Rebellion  would  never  be 
conquered,  it  showed  due  liberality,  and 
success  began  to  attend  the  Federal  arms  in 
all  quarters. 

By  increasing  the  stringency  of  the  block 
ade,  the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  coast, 
as  they  realized  the  uselessness  of  contend 
ing  against  combined  military  and  naval 
operations.  The  great  rivers  and  their 
tributaries  were  no  longer  safe  resorts  for 
marauders,  as  the  capture  of  the  principal 
towns  in  the  West,  and  the  occupation  of 
the  surrounding  country  by  the  Union 
forces,  had  relieved  a  large  number  of 
troops  from  siege-duty,  who  could  now  be 
employed  from  Tennessee  to  Louisiana. 

The  power  of  the  Navy  at  the  same  time 
was  largely  increased  on  the  Western  rivers 
by  the  addition  of  some  800  guns  mounted 
m  war-vessels  improvised  from  merchant 


steamboats;  and  these  aided  in  transporting 
the  Army  from  one  point  to  another  where- 
ever  the  enemy  showed  himself. 

The  operations  of  the  Navy  up  to  the  end 
of  the  year  1803  had  borne  with  great 
severity  on  those  who  had  risen  in  arms 
against  the  National  Government,  and  the 
idea  has  been  suggested  that  the  almost 
superhuman  efforts  of  this  arm  of  the  ser 
vice  to  crush  the  Rebellion  has  been  a  seri 
ous  embarrassment  to  its  advance  since  the 
close  of  the  civil  war;  that  the  Southern  in 
fluence  in  Congress  has,  in  a  great  measure, 
prevented  the  rebuilding  of  the  Navy  and 
bringing  it  to  a  condition  befitting  a  great 
nation.  Certain  it  is.  the  Navy  has  been 
brought  to  so  low  an  ebb  that  it  almost 
seems  as  if  this  state  of  affairs  had  been 
produced  by  some  concert  of  action. 

The  best  illustration  of  what  the  Navy 
had  accomplished  up  to  the  close  of  the 
year  1863  is  afforded  by  the  official  reports 
of  the  commanding  officers  of  squadrons 
and  single  ships;  but,  as  these  cannot  be  em 
bodied  in  a  narrative  of  this  kind,  we  must 
content  ourselves  with  an  abstract  from  the 
records. 

Acting-Rear-Admiral  S.  P.  Lee,  in  com 
mand  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron,  ably 
seconded  by  the  zeal  of  his  officers,  had 
penetrated  the  waters  of  Virginia  wher 
ever  his  gun-boats  could  reach,  and  had  oc 
cupied  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  Confederates  could  be 
said  to  have  no  foothold  in  that  quarter. 
Wilmington,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  was  really  the  only  point  in 
North  Carolina  where  the  enemy  could 
boast  that  they  had  defied  the  Federal  arms, 
and  this  point  was  found  extremely  diffi 
cult  to  close  owing  to  two  separate  en 
trances  to  the  river  some  thirty  miles  apart, 
both  protected  by  the  heaviest  description 
of  land  defences  and  obstructed  by  shallow 
bars.  These  obstacles  at  the  time  were 


(462) 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


463 


considered  such  as  to  preclude  any  attempt 
to  capture  Wilmington  from  the  sea. 

Many  reasons  existed  why  the  Army 
could  not  co-operate  in  an  attack  upon  Wil 
mington,  which  thus  remained  upwards  of 
a  year  longer  than  it  should  have  done  the 
great  depot  of  supplies  for  the  Confederate 
armies.  Many  fast  steamers  from  the 
Clyde,  and  other  parts  of  Great  Britain, 
continued  to  elude  the  utmost  efforts  of  the 
blockading  squadron,  and  reached  Wil 
mington  with  valuable  cargoes  of  arms 
and  munitions  of  war,  though  numbers 
were  captured  or  driven  on  shore  and  de 
stroyed. 

In  all  the  operations  of  the  North  Atlan 
tic  squadron  its  officers  and  men  exhibited 
bravery  and  zeal  second  to  no  other  organi 
zation  in  the  Navy,  There  was  no  field  for 
freat  achievement  except  the  capture  of 
ort  Fisher  and  the  other  defences  of  Wil 
mington,  which  might  have  been  taken 
earlier  in  the  war,  but  the  task  was  post 
poned  until  it  required  nearly  half  of  the 
Navy  to  overcome  the  obstacles  then  pre 
sented. 

The  South  Atlantic  squadron,  during  the 
year  186.'],  had  performed  most  valuable 
service  in  blockading  the  Southern  coast, 
and  had  succeeded  in  maintaining  a  force 
in  Charleston  harbor  which  completely 
closed  that  port  as  a  refuge  for  block 
ade-runners,  and  prevented  the  Confeder 
ates  from  obtaining  further  supplies  in  that 
quarter. 

The  Navy  Department  had  made  great 
efforts  to  capture  the  heavy  defences  inside 
Charleston  bar,  and  Rear-Admiral  DuPont 
had  made  a  vigorous  attack  with  his  iron 
clads  and  Monitors  on  the  heaviest  line  of 
works  ;  but.  owing  to  the  destructive  fire 
of  the  enemy  and  the  insufficiency  of  his 
force  of  vessels,  DuPont  very  properly 
withdrew.  The  wisdom  of  his  course  was 
subsequently  shown  during  the  combined 
Army  and  Navy  operations  against  Charles 
ton,  under  Rear  -  Admiral  Dahlgren  and 
Brigadier-General  Gillmore.  On  the  later 
occasion,  sixty  siege-guns  were  brought  to 
bear  on  the  enemy,  and  Fort  Sumter  was 
"  reduced  to  pulp,"  yet  the  difficulties  of  an 
advance  of  the  naval  vessels  were  so  great 
owing  to  the  obstructions  in  the  channel, 
that  notwithstanding  the  energy  and  brav 
ery  of  the  commander-in-chief,  his  officers 
and  men.  at  the  end  of  1803  Charleston  still 
remained  in  possession  of  the  Confederates, 
although  practically  useless  to  the  latter. 

If  the  Federal  Government  could  not  boast 
of  having  captured  the  hot-bed  of  secession, 
it  had  at  least  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  Charleston  was  only  held  at  vast  ex 
pense  to  the  enemy,  merely  from  a  senti 
ment  of  pride,  and  a  wish  to  keep  the  Fed 
eral  soldiers  and  sailors  ignorant  of  the  suf 


ferings  the  citizens  had  undergone  in  their 
mistaken  zeal  for  a  desperate  cause.  As 
Charleston  was  the  first  place  to  take  up 
arms  against  the  Union,  its  leading  men 
considered  that  it  should  be  the  last  to  lay 
them  down.  Their  gallantry  was  unques 
tionable,  but  their  policy,  in  a  military 
point  of  view,  was  open  to  criticism,  and 
the  city  had  finally  to  surrender  on  the  ap 
proach  of  General  Sherman's  indefatigable 
soldiers,  who  did  not  always  extend  to  con 
quered  cities  that  consideration  they  would 
have  received  from  the  Navy. 

The  Eastern  Gulf  squadron  had  no  import 
ant  military  operations  to  co-operate  with, 
Acting-Rear  Admiral  Bailey  being  engaged 
in  blockading  the  entire  east  and  west 
coasts  of  Florida,  capturing  many  prizes, 
annihilating  the  illicit  traffic  in  that  quar 
ter,  and  preventing  all  supplies  from  reach 
ing  the  Confederate  armies  by  way  of  the 
Florida  coast. 

The  duties  of  Rear-Admiral  Farragut,  in 
command  of  the  West  Gulf  squadron,  had 
been  extremely  harassing,  but  they  gave 
that  gallant  officer  an  opportunity  to  ex 
hibit  the  highest  qualities  as  commander-in- 
chief. 

Soon  after  the  memorable  battle  below 
New  Orleans  and  the  surrender  of  that  city, 
Farragut  made  a  junction  with  the  squad 
ron  of  Flag-officer  Davis  above  Vicksburg, 
and,  had  the  Army  contingent  that  was  sent 
to  support  him  been  as  large  as  it  should 
have  been,  Farragut  would  have  had  the 
satisfaction  of  capturing  Vicksburg.  The 
military  part  of  the  expedition,  however, 
though  commanded  by  a  most  able  and 
gallant  general,  was  too  small  to  effect 
anything  by  an  attack  on  the  city;  and 
Farragut,  after  subjecting  his  squadron  to 
the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns,  which  were 
daily  increasing  in  number  and  power,  and 
finding  it  was  a  mere  waste  of  time  and 
strength  to  lay  before  the  city,  returned  to 
New  Orleans'to  co-operate  with  the  Army 
in  maintaining  order  in  Louisiana. 

This  omission  of  a  proper  military  force 
to  co-operate  with  the  Navy  gave  the  Con 
federates  time  to  render  Vicksburg  the 
Gibraltar  of  the  West,  and  for  a  long  period 
it  bade  defiance  to  the  Army  and  Navy 
combined.  The  Vicksburg  miscarriage  en 
abled  the  enemy  to  fortify  Port  Hudson  and 
Grand  Gulf,  which  thus  became  two  for 
midable  barriers  against  the  advance  of 
the  Navy. 

When' Vicksburg  was  invested  in  1863  by 
the  Army  under  Major  General  Grant,  and 
a  large  naval  force  under  Rear-Admiral 
Porter,  many  efforts  were  made  by  the 
latter  officer  to  send  vessels  down  to  block 
ade  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River,  and  thus 
cut  off  supplies  from  Port  Hudson  and 
Vicksburg;  but,  owing  to  casualties  in  the 


464 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


vessels  sent  on  this  duty,  there  was  a  failure 
to  bring  about  the  desired  result. 

Rear- Admiral  Farragut  then  attempted 
to  push  up  past  Port  Hudson  with  his 
squadron,  and  met  with  serious  loss.  How 
ever,  with  the  "  Hartford"  and  "Albatross," 
he  reached  the  mouth  of  Red  River,  and 
established  so  stringent  a  blockade  that  the 
Confederates  in  Port  Hudson  and  Vicks- 
burg  could  no  longer  obtain  supplies  from 
that  quarter. 

Farragut  was  engaged  a  part  of  the  sea 
son  with  his  ships  below  Port  Hudson  in 
bombarding  that  place.  In  these  opera 
tions  the  Mortar  vessels  bore  a  conspicuous 
part,  until  Port  Hudson  fell,  with  Vicks 
burg,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863,  and  the  Mis 
sissippi  was  once  more  opened  to  the  sea. 

The  blockade  of  the  Southern  coast,  within 
the  limits  of  Admiral  Farragut's  command, 
had,  in  the  main,  been  efficient  and  success 
ful,  although  reverses  at  Galveston  and 
Sabine  Pass  gave  the  enemy  something  on 
which  to  congratulate  themselves.  These 
reverses,  however,  of  the  Union  arms  were 
of  no  permanent  advantage  to  the  Confed 
erates,  as  the  whole  coast,  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi  to  that  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
was  so  closely  guarded  by  the  Union  Navy 
that  blockade-running  was  reduced  to  very 
insignificant  proportions. 

The  Mississippi  squadron,  under  Rear- 
Admiral  Porter,  had  been  actively  engaged 
in  the  work  of  suppressing  the  Rebellion, 
and  co-operated  zealously  with  the  Army 
whenever  its  services  were  needed.  The 
capture  of  Arkansas  Post,  on  the  Arkansas 
River,  and  the  constant  effective  attacks 
on  the  batteries  of  Vicksburg,  the  bombard 
ment  of  the  city  and  its  defences,  the  battle 
of  Grand  Gulf  and  the  landing  of  Grant's 
army  at  Bruensburg,  and  the  final  reduc 
tion  of  the  great  stronghold  on  July  4th, 
1863,  are  among  the  successful  achieve 
ments  of  the  Mississippi  squadron  in  co 
operation  with  the  Army. 

It  is  simple  justice  to  the  officers  and  men 
of  this  squadron  that  their  heroic  exertions 
should  receive  proper  credit,  and  we  cannot 
better  do  justice  to  the  occasion  than  by 
repeating  the  eulogistic  terms  in  which  Mr. 
Secretary  Welles  speaks  of  them  : 

"In  the  appendix  to  this  report  (1863)  will  be 
found  correct  records  of  the  extraordinary  adven 
tures  attending  the  efforts  to  get  control  of  the 
Yazoo,  by  sweeping  from  the  channel  the  net-work 
of  torpedoes,  explosive  machines,  and  contrivances 
of  submarine  warfare,  near  its  confluence  with  the 
Mississippi.  These  efforts  were  followed  by  the 
novel  and  singular  Yazoo  Pass  expedition  and  the 
expedition  of  Steele's  Bayou  and  Deer  Creek.  On 
the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi  scenes  of  interest 
were  enacted  by  the  hardy  sailors  and  boatmen  in 
the  rivers  of  Arkansas  and  northern  Louisiana.  The 
Cumberland  and  Tennessee  have  been  actively  pa 
trolled  by  our  vigilant  and  skillful  naval  officers  • 
and  the  exciting  chase  of  Morgan,  by  our  steamers 
on  the  Ohio,  over  a  distance  of  five  hundred  miles 


intercepting  him  and  his  band  when  attempting 
to  escape,  naturally  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
country. 

But  the  great  and  important  exploits  of  this  squad 
ron  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Vicksburg,  where  the 
main  strength  of  the  naval  as  well  as  the  military 
forces  were  centred.  The  magnitude  of  the  defences 
of  the  place — which  were  intended  to  repulse  any 
force,  naval  or  military,  that  could  be  brought 
against  them  —  made  the  siege  formidable,  and 
seemed  for  a  time  to  defy  all  attempts  at  their 
reduction.  In  overcoming  them,  the  Navy  necessa 
rily  performed  a  conspicuous  and  essential  part. 
For  forty-two  days,  without  intermission,  the  mor 
tar-boats  were  throwing  shells  into  all  parts  of  the 
city,  and  even  the  works  beyond  it. 

Heavy  guns  mounted  on  scows  commanded  the 
important  water  batteries,  and  for  fourteen  days 
maintained  an  incessant  tire  on  them.  Thirteen 
heavy  guns  were  landed  from  the  vessels  [the  Sec 
retary  should  have  said  twenty-two],  and  officers 
and  men— when  they  could  be  spared — were  sent  to 
man  them. 

The  gun-boats  below  the  city,  in  co-operation 
with  the  Army,  were  continually  engaged  in  shell 
ing  the  place. 

During  the  siege  sixteen  thousand  shells  were 
thrown  from  the  mortars,  gun-boats  and  naval 
batteries  upon  the  city  and  its  defences  before  it 
capitulated. 

The  creation  and  organization  of  this  huge  squad 
ron,  which  has  done  such  effective  service  on  the 
upper  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  extending 
over  a  distance  of  more  than  3,500  miles,  may  justly 
be  considered  among  the  most  wonderful  events  of 
the  times.  It  is  but  little  over  two  years  since  we 
had  not  a  naval  vessel  on  all  those  waters,  where 
we  now  have  a  squadron  of  100  vessels,  carrying 
482  guns,  with  crews  amounting,  in  the  aggregate, 
to  about  5,500  men. 

Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Arkansas,  the  upper 
portions  of  Mississippi  and  Louisiana,  and  the 
southern  portions  of  those  States  which  border  on 
the  Ohio  River  on  the  north,  have  been  relieved 
and  liberated  through  the  instrumentality  of  the 
gun-boats,  acting  by  themselves  or  in  earnest  and 
cordial  co-operation  with  the  armies. 

Rear- Admiral  Porter  has  well  sustained  the  re 
nown  which  the  gallant  and  lamented  Foote  so 
nobly  earned,  and  has  carried  forward  to  successful 
results  a  larger  and  more  powerful  force  than  was 
ever  at  the  disposal  of  that  heroic  officer.  [The 
Honorable  Secretary  does  not  make  his  meaning 
quite  clear  at  this  point,  but  it  is  presumed  he  wished 
to  be  complimentary.] 

In  creating  and  organizing  this  squadron,  and 
arming  and  manning  the  vessels,  it  must  not  be  for 
gotten  that  the  service  labored  under  many  and 
great  disadvantages,  for  the  Government  had  no 
Navy  Yard  or  establishment  of  its  own  on  which  the 
Department  could  depend.  In  the  absence  of  any 
Government  shops,  yards,  store-houses,  and  other 
necessary  facilities  and  aids  for  a  naval  establish 
ment,  and  also  of  mechanics  and  laborers,  it  became 
necessary  to  collect  and  send  out  and  receive  sup 
plies  from  some  central  and  secure  position.  This 
work  has  been  chiefly  performed  at  Cairo,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  Honorable  Secretary  might  have  said 
that  the  then  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Mississippi  squadron,  finding  only  the  ghost 
of  a  squadron  and  the  skeleton  of  a  Navy 
yard  in  the  West,  had  built  up  a  naval  sta 
tion, with  shops  and  machinery,  to  meet  the 
wants  of  the  occasion,  had  increased  the 
squadron  from  21  vessels,  all  out  of  repair, 
to  121,  mounting  680  guns,  with  which 
force,  co-operating  with  the  Army,  the  Mis- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


465 


sissippi  was  opened  to  the  sea,  and  all  its 
tributaries  brought  under  control  of  the 
Federal  Government. 

Mr.  Welles,  in  his  official  report,  is  almost 
as  chary  of  praise  for  the  services  of  the 
Navy  before  Vicksburg  as  was  the  military 
commanding  officer  in  the  West,  who,  only 
in  his  last  days,  in  the  year  1885,  in  a  few 
words,  gave  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Navy  full  credit  for  their  services  on  that 
occasion. 

The  result  of  the  herculean  efforts  of  the 
Mississippi  squadron  was  the  establishment 
of  Federal  rule  along  the  banks  of  the 
great  river  and  its  tributaries.  The  Con 
federacy  was  cut  in  twain,  never  to  be 
reunited ;  and  from  this  time  the  cause  of 
the  Rebellion  began  rapidly  to  sink. 

While  the  Federal  Government  was  sup 
posed  to  be  almost  overwhelmed  with  the 
severe  pressure  brought  to  bear  on  it  at 
home,  the  Navy  was  sustaining  its  reputa 
tion  abroad,  and  closely  guarding  American 
interests  whenever  an  opportunity  offered. 
The  Confederate  cruisers  were  still  pursu 
ing  their  destructive  career  ;  but  ships-of- 
war  had  been  sent  in  pursuit  of  them  in 
every  direction,  and  their  end  was  near. 

In  the  East  Indies  and  the  China  seas, 
the  respect  due  to  the  American  flag  was 
exacted  by  Commander  David  McDougal, 
commanding  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Wyoming,"  who, 
learning  of  some  injustice  suffered  by  an 
American  vessel  at  the  hands  of  the  Japan 
ese,  repaired  to  the  locality  (Simonosaki), 
and  inflicted  severe  punishment  on  some 
forts  and  vessels-of-war. 

These  people  were  taught  that  while  the 
Federal  Government  had  a  gigantic  task  to 
perform  at  home  in  putting  down  the 
Rebellion,  yet  its  naval  officers  were  just 
as  ready  as  ever  to  resent  an  insult  to  the 
flag.  This  prompt  vindication  of  the  honor 
of  the  country  abroad  had  the  happy  effect 
of  convincing  people  that  the  strength  of 
the  American  Republic  only  increased  when 
it  seemed  to  be  threatened  with  destruc 
tion,  and  that  it  was  quite  competent  to 
guard  its  interests  abroad  as  well  as  at 
home. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  civil  war,  the  naval 
force  consisted  of  about  forty-two  effective 
vessels,  scattered  over  the  world,  with 
about  thirty-four  more  at  the  Navy  Yards 
available  for  service  after  undergoing  ex 
tensive  repairs.  Up  to  the  end  of  1803  the 
Navy  Department  had  exhibited  great  en 
ergy,  and.  for  the  first  time  in  its  history, 
the  United  States  had  a  Navy  commensu 
rate  with  its  importance  as  a  maritime 
power. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  progress 
made  in  increasing  the  Navy  since  Decem- 

30 


ber,  1862,  and  shows  what  the  country  was 
capable  of  achieving  under  a  pressure  that 
would  have  almost  crushed  any  other  na 
tion  : 

COMPARATIVE  EXHIBIT  OF  THE  NAVY,  DEC.,  18f>2,  AND  1863. 


No.  OF 

VESSELS. 

No.  OF 
Guxs. 

TONS. 

467,  967 
340,036 

Navy 
Navy 

at  date  of  present  Keport  —  Dec.,  1863. 
at  date  of  last  Keport—  Dec..  1862  

Total  increase  

588 
427 

4,443 
3,268 

101 

1,175       127,931 

VESSELS  OF  THE  NAVY  LOVT  SINCE  DEC.,  1R02. 


Is  WHAT  MANNKB  LOST. 

No.  OF 
VESSELS. 

NCI.      cl| 

GUNS. 

TONS. 

12 

48 

5  947 

Destroyed  to  prevent  falling  into  hands  of 

3 

29 

2  983 

Sunk  in  battle  or  bv  torpedoes  

^ 

28 

2  201 

Shipwreck,  fire  and  collision  

13 

61 

4  854 

Total  ! 

32 

166 

15.985 

VESSELS  PLACED  UNDER  CONSTRUCTION  SINCE  DEC.,  1862. 


DESCRIPTION. 

NCI.    OF 

VESSELS. 

No.  OF 
GUNS. 

TONS. 

Double-end  iron  steamers,  1,030  tons  each.  . 
Single  turret  iron-clads,  614  tons  each  
Double  turret  iron-clads,  3,130  tons  each  
Clipper  screw-sloops,  2,200  tons  each  

7 
20 
4 
12 

84 
40 
16 
96 

7,210 
12,280 
12,520 
26  400 

Screw-sloops,  spar-deck,  2,200  tons  each   . 
Screw-sloops  of  great  speed,  3,200  tons  each. 
Screw-sloops  of  great  speed,  3,000  tons  each 

Total        

8 
5 
2 

58 

160 
40 
16 

4  .V_> 

17,600 
16,000 
6,000 

98,010 

GENERAL  EXHIBIT  OF  THE  NAVY  WHEN  THE  VESSELS  UNDEB 
CONSTRUCTION  ARE  COMPLETED. 


No.  OF 
VESSELS. 

No.  OF 
GUNS. 

TONS. 

Iron-clad  steamers   coast  service  

46 

150 

6'>  518 

Iron-clad  steamers,  inland  service  

29 

152 

20  784 

203 

1  240 

1°6  517 

198 

1  578 

187  892 

112 

1  323 

70  °56 

Total  

588 

4  443 

467  967 

There  were  added  to  the  Navy  during  the 
year  1863,  by  purchase,  some  thirty  tugs, 
over  fifty  steamers  for  blockading  and  sup 
ply  purposes,  and  over  twenty  other  vessels 
for  tenders  and  store-ships.  At  least  twenty 
of  the  steamers  were  captured  in  endeavor 
ing  to  violate  the  blockade. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  additions  to  the 
Navy  comprised  vessels  of  the  most  formid 
able  kind,  and  far  more  powerful  than  those 
of  European  navies. 

It  is  due  to  history  to  state  that  this  addi 
tion  to  the  Navy  was  owing  the  energy 
and  ability  of  Mr.  G.  V.  Fox,  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  who  had  the  super 
vision  of  all  improvements  and  additions 
of  ships,  Mr.  Welles  wisely  approving  all 
his  suggestions;  while  the  able  Chief  Con 
structor,  Mr.  John  Lenthall,  brought  all  his 
ability  to  bear  on  the  models  of  the  vessels, 
and  Mr.  B.  F.  Isherwood,  the  talented  Chief 
of  the  Bureau  of  Steam  Engineering,  de 
vised  the  engines,  which,  even  to  the  pres 
ent  day,  have  scarcely  been  equalled. 

The  consequence  of  all  this  was  that  Gov 
ernments  disposed  to  be  meddlesome  failed 
to  interfere  when  they  saw  that  the  Re 
public  was  not  only  determined  to  crush 


4G6 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  Rebellion,  but  to  resent  any  outside  in 
terference. 

The  year  1804  opened  hopefully  for  the 
success  of  the  Union  arms  by  land  and  sea, 
and  it  will  be  seen  that  the  history  of  the 
American  Navy  was  enriched  by  many 
brilliant  actions,  which  stand  high  in  the 
annals  of  maritime  war. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  during  the 
year  18G3  the  Navy  Department  was  indiffer 
ent  to  the  ravages  committed  by  the  Con 
federate  cruisers  fitted  out  in  England  for 
the  destruction  of  Federal  commerce.  The 
prompt  recognition  of  the  Confederates  as 
belligerents  by  foreign  powers,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  gave  to  the 
insurrection  a  character  and  strength  it 
could  never  otherwise  have  obtained.  It 
encouraged  the  Confederates  to  persevere, 
and  assured  them  of  support  abroad  in  any 
measures  they  might  think  proper  to  under 
take,  and  gave  them  an  opportunity  to 
strike  a  blow  at  the  most  vulnerable  point  of 
the  North — its  commerce. 

The  apparent  intention  of  the  declaration 
of  neutrality  by  the  powers  of  Europe  was 
to  exhibit  a  semblance  of  fairness,  a  decep 
tion  of  which  the  Confederates  naturally 
took  advantage,  and  which  operated  very 
unjustly  against  the  United  States.  The 
Government  was  obliged  to  acquiesce  in 
this  acknowledgment  of  belligerent  rights, 
and  assume  all  the  consequences  resulting 
therefrom. 

While  the  United  States  had  a  large 
mercantile  marine  scarcely  second  to  that 
of  Great  Britain,  the  Confederates  had 
actually  none  whatever.  In  a  short  time 
the  latter  were  able  by  various  means  to  get 
afloat  and  at  sea  several  very  formidable 
cruisers.  The  United  States  had  squadrons 
on  every  foreign  station  representing  a  bona 
fide  Government,  while  the  insurgents,  at 
the  time  of  their  receiving  belligerent 
rights,  had  not  a  single  man  of- war,  a  fact 
well  understood  by  the  Governments  which, 
in  proclaiming  their  '"neutrality"  and  de 
sire  to  treat  both  parties  alike,  seriously 
crippled  the  American  Navy  and  well-nigh 
destroyed  its  mercantile  marine. 

The  cruising  of  Federal  ships-of-war  was 
limited  and  all  sorts  of  obstacles  thrown  in 
the  way  of  their  capturing  the  Confederate 
cruisers.  The  maritime  powers  of  Europe, 
after  granting  belligerent  rights  to  the  Con 
federates,  declared  that  both  belligerents 
should  be  treated  alike  in  their  ports,  that 
the  public  armed  vessels  of  neither  should 
remain  longer  than  twenty-four  hours  in 
their  harbors,  nor  receive  supplies  or  as 
sistance  except  such  as  might  be  abso 
lutely  necessary  to  carry  them  to  their  own 
coasts,  and  for  three  months  thereafter 
they  should  not  again  receive  supplies  in 
any  of  the  ports  of  those  Governments. 


While  this  proclamation  did  not  at  the 
time  of  its  issue  affect  the  Confederates, 
for  the  simple  reason  that  they  had  then 
no  vessels  afloat,  it  excluded  the  naval  ships 
of  the  United  States  from  the  principal  ports 
of  the  world.  As  to  the  fairness  which  as 
sumed  to  be  the  motive  of  the  proclamation 
of  neutrality,  that  must  be  judged  from  the 
history  of  the  times,  which  will  show  that 
these  proclamations  were  merely  excuses 
to  allow  Confederate  cruisers  to  prey  upon 
American  commerce  and  then  find  protec 
tion  from  United  States  vessels  -  of  -  war 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  great  Euro 
pean  powers  that  were  professedly  in  close 
amity  with  the  United  States. 

The  "Sumter,"  the  very  first  Confederate 
cruiser  fitted  out,  affords  a  fair  sample  of 
how  this  acknowledgment  of  belligerent 
rights  operated,  and  how  much  fairness 
there  was  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  in 
carrying  out  the  proclamation  she  claimed 
to  have  issued  to  insure  equal  treatment  to 
both  the  contending  parties.  The  '•  Sum 
ter,"  after  escaping  to  sea  from  New  Or 
leans  through  the  carelessness  of  the  officer 
on  blockade,  and  capturing  many  American 
merchant-vessels,  was  chased  into  the  har 
bor  of  Gibraltar,  where  she  was  permitted  to. 
remain  twelve  months — instead  of  twenty- 
four  hours — under  the  protection  of  British 
guns.  Not  daring  to  venture  to  sea,  as  she 
was  closely  watched  by  several  Federal 
cruisers,  the  "SumterV  officers  finally 
transferred  the  vessel  to  an  English  sub 
ject,  who  took  her  to  another  British  port, 
where  she  was  refitted,  loaded  with  a  con 
traband  cargo,  and  ran  the  blockade,  carry 
ing  supplies  to  the  Confederates. 

The  "Alabama,"  "Georgia"  and  ''Flor 
ida"  were  fitted  out  in  England,  and  sup 
plied  with  an  English  armament.  Their 
crews  were  mostly  Europeans,  and  they 
sailed  sometimes  under  the  British,  some 
times  under  the  Confederate,  flag,  dealing- 
destruction  to  Federal  commerce  wherever 
it  could  be  found. 

As  soon  as  the  existence  of  these  Confed 
erate  cruisers  was  known  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  ships  were  sent  in  pursuit. 
While  in  the  West  Indies,  the  Confederate 
cruisers  were  protected  whenever  they  were 
able  to  escape  into  a  "  neutral  port " — an  op 
portunity  which  was  offered  on  every  hand 
— or  get  within  a  marine  league  of  a  neutral 
island.  Strange  to  say,  most  of  the  colonial 
authorities  in  various  parts  of  the  world 
were  in  sympathy  with  the  Confederates 
and  hostile  to  the  war-vessels  of  the  United 
States;  and,  while  giving  aid  and  comfort 
to  those  quasi  vessels-of-war,  threw  every 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  Federal  cruisers  ob 
taining  supplies  of  coal  and  provisions.  Not 
only  that,  the  "neutrals"  all  through  the 
West  Indies  furnished  the  commanding  offi- 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


467 


cers  of  the  Confederate  cruisers  (by  means 
of  the  mail-steamers  plying  between  the 
different  ports)  with  information  of  the  in 
tended  movements  of  every  United  States 
vessel-of-war  in  those  waters.  Worse  than 
all,  the  most  unfriendly  feelings  were  mani 
fested  by  the  officials  generally,  from  gov 
ernor  down  to  the  lowest  subordinate,  in 
regard  to  the  lawful  operations  of  United 
States  vessels. 


It  can  easily  be  imagined,  under  such 
circumstances  as  these,  how  difficult  it 
would  be  for  a  United  States  vessel-of-war 
to  capture  one  of  these  sea-rovers,  especially 
in  the  West  Indies.  The  islanders,  not  sat 
isfied  with  transmitting  information  to  the 
Confederates,  in  some  cases  assumed  an 
intimacy  with  the  commanders  of  United 
States  vessels,  and  deceived  them  with 
false  reports. 


CHAPTER     XXXIX. 


SUCCESSFUL  MILITARY  OPERATIONS.— PROSPECTS  OF  SOUTHERN  INDEPENDENCE.— CONFED 
ERATE  COMMISSIONERS. — COMPLETENESS  AND  DISCIPLINE  OF  U.  S.  NAVY,  1803. — POSI 
TION  AND  STRENGTH  OF  OPPOSING  FORCES.— COMBINED  ARMY  AND  NAVY  EXPEDITION 
UP  JAMES  AND  NANSEMOND  RIVERS.— DESTRUCTION  OF  BLOCKADE-RUNNERS  "BENDIGO," 
"RANGER,"  '-VENUS"  AND  "DARE."— CAPTURE  AND  DESTRUCTION  OF  U.  S.  STEAMER 
"UNDERWRITER." --DESTRUCTION  OF  BLOCKADE-RUNNERS  '-WILD  DAYRELL,"  'NUT- 
FIELD,"  "DEE,"  "EMILY,"  AND  "FANNIE  AND  JENNIE."— BOAT  EXPEDITION  UP  CAPE 

FEAR  '  RIVER  TO  SMITHVILLE.  —  JOINT  ARMY  AND  NAVY  EXPEDITION  UP  PAMUNKY 
RIVER.— BOAT  EXPEDITION  UP  CHUCKATUCK  CREEK.— ATTACK  ON  "MINNESOTA'"  BY 
TORPEDO-BOAT. —LANDING  OF  ARMY  AT  CITY  POINT  AND  BERMUDA  HUNDRED.—  DE 
STRUCTION  OF  U.  S.  GUN-BOAT  "COMMODORE  JONES." --CONFEDERATE  TORPEDO  DE 
FENCES.— MONITORS  ENGAGE  HOWLETT'S  BATTERY.— PICKING  UP  TORPEDOES.— REPULSE 
OF  ATTACK  ON  WILSON'S  WHARF  BY  GUN-BOATS.  —  CONFEDERATE  IRON-CLADS  AND 
GUN-BOATS  BELOW  DRURY'S  BLUFF.  — SINKING  OF  OBSTRUCTIONS  IN  JAMES  RIVER. - 
LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  BUTLER  TO  ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  LEE. —GRANT'S  OPERA 
TIONS.— HULKS  SUNK  AT  TRENT'S  REACH.— ATTACK  ON  PETERSBURG.— ENGAGEMENT 
WITH  CONFEDERATE  IRON-CLAD  AT  MOUTH  OF  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER.— DARING  ADVENTURES 
OF  LIEUTENANT  GUSHING. 


THE   year   1804  opened  with  flatter 
ing  prospects  for  the  Union  cause, 
owing  to  the  important  successes 
gained  over  the  enemy  in  1803,  and 
the  constantly  increasing  losses  in 
material    by  the    Confederates    in    conse 
quence   of   the  stringent  blockade  of   the 
coast.    The  Federal  Navy  had  been  so  far 
strengthened   with   a  class  of  vessels   su 
perior  to  anything  of  which  the  powers  of 
Europe  could  boast,  that  it  was  no  longer 
anticipated  that  England  or  France  would 
interfere  in  our  domestic  affairs. 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg,  which  caused 
General  Lee  to  fall  back  upon  Richmond, 
and  the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson  and 
Vicksburg,  which  opened  the  Mississippi  to 
the  sea,  were  the  severest  blows  the  Con 
federacy  had  received.  In  the  opinion  of 
many  persons  well  qualified  to  judge,  the 
possession  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tribu 
taries  by  the  Federals  was  the  death-blow 
to  the  Southern  cause,  and  the  final  col 
lapse  of  the  Rebellion  was  simply  a  matter 
of  time,  and  a  short  time  at  that. 

The  Northern  people  gave  the  Adminis 
tration  continued  support,  while  the  Con 
federates  could  not  repair  the  rapid  waste 


of  their  armies,  notwithstanding  their  most 
vigorous  efforts.  In  Washington  the  opin 
ion  prevailed  that,  before  the  year  had 
elapsed,  the  authority  of  the  Government 
would  be  everywhere  restored.  This  opin 
ion  also  prevailed  in  the  Navy,  which  had 
been  strongly  reinforced  by  a  class  of  ves 
sels  able  to  overhaul  the  swiftest  blockade- 
runners  built  on  the  Clyde  ;  so  that  hardly 
one  out  of  three  vessels  succeeded  in  get 
ting  into  Wilmington  or  Mobile — the  two 
principal  ports  where  these  illicit  traders 
congregated.  The  Southern  coast  was  so 
closely  invested  by  the  Navy  that  it  was  with 
great  difficulty  the  blockade-runners  could 
get  in  or  out,  although  a  certain  proportion 
of  them  managed  to  elude  pursuit,  and  carry 
out  cargoes  of  cotton,  which  served  to  keep 
up  the  financial  credit  of  the  Confederacy 
abroad. 

The  Confederates,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
felt  the  want  of  the  munitions  of  war  they 
had  been  accustomed  to  receive  in  such 
quantities  through  the  blockade-runners, 
particularly  great  guns  and  small  arms 
manufactured  in  England.  Every  port, 
from  Virginia  to  Texas,  was  watched  with 
a  zeal  that  had  never  before  been  exerted 


(468) 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


469 


on  such  an  occasion  :  for  it  was  felt  by  the 
officers  of  the  Navy  that  this  watchfulness 
would  be  well  rewarded,  and  the  informa 
tion  gained  from  the  crews  of  the  captured 
vessels  confirmed  them  in  the  opinion  that 
the  end  was  not  far  off. 

Meanwhile  the  Confederate  authorities 
professed  to  think  that  the  prospects  for 
Southern  independence  were  brighter  than 
ever,  and  that,  before  the  end  of  the  year 
1864.  their  object  would  be  accomplished, 
and  the  following  year  see  them  acknowl 
edged  as  a  separate  Government  by  all  the 
world.  Upon  what  such  an  opinion  was 
founded  is  not  clear,  and  it  seems  impossi 
ble  to  account  for  the  confidence  wrhich  ex 
isted  in  the  hearts  of  the  Southern  leaders, 
and  with  which  they  entered  so  confidingly 
on  the  campaign  of  1864.  Any  other  people 
in  the  world,  under  the  circumstances  in 
which  they  were  placed,  would  have  laid 
down  their  arms,  and  accepted  terms  from 
their  conquerors. 

It  was  pitiable  to  witness  the  distress  of  the 
Southern  people  which  came  under  the  notice 
of  naval  officers,  and  which  was  caused  by 
the  determination  of  their  leaders  to  con 
tinue  the  contest  to  the  bitter  end ;  for  a 
large  proportion  of  them  felt  that  there  was 
no  hope  of  their  succeeding.  It  was  plain 
to  them  all  that  there  was  no  hope  of  as 
sistance  from  the  Democratic  party  of  the 
North.  The  re-election  of  President  Lincoln 
convinced  many,  who  had  been  hitherto 
blind  to  the  state  of  affairs,  that  the  Union 
cause  was  as  heartily  supported  by  the  Dem 
ocrats  as  by  the  Republicans. 

Even  while  the  Confederacy  was  in  the 
throes  of  dissolution,  the  mass  of  the  South 
ern  people  had  been  hugging  the  delusion 
that  there  was  a  strong  peace  party  in  the 
North  that  would  make  itself  felt  in  the 
Presidential  election  of  1864 ;  that  there 
was  such  a  feeling  of  impatience  at  the 
prolongation  of  the  war  that  no  Adminis 
tration  could  stand  up  under  it.  All  that 
was  required  of  the  South,  therefore,  was 
to  make  one  final  effort,  and  they  would 
gain  the  rights  for  which  they  were  con 
tending — exactly  what  those  rights  were, 
the  majority  of  the  people  seemed  to  have 
little  idea. 

It  was  proclaimed  in  Richmond  that  the 
impatience  and  dissatisfaction  of  the  North 
were  so  great  that  the  people  of  that  sec 
tion  were  determined  to  have  peace  on  any 
terms.  All  that  the  South  had  to  do  was 
simply  to  hold  its  own  ;  and,  merely  by 
securing  negative  results  in  the  ensuing 
campaign,  the  Democratic  party  would  be 
able  to  overthrow  the  Administration,  and 
open  negotiations  for  peace  with  the  Con 
federacy. 

In  accordance  with  this  idea,  President 
Davis  prepared  to  open  communication 


with  the  Democratic  party  of  the  North, 
and  to  conduct  political  negotiations  with 
that  party  in  accordance  with  the  military 
movements  in  the  coming  campaign.  The 
commissioners  appointed  for  this  purpose 
were  Messrs.  Thompson,  of  Mississippi, 
Holcombe,  of  Virginia,  and  Clay,  of  Ala 
bama,  who  were  to  proceed  to  a  convenient 
spot  on  the  northern  frontier  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  use  whatever  political  oppor 
tunities  the  military  events  of  the  war 
might  disclose.  The  commissioners  suc 
ceeded  in  running  the  blockade  from  Wil 
mington,  and  reached  Canada,  only  to  find 
that  the  Northern  sentiment  in  regard  to 
the  Confederacy  was  practically  unani 
mous,  and  that  all  parties  were  determined 
to  bring  the  seceding  States  back  into  the 
Union. 

The  Federal  Army  and  Navy  in  the  West 
maintained  the  superiority  they  had  won, 
and  kept  open  the  rivers  the  enemy  had 
fought  so  hard  to  close  against  them.  By 
the  possession  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Con 
federacy  was  cut  in  twain.  The  Union 
Army  was  constantly  increasing,  and,  in 
place  of  the  raw  volunteers  of  1861,  who 
could  hardly  handle  a  musket,  the  Union 
could  boast  of  nearly  a  million  of  veteran 
soldiers.  Grant  was  now  called  East  to 
command,  as  Lieutenant  -  General,  all  the 
armies  of  the  United  States;  while  his  most 
able  coadjutor,  General  Sherman,  with  an 
army  of  veterans  famous  on  many  a  field, 
was  to  commence  his  march  through  the 
South,  and  join  Grant  before  the  defences 
of  Richmond. 

The  military  history  of  the  year  1864  will 
show  the  delusion  under  which  the  South 
ern  leaders  rested — that  it  was  "only  neces 
sary  for  the  South  to  remain  in  statu  quo, 
winning  no  victories  in  the  field,  and  to 
demonstrate  their  endurance,  to  gain  the 
desired  end."  The  Federal  Army  was  most 
complete  in  all  its  equipments,  and  its  dis 
cipline  was  established.  How,  then,  could 
the  South  hope  to  contend  against  such  an 
organization? 

The  Navy  was  in  no  respect  behind  the 
Army  in  completeness  and  discipline.  At 
the  end  of  the  year  1863,  the  number  of 
guns  afloat  amounted  to  4,443,  the  tonnage 
of  the  vessels  to  467,967,  manned  by  50,000 
seamen.  Among  the  vessels  already  built 
or  in  process  of  construction,  in  1864,  there 
were  75  iron  casemated  and  turreted  vessels, 
carrying  302  powerful  guns,  that  could  de 
stroy  any  fortress  the  Confederates  could 
build  on  the  sea-coast,  and  bid  defiance  to 
any  force  sent  by  foreign  powers  to  their 
assistance. 

It  may  have  been  chivalric  in  the  South 
to  attempt  a  contest  with  such  a  power  as 
was  brought  against  them,  but  it  was  hardly 
wise  or  just  to  the  people  on  the  part  of 


470 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


those  who  ruled  the  Confederacy.  It  cost 
great  waste  of  life,  with  no  gain  in  the  end 
to  the  South,  except  the  satisfaction  of  feel 
ing  that  they  only  submitted  when  over 
come  by  greatly  superior  numbers. 

The  whole  country,  although  it  lost  men 
enough  to  have  made  a  dozen  large  armies, 
gained  greatly  in  prestige,  and  taught 
Europe  that  "our  people  united  were  a 
match  for  all  their  powers  combined. 

In  February,  1864,  Acting-Rear- Admiral 
S.  P.  Lee,  commanding  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron,  was  in  co-operation  with  Major- 
General  B.  F.  Butler,  who  commanded  the 
army  of  the  James  with  his  headquarters 
at  Fortress  Monroe.  General  Meade  com 
manded  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  his 
headquarters  south  of  the  Rapidan,  while 
the  headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Shen- 
andoah,  under  command  of  Major-General 
Sigel,  were  at  Winchester. 

An  important  part  of  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron,  under  the  immediate  command 
of  Acting-Rear-Ad miral  Lee,  was  at  Hamp 
ton  Roads;  some  of  the  vessels  were  on  the 
James,  others  on  the  York  River,  ready  as 
heretofore  to  co-operate  with  the  Army 
when  the  great  movement  on  Richmond 
should  be  made,  which  was  to  bring  the 
civil  war  to  a  termination. 

The  available  strength  of  the  Federal 
army  on  the  Potomac,  including  the  Ninth 
Corps  and  the  reinforcements  that  were 
held  in  Washington,  was  not  less  than 
170,000  men.  The  force  which  the  Confed 
erates  had  to  oppose  was  much  inferior,  ac 
cording  to  their  own  account.  The  Confed 
erate  Army  of  the  Rapidan.  at  the  begin 
ning  of  the  campaign  of  1864,  consisted  of 
two  divisions  of  Long-street's  corps  with 
8,000  men,  Ewell's  corps  of  14,000,  Hill's 
corps  of  13,000,  three  divisions  of  cavalry, 
and  the  artillery.  So  that,  according  to 
Confederate  historians,  Lee's  effective  force 
of  infantry  did  not  exceed  40,000  men.  The 
cavalry  divisions  did  not  each  exceed  the 
proper  strength  of  a  brigade,  and  the  artil 
lery  was  in  proportion  to  the  other  arms, 
altogether  not  over  80,000  men  of  all  arms. 
But  it  will  not  do  to  rely  upon  Confederate 
figures,  and  General  Grant's  estimate  placed 
Lee's  force  at  120,000  men,  including  the 
militia  and  local  forces  in  and  about  Rich 
mond  and  Petersburg.  This  was'  the  con 
dition  of  affairs  when  Grant  assumed  com 
mand  of  all  the  armies  of  the  Union,  when 
a  move  was  being  made  upon  Richmond, 
and  Lee  was  collecting  all  his  available 
forces  to  meet  the  emergency. 

The  battles  of  the  Wilderness  were  fought 
and  a  terrible  resistance  was  made  by  the 
Confederates,  but  in  vain,  and  the  great 
Union  column,  after  overcoming  the  great 
est  obstacles,  marched  on  its  way  towards 
Richmond. 


While  General  Grant  was  occupied  on 
the  Rapidan  he  had  not  lost  sight  of  other 
forces  which  were  to  be  used  in  combina 
tion  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which 
forces  were  to  operate  in  conjunction  with 
the  Navy  as  near  Richmond  as  it  was  pos 
sible  to  get.  This  was  the  Army  of  the 
James,  under  Major-General  Butler,  num 
bering  20,000  men.  General  Grant  directed 
Butler  to  operate  on  the  south  side  of  the 
James  River  in  conjunction  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  the  objective  point  of  both 
being  Richmond. 

To  Butler's  force  was  to  be  added  ten 
thousand  men  from  South  Carolina  under 
Major-General  Q.  A  Gillmore,  while  Major- 
General  W.  F.  Smith  was  ordered  to  report 
to  General  Butler  to  command  the  troops 
sent  into  the  field  from  his  Department. 

General  Butler  was  directed,  when  his 
forces  were  able  to  move,  to  seize  and  hold 
City  Point.  Grant  intended  that,  in  case  the 
Confederates  should  be  forced  by  his  ad 
vance  into  their  intrenchments  at  Rich 
mond,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  should 
follow  them  up,  and  by  means  of  trans 
ports  the  two  armies  would  become  a  unit. 
It  "would  seem  from  this  that  Grant  ex 
pected  to  fight  Lee  between  Culpeper  Court 
House  and  Richmond,  and  in  case  he  should 
not  defeat  him  he  could  make  a  junction 
with  Butler,  already  established  on  the 
James,  and  be  in  a  position  to  threaten 
Richmond  on  the  south  side,  with  his  left 
wing  resting  on  the  James,  above  the  city. 

In  accordance  with  his  instructions.  Gen 
eral  Butler  moved  his  forces  up  the  James 
River,  where  he  had  the  assistance  of  the 
Navy  to  cover  his  landing,  which  was  ac 
complished  without  difficulty.  Having  been 
joined  by  General  Gillmore  on  the  4th  of 
May,  Butler  occupied  City  Point  and  Ber 
muda  Hundred  on  the  5th  ;  on  the  6th  he 
was  in  position  with  his  main  force  and 
intrenched,  and  on  the  7th  made  a  recon 
naissance  of  the  Petersburg  and  Richmond 
Railroad,  and  destroyed  a  bridge  a  few 
miles  from  Richmond. 

From  this,  General  Butler  formed  the 
opinion  that  he  had  succeeded  in  getting  in 
the  rear  of  the  Confederates,  and  held  the 
key  to  the  back-door  of  Richmond.  He 
accordingly  telegraphed  to  Washington : 
"We  have  landed  here,  intrenched  our 
selves,  destroyed  many  miles  of  railroad, 
and  got  a  position  which,  with  proper  sup 
plies,  we  can  hold  against  the  whole  of 
Lee's  army."  Butler  was,  in  fact,  under  the 
impression  that  he  could  capture  Richmond 
before  General  Grant  arrived.  General 
Butler's  dispatch  caused  great  satisfaction 
in  Washington,  which  was  soon  dispelled 
by  an  unforeseen  occurrence. 

In  the  month  of  April  General  Beaure- 
gard  had  been  ordered  to  proceed  from 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


471 


Charleston  to  strengthen  the  defences  of 
Richmond.  He  passed  through  Wilming 
ton  with  a  large  body  of  troops,  receiving 
constant  accessions  on  the  march,  and  as 
sumed  command  of  the  district  on  the 
south  and  east  of  Richmond. 

On  the  16th  of  May  Beauregard  attacked 
Butler's  advanced  position  in  front  of  Dru- 
ry's  Bluff,  and  Butler  was  forced  back  into 
his  intrenchments  between  the  James  and 
the  Appomattox  Rivers;  thereupon  Beaure 
gard  intrenched  himself  strongly  in  his 
front,  covering  the  city  of  Richmond  from 
any  further  attempts  of  Butler  in  that  direc 
tion.  This  predicament  of  Butler  gave  rise 
to  the  celebrated  letter  of  General  Grant, 
in  which  he  speaks  of  Butler's  being  as 
completely  hors  du  combat  as  if  he  were  en 
closed  in  a  bottle  with  the  cork  in.  General 
Butler  held  his  position,  although  he  had 
the  naval  vessels  on  the  James  and  Appo 
mattox  Rivers  to  cover  his  retreat  to  his 
transports,  in  case  of  further  molestation 
from  Beauregard. 

These  military  movements  are  mentioned 
merely  to  show  the  position  of  affairs  in 
May,  1804,  when  the  Army  and  Navy  were 
brought  into  co-operation  before  Richmond, 
and  not  with  any  intention  of  criticising. 

The  operations  of  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1864, 
although  not  brilliant,  were  none  the  less 
important,  as  tending  to  cripple  the  Con 
federacy. 

The  blockade  of  the  Southern  coast  had 
been  closely  maintained,  and  many  block 
ade-runners  captured  or  destroyed.  On  the 
3d  of  January,  while  the  "  Fah  Kee"  (tem 
porary  flag-ship)  was  standing  up  the  coast 
from  Little  River  Inlet  towards  Wilmington 
bar,  a  steamer  was  discovered  at  the  en 
trance  of  Lockwood's  Folly  Inlet,  appar 
ently  ashore.  Smoke  was  issuing  from 
the  vessel,  and  she  was  evidently  aban 
doned.  Boats  were  sent  from  the  "Fah 
Kee."  and  great  efforts  made  to  get  the 
vessel  off,  under  an  incessant  fire  from 
sharp-shooters  on  the  shore.  Finding  it  was 
impossible  to  get  her  afloat,  she  was  riddled 
with  shot  and  shell  to  destroy  her  boilers 
and  machinery,  and  abandoned.  This  ves 
sel  had  been  a  successful  blockade-runner, 
and  was  called  the  "  Bendigo." 

On  the  llth  of  January  another  blockade- 
running  steamer,  the  ''Ranger,"  was  chased 
on  shore  by  the  "Daylight"  and  "Aries," 
and  was  set  on  fire  by  her  crew  after  land 
ing  her  passengers  and  mail.  The  com 
manding  officer  of  the  "Grovernor  Bucking 
ham,"  aided  by  the  "Daylight"  and  "Aries," 
attempted  to  extinguish  the  flames  and  haul 
the  "Ranger"  off,  but  the  enemy,  posted  in 
force  behind  the  sand-hills,  kept  up  such 
an  incessant  fire  that  the  boats'  crews  could 
not  work.  The  "Ranger"  was  therefore 


riddled  with  shot  and  shell,  and  destroyed. 
In  the  meanwhile,  black  smoke  was  seen 
in  the  direction  of  Topsail  Inlet,  and  the 
"Aries "was  ordered  to  chase.  She  soon 
returned,  and  her  commanding  officer, 
Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant  Edward  F, 
Devens,  reported  a  fine-looking  double-pro 
peller  blockade-runner,  called  the  "Venus," 
beached  and  on  fire,  between  Tubb's  and 
Little  River  Inlets.  The  enemy's  sharp 
shooters  prevented  the  "Aries'"  boats  from 
boarding  the  vessel,  which  had  been  beached 
and  set  on  fire  to  prevent  her  capture. 
This  was  the  twenty-second  steamer  lost  to 
the  Confederacy  and  the  blockade  runners 
within  the  last  six  months,  representing  a 
loss  to  the  enemy  of  five  and  a  half  millions 
of  dollars. 

These  mishaps  of  the  blockade-runners 
greatly  lessened  the  means  of  the  Confed 
erates,  and  increased  the  difficulties  of 
exporting  cotton — the  Confederate  sinews 
of  war — and  obtaining  arms  and  equip 
ments  in  return. 

On  the  9th  instant  the  blockade-runner 
"Dare"  was  chased  on  shore  and  destroyed 
by  the  "Aries"  and  "Montgomery,"  as 
the  surf  was  running  so  high  on  the  beach 
that  there  was  no  chance  of  getting  her 
off.  On  these  occasions  many  acts  of  gal-. 
Ian  try  were  performed.  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  Devens  mentions,  in  his  report 
of  the  "Dare"  affair,  that,  while  in  the 
breakers,  his  boat  capsized,  and  the  crew 
were  washed  on  shore  and  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  Acting  Master  J.  W. 
Balch,  seeing  his  commanding  officer  strug 
gling  in  the  water,  swam  ashore,  with  two 
men,  and  brought  Lieutenant  Devens  off 
on  his  back,  and  placed  him  in  the  "Mont 
gomery's  "  launch.  Twenty-five  officers  and 
men  on  this  occasion,  after  having  a  hard 
struggle  for  their  lives  in  the  breakers,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  service  in  which  the  blockaders  were 
engaged  was  arduous  and  dangerous,  but 
both  officers  and  men  performed  their  duty 
unflinchingly. 

In  the  latter  part  of  January  the  "  Iron 
Age,"  one  of  the  gun -boats,  got  fast 
aground  while  attempting  to  get  afloat  the 
hull  of  the  blockade-runner  "  Bendigo," 
and,  through  a  mistaken  order,  was  blown 
up  and  destroyed.  She  was,  however,  no 
great  loss,  being  a  poor  vessel. 

It  could  not  be  expected  that,  operating 
along  such  an  extensive  line  of  coast  and 
confronted  by  an  active  and  intelligent 
enemy,  the  North  Atlantic  squadron  could 
be  invariably  successful.  On  the  night  of 
the  2d  of  February  the  U.  S.  steamer  "Un 
derwriter"  was  lying  in  the  Neuse  River 
above  the  line  of  army  works,  when  several 
boats  filled  with  men  were  seen  coming 
down  the  stream  towards  her.  The  night 


472 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


was  very  dark,  and  the  boats  were  close  on 
board  before  they  were  discovered  and 
hailed.  The  crew  sprang  to  quarters,  and 
made  a  stout  resistance :  but  the  enemy, 
with  great  gallantry,  boarded  the  vessel, 
and  overpowered  the  crew,  driving  part  of 
them  below,  where  they  were  obliged  to 
surrender,  as  there  was  no  longer  a  chance 
of  successfully  resisting.  The  officers  and 
crew  were  ordered  into  the  boats,  the  vessel 
was  stripped  of  everything  portable  and 
set  on  fire,  when  the  enemy  departed  with 
their  prisoners  and  plunder. 

This  was  rather  a  mortifying  affair  for  the 
Navy,  however  fearless  on  the  part  of  the 
Confederates.  The  most  pleasant  circum 
stance  connected  with  the  affair  was  the 
conduct  of  Acting-Third-Assistant  Engineer 
G.  E.  Allen.  The  captured  crew  of  the  •'  Un 
derwriter  "  were  in  the  enemy's  boats,  and 
proceeding  up  the  stream,  when  Mr.  Allen 
discovered  that,  in  the  hurry  to  get  away 
from  the  "  Underwriter,"  on  which  the  Fed 
erals  on  shore  had  opened  fire,  the  enemy 
had  left  but  two  guards  in  his  boat.  One  of 
the  other  boats  was  turning  back  to  assist 
their  comrades  in  Mr.  Allen's  boat,  when 
the  latter  snatched  a  cutlass  from  one  of  the 
guards,  and  told  the  men  to  pull  for  their 
lives.  Some  of  the  men,  including  the  other 
guard,  jumped  overboard,  and  swam  ashore, 
while  Allen  headed  the  boat  towards  the 
river-bank,  landed  at  the  foot  of  the  line  of 
breastworks,  and  delivered  his  one  prisoner 
to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  fort.  A 
short  time  afterwards,  the  fire  reached  the 
"  Underwriter's  "  magazine,  and  she  blew  up. 

This  gallant  expedition  was  led  by  Com 
mander  John  Taylor  Wood,  of  the  Con 
federate  Navy,  who  was  accompanied  by 
Lieutenants  Gardner,  Hogue,  Carr,  and 
Wilkinson.  Acting-Master  Jacob  Wester- 
vert,  commanding  the  "  Underwriter,"  was 
killed  on  board  that  vessel,  as  also  several 
of  his  crew. 

In  this  expedition  fifteen  boats,  including 
three  large  barges,  with  three  hundred  men, 
came  down  the  river  with  the  intention  of 
making  a  simultaneous  attack  on  the  forts 
and  the  gun-boat ;  but,  finding  the  latter 
above  the  forts,  where  she  ought  not  to 
have  been,  she  was  boarded  and  captured, 
with  little  loss  to  the  enemy.  It  was  to  be 
expected  that,  with  so  many  clever  officers 
who  had  left  the  Federal  Navy  and  cast 
their  fortunes  with  the  ConfedeVates,  such 
gallant  actions  would  often  be  attempted. 
They  frequently  failed,  as  they  would  in 
this  instance,  in  all  probability,  had  the 
"Underwriter"  been  anchored  below  the 
forts.  Had  the  enemy  attacked  the  forts, 
the  chances  are  they  would  have  been  suc 
cessful,  as  the  garrison  were  unprepared 
for  an  attack  from  the  river,  their  most 
vulnerable  side. 


About  the  middle  of  February  the  destruc 
tion  of  the  blockade-runners.  "  Wild  Day- 
rell,"  "NutfieM,"  ''Dee,"  "Emily,"  and 
"Fannie  and  Jennie,"  was  reported.  All 
these  were  fine  vessels,  and  their  cargoes, 
consisting  of  munitions  of  war,  etc.,  were 
worth  at  least  a  million  of  dollars,  a  sum 
which  by  no  means  represented  their  loss 
to  the  Confederacy.  Many  of  the  vessels 
destroyed  would  have  made  valuable  addi 
tions  to  the  Navy  for  the  purpose  of  catch 
ing  blockade  -  runners,  as  they  were  very 
fast;  but  their  commanders,  rather  than  be 
captured,  ran  them  ashore,  after  throwing 
overboard  what  munitions  of  war  they  had 
on  board;  and  the  Federal  officers,  finding 
it  impossible  to  get  them  afloat,  set  them 
on  fire  to  prevent  the  enemy  receiving  any 
benefit  from  them.  The  officers  who  made 
themselves  particularly  active  in  the  per 
formance  of  blockading  duties,  and  who 
aided  in  the  destruction  of  these  steamers, 
were  Commanders  Pierce  Crosby  and  Wil 
liam  F.  Spicer,  and  Lieutenant-Commander 
Francis  A.  Roe. 

Now  and  then,  amid  these  exciting  scenes, 
the  indomitable  Lieutenant  Gushing  came 
forward  with  some  remarkable  feat,  more 
daring  than  important.  Gushing  was  brave 
to  recklessness,  not  seeming  to  care  for 
danger,  and  his  superior  officers  rather  en 
couraged  his  wild  adventures. 

In  the  month  of  February  an  idea  struck 
Gushing  that  he  would  make  an  expedition 
to  Cape  Fear  River,  and  capture  the  Con 
federate  commander  at  Smithville,  where 
there  was  a  strong  fort  and  a  garrison  of 
a  thousand  men.  On  the  night  of  the  29th 
Gushing  passed  the  forts  at  the  south  inlet 
of  Cape  Fear  River  under  cover  of  the  dark 
ness,  and  proceeded  to  Smithville.  about  six 
miles  above,  his  force  consisting  of  two 
boats  and  twenty  men.  Smithville  was  a 
famous  resort  for  blockade  -  runners,  and 
Cushing  intended,  if  he  found  any  of  these 
vessels  at  anchor,  attempt  their  capture. 

Finding  no  vessels  at  Smithville,  Cushing 
landed  directly  in  front  of  the  hotel,  which 
was  the  headquarters  of  the  commanding 
officer,  concealed  his  men  under  the  bank, 
captured  some  negroes,  and  obtained  from 
them  such  information  as  he  required. 
Leaving  some  men  in  charge  of  the  boats, 
Cushing,  with  Acting-Ensign  J.  E.  Jones, 
Acting  -  Master's  Mate  W.  L.  Howorth, 
and  one  seaman,  proceeded  to  the  head 
quarters  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
defences,  General  Herbert.  Cushing  cap 
tured  the  chief-engineer,  but  ascertained 
that  the  general  had  gone  to  Wilmington. 
The  adjutant-general  was  slightly  wounded, 
and  made  his  escape  to  the  woods,  without 
stopping  to  put  on  his  clothes,  under  an  im 
pression  that  the  garrison  had  mutinied. 
Gushing  s  boats  were  about  fifty  yards  from 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


473 


the  regular  landing-place  at  the  fort,  and 
not  so  far  from  the  sentinel  on  the  wharf, 
yet  he  succeeded  in  carrying  off  his  pris 
oners.  By  the  time  the  alarm  signal-lights 
were  shown  Gushing  was  abreast  of  Fort 
Caswell,  on  his  way  back  to  the  squadron. 
The  blockade-runner  ''Scotia''  passed  from 
the  anchorage  just  before  Gushing  got  into 
the  river,  or  he  might  have  made  a  good 
night's  work  of  it. 

Cushing's  hazardous  undertakings  were 
sometimes  criticised  as  useless,  but  there 
was  more  method  in  them  than  appeared 
on  the  surface,  and  important  information 
was  sometimes  obtained,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  brilliant  example  of  courage  and  enter 
prise  which  they  afforded  to  others. 

On  March  8th  Acting-Rear- Admiral  Lee 
accompanied  General  Butler  to  Yorktown 
to  arrange  a  joint  military  and  naval  expe 
dition,  to  operate,  first,  up  the  Pamunky 
River  against  the  Confederate  forces  near 
King  and  Queen  Court  House,  which  had 
attacked  the  party  under  command  of 
Colonel  Dahlgren.  and  killed  that  officer; 
and,  second,  against  a  force  of  the  enemy 
reported  as  about  to  make  an  expedition 
from  the  peninsula.  Owing,  however,  to 
constant  fogs,  the  gun-boats  could  not  co 
operate  with  the  Army,  and  the  Confed 
erates,  finding  themselves  about  to  be 
surrounded,  retreated  from  the  peninsula. 

A  few  nights  later,  a  boat  expedition, 
under  Acting-Masters  Williams  and  Wilder, 
of  the  ''Commodore  Barney"  and  "  Minne 
sota,"  respectively,  ascended  the  Chucka- 
tuck  Creek,  and  captured  a  party  of  twenty 
Confederate  soldiers. 

While  these  small  affairs  were  being 
transacted,  the  Confederate  naval  officers 
were  preparing  to  retaliate  on  the  vessels 
of  the  Xorth  Atlantic  squadron  lying  in 
Hampton  Roads.  Lieutenant  Hunter  Da 
vidson,  of  the  Confederate  navy,  had  given 
much  study  to  the  subject  of  torpedoes,  and 
had  perfected  what  he  considered  an  excel 
lent  torpedo-boat.  It  was  a  small  steam- 
launch,  with  a  torpedo  on  the  end  of  a  pole 
projecting  some  twenty  feet  from  the  bow 
of  the  vessel. 

Up  to  this  time  both  the  Union  and  Con 
federate  Governments  had  been  singularly 
oblivious  to  the  torpedo  as  a  means  of 
offence  and  defence.  Had  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  made  proper  use  of  the  torpedo,  it 
would  have  soon  put  an  end  to  the  business 
of  blockade -running.  Electric  batteries 
could  have  been  established,  if  necessary, 
three  or  four  miles  outside  the  entrance  to 
a  harbor,  and  the  majority  of  blockade- 
runners  would  not  have  ventured  to  run  the 
gauntlet  of  such  dangerous  affairs.  There 
would  have  been  no  difficulty  in  planting 
any  number  of  torpedoes  in  the  channels, 
made  to  explode  on  contact  with  a  vessel. 


Humanitarian  ideas  probably  had  origin 
ally  a  good  deal  to  do  with  the  neglect  of 
the  Federal  Government  to  avail  them 
selves  of  these  frightful  adjuncts  ;  but  the 
Confederates  were  not  governed  by  any 
such  sentimental  feelings.  Later  in  the  waV 
they  used  the  torpedo  freely,  and  blew  up  a 
number  of  Federal  vessels-of-war  —  which 
was  as  justifiable  as  any  other  hostile  act. 

On  the  night  of  April  8th,  18G4,  while  the 
"Minnesota,"  flag-ship  of  Acting-Rear- Ad 
miral  Lee,  was  lying  at  anchor  off  Fortress 
Monroe,  a  dark  object  was  seen,  about  two 
hundred  yards  distant,  slowly  passing  the 
ship.  It  was  thought  to  be  a  row-boat;  and, 
in  reply  to  the  hail  from  the  ''Minnesota," 
the  answer  came,  "  Roanoke."  By  this  time 
the  object  was  nearly  abeam,  and  appar 
ently  motionless. 

The  officer  of  the  deck  sent  orders  for  a 
tug,  which  was  lying  astern,  to  go  and  ex 
amine  the  floating  object ;  and  while  he 
was  endeavoring  to  get  the  men  in  the  tug 
to  attend  to  his  orders,  the  torpedo-boat 
struck  the  ship,  exploded  a  torpedo,  and 
made  off  in  the  direction  of  Nansemond 
River.  Several  shots  were  fired  at  the  tor 
pedo  vessel,  but  she  escaped  in  the  dark 
ness.  The  concussion  caused  great  excite 
ment  on  board  the  frigate.  The  drums  beat 
to  quarters,  and  the  men  hurried  to  their 
stations,  and  stood  by  to  lower  the  boats  ; 
but  it  was  soon  found  that  no  serious  dam 
age  had  been  done.  But  for  the  fact  that 
the  torpedo,  which  weighed  fifty  pounds, 
was  not  placed  in  contact  with  the  ship, 
but  was  prematurely  exploded,  the  ''Min 
nesota's"  bottom  would  have  been  shat 
tered,  and  the  Federals  would  have  lost  one 
of  their  finest  frigates. 

This  daring  exploit  was  performed  by 
Lieutenant  Hunter  Davidson,  who  has,  no 
doubt,  since  rejoiced  that  he  did  not  suc 
ceed  in  sending  many  of  his  old  friends 
and  shipmates  to  the  bottom. 

It  demonstrated  the  necessity  of  keeping 
a  brighter  look-out  for  the  enemy's  torpedo 
corps,  and  it  also  showed  the  determination 
with  which  the  Confederates  carried  on  the 
war.  They  were  first  in  the  field  with  this 
new  method  of  warfare,  and  managed  it 
with  great  dexterity.  It  was  not  until  they 
had  blown  up  a  dozen  or  so  Federal  vessels 
that  the  Government  undertook  to  employ 
torpedo  -  boats  ;  but  this  was  at  so  late  a 
period  in  the  war  as  to  be  of  comparatively 
little  use. 

One  torpedo-boat,  under  cover  of  the 
'•Monitor,"  would  have  settled  the  "  Mer- 
rimac  "  in  a  very  short  time,  and  a  Moni 
tor  fitted  with  a  torpedo  would  have  de 
stroyed  the  "Tennessee"  with  equal  facil 
ity.  But  it  requires  time  to  become  recon 
ciled  to  a  system  that  was  looked  upon  with 
horror  for  many  years  after  its  invention. 


474 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


Such  is  the  progress  of  ideas  that,  now-a- 
days,  so  far  from  being  struck  with  horror 
at  the  idea  of  knocking  a  hole  in  a  vessel's 
bottom,  all  Christian  Governments  are  seek 
ing  with  avidity  the  most  powerful  subma 
rine  weapons  of  destruction. 

Early  in  April,  Acting-Rear- Admiral  Lee 
wascalled  upon  by  General  Butler  to  co-oper 
ate  with  him  in  putting  down  what  he  called 
the  "  pirates  of  the  creeks."  which  were,  in 
fact,  the  irregular  forces  of  the  enemy 
employed  along  the  river  to  inflict  all  pos 
sible  injury  on  Union  vessels,  and  keep  the 
Federals  from  landing  along  the  rivers  and 
capturing  Confederate  property.  Various 
expeditions  were  fitted  out,  consisting  of 
forces  from  the  Army  and  Navy,  but  no 
great  results  were  obtained.  It  was  not 
the  kind  of  warfare  calculated  to  be  of  any 
permanent  benefit  to  the  Union  cause  ;  and 
it  demonstrated  the  fact  that  only  large 
bodies  of  troops  could  break  up  the  system 
adopted  by  the  Confederates  of  harassing 
Federal  Army  posts  with  constant  attacks. 

Some  boat  expeditions  were  undertaken, 
in  which  great  gallantry  was  displayed  and 
a  few  men  killed,  terminating  in  a  retreat 
from  under  the  enemy's  fire,  after  inflicting 
the  usual  damage  on  him.  The  only  satis 
faction  gained  on  the  expedition  to  Pagan 
Creek  was  a  temporary  scattering  of  the 
Confederate  troops,  and  the  fact  ascertained 
that  the  Davidson  torpedo-boat  had  arrived 
at  Smithfield  on  the  9th  inst.,  and  had  gone 
thence  to  Richmond. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  the  army,  under  Gen 
eral  Butler,  landed  at  City  Point  and  Ber 
muda  Hundred,  covered  by  five  iron-dads 
and  ten  other  vessels,  without  opposition. 
The  river  had  been  carefully  dragged  for 
torpedoes,  to  assure  the  safety  of  the  gun 
boats  and  transports;  but,  notwithstanding 
all  the  care  taken,  the  gun-boat  "  Commo 
dore  Jones"  was  blown  up  while  dragging 
for  these  hidden  enemies.  The  vessel,  it 
seems,  rested  directly  over  an  infernal  ma 
chine,  which  was  fired  by  a  galvanic  bat 
tery  hidden  in  a  pit  on  the  shore.  The 
destruction  of  the  steamer  was  complete,  as 
the  torpedo,  supposed  to  have  contained 
four  hundred  pounds  of  powder,  was  ex 
ploded  directly  under  her  bottom.  So  great 
was  the  concussion  that  the  vessel  was 
lifted  bodily  out  of  the  water,  and  her  crew 
hurled  into  the  air,  killing  and  wounding 
more  than  half  of  the  ship's  company. 

This  shocking  casualty  demonstrated  the 
power  of  the  torpedo,  when  properly  man 
aged.  The  arrangements  in  this  quarter 
were  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant 
Hunter  Davidson;  and  the  man  who  ignited 
the  torpedo  which  blew  up  the  "Commo 
dore  Jones"  was  killed  by  a  musket-ball 
fired  by  the  coxswain  of  one  of  the  boats 
dragging  for  these  infernal  machines. 


There  were  three  of  these  torpedo-pits, 
from  which  men  were  ready  to  act  as  soon 
as  a  vessel  should  get  into  the  desired  posi 
tion;  and  it  seems  as  though  a  few  marines 
as  skirmishers,  marching  along  the  banks, 
might  have  prevented  any  attempt  of  the 
enemy  to  operate  the  wires.  In  one  of  the 
pits  two  men  were  captured,  ready  to  ex 
plode  a  torpedo  should  any  vessel  pass  over 
it.  These  were  Acting-Master  P.W.  Smith, 
of  the  Confederate  navy,  and  Jeffries  John 
son,  private  in  the  Submarine  Corps.  In 
those  days  such  adventurers  stood  a  chance 
of  being  shot  as  soon  as  captured,  though 
now  the  case  would  be  different.  These 
men  were  quite  communicative,  and  said 
they  had  adopted  this  service  to  remain 
near  their  homes.  Some  of  their  torpedoes 
would  explode  by  contact,  others  by  lines 
from  the  shore,  and  others  by  various  in 
genious  contrivances.  All  of  them  could 
be  put  down  in  one  day  by  a  torpedo-boat 
arranged  for  the  purpose  by  Lieutenant 
Davidson,  who  had  been  watching  the 
movements  of  the  Federals  since  the  trans 
ports  first  assembled  in  Hampton  Roads. 

The  investigations  of  the  naval  officers 
soon  disclosed  a  system  of  defence  embrac 
ing  all  the  navigable  rivers.  The  torpe 
does  were  followed  up,  their  positions 
located,  and,  wherever  practicable,  they 
were  destroyed,  making  the  waterways 
comparatively  safe,  and  enabling  General 
Butler  to  reoccupy  his  line  from  Trent's 
Beach  to  Appomattox. 

On  the  18th  of  May  the  enemy  com 
menced  fortifying  the  heights  about  How- 
lett's  House,  commanding  Trent's  Reach,  on 
the  James ;  and  although  the  gun-boats 
kept  up  a  steady  fire  on  their  position,  they 
persevered,  and  that  night  mounted  a  suffi 
cient  number  of  guns  to  keep  the  Federal 
gun-boats  in  check.  The  charts  indicating 
less  water  in  the  channel  than  the  Monitors 
drew,  it  was  not  considered  advisable  to 
move  them  too  close  to  the  batteries. 

The  enemy  seemed  to  be  prepared  all 
along  the  river  to  meet  the  advance  of  the 
Navy.  The  pickets  of  the  latter  were 
driven  in  at  Dutch  Gap  heights,  and  the 
Army  pickets  at  City  Point ;  and  Acting- 
Rear- Admiral  Lee  considered  that  his  com 
munications  were  seriously  threatened. 

By  the  19th  the  Monitors  were  advanced 
nearer  Hewlett's  Battery,  on  which  they 
opened  with  seemingly  great  accuracy  of 
fire,  but  with  no  appearance  of  arresting 
the  progress  of  this  formidable  work.  The 
artillery  practice  was  kept  up  until  the  24th. 
without  any  result  except  that  for  a  time 
the  enemy  stopped  working.  On  the  SMth 
the  enemy  made  an  attack  on  a  body  of 
troops  stationed  at  Wilson's  wharf,  which 
attack  had  been  anticipated  by  the  naval 
commander-in-chief,  who  had  placed  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


475 


following1  vessels  in  position  to  meet  it : 
"Pequot,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  S.  P. 
Quackenbush;  "Dawn,5'  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  J.W.  Simmons;  "Atlanta "(iron 
clad),  and  tug  '•  Young  America" — all  un 
der  Lieutenant-Commander  Quackenbush. 
At  12:  30,  on  the  24th,  the  enemy  made  a 
vigorous  attack  at  the  wharf ;  the  move 
ment  was,  however,  supposed  to  be  a  feint 
to  draw  the  Union  forces  from  Fort  Pow- 
hatan.  The  enemy  were  met  by  the  fire  of 
the  gun-boats,  particularly  the  "Dawn"; 
and  although  their  decks  were  swept  by 
musketry,  such  was  the  terrible  effect  of 
their  shells  on  the  Confederates  that  the 
latter  were  obliged  to  retreat.  But  for  the 
service  rendered  by  the  "-Dawn,"  Lieuten 
ant  Simmons,  the  Confederates  would  have, 
no  doubt,  accomplished  their  object  and 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  8.  P 
QUACKENBUSH. 

carried  the  Union  position.  The  engage 
ment  lasted  upwards  of  five  hours,  and  de 
monstrated  the  value  of  the  Navy  in  pro 
tecting  the  flanks  of  the  Federal  Army. 

About  the  30th  of  May,  the  Confederate 
naval  forces  came  down  below  Drury's 
Bluff,  and  prepared  to  attack  the  Union 
squadron.  Their  plan  was  to  send  down 
fire-ships  with  the  current,  and,  following 
with  their  vessels,  attack  those  of  the  Fed 
erals.  The  Confederate  squadron  consisted 
of  three  iron-clads,  with  batteries  of  heavy 
rifled  guns,  and  six  gun -boats  partially 
plated  with  iron.  For  some  reason,  no  im 
mediate  onset  was  made  by  the  Confederate 
rams,  which  caused  them  to  lose  the  oppor 
tunity  of  seriously  damaging  the  Federal 
squadron,  and  perhaps  driving  it  away. 

In  the  meantime.  General  Butler,  as  part 
of  his  campaign,  proposed  to  obstruct  the 


James  River  by  sinking  vessels  a  mile  or  so 
below  Hewlett's  Battery.  This  would  make 
his  positions  at  Bermuda  Hundred  and  at 
City  Point  perfectly  secure.  Part  of  the 
vessels  to  be  used  for  this  purpose  were  re 
ceived  by  Acting-Rear-Admiral  Lee  on  the 
2d  of  June,  consisting  of  a  bark  and  three 
large  schooners  loaded  with  shingle  ballast. 

It  is  due  to  Acting-Rear-Admiral  Lee  to 
say  that  he  objected  to  this  plan  of  obstruct 
ing  the  river,  as  the  force  of  vessels  at  his 
disposal  was  stronger  than  had  been  origi 
nally  proposed.  General  Grant  had  only 
asked  for  two  iron-clads,  but  the  Navy  De 
partment  furnished  Acting-Rear-Admiral 
Lee  with  four,  although  one  of  them,  the 
"Tecumseh,"  was  soon  to  leave  the  James 
River  for  other  service.  Acting-Rear-Ad 
miral  Lee  took  the  ground  that  it  was 
not  the  duty  of  the  Navy  to  protect  itself 
in  this  manner;  on  the  contrary,  where  ob 
structions  existed,  they  should  be  removed, 
if  possible;  any  other  course  would  be  ad 
mitting  the  superiority  of  the  enemy  and  a 
dread  of  his  naval  force.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  was  argued  that  obstructing  the 
river  would  lessen  the  chance  of  injuring 
the  Federal  vessels,  on  which  depended  the 
security  of  the  Army  at  the  points  below. 
The  obstructions  would  keep  off  fire-rafts 
and  infernal  machines,  and  a  smaller  force 
of  vessels  would  be  required  in  Trent's 
Reach  to  prevent  the  advance  of  the  Con 
federate  iron-clads.  This  latter  view  of  the 
case  was  accepted ;  for,  as  the  operations 
against  Richmond  would  be  altogether  mili 
tary,  and  as  the  naval  forces  could  not  get 
to  that  city  with  the  land  and  naval  bat 
teries  opposed  to  them,  the  obstruction  pro 
posal  was  decided  upon. 

At  that  time  General  Grant  was  expected 
to  cross  the  James  and  operate  against 
Richmond  from  the  south  side,  and,  under 
the  circumstances,  it  was  absolutely  neces 
sary  to  hold  the  river  secure  against  the 
contingencies  of  a  naval  engagement. 
There  were  many  reasons  why  it  was  not 
desirable  to  bring  on  an  engagement  with 
the  enemy's  squadron,  the  strength  of 
which  was  unknown.  The  river  was  too 
narrow  to  manoeuvre  in,  and  the  channel 
was  very  shoal  in  places.  If  a  battle  was 
wTon.  the  Army  would  be  no  nearer  Rich 
mond  than  before.  The  Navy  made  no 
headway  when  Hewlett's  Battery  had  but 
four  guns,  and  it  was  not  likely  that,  with 
the  addition  of  the  works  at  Drury's  Bluff, 
armed  with  the  heaviest  ordnance,  and 
with  the  river  guarded  by  lines  of  torpe 
does,  that  the  squadron  could  force  its  way 
up  the  James  River. 

There  seems  to  have  been  a  little  diplo 
macy  as  to  whether  General  Butler  or  Act 
ing-Rear-Admiral  Lee  should  assume  the  re 
sponsibility  of  placing  the  obstructions  in 


476 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Trent's  Reach,  although  why  there  should 
have  been  any  dispute  in  such  a  matter  it  is 
difficult  to  see.  It  was  certainly  distasteful 
to  the  Confederates,  who  saw  all  their 
schemes  of  fire-rafts,  torpedo-boats  and  iron 
clad  raids  completely  circumvented.  The 
following  letter  from  General  Butler  to 
Acting  Rear -Admiral  Lee  will  show  the 
General's  views  on  the  subject: 

HEADQUARTERS  IN  THE  FIELD,  \ 
June  2d,  1864.  J 

ADMIRAL  : 

Your  communication  dated  June  2d,  in  regard  to 
the  obstructions,  is  received.  The  five  vessels  sent 
up  were  procured  by  my  order  for  the  purpose  of 
being  used  as  obstructions  to  the  river,  if,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  naval  commander,  they  would  add 
to  the  security  of  his  fleet. 

I  have  no  difficulty  as  to  the  point  at  which  we 
desire  to  secure  the  river.  It  is  at  the  right  of  my 
line,  near  Curtis'  House,  at  the  ravine;  but  whether 
the  river  should  be  secured  by  obstructions  or  by 
vessels,  or  a  disposition  of  your  obstructions  or  of 
the  vessels  of  your  Navy,  neither  myself  nor  rny 
engineers  have  any  right  to  feel  competent  to  givean 
opinion.  The  vessels  are  wholly  at  your  service,  but 
upon  your  judgment,  not  mine,  must  rest  their  use. 

In  accordance  with  your  request,  as  I  informed 
your  officer.  I  will  visit  you  this  afternoon,  and  des 
ignate  the  spot  we  desire  to  be  held  ;  but  whether 
by  means  of  obstructions  or  by  your  ships,  or  by 
both  combined,  must  be  solely  for  you  to  deter 
mine. 

While  I  know  you  would  not  undertake  to  give 
directions  to  my  engineers  as  to  the  situation  of  the 
earth-works  on  land,  so  we  ought  not  to  presume 
to  advise  you  as  to  your  means  of  defending  the 
water. 

I  have  not  consulted  the  War  Department  on  the 
subject,  whether  I  should  procure  these  obstruc 
tions.  I  supposed  that  was  fairly  within  my  discre 
tion,  and  1  venture  respectfully  to  add  that  the 
question  whether  you  should  use  them  is  entirely 
within  yours.  The  Navy  Department  cannot  know 
the  emergencies  as  you  know  them,  and,  I  am  cer 
tain,  must  leave  that  question  to  the  good  judg 
ment  of  the  rear-admiral  commanding  the  fleet. 

I  am  aware  of  the  delicacy  naval  gentlemen  feel 
in  depending  upon  anything  but  their  ships  in  a 
contest  with  the  enemy;  and  if  it  was  a  contest 
with  the  enemy's  ships  alone,  I  certainly  would  not 
advise  the  obstructions,  even  at  the  great  risk  of 
losing  the  river;  but  in  a  contest  against  such  un 
christian  modes  of  warfare  as  fire-rafts  and  tor 
pedo-boats,  I  think  all  questions  of  delicacy  should 
be  waived  by  the  paramount  consideration  of  pro 
tection  for  the  lives  of  the  men  and  the  safety  of 
the  very  valuable  vessels  of  the  squadron. 

Pardon  me  if  I  have  overstepped  any  line  of  duty 
or  courtesy  in  this  latter  suggestion. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

BENJ.  F.  BUTLER, 
Major  General  Commanding. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  S.  P.  LEE, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 

This  diplomatic  communication  of  Gen 
eral  Butler  led  to  a  long  correspondence 
between  Acting  Rear-Admiral  Lee  and  him 
self,  which  ended,  as  it  should  have  done,  in 
putting  the  obstructions  in  the  channel. 

During  the  time  this  discussion  of  a  quite 
simple  matter  was  pending,  from  the  1st  to 
the  loth  of  Jane,  General  Grant  had  fought 


the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  in  which  he 
found  General  Lee's  army  less  weakened 
than  had  been  expected  by  its  losses  in  the 
battles  from  the  Rapidan  to  the  James. 
He  did  not  feel  that  his  own  army  was  in 
condition  to  operate  further  against  a  well- 
commanded  army  of  veterans  posted  be 
hind  five  miles  of  strong  intrenchments. 

In  the  first  attack  on  the  Confederates  at 
Cold  Harbor,  Grant's  army  was  severely 
handled.  General  Hancock's  attack,  al 
though  at  first  successful,  was  finally  re 
pulsed,  and  Warren  and  Burnside  were 
brought  to  a  stand  at  the  edge  of  the  en 
emy's  rifle-pits. 

In  writing  of  this  battle  General  Grant 
says:  "Our  loss  has  been  heavy,  while  I 
have  reason  to  believe  that  the  loss  of  the 
enemy  was  comparatively  light."  The  loss, 
in  fact,  in  three  days'  operations  on  the 
Chickahominy,  was  7,500  men. 

No  doubt  Grant  often  wished  he  could 
have  the  aid  of  the  gun-boats  that  had 
given  him  so  much  help  in  the  West ;  but 
that  was  an  impossibility. 

Realizing  the  fact  that  he  could  not  oper 
ate  with  any  advantage  north  and  east  of 
Richmond,  General  Grant  determined  to 
make  another  movement — throw  his  army 
across  the  James  River,  capture  Petersburg, 
and  place  himself  in  communication  with 
the  Navy. 

Grant  had  had  too  much  experience  in 
the  West  not  to  know  what  valuable  aid  a 
naval  force  could  afford  an  army  under 
certain  circumstances,  not  to  wish  to  take 
advantage  of  it  in  the  present  instance. 
In  consequence  of  this  resolution  Grant 
moved  by  Lee's  right  flank,  and  threw  his 
army  across  the  James  River,  with  the  hope 
of  seizing  Petersburg,  while  his  cavalry 
could  destroy  the  railroad  communication 
between  Richmond  and  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  and  Lynchburg.  The  movement  was 
skillfully  executed,  and,  on  the  14th  of  June, 
the  Army  was  safe  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
the  James,  and  in  communication  with  the 
Army  of  the  James  and  with  the  Navy. 

The  day  General  Grant  passed  the  James 
he  gave  an  order  to  sink  the  obstructions  in 
Trent's  Reach,  and  on  the  15th  General 
Butler  wrote  to  Acting-Rear- Admiral  Lee, 
informing  him  of  Grant's  order,  and  saying 
that  he  would  be  glad  if  the  admiral  would 
assist  him  in  carrying  it  out. 

On  the  15th  of  June  General  Grant  estab 
lished  his  headquarters  at  City  Point.  The 
obstructions  were  sunk  in  the  river,  and 
offered  a  complete  barrier  to  the  enemy's 
fire-rafts  and  torpedo-vessels.  The  general- 
in-chief  had  now  time  to  breathe  and  look 
about  him,  and  observe  the  new  condition 
of  affairs. 

By  June  20th  Commander  T.  A.  M.  Craven, 
of  the  Navy,  had  sunk  in  the  main  channel 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


477 


at  Trent's  Reach  four  hulks  filled  with  stone. 
There  was  also  stretched  across  the  chan 
nel  a  heavy  boom,  supporting  a  chain  cable, 
well  secured  on  each  side  of  the  river. 
Across  the  flats  was  extended  a  heavy  boom, 
secured  by  six  anchors,  and  in  the  channel, 
along  the  right  bank,  was  sunk  a  large 
schooner  loaded  with  stone,  from  which  a 
strong  boom  extended  to  the  shore.  The  ob 
structions  were  very  complete,  and  were  in 
tended  to  be  under  the  fire  of  General  Butler's 
guns  as  well  as  those  of  the  iron-clads. 

The  enemy  probably  was  well  pleased  at 
the  Federals  obstructing  the  channel ;  for, 
notwithstanding  his  forts  at  Hewlett's  and 
Drury's  Bluff,  his  fire-rafts,  sunken  torpe 
does,  and  torpedo-boats,  he  felt  more  secure 
when  he  knew  that  his  position  could  not 
be  assailed  by  a  naval  force;  while  General 
Grant  was  equally  satisfied  now  that  the 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAK-ADMIKAL)  EDMUND  R.  COLHODN. 

enemy's  iron-clads  could  not  get  down  to 
City  Point  under  any  circumstances. 

The  enemy,  in  order  to  ascertain  the 
character  of  the  obstructions,  made  a  re 
connaissance  in  the  neighborhood  of  Dutch 
Gap  ;  while  Hewlett's  Battery,  which  had 
been  greatly  strengthened  by  the  erection 
of  new  works,  opened  upon  the  vessels  be 
low  the  obstructions. 

These  were  the  iron-clads  "Tecumseh." 
Commander  T.  A.  M.  Craven  ;  "Saugus." 
Commander  E.  R.  Colhoun  ;  "  Onondaga," 
Lieutenant-Commander  C.  H.  Cushman  ; 
"Canonicus,"  Commander  E.  S.  Parrott, 
and  gun-boat  '"Agawam."  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  A.  C.  Rhind.  They  returned  the 
fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries  with  consider 
able  effect,  receiving  little  damage  in  return ; 
while  the  Confederate  iron-clads,  from  their 
position  behind  a  wood,  opened  a  straggling 
fire,  of  which  no  notice  was  taken.  Ac 
cording  to  one  Confederate  account,  the 


battery  at  Hewlett's  consisted  of  but  four 
guns — one  large  rifle,  one  large  smooth 
bore,  and  two  smaller  pieces. 

Notwithstanding  the  general  impression 
that  the  obstructions  in  the  river  were  im 
passable.  Acting-Rear- Admiral  Lee  judged 
it  expedient  to  apply  for  an  increase  of  the 
force  of  iron-clads,  and  that  he  might  be 
authorized  to  detain  the  '"Tecumseh." 

This  is  the  history  of  the  obstruction  of 
the  James  River,  the  credit  of  which  was 
given  to  General  Butler,  who  simply  ap 
proved  the  proposition  when  it  was  men 
tioned  to  him,  and  received  General  Grant's 
order  to  sink  the  vessels. 

General  Grant's  arrival  before  Peters 
burg,  which  he  attacked  on  the  14th  of 
June,  and  the  crossing  of  the  James  by 
General  Meade's  army,  gave  quite  a  differ 
ent  aspect  to  affairs  at  City  Point,  and  the 
time  had  arrived  when  the  Navy  stood  a 
chance  of  making  itself  very  useful. 

Petersburg  was  one  of  the  strongest  out 
posts  of  the  Confederate  capital,  and  a  for 
midable  resistance  in  that  quarter  was,  of 
course,  expected.  Part  of  General  Butler's 
command  commenced  the  attack  on  the 
works  covering  the  approaches  to  the  town, 
and  succeeded  in  occupying  them;  but,  by 
waiting  the  arrival  of  Hancock's  division 
and  failing  to  push  their  advantage,  the 
Confederates  were  strongly  reinforced,  so 
that,  when  Hancock's  and  Burnside's  di 
visions  assaulted  them,  the  Federals  were 
repulsed  with  considerable  loss.  Next  day 
another  attempt  was  made  and  repulsed, 
with  the  capture  by  the  enemy  of  part  of  a 
Federal  brigade. 

About  the  same  time,  General  Butler  sal 
lied  forth  from  his  intrenchments  to  tear  up 
the  railroad  leading  to  Richmond;  but  the 
enemy  sent  out  an  army  corps  from  their 
capital,  and  Butler  was  defeated,  after  send 
ing  intelligence  of  a  splendid  victory  which 
he  had  won! 

The  result  of  these  attempts  on  Peters 
burg,  which  had  caused  great  losses  to  the 
Federal  Army,  convinced  General  Grant 
that  his  best  course  was  to  envelop  the  town 
with  his  forces,  without  attacking  the  out 
works.  Attempts  were  made  to  destroy 
all  the  railroads  leading  to  Richmond,  but 
the  enemy  was  so  strongly  posted  that 
these  efforts  were  generally  of  no  benefit 
to  the  Union  cause. 

Thus  the  month  of  June  closed  with  no 
immediate  results  favorable  to  the  Federals, 
except  that  the  Army  was  transported  to 
the  south  of  Richmond,  and  was  in  com 
munication  with  the  Navy;  while  the  Con 
federates  continued  to  strengthen  daily  the 
fortifications  of  Richmond  and  Petersburg. 
In  fact,  General  Grant  had  encountered  ob 
stacles  far  greater  than  he  had  anticipated. 

A  large  portion  of  the  naval  forces  on  the 


478 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


James  naturally  assembled  at  City  Point, 
where  General  Grant  had  established  his 
headquarters,  while  other  portions  of  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron  were  employed  in 
the  sounds  of  North  Carolina  and  in  the 
blockade  of  the  coast. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  the  "North  Car 
olina,"  an  iron-clad  resembling  the  "At 
lanta,"  appeared  off  Fort  Fisher,  at  the 
mouth  of  Cape  Fear  River,  accompanied  by 
two  tugs.  This  vessel  commenced  an  at 
tack  at  long  range  on  the  blockading  ves 
sels  then  employed  off  the  north  inlet, 
which,  with  the  exception  of  the  "  Tusca- 
rora,"  were  improvised  gun-boats,  without 
sufficient  strength  to  contend  with  armored 
vessels.  The  little  flotilla  returned  the  fire 
of  the  iron-clad,  and  after  a  desultory  en 
gagement  which  lasted  two  days,  with 
little  damage  on  either  side,  the  iron-clad 
and  her  consorts  disappeared  over  the  bar 
of  Cape  Fear  River. 

It  was  doubtless  the  intention  of  the  Con 
federates  to  disperse  the  few  Union  vessels 
then  off  the  entrance  to  Wilmington,  and 
start  the  cry  of  '•  raised  blockade,"  as  had 
been  attempted  on  a  previous  occasion  at 
Charleston ;  but  in  this  design  they  failed, 
and  the  iron-clad  returned  to  Wilmington, 
where  her  career  soon  afterwards  ended. 

The  vessels  that  stood  their  ground  so 
faithfully,  in  presence  of  this  apparently 
formidable  iron  -  clad,  were  the  "  Tusca- 
rora,"  Commander  W.  A.  Parker;  "Britan 
nia,"  Acting-Volunteer-LieutenantS.  Huse; 
"  Mount  Vernon,"  Acting- Volunteer -Lieu 
tenant  James  Trathen ;  "Houquah,"  Act 
ing-Master  J.  W.  Balch,  and  "  Nansemond," 
Acting-Ensign  J.  H.  Porter.  From  subse 
quent  developments,  it  appears  that  the 
rams  "  Raleigh"  and  "  North  Carolina"  were 
constructed  at  Wilmington  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Commodore  W.  F.  Lynch,  but  were 
hardly  considered  fit  to  go  into  battle, 
although  they  served  to  keep  the  blockaders 
on  the  look-out. 

Lieutenant  W.  B.  Gushing,  with  his  usual 
zeal  and  enterprise,  volunteered  to  attempt 
the  destruction  of  the  vessel  that  came  out 
to  attack  the  blockaders,  and  at  the  same 
time  make  a  reconnaissance  of  the  defences 
of  Cape  Fear  River — a  very  desirable  pro 
ject,  as  an  expedition  for  the  capture  of 
Wilmington  was  then  in  contemplation. 
Gushing  was  always  attempting  what  no 
one  else  would  think  of,  and  in  this  case 
it  seemed  that  he  was  almost  certain  to  be 
killed  or  captured. 

Obtaining  permission  from  Acting-Rear- 
Admiral  Lee  to  attempt  the  destruction  of 
the  "Raleigh,"  Cashing  proceeded  in  the 
"Monticello"  to  the  western  entrance  of 
Cape  Fear  River.  On  the  night  of  June 
23d  he  left  the  vessel  in  the  first  cutter,  ac 
companied  by  Acting-Ensign  J.  E.  Jones, 


Acting-Master's  Mate  William  L.  Howorth, 
and  fifteen  men,  crossed  the  western  bar. 
and  passed  the  forts  and  town  of  Smithville 
without  discovery.  Near  the  Zeke  Island 
batteries,  Gushing  came  very  near  being- 
run  down  by  a  steamer — doubtless  a  block 
ade-runner,  bound  out,,  with  a  load  of  cotton 
— and  also  narrowly  escaped  the  notice  of 
a  guard-boat. 

As  Gushing  came  abreast  of  the  Bruns 
wick  batteries,  fifteen  miles  from  his  start 
ing-point,  the  moon  came  out  from  the 
clouds,  and  disclosed  the  party  to  the  senti 
nels  on  the  river-bank,  who  hailed  the  boat, 
and  then  opened  fire  upon  her.  The  people 
in  the  fort  were  roused,  and  the  confusion 
seemed  to  be  general.  Gushing  pulled  for 
the  opposite  bank,  and  along  up  the  other 
shore,  until  he  got  out  of  sight.  When 
within  seven  miles  of  Wilmington  both 
men  and  boat  were  secreted  in  a  marsh. 

When  the  sun  rose,  Gushing  watched  for 
an  opportunity  to  capture  some  one  from 
whom  he  could  obtain  information.  Nearly 
a  dozen  steamers  passed,  three  of  them  fine 
blockade-runners,  and  one  of  them  Com 
modore  Lynch's  flag-ship,  yet  there  was  no 
suspicion  of  Gushing  and  his  men  hidden 
within  a  stone's  throw.  The  Confederates 
felt  so  secure  in  the  river,  with  its  powerful 
defences,  that  they  never  dreamed  of  the 
possibility  of  a  boat's  crew  running  the 
gauntlet. 

Just  after  dark  two  boats  were  seen 
rounding  a  point  near  by,  and,  supposing 
it  to  be  an  attacking  party,  Gushing  pre 
pared  for  resistance.  It  was  simply  a  fish 
ing  party  returning  to  Wilmington.  Both 
boats  were  captured,  and  the  necessary 
information  obtained  from  them,  and  the 
occupants  were  made  to  act  as  guides  for  a 
further  exploration  of  the  river. 

Gushing  made  mental  notes  of  all  the 
obstructions,  forts  and  guns  he  met  along 
the  Cape  Fear  River,  which  were  useful  at 
a  later  date,  when  Fort  Fisher  and  the 
other  defences  at  the  entrance  of  the  river 
were  attacked.  Coming  to  a  very  narrow 
creek,  Gushing  poled  his  boat  along  through 
it  for  some  distance,  till  he  reached  a  road, 
which  was  the  main  highway  from  Fort 
Fisher  to  Wilmington.  Here  he  divided 
his  little  party,  leaving  half  of  them  behind, 
and  marching  the  rest  two  miles  further  on 
the  main  road,  where  they  halted  and  con 
cealed  themselves. 

About  noon,  a  mounted  soldier,  with  a 
mail -bag  from  Fort  Fisher,  came  along, 
and  was  much  astonished  when  halted  by 
Gushing,  and  ordered  to  dismount  and  de 
liver  up  his  mail.  Two  hundred  letters 
were  captured,  and  much  information  ob 
tained  in  regard  to  the  enemy's  plans. 
Gushing  then  waited  for  the  mail-carrier 
from  Wilmington  to  appear  with  dispatches 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


479 


for  Fort  Fisher,  but,  just  as  the  courier 
hove  in  sight,  a  blue-jacket  incautiously 
exposed  himself,  and  the  fellow  took  to 
flight  instanter,  pursued  by  Gushing  on  the 
captured  horse;  but  after  a  chase  of  several 
miles,  finding  that  the  enemy  was  better 
mounted,  and  that  there  was  no  chance  of 
overtaking  him,  Gushing  gave  up  the  pur 
suit.  All  this  took  place  on  a  traveled  high 
way,  where  squads  of  soldiers  might  have 
bee^n  expected  to  pass  along  at  any  moment. 

The  party  captured  several  prisoners,  and, 
at  length,  becoming  hungry,  Master's  Mate 
Howorth  dressed  himself  in  the  courier's 
clothes,  and,  mounting  the  horse,  started 
into  town  to  market.  After  a  time  he  re 
turned  with  a  supply  of  milk,  eggs  and 
-  chickens,  having  excited  no  suspicion, 
though  conversing  with  many  persons. 

After  destroying  the  telegraph  as  com 
pletely  as  possible,  Gushing  returned  to  the 
creek  "where  he  had  left  the  rest  of  his  party, 
reaching  the  river  by  dark.  Then  he  at 
tempted  to  land  his  prisoners  on  an  island, 
as  he  had  more  than  he  could  accommodate, 
and  a  steamer  coming  down  the  river 
passed  so  close  that  the  boat's  crew  jumped 
into  the  water  and  kept  their  heads  under 
for  fear  of  being  seen. 

Finally  Gushing  put  his  prisoners  in  the 
small  boats  he  had  captured,  and  sent  them 
adrift  on  the  river,  without  oars  or  sails,  to 
get  home  the  best  way  they  could;  while 
he  proceeded  down  the  river  with  his  party 
in  the  cutter,  retaining  one  prisoner  as  a 
pilot  to  show  him  where  the  ram  "Raleigh'' 
lay  a  wreck.  He  hoped  also  to  fall  in  with 
and  destroy  some  of  the  Confederate  vessels 
by  setting  fire  to  them. 

'Gushing  found  that  there  was  nothing 
left  of  the  "Raleigh"  above  water  — like 
most  of  the  Confederate  rams,  she  had  been 
destroyed  in  a  panic.  As  for  the  other  iron 
clad,  the  "North  Carolina,"  his  prisoners 
had  told  him  she  was  then  at  anchor  off 
Wilmington  under  Captain  Wm.  T.  Muse, 
but  that  little  confidence  was  placed  in  her, 
and  that  she  would  not  cross  the  bar. 
Gushing  was  also  informed  that  the  two 
torpedo-boats  built  at  Wilmington  had  been 
destroyed  some  time  previous  in  the  great 
cotton  fire. 

As  Gushing  neared  the  forts,  at  the  east 
bar  of  the  river,  a  boat  was  seen  and  cap 
tured  after  a  short  chase.  It  contained 
four  soldiers  and  two  civilians,  who  were 
taken  into  the  cutter,  and  their  own  boat 
sent  adrift.  On  questioning  his  prisoners. 
Gushing  found  that  there  was  a  large 
guard-boat,  with  seventy-five  musketeers, 
stationed  in  the  narrow  passage  between 
Federal  Point  and  Zeke  Island.  Notwith 
standing  the  disparity  of  force,  Gushing 
prepared  to  attack  the  guard-boat. 

Just  then  the  moon  shone  out  brightly; 


but  when  a  few  yards  from  the  guard-boat, 
three  boats  pulled  out  from  the  battery  and 
five  more  from  the  other  end  of  the  passage, 
completely  blocking  up  the  avenue  to  es 
cape.  The  cutter  at  the  time  was  under 
sail,  and  the  helm  was  put  down;  but  a 
large  sail-boat  filled  with  soldiers  appeared 
on  the  scene  to  windward  and  close  aboard. 
This  was  a  trying  position,  but  every  one 
in  the  cutter  behaved  with  the  utmost  cool 
ness,  relying  on  the  bravery  and  ingenuity 
of  their  young  commander  to  extricate 
them  from  the  difficulty,  for  there  was  not 
the  least  idea  of  surrendering. 

Suddenly  turning  the  cutter's  head,  as  if 
for  the  west  bar,  the  men  shipped  their 
oars,  and,  pulling  vigorously,  the  enemy 
soon  lost  sight  of  the  boat,  but  they  dashed 
off  in  pursuit,  expecting  to  intercept  Gush 
ing  near  the  bar.  The  latter,  however, 
doubled  on  his  pursuers,  and,  thanks  to  the 
extraordinary  pulling  of  his  sailors,  gained 
the  passage  of  the  island,  and  dashed 
into  the  breakers  on  Caroline  Shoal,  a  most 
dangerous  place,  where  the  enemy — who 
doubtless  thought  the  Federals  were  lost — 
dared  not  follow. 

Fortunately,  their  boat,  though  so  deeply 
laden,  carried  Gushing  and  his  party  safely 
through  the  breakers;  and,  just  as  day 
broke,  they  reached  the  gun-boat  "  Chero 
kee,"  after  an  absence  from  the  squadron 
of  two  days  and  three  nights. 

There  was  not  a  more  daring  adventure 
than  this  in  the  whole  course  of  the  war. 
There  were  ninety-nine  chances  in  a  hun 
dred  that  Gushing  and  his  party  would  be 
killed  or  captured,  but  throughout  all  his 
daring  schemes  there  seemed  to  be  a 
method,  and.  though  criticised  as  rash  and 
ill-judged.  Gushing  returned  unscathed 
from  his  frequent  expeditions,  with  much 
important  information.  In  this  instance  it 
was  a-  great  source  of  satisfaction  to  the 
blockading  vessels  to  learn  that  the  "Ral 
eigh"  was  destroyed,  and  that  the  other 
iron -clad  ram  was  not  considered  fit  to 
cross  the  bar. 

Had  Gushing  learned  in  time  that  there 
was  a  Confederate  war -vessel  lying  at 
Wilmington,  he  would,  no  doubt,  have  at 
tempted  her  destruction,  but  he  only  heard 
of  it  when  on  his  return  down  the  river. 

This  young  officer  was  always  cool  and 
collected  when  in  the  midst  of  dangers, 
and,  although  they  were  plenty  of  others 
equally  brave,  there  was  something  par 
ticularly  dashing  in  Cushing's  character. 
He  seemed  more  like  a  free-lance  than  a 
regular  officer  of  the  Navy,  educated  in  the 
school  of  routine,  and,  in  fact,  the  re 
straints  of  discipline  were  irksome  to  him, 
and  his  career  at  the  Naval  Academy  gave 
little  promise  of  the  fame  he  subsequently 
acquired. 


CH  A  PTE  R     XL. 


GENERAL  GRANT'S  INTENTIONS. — CONFEDERATE  BATTERIES  AT  FOUR  MILE  CREEK. — GEN 
ERAL  GRANT  UTILIZES  THE  NAVY. — THE  GUN-BOATS  ENGAGE  BATTERIES  AT  WILCOX'S 
WHARF  AND  HARRISON'S  LANDING.  —  SHELLING  SHARP-SHOOTERS.  —  OPERATIONS  AT 
DUTCH  GAP.  —  ATTACK  ON  LABORERS  AT  DUTCH  GAP  BY  CONFEDERATE  FLEET  AND 
BATTERIES. — MANOEUVRES  OF  GENERALS  GRANT,  SHERMAN  AND  BUTLER.  AND  OF  CON 
FEDERATE  ARMIES.  —  SPEECH  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS.  —  GENERAL  GRANT  ON  NECES 
SITY  OF  RETAINING  IRON-CLADS  ON  JAMES  RIVER. — EXPEDITION  UNDER  LIEUTENANT- 
COMMANDER  FLUSSER  TO  WINDSOR.  N.  C. — ATTACK  ON  PLYMOUTH,  N.  C.— CONFEDER 
ATE  RAM  "ALBEMARLE"  ATTACKS  "SOUTHFIELD"  AND  "MIAMI." — THE  "SOUTHFIELD" 
SUNK.  —  DEATH  OF  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  FLUSSER. — CAPTURE  OF  PLYMOUTH  BY 
CONFEDERATES.  —  COMMUNICATION  OF  SECRETARY  WELLES  ON  Loss  OF  PLYMOUTH.  - 
GENERAL  PECK  TO  GENERAL  BUTLER.— CASUALTIES  AT  PLYMOUTH. — ATTACK  ON  NEW- 
BERN. — ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  LEE'S  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  CAPTAIN  SMITH. — CAPTURE  OF 
CONFEDERATE  STEAMER  "BOMBSHELL." — SECOND  ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  RAM  "  ALBE- 
MARLE"  AND  GUN-BOATS. — APPALLING  SCENES  ON  BOARD  THE  "SASSACUS." — INCIDENTS 
OF  FIGHT. — FRUITLESS  ATTEMPTS  TO  DESTROY  THE  "ALBEMARLE." — LAYING  TORPE 
DOES  AT  MOUTH  OF  ROANOKE  RIVER  —  FLOTILLA  IN  SOUNDS  REINFORCED  BY  ADDI 
TIONAL  VESSELS,  ETC. 


FROM  the  time  General   Grant  fixed 
his  headquarters  at  City  Point,  the 
naval  vessels  in  that  vicinity,  under 
Captain  Melancton  Smith,  were  em 
ployed  in  guarding  the  river  or  in  co 
operating  with  the  Army  in  raids  upon  the 
enemy  along  the  shores  of   the  James  and 
adjacent  rivers. 

It  was  sufficiently  evident  that  it  was 
Grant's  intention  to  envelop  the  enemy's 
works,  destroy  his  communications,  and 
cut  off  supplies.  Military  and  naval  expe 
ditions  were  sent  to  destroy  all  grain-fields 
and  other  sources  of  supply  within  reach, 
and  to  pick  up  deserters  from  the  enemy's 
ranks.  Among  the  latter  were  workmen 
who  had  been  employed  on  board  the 
;  Merrimac,"  from  whom  interesting  infor 
mation  was  obtained  in  regard  to  that  and 
other  Confederate  vessels.  Signal  stations 
were  destroyed,  their  operators  captured, 
and  instruments  brought  away. 

In  these  expeditions  the  gun-boats  were 
constantly  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  Con 
federate  artillery,  which  was  continually 
on  the  alert  to  get  a  shot  at  them.  So 
active  were  the  enemy,  that,  about  the 
middle  of  July,  they  constructed  a  batterv 


;480) 


mounting  20-pounder  Sawyer  guns  on  Mal- 
vern  Hill,  and  for  a  time  interrupted  the 
navigation  of  the  James  River. 

The  Confederates  were,  in  fact,  untiring 
in  their  efforts  to  make  the  Federal  troops 
and  gun-boats  uncomfortable.  On  the  28th 
of  July  the  enemy  commenced  the  erection 
of  batteries  at  Four  Mile  Creek,  where  they 
had  assembled  a  large  force  for  the  purpose 
of  covering  the  men  at  work  in  the  trenches, 
and  making  a  demonstration  against  Gen 
eral  Foster's  front.  The  gun- boats  were 
brought  into  requisition,  and  the  "  Aga- 
wam."  Commander  A.  C.  Rhind,  and  the 
"  Mendota,"  Commander  E.  T.  Nichols, 
shelled  the  enemy's  works  for  some  time, 
rendering  very  effective  service  in  con 
nection  with  General  Hancock's  military 
operations. 

The  following  night,  in  view  of  the  mili 
tary  movements  ordered  by  General  Grant, 
all  the  troops,  except  General  Foster's  orig 
inal  command,  were  ordered  to  move  from 
Deep  Bottom,  under  cover  of  the  gun-boats. 
Here,  again,  General  Grant  had  an  oppor 
tunity  of  utilizing  the  Navy. 

As  an  instance  of  the  activity  of  the  Con 
federates  in  presence  of  the  strong  forces 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


481 


of  the  Federals,  which  almost  enveloped 
them,  on  August  3d  they  established  a  6-gun 
rifled  12-pounder  battery  at  Wilcox's  Wharf, 
and  opened  fire  on  passing  transports.  The 
firing  being  heard  on  board  the  '"Miami," 
Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  G.W.  Graves, 
that  vessel  pushed  ahead  and  engaged  the 
battery,  which  was  driven  away  after  a 
spirited  resistance,  the  "  Miami"  losing  but 
one  man  killed  and  one  wounded. 

On  the  4th  of  August  another  battery 
opened  on  the  transports  near  Harrison's 
Landing,  which  was  driven  away,  after  a 
sharp  action,  by  the  "Miami"  and  "Os- 
ceola." 

On  the  same  day,  the  '•'  Pequot"  and  the 
"  Commodore  Morris"  were  engaged  during 
a  greater  part  of  the  time  in  shelling  sharp 
shooters  out  of  the  woods,  who  were  en 
gaged  in  picking  off  the  men  on  board 
passing  transports.  These  Confederate  ar 
tillerymen  were  remarkably  active  and 
energetic,  but  they  found  the  people  in  the 
gun-boats  equally  so ;  and  the  light  artil 
lery  and  bushwhackers  soon  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  attacking  gun-boats  wras  a 
losing  business.  The  gun-boats  now  so 
rigidly  patrolled  the  James  River  that  they 
were  in  close  proximity  to  all  transports 
passing  up  or  down.  So  seldom  did  the 
enemy  get  a  chance  to  fire  unmolested  on 
a  transport,  that  they  even  took  occasion 
to  attack  a  hospital  steamer,  without  re 
gard  to  her  sacred  character,  killing  one 
man  and  mortally  wounding  two  others; 
but  they  were  soon  driven  away  by  the 
watchful  "Pequot,"  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  S.  P.  Quackenbush,  and  the  "Com 
modore  Morris,"  Acting-Master  R.  G.  Lee. 

At  this  time  operations  were  going  on  at 
Dutch  Gap  for  the  purpose  of  opening  a 
new  route  from  below  Hewlett's  Battery  to 
the  upper  reach  of  the  James  River.  This 
scheme  was  not  favorably  regarded  by 
army  engineers,  and  was  not  a  success. 
The  enemy  planted  mortars  not  far  away, 
which  in  the  course  of  the  work  killed  one 
hundred  and  forty  laborers,  and  wounded 
many  more.  It  also  brought  on  a  conflict 
with  the  Confederate  iron-clads. which  came 
down  the  river  and  opened  upon  the  la 
borers.  A  long-range  battle  then  ensued 
between  the  Union  and  Confederate  iron 
clads,  which  inflicted  little  or  no  injury  to 
either  side,  but  showed  that  the  Dutch  Gap 
Canal,  although  never  likely  to  be  of  any 
use  to  the  Army  or  Navy,  would  be  con 
tinually  inviting  attacks  from  the  enemy, 
which  would  tend  to  divert  the  attention 
of  the  Army  from  its  main  object — the  cap 
ture  of  Richmond. 

It  was  evidently  General  Grant's  design 
to  avoid  any  great  military  movement  un 
til  he  heard  of  Sherman's  arrival  near  the 
Southern  coast.  Although  Grant  had  no 


faith  in  Butler's  project  to  open  the  way  to 
Richmond  by  Dutch  Gap,  he  was  willing 
that  Butler  should  amuse  himself,  and 
thereby  be  kept  from  interfering  in  more 
important  matters. 

On  the  2d  of  September  Sherman  entered 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  as  a  conqueror. 

General  Lee  had  made  such  a  persistent 
defence  against  all  the  attacks  on  his  lines, 
and  had  succeeded  so  well  in  keeping  the 
railroads  south  of  Richmond  open,  that 
Grant  saw  that  to  push  him  too  heavily  at 
this  time  would  result  in  great  loss  to  the 
Federal  Army,  while  Lee  would  be  ulti 
mately  forced  to  evacuate  Richmond. 

Up  to  the  17th  of  July,  General  J.  E. 
Johnston  had  severely  hampered  Sherman 
in  his  advance  through  the  South  ;  but,  on 
the  above  date,  this  able  Confederate  gen 
eral  was  displaced  from  his  command  owing 
to  intrigues  in  Richmond,  and  J.  B.  Hood, 
who  was  considered  a  fighting  general  par 
excellence,  succeeded  him.  This  circum 
stance,  though  it  threw  a  damper  on  the 
army  which  Johnston  had  so  ably  com 
manded,  gave  Sherman  fresh  spirits,  and 
he  moved  upon  Atlanta  quite  certain  of 
success. 

Hood  had  now  under  his  command  an 
effective  force  of  40,000  infantry  and  artil 
lery  and  10,000  cavalry,  not  to  mention 
other  Confederate  forces  in  the  field ;  but, 
in  spite  of  all  his  forces.  Hood  was  no  match 
for  Sherman,  and,  by  capturing  Atlanta, 
the  latter  had  a  new  base  from  which  to  op 
erate,  and  a  certainty  of  cutting  off  the  re 
treat  of  General  Lee  in  case  he  should  en 
deavor  to  march  south  with  his  army. 

If  General  Lee  had  escaped  from  Rich 
mond  with  50,000  men,  and  joined  his  forces 
with  those  of  Johnston,  previous  to  the  lat- 
ter's  being  relieved  from  command,  Sher 
man  would  have  been  confronted  by  an 
army  twice  the  size  of  his  own.  and  would 
have  been  obliged  to  retreat.  The  Confed 
erates  would  then  have  fortified  Atlanta,  as 
they  had  previously  fortified  Richmond ; 
the  headquarters  of  the  Confederacy  would 
have  been  in  the  interior  instead  of  on  the 
coast,  and  the  war  would  have  been  con 
tinued  indefinitely.  This  was  probably  the 
reason  why  Grant  did  not  push  matters 
more  vigorously  before  Richmond,  where  he 
would  have  met  with  great  losses,  and  per 
haps  have  been  unable  to  prevent  Lee's  final 
escape. 

Grant  had  had,  at  Vicksburg,  an  example 
of  how  much  cheaper  it  was  to  starve  out 
an  enemy,  protected  by  the  strongest  forti 
fications,  than  to  drive  him  out;  and  he  had 
no  idea  of  forcing  Lee  south  into  regions 
where  he  could  prolong  the  war  until  the 
patience  of  the  North  was  exhausted. 

The  commanding  general  had  not  only  to 
consider  the  military  situation,  but  also  the 


81 


482 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


political  one.  The  two  great  parties  in  the 
North  were  divided  by  distinct  lines.  One 
party,  though  in  favor  of  a  vigorous  prose 
cution  of  the  war,  called  for  a  strict  observ 
ance  of  the  Constitution  in  relation  to  the 
rights  of  the  States,  and  severely  criticised 
certain  of  the  measures  of  the  Government 
as  arbitrary  and  unnecessary. 

The  numerous  successes  of  the  Union 
arms  in  18G3,  and  the  advance  of  the  Federal 
Army  until  it  almost  enveloped  the  Confed 
erates  in  Richmond,  greatly  increased  the 
strength  of  the  Administration  party. 
Everybody  was  now  hopeful  that  the  war 
would  speedily  be  brought  to  a  close,  particu 
larly  as  the  supreme  direction  of  military 
affairs  was  now  in  the  hands  of  General 
Grant,  in  whom  the  people  had  entire  confi 
dence.  The  Democratic  party  was  now  a 
war  party,  and  the  conservative  or  peace 
party  was  in  such  a  minority  that  their 
utterances  amounted  to  very  little. 

The  terrible  resistance  Grant  had  encoun 
tered  on  his  way  to  Richmond  had  given 
rise  to  an  impression  that  in  Lee  he  had 
met  an  antagonist  whom  it  would  be  diffi 
cult  for  him  to  overcome,  and  the  opposi 
tion  to  the  Government  in  the  North  was 
for  a  moment  emboldened. 

By  midsummer,  the  numerous  successes 
which  had  attended  the  Federal  arms,  and 
the  adherents  thereby  gained  to  the  Admin 
istration,  had  rendered  the  re-election  of 
President  Lincoln  a  certainty.  General 
Grant  felt  that,  under  these  circumstances, 
it  would  be  unwise  to  do  anything  calcu 
lated  to  imperil  a  condition  of  affairs  so 
beneficial  to  the  country,  and  although  he 
determined  to  leave  no  effort  untried  to 
capture  Richmond,  yet  he  resolved  to  suc 
ceed  by  means  that  would  cause  compara 
tively  little  loss  of  life. 

The  fall  of  Atlanta  and  the  dispersion  of 
Hood's  army  caused  a  great  sensation 
throughout  the  South.  The  impending 
doom  of  the  Confederate  cause  was  evi 
dent  to  all  thinking  men.  Hood  moved 
his  scattered  forces  to  new  lines,  and  Mr. 
Davis,  anxious  to  prove  that  he  had  com 
mitted  no  mistake  in  removing  General 
Johnston,  repaired  to  Hood's  headquarters 
in  person  to  encourage  that  general  and 
plan  a  new  campaign  that  would  compen 
sate  for  the  loss  of  Atlanta.  On  his  way 
to  Hood's  army,  Mr.  Davis  made  frequent 
speeches  to  cheer  up  the  people,  declaring 
that  General  Sherman  could  be  driven 
back,  Atlanta  recovered,  etc.,  etc.  The 
effect  of  all  this  was  to  inform  Grant  and 
Sherman  of  the  new  plan  of  operations 
decided  on  by  the  Confederate  President 
and  General  Hood ;  for,  of  course,  every 
thing  appeared  in  the  Southern  newspa 
pers  without  regard  to  the  injury  it  might 
inflict  on  the  cause.  In  writing  on  this 


subject,  General   Grant  expresses  himself 
as  follows : 

During  this  time,  Jefferson  Davis  made  a  speech 
at  Macon,  Georgia,  which  was  reported  in  the 
papers  of  the  South,  and  soon  became  known  to 
the  whole  country,  disclosing  the  plans  of  the 
enemy  and  enabling  General  Sherman  to  fully  meet 
them.  Mr.  Davis  exhibited  the  weakness  of  sup 
posing  that  an  army  that  had  been  beaten  and 
decimated  in  a  vain  attempt  at  the  defensive,  could 
successfully  undertake  the  offensive  against  an 
army  that  had  so  often  defeated  it. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  Hood  com 
menced  his  new  movement  to  endeavor  to 
reach  Sherman's  rear  and  cut  off  his  com 
munications,  apparently  oblivious  of  the 
fact  that  the  Union  Army  could  live  on  the 
country,  and  would  be  relieved  from  a 
vast  deal  of  trouble  in  keeping  open  com 
munications.  Ascertaining  that  Hood  had 
crossed  the  Chattahoochie  River  011  the  29th 
and  30th  of  September,  General  Sherman, 
followed  him;  but  finding  that  Hood  was 
bound  for  Nashville,  he  abandoned  the  pur 
suit  and  returned  to  Atlanta,  where  he  pre 
pared  to  march  to  the  sea  across  the  State 
of  Georgia.  Sherman's  calculation  was 
that  General  Thomas  could  collect  troops 
at  Nashville;  which,  with  the  two  army 
corps  sent  him  by  Sherman  by  way  of 
Chattanooga,  would  enable  him  to  hold  the 
line  of  the  Tennessee.  Everything  turned 
out  well,  and  General  Thomas  gained  a  vic 
tory  that  dispersed  Hood's  army  in  every 
direction,  and  administered  another  crush 
ing  blow  to  the  Confederate  cause. 

General  Sherman  was  the  more  induced 
to  hurry  his  movements  from  a  telegram 
sent  to  him  by  General  Grant,  in  which  the 
latter  says  :  "If  you  were  to  cut  loose,  I  do 
not  believe  you  would  meet  Hood's  army, 
but  you  would  be  bushwhacked  by  all  the 
old  men,  little  boys,  and  such  railroad 
guards  as  are  left  at  home."  With  the  dis 
positions  made  by  the  enemy,  Sherman  felt 
sure  he  would  have  nothing  in  his  rear  or 
on  his  flank  to  disturb  him,  and  so  pursued 
his  devastating  march  to  the  sea— that 
march  which  is  so  celebrated  in  the  annals 
of  the  civil  war. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  criticisms  of 
the  press  on  his  apparent  inactivity,  Grant 
waited  patiently  until  he  should  hear  that 
Sherman  was  in  a  position  to  prevent  Lee 
and  his  army  from  escaping  southward. 
When  Sherman  made  a  junction  at  Golds- 
boro,  N.  C.,  with  the  forces  of  Generals 
Schofield  and  Terry,  which  had  marched 
from  Wilmington  to  meet  him,  the  fate  of 
the  Confederacy  was  sealed,  and  Grant 
moved  on  Richmond. 

While  Grant  was  watching  the  progress 
of  events  which  we  have  detailed  above,  the 
Federal  naval  vessels  in  the  James  River, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Captain 
Melancton  Smith,  were  actively  engaged  in 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


483 


patrolling  the  river, guarding  Trent's  Reach, 
or  in  any  co-operative  service  called  for  by 
General  Grant.  About  the  middle  of  August, 
the  Navy  Department  wrote  to  Acting-Rear- 
Admiral  Lee,  inquiring  if  he  could  not  dis 
pense  with  some  of  the  iron-clads,  on  the 
ground  that  James  River  was  effectually 
blocked  against  the  Confederate  squadron. 
To  this  action  General  Grant  interposed 
an  objection,  which  relieves  Acting-Rear- 
Adiniral  Lee  from  any  imputation  of  desir 
ing  to  retain  the  iron-clads  in  the  vicinity 
of  Trent's  Reach  when  their  services  were 
so  imperatively  demanded  elsewhere.  Gen 
eral  Grant,  in  hi-;  communication  to  the 
admiral,  says : 

While  I  believe  we  never  will  require  armored 
vessels  to  meet  those  of  the  enemy,  I  think  it  im 
prudent  to  withdraw  them.  At  least  two  such 
vessels,  in  my  judgment,  should  be  kept  in  the  up 
per  James  River.  They  stand  a  constant  threat  to 
the  enemy,  and  prevent  them  from  taking  the  of 
fensive.  There  is  no  disguising  the  fact  that  if  the 
enemy  should  take  the  offensive  on  the  water,  al 
though  we  should  probably  destroy  his  whole  James 
River  navy,  such  damage  would  be  done  our  ship 
ping  and  stores,  all  accumulated  on  the  waters  where 
the  conflict  would  begin,  that  our  victory  would  be 
dearly  bought. 

In  consequence  of  General  Grant's  pro 
test.  Acting -Rear -Admiral  Lee  made  such 
representations  to  the  Navy  Department 
that  a  sufficient  force  of  iron-clads  wras  al 
lowed  to  remain  on  the  James. 

The  army  had  erected  a  strong  battery  at 
right  angles  with  the  line  of  fire  of  the 
Monitors  at  Trent's  Reach.  This  battery 
had  on  several  occasions  opened  on  How- 
lett's  and  completely  silenced  it.  Hence, 
with  the  obstructions  under  fire  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  guns,  the  Army  stores,  etc., 
at  City  Point  were  perfectly  secure  against 
any  attack. 

While  the  attention  of  the  Commander- 
in-chief  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron 
was  principally  directed  to  the  security  of 
Grant's  army  against  an  attack  by  the 
river,  the  enemy  in  the  sounds  of  North 
Carolina  were  doing  their  best  to  make  an 
impression  on  the  Federal  posts  established 
along  those  waters.  ''Great  victories"  over 
the  Union  forces  were  constantly  reported, 
which  existed  only  in  the  vivid  imagi 
nation  of  the  Confederate  reporters.  To 
show  how  war  news  was  manufactured, 
we  quote  the  following  from  the  Raleigh 
Weekly: 

"Colonel  Griffin,  Confederate  forces,  telegraphed 
to  the  War  Department  from  Jackson,  on  the  31st 
of  January,  as  follows:  'Yesterday  morning  en 
gaged  the  enemy  with  a  force  of  two  hundred 
men  and  a  rifled  field  piece.  After  a  fight  of  two 
hours,  in  which  we  engaged  twelve  hundred  men 
of  the  enemy  and  three  pieces  of  artillery,  the 
Yankees  were  driven  from  Windsor,  N.  C.,  to  their 
boats.  We  lost  six  men ;  loss  of  the  enemy  not 
known.' " 

Lieutenant-Commander   C.    W.    Flusser, 


indignant  at  such  a  report,  in  a  communi 
cation  to  Acting-Rear-Admiral  Lee,  writes 
as  follows  : 

"  The  report  is  false  from  beginning  to  conclusion. 
I  planned  the  affair  and  we  would  have  captured 
the  entire  party  had  we  been  ten  minutes  earlier. 
I  had  forty  sailors  and  one  12-pounder  howitzer, 
and  there  were  three  hundred  and  fifty  infantry. 
We  marched  about  sixteen  miles.  There  was  no  fight 
and  nothing  worth  reporting.  The  rebels  ran.  I 
fired  three  or  four  times  at  them  at  long  range.  We 
held  the  town  of  Windsor  several  hours,  and 
marched  back  eight  miles  to  our  boats  without  a 
single  shot  from  the  enemy." 

In  this  case  the  Confederate  commanded 
made  capital  out  of  nothing.  Flusser  was 
as  truthful  as  he  was  brave,  and  his  account 
is  reliable.  He  was  ever  on  the  alert  to 
surprise  the  enemy,  and  his  escaping  death 
for  so  long  a  period  is  remarkable. 

The  Confederates  had  been  employed  in 
building  a  powerful  ram,  called  the  "'  Albe- 
marle,"  on  the  Roanoke  River,  and,  know 
ing  that  the  Federals  had  no  vessel  that 
could  compete  with  her,  it  was  arranged  to 
fit  out  an  expedition  of  Confederate  sol 
diers,  which,  in  conjunction  with  the  ram, 
should  make  a  descent  on  Plymouth. 

The  United  States  Government  attached 
considerable  importance  to  the  possession 
of  Plymouth  as  a  base  for  Army  operations. 
Two  or  three  fortifications  had  been  erected 
and  well  armed,  and  these  were  connected 
by  lines  of  intrenchments  and  rifle-pits,  cal 
culated,  with  the  aid  of  the  gun-boats,  to 
repel  any  force  likely  to  be  sent  to  this 
point.  No  one  took  any  account  of  the 
"  Albemarle,"  then  building  up  the  river,  of 
which  vessel  only  meagre  accounts  could  be 
learned,  though  frequent  representations, 
by  naval  officers  in  command  in  the  sounds, 
had  been  made  to  the  Navy  Department  of 
the  necessity  for  more  troops  in  that  quar 
ter. 

It  seems  to  have  been  the  general  impres 
sion  that  the  Confederates  were  cherishing 
the  idea  of  repossessing  and  regaining  those 
places  which  had  been  so  gallantly  wrested 
from  them  early  in  the  war  by  the  united 
efforts  of  the  Army  and  Navy.  No  doubt 
the  Department  rested  under  the  opinion 
that  the  Confederates  could  not,  so  late  in 
the  year  18G4,  when  they  had  been  beaten 
at  all  points,  undertake  to  recapture  the 
towns  in  the  sounds,  or  build  a  formidable 
iron-clad,  in  face  of  the  fact  that  we  had 
built  numerous  small  Monitors,  any  of 
which,  lightened  of  their  armament  and 
provisions,  could  have  been  floated  into  the 
sounds.  There  was.  in  fact,  an  extraordi 
nary  supineness  manifested  in  certain  quar 
ters  in  relation  to  defending  those  sounds, 
for  the  possession  of  which  so  much  time 
and  labor  had  been  expended. 

The  object  of  the  Confederates,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  vear  18G4.  was  to  roll 


484 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


up  victories  in  every  quarter,  which  would 
have  their  effect  on  the  peace  party  in  the 
North,  and  influence  the  coming  Presiden 
tial  election.  Then,  too,  their  victories, 
much  exaggerated,  would  sound  well  ahroad, 
and  perhaps  bring  aid  from  the  English  and 
French  Governments. 

It  was  clearly  the  duty  of  the  Federal 
Government  never  to  fall  back  from  a  posi 
tion  so  easily  to  be  held  with  Monitors  and 
gun-boats  as  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina  ; 
yet.  for  want  of  proper  precautions  on  the 
part  of  the  Government,  the  enemy  besieged 
Plymouth. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  1864,  the  Confeder 
ates  opened  with  artillery  upon  Fort  Gray, 
and  in  the  afternoon,  directing  a  heavy  fire 
upon  the  town  of  Plymouth,  the  battle 
became  general  all  along  the  line.  The 
enemy  assaulted  the  works  with  great  gal- 


LIEUTEN ANT-COMMANDER  CHARLES  W.  FLU3SER. 


lantry,  but  were  driven  back  by  the  aid  of 
the  gun-boats  "Miami"  and  " Southfield," 
under  Lieutenant-Commander  Flusser.  A 
message  was  sent  from  General  Wessels  to 
Lieutenant-Commander  Flusser,  acknowl 
edging  the  value  of  the  Navy's  services  in 
driving  back  the  enemy,  and  requesting 
that  the  "  Miami "  might  be  kept  below  the 
town  to  prevent  a  flank  movement  bv  the 
Confederates.  The  "Southfield."  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  Chas.  A.  French,  an 
chored  with  the  "  Miami"  below  Plymouth, 
and  the  ram,  having  been  reported  "as  com 
ing  down  the  river,  the  two  gun-boats  were 
chained  together  to  meet  her.  At  3  :  45  P.M. 
both  steamers  got  underway,  and  stood  up 
the  river  as  fast  as  possible,  and  in  less 
than  five  minutes  the  ram  struck  the  "  Mi 
ami  "  on  the  port  bow,  near  the  water  line 
breaking  through  two  planks  for  a  distance 


of  about  ten  feet.  Almost  at  the  same  mo 
ment  the  ram  struck  the  "Southfield" 
with  her  prow  on  the  starboard  bow,  caus 
ing  the  latter  vessel  to  sink  rapidly.  Both 
vessels  had  opened  on  the  ram,  as  soon  as 
she  appeared  in  sight,  with  solid  shot  from 
their  100-pounder  rifles  and  11-inch  Dahl- 
gren  guns,  without  making  any  perceptible 
impression  on  the  "  Albemarle's "  armor. 
Lieutenant -Commander  Flusser  fired  the 
first  three  shots  himself,  the  third  shot 
being  a  10-second  Dahlgren  11-inch  shell. 
Directly  after,  Flusser  was  killed  by  a  frag 
ment  of  a  shell — whether  from  the  ram  or 
from  one  of  the  "  Miami's''  rebounding  from 
the  "Albemarle's"  armor  is  doubtful — and 
the  command  of  the  "Miami"  devolved 
upon  Acting-Master  William  N.  Wells. 

The  pressure  of  the  ram  between  the  two 
vessels  broke  the  fastenings  with  which 
they  were  joined,  and  as  many  of  the 
"  Southfield's "  men  as  could  do  so  got  on 
board  the  "Miami,"  which  vessel  rapidly 
retreated  down  the  river,  followed  by  the 
"Whitehead"  and  "Ceres."  the  ram  not 
appearing  to  make  more  than  four  knots 
an  hour  in  pursuit.  The  "  Albemarle " 
soon  relinquished  the  chase,  and  returned 
to  Plymouth,  where  the  battle  was  still  in 
progress. 

Flusser  had  no  superior  as  a  gallant  and 
energetic  officer,  but  his  arrangements  for 
meeting  the  ram  were  certainly  ill-judged. 
Had  the  four  vessels  been  properly  dis 
posed,  the  "Albemarle"  herself  could  have 
been  rammed  while  endeavoring  to  ram 
others.  Tying  two  vessels  together  gave 
the  enemy  the  very  opportunity  he  desired. 
Either  of  the  gun-boats  was  twice  as  fast 
as  the  ram,  and  there  were  chances  of  crip 
pling  her  that  were  not  improved. 

The  "Albemarle"  had  with  her  the 
"Cotton  Planter,"  a  strong  screw-steamer, 
barricaded  with  cotton  and  iron,  and  her 
presence  was,  perhaps,  the  reason  why  the 
gun-boats  retreated,  and  left  the  rani  mis 
tress  of  the  situation.  The  result  of  this 
unfortunate  affair  was  the  capture  of  the 
town  of  Plymouth,  with  its  garrison,  muni 
tions  of  war,  etc. 

The  following  were  the  casualties  in  the 
flotilla  from  the  attack  of  the  "  Albemarle" 
and  ''Cotton  Planter":  "Miami,"  command 
ing  officer  killed,  eleven  men  wounded; 
"Ceres,"  one  killed,  eight  wounded.  Out 
of  the  "Southfield's"  crew,  seven  officers 
and  forty-two  men  escaped  to  the  "Miami;"' 
the  rest  were  supposed  to  have  been  made 
prisoners.  After  setting  fire  to  the  part  of 
the  '  *  Southfield  "  that  was  still  above  water, 
the  "Albemarle"  returned  to  Plymouth. 

After  the  gun -boats  left  the  ram,  in  full 
possession  of  the  river,  the  Confederates 
took  fresh  courage,  and  resumed  their  at 
tacks  on  the  Federal  works,  from  which 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


485 


they  had  been  several  times  repulsed  with 
loss.  and.  no  reinforcements  arriving,  the 
forts  (on  the  20th)  surrendered. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  censure  the 
Navy  for  allowing  the  ram  to  come  down 
the  river;  and  it  does  seem  as  though  ob 
structions  and  torpedoes  might  have  been 
planted  in  the  channel  to  prevent  the  "Al- 
bemarle''  from  reaching  Plymouth;  but,  al 
though  piles  were  driven  and  the  river  par 
tially  blockaded,  as  events  proved,  the  ob 
structions  had  no  power  to  delay  the  ad 
vance  of  the  Confederate  vessels. 

In  response  to  a  resolution  of  the  House 
of  Representives,  calling  for  information  in 
regard  to  the  capture  of  Plymouth  through 
want  of  assistance  from  the  Navy,  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy  sent  to  the  Speaker 
copies  of  a  number  of  communications, 
among  them  the  following  : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  September  17,  1863. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  present  for  your  consid 
eration  a  subject  of  great  importance  connected 
with  the  maintaining  possession  of  the  sounds  of 
North  Carolina. 

Information  received  from  time  to  time  places  it 
beyond  doubt  that  the  rebels  are  constructing,  and 
have  almost  completed,  at  Edward's  Ferry,  near 
Weldon,  on  the  Roanoke  River,  a  ram  and  an  iron 
clad  floating  battery.  It  is  reported  that  these 
vessels  will  be  completed  in  the  course  of  five  or  six 
weeks.  It  is  further  reported  that  an  attack  on 
Plymouth  is  contemplated  by  land  and  water. 

Our  force  of  wooden  vessels  in  the  sounds,  neces 
sarily  of  light  draft  and  lightly  armed,  will  by  no 
means  be  adequate  to  contend  against  the  rebel 
ram  and  battery  should  they  succeed  in  getting 
down  the  Roanoke,  and,  in  that  event,  our  posses 
sion  of  the  sounds  would  be  jeopardized. 

It  is  impossible  for  our  vessels  to  ascend  the 
Roanoke  River  to  any  great  distance  in  conse 
quence  of  the  shallowness  of  the  water,  their  ex 
posed  situation  from  the  fire  of  sharp-shooters,  and 
the  earth-works  represented  to  be  located  at  differ 
ent  points,  particularly  at  Rainbow  Bluff. 

Were  our  iron-clads,  now  completed,  available  for 
service  in  the  sounds,  they  could  not  be  sent  there, 
as  they  draw  too  much  water  to  cross  the  bar  at 
Hatteras.  Our  light-draft  ones  will  not  be  com 
pleted  for  some  time  to  come. 

In  view  of  all  these  facts,  I  deem  it  proper  to  sug 
gest  the  importance  of  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
Army  to  surprise  and  destroy  the  rebel  ram  and 
battery  referred  to,  or  of  obstructing  the  river  by 
torpedoes  and  piles,  or  otherwise,  so  as  to  prevent 
their  descent. 

This  Department  will  be  happy  to  co-operate  as 
far  as  it  may  be  able  in  adopting  such  steps  as  may 
seem  practicable  and  adequate  to  secure  us  against 
threatening  disaster. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

GIDEON  WELLES. 
To  Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 

The  "Albemarle"  did  not  appear  until 
nine  months  after  the  above  letter  was 
written,  during  which  time  no  efforts  seem 
to  have  been  made  to  hasten  the  prepara 
tion  of  light -draft  Monitors,  that  might 
have  been  floated  over  the  bar  at  Hatteras 
at  high  water. 

The  letter  we  have  quoted  shows  that  the 


War  Department  took  little  interest  in  the 
matter  of  destroying  the  ram  when  under 
construction,  which  could  only  be  done  by 
a  strong  military  and  naval  force  com 
bined 

There  was  great  excitement  among  all 
those  who  could  by  any  possibility  be  made 
responsible  for  the  capture  of  Plymouth. 
Both  the  military  and  naval  authorities  had 
full  knowledge  of  the  building  of  the  ram 
and  floating  battery;  but  the  naval  officer 
commanding  in  the  sounds  remained  at 
Newbern,  and  left  the  most  important  posi 
tion,  Plymouth,  with  but  four  vessels,  only 
two  of  which  were  of  any  force,  to  defend 
the  place  against  an  iron-clad  represented 
to  be  almost  a  match  for  the  far-famed 
''Merrimac."  Although  the  attack  com 
menced  on  the  18th,  and  lasted  until  the 
20th,  no  vessels  were  sent  from  the  naval 
forces  in  the  sounds  or  soldiers  from  the 
military  posts  at  other  points. 

Major-General  Peck,  commanding  at 
Newbern,  writes  to  General  Butler  as  fol 
lows: 

HEADQUARTERS,  ) 

ARMY  OP  THE  DISTRICT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA,  > 
NEWBERN,  N.  C.,  April  20th,  1864.         ) 
GENERAL : 

*  The  enemy  have  appeared  in  force 
in  front  of  Plymouth,  and  attacked  the  place.  The 
ram  has  sunk  the  "  Southfteld,"  disabled  the  "  Mi 
ami,"  and  passed  below  Plymouth.  The  sound  is 
probably  by  this  time  in  possession  of  the  enemy, 
and  Roanoke  Island  will  undoubtedly  soon  be 
attacked,  if  it  has  not  been  already.  Washington, 
N.  C..  is  also  threatened.  Firing  has  been  heard  in 
that  direction  all  night  and  this  morning.  Unless 
we  are  immediately  and  strongly  reinforced,  both 
by  land  and  water,  all  of  eastern  North  Carolina  is 
lost  to  us.  Immediate  action  is  imperatively  neces 
sary.  Captain  Flusser,  of  the  "  Miami,"  is  killed. 
Very  respectfully, 

JOHN  J.  PECK, 
Major-General  Commanding. 
Major-General  B.  F.  BUTLER, 

Commanding  Department  of  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina. 

In  reply  to  the  resolution  of  Congress 
asking  for  information  in  regard  to  the 
capture  of  Plymouth,  Mr.  Secretary  Welles 
sent  a  characteristic  communication,  in 
which  he  says: 

I  transmit  herewith  copies  of  correspondence  on 
the  files  of  this  Department  relating  to  the  construc 
tion  of  the  rebel  ram  referred  to,  and  other  matters 
connected  therewith.  I  also  subjoin  a  schedule  of 
iron-clad  gun  boats  of  light  draft  in  process  of  con 
struction,  which,  in  anticipation  of  the  state  of 
things  now  existing,  were  designed  for  service  in 
the  sounds  and  rivers  of  North  Carolina,  and  the 
shallow  interior  waters  elsewhere  on  the  coast. 
These  vessels  were  contracted  for  as  soon  as  it  was 
possible  to  do  so  after  the  necessary  appropriations 
were  made  by  Congress,  and  it  will  be  seen  by  the 
date  given  that  most  of  them  were  to  have  been 
completed  last  year,  some  of  them  as  early  as  Sep 
tember.  Not  one  has  yet  been  delivered,  and  it  will 
be  some  weeks  before  one  can  be  made  available 
for  service. 

I  have  felt  it  my  duty  on  repeated  occasions  to  call 
the  attention  of  Congress  to  the  necessity  fora  yard 


480 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


and  establishment  where  iron  and  armored  vessels 
could  be  constructed  for  the  Government,  but  the 
preliminary  steps  for  such  an  establishment  have 
not  yet  been  taken.  In  the  meantime,  the  Depart 
ment  and  the  Government  are  wholly  dependent 
on  contractors,  who,  if  they  have  the  will,  do  not 
possess  the  ability,  to  finish  these  vessels  promptly. 
Conflicting  local  controversies  in  regard  to  the  place 
which  shall  be  selected  and  benefitted  by  the  pro 
posed  important  national  establishment  for  an  iron 
Navy,  such  as  the  present  and  future  necessities  of 
the  Government  require,  have  contributed  to  delay 
action  on  this  important  subject. 

Having  in  view  economy  as  well  as  the  public 
necessities,  I  have  at  no  time  recommended  that  the 
number  of  our  Navy  Yards  should  be  increased  on 
the  Atlantic  coast;  but  it  is  my  deliberate  opinion 
that  no  time  should  be  wasted  in  establishing,  at  a 
proper  place,  a  suitable  yard  where  iron  ships  can 
be  made  and  repaired.  We  feel  its  necessity  in  an 
emergency  which  has  called  forth  the  present  in 
quiry,  and  not  a  single  contractor  is  able  to  fulfill 
his  engagements,  even  for  one  of  this  class  of  small 
vessels. 

In  the  event  of  a  foreign  war  with  one  or  more  of 
the  maritime  powers,  our  condition  would  be  most 
unfortunate,  with  no  Government  establishment 
for  the  construction  and  repair  of  armored  vessels 
such  as  modern  science  and  skill  are  introducing. 

The  omission  to  make  provision  for  such  an  estab 
lishment,  on  which  the  Government  can  always 
depend,  is  to  be  regretted. 

Such  incidental  aid  as  the  Navy  could  render  the 
Army  was  cheerfully  and  earnestly  given  at  Ply 
mouth,  as  it  has  ever  been  given  always  and  at  all 
times  when  its  aid  and  co-operation  could  be  useful. 
It  has  been  less  effective  than  it  could  have  been, 
even  with  such  boats  as  we  have,  in  consequence  of 
the  unfortunate  legislation  of  the  last  Congress, 
which,  in  its  enrollment  law,  ignored  the  Navy, 
subjected  seamen  to  military  draft,  tendered  large 
bounties  to  such  as  became  soldiers,  but  allowed 
no  bounty  to  those  who  entered  the  naval  service, 
and  would  not  even  permit  naval  recruits  to  be 
credited  on  the  quotas  required  to  be  drafted. 

The  remedial  legislation  of  the  present  Congress 
has  thus  far  effected  comparatively  few  transfers. 
Some  suggestions  which  I  had  the  honor  to  submit 
to  the  Senate  in  March  last,  in  answer  to  an  inquiry 
as  to  what  other  legislation  is  necessary  to  supply 
any  deficiencies  of  men  for  the  naval  service,  have 
not,  that  I  am  aware,  been  reported  upon,  and 
many  of  our  vessels— some  of  Avhich  would  have 
been  ordered  to  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina— are 
still  without  crews. 

The  correspondence  of  Acting- Hear- Admiral  Lee 
and  the  naval  officers  are  evidence  that  there  has 
been  no  neglect  or  inattention  on  their  part  at  Ply 
mouth  or  elsewhere  in  that  quarter. 
I  have,  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES. 

Mr.  Secretary  Welles,  in  his  communica 
tion  to  Congress,  plainly  demonstrated  that 
the  Confederates  could  never  have  captured 
Plymouth  if  adequate  appropriations  had 
been  made  when  first  asked  for  to  construct 
light-draft  iron-clads,  but  all  through  the 
war  Congress  required  much  urging  from 
the  Navy  Department  in  order  that  proper 
appropriations  should  be  made. 
^The  same  unwillingness  to  grant  the 
Navy  money  exists  to-day,  and  the  country, 
as  regards  this  arm  of  defence,  is  in  a  de 
plorable  condition. 

Following  the  capture  of  Plymouth,  the 
Confederates  early  in  May  made  an  attack 


on  Newbern,  drove  in  the  pickets,  and  took 
possession  of  the  railroad;  but  there  was  a 
fair  force  of  gun-boats  at  this  point,  and 
the  summons  of  the  enemy  to  surrender  the 
town  was  refused. 

On  the  #kl  of  April,  Captain  Melanctoii 
Smith  assumed  command  of  the  naval 
forces  in  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina,  with 
orders,  if  possible,  to  destroy  the  ram  *•' Al- 
bemarle,''  either  by  running  her  down  with 
the  double-ender  gun-boats  or  in  such  other 
manner  as  his  judgment  might  suggest, 
The  most  efficient  vessels  at  the  disposal 
of  Captain  Smith  were  the  ''Miami."  Com 
mander  Renshaw;  "Tawny."  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Truxtun;  "  Sassacus,"  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Roe;  '•  Mattabesett.''  Com 
mander  Febiger,  and  the  "  Wyalusing,'' 
Lieutenant-Commander  Queen. 

Captain  Smith  was  well  supplied  with 
"instructions''  by  his  commander-in-chief. 
Acting  -  Rear  -  Admiral  Lee,  although  it 
seems  probable  that  so  gallant  and  distin 
guished  an  officer  could  have  done  equally 
well  without  them.  For  the  reader's  benefit 
they  are  here  quoted: 

Attacking  the  ram  will,  to  some  extent,  intimi 
date  it,  and  by  getting  alongside  in  or  near  contact, 
and  on  each  side  holding  position,  and  by  firing  at 
the  centre  of  its  ports,  whether  open  or  shut,  and 
on  its  roof,  you  will  disable  and  capture  it.  Your 
guns  should  have  double  breachings  and  be  loaded 
with  heavy  charges— say  from  fifteen  to  eighteen 
pounds  of  powder  for  the  9-inch  guns,  and  solid 
shot— and  they  should  be  so  depressed  as  to  fire 
as  near  a  perpendicular  line  to  the  slope  of  the 
roof  as  practicable. 

If  all  hands  lie  down  when  the  guns  are  fired, 
they  will  escaps  the  rebound  of  broken  parts  from 
the  shot. 

At  the  time  of  this  attack,  if  some  shells  were 
thrown  down  the  smoke-stack,  she  might  then  be 
disabled. 

The  advantage  of  getting  alongside  and  on  each 
side  of  her  is  that  you  prevent  her  from  ramming, 
and  have  a  controlling  fire  upon  her  roof  and 
ports. 

The  ports  and  stern  are  her  weak  points,  even  if 
her  ports  are  kept  closed,  as  on  her  attack  on  the 
"Miami"  and  "Southfield"  shows.  You  can,  if 
alongside  of  her,  fire  through  them  and  into  her, 
and  if  her  roof  is,  as  described,  of  railroad  iron, with 
a  thin  plating  over  it,  the  mechanical  difficulty  of 
securing  this  is  such  that  it  will  loosen  and  fly  off 
under  the  concussion  of  your  heavy  fire  ;  while  the 
inside  bolts  will  act  like  canister  on  her  deck;  and 
the  concussion— especially  if  her  ports  are  shut— 
will  shock  and  demoralize  her  crew,  giving  you  a 
complete  victory. 

Be  sure  and  not  have  the  neutral  point  of  your 
wheel- house  opposite  her  ports.  Your  wheel-houses 
should  be  abaft  or  forward  of  her  roof  —  better 
abaft. 

The  Department  seems  to  prefer  ramming.  This 
ram  is  reported  as  being  of  the  usual  "  Merrimac  " 
model;  if  so,  heavy  lagging  and  a  knuckle  would 
make  her  sides  strong.  But  ramming  under  high 
speed  may  drive  it  in,  or  you  may  drive  her  ashore, 
or  mount  her  ends,  and— especially  in  the  sounds, 
with  some  sea — sink  her. 

Entrusted  by  the  Department  with  the  perform 
ance  of  this  signal  service,  I  leave,  with  the  expres 
sion  of  my  views,  to  you  the  manner  of  executing  it 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


All  assaults  fire  exposed  service,  but  this  assault 
has  with  much  real  risk  less  than  appears. 
Wishing  you  success  and  promotion, 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

S.  P.  LEE. 
To  Captain  MELAXCTOX  SMITH, 

U.  S.  Navy. 

In  the  coming  times,  these  quaint  dis 
patches  of  the  year  1864.  issued  by  the  old 
salts  of  the  Navy,  will  doubtless  be  looked 
upon  much  as  we  now  regard  the  lucubra 
tions  of  Admiral  Benbow  and  his  contem 
poraries.  Whether  Captain  Smith  benefitted 
by  the  directions  so  liberally  showered  upon 
him  will  appear  when  we  chronicle  his  ad 
ventures  in  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina. 

The  following  vessels,  arranged  in  the 
order  given,  off  Edenton  Bay,  were  under 
Captain  Smith's  command  : 

"  Miami,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
Charles  A.  French. 

"Ceres,"  Acting-Master  H.  H.  Foster. 

"Commodore  Hull,"  Act. -Master  Francis 
Josselyn. 

"  Seymour." 

SECOND    LINE. 

"Mattabesett,"  Commander  J.  G.  Fe- 
biger. 

"Sassacus,"  Lieutenant -Commander  F. 
A.  Roe. 

"'  Wyalusing,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
W.  W"  Queen. 

"  Whitehead,"  Acting-Ensign  G.  W.  Bar 
rett. 

The  "Miami"  was  fitted  with  a  torpedo 
to  explode  against  the  side  of  the  ram,  if 
opportunity  offered. 

At  1  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the  oth  of  May,  the 
'"Miami,"  "Commodore  Hull."  "Ceres" 
and  army  transport  "Trumpeter"  got  un 
derway  from  the  picket  station  off  Edenton 
Bay,  bound  to  the  mouth  of  the  Roanoke 
River,  for  the  purpose  of  laying  down  tor 
pedoes.  Within  a  short  distance  of  the 
buoy,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the  "  Albe- 
mafle"  was  discovered  coming  down,  ac 
companied  by  the  steamers  '•  Cotton  Plant" 
and  "Bombshell,"  laden  with  troops,  and 
doubtless  bound  to  the  attack  of  Newbern. 

The  "  Trumpeter"  was  sent  back  to  give 
tidings  of  the  approach  of  the  ram,  while 
the  other  vessels  steamed  slowly  away, 
endeavoring  to  draw  the  ram  as  far  as 
possible  from  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

The  ram  followed  the  '"Miami"  and  her 
consorts  until  the  vessels  fell  in  with  Cap 
tain  Smith  and  the  other  division  of  gun 
boats,  when  signal  was  made  to  attack  the 
•enemy.  The  "Mattabesett,"  '•  Wyalu 
sing,"  "  Sassacus  "  and  "  Whitehead  " 
steamed  towards  the  ram,  the  smaller  ves 
sels  falling  into  the  rear  according  to  pro 
gramme. 

At  4:40  P.  M.  the  ram  fired  the  first  gun. 
which,  destroyed  the  "  Mattabesett's " 
launch,  and  wounded  several  men.  A  sec 


ond  shot  cut  away  some  of  the  rigging.  At 
4:45  the  Confederate  steamer  "  Bombshell," 
being  temporarily  disabled  by  a  shot,  hauled 
down  her  flag  and  surrendered.  The  next 
moment  the  "Mattabesett"  fired  a  broad 
side  at  the  ram  from  a  distance  of  150 
yards.  Just  afterwards,  the  "Sassacus" 
delivered  a  broadside,  and  the  "  Albemarle" 
sheered  with  a  port-helm  with  the  intention 
of  ramming,  but  the  superior  speed  of  the 
"  Sassacus"  foiled  her  in  this  attempt,  and 
the  latter  passed  around  the  ram's  stern, 
with  a  hard  port-helm. 

The  "  Bombshell"  lay  off  the  ram's  port- 
quarter,  and,  having  opened  fire  simultane 
ously  with  the  "Albemarle,"  the  "Sassacus" 
fired  on  her,  and  her  commanding  officer 
was  under  the  impression  that  the  Confed 
erate  vessel  had  surrendered  to  him. 

As  the  "  Mattabesett"  had  passed  around 
the  stern  of  the  ram  and  was  heading  down 
the  sound,  the  ram  had  turned  partially 
around,  presenting  her  broadside  to  the 
"Sassacus,"  which  vessel  was  at  that  time 
about  three  or  four  hundred  yards  distant. 
She  made  for  the  ram,  and  struck  her 
fairly  with  a  speed  of  five  or  six  knots,  ac 
cording  to  Captain  Smith,  or  ten  knots, 
according  to  Lieutenant-Commander  Roe. 

The  ram  was  struck  just  abaft  her  star 
board-beam,  causing  her  to  heel  over,  and 
placing  her  after -deck  under  water;  so 
much  so,  that  Lieutenant-Commander  Roe 
thought  she  was  sinking.  At  the  same  instant 
the  "Albemarle"  fired  a  100-pounder  rifle 
shot  through  and  through  the  "Sassacus," 
from  starboard  to  port  on  the  berth-deck. 
The  collision  was  heavy,  and  the  engine  of 
the  "Sassacus"  was  kept  going  in  the 
attempt  to  force  her  bow  deeper  and  deeper 
into  the  ram,  so  that  some  or  the  other  ves 
sels  could  attack  on  the  other  side,  and 
enable  the  "Sassacus"  to  sink  the  enemy. 
This  position  the  "Sassacus"  maintained 
at  least  ten  minutes.  Hand-grenades  were 
thrown  down  the  rani's  hatches,  and  at 
tempts  made  to  get  shells  into  her  smoke 
stack,  besides  keeping  up  a  severe  mus 
ketry  fire  on  her. 

At  length  the  stern  of  the  ram  swung 
around,  and,  her  broadside-port  bearing  on 
the  starboard-bow  of  the  "Sassacus,"  the 
"Albemarle"  fired  a  100-pounder  rifled 
shot,  which  passed  through  the  starboard- 
side  of  the  "Sassacus,"  through  the  empty 
bunkers  into  the  starboard  -  boiler,  clear 
through  it  fore  and  aft,  and  finally  lodging 
in  the  ward-room.  In  a  moment  the  "  Sas 
sacus"  was  filled  with  steam,  killing  and 
wounding  many  of  the  crew,  and  rendering 
all  movement  for  the  time  impossible. 

Only  those  who  have  witnessed  the  effect 
of  a  bursting  boiler,  with  the  steam  rushing 
all  over  the  ship  and  penetrating  every 
nook  and  cranny,  can  appreciate  the  condi- 


488 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


tion  of  affairs  on  board  the  "Sassacus." 
The  stoutest  nerves  are  scarcely  proof 
against  the  appalling  sights  which  meet 
the  eye,  and  the  cries  and  groans  which 
fall  upon  the  ear.  When  the  vapor  cleared 
away,  so  that  the  commander  of  the  "  Sas 
sacus/'  could  look  around  him.  he  saw  his 
antagonist  steaming  away.  The  engine  of 
the  "  Sassacus"  was  meanwhile  in  motion. 
no  one  being  able  to  get  into  the  engine- 
room  to  stop  it,  on  account  of  the  scalding 
steam,  until  the  boiler  was  empty.  The 
helm  was  at  once  put  a- port,  and  the  "  Sas 
sacus"  headed  up  the  sound,  leaving  the 
field  clear  for  the  other  vessels  to  operate. 
As  soon  as  the  immediate  effects  of  the  ex 
plosion  were  over,  the  officers  and  men 
returned  to  their  guns,  firing  upon  the  en 
emy  until  the  "Sassacus"  drifted  out  of 
range. 

While  the  "Sassacus"  was  in  contact 
with  the  "  Albemarle,"  it  was  impossible 
for  the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron  to  fire, 
for  fear  of  injuring  their  consort  ;  but 
they  subsequently  failed  to  take  advantage 
of  the  act  of  the  gallant  "Sassacus,"  and 
deliver  blows  upon  the  ram  while  she  was 
at  rest  and  somewhat  demoralized  from  the 
shock  she  had  received. 

It  was  by  such  concerted  action  that  the 
"Tennessee"  was  forced  to  surrender  to 
Farragut's  vessels  in  Mobile  Bay.  The 
failure  of  the  larger  vessels  to  ram  the 
"  Albemarle"  is  accounted  for  by  the  indis 
criminate  firing  from  the  smaller  ones  upon 
the  enemy.  These  latter  vessels  answered 
the  signals  made  by  the  senior  officer,  with 
out  obeying  them. 

The  engagement  continued  until  7:30  p.  M., 
when  darkness  supervened.  The  "  Com 
modore  Hull  "  and  the  "  Ceres"  were  left  to 
keep  sight  of  the  rain,  and  to  remain  off 
the  mouth  of  the  Roanoke  River  if  she  suc 
ceeded  in  entering  it,  the  other  vessels  com 
ing  to  anchor  in  the  sound. 

During  the  engagement  an  attempt  was 
made  by  the  "  Wyalusing"  to  lay  a  seine  in 
front  of  the  ram  with  the  intent  of  fouling 
her  propeller,  but  the  latter  ran  over  it 
without  damage.  A  torpedo  was  rigged 
out  from  the  •'  Miami,"  and  the  attempt 
was  made  to  explode  it  against  the  enemy, 
but  from  some  unexplained  cause  the  at 
tempt  failed.  The  ram,  during  the  attacks 
of  the  different  vessels,  kept  moving  about 
delivering  an  accurate  fire,  apparently  un 
harmed,  although  the  shot  and  shell  rattled 
upon  her  slanting  roof  like  hail.  When  the 
shots  struck  her  armor  they  fairly  sparkled, 
and  flying  up  into  the  air  fell  into  the  water 
without  doing  any  perceptible  damage. 
The  ram  moved  through  the  water  at  the 
rate  of  six  knots  an  hour,  and  turned  quickly 
to  meet  her  adversaries. 

When  the  "Sassacus"  struck  the  "Albe 


marle."  and  directly  afterwards  was  covered 
with  vapor  fore  and  aft,  many  supposed 
that  this  catastrophe  was  brought  about  by 
the  collision,  and  the  impression  prevailed 
that  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  repeat  the 
experiment  for  fear  the  whole  flotilla  would 
be  disabled  by  their  own  exertions.  There 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  that  system  in 
manoeuvering  the  vessels  of  the  flotilla 
which  should  have  prevailed  ;  but  Captain 
Smith  had  only  been  in  command  a  few 
days,  and  the  officers  of  the  vessels  were 
quite  unpracticed  in  fleet  manoeuvering. 
Signals,  though  made  and  answered,  were 
not  carried  out.  It  seems  to  have  been  the 
object  to  fire  into  the  enemy  at  a  distance  of 
from  two  to  three  hundred  yards,  although 
it  was  soon  evident  that  the  ram  was  invul 
nerable  in  her  hull  against  any  shot  from 
the  Federal  vessels. 

The  "Mattabesett"  (flag-ship)  was  well 
handled,  and  her  fire  was  remarkably  ac 
curate.  She  was  not  in  the  least  disabled 
during  the  action. 

While  passing  the  ram  in  the  "  Wyalu 
sing,"  at  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards,  Lieutenant-Commander  Queen  says: 
"It  was  my  intention  to  run  the  'Bomb 
shell  '  down,  but  discovered  in  time  that 
she  had  surrendered,  when  I  immediately 
backed  clear  of  her  and  again  opened 
fire  on  the  ram."  Lieutenant-Commander 
Queen  claims  to  have  cut  away  the  signal 
halliards  of  the  "Albemarle''  when  her 
colors  came  down,  and  he  supposed  she  had 
surrendered,  though  he  was  soon  convinced 
to  the  contrary  by  a  6-inch  rifle-shot  crash 
ing  through  the  side  of  his  vessel.  Soon 
after,  the  executive  officer  of  the  "  Wyalu 
sing"  reported  the  ship  as  sinking,  aVl  it 
seemed  as  if  the  ram  was  about  to  clear  the 
field,  as  she  moved  about,  firing  her  two 
G-inch  rifles,  almost  every  shot  taking  effect 
on  some  of  the  vessels.  As  it  was  found 
on  examination  that  the  "  Wyalusing"  was 
making  no  more  water  than  usual,  another 
start  was  made  to  run  the  ram  down,  pass 
ing  around  her  and  throwing  in  broadsides 
which  did  110  harm,  and  it  was  only  at  the 
close  of  the  action  one  of  the  pieces  of  plat 
ing  forward  on  the  port  side  was  seen  to  fly 
off.  At  7:40  the  "  Wyalusing  "  ceased  firing, 
agreeably  to  signal  from  the  flag-ship. 

The  reports  of  the  different  commanding 
officers  show  that  as  rapid  a  fire  was  kept 
up  as  circumstances  would  admit;  yet, 
after  the  attack  of  the  "  Sassacus,"  there 
was  no  concerted  action,  which  is  to  be  re 
gretted,  since  one  or  two  heavy  blows  in 
the  stern  of  the  "  Albemarle"  would  have 
sealed  her  fate ;  for  her  rudder  once  disa 
bled,  the  ram  would  have  been  obliged  to 
surrender.  Even  if  she  had  been  repeat 
edly  rammed,  without  piercing  her  sides, 
her  crew  would  have  become  demoralized. 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


489 


as  always  happens  in  such  cases.  A  great 
deal  of  gallantry  was  shown  on  this  occa 
sion:  but  a  mistake  was  made  in  not  carry 
ing  out  the  Department's  directions,  to  de 
pend  upon  ramming. 

The  "  Albemarle''  had  no  opportunity  to 
use  her  ram:  or.  if  she  had.  failed  to  take 
advantage  of  it.  It  is  probable  that  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  ram.  who  fought 
his  vessel  with  so  much  judgment  and  gal 
lantry,  would  not  have  lost  an  opportunity 
to  use  his  prow  if  one  had  offered. 

This  remarkable  engagement  continued 
from  4:40  until  7:40  p.  M. .  when  the  signal 
was  made  to  cease  firing,  and  the  ram  made 
off  towards  the  mouth  of  Roanoke  River. 
It  afterwards  appeared  that  she  was  not 
materially  injured,  but  could  have  continued 
the  contest  for  some  time,  in  spite  of  the 
reports  to  the  contrary  brought  by  refugees 
from  Plymouth.  There  were  fired  from  the 
different  vessels  at  the  "Albemarle''  292 
one-hundred-pounder  shot  and  shells,  239 
nine-inch  shells.  60  thirty-pounder  Parrott 
shot  and  shells,  59  twenty-four-pound  howit 
zers,  and  some  12- pound  rifle-shots — in  all, 
648  shot  and  shells. 

The  following  damages  were  sustained 
by  the  vessels  of  the  flotilla: 

"Mattabesett" — one  shot  through  water 
ways  abaft  port- wheel. 

"Sassacus" — a  6-inch  solid  shot  through 
the  starboard- side  of  the  ship  five  feet  above 
the  berth-deck. through  the  starboard  boiler, 
and  exploding  it:  wheel  badly  damaged  by 
coming  in  contact  with  the  ram's  stern. 

"  Wyalusing  "  —shell  exploded  in  star 
board  wheel-house,  cutting  away  two  of 
the  water-rims  of  the  starboard  wheel,  etc. ; 
one  shot  knocking  out  the  gig's  bottom: 
one  shot  through  starboard-side  of  berth- 
deck,  doing  much  damage;  one  shot  on  the 
starboard  quarter  above  the  water  line, 
doing  much  damage. 

"  Miami" — struck  three  or  four  times,  all 
but  one  shot  unimportant. 

This  was  not  a  great  deal  of  damage,  con 
sidering  the  number  of  targets  the  ram  had 
to  fire  at.  and  seemingly  nothing  to  disable 
any  of  the  flotilla  except  the  "Sassacus," 
which  vessel  was  put  hors  de  combat  early 
in  the  action.  The  fire  of  the  ram  was, 
doubtless,  much  interfered  with  by  the  tre 
mendous  hail  of  shot  and  shell  which  fell 
upon  her,  obliging  her  to  keep  her  shutters 
almost  constantly  closed. 

The  engagement  showed  conclusively  the 
immense  advantage  of  an  iron-clad  ram 
over  any  number  of  vulnerable  wooden 
vessels  such  as  were  employed  in  the  waters 
of  North  Carolina,  and  that  the  money  spent 
to  build  "  double-enders  "  would  have  been 
much  better  applied  in  the  construction  of 
fast  rams,  each  with  one  or  two  heavy  guns. 
It  would  have  taken  little  more  time  to  build 


light  iron-clads  than  it  did  to  construct  the 
double-enders.  which,  on  the  whole,  were 
not  well  suited  for  their  intended  purpose. 

The  engagement  with  the  "Albemarle," 
although  not  successful  in  sinking  or  dis 
abling  her,  yet  answered  the  valuable  pur 
pose  of  preventing  her  from  doing  further 
mischief.  Her  intended  attack  on  Newbern. 
in  co-operation  with  the  Confederate  land 
forces,  was  given  up,  and  the  ram  was  only 
seen  once  more  after  the  engagement.  A 
day  or  two  afterwards,  the  "Albemarle " 
came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Roanoke  River 
with  the  apparent  object  of  putting  down 
torpedoes;  but  when  fired  upon  retreated  up 
the  stream.  She  was  then  tied  to  the  bank 
under  the  guns  of  Plymouth,  and  heavy 
booms  placed  around  her  to  keep  off  tor 
pedo-boats,  there  to  undergo  such  repairs 
as  were  found  necessary.  Her  command 
ing  officer  was  evidently  satisfied  that  with 
his  limited  speed  it  was  not  prudent  to  en 
counter  so  many  vessels  without  further 
strengthening  the  "Albemarle."  The  blow 
given  by  the  "  Sassacus  "  admonished  him 
that  two  or  three  successive  shocks  would 
disable  his  vessel. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  "Albe 
marle  "  was  Lieutenant  A.  F.  Warley,  late 
of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  commanded 
the  "Manassas"  at  the  forts  below  New 
Orleans.  In  the  command  of  the  "Albe 
marle"  he  certainly  showed  great  skill  and 
gallantry,  the  credit  for  which  we  do  not 
propose  to  withhold  because  it  was  ex 
ercised  against  the  flag  under  which  he  had 
been  trained  to  service.  The  attack  on  the 
flotilla  was  a  bold  stroke,  doubtless  intended 
to  make  a  point  for  the  Confederate  cause, 
which  was  just  then  threatened  with  a  col 
lapse. 

The  "  Albemarle"  was  constructed  on  the 
same  general  plan  as  the  "  Merrimac."  The 
slanting  roof  and  other  exposed  parts  were 
covered  with  five  inches  of  pine  and  the 
same  thickness  of  oak  surmounted  with 
railroad  iron,  over  which  was  an  inch  of 
plating  secured  through  all  with  bolts  and 
nuts.  The  ram  had  a  cast-iron  prow  and 
carried  two  6-inch  Brooke  rifled  guns, 
pivoted  on  the  bow  and  stern,  so  that  the 
guns  could  be  worked  from  the  bow  and 
quarter  ports.  Her  overhanging  sides,  con 
nected  with  a  "  knuckle."  made  it  difficult  to 
ram  her  with  an  ordinary  gun-boat.  She  was 
driven  at  a  speed  of  six  knots  by  a  propeller 
and  drew  not  exceeding  eight  feet  of  water. 

The  Confederates  throughout  the  war  ad 
hered  to  this  class  of  vessel,  which  was  the 
most  convenient  for  them  to  build  with 
their  limited  facilities.  Considering  the 
number  the  enemy  constructed,  and  the 
gallantry  and  ability  of  their  naval  officers, 
it  is  remarkable  that  they  should  not  have 
accomplished  more. 


490 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


While  the  Federals  may  be- liable  to  criti 
cism  for  allowing  the  enemy  to  get  ahead  of 
them  in  the  construction  of  iron-clads,  there 
was  no  want  of  gallantry  on  the  part  of  the 
Navy  in  attempting  their  destruction,  and 
the  attempts  were  generally  successful.  The 
"Merrimac"  was  the  only  Confederate 
iron-clad  which  really  accomplished  much, 
and  she  bade  fair  at  one  time  to  change  the 
aspect  of  affairs  in  favor  of  the  Confederates, 
and  overwhelm  the  Union  people  in  morti 
fication  and  disaster. 

An  effort  was  made  to  destroy  the  "Albe- 
marle  "  by  torpedoes.  A  party  of  five  vol 
unteers  from  the  "Wyalusing"  left  that 
vessel  at  2  P.  M.  on  the  ^Oth  of  May,  having 
made  a  reconnaissance  two  days  previously, 
and  ascended  the  middle  channel  of  the 
Koanoke  River  in  a  dinghy.  The  party  car 
ried  two  torpedoes,  each  containing  one 
hundred  pounds  of  powder,  with  their  ap 
pendages,  which  were  transported  on  stretch 
ers  across  the  swamps.  John  W.  Lloyd, 
coxswain,  and  Charles  Baldwin,  coal- 
heaver,  swam  the  river  with  a  line  and 
hauled  the  torpedoes  across  to  the  Plymouth 
shore  close  to  the  town.  The  torpedoes 
were  then  connected  by  a  bridle  floated 
down  with  the  current,  guided  by  Charles 
Baldwin,  who  designed  to  place  them  across 
the  '•Albemarle's"  bow,  one  on  either  side, 
and  Allen  Crawford,  fireman,  who  was 


stationed  in  the  swamps  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  was  to  explode  them  on  a  given 
signal. 

Everything  worked  well  until  the  torpe 
does  were  within  a  few  yards  of  the  ram, 
when  Baldwin  was  seen  and  hailed  by  a 
sentry  on  the  wharf.  The  sentry  then  fired 
two  shots,  which  was  soon  followed  by  a 
volley  of  musketry,  which  induced  Lloyd 
to  cut  the  guiding  line,  throw  away  the  coil. 
and  swim  the  river  again  to  join  John 
Laverty,  fireman,  who  was  left  in  charge 
of  the  arms  and  clothes.  These  two  men. 
with  the  boat-keeper,  returned  to  the  ship, 
after  an  absence  of  thirty-eight  hours,  nearly 
exhausted  with  their  arduous  and  perilous 
labors.  The  other  two  men  were  found,  after 
a  two  days'  search  in  the  swamps,  almost 
worn  out  with  hunger  and  fatigue.  Al 
though  their  design  was  defeated  by  the  ac 
cidental  fouling  of  the  line  with  a  schooner, 
these  men  deserve  none  the  less  credit  for 
undertaking  so  perilous  an  adventure. 

After  this  episode  the  "Albemarle  "  was 
strictly  guarded,  and  remained  at  Ply 
mouth,  a  constant  source  of  anxiety  to  our 
naval  authorities. 

The  flotilla  in  the  sounds  was  reinforced 
by  some  additional  vessels  and  placed  under 
the  command  of  Commander  William  H. 
Macomb,  an  officer  fully  competent  to  per 
form  the  duties  required  of  him. 


NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  JANUARY  1,  1804. 

ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL,  SAMUEL  P.  LEE.     FLEET-CAPTAIN,  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER 

JOHN  S.  BARNES. 


STEAM   FRIGATE    "  MINNESOTA  "—FLAG -SHIP. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  H.  Upshur;  Lieu 
tenant,  Jos.  P.  Fyffe;  Fleet  Surgeon,  W.  Maxwell 
Wood;  Assistant  Surgeons,  G.  S.  Franklin,  W.  S. 
Fort  and  A.  Mathewson;  Fleet  Paymaster,  Chas.  P. 
Uphain;  Chaplain,  Thomas  G.  Baiter  ;  Marine  Offi 
cers:  Captain,  John  Schermerhorn:  Second-Lieuten 
ant,  C.  F.  Williams;  Acting-Masters,  Robert  Bar- 
stow,  A.  B.  Pierson  and  W.  H.  Polly;  Acting-En 
signs,  J.  W.  Grattan,  E.  R.  Olcott,  Richard  Bates, 
John  M.  Cowen  and  James  Birtwistle;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  F.  A.  O'Connor,  John  Brann,  J. 
M.  Skarden,  G.  W.  Kellogg  and  S.  A.  Tabor; 
Engineers  :  Chiefs,  Benj.  F.  Garvin  and  John  H. 
Long;  Assistants,  G.  W.  Sensner,  James  Renshaw, 
Jr.,  Guy  Samson,  R.  1).  Taylor,  F.  W.  Nyrnan,  Win. 
Bond  and  J.  D.  Lee;  Boats  wain.  Win.  Bunker;  Gun 
ner,  C.  W.  Homer;  Carpenter,  J.  W.  Stimson;  Sail- 
maker,  T.  O.  Fassett. 

IRON-CLAD   STEAMER    "ROANOKE." 

Captain,  Guert  Gansevoort ;  Lieutenant,  Clark 
Merchant;  Surgeon,  Robert  Wood  worth;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  A.  A.  Hoehling ;  Paymaster,  James  D. 
Murray ;  Marine  Corps :  First-Lieutenant,  Frank 
Monroe  ;  Acting-Masters,  James  French,  Chas.  I)e 
Bevoise,  H.  J.  Coop  and  T.  A.  Wyatt;  Ensigns,  I). 

D.  Wemple  and  H.  B.  Rumsey;  Acting-Ensign,  E. 

E.  Taylor;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  H.  Collamore, 
J.  S.  Young  and  John  Dow;  Engineers:  Chief,  Ed 


ward  Fithian;  Assistants,  T.  J.  McK.  Daniels,  H.  S. 
Leonard,  H.  D.  Sellman,  Webster  Lane,  Henry 
Blye,  E.  P.  Rank  and  J.  C.  Cross;  Boatswain,  John 
A.  Selmer;  Gunner,  John  Caulk;  Carpenter,  J.  H. 
Owens. 

STEAMER   "FORT  JACKSON." 

Captain.  B.  F.  Sands;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
Chas.  S.  Norton;  Surgeon,  Philip  S.  Wales;  Pay 
master,  Clifton  Hellen;  Acting-Masters, W.  E.  Denni- 
son  and  R.  P.  Swann;  Ensign,  S.  H.  Hunt;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  H.  F.  Moffat,  S.  R.  Hopkins  and  F.  P.  B. 
Sands;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  D.  Moore,  G.  W. 
Smoot,  W.  M.  Mann  and  H.  S.  Eytinge;  Engineers, 
Rodney  Smith,  J.  E.  Fox,  Jared  Day,  John  Herron, 
C.  H.  Wakefleld,  W.  M.  Prentiss  and  J.  H.  Eppes; 
Boatswain,  P.  A.  Chasoii;  Acting-Gunner,  Thomas 
Reise;  Carpenter,  E.  Thompson. 

STEAMEB   "SHENANDOAH." 

Captain,  Daniel  B.  Ridgely;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  R.  R.  AVallace;  Lieutenant,  S.  W.  Nichols  ; 
Ensigns,  H.  C.  Taylor  and  Yates  Sterling;  Surgeon, 
James  McMaster;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  C. 
M.  Guild;  Acting-Master,  J.  W.  Bentley;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  W.  H.  Brice  and  J.  A.  Bullard;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  Harrison  Miller,  L.  H.  White, 
Charles  Tangwell  and  W.  Moore;  Engineers:  Chief, 
J.  W.  Thomson;  Assistants,  J.  M.  Hobby,  J.  T. 
Keleher,  D.  P.  McCartney,  D.  M.  Fulmer,  J.  W. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


491 


Gardner  and  F.  AV.  Towner ;  Boatswain,  J.  H. 
Polly;  Gunner,  Wui.  Hardison. 

STEAMER   "CONNECTICUT." 

Commander,  John  J.  Alniy;  Lieutenant,  Louis 
KemplT;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  R.  Little;  Assistant 
Paymaster,  Arthur  Burtis,  Jr.;  Acting-Master,  F. 
Hopkins,  Jr.;  Acting -Ensigns,  F.  Wallace,  S.  Hard 
ing,  Jr.,  ami  J.  M.  C.  Reville;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  Charles  Hall.  E.  P.  Blayne,  E.  S.  D.  Howland, 
John  Williams  and  Thos.  Stanfield;  Engineers : 
Acting-Chief,  Alex.  McCausland  ;  Acting  Second- 
Assistant,  David  McArthur;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants.  James  Campbell,  John  Quiun  and  Wm.  Mc- 
Grath;  Gunner,  Wm.  Mowbry. 

STEAMEK   '    QUAKER  CITY." 

Commander,  James  M.  Frailey;  Lieutenant,  Silas 
Casey,  Jr.;  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  J.  Brown- 
lee  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  J.  Bullay; 
Acting-Chief-Engineer,  G.  AV.  Fa-rrer;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  Edmund  Kemble;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  J.  Hill, 
E.  M.  Seaver  and  Richard  Wilkinson  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  G.  C.  Sanborn,  J.  B.  Tew;  C.  H. 
Thome  and  J.  C.  Constant;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  W.  J.  Howard  and  J.  K.  Hickey; 
Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  H.  Mat-hews,  J.  R. 
Peterson,  K.  Prest,  E.  E.  Porter  and  Fred'k  Fries  ; 
Acting  Gunner,  Joseph  Furlong. 

ORDNANCE  STOKE-SHIP   "ST.   LAWRENCE.'7 

Commander,  Dominick  Lynch;  Acting-Master,  E. 

S.  Goodwin ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Robert  Merchant, 
Alon/o  Small  and  C.  E.  Buck;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  Thomas  Welsh,  W.  8.  Cammett  and  E.  M. 
Hemsley;  Act  ing- Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  E.  Warner  ; 
Acting -Assistant  Paymaster.  W.  Goldsborough; 
Acting-Gunner,  W.  E.  Webber. 

STEAMER   "KEYSTONE   STATE." 

Commander,  Edward  Donaldson  ;  Lieutenant,  J. 
P.  Robertson;  Acting-Masters,  C.  H.  Corser,  L.  E. 
Degn  and  W.  T.  Buck;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  M.  Bird 
and  J.  C.  Murphy  ;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  J.  T. 
Ridgway;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  E.  Emery  ; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  8.  Stimson;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Chief,  A.  K.  Eddows;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  P.  L.  Fry;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J. 
H.  Smith,  C.  A.  Blake,  W.  H.  Brown  and  J.  B. 
Wilbur;  Acting-Gunner,  D.  L.  Briggs. 

STEAMER    "  HETZEL.  " 

Commander,  H.  K.  Davenport;  Acting-Masters, 
G.  B.  Thompson  and  Milford  Rogers  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  R.  P.  Boss,  John  Rudrow,  W.  H. 
Leavitt  and  Tully  McEntyre;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  G.  W.  Wilson;  Acting  Assistant  Paymaster, 
G.  W.  Morton;  Engineers  :  Acting  Second  Assist 
ant,  J.  H.  Padgett;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  B. 
Cole,  W-  B.  Whitmore  and  A.  D.  Witherell. 

STEAMER   "FLORIDA." 

Commander,  Pierce  Crosby:  Acting-Lieutenant, 
E.  C.  Merriman  ;  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  H. 
Vose;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  F.  Keeler: 
Acting-Master,  John  McGowan,  Jr.;  Acting  En 
signs,  Peter  Williams,  C.  E.  Rich  and  C.  AVashburn; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Knowlton,  T.  W. 
Rock,  Robert  Clifford  and  David  Fader;  Engineers: 
Acting-First-Assistant,  William  McLean;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  John  Mason  and  D.  M.  Lane ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  G.  F.  Smith  and  J.  W. 
Hockett. 

STEAMER    "LOUISIANA." 

Commander,  Richard  T.  Renshaw  ;  Acting-En 
sign,  E.  S.  McKeever;  Acting-Masters  Mates,  Edw. 
Cassady,  Chas.  Fisher  and  Paul  Boyden;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  T.  W.  Jamison  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  G.  N.  Simpson,  Jr.;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  Wm.  Mara  and  Hiram  Parker, 
Jr. ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  S.  Servoss  and  R.  D. 
Faron;  Carpenter,  John  Mills. 


STEAMER  "CAMBRIDGE." 
Commander,  William  F.   Spicer:  Acting-Master, 

F.  W.  Strong;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.   H.   Mead,  Jr.,  E. 
A.  Small,  S.    K.  Luce  and  J.  K.  Barker  ;  Acting- 
Masters    Mates.  J.   S.    Bradbury,    R.    S.    Sheperd 
and  F.  U.   Northup;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  L. 
C.   Granger:    Acting- Assistant   Paymaster,   J.   C. 
Canning;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  G.  B. 
Orsewell ;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  F.   Powers, 
H.  F.  Hayden  and  John  Whitaker;  Acting-Gunner, 
Wm.  Scott. 

STEAMER  "STATE  OF  GEORGIA." 

Commander,  Someryille  Nicholson ;  Lieutenant. 
George  B.  White;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  H. 
Greene;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  F.  Griffiths; 
Acting-Master,  Benj.  Whitmore;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
Chas.  Trathen,  S.  L.  Griffin  and  Wm.  Shultz;  Act 
ing- Masters  Mates,  Frank  Papanti,  Peter  Hayes 
and  G.  E.  Kidder:  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  John  Bloomsbury ;  Acting-Second-Assistants, 
W.  A.  Andress  and  A."  N.  Gilmore  ;  Acting  Third- 
Assistants.  Wm.  Madden,  J.  A.  Patterson  and  F. 
R.  Shoemnker;  Gunner,  Wm.  Griffiths. 

STEAMER    "MERCEDITA." 

Lieutenant  Commander,  H.  N.  T.  Arnold;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  K.  Walsh  ;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  S.  Mallary;  Acting- Master,  D.  E. 
Taylor;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  G.  Marcy,  Wm.  Young, 

G.  W.Williams  and  E.  D.  Pettingill;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Isaac  Hallock  and  H.   C.  Robertson  ;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First-Assistant,   B.  F.  Beckett;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  F.   E.  Porter;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  D.   J.   Lanahan,  J.   H.  Hopkins,  Wm. 
Ellis,  W.  A.  Steinrook  and  Wm.  McComb;  Acting- 
Gunner,  James  Addison. 

STEAMER    "  MARATANZA." 

Lieutenant  Commander,  Milton  Haxtun ;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  D.  D.  Gilbert;  Assistant  Paymaster, 
C.  S.  Perley;  Acting  -  Masters,  Chas.  Courtney. 
Jacob  Kimball  and  J.  B.  Wood;  Acting-Ensign,  R. 
1).  Eldridge;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  A.  F.  William 
son  and  G.  E.  Chipman;  Engineers:  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  C.  L.  Carty;  Second  -  Assistant,  Edw. 
Scattergood  ;  Third -Assistants,  W.  H.  Kilpatrick, 
L.  R.  Harvey  and  R.  L.  Webb. 

STEAM   GUN-BOAT   "MIAMI." 

Lieutenant  Commander,  Chas.  AV.  Flusser;  Act 
ing-  Masters,  W.  N.  Wells  and  John  Lear;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  J.  AV.  Bennett  and  T.  G.  Hargis;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  AVm.  B.  Mann;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  F.  AV.  Hackett;  Engineers:  Third-Assistants, 
H.  D.  Heiser,  C.  C.  Davis  and  J.  W.  Saville;  Acting- 
Third-Assistaiits,  David  Newell  and  Dennis  Har 
rington. 

STEAMER  "MORSE." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  C.  A.  Babcock;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  F.  AVinslow  :  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Henry  Russell;  Acting-Ensigns,  A. 
Dennett,  J.  F.  Merry  and  R.  M.  AVagstaff ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  AVm.  Dunne  ;  Engineers :  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Thomas  Divine  ;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  Timothy  Flanders,  Thomas  McNellis  and 
G.  C.  Rogers. 

STEAMER    "NANSEMOND." 

Lieutenant,  R.  H.  Larnson;  Acting-Assistant  Sur 
geon,  Edgar  S.  Smith  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  R.  M.  Gillette;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  H.  Porter, 
Wm.  Hunter,  J.  B.  Henderson  and  Henry  Waring; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Fred'k  Sny- 
der;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Edw.  Aspald,  C.  M. 
Goodwin,  J.  T.  Earl  and  E.  A.  Reilly. 

STEAMER   "SOUTHFIELD." 

Acting- A'olunteer-Lieutenant,  Charles  A.  French; 
Acting-Masters,  AV.  B.  Newman  and  AV.  F.  Pratt ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  T.  B.  Stokes  and  J.  R.  Peacock  ; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  G.  AV.  Pratt  and  J.  J.  Allen, 


492 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Jr.;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon.  Win.  H.  Holmes; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Adclison  Pool;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Wm.  F.  Goff  ;  Act- 
ing-Third-Assistants,  J.  B.  Farrand,  J.  A.  Strieby 
and  Joseph.  Watts. 

STEAMER    "NIPHON." 

Acting  Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  B.  Breck  ;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  H.  S.  Borden,  E.  N.  Seaman,  J.  J. 
Reagan  and  Niels  Lai-sen;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
A.  R.  Arey  and  G.  W.  Barnes;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  Theo.  Barker;  Engineers:  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  T.  L.  Churchill,  J.  J.  Sullivan,  Wm. 
Norie  and  T.  T.  Sanborn. 

STEAMEB    ' '  DAYLIGHT. " 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Francis  S.  Wells; 
Acting-Masters,  J.  H.  Gleason  and  T.  Werlhof ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  J.  W.  Willard  and  W.  H.  Penfield; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,F.  M.  Dearborne;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  M.  Rogers;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  Chas.  Attinore  and  J.  M.  Simms;  Engineers: 
Acting-First  Assistant, Wm.  H. Best;  Acting  Second- 
Assistants,  P.  O.  Brightman  and  C.  O.  Morgan  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  W.  H.  Crawford,  J.  E. 
Hilliard  and  J.  T.  Smith. 

STEAMER  "MONTGOMERY." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  E.  A.  Faucon;  Act 
ing-Master,  G.  H.  Pendleton;  Acting-Ensigns,  W. 
O.  Putnam,  Rob't  Wiley  and  W.  P.  Burke;  Acting  - 
Master's  Mates,  J.  D.  Gossick,  T.  J.  Walker  and  F. 
C.  Simonds;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  F.  Lin 
coln;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Joseph  Watson; 
Engineers :  Acting-First  -Assistant,  G.  H.  Wade; 
Acting -Second -Assistant,  James  Pollard;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  John  McEwan,  James  Allen  and 
G.  M.  Smith. 

STEAMER  "COMMODORE  PERRY." 

Acting  -Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Thos.  J.  Wood 
ward;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Wm.  J.  Healy  ; 
Acting-Master,  J.  E.  Stammard;  Acting  Ensign, 
Wm.  H.  McLean;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  J.  L.  Bowers,  Charles  Hickey  and  Horace 
Whitworth. 

STEAMER    "MOUNT   VERNON." 

Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant,  James  Trathen; 
Acting-Master,  Edw.  W.  White;  Acting-Ensigns,  F. 
M.  Paine,  H.  F.  Cleverly  and  C.  G.  Walstrom; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  Jason  Ryan  and  Henry 
Rogers;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  Oswald  War 
ner;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  Y.  Glissori ; 
Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -Assistant,  J.  H.  Hors- 
ford;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  H.  S.  Short,  W.  H. 
Smith  and  George  Ducker. 

STEAMER    "BRITANNIA." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Samuel  Huse;  Act 
ing-Master,  J.  S.  Coney;  Acting-Ensigns,  F.  C.  Ford, 
A.  J.  Lowell  and  M.  E.  Wandell;  Acting  Masters 
Mate,  R.  L.  M.  Jones;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  C.  B.  Culver ;  Engineers:  Second- Assistant,  P. 
A.  Rearick  ;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  Joseph 
Fernald;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  M.  Barron, 
Wm.  Hifferon  and  H.  F.  Loveaire. 

STEAMEB    "GOVERNOR  BUCKINGHAM." 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Wm.  G.  Salton- 
stall;  Acting-Master,  John  S.  Watson:  Acting-En 
signs,  Wm.  C.  Gibson,  J.  W.  Crowell  and  W.  B. 
Mix;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  James  Auld,  F.  H. 
Poole  and  J.  W.  Gardner;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  R.  C.  Tuttle,  Acting -Assistant  Paymaster, 
E.  G.  Musgrave;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assist 
ants,  C.  W.  Doten,  Thomas  Usticks,  Win.  Collier; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  Thomas  Harrison  and  O 
L.  Smith. 

SUPPLY   STEAMER    "NEWBESN." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,,  T.  A.  Harris  ;  Act 
ing-Masters,  R.Y.  Holly  and  J.  K.  Richardson-  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  Chas.  Millett,  C.  H.  Sawyer  and  Milton 


Webster;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  John  E.  Cobb; 
Acting- Assistant  Pay  master,  E.  H.  Cushing;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  P.  Jone.s,  C).  F.  Wixon  and  A. 
Landergren;  Engineers:  Acting- First- Assistant, 
Isaac  Maples;  Acting -Second  -  Assistant,  J.  E. 
Cooper;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  E.  Rainier,  F. 
C.  Lornas  and  S.  J.  Hoffman. 

STEAMER    "HOUQUAH." 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  J.  Macdearmid; 
Acting-Master,  C.  B.  Wilder;  Acting-Ensigns,  G. 
P.  St.  John  and  John  Duly  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
R.  B.  Smith  and  F.  B.  Haskell;  Acting- Assist  ant 
Paymaster,  E.  W.  Brooks ;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
Second-Assistants.  Wm.  McLane  and  D.  R.  Wylie; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  B.  Rice  and  Thomas 
Dobbs. 

STEAMER    "LOCKWOOD." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  G.  W.  Graves;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  J.  Q.  A.  Davidson  and  Abram  Hicks; 
Acting-Master's    Mate,    E.  S.    Austin  ;    Engineers : 
Acting-Third-Assistants,   J.  T.  Miller  and    Samuel 
Dean. 

STEAMER    "  UNDERWRITER.  " 

Acting-Master,  Jacob  Westervelt;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  L.  R.  Boyce ;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  E.  H.  Sears;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  K. 
Engell,  Daniel  Ward,  C.  A.  Stewart  and  John  Mc- 
Cormick;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J. 
B.  Dick;  Acting-Third-Assistant;  S.  B.  Ellis. 

STEAMER    "CALYPSO." 

Acting-Master,  Fred'k  D.  Stuart;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Chas.  Sturtevant;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  A.  H.  Nelson  ;  Acting -Ensigns,  W. 
Jameson,  J.  A.  French,  G.  W.  Comer  and  B.  H. 
Macintire;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Alger, 
Isaac  Sawyer  and  P.  M.  Topham;  Engineers  :  Act 
ing- First-Assistant,  Cornelius  Carr;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  B.  F.  Haines,  F.  V.  Holt  and  Samuel 
Bolson;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  Minne  and  W. 
Y.  Schneider. 

STEAMER    "  COMMODORE  BARNEY  " 

Acting- Master,  James  M.  Williams;  Acting-En 
signs,  Jos.  Avant,  C.  J.  Goodwin  and  C.  W. 
Leekins ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  John  Aspinwall 
and  W.  H.  Richmond  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
James  Kinnier;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Thos. 
Jernegan  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -Assistant, 
Hiram  Warner  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Charles 
Culver,  D.  S.  Leffer  and  F.  G.  Shannon. 

STEAMER   "COMMODORE  HULL." 

Acting-Masters,  Francis  Josselyn  and  J.  O.  John 
son;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  D.  A.  Simmond  and 
Greo.  Van  Duzer ;  Act  ing- Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  F. 
T.  Hildreth;  Acting- Assistant  Pjxyinaster,  Jonathan 
Chapman;  Engineer:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  B. 
F.  Bee;  Acting  Third-Assistants,  W.  Lannan,  M. 
O.  Stimson  and  A.  C.  Stuart. 

STEAMER   "WYANDOTTE." 

Acting- Master,  Thomas  W.  Sheer ;  Acting-En 
signs,  Benj.  Wood,  Wm.  Henry,  Andrew  McCleary 
and  J.  W.  Thompson;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm. 
Chandler  ;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon.  James  Pen- 
noyer,  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Win.  A.  Purse; 
Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  W.  Farrell; 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  Geo.  R.  Dunkly. 

STEAMER  "  MT    WASHINGTON." 

Acting  -  Master,  H.  H.  Hay nie;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  G.  B.  Griffin  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-As 
sistants,  Sidney  Smith  and  Wm.  Veitch;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  Joseph  Jamieson. 

STEAMEB    "COMMODORE   JONES." 

Acting-Master,  J.  O.  Barclay ;  Acting-Ensign, 
Geo.  W.  Adams;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  P.  Lus- 
comb,  E.  L.  Deane  and  P.  M.  Nye  ;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  E.  T.  Chapman;  Engineers  :  Act 
ing-Second  Assistant,  Timothy  McCarthy;  Acting- 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


493 


Third  -  Assistants,  J.    B.  McKenzie,  Malcolm    Sin 
clair  and  1.  L.  Sawtelle. 

STEAMER    ''STEPPING  STONES ." 

Acting- Master,  I).  A.  Campbell;  Acting-Ensign,  E. 
A.  Roderick;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  O.  P.  Knowles; 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  A.  Brown; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  M.  McCarty  and  G.  A. 
Whittington. 

STEAMER    "  LILAC." 

Acting-Master,  John  A.  Phillips;  Acting-Ensigns, 
C.  B.  Staples  and  F.  B.  Owens  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  1).  S.  Ingersoll ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Win.  T.  Graff;  Acting-Third- Assistants, 
L.  L.  Copeland  and  J.  C.  Garner. 

STEAMER     "  YOUNG   ROVER." 

Acting  -  Masters,  John  B.  Studley  and  T. 
W.  Dodge;  Act  ing -Ensigns,  D.  S.  Thompson  and 
E.  N.  Ryder;  Acting- Assistant -Surgeon,  Robert 
Cowie  ;  Acting -Assistant -Paymaster.  George  W. 
Stone;  Engineers :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  James 
'Patterson;  Acting-Third- Assistant,  Wm.  D.  Butts. 

STEAMER    "MYSTIC." 

Acting  -  Masters,  Wm.  Wright  and  Samuel  B. 
Meader  ;  Act  ing -Ensigns,  A.  F.  Hamblen  and  W. 
H.  Otis  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  J.  Kelleher  and 
John  Rigg  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  Alex.  Mac 
kenzie;  Acting- Assistant-Paymaster,  Augustus  Per- 
rot;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  B.  Lowell; 
Acting-Second- Assistant,  Isaac  Buck. 

STEAMER    "EMMA.  ' 

Acting- Master,  Geo.  B.  Livingston;  Acting-Assist 
ant-Paymaster,  C.  H.  Hammatt;  Acting-Ensigns, 
A.  Buhner.  R.  W.  Elwell  and  C.  A.  Stewart;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  I.  S.  Sampson  and  T.  M.  Webb- 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistants, W  T.Worrell 
and  W.  S.  Sillman;  Acting  Third -Assistants,  Eras- 
tus  Barry,  John  Ross,  A.  L.  Churchill  and  George 
Foster. 

STEAMER  "GENERAL  PUTNAM." 

Acting-Master,  H.  H.  Savage  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Wm.  Jennings  and  H.  R.  Fowle;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  W.  F.  Gregg,  J.  H.  Gilley  and  B.  H.  Spear  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second-Assistant,  J.  Henry  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  A.  F.  Rockefeller  and  Wm 
P.  Higgins. 

STEAMER  "VICTORIA." 

Acting  Masters,  Chas.  W.  Lee  and  Alfred  Ever- 
son;  Acting-Ensign,  Paul  Bonier  ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  B.  W.  Tucker  and  Wm.  Moody ;  Acting- 
Assistant-Surgeon,  John  G.  Park;  Acting- Assistant- 
Paymaster,  Samuel  Thomas ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ant  Engineer,  John  Haversfleld. 

STEAMER    "HUNCHBACK." 

Acting-Master,  Robert  G.  Lee  ;  Acting-Ensign,  E. 
K.  Valentine  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  John  Mad- 
dock  and  J.  F.  Sias ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 


Henry  dishing:  Acting-Second-Assistant  Engineer, 
M.  Smith. 

STEAMER    "SHAWSHEEN." 

Acting-Master,  Henry  A.  Phelon;  Acting-Ensign, 
Charles  Ringot;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Wm.  Rush- 
more;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Richard 
Anderson;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  John  Wall. 

SHIP    "RELEASE." 

Acting  Master,  Jonathan  Baker;  Acting-Ensign, 

F.  A.  Gross;  Acting- Master's  Mate,  F.  T.  B.-ildwin; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  John  Spare;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  G.  L.  Ely. 

STEAMER    "SAMUEL   ROTAN." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  G.  Nutting;  Acting-Ensigns, 
T.  W.  Spencer  and  W.  H.Jennings;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  C.  H.  Packer  and  W.  L.  Lindley. 

SLOOP    "GRANITE." 

Acting- Master,  Ephraim  Boomer;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Wm.  B.  Miles. 

STEAMER    "WHITEHEAD." 

Acting-Ensign,  Geo.  W.  Barrett;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  T.  E.  Quayle,  T.  M.  Nelson  and  W.  S.  Bald 
win  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Moses 
Peterson;  Acting-Third- Assistants,  R.  H.  Ryan  and 

G.  B.  McDermott. 

STEAMER    "COHASSET." 

Acting-Ensign,  P.  C.  Asserson;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  E.  H.  Schmidt:  Engineers:  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  J.  A.  Spaulding  and  J.  H.  Tinn. 

STEAMER   "FAH-KEE." 

Acting-Ensigns,  F.  R.  Webb,  D.  W.  Carroll,  E.  W. 
Pelton,  J.  W.  Luscomb  and  John  Williams;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  H.  A.  Winslow  and  A.  W.  Harvey: 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  B.  Thornton;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  W.  Foster;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  E.  F.  Lewis,  J.  H.  Hutton, 
Gilbert  Webb  and  Andrew  Harris. 

STEAMER    "SEYMOUR." 

Acting  -  Ensign,  J.  L.  Hayes;  Acting -Master's 
Mates,  Edwin  Smith  and  J/B.  Bailey;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second- Assistant,  Newton  Eggleston  ;  Act- 
ing-Thir  ^-Assistants,  John  Whittaker  and  Philip 
Hubletz. 

TUG    "ALERT." 

Acting-Ensign,  John  Bishop:  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  Wm.  Mahan:  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  S.  D.  Edmund  and  Eli  Simpson. 
TUG  "ZOUAVE." 

Acting-Master's  Mates.  J.  F.  Daggett  and  T.  H.  P. 
Gross  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Third-Assistants,  S.  M. 
Van  Clief,  Richard  Wareham  and  J.  W.  Cross. 

STORE-SHIP    "  ALBEMARLE." 

Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  Mellach;  Gunner, 
E.  A.  McDonald;  Carpenter,  M.  W.  Paul. 


CHAPTER     XLI, 


THE    RED    RIVER    EXPEDITION, 

UNDER  MAJOR-GENERAL  N.  P.  BANKS,  ASSISTED  BY  THE  NAVY   UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL 

DAVID  D.  PORTER. 

THE  ORIGIN,  OBJECTS  AND  PLAN  OF  THE  EXPEDITION.— THE  NAVAL  VESSELS  AND  TROOPS 
ASSEMBLE  AT  THE  MOUTH  OF  THE  RED  RIVER.  —  REMOVAL  OF  OBSTRUCTIONS.  - 
CAPTURE  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  CAMP  AT  SIMMSPORT.  —  ATTACK  AND  CAPTURE  OF 
FORT  DE  RUSSY. — ARRIVAL  OF  THE  FLEET  AND  TROOPS  AT  ALEXANDRIA. — UP  THE 
FALLS. —  THE  ABOMINABLE  COTTON  TRAFFIC. —GENERAL  A.  J.  SMITH'S  "RAGGED 
GUERILLAS."  — BRIDGE  OF  COTTON. —ADVANCE  ON  SHREVEPORT. — BANKS  MEETS  A 
REVERSE  NEAR  PLEASANT  HILL.— BATTLE  AT  SABINE  CROSS  ROADS.— CONFEDERATES 
MAKE  GOOD  USE  OF  BANKS'  CANNON  AND  ARMY  WAGONS.— BATTLE  AT  PLEASANT 
HILL.— BANKS  VICTORIOUS.  BUT  ORDERS  A  RETREAT  TO  GRAND  ECORE.— RETREAT 
OF  THE  FLEET  IMPEDED. — ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  "OSAGE"AND  "  LEXINGTON" 
AND  2,500  CONFEDERATES  UNDER  GENERAL  GREEN.— REPORTS  OF  LIEUTENANT-COM 
MANDER  SELFRIDGE  AND  GENERAL  KILBY  SMITH.— THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  AT  GRAND 
ECORE.— MINOR  ENGAGEMENTS.— BATTLE  AT  CANE  RIVER.— THE  "EASTPORT"  BLOWN 
UP.— THE  ATTACK  ON  THE  LITTLE  ••  CRICKET."— FEARFUL  SCENE  OF  CARNAGE.— THE 
"JULIET"  DISABLED.— BATTERIES  ENGAGED  ALONG  THE  RIVER. — DISSATISFACTION  OF 
THE  ARMY.— THE  SQUADRON  IN  A  BAD  POSITION. 


NO  official  account  detailing  the  par 
ticulars  of  this  unfortunate  expe 
dition  was  forwarded  by  General 
Banks  until  long  after  the  expedi 
tion  failed. 

A  question  has  been  standing  for  many 
years  as  to  who  originated  it,  and  this  has 
been  settled  by  the  highest  authority.  Gen 
eral  Grant,  in  his  Memoirs,  says  that  the  ex 
pedition  originated  with  General  Halleck, 
who  urged  General  Banks,  with  all  his  au 
thority,  to  undertake  it.  This  is,  without 
doubt,  the  origin  of  the  affair. 

After  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  Port 
Hudson,  General  Sherman  proposed  to  Ad 
miral  Porter  an  expedition  to  Shreveport. 
La.,  via  Red  River;  but  on  careful  inquiry 
it  was  found  that  the  water  was  unusually 
low  for  the  season  of  the  year,  and  there 
fore  the  expediency  of  a  movement  was 
doubted.  But,  as  General  Sherman  was 
anxious  to  undertake  the  expedition,  and 
promised  to  be  in  Natchez  in  the  latter 


part    of    February,    1804,   Admiral    Porter 
ordered  the  following  vessels  to  be  ready 
near  the  mouth  of  Red  River  to  accompany 
the  Army  whenever  the  latter  should  com 
mence  its  march  :    the  '•  Essex,"  "  Bentoii,' 
"Lafayette,"    "  Choctaw,"    "  Chillicothe.' 
"  Ozark,"      "  Louisville,"      "  Carondelet,-' 
"Eastport,"   "Pittsburgh   "Mound   City,' 
"Osage,"     "Neosho."  "  Ouichita."    "Fort 
Hindman."  "Lexington."  "Cricket.''  "Ga 
zelle."  "Juliet,"  and  "Black  Hawk "  (flag 
ship).     This  squadron  comprised  the  most 
formidable  part  of  the  Mississippi  fleet,  only 
the  lighter  vessels  being  left  to  protect  the 
Mississippi,  the  Ohio,  and  their  tributaries ; 
for,  supposing  that  the  Army  would  send  a 
large  force  into  the  interior  of  Louisiana, 
Admiral  Porter  determined  there  should  be 
no  want  of  floating  batteries  lor  the  troops 
to  fall  back  on  in  case  of  disaster. 

The  Admiral  had  written  to  General 
Sherman  that  he  did  not  think  the  time 
propitious  for  ascending  Red  River,  and 


(494) 


THE  XA  VAL  HIS  TORI'  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR, 


495 


when  lie  arrived  in  Natchez  he  found  that 
Sherman  had  gone  to  New  Orleans  to  see 
General  Banks.  The  impression  was  that 
he  went  there  to  ohtain  Banks'  co-operation 
in  the  great  raid  through  the  South,  which 
Sherman  afterwards  so  successfully  accom 
plished  without  Banks'  assistance. 

By  looking  at  the  map,  it  will  he  readily 
seen  how  valuable  a  position  Mohile  would 
have  heen  at  such  a  time  if  held  by  the 
Union  troops,  its  railroad  system  connect 
ing  with  all  the  Southern  roads,  by  which 
Sherman  could  have  been  supplied  with  pro 
visions  and  stores,  as  well  as  reinforce 
ments  of  men  in  case  of  necessity,  while 
the  straggling  forces  of  the  enemy  between 
him  and  the  Gulf  would  have  been  cut  off.  It 
..would  strike  the  military  observer  that  to 
insure  complete  success  Mobile  should  have 
been  captured  at  the  time  Sherman  started 
on  his  raid,  which  would  have  placed  the  en 
tire  country  be 
tween  him  and 
the  sea  at  the 
disposal  of  the 
Federal  forces. 

Fortunately, 
as  matters  turn 
ed  out,  General 
Sherman  was 
able  to  overcome 
all  obstacles 
that  impeded  his 
progress,  and  to 
subsist  his  army 
on  the  country 
through  which 
he  passed. 

At  the  time 
Sherman  went 
to  New  Orleans 
to  see  General 
Banks,  the  lat 
ter  had  under  his  command  at  least  50,000 
men,  and  could  have  easily  captured  Mo 
bile,  then  garrisoned  by  only  about  10.000 
troops;  but  this  place,  so  easy  of  access  and 
so  easily  captured  from  the  land  side,  was 
left  unnoticed  until  the  latter  part  of  the 
war.  Its  capture  was  then  undertaken  by 
Rear- Admiral  Thatcher  and  General  Canby. 
The  result  was  the  loss  of  several  vessels 
blown  up  by  torpedoes,  which  the  Confed 
erates  were  able  to  lay  down  with  impu 
nity. 

General  Banks  had  been  writing  to  Ad 
miral  Porter  up  to  the  latter  part  of  Febru 
ary,  1804.  to  co-operate  with  him  in  an  ad 
vance  into  the  Red  River  region,  and  in  his 
answers  the  Admiral  had  tried  to  impress 
on  the  General  the  impropriety  of  such  a 
movement  at  the  then  low  stage  of  water, 
recommending  him  to  wait  until  there  was 
a  prospect  of  a  rise. 

The   General,  however,   insisted   that   he 


THE  "BLACK  HAWK,"  ADMIRAL  PORTER'S  FLAG-SHIP. 


had  certain  information  of  a  rise  in  Red 
River,  and  hinted  that  if  he  failed  in  his  ex 
pedition  it  would  be  for  want  of  assistance 
from  the  Navy.  The  Admiral  therefore  de 
termined  that,  if  Sherman  gave  up  the  enter 
prise,  he  would  co-operate  with  Banks.  The 
former  had  never  allowed  the  military  au 
thorities  to  wait  for  him  when  anything 
was  to  be  done  to  carry  on  their  work,  and 
did  not  propose  to  do  so  on  this  occasion, 
although  he  felt  that  he  was  being  entan 
gled  in  an  embarrassing  predicament,  from 
which  it  would  require  all  his  energies  to 
extricate  himself. 

When  Sherman  returned  from  New  Or 
leans,  he  informed  the  Admiral  of  his  pro 
posed  advance  into  the  interior  of  the 
South,  and  having  abandoned  the  idea  of 
undertaking  the  Red  River  expedition,  he 
had  promised  General  Banks  to  lend  him 
10,000  men,  under  the  command  of  Gen 
eral  A.  J.  Smith, 
whom  he  felt 
sure  would  co 
operate  with  the 
Navy  in  the 
most  energetic 
manner.  A.nd 
now,  fi  n  d  i  n  g 
that  Banks  was 
determi n e d  to 
start  on  this  ex 
pedition  regard 
less  of  conse 
quences,  Admi 
ral  Porter  re 
solved  to  do 
everything  in 
his  power  to  as 
sist  his  military 
operations. 

To   make    his 
success  certain, 

General  Halleck  had  determined  to  send  an 
army  into  Arkansas  under  General  Steele. 
This  force  reached  Little  Rock  early  in 
March,  and,  after  providing  themselves  with 
stores  and  munitions  of  war.  departed  from 
that  place  on  the  24th,  and,  after  a  hard 
march,  arrived  at  Arkadelphia.  March  29th, 
where,  for  the  present,  we  will  leave  them. 
General  Banks  had  informed  the  Admiral 
that  he  would  march  an  army  of  36,000  men 
to  Alexandria,  La.,  and  would  meet  him  at 
that  place  on  the  17th  of  March.  On  the  10th 
of  March  the  naval  vessels  had  assembled 
at  the  mouth  of  Red  River,  and,  on  the 
llth,  General  A.  J.  Smith  arrived  with 
10.000  excellent  soldiers  in  transports.  After 
inspecting  the  forces  on  shore,  the  Army 
and  Navy  moved  up  the  river  on  the  12th, 
the  fleet  of  gun  -  boats  followed  by  the 
Army  transports.  As  the  largest  vessels 
could  barely  pass  the  bar  at  the  mouth 
of  Red  River,  owing  to  the  low  stage  of 


496 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


water,  the  Admiral  could  not  cherish  any 
very  favorable  hopes  for  the  future;  but 
the  party  were  fairly  embarked  on  the 
expedition,  and  the  only  course  was  to 
continue  and  do  the  best  that  could  be 
done. 

The  Confederates,  having  been  notified 
that  a  movement  would  soon  be  made  up 
Red  River,  had  used  all  their  energies  in 
preparing  to  repel  the  invaders.  Some 
eight  miles  below  Fort  De  Russy  they  com 
menced  a  series  of  works  near  the  Bend  of 
the  Rappiones,  commanding  a  difficult  pass 
of  the  river,  and  placed  formidable  obstruc 
tions  to  prevent  the  passage  of  the  gun 
boats. 


therefore,  that  it  was  best  to  land  the 
troops:  so  the  Admiral  turned  off  into  the 
Atclmfalaya  River  with  the  "Benton," 
"Lexington,"  "  Chillicothe,"  ''Louisville," 
"  Mound  City,"  "  Carondelet."  "  Ouichita," 
"  Pittsburgh'  and  "Gazelle,"  followed  by 
the  troops  in  transports;  while  the  rest  of 
the  gun-boats  pushed  on  up  Red  River, with 
instructions  to  remove  the  obstructions,  but 
not  to  attack  Fort  De  Russy  until  the  flag 
ship's  arrival,  or  until  General  Smith's 
troops  came  in  sight. 

The  enemy  had  at  this  place  some  5,000 
men,  and  the  only  chance  of  capturing 
them  was  by  a  combined  movement  of  the 
Army  and  Navy. 


THE  FLEET  OF   GUN-BOATS,  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL   PORTER,  STARTING   OUT,  FOLLOWED   BY   THE 
ARMY  TRANSPORTS,  HAVING  ON  BOARD  10,000  SOLDIERS,  UNDER  GEN.  A.  J.  SMITH,  MAY  12,  1864. 


(FROM  AN  ORIGINAL  PEN-AND-INK  DRAWING  BY  REAR-ADMIRAL  H.  WALKE.) 


These  obstructions  consisted  of  a  line  of 
heavy  piles  driven  deep  into  the  muddy  bot 
tom,  and  extending  quite  across  the  river, 
supported  by  a  second  tier  of  shorter  ones 
below,  on  which  rested  braces  and  ties 
from  the  upper  line.  Immediately  below 
the  piles,  a  raft  of  heavy  timber,  well  se 
cured,  extended  across  the  river,  a  portion 
of  the  logs  resting  on  the  bottom.  Finally, 
a  forest  of  trees  had  been  cut  from  the 
banks  and  floated  down  upon  the  piles,  mak 
ing  an  apparently  impassable  obstruction. 

When  the  Admiral  found  the  character  of 
these  obstructions,  he  feared  that  they 
would  delay  the  vessels  so  long  that  the 
enemy  would  escape  from  Fort  De  Russy, 
and  destroy  all  their  stores  and  munitions 
of  war.  General  Smith  and  he  agreed, 


At  about  noon,  on  the  12th  of  March,  the 
Federal  forces  arrived  at  Simmsport,  and 
found  the  enemy  posted  in  force  some  three 
miles  back  of  that  place.  The  commanding 
officer  of  the  "Benton,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  James  A.  Greer,  was  ordered  to  land 
his  crew  and  drive  in  the  enemy's  pickets; 
and,  General  Smith's  transports  coming 
up,  the  troops  landed  and  took  possession 
of  the  Confederate  camp,  the  enemy  re 
treating  towards  Fort  De  Russy. 

That  night  General  Smith  concluded  to 
follow  the  enemy  by  land,  while  the  Ad 
miral  agreed  to  proceed  up  the  Red  River, 
with  all  the  gun-boats  and  transports,  and 
meet  the  Army  at  Fort  De  Russy. 

In  the  meantime,  the  gun-boats  that  had 
been  sent  on  in  advance  had  reached  the 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


497 


obstructions,  and  their  crews  were  endeav 
oring  to  force  a  passage.  It  was  a  hercu 
lean  job.  but  the  energetic  sailors  had  had 
too  much  experience  in  the  strange  episodes 
of  the  civil  war  to  quail  before  such  ob 
stacles.  The  piles  near  the  banks  were 
first  removed,  and  a  rush  of  water  camq 
through,  carrying  away  the  sides  of  the 
banks:  then,  by  pulling  up  piles  and  ram 
ming  the  obstructions  with  the  iroii-clads, 
an  opening  was  made  in  twelve  hours  for 
the  passage  of  the  fleet. 

The  "Eastport,"  "Osage,"  "  Fort  Hind- 
man,"  and  "Cricket"  proceeded  up  within 
a  short  distance  of  Fort  De  Russy,  where 
the  advance  of  General  Smith  had  arrived, 
and  there  was  quite  a  brisk  firing  of  artil 
lery  and  small  arms.  The  gun-boats,  how 
ever,  could  not  take  part  in  this  skirmish 
without  risking  the  safety  of  the  Federal 
soldiers.  A  100-pound  rifle-shell  was  fired 
at  the  water  battery,  which  burst  over  it, 
and  drove  the  enemy  out;  but  to  have  con 
tinued  the  fire  upon  the  main  fort  would 
have  injured  friends  more  than  foes,  the 
former  being  in  a  direct  line  with  the  fire 
of  the  gun-boats. 

The  progress  of  the  fleet  around  from 
the  Atchaf alaya  had  necessarily  been  slow, 
encumbered  with  so  many  transports,  and 
the  barricade  had  partly  filled  up  again,  so 
that  it  took  'several  hours  to  pass  through 
the  obstructions;  but  the  flag-ship  reached 
the  fort  in  time  to  see  the  enemy  evacuating 
it,  and  the  Union  soldiers  taking  posses 
sion. 

The  fort  was  originally  garrisoned  with 
5,000  men,  under  General  Walker,  who  had 
marched  out  to  meet  the  Federal  Army, 
leaving  24  officers  and  300  men  to  defend 
it ;  but,  if  "Walker  wished  to  meet  Smith's 
forces,  he  was  disappointed,  for  the  latter 
saw  nothing  of  him. 

On  his  march  from  Simmsport,  General 
Smith  was  greatly  annoyed  by  sharp 
shooters,  and  was  compelled  to  bridge 
innumerable  bayous.  When  he  reached 
Monksville,  within  three  miles  of  the  fort, 
lie  was  informed  that  a  strong  force  of  the 
enemy  would  dispute  his  passage.  The  3d 
Indiana  Battery  was  placed  in  position,  and 
General  Mower  formed  his  men  for  the 
attack.  The  first  line  was  under  the  im 
mediate  command  of  Colonel  W.  J.  Shaw, 
14th  Iowa  Infantry,  commanding  2d  Brig 
ade,  3d  Division,  *15th  Army  Corps,  com 
posed  of  the  13th  and  32d  Iowa  and  the  3d 
Indiana  Battery.  The  space  intervening 
between  the  Union  troops  and  the  fort  was 
obstructed  with  fallen  trees;  on  the  left  of 
the  line,  a  thick  wood  afforded  an  excellent 
cover  for  riflemen. 

It  was  now  4  p.  M.,  and,  although  the 
Union  troops  had  been  marching  and  build 
ing  bridges  all  day,  they  came  up  to  their 

32 


work  as  fresh  as  if  they  had  just  broken 
camp.  Part  of  the  14th  Iowa  were  de 
ployed  as  skirmishers  to  within  three  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  occupy 
ing  some  rifle-pits  which  had  been  thrown 
up  by  the  Confederates,  and  during  the 
progress  of  the  fight  did  good  execution 
as  sharp-shooters. 

In  the  meantime,  the  58th  Illinois,  8th 
Wisconsin  and  29th  Iowa,  who  had  come 
up  from  the  rear,  were  advancing  to  obtain 
position  for  attack.  The  fire  from  the  fort 
all  this  time  was  rapid,  but  did  little  execu 
tion.  Shot,  shell  and  musketry  were  pass 
ing  between  the  combatants  for  two  hours, 
while  the  naval  vessels  were  unable  to  fire 
for  fear  of  killing  their  friends.  At  the  end 
of  that  time,  all  of  Smith's  troops  having 
got  into  position,  they  advanced  and  car 
ried  the  works  without  difficulty,  capturing 
24  officers,  275  men  and  10  pieces  of  artillery. 

This  affair  was  well  managed  on  the  part 
of  the  Army, whose  loss  was  small;  General 
Smith  was  an  able  commander,  and  his 
soldiers  were  veterans  —  each  man,  as  it 
proved  afterwards,  was  a  host  in  himself. 

It  was  pleasant  to  see  the  United  States 
flag  floating  over  a  work  which  had  been 
built  with  so  much  trouble  and  expense  to 
the  Confederates,  and  the  Navy 'regretted 
that  it  could  not  take  a  more  important 
part  in  the  affair. 

Their  operations  at  Fort  De  Russy  showed 
the  fortitude  of  the  Federal  soldiers;  and,  if 
the  rest  of  Banks'  men  were  of  the  same  ma 
terial,  there  was  no  reason  why  the  army 
should  not  reach  Shreveport  in  triumph. 

An  order  had  been  sent  to  Lieutenant- 
Commander  S.  L.  Phelps  to  push  on  with 
the  fastest  and  lightest -draft  gun -boats 
to  Alexandria,  as  soon  as  the  army  should 
reach  the  fort,  in  order  to  seize  any  steam 
ers  that  might  be  lying  there  with  steam 
down.  Owing  to  obstructions  in  the  river, 
the  dispatch-boat  carrying  the  message  was 
delayed  five  hours,  and  Phelps  reached  Al 
exandria  just  thirty  minutes  too  late,  the 
swiftest  of  the  naval  vessels  arriving  just  in 
time  to  see  six  steamers  escaping  up  "the 
Falls.''  One  of  them,  the  "  Countess,''  hav 
ing  grounded,  was  burned  by  the  enemy. 

The  fleet  had  thus  reached  Alexandria 
on  the  15th  of  March,  two  days  earlier  than 
had  been  promised  General  Banks.  On  the 
day  following,  there  were  nine  gun-boats 
lying  off  the  town,  and  one  hundred  and 
eighty  sailors  were  landed,  to  occupy  the 
place  and  take  possession  of  any  Confed 
erate  Government  property  that  might  be 
stored  there.  The  inhabitants  were  respect 
fully  treated,,  and  everything  was  as  quiet 
as  a  New  England  village. 

General  Smith  remained  behind  a  few 
days  to  destroy  the  formidable  works  which 
he  had  captured,  and  a  gun-boat  was  left 


498 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


at  Fort  De  Russy  to  try  some  experiments 
with  rifle-guns  on  three  casemated  water 
batteries  covered  with  several  thicknesses 
of  railroad  iron.  A  little  experience  satis 
fied  the  experimenters  that  such  works 
could  not  resist  the  heavy  naval  artillery, 
and  orders  were  given  to  blow  them  up  ; 
thus  destroying  the  formidable  barrier  in 
tended  to  close  Red  River  against  the  fleet. 
For  their  dimensions,  these  works  were  as 
strong  as  any  ever  built  in  the  Confederacy. 
After  3,000  pounds  of  powder  had  been  ex 
ploded,  there  remained  three  huge  excava 
tions,  while  the  whole  vicinity  was  strewn 
with  broken  timbers  and  twisted  iron,  pre- 


progress  up  the  river.  This  was  General 
Mower's  idea,  apparently  forgetting  that 
the  gun-boats  could,  in  a  very  short  time, 
have  destroyed  forts,  troops  and  all,  with 
their  100  guns.  The  Admiral  endeavored  to 
show  General  Mower,  who  was  a  fearless 
man,  and  in  favor  of  pushing  on  regardless 
of  obstacles,  that  the  5,000  troops  were  too 
few  in  number  to  defeat  the  20,000  Confed 
erates  in  the  advance,  who  were  well  sup 
plied  with  artillery.  Besides,  he  urged  that 
it  would  be  very  discourteous  to  General 
Smith  to  go  forward  without  consulting 
him,  and  leave  him,  with  only  5,000  men, 
unprotected  by  the  gun -boats.  Desperate 


MASKED  BATTERY. 


"REXTON," 

FLAG-SHIP. 


GEN.  A.  J.  SMITH'S  ARMY 
ASSAILING  THE  FORT. 
MONITOR  "OSAGE." 


FORT. 
GUM-BOAT. 

"FORT  HlNDMAN. 


IRON-CLAD. 
RAM  "EASTPORT. 


CASEMATED  FORTS 

AND 

RIFLE  PITS. 


CAPTURE  OF  FORT  DE  RUSSY. 


senting  a  scene  more  easily  imagined  than 
described. 

On  the  16th,  General  Mower  reached  Alex 
andria  with  about  5.000  men,  in  transports; 
and,  having  formed  a  rather  low  estimate 
of  the  enemy's  forces  in  this  region,  he 
urged  Admiral  Porter  to  push  on  at  once 
with  the  force  they  then  had,  and  try  and 
get  to  Shreveport  in  advance  of  the  main 
army. 

The  Confederate  general.  Walker,  had 
exhibited  very  little  enterprise;  for,  with 
the  5.000  men  under  his  command,  he 
might  have  seriously  impeded  the  Federal 
advance,  and  then  at  Fort  De  Russy  have 
offered  a  stubborn  resistance  to  further 


as  this  scheme  of  Mower's  appeared,  we 
think  it  would  have  succeeded  better  than 
General  Banks'  movement  on  Shreveport  a 
short  time  afterwards. 

General  Taylor  had  occupied  Alexan 
dria  with  15,000  men,  and  had  hurriedly 
decamped  on  the  approach  of  the  Army  and 
Navy,  leaving  three  pieces  of  artillery  be 
hind. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  General  A.  J. 
Smith  arrived,  ready  to  march  at  a  mo 
ment's  notice  when  Banks  should  give  the 
order.  Meanwhile,  there  was  no  news  what 
ever  of  General  Banks'  whereabouts.  His 
cavalry  arrived  on  the  19th,  and  on  the 
25th,  eight  days  after  he  had  agreed  to 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


499 


meet  the  Admiral  at  Alexandria,  he  ap 
peared  upon  the  scene.  Then  commenced 
a  series  of  delays,  which  culminated  in  dis 
asters,  that  have  left  a  reproach  upon  the 
Red  River  expedition  which  time  cannot 
efface:  for,  no  matter  how  gallant  the  offi 
cers  and  men  may  have  been,  they  share  in 
the  humiliation  brought  upon  them  by  an 
unmilitary  commander,  who,  at  the  head 
of  nearly  40.000  men,  fully  equipped,  was 
driven  out  of  a  country  they  could  have 
held  forever  had  their  leader  been  posses 
sed  of  the  qualifications  of  a  military  man. 

We  sincerely  believe  that,  had  General 
A.  J.  Smith  undertaken  this  expedition 
with  only  his  10,000  well-tried  soldiers,  sup 
ported  by  the  fleet  of  gun-boats,  they  would 
nave  all  been  in  Shreveport  by  the  5th  of 
April:  for  there  was  no  reason  to  entertain 
much  fear  of  General  Taylor  and  his  troops, 
already  greatly  demoralized  by  the  Union 
success  so  far. 

If  Taylor  could  not,  with  15,000  men  and 
heavy  fortifications,  hold  the  entrance  to 
his  country,  how  could  he  expect  to  resist 
the  march  of  10,000  veterans,  supported  by 
more  than  100  heavy  guns  on  board  the 
war-vessels?  There  were  never  better  sol 
diers  than  those  under  General  Smith,  and 
both  he  and  General  Mower  were  worthy 
to  lead  them. 

When  Smith's  command  joined  the  ex 
pedition  they  had  just  finished  a  long 
march,  were  greatly  in  want  of  clothing, 
had  few  wagons,  and  were  without  tents, 
yet  they  were  the  happiest-looking  soldiers 
ever  seen  under  arms.  It  was  astounding 
how  these  men  had  learned  to  live  upon 
the  enemy.  They  seemed  to  be  independent 
of  the  commissary  department. every  soldier 
was  himself  a  commissary;  and  as  for  tents 
or  barracks,  they  did  very  well  without 
them.  In  less  than  twenty-four  hours  after 
their  arrival  in  Alexandria,  they  had  rum 
maged  the  country  for  ten  miles  up  and 
down  the  river,  one  of  the  most  fertile  dis 
tricts  in  the  United  States,  where  all  their 
wants  could  be  supplied  without  expense  to 
the  Government. 

Here  Colonel  Shaw  luxuriated  with  his 
brigade  on  the  plantation  of  ex-Governor 
Moore,  the  prime  mover  in  the  secession  of 
Louisiana,  who  now  had  ample  opportu 
nity  of  seeing  for  himself  how  the  seces 
sion  matter  worked.  It  was  a  just  retribu 
tion,  for,  notwithstanding  the  hospitality 
of  the  South,  we  have  no  doubt  the  ex- 
governor  begrudged  the  soldiers  the  good 
things  they  were  enjoying  at  his  expense. 

Notwithstanding  the  Federal  soldiers  were 
scattered  in  all  directions,  they  were  not 
troubled  by  the  Confederates,  who  hovered 
around  in  detached  bands  of  a  few  hundred 
men,  apparently  as  much  demoralized  as 
General  Taylor  and  his  army  of  15,000. 


The  Federal  forces  were  on  the  qui  vive, 
however,  for  anything  that  might  happen, 
and  one  dark,  rainy  night.  General  Mower, 
with  a  party  of  his  men,  fell  in  with  a 
courier  bearing  dispatches  to  General  Tay 
lor,  who  was  encamped  some  nine  miles  in 
the  rear.  Mower,  assuming  the  character 
of  a  Confederate  officer,  threatened  to  hang 
the  courier  as  a  Yankee  spy,  when  the  lat 
ter,  to  show  his  good  faith,  led  the  supposed 
Confederate  troops  right  into  the  enemy's 
camp,  which  was  captured  with  22  officers, 
2GO  privates,  4  pieces  of  artillery,  150  horses, 
and  all  the  arms  and  munitions.  Had  there 
been  an  opportunity  to  capture  the  other 
outlying  parties.  General  Mower  would  have 
accomplished  it,  but  the  Confederate  com- 
mander-in-chief  was  a  wary  old  soldier,  dis 
posed  to  act  on  the  defensive. 

It  was  not  until  the  25th  of  March  that 
General  Banks'  infantry  commenced  arriv 
ing  under  the  command  of  General  Frank 
lin.  It  was  as  fine  a  body  of  troops  as  were 
ever  seen,  and  the  best  dressed  and  equipped 
of  any  soldiers  in  the  Southwest.  Not 
withstanding  a  march  of  twenty-one  miles, 
they  came  in  quite  fresh  and  full  of  spirits. 

But  more  than  a  week  of  valuable  time 
had  been  lost  since  the  17th  instant,  the 
day  on  which  General  Banks  promised  to 
meet  the  Navy  at  Alexandria,  and  the  con 
clusion  arrived  at  was  that  the  General  did 
not  possess  the  military  virtue  of  punctual 
ity  which  the  Navy  had  recognized  in  Gen 
erals  Grant,  Sherman,  A.  J.  Smith,  and  other 
officers  with  whom  they  had  hitherto  co 
operated. 

As  soon  as  the  Admiral  reached  Alexan 
dria,  he  commenced  getting  the  vessels 
above  the  "  Falls,"  although  the  water  was 
falling  in  the  river  at  the  rate  of  an  inch  a 
day,  and  the  larger  vessels  had  not  more 
than  six  inches  to  spare.  He  trusted  to 
good  fortune  to  get  the  vessels  down  again, 
or  to  that  great  rise  in  the  water  which 
General  Banks  had  been  informed  would 
certainly  come  in  May  or  June. 

General  Banks  had  apparently  come  into 
the  Red  River  country  intending  to  stay, 
for  he  was  provided  with  everything  neces 
sary  to  maintain  a  large  army.  Transports 
with  provisions,  clothing  and  munitions  of 
war  were  daily  arriving,  and  large  buildings 
in  Alexandria  converted  into  store-houses 
were  rapidly  filled  up. 

By  the  29th  of  March,  the  Admiral  had 
all  his  vessels  over  the  ''Falls,"  except  the 
'•  Eastport,"  a  long,  heavy  iron-clad,  which 
detained  the  fleet  two  days.  As  soon  as  she 
was  over,  Lieutenant -Commander  Phelps 
was  directed  to  proceed  to  Grand  Ecore  and 
be  ready  to  cover  the  army  when  it  should 
arrive  there.  The  following  named  vessels 
were  under  his  command:  the  ;"  Eastport," 
" Cricket,"  "Mound  City,"  " Chillicothe," 


500 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


"Fort  Hindman,"  "Lexington.,"  "Osage," 
and  "Neosho." 

The  week  lost  caused  the  expedition  irre 
parable  injury,  for  the  enemy  was  not  only 
enabled  to  recruit  his  forces,  but  the  river 
had  fallen  six  inches,  which  was  a  great 
deal  for  vessels  having  so  little  to  spare. 

The  general  tried  to  lay  the  blame  for  his 
detention  on  the  gun-boats,  but  this  would 
hardly  answer,  since  the  light-draft  vessels, 
mounting  over  fifty  guns,  had  passed  the 
"  Falls  "  and  were  ready  to  ascend  the  river 
before  Banks  reached  the  rendezvous.  The 
six  days  General  Banks  passed  in  Alex 
andria  prior  to  his  onward  movement  were 
frittered  away.  He  moved  into  comfortable 
quarters  and  spent  his  time  in  ordering  an 
election  in  the  parish  of  Rapides,  establish 
ing  people  in  power  who  professed  to  be 
Union  men  —  a  proceeding  to  which  there 
could  have  been  no  objection  if  the  objects 
of  the  expedition  had  not  thereby  been  neg 
lected. 

General  Banks  came  from  New  Orleans 
to  Alexandria  in  a  large  steamer  called  the 
"Black  Hawk."  This  vessel,  known  as 
"General  Banks'  flag-ship,"  was  of  the  same 
name  as  Admiral  Porter's  flag-ship,  an  un 
pleasant  circumstance,  since  it  happened 
that  the  Navy  incurred  some  of  the  odium 
which  attached  to  the  transport  steamer. 
She  was  loaded  with  cotton  bagging,  rope, 
etc. ,  and  became  the  rendezvous  of  a  motley 
collection  of  people,  cotton  speculators,  and 
camp  followers.  Everybody  began  to  sur 
mise  that  this  expedition  was  intended  for 
other  purposes  than  the  conquest  of  the  Red 
River  country.  The  story  then  told  has 
since  proved  to  have  had  some  foundation, 
and  is  a  hitherto  unwritten  piece  of  his 
tory. 

Soon  after  General  Banks  took  command 
at  New  Orleans,  he  had  given  several  passes 
to  get  cotton  from  the  Red  River  country, 
but  it  had  been  seized  by  the  gun-boats 
along  the  river,  and  turned  over  to  the 
agents  of  the  Treasury,  or  sent  to  an  Ad 
miralty  Court  for  adjudication. 

Many  persons  had  urged  upon  President 
Lincoln  the  importance  of  getting  out  of 
Red  River  all  the  cotton  possible  for  the 
use  of  Union  manufacturers,  instead  of 
forcing  the  Confederates  to  ship  it  abroad, 
which,  perhaps,  was  a  wise  idea,  if  it  could 
have  been  done  under  proper  restrictions; 
but  such  a  course  opened  the  door  to  a 
great  deal  of  dishonesty,  besides  affording 
an  opportunity  for  supplying  the  Confed 
erates  with  arms  and  munitions,  of  which 
they  stood  greatly  in  need. 

Two  naval  officers  captured  parties  of 
Confederates — military  men — in  the  act  of 
loading  steamers  with  cotton  for  New  Or 
leans,  the  said  persons  being  supplied  with 
passes  purporting  to  be  by  authority  of 


General  Banks.  No  doubt,  they  expected 
to  receive,  in  return,  money  or  articles  of 
value,  when  the  naval  officers  arrested  them, 
and  would  have  seized  the  steamers  had 
not  the  latter  shoved  off  and  left  their  friends 
in  the  lurch. 

We  do  not  mean  to  say  that  General 
Banks  exceeded  his  authority  in  these  mat 
ters,  but  we  know  that  it  was  calculated  to 
prolong  the  war ;  and,  as  the  naval  com 
mander  had  not  been  notified  by  the  Gov 
ernment  that  facilities  for  getting  out  cot 
ton  would  be  granted  to  private  citizens,  he 
took  upon  himself  the  responsibility  of  put 
ting  a  stop  to  the  practice. 

It  was  evident  that  this  sort  of  traffic 
would  soon  demoralize  the  whole  expedi 
tion,  and  probably  defeat  its  every  object. 
A  gun-boat  was  stationed  at  the  mouth  of 
Red  River,  whose  captain  had  orders  not  to 
permit  any  except  naval  vessels  and  Army 
transports  to  ascend.  This,  however,  did 
not  keep  out  the  cotton  agents,  who  man 
aged  to  get  up  in  the  transports,  not  always 
to  the  satisfaction  of  General  Banks. 

On  one  occasion,  a  steamer  loaded  with 
stores  of  all  kinds,  and  furnished  with  a  per 
mit  from  Washington  to  trade  within  the 
military  lines,  appeared  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river.  The  Admiral  refused  to  recognize 
the  owner  of  this  permit  aii(}  ordered  him 
to  depart,  which  he  was  obliged  to  do,  leav 
ing  a  message  to  the  effect  that  he  would 
make  it  so  hot  for  the  naval  officer  in  Wash 
ington  that  the  latter  would  have  to  resign 
his  command,  etc.,  etc.  On  receiving  this 
message,  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
gun-boat  at  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River  was 
directed  to  seize  the  vessel  and  send  her  to 
Cairo.  He  chased  her  to  Memphis,  where, 
on  arriving,  he  found  the  steamer  had  un 
loaded  all  her  contraband  of  war,  otherwise 
she  would  have  been  condemned. 

We  mention  these  things  to  give  some 
idea  of  the  rush  for  the  cotton  region  of 
Louisiana,  and  the  demoralization  likely  to 
ensue  had  every  speculator  been  allowed 
to  go  where  he  pleased  under  permits,  or  in 
any  other  way.  There  were  Treasury 
agents  enough  authorized  by  Government 
to  seize  cotton,  and  there  was  nothing  to 
warrant  the  presence  of  cotton  purchasers 
on  an  expedition  which  had  for  its  osten 
sible  object  the  redemption  of  this  region 
from  secession. 

It  was  only  when  the  Army  was  in  retreat, 
after  the  battle  of  Mansfield,  that  the  sup 
posed  objects  of  the  expedition  were  learned. 
It  was  stated  that  before  Banks'  army  left 
New  Orleans  there  was  an  arrangement 
that  the  General  should  go  up  Red  River 
with  a  force  before  which  the  Confederates 
would  retreat;  that  Banks  would  seize  all 
the  cotton  in  the  country,  for  which  he 
would  give  receipts,  and  that,  on  the  arrival 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


501 


of  the  cotton  in  New  Orleans,  the  holders 
of  the  receipts  were  to  receive  five  or  six 
cents  a  pound  as  their  share.  General 
Banks'  conduct  gave  some  corroboration  to 
these  reports,  and  no  evidence  he  after 
wards  gave  before  the  Committee  on  the 
Conduct  of  the  War  eradicated  the  impres 
sion  that  they  were  true. 

It  was  attempted  to  divert  attention  from 
Banks  by  trying  to  throw  the  responsibility 
on  President  Lincoln  for  giving  permits  to 
Butler  and  Casey ;  but  those  men  derived 
little  benefit  from  their  license  to  trade — 
their  cotton  was  taken  from  them,  and  they 
returned  from  the  expedition  wiser  and 
poorer  men. 

As  long  as  Admiral  Porter  had  been  as 
sociated  with  Generals  Grant  and  Sherman 
in  the  midst  of  intricate  and  embarrassing 
operations,  he  had  never  to  complain  of  the 
least  want  of  courtesy  on  their  part,  and 
never  had  the  slightest  dispute  with  either  of 
them.  Now  he  was  sorry  to  see  a  prospect 
of  difficulties  at  the  very  outset  of  the  ex 
pedition.  The  tone  of  some  of  the  officials 
of  Banks'  army  was  so  different  from  what 
iie  had  been  in  the  habit  of  witnessing  that 
it  created  bad  feeling  at  once — this  ex 
tended  not  only  to  the  Navy  but  to  the 
corps  of  General  A.  J.  Smith  as  well. 

When  Smith  joined  the  expedition  he  had 
just  finished  a  long  march  through  the  in 
terior  of  the  Confederacy,  and  his  men  were 
without  proper  clothing  and  other  neces 
saries,  and  made  a  poor  figure  beside  Banks' 
well-equipped  troops;  but  when  it  came  to 
actual  warfare,  they  were  famous  fighters. 
They  were  men  who  had  lain  for  months  in 
the  trenches  at  Vicksburg,  had  gone  through 
the  hardships  of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  had 
helped  win  Arkansas  Post,  etc.,  etc.;  yet 
when  Banks  first  saw  these  veterans,  he 
exclaimed,  "  What,  in  the  name  of  Heaven, 
did  Sherman  send  me  these  ragged  guer 
illas  for  ?"  At  Mansfield  he  found  these 
*'  ragged  guerillas  "  saved  the  day  and  the 
honor  of  his  army! 

We  have  no  doubt  that  when  Banks  saw 
his  fine  army  under  General  Franklin,  and 
was  told  how  easily  those  troops  had  put 
the  Confederates  along  the  route  to  flight, 
he  felt  that  he  could  do  very  well  without 
the  corps  of  A.  J.  Smith  and  the  Navv.  For 
this  reason  he  treated  General  Smith  with 
neglect  from  the  first,  although  he  took  care 
to  put  that  General  in  the  advance.  General 
Smith  was  a  fearless,  outspoken  man.  who 
felt  that  the  cotton  speculation  would  be 
the  bane  of  the  expedition,  and  did  not  hesi 
tate  to  say  so.  He  foresaw  the  misrepre 
sentations  that  would  be  made  of  officers 
who  would  not  lend  themselves  to  the 
schemes  of  the  cotton  speculators. 

It  was  very  aggravating  for  an  officer  to 
find  himself  attacked  in  the  newspapers  at 


home  while  devoting  all  his  energies  to 
overcome  the  enemies  of  his  country,  and 
to  be  reviled  by  a  lot  of  people  who  had 
neither  the  courage  nor  the  inclination  to 
take  part  in  putting  down  the  Rebellion- 
Northern  ''copperheads,''  who  did  all  in  their 
power  to  shake  the  confidence  of  the  public 
in  the  men  at  the  head  of  the  armies  and 
fleets. 

General  Banks,  having  delayed  long  at 
Alexandria,  directed  General  Smith's  com 
mand  to  advance  to  Bayou  Rapides,  where 
the  latter  encamped  on  the  27th  of  March, 
1864.  On  the  30th,  part  of  Banks'  army 
passed  General  Smith;  but  it  was  not  until 
April  2d  that  Smith  received  orders  to  em 
bark  his  men  in  the  transports,  and  proceed 
to  Grand  Ecore,  where  they  disembarked, 
and  encamped  at  Natchitoches,  near  by. 
No  opposition  had  thus  far  been  met  with, 
and  one  or  two  guns  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Navy  a  few  miles  below  Grand  Ecore. 

Up  to  this  time  the  opinion  seemed  gen 
eral  that  the  Confederates  did  not  intend 
to  offer  any  opposition  to  the  Federal  ad 
vance,  and  that  Kirby  Smith,  the  Confed 
erate  general,  would  ''adhere  to  his  agree 
ment"  —  viz.,  to  let  the  Army  and  the 
contractors  get  all  the  cotton  they  could 
find.  The  very  deliberate  movements  of 
the  Army  gave  color  to  these  reports,  and 
the  large  number  of  empty  steam  trans 
ports  strengthened  the  idea  that  it  was  in 
tended  to  load  them  with  cotton.  Besides 
these,  there  were  seven  or  eight  hundred 
army  wagons,  ostensibly  to  carry  rations 
for  General  Banks'  division,  while  A.  J. 
Smith  had  hardly  any  wagons. 

Anticipating  the  wants  of  the  Army,  the 
Navy  brought  along  with  them  two  of  the 
large  barges  built  some  time  before  by 
General  Fremont  to  use  in  making  a  bridge. 
These  were  turned  over  to  the  military  au 
thorities  at  Grand  Ecore.  The  second  day 
after  the  arrival  of  the  expedition,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Phelps,  of  the  "Eastport," 
reported  to  the  Admiral  that  these  two 
barges,  which  would  hold  three  or  four  hun 
dred  bales  each,  and  another  barge  belong 
ing  to  Butler  and  Casey,  were  being  filled 
with  cotton,  under  superintendence  of  an 
officer  of  General  Banks'  staff,  the  cotton 
being  hauled  to  the  bank  by  army  wagons. 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  Phelps  was  di 
rected,  as  soon  as  the  barges  were  loaded, 
to  seize  the  cotton  as  prize  to  the  Navy, 
which  was  accordingly  done;  but,  soon  after, 
the  Admiral  received  a  request  from  Gene 
ral  Banks  to  turn  the  barges  over  to  the 
Army,  that  he  might  bridge  the  river  at 
Grand  Ecore.  This  request  was  imme 
diately  complied  with,  and  a  fine  bridge 
was  made  for  the  passage  of  wagons,  al 
though  the  cotton,  after  a  day  or  two's  use, 
looked  much  the  worse  for  wear.  The  Army 


502 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


held  the  barges  and  the  cotton,  and  they 
finally  had  to  he  used  in  the  construction 
of  the  great  dam  at  Alexandria. 

The  Confederates  had  about  16,000  men  in 
the  field,  and  the  Federals  about  36.000:  but 
up  to  this  time  the  former  had  retreated 
without  resistance,  leaving  the  Federals 
their  deserted  camping-grounds,  the  best 
positions,  and  all  the  cotton  in  the  country. 
It  was  so  unlike  anything  seen  before  in 
expeditions  against  the  enemy,  that  people 
could  not  help  suspecting  an  understanding 
of  some  kind  with  the  Confederates,  other 
wise  they  would  have  set  fire  to  every  bale 
of  cotton"  rather  than  permit  any  to  fall  into 
Union  hands. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  all  arrangements  for 
an  advance  having  been  made,  Banks' 
army,  composed  of  part  of  the  13th  and 
19th  army  corps,  under  Franklin  and  Em 
ory,  and  a  cavalry  division  of  about  3.500 
men.  under  General  Lee,  marched  from  Na- 
chitoches.  General  A.  J.  Smith  followed 
on  the  7th  with  his  division  of  the  16th 
corps,  excepting  2, 500  men  under  General  T. 
Kilby  Smith,  who  had  been  sent  to  escort 
the  transports  carrying  supplies.  When 
the  fleet  started,  there  were  about  thirty  of 
these  transports  in  company,  but  their  num 
bers  were  afterwards  increased  by  the  addi 
tion  of  some  large  empty  steamers,  which 
delayed  the  advance  owing  to  their  too 
great  draft  of  water. 

It  was  arranged  that  the  naval  vessels 
and  transports  were  to  meet  the  Army  at 
Springfield  Landing,  about  thirty  miles  be 
low  Shreveport,  the  third  day  after  depart 
ure. 

The  difficulties  of  navigation  were  very 
great,  as  there  were  few  pilots,  and  they 
were  not  familiar  with  the  river  channel  as 
it  then  existed,  it  having  changed  very 
much  within  a  year  or  two;  but  the  fleet 
managed  to  surmount  all  obstacles,  and 
reached  the  rendezvous  within  an  hour  of 
the  time  specified  in  the  arrangement  with 
General  Banks.  As  the  General  was  not 
very  punctual,  no  one  was  surprised  at  his 
non-appearance.  It  was  not  supposed  that 
36.000  men  would  be  long  delayed  by  the 
16,000  General  Taylor  had  at  that  time 
between  them  and  Shreveport.  and  the 
Navy  wondered  at  not  seeing  the  van  of 
the  Army  at  this  point.  Nothing  was  to  be 
seen,  and  the  solitude  of  the  grave  brooded 
over  the  spot. 

The  further  advance  of  the  transports 
was  here  prevented  by  a  very  large  steamer 
called  the  "  New  Falls  City,"  that  the  Con 
federates  had  placed  across  the  channel, 
her  ends  resting  on  the  banks,  and  her  hull, 
broken  in  the  middle,  resting  on  the  bottom. 

It  required  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to 
get  rid  of  this  obstruction,  and  while  the 
appointed  officers  were  examining  into  the 


best  ways  and  means  of  removing  the  ves 
sel,  the  Admiral  proposed  to  General  Kilby 
Smith  that  they  should  reconnoitre  the 
country  on  horseback.  They  had  ridden 
about  a  mile  when  they  saw  a  party  of 
men  crouching  and  running  through  the 
high  grass  and  coming  to  a  halt.  The 
Admiral  remarked  to  the  General.  "Banks 
has  been  defeated,  or  we  wouldn't  see 
those  men  here.  If  Banks  was  still  ad 
vancing,  the  outposts  would  keep  on  the 
main  road  to  Shreveport.  If  defeated,  the 
enemy's  look-outs  would  be  watching  for 
our  arrival,  and  be  ready  to  turn  their 
whole  force  upon  us,  and  it  behoves  us 
to  be  wary.'' 

It  was  then  agreed  upon  between  General 
Smith  and  the  Admiral  to  land  the  artillery 
at  once,  and  make  a  dash  for  a  short  dis 
tance,  as  if  they  intended  an  advance, 
which  would  start  the  Confederate  look-outs 
off  to  report  the  landing;  then  the  plan  was 
to  turn,  and,  embarking,  proceed  down  the 
river  until  they  could  communicate  with 
some  part  of  the  main  army.  This  was  rap 
idly  accomplished,  and  late  in  the  day  the 
gun-boats  and  transports  proceeded  down 
the  river  in  good  order,  prepared  to  give 
the  enemy  a  warm  reception  if  he  should 
attack  them.  It  was  taken  for  granted  if 
General  Banks  was  defeated  he  would  lose 
some  of  his  artillery,  and  that  the  fleet  would 
have  it  used  against  them  sooner  or  later. 

The  movement  proved  to  be  a  good  one; 
the  enemy  were  deceived,  and,  expecting 
to  have  the  fleet  at  their  mercy  next  morn 
ing,  made  no  demonstration.  All  that 
night  the  vessels  moved  slowly  down  the 
Red  River,  and  at  10  o'clock  a  courier  from 
General  Banks  came  on  board  the  flag-ship, 
and  informed  the  Admiral  that  the  Army 
had  met  with  a  reverse,  and  was  falling 
back  to  Pleasant  Hill,  about  fifteen  miles 
from  the  battle-ground  of  Mansfield,  and 
thirty-five  miles  ffom  Nachitoches.  This 
point  was  sixty  miles  distant,  and  the  vic 
torious  enemy  was  between  the  fleet  and 
the  Federal  Army. 

Orders  came  also  for  General  Kilby  Smith 
to  return  with  his  troops  and  transports  to 
Grand  Ecore,  and  the  expedition  proceeded 
towards  that  point  as  rapidly  as  the  diffi 
cult  navigation  would  permit.  The  gun 
boats  were  placed  so  as  to  cover  the  trans 
ports,  and  the  field-artillery  was  mounted 
on  the  upper  decks  of  the  latter:  barricades 
were  made  for  riflemen — in  short,  every 
possible  preparation  for  the  storm  which 
was  coming. 

Here  was  a  sudden  collapse  to  what  bid 
fair  at  one  time  to  be  a  successful  expe 
dition,  all  owing  to  the  unmilitary  char 
acter  of  the  commanding  general,  who 
ignored  the  advice  of  the  generals  under 
him. 


OF   THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


503 


When  General  Banks  concentrated  his 
forces  at  Grand  Ecore,  it  was  supposed 
that  he  would  take  the  road  along  the 
river,  where  he  could  at  all  times  be  sup 
ported  by  the  100  guns  carried  by  the  vessels 
of  the  Navy,  and  where  he  could  be  supplied 
by  the  Army  transports,  instead  of  encum 
bering  his  army  with  a  multitude  of  wagons. 
It  was  thought  that,  as  Banks  got  further 
into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  he 
would  adopt  precautions  against  an  attack 
from  the  15.000  or  20.000  men  under  General 
Taylor,  who  might  not  know  of  the  ar 
rangements  of  the  cotton  speculators,  if  any 
such  understanding  did  exist.  Instead  of 
taking  precautions.  General  Banks  started 
on  his  march  as  if  the  whole  country  was 
free  from  the  enemy;  and  so  certain  was 
he  of  reaching  his  place  of  destination  that 
he  named  Springfield  Landing  as  the  point 
where  the  fleet  was  to  meet  him  with  sup 
plies. 

His  line  of  march  was  twenty  miles  away 
from  the  river,  along  a  rough  and  narrow 
road,  through  a  miserable  country,  covered 
with  pine  woods,  with  few  inhabitants  and 
very  little  water.  All  the  knowledge  Banks 
had  of  the  country  was  what  he  could 
gather  from  Confederate  sources.  Instead 
of  putting  the  infantry  in  the  van,  General 
Lee  was  sent  in  front  with  about  3.500 
mounted  infantry  —  badly  mounted  and 
worse  drilled — with  150  heavy  wagons  in 
their  rear,  the  infantry  following  some  dis 
tance  behind. 

When  General  Banks' army  was  attacked 
on  the  8th  of  April  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads, 
General  A.  J.  Smith's  division  was  ten 
miles  in  the  rear,  near  Pleasant  Hill.  and. 
although  they  heard  the  roar  of  artillery,  the 
first  Smith's  men  knew  of  the  disaster  to  the 
main  army  was  from  Colonel  Clarke,  who 
had  ridden  rapidly  to  inform  them  that  the 
enemy  had  killed,  wounded  and  captured 
over  2,000  Federal  soldiers,  had  taken  150 
wagons,  all  the  stores,  and  22  pieces  of  artil 
lery.  How  all  this  was  done  can  only  be 
understood  by  examining  Banks'  line  of 
march,  which,  it  appears,  was  also  his  line 
of  battle. 

It  seems  the  further  Banks'  army  ad 
vanced  into  the  country  the  deeper  became 
the  gullies  and  the  worse  became  the  roads, 
while  the  thick  woods  on  all  sides  afforded 
a  fine  shelter  for  the  enemy. 

Up  to  the  8th  of  April  it  had  rained 
heavily.  General  Franklin,  who  left 
Grand"  Ecore  on  the  Gth.  marched  but  seven 
teen  miles  on  that  and  eighteen  miles  on 
the  succeeding  day,  being  much  impeded 
by  his  large  wagon  train;  and  it  seems 
General  Lee  was  so  far  in  advance  that 
he  could  not  rely  on  the  whole  of  Frank 
lin's  force  for  support,  as  should  have  been 
the  case.  On  the  Tth.  Lee's  force  had  a 


severe  skirmish  with  the  enemy  beyond 
Pleasant  Hill.  and.  after  some 'delay,  a 
brigade  of  Franklin's  infantry  was  sent  to 
his  assistance.  Lee's  cavalry  were  nothing 
more  than  infantry  soldiers  whom  Banks 
had  mounted,  and  as  soon  as  fighting  com 
menced  they  dismounted. 

One  can  imagine  how  ill-arranged  for 
battle  was  this  army,  with  four  regiments 
of  dismounted  horsemen  in  advance,  mixed 
up  with  their  horses,  and  fighting  in  gullies 
where  they  could  be  picked  off  by  sharp 
shooters  ensconced  in  the  thick  woods.  No 
wonder  General  Lee  sent  to  Franklin  for 
assistance,  who  answered  through  Colonel 
Clarke,  of  Banks'  staff,  that  if  he  could 
not  hold  his  position  he  must  fall  back 
upon  the  main  body  of  the  infantry.  It 
would  have  been  better,  however,  if  Lee 
had  fallen  back  when  he  first  encountered 
the  enemy's  advance,  and  sent  the  wagons 
to  the  rear,  for  a  finer  chance  to  have  them 
captured  could  not  have  been  offered. 

Colonel  Clarke,  finding  that  Franklin 
was  indisposed  to  send  any  troops  to  sup 
port  Lee,  went  to  General  Banks,  who 
sent  a  verbal  order  to  Franklin  to  send  a 
brigade  of  infantry  to  report  to  Lee  at  day 
light  next  morning.  General  Franklin  then 
ordered  General  Ransom  to  send  a  brigade, 
or  a  division  if  he  saw  fit.  The  brigades 
were  so  small  that  Franklin  thought  a 
division  would  better  carry  out  General 
Banks'  views;  but  Ransom  sent  a  brigade, 
with  which  General  Lee  was  satisfied. 

Notwithstanding  the  demonstrations  of 
the  enemy  in  front.  Banks  did  not  seem  to 
think  there  was  any  likelihood  of  a  pitched 
battle  taking  place.  He  gave  an  order, 
through  Franklin,  directing  Lee  to  proceed 
as  far  as  possible  on  the  night  of  the  Tth, 
with  his  whole  train,  in  order  to  give  the 
infantry  room  to  advance  on  the  8th.  The 
forces  of  General  Lee  only  advanced  one 
mile  between  the  7th  and  8th  of  April, 
and  on  the  latter  date  Lee  reported  by  let 
ter  to  General  Franklin  that  the  enemy 
were  in  stronger  force  apparently  than  the 
day  previous.  He  says:  *'  I  advanced  this 
morning  with  ten  regiments  of  mounted  in 
fantry  (dismounted),  three  regiments  of 
cavalry  and  a  brigade  of  infantry.  We  are 
driving  them,  but  they  injure  us  some.  I 
do  not  hasten  forward  my  trains,  as  I  wish 
to  see  the  result  certain  first." 

General  Lee's  idea  was.  perhaps,  a  good 
one,  but  he  did  not  seem  to  realize  that  the 
enemy  were  leading  him  and  his  trains  fur 
ther  into  the  trap;  but  General  Banks  should 
have  seen  this  and  withdrawn  Lee  in  time, 
and  pushed  his  infantry  and  artillery  ahead 
to  the  attack. 

Banks,  however,  does  not  appear  to  have 
kept  in  any  position  where  he  could  see  for 
himself  what  was  going  on,  and  seems  to 


504 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY 


have  been  influenced  in  a  great  degree  by 
an  officer  of  his  staff.  Only  on  the  night  of 
the  7th  did  General  Banks  arrive  at  Frank 
lin's  headquarters  from  Grand  Ecore.  al 
though  the  fighting  commenced  that  after 
noon,  and  Lee  complained  of  a  want  of 
troops  to  keep  from  being  driven  in.  Banks 
did  not  go  to  the  front  until  late  on  the  8th, 
and  then  sent  word  to  Franklin  that  the  en 
emy  were  prepared  to  make  a  strong  stand 
at  the  point  where  they  were  holding  Lee, 
and  that  he  (Franklin)  "had  better  make 
arrangements"  (! !)  to  bring  up  his  infantry, 
and  pass  everything  on  the  road,  and  that 
he  would  send  him  word  when  to  move. 
He  thought  Franklin  had  better  send  back 
and  push  the  trains  forward,  as  manifestly 
the  Army  would  be  able  to  make  a  rest 
there. 

Now,  whether  General  Banks  wanted  the 
troops  to  push  forward  and  rest,  or  fight, 
does  not  appear  ;  but,  as  far  as  one  can 
learn  from  the  reports  of  officers.  Banks 
seemed  to  be  resting  that  army  a  great  deal, 
when  thousands  were  anxious  to  push  on 
and  join  in  the  fray. 

It  seems  evident  that  General  Lee  did 
everything  after  he  engaged  the  enemy  that 
a  man  could  with  the  force  at  his  command 
— a  force  not  suited  for  that  particular  kind 
of  service  ;  and  when  he  found  himself  out 
numbered  he  sent  for  reinforcements,  when 
Banks  dispatched  to  his  assistance  only 
1,200  men.  These  were  soon  decimated,  and 
1,200  more  were  sent.  Such  small  reinforce 
ments  amounted  to  nothing;  and  it  does  not 
require  much  military  knowledge  to  see  the 
folly  of  sending  one  small  brigade  of  infan 
try  to  co-operate  with  a  large  body  of  cav 
alry  in  such  an  expedition. 

From  Lee's  report  it  will  appear  that 
while  the  whole  brigade  of  infantry  was 
engaged  on  the  8th,  only  three  regiments 
out  of  a  whole  division  of  cavalry  were  in 
action.  The  result,  as  General  Lee  expressed 
it,  was  that  the  first  brigade  of  infantry 
"got  very  much  embarrassed;"  in  other 
words,  used  up,  and  so  Lee  sent  for  another 
brigade.  General  Franklin  protested  strong 
ly  against  thus  sending  brigade  after  brig 
ade  to  be  cut  up  in  detail,  but  Banks  gave 
the  orders,  and  finding  such  halfway  meas 
ures  futile,  directed  Franklin  to  advance 
with  a  division  of  infantry,  to  be  beaten  in 
his  turn. 

The  state  of  affairs  was  as  follows:  Lee 
some  distance  in  advance  of  the  wagon 
train  had  fought  with  the  two  brigades  un 
til  he  was  cut  up,  had  to  retreat,  and  be 
came  mixed  up  with  the  wagon  train  and 
with  the  advancing  division  of  Franklin's 
infantry,  which  in  turn  was  driven  back 
upon  the  train,  the  latter  was  jammed  up, 
and  when  the  time  came  for  the  artillery  to 
retreat  there  was  no  way  to  get  the  g*uns 


through  the  train,  and  they  had  to  be  aban 
doned. 

Lee  was  not  to  blame  for  having  his  divis 
ion  hampered  by  the  wagon  train.  He  had 
applied  to  General  Franklin  to  allow  his 
train  to  move  to  the  rear  of  the  infantry; 
but  Franklin  told  him  he  must  take  care  of 
his  own  train,  that  he  (F.)  had  already  750 
wagons  to  look  out  for,  and  150  additional 
wagons  would  make  his  train  so  unwieldy 
that  he  could  not  get  into  camp  at  the  end 
of  his  day's  march.  Franklin  cannot  be 
held  responsible  for  the  disaster,  but  the 
wagon-train  was. 

Apparently,  General  Banks  started  on  this 
expedition  as  if  there  was  to  be  no  fighting, 
and  he  stayed  behind  in  Grand  Ecore  until 
the  head  of  the  army  was  fifty  miles  in  ad 
vance,  regardless  of  the  circumstance  that 
he  might  have  been  captured  by  Confeder 
ate  stragglers.  This,  with  the  fact  that  he 
had  so  many  wagons  with  his  army,  gave 
color  to  the  stories  that  Banks  and  the  cot 
ton  speculators  were  arranging  about  the 
bales  that  were  to  come  down  from  Shreve- 
port  in  empty  army  wagons  and  transports. 
The  Confederates  had  no  wagons  worth 
mentioning  until  Banks  had  supplied  them. 
A.  J.  Smith  with  10.000  men  had  very  few, 
and  why  Banks  should  require  900  for  80.000 
men,  who  could  sleep  out  of  doors  all  the 
time  much  more  comfortably  than  in  tents, 
no  man  can  tell.  Had  Banks  understood 
the  art  of  war,  he  would  have  ordered  his 
trains  to  be  parked  when  he  saw  that  a 
battle  was  imminent. 

It  was  not  the  intention  of  the  enemy  to 
bring  on  an  engagement  at  the  time  it  took 
place,  but  rather  to  draw  the  Federal  troops 
as  far  into  the  interior  as  possible,  and  away 
from  the  gun-boats,  into  the  marshes  and 
bayous  at  Wallace's  Lake,  between  Mans 
field  and  Shreveport.  In  this  difficult  region 
the  troops  would  have  been  entangled  in 
swamps,  and  would  have  had  to  corduroy 
the  roads  for  miles  to  get  the  trains  along. 

Had  Banks  been  satisfied  to  let  the  cav 
alry  go  in  advance,  clearing  the  roads  of 
outposts,  and  reporting  the  presence  of  the 
enemy's  main  body  when  they  encoun 
tered  it,  all  might  have  turned  out  well; 
but  it  appears  he  never  gave  himself  much 
concern  about  the  management  of  the 
Army  until  it  was  defeated. 

He  sailed  up  from  New  Orleans  to  Alex 
andria  in  a  fine  steamer,  supplied  with  all 
comforts.  He  sailed  again  011  the  same  ves 
sel  from  Alexandria  to  Grand  Ecore,  and 
did  not  leave  the  latter  place  until  Frank 
lin's  division  had  reached  Pleasant  Hill. 
Then,  going  to  the  front,  and  being  ill- 
informed  of  the  situation  of  affairs,  Banks 
determined  to  win  a  battle  without  Frank 
lin's  aid. 

If  the  cavalry  had  gone  to  the  front  alone 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


505 


for  merely  its  legitimate  purposes,  it  would 
have  marched  slowly  and  cautiously;  but, 
being  reinforced  by  infantry,  it  got  ahead 
faster  than  was  prudent.  Had  the  cavalry 
marched  as  it  should  have  done,  General 
A.  J.  Smith  would  have  been  at  Pleasant 
Hill,  only  eight  miles  in  the  rear,  the  Army 
would  have  been  in  as  compact  a  condition 
as  could  have  been  possible  and  the  final 
result  would  have  been  different.  Banks 
had  probably  never  heard  of  the  old  rule. 
•'Choose  your  own  ground,  and  let  the  en 
emy  attack  you/'  At  all  events,  he  went 
directly  contrary  to  the  maxim;  but  even 
then  he  would  have  been  successful  had  he 
waited  a  day  longer. 

Banks  had  two  officers  of  the  regular 
army.  Franklin  and  Emory,  in  command  of 
divisions,  but  he  seemed  to  ignore  them 
until  he  got  hard  pushed.  General  C.  P. 
Stone,  his  chief-of-staff,  was  a  clever  officer, 
but  he  set  aside  his  opinions.  He  allowed 
the  enemy  to  bring  on  a  battle  on  ground 
over  which  the  Army  would  have  to  pass 
by  a  narrow  road  through  a  pine  forest, 
filled  with  a  dense  undergrowth,  with  no 
room  to  handle  men,  much  less  to  have  a 
dress  parade  of  army  wagons.  The  Army 
could  only  march  in  very  narrow  columns. 

General  Banks  cannot  say  he  did  not 
know  the  position  of  the  Army  when  he 
brought  on  this  battle,  for  Franklin  had  ex 
plained  it  all  to  him  on  his  arrival  at  Pleas 
ant  Hill,  and  he  passed  along  the  whole  line 
on  his  way  to  the  front,  where  the  cavalry 
was  fighting,  and  could  not  help  seeing  how 
matters  stood. 

General  Franklin  was  nominally  in  com 
mand  of  the  Army  when  General  Banks 
joined  him  at  Pleasant  Hill,  but  the  latter 
went  to  the  front  without  paying  Franklin 
the  courtesy  of  saying  he  was  going  to  take 
command,  and  prepared  to  take  all  the  glory 
if  he  succeeded.  From  our  knowledge  of 
the  Army,  it  was  evident  that  Banks  was 
not  in  accord  with  any  of  his  generals. 
They  did  not  think  him  a  good  leader,  to 
commence  with,  and  they  certainly  had  no 
reason  to  do  so  in  the  end.  On  his  part,  he 
seemed  to  care  little  for  them  or  for  their 
opinions. 

Up  to  the  time  of  Banks'  arrival,  General 
Lee  considered  Franklin  in  command  ;  but 
when  Lee  referred  to  some  order  he  had  re 
ceived  from  Franklin,  Banks  remarked,  *'  I 
shall  remain  upon  the  field,  General/'  with 
out  saying  whether  or  not  he  took  command. 
At  all  events,  he  gave  such  orders  that  his 
presence  much  embarrassed  Lee  in  making 
arrangements. 

It  -would  appear,  from  evidence  received 
from  different  sources,  that,  after  Banks' 
arrival  on  the  field.  General  Lee  was  allowed 
'«;lie  management  of  this  affair,  although 
under  the  immediate  command  of  General 


Franklin.  He  waited  for  no  order  from  the 
latter,  insisting  on  pushing  ahead  all  the 
time,  though  Franklin  intimated  that  if  the 
enemy  was  in  force  in  his  front,  he  should 
fall  back  upon  the  infantry,  and  that  he, 
Franklin,  would  not  send  him  infantry  sup 
port.  In  this  Franklin  was  right;  "but  it 
would  have  been  better  had  he  gone  to  the 
front  himself,  and  taken  a  more  decided 
command  in  the  first  instance.  It  was  not 
desirable  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement 
in  the  then  condition  of  the  Army  ;  and 
when  Franklin  finally  did  send  a  division  to 
assist  the  fragments  of  brigades  ordered  to 
the  front  by  Banks,  his  main  body  of  some 
6.000  men  were  seven  miles  in  the  rear,  and 
fifteen  miles  back  there  were  8.000  more  ; 
while  we  know  that,  when  Lee  first  called 
for  support,  the  enemy  had  in  position  8,000 
infantry,  with  some  artillery,  and  nobody 
could  tell  how  many  more  in  the  back 
ground. 

That  the  Federal  soldiers  did  all  that  men 
could  do  in  this  first  engagement,  no  one 
can  deny  ;  but  if  Banks  had  tried  to  place 
impediments  in  their  way  he  could  not  have 
succeeded  better.  Colonel  W.  J.  Landrum, 
commanding  4th  brigade  of  Ransom's  divi 
sion,  in  a  report  to  that  officer,  says:  "  My 
men  have  skirmished  and  marched  through 
bushes  and  thickets  for  eight  or  nine  miles, 
making  in  all  a  march  of  sixteen  miles  ; 
they  have  no  water,  and  are  literally  worn 
out.  Can  you  have  them  relieved  soon  ? 
General  Lee  insists  on  pushing  ahead." 

When  General  Ransom  arrived  on  the 
field  he  found  the  road  obstructed  by  the 
cavalry  train,  and,  after  a  great  deal  of 
trouble,  got  through  and  arrived  at  the 
front  with  his  troops.  He  found  the  enemy 
in  force,  a  large  body  of  infantry  in  line  of 
battle  on  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  two 
batteries  of  artillery  about  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  in  front,  while  considerable  bodies 
of  infantry  were  moving  on  the  road  lead 
ing  to  his  right  and  rear.  As  Banks  came 
on  the  field,  at  3  P.  M.,  Ransom  reported 
to  him,  and  from  that  moment  Banks  be 
came  responsible  for  what  occurred. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  3d  brigade,  the  posi 
tion  of  the  83d  and  9Gth  Ohio  infantry  were 
assigned  opposite  to  that  recommended  by 
General  Ransom,  and  in  a  place  in  which 
they  should  never  have  been  put.  The  in 
fantry  on  the  right  of  the  road  were  placed 
in  a  'narrow  belt  of  timber,  dividing  two 
large  plantations,  with  open  ground  in 
front  and  cultivated  fields  in  the  rear. 
Nims'  Battery  was  posted  on  a  hill  near  the 
road,  two  hundred  yards  to  the  left  of  the 
belt  of  timber,  and  was  supported  by  the 
23d  Wisconsin  infantry.  The  G?th  Indiana 
supported  the  battery  on  the  right,  together 
with  the  7?th  and  130th  Illinois,  48th  Ohio, 
19th  Kentucky,  9Gth  Ohio,  a  section  of 


500 


THE  XAVAL    HISTORY 


light  artillery,  and  the  83d  Ohio— in  all. 
2.413  infantry.  The  cavalry  and  mounted 
infantry  under  Lee  were  posted  on  the 
flanks  and  rear,  having  Colonel  Dudleys 
brigade  on  the  left,  and  Colonel  Lucas  on 
the  right,  with  skirmishers  deployed  in 
front  of  the  infantry. 

The  enemy  attacked  this  position  at  4 
p.  M.  His  first  line  was  driven  back  in  con 
fusion,  but,  recovering,  he  again  advanced: 
unable,  however,  to  withstand  the  fire  from 
the  Federal  troops,  the  Confederates  laid 
down  200  yards  in  front  and  returned  the 
fire;  at  the  same  time  a  force  was  pressing 
the  Federal  left  flank  and  driving  the 
mounted  infantry  back.  The  1st  Indiana 
and  Chicago  Mercantile  Batteries  had  just 
arrived  on  the  field,  and  General  Ransom 
directed  them  to  be  placed  near  a  house  oc 
cupied  as  Banks'  headquarters,  where  they 
opened  on  the  enemy,  who  had  shown  him 
self  in  strong  force  on  the  left  flank,  which 
it  was  evidently  his  purpose  to  turn — a  pur 
pose  soon  afterward  accomplished  after  the 
infantry  were  driven  in  and  Nims'  battery 
captured. 

This  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  turn 
ing-point  of  the  battle,  which  was  nearly 
lost  to  the  Federals.  The  infantry,  gener 
ally,  behaved  with  great  gallantry.  The 
Chicago  and  1st  Indiana  Batteries  went 
promptly  into  action,  but  were  soon  so  cut 
up  that"  they  were  obliged  to  retreat,  leav 
ing  their  guns  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  fact  is.  the  guns  had  to  be  abandoned, 
because  the  cavalry  wagon-train  blocked 
up  the  road  against  all  operations  from  first 
to  last.  Some  went  so  far  as  to  assert  that 
the  said  wagon-train  was  the  cause  of  all 
the  disasters;  and,  although  this  may  not  be 
literally  true,  the  world  will  naturally  in 
quire  why,  on  the  approach  of  a  heavy  en 
gagement,  the  wagons  were  not  sent  to  the 
rear.  There  were  men  enough  to  have 
hauled  them  away  had  the  horses  been  un 
able  to  do  so.  The  fact  is,  the  blame  rests, 
and  always  will  rest,  on  General  Banks' 
conduct  after  he  took  command  in  person. 
The  disaster  was  due  to  his  sending  forward 
small  bodies  of  troops — which  were  defeated 
in  detail — to  support  the  cavalry,  which 
should  have  been  ordered  to  fall  back  until 
the  main  army  came  up. 

In  this  day's  fight  the  Federals  had  but 
7.000  men  and  20  field-pieces,  a  very  large 
proportion  of  ordnance  to  the  number  of  in 
fantry.  The  natural  consequence  was  that, 
when  a  retreat  was  ordered,  the  artillery 
had  to  be  abandoned  for  want  of  time  to 
force  it  through  the  obstructions  of  wagons 
and  bodies  of  infantry. 

The  3d  Division,  13th  army  corps,  ar 
rived  on  the  field  in  season  to  check  the  ad 
vance  of  the  enemy;  and  General  Franklin, 
who  came  on  the  field  in  person,  was 


wounded  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell.  This 
check  proved  but  temporary,  and  the  retreat 
of  the  Federals  commenced.  Their  loss  was 
26  pieces  of  artillery,  all  the  ambulances, 
and  157  army  wagons  and  their  horses,  with 
the  rations  and  forage  of  the  mounted  in 
fantry. 

General  Emory's  corps  got  into  action  as 
the  evening  was  setting  in,  and  checked 
the  advance  of  the  enemy  completely  by 
his  masterly  management,  preventing  a 
disaster  to  the  whole  army.  With  their 
superior  numbers,  and  flushed  with  appar 
ent  victory,  the  enemy  could  not  dislodge 
him  from  his  position:  while  the  discom 
fited  regiments  that  had  fallen  back  behind 
his  corps  were  enabled  to  re-form.  It  was, 
without  doubt.  Emory's  corps  that  saved 
the  day.  and  prevented  the  Confederates 
from  gaining  a  substantial  victory. 

At  about  dark  the  enemy  retired,  to  re 
joice  over  their  success,  and  fill  their  can 
teens  from  General  Lee's  ample  supply  of 
liquor.  To  make  sure  of  their  captures,  the 
Confederates  unharnessed  all  the  horses 
from  the  wagons,  and  conveyed  them  and 
the  artillery  to  what  they  considered  a 
place  of  safety. 

After  this  repulse,  General  Banks  fell 
back  to  Pleasant  Hill  with  his  whole  force, 
and  was  there  joined  by  General  A.  J. 
Smith,  who  had  just  reached  that  point 
with  his  command.  At  Pleasant  Hill  the 
army  encamped  to  reorganize  and  repair 
damages. 

The  great  mistake  in  this  battle  was  in 
bringing  the  wagon-train  to  the  front  and 
directing  General  Lee. if  hard  pushed,  to  fall 
back  on  the  infantry,  apparently  not  realiz 
ing  the  danger  of  leaving  all  the  train  in 
the  enemy's  hands.  Banks  had  ample  op 
portunity  to  redeem  this  error  before  rein 
forcing  Lee  and  pushing  the  latter  further 
into  danger,  thereby  bringing  on  a  general 
engagement,  which  it  was  desirable  to  avoid 
in  the  then  scattered  condition  of  the  Fed 
eral  forces.  General  Franklin  assigned  this 
as  a  reason  for  not  complying  with  Lee's 
request  for  reinforcements,  and  military 
critics  support  him  in  this  ;  but  it  would 
have  been  wiser  to  have  sent  a  positive 
order  to  Lee  to  send  his  wagon  train  to  the 
rear  and  to  fall  back  when  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy  was  found  in  force.  This 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  have  com 
pelled  the  obedience  of  this  officer,  who 
was  exhibiting  a  great  deal  of  gallantry. 

Banks  says  he  expected  the  mounted 
soldiers  to  be  in  front  and  the  in fantry  close 
behind;  but  there  was  no  necessity  for  the 
cavalry  to  have  their  wragons  with  them, 
as  each  man  could  carry  two  days'  rations 
and  forage  on  his  horse,  or  a  certain  number 
of  wagons  could  have  been  dispatched  each 
night  with  rations  for  the  day  following. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


507 


But  lie  the  fault  where  it  may.  Banks  met 
with  defeat  and  a  loss  of  prestige  from 
which  the  Army  never  fairly  recovered  in 
that  region;  whereas,  the  Federals  should 
have  gained  a  victory  that  would  have  ena 
bled  them  to  hold  that  part  of  Louisiana  un 
til  the  end  of  the  war.  and  to  plant  the 
Union  flag  in  Texas — the  latter  a  cherished 
object  of  the  Government. 

The  plan  of  invasion  was  a  wild  one.  it  is 
true,  but  it  came  nearer  success  than  many 
•  hoped  for  when  the  expedition  started. 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  had  secured  the 
wagons  and  guns,  they  started  in  pursuit  of 
the  Federal  Army,  which,  having  halted  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  was  in  a  measure  prepared  to 
receive  them.  At  3:30  P.  M.,  on  the  9th,  the 
*-.  enemy  attacked  the  Federal  forces  with 
greatVigor.  The  Federal  line  of  battle  was 
formed  in  the  following  order:  1st  brigade, 
19th  corps. on  the  right,  resting  on  a  ravine; 
the  2d  brigade  in  the  centre, and  the  3d  brig 
ade  on  the  left.  The  centre  was  strength 
ened  by  a  brigade  of  General  A.  J.  Smith's 
division,  whose  main  force  acted  as  a  re 
serve.  The  enemy  moved  towards  the 
right  flank  of  the  army,  and  the  2d  brigade 
withdrew  in  good  order  from  the  centre  to 
support  the  first.  A.  J.  Smith's  brigade,  in 
support  of  the  centre,  moved  into  the  posi 
tion  vacated  by  the  2d  brigade,  and  an 
other  of  A.  J.  Smith's  brigades  was  posted 
to  the  extreme  left  on  a  hill  to  the  rear  of 
the  main  line.  Shortly  after  5  P.  si.,  the 
enemy  had  driven  in  the  skirmishers  and 
attacked  in  great  strength,  manceuvering 
to  force  the  Federal  left.  He  advanced  in 
two  heavy. oblique  lines  towards  the  right  of 
the  3d  brigade.  19th  corps,  which,  after  a 
determined  resistance,  fell  slowly  back  to 
the  reserves.  The  enemy  then  attacked  the 
centre,  which  was  also  moved  back  to  the 
reserves;  and  the  1st  and  2d  brigades  were 
soon  enveloped  in  front,  right  and  rear. 
By  the  skillful  maneuvering  of  General 
Emor}*,  the  flanks  of  the  two  brigades  now 
meeting  the  enemy  were  covered,  and  the 
Confederates  received  terrible  punishment. 
At  the  same  moment,  the  latter  came  in  con 
tact  with  the  reserve  under  General  A.  J. 
Smith  :  where,  already  retreating,  he  was 
met  first  bv  a  volley  and  then  a  charge,  led 
by  General  Mower,  which  caused  him  to  re 
treat  more  rapidly.  All  Smith's  reserves 
were  ordered  by  Emory  to  join  in  the  attack; 
the  whole  Confederate  army  was  put  to 
flight,  and  was  followed  by  A.  J.  Smith's 
division  until  night  set  in. 

What  happened  at  Pleasant  Hill  would 
have  happened  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads  if 
General  Franklin  on  that  occasion  had 
been  allowed  to  postpone  the  engagement 
until  the  infantry  had  had  time  to  join  the 
croops  in  front/  Had  the  fight  at  Sabine 
Cross  Roads  been  postponed  forty-eight 


hours,  the  Federal  army  would  have  been 
victorious,  and  would,  doubtless,  have 
reached  Shreveport  without  further  molest 
ation  ;  although  what  particular  object 
there  was  in  going  to  that  place  does  not 
exactly  appear. 

General  Banks  was  in  command  at  Pleas 
ant  Hill,  and  had  acquired  sufficient  wis 
dom  to  send  the  greater  part  of  his  cavalry, 
together  with  General  Ransom's  command, 
which  had  been  badly  handled  the  day  be 
fore,  and  all  the  baggage  train  that  had 
escaped,  to  the  rear.  In  the  hurry  of  the 
moment,  however,  the  medical  train  of  the 
19th  corps  was  also  sent  off.  much  to  the 
annoyance  of  the  medical  officers,  who,  be 
fore  night,  had  the  most  urgent  need  for  its 
contents. 

The  Federal  position  on  the  field  of  Pleas 
ant  Hill  was  excellent,  and  the  enemy  should 
not  have  moved  the  army  one  inch.  The 
little  village  of  Pleasant  Hill  was  situated 
upon  an  eminence,  the  ground  sloping  in 
all  directions,  and  rising  again  to  the  west, 
formed  another  eminence  half  a  mile  from 
the  village.  On  and  about  the  crest  of  this 
latter  eminence,  among  trees  and  bushes 
and  behind  fences,  the  Federal  troops  were 
stationed  in  line  of  battle;  the  reserves  in 
waiting  joining  the  village  on  the  left— just 
such  a  place  as  a  general  would  like  to 
select  on  such  an  occasion. 

General  A.  J.  Smith's  reserves  at  this 
time,  owing  to  absentees  and  the  2,500 
men  with  the  fleet  of  transports  under  Gen 
eral  T.  Kilby  Smith,  amounted  to  only  5. 800 
men,  under  the  immediate  command  of 
General  Mower.  When  the  division  ap 
peared  upon  the  field  under  Mower,  the 
army  had  been  forced  back  a  considera 
ble  distance  and  was  in  some  confusion. 
Colonel  W.  J.  Shaw,  commanding  the  14th 
Iowa  infantry,  IGth  corps,  had  been  brought 
up  in  the  first  place  to  reinforce  the  19th 
corps,  and  had  been  badly  handled.  As 
Mower  broke  through  the  ranks  of  the  re 
treating  troops,  the  enemy's  cavalry  was 
seen  on  the  edge  of  a  wood,  where  they  had 
been  concealed,  forming  for  a  charge.  They 
swept  rapidly  forward  across  the  field  in 
one  of  the  most  perfect  cavalry  charges 
seen  during  the  war,  and  met  as  fatal  a  re 
ception  as  ever  befel  such  a  movement. 
Colonel  Shaw  ordered  his  men  to  reserve 
their  fire  until  the  horsemen  were  near 
enough  to  receive  the  full  force  of  it,  and 
the  result  was  that  fully  half  of  the  enemy 
were  dismounted  and  many  horses  dis 
abled.  The  remainder  pressed  headlong 
on  under  a  close  and  rapid  fire  until  some 
of  them  fell  from  their  horses  into  the 
Federal  ranks.  By  this  time  the  cavalry 
regiment  was  hors  du  combat,  and  only  a 
small  proportion  of  the  men  got  back*  to 
their  lines. 


508 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


After  this  the  Confederate  infantry  ad 
vanced  in  double  line  of  battle  with  perfect 
order,  but  with  the  result  we  have  before 
mentioned. 

Notwithstanding  the  action  at  Pleasant 
Hill  was  a  victory  for  the  Union  Army,  it 
came  near  being  a  defeat,  and  would  have 
been  so  but  for  General  Emory's  strong 
stand.  When  the  enemy's  infantry  ad 
vanced  across  the  open  field,  Shaw's  brigade 
opened  on  them  at  a  distance  of  200  yards. 
The  enemy  replied  vigorously,  and  caused 
a  heavy  loss.  The  first  line  of  the  enemy 
retreated  in  disorder  under  Emory's  fire, 
while  fighting  continued  on  the  Federal 
left,  which  fell  back  so  far  as  to  allow  the 
Confederates  to  pass  almost  to  its  rear  and 
to  nearly  outflank  the  brigades  of  Benedict 
and  Shaw,  driving  Benedict's  right  into  the 
gap  and  inflicting  severe  loss.  Benedict 
was  killed,  and  Shaw  lost  500  men. 

For  a  short  time  these  brigades  were 
almost  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who 
had  pushed  far  in  their  rear.  Had  he  been 
bold  enough  to  overwhelm  the  Federal 
forces  with  his  masses,  which  were  steadily 
pressing  on,  he  could  have  done  so. 

Much  of  the  fighting,  where  the  Federal 
troops  were  stationed,  was  in  the  midst 
of  a  thick  undergrowth,  where  the  com 
manding  officers  could  hardly  see  what  was 
going  on.  At  one  time  part  of  the  troops 
were  between  two  bodies  of  the  enemy, 
and,  with  the  latter  in  their  rear,  found,  it 
better  to  hold  their  position  than  to  attempt 
a  retreat. 

General  Emory,in  his  official  report,  says: 
"'  The  enemy  emerged  from  the  woods  in  all 
directions  and  in  heavy  columns.completely 
outflanking  and  overpowering  my  left 
wing — composed  of  the  3d  brigade  and  a 
brigade  of  General  Smith — which  broke  in 
some  confusion.  My  right  stood  firm  and 
repulsed  the  enemy  handsomely,  and  the 
left  would  have  done  so  but  for  the  great 
interval  between  it  and  the  troops  to  the 
left,  leaving  the  flank  entirely  exposed." 

One  might  naturally  inquire,  why  was 
not  all  the  artillery,  which  General  Banks 
sent  to  the  rear,  posted  so  as  to  protect  these 
exposed  flanks  of  a  long  line  of  battle  ?  We 
hear  very  little  of  artillery  in  connection 
with  the  engagement  at  Pleasant  Hill — only 
where  the  25th  New  York  battery,  of  the 
19th  corps,  opened  upon  the  enemy's  artil 
lery  that  commenced  firing  on  Shaw's  brig 
ade  at  the  beginning. 

The  Federal  troops  fell  back  upon  the  re 
serves,  being  hard  pressed  by  the  rush  of 
Confederates,  who  seemed  to  get  through 
gaps  and  outflank  the  brigades  in  almost 
every  instance.  The  Union  forces  gener 
ally  fell  back  in  good  order;  and,  if  it  was 
intended  that  the  enemy  should  be  fought 
in  that  way,  the  experiment  turned  out  well 


in  the  end,  although  the  plan  seems  to  have 
been  a  hazardous  one. 

The  reserves  quietly  waited  for  the  time 
when  they  should  be  called  into  service: 
and,  when  the  order  was  given,  poured  in 
such  a  murderous  fire  that  the  Confed 
erates  were  checked  immediately.  Then 
General  Mower  charged  with  Smith's  men 
into  their  midst,  the  other  Union  forces 
keeping  up  a  fire  all  along  the  line.  This 
was  a  great  surprise  to  the  enemy,  who  ap 
parently  supposed  they  were  carrying 
everything  before  them,  and.  panic-struck, 
they  turned  and  fled  in  the  utmost  confu 
sion,  throwing  away  their  arms  and  accou 
trements.  General  Smith's  victorious  troops 
followed  close  upon  their  heels,  capturing 
prisoners,  arms  and  several  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  until  darkness  prevented  any  further 
pursuit. 

Had  the  mounted  force  been  kept  in  re 
serve  to  act  in  conjunction  with  Smith's  in 
fantry  reserves,  they  would  have  killed  or 
captured  half  the  Confederate  army  ;  but 
here  was  another  great  military  blunder 
committed.  When  most  needed,  they  were 
in  the  rear;  and  when  little  needed,  as  in 
the  previous  engagement,  they  were  sent 
to  the  front  to  battle  with  infantry  posted 
in  a  thick  wood  ! 

During  part  of  this  battle  General  Banks 
had  his  headquarters  at  a  large  building  in 
the  village,  called  "The  Academy,"  while 
General  Franklin  was  senior  officer  in  the 
field ;  and,  on  the  falling  back  of  the  Fed 
eral  troops,  Banks  gave  the  order  for  the 
trains  in  the  rear  to  retreat;  but,  being  soon 
after  informed  of  the  complete  victory  the 
troops,  had  gained,  he  countermanded  the 
order,  and  directed  everything  to  be  pre 
pared  for  an  early  advance  on  the  enemy 
and  on  Shreveport.  So  the  soldiers  laid 
down,  amidst  the  groans  of  their  wounded 
comrades,  to  take  a  short  repose  preceding 
their  arduous  labors  of  the  following  day. 

General  Emory's  and  A.  J.  Smith's  com 
mands  had  entire  possession  of  the  field, 
the  enemy  having  retreated  sixteen  miles 
without  stopping,  leaving  the  road  strewn 
with  their  arms  and  accoutrements.  Some 
of  the  best  Federal  artillery  had  been  re 
captured,  and  the  wagons  were  again  in 
Smith's  possession,  although  the  enemy  had 
carried  off  horses  and  harness.  All  that 
was  needed  were  some  of  the  useless  cav 
alry  horses  to  drag  the  wagons  within  the 
Federal  lines  to  a  place  of  safety. 

The  enemy  had  evidently  retreated  out 
right,  as  the  victory  was  complete,  and  they 
had  thrown  away  such  a  quantity  of  arms, 
etc.,  that  it  would  be  useless  to  try  and 
harass  the  Federals  this  side  of  Shreve 
port.  Their  first  day's  success  against  Lee's 
mounted  men  and  meagre  supports  of  in 
fantry  had  given  them  an  overweening  esti- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


509 


mate  of  their  prowess,  which  was  com 
pletely  taken  out  of  them  at  Pleasant  Hill. 
The  falling-back  of  the  Federal  Army  was 
considered  by  them  a  plan  for  enveloping 
them  in  a  trap,  and  a  more  demoralized 
army  never  left  the  field  :  while  the  Federal 
soldiers,  with  renewed  prestige,  were  ready 
to  follow  the  enemy  at  all  hazards. 

What,  then,  was  the  surprise  of  the  army, 
next  morning,  to  learn  that  an  order  had 
been  issued  by  General  Banks  to  the  divis- 
-  ional  commander  to  retreat  to  Grand  Ecore. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  describe  the  dis 
gust  of  officers  and  men  on  the  announce 
ment  of  such  an  order,  and  it  gave  color  to 
the  report  that  the  commander-in-chief  was 
badly  demoralized. 

Franklin  had  managed  this  last  affair 
with  the  exception  of  sending  cavalry  and 
artillery  to  the  rear,  and  though  wounded 
at  Sabine  Cross  Roads  he  kept  his  saddle 
during  the  entire  day  at  Pleasant  Hill,  over 
looking  the  movements  of  his  soldiers, 
while  Banks  did  not  come  upon  the  field 
until  the  reserves  under  General  Smith  com 
menced  driving  the  enemy,  when  he  rode 
up  to  this  last-named  officer  and  holding  out 
his  hand,  said,  ''You  have  saved  my  army. 
General  Smith,  may  God  bless  you 'for  it'l" 
"No.  sir."  said  Smith,  sarcastically,  "  my 
•ragged  guerillas'  did  it." 

If  General  Banks  was  held  in  estima 
tion  outside  of  his  staff,  he  must  have 
ceased  to  be  so  after  giving  the  extraor 
dinary  order  for  25.000  troops  to  retreat  be 
fore  a  routed  and  demoralized  enemy  of 
10,000  men,  a  circumstance  almost  without 
a  parallel  in  the  history  of  war.  The  years 
that  have  passed  since  these  events  have 
scarcely  softened  the  feelings  of  those  who 
participated  in  the  humiliation  of  that  re 
treat.  When  General  A.  J.  Smith  received 
the  order  he  was  occupying  the  battle-field, 
gathering  up  his  wounded  and  endeavoring 
to  secure  the  trophies  of  war.  He  protested 
against  the  order  and  urged  an  advance, 
but  Banks  peremptorily  directed  him  to  re 
treat  at  once.  Smith  then  begged  the  privi 
lege  of  remaining  on  the  field  to  bury  the 
dead  and  care  for  the  wounded;  but  this 
was  denied  him.  he  had  to  abandon  the 
wounded  and  all  that  had  been  recaptured 
from  the  enemy. 

Imperative  as  were  the  orders  General 
Smith  received,  to  retreat  and  leave  his 
wounded  and  dying  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  he  determined  to  make  a  final  effort 
to  carry  out  his  plan  of  pushing  on,  before 
obeying  it.  Smith  was  a  brave,  impulsive 
soldier  who  cared  little  what  he  said  or  did 
when  his  spirit  was  outraged,  as  on  this  oc 
casion.  He  knew  better  than  Banks  what 
would  occur  in  case  of  a  retreat.  He  had  a 
large  portion  of  his  division  in  transports 
with  the  Xavy,  whom  he  knew  were  strug 


gling  to  get  to  the  place  of  rendezvous,  where, 
without  warning,  they  were  liable  to  attack 
from  16,000  exasperated  Confederates. armed 
with  the  very  artillery  captured  from  the 
Federals,  and  which  they  were  now  about 
to  leave  in  their  hands  to  be  used  against  a 
victorious  army.  Scattered  along  the  river, 
then  at  a  low  stage  of  water,  the  gun-boats 
and  transports  would  naturally  suffer  great 
loss,  attacked  as  they  would  "be  at  promi 
nent  points  everywhere. 

Franklin  and  Smith  both  insisted  that  the 
army  should  march  to  the  relief  of  the  forces 
on  the  river;  that  it  was  but  twelve  miles  to 
the  river;  where  communication  could  be 
opened  with  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
fleet,  and  the  troops  could  have  constant  ac 
cess  to  water,  for  want  of  which  they  had 
heretofore  suffered  dreadfully.  But  all  was 
without  avail — the  order  still  came  to  re 
treat.  Smith,  as  a  last  resort,  proposed  to 
Franklin  that  the  latter  should  assume 
command,  put  Banks  under  arrest,  take 
care  of  their  wounded,  bury  their  dead,  and 
push  on  to  the  point  where  they  were  to 
meet  the  fleet,  and  after  insuring  the  safety 
of  that  part  of  the  expedition,  march  upon 
Shreveport,  if  that  course  was  found  to  be 
practicable.  But  Franklin,  although  he 
might  wish  to  see  this  plan  carried  out, 
would  not  give  his  consent,  and  Smith  with 
the  rest  had  to  turn  his  back  upon  a  retreat 
ing  foe,  while  Banks  gave  the  latter  the 
post  of  honor  in  the  rear,  to  do  the  fighting 
if  any  was  required. 

The  surgeons  were  left  on  the  field  of 
Pleasant  Hill  to  do  their  best  to  alleviate 
the  sufferings  of  the  wounded ;  and  the  day 
the  army  departed,  these  officers  state  that 
the  Confederates  sent  a  flag  of  truce  asking 
permission  to  bury  their  dead,  and  learned, 
much  to  their  astonishment,  that  the  Union 
forces  had  abandoned  everything  after  gain 
ing  a  complete  victory! 

It  would  appear  that  General  Smith  was 
the  only  officer  high  in  command  who  in 
sisted  on  a  further  advance  toward  Shreve 
port.  General  Franklin  says:  "For  my 
part,  the  only  question  was,  whether  the 
army  should  remain  at  Pleasant  Hill,  or  re 
turn  to  Grand  Ecore,  not  that  we  should  ad 
vance/'  The  idea  of  an  advance,  after  what 
he  had  experienced  of  Banks'  generalship, 
was  odious  to  him ;  and  the  scattered  con 
dition  of  the  army  required,  in  his  judg 
ment,  a  rest  of  several  days  to  get  the 
forces  together. 

About  midnight,  after  the  battle  of  Pleas 
ant  Hill,  when  he  was  resting  under  the 
assurances  which  Banks  had  given  him, 
that  the  army  would  advance  next  morn 
ing,  an  orderly  came  to  him  with  orders 
to  fall  back  at  3  A.  M.  Utterly  astounded, 
Smith  went  to  Banks  to  find  out  what  it 
meant.  Banks  pleaded  the  necessity  of  a 


510 


THE   NAVAL    HISTORY 


retreat,  on  the  ground  of  the  general  dis 
couragement  of  the  officers  of  one  of  the 
corps,  the  scarcity  of  commissary  stores, 
and  the  great  losses  hitherto  sustained  ; 
as  if  the  Confederates,  who  had  been  so 
badly  beaten,  had  not  suffered  more  than 
the  Federal  Army,  and.  in  all  probability, 
would  be  scattered  for  some  time  to  come. 
It  was  after  this  interview  with  Banks  that 
Smith  proposed  to  Franklin  that  the  latter 
should  assume  command  of  the  army. 
Franklin  was  then  in  his  cot  suffering  from 
the  wound  received  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads, 
and  was  quite  unaware  of  what  had  trans 
pired  at  Banks'  headquarters,  and  replied 
to  Smith's  proposition:  "  Will  you  guaran 
tee  that  I  will  not  be  hanged  after  the  expe 
dition  is  over,  if  I  do  take  command  ? "  So 
there  the  matter  dropped. 

If  Smith  had  been  second  in  command, 
instead  of  Franklin,  he  would,  without 
doubt,  have  arrested  Banks,  and  assumed 
command.  Few  people  have  attributed  the 
right  motives  to  General  Smith  in  making 
this  proposition  to  Franklin.  We  believe  no 
one  was  more  intimate  with  Smith  than  the 
author  of  this  work  ;  and  the  statements 
made  to  him  were  without  reserve.  It  was 
not  from  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
General  Smith  made  his  proposition,  but  be 
cause  he  thought  such  a  course  necessary 
for  the  safety  of  the  army,  which  was  suf 
fering  from  the  presence  of  its  commander- 
in-chief .  It  so  happened  that  Banks  did  give 
up  the  command  to  Franklin  soon  after, 
at  Grand  Ecore,  and  abandoned  the  army, 
although  Franklin  was  suffering  so  greatly 
from  his  wound  as  scarcely  to  be  able  to  sit 
on  his  horse. 

General  Smith  felt  somewhat  differently 
from  the  other  division  commanders,  for  he 
came  flushed  with  victory  from  the  battle 
field,  where  he  had  left  his  dead  and 
wounded,  while  the  others  had  met  with 
serious  reverses,  although  aiding  largely  in 
the  final  defeat  of  the  Confederates.  Their 
killed  and  wounded  were  close  to  where 
they  halted  for  the  night,  while  Smith  was 
compelled  by  positive  orders  to  leave  his 
wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  after 
as  complete  a  victory  as  ever  an  army 
won.  Smith  well  knew  what  construction 
would  be  put  upon  this  shameful  retreat, 
without  any  attempt  to  aid  the  naval  part 
of  the  expedition,  supposed  by  him  to  be 
at  the  mercy  of  the  Confederates,  who 
would  use  the  captured  guns  against  the 
fleet,  from  point  to  point,  with  fearful  ef 
fect.  The  old  soldier  actually  shed  tears 
in  his  chagrin  and  mortification  at  being 
thus  forced  to  abandon  the  results  of  a 
victory. 

As  soon  as  General  Taylor  heard  of 
Banks'  retreat,  he  issued  a  general  order,  of 
which  the  following  is  an  extract  : 


'•  In  spite  of  the  strength  of  the  enemy's  position, 
held  by  fresh  troops  of  the  16th  corps,  your  valor 
and  devotion  triumphed  over  all.  The  morning  of 
the  10th  instant  dawned  upon  a  flying  foe  with  our 
cavalry  in  pursuit,  capturing  prisoners  at  every 
step!! 

Although  in  this  there  was  a  good  deal 
of  that  exaggeration  which  characterized 
General  Taylor,  perhaps  it  was  natural 
under  the  circumstances,  when  he  found 
the  Federal  Army  actually  retreating  after 
having  beaten  him.  The  facts,  however, 
are  that  Taylor  wras  some  miles  distant 
from  the  battle-field  at  the  time  Banks 
started  to  return  to  Grand  Ecore.  The  Con 
federate  army  was  scattered  in  all  direc 
tions,  and  the  '"cavalry"  he  mentions,  as 
capturing  prisoners,  existed  only  in  his 
imagination. 

He  knew  nothing  of  the  movements  of  the 
Federal  Army  until  the  return  of  the  flag 
of  truce  that  had  been  sent  to  request  of 
Banks  permission  to  bury  the  dead.  On 
hearing  that  the  medical  officers  and  the 
dead  and  wounded  were  the  only  ones  re 
maining  on  the  battle-field,  he  may  have 
sent  what  cavalry  he  could  muster  to  cap 
ture  them;  but.  during  its  return  to  Grand 
Ecore, the  Union  Army  was  not  molested  in 
the  least,  moving  in  as  good  order  as  if  on 
an  ordinary  march.  This  circumstance 
shows  that  the  soldiers  were  not  demor 
alized,  and  that  Banks  should,  at  least, 
have  remained  at  Pleasant  Hill  until  the 
dead  were  buried,  the  wounded  brought  in, 
and  the  recaptured  artillery  and  wagons 
taken  from  the  field. 

On  the  llth,  the  army  reached  Grand 
Ecore,  and  we  do  not  think  any  one  was 
much  surprised  to  find  that  the  gun-boats 
and  transports  had  not  returned.  The  gen 
eral  belief  was  that  they  would  never 
return,  but  would  succumb  to  an  army  of 
16,000  men  well  supplied  with  captured  ar 
tillery,  which  could  pour  their  fire  from  the 
high  banks  of  the  narrow  and  shallow 
stream  right  011  the  decks  of  the  vessels — 
often  from  positions  where  the  guns  of  the 
war  vessels  could  not  reach  them. 

On  the  12th  instant,  the  heavy  guns  of 
the  fleet  were  heard  firing  rapidly,  and 
everybody  knew  then  that  the  Confeder 
ates  were  taking  advantage  of  Banks'  re 
treat  and  were  falling  back  on  the  river  to 
destroy  the  transports.  On  the  13th,  the 
firing  still  continued,  and  was  heard  plainly 
at  Grand  Ecore,  every  one  wondering  why 
no  movement  was  made  by  the  Army  to 
go  to  the  assistance  of  the  fleet;  and  the 
indignation  at  Banks'  inactivity  was  ex 
treme,  especially  among  the  16th  corps, 
A.  J.  Smith's  command,  who,  having  been 
for  some  time  associated  with  the  Xavy, 
felt  great  sympathy  for  their  old  friend's. 

Colonel  Shaw  urged  General  Smith  to  al 
low  him  to  go  to  the  Navv's  assistance,  if 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


511 


only  with  a  thousand  men;  but  the  Gen 
eral  told  him  it  could  not  be  done  without 
an  order  from  General  Banks.  No  troops 
were  sent  until  the  squadron  and  all  the 
transports  had  reached  a  point  three  miles 
above  Grand  Ecore,  where  they  had  been 
closely  followed  by  hundreds  of  guerillas, 
who.  like  famished  wolves,  hoped  to  obtain 
possession  of  some  of  them. 

These  ferocious  natives  seemed  to  take  no 
rest  by  day  or  night  while  in  pursuit  of  the 
»  vessels,  firing  on  them  from  high  overhang 
ing  banks,  from  behind  levees  or  trees,  or 
from  deep  rifle-pits.     From  these  places  un 
erring  marksmen  sent  their  murderous  bul 
lets,  laying  low  almost  every  man  who  left 
the  shelter  of  the  protecting  cotton   bales 
V  used  as  barricades. 

The  vessels  had  to  move  slowly  and  in 
order  along  the  shallow,  narrow  channel, 
enduring  the  perpetual  fire  of  the  sharp 
shooters  as  best  they  could,  the  flag-ship 
bringing  up  the  rear,  to  see  that  no  trans 
ports  were  left  behind  or  neglected.  There 
were  over  forty-five  vessels  to  be  looked 
after,  and,  fortunately,  all  were  brought 
safely  back  to  Grand  Ecore,  though  not 
without  loss  in  men. 

Three  miles  above  Grand  Ecore  the  lead 
ing  vessels  grounded,  and  those  in  the  rear 
piled  up  behind  them,  offering  a  fine  target 
for  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters,  who  soon 
caught  up  and  closed  in  around  them,  firing 
from  concealed  places  where  artillery  could 
not  reach  them.  The  booming  of  cannon 
was  heard  from  Grand  Ecore,  but  no  assist 
ance  was  sent  to  drive  off  the  Confederates 
and  stop  the  sacrifice  of  life,  until  the  flag 
ship  "  Cricket,''  being  of  very  light  draft, 
passed  the  shoals  and  pushed  on  to  Grand 
Ecore.  Only  then  were  cavalry  and  infantry 
sent  to  drive  away  the  enemy's  sharp 
shooters,  who  clung  like  wolves  to  their 
prey. 

Even  for  this  relief  the  Navy  and  the 
transports  were  indebted  to  General  A.  J. 
Smith,  who,  being  the  nearest  commanding 
officer  at  hand,  dispatched  his  troops  to  the 
aid  of  the  Navy  without  waiting  for  orders 
from  General  Banks. 

We  now  return  to  the  gunboats  and  trans 
ports  which  had  started  to  return  down  the 
river  from  Springfield  Landing,  as  soon  as 
it  was  felt  certain  that  Banks  was  retreat 
ing,  pushing  on  in  good  order,  as  rapidly  as 
the  intricacies  of  the  river  would  permit. 

The  gunboats  were  distributed  equally 
among  the  transports  to  protect  the  latter 
as  much  as  possible,  and  the  commanding 
officers  were  directed  not  to  permit  the 
transports  to  tie  up  to  the  bank  without  per 
mission.  General  Kilby  Smith  in  his  head 
quarters'  steamer  brought  up  the  rear  of  his 
transports,  while  the  Admiral,  in  the  stern- 


wheel  gun-boat  ''  Cricket,"  moved  up  and 
down  along  the  line,  as  occasion  required,  to 
preserve  the  prescribed  order. 

Thus  the  fleet  proceeded  at  the  rate  of  a 
mile  or  two  an  hour,  until  they  arrived  at 
Conchatta  Chute  on  the  llth,  where  Gen 
eral  Kilby  Smith  received  dispatches  from 
Banks,  notifying  him  that  he  was  falling 
back, and  directing  Smith  to  return  at  once  to 
Grand  Ecore  and  report.  General  Banks  did 
not  pay  the  Admiral  the  courtesy  of  inform 
ing  him  what  had  happened,  although  he 
must  have  known  that  the  Navy  was  guard 
ing  his  transports,  and  that  they  could  not 
well  proceed  without  its  aid.  Before  leav 
ing  Springfield,  a  letter,  dropped  by  a  Con 
federate  scout,  was  picked  up,  informing 
General  Dick  Taylor  that  the  transports 
had  from  six  to  ten  thousand  soldiers  on 
board,  and  were  accompanied  by  four  gun 
boats,  this  force  being  for  the  'purpose  of 
flanking  him. 

This  idea  of  the  enemy  stood  the  expedi 
tion  in  good  stead,  for,  perhaps,  had  Taylor 
known  there  were  only  1.800  effective 
soldiers,  the  transports  would  have  been  at 
tacked  sooner  than  they  were. 

On  the  way  up  the  river,  the  fleet  had 
met  with  little  opposition  from  the  enemy, 
although  parties  of  soldiers  were  frequently 
seen  retreating.  On  one  occasion,  Colonel 
Warren's  brigade  landed  at  a  point  three 
miles  above  Conchatta  Chute  and  captured 
a  captain  and  one  private.  This  captured 
officer  had  been  charged  to  destroy  all  the 
cotton  along  the  Red  River  as  the  Union 
forces  advanced. 

On  the  return  it  was  seen  that  this  design 
had  been  carried  out,  for  the  charred  re 
mains  of  many  thousand  bales,  worth  mil 
lions  of  dollars,  were  scattered  along  the 
banks  of  the  river,  all  of  which  the  Confed 
erates  might  have  saved  if  they  had  pos 
sessed  a  little  practical  wisdom.  They 
might  have  known  that  the  Union  forces 
could  not  stop  to  collect  this  cotton,  unless 
successful,  and  that  it  was  only  in  very 
exceptionable  cases  that  they  destroyed  it. 

Although  on  the  way  down  the  Red*  River 
the  fleet  had  been  frequently  annoyed  by 
sharp-shooters,  they  had  received  no  mate 
rial  damage,  as  the  soldiers  in  the  transports 
were  protected  by  bales  of  wet  hay,  bags  of 
oats,  and  other  defences  impervious  to  rifle 
bullets,  while  the  shrapnel  thrown  by  the 
gun-boats  seemed  to  have  a  quieting  effect 
on  the  Confederates;  but  after  getting  be 
low  the  Chute  it  was  evident  that  the  en 
emy's  forces  were  rapidly  augmenting,  and 
the  shots,  which  at  first  came  not  unlike  the 
light  patter  of  rain,  increased  to  a  heavy 
shower,  and  all  felt  that  they  were  about  to 
experience  the  wrath  which  the  enemy 
could  not  expend  on  the  army. 

There  was  not  so  much  fear  for  the  gun- 


512 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


boats  as  for  the  transports,  which,  although 
well  protected  against  rifle-shots,  were  not 
prepared  to  cope  with  artillery. 

Pleasant  Hill  Landing  is  but  ten  miles 
below  Conchatta  Chute,  although  the  wind 
ings  of  the  river  make  the  distance  by  water 
much  greater.  Ten  miles  back  from  Pleas 
ant  Hill  Landing  is  Pleasant  Hill,  then 
occupied  by  the  army  of  General  Tay 
lor,  who,  notwithstanding  his  vainglorious 
boasts  of  the  operations  of  his  cavalry,  had 
not  yet  assembled  a  corporal's  guard  of 
horsemen,  and  very  little  artillery.  Alto 
gether  he  may  have  had  collected  about 
5,000  men  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the 
vessels  down  the  river. 

An  active  Confederate  officer,  named 
Harrison,  had  crossed  the  river  in  the  rear 
of  the  fleet  with  1,900  mounted  men  and 
four  or  five  pieces  of  artillery,  with  orders 
to  plant  his  batteries  in  the  most  favorable 
places  and  cripple  the  fleet  as  much  as  pos 
sible  from  the  left  bank.  The  Federals  saw 
this  party  before  reaching  Conchatta  Chute, 
and  sending  a  few  11-inch  shrapnel  in  their 
direction,  thev  gave  no  more  trouble  for  the 
time  being ;  tut  it  was  considered  certain 
that  Harrison  must  plant  his  batteries  three 
miles  below  Pleasant  Hill  Landing,  which 
proved  to  be  the  case. 

To  this  latter  point  the  Admiral  dis 
patched  one  of  the  heaviest  iron-clads  and 
two  gun-boats,  mounting  some  ten  guns, 
under  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Watson 
Smith,  with  orders  to  prevent  the  erection 
of  any  batteries  until  all  the  transports  had 
passed;  but  Harrison,  who  could  go  across, 
while  the  gun -boats  had  to  follow  the  long 
bends  of  the  river,  arrived  first,  and  posted 
his  guns  on  a  high  bluff  in  a  dense  under 
growth,  where  he  could  fire  down  upon  the 
decks  of  the  transports,  and  whence  it  was 
difficult  to  dislodge  him. 

'The  Admiral  was  in  the  rear  when  he 
heard  the  firing  commence,  and  he  pushed 
ahead  to  superintend  operations  in  that 
quarter,  leaving  General  Kilby  Smith  and 
some  of  his  transports  behind,  under  the 
guns  of  the  iron-clad  "  Osage/' Lieutenant- 
Commander  Self  ridge,  and  the  "  Lexing 
ton,"  Lieutenant  Bache. 

As  circumstances  occurred  at  this  time 
of  which  we  wish  to  be  the  impartial  narra 
tors,  we  will  first  give  the  report  of  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Self  ridge,  commanding  the 
little  iron-clad  "Osage."  who.  for  the  time, 
had  the  "  Lexington  "  also  under  his  orders 
Selfridge  reported  that  he  had  taken  the 
'•  Black  Hawk  "-late  General  Banks'  head 
quarters'  vessel— alongside  the  "Osage," 
for  the  purpose  of  helping  the  iron-clad  to 
turn  the  bends  of  the  river.  The  "  Osage  " 
had  got  aground  just  above  a  turn,  the 
"  Lexington  "  was  not  far  off.  and  Lieuten 
ant  Bache  was  visiting  the  "  Osa^e." 


All  the  transports,  with  one  exception, 
had  passed  down  the  river  ahead  of  him, 
and  Lieutenant-Commander  Selfridge  had 
just  turned  the  "Osage's"  bow  up  stream, 
when  a  body  of  troops,  over  2,500  strong, 
emerged  from  a  dense  wood  near  the  bank. 
Many  of  the  men  were  mounted,  but  these 
soon  dismounted  and  tied  their  horses. 

From  their  new  blue  overcoats,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Selfridge  took  them  for 
Union  soldiers,  but  he  soon  discovered 
their  true  character,  and  ordered  Lieutenant 
Bache  to  drop  down  the  river,  in  the  "  Lex 
ington,"  a  short  distance,  to  enfilade  the 
enemy. 

The  Confederates  opened  fire  on  the  two 
vessels,  with  several  pieces  of  artillery, 
from  a  hill  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant, 
and  forming  their  2,500  men  into  three 
ranks,  attacked  the  "Osage"  with  the 
' '  Black  Hawk  "  lashed  to  her.  The  ' '  Black 
Hawk  "  had  on  board  about  forty  soldiers 
of  General  Kilby  Smith's  command,  par 
tially  protected  by  bags  of  oats  and  bales 
of  hay.  The  enemy's  volley  drove  the  sol 
diers  below  ;  and  some  of  them  being 
wounded,  and  it  being  useless  to  remain 
where  they  were,  Lieutenant-Commander 
Selfridge  ordered  all  hands  on  board  the 
"  Black  Hawk"  to  take  refuge  in  the  safe 
hull  of  the  "Osage." 

Now  commenced  one  of  the  most  remark 
able  conflicts  011  record — between  a  bullet 
proof  iron-clad  and  a  brigade  of  infantry, 
which  continued  for  an  hour.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  battle,  the  trans 
port  before-mentioned  ran  up  the  river  to 
avoid  the  enemy's  fire,  and  the  "Osage." 
"Lexington,"  and  "Black  Hawk''  were 
the  only  vessels  present.  The  latter  vessel 
was  riddled  with  bullets,  and  all  hands 
would  have  been  killed  had  they  not  made 
their  escape  to  the  "Osage."  Officers  ex 
amined  the  vessel  the  day  after,  and  there 
was  not  a  place  six  inches  square  not  per 
forated  by  a  bullet. 

The  "Osage"  secured  a  good  position 
abreast  of  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  and 
poured  in  grape,  canister,  and  shrapnel 
from  her  11-inch  guns,  mowing  the  enemy 
down  by  the  dozen  at  every  fire.  The  latter 
seemed  to  know  no  fear ;  as  fast  as  one  file 
was  swept  away,  another  took  its  place. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  Confeder 
ates.  General  Thomas  Green,  of  Texas,  who 
had  served  at  San  Jacinto  and  in  the  Mexi 
can  war.  mounted  on  a  fine  horse,  led  his 
troops  up  to  the  bank,  and  encouraged 
them  to  pour  in  their  fire,  which  they  did 
incessantly,  never  less  than  2.500  muskets 
firing  at  once  upon  the  "Osage."  The 
wood-work  of  the  latter  was  cut  to  pieces, 
but  the  danger  from  bullets  passing  through 
the  iron  was  very  little. 
While  this  was  going  on,  the  "  Lexing- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


513 


ton "  enfiladed  the  enemy  with  shell  from 
her  8-inch  guns,  disabling  the  entire  gun- 
battery.  The  fight  had  continued  nearly 
an  hour,  and  the  determination  of  the  en 
emy  seemed  unabated,  when  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Selfridge  aimed  one  of.  his 
heavy  guns,  loaded  with  grape  and  canis 
ter,  and  fired  it  within  twenty  yards  at  a 
leading  officer,  whose  head  was  blown  clear 
from  his  shoulders  by  the  discharge.  The 
enemy,  having  had  enough  of  this  kind 
of  fighting,  retreated  in  confusion  to  the 
woods,  leaving  the  ground  covered  with 
their  dead  and  wounded. 

Four  of  the  latter  crawled  to  the  river 
for  water,  and  were  taken  on  board  the 
"Osage.''  and  well  cared  for.  These  men 
informed  Lieutenant-Commander  Selfridge 
that  the  party  who  had  attacked  him  were 
new  regiments  from  Texas  ;  that  they  had 
been  led  to  believe  that  the  gun-boats  could 
easily  be  captured,  and  that  General  Green 
encouraged  them  so  by  his  example  that 
they  would  have  fought  to  the  last  man  had 
not  the  General  fallen. 

Lieutenant -Commander  Selfridge  could 
only  survey  the  battle-field  from  the  river, 
but  he  estimated  the  loss  of  the  enemy  at 
about  700  in  killed  and  wounded:  and  from 
later  information  was  satisfied  that  it  even 
exceeded  that  figure. 

Selfridge  conducted  this  affair  in  the  hand 
somest  manner,  inflicting  such  a  punish 
ment  on  the  enemy  that  their  infantry 
gave  no  more  trouble,  having  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  fighting  with  muskets 
against  iron-dads  did  not  pay.  To  say 
nothing  of  the  loss  in  men  infiicted  upon 
the  enemy,  the  "Osage"  had  killed  the 
best  officer  the  Confederates  had  in  this 
quarter ;  who,  judging  from  his  energy  on 
this  occasion,  would  have  given  no  end  of 
trouble  had  he  lived. 

Lieutenant  Bache  managed  the  "  Lexing 
ton  "  beautifully,  and  did  great  execution 
with  the  8-inch  guns,  though  less  exposed  to 
the  infantry  bullets  than  the  "  Osage/'  The 
latter  was  a  fortunate  circumstance,  as  her 
men  might  otherwise  have  been  driven 
from  the  guns,  so  intense  was  the  fire. 
Notwithstanding  the  heavy  peppering  the 
'•  Osage"  received,  and  the  destruction  of 
wood-work,  the  vessel  was  just  as  efficient 
for  battle  as  before  the  action. 

Had  not  General  Green's  brigade  been 
handled  so  severely,  it  was  the  intention  of 
the  enemy  to  have  attacked  the  transports 
below,  and  the  terrible  punishment  the 
*' Black  Hawk''  received  is  good  evidence 
of  what  would  have  happened  to  the 
others.  The  transports  would  have  doubt 
less  been  driven  on  shore  and  great  con 
fusion  would  have  prevailed. 

This  affair  was  considered  a  naval  fight 
altogether,  or  one  in  which  the  soldiers  of 


the  army  had  but  a  very  small  share. 
Lieutenant-Commander  Selfridge  made  a 
report  to  the  Admiral,  stating  the  facts  as 
above  narrated;  and  although  General 
Kilby  Smith  makes  a  claim  of  having  been 
under  a  very  hot  fire  as  he  passed  down, 
his  vessels  were  uninjured,  and  no  one 
heard  of  any  killed  or  injured.  Had  Gene 
ral  Kilby  Smith's  command  been  subjected 
to  a  heavy  fire,  his  vessel's  hull  would 
have  presented  the  same  perforated  appear 
ance  as  did  that  of  the  "Black  Hawk." 

It  is  a  delicate  matter  to  undertake  to 
call  in  question  the  report  of  an  officer, 
especially  one  belonging  to  a  different 
branch  of  the  service,  and  it  is  done  in  this 
instance  with  great  reluctance.  After  the 
Red  River  expedition,  the  Admiral  wrote  to 
General  A.  J.  Smith  eulogizing  General 
Kilby  Smith  in  the  highest  terms,  giving 
him  credit,  on  his  own  showing,  for  a  great 
deal  of  braveiy  and  hard  fighting,  which, 
according  to  Selfridge,  never  took  place. 

In  justice  to  General  Kilby  Smith,  how 
ever,  we  will  permit  him  to  tell  his  own 
story.  All  that  is  known  of  the  affair  is 
from  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Selfridge's 
written  report  at  the  time,  General  Smith 
merely  making  the  Admiral  a  verbal  report 
sometime  afterwards. 

Here  is  what  General  Smith  told  the 
"  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War," 
in  regard  to  the  battle,  of  which  we  have 
given  Selfridge's  account: 

On  the  12th  of  April  I  sailed  at  7  o'clock  A.M.  from 
the  Chute.  Upon  arriving  at  a  point  ten  miles  below 
the  Chute,  the  enemy  opened  upon  my  boats,  doing 
more  or  less  damage  to  all  of  them.  I  found  myself 
entirely  environed.  General  Liddell  was  on  one 
side  of  the  river  with  a  force  of  2,500  men  and  a 
battery  ;  on  the  other  was  a  force  variously  esti 
mated  at  from  30,000  to  40,000,  flushed  with  their 
recent  victory  over  General  Banks'  command.  The 
river  was  very  narrow,  very  tortuous,  and  very  dif 
ficult  of  navigation  at  all  times,  and  especially  dif 
ficult  at  the  very  low  stage  of  water  which  then  ob 
tained,  and  with  the  class  of  steamers  which  I  had 
under  my  control.  The  bottom  of  the  river  was 
snaggy,  and  the  sides  bristling  with  cypress  logs  and 
sharp,  hard  points. 

At  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  12th 
of  April,  the  wheel  of  my  headquarters'  boat,  the 
"  Hastings,''  having  got  out  of  order,  I  ran  under 
the  bluff  of  the  bank  with  the  view  of  making  re 
pairs.  At  that  time  the  ''Alice  Vivian,"  a  heavy- 
draft  boat  with  three  hundred  and  seventy-five 
cavalry  horses  on  board,  \vas  lying  aground  mid  way 
in  the  stream.  The  "  Black  Hawk,"  General  Banks' 
headquarters'  lx>at,  was  lowing  the  gun  -  boat 
"Osage  "  a  short  distance  below.  The  "Vivian" 
signalled  for  assistance,  and  I  ordered  the  "Clara 
Bell"  to  report  to  her.  The  "Clara  Bell"  failing 
to  move  her,  I  ordered  up  the  "Emerald."  At  that 
time  the  steamer  "  Rob  Roy,"  with  four  heavy 
siege-guns  upon  her  forecastle,  ran  astern  of  the 
"Black  Hawk,"  and  at  this  moment  the  enemy, 
with  a  brigade  about  2.000  strong,  under  the  imme 
diate  command  of  General  Thos.  Green,  of  Texas, 
with  a  4  gun  battery,  formed  upon  the  bank,  and 
put  their  pieces  in  battery  within  point-blank 
range  of  the  "Hastings,"  the  nearest  boat.  The 
"  Osage  "  and  "  Lexington ''  gun-boats  at  that  time 


514 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


were  lying  at  the  opposite  bank,  half-a-inile  off.  I 
ordered  the  "  Hastings"  to  cast  off,  and  just  as  we 
got  underway  the  enemy's  batteries  opened  upon 
us,  the  first  shot  falling  a  little  short,  and  the  others 
over  us.  Their  practice  being  defective,  we  escaped 
without  serious  damage  ;  and  directly  getting  out  of 
range,  and  taking  a  good  position  upon  the  oppo 
site  shore,  I  opened  upon  them  with  one  section  of 
Lieutenant  Tiemeire's  battery,  one  gun  of  which 
was  mounted  upon  the  hurricane-deck  of  the  "  Em 
erald,"  the  siege-guns  upon  the  forecastle  of  the 
"Rob  Roy,"  and  the  howitzer  from  the  hurricane- 
deck  of  the  "Black  Hawk."  (My  guns  had  more 
range  than  the  enemy's. )  Very  soon  we  killed  the 
battery  horses  of  the  enemy,  and  they  changed 
position  rapidly,  moving  their  guns  up  by  hand. 
Meanwhile  their  sharp-shooters  had  deployed  and 
sheltered  themselves  behind  the  timber  that  lined 
the  banks  of  the  river,  pouring  in  an  incessant  fire. 
My  soldiers  were  all  upon  the  hurricane-decks,  pro 
tected  by  cotton  bales,  bales  of  hay,  and  stacks  of 
oats,  covered  with  soldiers'  blankets,  upon  which  I 
had  turned  the  hose  of  the  steamboats  to  keep 
them  constantly  wet,  and  which  proved  sufficient 
foil  against  rifle-bullets,  and  enabled  them  to  mark 
the  enemy  with  a  deadly  aim.  After  the  fight  com 
menced,  the  "Osage"  rounded  the  point,  and, 
with  the  other  gun-boats,  opened  upon  the  enemy, 
rendering  me  essential  service.  By  sundown  we 
had  silenced  the  enemy's  batteries,  and,  shortly 
after,  they  fled  from  the  field,  leaving  many  of  their 
dead,  among  them  General  Green,  who  had  his 
head  blown  off." 

General  Kilby  Smith  says,  on  offering 
Admiral  Porter's  letter  to  A."  J.  Smith,  prais 
ing  his  conduct,  for  the  inspection  of  the 
"  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War  :" 
"  The  Admiral  was  not  thoroughly  posted  in 
regard  to  the  battle  I  fought  at  Pleasant 
Hill  Landing,  because  the  data  had  not 
come  in  at  the  time.  We  left  700  of  the  en 
emy  dead  on  the  ground.  Green  was  killed 
by  a  canister  shot  from  a  steel  Rodman 
(3-inch),  mounted  on  the  hurricane-deck  of 
the  '  Emerald.' ' 

Smith's  report  that  he  fought  a  battle  is 
so  positive,  and  Selfridge's  report  is  so  posi 
tive  that  the  former  was  not  in  the  fight, 
that  it  was  difficult  to  reconcile  the  dis 
crepancy.  Selfridge,  who  was  long  under 
the  Admiral's  command,  always  made  cor 
rect  and  matter-of-fact  reports,  giving  to 
every  one  a  due  share  of  praise.  We  can 
not  see  why  he  should  act  differently  on 
this  occasion. 

Unsolicited,  the  Admiral  wrote  in  Kilby 
Smith's  favor  as  handsome  a  letter  as  he 
could,  and  does  not  wish  now  to  detract 
anything  from  the  credit  justly  due  that 
officer.  He  must  leave  it  to  him  and  to 
Captain  Selfridge  to  settle  between  them 
the  facts  of  the  case  The  Admiral  hav 
ing  conferred  with  the  latter  officer  re 
cently,  and  shown  him  the  report  of  Gen 
eral  Smith,  of  which  he  has  never  before 
seen  or  heard,  the  annexed  letter  will  speak 
for  itself : 

NEWPORT,  R.  I.,  June  3d,  1880. 
Admiral  T>.  D.  PORTER,  Washington,  D.  C. 

DEAR  SIR:  Fifteen  years  have  elapsed  since  the 
fatal    repulse    of  a   portion    of    the    rebel    trans - 


Mississippi  forces  under  their  General  Green,  by  the 
gun-boats  "  Osage  "  and  "  Lexington  "  of  your  "fleet, 
and  for  the  first  time  1  have  learned  of  the  report  of 
General  Kilby  Smith,  before  the  "  Committee  upon 
the  Conduct  of  the  War,'1  in  which  he  claims  for  the 
transports  under  his  command  the  principal  merit 
of  the  victory. 

The  fight  took  place  at  what  was  known  as  Blair's 
plantation,  and  in  saying  it  was  essentially  a  gun 
boat  fight,  no  reflection  is  cast  upon  the  portion  of 
A.  J.  Smith's  division  embarked  on  the  transports, 
because  it  was  never  designed  they  should  engage  a 
powerful  force  from  their  steamers;  nor  were  the 
latter  capable  of  a  prolonged  engagement,  such  as 
actually  took  place,  from  the  unprotected  condition 
of  their  hulls. 

The  facts  of  the  fight  are  briefly  these  :  On  the 
afternoon  of  April  llth,  we  first  learned  of  the  re 
pulse  of  Banks'  army  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  which 
forced  the  return  of  the  transports  and  of  the  fleet 
under  your  command.  You  directed  me  (at  that  time 
in  command  of  the  light-draft  Monitor  "Osage") 
to  bring  up  and  protect  the  rear. 

The  river  was  very  low,  and  the  swift  current  in 
the  bends  made  the  "  Osage  "  almost  unmanageable 
while  descending.  For  this  reason,  the  next  morn 
ing,  April  12th,  1  lashed  the  transport ' '  Black  Hawk  " 
on  my  starboard  quarter,  and  by  her  assistance 
made  the  descent  successfully,  till  late  in  the  after 
noon,  when  we  grounded  on  the  point  opposite 
Blair's  plantation  Our  bow  was  therefore  pointed 
down  stream,  and  our  starboard  broadside  opposite 
the  right  bank,  which  was  20  feet  high  and  lOOyards 
distant.  The  transports  had  necessarily  passed 
down,  as  my  position  was  in  the  rear.  Seeing  my 
situation,  Bache,  of  the  "Lexington,"  which  had 
stopped  near  by,  came  on  board.  We  had  been  for 
some  time  vainly  trying  to  get  the  "  Osage  "  afloat, 
when  the  pilot  of  the  "Black  Hawk,"  who,  from  his 
elevated  position,  could  see  over  the  bank,  reported 
a  large  force  issuing  from  the  woods,  some  two  miles 
back.  I  ascended  to  the  pilot-house,  and  from  their 
being  dressed  in  Federal  overcoats  thought  they 
were  our  troops;  but  soon  their  movements — dis 
mounting  and  picketing  their  horses — convinced  me 
they  were  enemies.  I  accordingly  descended,  made 
all  preparations  for  battle,  and  directed  Bache  to 
go  below  with  the  "  Lexington,"  and  take  up  an  en 
filading  position. 

Then  commenced  one  of  the  most  curious  fights 
of  the  war,  2,500  infantry  against  a  gun  -  boat 
aground.  The  battery  unlimbered  some  hundred 
yards  below  and  abreast  of  the  "  Lexington,"  which 
opened  upon  it  with  her  port  broadside,  while  I  sent 
a  few  raking  shells  from  the  "Osage  "in  the  same 
direction.  Compelled  to  plant  their  guns  close  to  the 
edge  of  the  bank  in  order  to  reach  us,  on  account  of 
the  low  stage  of  the  river,  they  could  not  long  main 
tain  the  situation,  and  soon  retired  with  the  loss  of 
one  gun  dismounted. 

By  this  time  my  attention  was  wholly  directed  to 
the  attack  upon  my  own  vessel.  The  rebels  came 
rapidly  across  the  fields  in  column  of  regiments,  so 
the  pilot  of  the  "  Black  Hawk  "  reported,  who  alone, 
from  his  elevated  position,  could  see  beyond  the 
bank.  So  rapid  was  the  advance  that  this  pilot,  in 
tent  on  watching  them,  stayed  too  long,  and  dared 
not  leave  the  protection  of  the  iron  shields  of  the 
pilot-house,  and  so  accurate  was  the  fire,  that  after 
the  fight  no  fewer  than  60  bullet  marks  were  counted 
upon  the  shield,  behind  which  the  poor  fellow  was 
hiding. 

I  loaded  our  two  11-inch  guns  with  canister,  ele 
vated  just  to  clear  the  top  of  the  right  bank,  and 
as  the  heads  of  the  first  line  became  visible,  fired. 

One  regiment  would  come  up,  deliver  its  fire,  then 
fall  back  under  cover,  and  another  advance.  It  was 
necessary  to  carefully  reserve  our  fire  until  the 
rebels  were  about  to  fire,  or  our  shots  would  have 
gone  over  them  to  the  rear,  a  condition  of  affairs 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


515 


which  made  gun-boat  firing  very  inaccurate  at  a 
low  stage  of  water. 

The  lire  of  2,5(K)  rifles  at  point-blank  range,  min 
gled  with  the  slow,  sullen  roar  of  our  two   great 
guns,  was  something  indescribable.     No  transports 
of  wood  could  have  stood  such  a  terrible  fire;  the 
few  soldiers  on  the  "Black  Hawk  "  sought  refuge 
on  the  "Osage,"  while  the  frightened  crew  of  the 
steamer  stowed  themselves  in  her  hold.    During  the 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  that  this  singular  com 
bat  lasted,  I  had  expended  every  round  of  grape 
and  canister,   and    was  using  shrapnel  with  fuzes 
cut  to  1",  when  the  firing  suddenly  ceased,  and  the 
enemy  drew  off.     During  the  latter  part  of  the  en 
gagement  I  noticed  an  officer  on  a  white  horse,  some 
200  yards  below  the  troops,  and  aiming  one  of  our 
guns  at  him,   when  the  smoke  cleared  away  saw 
him  no  longer.     I  learned  after,  that  the    officer 
killed  was  their  General    Green.      The  rebel  loss 
was  reported  at  700,   while   ours   was    only  seven 
wounded.      The  destructiveness  of  the    "Osage's" 
fire,  delivered  at  point-blank  range,  was  much  in 
creased  by  an  ingenious  device  by  which  I  could 
personally  aim  the  guns  from  the  outside  of  the 
turret,   and  thus  have  a  clear  view  of  the  field, 
which  would  have  been  impossible  had  I  remained 
inside.     The  wood-work  of  the  "Black  Hawk  "and 
"  Osage  "  was  so  pitted  with  bullet  holes,  that  it  is 
no  exaggeration  to  say  that  one  could  not  place 
the  hand  anywhere  without  covering  a  shot-mark. 
These  are  the  prominent  facts.     It  is  very  certain 
no  transports  were  in  sight  from  my  decks;  they 
may  have  been  a  little  below,  concealed  by  the  bend, 
but  too  far  to  have  had  any  influence  upon  the  re 
sult,  the  whole  brunt  of  which  fell  upon  the  "Osage." 
The  battery  unlimbered  abreast  of  the  "Lexing 
ton,"  and  was  driven  off  by  her  fire.    No  better 
proof  of  the  absence  of  General  Smith's  transports 
from  the  fight  can  be  cited  than  the  fact  that  none 
of  them,  except  the   "Black  Hawk,"  showed  any 
marks,  while  she  was  literally  riddled  with  bullets. 
There  might  have  been  a  small  gun  on  the  "  Black 
Hawk,"  but  it  was  never  fired.     As  to  the  siege-guns 
on  the  exposed  forecastle  of  the  "  Rob  Roy,"  if  fired, 
it  was  at  too  long  range  to  have  been  of  any  service. 

The  importance  of  this  engagement  cannot  be 
over-estimated,  for  though  they  had  practically 
possession  of  both  banks  of  Red  River,  the  rebels 
hardly  molested  us  during  the  remainder  of  our 
descent  as  far  as  Alexandria,  excepting  the  time 
when  they  attempted  to  intercept  you  by  planting 
batteries  against  the  "Cricket,"  bearing  your  flag, 
and  which  were  so  gallantly  run  by. 
I  remain,  yours  truly, 

THOS.  O.  SELFRIDGE, 
Commander,  U.  S.  N. 

It  was  nearly  dusk  when  the  battle  ended, 
and  little  could  be  seen  except  the  numer 
ous  dead  and  wounded  lying  on  the  field. 
From  the  prisoners  it  was  learned  that  Gen 
eral  Liddell,  with  5,000  infantry  and  artil 
lery,  was  only  two  miles  away  and  had  held 
back,  owing  to  the  shot  and  shell  from  the 
gun-boats  falling  in  his  ranks  and  killing 
his  men.  Had  this  force  come  up  it  would 
have  fared  worse  than  the  other,  for  the 
Admiral  had  come  up  with  a  reinforcement 
of  gun-boats  to  enfilade  the  whole  bend, 
and  ten  thousand  men  would  have  stood 
no  chance  against  their  fire. 

The  Admiral  had  landed  above  the  Harri 
son  Battery  a  short  time  before  the  attack 
from  above  commenced,  and  from  the  top 
of  a  tall  tree  was  endeavoring  to  make  out 


with  his  glass  the  position  of  the  enemy's 
guns  and  the  probable  number  of  his  men. 
At  first  he  paid  little  attention  to  the  firing 
up  river,  thinking  the  gun-boats  were  shell 
ing  the  woods  to  drive  away  the  sharp 
shooters  ;  but  the  heavy  rattle  of  musketry 
soon  apprised  him  that  something  serious 
was  transpiring,  and,  descending  from  his 
perch,  pushed  up  the  river  in  the  "  Cricket " 
to  see  what  was  the  matter.  He  soon  met 
General  Kilby  Smith  coming  down,  and 
knowing  that  Selfridge  could  take  care  of 
himself  in  case  of  further  attack,  returned 
to  his  original  position,  directing  General 
Kilby  Smith  to  form  his  transports  in  order 
at  once,  and  be  ready  to  pass  the  lower  bat 
tery  as  soon  as  he  was  notified  it  could  be 
done  with  safety. 

By  10  p.  M.  all  the  vessels  were  in  line, 
none  of  them  much  damaged  excepting  the 
"Black  Hawk,"  which  looked  as  if  pitted 
with  small-pox  ;  and  from  the  effects  of  the 
enemy's  fire  on  this  vessel  it  may  be  im 
agined  how  badly  the  transports  would  have 
fared  but  for  the  gun-boats  "Osage"  and 
'^Lexington,"  to  which  General  Kilby  Smith 
gives  in  his  report  the  following  faint 
praise:  "The  'Osage 'and  other  gun-boats 
opened  upon  the  enemy,  rendering  me  es 
sential  service."  (!) 

The  Red  River  expedition  was  emphatic 
ally  a  united  service  affair,  in  which  Army 
and  Navy  should  have  shared  in  whatever 
credit  was  gained,  and  there  was  not  a  sailor 
in  the  fleet  who  would  have  withheld  one 
iota  of  praise  due  to  the  soldiers,  or  who 
would  not  have  risked  his  life  to  extricate 
them  from  any  difficulty  in  which  they 
might  become  entangled;  but  even  the  best 
of  the  Army  did  not  always  do  justice  to  the 
Navy  on  such  occasions  as  this,  and,  if  not 
actually  misrepresenting  matters,  they  saw 
them  through  colored  glasses. 

As  far  as  could  be  learned,  about  700  of 
the  enemy  were  killed  in  this  engagement, 
which  is  very  likely  an  under  -  estimate, 
considering  the  terrible  fire  to  which  the 
Confederates  were  exposed  ;  and  the  Navy 
esteemed  themselves  fortunate — as  sailors 
looked  upon  the  matter — in  the  death  of  so 
brave  and  enterprising  a  leader  as  General 
Green,  who  had  displayed  a  heroism  worthy 
of  a  better  cause. 

Had  General  Banks  halted  at  Pleasant 
Hill  until  the  llth,  and  then  sent  General 
A.  J.  Smith's  command  to  Pleasant  Hill 
Landing,  distant  but  twelve  miles  by  a  good 
road,  he  would  have  given  the  latter  officer 
time  to  bury  his  dead,  collect  his  wounded, 
and  bring  in  the  artillery  and  wagons  re 
captured  from  the  enemy,  besides  being  on 
hand  to  cover  the  transports  at  the  point 
where  they  were  most  likely  to  be  attacked. 
As  it  turned  out,  the  affair  proved  a  victory 
for  the  Navy  ;  for,  had  it  not  been  for  the 


516 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


gun-boats,  not  a  transport  would  ever  have 
returned  to  Grand  Ecore.  As  it  was,  very 
few  of  the  army  expected  to  see  them  re 
turn  ;  and  it  was  only  by  the  unceasing 
vigilance  of  the  naval  officers,  in  keeping 
the  transports  in  position  and  pushing  them 
on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  that  all  were 
taken  safely  down  to  Pleasant  Hill  Land 
ing. 

We  do  not  remember  another  instance 
where  a  large  army  has  retreated  through 
a  hostile  country,  and  saved  their  trans 
ports  and  munitions  of  war.  On  this  occa 
sion  the  chances  were  all  in  the  enemy's 
favor,  as  there  never  were  such  obstacles  as 
were  met  with  in  the  down-voyage  of  the 
transports:  shoals  at  every  hundred  yards, 
snags  innumerable,  and  sharp-shooters  at 
all  the  elevations.  We  think  it  not  too 
much  to  assert  that  the  Navy  owed  its  re 
markable  preservation,  under  Providence, 
to  their  own  good  management  and  perse 
verance. 

After  assembling  the  fleet  above  the  Har 
rison  Battery,  the  Admiral  strengthened  the 
pass  with  additional  gun-boats,  and  all  the 
transports  went  safely  by,  not  a  shot  hav 
ing  been  fired  at  them.  The  gun-boats  kept 
up  such  a  shower  of  shell,  grape  and  can- 
nister  on  the  woods,  that  no  land  artillery 
could  withstand  their  fire.  The  flag-ship 
remained  behind  to  bring  up  the  rear,  and 
at  daybreak  in  the  morning  it  was  found 
that  the  "  Iberville,"  a  large  transport 
steamer  that  had  caused  much  trouble  by 
frequently  grounding,  had  been  abandoned 
and  left  in  the  mud  below  Pleasant  Hill 
Landing.  All  her  stores  had  been  removed, 
and  she  was  all  ready  for  the  Confederates 
in  case  they  required  such  a  vessel.  Soon 
after  removing  her  cargo,  however,  the 
vessel  went  floating  down  river  broadside 
on  ;  and,  as  there  was  nobody  on  board,  the 
flag-ship  took  her  in  tow  and  she  was  safely 
delivered  to  her  master  and  crew,  so  noth 
ing  was  left  behind  for  the  enemy  to  exult 
over. 

After  passing  the  Harrison  Battery  the 
fleet  experienced  little  trouble  beyond  the 
constant  fire  of  sharp-shooters  along  the 
river.  The  flotilla  having  learned  a  lesson 
from  the  fight  at  Pleasant  Hill  Landing,  and 
comprehending  the  necessity  of  preserving 
a  compact  order,  did  their  best  to  maintain 
it,  and  the  fleet  advanced  much  faster — too 
fast,  in  fact,  for  any  large  body  of  artillery 
to  overtake  it,  the  only  thing' from  which 
much  danger  was  to  be  apprehended. 

Below  Pleasant  Hill  Landing  the  trans 
ports  grounded  so  frequently  that  it  was 
not  until  noon  of  the  13th  that  they  reached 
the  little  village  of  Campte,  about  twenty- 
four  miles  by  water  from  the  Landing,  and 
about  half  as  far  by  land.  Keeping  in  the 
rear  to  push  along  the  stragglers,  the 


ship  did  not  arrive  at  Campte  until  4  p.  M., 
and  there  found  the  gun-boats  and  trans 
ports  in  complete  confusion,  and  many  of 
them  aground.  As  the  gun-boats  could 
take  care  of  themselves,  they  were  merely 
directed  to  proceed  to  Grand  Ecore  as  soon 
as  they  could  get  afloat. 

General  Kilby  Smith  now  communicated 
with  the  Admiral,  and  informed  him  that 
the  Confederates  were  firing  on  his  trans 
ports,  from  a  hill  about  two  miles  back  from 
the  river,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery. 
There  was  no  evidence  of  this  while  the 
Admiral  was  at  Campte  ;  in  General  Kilby 
Smith's  evidence  before  the  Committee  on 
the  Conduct  of  the  War,  he  makes  the  fol 
lowing  remarkable  statement: 

"At  noon  the  enemy  planted  two  guns  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river  [/which  side  V],  and  opened  upon 
the  fleet.  We  lay  under  shell  for  five  hours.  Admi 
ral  Porter,  with  the  most  effective  gun-boats,  hav 
ing  taken  the  advance,  had  reached  Grand  Ecore  in. 
safety.  The  '  Osage '  and  '  Lexington '  were  the  only 
effective  gun-boats  left  with  me  from  the  Navy.  The 
'  Lexington '  was  a  wooden  boat  of  very  heavy  draft, 
and  of  little  or  no  service/' 

The  facts  are  that  the  heaviest  iron-clads 
were  at  that  very  time  behind  the  transports, 
and  not  in  the  advance;  the ''Lexington '' 
and  "  Osage,"  the  most  efficient  vessels, 
were  in  good  position  among  the  trans 
ports,  and  were  sufficient  to  silence  any 
ordinary  artillery.  The  "Lexington" 
mounted  ten  8 -inch  shell-guns  and  the 
"Osage"  t\vo  11-inch,  and  the  ''Lexington," 
so  far  from  being,  as  General  Kilby  Smith 
asserts,  "  of  very  heavy  draft,  and  of  little 
or  no  service,"  was  the  only  large  vessel  of 
the  fleet  that  did  not  get  aground.  She  and 
the  "Osage"  were  the  only  gun-boats  in 
the  fig! it  at  Pleasant  Hill  Landing,  against 
2.500  men  and  a  park  of  artillery,  and  it 
would  be  strange  indeed  if  they  could  not 
take  care  of  two  pieces  of  artilleiy!  The 
Admiral  was  with  the  transports  half-an- 
hour,  during  which  time  there  was  no  artil 
lery  fire,  and  none  was  ever  reported  to  him 
by  any  of  his  officers.  The  first  he  knew 
of  any  serious  construction  being  put  upon 
the  firing  was  from  reading  the  above  quo 
tation.  There  was  some  musketry  fire  going 
on,  but  not  a  vessel  in  the  fleet  was  struck 
with  shell  or  rifle-shot,  notwithstanding 
the  five  hours'  fire  to  which  General  Kilby 
Smith  says  they  were  exposed. 

The  vessels  at  Campte  were  so  mixed  up 
that  the  flag-ship  had  difficulty  in  getting 
through  them  and  alongside  General 
Kilby  Smith's  headquarters'  vessel.  Seeing 
that  there  was  no  prospect  of  the  transports 
getting  off  that  night,  and  thinking  that 
the  Confederates  might  assemble  during 
the  darkness  in  greater  force,  the  Admiral 
informed  the  General  that  he  would  run 
down  to  Grand  Ecore.  which  he  could  do 
in  half-aii-hour,  and  induce  General  Banks 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


517 


to  send  troops  up  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 
With  this.  General  Kilby  Smith  was  much 
pleased,  although  he  had  not  much  idea 
that  General  Banks  would  pay  attention  to 
a  message  after  plainly  hearing  an  inces 
sant  lire  of  musketry  for  hours,  to  which  he 
gave  no  heed,  although  only  four  miles 
distant. 

The  " Cricket''  carried  every  pound  of 
steam  the  boilers  would  bear,  and  only 
stopped  a  few  moments  to  shell  out  some 
Confederates  hidden  in  a  house,  who  fired 
upon  her  as  she  was  passing.  At  5  P.  M.  the 
Admiral  was  on  the  levee  at  Grand  Ecore, 
where  the  first  person  he  met  was  General 
A.  J.  Smith,  who  shook  his  hand  heartily 
and  exclaimed:  "D — n  it,  old  fellow,  I 
never  expected  to  see  you  again  !"  In  a  few 
words  the  Admiral  explained  to  him  how 
matters  stood  at  Campte,  and  requested 
him  to  send  up  some  cavalry  and  infantry 
at  once.  The  troops  were  ready,  for  Smith 
had  been  expecting  orders  from  Banks  to 
send  them,  so  now  the  former  dispatched 
them  at  once  on  his  own  authority — 700 
cavalry  and  1,000  infantry;  the  latter  under 
the  gallant  Colonel  Shaw,  and  they  soon 
cleared  the  river  banks  of  any  Confederates 
lurking  in  that  quarter. 

On  the  15th,  all  the  vessels  arrived  safely 
at  Grand  Ecore  in  good  condition,  excepting 
some  little  damage  from  running  into  snags 
and  into  each  other.  As  the  sailors  say, 
they  had  not  lost  a  rope-yarn  on  the  expe 
dition,  and  the  casualties,  all  told,  did  not 
exceed  fifty  men,  with  very  few  killed.  So, 
notwithstanding  General  Kilby  Smith's  ex 
ceptions,  we  are  firm  in  our  belief  that 
the  vessels  were  well  managed,  and  whether 
the  gun-boats  were  or  were  not  ''efficient" 
must  be  left  to  the  reader  to  decide. 

As  soon  as  the  Admiral  saw  the  troops 
well  underway  up  river,  he  mounted  his 
horse  and  proceeded  to  call  on  General 
Banks. 

As  the  Admiral  entered  the  General's 
tent,  he  was  reading  by  the  light  of  a  lamp. 
'•  Admiral,"  said  the  General,  ''you  inter 
rupted  me  in  the  most  pleasing  occupation 
of  my  life.  I  was  just  reading  '  Scott's 
Tactics.'"  The  Admiral  could  not  help 
thinking  that  he  should  have  read  it  before 
he  went  to  Sabine  Cross  Roads. 

He  told  the  General  he  was  sorry  he  had 
been  unsuccessful,  and  asking  him  what 
were  his  plans  for  the  future,  found  him 
quite  indignant  at  the  idea  of  any  one 
hinting  that  he  had  been  beaten.  "  Why, 
sir,''  he  said,  •'•'  we  gained  a  glorious  vic 
tory,  and  sent  the  enemy  flying  in  all  direc 
tions  !"  "Then,  what  are  you  doing  here, 
General  ?"  inquired  the  Admiral.  "  This  is 
not  the  road  to  Shreveport."  "Why,"  re 
plied  the  former,  "  I  found  that  there  was 
no  water  in  that  country,  and  I  had  to  fall 


back  here  to  obtain  water  for  my  troops 
and  animals." 

The  Admiral  suggested  that  the  troops 
could  have  obtained  all  the  water  they 
wanted  by  marching  only  twelve  miles  to 
Pleasant  Hill  Landing;  but  General  Banks 
seemed  well  satisfied  with  what  he  had 
done,  and  told  the  Admiral  he  intended  to 
continue  his  march  to  Shreveport  by  the 
river  road,  keeping  the  transports  in  sight. 

The  Admiral  informed  Banks  that  this 
course  was  now  out  of  the  question,  as  the 
river  was  falling  so  rapidly  that  the  expedi 
tion  would  have  as  much  as  it  could  do  to 
get  from  Grand  Ecore  to  Alexandria,  and 
then  it  was  doubtful  if  the  vessels  could 
pass  over  the  "  Falls  ;"  but  the  General  in 
sisted  that  a  rise  in  the  river  would  soon 
take  place,  and  he  would  be  able  to  march 
on  Shreveport  in  a  few  days. 

Notwithstanding  this  conversation,  he 
commenced  intrenching  and  fortifying  his 
camp  on  the  IGth  inst. 

We  must  now  turn  to  General  Steele's 
movements.  On  the  1st  of  April,  General 
Steele's  army,  which  was  intended  to  co 
operate  with  Banks,  wras  at  Arkadelphia, 
waiting  for  General  Thayer  to  join  it.  The 
same  day,  the  army  moved  fourteen  miles 
to  Campte,  and  thence  to  Washington. 
Near  the  latter  place  it  encountered  the 
Confederate  Generals.  Marmaduke  and  Ca- 
bell,  with  a  good-sized  force,  and,  after  con 
siderable  manoeuvring,  Steele,  while  turn 
ing  his  army  southward,  was  attacked  in 
the  rear  by.  General  Shelby  near  the  cross 
ing  of  the  river.  The  enemy,  although  at 
tacking  with  great  bravery,  were  repulsed 
with  heavy  loss. 

On  the  3d  of  April.  Steele's  entire  com 
mand  crossed  the  Little  Red  River  at 
Elkins'  Ferry  —  a  movement  so  skillfully 
planned  and  so  promptly  executed  that  the 
enemy  only  by  accident  learned  of  it  after 
it  was  accomplished.  General  Thayer  had 
not  yet  joined  Steele,  having  been  delayed 
by  bad  roads,  for  the  heavy  rains  made  ter 
rible  work  for  the  army,  causing  the  route 
to  be  almost  impassable,  so  that  it  was 
necessary  to  corduroy  it.  Thayer  at  length 
arrived,  and  crossed  the  Little  Red  River 
on  a  bridge  constructed  by  the  soldiers. 

On  the  10th  of  April  the  army  moved 
to  Prairie,  where  Price,  the  Confederate 
General,  had  determined  to  make  a  final 
stand  at  the  point  he  had  chosen  ;  two 
branches  diverge  from  the  main  road  to 
Shreveport — one  going  to  Washington,  the 
other  to  Camden.  Here  some  artillery 
firing  took  place  which  lasted  until  night 
fall.  After  dark  the  enemy  made  a  desper 
ate  effort  to  capture  the  Federal  guns,  but 
were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and  retreated 
to  their  fortifications  of  earth  and  timber, 
a  mile  long,  commanding  the  Washington 


518 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


road.  On  the  12th  of  April,  Steele  turned 
the  enemy's  left  flank  and  the  latter  fled 
to  Washington,  followed  by  the  cavalry 
sent  by  General  Steele  to  make  the  enemy 
believe  the  army  was  following  in  their 
rear,  instead  of  which  it  took  the  road  to 
Camden.  Much  time  was  spent  in  crossing 
the  Terre  Rouge  bottom,  which  had  to  be 
corduroyed  for  miles,  and  several  bridges 
constructed.  During  all  this  time  the  rear 
guard  under  General  Thayer  was  subjected 
to  numerous  attacks  by  the  Confederate 
General  Dockray,  who  was  always  repulsed. 

Fighting  their  way  foot  by  foot,  with  the 
Confederate  forces  in  front  and  rear,  Steele's 
army  entered  Camden  on  the  15th  and  found 
the  place  strongly  fortified,  so  as  to  be  im 
pregnable  against  any  force  the  enemy 
could  bring  to  bear.  Steele  was  now  only  a 
hundred  miles  from  Shreveport,  and  could 
get  all  the  supplies  necessary  by  boats  on 
the  Washita  River.  In  fact,  he  could  have 
held  on  here  until  Banks  reached  Mans 
field. 

But  at  Camden  some  captured  Confed 
erate  dispatches  gave  the  information  of 
Banks'  backward  movement,  which  was 
soon  confirmed  by  other  intelligence.  On 
the  18th,  a  forage  train  sent  out  by  Steele 
was  captured  by  the  enemy,  the  first  dis 
aster  occurring  during  Steele's  long  march 
through  a  difficult  country  swarming  with 
the  enemy's  troops.  On  the  20th,  a  supply 
train  arrived  from  Pine  Bluff  and  was  sent 
back  on  the  22d,  escorted  by  a  brigade  of  in 
fantry,  four  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  proper 
force  of  cavalry.  On  the  25th,  news  was 
received  that  the  train  had  been  captured 
and  the  colonel  in  command  of  the  escort 
mortally  wounded. 

Before  this  time  the  Confederates  had 
learned  that  Banks  had  retreated  to  stay, 
and  General  Kirby  Smith  with  8,000  Con 
federates  had  joined  General  Price,  and 
the  combined  forces  were  marching  upon 
Steele's  position.  Under  all  the  circum 
stances,  with  no  hope  of  being  joined  by 
Banks,  General  Steele  wisely  concluded  to 
evacuate  Camden  and  fall  back. 

On  the  night  of  April  26th  the  army  crossed 
the  Washita  and  marched  towards  Little 
Rock,  by  way  of  Princeton  and  Jenkins' 
Ferry,  on  the  Sabine.  On  the  27th,  a  pon 
toon  bridge  was  thrown  across  the  Sabine  at 
the  latter  point,  and  the  army  reached  Lit 
tle  Rock,  and  it  was  learned  that  General 
Fagan,  with  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  and 
a  large  force  of  infantry,  was  moving  up 
the  river  to  attack  Little  Rock. 

The  combined  forces  of  Confederates,  un 
der  Price,  made  the  attack,  and  were  re 
pulsed  with  great  slaughter,  losing  a  large 
part  of  their  artillery  and  munitions  of 
war.  Steele  held  on  for  a  few  days  longer 
to  see  if  Price  would  make  another  attack, 


and  then  took  up  his  line  of   march  and 
joined  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

It  does  not  require  much  military  knowl 
edge  to  see  how  much  better  Steele's 
expedition  was  managed  than  that  of 
Banks'.  Steele's  army,  unaccompanied  by 
transports  and  depending  entirely  on  their 
trains  for  supplies,  marched  more  than 
three  hundred  miles  over  the  worst  roads 
possible,  with  an  active  enemy  harass 
ing  them  at  every  step.  Their  difficulties, 
indeed,  were  far  too  numerous  to  mention 
in  this  short  sketch.  Whenever  Steele  was 
attacked,  he  defeated  the  enemy;  and  the 
only  mistake  he  appears  to  have  made  was 
in  sending  back  an  empty  wagon-train  to 
be  captured  instead  of  retaining  it  with  the 
army.  General  Steele  was  a  soldier  who 
knew  his  business,  and  he  was  supported 
by  Generals  Rice,  Solomon,  Carr,  and 
Thayer,  who  inspired  their  men  with  their 
own  martial  spirit.  They  outwitted  the 
Confederates  as  well  as  outfought  them  011 
every  occasion  ;  and  we  only  regret  that  the 
dispatches  sent  off  by  General  Banks  in  a 
gun-boat  did  not  reach  General  Steele  in 
time  to  save  the  large  wagon-train  captured 
by  the  enemy. 

But  to  return  to  affairs  on  Red  River. 
When  it  was  found  that  Banks  would  prob 
ably  retreat  to  Alexandria,  the  Admiral  got 
the  "Eastport"  and  other  large  vessels 
over  the  bar  at  Grand  Ecore,  and  directed 
them  to  proceed  to  Alexandria,  while  the 
"Lexington"  and  "Osage"  were  detailed 
to  convoy  the  transports,  and  see  them  safe 
to  Alexandria,  when  they  were  ready  to 
move. 

On  the  16th  of  April,  the  Admiral  received 
a  dispatch  from  Lieutenant -Commander 
Plielps,  reporting  that  the  "  Eastport''  had 
been  sunk  by  a  torpedo  eight  miles  be 
low  Grand  Ecore.  The  Confederates  had 
planted  numbers  of  these  along  the  river, 
but  as  they  had  hitherto  done  no  damage, 
the  Navy  paid  little  attention  to  them. 

When  the  Admiral  reached  the  "East- 
port,"  he  found  her  resting  on  the  bottom, 
with  her  gun-deck  above  water.  Hasten 
ing  to  Alexandria,  he  sent  up  two  pump- 
boats,  with  orders  to  Lieutenant-Commander 
Phelps  to  take  out  everything  that  would 
lighten  the  vessel,  and  felt  sure  that  the 
"Eastport"  would  soon  be  afloat  again. 
He  was  detained  a  day  in  Alexandria,  mak 
ing  a  new  disposition  of  the  naval  forces  on 
the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries. 

During  his  absence  up  Red  River  the  mas 
sacre  at  Fort  Pillow  had  occurred,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  policy  pursued  of  not  properly 
garrisoning  the  strong  points,  where  so 
much  blood  and  treasure  had  been  expended. 

There  were  two  small  gun-boats  at  Fort 
Pillow  at  the  time,  which  did  their  part,  but 
the  garrison  could  make  but  feeble  resist- 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


519 


ance.  The  "  Essex."  "  Benton,"  "  Choctaw." 
"Lafayette."  "  Ouchita."  and  "Avenger" 
were  sent  to  secure  the  fort  against  further 
attacks. 

Tlie  "  Eastport "  was  much  more  shattered 
by  the  explosion  than  had  been  imagined. 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  Phelps  and  his 
officers  worked  with  a  will  to  save  this  val 
uable  vessel,  and  more  energy  and  deter 
mination  were  never  evinced.  Phelps  was 
satisfied,  if  time  were  allowed,  that  the 
,  • 'Eastport''  would  be  floated  off  all  right. 
As  the  Admiral  had  so  far  met  with  no  mis 
haps,  he  did  not  wish  to  resort  to  blowing 
up  the  "Eastport."  to  prevent  her  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

( >n  his  return  to  Grand  Ecore  he  found 
the  army  quite  excited  at  the  news  that  they 
were  going  back  to  Alexandria,  though  the 
different  divisions  were  ordered  "to  be  in 
readiness  to  march  against  the  enemy  !" 

At  noon  of  the  20th,  General  A.  J.  Smith's 
division  marched  out  on  the  road  to  Nachi- 
toches,  and  were  kept  for  some  time  under 
arms. 

All  kinds  of  rumors  were  flying  about: 
first  that  the  cavalry  had  been  driven  in; 
then  that  the  Confederates  were  advancing 
on  Banks'  position  with  40,000  men,  when 
everybody  must  have  known  that  they 
could  not  assemble  16,000. 

Every  one  was  now  convinced  that  Banks 
had  not  the  slightest  intention  of  advan 
cing,  and  was  planning  a  retreat,  calling 
forth  all  the  objections  to  an  advance  that 
he  could  in  order  to  justify  his  course,  and 
to  say  that  his  desire  to  advance  on  the 
enemy  was  overruled  ! 

Admiral  Porter  had  already  told  him  that 
he  could  not  now  advance,  if  he  depended 
on  the  gun-boats  and  transports ;  but  he 
never  advised  him  to  leave  Grand  Ecore. 

General  A.  J.  Smith's  division  was  ad 
vanced  four  miles  towards  the  enemy,  who 
seemed  to  be  in  force,  and,  although  not 
strong  enough  to  attack  the  Union  position, 
would,  in  a  retreat,  no  doubt,  harass  the 
rear.  In  fact,  it  shortly  appeared  that  A.  J. 
Smith's  "ragged  guerillas.''  as  Banks  had 
called  them,  were  now  to  have  the  honor  of 
protecting  the  General  in  his  retreat. 

Seeing  that  some  move  was  in  contempla 
tion,  the  Admiral  sent  an  officer  to  General 
Banks  to  ask  if  the  report  was  true  that  he 
was  going  to  move  to  Alexandria.  If  so,  he 
requested  one  more  day  in  which  to  float 
the  "  Eastport."  To  this  message,  the  Gen 
eral  sent  a  reply  that  he  had  no  idea  of 
moving. 

The  Admiral  then  called  on  General 
Franklin — sick  in  his  cot — who  asked  if 
Banks  had  notified  the  Navy  that  he  was 
going  to  retreat.  The  Admiral  said  "  Xo," 
but  that  he  had  noticed  that  all  the  trans 
ports  were  moving  down  river,  and  that 


one  of  the  largest  gun-boats  was  aground 
below. 

Franklin  then  assured  him  that  he  had 
orders  to  move  at  a  moment's  warning,  and 
that  Banks  did  not  wish  any  one  to  know 
he  was  going,  as  he  wanted  the  largest  gun 
boats  kept  at  Grand  Ecore,  so  that  they 
could  cover  his  rear  as  he  moved  off. 

At  first  the  Admiral  thought  that  Frank 
lin  was  prejudiced  against  Banks  and  mis 
judged  him,  knowing  there  was  no  cordial 
ity  between  those  officers ;  but  on  a  subse 
quent  interview  Franklin  gave  such  assur 
ances  that  Banks  intended  to  leave  him, 
and  urged  him  so  strongly  to  look  out  for 
himself,  that  the  Admiral  determined  to  fol 
low  his  advice. 

The  gun-boats  could  take  care  of  them 
selves  ;  but  the  condition  of  the  "  Eastport" 
was  a  great  cause  of  uneasiness;  so  the  Ad 
miral  proceeded  at  once  to  that  vessel  and 
informed  her  commander  that  he  must  get 
away  from  the  vicinity  of  Grand  Ecore  at 
all  hazards,  as  the  Confederates  would  oc 
cupy  it  immediately  on  the  departure  of  the 
Union  forces,  and  be  able  to  concentrate  a 
heavy  artillery  fire  on  him  while  working. 

The  leak  in  the  "  Eastport "  had  been  so 
far  overcome  that  steam  was  raised  and  the 
vessel  only  rested  slightly  on  the  bottom. 

The  Admiral  returned  to  Grand  Ecore  and 
found  that  Banks  had  left  with  the  advance 
of  the  army  in  the  night  for  Alexandria, 
leaving  General  Franklin  in  command  of 
the  main  body,  with  orders  to  follow  him. 
So  that  Franklin  was  virtually  in  command 
until  the  army  reached  Cane  River. 

The  evacuation  left  Grand  Ecore  in  the 
solitude  of  a  wilderness.  A.  J.  Smith's 
division  marched  at  7  A.  M.,  on  the  22d,  so 
hastily  that  they  left  behind  a  quantity  of 
stores  and  some  siege-guns,  which  were 
brought  down  by  the  fleet. 

All  the  transports  were  gone,  and  the 
flag-ship  "Cricket"  and  another  small  gun 
boat  were  all  that  was  left  after  the  depart 
ure  of  the  Grand  Army,  which  had  entered 
the  Red  River  country  so  joyfully  and  was 
now  retreating  before  an  inferior'force. 

We  do  not  think  the  enemy  knew  of  the 
departure  of  the  Union  Army  until  a  consid 
erable  time  had  elapsed,  as  there  were  no 
signs  of  them  at  Grand  Ecore,  not  even  a 
musket  was  fired  at  the  army  as  it  marched. 
The  Admiral  had  had  an  interview  with 
General  Banks  in  relation  to  General  Steele, 
in  which  he  reminded  the  former  that  this 
intended  as  a  co-operative  movement 
the  two  armies;  that  Steele,  ad- 
confidence  to  meet  Banks  and 
not  hearing  of  the  latter's  return,  would  fall 
into  a  trap,  as  the  Confederates  could  con 
centrate  all  their  forces  against  him  and 
perhaps  defeat  his  army. 

Banks'  armv  was  over  a  hundred  miles 


was 

between 
vancing  in 


520 


THE  XAVAL  HISTORY 


in  a  direct,  line  from  Steele,  as  the  crow 
flies,  and  twice  that  distance  by  the  crooked 
roads  and  rivers,  all  the  intermediate  coun 
try  swarming  with  Confederate  troops. 

As  it  was  hardly  possible  to  communicate 
with  Steele  in  any  other  manner,  the  Gen 
eral  proposed  sending  one  of  the  fast  naval 
dispatch  steamers  down  the  Red  River,  up 
the  Mississippi  and  Arkansas  Rivers,  thence 
via  Little  Rock  to  Camden,  Arkansas,  a 
distance  of  over  five  hundred  miles.  A  mes 
senger  was  sent  accordingly,  but  whether 
he  got  to  his  destination  is  not  known. 

Nothing  could  better  demonstrate  the 
absurdity  of  this  co-operative  movement 
upon  Shreveport  than  the  fact,  that  at  no 
time  since  the  expedition  started  had  the 
commanders  of  the  two  armies  communi 
cated  with  each  other.  A  glance  at  the  map 
will  show  that  from  the  first  these  armies 
were  to  advance  upon  Shreveport  at  right 
angles  with  each  other,  and  without  the 
probability  of  communicating  until  they 
made  a  junction  at  or  near  that  place,  while 
the  points  from  which  they  started  were 
over  500  miles  apart,  and  Steele's  army  had 
to  make  slow  marches  on  account  of  bad 
roads  and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  sup 
plies. 

Hence  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  move 
in  harmony  as  regards  time,  and  next  to 
impossible  for  one  to  notify  the  other  of 
any  detention  that  might  occur. 

The  whole  idea  was  in  violation  of  the 
rule  of  war  that  two  armies  co-operating 
with  each  other  should  be  in  constant  com 
munication. 

This  co-operation  might  easily  have  been 
effected  if  Steele  had  marched  to  Columbia, 
La.,  through  a  much  better  country  than 
the  one  he  passed  through.  On  arriving  at 
Columbia,  he  would  have  been  within 
eighty  miles  of  General  Banks,  and  could 
have  been  supplied  with  stores  by  way  of  the 
Washita  River,  where  the  gun-boats  could 
have  protected  his  transports  and  added  to 
the  strength  of  his  artillery. 

The  two  armies  could  have  been  put  in 
communication  near  Mansfield,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  Red  River,  and  the  Confederates 
would  have  retreated  to  Shreveport  without 
resistance. 

As  it  was,  the  enemy  had  the  opportunity 
of  attacking  each  army  in  detail,  and  turn 
ing  them  back  whence  they  came,  making 
this  one  of  the  most  disastrous  campaigns 
of  the  war. 

From  all  we  can  learn,  the  enemy  took 
up  a  position  to  oppose  the  Union  troops  at 
the  crossing  of  Cane  River. 

Franklin  gave  orders  to  attack  the  enemy 
early  the  following  morning;  but.  suffering 
greatly  from  his  wound,  transferred  the 
command  to  General  Emory,  who  made  the 
necessary  disposition  of  the  troops. 


In  the  morning  the  1st  division  attacked 
the  enemy  directly  in  front,  while  the  cav 
alry  made  a  demonstration  on  the  right, 
and  General  Birge  with  a  picked  force  pre 
pared  to  turn  the  enemy's  left. 

After  some  sharp  fighting  General  Emory 
carried  the  enemy's  position  with  a  loss  of 
400  men. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  enemy  had  attacked 
General  A.  J.  Smith,  who  brought  up  the 
rear;  but  all  their  efforts  were  frustrated  by 
the  vigilance  of  that  brave  soldier,  who  ad 
ministered  a  severe  punishment  to  the  en 
emy  and  took  many  prisoners.  Before  1  P.  M. 
the  enemy  had  all  been  scattered. 
The  Confederates  having  retreated.  General 
Smith  advanced  four  miles  and  camped  for 
the  night,  in  readiness  for  any  further  at 
tack,  the  16th  corps  being  within  support 
ing  distance. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  the  enemy  saluted  the 
Union  troops  with  several  shells,  in  order  to 
feel  their  position,  and  afterwards  drove  hi 
the  cavalry  pickets.  Finalh"  they  charged 
on  the  rear  with  a  yell,  but  were  driven 
back  with  loss. 

Up  to  the  25th,  General  Emory  was  kept 
busy  in  repulsing  the  numerous  attacks  of 
the  enemy,  which  he  did  with  little  loss. 
There  were  skirmishes  at  Henderson's  Hill 
and  other  points,  but  the  army  was  now 
directed  with  intelligence  by  a  good  Gen 
eral,  and  on  the  2Gth  and  27th  the  whole 
force  marched  into  Alexandria  in  excellent 
condition  and  went  into  camp. 

From  Cane  River  the  road  to  Alexandria 
diverged  from  Red  River,  and.  of  course, 
the  transports  and  "  Eastport ''  could  expect 
no  further  support  from  the  Army.  The 
Admiral  had,  therefore,  to  depend  upon 
his  own  resources  for  getting  back  to  Alex 
andria,  but  would  not  have  cared  much 
about  it  could  he  have  moved  more  rapidly. 
But  he  was  so  hampered  by  the  ;'  Eastport '' 
that  he  felt  sure  of  meeting  resistance  be 
fore  the  fleet  could  get  down.  The  guns 
and  stores  of  the  "  Eastport  "  had  been  put 
into  a  large  lighter,  the  vessel  fitted  with  a 
number  of  siphon  pumps  in  addition  to 
those  she  already  had.  and  on  the  21st  April 
she  started  in  tow  of  the  two  pump-boats. 

The  first  day  the  i-  Eastport  "  made  forty 
miles  down  the  river,  but  at  6  P.  M.  she 
got  out  of  the  channel  and  grounded  ;  and 
now  commenced  the  most  serious  difficul 
ties  of  forcing  her  over  the  bars  and  other 
obstructions  so  numerous  in  Red  River,  and 
which  were  so  little  known  that  there  was 
small  hope  of  saving  the  iron-clad  without 
some  help  from  the  Army,  which  would 
probably  not  be  given. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  convey  an  ade 
quate  idea  of  the  proceedings  from  the  21st 
to  the  20th  of  April,  during  which  time  the 
efforts  of  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Plielps, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


521 


and  the  officers  and  men  of  that  little  squad 
ron,  were  devoted  to  the  saving  of  this  valu 
able  iron-clad. 

Phelps  and  his  command  worked  day  and 
night,  almost  without  rest,  in  the  hope  of 
getting  the  vessel  to  Alexandria.  Once  or 
twice  she  sank,  and  had  to  be  pumped  out 
again,  then  she  would  get  aground  on  the 
logs  and  snags.  It  was  necessary  to  keep 
her  decks  and  those  of  the  pump -boats 
crowded  with  men  to  do  the  necessary  work, 
including  carrying  out  hawsers  at  nearly 
every  bend  in  the  river. 

The  party  had  been  anticipating  for  sev 
eral  days  to  be  attacked  by  infantry  and  ar 
tillery,  "and  we  cannot  to  "this  day  imagine 
why  it  was  not  done,  unless  the  enemy  ex- 
pected  to  get  the  vessels  into  a  position 
where  no  resistance  could  be  made,  and 
capture  the  whole  squadron. 

The  "Eastport"  had  grounded  eight  or 
nine  times,  and  at  last  got  so  hard  and  fast 
upon  the  logs  at  a  place  called  Montgomery, 
that  all  efforts  to  move  her  were  in  vain. 
After  spending  a  night  in  useless  labors,  and 
ascertaining,  by  sounding,  that  a,  few  yards 
ahead  was  another  bed  of  logs  with  still  less 
water.  Lieutenant  Commander  Phelps  re 
luctantly  admitted  that  there  was  nothing 
to  do  but  blow  the  "  Eastport"  up. 

The  Admiral  had  stayed  by  the  vessel  as 
long  as  there  was  the  slightest  possibility 
of  getting  her  down,  thereby  risking  the 
capture  of  the  little  squadron,  and  he  ac 
ceded  to  the  proposition  to  destroy  her. 
Phelps  had  got  the  "  Eastport"  sixty  miles 
down  the  river,  and  sixty  more  wrould 
have  put  her  at  Alexandria,  but  the  Army 
was  also  that  distance  off,  and  the  reports 
were  that  the  Confederates  were  harassing 
its  rear  in  every  way,  so  one  might  naturally 
expect  when  the  Union  troops  reached  Alex 
andria  that  all  the  Confederate  forces  would 
be  concentrated  against  the  little  flotilla. 

To  oppose  them  there  were  but  three  light- 
draft  gun-boats — called  "tin-dads" — for  the 
"Eastport  "  had  no  guns  on  board.  The  pros 
pect  was  certainly  not  very  encouraging. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from 
Lieutenant-Commander  Phelps  will  be  in 
teresting  in  this  connection : 

"  The  command  of  the  '  Eastport '  has  been  to  me 
a  source  of  great  pride,  and  I  could  not  but  deplore 
the  necessity  for  destroying  her.  The  act  has  been 
the  most  painful  one  of  my  official  career.  She  was 
the  finest  vessel  of  your  squadron,  and  one  of  the 
best  possessed  by  the  Government. 

"\ourordertome  to  proceed  to  destroy  her.  in 
which  you  commend  the  zeal  displayed  by  myself 
and  officers  and  crew  in  our  efforts  to  save  her,  not 
only  relieved  me  from  all  responsibility,  but  was 
also  grateful  to  my  feelings  both  as  a  man  and  as 
an  officer. 

''I  desire,  further,  to  express  to  you  jny  grateful 
sense  of  your  forbearance  in  ordering  the  destruc 
tion  of  the  vessel  when  yourself  convinced  of  the 
impossibility  of  saving  her,  in  yielding  your  judg 
ment  to  my  "natural  anxiety  to  exhaust  every  means 


that  seemed  to  offer  a  hope  of  success.  I  fear  that 
your  forbearance  led  to  greater  difficulties,  both  for 
your  squadron  and  yourself,  than  ever  the  saving 
of  the  '  Eastport '  would  justify.  This  conscious 
ness  added  largely  to  my  anxiety  for  your  safety 
when  separated  from  you  by  the  accidents  of  the 
action  which  took  place  on  the  evening  after  her 
destruction,  when  I  had  every  reason  to  apprehend 
the  worst." 

The  most  thorough  preparations  to  de 
stroy  the  "  Eastport"  were  made,  the  boilers, 
cylinders  and  engine-room  being  filled  with 
powder,  as  was  also  every  enclosed  space 
about  the  hull  of  the  vessel.  Then  trains 
were  laid  to  have  a  simultaneous  explosion 
in  every  part.  When  everything  was  ready 
and  some  forty  barrels  of  gunpowder  await 
ing  ignition,  the  Admiral  pulled  off  a  short 
distance  to  witness  the  explosion,  while 
Phelps,  from  his  boat  alongside,  applied  the 
match,  and  shoved  off;  but  he  had  hardly  got 
headway  on  his  boat  before  the  ship  blew 
up,  shattering  her  to  fragments. 

The  Admiral  and  Phelps  were  fortunate  in 
escaping  with  their  lives,  for  the  fragments 
fell  in  all  directions  around  them,  though 
no  harm  was  done  to  any  one. 

The  Confederates,  who  heard  the  explo 
sion,  must  have  thought  an  earthquake  had 
taken  place ;  for  in  that  narrow  river,  in 
closed  by  high  banks,  the  jar  seemed  as  if 
everything  would  shake  to  pieces,  and  the 
trees"  bent,  as  if  a  tornado  had  passed  over 
them. 

Of  course,  the  enemy  made  for  that  point 
with  all  dispatch  ;  and,  although  the  offi 
cers  were  always  on  the  look-out,  the  attack 
came  sooner  than  was  expected 

The  vessels  had  dropped  down  about 
three  hundred  yards  from  the  "  Eastport," 
and  the  little  flag-ship,  the  "Cricket,"  was 
lying  at  the  right  bank ;  when,  just  after 
the  former  vessel  blew  up,  she  was  attacked 
by  a  heavy  force  of  infantry  from  the  right 
bank.  From  their  concealed  position  they 
poured  a  fire  into  all  the  vessels  of  over 
twelve  hundred  muskets  and  rifles,  and 
then  rushed  to  board  the  "  Cricket." 

Fortunately  one  watch  was  always  kept 
at  the  guns,  prepared  for  any  emergency, 
and  the  men  were  under  cover  of  the  bul 
warks  ;  «so  that,  with  the  exception  of  splin 
tering  wood-work  and  smashing  glass,  little 
damage  was  done  by  the  fire. 

A  fire  of  grape,  canister,  and  shrapnel 
soon  drove  the  enemy  back.  One  man, 
who  could  not  get  away,  surrendered  him 
self  prisoner,  and  informed  the  Admiral 
that  the  present  force  was  only  the  advance 
of  some  six  thousand  artillery  and  infantry 
that  would  give  him  a  \varm  reception  fur 
ther  down.  The  naval  force  now  consisted 
of  the  "Cricket"  and  "Juliet,"  each  car 
rying  six  small  guns,  and  the  "  Fort  Hind- 
man,"  eight  guns,  mixed  battery-  "tin- 
clad  "  gun  -  boats  only  musket  -  proof  —  to 
gether  with  two  pump-boats,  "Champion" 


522 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


and  "  Champion  No.  5,"  entirely  unpro 
tected. 

The  "  Champion''  was  lashed  to  the  "Ju 
liet,"  and  the  "Champion  No.  5"  followed 
the  squadron. 

They  had  proceeded  twenty  miles  clown 
the  river,  the  "Cricket"  leading,  and  the 
vessels  in  close  order,  when  it  was  noticed, 
about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  river,  on 
a  high  bluff  at  a  bend,  that  some  men  were 
moving  in  the  bushes  ;  and  the  commander 
ordered  a  shrapnel  shell  fired  in  among 
them  from  a  12-pounder  howitzer,  always 
in  readiness  on  the  upper  deck.  The  shell 
burst  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  whom,  it 
now  appeared,  were  posted  in  force ;  and 
the  vessels  approached  within  about  twenty 
yards  of  the  shore,  when  nineteen  shells 


During  this  time  the  enemy  were  raking 
the  "  Cricket"  fore  and  aft ;  but,  supposing- 
that  she  was  disabled  so  as  to  be  in  their 
power,  they  turned  their  attention  to  the 
"  Juliet,"  close  behind,  with  such  effect  that 
she  drifted  down  under  the  bank,  where  no 
guns  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  her. 

In  the  meantime  the  "Cricket"  had  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  around  a  long,  narrow 
neck  of  land,  and  found  herself  in  the 
enemy's  rear.  Having  got  a  fresh  crew  to 
the  gun  on  the  upper  deck,  and  remanned 
two  of  the  other  guns  with  "  contrabands," 
the  fire  was  directed  with  such  effect  that 
the  enemy  were  driven  from  their  guns, 
and  the  "Juliet"  escaped  up  the  river  in 
tow  of  the  "  Champion." 

In  the  four  minutes  the  "Cricket"  sus- 


ATTACK  ON  THE  "CRICKET"  BY  2,500  CONFEDERATES,  UNDER  GENERAL  GREEN. 


crashed  through  the  vessel  from  concealed 
artillery,  shattering  the  "Cricket"  in  all 
her  parts. 

The  Admiral  immediately  hastened  to 
the  pilot-house,  and  entered  the  door  just 
as  a  bursting  shell  wounded  the  pilot,  and 
killed  all  the  guns'  crew  forward.  By  this 
time  the  engine  had  stopped ;  but  the  cur 
rent,  running  at  the  rate  of  four  miles  per 
hour,  was  bearing  the  "Cricket"  rapidly 
down  stream.  Going  below,  the  Admiral 
found  the  engineer  had  been  killed  with  his 
hand  on  the  throttle-valve,  and  as  he  ex 
pired  he  had  shut  off  the  steam.  Steam 
was  turned  on,  and  the  engine  once  more 
started. 

The  gun-deck  was  covered  with  dead  and 
wounded,  and  all  but  one  of  the  guns  was 
disabled.  In  the  fire-room  all  the  firemen 
were  hors  du  combat. 


tained  the  enemy's  fire,  she  had  twelve 
killed  and  nineteen  wounded,  most  of  the 
latter  severely.  She  was  struck  thirty-eight 
times  with  shell,  which  generally  burst  in 
small  fragments,  otherwise  they  would 
probably  have  disabled  the  boilers  and 
machinery. 

The  whole  ship's  company  of  this  little 
vessel  amounted  to  but  fifty  persons,  of 
whom  one  third  were  negroes  picked  up 
along  the  Mississippi ;  but  there  was  no 
flinching,  although  the  "Cricket"  had  but 
four  officers,  all  of  whom  were  wounded. 
One  gentleman,  a  guest  on  board,  said  he 
came  in  this  expedition  expecting  to  see 
fighting,  and  had  now  seen  all  of  it  he 
wanted.  . 

As  soon  as  the  Confederates  recovered 
from  the  temporary  surprise  caused  by  the 
"Cricket's"  shells,  and  the  latter  had 


OF  THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


drifted  out  of  range,  they  opened  upon  the 
''Champion,  No.  5,"  and  sunk  her  immedi 
ately.  She  had  a  number  of  negroes  on 
board  who  had  fled  from  Grand  Ecore,  but 
they  were  all  killed,  many  of  them  shot 
while  struggling  in  the  water. 

General  Taylor  told  the  Admiral,  after 
the  war.  that  he  was  present  and  in  com 
mand  on  this  occasion,  and,  besides  three 
batteries  of  artillery,  he  had  three  thousand 
infantry  pouring  their  fire  into  the  vessels 
all  the  time.  The  Admiral  reproached  the 
General  for  his  want  of  courtesy  in  shooting 
at  him  as  he  passed  along  the  upper  deck, 
but  Taylor  assured  him  that  he  ordered  the 
firing  to  cease  the  moment  he  recognized 
the  Admiral. 

If  this  was  so,  and  amid  all  the  noise  and 
confusion,  no  one  could  pretend  to  recollect 
the  exact  circumstances  of  the  case,  the 
Admiral  must  attribute  it  to  the  chivalric 
feeling  in  General  Taylors  breast  towards 
one  with  whom  he  had  been  intimate  in  the 
days  when  the  South  did  not  dream  of  shed 
ding  Northern  blood. 

When  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Phelps 
saw  the  difficulties  ahead,  he  steamed  down 
in  the  ''Fort  Hindman,"  and  opened  fire 
on  the  enemy's  batteries,  enabling  the 
"  Juliet  "  to  escape  and  join  him.  The  lat 
ter  vessel,  in  this  short  period,  had  lost  fif 
teen  killed  and  wounded,  and  was  very 
much  cut  up.  Phelps  concluded  it  would 
be  best  to  wait  till  night  before  trying  to 
run  the  batteries.  Some  may  think  he 
should  have  followed  the  flag -ship  im 
mediately,  but  the  Admiral  always  encour 
aged  his  officers  to  think  for  themselves, 
and  had  he  followed,  with  the  river  impeded 
by  the  sunken  "  Champion,"  he  might  have 
entangled  the  vessels  and  lost  all.  Naturally 
thinking  that  the  "  Cricket  "  had  been  de 
stroyed,  Phelps  had  to  take  upon  himself 
the  responsibility  of  commanding  officer. 

Two  iron-clads  had  been  ordered  to  meet 
the  fleet  two  miles  below  Cane  River,  near 
where  the  flotilla  was  attacked,  and  the 
flag-ship  hastened  to  meet  them  and  hurry 
them  to  the  scene  of  action  ;  but  the 
"  Cricket"  soon  ran  hard  and  fast  aground 
within  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns,  but,  for 
tunately,  out  of  their  sight,  and  remained 
in  this  position  for  three  hours.  While 
there  the  vessel  caught  fire  from  the  ex 
plosion  of  a  howitzer  caisson-box,  which 
had  been  struck  by  one  of  the  enemy's 
shells. 

At  dark,  the  "  Cricket  "  fell  in  with  the 
"  Osage."  lying  opposite  one  of  the  enemy's 
field  batteries,  which  she  had  been  shell 
ing  all  day,  and  this,  together  with  being 
under  a  high  point  of  land,  prevented  the 
commanding  officer  from  learning  the  di 
rection  of  the  cannonading.  The  "  Osage" 
was  dispatched  at  once  to  the  scene  of  the 


late  action,  as  she  was  proof  against  field 
artillery. 

The  "  Lexington  "  was  engaging  another 
battery  near  by,  and  had  been  struck  fifteen 
times  in  the  hull  during  the  day,  with  only 
one  man  killed.  She  was  too  large  to  go  up 
the  river  to  the  enemy's  batteries,  so  taking 
one  or  two  officers  from  her,  including  a 
surgeon  and  some  firemen,  the  "Cricket" 
proceeded  under  her  convoy  to  Alexandria 
to  bury  the  dead  and  care  for  the  wounded. 
The  Confederates,  it  was  thought,  would 
have  batteries  all  along  the  river,  and  the 
''Cricket,'*  with  so  few  men  and  only  one 
gun  not  disabled,  was  in  no  condition  for 
service. 

The  "Osage."  in  her  anxiety  to  reach  the 
Confederate  battery,  had  run  ashore  four 
miles  below  it.  when  the  "  Fort  Hindman" 
and  the  "Juliet"  appeared,  coming  down 
the  river,  having  left  the  two  Champions 
sunk.  Had  the  iron-clad  arrived  in  time 
she  would  have  been  of  great  service,  but 
as  it  was,  the  passage  from  Grand  Ecore 
down  could  not  be  called  a  success. 

The  Admiral  left  behind  him  one  iron-clad 
and  two  pump-boats  ;  but  had  the  satisfac 
tion  of  knowing  that  none  of  the  trans 
ports  had  been  left  in  the  lurch,  although 
ample  excuse  had  been  afforded  to  do  so. 

Throughout  the  expedition  there  had  been 
no  instance  where  the  Navy  held  back  when 
called  upon  to  support  the  Army  and  its 
transports,  and,  remarkable  as  it  may  ap 
pear,  not  a  transport  was  lost,  nor  any  of 
their  stores,  during  an  expedition  of  300 
miles  up  the  river  and  return,  although  it 
required  the  most  strenuous  exertions  of 
the  Navy  to  keep  them  in  place  and  pre 
vent  their  masters,  some  of  them  Confed 
erate  sympathizers,  from  placing  their  ves 
sels  where  they  would  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy. 

The  Admiral  certainly  was  under  no  obli 
gations  to  the  Army  for  his  escape  down  the 
river,  where,  after  the  retreat  of  the  latter, 
every  man  and  gun  the  Confederates  could 
utilize  were  brought  to  the  banks  to  try 
and  capture  a  poor  little  squadron  of  "  tin- 
clads  "  with  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
naval  forces  on  board. 

Had  Banks  been  surrounded  by  a  superior 
force,  the  Navy  would  never  have  run  away 
and  left  him ;  but  would  have  expended 
every  vessel,  if  necessary,  rather  than  have 
a  reverse  befall  him. 

It  never  seemed  to  strike  any  one  in  the 
Army  that  the  Navy  was  of  the  slightest 
consequence  beyond  the  service  it  could 
perform  for  them.  The  loss  of  the  "  East- 
port"  was  considered  of  no  more  import 
ance  than  the  loss  of  some  quartermas 
ter's  transport,  which  were  frequently  run 
aground  and  deserted  during  the  war, 
with  full  cargoes  on  board ;  accidents  which 


524 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


never  happened  when  they  had  the  little 
"  tin-clad"  gun-boats  of  the  Navy — vessels 
as  vulnerable  as  themselves,  but  much  bet 
ter  commanded — to  convoy  them. 

When  the  flag-ship  arrived  at  Alexandria, 
the  squadron  of  naval  vessels,  fourteen  in 
number,  was  found  above  the  "  Falls."  with 
the  rocks  below  them  for  a  mile  quite  bare, 
with  the  exception  of  a  channel  twenty 
feet  wide  and  about  three  feet  deep.  Taking 
the  chances,  the  pilot  managed  to  get 
through  this  channel  with  the  "Cricket," 
after  considerable  thumping,  and  passed 
the  "Falls." 

Except  from  that  warm-hearted  soldier, 
A.  J.  Smith,  the  Navy  received  few  congrat 
ulations  for  their  successful  escape  down  the 
river.  With  this  officer  the  Admiral  con 
ferred  seriously  in  relation  to  the  condition 
of  affairs.  Smith  was  very  bitter  against 
Banks  for  retreating  in  the  manner  he  did, 
and  again  broached  the  idea  that  Franklin 
should  take  command  of  the  Army. 

The  Admiral  did  all  he  could  to  pacify  the 
General,  and  recommended  perfect  subordi 
nation,  telling  him  that  nothing  would 
please  General  Banks  better  than  to  place 
him  under  arrest,  notwithstanding  all  the 
services  he  had  rendered.  General  Smith 
could  not  bear  to  rest  under  the  stigma 
of  defeat,  although  everybody  knew  that 
he  and  his  brave  division  had  never  been 
beaten  at  any  time  during  the  expedi 
tion. 

General  Banks  had  moved  into  comfort 
able  headquarters,  and  the  several  army 
corps  had  encamped  near  the  town.  Gen 


eral  McClernand  had  taken  command  of  the 
13th  corps,  and  was  posted  on  a  road  lead 
ing  to  Fort  De  Russy,  three  miles  outside 
of  Alexandria,  to  keep  the  Confederates 
from  passing  down  that  way. 

The  Army  was  in  a  state  of  general  dis 
satisfaction  from  various  causes.  General 
A.  J.  Smith,  from  not  being  allowed  to  fol 
low  the  Confederates  to  Shreveport;  Frank 
lin  and  Emory  were  disgusted  at  the  way 
the  expedition  had  been  mismanaged:  while 
Banks,  though  somewhat  subdued,  tried  to 
preserve  his  equanimity. 

General  Smith,  when  allowed,  with  his 
command,  by  General  Sherman,  to  take  part 
in  this  expedition,  was  ordered  to  return  to 
the  latter  in  thirty  days,  at  the  expiration 
of  which  time  Banks  promised  to  be  in 
Shreveport;  but.  when  the  time  had  elapsed, 
Banks  protested  against  Smith's  leaving,  on 
the  ground  that  the  safety  of  the  Army  de 
pended  on  his  remaining,  as  the  Army  could 
not  move  until  the  naval  vessels  had  passed 
the  "  Falls  "  at  Alexandria. 

The  squadron  was  now  in  a  very  bad 
position  above  the  "  Falls,"  as  there  seemed 
little  chance  of  getting  down  until  the  river 
should  rise  some  fourteen  feet,  and  the  safety 
of  the  vessels  depended  very  much  on  the 
Army  continuing  at  Alexandria.  The  lat 
ter  was  now  in  a  country  with  good  roads, 
and  with  the  topography  of  which  they  were 
familiar,  and  could  make  their  way  back  to 
the  Mississippi  without  danger  from  the 
Confederates,  who  had  only  12.000  men 
available  in  that  region,  although  expect 
ing  reinforcements. 


CHAPTER     XLII 


RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION.— CONTINUED. 


BUILDING  OF  THE  FAMOUS  RED  RIVER  DAM  AT  THE  FALLS.— DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME 
BY  COLONEL  BAILEY. — COMMUNICATIONS  BETWEEN  GENERAL  BANKS  AND  ADMIRAL 
PORTER.— GENERAL  MCCLERNAND  ATTACKED  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES. — THE  "RAGGED 
GUERILLAS"  ARE  UNEXPECTEDLY  PROVIDED  WITH  NEW  OUTFITS.— COTTON  STEAM 
ERS  ATTACKED  AND  DISABLED.  —  ADMIRAL  PORTER'S  REPORT  ON  THE  BUILDING  OF 
THE  DAM. — THE  FLEET  PASSES  THE  FALLS. — NAMES  OF  OFFICERS  AND  REGIMENTS 
ENGAGED  IN  BUILDING  THE  DAM. —  BURNING  OF  ALEXANDRIA. —THE  END  OF  THE 
RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION.  —  CAUSE  OF  FAILURE.  —  RESULTS.  —  CORRESPONDENCE  BE 
TWEEN  GENERALS  SHERMAN.  BANKS,  HALLECK,  GRANT  AND  OTHERS.  —  DISPATCHES 
AND  ORDERS. — REVIEW  OF  THE  OPERATIONS  OF  THE  NAVY. — GENERAL  BANKS'  STORY 
OF  THE  EXPEDITION. — LETTER  OF  GENERAL  KILBY  SMITH. — EXTRACT  FROM  REPORTS 
BY  CAPTAIN*  BURNS,  ACTING  -  ASSISTANT  ADJUTANT -GENERAL.  —  THE  CONFEDERATE 
VIEW  OF  THE  SITUATION.  —  EXTRACT  FROM  GENERAL  BANKS'  REPORT. — RECAPITU- 


GENERAL    FRANKLIN    had   men 
tioned  to  Admiral  Porter  at  Grand 
Ecore,  on  his  stating  that  the  naval 
vessels  could  not  pass  the  "Falls" 
at    the  then   stage  of  water,  that 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey  had  suggested  a 
plan  of  raising  the  water  above  the  Falls  by 
building  wing-dams.      Colonel   Bailey  had 
had   great    experience    in    lumbering,    and 
had  frequently  resorted  to  this  method  to 
raft  timber  in  shallow  rivers. 

The  Admiral  paid  little  attention  to  this 
suggestion  at  the  time,  and  expressed  his 
doubts  of  the  practicability  of  getting  large 
vessels  down  in  that  way.  When  he  met 
General  Franklin  again  in  Alexandria,  he 
recurred  to  this  proposal  of  Bailey's,  and 
Franklin  was  so  satisfied  with  the  feasibility 
of  the  scheme  that  the  Admiral  asked  him 
to  send  Colonel  Bailey  to  him  at  once,  and 
the  latter  soon  appeared,  in  company  with 
Colonel  James  Grant  Wilson.  The  Admi 
ral  was  so  impressed  with  Bailey's  plans 
that  he  agreed  with  him  that  they  ought 
to  be  tried,  and  he  was  surprised  in  reading 
General  Franklin's  evidence  before  the  Com 
mittee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War,  where 
lie  states  as  follows: 

"  When  we  returned  to  Grand  Ecore,  I  sent  Colonel 
Bailey  to  Admiral  Porter,  so  that  he  might  present 


his  plan  to  the  Admiral ;  but  it  was  looked  upon 
with  derision  as  a  foolish  thing.  I  was,  however, 
convinced  that  Colonel  Bailey  knew  his  business 
very  well,  and  sent  him  to  Admiral  Porter  again; 
and,  after  he  got  down  to  Alexandria,  I  sent  him 
two  or  three  times.  Finally,  I  sent  him  to  General 
Banks,  to  try  and  impress  upon  the  General  the 
necessity  for  giving  the  orders  for  details  of  men  to 
build  the  dam. 

"General  Hunter  was  there  at  the  time,  and  he 
told  General  Banks  that  he  thought,  as  I  had  rec 
ommended  the  thing,  he  ought  to  try  it ;  and  it  was 
tried.  I  have  the  report  of  Colonel  Bailey  to  my 
adjutant-general,  which  gives  all  these  facts,  as  I 
have  stated  them  here." 

General  Franklin's  memory  was  certainly 
treacherous  here,  for  the  statement  above 
quoted  is  incorrect  in  several  particulars. 
The  Admiral  was  only  too  glad  to  grasp  at 
any  plan  likely  to  extricate  his  vessels  from 
their  unfortunate  predicament ;  and  this 
will  appear  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey's 
report. 

There  was  no  objection  on  the  part  of  the 
Admiral  to  anything,  but  he  had  no  power 
to  build  a  dam  which  would  require  half 
the  army  to  perform  the  work.  General 
Banks  was  the  man  to  be  consulted,  for  on 
him  depended  the  execution  of  the  work. 

No  doubt,  Franklin  and  Bailey  worked 
assiduously  to  get  every  one  to  think  favor 
ably  of  the*  plan  of  damming  the  river,  and 


(525) 


526 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


the  Admiral  went  in  person  to  General 
Banks,  as  soon  as  he  could  leave  a  sick-bed, 
and  urged  him  to  try  Bailey's  plan.  Not 
much  time  was  lost  in  consultation,  for  the 
order  to  build  the  dam  was  given  by  Gen 
eral  Banks  immediately,  and  the  work  com 
menced  on  the  30th  of  April.  The  Admiral 
arrived  in  Alexandria  on  the  evening  of  the 
27th,  and  conferred  with  Colonel  Bailey 
and  General  Banks  on  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  when  the  order  was  issued. 

Where  all  this  indisposition  to  adopt 
Bailey's  plan  appears,  we  are  at  a  loss  to 
imagine.  In  fact,  we  are  not  aware  that 
any  one  opposed  the  dam  —  if  any  did, 
they  were  persons  whose  opinion  had 
no  "influence.  The  Army  engineers  may 
have  doubted  the  practicability  of  the 
scheme,  never  having  had  experience  in 
that  kind  of  engineering  ;  or  General  Banks 
may  have  said,  "  Wait  till  the  Admiral  ar 
rives."  But  even  those  who  doubted  the 
feasibility  of  the  plan  were  in  favor  of  try 
ing  it,  especially  as  it  had  been  recom 
mended  by  General  Franklin,  an  engineer 
officer. 

It  seems  to  us  that  so  much  effort  to 
show  that  there  was  a  great  opposition  to 
Bailey's  plan,  demonstrates  a  desire  to  en 
hance  the  value  of  the  recommendations  of 
those  who  first  favored  the  idea.  General 
Banks,  from  whom  alone  authority  could 
come  for  the  employment  of  troops  to  build 
the  dam,  entered  into  the  scheme  with 
alacrity  and  pushed  the  work  from  begin 
ning  to  end. 

General  Banks,  in  his  testimony  before 
the  committee,  said  :  "But  Admiral  Porter 
did  not  seem  to  think  much  of  the  plan,  as 
he  expressed  it  in  his  way — if  damning 
would  get  the  fleet  off.  he  would  have  been 
afloat  long  before" — but  Banks  could  not 
understand  a  joke. 

Colonel  Bailey,  in  his  report,  says:  "Ad 
miral  Porter  furnished  a  detail  from  his 
ships'  crews  under  command  of  an  excel 
lent  officer,  Captain  Langthorne,  of  the 
"Mound  City."  All  his  officers  and  men 
were  constantly  present,  and  to  their  extra 
ordinary  exertions,  and  to  the  well-known 
energy  and  ability  of  the  Admiral,  much  of 
the  success  of  the  undertaking  was  due." 

A  great  mass  of  testimony  was  taken  by 
the  "Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
War"  in  relation  to  the  building  of  the  dam, 
and  an  attempt  was  made  to  cast  odium 
upon  the  Navy  in  order  to  divert  attention 
from  the  real  subject  at  issue — Banks'  re 
treat — but  the  attempt  was  a  failure. 

Every  man  in  the  fleet  was  engaged  in 
the  operations  connected  with  the  construc 
tion  of  the  dam.  conveying  stone  in  boats 
to  weight  the  big  cob-frames  forming  the 
dam,  moving  the  frames  into  position — a 
tedious  and  dangerous  duty — and  floating 


down  the  logs  which  were  cut  and  hauled 
by  the  soldiers  to  the  river  banks.  Many 
boats  had  to  be  kept  lying  on  their  oars 
day  and  night  ready  with  hawsers,  and 
at  least  three  thousand  soldiers  were  con 
stantly  working  up  to  their  necks  in  water. 

While  this  was  going  on,  all  the  forges  in 
the  fleet  were  employed  in  making  long  iron 
bolts  to  bind  the  dam  together.  Getting 
the  iron  off  the  sides  of  the  vessels  to  lighten 
them — a  most  harassing  and  difficult  job — 
employed  many  men.  In  addition,  all  the 
heaviest  guns  had  to  be  taken  on  shore. 

Thus,  while  the  dam  was  under  construc 
tion,  the  sailors  worked  night  and  day;  and 
every  four  hours  a  report  of  progress  was 
made  to  the  Admiral  But  General  Banks,  in 
his  evidence  before  the  Committee,  says, 
when  the  right  wing  of  the  dam  broke  away, 
"  I  immediately  rode  up  to  the  fleet  to  see  if 
they  were  prepared  to  move  by  daylight  in 
the  morning.  It  was  a  couple  of  miles 
above  the  dam.  When  I  got  there,  there 
was  not  a  light  to  be  seen,  not  a  man  was 
stirring, not  a  ship  had  been  lightened"  [!]. 
(Army  gun-wheels  had  already  taken  the 
guns  to  the  levee  in  Alexandria,  and  army 
wagons  had  removed  all  stores  and  ammu 
nition,  and  the  iron-dads  had  thrown  their 
iron  plating  into  deep  water  up  river).  "  I 
could  not  arouse  anybody  there.  I  went 
down  to  my  headquarters,  and  wrote  a 
letter  to  Admiral  Porter"  [No  such  letter 
was  ever  received,  if  it  was  written],  "stat 
ing  my  belief  that  it  was  not  possible  for 
the  dam  to  stand,  and,  if  it  was  carried 
away,  it  did  not  seem  as  if  we  could  re 
place  it "  [How  did  the  General  expect  the 
vessels  to  get  through,  unless  part  of  the 
dam  was  removed  ?];  "that  I  had  been  up 
to  see  his  fleet,  and  found  every  one  asleep, 
and  I  feared  they  would  not  be  ready  to 
move  by  morning.  This  letter  was  deliv 
ered  to  him  (the  Admiral)  by  Colonel  Wil 
son,  at  1  o'clock  (A.  M.)  that  night.  Admi 
ral  Porter  said  he  would  attend  to  it,"  etc., 
etc.  Further  along,  General  Banks  says  : 
"  I  went  to  the  dam  next  morning,  at  7 
o'clock,  just  in  time  to  see  the  dam  swept 
away.  The  gun-boats  were  just  then  mov 
ing,  and  it  would  have  taken  them  all  day 
to  move  down.  We  thought  the  game  was 
up,  but  officers  and  men  were  ready  to  re 
commence  the  work,  and  suggested  other 
plans,  which  had  been  talked  of  before. " 

The  fact  is,  what  Colonel  Bailey  expected 
came  to  pass.  The  three  large  barges,  loaded 
with  cotton  and  iron,  swung  around  and 
made  an  opening  or  gate  in  the  dam  fifty 
feet  wide,  just  sufficient  for  the  passage  of 
the  vessels.  The  barges  swung  against  the 
rocks,  and  afforded  a  good  cushion  for  the 
vessels  to  strike  on  as  they  passed  down. 
The  opening  did  not  diminish  the  depth  of 
water  above  the  dam,  and  the  three  vessels 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


527 


that  had  found  water  enough  to  pass  the 
upper  "Falls"  had  gone  through  the  gap  in 
the  dam,  under  full  head  of  steam,  almost 
directly  after  it  opened.  The  other  vessels 
had  not  water  enough  to  pass  the  upper 
"*  Falls,"  and  had  to  wait  until  it  was  fur 
nished  them. 

The  Admiral  was  on  the  spot  before 
General  Banks  was,  and  had  given  the 
necessary  directions  for  the  vessels  to  pass 
through.  Having  critically  examined  the 
'"Falls."  he  saw  that  the  break  in  the  dam 
was  rather  an  advantage  than  a  mishap. 
Colonel  Bailey  was  not  at  all  dismayed,  but 
coolly  went  to  work  building  wing-dams 
above  the  upper  Falls,  which  he  intended  to 
do  anyway,  so  that  all  the  vessels  passed 
•.down  in  safety.  While  the  wing-dams 
were  in  process  of  construction,  everything 
that  could  be  taken  from  the  vessels  to 
lighten  them,  and  had  not  previously  been 
removed,  was  hauled  around  the  Falls  by 
army  teams,  and  not  a  moment  was  lost  that 
could  be  avoided. 

But  General  Banks,  when  he  saw  the  break 
in  the  dam,  thought,  to  use  his  own  ex 
pression — "the  game  was  up" — ;and  com- 
imgnced  writing  the  Admiral  letters,  inform 
ing  him  of  what  the  latter  had  rather  an 
ticipated,  viz. :  that  Banks  would  have  to 
leave  him,  etc.,  etc.  However,  as  General 
A.  J.  Smith  had  promised  to  stand  by  the 
Navy  to  the  last,  the  Admiral  did  not  care 
much  whether  Banks  went  or  stayed,  so 
long  as  he  could  retain  Bailey  and  A.  J. 
Smith.  He  had  no  apprehension  of  not  get 
ting  through;  for,  with  Smith's  division  and 
the  gun-boats,  the  Navy  could  have  held  this 
position  against  all  the  Confederate  forces 
at  that  time  on  Red  River. 

The  Admiral  got  very  tired  of  General 
Banks'  letters.  He  at  first  tried  to  soothe 
him,  but  at  length  sent  him  the  following 
communication,  which  put  an  end  to  the  cor 
respondence: 

MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON, 
FLAG-SHIP  "CRICKET," 
OFF  ALEXANDRIA,  May  llth,  1864. 

Major-General  2V.  P.  Banks,  Commanding  Depart 
ment  of  the  Gulf,  Alexandria,  La. : 

GENERAL — Colonel  Wilson  called  to  see  me  this 
morning,  and  seemed  to  think  the  Navy  were  relax 
ing  their  exertions  above.  There  is  really  nothing 
that  can  be  done  to  the  "Carondelet"  until  the 
water  rises.  The  channel  in  which  she  lies  is  a  cut 
channel  in  the  shape  of  an  Si  and  when  the  bottom 
of  a  vessel  is  wedged  in  it  there  is  no  use  in  attempt 
ing  to  haul  her  through;  only  water  can  help  us, 
and  we  want  but  one  foot  of  that  to  get  every  ves 
sel  through.  It  would  be  paying  a  very  poor  com 
pliment  to  Colonel  Bailey  to  suppose  him  incapable 
of  supplying  the  desired  quantity  in  one  or  two 
days.  I  am  as  anxious  as  yourself  to  see  the  vessels 
all  through,  and,  though  I  have  every  confidence  in 
the  zeal  and  ability  of  the  officers  in  command,  I 
would  give  all  my  personal  attention  up  there,  but 
am  laid  up  with  a  complaint  that  perfectly  pros 
trates  me  when  I  ride  on  horsebacK.  or  move  about; 


still,  I  know  every  hour  what  is  going  on,  and  give 
directions  accordingly. 

Don't  suppose  because  the  vessels  seem  quiet  that 
nothing  is  being  done;  everything  is  being  done  that 
can  be.  I  hope  you  will  look  this  matter  patiently 
in  the  face.  I  am  sure  that  Colonel  Bailey  will  have 
every  vessel  through  in  two  days;  and,  though  you 
are  pressed  for  forage,  two  days  will  really  amount 
to  nothing,  and  any  loss  we  might  sustain  in  horses 
up  to  that  time  would  be  nothing  in  comparison  to 
the  loss  of  one  of  those  vessels. 

If  we  have  met  with  reverses  above,  the  rescue  of 
this  fleet  from  its  peculiar  position  will  redeem  the 
past.  You  must  have  seen  the  tendency  of  the 
Northern  press  to  cavil  at  our  movement  out  here, 
and  they  cannot  help  but  admit,  if  we  succeed, 
that  amidst  our  troubles  the  best  piece  of  engi 
neering  ever  performed  in  the  same  space  of  time 
has  been  accomplished  under  difficulties  the  rebels 
deemed  insurmountable.  Now,  General,  I  really 
see  nothing  that  should  make  us  despond;  you  have 
a  fine  army,  and  I  shall  have  a  strong  fleet  of  gun 
boats  to  drive  away  an  inferior  force  in  our  front. 
We  can,  by  making  a  united  effort,  open  the  river 
when  we  please.  I  feel  that  the  country  is  so  abun 
dant  with  grass  and  clover  just  now,  that  there  can 
be  no  real  danger  to  the  stock. 

I  feel  that  you  are  extremely  anxious  to  move,  so 
am  I  to  get  the  boats  down,  and  I  am  sure  you  will 
agree  [with]  me  when  I  say  that  there  would  be 
tremendous  excitement  throughout  the  country  if 
the  vessels  are  not  all  brought  over,  which  will  cer 
tainly  be  done  with  eight  inches  more  of  water, 
which,  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  getting. 

The  water  is  rising  in  the  river  below  the  back 
water  from  the  Mississippi,  which  extends  now  to 
this  place,  the  water  rising  here. 

I  hope,  sir,  you  will  not  let  anything  divert  you 
from  the  attempt  to  get  these  vessels  all  through 
safely,  even  if  we  have  to  stay  here  and  eat  mules' 
meat.  There  are  some  here  who  would  not  care  if 
gun-boats,  horses,  and  everything  are  left  behind, 
as  long  as  they  could  get  away;  but,  as  they  have 
none  of  the  responsibilities  resting  on  your  shoul 
ders  and  on  mine,  I  hope  they  may  not  meet  with 
any  attention. 

I  feel  that  we  are  doing  a  splendid  thing,  and  I 
want  to  see  it  carried  through  without  an  accident 
to  a  single  vessel.  Please  excuse  my  long  dispatch. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 
Rear- A  d  in  iral. 

General  Banks  had  become  considerably 
demoralized  on  account  of  the  Confederates 
having  gained  a  position  on  Red  River,  at 
Dunn's  Bayou,  thirty  miles  below  Alexan 
dria,  and  he  believed  the  report  that  they 
were  preparing  to  hold  this  strong  posi 
tion  with  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  men. 
The  position  was  really  strong  only  against 
light-armed  vessels,  but  was  easily  turned  ; 
and  the  proof  of  this  is  that  the  enemy 
evacuated  the  place  as  soon  as  the  large 
gun-boats  passed  the  '*'  Falls." 

It  was,  indeed,  a  great  blunder  to  allow 
the  enemy  to  get  between  the  army  and 
the  Mississippi ;  but  for  this  Banks  was  not 
to  blame.  He  had  assigned  General  Mc- 
Clernand,  with  the  whole  of  his  army  corps, 
to  guard  the  main  road  three  miles  in 
the  rear  of  Alexandria,  with  the  under 
standing  that  no  enemy  was  to  be  allowed 
to  pass,  under  any  circumstances  ;  but  Gen 
eral  McClernand  had  joined  the  Army  un- 


528 


THE  KA  VAL  HISTORY 


der  a  cloud,  was  in  a  very  unamiable  mood, 
and  did  not  seem  to  care  whether  the 
Army  and  Navy  got  out  of  their  difficulties 
or  not. 

The  enemy,  on  the  28th  of  April,  attacked 
McClernand';s  position  with  6,000  men,  tak 
ing  him  completely  by  surprise,  and  creat 
ing  a  temporary  panic  in  his  camp.  During 
the  confusion  they  set  fire  to  the  forage 
and  clothing,  and  passed  down  the  road 
with  some  twenty  pieces  of  artillery,  hid 
den  by  the  smoke,  which  was  their  object 
in  making  the  attack. 

At  this  time  the  Admiral  was  at  General 
A.  J.  Smith's  camp,  about  two  miles  from 
that  of  McClernand.  Smith  immediately 
ordered  his  men  under  arms,  and  they  rode 
together  to  the  scene  of  action,  where  every 
thing  seemed  in  dire  confusion.  Smith 
posted  his  men  to  the  best  advantage  in  ad 
vance  of  the  13th  corps;  and  they  remained 
under  arms  until  daylight  next  morning, 
without  hearing  any  more  from  the  Con 
federates,  who  had  accomplished  all  they 
wanted,  viz. :  to  pass  below  Alexandria  to 
Dunn's  Bayou,  and  fortify  that  position 
strongly  with  field  artillery. 

General  McClernand,  not  satisfied  with 
the  havoc  committed  by  the  enemy,  ordered 
his  men  to  set  fire  to  a  quantity  of  sutlers' 
goods  and  forage,  which  latter  was  ex 
tremely  scarce ;  and  it  would  all  have 
been  destroyed  if  General  A.  J.  Smith 
had  not  taken  charge  and  extinguished  the 
fire. 

Smith's  soldiers  were  not  in  as  good  trim 
as  many  others,  and  the  title  "ragged 
guerillas  "  given  them  by  Banks  —  which 
soubriquet  pleased  them  so  much  that  they 
adopted  it--might,  to  the  casual  observer, 
seem  appropriate.  After  putting  out  the  fire, 
however,  they  marched  back  to  camp  com 
pletely  dressed  in  new  uniforms,  leaving 
their  old  ones  to  McClernand's  chief  quarter 
master,  so  as  to  make  his  accounts  all  square. 
When  McClernand  insisted  on  A.  J.  Smith's 
giving  up  the  clothing,  that  old  veteran, 
who,  from  long  association  with  the  Navy, 
was  familiar  with  the  prize  laws,  de 
clined  to  do  so,  as  his  men  had  recaptured 
them  from  the  enemy,  and  held  them  ac 
cording  to  the  laws  of  war ;  so  General 
McClernand  never  recovered  an  article 
that  "the  ragged  guerillas  "  had  appro 
priated. 

McClernand  allowed  his  pickets  to  be 
driven  in,  and  was  unprepared  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  turning  his  position.  He 
seems  to  have  made  no  use  of  his  cavalry 
to  acquaint  him  with  the  enemy's  advance. 
In  short,  McClernand  was  inert,  and,  do 
what  you  might  with  him,  you  could  not 
make  a  military  man. 

We  will  do  General  Banks  the  justice  to 
say  that  he  did  all  that  a  man  could  do  to 


extricate  the  gun-boats  from  their  difficul 
ties,  and,  although  he  differed  with  the  Ad 
miral  on  some  matters,  there  was  none  in 
this  respect.  Other  things  occurred  about 
this  time  to  disturb  General  Banks.  Cotton 
had  been  hauled  into  Alexandria  by  army 
teams,  to  the  amount  of  some  20,000  bales, 
and  it  was  desirable  that  a  portion  of  it  at 
least  should  reach  Ne\v  Orleans.  Whether 
this  was  on  account  of  the  U.  S.  Govern 
ment,  or  was  the  property  of  speculators, 
does  not  appear. 

A  large  steamer,  the  "Warner,"  was 
filled  with  cotton  at  Alexandria  and  dis 
patched  with  400  soldiers  on  board  to  New 
Orleans.  The  Admiral  was  asked  for  a 
convoy  and  sent  the  two  best  gun-boats 
he  could  spare  that  were  below  the  "  Falls," 
the  "Signal"  and  "Covington." 

On  the  4th  of  May  all  three  vessels  started 
down  the  river,  with  little  thought  of  much 
opposition.  While  passing  a  plantation, 
the  "  Warner  "  was  fired  into  by  a  company 
of  infantry,  and  one  man  on  board  of  her 
was  killed.  .  Being  well  protected  by  cotton 
bales,  infantry  fire  was  not  much  dreaded. 
The  fire  of  the  "Covington"  soon  drove 
off  the  Confederates  ;  but  this  was  only  an 
earnest  of  what  was  to  follow. 

Next  morning,  on  arriving  at  Dunn's 
Bayou,  the  "  Warner"  in  advance,  and  the 
two  "tin-clad"  gun-boats  bringing  up  the 
rear,  the  former  vessel  was  attacked  by  a 
battery,  supported  by  a  large  force  of  infan 
try.  The  "Warner's"  rudder  became  dis 
abled,  causing  her  to  run  into  the  bank,  when 
another  battery  and  some  six  thousand  in 
fantry  opened  on  the  vessel,  completely  rid 
dling  her.  The  "  Signal "  and  "  Covington  " 
opened  their  batteries;  but  the  enemy  were 
in  too  strong  force  to  contend  against,  and 
the  three  vessels  were  soon  cut  to  pieces 
with  a  terrible  cross-fire  of  artillery  and  in 
fantry.  Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant  G.  P. 
Lord,  the  officer  in  command,  tried  to  burn 
the  "Warner"  to  prevent  her  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy ;  but,  when  in 
formed  by  the  colonel  commanding  the  sol 
diers  that  there  were  125  killed  and  wounded 
on  the  decks,  Lord  gave  up  the  idea;  and 
his  own  vessel,  the  "Covington,"  being  en 
tirely  disabled,  he  shortly  afterwards  re 
moved  the  dead  and  wounded  to  shore  un 
der  a  heavy  fire,  destroyed  the  ship  by  set 
ting  fire  to  her,  and,  with  the  remnant  of 
his  gallant  crew,  escaped  to  the  woods  on 
the  side  opposite  the  enemy.  Out  of  14  offi 
cers  and  02  men,  Lieutenant  Lord  could 
only  assemble  9  officers  and  23.  men,  some 
of  whom  were  killed  in  trying  to  escape  up 
the  bank. 

The  "  Signal"  being  too  much  disabled  to 
reach  the  bank,  in  order  to  get  the  wounded 
ashore,  the  commanding  officer  was  obliged 
to  surrender.  The  "Warner"  was  sacked 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR, 


529 


and  burned  by  the  enemy,  and  the  "Signal," 
after  her  guns  and  ammunition  had  been 
removed,  was  sunk  across  the  channel  to 
obstruct  it. 

The  brave  men  in  these  vessels,  only 
musket-proof,  defended  them  four  or  five 
hours,  and  many  of  the  actions  heralded  to 
the  world  during  the  late  war  were  much 
less  worthy  of  notice  than  this  contest  be 
tween  two  little  gun-boats  and  twenty 
pieces  of  artillery,  most  of  which  had  been 
captured  from  Banks'  army  above  Pleasant 
Hill.  The  attacking  party  of  Confederates 
was  the  one  that  had  pushed  past  Gen 
eral  McClernand's  corps  with  artillery,  to 
mount  it  at  Dunn's  Bayou,  on  the  river. 
They  succeeded  perfectly ;  and.  selecting 
three  commanding  points,  they  were  ready 
for  any  transports  or  light  gun-boats  that 
might  come  along.  These  light-draft  gun 
boats,  be  it  remembered,  were  only  the  small 
stern-wheel  steamboats  of  the  Mississippi, 
their  sides  built  up  with  light  plank  and 
covered  with  quarter-inch  iron. 

No  attempt  to  follow  the  Confederates 
was  made  when  they  pushed  on  past  Mc 
Clernand's  corps,  although  a  child  might 
have  known  where  they  were  bound ;  but 
every  preparation  was  made  to  repel  an  at 
tack  on  Alexandria,  which  the  Confeder 
ates  had  not  the  slightest  idea  of  making. 
They  were  not  foolish  enough  to  attack 
3G.OOO  men,  advantageously  posted  and 
supplied  with  a  large  quantity  of  artillery, 
when  they  had  afar  inferior  force.  General 
Banks  should  have  seized  and  fortified  the 
important  points  along  the  river,  which, 
with  the  assistance  of  even  the  light-draft 
vessels  of  the  Navy,  could  have  been  held 
against  all  the  force  the  enemy  had  in  that 
region. 

The  two  commanders -in -chief  had  but 
little  personal  intercourse — a  state  of  affairs 
which  was  not  conducive  to  the  perfect  un 
derstanding  which  should  subsist  between 
the  Army  and  Navy  in  a  co-operative  ex 
pedition.  This  want  of  harmony  was  not  the 
Admiral's  fault.  He  lay  five  days  sick  and 
unable  to  leave  his  bed,  during  which  time 
Banks  went  to  see  him  but  once,  and  then 
in  company  with  General  David  Hunter. 
His  errand  was  to  ascertain  "  which  of 
your  vessels  can  you  best  afford  to  de 
stroy — for  I  must  march — if  there  is  any 
chance  that  any  of  them  will  delay  us  ?  " 
The  Admiral  was  in  pain  and  not  in  the  best 
of  humor,  and  replied:  "I  will  destroy 
none  of  them,  and  if  you  choose  to  march 
you  may  do  so,  for  General  A.  J.  Smith 
has  promised  to  stand  by  me  until  we  are 
over  the  'Falls,'  after  which  I  will  take  care 
of  Smith."  No  more  was  heard  of  General 
Banks'  marching  for  another  day  or  two. 

But  to  return  to  the  dam.  This  had,  in 
common  parlance,  "carried  away,"  but  in 

34 


reality  had  made  a  natural  and  safe  opening 
for  the  passage  of  the  fleet.  Not  to  make 
the  narrative  too  tedious,  we  here  insert 
Admiral  Porter's  report  of  the  building  of 
the  dam,  etc.,  and  it  will  show  the  credit 
given  to  every  one  engaged.  We  are  sure  a 
comparison  of  this  report  with  the  published 
evidence  of  General  Banks  will  convince 
any  one  of  the  Admiral's  impartiality: 

PASSAGE  OF  THE  FALLS  BY  THE  FLEET. — REPORT 
OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER. 
FLAG-SHIP  "BLACK  HAWK,"  ) 

MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON 
MOUTH  OF  RED  RIVER,  May  16,  1864.  ) 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the 
vessels  lately  caught  by  low  water  above  the  Falls  at 
Alexandria  have  been  released  from  their  unpleas 
ant  position.  The  water  had  fallen  so  low  that  I 
had  no  hope  or  expectation  of  getting  the  vessels 
out  this  season,  and  as  the  army  had  made  arrange 
ments  to  evacuate  the  country,  I  saw  nothing  be 
fore  me  but  the  destruction  of  the  best  part  of  the 
Mississippi  squadron. 

There  seems  to  have  been  an  especial  Providence 
looking  out  for  us  in  providing  a  man  equal  to  the 
emergency.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey,  acting  en 
gineer  of  the  19th  army  corps,  proposed  a  plan  of 
building  a  series  of  dams  across  the  rocks  at  the  Falls, 
and  raising  the  water  high  enough  to  let  the  vessels 
pass  over.  This  proposition  looked  like  madness, 
and  the  best  engineers  ridiculed  it ;  but  Colonel 
Bailey  was  so  sanguine  of  success  that  I  requested 
General  Banks  to  have  it  done,  and  he  entered 
heartily  into  the  work.  Provisions  were  short  and 
forage  was  almost  out,  and  the  daiu  was  promised 
to  be  finished  in  ten  days,  or  the  army  would  have 
to  leave  us.  I  was  doubtful  about  the  time,  but  had 
no  doubt  about  the  ultimate  success,  if  time  would 
only  permit.  General  Banks  placed  at  the  disposal 
of  Colonel  Bailey  all  the  force  he  required,  consist 
ing  of  some  three  thousand  men  and  two  or  three 
hundred  wagons.  All  the  neighboring  steam-mills 
were  torn  down  for  material,  two  or  three  regiments 
of  Maine  men  were  set  to  work  felling  trees,  and  on 
the  second  day  after  my  arrival  in  Alexandria  from 
Grand  Ecore  the  work  had  fairly  begun.  Trees 
were  falling  with  great  rapidity ;  teams  were  mov 
ing  in  all  directions,  bringing  in  brick  and  stone ; 
quarries  were  opened  ;  flatboats  were  built  to  bring 
stone  down  from  above  ;  and  every  man  seemed  to 
be  working  with  a  vigor  I  have  seldom  seen  equalled, 
while  perhaps  not  one  in  fifty  believed  in  the  suc 
cess  of  the  undertaking. 

These  Falls  are  about  a  mile  in  length,  filled  with 
rugged  rocks,  over  which,  at  the  present  stage  of 
water,  it  seemed  to  be  impossible  to  make  a  chan 
nel. 

The  work  was  commenced  by  running  out  from 
the  left  bank  of  the  river  a  tree  dam,  made  of  the 
bodies  of  very  large  trees,  brush,  brick,  and  stone, 
cross-tied  with  other  heavy  timber,  and  strength 
ened  in  every  way  which  ingenuity  could  devise. 
This  was  run  out  about  three  hundred  feet  into  the 
river;  four  large  coal  barges  were  then  filled  with 
brick  and  sunk  at  the  end  of  it.  From  the  right 
bank  of  the  river  cribs  filled  with  stone  were  built 
out  to  meet  the  barges.  All  of  which  was  success 
fully  accomplished,  notwithstanding  there  was  a 
current  running  of  nine  miles  an  hour,  which 
threatened  to  sweep  everything  before  it. 

It  will  take  too  much  time  to  enter  into  the  de 
tails  of  this  truly  wonderful  work.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  the  dam  had  nearly  reached  completion  in 
eight  days'  working  time,  and  the  water  had  risen 
sufficiently  on  the  upper  Falls  to  allow  the  "  Fort 
Hindman,''  "Osage,"  and  "Neosho'"to  get  down 
and  be  ready  to  pass  the  dam.  In  another  day  it 


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THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


531 


would  liave  been  high  enough  to  enable  all  the 
other  vessels  to  pass  the  upper  falls.  Unfortunately, 
on  the  morning  of  the  9th  instant,  the  pressure  of 
water  became  so  great  that  it  swept  away  two  of 
the  stone  barges,  which  swung  in  below  the  dam 
on  one  side.  Seeing  this  unfortunate  accident,  I 
jumped  on  a  horse  and  rode  up  to  where  the  upper 
vessels  were  anchored  and  ordered  the  "Lexington" 
to  pass  the  upper  falls,  if  possible,  and  immediately 
attempt  to  go  through  the  dam.  I  thought  I 
might  be  able  to  save  the  four  vessels  below,  not 
knowing  whether  the  persons  employed  on  the 
work  would  ever  have  the  heart  to  renew  their  en 
terprise. 

The  "  Lexington  "  succeeded  in  getting  over  the 
upper  falls  just  in  time,  the  water  rapidly  falling  as 
she  was  passing  over.  She  then  steered  directly 
for  the  opening  in  the  dam,  through  which  the 
water  was  rushing  so  furiously  that  it  seemed  as  if 
nothing  but  destruction  awaited  her.  Thousands 
of  beating  hearts  looked  on  anxious  for  the  result. 
The  silence  was  so  great  as  the  "Lexington"  ap 
proached  the  dam  that  a  pin  might  almost  be  heard 
to  fall.  She  entered  the  gap  with  a  full  head  of 
si  earn  on,  pitched  down  the  roaring  torrent,  made 
two  or  three  spasmodic  rolls,  hung  for  a  moment  on 
the  rocks  below,  was  then  swept  into  deep  water 
by  the  current, and  rounded-to  safely  into  the  bank. 
Thirty  thousand  voices  rose  in  one  deaf  en  ing  cheer, 
and  universal  joy  seemed  to  pervade  the  face  of 
every  man  present. 

The  "  Neosho"  followed  next;  all  her  hatches  bat 
tened  down,  and  every  precaution  taken  against  ac 
cident.  She  did  not  fare  as  well  as  the  "Lexing 
ton,"  her  pilot  having  become  frightened  as  he 
approached  the  abyss,  and  stopped  her  engine, 
when  1  particularly  ordered  a  full  head  of  strain  to 
be  carried;  the  result  was  that  for  a  moment  her 
hull  disappeared  from  sight  under  the  water.  Every 
one  thought  she  was  lost.  She  rose,  however,  swept 
along  over  the  rocks  with  the  current,  and,  fortu 
nately,  escaped  with  only  one  hole  in  her  bottom, 
which  was  stopped  in  the  course  of  an  hour. 

The  "  Hindman"  and  "Osage"  both  came  through 
beautifully  without  touching  a  thing,  and  I  thought 
if  I  was  only  fortunate  enough  to  get  my  large 
vessels  as  well  over  the  falls,  my  fleet  once  more 
would  do  good  service  on  the  Mississippi. 

The  accident  to  the  dam,  instead  of  disheartening 
Colonel  Bailey,  only  induced  him  to  renew  his  exer 
tions  after  he  had  seen  the  success  of  getting  four 
vessels  through. 

The  noble-hearted  soldiers,  seeing  their  labor  of 
the  last  eight  days  swept  away  in  a  moment,  cheer 
fully  went  to  work  to  repair  damages,  being  confi 
dent  now  that  all  the  gun-boats  would  be  finally 
brought  over.  These  men  had  been  working  for 
eight  days  and  nights  up  to  their  necks  in  water  in 
the  broiling  sun,  cutting  trees  and  wheeling  bricks, 
and  nothing  but  good-humor  prevailed  among  them. 
On  the  whole,  it  was  very  fortunate  the  dam  was 
carried  away,  as  the  two  barges  that  were  swept 
away  from  the  centre  swung  around  against  some 
rock  on  the  left,  and  made  a  fine  cushion  for  the 
vessels,  and  prevented  them,  as  it  afterwards  ap 
peared,  from  running  on  certain  destruction. 

The  force  of  the  water  and  the  current  being  too 
great  to  construct  a  continuous  dainof  six  hundred 
feet  across  the  river  in  so  short  a  time,  Colonel 
Bailey  determined  to  leave  a  gap  of  fifty-five  feet  in 
the  dam,  and  build  a  series  of  wing-dams  on  the  up 
per  falls.  This  was  accomplished  in  three  days' 
time,  and,  on  the  llth  instant,  the  "Mound  City," 
"Carondelet"  and  "Pittsburg"  came  over  the 
upper  falls,  a  good  deal  of  labor  having  been  ex 
pended  in  hauling  them  through,  the  channel  be 
ing  very  crooked,  scarcely  wide  enough  for  them. 
Next  day  the  "  Ozark,"  "  Louisville,"  "Chillicothe," 
and  two  tugs  also  succeeded  in  crossing  the  upper 
falls.  Immediately  afterwards,  the  "  Mound  City," 


"Carondelet, "and  " Pittsburg "  started  in  succes 
sion  to  pass  the  dam,  all  their  hatches  battened 
down,  and  every  precaution  taken  to  prevent  acci 
dent.  The  passage  of  these  vessels  was  a  most 
beautiful  sight,  only  to  be  realized  when  seen.  They 
passed  over  without  an  accident,  except  the  un 
shipping  of  one  or  two  rudders.  This  was  witnessed 
by  all  the  troops,  and  the  vessels  were  heartily 
cheered  when  they  passed  over.  Next  morning  at 
10  o'clock,  the  "  Louisville,''  "  Chillicothe,"  "  Ozark" 
and  two  tugs  passed  over  without  any  accident  ex 
cept  the  loss  of  a  man,  who  was  swept  off  the  deck 
of  one  of  the  tugs.  By  3  o'clock  that  afternoon  the 
vessels  were  all  coaled,  ammunition  replaced,  and 
all  steamed  down  the  river,  with  the  convoy  of 
transports  in  company.  A  good  deal  of  difficulty 
was  anticipated  in  getting  over  the  bars  in  lower 
Red  River;  depth  of  water  reported  only  five  fee'; 
gun-boats  were  drawing  six.  Providentially,  we 
had  a  rise  from  the  back-water  of  the  Mississippi, 
that  river  being  very  high  at  that  time;  the  back 
water  extending  to  Alexandria,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  distant,  enabling  us  to  pass  all  the  bars 
and  obstructions  with  safety. 

Words  are  inadequate  to  express  the  admiration 
I  feel  for  the  abilities  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey. 
This  is,  without  doubt,  the  best  engineering  feat 
ever  performed.  Under  the  best  circumstances,  a 
private  company  would  not  have  completed  this 
work  under  one  year,  and  to  an  ordinary  mind  the 
whole  thing  would  have  appeared  an  utter  impos 
sibility.  Leaving  out  his  abilities  as  an  engineer, 
the  credit  he  has  conferred  upon  the  country,  he 
has  saved  the  Union  a  valuable  fleet,  worth  nearly 
two  million  dollars.  More,  he  has  deprived  the 
enemy  of  a  triumph  which  would  have  emboldened 
them  to  carry  on  this  war  a  year  or  two  longer;  for 
the  intended  departure  of  the  Army  was  a  fixed 
fact,  and  there  was  nothing  left  for  me  to  do  in  case 
that  event  occurred  but  to  destroy  every  part  of  the 
vessels,  so  that  the  rebels  could  make  nothing  of 
them.  The  highest  honors  the  Goverment  can  be 
stow  on  Colonel  Bailey  can  never  repay  him  for 
the  service  he  has  rendered  the  country. 

To  General  Banks,  personally,  I  am  much  in 
debted  for  the  happy  manner  in  which  he  has  for 
warded  this  enterprise,  giving  it  his  whole  attention 
night  and  day,  scarcely  sleeping  while  the  work  was 
going  on,  attending  personally  to  see  that  all  the 
requirements  of  Colonel  Bailey  was  complied  with 
on  the  instant. 

I  do  not  believe  there  ever  was  a  case  where  such 
difficulties  were  overcome  in  such  a  short  space  of 
time,  and  without  any  preparation. 

I  beg  leave  to  mention  the  names  of  some  of  the 
persons  engaged  on  this  work,  as  I  think  that 
credit  should  be  given  to  every  man  employed  on 
it.  I  am  unable  to  give  the  names  of  all,  but  sin 
cerely  trust  that  General  Banks  will  do  full  justice 
to  every  officer  engaged  in  this  undertaking  when 
he  makes  his  report.  I  only  regret  that  time  did 
not  enable  me  to  get  the  names  of  all  concerned. 
The  following  are  the  most  prominent  persons  : 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey,  acting-military  engi 
neer,  19th  army  corps,  in  charge  of  the  work. 

Colonel  James  Grant  Wilson,  of  General  Banks' 
staff. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Pearcall,  assistant. 

Colonel  Dwight,  acting-assistant  inspector-gen 
eral. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  B.  Kinsey,  161st  New  York 
volunteers. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hubbard,  30th  Maine  volun 
teers. 

Major  Sawtelle,  provost  marshal,  and  Lieutenant 
Williamson,  ordnance  officer. 

The  following  were  a  portion  of  the  regiments  em 
ployed  :  29th  Maine,  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Emerson  ;  116th  New  York,  commanded  by 
Colonel  George  M.  Love ;  161st  New  York,  com- 


532 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


naanded  by  Captain  Prentiss  ;  133d  New  York,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Currie. 

The  engineer  regiment  and  officers  of  the  13th 
army  corps  were  also  employed. 

I  feel  that  I  have  done  but  feeble  justice  to  the 
work  or  the  persons  engaged  in  it.  Being  severely 
indisposed,  I  feel  myself  unable  to  go  into  further 
details.  I  trust  some  future  historian  will  treat  this 
matter  as  it  deserves  to  be  treated,  because  it  is  a 
subject  in  which  the  whole  country  should  feel  an 
interest,  and  the  noble  men  who  succeeded  so  ad 
mirably  in  this  arduous  task  should  not  lose  one 
atom  of  credit  so  justly  due  them. 

The  Mississippi  squadron  will  never  forget  the  ob 
ligations  it  is  under  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey, 
acting  military  engineer,  of  the  19th  army  corps. 

Previous  to  passing  the  vessels  over  the  falls,  I 
had  nearly  all  the  guns,  ammunition,  provisions, 
chain-cables,  anchors,  and  everything  that  could 
affect  their  draught,  taken  out  of  them. 

The  commanders  were  indefatigable  in  their  exer 
tions  to  accomplish  the  object  before  them,  and  a 
happier  set  of  men  were  never  seen  than  when  their 
vessels  were  once  more  in  fighting  trim. 

If  this  expedition  has  not  been  so  successful  as 
the  country  hoped  for,  it  has  exhibited  the  in 
domitable  spirit  of  eastern  and  western  men  to 
overcome  obstacles  deemed  by  most  people  insur 
mountable.  It  has  presented  a  new  feature  in  the 
war,  nothing  like  which  has  ever  been  accomplished 
before. 

I  regret  to  inform  you,  among  the  misfortunes  of 
this  expedition,  of  the  loss  of  two  small  light- 
draught  gun-boats— the  "Signal"  and  "Coving- 
ton."  I  sent  them  down  from  Alexandria  to  convoy 
a  quartermaster's  boat,  the  "Warner,''  loaded  with 
cotton  and  some  four  hundred  troops  on  board ;  not 
knowing  that  the  enemy  had  any  artillery  on  the 
river  below  us,  or  anything  more  than  wandering 
gangs  of  guerillas,  armed  with  muskets,  which 
these  vessels  were  competent  to  drive  off.  It  ap 
pears,  however,  that  the  rebels  were  enabled  to 
pass  our  advance  force  at  night  with  six  thousand 
men  and  some  twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery.  With 
these  they  established  a  series  of  batteries  at  a  place 
called  Dunn's  Bayou,  thirty  miles  below  Alexandria 
—a  very  commanding  position.  These  batteries 
were  so  masked  that  they  could  not  be  seen  in  pass 
ing,  even  by  the  closest  observation. 

The  first  notice  the  vessels  received  of  the  battery 
was  a  furious  fire  which  opened  on  the  quartermas 
ter's  boat,  the  "Warner,"  piercing  her  boilers  and 
completely  disabling  her.  At  the  same  time  six 
thousand  infantry  opened  with  musketry,  killing 
and  wounding  half  the  S9ldiers  on  this  vessel.  She 
drifted  in  to  the  opposite  bank,  where  a  number 
managed  to  make  their  escape  in  the  bushes,  though 
many  were  killed  in  attempting  to  do  so. 

The  "Signal"  and  "Covington"  immediately 
rounded -to  and  opened  their  guns  on  the  batteries, 
and  pushed  up,  endeavoring  to  rescue  the  "War 
ner"  from  her  perilous  position.  They  had  how 
ever,  as  much  as  they  could  do  to  take  care  of  them 
selves,  the  cross-fire  of  the  three  batteries  cutting 
them  up  in  a  terrible  manner.  Their  steam-pipes 
were  soon  cut,  and  their  boilers  perforated  with 
shot,  notwithstanding  which  they  fought  the  bat 
teries  for  five  long  hours,  the  vessels  being  cut  all 
to  pieces,  and  many  killed  and  wounded  on  board 

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant  George  P.   Lord 
commanding  the  "Covington,"  having  expended 
all  his  shot,  spiked  his  guns,  set  fire  to  his  vessel 
and  escaped  with  what  was  left  of  his  crew  to  shore' 
and  his  vessel  blew  up. 

The  "Signal,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  Ed- 
w'ard  Morgan,  still  fought  her  guns  for  half-an-hour 
after  the  destruction  of  the  "Covington."  He  found 
t  impossible  to  destroy  his  vessel  by  burning  her 
decks  being  covered  with  wounded,  and  humanity 
forbade  him  sacrificing  the  lives  of  the  noble  fellow's 


who  had  defended  their  vessel  so  gallantly.  He 
gave  permission  to  all  those  who  wished  to  escape 
to  do  so.  Some  of  them  attempted  to  get  off  by 
climbing  up  the  bank.  Many  were  killed  while  do 
ing  so  by  the  murderous  fire  of  the  musketry  poured 
in  from  the  opposite  side.  The  captain  remained 
by  the  vessel  and  was  captured,  if  he  remained  alive, 
but  I  have  no  information  regarding  him.  The  reb 
els  took  the  guns  off  of  her,  and  placed  her  across 
the  channel  as  an  obstruction  sunk  her. 

General  Banks,  on  hearing  the  news,  sent  out 
cavalry  to  hunt  for  the  unfortunate  men,  many  of 
whom  were  picked  up  and  brought  into  Alexandria. 
A  number  escaped  down  river,  and  went  aboard 
some  light-draught  gun-boats  that  were  coming  up 
at  the  time  to  the  scene  of  action,  but  were  driven 
back  by  the  superior  artillery  of  the  enemy. 

I  feel  very  much  for  the  poor  fellows  who  fell  into 
the  rebels'  hands,  as  the  latter  have  been  very  mer 
ciless  to  some  of  the  prisoners  they  have  taken,  and 
committed  outrages  at  which  humanity  shudders. 

The  vessels  will  all  return  to  their  stations  in  a 
few  days,  as  there  is  no  prospect,  under  present 
circumstances,  of  renewing  operations  in  this  part 
of  Louisiana,  the  season  having  passed  for  operat 
ing  with  any  chance  of  success. 

I  am  sorry  to  see  that  the  rebel  guerillas  have  be 
come  quite  troublesome  on  the  Mississippi  since  I 
left,  all  of  which  will  be  rectified  within  the  coming 
week.        I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 


Hon.  GIDEOX  WELLES, 


Rear- Admiral. 


Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  "  Ozark,"  a  large  iron-clad,  was  the 
last  vessel  to  pass  the  dam,  and  it  was 
feared  at  one  time  that  she  would  have  to 
be  abandoned,  for  General  Banks  took  up 
his  line  of  march  the  moment  he  thought 
the  vessels  all  through,  apparently  forget 
ting  that  they  had  still  to  get  their  guns 
and  stores  on  board;  but,  as  General  A.  J. 
Smith  remained  to  bring  up  the  rear,  the 
Navy  was  not  greatly  troubled  by  General 
Banks'  movements. 

For  two  or  three  days  before  the  troops 
and  vessels  left  Alexandria,  tae  army  teams 
had  been  employed  in  hauling  cotton  to  the 
levee,  and  every  army  transport  had  been 
loaded  with  the  staple  to  the  amount  of 
20,000  bales. 

The  13th  and  19th  corps  began  to  move 
on  the  13th  of  May,  the  former  under  Gen 
eral  McClernand,  the  latter  under  General 
Emory;  but  as  the  rear  of  the  advanced 
corps  left  Alexandria,  fire  broke  out  in 
several  parts  of  the  town.  Whether  the 
fire  was  the  work  of  soldiers  or  negroes, 
large  numbers  of  the  latter  being  congre 
gated  here  in  the  hope  of  transportation  out 
of  Red  River  by  the  army,  has  never  been 
clearly  established. 

Just  as  the  fire  broke  out,  an  order  came 
from  General  Banks  to  put  all  the  cotton 
from  the  transports  on  the  levee,  a  diffi 
cult  task;  and  everybody  wondered  why. 
after  taking  so  much  trouble  to  put  the  cot 
ton  on  board,  the  General  should  now  be  so 
anxious  to  get  rid  of  it.  However,  the  cot 
ton  was  thrown  ashore  among  the  burning 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


533 


fragments  that  were  falling  all  around.  The 
town  was  seemingly  in  a  blaze  from  one 
end  to  the  other,  and  the  miserable  inhabit 
ants  crowded  the  river  banks  with  such 
personal  effects  as  they  could  save  from  the 
flames. 

There  was  never  beheld  a  more  heart 
rending  scene,  and  all  felt  indignant  that  it 
should  transpire  under  the  eyes  of  the  Gen 
eral  commanding  an  army,  without  any  ef 
fort  being  made  to  extinguish  the  flames. 
The  army  had  enjoyed  such  hospitality  as 
these  poor  people  could  afford  while  it  occu- 

Eied  their  town,  and  the  inhabitants  were 
^d  with  the  delusive  hope  that  General 
Banks  would  occupy  Alexandria  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  All,  therefore,  who  had 
any  Union  feelings  were  encouraged  to  de 
clare  themselves  and  benefit  by  the  oppor 
tunities  offered  them  to  trade,  and  all  such 
were  now  to  be  left  to  the  tender  mercies  of 
the  Confederates. 

Out  of  the  hundreds  of  negroes  who  had 
been  promised  transportation  for  them 
selves,  their  families  and  their  effects,  very 
few  got  away,  and  the  last  that  was  seen 
of  these  poor  wretches,  they  sat  down  in 
despair  upon  the  river  bank,  where  they  had 
conveyed  their  little  all  to  try  and  escape 
the  conflagration.  The  Admiral  was  the 
last  one  to  leave  Alexandria,  having  re 
mained  to  see  that  nothing  belonging  to  the 
Navy  was  forgotten,  but  he  could  do  nothing 
to  help  these  people.  The  "Cricket"  was 
a  very  small  vessel,  and  could  not  accommo 
date  the  thousandth  part  of  those  who  had 
expected  to  take  passage  in  the  transports. 
The  Navy  was  powerless  to  help  them,  and 
as  the  rear  of  General  A.  J.  Smith's  di 
vision  marched  out  of  Alexandria,  the 
"Cricket"  started  down  the  river  to  join 
the  gun-boats.  For  miles  down  could  be 
seen  the  flames  of  the  "burning  town,  and 
every  now  and  then  a  fresh  outbreak  of 
fire  and  dense  smoke  would  occur,  doubtless 
from  cotton  stored  in  secret  places  igniting. 

Although  it  was  not  known  who  set  fire  to 
the  town,  the  people  were  satisfied  that  it 
could  have  been  extinguished  by  a  detach 
ment  of  soldiers,  but  nothing  was  done  in 
that  direction.  The  Confederates  could 
have  had  no  object  in  destroying  the  place, 
and  the  negroes  had  shown  no  disposition 
to  take  advantage  of  their  former  masters 
and  plunder  or  destroy  their  property.  It 
may  have  been  a  case  of  "  spontaneous  com 
bustion";  but,  however  originating,  the  fact 
that  the  fire  was  not  extinguished  was  dis 
graceful  to  humanity,  and  although  we  can 
not  but  think  the  vindictive  promoters  of  the 
war  deserved  some  of  the  misfortunes  which 
overtook  them,  yet  the  burning  of  Alex 
andria  inflicted  punishment  on  a  people  by 
whom  it  was  totally  undeserved. 

It  is  only  fair  to  General  Banks  to  give 


his  version  of  the  burning  of  Alexandria. 
On  the  28th  of  March,  1805,  nearly  a  year 
after  the  event,  in  a  report,  wherein  he  seeks 
to  justify  himself  for  the  conduct  of  the 
campaign  and  to  throw  the  blame  for  his 
mismanagement  on  others,  he  says: 

"  Rumors  were  circulated  freely  through  the  camp 
at  Alexandria,  that  upon  the  evacuation  of  the  town 
it  would  be  burned.  [We  never  heard  any  such 
rumors.]  To  prevent  this  destruction  of  property, 
part  of  which  belonged  to  loyal  citizens,  General 
Grover,  commanding  the  post,  was  instructed  to 
organize  a  thorough  police,  and  to  provide  for  its 
occupation  by  an  armed  force  until  the  army  had 
marched  to  Simmsport.  The  measures  taken  were 
sufficient  to  prevent  a  conflagration  in  the  manner 
in  which  it  had  been  anticipated;  but  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  evacuation,  while  the  army  was  in  full 
possession  of  the  town,  a  fire  broke  out  in  a  building 
on  the  levee,  which  had  been  occupied  by  refugees 
or  soldiers,  [what  soldiers  ?]  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
make  it  impossible  to  prevent  a  general  conflagra 
tion.  I  saw  the  fire  when  it  was  first  discovered, 
the  ammunition  and  ordnance  transports  and  the 
depot  of  ammunition  on  the  levee  were  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  fire;  the  boats  were  floated  out  into  the 
river  and  the  ammunition  moved  from  the  levee  wi  th 
all  possible  dispatch.  The  troops  labored  with 
alacrity  and  vigor  to  suppress  the  conflagration;  but 
owing  to  a  high  wind  and  the  combustible  material 
of  the  buildings,  it  was  found  impossible  to  limit 
its  progress,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  town 
was  destroyed." 

The  intelligent  reader  will  naturally  won 
der  how  a  town  could  be  destroyed  with 
such  a  small  beginning,  while  so  large  an 
army  remained  near;  but  General  Banks  is 
as  inaccurate  in  regard  to  this  matter  as  in 
many  other  respects  in  his  report. 

After  leaving  Alexandria,  the  advance  of 
the  army  was  commanded  by  General 
Emory,  and  the  rear  was  protected  by  Gen 
eral  A.  J.  Smith. 

The  flag-ship ' '  Cricket "  overtook  the  army 
— which  followed  the  river  road  with  the 
gun-boats  close  by — just  as  they  were  en 
camping  for  the  night.  The  troops  had  not 
been  molested,  except  by  sharp-shooters, 
who  fell  back  on  their  main  body  as  Gen 
eral  Emory  advanced. 

No  more  of  General  Banks  was  seen  by 
the  Navy  until  the  flag-ship  reached  the 
Atchafalaya.  where  the  transports  had  as 
sembled,  under  cover  of  the  gun-boats,  to 
embark  the  army,  an  operation  which  was 
safely  effected  on  the  21st  of  May.  Here, 
again.  Colonel  Bailey's  services  were  called 
into  requisition  to  build  a  bridge  of  trans 
ports,  and  part  of  the  army,  which  had  to 
march  to  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River, 
crossed  in  that  way. 

There  was  some  skirmishing  on  the  way 
down  and  the  gun-boats  now  and  then 
shelled  the  woods  to  drive  away  the  enemy; 
but  the  latter  continually  retreated  before 
the  army  and  made  only  one  dash  at  the 
rear  as  it  was  crossing  the  bridge  of  trans 
ports.  General  A.  J.  Smith  turned  on 
them  and  captured  350  of  their  number. 


THE  NA  J  'A  L   HIS  TOR  J ' 


As  there  was  no  further  occasion  for  the 
Admiral's  presence,  he  left  the  gun-boats  to 
cover  the  army  and  embarked  in  a  tug  to 
join  his  flag-ship,  the  "Black  Hawk,"  at 
the  mouth  of  Red  River.  Here  he  found 
General  Can  by,  who  had  been  sent  to  re 
lieve  Banks,  and  was  waiting  the  Admiral's 
arrival  before  he  assumed  command. 

Thus  ended  the  Navy's  connection  with 
the  Red  River  expedition,  the  most  disas 
trous  one  that  was  undertaken  during  the 
war. 

In  whatever  we  write  in  relation  to 
the  late  war,  we  try  to  divest  ourselves 
of  all  prejudice,  and  nothing  that  we  can 
say  will  bear  half  so  hard  upon  Banks  and 
his  supporters  as  many  of  the  articles  writ 
ten  at  the  time  by  persons  serving  immedi 
ately  under  the  General's  command. 

We  do  not  know  whether  the  twenty-two 
years  which  have  elapsed  since  the  events 
we  narrate  took  place,  is  a  sufficient  period 
in  \vhicli  to  write  a  history;  but,  as  the 
States  have  become  reconstructed,  and  the 
animosities  of  the  war  seem  in  good  part 
to  have  vanished,  we  think  we  have  a  right 
to  suppose  that  we  can  present  an  impartial 
narrative,  actuated  solely  by  a  desire  to 
state  the  truth,  which  has  not  generally 
been  told  in  reference  to  the  Red  River  ex 
pedition. 

Banks  and  his  friends  have  told  the  story 
in  a  manner  to  suit  their  political  interests, 
which  are  apparently  all  they  care  about. 

No  one  has  ever,  so  far  as  we  are  aware, 
undertaken  to  correct  the  misrepresenta 
tions  made  against  the  officers  of  the  Navy, 
probably  because  these  attacks  were  con 
sidered  harmless  on  account  of  the  evident 
malice  which  prompted  them. 

Considering  the  ill-results  attending  the 
Red  River  expedition  and  its  unfortunate 
termination,  comparatively  little,  strange 
to  say,  has  been  said  or  written  about  it. 

Certain  newspaper  reporters,  having  ex 
changed  their  citizens'  clothing  for  a  mili 
tary  garb,  were  constantly  riding  about 
picking  up  "items"  for  the  Northern  press, 
and  doing  all  they  could  to  divert  attention 
from  General  Banks  by  dwelling  on  what 
they  were  pleased  to  call  "the  shortcom 
ings  of  the  Navy." 

One  of  their  principal  points  was  that  the 
expedition  was  a  failure,  partly  because  the 
Navy  commenced  collecting  cotton  along 
the  river  in  violation  of  an  understanding 
General  Banks  had  with  the  Confederates. 
From  this  it  would  appear  that  the  Union 
Army  entered  the  Red  River  country  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  the  vast  amount 
of  cotton  therein  for  the  benefit  of  North 
ern  manufactories,  which  were  suffering 
from  a  scarcity  of  that  material.  The  idea 
that  the  Navy  caused  the  Confederates 
to  burn  their  cotton  and  assume  a  hostile  at 


titude,  because  it  seized  some  of  the  staple, 
is  absurd. 

If  the  cotton  was  to  be  taken  out  of  the 
country  for  the  benefit  of  the  United  States. 
it  did  not  matter  who  took  it,  as  long  as  the 
Government  received  it,  which  it  was  sure 
to  do  if  captured  by  the  Navy. 

All  the  cotton  seized  by  the  Navy  was 
taken  according  to  law,  sent  to  the  U.  S. 
Marshal  at  Cairo,  Illinois,  and  every  form 
gone  through  with  to  avoid  loss.  Out  of 
the  many  thousand  bales  sent  to  Cairo  not 
a  pound  was  lost  or  unaccounted  for. 

In  seizing  cotton,  the  naval  officers  acted 
by  direct  authority  of  the  Navy  and  Treas 
ury  Departments;  besides,  the  laws  of  war 
authorized  them  to  take  possession  of  all 
contraband  goods  and  make  a  return  there 
of  to  the  Government.  So  carefully  were 
these  returns  made  out  that  to  this  day 
claimants  for  cotton  seized  on  Red  River, 
etc..  consult  naval  receipt-books  in  perfect 
faith,  knowing  that  the  account  of  every 
cotton  transaction  will  be  found  carefully 
registered. 

On  first  entering  Red  River  the  vessels  of 
the  Navy  commenced  taking  possession  of 
cotton  within  half-a-mile  of  the  banks,  that 
being  as  far  as  they  could  go  for  want  of 
transportation,  and  in  and  near  Alexandria 
they  received  three  thousand  bales,  mostly 
marked  "C.  S.  A.,"  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment  having  purchased  at  a  low  figure  a 
large  portion  of  the  cotton  in  the  trans- 
Mississippi  States,  hoping  to  get  it  to  a 
market  some  time  or  other. 

The  Admiral  also  ordered  three  thousand 
bales,  seized  up  the  Washita  River,  which 
was  not  considered  within  the  limits  of  this 
expedition.  Nearly  five  hundred  bales  of 
the  first  lot  picked  up  near  Alexandria  was 
returned  to  the  owners  on  their  furnishing 
proof  that  it  was  their  private  property. 

Some  persons  belonging  to  the  Navy  on 
one  occasion  went  back  three  miles  into  the 
country  with  a  couple  of  mule-teams,  for 
the  purpose  of  bringing  out  Confederate 
cotton ;  but,  as  this  interfered  with  Army 
arrangements  in  the  cotton  business,  the 
party  was  turned  back  by  the  pickets,  and 
their  expedition  was  almost  barren  of  re 
sults. 

What  we  have  stated  embraces  all  that 
the  Navy  did  in  the  way  of  seizing  cotton. 
Never,  after  leaving  Alexandria  to  go  up 
the  river,  did  a  naval  vessel  interfere  with 
cotton  except  in  some  cases  to  pick  up  bales 
floating  in  the  stream;  and  as  it  was  not  de 
sired  that  the  officers  and  men  should  be 
diverted  from  what  was  considered  the 
main  object  of  the  expedition,  viz.,  the  cap 
ture  of  Shreveport,  all  this  cotton  was 
thrown  overboard. 

In  regard  to  cotton.  General  Banks  and 
the  Admiral  were  playing  at  cross  purposes 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


535 


from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  cam 
paign.  Had  the  General  communicated 
freely  with  him  in  regard  to  his  plans,  or 
shown  him  any  instructions  which  would 
have  authorized  him  to  call  upon  the  Navy 
to  assist  in  reclaiming  cotton,  much  as  the 
Admiral  would  have  disliked  seeing  the 
Navy  subordinated  to  so  ignoble  an  enter 
prise  he  would  still  have  co-operated  to  the 
best  of  his  ability. 

General  Banks,  however,  did  nothing  of 
the  kind.  He  represented  that  his  only  ob 
ject  was  to  carry  out  the  orders  of  General 
Halleck.  dated  Washington.  November  9, 
18G2,  viz.:  %iTo  ascend  the  Red  River  with 
a  military  and  naval  force  as  far  as  it  is 
navigable,  and  thus  open  an  outlet  for  the 
sugar  and  cotton  of  northern  Louisiana." 

With  regard  to  the  originators  of  this  ex 
pedition  and  their  motives  we  will  speak  in 
another  place ;  our  present  object  is  to  ex 
pose  the  misrepresentations  made  against 
the  Navy  in  regard  to  cotton,  although  we 
might  well  rest  on  the  statement  of  Hon. 
D.  M.  Gooch,  M.  C.,  who  drew  up  the  report 
of  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
War,  in  which  he  says  :  "  Whatever  there 
may  have  been  of  feeling  between  the 
Army  and  the  Navy  in  relation  to  the  seiz 
ure  of  cotton,  an  examination  of  all  the 
testimony  will  show  that  the  military  op 
erations  were  not  interfered  with  by  any 
operation  in  cotton;  the  delays  at  the  points 
where  those  operations  were  carried  out 
were  occasioned  wholly  by  other  causes." 

Mr.  Gooch,  and  one  or  two  other  members 
of  the  committee  favorable  to  Banks,  tried 
to  draw  the  attention  of  the  public  from 
the  latter's  mistakes  to  what  they  wished 
to  make  appear  as  complaints  against  the 
Navy.  The  attempt  was  not  a  success, 
since  nothing  was  shown  by  any  credible 
evidence  in  regard  to  naval  cotton  opera 
tions  beyond  what  we  have  stated  above 

The  most  that  could  be  stated  by  any  of 
the  witnesses,  some  of  whom  were  not 
at  all  particular  in  confining  themselves  to 
the  truth,  was  that  the  Navy  seized  cotton 
as  contraband  of  war  and  refused  to  give 
receipts  for  it ;  which  was  not  the  case,  as 
receipts  were  given,  in  every  instance,  by 
which  those  persons  who  established  a 
claim  to  any  of  the  cotton  received  the 
value  of  it,  after  the  war,  through  the 
United  States  courts. 

Any  one  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  read 
the  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct 
of  the  War,  will  see  that  in  the  vast  amount 
of  evidence  given,  some  of  it  by  persons 
very  unfriendly  to  the  Navy,  there  is  noth 
ing  to  implicate  the  latter  in  anything  they 
were  not  in  duty  bound  to  do. 

When  General  Kilby  Smith  was  asked  by 
the  committee  what  he  understood  to  be  the 
object  of  the  expedition,  he  answered  : 


"  It  has  been  a  mystery  to  me,  save  what 
transpired  en  route.  In  my  own  mind,  I 
came  to  the  conclusion  it  was  what  might 
be  called,  in  military  parlance,  a  mercantile 
expedition,  that  is,  an  expedition  for  the 
purpose  of  opening  the  country  to  trade,  or, 
perhaps,  taking  advantage  of  a  victorious 
march  to  gather  up  what  might  naturally 
fall  to  the  Army  or  Government  in  spoils," 
which  is,  for  General  Kilby  Smith,  a  pretty 
fair  way  of  putting  it. 

That  the  expedition  was  also  designed 
to  hold  some  prominent  point  in  Texas 
there  is  no  doubt;  but  it  is  no  less  a  fact 
that  it  degenerated  into  a  cotton  raid,  for 
the  benefit  of  individuals  at  the  expense 
of  the  Government.  That  the  expedition 
was  unwise  and  unmilitary  no  one  now 
hesitates  to  assert,  for  all  can  see  what  was 
seen  then  by  many,  that  it  should  never 
have  been  undertaken  at  all. 

After  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hud 
son,  the  Federals  held  both  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  gun-boats  had  access  to  its 
tributaries  for  at  least  a  hundred  miles  into 
the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country. 

It  was  desirable  that  everything  west  of 
the  Mississippi  should  be  kept  there,  and  it 
was  to  the  Federal  advantage  that  the  Con 
federates  should  be  left  to  support  the  large 
force  of  their  troops  in  that  quarter,  who 
were  eating  the  inhabitants  out  of  house 
and  home.  and.  with  the  recklessness  of  half- 
disciplined  soldiers,  destroying  twice  as 
much  as  they  could  consume.  The  enemy 
had  not  sufficient  force  to  attempt  any  seri 
ous  offensive  movements,  and  simply  lived 
on  the  inhabitants,  who  were  heartily  tired 
of  them  and  their  cause. 

If  the  United  States  Government  was 
anxious  that  the  cotton  should  come  out, 
it  was  only  necessary  to  proclaim  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Louisiana  that  the  country 
was  open  to  trade,  and  that  permits  would 
be  given  for  cotton  and  sugar  to  be  shipped 
to  New  Orleans.  Such  a  course  would  havo 
benefitted  the  North  much  more  than  an  ex 
pensive  military  expedition,  even  had  the 
latter  been  successful. 

It  may  be  argued  that  the  Confederate 
generals  would  have  prevented  the  execu 
tion  of  such  a  project,  but  from  the  fact  that 
Gen.  Kirby  Smith  entered  into  an  arrange 
ment  to  let  cotton  go  out  under  the  auspices 
of  General  Banks,  and  that  the  officers  cap 
tured  while  shipping  cotton  to  New  Orleans 
from  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi  were 
in  the  Confederate  service,  we  are  inclined 
to  believe  there  would  have  been  little  diffi 
culty  in  this  connection. 

The  cotton  and  sugar  in  Louisiana,  after 
the  Mississippi  was  opened,  was  virtually 
lost  to  the  Confederates,  public  and  private. 
Much  of  the  cotton  had  been  for  three  years 
lying  but  partially  protected,  and  some  of  it 


536 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


had  rotted.  We  saw  one  pile  of  six  hundred 
bales  so  decayed  as  to  be  absolutely  worth 
less. 

The  Confederates  had  no  means  of  trans 
porting  the  cotton  across  the  country  to  the 
sea-coast  except  by  wagons,  a  proceeding 
that  would  not  have  paid  expenses,  and 
General  Banks  when  he  arrived  at  Alexan 
dria  should  have  recognized  that  fact,  if  he 
did  not  know  it  before. 

It  would  have  been  the  simplest  thing  in 
the  world  for  General  Banks  to  have  held 
Alexandria,  which  is  exactly  in  the  centre 
of  western  Louisiana,  and  lies  on  a  large 
river,  by  which  he  could  at  all  times  be  sup 
plied  with  stores  and  reinforcements.  He 
had  everything  to  justify  him  in  adopting 
this  course,  even  if  his  original  orders  were 
to  invade  Texas  through  the  Red  River 
region. 

General  Grant,  after  becoming  Com 
mander-in-chief  of  the  western  armies,  di 
rected  Banks,  on  or  before  the  5th  of  May, 
to  return  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command 
to  General  Sherman,  and  that  he  should 
march  upon  Mobile  with  what  forces  he  had. 
As  Banks  paid  no  attention  to  this  com 
mand,  he  was  guilty  of  disobedience  of  or 
ders.  He  did  not  move  from  Alexandria 
upon  Shreveport  until  the  29th  of  March,  and 
there  was  not  time  between  that  date  and 
the  5th  of  May  to  accomplish  the  campaign, 
even  with  uninterrupted  success,  which  no 
one  but  Banks  himself  counted  on. 

Banks'  holding  Alexandria  and  opening 
the  country  to  commerce  would  probably 
not  have  been  opposed  by  the  Confederate 
generals;  but  when  he  attempted  to  move 
into  the  heart  of  the  country  at  the  same 
time  that  Steele  with  a  large  army  was  ad 
vancing  to  join  him,  the  Confederates  saw 
that  it  was  the  subjugation  of  all  Louisiana 
and  the  invasion  of  Texas  that  was  contem 
plated. 

Banks  finally  accomplished  for  the  Con 
federates  more  than  they  could  have  hoped 
to  dp  for  themselves,  turning  their  trans- 
Mississippi  department  from  a  rather  harm- 
less  affair  into  one  of  importance,  provided 
with  powerful  artillery  and  small  arms 
captured  from  his  army. 

The  Confederates  thus  encouraged  as 
sembled  a  large  army,  composed  of  Texans 
and  others,  under  enterprising  leaders,  who 
animated  their  men  with  their  own  spirit, 
and,  encouraged  by  their  unexpected  suc 
cess  against  the  Federal  arms,  were  getting 
ready  to  resume  that  system  of  warfare  the 
Navy  experienced  so  much  trouble  in  break 
ing  up. 

If  they  did  not  put  their  old  tactics  in  op 
eration,  it  was  because  they  deemed  it  wiser 
to  let  well  alone,  having  driven  one  of  the 
best  appointed  of  the  Union  armies  out  of 
their  country. 


General  Banks  labored  under  the  disad 
vantage  not  only  of  having  some  inefficient 
staff-officers,  but  of  not  being  in  accord 
with  the  officers  of  the  regular  Army  who 
commanded  the  13th,  IGth  and  19th  corps. 

Most  of  the  civilians  who  undertook  the 
command  of  armies  were  wise  enough  to 
select  a  capable  soldier  as  chief •  of-staff  and 
surrounded  themselves  with  as  much  mili 
tary  talent  as  possible ;  but  Banks  having  pre 
viously  succeeded  in  all  that  he  had  under 
taken,  having  been  a  popular  Governor  and 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
thought  himself  equal  in  military  abilities 
to  any  army  officer;  and  although  in  every 
operation  of  consequence  undertaken  by 
him  he  failed  of  success,  yet  he  assumed  as 
much  as  Csesar  did  after  he  had  conquered 
the  world. 

The  duties  of  the  chief -of-staff  of  a  civ 
ilian  general  were  much  more  important 
than  those  of  the  chief -of-staff  of  a  regular 
officer,  and  the  Government,  recognizing 
the  possible  inexperience  of  their  volunteer 
generals,  endeavored  to  place  with  each  of 
them  an  officer  of  experience,  whose  duties 
were  so  onerous  as  hardly  gave  him  time  to 
eat  or  sleep. 

The  history  of  the  civil  war  establishes 
that,  wherever  these  educated  chief  s-of -staff 
were  supported  by  their  civilian  generals, 
the  latter  got  along  much  better  than  those 
who,  like  Banks,  chose  to  ignore  the  chief- 
of -staff  altogether. 

It  was  plain  to  any  one  from  the  begin 
ning  of  naval  intercourse  with  General 
Banks,  that  he  and  General  Stone  were  not 
on  good  terms,  and  that  Banks  relied  chiefly 
on  one  of  his  aides,  who  had  received  no- 
regular  military  training,  and  was  about  as 
ignorant  of  the  art  of  war  as  it  was  possi 
ble  for  a  man  to  be. 

Before  the  Army  left  Alexandria  any  one 
could  see  that  General  Stone  did  not  exer 
cise  the  influence  over  military  movements 
that  a  chief-of-staff  should,  and  this  be 
came  more  apparent  in  the  advance  to 
wards  Shreveport  in  the  matter  of  assigning 
proper  positions  to  the  different  portions 
of  the  Army,  and  in  other  respects;  for  a 
chief-of-staff  is  supposed  to  be  on  the 
most  confidential  terms  with  the  Com- 
mander-in-chief,  and  is  in  duty  bound  to 
see  his  plans  carried  out. 

General  Banks  complains  that  Stone's 
judgment  was  not  good,  and  therefore  he 
had  to  rely  on  some  one  else.  He  states 
that  although  General  Stone  was  on  the 
field  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads  all  day,  yet  he 
did  not  insist  on  the  concentration  of  the 
Federal  forces,  nor  did  he  seem  to  be  aware 
that  the  enemy  were  in  force  in  his  front. 

Now,  Banks  was  on  the  field  himself,  and 
did  not  do  any  of  the  things  he  blames 
Stone  for  not  doing. 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


537 


From  all  we  can  learn,  General  Stone  was 
untiring  in  his  efforts  to  perform  his  duty 
at  Pleasant  Hill,  yet  at  the  close  of  the  en 
gagement  he  was  removed  from  his  position 
and  General  D wight  put  in  his  place.  It 
was  necessary  to  make  a  scapegoat  of 
some  one ;  and  as  Stone  was  unpopular 
with  the  general  public,  on  account  of  the 
disaster  at  Ball's  Bluff,  he  was  selected  to 
bear  the  blame  of  failure. 

General  Stone  was  perfectly  subordi 
nate  and  desirous  to  make  himself  accept 
able  to  General  Banks,  though  he  would 
not  lend  himself  to  any  of  the  doubtful  pro 
ceedings  carried  on  under  the  eye  of  the 
commanding  general.  General  Stone  was 
particularly  careful  that  due  courtesy  should 
be  paid  to  the  Navy  and  all  proper  requests 
granted.  We  think  he  had  the  highest  re 
spect  of  Franklin,  Emory  and  A.  J.  Smith, 
which  is  a  creditable  proof  of  his  capacity. 

We  believe  Colonel  Clarke  did  everything 
in  his  power  to  supersede  General  Stoile  in 
General  Banks'  favor.  Clarke,  by  his  own 
account,  was  in  the  advance  during  the 
hardest  of  General  Lee's  fighting,  having 
joined  him  with  orders  to  "  press  the 
fighting."  From  Lee  he  returned  to  Gen 
eral  Banks  at  Pleasant  Hill,  and  gave  it 
as  his  opinion  that  Lee  was  in  a  danger 
ous  position,  at  least  eight  miles  from  in 
fantry  support,  in  immediate  presence  of  a 
superior  force,  and  that  he  would  be  at 
tacked  by  daylight.  He  thought  Lee  should 
be  reinforced  by  one  infantry  brigade  !  but 
says  nothing  about  Lee's  being  helped  out 
of  the  scrape  until  the  main  body  of  the 
army  should  come  up,  notwithstanding 
Banks  had  expressed  his  surprise  that  the 
advance-guard  had  not  been  composed  of 
infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery.  In  all  the 
evidence  given  by  Colonel  Clarke  before 
the  committee,  it  is  evident  he  wishes  to  re 
lieve  Banks  of  any  responsibility  and  throw 
the  blame  on  others,  as  if  the  general  com 
manding  should  not  know  all  that  was  go 
ing  on  and  be  held  responsible  for  the  bad 
arrangements  of  his  army. 

After  Stone  was  removed.  General  D  wight 
became  chief-of-staff;  but  if  it  was  intended 
to  benefit  by  his  services  as  a  military  ad 
viser,  it  was  too  late  to  do  so.  On  general 
subjects  connected  with  this  expedition, 
Dwight's  opinion  was  very  clear,  and  we 
think  he  condemned  the  plan  as  much  as 
any  one. 

General  Dwight's  opinions  in  regard  to 
cotton  transactions  are  worth  notice.  He 
does  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  object  of 
the  expedition  was  a  mercantile  one.  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  put  cotton;  but  he  is 
wrong  in  his  assertion  that,  had  not  the 
Navy  seized  the  cotton,  the  enemy  would 
not  have  commenced  burning  it.  What  cot 
ton  the  Navy  seized  was  below  Alexandria. 


They  never  touched  a  bale  after  leaving 
that  place,  and  the  enemy  never  commenced 
burning  until  the  Army  was  on  its  march 
to  Grand  Ecore,  which  seemed  to  be  the 
signal  for  the  destruction  of  the  cotton.  The 
enemy  had  no  means  of  knowing  whether 
the  Navy  was  seizing  cotton  or  not.  It  was 
the  army  trains  that  went  ten  miles  into 
the  interior  to  pick  it  up,  and  it  was  a  well- 
known  fact  that  the  naval  authorities  sur 
rendered  every  bale  which  was  shown  to  be 
private  property. 

Constant  applications  were  made  to  the 
Admiral  and  to  his  officers  to  seize  cotton 
which  had  been  bought  up  by  speculators, 
and  send  it  to  Cairo  for  them,  which  was 
invariably  declined,  although  all  the  pro 
tection  asked  for  was  given  when  their 
cotton  was  on  board  a  transport.  Very 
few  of  these  people  desired  to  have  their 
cotton  get  into  the  hands  of  the  Army,  for 
they  had  to  pay  the  quartermaster  ten  dol 
lars  a  bale  for  transportation,  with  no  cer 
tainty  of  getting  possession  of  their  prop 
erty  in  the  end;  while  hundreds  of  bales 
which  had  been  seized  by  the  Navy  were 
returned  to  their  owners  in  Cairo,  Illinois, 
without  any  expense  for  transportation. 
These  facts  were  proved  in  evidence  by 
Lieutenant-Commander  K.  R.  Breese,  of  the 
Navy,  and  others,  and  many  instances  could 
be  cited  from  the  books  kept  at  Cairo,  Illi 
nois,  bv  Captain  A.  M.  Pennock,  Chief-of- 
Staff. 

If  this  expedition  was  intended  as  a  com 
mercial  one,  the  Army  and  Navy  command 
ers  should  have  received  such  instructions 
that  there  would  have  been  no  clashing  of 
interests;  but  while  Banks  was  sent  up  the 
Red  River  as  he  supposed  on  a  special  mis 
sion  "to  let  the  cotton  come  within  the 
Federal  lines,"  which  was  done  by  sending 
out  escorted  wagons  for  it,  the  Admiral 
was  under  instructions  to  seize  it  as  con 
traband  of  war  wherever  he  could  find  it. 
No  method  of  getting  the  cotton  out  of  the 
country  was  indicated  ;  and  as  the  Navy 
succeeded  in  turning  over  to  the  Govern 
ment  0,000  bales  from  the  Red  and  Washita 
Rivers,  their  plan  worked  better  than  did 
that  of  General  Banks. 

All  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  cared 
for  was  to  get  their  cotton  out,  trusting  to 
the  future  for  payment,  for  there  was 
not  a  single  intelligent  person  in  that  re 
gion  who  did  not  know  how  the  war  must 
terminate  ;  and,  although  they  intended  to 
fight  to  the  end,  the  Confederate  mili 
tary  authorities  were  willing  to  see  the 
people  derive  what  benefit  they  could  from 
their  cotton.  They  had  almost  impover 
ished  the  inhabitants  by  quartering  troops 
on  them,  and  took  this  method  to  reimburse 
them!  especially  as  one  or  two  of  their  lead 
ers  (Kirby  Smith,  for  instance)  had  a  per- 


538 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


sonal  interest  in  saving  this  valuable  com 
modity  from  destruction.  The  Confederates 
determined  to  destroy  the  cotton  only  when 
they  thought  they  could  no  longer  share  in 
the  benefits. 

That  there  was  a  tacit  understanding  be 
tween  General  Banks  and  the  enemy  was 
the  general  belief,  and  the  evidence  of 
General  Dwight,  his  own  chief -of -start, 
corroborates  this  belief.  It  was  an  arrange 
ment  in  which  neither  the  Navy  nor  the 
three  corps  commanders  had  any  part;  and 
we  must  say  that  disastrous  as  was  this  ex 
pedition  to  the  cotton  interest,  we  rejoice  at 
the  Navy  not  having  participated  in  ar 
rangements  which  were  considered  dis 
creditable  to  all  concerned.  If  the  Confed 
erates  could  sell  all  their  products  as  they 
pleased,  and  receive  money  or  supplies  in 
return,  the  war  might  have  been  greatly 
prolonged. 

The  question  as  to  the  origin  of  the  Red 
River  expedition  has  been  settled  by  Gen 
eral  Grant,  as  before  stated,  but  that  re 
garding  the  object  of  the  same  is  still 
shrouded  in  mystery. 

General  Halleck,  in  his  testimony  before 
the  ''Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
War,"  Feb.  1C.  1865,  says: 

"  The  object  of  the  expedition,  as  I  understood  it 
at  the  time,  was  to  form  a  junction  between  the 
forces  under  General  Steele  and  those  under  General 
Banks,  so  as  to  shorten  the  line  of  defence  on  the 
western  side  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  to  estab 
lish  a  position  within  the  State  of  Texas  which 
should  be  permanently  held,  it  being  considered  an 
important  object,  by  the  executive  branch  of  the 
Government  at  that  time,  that  a  post  should  be  held 
at  all  consequences  within  the  State  of  Texas." 

General  Halleck  further  remarked  that 
the  Government  had  never  received  any  re 
port  from  Banks  in  regard  to  the  failure  of 
the  expedition. 

Halleck  considered  the  Red  River  the  best 
line  to  accomplish  this  object,  although  he 
acknowledges  that  the  character  of  the 
navigation  was  known  to  be  ''precarious, 
at  times  good,  at  other  times  utterly  im 
practicable."  This  last  happened  to  be 
the  condition  when  Banks'  expedition 
started,  which  is  why  the  Admiral  strongly 
objected  to  going  up  the  river  at  that  time. 

Any  one  who  studies  the  map  of  Louisiana 
can  estimate  the  value  of  General  Halleck's 
judgment  in  favoring  such  a  scheme.  He 
wanted  a  point  in  Texas  to  hold  perma 
nently.  With  the  aid  of  gun-boats  40.000 
men  could  have  been  landed  near  Sabine 
Pass,  and  all  that  was  worth  anything  in 
Texas  would  have  been  at  the  disposal  of 
Federal  forces.  Sabine  Lake  was  there 
to  shelter  any  number  of  light-draft  trans 
ports,  with  quick  transportation  and  naval 
protection.  Instead  of  this,  two  armies 
were  started  500  miles  apart,  with  no  chance 


of  communicating  on  the  way,  to  march 
through  vast  swamps  and  woods,  across  nu 
merous  rivers  and  streams,  and  over  very 
difficult  roads. 

General  Grant  saw  the  folly  of  this  scheme 
and  disapproved  the  attempt ;  but,  even 
although  he  had  taken  Vicksburg,  he  did 
not  feel  strong  enough  to  oppose  so  power 
ful  a  politician  as  General  Banks,  or  the 
plans  formed  in  Washington  by  General 
Halleck.  who  called  them  the  "  views  of  the 
Administration."  General  Banks  himself 
seems  originally  to  have  favored  an  expe 
dition  to  Sabine  Pass,  having  some  notion 
of  the  difficulties  that  would  beset  an  expe 
dition  into  Texas  by  any  other  route,  and. 
indeed,  to  have  expressed  himself  in  opposi 
tion  to  General  Halleck's  <- views." 

A  great  fear  seems  to  have  possessed  the 
minds  of  Halleck  and  Banks  that,  after  the 
fall  of  Port  Hudson  and  Vicksburg,  New 
Orleans  was  in  danger  of  capture  from 
Texas,  although  a  large  portion  of  the 
country  is  intersected  with  bayous,  across 
which  it  would  take  an  arm}"  a  long  time  to 
build  bridges,  where  no  supplies  could  be 
obtained,  and  where  the  enemy  were  as  ac 
cessible  to  the  Federals  as  the  latter  were 
to  them.  The  greatest  danger  to  be  feared 
after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  the  army  of 
General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  40.000  strong, 
which,  still  intact  and  in  good  discipline, 
moved  towards  the  coast  apparently  in  the 
direction  of  Mobile.  Yet  at  that  time,  when 
it  was  necessary  to  be  on  his  guard  against 
such  an  energetic  commander,  Banks  was 
intent  on  a  march  on  Shreveport.  although 
in  a  letter  to  Halleck  he  says  : 

"The  rivers  and  bayous  have  not  been  so  low  in 
this  State  for  fifty  years,  and  Admiral  Porter  in 
forms  me  that  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River,  and  also 
the  mouth  of  the  Atchafalaya,  are  both  hermetic 
ally  sealed  to  his  vessels  by  almost  dry  sand-bars, 
so  that  he  cannot  get  any  of  the  vessels  into  any  of 
the  streams.  It  is  supposed  that  the  first  rise  of 
the  season  will  occur  early  in  the  next  month.''  (!) 

Whatever  may  have  been  Banks'  plans 
for  an  advance  into  Texas,  he  was  evidently 
much  hampered  by  the  orders  and  sug 
gestions  he  was  constantly  receiving  from 
General  Halleck,  who  seemed  to  change  his 
opinion  every  time  the  wind  shifted,  a  pro 
ceeding  likely  to  confuse  Banks  and  compel 
him  to  alter  his  plans  as  often  as  Halleck 
did. 

Why  the  Sabine  Pass  expedition  failed 
does  not  appear ;  but  most  of  Banks'  ex 
peditions  failed,  and  there  is  little  on 
record  from  General  Banks  to  account  for 
these  failures.  While  Halleck  in  one  let 
ter  professes  to  leave  Banks  at  liberty  to 
act  as  he  pleases,  in  the  next  holds  him  fast 
by  making  ';  suggestions,"  which  from  a 
superior  officer  are  equivalent  to  positive 
commands.  The  only  sensible  dispatch 
from  General  Halleck  is  one  dated  January 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


5.TJ 


4.    1SG4,    in   which,    after    urging  the   Red 
River  project,  he  says  : 

"  So  long  as  your  plans  are  not  positively  decided 
upon,  no  definite  instructions  can  be  given  to  Sher 
man  and  Steele.  The  best  thing,  it  would  seem,  to 
be  done  under  the  circumstances  is  for  you  to  com 
municate  with  them  and  also  with  Admiral  Porter 
in  regard  to  some  general  co-operation  all  agree 
upon;  what  is  the  best  plan  of  operations  if  the 
stage  of  water  in  the  river  and  other  circumstances 
should  be  favorable.  If  not,  it  must  be  modified  or 
changed." 

As  Captain  Cuttle  would  say :  "  Here  is 
an  opinion  as  is  an  opinion/'  and  it  would 
have  been  well  if  Banks  had  followed  Hal- 
leek's  advice;  but,  whatever  the  General's 
consultations  were  with  others,  he  never 
deigned  to  consult  with  the  Admiral,  and 
•  paid  no  attention  to  his  opinions. 

About  the  time  that  Halleck  began  to 
agitate  his  plan  for  the  invasion  of  Texas, 
all  the  armies  of  the  West  had  been  placed 
under  command  of  General  Grant,  and  the 
latter  had  conceived  the  idea  of  sending 
Sherman  through  the  Southern  States  east 
of  the  Mississippi,  on  what  was  called  the 
•'  march  to  the  sea." 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1864,  Sherman 
wrote  to  Banks  as  follows: 

"  The  Mississippi,  though  low  for  the  season,  is 
free  of  ice  and  in  good  boating  order,  but  I  under 
stand  Red  River  is  still  low.  I  had  a  man  in  from 
Alexandria  yesterday,  who  reported  the  "Falls"  or 
Rapids  impassable  except  for  the  smallest  boats. 

"  My  inland  expedition  is  now  working,  and  I  will 
be  off  for  Jackson,  etc.,  to-morrow.  The  only  fear 
I  have  is  in  the  weather ;  all  the  other  combina 
tions  are  good.  I  want  to  keep  up  the  delusion  of 
an  attack  on  Mobile  and  the  Alabama  River,  and 
therefore  would  be  obliged  to  you  if  you  would  keep 
up  a  foraging  or  other  expedition  in  that  direction. 

"My  orders  from  General  Grant  will  not  as  yet 
justify  me  in  embarking  for  Red  River,  though  I 
am  very  anxious  to  operate  in  that  direction.  The 
moment  1  learned  you  were  preparing  for  it,  I  sent 
a  communication  to  Admiral  Porter  and  dispatches 
to  General  Grant,  at  Chattanooga,  asking  him  if  he 
wanted  me  and  Steele  to  co-operate  with  you  against 
Shrevej)ort,  and  I  will  have  his  answer  in  time,  for 
you  cannot  do  anything  until  Red  River  has  twelve 
feet  of  water  on'the  rapids  at  Alexandria.  That 
will  be  from  March  till  June.  1  have  lived  on  Red 
River  and  know  somewhat  of  the  phases  of  that 
stream." 

Yet,  notwithstanding  Sherman's  warning 
him  that  the  rise  will  not  take  place  before 
March  or  perhaps  June,  and  the  Admiral's 
repeated  asseverations  to  that  effect.  Banks 
pushes  on  the  expedition  in  April,  when  the 
river  was  falling  four  inches  per  day. 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter 
from  General  Halleck  to  General  Banks, 
dated  February  2,  1804  : 

"  I  enclose  a  copy  of  a  communication  from  Ad 
miral  Porter  which  shows  the  condition  of  Red 
River  and  the  Atchafalaya.  From  this  it  would 
appear  that  some  delay  would  occur  before  any 
extensive  operations  can  be  carried  on  in  that 
quarter." 

Suffice  to  say,  all  Admiral  Porter's  letters 
recommended  that  no  attempt  should  be 


made  via  Red  River  until  the  water  had 
actually  risen  to  a  height  sufficient  to  in 
sure  the  success  of  the  expedition.  He  men 
tioned  the  different  years  in  which  there 
had  been  no  rise,  and  the  signs  of  the  times 
made  it  probable  there  would  not  be  suffi 
cient  water  that  season  to  undertake  an  ex 
pedition  to  Shreveport,  if  the  co-operation 
of  gun-boats  and  transports  was  required. 

In  the  voluminous  correspondence  be 
tween  Halleck  and  Banks  that  took  place 
in  regard  to  the  proposed  expedition,  each 
evidently  wishes  to  place  the  responsibility 
on  the  other  in  case  of  failure  to  reach 
Shreveport.  On  March  5,  1804,  Halleck 
wrote  to  Banks  : 

"When  General  Sherman  left  Vicksburg  he  ex 
pected  to  return  there  by  the  1st  of  March,  toco- 
operate  with  you  west  of  the  Mississippi,  but  he  was 
of  opinion  that  the  condition  of  the  river  would  not 
be  favorable  until  a  later  period.  I  think  it  most 
probable  that  before  this  reaches  you  he  will  have 
returned  to  Vicksburg,  or  some  other  point  on  the 
river.  Whether  he  has  received  any  recent  orders 
in  regard  to  his  movements  from  General  Grant.  I 
am  not  advised,  nor  have  I  any  information  of  Gen 
eral  Steele's  plans,  further  than  that  all  his  move 
ments  will  be  directed  to  facilitate  your  operations 
toward  Shreveport." 

Halleck  was  always,  it  would  seem, 
••harping  on  my  daughter."  On  March 
12.  1864,  General  Steele  sent  a  dispatch  to 
Halleck,  of  which  the  following  is  an  ex 
tract  : 

"  General  Banks  with  17.000  men  and  10,000  of 
Sherman's  will  be  in  Alexandria  on  the  17th.  * 
Sherman  insists  upon  my  moving  upon  Shreveport 
to  co-operate  with  the  above-mentioned  forces  with 
all  my  effective  forces.  I  have  prepared  to  do  so 
against  my  own  judgment  and  that  of  the  best  in 
formed  people  here.  The  roads  are  mostly,  if  not 
all,  impracticable;  the  country  is  destituteof  provis 
ions  on  the  route  we  would  have  to  take.  I  made 
a  proposition  to  General  Banks  to  threaten  the 
enemy's  flank  and  rear  with  all  my  cavalry,  and  to 
make  a  feint  with  infantry  on  the  Washington  road. 
I  yielded  to  Sherman  and  Blunt  as  far  as  this  plan 
is  concerned  B  wants  me  to  move  by  Munroe  to 
Red  River ;  Sherman  wants  me  to  go  by  Camden 
and  Overton  to  Shreveport.  The  latter  is  imprac 
ticable,  and  the  former  plan  would  expose  the  line 
of  the  Arkansas  and  Missouri  to  cavalry  raids.  I 
can  move  with  about  7,000  men.  Our  scouting 
parties  frequently  have  skirmishes  with  detached 
parties  all  over  the  State,  and  if  they  should  form 
in  my  rear  in  considerable  force  I  should  be  obliged 
to  fall  back  to  save  my  depot.  Please  give  me  your 
opinion  immediately,  as  I  shall  march  to-morrow  or 
next  day." 

To  which  Halleck  answered  : 

"I  advise  that  you  proceed  to  co-operate  in  the 
movement  of  Banks  and  Sherman  on  Shreveport, 
unless  General  Grant  orders  differently,  I  send  to 
him  the  substance  of  your  telegram." 

The  same  day  Halleck  telegraphed  Gen 
eral  Grant  as  follows  : 

"General  Steele  telegraphs  that  Banks  with  17,000 
men,  and  Sherman  with  10,000,  move  from  Alexan 
dria  on  Shreveport,  and  wish  him  to  co-operate. 
He  says  he  can  go  with  7,000  effective  men,  but  ob 
jects  to  the  movement  on  account  of  bad  roads  and 
guerillas,  and  prefers  to  remain  on  the  defensive 


540 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


line  of  the  Arkansas.  I  have  replied  that  he  should 
co-operate  with  Banks  and  Sherman,  unless  you  di 
rect  otherwise.  His  objections  on  account  of  guer 
illas  threatening  his  rear  will  apply  equally  to  an 
advance  at  any  time  into  the  enemy's  country ." 

On  the  15th  of  March,  General  Halleck, 
as  chief-of-staff,  telegraphed  to  General 
Grant  as  follows: 

"A  dispatch  just  received  from  General  Banks, 
dated  March  6.  He  expects  to  effect  a  junction 
with  Sherman's  forces  (Smith's  Division)  on  Red 
River,  on  the  17th.  He  desires  that  positive  orders 
be  sent  to  Steele  to  move  in  conjunction  with  them 
for  Red  River,  with  all  his  available  force.  Sher 
man  and  Banks  are  of  opinion  that  Steele  can  do 
much  more  than  make  a  demonstration,  as  he  last 
proposed.  A  telegram  f  rom  y o  u  might  deci  de  him. " 

After  reading  the  above  dispatches,  we 
are  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  Generals 
Halleck  and  Banks  are  responsible  for  the 
Red  River  expedition,  one  of  the  wildest 
schemes,  in  a  military  point  of  view,  ever 
proposed.  The  Navy  went  into  the  affair 
with  the  knowledge  that  failure  was  almost 
certain,  yet  did  its  best  to  insure  success. 

Notwithstanding  General  Halleck  was 
the  author  of  the  Red  River  expedition, 
General  Banks  deserves  the  severest  cen 
sure  for  the  manner  in  which  he  carried 
out  the  plan  of  campaign — if  there  was  any 
plan.  In  Halleck's  letter,  while  he  urges 
the  Red  River  as  the  only  practicable  route, 
he  constantly  reiterates  the  substance  of 
one  communication  as  follows: 

4  'While  the  Government  is  desirous  that  Red  River 
and  Shreveport  should  be  taken  possession  of  and 
held  as  the  most  important  objective  point  of  the 
operations  of  a  campaign  of  troops  about  to  take  a 
position  where  they  could  command  Texas,  and  es 
tablish  a  better  line  of  defence  for  Arkansas  and 
Missouri  than  now  occupied  by  General  Steele, 
yet  the  Administration  does  not  desire  in  any  man 
ner  to  control  your  actions  as  to  the  time  and  man 
ner  of  performing  this  service,  and  you  will  take 
counsel  with  Generals  Sherman  and  Steele  and  Ad 
miral  Porter  as  to  the  best  manner  of  carrying  out 
the  expedition." 

How  far  General  Banks  acted  on  these 
suggestions  the  reader  can  judge.  Both 
Halleck  and  Banks  were  very  desirous  to 
escape  the  responsibility  of  the  Red  River 
failure.  Halleck  claims  only  to  have  made 
"suggestions,"  but  suggestions  coming 
from  a  person  who  was  virtually  Com 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Army  had  the 
weight  of  orders.  They  were  supposed  to 
be  the  opinions  of  the  President  and  the 
Secretary  of  War.  as  well  as  of  General 
Halleck. 

When  the  news  of  the  failure  of  the  ex 
pedition  reached  Washington,  Banks  was 
written  to  by  way  of  censure,  and  informed 
that  his  movements  regarding  the  Texas 
expedition  were  not  approved,  and  that 
from  the  beginning,  when  the  Sabine  and 
Rio  Grande  expeditions  were  undertaken, 
no  notice  of  Banks'  movements  were  re 
ceived  at  the  War  Department  until  they 


were  actually  undertaken.  To  offset  this, 
we  will  quote  from  a  letter  of  General 
Halleck  to  Banks,  dated  February  11, 1864  : 

"If  by  this  is  meant  that  you  are  waiting  for 
orders  from  Washington,  there  must  be  some  mis 
apprehension.  The  substance  of  my  dispatches  to 
you  was  communicated  to  the  President  and  Secre 
tary  of  War,  and  it  was  understood  that  while  stat 
ing  my  own  views  in  regard  to  operations,  I  should 
leave  you  free  to  adopt  such  linos  and  plans  of  cam 
paign  as  you  might  after  a  full  consideration  of  the 
subject  deem  best.  Such  I  am  confident  is  the  pur 
port  of  my  dispatches,  and  it  certainly  was  not  in 
tended  that  any  of  your  movements  should  be  de 
layed  to  await  instructions  from  here." 

How  much  truth  there  is  in  this  letter 
can  be  inferred  by  comparing  it  with  the 
three  telegrams  of  Halleck,  one  of  them 
to  Grant,  in  which  Halleck  seems  deter 
mined  to  manage  the  whole  affair.  Banks, 
no  doubt,  considered  these  "  suggestions  ''  as 
instructions,  which,  had  he  disregarded, 
would  have  most  probably  resulted  in  his 
removal  from  command.  Banks  says: 

"  In  the  instructions  I  received  from  the  Govern 
ment,  it  was  left  to  my  discretion  whether  I  would 
join  (?)  in  the  expedition,  but  I  was  directed  to  com 
municate  with  General  Sherman,  General  Steele, 
and  Admiral  Porter  upon  the  subject.  I  expressed 
the  satisfaction  I  should  feel  in  co-operating  with 
them  in  a  movement  deemed  of  so  much  import 
ance  by  the  Government,  to  which  my  own  com 
mand  was  unequal,  and  my  belief  that  with  the 
forces  designated  it  would  be  entirely  successful. 

"  Having  received  from  them  similar  assurances, 
both  my  discretion  and  my  authority,  so  far  as  the 
organization  of  the  expedition  was  concerned,  were 
at  an  end." 

In  all  this  controversy  it  will  be  seen  that 
every  one  is  disposed  to  ignore  responsi 
bility,  but  particularly  Halleck. 

General  Sherman  and  the  Admiral,  after 
the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  had  discussed  this 
plan  of  taking  Shreveport  by  a  sudden 
movement;  but  they  did  not  intend  to  leave 
anything  to  chance,  or  to  undertake  the  ex 
pedition  without  plenty  of  water  in  the  river 
and  a  prospect  of  its  continuance  in  the  fu 
ture.  They  would  not  have  ventured  in 
case  of  a  temporary  rise — which  could  always 
be  told  by  the  rapidity  with  which  the  water 
subsided — for  if  the  rise  was  owing  to  the 
head  waters  of  Red  River  booming,  and  all 
the  tributaries  throwing  in  their  supply  at 
the  same  time,  they  could  feel  certain  of  a 
permanently  full  river.  When  full,  Red 
River  is  easily  navigable,  and  any  expedi 
tion  started  by  Sherman  and  Admiral  Por 
ter  would  have  been  as  successful  as  the 
Arkansas  Post  expedition.  Sherman  was 
willing  to  listen  to  the  Admiral,  and  the  lat 
ter  always  gave  that  attention  to  Sherman's 
opinion  which  was  due  to  his  experience. 

It  will  strike  any  one  at  all  conversant 
with  military  matters  how  absurdly  the  war 
at  this  time  was  conducted  from  Wash 
ington.  Here  was  Grant,  just  successful  in 
one  of  the  most  difficult  sieges  of  modern 
times,  with  a  great  prestige,  and  supposed 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


541 


to  command  all  the  troops  in  Louisiana, 
Arkansas,  Mississippi.  Missouri,  Tennessee, 
Kentucky,  Illinois  and  Ohio,  yet  it  does  not 
appear  that  his  opinion  in  regard  to  the  Red 
River  expedition  was  ever  asked.  Grant 
had  ahout  that  time  gone  to  Chattanooga  on 
a  tour  of  inspection,  and  thought  the  Red 
River  expedition  of  so  little  importance  that 
he  directed  General  Banks  to  send  hack 
A.  J.  Smith's  command  to  Sherman  after 
the  5th  of  May. 

General  Grant  was  opposed  to  making 
any  great  effort  to  carry  on  the  war  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  where  it  would  take  a 
large  army  and  a  large  portion  of  the  Navy 
even  to  hold  the  central  portion  of  Louis 
iana,  which  forces  would  soon  be  wanted  on 
the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee  rivers.  All 
that  was  required  was  for  Banks  to  hold 
New  Orleans  against  General  J.  E.  John 
ston,  who  might  pounce  upon  it  if  left  un 
protected.  Banks  had  not  troops  enough  in 
his  command  to  authorize  the  withdrawal 
of  a  large  force  from  New  Orleans.  All  he 
could  expect  to  do  was  to  hold  several  points 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  forage  in 
West  Louisiana,  and  prevent  supplies  from 
crossing  the  Mississippi  from  Texas,  and 
occasionally  threatening  Mobile,  until  such 
time  as  Grant  should  direct  him  to  march 
upon  the  latter  city  and  capture  it,  which 
would  have  been  when  Sherman  began  his 
march  to  the  sea.  This  would  have  left  no 
enemies  in  Sherman's  rear.  He  would  have 
had  the  railroads  open  behind  him.  includ 
ing  the  important  one  from  Mobile  to  Mont 
gomery,  which,  with  a  Union  Army  at 
Mobile,  would  have  insured  the  pacification 
of  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  and  would  have 
prevented  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
Confederates  to  pursue  Sherman's  rear;  and 
in  case  of  necessity  the  Federals  could  have 
thrown  a  large  part  of  Bank's  Army  by  rail 
upon  Montgomery  and  Atlanta,  if  Sherman 
had  got  into  difficulty,  and  there  would  have 
been  a  line  of  communication  open  to  Sher 
man  from  the  time  he  started  until  he 
reached  Savannah. 

General  Banks  made  a  report  to  Mr. 
Wade,  President  of  the  Senate,  of  his  opera 
tions  from  the  time  he  took  command  at 
New  Orleans  until  his  return  from  the  Red 
River  expedition.  The  report  is  interesting, 
and  shows  that  a  great  deal  of  work  was 
projected  and  a  great  deal  performed.  We 
know  nothing  of  General  Banks'  perform 
ances  prior  to  the  advance  on  Alexandria: 
but,  judging  from  his  statements  in  re 
gard  to  matters  that  came  under  our  cog 
nizance,  we  should  pronounce  the  report 
partial.  No  report  was  made  public  by 
the  War  Department  until  the  General  ap 
peared  before  the  Committee  on  the  Con 
duct  of  the  War. 

After  the   war  he  makes  the  report,  to 


which  we  have  alluded,  to  go  before  the 
country.  His  military  service  was  over, 
and  having  to  explain  to  his  constituents 
the  reasons  for  his  failure,  he  did  not  hesi 
tate  to  misstate  the  facts  in  order  to  throw 
the  blame  on  others.  There  is  so  much 
misrepresentation  in  regard  to  the  events 
in  which  the  Navy  took  part,  as  narrated 
by  General  Banks,  that  one  is  naturally  dis 
posed  to  doubt  the  truth  of  the  whole  re 
port.  Banks  blames  General  Franklin  for 
not  reaching  Alexandria  sooner,  but  the 
latter  shows  that  he  was  not  to  blame,  as 
he  only  received  the  order  to  advance  from 
the  town  of  Franklin  on  the  12th  of  March. 
Banks  informed  General  Franklin  that  he 
had  promised  to  meet  the  Admiral  in  Alex 
andria  on  the  17th  of  March,  and  as  the 
latter  place  is  175  miles  from  the  town  of 
Franklin,  of  course  it  was  impossible  to 
fulfill  this  promise.  Besides,  on  the  10th 
of  March  only  3,000  of  the  troops  which 
were  to  form  that  arm  of  the  expedition 
were  on  the  ground — "the  remainder  had 
just  arrived  from  Texas  and  were  at  Ber 
wick  Bay  without  transportation,  and  the 
cavalry  had  not  arrived  from  New  Or 
leans." 

Franklin  started  on  the  13th,  and  his  ad 
vance-guard  reached  Alexandria  on  the 
25th,  the  rear-guard  and  pontoon  train  on 
the  2Gth  and  27th.  Thus  Franklin  marched 
at  the  rate  of  sixteen  miles  a  day  over  bad 
roads,  having  to  build  many  bridges  across 
streams;  while  Banks,  who  had  agreed  to 
be  at  Alexandria  on  the  17th,  only  arrived 
on  the  2,'>th  in  a  fast  steamer — yet  General 
Banks  undertakes  to  say  that  Franklin  re 
ceived  orders  to  march  on  the  7th,  and  de 
layed  him  that  much.  He  also  said  the  gun 
boats  delayed  him  at  Al  exandria,  whereas  the 
"Louisville,"  "  Carondelet,"  "Pittsburgh," 
"Mound  City,"  "Osage,"  and  "  Neosho," 
all  heavy  iron-dads,  together  with  the  "Lex 
ington,"  "Cricket,"  "Gazelle,"  "Coving- 
ton,"  "Signal,"  and  "Juliet,"  light-drafts, 
were  all  above  the  "  Falls,"  ready  to  move 
at  a  moment's  notice:  while  the  command 
ing  officers  of  the  "  Choctaw,"  "  Ozark," 
"Ouichita"  and  "  Eastport"  were  informed 
that  they  might  pass  above  the  "Falls"  if 
they  could;  and,  if  they  did  get  over,  to 
assemble  at  Grand  Ecore  and  remain  there 
to  protect  that  place. 

In  one  part  of  Banks'  report  he  attempts 
to  make  capital  out  of  a  \rery  small  mat 
ter.  After  Admiral  Farragut  attempted 
to  pass  the  batteries  at  Port  Hudson,  which 
he  only  succeeded  in  doing  with  two  vessels, 
General  Banks  opened  communication  with 
him  through  the  Atchafalaya  by  means  of 
the  gun-boats  "Ansonia"  and  "  Estrella." 
Banks  says  in  his  report : 

"On  the  5th  of  May  our  headquarters  at  Opel- 
ousas  was  broken  up  and  the  troops  moved  for 


542 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Alexandria,  a  distance  of  from  90  to  100  miles,  making 
this  march  in  three  days,  four  hours.  Moving 
rapidly  to  the  rear  of  Fort  de  Russy,  a  strong  work 
on  Red  River,  we  compelled  the  immediate  evacua 
tion  of  that  post  by  the  enemy,  and  enabled  the 
fleet  of  gun-boats  under  Admiral  Porter  to  pass  up 
to  Alexandria  without  firing  a  gun.  The  Army 
reached  Alexandria  the  9th  of  May  (1863),  in  the 
evening,  the  Navy  having  reached  there  the  morn 
ing  of  the  same  day.  The  enemy  continued  his  re 
treat  in  the  direction  of  JShreveport." 

The  facts  of  the  case  are  as  follows,  un 
important  as  they  may  be  :  After  landing 
General  Grant's  troops  fifteen  miles  below 
Grand  Gulf,  taking  possession  of  that  place 
and  removing  all  the  guns,  the  Admiral  left 
at  noon,  May  3,  1863,  and  arrived  that  even 
ing  at  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River,  and 
communicated  with  Admiral  Farragut. 
He  had  with  him  the  gun-boats  "  Benton," 
"Lafayette,"  "Pittsburg,"  "Price,"  ram 
"Switzerland,"  and  tug  "  Ivy." 

Admiral  Farragut  informed  Porter  that, 
hearing  that  General  Banks  proposed  march 
ing  on  Alexandria,  he  had  sent  the  "An- 
sonia"  and  "Estrella,"  under  Lieutenant- 
Commander  A.  P.  Cooke,  up  Red  River,  to 
try  and  communicate  with  the  General,  but 
he  feared,  as  they  were  light  vessels,  they 
might  fail.  On  this,  Admiral  Porter  of 
fered  to  go  up  himself  with  the  force  he 
had,  and  started  accordingly  on  the  4th 
with  the  above-named  vessels,  arriving  at 
Fort  De  Russy  on  the  5th.  On  the  way 
up  he  met  the  two  gun-boats  returning, 
their  commanding  officer  (Cooke)  inform 
ing  Admiral  Porter  that  his  wheel  had 
been  disabled  by  a  shell  from  Fort  De  Russy; 
the  other  vessel  was  struck,  "  but  there  was 
no  one  hurt."  As  the  vessels  were  light, 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  Cooke  could  do 
nothing  against  the  enemy.  The  Admiral 
directed  him  to  return  with  him,  as  he 
should  need  his  vessels,  and  shortly  after 
took  possession  of  Fort  De  Russy.  "it  was 
a  strong  work,  with  three  casemated  guns 
and  a  flanking  battery  nearly  at  right 
angles,  calculated  to  mount  seven  more 
guns. 

Now,  be  it  remembered,  the  Navy  took 
possession  of  Fort  De  Russy — no  very  im 
portant  event — on  the  morning  of  May  5, 
1863,  while  General  Banks  only  started  on 
that  day  from  Opelousas,  distant,  he  says, 
from  Alexandria,  one  hundred  miles ;  yet 
he  claims  to  have  caused  the  evacuation  of 
the  post,  "enabling  the  Navy  to  pass  up  to 
Alexandria  without  firing  a  gun."  (!)  How 
he  could  get  in  the  rear  of  De  Russy  and 
cause  its  evacuation,  when  he  had  not 
started  from  Opelousas  until  late  on  the  day 
it  was  captured  by  the  Navy,  is  a  mystery, 
and  military  men  should  make  a  note  of  it 
for  future  reference.  There  was  no  opposi 
tion  in  getting  to  Alexandria,  for  there  were 
then  no  troops  in  that  region,  only  a  few 
officers  and  a  gang  of  negroes  working  at 


Fort  De  Russy.  The  people  all  along  the 
river  were  glad  to  see  the  Union  flag,  and 
when  the  Navy  reached  Alexandria  it  was 
as  quiet  as  a  country  village  in  Massachu 
setts. 

General  Banks  claims  in  his  report  that, 
after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hud 
son,  his  whole  aim  was  the  capture  of  Mo 
bile,  which  was  of  more  importance  to  the 
Union  than  the  capture  of  a  dozen  Shreve- 
ports.  He  claims  to  have  been  "  opposed  to 
the  expedition  up  Red  River, which  had  been 
explored  thoroughly  in  the  spring  campaign 
of  1863,  and  that  he  was  satisfied  it  was  im 
practicable,  if  not  impossible,  for  the  pur 
pose  entertained  by  the  Government."  Yet 
so  intent  was  General  Banks  on  going  that 
route  that  he  appealed  to  Admiral  Porter  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  latter  could  not  de 
cline  to  accompany  him,  and  on  more  than 
one  occasion  he  was  referred  to  the  Admi 
ral's  objections  by  General  Halleck,  who, 
although  wishing  to  avoid  responsibility 
and  to  throw  the  blame  on  Banks  in  case  of 
failure,  was  as  eager  for  this  raid  as  any 
one. 

If  Banks  simply  wanted  to  hold  a  strong 
point  in  Texas,  he  had  the  opportunity  at 
Sabine  Pass,  which  was  the  nearest  point  to 
his  base  of  operations,  and  into  which  place 
he  could  from  time  to  time  have  thrown  as 
many  troops  as  he  pleased,  and  kept  them 
under  protection  of  the  naval  forces.  Banks 
fitted  out  an  expedition  to  that  place,  but  it 
was  a  failure. 

In  reviewing  General  Banks'  report,  it 
is  our  purpose  to  give  him  the  benefit  of 
his  own  words,  which,  although  specious 
enough,  are  sufficient,  if  carefully  studied, 
to  condemn  him  out  of  his  own  mouth. 
He  says  : 

"In  order  that  the  inherent  difficulties  attending 
the  proposed  combined  movement— which  had  been 
thoroughly  tested  in  the  campaign  of  1863  and  1864, 
and  which  I  had  represented  with  as  much  earnest 
ness  as  seemed  to  be  proper — might  be  presented  in 
a  manner  most  likely  to  gain  attention,  I  directed 
Major  D.  C.  Houston,  chief  engineer  of  the  depart 
ment — who  possessed  the  highest  claims  to  favor 
able  consideration  from  professional  qualifications 
and  experience,  and  his  acquaintance  with  the 
route— to  prepare  a  memorial  upon  operations  on 
Red  River,  which  had  been  long  under  considera 
tion.  This  was  transmitted  to  the  headquarters  of 
the  army,  and  appeared  to  have  received  the  atten 
tion  and  approval  of  the  general-in-chief.  It  stated 
with  precision  the  obstacles  to  be  encountered,  and 
the  measures  necessary  to  accomplish  the  object  in 
view.  No  change  would  be  required  in  this  state 
ment  if  it  had  been  written  in  review  rather  than 
in  anticipation  of  the  campaign.  It  recommended 
as  a  condition  indispensable  to  success :  1st,  such 
complete  preliminary  organization  as  would  avoid 
the  least  delay  in  our  movements  after  the  cam 
paign  had  opened  ;  3d,  that  a  line  of  supply  be 
established  from  the  Mississippi  independent  of 
water-courses ;  3d,  the  concentration  of  the  forces 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  such  other  force  as 
should  be  assigned  to  this  duty  from  General  Sher 
man's  command,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  expel  the 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


543 


enemy  from  northern  Louisiana  and  Arkansas ; 
4rh,  such  preparation  and  concert  of  action  among 
the  different  corps  employed  as  to  prevent  the  en 
emy,  by  keeping  him  constantly  engaged,  from  op 
erating  against  our  positions  or  forces  elsewhere ; 
and,  5th,  that  the  entire  force  should  be  placed  un 
der  the  command  of  a  single  General.  Preparations 
for  a  long  campaign  were  advised,  and  the  month 
of  May  indicated  as  the  point  of  time  when  the  oc 
cupation  of  Shreveport  might  be  anticipated.  Not 
one  of  these  suggestions,  so  necessary  in  conquer 
ing  the  inherent  difficulties  of  the  expedition,  was 
carried  into  execution,  nor  was  it  in  my  power  to 
establish  them.  The  troops  under  command  of 
General  Steele  were  acting  independently  of  my 
command,  under  orders  not  communicated  to  me, 
and  at  such  distance  that  it  was  impossible  to  as 
certain  his  movements,  or  to  inform  him  of  my  own, 
so  that  we  might  co-operate  with  or  support  each 
other.  The  detachment  of  troops  from  the  com 
mand  of  Major-General  Sherman,  though  operating 
upon  the  same  line  with  my  own,  were  under  spe 
cial  orders,  having  ulterior  objects  in  view,  and 
afforded  an  earnest  but  only  a  partial  co-operation 
in  the  expedition.  The  distance  which  separated 
the  different  commands,  the  impossibility  of  estab 
lishing  necessary  communications  between  them, 
the  absence  of  a  general  authority  to  command 
them,  the  time  that  was  required  for  the  transmis 
sion  of  orders  from  Washington,  and  the  necessity 
of  immediate  action  on  account  of  the  condition  of 
the  rivers  and  operations  contemplated  for  the 
armies  elsewhere,  gave  rise  to  embarrassments  in 
organization  of  forces  and  in  the  execution  of  orders 
which  could  not  be  overcome. 

"In  the  instructions  I  received  from  the  Govern 
ment  it  was  left  to  my  discretion  whether  or  not  1 
would  join  in  this  expedition,  but  I  was  directed  to 
communicate  with  General  Sherman  and  General 
Steele  and  Admiral  Porter  upon  the  subject.  I  ex 
pressed  the  satisfaction  I  should  find  in  co-operat 
ing  with  them  in  a  movement  deemed  of  so  much 
importance  by  the  Government,  to  which  my  own 
command  was  unequal,  and  my  belief  that  with  the 
forces  designated  it  would  be  entirely  successful. 
Having  received  from  them  similar  assurances,  both 
my  discretion  and  my  authority,  so  far  as  the  organ 
ization  of  the  expedition  was  concerned,  were  at  an 
end. 

"The  disposition  of  the  enemy's  forces  at  that  time, 
according  to  the  best  information  that  could  be  ob 
tained,  was  as  folio ws  :  Magruder  had  about  20,000 
men  of  all  arms,  of  which  15,000  were  serviceable. 
The  main  body  covered  Galveston  and  Houston 
from  an  anticipated  movement  from  Matagorda 
peninsula,  still  held  by  our  troops  ;  Walker's  divi 
sion,  numbering  7,000  men,  were  upon  the  Atcha- 
falaya  and  Red  Rivers,  from  Opelousas  to  Fort  De 
Russy  ;  Mouton's  division,  between  the  Black  and 
Washita  rivers,  from  Red  River  to  Monroe,  num 
bering  6,000  ;  while  Price,  with  two  heavy  divisions 
of  infantry,  estimated  at  5,000,  and  a  large  cavalry 
force,  estimated  at  from  7,000  to  10,000,  held  the 
country  from  Monroe  to  Canulen  and  Arkadelphia, 
confronting  Steele.  Magruder  could  spare  10.000  of 
his  force  to  resist  an  attack  from  the  east,  leaving 
his  fortifications  well  garrisoned  on  the  coast,  while 
Price  could  furnish  at  least  an  additional  5, 000  from 
the  north,  making  a  formidable  army  of  from  25,000 
to  30,000  men,  equal  to  any  forces  that  could  be 
brought  against  them,  even  with  the  most  perfect 
unity  and  co-operation  of  commands.  This  estimate 
of  the  strength  of  the  enemy  was  given  in  my  dis 
patch  of  February  2,  but  was  thought,  upon  infor 
mation  received  by  the  Government,  to  be  exagger 
ated.  The  defences  of  the  enemy  consisted  of  a  se 
ries  of  works  covering  the  approaches  to  Galveston 
and  Houston  from  the  south,  the  defences  of  Gal 
veston  Bay,  Sabine  Pass,  and  Sabine  River;  Fort 
De  Russy,  a  formidable  work,  located  three  miles 


from  Marksville,  for  the  defence  of  the  Red  River, 
and  extensive  and  formidable  works  at  Trinity,  the 
junction  of  the  Tensas  and  Washita  at  Camden, 
commanding  approaches  from  the  north. 

"To  meet  these  forces  of  the  enemy  it  was  pro 
posed  to  concentrate,  in  some  general  plan  of  oper 
ations,  15,000  of  the  troops  under  command  of  Gen 
eral  Steele,  a  detachment  of  10,000  from  the  com 
mand  of  General  Sherman,  and  a  force  of  from 
15,000  to  17,000  men  from  the  army  of  the  Gulf, 
making  an  army  of  40,000  to  42,000  men  of  all  arms, 
with  such  gun -boats  as  the  Navy  Department 
should  order.  Orders  were  given  to  my  command 
at  once  to  suspend  operations  at  Galveston,  and 
vigorous  preparations  were  made  for  the  new  cam 
paign. 

"Having  been  charged  by  the  President  with 
duties  not  immediately  connected  with  military 
operations,  but  which  were  deemed  important  and 
required  my  personal  attention  at  New  Orleans,  the 
organization  of  the  troops  of  my  command  assigned 
to  the  expedition  was  intrusted  to  Major -Gen 
eral  W.  B.  Franklin.  The  main  body  of  his  com 
mand,  consisting  of  the  19th  corps — except  Grover's 
division  at  Madisonville,  which  was  to  join  him — 
and  one  division  of  the  13th  corps,  under  General 
Ransom,  were  at  this  time  on  Berwick's  Bay,  be 
tween  Berwick  City  and  Franklin,  on  the  B'ayou 
Teche,  directly  on  the  line  of  march  for  Alexandria 
and  Shreveport.  Small  garrisons  were  left  at 
Brownsville  and  Matagorda  Bay,  in  Texas — posi 
tions  which,  under  instructions  from  the  President 
and  subsequently  from  Lieutenant-General  Grant, 
were  not  to  be  abandoned — at  New  Orleans  and  at 
Port  Hudson,  which  was  threatened  by  a  vigorous 
and  active  enemy.  Smaller  garrisons  at  Baton 
Rouge  and  Donaldson ville  on  the  river,  and  at  Pen- 
sacola  and  Key  West  on  the  coast,  constituted  the 
balance  of  forces  under  my  command. 

'  1 1  had  been  arranged  that  the  troops  concentrated 
at  Franklin  should  move  for  the  Red  River  on  the 
7th  of  March,  to  meet  the  forces  of  General  Sher 
man  at  Alexandria  on  the  17th.  But,  for  causes 
stated  by  General  Franklin,  their  inarch  was  de 
layed  until  the  13th,  at  which  time  the  advance, 
under  General  A.  L  Lee,  left  Franklin,  the  whole 
column  following  soon  after  and  arriving  at  Alexan 
dria,  the  cavalry  on  the  19th,  and  the  infantry  on 
the  25th. 

"On  the  13th  of  March,  1864,  one  division  of  the 
16th  corps,  under  Brigadier-General  Mower,  and 
one  division  of  the  17th  corps,  under  Brigadier- 
General  T.  Kilby  Smith — the  whole  under  com 
inand  of  Brigadier-General  A.  J.  Smith — landed  at 
Simmsport,  on  the  Atchafalaya,  and  proceeded  at 
once  towards  Fort  De  Russy,  carrying  it  by  assault 
at  4:30  p.  M.  on  the  afternoon  of  the  14th.  Two 
hundred  and  sixty  prisoners  and  ten  heavy  guns 
were  captured.  Our  loss  was  slight.  The  troops 
and  transports  under  General  A.  J.  Smith,  and  the 
marine  brigade  under  General  Ellet,  with  the  gun 
boats,  moved  to  Alexandria,  which  was  occupied 
without  opposition  on  the  16th  of  the  same  month. 

"General  Lee,  of  my  command,  arrived  at  Alexan 
dria  on  the  morning  of  the  19th.  The  enemy,  in 
the  meantime,  continued  his  retreat  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Shreveport.  Officers  of  my  staff  were  at 
Alexandria  on  the  19th,  and  I  made  my  headquar 
ters  there  on  the  24th,  the  forces  under  General 
Franklin  arriving  on  the  25th  and  26th  of  March  ; 
but  as  the  stage  of  the  water  in  Red  River  was  too 
low  to  admit  the  passage  of  the  gun-boats  or  trans 
ports  over  the  Falls,  the  troops  encamped  near 
Alexandria,  General  Smith  and  his  command  mov 
ing  forward  21  miles  to  Bayou  Rapides,  above  Alex 
andria.  There  was  but  six  feet  of  water  in  the 
channel,  while  seven  and  a-half  were  necessary  for 
the  second  class  and  ten  feet  for  the  first-class  gun 
boats.  The  river  is  narrow,  the  channel  tortuous, 
changing  with  every  rise,  making  its  navigation 


544 


THE   NAVAL    HISTORY 


more  difficult  and  dangerous,  probably,  than  any 
of  the  western  rivers,  while  pilots  for  the  transports 
were  reluctant  to  enter  Government  service  for  this 
campaign. 

"  The  first  gun -boat  was  unable  to  cross  the  rapids 
until  the  26th  ;  others  crossed  on  the  28th,  with 
some  transports,  and  others  still  on  the  2d  and  3d 
of  April ;  the  passage  haying  been  made  with  diffi 
culty  and  danger,  occupying  several  days.  Several 
gun-boats  and  transports,  being  then  unable  to  as 
cend  the  river,  remained  at  Alexandria  or  returned 
to  the  Mississippi.  While  at  Alexandria,  Major- 
General  McPherson,  commanding  at  Vicksburg, 
called  for  the  immediate  return  of  the  marine  brig 
ade — a  part  of  General  Smith's  command — to  pro 
tect  the  Mississippi,  for  which  service  it  had  been 
specially  organized.  The  transports  of  this  brigade 
were  unable  to  pass  above  Alexandria.  The  hospi 
tal  boat  'Woodford'  had  been  wrecked  on  the 
rapids  in  attempting  the  passage.  The  troops  were 
suffering  from  small-pox,  which  pervaded  all  the 
transports,  and  they  were  reported  in  condition  of 
partial  mutiny.  It  was  not  supposed  at  that  time 
that  a  depot  or  garrison  at  Alexandria  would  be  re 
quired  ;  and  this  command,  being  without  avail 
able  land  or  water  transportation,  was  permitted  to 
return  to  the  Mississippi,  in  compliance  with  the 
demands  of  General  McPherson ;  this  reduced  the 
strength  of  the  advancing  column  about  3.000  men. 

"The  condition  of  the  river  and  the  inability  of  the 
transports  to  pass  the  Falls  made  it  necessary  to 
establish  a  depot  of  supplies  at  Alexandria,  and  a 
line  of  wagon  transportation  from  the  steamers  be 
low  to  those  above  the  Falls.  This  was  a  departure 
from  the  plan  of  the  campaign,  which  did  not  con 
template  a  post  or  depot  at  any  point  on  Red  River, 
and  involved  the  necessity  of  leaving  a  division  at 
Alexandria  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  depot, 
transports  and  supplies.  Brigadier  -  General  C. 
Grover  was  placed  in  command  of  the  post,  and  his 
division  left  for  its  defence.  This  reduced  the  force 
of  the  advancing  column  about  3,000  men. 

"While  at  Alexandria,  on  the  21st  instant,  a  move 
ment  was  organized  against  the  enemy  posted  at 
Henderson's  Hill,  25  miles  in  advance.  The  expedi 
tion  consisted  of  three  brigades  of  General  A.  J. 
Smith's  command,  and  a  brigade  of  cavalry  of  the 
19th  corps,  under  command  of  Colonel  Lucas,  of  the 
16th  Indiana  volunteers — the  whole  under  the  com 
mand  of  Brigadier  General  Mower,  of  the  16th 
corps.  The  enemy  was  surprised,  losing  250  prison 
ers,  200  horses  and  four  guns,  with  their  caissons. 
Colonel  H.  B.  Sargent  of  my  staff  was  severely 
wounded  in  this  action,  and  disabled  from  service 
during  this  campaign.  This  affair  reflected  the 
highest  credit  upon  the  officers  and  men  engaged." 

General  Banks'  '"report"  as  here  quoted, 
though  it  sounds  plausible  enough,  will  not 
bear  criticism.  He  implies  that  a  delay  of 
sixteen  days  was  caused  by  the  inability  of 
the  fleet  to  ascend  the  rapids  ("Falls'')  at 
Alexandria  It  should  be  remembered  that 
Banks  himself  did  not  arrive  in  Alexandria 
until  the  25th.  and  the  rear-guard  of  his 
army  on  the  20th,  after  a  fatiguing  march. 
At  least  two  days  were  required  to  reorgan 
ize  the  different  corps  after  arrival.  Banks 
says  the  first  gun-boat  could  only  pass  the 
Rapids  on  the  28th, whereas  on  that  day  the 
heaviest  of  the  vessels,  the  "  Eastport,"  as 
cended  the  Falls,  and  seven  or  eight  others 
— all  that  were  needed — had  been  above  the 
Falls  for  some  days  waiting  for  the  Army 
to  move.  Finally,  the  gun-boats  pushed 
ahead,  and  on  the  30th  the  "Eastport," 


which  General  Banks  says  delayed  the 
Army,  took  possession  of  Grand  Ecore, 
which  place  had  been  evacuated  by  the  en 
emy.  Banks'  army  did  not  reach  Grand 
Ecore  until  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  April. 
How,  then,  can  General  Banks  pretend  to 
blame  the  Navy  for  the  detention?  It  was 
only  intended  to  take  eight  vessels  to  Shreve- 
port,  viz.:  the  ''Lexington,"  "Osage,"  "Ga 
zelle,"  "'Cricket,"  "Fort  Hindman,"  "Ju 
liet,"  "  Ouichita  "  and  "Neosho."  These  ves 
sels  mounted  50  guns,  some  of  them  heavy 
ones.  The  other  vessels  that  passed  the  Falls 
were  necessary  to  guard  Grand  Ecore,  and  a 
sufficient  force  was  left  to  protect  Alexan 
dria.  If  the  Navy  delayed  the  Army,  how 
is  it  the  gun-boats  arrived  so  much  ahead 
of  the  latter  at  Grand  Ecore  ?  In  fact,  at 
any  time  previous  to  the  29th  or  30th  of 
March,  a  medium-draft  gun-boat  and  any 
transport  had  110  difficulty  in  passing  above 
Alexandria.  A  hospital  boat,  belonging  to 
the  "Marine  Brigade,"  was  lost  at  the  Falls, 
but  this  was  due  to  the  stupidity  of  her 
pilot.  There  was  none  of  the  "danger" 
that  Banks  mentions,  or  anything  more 
than  the  ordinary  accidents  likely  to  occur 
among  so  many  vessels. 

No  delay  was  caused  by  stopping  at  Alex 
andria  to  establish  a  depot  of  supplies. 
The  depot  was  established  before  Banks 
arrived,  and  there  was  no  departure  from 
the  plan  of  campaign  in  making  such  ar 
rangement.  It  was  a  very  necessary  ar 
rangement,  for  the  campaign  could  not  have 
been  conducted  without  using  Alexandria 
as  a  base  of  supplies. 

The  number,  etc.,  of  the  enemy's  forces 
is  greatly  overstated  by  General  Banks. 
They  did  not,  all  told,  number  more  than 
20,000  men,  among  them  were  6,000  or  7,000 
raw  troops  from  Texas,  commanded  by  Gen 
eral  Green.  These  were  badly  cut  up  by 
the  gun-boats  at  Pleasant  Hill  Landing. 

Another  mistake  of  Banks  is  to  be  found  in 
the  recapitulation  of  his  report.  He  says 
eight  days  may  be  set  down  to  General 
Franklin  for  his  tardy  movements,  and  the 
rest  of  the  time  to  delay  in  getting  the  fleet 
over  the  "Falls."  The  General  reflects  on  the 
Admiral  for  undertaking  to  get  twenty  iron 
clads  of  heavy  draft  over  the  "  Falls  "  and  up 
the  river  on  a  falling  water.  There  were  but 
six  iron-clads  in  the  fleet,  and  of  these  the 
"  Eastport "  and  "  Ozark  "  were  the  only  two 
from  which  trouble  might  have  been  antici 
pated  in  passing  above  the  "  Falls."  How 
ever,  the  "Ozark"  never  delayed  the  fleet  a 
moment  going  or  coming,  and  the  others  eas 
ily  got  above  the  "  Falls."  The  risk  run  was 
the  chance  of  the  river  falling,  for  which 
General  Banks  is  not  held  responsible.  The 
object  of  the  Admiral  was  to  do  everything 
in  his  power  to  make  the  expedition  "a  suc 
cess;  and  supposing  that  Banks  intended  to 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


545 


obey  his  instructions  and  hold  the  country, 
and  not  thinking  that  he  would  retreat 
on  meeting  resistance  from  an  inferior  force, 
his  intention  was  to  stay  up  Red  River  with 
as  large  a  naval  force  as  he  could  spare  from 
the  Mississippi,  until  his  presence  was  no 
longer  necessary. 

Suppose,  as  Banks  asserts,  the  fleet  did 
not  reach  Springfield  Landing  until  "two 
full  days  "  after  the  battle  of  Sabine  Cross 
Roads,  that  point  was  reached  at  the  time 
appointed  to  meet  the  General  and  his  army. 
The  Navy's  arrival  any  sooner  would  not 
have  benefitted  him  in  the  least,  and  he 
could  not,  under  any  circumstances,  have 
reached  there  before  the  fleet.  The  fleet 
could  have  reached  there  sooner,  but  was  de 
layed  by  some  heavy  army  transports  which 
were  continually  getting  aground.  These 
heavy  vessels  were,  it  is  said,  sent  up  by 
Banks'  orders  to  get  down  cotton.  Any  one 
who  knows  General  Banks  will  smile  at  the 
following: 

"The  failure  of  the  fleet  to  move  up  the  river 
with  ordinary  expedition,  together  with  the  fact 
that  the  gun-boats  Avere  unable  to  pass  Grand  Ecore 
until  the  ?th,  justified  the  belief  that  its  advance 
had  been  prevented  by  the  low  stage  of  water,  and 
governed  the  army  exclusively  in  its  retrograde 
movement  to  Grand  Ecore."  (1 !) 

Banks  might  also  have  added — impelled 
in  a  great  measure  by  the  Confederates  un 
der  General  Taylor,  who  were  pressing  in 
his  rear. 

It  is  astonishing  how  visionary  some  of 
the  generals  become  after  a  war  is  over,  and 
they  want  to  delude  the  people  into  giving 
them  seats  in  Congress.  Banks  once  made 
a  speech  to  his  constituents  in  which  he  said: 
"  Had  the  gun-boats  not  failed  to  come  to 
our  assistance,  we  would  have  met  with  no 
reverse'*  !  !  On  the  occasion  referred  to, 
there  were  thirty  miles  of  land  between 
the  vessels  and  the  army. 

The  last  chapter  in  Banks'  romance  \ve 
leave  to  be  criticised  by  the  many  thousands 
who  keenly  felt  the  disgrace  inflicted  on 
them  and  upon  the  country  by  a  most  in 
experienced  General.  The  Admiral's  reports 
published  and  on  file  will  show  that  he  gave 
full  credit  to  the  Army  for  all  the  assistance 
the  fleet  received  to  get  them  out  of  a  diffi 
culty  into  which  they  fell,  owing  to  Banks' 
self-assurance.  We "  feel  satisfied  that  no 
charge  of  inefficiency  can  ever  be  main 
tained  against  the  Navy,  or  that  through  it 
the  lives  of  those  under  Banks'  command 
were  sacrificed. 

It  is  bad  enough  for  a  man  to  bring 
disasters  upon  the  country,  but  when  he 
tries  to  throw  the  blame  of  defeat  upon 
others,  and  criticises  their  earnest  en 
deavors  to  carry  out  his  impracticable 
plans,  he  must  not  expect  to  be  gently 
dealt  with  by  those  whom  he  fain  would  in 
jure.  We  do  not  pretend  to  have  treated 

35 


General  Banks  leniently  in  our  account  of 
his  performances,  including  his  "  masterly 
retreat "  before  an  inferior  force.  It  was 
the  Admiral's  duty  to  make  the  report  he 
did  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  but  he 
stated  the  case  in  much  milder  terms,  as 
regarded  General  Banks,  than  did  the  army 
officers  who  served  under  him,  in  their  evi 
dence  before  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct 
of  the  War.  We  insert  one  letter  from 
General  Kilby  Smith  which  corroborates 
everything  that  has  been  said  in  regard  to 
Banks  leaving  the  "  Eastport "  at  the  mercy 
of  the  enemy: 

HEADQUARTERS  DIVISION  I?TH  ARMY  CORPS,  I 
COTILE,  April  25th,  1864.          j 

ADMIRAL  :  Arrived  at  this  point  last  night.  Gen 
eral  Banks  and  army  are  on  the  march  to  Alexan 
dria.  We  brought  up  the  rear  and  skirmished  all 
the  way.  General  Banks  fought  at  the  crossing  of 
Cane  River  ;  not  much  loss  on  either  side.  [Note — 
General  Banks  speaks  of  this  as  most  desperate 
fighting.]  Our  fight  in  the  rear  was  sharp.  Gen 
eral  A.  J.  Smith's  command  is  ordered  peremp 
torily  to  Alexandria  ;  troops  are  now  on  the  march. 
You  will  find  the  enemy  some  2,000  strong  on  the 
opposite  side.  Their  artillery  does  not  amount 
to  much;  what  they  have  we  have  crippled.  [Note — 
The  General  was  mistaken  about  the  crippling.] 
Will  communicate  more  fully  from  Alexandria  by 
the  gun-boats  "Osage"  and  "  Pittsburg."  unless 
they  get  off  before  we  arrive. 

General  Smith  and  myself  both  protest  at  being 
hurried  away.  I  feel  as  if  we  were  shamefully 
deserting  you.  If  I  had  the  power  1  would  march 
my  troops  back  to  Calhoun.  or  wherever  you 
might  need  us,  if  at  all.  I  will  try  and  get  a  com 
munication  to  you  from  General  A.  J.  Smith. 
Most  respectfully  yours, 

THOMAS  KILBY  SMITH, 

Brigadier- General  Co m ma nding. 
To  ADMIRAL  PORTER. 

General  Banks'  shortcomings  were  felt  in 
the  Army  as  well  as  in  the  Navy,  as  wrill  ap 
pear  by  the  following  extract  from  a  report 
by  Captain  Wm.  S.  Burns,  Acting-Assistant 
Adjutant-General  on  the  staff  of  General 
A.  J.  Smith: 

"  Our  victory  being  so  complete,  General  Banks 
had  ordered  the  retreating  train  to  be  halted, 
turned  about,  and  everything  prepared  for  an  early 
advance  next  morning,  and  about  midnight  I  fell 
asleep  amidst  the  groans  of  the  wounded;  but  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning  was  awakened  to  hear  that 
we  were  ordered  to  retreat.  Imagine  our  feelings  ! 
General  Smith,  upon  receipt  of  the  order,  had  gone 
to  General  Banks  and  urged  an  advance  ;  but  when 
he  found  the  order  to  retreat  was  imperative,  he 
begged  the  privilege  of  remaining  on  the  field  to 
bury  the  dead  and  take  care  of  the  wounded  ;  but 
even  this  was  not  allowed.  Disgraceful  !  Criminal  1 
Inhuman  !  At  this  late  day,  when  time  has  miti 
gated  the  intensity  of  the  keen  feeling  then  experi 
enced  by  us  who  fled,  my  notes  and  letters  seem 
overdrawn,  and  I  hesitate  to  quote  literally,  but 
they  are  a  true  history,  not  only  of  my  own  per 
sonal  sense  of  bitter  humiliation — then  in  my  mind 
— but  are  a  true  index  of  the  inner  consciousness  of 
nine-tenths  of  the  army  ;  and,  although  '  military 
discipline'  kept  it  under,  yet  so  the  soldiers 
thought,  talked,  and  some  of  them  wrote;  and  even 
now,  when  fifteen  years  have  passed  away,  it  is 
difficult  to  review  these  events  and  write  with  any 
degree  of  calmness  or  patience  of  our  retreat. 


54G 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


"  This  was  a  defeat,  but  a  defeat  only  to  our  foe. 
The  stake  fought  for  by  him  was  the  trans-Missis 
sippi  Empire  ;  by  our  commanding  general,  the 
safe  retreat  of  his  army.  We  won  both,  abandoned 
the  former  to  the  enemy  after  he  had  retreated, 
and  gave  to  a  brilliant  victory  all  the  moral  results 
of  a  defeat.  Finally,  the  Thirty  -  second  Iowa 
blushes  to  place  upon  its  banner  the  name  of  a  field 
where  its  dead  and  wounded  were  cruelly  aban 
doned  to  an  enemy,  who,  many  hours  afterwards, 
humbly  asked  leave  to  care  for  his  own." 

When  General  Banks  questions  the  vera 
city  of  officers,  he  should  see  what  is  said 
of  his  own  in  the  following  extract  from 
the  same  officer: 

"Having  whipped  our  enemy  and  driven  him 
miles  from  the  battle-field,  then  to  be  ordered  to 
run  !  We  could  see  no  reason  for  it  then  and  can- 
nct  yet,  although  it  may  be  true,  as  General  Banks 
says  in  his  official  report:  'The  occupation  of 
Shreveport  could  not  have  been  maintained.'  But 
it  is  not  the  object  of  this  article  to  enter  into  the 
merits  or  otherwise  of  General  Banks'  decision  to 
retreat;  for,  of  course,  there  are  two  sides  to  every 
question;  but  I  do  censure  him  for  leaving  the  dead 
unburied  and  the  wounded  (i.e.,  the  greater  part 
of  them)  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  If  he 
had  to  retreat,  why  such  haste  ?  Why  not  wait  at 
least  one  day  and  care  for  the  dead  and  dying  ? 
General  Banks  is  hardly  fair  toward  General  Smith 
in  his  official' report.  He  says:  'General  Smith 
never  declined  co-operation  with  me,  nor  did  he  re 
ceive  orders  from  me.'  It  may  seem  'to  the  preju 
dice  of  order  and  military  discipline,'  for  me,  as  a 
subordinate,  to  question  the  veracity  of  a  com 
manding  general,  but  when  he  says,  'nor  did  he 
receive  orders  from  me,' I  do  call  his  veracity  into 
question.  As  I  have  shown,  Colonel  Shaw,  of  Gen 
eral  Smith's  command,  reported  to  General  Emory 
for  duty  at  Pleasant  Hill.  As  no  one  stood  between 
Generals  Banks  and  Smith — that  is,  with  any 
authority  to  command  General  Smith — who  but 
General  Banks  could  have  ordered  this  ?  And  in 
Colonel  Shaw's  official  report,  he  says:  '  I  was  or 
dered  to  report  with  my  brigade  to  General  Banks. 
By  him  I  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  front  and 
report  to  General  Emory/ etc.  I  could  give  many 
other  instances  where  General  Smith  did  receive  or 
ders  from  General  Banks.  From  the  moment  he 
reported  to  him  at  Alexandria,  he  was  under  his  or 
ders  and  received  them  and  obeyed  them  every  day 
while  under  his  command.  To  even  imagine  any 
other  state  of  affairs  would  be  ridiculous  and  not 
tenable.  When  I  roach  the  cotton  chapter  of  the 
expedition,  I  will  give  one  instance  where  he  ques 
tioned  one  of  Banks'  orders  ;  but  that  the  circum 
stances  fully  justified  him  in  this,  will  be,  I  think, 
the  verdict  of  all  honest  men." 

It  is  hardly  fair  to  quote  what  the  enemy 
said  against  General  Banks — still  it  is  in 
teresting  to  know  what  the  Confederates 
thought • 

"  What  a  sad  picture  was  now  to  be  seen,  where 
all  was  beauty  and  luxury  when  we  first  saw  it  in 
March  !  Governor  Moore  was  with  his  friends  fur 
ther  south,  and  while  fighting  over  his  plantation 
one  day,  his  wife  was  advised  to  leave,  and  as  she 
left  her  house  the  tears  came  to  her  eyes  as  she  said: 
4  Good-bye,  once  happy  home!'  Who  made  it  an 
unhappy  one?  We  all  concluded  that  it  washer 
husband,  as  the  natural  result  of  treason.  Living 
far  in  the  interior  of  '  Dixie,'  as  he  did.  he  undoubt 
edly  thought  war's  desolation  would  never  reach 
his  happy  home.  Three  years  had  passed  away, 
and  he  was  an  exile — his  family  leaving  their  home  • 
the  flag  he  insulted  and  defied  waving  over  the 


ruins  of  his  '  once  happy  home.'    Was  it  not  a  just 
retribution  ? 

"We  were  now  entirely  cut  off  from  the  outside 
world,  the  blockade  of  the  river  being  most  effec 
tual.  A  large  mail  for  us  was  captured  and  de 
stroyed  on  one  of  the  transports.  General  Banks 
would  not  let  us  go  out  in  force  and  give  the  enemy 
battle,  having  issued  positive  orders  not  to  bring 
on  a  general  engagement,  which  order  caused  a  good 
deal  of  animated  (but  private)  discussion.  It  is  ap 
propriate  at  this  point  to  quote  again  from  the  let 
ter  of  the  Southern  soldier  already  quoted  from: 
'  The  enemy  showed  less  enterprise  than  I  have  ever 
known  them  to  evince.  Banks  is  clearly  no  com 
mander.  Once  or  twice  while  he  was  at  Alexandria, 
the  posture  of  our  forces  was  such  that  by  a  sure 
and  comparatively  safe  movement  of  ten  thousand 
men  he  might  have  insured,  beyond  peradventure, 
the  capture  of  Polignac's  division.  He  must  have 
been  in  the  main  aware  of  the  position  and  strength 
of  our  forces.' " 

Here  is  another  extract  from  Captain 
Burns  : 

"The  above  view  is  a  fair  reflection  of  our  own. 
We,  too,  felt  that  General  Banks  had  'given  up  all 
desire  to  acquit  himself  with  any  credit,'  and  showed 
an  unaccountable  lack  of  enterprise.  Of  course,  we 
knew  nothing  as  to  the  certain  result  above  pre 
dicted,  of  the  'sure  and  comparatively  safe  move 
ment  of  ten  thousand  men.'  But  having  about 
that  number,  General  Smith,  having  his  hands  tied 
by  the  order  not  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement, 
and  being  obliged  in  conformity  with  it  (another 
instance  of  receipt  of  orders  from  General  Banks) 
to  sit  down  quietly  on  Governor  Moore  s  planta 
tion  and  simply  sweep  away  the  enemy  when  too 
closely  recpnnoitering  our  position,  might  be  ex 
cused  for  giving  vent  to  his  feelings  in  unmistakable 
language,  at  such  (to  him  a  '  West  Pointer  ')  a  new 
phase  of  military  life. 

"  I  have  stated  that  when  I  reached  Alexandria 
I  would  show  that  it  was  General  Banks,  not  Gen 
eral  Smith,  who  meditated  the  abandonment  of  the 
fleet.  Dr.  Staples  (who,  owing  to  the  wound  of  Dr. 
Derby,  already  spoken  of,  was  now  acting-medical 
director  on  General  Smith  s  staff)  writes  me  as  fol 
lows:  'One  day,  when  the  wing-dams  were  about  half 
completed,  General  Smith  asked  me  to  accompany 
him  to  General  Emory's  quarters.  They  were  soon 
engaged  in  earnest  conversation,  and  I  heard  Emory 
say  there  was  a  bad  outlook  ;  that  General  Banks 
had  just  informed  him  that  Colonel  Bailey  thought 
it  would  take  a  week  longer  to  get  the  fleet  over 
the  Falls,  and  Banks  was  very  uneasy  and  seriously 
contemplated  abandoning  the  fleet  to  its  fate  and 
marching  away.  General  Smith  replied,  with  some 
Anglo-Saxon  more  forcible  than  polite,  that  he 
wouldn't  leave  Admiral  Porter  until  that  locality, 
from  which  we  all  hope  to  escape,  had  frozen  over. 
We  went  from  General  Emory's  to  Admiral  Porter's 
boat,  and  General  Smith  told  the  Admiral  what  he 
had  just  heard,  and  assured  him  that  orders,  or  no 
orders,  his  command  should  not  leave  the  fleet  until 
they  saw  it  safe  through  to  the  Mississippi  River. 
Admiral  Porter  replied  that  he  was  not  surprised 
to  hear  such  news,  as  he  had  been  anticipating  a& 
much.  He  expressed  much  gratitude  for  General 
Smith's  proffers  of  aid,  and  declared  that  if  the  ex 
pedition  had  been  under  his  command  it  would  not 
have  failed." 

We  do  not  think  we  have  said  as  much  d,s 
as  that  against  General  Banks.  When  one 
remembers  Banks'  evidence  before  the 
"  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War," 
and  compares  it  with  the  following  state 
ment  of  Captain  Burns,  he  might  suspect 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


547 


Banks  of  the  want  of  ingenuousness  which 
he  imputes  to  others: 

''I  have  now  come  to  a  subject  which  requires 
delicate  handling;  but  even  an  historical  sketch  of 
the  Red  River  campaign  cannot  well  be  written 
without  a  reference  to  it.  As  the  expedition  had 
been  a  decided  failure  in  a  military  point  of  view, 
so  it  was  a  great  success  as  a  cotton  speculation.  It 
was  difficult  for  us  to  believe  that  which  our  eyes 
saw,  but  it  was  the  expressed  arid  indignant  belief 
of  many  in  the  army  th-it  something  was  wrong  in 
the  manipulation  of  col  ton  now  being  enacted  be 
fore  our  eyes.  We  all  saw  an  immense  amount  of 
bagging  and  roping  upon  the  steamer  '  Black 
Hawk  '  (General  Banks'  headquarters  boat)  when  it 
arrived  at  Alexandria,  and  it  was  then  said  it  was 
for  cotton.  And  during  our  occupancy  of  Alexan 
dria  on  our  retreat,  I  myself  saw  steamers  loaded 
with  cotton  and  sent  down  the  river  under  the  pro 
tection  of  the  hospital  flag,  and  Lieutenant  Pannes 
(ordnance  officer  on  General  Smith's  staff)  sends  me 
the  following  extract  from  his  diary: 

"  '  APRIL  29,  1864. — Cotton  is  being  loaded  on  the 
boats  by  General  Banks'  order.  Even  the  hospital 
boat  "  Superior ''is  used  for  that  purpose;  went  out 
with  Captain  Burns  to  convince  myself  of  that  fact. 

"  '  MAY  1. — The  three  cotton  boats  returned,  hav 
ing  been  fired  into.' 

"  In  a  letter  written  by  Colonel  Shaw,  who  was 
at  this  time  with  his  brigade  at  Governor  Moore's 
plantation,  he  says: 

"  '  The  ostensible  purpose  of  occupying  this  posi 
tion  was  the  securing  of  forage,  but  as  scarcely  any 
was  procured  and  several  thousand  bushels  of  corn 
were  carelessly  burned,  it  was  thought  a  somewhat 
suspicious  circumstance  that  a  large  ginning  estab 
lishment,  which  was  covered  by  our  lines,  was  turn 
ing  out  some  fifteen  or  twenty  bales  of  cotton  per 
day.  But  whether  well  founded  or  not,  the  impres 
sion  was  well-nigh  universal  that  army  movements 
were  controlled  to  a  considerable  extent  by  the  cot 
ton  interest.  Such  a  state  of  affairs  was  most  de 
moralizing  and  disheartening.' 

"From  our  first  entrance  into  the  Red  River  coun 
try  we  had  been  daily  hearing  reports  which  seemed 
too  preposterous  for  belief  ;  reports  that  an  under 
standing  existed  between  somebody  and  somebody 
else  that  there  was  to  be  no  fighting  on  this  cam 
paign,  but  that  the  Southern  Army  was  to  fall  back 
gradually  as  our  army  advanced  and  gathered  up 
the  cotton,  for  which,  in  some  way  not  explained, 
the  Southerners  were  to  be  paid.  Also  that  Gen 
erals  A.  J.  Smith  and  Dick  Taylor,  not  having  been 
informed  of  this  secret,  and  both  being  fighting- 
men,  had  entered  the  campaign  to  fight  when  it 
became  necessary,  and  General  Smith's  capture  of 
Fort  Be  Russy,  and  Dick  Taylor's  forcing  the  fight 
at  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  had  upset  the  calculations  of 
the  different  somebodies.  This  report  of  a  secret 
understanding  was  reiterated  day  after  day  until  it 
was  believed  by  many  to  be  true;  but  many  more  of 
us  were  incredulous  until  we  witnessed  this  strange 
shipment  of  cotton  under  the  hospital  flag,  which 
was  either  a  gross  deception  under  the  sacredness  of 
a  hospital  flag  or  the  carrying  out  of  a  bargain." 

We  do  not  care  to  criticise  General  Banks 
further,  otherwise  we  might  extend  these 
extracts;  so  we  will  leave  his  case  to  the 
judgment  of  history. 

At  one  time  we  could  not  help  feeling 
sorry  for  General  Banks,  for  the  numiliat- 
ing  position  in  which  he  was  placed  was 
not  altogether  his  fault.  Had  he  not  at 
tempted  to  draw  attention  from  himself  by 
throwing  blame  on  the  Navy,  we  should 
doubtless  have  had  a  better  opinion  of  him. 


Most  generals  must  expect  reverses. 
Frederick  the  Great  ran  away  at  his  first 
battle,  and  was  not  always  successful  in 
after  years,  although  one  of  the  greatest 
soldiers  of  modern  times,  and  in  his 
most  noted  defeat  he  took  all  the  blame 
on  his  own  shoulders.  A  general  will,  in 
fact,  gain  more  credit  by  assuming  the  re 
sponsibility  of  defeat  than  by  attempting 
to  shirk  it. 

With  all  General  Banks'  faults,  he  had 
some  striking  good  qualities.  He  was  a 
gentleman  in  his  manners,  and  the  Admiral 
never  had  to  complain  of  a  want  of  courtesy 
towards  his  officers  or  himself  except  once. 
He  looked  well  in  his  uniform,  and  kept  him 
self  always  scrupulously  neat,  though 
rather  theatrical  in  his  style  of  gloves  and 
boots.  With  a  better  surrounding  he  would 
have  had  more  success  as  a  general.  He 
had  not  much  force  of  character,  and  lacked 
nerve  in  time  of  danger.  As  Governor  of 
Massachusetts  and  Speaker  of  the  United 
States  House  of  Representatives,  no  one  has 
ever  questioned  his  ability;  yet,  strange  to 
say,  Banks  always  preferred  to  be  con 
sidered  a  soldier  rather  than  a  statesman. 
He  never  had  sufficient  military  force  to 
properly  occupy  the  country  under  his  im 
mediate  command,  much  less  to  make  ex 
peditions  into  hostile  regions. 

The  expedition  up  Red  River  toward 
Shreveport  was  the  end  of  his  military 
career.  As  Governor  of  Louisiana,  Banks 
was  not  equal  to  Butler,  who.  with  less 
savoir  faire,  had  more  decision  of  character 
and  made  a  better  record. 

In  taking  leave  of  General  Banks  and 
Red  River,  we  will  give  him  the  benefit  of 
the  last  word,  and  append  to  this  narrative 
that  portion  of  his  report  where  he  appears 
in  melodramatic  attitude  towards  the  Ad 
miral  and  the  Navy — k'  That  Navy  which  he 
and  the  Army  preserved,  while  it  did  nothing 
to  help  itself  !" 

While  we  acknowledge  that  General 
Banks  and  his  army  did  all  in  their  power 
to  assist  the  fleet  over  the  "  Falls,"  we 
do  not  admit  that  they  preserved  it.  The 
Navy  had  one  hundred  miles  of  river  above 
the  "Falls,"  with  water  deep  enough  to 
navigate,  and,  if  Banks  had  left,  they  could 
have  maintained  themselves  there,  running 
up  and  down,  despite  all  the  forces  in  that 
part  of  Louisiana.  There  were  four  months' 
provisions  on  hand,  and  in  less  than  that 
time  the  desired  rise  of  water  came. 

General  Banks  is  a  clever  writer,  but  any 
one  who  reads  his  report  will  detect  that 
coloring  of  which  we  have  on  several 
occasions  complained. 

The  following  is  the  last  specimen  that 
will  be  quoted,  and  with  this  ends  the  ac 
count  of  the  Red  River  expedition.  It  is  an 
extract  from  General  Banks'  report  : 


548 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


"  The  first  difficulty  encountered  was  in  the  navi 
gation  of  the  river.  (Sixteen  days'  delay  caused  by 
the  inability  of  the  fleet  to  pass  the  Rapids  at  Alex 
andria,  and  three  days'  delay  at  Grand  Ecore  in 
waiting  the  rise  of  the  river,  enabled  the  enemy  to 
concentrate  his  forces,  and  rendered  impossible  that 
celerity  of  movement  by  the  Army  which  the  suc 
cess  of  the  expedition  demanded.  Eight  days  of 
the  delay  at  Alexandria  would  have  been  attribu 
table  to  the  tardy  organization  and  movements  of 
Franklin's  command  ;  but  the  fleet  was  unable  to 
pass  the  Falls  until  eight  days  after  his  arrival  at 
Alexandria.  This  delay  was  doubtless  owing  to  the 
impracticable  navigation  of  the  river  ;  but  it  is  not 
improper  to  say  that  the  forecast  and  diligence 
which  is  enforced  upon  all  men  in  the  daily  affairs 
of  life  would  have  forbidden  an  attempt  to  force  a 
fleet  of  so  much  importance  to  the  free  navigation 
of  the  Mississippi  to  a  point  from  which  it  could 
never  hope  to  escape,  except  upon  the  theory  that 
the  river  ought  to  or  might  rise.  The  movement  of 
the  Navy,  in  a  dispatch  of  Rear-Admiral  D.  I). 
Porter,  to  which  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  has 
given  official  publication  and  sanction,  is  attributed 
to  the  '  request '  of  General  Banks,  who  '  deemed  the 
co-operation  of  the  gun-boats  so  essential  to  success, 
that  he  (Porter)  had  to  run  some  risks  and  make 
unusual  exertions  to  get  them  over  the  'Falls/  This 
implies  that  the  responsibility  of  his  action  rests 
upon  the  Army  ;  but  it  is  not  consistent  with  the 
facts.  The  co-operation  of  the  Navy  was  an  in 
dispensable  condition  and  basis  of  the  expedition. 
Major-General  Halleck  informed  me,  January  11, 
that  he  had  been  assured  by  the  Navy  Department 
that  Admiral  Porter  would  be  prepared  to  co-op 
erate  with  the  Army  in  its  movements  ;  and  the 
Admiral  himself  informed  me,  February  26,  that  he 
was  '  prepared  to  ascend  Red  River  with  a  large 
fleet  of  gun-boats,'  and  to  co-operate  with  the  Army 
at  any  time  when  the  water  was  high  enough.  The 
fleet  was  as  necessary  to  the  campaign  as  the  Army. 
Had  it  been  left  to  my  discretion,  I  should  have  re 
luctantly  undertaken,  in  a  campaign  requiring  but 
eight  or  ten  light-draft  gun-boats,  to  force  twenty 
heavy  iron-clads  490  miles  up  a  river  proverbially  as 
treacherous  as  the  rebels  who  defended  it,and  which 
had  given  notice  of  its  character  by  steadily  falling 
when,  as  the  Admiral  reports,  all  other  rivers  were 
booming.  There  is  a  better  reason  for  the  disregard 
of  the  palpable  difficulties  of  navigation  than  the 
over-zealous  counsel  of  army  officers  in  nautical  af 
fairs.  In  a  subsequent  dispatch  Admiral  Porter 
says,  that  'all  my  vessels  navigated  the  river  to 


Grand  Ecore  with  ease,  and  with  some  of  them  I 
reached  Springfield  Landing,  the  place  designated 
for  the  gun-boats  to  meet  the  Army.  My  part  was 
successfully  accomplished  ;  the  failure  of  the  Army 
to  proceed,  and  the  retreat  to  Grand  Ecore,  left  me 
almost  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy.'  The  records  of 
the  campaign  do  not  at  all  support  the  reckless  and 
fiery  ardor  of  this  statement.  The  fleet  did  not 
reach  the  '  place  appointed  '  until  two  full  days  after 
the  first  decisive  battle  with  the  enemy.  The  Ad 
miral  occupied  four  days  in  moving  one  hundred 
and  four  miles  on  what  he  calls  a  '  rising  river,'  with 
'good  water,'  to  the  place  appointed.  General  T. 
Kilby  Smith  states  that  the  fleet  made  twenty  miles 
on  the  7th, fifty-seven  miles  on  the  8th,  eighteen  miles 
on  the  9th,  and  nine  miles  on  the  10th  of  April — 
total,  one  hundred  and  four  miles.  The  failure  of  the 
fleet  to  move  up  the  river  with  ordinary  expedition, 
together  with  the  fact  that  the  gun-boats  were  un 
able  to  pass  Grand  Ecore  until  the  7th,  justified  the 
belief  that  its  advance  had  been  prevented  by  the 
low  stage  of  water,  and  governed  the  Army  exclu 
sively  in  its  retrograde  movement  to  Grand  Ecore, 
as  it  did  in  every  important  operation  of  the  cam 
paign.  The  Admiral's  dispatch  does  not  mention 
the  fact  that,  in  addition  to  the  '  mercy  '  of  the  en 
emy,  he  had  the  support  of  General  T.  Kilby 
Smith's  division  of  2,500  men,  whose  most  gallant 
and  honorable  part  in  the  preservation  of  the  fleet 
of  gun -boats  and  transports  is  not  referred  to,  in 
what  the  Admiral  calls  '  this  curious  affair  between 
[the  enemy's]  infantry  and  gun-boats.'  In  view  of 
the  published  dispatches  of  Admiral  Porter,  it  is 
proper  for  me  to  say,  that  every  position  of  difficulty 
in  which  the  Army  was  placed  in  this  campaign 
was  the  immediate  and  direct  consequence  of  delay 
in  the  operations  of  the  Navy.  This  may  have 
been  inevitable  and  entirely  justifiable  from  the 
condition  of  the  river.  It  is  not  in  my  province  to 
pass  judgment  upon  its  operations  ;  but  the  fact  re 
mains,  nevertheless.  During  my  term  of  service,  it 
has  been  an  invariable  rule  of  conduct,  from  which 
I  have  never  departed,  to  forbear  the  expression  of 
opinion  or  complaint  upon  the  official  action  of 
others  ;  but  1  feel  it  to  be  a  solemn  duty  to  say,  in 
this  official  and  formal  manner,  that  Admiral  Por 
ter's  published  official  statements  relating  to  the 
Red  River  campaign  are  at  variance  with  the  truth, 
of  which  there  are  many  thousand  living  witnesses, 
and  do  foul  injustice  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
the  Army,  living  and  dead,  to  whom  the  Navy  De 
partment  owes  exclusively  the  preservation  and 
honor  of  its  fleet." 


MISSISSIPPI    SQUADRON,    JANUARY    IST,    18G4. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER. 


CAPTAIN   A.    M.    PENNOCK,    FLEET-CAPTAIN. 


STEAMER    "BLACK  HAWK  " — FLAG-SHIP. 

Lieutenant  -  Commanders,  K.  Randolph  Breese 
and  Watson  Smith  (Flag) ;  Fleet-Surgeon,  Ninian 
Pinkney;  Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  T.  Edes;  Acting- As 
sistant  Pay  master,  C.  H.  Kirkendall:  Acting-Master 
James  Fitzpatrick ;  Ensigns,  F.  J.  Naile,  M  W 
Sanders  and  S.  W.  Terry ;  Acting-Ensign's,  Win 
Wardrop,  Henry  Baker,  J.  M.  Alden  and  D.  Pratt 
Mannix;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  R.  S.  Howell  Harry 
Woodruff,  David  V.  Porter  and  C.  H.  Sedgewick- 
Engineers:  Acting- Chief,  Geo.  W.  Walker;  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  O.  G.  Ritchie;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  J.  C.  Barr  and  W.  B.  Ritchie;  Gunner,  John 
K.  Hall;  Acting-Carpenter,  Noah  Dean. 

IRON- CLAD   STEAMER    "ESSEX." 

Commander,  Robert  Townsend;  Acting- Assistant 


Surgeon,  Thomas  Allen;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  C.  W.  Slamm;  Acting-Masters,  J.  C.  Parker 
and  E.  Reese;  Acting-Ensign,  Spencer  Johnson; 
Acting  Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Berry  and  C.  M.  Ful  - 
ler;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  J.  K.  Heap  ;  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  J.  L.  Hillard;  Acting-Second-As 
sistants,  E.  P.  Sprague  and  C.  H.  Burt;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  Henry  Wood  and  Nicholas  Saner. 

IRON-CLAD   STEAMER    "  EASTPORT." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  S.  L.  Phelps;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  M.  L.  Gerould;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  W.  H.  Gilinan  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  S. 
Poole,  R.  M.  Williams  and  E.  H.  Qualding;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  R.  A.  Day,  R.  A.  Treat  and  B.  W. 
Herr  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Chief,  Henry  Hartwig; 
Acting-First-Assistants,  T.  F.  Ackerman  and  John 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


549 


8.  Moore  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  N.  Heizel  ; 
Act  ing-Third- Assistants,  W.  T.  Baxter  and  J.  F. 
hiddeH :  Acting-Gunner,  J.  F.  Riblet  ;  Acting-Car 
penter,  James  House. 

IBON-CLAD  STEAMER  "LAFAYETTE." 

hieutenant-Commander,  James  P.  Foster;  Acting- 
Volunteer -hieutenant,  Edward  Morgan;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  I).  H.  Hayden;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  P.  Kelly ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  h. 
Bryant,  F.  G.  Sampson  and  J.  h.  Moran;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates.  Paul  Morgan,  W.  P.  Higbee,  S.  O. 
hovell,  S.  R.  Winram  and  C.  H.  Slocum;  Engineers: 
Acting-Chief,  Robert  Tate;  Acting-First-Assistant, 
James  Wilkins;  Acting  Second- Assistant.  J.  W. 
Paull;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  B.  Hill  and  Max 
Pratt;  Acting-Gunner,  George  Price;  Acting-Car 
penter,  J.  W.  hister. 

IBON-CLAD   STEAMEB    "BENTON." 

hieutenant-Commander,  James  A.  Greer;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  N.  h.  Bates;  Acting-Assistant  Pay- 
master,  C.  G.  howndes ;  Acting-Masters,  E.  C. 
B  reman.  J.  F.  Reed  and  N.  B.  Willetts;  Acting-En 
signs.  Win.  J.  hees,  H.  S.  O'Grady  and  P.  H.  Ran 
dolph;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  "NVm.  Kisner  and 
Hiram  Simon  ton;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Job  V. 
Starr;  Acting-First-Assistant,  H.  W.  Fairfoul;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistants,  Oliver  Bray  and  A.  A.  Jenks; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  Benj.  Farmer;  Acting-Car 
penter,  Richard  Rock  ford. 

IKON-CLAD   STEAMEB    "  LOUISVILLE." 

hieutenant  Commander,  Elias  K.  Owen;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Fayette  Clapp;  Acting-Assist- 
tant  Paymaster,  D.  h.  Ruth;  Acting-Ensigns,  H. 
A.  Coffen berry,  Chas.  Nelson,  Henry  Harkins,  G. 
V.  Mead,  R.  H.  honglands,  Frank  Bates  and  J.  T. 
Blackford;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  J.  Drew,  Chas. 
Smith.  Jr.,  and  C.  S.  Scanlan;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Chief,  J.  B.  Fulton;  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  J. 
Hardy;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  C.  W.  Reynolds; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  C.  F.  Degelman;  Acting- 
Gunner,  William  Shields;  Acting-Carpenter,  D.  H. 
Curry. 

IBON-CLAD   STEAMER    "  TUSCUMBIA." 

hieutenant-Commander,  James  W.  Shirk;  Assist 
ant  Paymaster.  Geo.  A.  hyon ;  Acting- Ensigns, 
hewis  Kenney  and  E.  M.  Clark;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Chief,  J.  W.  Hartuper;  Acting -First -Assistant, 
Perry  South;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  W.  J.  Mil- 
ligan. 

IRON-CLAD   STEAMER    "  CHOCTAW." 

hieutenant-Commander,  F.  M.  Ramsey  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Win.  N.  Whitehouse;  Acting- 
Master,  W.  A.  Griswold;  Acting-Ensigns,  Ezra 
Beam  an,  W.  C.  Bennett,  A.  S.  Palmer  and  h.  R. 
Hamersly;  Act  ing- Master's  Mates,  T.  Hopkins  and 
Henry  Marsh;  Engineers  :  Acting-Chief,  N.  P.  Bald 
win;  !Acting-First-Assistant,  C.  E.  Arbuthnot;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant;  Joseph  Blake;  Acting  Third- 
Assistants,  S.  C.  Babbitt  and  E.  H.  Austin;  Acting- 
Gunner,  Reuben  Applegate;  Acting-Carpenter,  John 
A.  Stewart. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "  CONESTOOA." 

hieutenant  -  Commander,  Thomas  O.  Selfridge  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  h.  Adams;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  D.  Ilsley;  Acting-Master, 
Gilbert  Morton;  Acting-Ensigns,  Thomas  Devin<>, 
S.  J.  Dwight,  J.  C.  Peterson  and  Win.  Neil .  ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate.  Alanson  Hamilton  :  Engineers  : 
Acting-Chief,  Thomas  Cook  ;  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  Alex.  Magee;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Chas. 
Fistadt;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  James  O'Neiland 
Andrew  husk;  Acting-Carpenter,  John  J.  Hays. 

STEAMER    "MOOSE.'1 

hieutenant-Commander,  he  Roy  Fitch;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  J.  W.  Clarke ;  Acting-Ensigns 
Edward  Morgan.  John  Revall  and  J.  H.  Rice  ;  Act- 


ing -Master's  Mates,  J.  M.  Tucker,  C.  H.  Stout  and 
C.  W.  Spooner;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant, 
T.  N.  Hall;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Charles  Mc 
Millan. 

STEAMER    "TAYLOB." 

hieutenant-Commander,  James  M.  Prichett;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Wm.  P.  Baird;  Acting; As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  H.  Holt;  Acting-Ensigns, 
G.  h.  Smith,  Charles  Ackley,  John  Hill  and  J.  W. 
halor;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  C.  Michael, 
G.  H.  Williamson  and  H.  S.  Allen;  Engineers  :  Act 
ing-Chief,  James  Fleming;  Acting-First-Assistant, 
J.  R.  Ramsey;  Acting-Second  -  Assistants,  Win. 
Finch  and  Philip  Sheridan  ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ant,  E.  M.  Bumpas;  Acting-Carpenter,  J.  M.  Pea- 
body. 

IRON-CLAD   STEAMER    "MOUND   CITY." 

hieutenant-Commander,  Byron  Wilson;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Thomas  Rice;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  B.  J.  Donahoe;  Acting  Master,  F.  T. 
Coleman;  Acting- Ensigns,  S.  B.  Coleman,  D.  S.teb- 
bins  and  W.  H.  Decker;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  R. 
T.  hamport;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Edw.  Merri- 
man;  Acting-First-Assistant,  E.  R.  Clemens;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  J.  M.  Hartnett;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  G.  h.  Baker  and  Richard  Carter;  Act 
ing-Gunner,  T.  H.  Green;  Acting-Carpenter,  Jerome 
Burns. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "LEXINGTON." 

hieutenant,  George  M.  Bache ;  Acting-  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  H.  M.  Mixer ;  Acting  -  Assist- 
tant  Paymaster,  T.  C.  Doane  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Henry  Booby,  J.  G.  Migler  and  C.  C.  Briggs;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  Daniel  Winget,  Howard  Hale 
and  Ezra  McDunn;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  AV.  H. 
Meredith;  Acting-First-Assistant,  A.  h.  Mann;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  Reuben  Story;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  Jacob  Vittinger  and  Wm.  T  Neal;  Act 
ing-Gunner,  houis  Frederick  ;  Acting-Carpenter, 
Richard  Carroll. 

STEAMER    "  FOREST   ROSE." 

Acting- Volunteer- hieutenant,  Charles  A.Wright; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  Cadwallader;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  M.  Dunham;  Acting -En 
signs,  S.  E.  Brown,  Conrad  Erickson  and  H.  B. 
Graves;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Ira  Athearn,  Chas. 
Smith  and  C.  W.  Crocker;  Engineers:  First-Assist 
ant,  Francis  Marsh;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  E.  H. 
Goble;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Silas  Haskey. 

STEAMER    "FORT   HINDMAN." 

Acting- Volunteer-hieutenant,  John  Pearce;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  B.  Adams;  Acting-En 
signs,  F.  A.  Oliver,  Charles  Marsden  and  F.  H. 
Wait;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  B.  G.  Van  Dyke,  S. 
N.  Barker,  C.  F.  A.  McCord  and  H.  Shoemaker; 
Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant;  Thomas  Girty; 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  D.  B.  Cox;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  Eli  Powell  and  Reuben  Yocum. 

STEAMER  "HASTINGS." 

Acting- Volunteer-hieutenant,  A.  R.  hangthorne; 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  M.  Flint  ;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  P.  J.  Stone  :  Acting-Master,  J. 
W.  Morehead;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  C.  Turner  and 
C.  H.  Reed;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  C.  Truer, 
Franks-Seymour  and  F.  M.  Clark;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  John  H.  Scott;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  Edwin  Senior  and  Samuel  Weaver;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  A.  M.  Wassoii  and  Geo.  W. 
Amsden. 

STEAMER    "BRILLIANT." 

Acting -Volunteer -hieutenant,  Charles  G.  Per 
kins  ;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Milton  James; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Horace  Talcott  ;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  G.  D.  Little,  J.  J.  Perkins  and  Richard 
McAllister :  Acting-Master's  Mates,  T.  G.  Herron 
and  J.  H.  Neely;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant, 


550 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


"VVm.  A.  Willey;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Samuel 
Ecoff  and  James  Cutter. 

STEAMER    "ST.    CLAIB." 

Acting  -Volunteer-  Lieutenant,  T.  B.  Gregory; 
Ac  ting-  Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  F.  Browne;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  Warren  Butch  and  G.  W.  Garrison  ;  Act- 
ing-Master'sMates,  E.  C.  Williams,  J.  H.  Hurd  and 
H.  O.  Proctor  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-  First-  Assistant, 
Wm.  McLean;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Edward 
Lorier;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  F.  A.  Morse. 

STEAMEB    "SILVER   CLOUD." 

Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant,  A.  F.  O'Neill;  Act- 
ing-  Assistant  Surgeon,  O.  B.  Damon;  Acting-  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  W.  H.  Hathorne;  Acting-  Ensigns, 
Robert  Wilkinson  and  J.  M.  Reid;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Frank  Middleton,  R.  S.  Critehell  and  J.  M. 
Darrah;  Engineers  :  Acting-First  -Assistant,  B.  F. 
Clark  ;  Aeting-Second-Assistant,  W.  A.  Collins; 
Acting-Tliird-Assistant,  James  Folger. 

STEAMEB   "  COVINGTON." 

Acting  -Volunteer  -Lieutenant,  George  P.  Lord; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Emile  Gavarret;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  John  T.  Lee;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Edw.  Alford  and  John  Powell  ;  Acting-  Master's 
Mates,  W.  H.  En«riish,  C.  W.  Gross,  J.  W.  Richards 
and  Ignatius  Du.  IP  Engineers:  Acting-First-As 
sistant,  J.  A.  Burns;  Acting-Second  Assistant,  W. 
R.  Hoder;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  T.  English 
and  Southwell  Lyons. 

STEAMEB   "QUEEtf   CITY.' 

Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant,  George  W.  Brown; 
Acting-  Assistant  Surgeon,  Louis  Westfall;  Acting  - 
Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  S.  Sims;  Acting  -  Master, 
Michael  Hickey;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  E.  Alexander, 
James  Roberts  and  F.  M.  Hathaway  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  Geo.  W.  Hall,  W.  P.  Eakly  and  E.  W. 
Johnson;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistants,  Irwin 
Fox  and  Wm.  Downey;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
G.  W.  Shellenberger;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Geo. 
S.  Read. 

STEAMER  "TAWAH." 

Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Jason  Goudy;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  S.  Nicholson;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  D.  W.  Hale  ;  Acting-Master, 
M.  V.  B.  Haines;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  B.  Williams  and 
Joseph  Sawyer;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  I.  P.  Neave 
and  John  W.  Adams:  Engineers  :  Acting-First-As 
sistant,  J.  H.  Linn;  Acting  Second-Assistant,  T.  J 
Reed  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  John  Henry  and 
Walter  Mossington. 

STEAMEB   "KEY  WEST." 

Acting-  Volunteer-Lieutenant,  E.  M.  King-  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  W.  Gifford;  Acting-  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  \V.  B.  Crosby.  Jr.;  Acting-  Mas 
ter,  M.  J.  Cronin;  Acting  -Ensigns,  John  H.  Welsh 
and  N.  A.  Closson:  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm 
Hammett,  Jr.,  Menzies  Dickson  and  John  Winram- 
Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  R.  J  Stone: 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  G.  W.  Dean  and  G  L' 
Mortimer;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Michael  Sodonl 

STEAMEB    "PEOSTA.'' 

Acting  -Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Thos.  E  Smith- 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  John  Wise  ;  Actino--  As 
sistant  Paymaster  J.  C.  Spalding;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Edw.  Manser  C  H.  Gulick  and  A.  S.  Hurlbut 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  R.  T.  Nelson  and  Geo  P 
Vance;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  Geo  '  H' 
Warner  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  S.  W.  Evans- 
Acting  Third-Assistants,  D.  E.  Nugent  and  G.  W 


STEAMER     "  BEINDEEB." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Henry  A  Glass 
ford-  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  C.  Foster-  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  W.  Barrv;  Acting-En 
signs,  A.  C.  Sears  and  W.  H.  Hall  ;  Acting-Master's 


STEAMEB    "GENERAL   PRICE." 


Acting-Vplunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  F.  Richardson; 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  Harvey;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  J.  W.  McLellan;  Acting-Ensigns 
G.  W.  Pratt,  J.  H.  Seever  and  D.  P.  Bosworth: 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  D.  McKay  and  Peter  Bar 
clay;  Engineers:  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  D.  E. 
Weaver ;  Acting  Third-Assistants,  \V.  H.  Coulter, 
Alex.  Campbell,  J.  B.  Baldwin  and  R.  A.  Kyle. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMEB  "PITTSBUBG." 


Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,   W.  R.  Hoel ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  M.  Follett;  Acting- Assist- 


ter's    Mates,  H.  N.  Wells,  John  Scott  and    C.   B. 


C.  Green;  Acting-Carpenter,  Charles  Poplar. 

IBON-CLAD  STEAMEB    "  CHILLICOTHE." 

Acting-Vplunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  P.  Couthouy ; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  C.  Osgood;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Hathaway  Acting-Mas 
ter,  W.  T  Power;  Acting-Ensigns,  >V.  Muir,  J.  C. 
Hall  and  H.  A.  Hannou  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
James  Harrington  and  C.  S.  Wells ;  Engineers- 
Acting-Chief,  A.  W.  Hardy  ;  Acting  First-Assist 
ant,  Charles  Trotter  ;  Actiiig-Second-Assistant,  J. 
W.  Hymen;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  W.  Terrell 
and  Anthony  Lane;  Acting-Gunner,  W.  E.  Keyes; 
Acting- Carpenter,  J.  H.  Fink. 

STEAMEB  "  GENEBAL  BBAGG." 

Acting-Vplunteer-Lieutenant,  Cyrenius  Dominey 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  A.  Castle;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Jenkins;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Thomas  Burns,  T.  J.  McLaughlin  and  M.  Huston  • 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  James  Williams  and  P.  M 
Frost;  Engineers  •  Acting-Chief,  J.  Miller  ;  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Jonah  Slocum;  Acting-Second-As 
sistant,  C.  L.  Bouchard  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
Joseph  Anderson;  Acting -Carpenter,  J.  W.  Ken 
nedy. 

IBON-CLAD   STEAMEB    "NEOSHO." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Samuel  Howard  - 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  M.  A.  Miller;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  W.  H.  Byrn;  Acting  Ensigns 
E.  F.  Brooks,  Jas.  Downs,  E.  P.  Bragg  and  R.  How- 
den;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  J.  Kiskadden,  Alex. 
Seinpleand  H.  B.  Purdy;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief, 
Win.  Mills;  Acting-First-Assistant,  W.  C.  Sanford: 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  L.  Miles;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  J.  F.  Humphreys  and  M.  C.  Noland- 
Acting-Gunner,  W.  T.  Devlaii ;  Acting-Carpenter, 
J.  O.  Baker. 

STEAMEB   ' '  BATTLER.  " 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  James  Laning;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Scollay  Parker;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  P.  Peck  ;  Acting-Master, 

D.  W.  Glenny;  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  Ferguson  and 

E.  P.  Nellis;  Acting- Master  s  Mates,  H.  E.  Church, 
M.  C.  Pickering  and  John  Cronin;  Engineers:  Act- 
mg-First-Assistant,  James  L.  Smith;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  G.  W.  Shields;  Act  ing- Third- Assistants, 
Robert  Russell  and  James  H.  Hume. 

STEAMEB     ' '  EXCHANGE." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  S.  Hurd;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  E.  Francis;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  W.  Gardner;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  L. 
Manly  and  Daniel  Jones;  Acting-Master  s  Mates,  R. 
W.  Brown,  H.  M.  Scott  and  G.  T.  Miller;  Engineers: 
Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  A.  G.  Perkins;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  C.  C.  Streepev;  Acting-Third-As- 
sistant,  B.  T.  Graham. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


551 


STEAMER   "BROWN. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  A.  French;  Act 
ing-Ensign,  Jacob  Shinn  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Martin  Kelly  and  H.  A.  Thoburn;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  Reiisler  Cutter;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  N  F.  Johnson  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
A.  X .  French. 

HOSPITAL  STEAMER  "  RED  ROVER." 

Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant,  Win.  R.  Wells; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeons,  Geo.  H.  Bixby,  Win.  F. 
McXuttand  Win.  H.  Willson;  Acting-Master,  Henry 
E.  Bartlett;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  G.  Waters,  Charles 
King  and  Jos.  Beauchamp  ;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
€.  B.  Plattenburg;  Engineers  :  Acting- First- Assist 
ants,  WT.  J.  Buffington  and  W.  O.  Logue;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  W.  F.  Holmes;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  J.  A.  Goodloe  and  G.  W.  Voice;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  Haiiow  Kinney. 

STEAMER    "  LINDEN." 

Acting-Master,  T.  M.  Farrell;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  J  F.  Field  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
Arthur  Sibley;  Acting-Ensigns,  R.  H.  Cameron, 
Cassilly  Adams,  Chas.  Swendson  and  Joseph  Mc 
Donald;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm.  C.  Williams, 
R.  S.  Ballester,  N.  F.  Brown  and  W.  C.  Frost; 
Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  Wm.  C.  Perry  ; 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  Win.  M.  Fletcher;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  C.  M.  Milligan. 

STEAMER     ''KENWOOD." 

Acting-Master,  John  Swaney  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  P.  Tread  well  ;  Acting  Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  H.  B.  Witherell;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  C.  Wells, 
G.  R.  Mott  and  J.  L.  Read;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
N.  H.  Conklin,  W.  R.  Moffatt,  H.  A.  Vaughan  and 
Claren  Laird;  Engineers:  Acting  First- Assistant, 
Thomas  Sheffer ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  T.  J. 
Malbon;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  B.  Holman. 

STEA.MER    "  FAIR  PLAY." 

Acting-Master,  Geo.  J.  Groves:  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  W.  Howard  ;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  J.  G.  Sankey;  Acting- Ensign,  W.  C.  Coul- 
son;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  S.  Scott  and  A. 
Diserens;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistaiit,  R.  A. 
Mattratha;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  S.  Collins; 
Acting-Third  Assistants,  Wm.  Bell  and  C.  W.  Egs- 
ter;  Acting-Carpenter,  Thomas  Manning. 

STEAMER   "SPRINGFIELD/ 

Acting  Master,  Joseph  Watson  :  Acting-Ensign, 
H.  T.  Keene;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  S.  H.  Harbe- 
son,  Jas.  Cunningham,  John  Gregg  and  David 
Pullman;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  R.  L. 
McLean  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant,  Morris  Van 
Fossen. 

STEAMEE    "FAWN." 

Acting-Master,  John  R.  Grove:  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  A.  S.  Apgar;  Acting-Ensigns,  John 
Sullivan  and  M.  A.  Knox  :  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Charles  Murray,  E.  D.  O'Bryan,  J.  A.  Seaman  and 
John  Cowdon;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant, 
Edw.  C.  Peck  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  W. 
Gough;  Acting-Third- Assistant,  Michael  O'Riley. 

STEAMER   "PAW   PAW." 

Acting-Master,  A.  F.  Thompson;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  Jos.  Horinan,  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  Alex.  S.  McWilliams  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  L. 
Const antine,  Pat.  Donnelly  and  J.  H.  Rivers  ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates.  John  Pybus,  W.  A.  Birchard 
and  Julien  D.  Coriell ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First- As 
Distant,  Ezekiel  Reynolds;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
B.  S.  Bull;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  T.  K.  Hill. 

STEAMER   "NAUMKEAG." 

Acting-Master,  John  Rogers ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  E.  LeRoy  Draper  ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  H.  B.  Mears ;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  Arthur 
O'Leary  and  Jos.  Meyer;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates, 
John  Dunlop,  F.  D.  Campbell,  Alex.  Proctor  and 


Wm.  Cassidy;  Engineers:  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant, 
Edmund  Cage;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  A.  Mc- 
Cormack;  Acting  -  Third- Assistant,  James  B.  By- 
land. 

STEAMEB   "SILVER  LAKE"' 

Acting-Master,  Jos.  C.  Coyle  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  H.  Mills;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
G.  D.  Rand;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  W.  Bone,  F.  G. 
Jobson  and  H.  H.  Pierce;  Acting  Master's  Mates, 
John  Fisher  and  Samuel  McKee;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  John  Connolly;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Orrin  Burroughs;  Acting -Third- Assist 
ant,  J.  C.  Jones. 

STEAMER    "CHAMPION." 

Acting-Master,  Alfred  Phelps,  Jr. ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  A.  L.  Vail;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  G.  T.  Bemis;  Acting-Ensigns,  Felix  McCann, 
Mervin  Allen  and  Anthony  Hagerup;  Ac  ting- Mas 
ter's  Mate,  Herman  Alms;  Engineers:  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  John  Johnston;  Acting -Second- Assist 
ants,  Geo.  Waddle  and  C.  A.  Fisher;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  J.  J.  Suor 

STEAMER    "ALEXANDRIA." 

Acting  -  Master,  D.  P.  Rosenmiller  ;  Engineers  : 
Acting-First-Assistant,  H.  C.  Snibley;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  J.  S.  Willcoxson. 

STEAMER  "GREAT  WESTERN." 

Acting-Master,  Thomas  Bates;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  A.  Warren;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  J.  H.  Marshall;  Acting- Ensigns,  A.  M.  Rowland 
and  P.  R.  Starr;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Richard 
Mitchell  and  L.  M.  Knapp;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
Chief,  C.  H.  Chi-istopher ;  First- Assistant,  Jos. 
Goodwin;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Edward  Lodge; 
Acting-Gunner,  Robert  Sherman. 

STEAMER    "JUDGE  TORHENCE." 

Acting-Master,  Jeremiah  Irwin  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Wm.  Sill;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Edw.  Perkins  and 
Edwin  Boyce;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Peter  Hart- 
wig;  Acting-First-Assistants,  W.  Y.  Sedmaii  and  S. 
L.  Walkenshaw;  Acting  Second-Assistants,  Living 
ston  Cook  and  Jasper  Holman. 

IRON-CLAD   STEAMER    "  CARONDELET." 

Acting- Master,  James  C.  Gipspn;  Assistant-Sur 
geon,  D.  R.  Bannon  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  G.  Worden ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Oliver  Donaldson, 
S.  D.  Jordan,  E.  W.  Miller  and  T.  A.  Quinn;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  L.  W.  Hastings  and  W.  H.  H. 
DeGroot;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Chas.  H.  Caven; 
Acting-First-Assistant,  G.  H.  Atkinson ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  M.  Norton  and  W.  B.  Barton  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  John  McAVilliains ;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  Geo.  W.  Kenney. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER   "  OSAGE  " 

Acting- Master,  Thomas  Wright;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  P.  P.  Gilmartin;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  G.  W.  Dougherty;  Acting-Ensigns,  W. 
S.  Pease,  Geo.  Dunn,  J.  L.  Mickle  and  R.  K.  Hub- 
bell;  Acting-Master's  Mates.  M.  J.  Durney,  J.  C. 
Winslow  and  B.  C.  Wheeler;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Chief,  Thomas  Doughty;  Acting  First-Assistant, 
Geo.  H.  Hobbs;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Wm. 
Galbreath  and  A.  F.  Fox. 

STEAMER    "MARMORA." 

Acting  Master,  Thomas  Gibson;  Assistant-Sur 
geon,  B.  F.  Pierce ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
C.  R.  Howard;  Acting-Ensigns,  Elliott  Callender 
and  D.  D.  Bond;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Win.  Arnold 
and  E.  C.  Nye;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant, 
W.  C.  Armstrong;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  David 
Hawkesworth;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  F.  A.  Cra 
mer. 

STEAMER    "ROMEO." 

Acting- Master,  Thomas  Baldwin;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  D.  W.  Jones;  Act  ing- Assistant  Pay 
master,  E.  R.  Moffatt;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  B.  Dwyer; 


552 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


J.  B.  Petty  and  R.  B.  Shaw;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J.  E.  Ernest,  C.  W.  Johnston  and  Geo.  8.  Cox; 
Engineers:  Acting- First- Assistant.  J.  N.  McCurdv; 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  Jos.  Grippin  and  W.  E. 
Taylor;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Win.  Teal. 

STEAMER    "JULIET." 

Acting-Master,  John  S.  Watson;  Acting  Assistant 
Paymaster,  Geo.  W.  Winans;  Acting  Ensigns,  W. 
L.  Holcomb,  Hugh  Kuhl  and  D.  T.  Davids;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  S.  J.  Phillips;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistants,  John  Wybrant  and  Jos.  Bole  jack; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  James  Van  Zant. 

STEAMER    "PETREL." 

Acting- Master,  Thomas  McElroy;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  H.  T.  Skelding;  Acting-Ensigns,  M. 
E.  Flannigan  and  S.  R.  Holmes;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  H.  W.  Bryan,  J.  W.  Foster,  L.  C.  Ball  and 
J.  G.  Abbott;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistants, 

A.  W.  Phillips  and  Edw.   Roberts;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  J.  T.  Stone  and  Geo.  Britton;  Acting- 
Third  Assistant,  W.  M.  Mix. 

STEAMER    "CRICKET/' 

Acting- Master,  Henry  H.  Gorringe;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  H.  A.  Bo'dman;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  W.  M.  Chester;  Acting-Ensigns,  D.  P.  Slat- 
tery,  W.  H.  Read  and  J.  McLeane;  Acting-Masters 
Mate,  John  Wilson;  Engineers:  Acting-First- Assist 
ant,  Benj.  Hand;  Acting  Second- Assistants,  David 
Chillas,  C.  P.  Parks  and  T.  M.  Jenks. 

STEAMER    "NEW   EBA." 

Acting-Master,  James  Marshall;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Wm.  B.  Purdy;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  A. 
Schetky  and  W.  B.  Shillito;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
P.  H.  Sullivan,  W.  F.  Reiner  and  E.  A.  Bangs;  En 
gineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  Israel  Marsh;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  Richard  Feugler;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  A.  W.  Smith ;  Acting-Carpenter, 

B.  Martin. 

STEAMER    "SIGNAL." 

Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  P.  Lee  and  Wm.  F.  Loan  ; 
Acting- Assistant-Surgeon,  N.  Brewster;  Acting- As 
sistant-Paymaster,  E.  D.  Hayden;  Acting-Masters 
Mates,  R.  P.  Craft,  E.  D.  Lovell  and  Andrew  Don 
aldson;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  AV.  N. 
Harden  ;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  G.  Briggs 
and  E.  H.  Kidd. 

STEAMER    "  PRAIRIE  BIRD." 

Acting  Ensigns,  John  W.  Chambers  and  W.  M. 
Ernst;  Acting- Assistant -Pavmaster,  L.  Harter  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  B.  Morton,  J.  K.  Lull,  Jr., 
and  Wm.  D.  Bangs;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  Geo.  Radabaugh ;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
Mathew  Fleming. 

STEAMER    "  CURLEW." 

Acting- Ensigns,  H.  A.  B.  O'Niell,  Milton  Griffith 
and  Wm.  Zimmerman  ;  Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, 
J.  J.  Mcllhenney  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  -  Paymaster, 
J.  R.  Morris;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  C.  Huggins, 
M.  G.  Bailey  and  J.  A.  Kilby;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Benj.  Hoffman  ;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  L.  J.  Everson  and  AVm.  Quinn. 

STEAMER  "  LITTLE  REBEL." 

Acting-Ensign,  N.  T.  Rennell ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  N.  F.  Jacobs,  R.  G.  Van  Ness,  J.  W.  Ham- 
brick  and  J.  T.  Rulo  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  First  - 
Assistant,  A.  E.  Giles ;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
Philip  Allman;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  E.  H.  Bur 
ton. 

STEAMER   "VICTORY." 

Acting-Ensigns,  Fred'k  Read,  W.  B.  Trufant  and 
J.  H.  Singleton  ;  Acting- Assistant-Surgeon,  G.  W. 
Shields  ;  Acting- Assistant- Paymaster,  Benj.  Page  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  David  Wagener,  R.  L.  Tay 
lor  and  John  Malony ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Firs't- 
Assistant,  J.  L.  Winston;  Acting-Third  Assistants 
Fred'k  Heuse  and  J.  W.  Street. 


STEAMER    "TENSAS." 

Acting-Ensigns,  E.  C.  Van  Pelt  and  Jacob  Ruth 
erford;  Acting  Master's  Mate,  Henry  Van  Velsor; 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Andrew  Wil 
son,  Ant'y  Courtenay  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
Nathan  Spear  arid  Patrick  Scanlan. 

STEAMER    "GENERAL   PILLOW." 

Acting-Ensigns,  T.  M.  Halstead,  E.  M.  Wood  and 
C.  M.  Bragg ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant, 
G.  W.  Crawford ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  E.  P. 
Bartlett. 

STEAMER    "ROBB." 

Acting-Ensigns,  Lloyd  Thomas  and  James  Tuohy ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  C.  Burnett,  J.  J.  Irwin 
and  Edw.  Lincoln;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  Benj.  Everson  ;  Acting-Secoiid-Assistant,  John 
Miller;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  N.  J.  Brooks. 

STEAMER    "ARGOSY." 

Acting-Ensigns,  John  C.  Morong,  G.  J.  Haslett, 
R.  W.  Alson  and  T.  J.  Dean;  Acting- Assistant-Sur 
geon,  L.  M.  Rees,  Acting- Assistant-Paymaster,  R. 
E.  Patterson;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  B.  Homer, 
Peter  Lake  and  J.  A.  McCreary;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Thomas  Blanchard;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Chas.  Silverchan  ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ant,  Albin  Donnelly. 

STEAMER    "OUICHITA." 

Acting-Ensigns,  Eugene  Zimmerman  and  P.  C. 
Wright;  Acting-Assistant-Paymaster,  J.  R.  Meeker; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  J.  W.  Litherbury,  E.  P. 
Marshall  and  A.  W.  Widup;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Chief,  Thomas  Hebron  ;  Acting- First- Assistant,  G. 
W.  Taylor;  Acting-Second -Assistant,  G.  T.  Wilson; 
Acting-Third  Assistant,  Thomas  Reed. 

STEAMER  "NEW  NATIONAL." 

Pilot,  Alex.  M.  Grant;  Acting- Assistant-Pay  mas 
ter,  J.  W.  Keely  ;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  M.  Farmer; 
Acting  Master's  Mates,  J.  D.  Holmes,  E.  R.  Bradley 
and  A.  A.  Mann;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistaiit, 
Wm.  A.  Wells  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Geo.  W. 
Aikin;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Geo.  R.  Bell,  Oliver 
Rosebush  and  D.  L.  Winton. 

STEAMER    "  GENERAL  LYON." 

Pilot,  Richard  E.  Birch;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master  W.  H.  Doane;  Acting-Ensigns,  James  Mar 
tin  and  Thomas  Cordwell;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J.  M.  Hurd  and  E.  W.  Robeson;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  H.  L.  Ince;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  W.  J.  Hamilton;  Acting  Third- Assistants,  James 
Baldwin  and  Win.  Daizley. 

STEAMER    "SAMSON.'' 

Acting-Ensign,  J.  M.  Holmes  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  G.  W.  Tainter  ;  Engineers :  Acting-First-As 
sistant,  Win.  Paul,  Jr. ;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant, 
C.  F.  Yeager. 

STEAM-TUG    ' '  PANSY. " 

Acting -Ensign,  AVm.  Harris;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mate,  AntV  McCarty  ;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  John  Gillis;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  A.  F. 
Gardiner. 

STEAM-TUG  "  FERN." 

Acting-Ensign,  John  M.  Kelly;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Jacob  Bomgarnar;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  John  Reed  ;  Acting  -  Third  Assistant, 
Moses  Andrews. 

STEAM-TUG    "THISTLE." 

Acting-Ensign,  R.  E.  Ettingham;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  John  Thompson;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  AVm.  Clugston;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
L.  B.  Jones. 

STEAM-TUG    "  LAUREL  " 

Acting-Ensign,  AV.  R.  Owens;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  C.  H.  Hilling;  Acting-Third-As 
sistant,  C.  L.  Rider. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


553 


STEAM-TUG    "  MIGNONETTE." 

Acting-Ensign,  Henry  D.  Green;  Acting- Master's 
Mate  Wm  Edgar;  Engineers,  Acting-Second-As- 
sistant  Dan'l  Barnum;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
Mark  Wade. 

STEAM-TUG    "DAISY." 

Acting-Master,  Daniel  C.  Bowers;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Second  Assistant,  F.  M.  Magers;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  H.  A.  Cady. 

STEAM-TUG  "MISTLETOE." 

Acting-Ensign,  James  L.  Quigley;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  James  Anderson;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  F.  P.  Seavy  and  Charles  Metzger. 

STEAM-TUG   "MYRTLE." 

Acting-Ensign,  I.  N.  Goldsmith;  Acting  Masters 
Mate,  Charles  Lyon  ;  Engineer  :  Acting-Second-As 
sistant,  Thompson  Guernsey. 

STEAM-TUG    "DAHLIA." 

Acting-Ensign,  W.  H.  Strope;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Thomas  Roach;  Engineers:  Acting  -  First- 
Assistant,  J.  H.  Everhart;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
John  Cook. 

STEAM-TUG    "HYACINTH." 

Acting-Ensign,  J.  B.  Hiserinan;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  James  Nelis  ;  Engineer  :  Acting-Second-As 
sistant,  Thomas  Bell. 

STEAM-TUG    "  IVY. 

Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Eugene  Cal- 
lahari;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  T.  H.  Neely. 

NAVAL  STATIONS  AT  CAIRO  AND  MOUND  CITY. 

Captain  Alex.  M.  Pennock,  Fleet  -  Captain  and 
Commandant  of  Station;  Commander  Fabius  Stan 
ley,  Ordnance  Officer;  Fleet-Paymaster.  E.  W.  Dunn; 
Paymasters,  W.  B.  Boggsand  A.  H.  Gilman;  Assist- 
atit-Fleet-Paymaster,  John  Reed;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  H.  Harvey;  Surgeon,  J.  W.  Shively; 
Acting-Chief-Engineer.  Wm.  D.  Faulkner;  Acting- 
Masters,  P.  O.  Kell  and  J.  W.  Atkinson ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  C.  F.  Nellis  and  J.  M.  Bailey;  Acting  Mas 
ter's  Mate,  Rivers  Drake;  Gunner,  T.  C.  Ritter;  Act 


ing-Boatswain,  William  Allen ;  Acting-Gunners,  A. 
P.  Snyder  and  L.  K.  Ellis. 

MARINE    OFFICERS. 

Captain,  M.  R.  Kintzing;  Second-Lieutenants,  F. 
L.  Church  and  C.  H.  Humphrey. 

NAVAL  STATION*,    MEMPHIS,  TENN. 

Lieutenant  Commander,   Thomas   Pattison;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,   J.    H.    Benton;    Acting 
Master,  H.  S.  Wetmore;  Acting-First-Assistant  En 
gineer,  Wm.  Apperly. 

RECEIVING  SHIP    "CLARA  DOLSEN." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  John  Scott;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  E.  Vaughan;  Paymaster,  Ed 
ward  May;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  F.  Ham 
ilton;  Chaplain,  Wm.  H.  Stewart;  Acting-Master. 
Ben.].  Sebastian;  Acting-Ensigns,  L.  Gardner  and 
D.  W.  Sainter;  Acting-Master's-Mates,  ^V.  H.  Gray 
and  A.  E.  McLean;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  G.  W.  Fulton;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Jere 
miah  Wetzell. 

RECEIVING-SHIP    "GRAMPUS." 

Acting-Master,  Elizah Sells;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  M.  W.  Reber,  Acting- Ensign,  C.  W.  Lithur- 
bury;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  L.  Williams,  C.  F. 
Clarkson  and  J.  C.  Wittsee. 

INSPECTION  SHIP    "ABRAHAM." 

Paymaster,  A.  E.  Watson;  Acting-Ensign,  Wm. 
Wagner  ;  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant  Engineer,  Enos 
Hoshier. 

HOSPITAL     MEMPHIS,    TENN. 

Surgeons,  Wm.  Grierand  H.  F.  McSherry;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeons,  Henry  Beauchamp,  J.  B.  Parker 
and  Abner  Thorpe. 

RECRUITING  RENDEZVOUS,    CHICAGO. 

Acting- Master,  J.  D.  Harty;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
Wm.  A.  Daniels;  Surgeon,  Samuel  J.  Jones. 

RECRUITING   RENDEZVOUS,    CINCINNATI. 

Acting- Master,  A.  S.  Bowen  ;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Geo.  E.  Jones;  Assistant-Paymaster,  Wm. 
H.  Sells. 


CH  A  PTER     XLI  I  1. 


OPERATIONS  OF  THE   MISSISSIPPI   SQUADRON,  UNDER   ADMIRAL  PORTER, 
AFTER    THE    RED    RIVER    EXPEDITION. 

OPERATIONS  ON  THE  TENNESSEE  AND  CUMBERLAND  RIVERS.— SUPPRESSING  GUERILLAS.— 
GUN-BOATS  CO-OPERATING  WITH  SHERMAN  IN  EXPEDITION  TO  MERIDIAN. — SILENCING 
BATTERIES  AT  LIVERPOOL.— GUN-BOATS  DAMAGED.— PUSHING  UP  THE -YAZOO.— THE 
EXPEDITION  FALLS  BACK.— DASHING  ATTACK  ON  WATERLOO.— THE  "FOREST 
ROSE  "  DRIVES  CONFEDERATES  OUT  OP  WATERPROOF.  —  IMPORTANT  SERVICES 
RENDERED  BY  "TIN-CLADS." — EXPEDITION  UP  BLACK  AND  WASHITA  RIVERS.— 
GUN-BOATS  DRIVE  CONFEDERATES  OUT  OF  TRINITY  AND  HARRISONBURG. — HEROIC 
SEAMEN. — PLOT  TO  BLOW  UP  FLEET. —  CONFEDERATE  SECRET  SERVICE. —  LETTERS 
OF  CONFEDERATE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY  AND  OTHERS. — NAMES  OF  PERSONS  IN 
CONFEDERATE  SECRET  SERVICE. — REPORT  OF  COMMISSION  ON  SINGER'S  TORPEDOES. 
—CAPTURE  OF  YAZOO  CITY. — THREE  SAILORS  DISTINGUISH  THEMSELVES. — CAPTURE  OF 
FORT  PILLOW. — HORRIBLE  MASSACRE. — ATROCITIES  COMMITTED. — FORT  PILLOW  RE 
TAKEN  BY  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  FITCH. — CONFEDERATES  CAPTURE  THE  "  PETREL." 
—THE  "EXCHANGE"  ATTACKED  BY  MASKED  BATTERIES. — BATTERIES  NEAR  SIMMSPORT 
OPEN  ON  GUN-BOATS.  BUT  ARE  SILENCED. — CONFEDERATES  MAKE  GOOD  USE  OF  CANNON 
CAPTURED  FROM  BANKS. — ZEAL  AND  BRAVERY  OF  LOUISIANA  AND  TEXAS  TROOPS.— 
THE  "  GENERAL  BRAGG"  ATTACKED  AT  TUNICA  BEND. — THE  ""  NAIAD  "  SILENCES  BAT 
TERY. — EXPEDITION  UP  ARKANSAS  RIVER. — THE  "QUEEN  CITY"  CAPTURED  AND  BLOWN 
UP. — DESTRUCTION  OF  BATTERIES  NEAR  CLARENDON. — EXPEDITION  FROM  CLIFTON  TO 
EASTPORT. — HARD  FIGHTING. — TRANSPORTS  DISABLED. — "TIN-CLADS"  CUT  UP. — NON- 
SUCCESS  OF  EXPEDITION. 


AFTER  the  conclusion   of  the    Red 
River  expedition  the  fleet  returned 
up  the  Mississippi  to  their  old  sta 
tions.     Fortunately  the  guerillas 
had  not  taken  advantage  of  the 
absence  of  the  gun-boats  to  attack  unarmed 
vessels  passing  up  or  down.     Only  one  at 
tempt  was  made— by  a  Confederate  field- 
battery — to  interfere  with  river  navigation, 
and  that  one  was  unsuccessful. 

The  different  districts  were  soon  under 
the  supervision  of  their  former  commanders, 
and  the  people  along  the  banks  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  were  reassured  with  regard  to  the 
Navy  giving  its  particular  attention  to  the 
guerillas  or  any  other  species  of  soldiers 
that  might  attempt  to  show  themselves  in 
an  offensive  attitude. 

While  the  squadron  was  employed  up 
Red  River,  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland 
rivers  became  now  and  then  the  scene  of 


(554) 


active  operations.  Tennessee,  lying  adja 
cent  to  so  many  Southern  States,  was  open 
to  the  raids  of  the  Confederates,  and  they 
seemed  loath  to  abandon  it  altogether, 
hoping  still  to  obtain  possession  of  it  and 
carry  the  war  into  the  more  northern  States 
of  Kentucky,  Ohio  and  Missouri.  It  was  a 
vain  hope,  however,  and  one  not  justified 
by  the  position  or  condition  of  the  Federal 
armies. 

In  February,lS64,  Lieutenant-Commander 
LeRoy  Fitch  still  commanded  a  fleet  of 
gun-boats  on  the  Ohio,  Tennessee  and  Cum 
berland  rivers.  The  banks  of  these  rivers 
were  infested  by  bands  of  guerillas,  who, 
posting  themselves  on  prominent  points, 
made  it  unpleasant  for  gun-boats,  and  all 
but  impossible  for  transports,  to  pass  up 
without  a  strong  escort. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch  put  an  end 
to  this  state  of  affairs  by  sending  up  the 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


555 


Cumberland  River  a  reconnoitering  force 
of  gun-boats,  which  at  the  same  time  con 
voyed  a  number  of  transports  to  Carthage 
with  supplies  of  provisions  and  munitions  of 
war.  Hi  is  expedition  was  under  the  charge 
of  Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant  H.  A. 
Glassford.  and  the  Army  co-operated  .by 
sending  the  steamer  "Silver  Lake,  No.  2," 
with  a  detachment  of  150  sharp-shooters 
under  a  gallant  officer.  Lieutenant  Roberts. 
The  duty  was  severe,  the  danger  consider 
able,  and  the  fighting  incessant ;  but  the 
gun-boats  were  so  well  handled  that  their 
convoy  reached  its  destination  without  ac 
cident,  and  the  guerillas  were  taught  a  les 
son  they  did  not  forget  for  some  time. 

When  Sherman  was  marching  on  Merid 
ian,  a  naval  expedition  was  fitted  out  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant -Commander 
E.  K.  Owen  to  co-operate  with  him,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  confusing  the  enemy  with  re 
gard  to  the  former's  movements.  The  gun 
boats  were  attended  by  a  co-operating  force 
of  troops  under  Colonel  Coates.  When  they 
arrive.d  near  Yazoo  City,  it  was  discovered 
that  the  enemy  were  in  force  at  that  place 
with  batteries  of  field-pieces  on  the  hills. 

On  the  Id  of  February  the  expedition 
reached  Sartalia,  and  next  day  attacked  the 
enemy  at  Liverpool,  where  there  were  2,700 
men  with  artillery,  under  General  Ross. 
The  gun-boats  silenced  the  batteries,  and 
the  Federal  troops  landed  and  took  posses 
sion  of  the  enemy's  position,  which  they 
occupied  until  night-fall  and  then  re-em 
barked,  and  the  vessels  dropped  down  the 
river.  The  "Petrel,"  ••Marmora,"  "Ex 
change"  and  "  Romeo"  were  the  gun-boats 
engaged.  They  were  somewhat  cut  up, 
but  drove  the  enemy  away.  The  arm}r 
lost  eight  killed  and  twenty-two  wounded 
in  this  attack.  This  expedition  had  the 
effect  which  Sherman  desired,  viz.,  to  draw 
the  enemy  toward  Yazoo  River. 

The  gun-boats  and  army  transports  pushed 
on  up  the  Yazoo  as  far  as  Greenwood, 
losing  a  few  men  by  the  way.  At  this 
place  they  fell  in  with  General  Forrest's  com 
mand,  when  the  army  contingent  landed 
and  brought  on  a  battle,  or  rather  a 
skirmish,  in  which  the  Confederates  were 
defeated.  The  result  of  this  expedition 
was,  as  Sherman  had  anticipated,  the  fall 
ing  back  of  all  the  enemy's  troops  which 
had  been  scattered  along  the  Yazoo,  Sun 
flower  and  Tallahatchie  rivers,  upon  Gren 
ada,  to  defend  it  from  attack;  and  he  was 
thus  enabled  to  proceed  on  his  raid  to  Merid 
ian  without  molestation  in  his  rear. 

On  the  15th  of  February  the  Confederates 
made  a  dashing  attack  on  Waterloo,  in  the 
district  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  James  A.  Greer — an  excellent  and 
brave  officer,  who  was  always  on  the  alert 
for  such  contingencies.  This  raid  was  con 


ducted  by  Colonel  Harrison,  an  indefatig 
able  Confederate  ranger,  who  had  given  a 
great  deal  of  trouble  with  his  command. 
On  this  occasion  he  entered  the  town  of 
Waterproof  with  800  mounted  men,  drove 
in  the  pickets,  and  pressed  the  Union  troops 
very  hard.  Fortunately,  the  little  tin-clad 
"Forest  Rose"  was  at  hand  to  assist  the 
shore  party,  and,  opening  a  hot  fire  of 
shell  and  shrapnel,  soon  compelled  the  ene 
my  to  retire.  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
J.  V.  Johnston,  her  commander,  then  got 
underway,  and  took  positions  where  he 
could  constantly  harass  the  Confederates. 

This  was  one  of  the  places  selected  to  be 
held  by  negro  troops  ;  and,  as  these  men 
were  always  offensive  to  the  Southerners, 
and  they  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  attack 
ing  them,  it  was  necessary  to  keep  gun-boats 
always  at  hand  to  defend  them.  The  un 
wise  measure  of  employing  colored  troops, 
who  were  inefficient  and  without  discip 
line,  always  aroused  the  indignation  of  the 
guerilla  element,  who  would  run  great 
risks  to  slaughter  them. 

The  officer  commanding  the  troops  asked 
Lieutenant  Johnston  to  put  him  across  the 
river,  but  that  gallant  officer  refused  to  do 
so.  telling  him  to  stand  fast  and  fight  it 
out,  which  he  was  obliged  to  do,  and  the 
"  Forest  Rose,"  using  her  rifled  guns  with 
great  effect,  finally  succeeded  in  dispersing 
the  Confederate  forces.  This  fight  lasted  a 
whole  day,  and  most  of  the  work  was  done 
by  the  Navy.  The  Confederates  left  seven 
killed  on  the  field,  and  took  away  a  number 
of  wounded.  The  place  was  soon  after  re 
inforced  from  Natchez,  and  the  enemy  de 
parted. 

Captain  Anderson,  the  commander  of  the 
negro  troops  at  Waterproof,  was  so  grateful 
for  the  service  rendered  by  the  "Forest 
Rose "  that  he  wrote  Lieutenant  Johnston 
the  following  letter,  which  we  give,  with 
pleasure,  as  a  memento  of  the  gallant  officer 
who  fought  his  ship  so  well.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  the  name  of  the  "  Forest  Rose" 
frequently  appears  in  this  recital  of  events. 
She  was  a  small  vessel,  but  one  that  did 
good  service  under  the  gallant  officers  who 
commanded  her. 

The  following  is  Captain  Anderson's 
letter  : 

HEADQUARTERS'  POST,  WATERPROOF.  LA.,  ( 
February  19,  1864.          f 

SIR — Permit  me  to  return  you  many  thanks  for 
the  gallant  manner  in  which  you  defended  my 
little  force  against  the  rebel  force  of  Colonel 
Mores.  Colonel  McNeal,  and  Major  Johnson,  in 
their  several  attacks  of  Saturday,  February  14th, 
Sundav.  the  15th,  and  Monday,  the  16th  of  Febru 
ary.  1864. 

1  hope  you  will  not  consider  it  flattering  when 
I  say  I  never  before  saw  more  accurate  artillery 
firing  than  you  did  in  these  engagements,  invari 
ably  putting  your  shells  in  the  right  place  ordered. 
My  officers  and  men  now  feel  perfectly  secure 


556 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


against  a  lar^e  force,  so  long  as  we  have  the  assist 
ance  of  Captain  Johnston  and  his  most  excellent 
drilled  crew  on  board  the  No.  9. 
I  am,  Captain,  your  humble  servant, 
J.  M.  ANDERSON, 

Captain  Commanding  Post. 
H.  C.  LUNT, 

Lieutenant  and  Adjutant. 
CAPTAIN  JOHNSTON, 

Commanding  Gkin-boat  No.  9. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February.  Admiral 
Porter  fitted  out  an  expedition  to  go,  via 
the  Red  River,  up  the  Black  and  Washita 
Rivers,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Commander  F.  M.  Ramsey,  for  the  purpose 
of  breaking  up  the  Confederate  posts  that 
were  being  formed  along  these  rivers  and 
destroying  their  provisions.  The  expedi 
tion  consisted  of  the  following  vessels  : 
"  Fort  Hindman,"  Acting-Volunteer  Lieu 
tenant  John  Pearce  ;  •'  Osage,"  Acting-Mas 
ter  Thomas  Wright;  "Lexington,"  Lieu 
tenant  George  M  Bache  :  "  Conestpga," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  T.  O.  Selfridge  ; 
"  Cricket,"  Acting-Master  H.  H.  Gorringe, 
and  '•  Ouichita,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Byron  Wilson. 

The  "Ouichita"  was  a  converted  river 
steamer  and  carried  39  guns  in  three  tiers. 
They  were  mostly  24  and  12  pound  howitz 
ers,  but  she  had  a  battery  of  8-inch  smooth 
bores  and  some  rifle-guns  on  the  lower 
deck.  Two  12-pounders  were  mounted  on 
wooden  turrets  above  all.  She  was  a  very 
formidable  vessel  for  such  operations. 

On  the  29th  of  February  the  expedition 
proceeded  up  the  Red  River  into  the  Black, 
as  far  as  the  town  of  Trinity,  where  they 
were  attacked  by  a  battery  of  field-pieces, 
under  the  Confederate  General.  Polignac, 
the  town  at  the  same  time  hanging  out 
white  flags.  The  gun-boats  returned  the  en 
emy's  fire  and  soon  drove  them  away. 

The  fire  of  the  "  Ouichita"  is  said  to  have 
been  withering,  and  the  astonishment  of 
the  Confederate  commander  may  be  well 
imagined  when  a  vessel,  which  he  supposed 
to  be  a  transport,  opened  on  him  with  forty 
guns,  firing  two  shells  from  each  gun  a 
minute,  the  shells  and  shrapnel  bursting  in 
all  directions  and  tearing  the  village  almost 
to  pieces. 

On  the  following  day  the  expedition  pro 
ceeded  up  the  river  to  within  two  miles  of 
Harrisonburg,  where  it  was  again  attacked 
by  General  Polignac,  with  a  large  number 
of  sharp-shooters  and  some  12-pound  rifle- 
guns,  from  behind  the  levee.  The  fire  of  the 
guns  was  directed  chiefly  upon  the  '"  Hind- 
man."  the  flag-ship,  and  she  was  struck 
twenty-seven  times  by  shot  and  shell,  one 
shot  disabling  the  starboard  engine.  But 
when  the  ';  Ouichita"  got  into  position  and 
opened  her  broadside,  the  enemy  fled  in  all 
directions,  leaving  their  guns  on  the  field, 
after  dragging  them  some  500  yards  from 


the  water.     The  Confederates  lost  a  great 
many  men  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Ramsey  then  proceeded  a  long  distance 
up  the  river  through  narrow  bayous  and 
shoal  cut-offs,  destroying  grain  and  provis 
ions  of  all  kinds,  nearly  reaching  Monroe, 
but  was  obliged  to  return  owing  to  the  rap 
idly  falling  water — not.  however,  until  the 
object  of  the  expedition  had  been  accom 
plished. 

Harrisonburg  had  always  been  a  trouble 
some  place,  from  which  constant  expedi 
tions  were  fitted  out  to  raid  along  the  Missis 
sippi.  The  approaches  to  it  had  been  strongly 
fortified,  four  forts  on  high  hills  command 
ing  the  river  for  two  miles  below  the  town 
and  one  mile  above.  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Ramsey  landed  a  force  at  this  place 
and  burned  several  of  the  largest  houses,  as 
a  warning  to  the  inhabitants  not  to  as 
sist  in  attacking  river  -  boats,  which  often 
had  women  and  children  on  board. 

Two  excellent  earth-works  were  found  at 
Trinity,  in  which  were  mounted  three  32- 
pounders.  These  were  hoisted  on  board  the 
vessels  and  carried  away. 

This  expedition  was  well  planned  and 
executed,  and  put  a  stop  to  the  practice  of 
firing  upon  unarmed  vessels  along  the  Mis 
sissippi  River.  It  offers  the  opportunity  of 
mentioning  the  gallantry  of  three  seamen 
of  the  "  Fort  Hindman,"  "James  K.  L.  Dun 
can,  Hugh  Melloy,  and  William  P.  John 
son.  A  shell  burst  at  the  muzzle  of  one  of 
the  guns,  setting  fire  to  the  tie  of  the  cart 
ridge  which  had  just  been  put  in  the  gun. 
Duncan  immediately  seized  the  burning 
cartridge,  took  it  out  of  the  gun,  and  threw 
it  overboard.  A  shell  pierced  the  bow  case 
mate  on  the  right  of  No.  1  gun,  mortally 
wounding  the  first  sponger,  who  dropped 
his  sponge  out  of  the  port  on  the  forecastle. 
Melloy  immediately  jumped  out,  picked  it 
up,  and  sponged  and  loaded  the  gun  under 
a  heavy  fire  from  sharp-shooters.  Johnson, 
though  very  severely  wounded  himself  in 
the  hand,  took  the  sponge  from  a  wounded 
comrade  and  continued  to  use  it  through 
out  the  action.  The  casualties  in  the  flotilla 
were  only  two  killed  and  eleven  wounded. 
On  March  30th,  a  plan  was  discovered  to 
blow  up  by  torpedoes  all  the  vessels  of  the 
fleet.  A  Confederate  mail  carrier  was  cap 
tured,  crossing  the  Mississippi  with  a  mail- 
bag  full  of  official  correspondence,  in  which 
an  atrocious  scheme  was  exposed.  It  was 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  to  introduce 
torpedoes  in  the  shape  of  lumps  of  coal 
into  the  coal  piles  or  bunkers  of  the  naval 
and  merchant  vessels,  in  hopes  that  they 
would  be  shovelled  into  the  furnaces  by 
the  firemen,  and  there  explode.  Acts  of 
this  kind  were  attempted  on  several  occa 
sions  by  the  Confederates,  and  one  would 
suppose  that  only  the  lowest  grade  of  1m- 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


55? 


inanity— men  of  the  basest  minds— would 
embark  in  such  infernal  enterprises.  But 
it  can  be  shown  that  some  of  the  highest 
personages  in  the  Confederacy  were  en 
gaged  in  this  business,  or,  at  least,  gave 
t  heir  assent  to  it.  not  in  open,  manly  fashion, 
but  with  the  apparent  idea  that  they  had 
no  authority  to  stop  it.  See  the  following 


CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  RICHMOND, 

September  10,  1863. 
SIR— Your  letter  of  the  13th  July,  from  Jackson- 
port,  Arkansas,  reached  me  a  few  days  ago. 

You  inform  me  that  a  certain  partv  desires  to 
obtain  proper  authority  from  the  Confederate  gov 
ernment  to  undertake  the  destruction  of  gun-boats, 
transports,  etc.,  for  such  per  centum  of  the  value  of 
the  boats  destroyed  as  may  be  offered,  etc. 

There  is  no  legislation  of  which  I  am  aware 
that  satisfies  precisely  the  conditions  required. 
The  Act  of  May  6,  1861,  recognizing  the  existence 
of  war  with  the  United  States,  and  providing  for 
privateering,  is  not  construed  to  permit  privateer 
ing  on  inland  waters.  A  reference  to  the  law  for  the 
establishment  of  a  Volunteer  Navy,  a  copy  of  which 
I  enclose  herewith,  will  show  you  that  it  cannot  be 
made  to  embrace  the  parties  to  which  you  refer. 

To  facilitate  organizations  of  parties  to  operate 
as  you  propose,  in  boats  or  otherwise,  against  the 
enemy  on  our  Western  rivers,  they  could  be  received 
into  the  Navy  if  they  shipped  regularly  in  accord 
ance  with  existing  laws,  and  then  assigned  to  duty 
under  an  acting-master  upon  those  rivers.  In  this 
case,  however,  they  would  form  a  part  of  the  regu 
lar  Navy  establishment,  drawing  its  pay  and  sub 
sistence.  I  infer  from  your  letter  that  such  is  not 
the  object  of  the  parties'in  question,  but  that  they 
desire  to  organize  in  small  parties,  to  operate  as  in- 
oependent  river  guerilla  parties,  under  their  own 
leaders,  and  to  look  to  prize-money  or  reward  from 
the  country  for  destroying  enemy  s  property,  to  de 
fray  expenses,  etc.,  using  an  appointment  from  the 
Government  to  secure  to  them  the  rights  of  prison 
ers  of  war,  if  captured. 

Judging  from  what  you  say,  that  you  have  not 
the  Acts  of  Congress  at  hand,"  I  inclose  copies  of  two 
Acts,  one  of  which  possibly  serves  the  desired  pur 
pose.  The  President  has  authority  to  make  such 
an  arrangement  as  you  refer  to,  and  I  would  sug 
gest  that  parties  wishing  to  engage  in  the  enterprise 
present  to  him  their  names,  purposes  arid  terms, 
either  directly  or  through  your  obedient  servant, 
S.  R.  MALLORY, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Colonel  E.  C.  CABELL,  C.  S.  A., 

Headquarters  Prices  Army, 
Jacksonport,  Arkansas. 

[No.  229.] 
AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  LOCAL  DEFENCE  AND 

SPECIAL  SERVICE. 

SECTION  1.  The  Congress  of  the  Confederate 
States  do  enact :  That  the  President  be  and  he  is 
hereby  authorized  to  accept  the  services  of  volun 
teers  of  such  kind  and  in  such  proportion  as  he  may 
deem  expedient,  to  serve  for  such  time  as  he  may 
prescribe,  for  the  defence  of  exposed  places  and 
localities,  or  such  special  service  as  he  may  deem 
expedient. 

SECTION  2.  And  such  forces  shall  be  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States,  for  the 
local  defence  or  special  service  aforesaid,  the  mus 
ter-roll  setting  forth  distinctly  the  services  to  be 
performed  ;  and  the  said  volunteers  shall  not  be 
considered  in  actual  service  until  thereunto  ordered 
by  the  President,  and  they  shall  be  entitled  to  pay 
of  subsistence  only  for  such  time  as  they  may  be  011 


duty,  under  the  orders  of  the  President,  or  by  his 
direction. 

SECTION  3.  Such  volunteer  forces,  when  so  ac 
cepted  or  ordered  into  service,  shall  be  organized  in 
accordance  and  subject  to  all  the  provisions  of  the 
Act  entitled  ''An  Act  to  provide  for  the  public  de 
fence,1'  approved  March  6th,  1861,  and  may  be  at 
tached  to  such  divisions,  brigades,  regiments  or 
battalions  as  the  President  may  direct;  and,  when 
not  organized  into  battalions  and  regiments  before 
being  mustered  into  service,  the  President  shall  ap 
point  the  field-officers  of  the  battalions  and  regi 
ments  when  organized  as  such  by  him. 
AN  ACT  TO  AUTHORIZE  THE  FORMATION  OF  VOL 
UNTEER  COMPANIES  FOR  LOCAL  DEFENCE. 
The  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America 
do  enact: 

That  for  the  purpose  of  local  defence  in  any  portion 
of  the  Confederate  States,  any  number  of  persons, 
not  less  than  twenty,  who  are  over  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years,  or  otherwise  not  liable  to  military  duty, 
may  associate  themselves  as  a  military  company, 
elect  their  own  officers,  and  establish  rules  and  regu 
lations  for  their  own  government,  and  shall  be 
considered  as  belonging  to  the  Provisional  Army  of 
the  Confederate  States,  serving  without  pay  or 
allowances,  and  entitled,  when  captured  by  the 
enemy,  to  all  the  privileges  of  prisoners  of  war. 

Provided,  That  such  company  shall,  as  soon  as 
practicable,  transmit  their  muster-roll  or  list  of  the 
names  of  the  officers  and  privates  thereof  to  the 
Governor  of  the  State,  the  commanding  general  of 
the  department,  or  any  brigadier-general  in  the 
State  or  Confederate  service,  to  be  forwarded  to 
the  Secretary  of  \Var ;  but  the  President  or 
commander  of  the  district  may,  at  any  time,  dis 
band  such  companies. 

Provided,  That  in  the  States  and  districts  m 
which  the  Act  entitled  "An  Act  to  further  provide 
for  the  public  defence,"  approved  April  16th,  1862, 
and  the  Acts  amendatory  thereof,  have  been  sus 
pended,  persons  of  any  age,  resident  within  such 
States  or  districts,  may  volunteer  and  form  part 
of  such  companies,  so  long  as  such  suspension  may 
continue. 

Provided,  That  no  person  shall  become  a  mem 
ber  of  said  company  until  he  shall  have  first  taken 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Confederate  States  of 
America,  in  writing,  a  copy  of  which  shall  be  filed 
with  the  muster-roll  of  said  company,  as  above 
prescribed.  Approved  October  13th,  1862. 

[EXTRACT.] 

HEADQUARTERS  DISTRICT  OF  ARKANSAS,  ) 
LITTLE  ROCK,  August  18,  1863.         ) 

SPECIAL  ORDERS  | 
No.  135.  ) 

******* 

VI.— Thomas  E.  Courtenay,  Esq.,  is,  by  direction 
of  the  Lieutenant-General  commanding  the  depart 
ment  of  trans-Mississippi,  authorized  to  enlist  a 
secret  service  corps,  not  exceeding  twenty  (20)  men, 
to  be  employed  by  him,  subject  to  the  orders  of  the 
district  commander. 

******* 

By  command  of  Major-General  Price, 

THOMAS  L.  SNEAD, 
A  ssista  nt-A  djutant  General. 
THOMAS  E.  COURTENAY,  Esq. 


[FORM  OF  APPOINTMENT.] 


1864. 


In  accordance  with  the  above,  I  hereby  appoint 

a  member  of  the  secret  service 

corps,  to  report  to  me  at on  or  before  the 

day  of 1864. 

THOMAS  E.  COURTENAY, 

Captain  Secret  Service  Corps. 


558 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ENGINEER  BUREAU, 
RICHMOND,  VA.,  Sept.  15,  1863. 

R.  W.  Dunn,  having  been  selected  for  special  ser 
vice,  is  authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  pro 
ceed  to  the  headquarters  of  Lieutenant-General 
E.  Kirby  Smith,  commanding  trans- Mississippi 
department,  to  be  attached  to  one  of  the  com 
panies  of  engineer  troops  now  being  organ 
ized  in  that  department,  under  the  Act  of  Congress 
"  to  provide  and  organize  engineer  troops  to  serve 
during  the  war."  Approved  March  20,  186.3. 

A.  L.  RIVES, 

Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Aeting-Ch  ief  of  Bureau. 
Approved — JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 


CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ENGINEER  BUREAU, 

September  15,  1863. 
GENERAL— I  have  the  honor  to  send,  in  addition 
to  the  names  specified  in  my  letter  of  the  20th  ul 
timo,  the  following  list  of  men,  who,  by  wish  of  the 
Honorable  Secretary  of  War,  are  to  be  employed  in 
your  department,  on  the  special  service  of  destroy 
ing  the  enemy's  property  by  torpedoes  and  similar 
inventions,  viz.:  7Names.] 

These  men  should  each  be  enlisted  in  and  form  part 
of  an  engineer  company,  but  will  nevertheless  be 
employed,  so  far  as  possible,  on  the  service  specified 
above.  When  the  public  interest,  in  your  judg 
ment,  requires  it,  details  of  additional  men  may  be 
made,  either  from  the  engineer  troops  or  from  the 
line,  to  aid  them  in  their  particular  duties,  and  they 
may  be  furnished  by  the  military  authorities  with 
the  necessary  ammunition.  Their  compensation  to 
be  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  property  destroyed  by  their 
new  inventions,  and  all  the  arms  and  munitions 
captured  by  them,  by  the  use  of  torpedoes  or  by 
similar  devices.  .Beyond  this,  they  will  be  entitled 
to  such  other  rewards  as  Congress  may  hereafter 
provide. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  L.  RIVES, 

Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Acting-Chief  of  Bureau. 
Approved — JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 


Names  of  persons  in  secret  service,  to  introduce 
R.  W.  Dunn,  E.  C.  Singer  and  J.  D.  Braruan  to  my 
friends  : 

B.  C.  Adams,  Grenada;  Captain  Samuel  Apple- 
gate,  Winoua  ;  Colonel  H.  H.  Miller,  command 
ing  regiment  west  of  Grenada  and  Carrollton  ; 
W.  P.  Mellen,  Natchez  ;  Major  John  B.  Peyton. 
Raymond  ;  Judge  D.  H.  Bosser,  Woodville  ;  F.  A. 
Boyle,  Woodville ;  Henry  Skipwith,  Clinton,  La.  ; 
Conrad  McRae,  Fordocke,  La. ;  W.  Barton,  Atcha- 
falaya  River,  La.;  J.  J.  Morgan,  Atchafalaya  River, 
La.;  T.  G.  Caivit,  Atchafalaya  River,  La.;  James 
E.  Lindsey,  Atchafalaya  River,  La.;  William  N. 
Lindsey,  Atchafalaya  River,  La.;  William  H.  Neil- 
son,  Atchafalaya  River,  La.;  Samuel  Faulkner, 
Atchafalaya  River,  La.;  Colonel  James  M.  Porter, 
St.  Landry,  La.;  Colonel  Win.  B.  Davis,  St.  Lan 
dry,  La. ;  Colonel  Win.  Offat.  St.  Landry,  La. ;  Cap 
tain  James  Cappes,  St.  Landry,  La. ;  S.  A.  Scribner, 
St.  Landry,  La.;  Elbert  Goull,  St.  Landry,  La.;  T. 
C.  Anderson,  St.  Landry,  La. ;  Simon  Richard,  St. 
Landry,  La.;  Henderson  Taylor,  Marksville,  La.: 
S.  L.  Taylor,  Marksville,  La. ;  H.  Robertson,  Alex 
andria,  La. ;  S.  W.  Henarie,  Alexandria,  La. ;  Gov 
ernor  T.  O.  Moore,  Alexandria,  La.;  Colonel  C. 
Manning,  Alexandria,  La  ;  General  M.  Wells,  Rap- 
ides  and  Aveyellos  Parish,  La.  ;  General  P.  F. 
Kearny,  Rapid'es  and  Aveyellos  Parish,  La,  ;  Hugh 
M.  Kearny,  Esq.,  Rapides  and  Aveyellos  Parish, 


La.;  B.  F.  Murdock,  Rapides  and  Aveyellos  Parish, 
La.;  B.  C.  Crow,  Esq.,  Lafayette  Parish,  La.;  Hon. 
John  Moore,  St.  Martin's  Parish ;  William  Robert 
son,  St.  Martin's  Parish  ;  Judge  Baker,  St.  Mary's 
Parish;  T.  J.  Foster,  St.  Mary's  Parish;  Judge 
Palfrey,  St.  Mary's  Parish  ;  Daniel  Dennett,  editor 
Planter's  Banner,  St.  Mary's  Parish  ;  Mr.  Sickles, 
editor  Planter's  Banner,  Kindred  Spirits,  St.  Mary's 
Parish ;  Phanor  Prudhommer,  Esq.,  St.  Mary's 
Parish  ;  John  Blair  Smith,  Nachitoches  Parish,  La.; 
Colonel  H.  J.  G.  Battle,  Caddo,  La. ;  Reuben  White, 
Caddo,  La. 

We  must  help  one  another,  and  those  who  can  be 
efficient  in  our  cause  must  receive  all  necessary 
hospitality,  aid  and  information.  I  introduce  none 
but  the  worthy.  R.  J.  PAGE. 

REPORT  OF  A  COMMISSION  ON  SINGER'S  TORPEDO. 
ENGINEER  HEADQUARTERS,     } 
DEPOT  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA, 

July  14,  1863.  ) 

COLONEL — In  accordance  with  your  order  of  fie 
13th,  appointing  the  undersigned  a  commission  to 
examine  and  report  upon  the  merits  of  Mr.  E.  C. 
Singer's  torpedo,  we  beg  to  state  that  we  have  care 
fully  examined  the  same,  and  submit  the  following 
report : 

First.  "As  to  the  place  for  exploding  the  charge. " 
In  this  plan  or  lock,  in  our  opinion,  consists  the 
great  merit  of  the  invention.  The  lock  is  simple, 
strong,  and  not  liable  at  any  time  to  be  out  of  or 
der;  and  as  the  caps  which  ignite  the  charge  are 
placed  within  the  powder  magazine,  they  are  not 
likely  to  be  affected  by  moisture  ;  while  'the  per 
cussion  is  upon  the  exterior  of  the  magazine,  actual 
contact  with  the  rod,  which  acts  as  a  trigger,  is 
necessary;  but  by  mechanical  contrivances  the  con 
tact  may  be  obtained  in  various  ways. 

Second.  "The  certainty  of  action '' depends,  of 
course,  upon  contact ;  but  by  the  peculiar  and  ex 
cellent  arrangement  of  the  lock  and  plan  of  percus 
sion  mentioned  above,  the  certainty  of  explosion  is 
almost  absolute. 

One  great  advantage  this  torpedo  possesses  over 
many  others  is  that  its  explosion  does  not  depend 
upon  the  action  or  judgment  of  an  individual ;  that 
it  is  safe  from  premature  ignition,  and  at  the  same 
time  is  cheap  and  portable,  while  its  position  in 
river  or  harbor  cannot  readily  be  ascertained  by  an 
enemy's  vessels. 

Third.  "  The  efficiency  of  its  explosion,  if  made  in 
deep  channels,"  cannot  well  be  ascertained  without 
experiment,  but  would  be  the  same  as  sub-marines 
fired  by  any  other  contrivance.  We  are  of  the  opin 
ion,  however,  from  the  best  information  accessible, 
that  if  the  powder,  say  100  pounds  in  quantity,  is 
within  the  distance  of  fifteen  feet  from  the  keel  of 
the  vessel  when  exploded,  its  efficient  action  is  not 
materially  affected  by  the  depth  of  channel. 

Of  course,  the  quantity  of  powder  required  would 
have  to  be  determined  by  experiment.  Rifle  pow 
der,  from  its  more  rapid  combustion,  would  be 
preferable  in  deep  water  to  cannon  powder,  while 
some  of  the  detonating  compounds  would  doubtless 
effect  certain  destruction  to  vessels  passing  over 
torpedoes  at  even  much  greater  depth.  The  pecu 
liar  arrangements  for  firing  the  batteries  would 
have  to  be  determined  by  the  circumstances  of  posi 
tion  and  draft  of  vessels  and  motion  of  currents, 
depth  and  width  of  channels,  and  would  require  the 
exercise  of  great  judgment  on  the  part  of  those  in 
trusted  with  the  duty  of  placing  them. 

We  are  so  well  satisfied  with  the  merits  of  Mr. 
Singer's  torpedo  that  we  recommend  the  engineer 
department  to  give  it  a  thorough  test,  and,  if  prac 
ticable,  to  have  some  of  them  placed  at  an  early  day 
in  some  of  the  river  approaches  of  Richmond. 

General  Remarks: — 

The  mode  of  loading  this  torpedo  dispenses  with 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


559 


any  connection  through  the  ease  of  the  magazine, 
involving  no  packing  of  any  kind. 

The  risk  of  the  lock  fouling  by  sand  or  mud,  if 
on  the  bottom  of  a  stream,  we  think  can  be  pre 
vented  by  enclosing  it  in  a  metal  case,  which  would 
be  nearly  water-tight.  In  narrow  streams  these 
could  be  placed  in  quincunx,  so  that  a  vessel  at 
tempting  to  pass  would  be  sure  to  come  in  contact 
with  some  one. 

The  inventor  also  claims  to  be  able  to  go  to  a 
vessel  with  one  or  two  and  get  them  in  contact  so  as 
to  explode. 

This  can  be  done,  but  so  much  depends  on  the 
nerve  and  daring  of  individuals  that  there  is  no  cer 
tainty  of  it.  Judging  from  the  success  of  blasting 
rocks  by  powder,  superposed  upon  the  rock  with  a 
deep  column  of  water  over  it,  we  are  of  the  opinion 
that  the  depth  of  water  below  a  torpedo  would  not 
interfere  with  its  success. 

Lieutenant  Bolton.  who  saw  and  blasted  a  great 
deal  in  East  River,  near  New  York,  says:  "  One  hun 
dred  pounds  of  powder,  fifteen  feet  from  the  bottom 
of  a  vessel,  would  break  her  sides  or  bottom." 

We  would  add  that  a  proposed  adaptation  of 
these  locks  to  the  explosion  of  shell  or  batteries 
under  railroad  tracks,  for  defences  of  approach  to 
fortified  works,  and  for  blowing  up  bridges,  seems 
to  us  very  simple  and  effective;  also  an  ingenious 
plan  for  affixing  torpedoes  to  spar  or  bow  of  an 
iron-clad. 

We  consider  the  employment  of  submarines  as  a 
legitimate  mode  of  defence,  and,  as  officers  connected 
with  the  defence  of  Richmond,  feel  it  our  duty  to 
recommend  torpedoes  as  a  powerful  accessory  to  our 
limited  means.  The  moral  effect  of  an  explosion 
upon  an  enemy  would  be  incalculable,  and  would 
doubtless  deter  them  from  attempting  to  bring 
troops,  by  transports,  to  points  accessible  to  the 
city,  as  White  House  or  Brandon. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  H.  STEVENS, 

Colonel  Engineers. 
JOHN  A.  WILLIAMS, 

Major  Engineers. 

W.  Gr.  TURPIN, 

Capt.  Engineers. 
Colonel  J.  T.  GILMER, 

Chief  Engineer. 
Official  copy. 

A.  L.  RIVKS, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Acting-Chief  of  Bureau. 

LETTKR  OF  T.  E.  COURTENAYTO  COL.  H.  E.  CLARK. 
RICHMOND,  VIRGINIA,  Jan.  19,  1864. 

MY  DKAR  COLONEL— I  hope  you  have  received 
all  my  letters.  I  wrote  two  to  Mobile,  one  to  Co 
lumbus,  and  two  to  Brandon.  I  now  send  this  by  a 
party  who  is  going  to  Shreveport,  and  promised  to 
learn  your  whereabouts  so  as  to  forward  it  to  you. 

I  have  met  with  much  delay  and  annoyance  since 
you  left.  The  castings  have  all  been  completed  some 
time,  and  the  coal  is  so  perfect  that  the  most  critical 
eye  could  riot  detect  it.  The  President  thinks  them 
perfect,  but  Mr.  Seddon  will  do  nothing  without 
congressional  action,  so  I  have  been  engaged  for  the 
past  two  weeks  in  getting  up  a  bill  that  will  cover 
my  case.  At  last  it  has  met  his  approval,  and  will 
to-day  go  to  the  Senate,  hence  to  the  House  in  secret 
session.  It  provides  that  the  Secretary  of  War 
shall  have  the  power  to  organize  a  "secret  service 
corps ''  commission,  enlist  and  detail  parties  who 
shall  retain  former  rank  and  pay,  also  give  such 
compensation  as  he  may  deem  fit,  not  exceeding  50 
per  cent,  for  property  partially  and  totally  de 
stroyed;  also  to  advance,  when  necessary,  out  of  the 
secret  service  fund,  money  to  parties  engaging  to 
injure  the  enemy. 

As  soon  as  this  bill  becomes  a  law,  I  have  no 
doubt  but  I  shall  get  a  suitable  commission  and 


means  to  progress  with,  and  that  all  the  appoint 
ments  you  or  I  have  made  wall  he  confirmed.   *  *  * 

T.  E.  COURTENAY. 

Colonel  H.  E.  CLARK, 

1th  Missouri  Cavalry.  Maj.  Gen.  Price's 
Headquarters,  Arkansas. 

The  little  "  tin-clads  "  of  the  Mississippi 
squadron  made  a  good  deal  of  history  for 
the  Navy.  They  often  performed  duties 
that  ought  to  have  been  assigned  to  iron 
clads;  but  these  latter  were  few  in  number, 
and  too  large  to  penetrate  the  small  and 
narrow  streams  where  the  Confederates  had 
an  idea  they  were  secure,  and  from  whence 
they  would  start  expeditions  towards  the 
great  river  to  prey  upon  peaceful  com 
merce.  The  "Petrel"  more  than  once 
distinguished  herself  in  these  river  ex 
peditions,  and  while  in  the  Yazoo  River 
performed  service  that  should  be  remem 
bered. 

Colonel  Coates,  who  had  started  out  with 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  Owen,  as  men 
tioned  on  a  former  occasion,  to  keep  the 
Confederates  from  following  in  Sherman's 
rear,  had,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Navy, 
occupied  Yazoo  City,  which  seemed  to  be 
an  object  of  attack  from  both  parties. 
First  one  side  and  then  the  other  had 
thrown  up  earth-works  until  it  had  become 
a  formidable  place. 

Colonel  Coates  was  quietly  resting  here, 
keeping  a  good  look-out  on  the  enemy,  who 
were  in  force  a  few  miles  back,  when,  on 
the  5th  of  March,  at  9:30  A.  M.,  the  Con 
federates  made  a  fierce  attack  on  the  re 
doubts  at  a  point  occupied  by  part  of  the 
llth  Illinois  Volunteers,  supported  by  a  12- 
pound  howitzer  belonging  to  the  gun-boat 
"Exchange."  Acting-Master  Thomas  Mc- 
Elroy,  of  the  4i  Petrel,"  had  been  left  in 
charge  of  the  naval  force  in  the  Yazoo 
River  by  Lieutenant-Commander  Owen. 

After' firing  the  howitzer  several  times,  it 
had  a  shell  jammed  in  the  bore  which  could 
not  be  removed.  Mr.  McElroy  then  or 
dered  Acting-Master  Gibson,  of  the  "  Mar 
mora,"  to  dismount  one  of  his  rifled  how 
itzers,  mount  it  on  a  field  carriage,  and 
send  it  on  shore  with  a  crew  to  work  it ; 
but  before  he  could  get  the  gun  to  the  re 
doubt  the  enemy  had  completely  surrounded 
the  hill. 

At  this  time  the  righting  in  the  city  was 
hand  to  hand  ;  the  gun  was  placed  in  posi 
tion  and  opened  fire  rapidly  on  the  enemy. 
At  one  time  the  crew  were  driven  from  their 
piece  by  superior  numbers  ;  but  the  Union 
soldiers,  seeing  that  the  sailors  needed  sup 
port,  went  to  their  rescue,  charged  the  en 
emy,  and  retook  the  gun. 

The  "  Petrel  "  and  "Marmora"  kept  up  a 
rapid  fire  with  shrapnel,  until  the  battle 
was  over,  and  McElroy  was  requested  by 
Colonel  Coates  to  cease  firing,  as  the  enemy 
were  retreating.  McElroy  then  went  on 


560 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


shore,  took  the  howitzer,  and  pursued  the 
retreating  enemy,  firing  upon  their  rear 
until  they  escaped  to  the  hills. 

Three  sailors  highly  distinguished  them 
selves  in  this  battle  :  Bartlett  Laffey  of  the 
"Petrel,"  and  James  Stoddard  and  Wm. 
J.  Franks  of  the  "  Marmora/'  These  men, 
though  surrounded  at  their  gun,  fought 
hand  to  hand  with  their  cutlasses  to  the 
last,  and  when  the  enemy  retreated,  turned 
the  gun  upon  them — this,  too,  after  their 
officer  (an  acting  ensign)  had  retreated,  and 
behaved  so  badly  that  his  resignation  was 
afterwards  demanded.  Here  was  a  great 
difference  between  the  men  and  their  offi 
cer,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  former 
will  live  to  see  their  names  honorably  men 
tioned  while  that  of  their  leader  is  withheld 
as  unworthy  of  notice. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  the  Confederates, 
taking  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the 
gun-boats,  marched  on  Columbus.  Ky. ;  but 
when  Colonel  Lawrence,  who  commanded 
the  post,  refused  to  listen  to  a  demand 
for  its  surrender,  they  turned  upon  Fort 
Pillow,  and  captured  it  after  a  desperate 
conflict. 

Fort  Pillow  was  retaken  by  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Fitch,  but  the  enemy  carried 
off  with  them  everything  it  had  contained 
in  the  shape  of  guns  or  stores,  and  retreated 
to  Ashport.  The  Union  transports  then 
landed  troops  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  who 
reoccupied  the  fort,  where  traces  of  the 
massacre  were  still  visible,  and  where  ruin 
and  desolation  went  hand-in-hand.  Terrible 
scenes  had  been  enacted  when  the  place 
was  taken  by  the  Confederates,  and  they 
behaved  as  if  they  considered  the  brave  de 
fence  of  the  Federal  soldiers  a  grave  of 
fence,  to  be  avenged  by  an  indiscriminate 
slaughter.  The  atrocities  which  these  men 
committed  will  always  remain  a  stigma 
upon  their  character,  for  no  possible  ex 
cuses  or  explanations  can  ever  justify 
them. 

All  of  the  successes  gained  by  the  Con 
federates  were  owing  to  the  unfortunate 
Red  River  expedition,  which  had  with 
drawn  the  gun-boats  from  their  posts. 

In  the  meantime  the  small  gun-boats, 
which  were  acting  on  the  Yazoo  River 
in  connection  with  Colonel  Coates,  were 
making  themselves  felt  in  that  region.  An 
expedition  under  Colonel  Schofield  was 
about  to  start  up  the  Yazoo  River  by  order 
of  General  McArthur,  when,  by  request 
of  the  former,  on  April  21st,  the  gun-boats 
"Petrel"'  and  "Prairie  Bird"  preceded  the 
army-transport  up  to  Yazoo  City.  No  en 
emy  being  in  sight,  the  "Petrel"  went  on 
up,  leaving  the  "Prairie  Bird"  and  trans 
port  ' '  Freestone  "  at  the  Navy  Yard.  When 
abreast  of  the  city,  the  little  gun-boat  opened 
fire  on  some  Confederate  troops  just  then 


coming  in  sight  on  the  hills,  which  was  re 
turned  briskly  by  musketry  and  cannon. 
The  river,  being  too  narrow  to  turn  in,  Act 
ing-Master  McElroy  determined  to  run  the 
batteries,  go  up  the  river  where  there  was 
more  room,  turn  about,  and  then  run  down 
again.  It  was  not  found  practicable  to  re 
turn  immediately,  however,  so  the  "Pe 
trel"  remained  where  she  was  until  the 
22d.  On  this  day  she  hauled  into  the  bank 
and  commenced  wooding,  when  she  was 
attacked  by  the  enemy  with  a  strong  force 
of  infantry  and  several  pieces  of  cannon, 
the  shot  from  their  guns  passing  through 
the  vessel.  Not  being  able  to  bring  his 
guns  to  bear,  McElroy  armed  his  men  as 
sharp-shooters  and  returned  the  fire,  at  the 
same  time  getting  underway.  While  start 
ing  off,  two  shots  entered  the  ship,  one 
striking  the  cylinder,  the  other  cutting  the 
steam-pipe  and  disabling  the  engines,  when 
the  Confederates  closed  in  on  her.  The 
crew  went  to  their  quarters  and  commenced 
firing,  but  the  sharp-shooters  picked  them 
off  through  the  ports,  and  McElroy,  find 
ing  it  impossible  to  work  his  guns,  gave 
the  order  to  set  fire  to  the  ship  and  aban 
don  her.  At  this  moment  a  shot  went 
through  the  boiler,  enveloping  the  "Pe 
trel  "  in  steam.  This  was  unfortunate,  for 
the  steam  extinguished  the  fire,  and  in 
consequence  the  vessel  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  with  all  her  stores,  guns  and 
ammunition. 

There  were  some  unpleasant  features 
connected  with  this  affair,  but  McElroy  re 
deemed  his  own  mistakes  by  his  gallantry 
after  most  of  his  officers  and'  men  had  left 
the  vessel.  The  pilot,  Kimble  Ware,  and  a 
quartermaster,  J.  H.  Nibbie,  stood  by  their 
commander  when  all  the  officers  had  de 
serted  their  flag. 

As  soon  as  the  steam  cleared  away, 
McElroy.  with  the  assistance  of  Quarter 
master  Nibbie,  got  the  wounded  off  the 
guards  on  to  the  bank,  and  got  ready  to  set 
fire  to  the  vessel  again  (all  this  time  under 
an  incessant  fire).  He  obtained  some  live 
coals  from  the  furnace  and  spread  them 
about  the  decks,  but  soon  had  to  desist  on 
account  of  the  heat  below.  At  this  time, 
the  enemy  seeing  the  officers  and  men 
escaping  across  the  fields,  crossed  the  river 
above  and  below  the  "Petrel."  and,  sur 
rounding  her  on  all  sides,  forced  McElroy 
to  surrender.  The  fires  on  board  the 
steamer  were  at  once  extinguished,  and  the 
captain  was  taken  away  before  he  had 
time  to  find  out  how  many  of  his  men  were 
killed  and  wounded. 

As  an  excuse  for  the  conduct  of  the  crew, 
it  must  be  remarked  that  there  were  only  ten 
white  men  and  boys  on  board  the  vessel; 
the  rest  were  all  "  contrabands,"  and  some 
of  these  were  sick.  But  it  was  one  of  the 


OF   THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


5G1 


cases  where  officers  behaved  badly  on 
board  a  vessel  of  the  Mississippi  squadron. 
If  the  "  Petrel"  had  been  properly  seconded 
by  the  troops,  the  disaster  would  not  have 
occurred. 

This  affair  threw  quite  a  gloom  over  the 
fleet,  as  the  "  Petrel"  had  always  been  one 
of  the  favorite  "  tin-clads,"  and  her  name 
appears  in  many  expeditions  and  forays. 

This  disaster  was  redeemed  a  short  time 
afterwards  by  the  gallant  conduct  and  good 
management  of  Acting- Master  James  C. 
Gipson,  in  the  gun-boat  "'  Exchange."  who. 
while  passing  Columbia,  Arkansas,  was 
opened  upon  by  a  masked  battery,  consisting 
•of  four  15-pound  shell  guns,  two  12-pound 
rifles,  and  one  10,  one  18,  and  one  G  pounder 
rifles. 

The  battery  was  divided  into  two  sec 
tions,  planted  about  200  yards  apart,  be 
hind  the  levee.  The  Confederates  waited 
until  the  "•Exchange"  had  passed  the 
lower  battery,  and  then  opened  upon  her  a 
destructive  fire.  Acting- Master  Gipson 
could  not  back  down  on  account  of  having 
turned  the  point  of  a  sand-bar,  and  he  at 
once  saw  that  his  only  alternative  was  to  run 
the  upper  battery.  This  he  attempted  to  do, 
opening  fire  at  the  same  time  with  all  the 
guns  which  he  could  bring  to  bear  upon  the 
enemy  ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  port  en 
gine  was  struck  by  a  shot  and  disabled, 
reducing  the  speed  of  the  vessel  and  keeping 
her  under  fire  for  forty-five  minutes. 

The  "  Exchange"  had  hardly  got  out  of 
range  of  the  enemy's  guns  when  her  engine 
stopped  entirely,  and  it  was  found  neces 
sary  to  anchor  while  the  engineers  were 
making  repairs.  The  work  was  quickly 
and  energetically  done,  and  the  little  vessel 
was  enabled  to  move  slowly  up  the  river 
with  one  engine.  It  was  expected  that  the 
Confederates  would  move  the  battery  above 
the  vessel  while  she  was  disabled,  and  open 
fire  upon  her  again  ;  but  this  was  not  done, 
and  she  finally  escaped,  though  badly  cut  up. 

The  "  Exchange  "  was  pierced  thirty-five 
times  with  shot  and  shell;  eight  times  near 
the  water  line  and  five  times  in  the  case 
mate.  Several  shells  exploded  in  the  coal 
bunkers,  near  the  boiler,  and  one  entered 
the  shell-locker,  overturning  shell-boxes, 
but,  fortunately,  not  reaching  some  percus 
sion  shell  that  were  stored  there.  One  shot 
passed  through  the  pilot-house,  wounding 
Acting-Master  Gipson  and  rendering  him 
senseless  for  fifteen  minutes;  but  the  brave 
pilot  steered  his  course  as  coolly  as  if  it  was 
an  every-day  affair.  The  gallant  commander 
was  wounded  in  three  places,  but  in  all 
this  firing  only  one  man  was  killed  out 
right.  That,  however,  does  not  detract 
from  the  credit  of  this  fight,  and  it  shows 
how  a  cool  and  brave  commander  can  get 
out  of  a  difficultv  if  he  is  determined  to  do  so. 


Though  the  volunteer  officers  in  the  Mis 
sissippi  fleet  almost  always  deported  them 
selves  with  great  gallantry,  few  affairs 
were  better  managed  than  the  one  we  have 
just  described.  We  cannot  always  give  the 
names  of  all  the  officers  engaged  in  these 
adventures,  but  they  will  generally  be 
found  in  the  lists. 

There  were  a  number  of  such  affairs,  and 
in  many  of  them  the  brave  character  of  the 
Western  men  was  clearly  exhibited. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1804,  Lieutenant- 
Commander  F.  M.  Ramsey,  while  employed 
in  the  Atchafalaya  River,  started  down 
with  the  "  Chillicothe,"  '*  Neosho,"  and 
';Fort  Hindman."  When  about  one  and 
a  half  miles  from  Simmsport,  they  were 
fired  upon  by  a  battery  of  two  30- pounder 
Parrotts.  When  the  vessels  opened  fire 
in  return,  the  enemy  did  not  wait  to  load, 
but  scattered  in  all  directions,  leaving  their 
guns  and  muskets  behind  them.  A  deserter 
stated  that  these  guns  had  been  taken  from 
General  Banks  when  he  was  on  his  Red 
River  raid,  and  the  naval  officers  were 
thus  sometimes  reminded  that  Banks  had 
furnished  the  guns  which  so  often  at 
tacked  them  along  the  river.  This  affair 
was  well  managed  and  with  but  little  loss 
of  life. 

Five  or  six  batteries,  which  had  been  cap 
tured  from  the  Federals,  were  now  raiding 
upon  different  parts  of  the  river,  and  firing 
upon  merchant  steamers  carrying  passen 
gers,  frequently  women  and  children.  We 
regret  that  we  are  obliged  to  mention 
these  acts  of  wanton  vengeance  on  the  part 
of  the  Confederates.  It  was  not  legitimate 
warfare,  and  it  detracted  very  much  from 
the  credit  which  they  had  fairly  earned  by 
their  undoubted  bravery  on  other  occa 
sions. 

It  looked  sometimes  as  if  the  "  chivalry  " 
of  the  South  was  dying  out.  The  gun 
boats,  with  as  much  propriety,  might  have 
fired  on  the  defenceless  houses  of  people 
who  were  taking  no  part  in  the  war.  It  is 
true  that  the  Union  men  did  sometimes  dis 
grace  therneelves  by  burning  houses,  but  it 
was  always  done  in  retaliation  for  some 
wanton  act  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates, 
and  the  women  and  children  were  always 
given  time  to  get  out  of  the  way.  It  was 
all  wrong  on  either  side,  and  shows  how 
the  most  humane  people  will  become  de 
moralized  when  engaged  in  a  civil  war. 
May  God  save  us  from  any  such  war  in  the 
future  ! 

There  was  no  doubt  about  the  energy, 
zeal  and  bravery  of  these  Louisiana  and 
Texas  troops  ;  they  never  relaxed  for  a  mo 
ment,  and  were  encountered  when  least  ex 
pected.  As  they  attacked  everything  that 
came  along,  they  would  sometimes  ''catch 
a  Tartar." 


5G2 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


On  the  2Gth  of  June,  while  the  gun-boat 
"  General  Bragg  "  was  at  anchor  in  Tun 
ica  Bend,  she  was  opened  on  by  the  en 
emy  with  four  guns.  Acting  -  Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  C.  Dominey  (commanding)  slip 
ped  his  cable  and  went  to  quarters,  replying 
rapidly  to  the  enemy's  fire.  After  being 
engaged  about  five  minutes,  a  shot  struck 
the  working  -  beam  of  the  steamer,  and 
disabled  her  engines  completely.  But  Dom 
iney  did  not  mind  that.  He  drifted  along, 
silencing  the  enemy's  guns,  and  they  went 
away,  apparently  satisfied  with  having 
put  22  shot  and  shell  into  the  "General 
Bragg." 

The  little  "  tin-clad,"  "  Naiad,"  hearing 
the  firing,  ran  to  the  assistance  of  the 
"  Bragg,"  and  when  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  latter  another  battery  opened  upon  her, 
in  a  few  moments  completely  disabling 
her  steering  gear  and  severely  wounding 
the  pilot.  James  M.  Herrington.  The  "  Na 
iad's  "  wheel  being  shot  away,  her  com 
mander,  Acting-Master  Henry  T.  Keene, 
rigged  relieving  tackles,  steered  for  the 
battery  and  continued  a  close  and  brisk  fire 
until  it  was  completely  silenced. 

In  this  affair  the  little  vessel  was  struck 
nine  times;  arid,  to  show  how  these  frail 
boats  would  hold  on  amidst  a  pitiless  storm 
of  shot  and  shell,  we  will  enumerate  the 
damages  inflicted  on  the  "  Naiad:" 

"  The  first  shot  passed  through  the  smoke-stack ; 
the  second  and  third  shots  passed  through  the  pilot 
house,  the  third  striking  the  barrel  of  the  wheel, 
cutting  the  tiller  rope,  and  literally  tearing  the 
wheel  to  pieces  ;  the  fourth  shot  passed  a  few  feet 
abaft  the  pilot-house,  shattering  the  steerage  and 
skylights,  but  doing  no  further  damage  ;  the  fifth 
shot  passed  through  the  cabin.  *  *  *  *  also  *  * 
four  shots  through  the  starboard  casemates ;  one 
striking  abreast  of  the  boilers,  one  abaft  of  No.  2 
gun,  tearing  up  the  decks  and  exploding  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  shell-room  ;  one  abaft  of  No.  3  gun, 
killing  John  J.  Crennell,  ordinary  seaman,  and 
wounding  three  others ;  another  passed  through 
the  port  of  No.  4  gun,  tearing  away  the  shutter  and 
exploding  in  the  dispensary." 

This  was  a  gallant  combat  on  the  part  of 
these  light-armed  gun-boats,  and  showed 
the  persistency  with  which  the  Confederates 
kept  up  the  war. 

Now  that  the  great  strongholds  of  the 
enemy  had  all  been  abandoned,  the  guer 
illa  warfare  was  carried  on  along  the  Miss 
issippi  as  it  had  been  on  the  upper  rivers. 
The  guerillas  never  accomplished  any 
thing  of  importance,  and  soon  became  a 
source  of  great  annoyance  to  the  wretched 
inhabitants,  who  were  obliged  to  feed  and 
clothe  them  in  order  to  make  it  appear  that 
they  were  loyal  to  the  Confederate  cause. 
No  discipline  existed  among  these  wan 
dering  bands,  and  they  preyed  on  friends 
and  foes  alike. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  a  fleet  of  nine  trans 
ports,  containing  troops  under  the  com 


mand  of  General  Steele,  started  on  an 
expedition  up  the  Arkansas  River,  for  the 
purpose  of  meeting  a  Confederate  force 
under  General  Marmaduke,  who  had  as 
sembled  quite  an  army  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  and  was  obstructing  navigation.  The 
transports  were  accompanied  by  the  gun 
boats  " Taylor," "Fawnj"  "Naumkeag"  and 
"  Queen  City."  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  George  M.  Bache.  The  smaller 
vessels  had  gone  on  ahead,  while  the  ''Tay 
lor  "  (Lieutenant  Bache's  vessel)  kept  with 
the  convoy.  When  within  ten  miles  of 
Clarendon,  Lieutenant  Bache  picked  up 
some  sailors  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river, 
belonging  to  the  "  Queen  City,"  who  stated 
that  that  vessel  had  been  captured  by 
General  Shelby  at  4  o'clock  that  morning. 
Information  was  also  obtained  that  the 
enemy  were  in  much  greater  force  than  Gen 
eral  Steele  had  anticipated,  which  caused  a 
change  in  the  programme. 

It  appears  that  while  the  "Queen  City" 
was  lying  at  anchor  off  Clarendon,  she  was 
suddenly  attacked  by  General  Shelby  with 
two  regiments  of  cavalry  (dismounted)  and 
four  pieces  of  artillery.  The  officers  of  the 
vessel  were  taken  by  surprise,  no  intima 
tion  of  the  enemy's  approach  having  been 
gi\?en  until  the  attack  was  made.  At  the 
first  or  second  round  the  starboard  engine 
was  disabled  by  a  shell,  and  the  effective 
ness  of  the  port  engine  was  much  injured  by 
a  piece  of  the  same  shell  passing  through  the 
steam-pipe.  After  fighting  twenty  minutes, 
Acting-Master  M.  Hickey,  who  commanded 
the  gun-boat,  seeing  that  she  was  completely 
riddled  with  shot,  shell  and  rifle-balls, 
decided  to  surrender,  not  having  the  bravery 
to  fight  it  out,  as  many  of  his  contempo 
raries  would  have  done.  He  ordered  his 
officers  and  men  to  abandon  the  vessel, 
and  most  of  them  escaped  to  the  opposite 
shore.  One  man  was  killed,  nine  wounded 
and  25  taken  prisoners. 

Lieutenant  Bache  received  intelligence 
of  the  capture  of  the  "  Queen  City"  about 
five  hours  after  it  occurred.  He  at  once 
started  up  the  river  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  using  her  against  the  Union  forces 
or  getting  out  her  stores.  When  within  a 
few  miles  of  Clarendon,  however,  two  suc 
cessive  reports  were  heard  up  the  river, 
which  proved  to  be  the  explosion  of  the  un 
fortunate  gun-boat's  magazine.  General 
Shelby,  hearing  of  the  approach  of  the  other 
vessels,  had  destroyed  her. 

The  gun-boats  approached  the  point 
where  the  enemy  was  stationed  in  the 
following  order:  "Taylor,"  "Naumkeag," 
"Fawn;"  and  when  they  were  abreast 
of  Cache  River  the  enemy  opened  fire, 
putting  one  of  his  first  shots  through  the 
pilot-house  of  the  "Taylor."  This  vessel 
could  only  reply  with  one  gun  until. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


563 


abreast  of  the  enemy's  position,  when 
she  fired  broadsides  of  shrapnel  and  can 
ister.  Having  passed  the  batteries,  the 
gun-boats  rounded-to  and  steamed  up  at 
them  again  (at  this  time  the  "  Fawn's  "  pilot 
had  been  mortally  wounded  and  her  signal- 
bell  arrangements  carried  away,  which 
prevented  her  from  participating  in  the 
second  attack).  The  Confederates  thought 
that  Bache  merely  intended  to  run  by  their 
batteries,  and  they  gave  three  cheers  when 
they  saw  him  steaming  away  as  they  sup 
posed,  but  when  he  returned  to  the  attack 
they  exclaimed  in  despair:  "Here  comes 
that  black  devil  again!"  After  getting 
abreast  of  them  again,  the  ''Taylor''  and 
"Naumkeag"  kept  up  such  a  terrible  fire 
•  that  in  five  minutes  the  enemy  began 
escaping  in  all  directions,  throwing  away 
everything  they  had  captured. 

The  Confederates  had  six  guns  of  their 
own,  of  different  sizes,  and  a  12-pounder 
howitzer,  which  they  had  taken  from 
the  "  Queen  City."  These  guns  were  placed 
in  four  different  positions,  making  four 
batteries;  but  the  fire  of  the  gun-boats 
was  so  withering  that  the  artillerymen 
were  driven  off  after  an  action  of  45  min 
utes.  The  Confederates  must  have  been 
roughly  handled,  for  they  abandoned  every 
thing  they  had  captured  from  the  "Queen 
City,"  as  well  as  some  of  their  wounded 
prisoners. 

This  was  a  very  gallant  and  well-managed 
affair,  and  Lieutenant  Bache  gained  great 
credit  for  the  handsome  manner  in  which 
he  had  handled  his  vessels  and  defeated 
so  large  a  force  of  the  enemy. 

Acting  -  Master  John  Rogers  of  the 
"Naumkeag''  was  also  mentioned  hand 
somely  for  the  cool  and  efficient  manner  in 
which  he  had  fought  his  vessel.  In  fact, 
all  behaved  well  and  redeemed  the  unfor 
tunate  loss  of  the  "  Queen  City,"  which  lay 
a  shattered  wreck  at  the  bottom  of  the 
river.  Her  guns  were  finally  raised  and 
everything  of  value  recovered. 

Lieutenant  Bache  was  now  warned  by 
the  falling  water  that  it  was  time  to  go  be 
low,  if  he  did  not  wish  to  be  caught  in  a 
trap.  Having  satisfied  himself  that  he  had 
completely  driven  Shelby  and  his  force 
away  from  the  river,  he  left  the  "Naum 
keag  "and  "Fawn"  at  Clarendon,  to  pro 
tect  that  place  and  started  down  the  river, 
in  the  "Taylor,"  to  communicate  with  Gen 
eral  Steele/ 

A  large  force  of  troops  was  then  sent  up 
in  a  transport,  convoyed  by  the  "Taylor," 
and  landed  at  Clarendon  without  meeting 
any  opposition.  This  force,  under  General 
Carr,  immediately  gave  chase  to  the  enemy, 
who  numbered  2,500  men,  and  skirmished 
with  them  for  twenty-five  miles,  capturing 
several  pieces  of  artillery  and  60  wounded 


men.  Most  of  the  crew  of  the  unfortunate 
"Queen  City"  were  picked  up  along  the 
river  and  distributed  among  the  other  ves 
sels.  The  enemy  retired  towards  Little 
Rock  and  did  not  trouble  the  gun-boats 
again  for  some  time.  The  flotilla  had  six 
teen  men  wounded,  two  of  whom  died  the 
next  day. 

We  have  nothing  to  say  against  this  at 
tack  of  the  Confederates — it  was  all  legiti 
mate  enough,  and,  no  doubt,  they  suffered 
severely  for  their  temerity.  General  Shelby 
showed  no  want  of  gallantry,  his  only  fault 
being  that  he  had  not  fairly  considered  the 
enemy  he  was  about  to  attack.  He  had  so 
easily  overcome  the  "Queen  City"  that  he 
thought  he  could  do  the  same  with  the  rest. 

The  result  of  the  fight  was  that  General 
Steele  followed  the  enemy  to  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas,  on  which  place  General  Marma- 
duke  had  intended  to  make  a  raid  ;  and  the 
Confederates,  finding  that  they  could  not 
assemble  on  the  banks  of  the  White  River 
while  the  gun-boats  were  so  active,  trans 
ferred  their  operations  to  some  other  quar 
ter. 

With  the  exception  of  some  trouble  with 
the  guerillas  up  the  Cumberland  and  Ten 
nessee  Rivers,  the  operations  for  the  year 
1864  ended  favorably  for  the  Union  cause, 
as  far  as  the  Navy  was  concerned.  The 
Confederates  continued  to  show  themselves 
in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  however,  and 
sometimes  took  advantage  of  transports 
that  were  not  convoyed  by  gun-boats. 
Even  as  late  as  December,  1864,  there  was 
no  diminution  of  zeal  and  energy  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy,  though  they  must  have 
seen  by  that  time  that  the  Confederacy  was 
doomed.  An  artillery  company  would 
sometimes  travel  for  miles  just  for  the 
pleasure  of  firing  a  few  shots  into  a  gun 
boat  or  transport. 

There  was  not  cavalry  enough  on  the 
Federal  side  to  pursue  these  raiders;  and,  if 
an  expedition  \vas  organized  for  that  pur 
pose,  it  generally  consisted  of  an  army  con 
tingent  in  transports  convoyed  by  gun 
boats. 

Sometimes  the  naval  commander  of  a 
district,  from  a  feeling  of  over- security, 
sent  an  insufficient  force  of  gun-boats, 
when  trouble  would  ensue  and  the  under 
taking  be  a  failure.  One  of  these  cases 
was  an  expedition  from  Clifton  to  Eastport 
under  command  of  Colonel  Hoge,  consisting 
of  the  113th  and  120th  Illinois  infantry,  660 
strong;  61st  U.  S.  colored  infantry,  600 
strong,  and  Battery  G,  2d  Missouri  light 
artillery  (four  rifled  12-pounders).  These 
troops  enibarked  on  the  9th  of  October,  at 
Clifton,  on  the  transports  "City  of  Pekin," 
"  Aurora"  and  "  Kenton,"  and  they  set  out 
for  Eastport  under  convoy  of  the  "  Key 
West,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  E.  M. 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


King,  and  the  "  Undine,"  Acting-Master 
John  L.  Bryant. 

On  the  10th  the  vessels  arrived  off  East- 
port.  After  passing  Line  Island,  ten  miles 
below,  signal  was  made  from  the  "Key 
West "  to  be  cautious  and  proceed  in  close 
order.  On  approaching  Eastport,  every 
thing  seemed  quiet ;  and  as  there  were  no 
signs  of  troops  or  batteries  on  the  hill  com 
manding  the  landing.  Lieutenant  King 
signalled  to  the  transports  to  land  their 
troops,  and  took  a  position  with  the  gun 
boats  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  so  as  to 
cover  the  movement  with  their  guns. 

The  troops  commenced  disembarking  im 
mediately.  Colonel  Hoge  then  went  on 
board  the  "  Key  West,"  and  informed 
Lieutenant  King  that  he  should  move  im 
mediately  for  luka.  As  the  Colonel  was  re 
turning  to  the  '"'City  of  Pekin,"  a  masked 
battery  of  six  rifled  guns  from  the  hill 
at  Eastport  and  three  rifled  guns  from 
the  "  Chickasaw  "  opened  on  the  boats.  The 
transports  were  struck  several  times,  and  a 
caisson  exploded  on  board  both  the  "Au 
rora"  and  "  Kenton,"  setting  them  on  fire. 
This  caused  great  confusion  among  the 
troops,  many  of  them  jumping  overboard 
from  the  burning  steamers.  A  company 
that  had  been  sent  out  as  skirmishers  im 
mediately  returned  to  the  boats,  while  the 
troops  that  were  forming  in  line  on  the 
bant:  broke  and  fled  down  the  river,  aban 
doning  a  battery  of  four  guns.  The  trans 
ports  cut  their  lines  and  drifted  down 
stream,  the  "  Kenton"  and  "Aurora  "dis 
abled,  and  the  "City  of  Pekin"  with  sev 
eral  shot  through  her  —  it  seemed  to  be 
"  every  man  for  himself." 

During  this  time  the  "  Key  West "  and 
"Undine"  were  both  hit  twice  with  rifle 
projectiles.  One  shell  passed  down  through 
the  boiler-deck  of  the  "Key  West,"  and  ex 
ploded  in  the  bag-rack,  near  the  after-part 
of  the  boilers — another  passed  through  the 
steerage  and  out  on  the  port  side.  The 
"  Undine"  had  her  bell- wires  cut  by  a  shell, 
also  her  port  wheel-rope. 

The  gun-boats  for  half  an  hour  returned 


the  fire  of  the  enemy,  whose  shot  fell  thick 
and  fast  around  them,  when  Lieutenant 
King,  seeing  that  he  could  do  nothing  with 
his  smooth-bores  against  the  Confederate 
rifles,  dropped  down  out  of  range  to  look 
after  the  convey.  The  troops  had  quenched 
the  fires  on  the  transports,  but  they  were 
disabled;  and  this  was  the  end  of  an  expedi 
tion  that  might  have  produced  better  re 
sults  if  the  troops  had  been  landed  out  of 
sight  of  Eastport  and  marched  up. 

It  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  1,320 
soldiers  could  have  captured  these  batteries 
if  proper  means  had  been  taken  to  do  so; 
but  sometimes  the  soldiers  seemed  helpless. 
and  inclined  to  wait  for  the  Navy  to  cap 
ture  a  place  before  occupying  it.  forgetting. 
or  not  knowing,  that  a  "tin-clad"  was  not 
an  iron-clad,  and  that  the  former  were  not 
qualified  to  go  under  the  fire  of  heavy 
batteries.  But  it  was  not  often  that  Army 
men  behaved  as  they  did  on  this  occa 
sion,  and  it  can  be  partly  accounted  for 
by  the  presence  of  the  colored  soldiers,  who 
were  raw  and  undisciplined.  This  expedi 
tion  was  certainly  a  complete  failure,  much 
to  be  regretted  by  all  concerned. 

On  the  whole,  however,  the  Navy  in  the 
West  had  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of  during 
the  year  18G4,  and  it  will  be  observed  that 
throughout  the  campaign  it  had  fighting 
enough  to  satisfy  the  most  ardent  tempera 
ment. 

This  river-fighting  may  seem  uninterest 
ing  to  the  reader,  but  it  was  a  link  in  the 
great  chain  that  helped  to  bind  the  Briarean 
arms  of  the  demon  of  rebellion.  The  ser 
vices  of  the  Navy  in  the  West  had  as  much 
effect  in  reducing  the  South  to  submis 
sion  as  the  greater  battles  fought  in  the 
East;  and  the  brave  Westerners  who  entered 
the  Navy  with  no  previous  knowledge  of 
the  profession,  having  to  learn  everything 
from  a  handspike  to  a  ten-inch  gun,  may 
well  feel  proud  at  the  manner  in  which  they 
conducted  themselves,  and  glory  in  the  re 
sults  of  their  labors,  which  cost  the  lives  of 
many  of  their  comrades,  but  which  were 
generally  attended  with  success. 


CHAPTER     XLI  V. 


BATTLE    OF    MOBILE    BAY. 


DEFENCES  OF  MOBILE  BAY.—  FARE AGUT'S  FLEET  CROSSES  THE  BAR  AND  MAKES  RECON 
NAISSANCE. —  CONFEDERATE  IRON-CLADS. —  FORTS  MORGAN,  GAINES  AND  POWELL  AND 
LIGHT-HOUSE  BATTERY. — BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  POWELL. — EVACUATION  OF  FORT.— 
IRON-CLAD  "TENNESSEE"  MAKES  HER  APPEARANCE. — ARRIVAL  OF  MONITORS.— CO 
OPERATION  OF  GENERAL  CANBY.— PREPARING  TO  ATTACK  FORTS.— FARRAGUT  ISSUES 
HIS  FAMOUS  ORDERS  OF  COMBAT.— BOMBARDING  FORT  MORGAN.— THE  "  TENNESSEE  " 
ENGAGED.— THE  "  TECUMSEH"  SUNK.—"  D N  THE  TORPEDOES— FOLLOW  ME!  "—FAR 
RAGUT  IN  THE  RIGGING  OF  THE  "HARTFORD"  PASSING  FORT. —  THE  " SELMA  " 
SURRENDERS.— THE  "MORGAN"  AND  "GAINES"  ASHORE.— THE  "TENNESSEE"  ENGAGES 
FLEET.— REMARKABLE  COMBAT.— THE  "  MONONGAHELA"  AND  "LACKA WANNA  "  DAM 
AGED.— THE  "TENNESSEE"  AND  "HARTFORD"  FIGHT  AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS.— GAME  TO 
THE  LAST.— THE  "TENNESSEE"  SURRENDERS.— INCIDENTS  OF  BATTLE.— THE  WOUNDED 
TRANSFERRED  TO  PENSACoLA.— NAMES  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED.— FARRAGUT'S  DE 
TAILED  REPORT  OF  BATTLE.  —  REPORTS  OF  OFFICERS. — FARRAGUT  RETURNS  THANKS 
TO  OFFICERS  AND  MEN.— INDIVIDUAL  ACTS  OF  HEROISM.— INCIDENTS  ATTENDING  SINK 
ING  OF  "  TECUMSEH."— SURRENDER  OF  FORT  GAINES —BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  MOR 
GAN.— SURRENDER  OF  FORT.— LIST  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  "TENNESSEE"  AND  "SELMA." 
-WANTON  DESTRUCTION  OF  PROPERTY  AT  FORT  MORGAN.  —  LIST  OF  KILLED  AND 
WOUNDED.— Loss  OF  THE  "PHILLIPPI."— HISTORY  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  CONFEDERATE 
IRON-CLAD  "  TENNESSEE."— LIST  OF  VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  WEST  GULF  SQUAD 
RON,  JANUARY  IST,  18G4. 


IX  January,  1864,  Admiral  Farragut  be 
gan  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  forts  in 
Mobile  Bay,  which  up  to  that  time  had 
been    a    complete    protection    to    the 
blockade  -  runners,   which     passed    in 
and  out  almost  with  impunity  in  spite  of 
the  greatest  watchfulness   on  the  part  of 
the  blockading  fleet.     There  were  several 
channels    in    the     Bay    witli    wide     shoal 
grounds   in  and    about    their   approaches, 
over  which  the  Confederate  light-draft  ves 
sels  could  pass,  but  where  the  Federal  ships- 
of-war  could  not  follow  them. 

The  city  of  Mobile,  in  consequence,  be 
came  one  of  the  most  important  rendezvous 
for  blockade  -  runners,  as  it  was  situated 
some  miles  up  the  bay,  and  could  only  be 
reached  through  tortuous  channels,  with 
which  only  experienced  pilots  were  famil 


iar.  The  people  of  Mobile  felt  quite  secure 
against  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
Union  gun-boats  to  pass  their  defences,  and 
the  blockade-runners  laid  as  safely  at  their 
wharves  as  if  they  had  been  in  the  docks 
of  Liverpool. 

While  the  forts  at  the  entrance  of  Mobile 
Bay  remained  intact,  the  Confederates 
could  continue  to  supply  their  armies 
through  Mobile  City  and  the  numerous  rail 
roads  running  from  it  to  all  parts  of  the 
South. 

After  the  fall  of  Port  Hudson  and  Vicks- 
burg.  General  Banks,  in  New  Orleans,  had 
at  his  disposal  over  50,000  troops  ;  and 
General  Grant,  at  that  time  having  in  his 
mind  the  idea  of  sending  Sherman  on  the 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  had  urgently 
requested  the  authorities  at  Washington  to 


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THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


567 


send  Banks  to  Mobile  with  a  sufficient  force 
to  capture  that  place  ;  while  at  the  same 
time  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  offered 
naval  co-operation  with  Farragut's  fleet, 
which  was  then  disengaged  from  opera 
tions  on  the  Mississippi  River,  and  princi 
pally  employed  in  watching  Mobile  and 
blockading  the  coast  of  Texas. 

The  Navy  Department,  as  well  as  General 
Grant,  was  unsuccessful  in  obtaining  an  or 
der  from  the  War  Department  for  Banks 
to  proceed  to  Mobile,  and  act  there  in  con 
junction  with  the  Navy;  and  the  fatal  move 
up  Red  River  having  been  decided  upon,  all 
other  objects  were  for  the  time  being  passed 
.over,  until  the  anxiety  of  the  Government 
became  concentrated  upon  the  problem  of 
how  to  relieve  that  expedition  from  the 
unfortunate  position  in  which  General 
Banks'  measures  had  placed  it. 

Mobile  itself  was  poorly  fortified  against 
a  land  attack,  and  the  Confederates  had 
not  more  than  10,000  men  in  and  about  the 
city,  and  the  majority  of  these  were  artil 
lerists.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 
weakness  of  the  city  was  well  known  to 
him,  General  Banks  turned  away  from  the 
rich  prize  which  he  might  so  easily  have 
taken,  and  embarked  on  the  unwise  expedi 
tion  into  the  Red  River  region,  from  which 
his  army  was  only  extricated  through  the 
presence  of  the  naval  force — which  for  a 
time  was  also  seriously  embarrassed. 

The  Navy  Department,  finding  that  no 
co-operation  could  be  expected  from  Gen 
eral  Banks,  directed  Farragut  (  January, 
1804 )  to  prepare  his  vessels  for  an  attack 
on  the  forts  in  Mobile  Bay,  and  promised 
that  a  land  force  should  be  forthcoming  at 
the  time  the  fleet  was  ready  to  commence 
operations. 

On  the  morning  of  January  20th  Farra 
gut  crossed  the  bar  of  Mobile  Bay  in  the 
"Octorara,"  taking  the  "Itasca"in  com 
pany  in  case  of  accidents,  and  made  a 
thorough  reconnaissance  of  the  bay  and  of 
all  the  forts  commanding  its  approaches. 
He  moved  up  to  within  three  and  one-half 
miles  of  the  enemy's  works,  where  he  was 
able  to  verify  the  reports  of  refugees  who 
had  brought  him  a  statement  of  the  condi 
tion  of  the  Confederate  works.  He  could 
count  the  number  of  guns  and  see  the  men 
standing  by  them.  A  line  of  piles,  which 
extended  from  Fort  Gaines  to  the  channel 
opposite  Fort  Morgan,  was  also  plainly  visi 
ble,  and  showed  the  intention  of  the  enemy 
to  compel  all  entering  vessels  to  pass  close 
under  the  guns  of  the  latter  work. 

At  that  time  Farragut  had  not  an  iron 
clad,  and,  being  convinced  that  it  would 
be  madness  to  attack  these  forts  without 
such  aid,  made  his  wants  known  to  the 
Navy  Department,  and  the  vessels  were 
•eventually  supplied. 


The  reconnaissance  made  by  the  Admiral 
satisfied  him  that  he  had  a  difficult  task 
before  him.  Two  heavy  works  protected 
the  entrance  to  Mobile  Bay — Forts  Gaines 
and  Morgan — the  former  mounting  21  guns 
and  the  latter  48,  while  Fort  Powell,  higher 
up  the  bay,  commanded  the  fairway  lead 
ing  to  Mobile. 

A  better  idea  of  the  situation  of  these 
works  can  be  obtained  by  examining  the 
accompanying  chart  than  from  any  written 
description,  and  the  reader  is  referred  to 
the  plan  for  information,  without  which 
he  could  form  but  a  small  idea  of  the  de 
fences  of  Mobile  Bay  and  the  difficulties 
attending  an  attack  on  them. 

The  lines  of  piles,  extending  from  the 
head  of  the  eastern  bank  to  the  edge  of 
the  tortuous  and  shallow  channel  near  Fort 
Gaines,  rendered  it  impossible  for  any 
vessel  to  pass  between  the  bank  and  the 
channel;  indeed,  only  vessels  of  the  lightest 
draft  of  water  would  have  dared  to  make 
such  an  attempt  under  ordinary  circum 
stances. 

Every  effort  had  been  made  by  the  Con 
federate  engineers  to  make  the  channel 
between  Gaines  and  Morgan  impassable ; 
but  its  depth  in  some  places  was  as  much 
as  60  feet,  the  bottom  was  bad  (drift-sand, 
in  fact),  and  the  action  of  ebb  and  flow, 
with  that  of  heavy  winds,  rendered  it  al 
most  impossible  to  obstruct  it  effectually. 
Even  in  time  of  peace  it  would  have  been 
an  immense  undertaking,  requiring  time 
and  taxing  the  ingenuity  of  the  engineers 
to  the  utmost.  Not  only  that,  it  would 
have  required  means  which  were  not  at 
the  disposal  of  the  Confederates.  Many 
plans  were  offered,  but  the  chief  engineer 
of  the  Department  rejected  them  all  and 
undertook  to  defend  the  pass  with  torpe 
does,  but,  with  an  order  from  the  Depart 
ment  commander  to  leave  a  gap  in  the  line 
of  torpedoes,  500  yards  wide,  through  which 
blockade-runners  could  pass  in  safety  be 
tween  Mobile  Point  and  a  buoy  marking 
the  eastern  end  of  the  lines  of  torpedoes ; 
which  arrangement  it  was  foolishly  sup 
posed  wouM  keep  out  a  fleet  commanded 
by  a  man  like  Farragut.  who  had  already 
earned  the  sobriquet  of  "  The  old  Sala 
mander." 

Besides  the  forts  above  mentioned,  the 
following  auxiliary  defences  were  possessed 
by  the  Confederates:  Steam  ram  "  Ten 
nessee,"  235  feet  in  length,  casemate  plated 
with  three  thicknesses  of  2-inch  plates  or 
six  inches  of  iron,  speed  ?£  knots  ;  battery, 
four  10-inch  columbiads  of  16,000  Ibs.  and 
two  74-inch  Brooke  rifles  of  10,000  Ibs.  The 
"Tennessee"  was  the  flag-ship  of  Admiral 
Franklin  Buchanan,  and  was  commanded 
by  Commander  J.  D.  Johnston. 

The  following  gun -boats  also  belonged 


568 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


to  Buchanan's  little  squadron  :  The  "  Mor 
gan,"  Commander  Bennet ;  "  Selma,"  Com 
mander  Murphy,  and  "Gaines,"  Commander 
Harris.  Two  rams,  the  "Tuscaloosa"  and 
"Huntsville,"  were  building  at  Mobile,  but 
they  were  never  finished,  and  Buchanan 
received  no  assistance  from  them. 

The  guns  of  Fort  Morgan  were  mounted 
as  follows:  Bastion  No.  1  (N.  E.),  two 
32-pounders  of  7,000  Ibs.,  one  24-pound  rifle 
throwing  Read  &  Slater's  projectiles, 
shaped  like  Minie-balls  ;  East  curtain, 
three  10-inch  sea-coast  mortars,  one  32- 
pounder  of  7,000  Ibs.;  Bastion  No.  2 
(E.  S.  E.),  one  10-inch  columbiad,  two  32- 
pounders  of  7,000  Ibs. ;  Bastion  No.  3.  two 
32-pounders  of  7,000  Ibs.  (rifled),  one  10- 
inch  columbiad  of  10, 000  Ibs. ;  South  cur 
tain,  two  24-pounders  of  11,000  Ibs.  (rifled, 
throwing  68-pound  projectiles),  one  10-inch 
columbiad  of  16, 000  Ibs. ;  Bastion  No.  4, 
one  24-pounder  (rifled),  one  10-inch  colum 
biad  of  16,000  Ibs.,  two  32-pounders  of 
7,000  Ibs.  (rifled);  West  curtain,  facing  the 
channel,  two  Blakely  rifles  throwing 
shell  of  160  Ibs.  and  shot  of  169  Ibs., 
three  10-inch  columbiads  of  16,000  Ibs.; 
Bastion  No.  5,  two  32-pounders,  smooth 
bore  ;  North  curtain,  one  8-inch  smooth 
bore.  On  each  flank  of  each  bastion  there 
were  two  24-pounders,  making  in  all  20 
flank  casemate  guns. 

Light-house  battery  eleven  32-pounders 
of  7,000  tons.  Fort  Gaines  mounted  one 
10-inch  columbiad  of  14,000  Ibs.,  fourteen 
32-pounders,  smooth-bore,  one  32-pounder, 
(rifled),  and  five  24-pound  siege-pieces. 

These  were  the  guns  under  which  an  at 
tacking  fleet  would  have  to  pass,  besides 
the  Confederate  gun-boats,  which  could 
take  good  positions  under  the  guns  of  the 
forts,  and  rake  the  Federal  vessels  as  they 
approached.  Taking  into  consideration 
the  fact  that  he  had  only  wooden  ships  at 
first,  Farragut  was  wise  to  delay  his  attack 
until  the  arrival  of  the  iron-clads. 

In  addition  to  the  two  forts  above  men 
tioned  was  Fort  Powell,  situated  at  Grant's 
Pass.  This  could  inflict  no  damage  to  a 
fleet  passing  Morgan  and  Gaines,  but  could 
annoy  an  enemy  after  he  had  passed  up  as 
far  as  the  anchoring  ground. 

While  waiting  for  the  iron-clads,  Farra 
gut  thought  he  would  try  and  batter  this 
fort  down  or  injure  its  guns,  and  make  it 
untenable  ;  but  the  attempt  was  not  a  suc 
cess.  The  attack  was  made  in  the  latter 
part  of  February,  but  discontinued  as  soon 
as  the  difficulties  of  the  operation  were  real 
ized. 

Farragut  continued  to  apply  to  the  De 
partment  for  even  one  iron-clad,  with  which 
he  was  willing  to  undertake  the  attack, 
supposing  the  iron-clad  ram  "Tennessee" 
would  be  over  the  Dog  River  bar  by  the 


time  he  was  ready   to   advance   with   his1 
fleet. 

Farragut's  idea  was  to  have  a  combined 
attack  by  the  Army  and  Navy — the  land 
forces  to  operate  in  the  rear  of  forts  Gaines 
and  Morgan  by  the  Big  Dauphine  Island 
and  Mobile  Point — and  great  expectations 
were  laid  on  a  contingent  being  sent  from 
General  Banks'  army,  but  that  officer  had 
gone  into  the  Red  River  country  and  met 
with  such  disasters  as  made  co-operation, 
impossible. 

The  Confederate  papers  magnified  the 
want  of  success  on  the  part  of  General 
Banks,  and  made  the  most  of  it  for  their 
side,  until  they  really  believed  all  through, 
the  Southwest  that  they  had  gained  a  bril 
liant  victory,  when  the  truth  was  simply 
that  the  Federal  General  did  not  hold  on  to 
the  victory  which  his  troops  had  won. 

Great  rejoicing  was  also  kept  up  in  the 
South  in  consequence  of  the  success  of  the 
"  Albemarle  "  and  the  capture  of  Plymouth. 
Many  were  made  to  believe  that  a  new 
and  favorable  turn  had  been  given  to  their 
affairs,  and  that  if  the  opportunity  was  fol 
lowed  up  it  would  lead  to  further  successes 
in  Louisiana.  A  pressure  was  brought  to 
bear  on  Admiral  Buchanan  to  expedite  the 
completion  of  the  iron-clad  "Tennessee," 
with  the  expectation  that  this  vessel  would 
demolish  Farragut  and  his  fleet,  proceed  to 
New  Orleans,  capture  the  Union  fleet  at 
that  place,  prevent  Banks  from  reaching 
the  city  again,  and  finally  restore  the  Con 
federate  authority  ! 

This  may  seem  a  wild  scheme,  but  it 
might  have  been  successful.  Buchanan 
was  a  brave  and  energetic  officer,  capable 
of  undertaking  any  enterprise,  and  could 
he  have  succeeded  in  getting  all  his  iron 
clads  and  gun  -  boats  ready  in  time,  he 
would  have  been  more  than  a  match  for 
the  force  which  Farragut  had  on  hand  in 
February. 

Farragut  himself  fully  appreciated  his 
situation.  From  his  experience  in  the 
Mississippi  River,  where  the  ram  "  Ar 
kansas  "  attacked  the  two  Federal  fleets 
(Davis'  and  his  own),  he  saw  plainly  what 
would  be  the  result  of  a  contest  between 
wooden  vessels  and  iron  -  clads.  In  his 
letters  to  the  Navy  Department  the  Ad 
miral  deeply  regrets  his  inability  to  obtain 
even  one  of  the  iron-clads  on  the  Missis 
sippi,  and  remarks,"  it  appears  that  it  takes 
us  twice  as  long  to  build  an  iron-clad  as  any 
one  else.  It  looks  as  if  the  fates  and  con 
tractors  were  against  us.  While  the  Confed 
erates  are  bending  their  whole  energies  to 
the  war,  our  people  are  expecting  the  war  to 
close  by  default  ;  and.  if  they  do  not  awake 
to  the  sense  of  their  danger  soon,  it  will  be 
so." 

Farragut  was  fully  aware  of  what  would 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


5G9 


be  the  result  if  Buchanan  crossed  the  Dog 
River  bar  with  the  "  Tennessee,''  "  Tusca- 
loosa,"  "  Huntsville"  and  "  Nashville.  (The 
three  latter  vessels  were  reported  to  be 
plated  with  nearly  the  thickness  of  iron 
carried  by  the  "  Tennessee  "). 

Continuous  reports  came  from  Mobile 
that  the  ram  "  Tennessee  "  was  preparing 
to  cross  the  Dog  River  bar  by  means  of 
camels,  and  that  Buchanan,  with  his  well- 
known  energy,  was  pushing  the  work  on 
his  iron  clads  night  and  day.  Farragut 
knew  as  well  as  any  one  the  determination 
and  energy  of  the  man  he  expected  to  con 
tend  with,  and  under  the  circumstances  his 
position  was  not  an  enviable  one. 

He  seemed  to  have  the  idea  that  the  cap 
ture  of  Fort  Powell  was  a  most  desirable 
thing,  and  would  tend  to  keep  the  Confed 
erate  Navy  up  the  river  if  he  could  succeed 
in  getting  possession  of  it;  and  from  the  22d 
of  February  to  the  2d  of  March  he  kept  up 
a  fire  on  this  fort  from  rifles,  smooth-bores 
and  mortars  from  a  distance  of  4,000  yards 
—the  nearest  point  attainable. 

Fort  Powell  was  built  on  an  oyster  bank. 
The  Confederate  engineers  had  exhibited 
great  skill  in  its  construction,  and  it  was 
impervious  to  shot  and  shell.  It  was  built 
to  guard  Grant's  Pass,  the  entrance  from 
Mississippi  Sound  to  Mobile  Bay,  and  it  was 
very  important  that  it  should  be  well  built 
and  armed. 

A  Confederate  writer  says: 

"  Admiral  Farrajn.it  opened  from  his  mortars  and 
gun-boats  a  tire  on  the  small  fort  that  would  have 
battered  any  stone  or  brick  structure  into  a  mass 
of  ruins.  The  firing,  especially  that  of  the  13-inch 
mortars  could  tin  accuracy)  not  have  been  sur 
passed  :  one  shell  after  another  falling  on  the 
earth-cover  of  the  bomb-proof,  penetrating  as  deep 
as  three  and  a  half  feet,  exploding  and  making  a 
crater  of  seven  feet  in  diameter.'' 

"This  bombardment  was  steadily  kept  up  from 
February  22d  till  March  2d,  without  making  any 
impression  whatever  on  the  fort ;  not  a  single  gun 
had  been  dismounted,  not  a  single  traverse  had  been 
seriously  damaged,  nor  had  the  parapet  and  bomb 
proof  lost  any  of  their  strength  ;  all  damage  done 
by  the  exploding  shells  being  at  once  repaired  by 
throwing  sand- bags  into  the  open  craters.  But  one 
man  had  been  killed,  another  wounded,  and  the 
brave  commander  of  the  fort,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
James  M.  ^yilliams.  of  the  21st  Alabama  regiment, 
paid  for  his  temerity,  in  unnecessarily  exposing 
himself  to  the  shower  of  the  enemy's  iron  missiles, 
with  the  loss  of  his  coat-tail. 

''The  wharf  and  quarters  on  the  east  face  of  the 
fort  had  been  considerably  damaged  by  the  bom 
bardment. 

"When  Farragut  had  forced  his  way  into  the 
Bay  of  Mobile,  an  evacuation  of  Fort  Powell  was 
the  only  means  to  save  its  garrison  from  capture, 
and  the  place  was  abandoned  after  preparations 
for  blowing  up  the  magazine  had  been  so  well  made 
that  its  explosion  took  place  hardly  half-an-hour 
after  Lieutenant-Colonel  Williams  (the  last  man) 
had  left  the  fort." 

Farragut's  chief  motive  in  making  this 
attack  was  to  get  the  gun-boats  into  Mobile 
.Bay  through  Grant's  Pass,  and  to  endeavor 


to  destroy  the  "Tennessee"  while  she  had 
the  cameis  under  her  in  crossing  the  Dog 
River  bar. 

From  all  accounts  Buchanan  was  work 
ing  energetically  to  bring  the  ''Tennessee  " 
and  her  consorts  face  to  face  with  the 
Union  fleet,  which  he  felt  sure  of  driving 
from  before  Mobile.  He  then  intended  to 
proceed  to  Pensacola  and  raise  the  siege  in 
that  quarter.  There  is  no  doubt  that,  had 
he  succeeded  in  finishing  his  four  iron-dads 
in  time,  Farragut  would  have  either  been 
destroyed  or  the  siege  of  Mobile  raised. 

The  account  of  the  sinking  of  the  "South- 
field"'  by  the  ram  "  Albemarle "  in  the 
Sounds  of  North  Carolina,  on  the  17th  of 
April,  and  the  stubborn  battle  made  by  the 
'•Albemarle"  against  the  comparatively 
heavy  force  of  gun-boats  on  May  oth,  in 
which  the  ram  moved  off  apparently  un 
harmed  after  a  three  hours'  fight  at  close 
quarters,  had  been  received  in  the  South 
and  also  in  the  fleet;  and  while  this  news 
encouraged  the  Confederate  Admiral  to 
fresh  exertions,  it.  on  the  other  hand, 
made  Farragut  feel  more  anxious  that  he 
should  be  supplied  with  iron-clads  to 
meet  the  new  naval  force  of  the  Confeder 
ates,  the  like  of  which  had  not  been  so 
near  completion  since  the  war  began. 

Farragut  knew  Buchanan  well,  and  was 
aware  that  in  point  of  courage,  energy  and 
skill  he  had  few  equals,  and  no  superiors; 
and  that,  if  he  did  succeed-  in  getting  his 
vessels  over  Dog  River  bar,  he  would  come 
out  with  the  intention  of  conquering  or  be 
ing  destroyed,  the  latter  contingency  not  be 
ing  likely  in  Farragut's  then  weak  condition. 

By  some  authorities  it  is  stated  that  the 
"  Tennessee  "  made  her  appearance  in  Mo 
bile  Bay  on  the  17th  of  March;  but  we  think 
there  must  be  some  mistake  about  this,  for, 
as  late  as  the  9th  of  May,  Farragut  wrote  to 
the  Department  that  "the  late  accounts 
from  Mobile  agree  in  representing  Bucha 
nan  as  making  great  exertions  to  get  camels 
large  enough  to  float  the  ram  "  Tennessee  " 
over  Dog  River  bar. 

No  one  doubted  but  that  Buchanan  would 
be  successful  if  any  one  could  be,  and  Farra 
gut  expected  that  he  would  come  out  and 
attack  him  with  his  whole  force  of  iron 
clads,  besides  the  three  gun-boats,  and  so 
wrote  urgent  letters  in  the  middle  of  May  to 
the  Navy  Department,  requesting  that  iron 
clads  be*  sent  him.  It  was  the  most  uncom 
fortable  position  that  any  officer  was  placed 
in  during  the  war,  when  told  by  the  De 
partment  as  late  as  June,  1S?4,  that  the 
vessels  could  not  be  furnished  because  the 
contractors  had  not  come  up  to  their  con 
tract.  But  the  Admiral  bore  it  all  bravely, 
and  with  his  usual  equanimity  prepared  his 
wooden  ships  to  do  the  best  they  could  in. 
the  coming'  conflict. 


570 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


Not  until  May  25th  does  Farragut  speak 
of  the  "  Tennessee"  having  arrived  in  the 
Mobile  Roads,  and  anchored  under  the  guns 
of  Fort  Morgan.  He  went  in  as  close 
as  he  could,  examined  her  with  good 
glasses,  and  satisfied  himself  that  all  that 
had  been  said  about  her  formidable  char 
acter  was  true.  He  had  been  deceived  so 
many  times  by  what  were  supposed  to  be 
iron-clads,  that  he  was  glad  to  have  his 
mind  settled  on  this  question,  and  to  know 
that  this  was  really  the  "  Tennessee  "  with 
out  her  consorts. 

On  June  2d,  refugees,  who  stated  that 
they  were  from  Mobile,  two  or  three  days 
before,  reported  that,  besides  the  ''Tennes 
see,"  a  vessel  called  the  "  Baltic/'  the  iron 
clads  "Tuscaloosa"  and  "  Hunts ville,"  and 
three  gun-boats  had  also  crossed  the  bar 
and  entered  the  lower  bay  ;  the  "  Nash 
ville  "  was  not  yet  over  the  bar,  but  she  was 
all  ready  with  the  camels  under  her  by  this 
time;  her  bow,  stern  and  pilot-house  were 
only  partly  plated." 

Two  more  rams  were  reported  to  be  at 
Mobile,  not  yet  plated,  and  one  just  com 
pleted  at  Selma  and  aground  above  Mobile. 
They  also  reported  at  Mobile  "four  iron- 
plated  floating  batteries,  one  of  them  sunk." 
These  reports  were  constantly  brought 
down  concerning  Buchanan's  force,  and 
they  were  far  from  reassuring  to  the  Union 
commander,  who  up  to  this  time  had  not  re 
ceived  a  single  iron-clad. 

It  was  not  until  July  26th  that  the 
arrival  of  the  Monitor  "Manhattan"  was 
reported.  She  was  under  Sand  Island,  in 
charge  of  gun-boats. 

The  two  double-turreted  Monitors,  "  Win- 
nebago"  and  "Chickasaw,"  sent  from  Ad 
miral  Porter's  fleet  on  the  Mississippi,  were 
in  New  Orleans,  and  would  be  off  Mobile 
about  the  30th  of  July.  The  "Tecumseh" 
was  not  yet  heard  from,  and  the  Army 
which  Farragut  had  asked  for  to  co-oper 
ate  with  him  was  still  in  New  Orleans. 
When  the  latter  should  arrive,  Farragut 
would  be  quite  ready  to  commence  opera 
tions  against  the  defences  of  Mobile. 

The  arrival  of  the  "Manhattan"  was  an 
assurance  that  Buchanan  would  not  leave 
the  bay  to  attack  the  Federal  wooden  ships, 
which  Buchanan  at  no  time  had  any  idea  of 
doing.  His  policy  was  to  fight  Farragut's 
fleet,  under  the  cover  of  the  forts,  in  the 
narrow  channel  which  had  been  left  by  the 
Confederate  engineers. 

The  only  thing  wanting  to  make  Far 
ragut  satisfied  with  his  condition  was  the 
arrival  of  the  "Tecumseh,"  and  this  took 
place  on  the  4th  of  August.  He  now  deter 
mined  to  make  his  attack  as  soon  as  possible. 

As  soon  as  General  Can  by  had  arrived  in 
New  Orleans  with  the  troop's  which  General 


Banks  left  crossing  the  Atchafalaya  River, 
Farragut  communicated  with  him  and  re 
quested  that  two  or  three  thousand  troops 
be  sent  to  co-operate  with  him  in  an  at 
tack  on  Mobile.  These  troops  were  prom 
ised  without  hesitation  on  the  8th  of  July, 
in  an  interview  held  on  board  the  "Hart 
ford,"  between  the  Admiral  and  Generals 
Canby  and  Granger  ;  but  circumstances 
soon  obliged  General  Canby  to  say  that  he 
could  only  spare  troops  enough  to  invest 
one  fort. 

Farragut  then  suggested  that  it  should 
be  Fort  Gaines,  and  engaged  at  the  same 
time  to  have  a  naval  force  in  the  Sounds 
ready  to  protect  the  landing  of  the  Army 
on  Dauphine  Island,  in  the  rear  of  the  fort. 
Lieutenant-Commander  J.  C.  P.  De  Krafft, 
in  the  "  Conemaugh,"  was  assigned  to  this 
duty. 

It  was  arranged  between  Farragut  and 
General  Granger  that  the  attack  should 
take  place  on  the  4th  day  of  August,  but 
owing  to  unforeseen  circumstances  it  was 
delayed  until  the  5th.  This  delay  turned 
out  to  be  fortunate,  for  on  the  4th  the  Con 
federates  were  engaged  in  throwing  more 
troops  and  supplies  into  Fort  Gaines,  all  of 
which  were  captured. 

At  5:40  A.  M.  on  the  5th  of  August,  1864, 
all  the  vessels  outside  of  the  bar,  which 
were  to  participate  in  the  battle,  got  under 
way  in  the  following  order,  two  abreast, 
lashed  together: 

"  Brooklyn,"  Captain  James  Alden,  with 
the  "  Octorara,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
C.  H.  Greene,  on  the  port  side. 

"  Hartford,"  Captain  Percival  Dray  ton, 
with  the  "  Metacomet,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  James  E.  Jouett. 

"Richmond,"  Captain  Thornton  A.  Jen 
kins,  with  the  "  Port  Royal,"  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Bancroft  Gherardi. 

"  Lackawanna,"  Captain  J.  B.  Marchand, 
with  the  "Seminole,"  Commander  E.  Don 
aldson. 

"Monongahela,"  Commander  J.  H.  Strong, 
with  the  "  Kennebec,"  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  W.  P.  McCanii. 

"  Ossipee,"  Commander  Win.  E.  LeRoy, 
and  the  "Itasca."  Lieutenant-Commander 
George  Brown. 

"  Oneida,"  Commander  J.  R.  M.  Mullany, 
and  the  "  Galena,"  Lieutenant-Commander 
C.  H.  Wells. 

The  iron-clads,  "Tecumseh, "Commander 
T.  A.  M.  Craven,  "  Manhattan,"  Commander 
J.  W.  A.  Nicholson,  "Winnebago,"  Com 
mander  T.  H.  Stevens,  and  "Chickasaw," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  George  H.  Per 
kins,  were  already  inside  the  bar,  and  they 
were  ordered  to  take  up  their  positions  on 
the  starboard  hand  of  the  wooden  vessels, 
between  them  and  Fort  Morgan,  for  the 
double  purpose  of  keeping  down  the  fire 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


571 


of  the  water  battery  and  fort,  and  of  attack 
ing  the  ram  "Tennessee"  as  soon  as  the 
fort  was  passed. 

The  commanding  officers  of  the  ships  ur 
gently  requested  Farragut  to  allow  Captain 
Alden,  in  the  •'Brooklyn,"  to  lead  the  at 
tacking  column,  as  this  vessel  had  four 
chase-guns  and  an  ingenious  apparatus  for 
picking  up  torpedoes,  and  because,  in  their 
judgment,  the  flag-ship  should  not  lead  and 
be  too  much  exposed.  The  proper  place  for 
the  flag-ship  was,  in  fact,  the  middle  of  the 
line,  but  Farragut  would  only  yield  so  far 
as  to  have  one  ship  in  advance  of  him. 
He  did  not  believe  in  the  principle  that  a 
flag-officer  should  not  lead.  He  considered 
it  one  of  the  privileges  of  high  rank  in 
the  Xavy,  and  that  it  was  an  honor  to  be 
sought  by  every  one  who  desired  to  set  a 
proper  example  to  those  under  his  com 
mand. 

Before  going  into  action  the  Admiral  had 
issued  orders  making  his  commanding  offi 
cers  acquainted  with  his  plan  of  combat 
and  steaming.  His  orders  for  battle  had 
a  determination  in  them  which  showed 
that  he  meant  to  destroy  the  enemy  or 
be  destroyed  himself.  There  was  a  vigor 
and  coolness  about  them  which  cannot  but 
commend  them  to  officers  of  the  Navy,  and 
they  will  offer  good  examples  in  the  future 
for  those  who  would  not  otherwise  appre 
ciate  all  his  precautions,  but  who  are  con 
vinced  by  the  resulting  events  how  neces 
sary  they  were  on  this  occasion. 

It  was  no  ordinary  battle  that  was  to 
be  fought.  Four  iron-clads  and  a  fleet  of 
wooden  vessels  fourteen  in  number,  the 
heaviest  carr\ring  only  26  guns,  were  about 
to  attack  forts  that  were  originally  con 
structed  with  the  purpose  of  keeping  out 
of  Mobile  the  heaviest  vessels  then  known 
(ships-of-the-line  and  frigates)  that  could 
pass  the  bar  into  Mobile  Bay,  or  that  might 
attempt  to  enfilade  Fort  Morgan  from  out 
side  the  bar  to  the  eastward. 

Forts  Gaines  and  Morgan  had  been  plan 
ned  and  built  by  the  best  engineer  in  the 
United  States  Army,  and  they  had  been 
strengthened  and  improved  in  every  way 
by  the  Confederates.  To  crown  all,  these 
forts  mounted  not  only  the  heaviest  guns 
made  in  the  country,  but  were  well  provided 
with  the  latest  improved  rifle-cannon  of 
English  manufacture,  which  had  been 
brought  over  in  blockade  runners.  The 
impediments  in  the  channel  have  been 
already  mentioned,  but  what  number  of 
torpedoes  had  been  planted  no  one  knew. 

All  these  drawbacks  against  a  passage 
by  the  forts  did  not  cast  a  cloud  over  the 
countenance  of  any  officer  or  man  in  the 
fleet.  They  were  all  as  anxious  for  the 
combat  as  was  their  commanding  officer, 
who  had  passed  through  too  many  battles 


within  the  last  two  years  to  feel  dismayed 
at  the  idea  of  running  through  a  lot  of 
piles  and  sunken  torpedoes. 

Every  officer  was  on  the  alert ;  the  ear  of 
every  sailor  was  attentive  to  catch  the 
sound  of  the  first  tap  of  the  drum  (the  call 
to  quarters);  and  one,  to  look  at  all  those 
eager  faces  on  the  poop  and  forecastle  of 
every  ship,  would  suppose  this  to  be  some 
grand  gala  day.  It  was  indeed  a  gala  day, 
for  every  one  could  see  in  the  cheerful 
and  determined  look  of  their  great  com 
mander  that  this  would  be  a  day  of  glorious 
victory,  that  the  frowning  forts  and  dark- 
looking  "Tennessee,"  though  barring  the 
way  and  threatening  destruction,  would  be 
swept  away,  if  "hearts  of  oak  in  wooden 
hulls  "  could  do  it.  All  longed  to  see  the 
defiant  Confederate  flag,  which  had  waved 
so  long  unmolested,  hauled  down,  and  the 
last  ram  the  Confederates  ever  built  con 
signed  to  the  fate  of  her  predecessors. 

It  was  a  glorious  sight  to  see  those  brave 
fellows  wearing  a  smile  of  joy  upon  their 
faces  in  view  of  such  odds  against  them — 
and  not  knowing  how  soon  they  and  their 
comrades  would  be  lying  at  the  bottom  of 
the  bay.  All  could  not  hope  to  escape  this 
trying  ordeal,  when  several  of  the  coolest 
officers  calculated  that  at  least  six  of  the 
ships  would  be  blown  up.  They  never 
stopped  to  consider  whose  fate  this  would 
be;  all  they  desired  was  to  grapple  with  the 
enemy,  and  see  the  Union  flag  floating  over 
the  forts  that  had  been  taken  from  their 
lawful  owners. 

Soon  the  word  went  forth  : 

GEXERAL  ORDER,  No.  10. 

"  Strip  your  vessels  and  prepare  for  the  conflict. 
Send  down  all  your  superfluous  spars  and  rig 
ging.  Trice  up  or  remove  the  whiskers.  Put  up 
the  splinter  nets  on  the  starboard  side  and  barri 
cade  the  steersmen  with  sails  and  hammocks.  Lay 
chains  or  sand -bags  on  the  deck  over  the  machinery 
to  resist  a  plunging  fire.  Hang  the  sheet  chains 
over  the  side,  or  make  any  other  arrangement  for 
security  that  your  ingenuity  may  suggest.  Laud 
your  starboard  boats  or  lower  them  and  tow  them 
on  the  port  side,  and  lower  the  port  boats  down  to 
the  water's  edge.  Place  a  leadsman  and  the  pilot 
in  the  port-quarter  boat  or  the  one  most  convenient 
to  the  commander. 

"The  vessels  will  run  past  the  forts  in  couples, 
lashed  side  by  side,  as  hereafter  designated.  The 
flag-ship  will  lead  and  steer  from  Sand  Island  X.  by 
E.  by  compass  until  abreast  of  Fort  Morgan,  then 
N.  W.  half  N.,  until  past  the  Middle  Ground;  then 
N.  by  W ;  and  the  others,  as  designated  in  the 
drawing,  will  follow  in  due  order,  until  directed  to 
anchor;  but  the  bow  and  quarter  line  must  be  pre 
served  to  give  the  chase-guns  a  fair  range,  and  each 
vessel  must  be  kept  astern  of  the  broadside  of  the 
next  ahead.  Each  vessel  will  keep  a  very  little  on 
the  starboard  quarter  of  his  next  ahead,  and  when 
abreast  of  the  fort  will  keep  directly  astern,  and  as 
we  pass  the  fort  will  take  the  same  distance  on  the 
port  quarter  of  the  next  ahead,  to  enable  the  stern 
guns  to  fire  clear  of  the  next  vessel  astern. 

"It  will  be  the  object  of  the  Admiral  to  get  as 
close  to  the  fort  as  possible  before  opening  fire  : 


572 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  ships,  however,  will  open  fire  the  moment  the 
enemy  opens  upon  us,  with  their  chase  and  other 
guns,  as  fast  as  they  can  be  brought  to  bear.  Use 
short  fuzes  for  the  shell  and  shrapnel,  and  as  soon 
as  within  three  or  four  hundred  yards,  give  the 
grape.  It  is  understood  that  heretofore  we  have 
fired  too  high ;  but  with  grape-shot  it  is  neces 
sary  to  elevate  a  little  abore  the  object,  as  grape 
will  dribble  from  the  muzzle  of  the  gun.  If 
one  or  more  of  the  vessels  be  disabled,  their  part 
ners  must  carry  them  through,  if  possible ;  but 
if  they  cannot,  then  the  next  astern  must  render 
the  required  assistance  ;  but  as  the  Admiral  con 
templates  moving  with  the  flood-tide  it  will  only 
require  sufficient  power  to  keep  the  crippled  vessels 
in  the  channel. 

"Vessels  that  can,  must  place  guns  upon  the 
poop  and  topgallant  forecastle,  and  in  the  tops  on 
the  starboard  side.  Should  the  enemy  fire  grape, 
they  will  remove  the  men  from  the  topgallant  fore 
castle  and  poop  to  the  guns  below,  until  out  of 
grape  range. 

"The   howitzers  must  keep^  up  a  constant  fire 


Morgan.  It  being  understood  that  there  are  torpe 
does  and  other  obstructions  between  the  buoys, 
the  vessels  will  take  care  to  pass  eastward  of  the 
easternmost  buoy,  which  is  clear  of  all  obstructions. 
"So  soon  as  the  vessels  arrive  opposite  the  end  of 
the  piles,  it  will  be  best  to  stop  the  propeller  of  the 
ship,  and  let  her  drift  the  distance  past  by  her 
headway  and  the  tide;  and  those  having  side-wheel 
gun-boats  will  continue  on  by  the  aid  of  their 
paddle-wheels,  which  are  not  likely  to  foul  with  the 
enemy's  drag-ropes. 

"  D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

"  Hear -Admiral."1 

The  appended  diagram  is  the  plan  of  at 
tack,  and  distinctly  shows,  not  only  the 
position  of  every  vessel  in  the  fleet,  but 
also  Fort  Morgan,  the  Confederate  ram 
'•'  Tennessee,"  and  her  consorts,  the  "  Sel- 
ma,"  "  Morgan  "  and  •'  Gaines." 

The  Federal  vessels  having  formed  line, 
according  to  the  diagram,  moved  ahead  at 


PLAN  SHOWING  FARRAGUT'S  VESSELS  PASSING  FORT  MORGAN,  ALSO  POSITION  OF  CONFEDERATE 

RAM  AND  GUN-BOATS. 


from  the  time  they  can  reach  with  shrapnel  until 
out  of  range. 

"D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
"  Rear-Admiral,  Commanding 

"  West  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron." 

GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  11. 

"  Should  any  vessel  be  disabled  to  such  a  degree 
that  her  consort  is  unable  to  keep  her  in  her  sta 
tion,  she  will  drop  out  of  line  to  the  westward,  and 
not  embarrass  the  vessels  next  astern  by  attempting 
to  regain  her  station.  Should  she  repair  damages 
so  as  to  be  able  to  re-enter  the  line  of  battle  she 
will  take  her  station  in  the  rear,  as  close  to  the  last 
vessel  as  possible. 

"  So  soon  as  the  vessels  have  passed  the  fort  and 
kept  away  northwest,  they  can  cast  off  the  gun 
boats  at  the  discretion  of  the  senior  officer  of  the 
two  vessels,  and  allow  them  to  proceed  up  the  bay 
to  cut  off  the  enemy's  gun-boats  that  may  be  at 
tempting  to  escape  up  to  Mobile.  There  are  certain 
black  buoys  placed  by  the  enemy  from  the  piles  on 
the  west  side  of  the  channel,  across  it  towards  Fort 


about  5:45  A.  M.,  following  the  "  Brooklyn," 
which  vessel  took  the  lead.  Some  little  delay 
was  now  necessary  to  allow  all  the  ships  to 
get  into  position,  and  form  a  compact  line  of 
steaming.  When  this  was  accomplished, 
the  fleet  moved  on  in  the  direction  of  Fort 
Morgan,  which  opened  fire  at  7:07  o'clock, 
at  a  distance  of  about  two  miles. 
^  The  "Tecumseh,"  leading  the  iron-clads, 
fired  the  first  gun  at  0:45,  and  was  fol 
lowed  by  the  "  Brooklyn,"  with  her  two 
100  -  pounder  Parrotts,  and  then  by  the 
''  Hartford."  As  the  leading  vessels  ap 
proached,  they  commenced  firing  their 
broadside  guns,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
fleet  continued  the  fire  as  they  got  in  posi 
tion  to  do  so  eiTectively. 

As  the  Federal  voxels  neared  the  fort, 
the  ram  "Tennessee"  and  the  wooden  gun- 


OF  THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


573 


boats  opened  fire  upon  them — raking  them 
at  every  discharge.  At  about  half -past 
seven  the  battle  became  general  all  along 
the  line,  as  vessel  after  vessel  came  near 
enough  to  use  her  guns. 

The  Monitors  had  so  little  speed  that  the 
whole  fleet  was  obliged  to  move  slowly, 
and  thus  offer  a  fair  mark  to  the  Confeder 
ate  gunners  ;  but  the  thick  smoke  and  the 
rapid  fire  of  grape  from  the  fleet  so  discon 
certed  them,  that  the  flag-ship  passed  with 
110  great  injury  or  loss  of  life ;  a  shell  which 
passed  through  the  side  and  exploded 
abaft  the  mainmast,  killing  and  wounding 
a  large  portion  of  No.  7  gun's  crew,  being 
the  only  one  that  caused  much  destruc 
tion. 

At  this  time  the  "  Hartford  "  had  become 
the  leading  vessel,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
just  as  the  "Brooklyn"  came  abreast  of  Fort 
Morgan,  and  was  keeping  up  a  rapid  fire  of 
grape  from  her  broadside  guns,  which 
seemed  to  almost  silence  the  enemy's  bat 
teries, the  Monitor  "  Tecumseh" — then  about 
three  hundred  yards  ahead,  and  on  the 
starboard  bow  of  the  "  Brooklyn  "-  — was 
seen  from  the  latter  vessel  to  careen  violently 
over,  and  sink  almost  instantly.  The 
*'  Brooklyn  "  was  now  somewhat  inside  the 
fort,  shoal  water  was  reported,  and  at  the 
.same  time  the  smoke  cleared  away,  and 
revealed  a  row  of  suspicious-looking  buoys 
right  under  the  vessel's  bow. 

The  captain  of  the  "Brooklyn"  now 
made  a  mistake ;  he  stopped  his  vessel  and 
then  backed,  to  avoid  leading  the  fleet  into 
what  appeared  to  be  a  nest  of  torpedoes. 
His  motive  was  a  good  one,  but  this  move 
ment  was  not  in  the  programme. 

It  was  apparent  to  Farragut  that  there 
was  some  difficulty  ahead,  and  that  the 
advance  of  the  fleet  was  arrested,  while 
Fort  Morgan  was  firing  with  great  effect 
upon  the  stationary  vessels.  At  this  mo 
ment  the  Admiral  also  witnessed  the  sink 
ing  of  the  "  Tecumseh,"  with  nearly  all  her 
officers  and  crew.  It  was  an  appalling  spec 
tacle,  and  would  have  daunted  many  other 
men.  He  did  not  know  but  that  his  whole 
fleet  would  be  blown  up  in  less  than  a  min 
ute,  and  their  hulls  and  guns  lying  at  the 
bottom  of  the  bay.  He  did  not  hesitate, 
however,  but  gave  the  order  to  Captain 
Drayton  :  "Pass  the  'Brooklyn,'  and  take 
the  lead."  His  order  was  immediately 
obeyed,  and  as  the  flag-ship  went  by  him, 
Captain  Alden  informed  the  Admiral  that 
he  was  "running  into  a  nest  of  torpedoes." 

"  D n  the  torpedoes,"  he  replied,  "follow 

me  ! "  At  the  same  time  he  directed  the  com 
mander  of  the  "  Metacomet"  to  send  a  boat 
and  pick  up  any  of  the  "Tecumseh's"  sur 
vivors  that  he  could  find. 

This  was  a  trying  time,  for,  as  the  ships 
were  moving  at  a  rate  of  about  seven  knots 


at  the  time  the  "Brooklyn"  stopped,  the 
line  was  thrown  into  confusion.  The 
"Brooklyn,"  as  soon  as  she  stopped,  re 
ceived  the  concentrated  fire  of  the  fort,  it 
being  the  object  of  the  Confederate  gunners 
to  cripple  the  leading  ships  and  throw  those 
in  the  rear  into  confusion.  Many  of  the 
"Brooklyn's"  crew  were  killed  and  wounded 
by  this  fire,  and  her  total  loss  during  the 
engagement  was  54  officers  and  men. 

As  soon  as  the  Admiral  had  passed,  Cap 
tain  Alden  followed  in  his  wake  at  full 
speed,  and  turned  northward  with  him,  re 
ceiving  at  the  same  time  several  heavy 
shot  from  the  "  Tennessee,"  which  cut  his 
vessel  up  considerably  near  the  water  line, 
forward. 

The  battle  had  been  general  some  time 
before  this,  and  the  rapid  and  well-aimed 
fire  of  the  naval  gunners  drove  the  enemy 
from  their  guns.  The  latter  had  never  be 
fore  witnessed  the  effect  of  shell,  grape  and 
shrapnel  when  fired  from  guns  worked  by 
fearless  American  seamen,  who  had  but 
one  idea,  and  that  was  to  knock  down  the 
offending  flag  which  now  floated  on  the 
fort  where  in  days  of  yore  the  "  Stars 
and  Stripes  "  had  waved  peacefully  in  the 
breeze. 

All  was  animation  in  the  fleet;  every 
commander  was  on  the  alert  to  keep  his 
ship  in  position,  and  not  confuse  the  ships 
ahead  and  astern  of  him.  The  gunners 
were  cautioned  to  throw  no  shot  away, 
and  carefully  instructed  how  to  train  their 
guns.  The  Admiral,  jumping  into  the 
main  rigging,  where  he  could  see  over  the 
smoke,  gave  orders  to  steam  through  the 
buoys,  where  the  torpedoes  were  supposed 
to  be  placed  in  the  greatest  numbers.  At 
this  moment  the  fire  of  every  gun  that 
could  be  brought  to  bear  was  playing  on 
the  fort,  and  as  ship  after  ship  followed 
in  the  wake  of  the  "Hartford,"  and  turned 
up  channel,  their  stern-guns  belched  forth 
their  deadly  missiles,  while  the  fort  scarcely 
fired  a  gun ;  the  enemy  were  either  killed 
or  sent  to  cover,  though  a  Confederate 
writer  asserts  that  not  a  gun  in  Fort  Mor 
gan  was  silenced. 

All  anxiously  watched  the  "Hartford" 
to  see  what  would  be  her  fate,  but  the  stout 
old  ship  that  had  fairly  been  bathed  in  fire 
on  so  many  occasions,  sped  safely  on,  and 
the  road  was  clear  for  those  who  came  after. 

The  line  of  buoys  had  been  examined 
on  several  occasions  (in  night  reconnais 
sances)  by  Flag  -  Lieutenant  J.  Crittenden 
Watson,  who  was  unable  to  discover  any 
sunken  torpedoes,  yet  the  Admiral  had  been 
assured  by  refugees  that  such  did  exist. 
He  believed,  however,  that,  from  their  hav 
ing  been  for  some  time  under  water,  they 
were  harmless,  and  under  this  idea  he  de« 
termined  to  take  the  chances. 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR, 


575 


At  ten  minutes  before  8  A.  M.  the  "  Hart 
ford''  had  fairly  passed  Fort  Morgan,  with 
the  "Brooklyn"  close  behind  her.  As  the 
flag-ship  passed  the  shore  batteries,  she 
came  directly  under  the  fire  of  the  gun-boats 
"  Selma,"  "  Morgan"  and  "  Gaines  "  and 
the  ram  "  Tennessee,"  and  being  only  able 
to  direct  her  fire  on  one  of  them  at  a  time, 
the  shots  from  the  others  were  delivered 
with  effect,  a  single  shot  having  killed 
ten  men  and  wounded  five  at  guns  Nos.  1 
and  2. 

The  "Tennessee"  followed  the  "Hart 
ford  ''  for  some  distance,  throwing  an  occa 
sional  shot,  while  the  gun-boat  "Selma," 
keeping  on  her  bow,  annoyed  her  very 
much  by  the  fire  of  her  three  stern -guns.  The 
"  Hartford  "  could  not  answer  this  attack, 
for  the  reason  that  her  rifle-gun  carriage 
had  been  crippled  by  a  shell. 

The  flag- ship  was  at  this  time  nearly  a 
mile  ahead  of  the  fleet,  and  the  "  Meta- 
comet,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Jouett, 
was  ordered  to  cast  off  and  attack  the 
''Selma."  This  energetic  officer  lost  not  a 
moment  in  obeying  the  order,  and  putting 
on  all  steam  started  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy's  gun-boats,  all  three  of  which  were 
annoying  the  "  Hartford."  These  vessels 
all  retreated  up  the  bay,  engaging  the 
"  Metacomet "  with  their  stern- guns. 
At  half -past  8  the  "Gaines"  retreated 
under  cover  of  Fort  Morgan  in  a  crippled 
condition.  At  9  the  "Morgan"  hauled 
off  to  starboard,  and  at  10  minutes  past 
9  the  "  Selma"  struck  her  flag  to  the  "  Meta- 
comet." 

By  this  time  the  whole  fleet  had  passed 
the  obstructions  and  were  beyond  the  fire  of 
Fort  Morgan,  but  the  ram  "  Tennessee" 
was  steaming  about  and  delivering  her 
heavy  rifle-shell  with  terrible  effect.  The 
"  Brooklyn,"  as  she  passed  the  ram,  poured 
in  her  broadside  of  9-inch  shot,  but  without 
inflicting  any  apparent  damage,  and  then 
passed  on  after  the  "  Hartford."  which  had 
anchored  about  five  miles  up  the  bay. 

Whatever  may  have  been  Admiral  Bu 
chanan's  plan  up  to  this  time,  he  had  not 
vet  succeeded  in  crippling  any  of  the 
Federal  vessels  either  with  his  shot  or  with 
his  ram.  He  made  an  effort  to  strike 
the  "Brooklyn,"  but  passed  astern  of  her, 
after  which  he  turned  and  ran  as  if  to  in 
tercept  the  fleet,  which  was  now  passing 
under  a  full  head  of  steam,  and  delivering 
their  broadsides  in  quick  succession. 

It  was  a  beautiful  sight  to  see  the  Union 
fleet  passing  on  in  such  good  order,  and 
delivering  their  fire  on  the  enemy's  forts, 
iron  -  clad  or  gun  -  boats,  as  occasion  re 
quired,  with  wonderful  precision  and  ef 
fect. 

The  passage  of  the  fleet  had  sealed  the 
fate  of  Mobile  ;  the  surrender  of  Fort  Mor 


gan  was  but  the  matter  of  a  few  days;  Fort 
Gaines  could  make  but  a  feeble  resistance 
against  a  combined  attack  of  Army  and 
Navy,  and  Fort  Powell,  cut  off  as  it  was, 
would  fall  without  firing  a  shot. 

No  doubt  Buchanan  realized  the  situa 
tion.  The  "Selma"  had  been  captured; 
the  "Gaines,"  not  being  as  closely  pursued 
as  was  the  "  Selma,"  escaped  under  cover 
of  Fort  Morgan,  where  she  was  afterwards 
run  ashore  and  burnt,  while  the  "Morgan" 
escaped  to  Mobile.  Nothing  was  now  left 
for  Buchanan  to  do  but  to  surrender,  or  die 
gloriously  fighting  to  the  last.  He  chose 
the  latter,  but  did  not  choose  the  right  time. 

Farragut,  supposing  that  the  fighting  was 
over  for  the  time  being,  had  anchored  and 
made  signal  to  the  fleet  to  follow  his  mo 
tions.  He  expected  the  "Tennessee"  to 
remain  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Morgan 
during  the  remainder  of  the  day;  and  if  she 
had  done  so  and  attacked  the  fleet  after 
dark  there  is  no  knowing  what  would  have 
been  the  result.  The  ram  would  have  been 
the  only  Confederate  vessel  engaged,  and 
her  commander  could  therefore  treat  every 
vessel  he  met  as  an  enemy,  while  the  Union 
vessels  would  not  have  been  able  to  use 
their  guns  for  fear  of  firing  into  a  consort. 
As  it  was,  with  the  heaviest  guns  in  the 
fleet  pouring  shot  and  shell  into  her  in 
broad  day,  she  committed  great  havoc. 

Looking  upon  it  as  a  naval  movement, 
Buchanan  made  a  great  mistake  that  morn 
ing  when  he  went  out  to  attack  Farragut's 
fleet.  He  must  have  seen  that  every  one 
of  the  Union  vessels  was  superior  to  him 
in  speed,  and  had  nothing  to  fear  from  his 
ram,  while  the  heavy  guns  of  the  three 
remaining  Monitors  would  be  brought  to 
bear  on  him  in  such  a  way  that  his  0-inch, 
armor  would  be  damaged  and  his  port  shut 
ters  closed.  He  might  have  supposed,  too, 
that  Farragut  would  not  hesitate  to  ram 
him,  with  ships  of  greater  speed  than  his 
own  —  there  are  a  hundred  things  which 
one  good  sailor  would  expect  another  to 
do  under  certain  circumstances. 

No  one  who  knew  Buchanan  and  his  pro 
fessional  ability  would  doubt  for  a  minute 
that  he  had  considered  all  these  matters. 
Perhaps  he  feared  that  the  forts  would  be 
surrendered  before  sunset,  and  the  power 
ful  "Tennessee,"  of  which  so  much  had 
been  expected,  and  bv  which  so  little  had 
yet  been  done,  surrendered  with  them. 

Whatever  was  the  case,  he  did  not  take 
long  to  make  up  his  mind.  The  fleet  had 
not  been  anchored  more  than  fifteen  min 
utes  when  it  was  reported  to  Admiral  Far 
ragut  that  the  "Tennessee"  was  coming 
out  from  under  Fort  Morgan  and  standing 
down  for  the  head  of  the  fleet.  Farragut 
at  once  divined  that  it  was  his  enemy's 
intention  to  sink  the  flag  ship  (which  would 


576 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


have  been  glory  enough  for  one  day),  but 
he  determined  to  show  the  Confederates 
that  it  was  an  easier  matter  to  sink  a 
frigate  at  anchor  in  Hampton  Roads  than 
a  live  fleet  in  Mobile  Bay.  The  signal  was 
at  once  made  to  get  underway,  and  the 
crews  ran  the  anchors  up  to  the  bows  with 
marvellous  rapidity. 

The  iron-clads.  and  such  wooden  vessels 
as  had  been  prepared  with  iron  prows,  were 
ordered  to  attack  the  "  Tennessee  "  at  once, 
before  she  could  reach  the  centre  of  the 
fleet,  and  the  wooden  vessels  were  directed 
to  ram  the  iron-clad  and  attempt  to  disable 
her  in  that  way. 

Thus  the  fleet  and  the  "  Tennessee  "  were 
approaching  each  other  rapidly,  while  the 
people  in  the  former  were  watching  keenly 
for  the  result,  no  one  being  able  to  form 
an  opinion  as  to  the  power  of  the  latter 
for  offensive  purposes,  or  what  might  be 
the  plan  of  her  commander,  who  was  stand 
ing  fearlessly  on,  as  if  conscious  that  he  was 
more  than  a  match  for  the  Federals.  And 
now  commenced  one  of  the  most  remarka 
ble  combats  known  throughout  the  war — 
in  fact,  one  of  the  fiercest  naval  battles  on 
record. 

The  "  Monongahela,"  Commander  Strong, 
was  the  first  vessel  that  had  the  honor  of 
striking  the  "Tennessee,"  which  she  did 
squarely  and  fairly,  with  a  good  head  of 
steam ;  but  the  only  result  was  that  the 
ramming  vessel  carried  away  her  cast-iron 
prow,  together  with  the  cut  -  water,  with 
out  apparently  doing  the  "Tennessee"  any 
damage.  Just  afterwards,  the  "  Lacka- 
wanna,"  Captain  Marchand,  delivered  a 
blow,  going  at  full  speed,  crushing  in  her 
own  stem,  but  had  no  other  effect  on  the 
ram  than  to  give  her  a  heavy  list.  The 
Admiral  then  dashed  at  his  enemy  with  the 
"  Hartford,"  but  only  got  in  a  glancing 
blow,  for  the  "  Tennessee"  avoided  his  at 
tack  by  shifting  her  helm  in  time.  The 
flag-ship  rasped  alongside  of  her  and  deliv 
ered  a  broadside  .from  her  starboard  guns 
as  she  passed,  but  with  little  or  no  effect. 

This  was  a  reception  Buchanan  did  not 
anticipate.  He  had  calculated  on  catching 
the  fleet  in  confusion,  and  expected  to  enact 
again  the  role  of  the  "Albemarle"  in  the 
Sounds  of  North  Carolina.  But  here  the 
conditions  were  quite  different.  The  rat 
tling  of  the  9-inch  shot  on  the  "Tennes 
see's  "  casements  made  his  vessel  fairly 
quiver,  while  the  ramming  demoralized  her 
crew,  they  having  been  made  to  believe  that 
no  one  would  undertake  such  an  adventure. 

The  Monitors  were  slow  in  speed,  but 
they  had  now  reached  the  "Tennessee's" 
wake,  delivering  their  fire  as  opportunity 
offered.  The  "  Manhattan,"  Commander 
J.W.  A.  Nicholson,  got  close  under  her  stern 
and  fired  a  raking  shot  (15-inch),  which 


struck  the  "  Tennessee's  "  port-quarter  and 
carried  away  her  steering  gear.  The  "  Man 
hattan  "  fired  altogether  six  times,  and  most 
of  her  shots  took  effect.  In  the  meantime, 
the  "  Winnebago"  and  "  Chickasaw  "  were 
firing  as  opportunity  offered.  The  smoke 
stack  of  the  "Tennessee"  was  shot  away 
by  the  "  Chickasaw,"  which  vessel  followed 
her  closely,  firing  solid  shot  into  her  until 
her  flag  was  hauled  down. 

If  the  commander  of  the  ram  had  calcu 
lated  that  he  could  scatter  the  gallant  offi 
cers  who  were  swarming  about  him,  lie  had 
reckoned  without  his  host,  for  never  did 
an  iron-clad  receive  such  a  battering  in  so 
short  a  time.  Every  ship  in  the  fleet  tried 
to  get  alongside  of  her  to  throw  in  a  broad 
side,  but  there  was  not  room  for  all  to  ma 
noeuvre;  and  the  "Lackawanna,"inher  de 
sire  to  have  another  blow  at  the  enemy, 
collided  with  the  "  Hartford."  and  cut  her 
down  on  the  quarter  to  within  two  feet  of 
the  water  line. 

Meanwhile  the  "Tennessee"  was  not  idle. 
All  her  guns  were  at  work  as  fast  as  they 
could  be  loaded  and  fired.  -She  was  like 
a  great  buffalo  of  the  plains,  with  a  pack 
of  wolves  hanging  to  its  flanks,  finally 
compelled  to  succumb  to  superior  num 
bers.  But  the  ram  managed  to  inflict  some 
dreadful  wounds  in  her  last  efforts. 

While  the  "Hartford"  was  drifting  by 
her,  and  from  a  distance  of  ten  feet  or  less 
was  pouring  in  a  broadside  of  9-inch  solid 
shot,  with  charges  of  thirteen  pounds  of 
powder,  without  any  effect,  the  "Tennes 
see  "  fired  a  large  shell  through  her  side, 
which  burst  on  the  berth-deck,  killing  and 
wounding  a  number  of  men,  the  pieces 
breaking  through  the  spar  and  berth-decks, 
passing  through  the  launch  and  entering 
the  hold  among  the  wounded.  There  was 
no  time  to  think  of  the  danger  from  shot 
or  shell,  for  every  one's  blood  was  up,  and 
it  was  determined  that  the  "Tennessee" 
should  not  escape,  if  it  cost  the  lives  of 
every  one  in  the  fleet. 

The  "Hartford,"  after  being  struck  by 
the  "  Lacka  wanna,"  was  at  first  reported  to 
be  sinking ;  but  that  report  was  soon  set  at 
rest,  and  she  started  for  the  enemy  at  full 
speed,  determined  this  time  to  crush  in  her 
side  or  be  crushed  in  the  attempt.  But 
as  the  flag-ship  approached  the  "  Tennes 
see,"  it  was  seen  that  she  was  flying  a  whito 
flag,  so  the  former  sheered  off  without  de 
livering  the  intended  blow.  After  the 
"Lacka wanna"  had  run  into  the  "Hart 
ford,"  she  was  signalled  to  ram  the  "  Ten 
nessee"  again,  and  the  gallant  Marchand 
had  started  to  do  it  under  a  full  head  of 
steam  when  the  "Tennessee"  surrendered. 

At  this  particular  moment  the  Confed 
erate  iron-clad  was  sore  beset.  The  "  Man 
hattan,"  "Chickasaw,"  and  "Winnebago'' 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


577 


were  hammering  her  with  solid  shot  and 
shell;  the  "Ossipee"  was  approaching  hei 
again  at  full  speed,  while  the  '"'Hartford," 
*•  Monongahela,"  and  "  Lackawanna"  were 
bearing  down  under  a  press  of  steam,  deter 
mined  on  her  destruction;  and  it  is  probable 
that,  if  the  three  ships  had  struck  her  at  the 
same  time,  it  would  have  demoralized  her 
crew,  if  it  did  not  break  in  her  sides.  Her 
smoke-stack  had  been  shot  away,  her  steer 
ing  apparatus  was  disabled,  and  several  of 
her  port  shutters  driven  in  or  jammed.  Any 
one  could  see  that  the  battle  was  won  by 
the  fleet  for  some  time  before  the  Confed 
erate  surrendered.  But  one  shot  was  fired 
by  the  ram  after  the  "Hartford''  ran  into 
her.  but  her  crew  were  game  to  the  last, 
and  took  it  out  in  jeering  the  Yankees. 
The  "Ossipee"  was  within  a  few  feet  of  her, 
and  in  another  moment  would  have  col 
lided,  when  the  gallant  Le  Roy  (who 
never  laid  aside  his  politeness  under  any 
circumstances)  saw  the  white  flag  fluttering 
on  the  "  Tennes 
see.''  and  stopped 
and  backed  his  en 
gines. 

The  "  Tennes 
see"  had  done 
well,  though  she 
was  not  fought 
with  the  skill  ex 
pected  from  Bu 
chanan.  The  lat 
ter  was  wounded 
and  had  his  leg  so 
shattered  that  it 
had  afterwards  to  - 
be  amputated. 
The  "Tennessee" 
lost  only  two  or 
three  men  killed,  and  five  or  six  wounded; 
but  the  crew,  no  doubt,  became  demoralized 
from  the  terrible  pounding  they  were  get 
ting  from  ships  and  guns.  The  smoke-stack 
being  knocked  down,  the  engine  became 
almost  useless  ;  but  the  best  reason  for  her 
surrender  was  that  the  "Boys  in  Blue" 
had  determined  to  have  her,  no  matter 
what  the  consequences  to  themselves.  She 
was  only  one  vessel,  it  is  true,  but  a  vessel 
capable  of  resisting  the  blow  of  any  projec 
tile  fired  by  the  Union  fleet ;  while  her  own 
projectiles  could  pass  through  and  through 
any  of  the  Federal  wooden  vessels.  She 
was  like  a  knight  of  the  olden  time,  encased 
in  impenetrable  armor  and  contending  witli 
a  party  of  unarmored  soldiers.  She  was 
built  by  the  ablest  naval  officer  in  the  Con 
federacy  under  the  belief  that  she  would 
wipe  off  the  face  of  the  waters  anything 
te  Federals  could  bring  against  her. 

Buchanan,  without  doubt,  had  calculated 
all  his  chances,  and  when  he  saw  the  fleet 
at  anchor  up  the  bay,  thought  he  had 

37 


them  all  in  a  cul-de-sac,  and  that  he  would 
be  able  to  demolish  them  in  a  couple  of 
hours.  He  was  a  brave  man,  too,  and  in  the 
past  had  been  successful  in  almost  even- 
thing  lie  had  undertaken  ;  and  the  capture 
of  the  great  commander,  who  had  hitherto 
set  all  Confederate  forts  and  obstructions 
at  defiance,  was  to  have  been  the  crown 
ing  triumph  of  his  life.  How  little  he  must 
have  remembered  of  the  brave  officers  in 
that  fleet,  many  of  whom  had  been  under 
his  command,  if  he  expected  to  conquer 
them  without  a  severe  and  prolonged 
struggle  ! 

Sometimes  we  think  he  was  tired  of  the 
unnatural  contest  which  separated  him 
from  friends  and  relations.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  cause,  the  "Tennessee"  did 
not  effect  as  much  as  she  ought  to  have  done 
for  so  powerful  a  vessel.  She  never  once 
struck  a  vessel  of  Farragut's  fleet,  while 
she  herself  was  rammed  at  least  four  times. 
How  frail  the  Federal  wooden  ships  were 

was  shown  when 
the  "  Lackawan 
na,"  moving  at 
low  speed,  struck 
the  "  Hartford," 
cutting  her  down 
nearly  to  the 
water's  edge,  and 
placed  her  almost 
in  a  sinking  con 
dition. 

Never  did  peo 
ple  fight  their 
vessels  to  more 
effect  than  did 
Farragut  and  his 
officers  on  this  oc 
casion.  The  bat 
tle  was  short  and  decisive  ;  and  although 
the  Confederates  claim  that  their  vessels 
fought  desperately  from  7  o'clock  until  10, 
the  truth  is  that  the  last  encounter  between 
the  ram  and  the  fleet  only  lasted  from  8.50 
until  10  o'clock,  one  hour  and  ten  minutes. 
Hours  and  minutes  fly  fast  when  under  fire 
and  amid  the  excitement  there  were  inci 
dents  enough  in  this  battle  to  make  time 
pass  rapidly. 

After  the  "Tennessee"  had  surrendered, 
signal  was  made  to  the  fleet  to  anchor.  The 
"  Chickasaw,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Geo. 
H.  Perkins,  took  the  disabled  prize  in  tow  and 
anchored  her  near  the  "Hartford,"  when 
Commander  Johnston  (formerly  of  the  U.  S. 
Navy),  now  in  command  of  the  "Tennessee," 
went  on  board  the  flag-ship  and  surrendered 
his  sword  and  that  of  Admiral  Buchanan. 
The  surgeon  of  the  "Tennessee"  accompa 
nied  him  and  said  that  Buchanan  had  been 
severely  wounded,  and  wished  to  know 
what  was  to  be  done  with  him.  It  seems 
from  the  statements  then  presented  that 


CONFEDERATE  RAM  "  TENNESSEE  "  AFTER  HER  SURRENDER  TO  U.  S. 

SQUADRON,  REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  G.  FARRAGUT,  MOBILE  BAY, 

AUGUST  5,  1864. 


578 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


Buchanan  during  the  engagement  remained 
standing  on  the  casemate  of  the  "  Tennes 
see  "  until  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
left  leg,  but  he  refused  to  surrender  until 
the  "Tennessee's"  steering  apparatus  was 
disabled  and  the  ship  so  filled  with  smoke — 
from  the  loss  of  the  smoke-stack — that  his 
men  could  hardly  breathe  or  see. 

The  only  shot  which  penetrated  the  "  Ten 
nessee's  "  armor  was  one  from  the  15-inch 
gun  of  the  "  Manhattan,"  which  knocked  a 
hole  in  the  iron  plating,  leaving  an  unde- 
tached  mass  of  oak  and  pine  splinters  pro 
jecting  about  two  feet  inside  of  the  case 
mate.  She  might  have  been  fought  longer 
if  it  had  not  been  for  the  loss  of  her  smoke 
stack  and  the  disarrangement  of  her  steer 
ing  gear ;  but  these  are  contingencies  to 
which  all  ships  are  liable  in  action,  and  they 
are  probabilities  that  should  always  be 
taken  into  account. 

The  victory  was  won,  and  with  the  sur 
render  of  the  "  Tennessee  "  ended  the  career 
of  nearly  the  last  ram  owned  by  the  Con 
federacy.  She  had  made  a  good  fight,  but 
now  passed  to  new  owners,  and  never  again 
struck  a  blow  against  the  Union. 

And  now  was  to  be  exercised  that  hu 
manity  which  Union  naval  officers  always 
extended  to  their  prisoners.  Fleet  Surgeon 
Palmer,  who  'was  on  board  the  "  Hart 
ford  "  during  the  action  attending  to  the 
suffering  wounded,  suggested  that  they 
should  all— of  both  sides— be  sent  to  Pen- 
sacola,  where  they  would  alike  be  prop 
erly  cared  for;  and  the  Admiral,  whose 
heart  was  always  open  to  the  calls  of  hu 
manity,  addressed  a  letter  to  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  R.  L.  Page  ( formerly  of  the  United 
States  Navy,  and  now  commanding  Fort 
Morgan  ),  informing  him  that  Admiral 
Buchanan  had  been  wounded,  and  desiring 
to  know  if  he  would  permit  one  of  his  ves 
sels,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  with  or  without 
the  Union  wounded,  to  go  to  Pensacola, 
with  the  understanding  that  the  vessel 
should  take  out  nothing  but  the  wounded 
men,  and  bring  nothing  back  that  she  did 
not  take  out.  This  permission  was  accorded 
by  General  Page,  and  the  '•  Metacomet" 
proceeded  on  her  mission  of  mercy. 

The  fleet  had  lost  heavily  throughout  the 
engagement,  but  a  greater  number  were 
killed  during  the  fight  with  the "  Tennessee" 
than  in  the  passage  of  the  fort,  showing 
the  terrible  power  of  this  vessel.  Almost 
every  shot  she  fired  after  closing  with  the 
fleet  went  to  its  mark,  and,  crashing  through 
the  wooden  sides  of  the  Federal  vessels 
committed  great  havoc  and  destruction  on 
their  crowded  decks. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  fleet:  "  Hartford,"  killed  25 
wounded  28; "  Brooklyn,"  killed  11, wounded 
43;  "Lacka  wanna,"  killed  -1,  wounded  35; 


"Oneida."  killed  8,  wounded  30;  "  Monon- 
gahela,"  wounded  6;  "  Metacomet,"  killed  1, 
wounded  2 ;  "  Ossipee,"  killed  1,  wounded  7; 
"Richmond,"  wounded  2;  "Galena," 
wounded  1  ;  "  Octorara."  killed  1,  wounded 
10;  "  Kennebec,"  killed  1,  wounded  G. 
Total  killed,  52  :  wounded,  170. 

This  is  a  much  larger  list  of  casualties 
than  occurred  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans, 
and  it  gives  a  fair  idea  of  the  sanguinary 
nature  of  the  conflict.  To  the  list  must  be 
added  the  120  lost  in  the  "  Tecumseh  "  when 
she  sunk,  making  a  total  of  172  killed,  and 
170  wounded. 

The  vessels  received  injuries  as  follows  : 
Monitors  :  "  Tecumseh,"  sunk  by  a  tor 
pedo  ;  "  Manhattan,  "  struck  9  times  ; 
"  Winnebago,"  struck  19  times;  "  Chicka- 
saw,"  struck  three  times  by  guns  of  Fort 
Powell.  Steamers  :  "  Brooklyn,"  struck  30 
times  ;  "  Octorara,"  struck  17  times  ;  "Hart 
ford,"  struck  20  times ;  "  Metacomet," 
struck  11  times  ;  "  Richmond,"  no  serious 
damage;  '"  Port  Royal,"  no  serious  damage  ; 
"  Lackawanna,"  struck  5  times;  "  Semi- 
nole,"  hull  not  struck  ;  "  Ossipee,"  struck 
4  times  ;  "  Monongahela,"  struck  5  times  ; 
"  Kennebec,"  struck  twice ;  "  Itasca," 
struck  once  ;  "  Oneida,"  one  shot  in  star 
board  boiler  ;  "  Galena,"  struck  7  times. 
Whole  number  of  hits  by  the  enemy,  134. 

It  would  be  an  impossibility  to  enumerate 
the  many  acts  of  gallantry  performed  by 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  fleet. 

The  Admiral  and  his  captains  will  there 
fore  be  left  to  speak  for  those  under  their 
immediate  observation ;  and,  although  it 
will  swell  this  account,  we  will  insert  as 
much  of  the  several  reports  as  will  serve  to 
do  justice  to  all,  and  give  the  reader  a  fur 
ther  insight  into  this  famous  battle. 

Admiral  Farragut,  after  detailing  the 
movements  of  the  fleet  (which  have  already 
been  described),  proceeds  as  follows: 

"As  I  had  an  elevated  position  in  the  main  rig 
ging  near  the  top,  I  was  able  to  overlook,  not 
only  the  deck  of  the  '  Hartford,'  but  the  other- 
vessels  of  the  fleet.  I  witnessed  the  terrible  effects 
of  the  enemy's  shot,  and  the  good  conduct  of  the 
men  at  their  guns;  and  although,  no  doubt,  their 
hearts  sickened,  as  mine  did,  when  their  shipmates 
were  struck  down  beside  them,  yet  there  was  not  a 
moment's  hesitation  to  lay  their  comrades  aside, 
and  spring  again  to  their  deadly  work. 

''Our  little  consort,  the  '  Metacomet,' was  also 
under  my  immediate  eye  during  the  whole  action 
up  to  the  moment  I  ordered  her  to  cast  off  in  pur 
suit  of  the  'Selma.' 

"  The  coolness  and  promptness  of  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Jouett  throughout,  merit  high  praise  ; 
his  whole  conduct  was  worthy  of  his  reputa 
tion. 

"In  this  connection  I  must  not  omit  to  call  the 
attention  of  the  department  to  the  conduct  of 
Acting-Ensign  Henry  C.  Nields,  of  the  "Meta 
comet,'1  who  had  charge  of  the  boat  sent  from  that 
vessel  when  the  'Tecumseh'  sank.  He  took  her 
in  under  one  of  the  most  galling  fires  I  ever  saw, 
and  succeeded  in  rescuing  from  death  ten  of  her 


OF   THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


579 


crew,  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  fort.  I  would 
respectfully  recommend  his  advancement. 

"The  commanding  officers  of  all  the  vessels  who 
took  part  in  the  action  deserve  my  warmest  com 
mendations,  not  only  for  the  untiring  zeal  with 
which  they  had  prepared  their  ships  for  the  contest, 
but  for  their  skill  and  daring  in  carrying  out  my 
orders  during  the  engagement. 

•'With  the  exception  of  the  momentary  arrest  of 
the  fleet,  when  the  k  Hartford ;  passed  ahead,  and  to 
which  I  have  already  adverted,  the  order  of  battle 
was  preserved,  and  the  ships  followed  each  other  in 
close  order  past  the  batteries  of  Fort  Morgan,  and 
in  comparative  safety  too,  with  the  exception  of  the 
'  Oneida.'  Her  boilers  were  penetrated  by  a  shot 
from  the  fort  which  completely  disabled  her,  but 
her  consort,  the  'Galena,'  firmly  fastened  to  her 
side,  brought  her  safely  through,  showing  clearly 
the  wisdom  of  the  precaution  of  carrying  the  ves 
sels  in  two  abreast.  Commander  Mullany,  who  had 
solicited  eagerly  to  take  part  in  the  action,  was 
severely  wounded,  losing  his  left  arm. 

•'In  the  encounter  with  the  ram  the  command 
ing  officers  obeyed  with  alacrity  the  order  to  run  her 
down,  and  without  hesitation  exposed  their  ships 
to  destruction  to  destroy  the  enemy. 

"  Our  iron-clads,  from  their  slow  speed  and  bad 
steering,  had  some  difficulty  in  getting  into  and 
maintaining  their  position  in  line  as  we  passed  the 
fort,  and,  in  the  subsequent  encounter  with  the 
'  Tennessee,'  from  the  same  causes,  were  not  as  effect 
ive  as  could  have  been  desired  ;  but  I  cannot  give 
too  much  praise  to  Lieutenant-Commander  Per 
kins,  who,  though  he  had  orders  from  the  Depart 
ment  to  return  North,  volunteered  to  take  com 
mand  of  the  '  Chickasaw,'  and  did  his  duty  nobly. 

"The  'Winnebago'  was  commanded  by  Com 
mander  T.  H.  Stevens,  who  volunteered  for  that 
position.  His  vessel  steers  very  badly,  and  neither 
of  his  turrets  will  work,  which  compelled  him  to 
turn  his  vessel  every  time  to  get  a  shot,  so  that  he 
could  not  fire  very  often,  but  he  did  the  best  under 
the  circumstances. 

"  The  'Manhattan  '  appeared  to  work  well, though 
she  moved  slowly.  'Commander  Nicholson  de 
livered  his  fire  deliberately,  and,  as  before  stated, 
with  one  of  his  15-inch  shot  broke  through  the 
armor  of  the  '  Tennessee,'  with  its  wooden  back 
ing,  though  the  shot  itself  did  not  enter  the  vessel. 
No  other  shot  broke  through  the  armor,  though 
many  of  her  plates  were  started,  and  several  of  her 
port  shutters  jammed  by  the  fire  from  the  different 
ships. 

"  The  '  Hartford  '  (my  flag-ship)  was  commanded 
by  Captain  Percival  Drayton,  who  exhibited 
throughout  that  coolness  and  ability  for  which  he 
has  been  long  known  to  his  brother  officers.  But  I 
must  speak  of  that  officer  in  a  double  capacity.  He 
is  the  fleet -captain  of  my  squadron,  and  one  o*f  more 
determined  energy,  untiring  devotion  to  duty  and 
zeal  for  the  service,  tempered  by  great  calmness,  I 
do  not  think  adorns  any  Navy.  I  desire  to  call  your 
attention  to  this  officer,  though  well  aware  that  in 
thus  speaking  of  his  high  qualities  I  am  only  com 
municating  officially  to  the  Department  that  which 
it  knew  full  well  before. 

"To  him,  and  to  my  staff,  in  their  respective 
positions,  I  am  indebted  for  the  detail  of  my  fleet. 

"Lieutenant  J.  Crittenden  Watson,  my  flag-lieu 
tenant,  has  been  brought  to  your  notice  in  former 
dispatches.  During  the  action  he  was  on  the  poop, 
attending  to  the  signals,  and  performed  his  duties, 
as  might  be  expected,  thoroughly.  He  is  a  scion 
worthy  the  noble  stock  he  sprang  from,  and  I  com 
mend  him  to  your  attention. 

"  My  secretary,  Mr.  McKinley,  and  Acting- Ensign, 
H.  H/Brownell,  were  also  on  the  poop,  the  latter 
taking  notes  of  the  action,  a  duty  which  he  per 
formed  with  coolness  and  accuracy. 

"Two    other    acting-ensigns   of    my    staff,    Mr. 


Bogart  and  Mr.  Higinbotham,  were  on  duty  in  the 
powder  division,  and,  as  the  reports  will  show,  ex 
hibited  zeal  and  ability.  The  latter,  I  regret  to  add, 
was  severely  wounded  by  a  raking  shot  from  the 
'Tennessee'  when  we  collided  with  that  vessel, 
and  died  a  few  hours  after.  Mr.  Higinbotham  was 
a  young  married  man,  and  has  left  a  widow  and 
one  child,  whom  I  commend  to  the  kindness  of  the 
Department. 

"  Lieutenant  A.  R.  Yates,  of  the  'Augusta,'  acted 
as  an  additional  aid  to  me  on  board  the  "  Hartford," 
and  was  was  very  efficient  in  the  transmission  of 
orders.  I  have  given  him  the  command  temporarily 
of  the  captured  steamer  'Selnia.' 

'  'The  last  of  my  staff,  and  to  whom  I  would  call  the 
attention  of  the  Department,  is  not  the  least  in  im 
portance.  I  mean  Pilot  Martin  Freeman.  He  has 
been  my  great  reliance  in  all  difficulties  in  his  line 
of  duty.  During  the  action  he  was  in  the  main-top 
piloting  the  ships  into  the  bay.  He  was  cool  and 
brave  throughout,  never  losing  his  self-possession. 
This  man  was  captured  early  in  the  war  in  a  fish 
ing-smack  which  he  owned,  and  though  he  pro 
tested  that  he  had  no  interest  in  the  war,  and  only 
asked  for  the  privilege  of  fishing  for  the  fleet,  yet 
his  services  were  too  valuable  to  the  captors  as  a 
pilot  not  to  be  secured.  He  was  appointed  a  first- 
class  pilot,  and  has  served  us  with  zeal  and  fidelity, 
and  has  lost  his  vessel,  which  went  to  pieces  on 
Ship  Island.  I  commend  him  to  the  Department. 

"  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  refer  to  several  officers 
who  volunteered  to  take  any  situation  where  they 
might  be  useful,  some  of  whom  were  on  their  way 
North,  either  by  orders  of  the  Department  or  con 
demned  by  medical  survey.  The  reports  of  the  dif 
ferent  commanders  will  show  how  they  conducted 
themselves. 

"I  have  already  mentioned  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Perkins,  of  the  '  Chickasaw,'  and  Lieuten 
ant  Yates,  of  the  'Augusta,'  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  William  Hamilton,  late  commanding 
officer  of  the  'Augusta  Dinsmore,'  had  been  in 
valided  by  medical  survey,  but  he  eagerly  offered 
his  services  on  board  the  iron-clad  '  Chickasaw,' 
having  had  much  experience  in  our  Monitors.  Act 
ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant  P.  Giraud,  another  ex 
perienced  officer  in  iron-clads,  asked  to  go  in  on  one 
of  these  vessels,  but  as  they  were  all  well  supplied 
with  officers,  I  permitted  him  to  go  in  on  the  '  Ossi- 
pee,' under  Commander  Le  Roy.  After  the  action  he 
was  given  temporary  charge  of  the  ram  '  Tennessee.' 

"Before  closing  this  report,  there  is  one  other 
officer  of  my  squadron  of  whom  I  feel  bound  to 
speak,  Captain  T.  A.  Jenkins,  of  the  '  Richmond,' 
who  was  formerly  my  chief-of-staff,  not  because  of 
his  having  held  that  position,  but  because  he  never 
forgets  to  do  his  duty  to  the  Government,  and  takes 
now  the  same  interest  in  the  fleet  as  when  he  stood 
in  that  relation  to  me.  He  is  also  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  second  division  of  my  squadron,  and, 
as  such,  has  shown  ability  and  the  most  untiring 
zeal.  He  carries  out  the  spirit  of  one  of  Lord  Col- 
lingwood's  best  sayings,  '  Not  to  be  afraid  of  doing 
too  much ;  those  who  are,  seldom  do  as  much  as 
they  ought.'  When  in  Pensacola,  he  spent  days 
on  the  bar,  placing  the  buoys  in  the  best  position, 
was  always  looking  after  the  interests  of  the  service, 
and  keeping  the  vessels  from  being  detained  one 
moment  longer  in  port  than  was  necessary.  The 
gallant  Craven  told  me  only  the  night  before  the 
action  in  which  he  lost  his  life  :  '  I  regret,  Admiral, 
that  I  have  detained  you  ;  but  had  it  not  been  for 
Captain  Jenkins,  God  knows  when  I  should  have 
been  here !  When  your  order  came  I  had  not  re 
ceived  an  ounce  of  coal.'  I  feel  I  should  not  be  do 
ing  my  duty  did  I  not  call  the  attention  of  the  de 
partment  to  an  officer  who  has  performed  all  his 
various  duties  with  so  much  zeal  and  fidelity. 
"Very  respectfully,  etc., 

"D.  G.  FARRAGUT." 


580 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


Extract  from  the  report  of  Captain  Dray- 
ton,  commanding  United  States  flag-ship 
"  Hartford  "  : 

"  To  Lieutenant-Commander  Kirnberly,  the  ex 
ecutive  officer,  I  am  indebted,  not  only  for  the  fine 
example  of  coolness  and  self-possession  which  he 
set  to  those  around  him,  but  also  for  the  excellent 
condition  to  which  he  had  brought  everything  be 
longing  to  the  fighting  department  of  the  ship,  in 
consequence  of  which  there  was  no  confusion  any 
where,  even  when,  from  the  terrible  slaughter  at 
some  of  the  guns,  it  might  have  been  looked  for. 

"  All  did  their  duty,  but  I  cannot  but  mention 
Lieutenants  Tyson  and  Adams  and  Ensign  Whit 
ing,  to  whose  example  and  exertions  it  was  in  great 
measure  owing,  no  doubt,  that  the  great  loss  of 
some  of  the  guns  was  not  followed  by  confusion  or 
delay  in  repairing  damages.  Acting- Master's  Mate 
Tinelli,  who  took  charge  of  the  3d  Division  after 
Lieutenant  Adams  was  wounded,  is  spoken  of  to 
ine  very  highly. 

»' Acting  -  Assistant  -  Engineer  McEwan  is  also 
strongly  noticed  in  the  report  of  Chief-Engineer 
Williamson.  He  lost  his  right  arm  while  busily 
employed  on  the  berth -deck,  where  he  was  sta 
tioned,  in  assisting  and  comforting  the  wounded. 
He  is  spoken  of  by  his  superiors  as  most  competent 
to  fill  the  possession  of  Third  Assistant -Engineer 
in  the  regular  service,  for  which  I  would  beg  you  to 
recommend  him  to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the 
Navy. 

"  The  last  shell  fired  at  us — that  from  the  ram- 
killed  my  clerk,  Ensign  W.  H.  Higinbotham.  Al 
though  this  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  in  ac 
tion,  nothing,  I  am  told,  could  exceed  the  coolness 
and  zeal  with  which  he  performed  his  duties  in  the 
powder-division,  and  I  feel  his  loss  most  seriously, 
as  his  general  intelligence  and  many  amiable  quali 
ties  had  made  him  almost  necessary  to  me. 

"  I  must  also  thank  Lieutenant  A.  R.  Yates,  a 
volunteer  from  the  United  States  steamship  '  Au 
gusta,'  who  acted  as  an  aide  both  to  you  and  my 
self,  and  was  to  me  most  useful. 

"  The  two  after-guns  were  entirely  manned  by 
marines,  who,  under  the  direction  of  Captain 
Charles  Heywood,  performed  most  efficient  ser 
vice. 

"Thanks  to  the  unremitting  super  vision  of  Chief- 
Engineer  Williamson,  all  had  been  so  thoroughly 
prepared  in  his  department  that  nothing  wa,s  re 
quired  of  the  engines  during  the  day  which  they 
could  not  perfectly  perform. 

"  The  devoted  attention  of  Fleet  Surgeon  Palmer, 
Surgeon  Lansdale,  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Com 
mons  to  our  wounded,  was  beyond  praise,  and  it 
was  owing  to  their  skill  and  untiring  exertion  that 
the  large  number  of  desperately  wounded  were 
prepared  by  8  o'clock  in  the  evening  for  removal 
to  the  hospital  at  Pensacola,  for  which  place  they 
left  at  daylight  on  the  following  morning  in  the 
'  Metaoomet,  under  a  flag  of  truce. 

"Boatswain  Dixon  was  nearly  knocked  overboard 
by  a  splinter,  but  absented  himself  from  the  deck 
only  long  enough  to  have  his  wounds  dressed,  when 
he  returned  to  his  duties. 

"  Acting-Master's  Mate  Herrick,  while  superin 
tending  the  passage  of  powder  and  shell  on  the 
berth-deck,  was  very  seriously  wounded  by  a  piece 
of  shell  which  entirely  disabled  him  at  the  time,  and 
may,  I  am  afraid,  prove  very  serious.  Up  to  this 
time  his  conduct  and  bearing  are  spoken  of  by  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  division  in  the  highest 
praise. 

"  I  must  also  thank  Lieutenant  Watson,  your  flag- 
lieutenant,  who,  besides  attending  most  faithfully 
to  the  signals,  found  time  to  assist  me  on  several 
occasions  when  it  was  important  to  give  directions, 
in  detail,  about  the  firing. 

"  Of  the  crew  I  can  scarcely  say  too  much.     They 


were  most  of  them  persons  who  had  never  been  in 
action,  and  yet  I  cannot  hear  of  a  case  where  any 
one  attempted  to  leave  his  quarters,  or  showed  any 
thing  but  the  sternest  determination  to  fight  it 
out. 

"  There  might,  perhaps,  have  been  a  little  excuse 
had  such  a  disposition  been  exhibited,  when  it  is 
considered  that  a  great  part  of  four  guns'  crews 
were  at  different  times  swept  away  almost  entirely 
by  as  many  shells. 

"  In  every  case,  however,  the  killed  and  wounded 
were  quietfy  removed  ;  the  injury  at  the  guns  made 
good,  and  in  a  few  moments,  except  from  the  traces 
of  blood,  nothing  could  lead  one  to  suppose  that 
anything  out  of  the  ordinary  routine  had  happened. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  request  that  you  recommend  to 

the  Hon.  Secretary  ot  the  Navy,  for  the  medal  of 

honor,  the  men  whose  names  accompany  this  in  a 

separate  report.     They  well  deserve  the  distinction. 

"  P.  DRAYTOX,  Captain.'" 

Report  of  Lieutenant  Herbert  B.  Tyson, 
commanding  1st  Division,  on  board  U.  S.  S. 
"Hartford": 

"SiB — I  respectfully  submit  the  following  report 
of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  in  the  first 
division  during  the  engagement  of  yesterday  : 

"Acting-Ensign  W.  H.  Whiting,  in  charge  of  the 
forecastle  guns,  deserves  special  mention  for  his 
gallantry  in  serving  and  working  both  100-pounder 
rifles  under  the  most  trying  circumstances. 

"The  three  captains  of  guns,  Henry  Clark,  Peter 
W.  Stanley,  and  W.  H.  Wright,  displayed  an  amount 
of  courage  and  coolness  which  I  have  rarely  seen 
equalled. 

"But  the  two  men  of  whom  I  wish  particularly 
to  speak  are  Charles  Melville  and  Thomas  Fitz- 
patrick. 

"A  rifle-shell  burst  between  the  two  forward 
9-inch  guns,  killing  and  wounding  fifteen  men. 
Charles  Melville  was  among  the  wounded,  and  was 
taken  down  with  the  rest  to  the  surgeon,  but  came 
on  deck  almost  immediately,  and  although  scarcely 
able  to  stand,  refused  to  go  below,  and  worked  at 
the  gun  during  the  remainder  of  the  action. 

"Thomas  Fitzpatrick,  captain  of  No.  1  gun,  was 
struck  several  times  in  the  face  by  splinters,  and 
had  his  gun  disabled  by  a  shell.  In  a  few  minutes 
he  had  his  gun  in  working  order  again,  with  new 
truck,  breeching,  side-tackle,  etc.,  his  wounded  be 
low,  the  dead  clear,  and  was  fighting  his  gun  as  be 
fore,  setting  a  splendid  example  to  the  remainder 
of  his  crew.  His  conduct  came  particularly  under 
my  notice  and  during  the  entire  action  was  distin 
guished  for  coolness  and  bravery. 

"  The  1st  Division  had  13  killed  and  10  wounded.'' 

From  report  of  Acting  -  Volunteer  Lieu 
tenant  George  Mundy,  commanding  2d 
Division  U.  S.  S.  "  Hartford": 

"  SIR — I  respectfully  submit  the  following  report 
of  the  conduct  of  the  3d  Division  during  the  em- 
gagement  of  yesterday,  the  5th,  with  Fort  Mor 
gan  and  the  rebel  gun-boats  and  ram  '  Ten 
nessee  : ' 

"But  a  few  moments  elapsed  after  the  drum 
beat  to  quarters  before  every  man  was  at  his 
station,  the  guns  cast  loose  and  ready  for  action. 
Every  man  seemed  determined  to  do  his  duty, 
which  he  did  faithfully  ;  not  a  man  shrinking. 
Where  all  did  their  duty  so  well,  it  is  hard  to  dis 
criminate  ;  still  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  mention  a 
few  who  were  the  most  conspicuous. 

"  Acting  -  Master's  Mate  W.  H.  Childs  displayed 
great  courage  in  assisting  me  in  the  Division." 

The  following  men  were  also  honorably  men 
tioned  :  Charles  Lake,  Coxwain ;  Joseph  Perry, 
Quartermaster  ;  James  Smith,  Captain  mizzen-top  ; 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


James  Bennet,  seaman  ;  Owen  Holland,  2d  Captain 
mizzen-top  ;  Samuel  MeFall,  Captain  after-guard  ; 
Beonth  Diggings.  O.  S. ;  Augustus  Pauly,  seaman  ; 
Charles  Davidson,  Captain  forecastle;  Henry 
Wright,  O.  S.;  Robert  Emerson,  Lds. ;  David  Mor 
row,  Quarter-gunner. 

From  Report  of  Lieutenant  LaRue  P. 
Adams,  commanding  3d  Division,  U.  S.  S. 
"  Hartford  ": 

44  SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
report  of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  Third  Division  during  the  engagement  of  yes 
terday  with  Fort  Morgan,  the  rebel  gun-boats  and 
the  ram : 

"\yhen  the  drum  beat  to  quarters,  every  man  was 
at  his  station  instantly  and  the  guns  cleared  for  ac 
tion.  We  were  unable  to  bring  our  guns  to  bear 
until  nearly  abreast  of  the  fort.  We  then  fired 
with  10-second  shell  and  40°  elevation. 

"  The  fire  was  kept  up  with  great  rapidity,  using 
5-second  shell  and  decreasing  the  elevation  as  we 
neared  the  fort.  When  abreast  of  it,  two  rounds 
of  shrapnel,  cut  for  2-seconds,  were  fired  by  us. 

"As  we  passed  ahead  of  the  'Brooklyn,'  two 
shells  struck  No.  7  gun,  disabling  the  crew;  but  one 
man  escaped  uninjured  on  the  right  side  of  that 
gun.  Another  shell  followed  in  a  few  seconds, 
wounding  the  captain  of  No.  7,  three  men  at  No.  8, 
and  myself.  Four  men  were  killed  and  nine 
wounded  in  all,  and  by  those  three  shells.  *  *  * 
Acting-Master's  Mate  J.  J.  Tinelli  I  cannot  fail  to 
mention.  He  behaved  Avith  great  gallantry,  en 
couraging  the  men  by  his  example,  and  served  the 
guns  of  the  division  with  great  spirit  against  the 
rebel  gun-boats  and  ram  after  I  was  sent  below." 

Men  honorably  mentioned  :  Forbes,  Ingersoll 
and  Pinto, (run-Captains ;  William  E.  Stanley,  Shell- 
man. 

From  Report  of  Ensign  George  B.  Glid- 
den.  commanding  Master's  Division,  U.  S. 
S.  '•  Hartford": 

"SiR — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  a  re 
port  of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Master's  Division  during  the  engagement  yesterday 
with  Fort  Morgan,  the  rebel  gun-boats  and  the  ram 
'Tennessee.'  I  have  great  pleasure  in  mentioning 
Acting- Master's  Mate  G.  R.  Avery,  who  assisted  in 
conning  the  ship  during  the  entire  action,  for  the 
great  coolness  he  displayed  in  his — a  responsible 
— position." 

Men  honorably  mentioned  :  John  McFarland, 
Captain  forecastle ;  James  Wood,  Quartermaster ; 
Joseph  Gassier,  Seaman;  James  Reddington,  lands 
man  ;  Henry  Williams,  Boatswain's  Mate. 

From  Report  of  Ensign  Win.  Starr  Dana, 
in  charge  of  Powder  Division,  U.  S.  S. 
"Hartford": 

41  SIR  :  I  submit  the  following  report  of  the  con 
duct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  powder  division 
during  the  engagement  of  the  5th  : 

"  Acting  -  Ensign  Bogart  exhibited  much  cool 
ness  and  presence  of  mind.  Acting-Master's  Mate 
R.  P.  Herrick  deserves  especial  mention,  for  until 
seriously  wounded  he  performed  his  duties  with 
great  coolness  and  spirit.  Acting-Ensign  W.  H. 
Higinbotham  also  deserves  special  mention  for  his 
coolness  and  bravery.  He  performed  his  duties  in 
most  exemplary  manner  until  he  received  his  death- 
wound. 

''The  few  men  I  had  on  deck  passing  powder  acted 
with  great  coolness,  and  at  no  time  were  there  any 
signs  of  shrinking  or  fear.  Nelson  (ship's  cook)  John 
Wellington  (landsman),  and  Mellage  (paymaster's 
steward ;  deserve  special  mention. 


"Seven  of  the  forward  part  of  the  division  were 
wounded  and  three  of  them  killed  ;  most  of  the 
wounds  were  mortal. 

"  In  addition  to  the  above,  I  would  call  attention 
to  the  conduct  of  Sailmaker  T.  C.  Herbert,  whose 
conduct  and  cool  courage  is  spoken  of  as  most  re 
markable. 

"  P.  DRAYTON,  Captain" 

From  Report  of  Chief-Engineer  Thomas 
Williamson,  U.  S.  S.  "Hartford"  : 

44  SIR — The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  belong 
ing  to  the  engineer's  department  was  characterized 
by  coolness  and  energy  during  the  engagement  of 
yesterday. 

"Their  duties  were  performed  as  if  nothing  ex 
traordinary  was  going  on. 

"Acting-Third-Assistant  Engineer  Win.  Gr.  Mc- 
Ewan  deserves  special  mention  for  the  prompt  and 
efficient  manner  in  which  he  attended  to  getting  the 
wounded  below,  near  his  station  at  the  berth -deck 
hose,  and  he  continued  to  do  so  until  near  the  close 
of  the  action,  when  he  lost  his  right  arm.  *  *  *  * 
The  loss  in  the  engineer's  department  was  three 
men  killed  and  three  men  wounded." 

Men  honorably  mentioned  :  Thomas  Walkley, 
first-class  fireman  ;  James  R.  Garrison,  coal-heaver  ; 
Thomas  O'Connell . 


CAPTAIN  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  THORNTON  A.  JENKINS. 

Report  of  Captain  Thornton  A.  Jenkins, 
commanding  U.  S.  S.  "Richmond": 

'4  SIR — I  have  the  honor  and  very  great  pleasure 
to  report,  that  in  the  action  this  forenoon  with  the 
batteries  at  Fort  Morgan  and  the  rebel  ram  "Ten 
nessee,"  this  ship  has  received  no  serious  damage, 
and  there  were  no  persons  killed.  Two  men  were 
wounded,  but  not  seriously,  and  the  ship  struck  a 
number  of  times  in  the  hull  and  rigging." 

Reports  of  Captain  J.  B.  Marchand,  com 
manding  U.  S.  S.  "Lacka  wanna": 

44  SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  about 
sunrise  to-day,  this  ship  was  gotten  underway,  and 
the  "  Seminole"  lashed  on  the  port  side.  Our  posi 
tion  being  in  the  centre  of  the  line  of  battle,  we 
crossed  the  bar,  and  following  close  on  the  leading 
vessels,  stood  up  the  channel;  and  as  soon  as  our 
guns  could  be  brought  to  bear,  a  fire  was  opened 
on  Fort  Morgan  with  shells,  and  continued  until 
passing  it,  when  the  "  Seminole  "  was  cast  off. 

"  Soon  after  the  fleet  had  passed  the  Middle 
Ground,  the  rebel  iron-clad '  Tennessee '  commenced 


582 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


approaching  with  the  design  of  attacking  our  ves 
sels  and,  in  obedience  to  your  signal,  I  started  under 
the  heaviest  headway  to  run  her  down  and  suc 
ceeded  in  striking  her  at  right-angles  at  the  after- 
end  of  the  casemate. 

"  The  concussion  was  great,  but  the  effect  on  her 
was  only  a  heavy  list,  while  our  stem  was  cut  and 
crushed  to  the  plank  ends  for  a  distance  of  three 
feet  above  the  water's  edge  to  five  feet  below,  and 
causing  a  considerable  leak  in  the  forward  store 
room  and  peak. 

"  Fortunately  our  yards  and  top-masts  were 
down,  otherwise  they  in  all  probability  would  have 
been  carried  away  by  the  concussion,  which  caused 
the  ship  to  rebound  and  the  stern  of  the  '  Ten 
nessee'  to  recede.  Some  panic  must  have  existeu 
on  board  the  enemy,  as  they  fired  but  two  guns 
through  our  bows. 

"After  striking,  the  two  swung  head  and  stern 
alongside  of  each  other,  and,  as  our  guns  had  been 
pivoted  for  the  opposite  side,  we  succeeded  in  dis 
charging  but  one  9-inch  shell,  that  struck  one  ot 
the  enemy's  port  shutters,  which  was  distant  about 
twelve  feet,  destroying  it,  and  driving  some  of  the 
fragments  into  her  casemate. 

"A  few  of  the  enemy  were  seen  through  their 
ports,  who  were  using  most  opprobrious  lan 
guage. 

"Our  marines  opened  upon  them  with  muskets; 
even  a  spittoon  and  a  holy-stone  were  thrown  at  them 
from  our  deck,  which  drove  them  away.  Upon  separ 
ating  from  the  'Tennessee,' our  helm  was  put  hard 
over  to  make  another  attempt  at  running  the  enemy 
down;  but  our  great  length,  and  the  shallowness  of 
the  water,  caused  us  to  turn  so  slowly,  that  we 
had  not  got  round  until  again  amongst  our  fleet, 
and,  unfortunately,  we  collided  with  the  flag-ship, 
which  was  running  towards  the  'Tennessee,'  al 
though  every  exertion  was  used  to  prevent  it  by 
backing. 

"By  this  accident  two  of  the  quarter-deck  ports 
of  the  •  Hartford  '  were  knocked  into  one,  without 
this  ship  sustaining  any  injury. 

"After  the  collision  with  the  flag -ship,  I  again 
started  to  run  down  the  *  Tennessee,'  but,  whilst 
still  at  a  distance,  she  surrendered  to  our  fleet. 

"Our  loss  throughout  the  day  was  4  killed  and  35 
wounded. 

"Herewith  I  send  the  reports  of  the  surgeon, 
engineer,  and  board  of  officers,  on  the  injuries  and 
expenditures. 

"Under  no  circumstances  could  more  coolness 
and  bravery  have  been  shown  by  the  crew. 

"I  cannot  express  my  deep  feeling  for  the  un 
daunted  courage  and  aid  given  me  by  all  the  offi 
cers. 

"Second- Lieutenant  Hiram  Adams  of  the  Army 
Signal  Corps,  with  two  assistants,  were  on  board, 
and  great  credit  is  due  them  for  their  promptness 
in  transmitting  signals. 

"  Very  respectfully,"  &c. 


"  SIR — In  the  report  made  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
'Lackawanna'  in  passing  the  forts  and  entering 
Mobile  Bay  on  the  5th  instant,  I  inadvertently 
omitted  to  state  that  Commander  Edward  Donald 
son,  commanding  the  '  Seminole,'  which  was  lashed 
alongside  of  this  ship,  rendered  most  efficient  service 
by  his  coolness  and  judgment  in.  piloting  both  ves 
sels  until  passing  Fort  Morgan,  the  regular  pilot 
being  sick. 

"  My  additional  thanks  are  dua  him  and  all  his 
officers  and  men  for  volunteering  to  aid  in  manning 
the  guns  of  the  'Lackawanna,'  and  the  continuous 
fire  which  they  kept  up  whilst  their  guns  could  bear 
upon  the  enemy. 

"Very  respectfully/'  &c., 

"J.  B.  M/VRCHAXD,  Captain."1 


From  Reports  of  Captain  James  Alden, 

commanding  U.  S.  S.  "Brooklyn":. 

********** 

"The  fleet  here  came  to  near  the  former  an 
chorage. 

"The  surgeon's  list  of  killed  and  wounded,  to 
gether  with  the  forward  officer's  report  of  injuries 
done  to  the  ship  by  the  enemy's  shot,  and  the  num 
ber  of  projectiles  expended,  etc.,  are  herewith  en 
closed. 

"Lieutenant-Commander  Lull,  the  executive  offi 
cer,  has,  at  my  request,  made  a  statement  of  some 
very  interesting  incidents,  giving  a  list  of  men  who 
most  distinguished  themselves  during  the  action; 
which  I  take  great  pleasure  in  forwarding,  with  a 
hearty  approval  of  it  and  the  suggestions  it  con 
tains. 

"  It  will  be  seen  that  we  have  54  casualties  on 
board,  11  killed  and  43  wounded;  many  of  the  latter, 
I  am  happy  to  say,  are  slight. 

"The  list  will  not  appear  large  when  it  is  consid 
ered  that  we  were  nearly  two  hours  under  fire. 
Among  the  others  we  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  an 
office^  Acting-Master's  Mate  William  H.  Cook,  who 
was  killed  while  bravely  doing  his  duty,  having  al 
ready  been  wounded. 

"  By  the  carpenter's  report  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  hull  has  received  extensive  and  serious  injuries, 
having  being  struck  23  times.  Our  mainmast  is 
ruined,  having  been  shot  through  and  through  the 
centre,  three  times  between  the  catharpins  and  the 
deck,  the  shot-holes  being  about  equidistant  from 
each  other.  Shot  struck  the  other  spars  7  times, 
injuring  some  badly.  The  boatswain's  report  shows 
the  rigging  to  have  been  struck  and  cut  in  29  planes, 
making  an  aggregate  of  some  59  hits  in  the  hull, 
rigging  and  spars. 

"The number  of  projectiles  expended  was  l»d. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  must  beg  leave  to  state  that,  as 
far  as  I  can  learn,  every  one  did  his  duty  nobly  and 
well;  and  while  the  officers^  generally,  would  seem 
to  deserve  some  especial  mention,  I  must,  from  the 
nature  of  circumstances,  confine  my  notice  to  those 
on  whom  devolved  the  more  important  duty  of  con 
trolling  and  fighting  the  ship. 

"To  my  executive  officer,  Lieutenant-Commander 

E.  P.  Lull,  my  thanks  are  especially  due,  not  only 
for  his  cool,  steady  bearing  in  the  fight,  but  also 
for  the  efficient  training  of  the  crew,  which  have 
been  together  now  less  than  three  months,  but  dis 
played  in  the  action  the  steadiness  of  veterans, 
fighting  their  guns  almost  as  coolly  as  if  they  were 
at  an  ordinary   exercise.     Lieutenant  Thomas  L. 
Swann,  the  ordnance  officer,  had  everything  ready, 
and  the  working  of  his  department  was  admirable  ; 
he  was  principally  occupied  during  the  action  with 
the  bowchasers.     The  other  division  officers— Cap 
tain  Houston,  of  the  marines,  Lieutenant  Charles 

F.  Blake,  Ensigns  Cassell  and  Sigsbee,  with  their 
assistants,    Master's-Mates    Duncan    and   Stevens, 
fought  their  guns  nobly  and  well. 

"The  powder  division,  under  Acting-Ensign  Utter, 
could  not  have  been  conducted  better. 

"Chief-Engineer  Kellogg's  department  worked 
beautifully. 

"Doctor  Maulsby  was  fully  prepared  for  the 
wounded,  and  extended  to  those  unfortunates  all 
the  solicitude  and  care  that  a  generous  nature  could 
dictate. 

"  Ensign  Pendleton,  my  aide  and  signal  officer,  af 
forded  me  great  assistance,  being  always  prompt 
and  active  in  his  duties. 

"To  our  pilot,  Mr.  Christopher  Lawrence,  great 
credit  is  due  for  the  handsome  manner  he  piloted 
the  ship. 

"I  ought  to  mention,  before  closing  this  report, 
that  I  was  particularly  pleased  with  the  cheerful 
bearing  and  aid  afforded  me  by  Capt.  E.  A.  Denicke, 
of  the  Army  Signal  Corps,  in  watching  and  point- 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


583 


ing  out  the  effect  of  our  shot  in  the  batteries  and 
upon  the  rebel  ram  and  gun-boats. 

"In  accordance  with  your  directions,  I  also  send 
a  separate  report  in  regard  to  those  men  who  were 
most  conspicuous  for  good  conduct  and  gallantry  in 
the  action.  It  is  taken  mostly  from  the  report  of 
Lieutenant-Commander  Lull,  the  executive  officer. 

"Congratulating  you  upon  the  handsome  result 
of  the  day,  I  remain,  etc., 

"JAMES  ALDKX." 


James   E.    Sterling,  Coalheaver ;    Richard   Dennis 

Boatswain's  Mate  ;  Samuel  W.  Davis,  —  , 

Samuel  Todd,  Quartermaster." 


"  SIR — In  accordance  with  your  instructions,  I 
herewith  append  a  list  of  the  crew  who  most  dis 
tinguished  themselves  for  gallantry  and  good  con 
duct  during  the  action  with  Fort  Morgan  and  the 
rebel  ram  and  gun-boats.  Feeling  satisfied  that 


Extract  from  report  of  Commander  J.  H. 
Strong,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  "  Mononga- 

hela  ": 

******* 

"After  passing  the  forts,  I  saw  the  rebel  ram 
'  Tennessee  '  head  in  for  the  line.  I  then  sheered 
out  of  the  line  to  run  into  her,  at  the  same  time 
ordering  full  speed.  I  struck  her  fair,  and  swing 
ing  round  poured  in  a  broadside  of  solid  11-inch 
shot,  which  apparently  had  but  little,  if  any,  effect 
upon  her.  Soon  after,  signal  was  made  to  my  ship 


CAPTAIN  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  JAMES  AI.DEN,  U.  S.  N 


they  have  earned  that  justly-prized  distinction,  the 
"  medal  of  honor,"  I  trust  the  Department  will  con 
fer  it  upon  them: 

"  J.  Henry  Dennig  and  Michael  Hudson,  Ser 
geants  of  Marines;  Win.  M.  Smith  and  Miles  M. 
<  >viatt,  Corporals  of  Marines;  Barnett  Kenna,  Quar 
termaster;  Win.  Halsted,  Coxswain;  Joseph  Brown, 
Quartermaster;  Joseph  Irlane,  Seaman;  Edward 
Price,  Coxswain;  Alexander  Mack,  Captain-of-Top; 
William  Nichols,  Quartermaster;  Nicholas  Irwin, 
Seaman;  John  Cooper,  Coxswain  ;  John  Brown, 
Captain  -  of  -  Forecastle  ;  John  Irwin,  Coxswain; 
William  Blag-den,  Ship's  Cook;  William  Madden, 
Coalheaver ;  James  Machon,  boy ;  William  H. 
Brown,  Lds.  ;  James  Mifflin,  Engineer's  Cook ; 


to  again  run  into  her.  I  did  so,  and  was  about  to 
try  it  the  third  time  when  she  surrendered  to  the 
fleet, 

"During  the  action  my  officers  and  men,  without 
exception,  behaved  in  the  most  gallant  manner. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  make  any  distinction 
where  all  did  everything  that  could  have  been  de 
sired. 

"  I  would  here  mention  that  a  volunteer  crew  from 
the  U.  S.  steamer  '  Kennebec,'  in  charge  of  Acting- 
Ensign  Ellis,  came  on  board,  and  manned  one  of  my 
32-pounder  broadside  guns  during  the  engagement 
with  Fort  Morgan.  Their  conduct  during  the  ac 
tion  was  gallant,  and  met  with  my  entire  approba 
tion. 


584 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


"I  regret  to  say  that  my  first -lieutenant,  Mr. 
Prentiss,  lost  a  leg  in  the  action,  and  that  fears  are 
entertained  lor  his  life.''  *  *  * 


Reports  of  Commander  William  E.  LeRoy, 
commanding  U.  S.  S.  "Ossipee": 

"ADMIRAL, — I  have  the  honor  to  report,  that  in 
passing  the  forts,  and  in  the  attack  upon  the  iron 
clad  'Tennessee,'  this  ship  was  struck  four  times  in 
the  hull  and  several  times  in  the  rigging,  fortunately 
without  disabling  the  ship.  Our  stem  is  somewhat 
injured  by  running  against  the  'Tennessee.'  Our 
casualties  I  am  pleased  to  report  as  small.  When 
about  running  down  the  'Tennessee,'  she  displayed 
a  white  flag,  but  not  in  time  to  prevent  my  collid'ing 
with  her,  having  been  so  disabled  by  the  fire  of  the 
fleet  and  unable  longer  to  continue  the  con  test,  and 
I  was  fortunate  in  receiving  her  surrender  from 
Commander  Johnston,  her  commander— Admiral 
Buchanan  being  wounded— a  prize  to  the  fleet  un 
der  your  command.'' 


men  conducted  themselves  well ;  and  to  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  W.  T.  Shankland,  First-As 
sistant-Engineer  John  Purely,  who  volunteered  for 
this  vessel,  and  the  pilot,  Wm.  H.  Wroten,  I  am  in 
debted  for  valuable  assistance." 


COMMANDER  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  J.  W.  A    NICHOLSON. 


ADMIRAL— In  my  report  of  the  part  this  shin 
took  in  the  passage  of  Fort  Morgan  yesterday,  I 
neglected  to  allude  to  the  efficient  manner  in 
which  Lieutenant-Commander  Geo.  Brown,  with  the 
.  Itasca  lashed  alongside  of  me,  performed  his  dutv 
of  piloting  both  vessels,  etc.1' 

From  report  of  Commander  T.  H.  Stevens 
commanding  U.  S.  Monitor  "  Winnebas-o"  • 

*         *         *          *         *& 

"  At  half-past  8  passed  Fort  Morgan  and  steamed 
slowly  up  the  bay.  At  10  minutes  past  9  the  after- 
turret  broke  down.  At  15  minutes  past  9,  received 
order  from  flag- ship  to  attack  the  rebel  ram  'Ten 
nessee,  which  surrendered  at  45  minutes  past  9 
Anchored  with  the  fleet  at  45  minutes  past  10  in 
the  lower  fleet  anchorage  of  Mobile  Bay 

Enclosed  please  receive  engineer's  report  of  the 
condition  of  the  turrets,  and  the  gunnels  account 
of  ammunition  expended. 

~f"+Pev,4Tiune.bag0'  was  struck   19  ^raes,  three 

after-turret  g  Penetrated  the  deck  near  the 

"  I  have  to  report  no  casualties.     The  officers  and 


Reports  of  Commander  J.  W.  A.  Nichol 
son,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  "Manhattan": 

"SiR— I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following 
report  of  the  part  taken  by  this  ship  in  the  action 
of  the  5th  instant  with  Fort  Morgan  and  the  rebel 
iron-clad  'Tennessee': 

"At  5  minutes  past  7  A.  M.  I  opened  on  the  fort, 
but,  owing  to  the  dense  smoke  from  the  guns,  our 
firing  was  necessarily  very  slow. 

"After  passing  Fort  Morgan,  I  devoted  my  atten 
tion  entirely  to  the  rebel  iron-clad,  firing  my  guns 
slowly  and  with  great  precision. 

"At  45  minutes  past  9  I  obtained  a  raking 
position  under  his  stern,  and  fired  a  solid  shot, 
which  struck  him  on  the  port-quarter,  carrying 
away  his  steering  gear. 

"  At  57  minutes  past  9,  when  on  the  point  of  firing- 
from  the  same  position,  he  hauled  down  his  colors 
and  surrendered. 

"I  fired  at  the  'Tennessee'  six  times,  namely,  one 
shell,  two  solid  and  three  cored  shot.  I  am  satis 
fied  that  most,  if  not  all,  the  sprious  damage  she 
has  sustained  was  caused  by  the  15-inch  shot  of  this 
vessel. 

"This  ship  was  struck  by  the  enemy's  shot  nine 
times,  causing  no  material  damage  ;  but  of  this  I 
will  make  a  separate  report. 

"No  person  was  injured  onboard.  Officers  and 
men  all  did  their  duty  ;  but  I  especially  recommend 
Acting-Ensign  John  B.  Trptt,  who  was  stationed  at 
the  wheel  steering  the  ship  himself,  for  the  admi 
rable  manner  in  which  he  performed  his  duty.  Also 
Acting-Master  Robert  B.  Ely,  for  the  manner  in 
which  he  worked  his  guns.  Both  of  these  gentle 
men,  I  think,  are  worthy  of  being  advanced  a  grade 
in  the  service. 

"  One  of  the  15-inch  carriages  is  temporarily  dis 
abled  by  the  breaking  of  some  bolts." 

"  SIR — Of  the  six  15-inch  projectiles  fired  from  this 
vessel  at  the  rebel  iron-clad  'Tennessee,'  I  claim 
four  as  having  struck,  doing  most  of  the  real  in 
juries  that  she  has  sustained,  namely,  first,  one 
shot  on  port-beam,  going  entirely  through  the  ar 
mor  and  crushing  the  wood  backing,  making  a  hole 
completely  through  the  vessel ;  second,  one  shot 
near  the  first,  but  higher  up,  and  further  forward, 
making  a  deep  indentation,  and  then  glancing  over 
the  ship ;  third,  a  shell  striking  her  stern  port- 
shutter,  disabling  it,  so  that  the  gun  could  not 
be  used  ;  fourth,  a  shot  striking  her  stern,  ripping 
up  the  deck-plating,  carrying  away  her  steering 
gear,  and  then  striking  her  armor  at  the  angle  of 
the  port  quarter,  crushing  it,  and  starting  the  wood 
backing  through  to  the  inside." 

From  report  of  Lieutenant-Commander  C. 
H.  Wells,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  "Galena  ": 

''  SIR — I  herewith  report  to  you  the  part  which 
this  steamer  took  in  passing  Forts  Morgan  and 
Gaines  yesterday  : 

******* 

"  I  take  pleasure  in  bringing  to  your  notice  the 
executive  officer  of  this  vessel,  Acting  -  Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  C.  \V.  Wilson,  who  faithfully  carried 
put  my  orders  in  passing  Fort  Morgan,  as  well  as 
in  the  exhibition  of  coolness  and  bravery. 

"  Acting  -  Master  D.  C.  Kells,  Acting  -  Ensigns 
Pease  and  Miner,  and  Acting-Master's  Mates  Tuttle 
and  Delano,  I  would  also  recommend  to  your  fa 
vorable  notice  for  their  good  conduct  under  the  fire 
of  the  enemy. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


585 


Mr.  Buehler,  First-Assistant  Engineer  and  Acting- 
Chief,  managed  the  engineer's  department  in  a 
highly  creditable  manner,  in  which  he  was  sus 
tained  by  the  Assistant- Engineers  Greenleaf,  Scott, 
Burns  and  Weecker. 

Acting-Assistant  Paymaster  Kitchen,  and  Lesley 
G.  Morrow,  Captain's  Clerk,  remained  on  deck  dur 
ing  the  action,  and  contributed  their  parts  to  my 
entire  satisfaction.  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon 
George  P.  Wright  not  only  attended  to  our  three 
cases  of  wounded  <one  mortally.1,  but  gave  his  pro 
fessional  services  to  the  '  Oneida,'  to  several  of  their 
wounded  who  came  on  board  this  steamer. 

"The  crew  manifested  the  utmost  courage 
throughout  the  affair,  which  will  always  reflect 
creditably  upon  you  and  the  Navy  of  the  United 
States." 


From  report  of  Lieutenant -Commander 
James  E.  Jouett,  commanding  U.  S.  S. 

''Metacomet": 

******* 

"At40minutes  past  7  the  '  Brooklyn '  backed  down 
the  line,  when  the  '  Hartford'  shot  ahead,  leading 
the  fleet  in  past  the  forts.  At  this  time  a  shell  from 
the  rebel  gun-boat  'Selma'  passed  through  this 
vessel  into  the  forward  storeroom,  killing  one  man 
and  wounding  another,  and  setting  the  ship  on  fire. 
By  prompt  action  on  the  part  of  Acting  -  Ensign 
G.  E.  ^ying,  in  charge  of  powder  division,  we  suc 
ceeded  in  extinguishing  it. 

''At  5  minutes  past  8  cast  off  from  the  'Hart 
ford  '  and  steamed  for  the  rebel  gun-boats,  who 
were  annoying  the  fleet  by  a  raking  fire.  They 
steamed  up  the  bay,  engaging  us  with  their  stern 
guns,  of  which  they  had  three  each.  At  half-past 
8  the  'Gaines'  retreated  under  cover  of  the  fort 
in  a  crippled  condition.  At  9  the  '  Morgan '  hauled 
off  to  starboard,  and  at  10  minutes  past  9  the 
'  Selma '  struck  her  flag  to  this  ship. 

"I  immediately  dispatched  a  boat,  in  charge  of 
Acting-Master  N.  M.  Dyer,  to  take  charge  of  the 
prize,  and  to  send  her  Captain  and  First-Lieutenant 
on  board.  He  hoisted  the  American  flag,  and  re 
ported  Captain  Murphy  wounded  and  the  First- 
Lieutenant  killed. 

"  He  transferred  fifty  of  her  crew  to  this  vessel,  and 
at  50  minutes  past  9,"Captain  P.  U.  Murphy  came 
on  board  and  surrendered  his  sword  and  vessel. 

"  She  had  five  killed  and  ten  wounded,  including 
the  Captain,  two  of  whom  have  since  died.  The  dead 
and  wounded  were  attended  to.  The  remainder 
of  her  crew  and  officers  were  sent  to  the  '  Port 
Royal.'  Put  engineers  and  firemen  on  board  and 
steamed  to  the  fleet,  reporting  the  capture  of  the 
Confederate  steamer  '  Selma,'  which  vessel  mounted 
two  9  inch  Dahlgren  smooth-bore,  one  Go-inch  rifle 
arid  one  Si-inch  smooth-bore,  all  on  pivot,  with  a 
crew,  all  told,  of  94  men. 

"I  am  much  indebted  to  the  executive  officer, 
H.  J.  Sleeper,  for  his  cool,  prompt,  and  officer-like 
conduct;  he  is  a  valuable  officer.  For  the  efficient 
handling  of  the  vessel,  I  am  much  indebted  to  Act 
ing-Master  N.  M.  Dyer,  who  had  permission  to  go 
North  on  leave,  but  volunteered  to  remain  to  assist 
in  the  attack  upon  the  forts.  Acting-Ensign  John 
White  was  cool  and  deliberate,  working  his  rifle- 
gim  with  good  effect.  Acting- Master's  Mates  Good 
win  and  Miller  performed  theirduties  with  prompt 
ness  and  zeal,  making  good  shots  with  their  9  inch 
guns.  Acting-Third-Assistant  Engineer  King,  who 
was  much  exposed  at  the  engine-ljell,  never  failed 
to  pull  the  proper  bell;  and  to  the  efficient  arrange 
ment  of  the  engineer  department  and  the  prompt 
answer  to  the  bells,  1  am  indebted  to  First-Assist 
ant  Engineer  Atkins.  The  gunner,  Mr.  Lamen,  at 
tended  in  both  shell -rooms  and  magazines,  forward 
and  aft,  and  kept  the  guns  more  than  supplied. 

"  I  cannot  close  this  long  report  without  calling 


your  attention  to  Assistant-Surgeon  Payne,  of  this 
vessel.  By  his  report  we  had  one  killed  and  two 
wounded.  That  evening  there  were  placed  on 
board  this  vessel  some  sixty  badly  wounded  officers 
and  men,  to  be  conveyed  to  Pensacola.  He  was 
untiring  in  his  attention,  watching  and  tending 
them  at  all  times.  H  e  deserves  especial  mention 
for  his  great  and  successful  exertions. 

"This  ship  was  struck  eleven  times,  doing  but 
little  damage  ;  shots  mostly  above  the  hull. 

"I  herewith  submit  the  reports  of  the  executive 
officer  and  surgeon." 


Report  of  Lieutenant-Commander  Ban 
croft  Gherardi,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  "  Port 
Royal": 

"SiR  —  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  on 
the  morning  of  the  5th  instant  I  took  my  position 
on  the  port  side  of  the  U.  S.  steamer  'Richmond,' 
as  her  consort.  I  was  able  to  open  fire  but  twice  — 
once  as  the  rebel  iron-clad  '  Tennessee  '  passed  down 
the  line  ;  the  second  time  as  we  kept  away  on  a 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  (NOW  COMMODORE)  BANCROFT 
GIIERARDI. 

northwest  course,  I  was  able  to  bring  the  10-inch 
pivot -gun  to  bear  on  Fort  Morgan,  arid  the  rifled 
guns  to  bear  on  Fort  Gaines." 


Report  of  Lieutenant-Commander  C.  H. 
Greene,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  ''Octorara*'  : 

"SiB  —  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  to  you  the 
various  reports  of  damages  and  casualties  on  board. 

"  I  bear  cheerful  testimony  to  the  good  conduct 
of  officers  and  men  ;  part  of  the  latter  volunteered 
to  work  one  of  the  '  Brooklyn's'  guns,  and  although  I 
have  not  yet  heard  of  them  from  Captain  Alden,  I 
have  every  reason  to  believe  they  bore  their  part 
well. 

"To  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  Urann,  execu 
tive  officer,  I  am  much  indebted  for  his  zeal  and 
efforts  in  having  the  ship  ready  to  go  under  fire. 

"Acting-Master  Billings,  a  volunteer  from  the 
'Vincennes,'  kept  his  post  faithfully,  and  though 
quite  severely  hurt,  still  remained. 


58G 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


"To  Acting- Master  Young,  Acting-Ensigns  Dodge 
and  McEntee,  my  thanks  are  due  for  their  steadi 
ness  and  promptness  at  their  quarters. 

"  The  engineer  department,  under  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Shipman,  Acting-Chief-Engineer,  was  well  at 
tended  to,  and  his  subordinates'  conduct  met  my 
approbation. 

"To  Assistant-Surgeon  Dodge  and  Paymaster 
Pynchon,  and,  in  fact,  all,  I  tender  my  hearty 
thanks." 


From  Report  of  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
William  P.  McCann,  commanding  U.  S.  S. 
*'  Kennebec": 

********* 

"The  officers  and  crew  of  the  'Kennebec'  per 
formed  their  duties  gallantly  under  the  enemy's  fire. 

"When  lashed  alongside  the  '  Monongahela '  I 
sent  Acting-Ensign  J.  D.  Ellis,  in  charge  of  a  gun's 
crew,  to  work  a  gun  there,  under  the  observation 
of  Captain  Strong,  where  he  acted  nobly. 

"  I  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the  good 
conduct  of  Acting-Ensign  H.  E.  Tinkham,  who, 
when  seriously  wounded  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell 
from  the  rebel  ram  '  Tennessee, '  and  when  the  vessel 
was  supposed  to  be  on  fire,  refused  to  leave  his  sta 
tion.  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  bring  to  your  fav 
orable  notice  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  Edward 
Baker,  the  executive  officer,  Acting-Ensign  J.  J. 
Butler  and  Second- Assistant  Engineer  L.  W.  Rob 
inson. 

"Acting- Assistant  Surgeon  George  W.  Hatch 
rendered  the  most  prompt  assistance  to  the 
wounded.  The  crew  fully  sustained  the  proud 
reputation  of  the  American  sailor  for  courage  and 
bravery/' 

From  Report  of  Lieutenant-Commander 
George  Brown,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  ult- 

asca  " : 

****** 

"After  passing  Fort  Morgan,  least  off  from  the 
'  Ossipee,'  and  started  under  sail  and  a  full  head  of 
steam  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  gun-boats  '  Morgan ' 
and  '  Sehna,1  that  were  being  engaged  by  the  '  Meta- 
comet ' ;  but  before  I  came  within  range  the 
'  Morgan '  had  succeeded  in  getting  in  such  a  posi 
tion  that  I  could  not  cut  off  her  retreat  toward  Fort 
Morgan,  and  the  '  Selma '  had' struck  her  flag  to  the 
'  Metacomet.' 

"I  take  pleasure  in  testifying  to  the  spirited 
willingness  and  desire  manifested  by  all  under  my 
command  to  take  a  more  active  part  in  the  engage 
ment;  but  the  duty  assigned  us  prevented  us  from 
using  our  guns  in  passing  Fort  Morgan  except  for 
the  purpose  of  increasing  the -density  of  smoke. 

"I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  report  that  no  casual 
ties  occurred. 

"  The  vessel  was  struck  once  in  the  mainmast." 


Report  of  Lieutenant  -  Commander  G.  H. 
Perkins,  commanding  U.  S.  Monitor  "  Chick- 
asaw  "  : 

"  SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
report : 

"  At  6  A.  M.,  on  Friday,  August  5th,  in  obedience 
to  orders,  I  got  underway,  and  took  my  position 
in  the  rear  of  the  '  Winnebago,1  on  the  right  of  the 
line.  I  passed  the  forts  with  the  rest  of  the  fleet, 
firing  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Afterwards,  in  obedi 
ence  to  orders,  I  attacked  the  rebel  ram  '  Tennes 
see,'  following  her  up  closely,  shooting  away  her 
smoke-stack,and  firing  solid  shot  at  her  till  her  flag 
was  hauled  down  and  a  white  flag  raised.  Her 
steering  gear  being  shot  away,  I  took  her  in  tow 
and  brought  her  to  anchor  near  the  '  Hartford.'  In 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  I  got  underway,  and 


brought  a  large  barge,  the  '  Ingomar.'  out  from  un 
der  the  guns  of  Fort  Powell,  exchanging  several 
shot  and  being  struck  three  times. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  Gth,  I  proceeded  again 
to  Fort  Powell,  which  I  found  deserted  and  blown 
up.  I  towed  out  another  barge.  In  the  afternoon 
I  advanced  and  shelled  Fort  Gaines. 

"Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  all  the 
officers  and  men  for  their  coolness  and  efficiency 
under  fire,  and  their  endurance  while  at  quarters. 
I  would  mention  in  particular  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  AVilliani  Hamilton,  the  executive  officer, 
who,  when  on  his  way  home,  condemned  by  medi 
cal  survey,  volunteered  for  this  vessel.  I  owe  much 
to  him,  his  energy,  in  fitting  out  the  vessel,  and  for 
his  gallantry  and  coolness  during  the  fight.  Acting- 
Master  E.  D.  Percy,  who  also  volunteered  for  the 
vessel,  and  commanded  the  guns  in  the  after-turret, 
and  Gunner  J.  A.  McDonald,  who  commanded  the 
forward-turret,  deserve  especial  mention  for  the 
skill  and  rapidity  with  which  they  fought  their 
batteries.  Chief  -  Boatswain's  Mate  Andrew  Jones 
and  Master-at-Arms  James  Seanor,  who,  although 
their  time  was  out,  volunteered  for  the  fight  from 
the  '  Vincennes,'  are  entitled  to  honorable  mention. 

"  During  the  entire  action  the  vessel  was  struck  a 
number  of  times,  the  smoke-stack  was  shot  almost 
entirely  away,  and  one  shot  penetrated  the  deck  on 
the  starboard  bow.  No  serious  injury  was  suffered, 
and  there  were  no  casualties  among  officers  or  men.'' 


From  Report  of  Lieutenant  Charles  L. 
Huntington,  executive  officer  of  the  U.  S.  S. 
"Oneida": 

******* 

"The  ram,  passing  astern,  delivered  two  raking 
fires  inte  us,  one  of  which  disabled  the  12-pdr.  how 
itzer  on  the  poop,  severely  wounding  Commander 
Mullany;  the  effect  of  the  other  one  1  am  unable  to 
state,  but  think  the  only  damage  from  it  was  to  our 
rigging. 

"  The  command  of  the  ship  now  devolved  upon 
me,  and  the  management  of  the  two  vessels  upon 
Lieutenant-Commander  Wells,  of  the  '  Galena.' 

"  The  battery  was  gallantly  served  while  passing 
the  forts,  but  the  enemy  raked  us  several  times 
after  our  guns  could  not  be  brought  to  bear. 

"In  passing  the  fort  we  received  a  shell  forward  on 
the  berth  deck,  which  exploded,  knocking  out  a 
dead-light  on  the  port  side,  [and]  starting  a  fire  on 
the  top  of  the  magazine.  Owing  to  the  presence  of 
mind  of  Acting-Ensign  Hall,  commanding  the  pow 
der  division,  and  Gunner  William  Parker,  the  fire 
was  promptly  extinguished,  and  the  supply  of  pow 
der  was  as  rapid  as  ever  before. 

"At  35  minutes  past  8  signal  was  made  that 
the  captain  was  wounded,  and  also  that  our 
boiler  was  disabled;  not  being  answered  from  the 
flag  ship,  hauled  down,  signals.  About  a  quarter 
past  9  repeated  signals  and  they  were  not  answered, 
but  signal  was  made  from  the  flag-ship  to  run  down 
at  full  speed  the  enemy's  principal  vessel.  Answered 
the  signal,  but  I  am  sure  the  Admiral  understands 
we  could  not  obey  it;  we  had  no  speed, 

"At  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  'Itasca,'  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Brown,  took  us  in  tow  and  carried  us 
to  an  anchorage.  At  11,  anchored  in  '6l+  fathoms  of 
water,  with  thirty  fathoms  of  chain  ready  for  slip 
ping. 

The  officers  and  crew  of  the  '  Oneida  '  are  proud 
to  have  served  in  your  fleet,  and  they  are  proud  of 
their  gallant  commander,  J.  R.  M.  Mullany,  who 
gave  us  all  such  a  noble  example  of  unflinching 
courage  and  heroism. 

"His  coolness  in  action  could  not  possibly  have 
been  surpassed.  Having  scarcely  become  ac 
quainted  with  Commander  Mullany,  he  having  only 
been  on  board  two  days,  the  highest  compliment 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


587 


that  can  be  paid  him  is  the  confidence  and  spirit 
with  which  the  crew  went  into  action. 

"Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  Lieu 
tenant  C.  8.  Cotton,  Lieutenant  E.  N.  Kellogg  and 
Acting-Ensign  John  Sears,  commanding  gun  divis 
ions,  for  the  admirable  examples  of  courage  they 
afforded  their  men,  and  for  their  skill  in  directing 
the  fire  of  the  guns. 

"  The  conduct  of  Acting-Ensign  Charles  V.  Grid- 
ley  (regular)  is  beyond  all  praise.  He  had  charge 
of  the  Master's  division,  and  assisted  in  conning 
the  ship  from  the  top  gallant  forecastle.  % 

"Acting-Ensign  Hall's  conduct  has  been  pre 
viously  mentioned.  His  duties  were  performed  in 
the  most  satisfactory  manner,  and,  under  Almighty 
God,  we  probably  owe  to  his  presence  of  mind  at 
the  time  of  the  fire  on  the  berth-deck  the  safety  of 
the  ship. 

"  Acting- Master's  Mates  Edward  Bird,  Daniel 
Clark,  and  John  Devereaux  behaved  courageously. 


COMMANDER  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  J.  R.  MADISON 
MULLANY. 

Gunner  Win.  Parker  and  Boatswain  Hallowell 
Dickinson  merit  mention  for  their  good  conduct. 

"I  leave  it  to  Chief-Engineer  W.  H.  Hunt  to 
speak  of  the  officers  and  men  under  his  immediate 
supervision,  but  must  speak  of  him  personally  in 
this  report.  He  was  cool  and  collected  during  the 
whole  affair,  and  his  gallantry  was  particularly  ap 
parent  at  the  time  of  the  accident  to  our  starboard 
boiler.  Mr.  Hunt  was  scalded  severely  in  both 
arms. 

'•  Surgeon  John  Y.  Taylor  had  a  severe  task  im 
posed  upon  him,  but  his  whole  duty  by  the  wounded 
was  done  quietly  and  skillfully.  Medical  assistance 
was  offered  from  the  '  Galena";  it  was  accepted,  and 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon  Geo.  P.  Wright  came  on 
board,  for  which  we  owe  him  our  thanks.  At  the 
time  that  our  boiler  was  exploded,  five  of  our 
wounded  men  went  on  board  the  'Galena';  four 
subsequently  returned  —  the  other  was  suffering 
much  pain,  and  remained  on  board  until  transferred 
to  the  'Metacomet.' 

"  The  safety  of  the  ship  after  the  explosion  de 
pended  upon  the  'Galena.'  That  we  are  here, 
quietly  at  anchor,  attests  how  nobly  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Clark  H.  Wells  stood  by  us. 


"  Assistant  -  Paymaster  Geo.  R.  Martin  assisted 
the  surgeon  materially.  He  also  superintended 
putting  our  a  fire  that  broke  out  in  the  cabin. 

"Paymaster's  Clerk  W.  P.  Treadwell  rendered 
great  service  in  passing  orders  to  the  bell,  until  he 
was  required  below  to  assist  in  caring  for  the 
wounded.  He  was  quite  badly  scalded  himself. 
Mr.  Geo.  A.  Ebbetts,  Captain's  Clerk,  behaved 
splendidly.  He  was  knocked  down  at  the  same  time 
that  Captain  Mullany  was  wounded.  Whenever  he 
conkl  be  spared  from  below,  after  this  accident,  he 
cheerfully  rendered  assistance  in  carrying  orders. 

"The  pilot,  Mr.  John  V.  Grivet,  s'erved  part  of 
the  time  on  board  the  'Galena,'  and  part  of  the  time 
on  this  ship.  That  part  of  his  conduct  which  came 
under  my  observation  merits  praise. 

"  For  the  crew,  they  stood  to  their  guns  most 
nobly.  Many  deserve  mention,  but  I  shall  only 
name  those  that  came  under  my  own  observation." 


The  following  men  are  then  honorably 
mentioned  by  Lieutenant  Huntington: 

"James  Sheridan  and  John  E.  Jones,  Quarter 
masters  ;  William  Gardner,  Seaman;  John  Preston, 
Landsman;  William  Newland,  Ordinary  Seaman  ; 
David  Nailor,  Landsman;  Charles  Wooram,  Ordi 
nary  Seaman;  Thomas  Kendrick,  Coxswain. 

"  The  marines  conducted  themselves  with  the 
usual  distinguished  gallantry  of  their  corps.  Ser 
geant  James  S.  Roantree  is  particularly  deserving 
of  notice." 


Additional  Reports  of  Captain  T.  A.  Jen 
kins,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  "Richmond": 

"SiR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  obedi 
ence  to  your  general  order  and  plan  of  battle  for 
attacking  Fort  Morgan  and  the  rebel  fleet,  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Bancroft  Gherardi,  command 
ing  the  United  States  Steamer  "  Port  Royal,"  re 
ported  himself  with  his  vessel  to  me  ready  for  action 
u  little  before  daylight  this  morning. 

"The  'Port  Royal '  was  lashed  on  the  port  side 
of  this  vessel,  with  her  stern  pivot-gun  sufficiently 
far  aft  of  the  quarter  of  this  ship  to  enable  it  to  be 
used  against  the  enemy  as  effectively  as  one  of  my 
own  broadside  guns. 

"To  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Gherardi  I  am 
greatly  indebted  for  his  cool  and  courageous  con 
duct,  from  the  moment  the  attack  commenced  to 
the  time  that  his  vessel  was  cast  off  by  my  order  to 
go  in  chase  of  the  enemy's  three  wooden  gun-boats, 
the  '  Morgan,'  '  Gaines  '  and  '  Selma.' 

"My  orders  on  board  of  this  ship  to  the  helms 
man,  and  to  the  officer  stationed  at  the  engine-bell, 
were  repeated  by  him  on  board  of  his  own  vessel, 
and  the  soundings  passed  from  his  own  vessel  to 
this  with  a  coolness  and  clearness  of  voice  that 
could  not  but  excite  my  admiration. 

"  The  after  pivot-gun  of  the  '  Port  Royal '  (the 
only  one  that  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
enemy's  batteries  from  that  vessel)  was  worked 
most  effectively." 

"SiR  —  In  my  report  of  the  5th  instant  I  ex 
pressed  my  great  admiration  of  and  thanks  for  the 
cool  and  courageous  conduct  of  every  officer  and  of 
every  man  serving  on  board  of  this  ship  in  the  terri 
ble  conflict  with  the  rebel  batteries  at  Fort  Morgan, 
the  iron-clad  'Tennessee,1  and  gun-boats  'Selma,' 
'  Morgan  '  and  '  Gaines,'  on  the  morning  of  that 
day. 

"I  consider  it,  however,  but  an  act  of  plain  and  sim 
ple  duty  on  my  part  to  go  further  now,  and  respect 
fully  invite  your  attention,  and  that  of  the  Depart 
ment  through  you.  to  the  highly  meritorious  con 
duct  of  the  under-mentioned  petty-officers  and  soa- 
men  on  board  of  this  ship,  who  exhibited  on  that 
memorable  occasion,  and  in  conflict  with  the  rebels 


588 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


previously,  a  will  and  determination  and  set  an  ex 
ample  to  their  shipmates  and  messmates  worthy, 
in  iny  opinion,  of  the  highest  commendation.'' 

The  following  are  then  honorably  men 
tioned  : 

"Wm.  Densmore,  Chief  Boatswain's  Mate;  Adam 
Duncan  and  Charles  Deakin,  Boatswain's  Mates; 
Cornelius  Cronin,  Chief  Quartermaster  ;  William 
Wells,  Quartermaster;  Henry  Sharp,  Seaman; 
Walter  B.  Smith,  Ordinary  Seaman;  George  Parks, 
Captain  of  Forecastle;  Thomas  Hayes,  Lebeus  Sim- 
kins,  Oloff  Smith  and  Alex.  H.  Truett,  Coxswains; 
Robert  Brown  and  John  H.  James,  Captains  of 
Top;  Thomas  Cripps  and  John  Brazell,  Quarter 
masters  ;  James  H.  Morgan  and  John  Smith,  Cap 
tains  of  Top;  James  B.  Chandler,  Coxswain;  Wil 
liam  Jones,  Captain  of  Top;  William  Doolan,  Coal- 
heaver;  James  Smith,  Captain  of  Forecastle  ;  Hugh 
Hamilton,  Coxswain ;  James  Mclntosh,  Captain  of 
Top  ;  William  M.  Carr,  Master-at-Arms;  Thomas 
Atkinson,  Yeoman ;  David  Sprowls,  Orderly  Ser 
geant  ;  Andrew  Miller  and  James  Martin,  Sergeants 
of  Marines."  

F  rom  the  additional  Report  of  Captain 
Percival  Dray  ton,  commanding  "  Hart 
ford": 

"  SIR— I  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
conduct  of  the  following  petty  officers  and  others 
of  this  vessel  during  the  action  of  the  5th  instant, 
which,  I  think,  entitles  them  to  the  medal  of  honor  : 

''Thomas  Fitzpatrick,  Coxswain;  Charles  Melville, 
Ordinary  Seaman;  William  E.  Stanley,  Shellman  ; 
William  Pelham,  Landsman;  John  McFarlan,  Cap 
tain  of  Forecastle;  James  R.  Garrison  and  Thomas 
O'Connell,  Coalheavers;  Wilson  Brown  and  John 
Lamson,  Landsmen  ;  George  Mellage,  Paymaster's 
Steward." 

From  additional  Reports  of  Captain  J.  B. 
Marchand  of  the  "  Lackawanna": 

"  SIR— In  the  action  of  the  5th  instant  the  follow 
ing-named  petty  officers,  and  others  of  inferior 
rating,  were  conspicuous  for  their  energy  and 
bravery,  and  deserve  medals  of  honor ;  but  under 
the  fourth  rule  of  the  general  order  of  the  Navy  De 
partment,  No.  10,  dated  April  3d,  1863,  their  special 
signal  acts  of  valor  cannot  be  cited  so  as  to  author 
ize  me  to  recommend  their  obtaining  medals." 

The  following  are  then  honorably  men 
tioned  : 

"  William Phinney,  Boatswain  Mate  ;  John  Smith, 
Captain  Forecastle  ;  Samuel  W.  Kinnaird,  Robert 
Dougherty,  Michael  Cassidy,  Landsmen." 

"  SIR— I  respectfully  bring  to  your  attention  the 
following  petty  officers,  etc.,  of  this  ship,  who 
evinced  in  the  battle  of  the  5th  instant  signal  acts 
of  bravery  which  would  justly  entitle  them  to 
medals  of  honor  :  George  Taylor,  Armorer  ;  Lewis 
Copat,  Landsman  ;  James  Ward,  Quarter-gunner  • 
Daniel  Whitfield,  Quartermaster ;  John  M.  Burns' 
Seaman ;  John  Edwards,  Captain  of  Top :  Adam 
McCullock,  Seaman."  

On  August    6th,   the   Admiral    returned 
thanks  in   a  general  order  to  the  officers 
and  men  who  had  so  ably  supported  him 
during  the  late  conflict,  as  follows  : 
GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  12. 

LT.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"  ) 
MOBILE  BAY,  August  6, 1864.  \ 

The  Admiral  returns  thanks  to  the  officers  and 
crews  of  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  for  their  gallant 
conduct  during  the  fight  of  yesterday. 


It  has  never  been  his  good  fortune  to  see  men  do 
their  duty  with  more  courage  and  cheerfulness;  for, 
although  they  knew  that  the  enemy  was  prepared 
with  all  devilish  means  for  our  destruction,  and 
though  they  witnessed  the  almost  instantaneous  an 
nihilation  of  our  gallant  companions  in  the  ''Te- 
cumseh  "  by  a  torpedo,  and  the  slaughter  of  their 
friends,  messmates  and  gun-mates  on  our  decks, 
still  there  were  no  evidences  of  hesitation  in  fol 
lowing  their  commander-in-chief  through  the  line 
of  torpedoes  and  obstructions,  of  which  we  knew 
nothing,  except  from  the  exaggerations  of  the  en 
emy,  who  had  given  out  that  we  should  all  be 
blown  up  as  certainly  as  we  attempted  to  enter. 

For  this  noble  and  implicit  confidence  in  their 
leader  he  heartily  thanks  them. 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 

Rear-Admiral  Commanding  W.  G.  B.  Squadron. 

GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  13. 

FLAG-SHIP  "HARTFORD,"        ) 
MOBILE  BAY,  August  7,  1864.  f 
The  Admiral  desires  the  fleet  to  return  thanks  to 
Almighty  God  for  the  signal  victory  over  the  enemy 
on  the  morning  of  the  5th  instant. 

D.  G.  FARRAGUT, 
Rear- Admiral  Commanding  W.  G.  JB.  Squadron. 

It  is  not  always  that  the  sailors  and  petty 
officers  who  have  taken  part  in  a  naval  bat 
tle  have  full  justice  done  them,  although 
they  may  have  shown  as  much  courage  as 
any  of  their  officers. 

There  never  was  a  case  where  sailors 
showed  more  true  heroism  than  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Mobile  Bay,  especially  in  the  exacting 
moment  when  the  "  Tennessee "  made  her 
attack  upon  the  fleet.  Men,  who  were  so 
seriously  wounded  that  they  could  not  stand, 
would  crawl  back  to  their  guns,  and  though 
they  could  do  no  work  would  cheer  on  and 
inspire  their  comrades.  Men  in  their  last 
moments  would  give  forth  a  faint  cheer 
when  they  heard  that  the  "  Tennessee  "  was 
being  beaten,  and  die  with  a  smile  on  their 
lips.  If  a  comrade  fell  at  his  post,  another 
from  a  gun  that  could  not  be  brought  to 
bear  would  spring  to  take  his  place,  laying 
him  tenderly  aside  and  swearing  to  avenge 
his  death. 

It  is  not  always  in  the  excitement  of  bat 
tle  that  these  heroic  acts  are  noticed,  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  here  publish  the 
reports  of  those  officers  who  thought  enough 
of  their  sailors  to  mention  those  among 
them  who  had  especially  distinguished 
themselves.  The  medal  of  honor  was  as 
much  as  they  could  expect,  but  these 
badges  were  as  much  prized  as  were  the 
decorations  which  Napoleon  served  out  to 
his  brave  soldiers  after  a  victory.  He 
knew  the  secret  of  touching  men's  hearts 
on  the  battle-field,  and  to  this  he  owed  the- 
many  victories  won  for*  him  by  his  soldiers. 
It  is  not  the  value  of  the  medal,  for  it  is 
only  made  of  copper;  it  is  the  fact  that  a 
sailor's  services  are  noticed  that  makes  him 
the  happiest  of  men,  and  he  treasures  up  the 
mementoes  of  his  services  with  care  and 
pride. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


5b9 


While  the  fleet  was  darting  ahead  under 
a  sharp  fire  from  Fort  Morgan,  and  just 
as  the  •'  Brooklyn."  stopped  her  engines, 
the  "Tecumseh,"  struck  by  a  torpedo, 
went  down  almost  instantly,  carrying 
with  her  nearly  all  her  brave  officers 
and  men.  It  was  an  appalling  sight  to  look 
upon,  but  it  did  not  for  one  moment  throw 
the  fleet  into  confusion.  The  commanders 
followed  their  brave  leader,  not  thinking 
for  a  moment  of  the  possible  consequences. 
Admiral  Farragut,  even  at  that  trying  mo 
ment,  did  not  fail  to  remember  what  was 
due  to  humanity,  but  hailed  Lieutenant- 
Comman der  Jouett  of  the ' '  Metacomet, "  an d 
directed  him  to  send  a  boat  to  pick  up  the 
few  men  who  could  be  seen  struggling  in 
the  water.  This  was  done  with  a  prompti 
tude  that  reflected  great  credit  on  the  disci 
pline  of  the  "  Metacomet." 

Acting  -  Ensign  Henry  C.  Nields  had 
charge  of  the  boat  that  went  on  this  peril 
ous  service,  and  steering  right  for  the 
struggling  men  in  the  water,  under  as 
heavy  a  tire  from  Fort  Morgan  as  any  offi 
cer  ever  went  through,  found  his  reward  in 
the  rescue  of  ten  men.  who,  but  for  the 
coolness  he  displayed  and  the  encourage 
ment  he  gave  his  brave  boat's  crew  to 
spring  to  their  oars,  would  have  soon  fol 
lowed  their  shipmates  to .  a  watery  grave. 
This  was  done  within  three  hundred  yards  of 
the  fort,  with  shot  and  shell  falling  thickly 
about  him.  Ensign  Nields,  not  only  re 
ceived  the  warmest  commendations  from 
Admiral  Farragut,  but  the  highest  admira 
tion  that  could  be  felt  by  every  officer  in 
the  fleet.  Such  acts  of  gallantry,  connected 
with  a  mission  of  mere}',  should  obtain  the 
greatest  rewards. 

The  following  survivors  of  the  '•  Tecum 
seh"  were  picked  up  by  the  "  Metacomet's" 
boat :  Acting  -  Ensign  John  J.  P.  Zettich, 
Quartermasters  C.  V.  Dean  and  William 
Roberts;  Seamen  James  McDonald,  George 
Major  and  James  Thorn  ;  Ordinary  Sea 
man  Charles  Packard;  Landsman  William 
Fadden  ;  Coal-heaver  William  C.  West, 
and  Pilot  John  Collins.  In  addition  to 
these,  there  were  picked  up  by  one  of 
the  ''  TecumsehV  boats  :  Acting  -  Masters 
C.  F.  Langley  and  Gardner  Cottrell,  Gun 
ner's  Mate  S.  S.  Shinn,  Quarter  -  gun 
ner  John  Gould,  Seamen  Frank  Commins, 
Richard  Collins  and  Peter  Parkes.  Four 
men,  whose  names  are  unknown,  swam 
ashore  and  were  captured  by  the  Confed 
erates. 

Acting-Masters  Langley  and  Cottrell  state 
in  their  joint  report  that  the  "Tecumseh" 
was  nearly  abreast  of  Fort  Morgan,  and 
about  150  yards  from  the  beach,  when  it 
was  reported  to  Commander  Craven  that 
there  was  a  row  of  buoys,  stretching  from 
the  shore  a  distance  from  one  to  two  hun 


dred  yards.  He  immediately  ordered  full 
speed  and  attempted  to  pass  between  two  of 
the  buoys.  When  in  their  range,  a  torpedo 
was  exploded  directly  under  the  turret, 
blowing  a  large  hole  in  the  bottom  of 
the  vessel,  through  which  the  water  rushed 
with  great  rapidity.  Finding  that  the 
vessel  was  sinking,  the  order  was  given  to 
leave  quarters,  and  from  that  moment 
every  one  used  the  utmost  exertions  to  clear 
himself  from  the  wreck.  After  being  car 
ried  down  several  times  they  were  picked 
up  in  a  drowning  condition,  as  before 
stated. 

Commander  Craven  was  with  the  pilot  in 
the  pilot-house  when  the  torpedo  exploded 
under  the  vessel,  but  his  chivalric  spirit 
caused  him  to  lose  his  life.  He  insisted  on 
the  pilot  taking  precedence  in  descending 
the  ladder.  They  both  reached  the  turret, 
but  as  the  pilot  passed  through  the  port 
hole  the  vessel  keeled  over  and  went 
down,  taking  with  her  as  gallant  an  offi 
cer  as  there  was  in  the  American  Navy. 
One  moment  more  and  his  life  would  have 
been  saved  to  adorn  the  list  of  officers  of 
which  he  was  so  bright  a  member.  The  ex 
ample  shown  by  Craven  on  this  occasion 
should  be  chronicled  in  every  story  of  the 
war.  No  more  chivalrous  event  occurred 
during  the  four  years'  conflict. 

After  the  capture  of  the  "Tennessee," 
and  when  the  fleet  had  anchored,  the 
''Chickasaw,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Geo. 
H.  Perkins,  was  sent  to  fire  on  Fort  Powell 
and  to  bring  off  a  large  barge  lying  near 
it.  This  duty  was  handsomely  performed, 
the  fort  was  well  battered  and  the  barge 
brought  away.  The  enemy,  using  their 
guns  with  spirit,  gave  the  "Chickasaw" 
some  ugly  wounds  in  her  armor;  but,  seeing 
the  inequality  of  a  conflict  with  the  fleet, 
the  commander  of  the  fort  evacuated  it  on 
the  night  of  the  5th,  when  it  soon  after 
blew  up.  The  guns  were,  however,  left  in 
tact,  and  several  covered  barges  were  cap 
tured  that  made  good  workshops  for  the 
fleet. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  6th,  the 
'•' Chickasaw"  was  sent  in  to  shell  Fort 
Gaines,  and  this  was  so  effectually  done 
that  Colonel  Anderson,  the  commander, 
soon  came  to  terms.  He  had  not  much  of 
a  garrison — most  of  his  men  being  raw  re 
cruits  and  boys — but  he  seems  to  have  been 
a  sensible  man,  for  on  the  morning  of  the 
7th  he  sent  a  communication  to  Admiral 
Farragut  offering  to  surrender,  and  request 
ing  that  he  be  given  the  best  conditions. 
General  Granger  was  sent  for  by  the  Ad 
miral  to  meet  Colonel  Anderson  and  Major 
Brown  on  board  the  flag-ship,  where  an 
agreement  was  signed,  by  which  Fort 
Gaines  was  surrendered  unconditionally. 
All  private  property  (except  arms)  was  to 


590 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


be  respected,  and  the  inmates  of  the  fort 
were  to  remain  prisoners-of-war. 

On  August  8th,  Fleet-Captain  Drayton, 
on  the  part  of  the  Navy,  and  Colonel  Myer, 
on  the  part  of  the  Army,  proceeded  to  the 
fort  to  carry  out  the  stipulations  of  the 
agreement,  and  at  9:45  A.  M.  they  received 
its  surrender,  and  hoisted  the  Union  flag 
amid  the  prolonged  cheers  of  the  sailors  of 
the  fleet.  No  cheers  were  ever  given  with 
more  ardor,  for  this  victory  was  seen  to  be 
another  of  the  severe  death-blows  given  to 
an  enemy  whose  end  was  very  near. 

This  was  the  close  of  the  battle  on  the 
water.  Fort  Morgan  was  still  to  be  reduced, 
but  any  one  could  see  that  this  event  would 
be  but  a  matter  of  a  short  time.  There 
was  no  hope  for  the  defenders  of  the  fort, 
strong  as  it  was,  for  it  was  cut  off  from 
all  succor.  The  Navy  commanded  it  and 
the  waters  of  Mobile  Bay,  and  the  army 
having  landed  in  its  rear,  shut  it  out  from 
all  hope  of  reinforcements  or  supplies. 
Preparations  were  being  made  to  invest  it 
by  land  and  sea,  with  as  little  loss  of  life 
as  possible  to  the  Union  forces. 

There  was  the  great  and  impregnable 
'  Tennessee  "  lying  at  anchor  among  the 
fleet  as  harmless  as  a  Chinese  junk,  with 
the  American  flag  flying  where  the  Confed 
erate  "  Stars  and  Bars  "  was  wont  to  wave. 
The  "  Selma  "  was  captured,  the  "  Gaines  " 
burnt,  and  the  "  Morgan "  was  the  only 
vessel  of  Buchanan's  fleet  that  had  escaped. 
She  ran  up  to  Mobile  the  night  after  the 
battle  by  keeping  close  in  shore. 

As  soon  as  the  fate  of  their  Navy  and  the 
two  forts  was  known  at  Mobile,  the  Confed 
erates  sunk  the  "Nashville  "  right  across  the 
narrow  channel  under  commanding  guns — 
and  thus  completely  blocked  the  way  to  the 
city.  But  this  did  not  help  them  any.  The 
days  of  blockade-runners  were  over.  No 
more  would  those  snug-looking  clippers  slip 
into  the  bay  at  night  in  spite  of  a  most  watch 
ful  blockade,  and,  carrying  their  welcome 
cargoes  into  the  port  of  Mobile,  supply  the 
Confederacy  with  food,  clothing  and  muni 
tions  of  war.  The  steam  locomotive  no 
longer  blew  its  shrillest  whistle  as  it  started 
from  Mobile  with  a  rich  load  of  provisions 
and  arms  for  the  city  of  Richmond,  to  en- 
enable  their  brave  and  desperate  soldiers 
to  sustain  the  lost  cause  by  a  few  spas 
modic  efforts  that  could  be  of  no  service  to 
them.  And  here  the  reader  will  see  the 
benefit  the  battle  of  Mobile  Bay  was  to  the 
Union  and  the  injury  it  was  to  the  Confed 
eracy,  and  Farragut  once  more  earned 
the  plaudits  of  the  nation  by  his  successful 
conflict  against  desperate  odds. 

The  people  of  the  North  rejoiced  heartily 
when   they  heard  of  this  famous  victory 
while  the  people  of  the  South  were  propor 
tionally  depressed.     They  had   counted   so 


much  on  Buchanan  (who  was  very  popular 
among  them)  and  on  his  fleet,  that  this  last 
blow  almost  deprived  them  of  all  hope;  but 
they  fought  on  to  the  last  with  unequalled 
energy  and  bravery. 

This  victory  atoned  for  the  effects  of  the 
misadventures  with  the  ram  "  Albemarle  " 
in  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina.  The 
Southerners  had  made  great  capital  out  of 
that  affair,  and  so  rejoiced  over  it  that  the 
people  of  the  North  were  disposed  to  regard 
it  as  more  important  than  the  Navy  De 
partment  chose  to  acknowledge ;  and  the 
press  of  the  North,  always  prone  to  take 
sides  against  Federal  officers,  published 
reports  that  were  wholly  unreliable. 

And  herein  lay  the  difference  between 
the  North  and  the  South.  Though  the  lat 
ter  might  be  fighting  in  a  bad  cause,  yet 
the  people  stood  by  each  other  like  a  band  of 
brothers,  and  when  their  officers  met  with 
defeats  they  did  not  raise  a  howl  from  one 
end  of  the  Confederacy  to  the  other — they 
smoothed  them  over,  and  often  claimed 
them  as  victories.  But  it  was  otherwise 
with  the  press  of  the  North.  They  had 
very  little  consideration  for  those  who  were 
fighting  their  battles,  while  they  were  com 
fortable  at  home,  with  substitutes  in  the 
field.  They  all  wanted  to  dictate  to  their 
military  leaders,  and  found  fault  oftener 
than  they  praised,  while  half  the  time  they 
were  not  properly  informed  in  regard  to 
matters  on  which  they  were  expressing 
opinions. 

As  soon  as  Secretary  Welles  heard  of  the 
results  of  the  battle  of  Mobile  Bay,  he  for 
warded  to  Admiral  Farragut  the  following 
congratulatory  letter : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  \ 

WASHINGTON,    August  15,  1864.  \ 

SIR — Your  dispatch  of  the  5th  instant,  stating: 
that  you  had  on  the  morning  of  that  day  entered 
Mobile  Bay,  passing  between  Forts  Morgan  and 
Gaines,  and  encountering  and  overcoming  the  rebel 
fleet,  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  receive  this  day. 
Some  preliminary  account  of  your  operations  had 
previously  reached  us  through  rebel  channels. 

Again,  it  is  my  pleasure  arid  ray  duty  to  congrat 
ulate  you  and  your  brave  associates  on  an  achieve 
ment  unequalled  in  our  service  by  any  other  com 
mander,  and  only  surpassed  by  that  unparalleled 
naval  triumph  of  the  squadron  under  your  com 
mand  in  the  spring  of  1862,  when,  proceeding  up 
the  Mississippi,  you  passed  forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip,  and,  overcoming  all  obstructions,  captured 
New  Orleans,  and  restored  unobstructed  naviga 
tion  to  the  commercial  emporium  of  the  great  cen 
tral  valley  of  the  Union. 

The  Bay  of  Mobile  was  not  only  fortified  and 
guarded  by  forts  and  batteries  on  shore,  and  by 
submerged  obstructions,  but  the  rebels  had  also 
collected  there  a  formidable  fleet,  commanded  by 
their  highest  naval  officer,  a  former  captain  in  the 
Union  Navy,  who,  false  to  the  Government  and  the 
Union,  had  deserted  his  country  in  the  hour  of  peril, 
and  levelled  his  guns  against  the  flagwhich  it  was 
his  duty  to  have  defended.  The  possession  of  Mo 
bile  Bay,  which  you  have  acquired,  will  close  the 
illicit  traffic  "which  has  been  carried  on  by  running 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


591 


the  blockade  in  that  part  of  the  Gulf,  and  gives 
point  and  value  to  the  success  you  have  achieved. 

Great  results  in  war  are  seldom  obtained  without 
great  risks,  and  it  was  not  expected  that  the  pos 
session  of  the  harbor  of  Mobile  would  be  secured 
without  disaster. 

The  loss  of  the  gallant  Craven  and  his  brave  com 
panions,  with  the  "Tecumseh"  (a  vessel  that  was 
invulnerable  to  the  guns  of  Fort  Morgan),  by  a  con 
cealed  torpedo,  was  a  casualty  against  which  no 
human  foresight  could  guard.  While  the  Xation 
awards  cheerful  honors  to  the  living,  she  will  ever 
hold  in  grateful  remembrance  the  memory  of  the 
gallant  and  lamented  dead,  who  perilled  their  lives 
for  their  country  and  died  in  her  cause 

To  you  and  the  brave  officers  and  sailors  of  your 
squadron,  who  participated  in  this  great  achieve 
ment,  the  Department  tenders  its  thanks  and  those 
of  the  Government  and  country. 

Very  respectfully, "etc., 
GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Rear-Admiral  DAVID  G.  FARRGAUT, 

Commanding  West  Grtilf  Blockading  Squadron, 
Jfobile  Bay. 

Fort  Morgan  remained  yet  to  be  captured, 
and  all  the  necessary  steps  were  being 
taken  to  bring  about  this  desired  object. 
The  Army,  under  General  Granger,  had 
been  transferred  from  Dauphine  Island  to 
its  rear. 

Admiral  Farragut  had  also  landed  four 
9 -inch  guns  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Tyson, 
of  the  "  Hartford,"  and  manned  with  crews 
from  the  "  Hartford,"  "  Brooklyn,"  "Rich 
mond  "  and  "  Lackawanna." 

On  the  21st  of  August,  General  Granger 
informed  him  that  his  guns  were  all  in  bat 
tery  and  would  be  ready  to  open  upon  the 
enemy's  works  on  the  morning  of  the  22d. 
Farragut,  in  consequence,  directed  the 
Monitors  and  other  vessels  carrying  suit 
able  guns  to  move  up  and  be  ready  to  open 
upon  the  fort  at  the  same  time  with  the 
army  batteries. 

At  daylight,  on  the  22d,  the  bombardment 
began  from  the  shore  batteries,  the  Moni 
tors  and  ships  inside  the  Bay  of  Mobile  and 
those  outside,  and  it  presented  a  most  mag 
nificent  sight.  Xo  hotter  bombardment 
was  ever  kept  up  for  twenty-four  hours. 

At  half-past  8  P.  M.,  the  citadel  of  the 
fort  burst  out  in  flames,  adding  its  bright 
light  to  the  grandeur  of  the  scene,  and 
illuminating  the  bay,  where  the  cannon  of 
the  fleet,  directed  by  practiced  hands,  were 
belching  forth  their  deadly  missiles,  which 
sped  on  their  destructive  way  unerringly. 

When  the  fire  broke  out,  General  Gran 
ger  ordered  the  rear  batteries  to  redouble 
their  fire.  At  6  A.  M.  on  the  23d  an  ex 
plosion  took  place  in  the  enemy's  work,  and 
at  half -past  G  a  white  flag  was  displayed 
on  the  parapet  of  Fort  Morgan.  The  Ad 
miral  immediately  sent  Fleet-Captain  Dray- 
ton  to  join  General  Granger  and  arrange 
the  terms  of  surrender;  which  were  that 
the  fort,  its  garrison  and  all  public  property 


should  be  surrendered,  unconditionally,  at 
2  o'clock  on  that  day,  to  the  Army  and 
naval  forces  of  the  United  States  then 
present.  These  terms  were  accepted  by 
Brigadier-General  R.  L.  Page,  of  the  Con 
federate  service  (formerly  a  Commander  in 
the  United  States  Navy).  The  garrison  was 
sent  to  New  Orleans  in  company  with  the 
crews  of  the  ram  "Tennessee "  and  the  gun 
boat  "  Selma." 

List  of  the  officers  of  the  "Tennessee": 
Admiral,  Franklin  Buchanan;  Commander, 
James  D.  Johnston;  Lieutenants,  Wm.  L. 
Bradford.  A.  P.  Wharton,  E.  G.  McDermott; 
Masters,  J.  R.  De  Moley  and  H.  W.  Perron; 
Fleet  Surgeon,  R.  C.  'Bowles;  Engineers, 
G.  D.  Lining,  J.  O'Connell,  John  Hays, 
O.  Benson  and  W.  B.  Patterson;  Paymas 
ter's  Clerk,  J.  H.  Cohen;  Master's  Mates, 
W.  A.  Forrest,  Beebe  andR.  M.  Carter;  Boat 
swain,  John  McCudie;  Gunner,  H.  S.  Smith. 
Officers  of  the  "  Selma":  Commander,  Peter 
U.  Murphy;  Lieutenant,  J.  H.  Comstock. 

General  Page  tried  to  obtain  more  favor 
able  terms,  but  without  success.  He  had 
held  out  bravely  against  the  bombardment, 
and  thought,  perhaps,  that  he  and  his  offi 
cers  should  have  received  some  favors  on 
that  account;  but  then,  again,  he  had  caused 
an  unnecessary  loss  of  life  by  persisting  in 
defending  a  fort  that  was  virtually  in  the 
power  of  the  Federal  forces,  and  which  he 
knew  could  not  by  any  possibility  escape 
capture.  The  defence  was  gallant,  but  it 
was  an  unnecessary  display  of  bravery,  as 
the  end  proved. 

Admiral  Farragut  reported  that  after  the 
assembling  of  the  Confederate  officers  out 
side  of  the  works,  to  deliver  Fort  Morgan 
to  its  conquerors,  it  was  discovered,  on  an 
examination  of  the  interior,  that  most  of  the 
guns  were  spiked  and  many  of  the  gun- 
carriages  wantonly  injured,  and  arms,  am 
munition,  provisions,  etc.,  destroyed,  and 
that  there  was  every  reason  to  believe  that 
this  was  done  after  the  white  flag  had  been 
displayed.  It  was  also  discovered  that  Gen 
eral  Page  and  several  of  his  officers  had  no 
swords  to  deliver,  and,  further,  that  some 
of  those  that  were  surrendered  were  broken. 
He  draws  attention  to  the  different  course 
pursued  by  Colonel  Anderson,  who  com 
manded  at  Fort  Gaines,  and  turned  over 
everything  in  good  order. 

The  Admiral  reflects  very  severely  on 
General  Page  and  his  officers  for  their 
wanton  destruction  of  property;  but  it  must 
be  remembered  that  this  was  done  at  Fort 
Morgan  in  the  excitement  of  battle,  and  it 
might  have  been  done  without  the  General's 
knowledge  by  young  officers  who  had 
had  no  extensive  military  training,  and 
who  were  not  posted  as  to  the  proprieties  of 
the  occasion.  We  do  not  like  to  believe 
that  General  Page  lent  himself  to  such  im- 


592 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


proper  proceedings,  for  while  he  was  in  the 
United  States  Navy  he  was  looked  upon  by 
all  who  knew  him  as  the  soul  of  honor,  and 
although  he  committed  the  gravest  fault 
when  he  abjured  the  flag  under  which  he 
was  born,  educated  and  cherished,  yet  there 
were  so  many  others  of  world-wide  reputa 
tions  who  set  the  example  and  carried  men 
away  with  their  wild  secession  sophistries, 
that  he  could  have  erred  on  that  one  subject 
without  forfeiting  an  honorable  name.  The 
fact  of  his  not  having  a  sword  to  deliver 
might  have  been  an  accident.  It  would 
have  been  very  foolish  in  an  officer  of  his 
age  to  suppose  that  he  could  in  this  way 
free  himself  from  any  odium  that  might 
attach  to  defeat,  or  gain  any  applause  even 
from  his  warmest  admirers. 

No  matter  what  happened,  Fort  Morgan 
was  won  in  the  most  handsome  manner, 
and  Farragut  was  once  more  entitled  to 
the  heartiest  congratulations  of  his  coun 
trymen.  This,  his  last  great  achievement, 
had  placed  him  in  the  foremost  rank  of 
naval  officers,  and  the  following  letter  from 
the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Navy  scarcely 
states  the  value  of  the  service  he  had  ren 
dered  to  the  Union  cause: 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,     { 
September  5,  1864.  ) 

SIR—  Your  dispatch,  numbered  368,  is  received, 
informing  the  Department  of  the  capture,  on  the 
23d  ultimo,  of  Fort  Morgan.  This  is  the  last  and 
most  formidable  of  all  the  defences  erected  to  com 
mand  the  entrance  of  the  Bay  of  Mobile,  and  it  is 
a  gratification  that  its  capitulation  was  effected 
sooner  than  had  been  anticipated.  I  will  not,  in 
this  communication,  stop  to  comment  on  the  bad 
faith  exhibited  in  the  destruction  of  the  arms  and 
property  in  the  fort  after  its  surrender,  which  is 
reprobated  by  you  with  just  severity  ;  but  I  desire 
to  congratulate  you  and  your  command  on  a  series 
of  achievements  which  put  us  in  possession  of  the 
bay  ;  and,  until  the  integrity  of  the  Union  is  fully 
vindicated  and  established,  close  all  ocean  com 
munications  with  the  city  of  Mobile. 

In  the  success  which  has  attended  your  opera 
tions,  you  have  illustrated  the  efficiency  and  irre 
sistible  power  of  a  naval  force  led  by  a  bold  and 
vigorous  mind,  and  the  insufficiency  of  any  bat 
teries  to  prevent  the  passage  of  a  fleet  thus  led  and 
commanded.  You  have,  first  on  the  Mississippi 
and  recently  in  the  Bay  of  Mobile,  demonstrated 
what  had  been  previously  doubted,  the  ability  of 
naval  vessels,  properly  manned  and  commanded,  to 
set  at  defiance  the  best  constructed  and  most 
heavily  armed  fortifications. 

In  these  successive  victories  you  have  encoun 
tered  great  risks,  but  the  results  have  vindicated 
the  wisdom  of  your  policy  and  the  daring  valor  of 
our  officers  and  seamen. 

I  desire  the  congratulations  which  are  herebv 
tendered  to  yourself,  your  officers  and  men,  may  be 
extended  to  the  Army,  who  have  so  cordially  co 
operated  with  you.     Very  respectfully, 
GIDEON  WELLES, 


Rear-Admira.  D.  G. 

Commanding  W.  G.  B.  Squadron,  Mobile  Bay. 
As  soon  as  Fort  Morgan  had  surrendered 
Farragut   ordered  the   channel   raked  for 
torpedoes. 


Twenty-one  were  taken  up,  but  most  of 
them  had  lain  so  long  in  the  water  that  they 
had.  fortunately,  become  harmless.  In  con 
sequence  of  this,  the  seamen  became  some 
what  careless  in  handling  them,  and  one 
torpedo  exploded,  killing  and  wounding  the 
following  named  persons  : 

Killed— C.  E.  Milliken  (Ord.  Sea.). 

Mortally  wounded — Isaac  Young  (Ord. 
Sea.)  ;  John  Miller  (Sea.),  Robert  G.  White 
(Sea.),  George  Thompson  (Sea.)  —  all  of 
U.  S.  S.  "Seminole." 

Wounded  seriously — Pilot  Martin  Free 
man,  U.  S.  S.  "Hartford";  Acting-Ensign 
John  White;  H.  J.  O'Brien  (Qr.  Mr.);  Wil 
liam  Howard  (Lds.)  ;  James  McDonald 
(Sea.),  all  of  the  "Metacomet  ;"  and  Boat 
swain  Charles  White,  of  the  "Seminole." 

Slightly  wounded — Henry  Chester  (Sea.): 
Edward  "Mann  (O.  S.):  Thomas  Webster 
(Lds.)— U.  S.  S.  "Seminole." 

These  men  had  passed  through  all  the 
danger  of  battle,  and  had  stood  to  their 
guns  like  heroes,  and  now,  when  they 
might  hope  to  live  and  enjoy  part  of  the 
honor  won  in  this  great  victory,  they  were 
snatched  from  life  or  maimed  forever  by  an 
infernal  machine,  which  the  officers  of"  the 
Union  Navy,  as  a  rule,  disdained  to  use- 
trusting  rather  to  hearts  of  steel  and  wooden 
ships  with  which  to  win  their  victories. 

We  place  their  names  on  the  roll  of  fame 
as  worthy  to  be  remembered  by  all  who 
honor  the  true  American  sailor,  who  will 
stick  to  his  flag  as  long  as  he  has  a  leg  to 
stand  on. 

It  is  bad  enough  to  have  men  shot  down 
in  battle  while  fighting  their  guns,  but  it  is 
dreadful  to  see  them  lying  crushed  to  pieces 
after  the  victory  is  won,  especially  when, 
as  in  this  case,  it  might  so  easily  have  been 
prevented.  Few  of  the  vessels  lost  so 
many  in  killed  and  wounded  during  the 
fight  as  were  lost  by  the  explosion  of  this 
one  torpedo. 

One  of  the  vessels  of  the  Union  fleet  was 
lost  very  unnecessarily,  and  that  was  the 
steamer  "Philippi,"  commanded  by  Act 
ing-Master  James  T.  Seaver,  who,  it  ap 
pears,  wished  to  undertake  an  adventure 
on  his  own  account,  and,  after  delivering 
some  stores  to  the  vessels  outside  the  bar, 
stood  in  after  the  fleet  to  try  and  be  of  as 
sistance  in  case  any  vessel  was  disabled. 
He  was  unfortunate  enough  to  run  aground, 
however,  when  within  range  of  Fort 
Morgan,  and  the  Confederate  gunners 
struck  his  vessel  almost  every  time  and 
soon  set  her  on  fire,  showing  how  much 
better  is  the  aim  of  gunners  when  they  are 
firing  at  a  vessel  that  does  not  fire  back. 
Had  Fort  Morgan  fired  as  well  at  the  fleet 
while  passing,  it  would  have  crippled  all 
the  wooden  ships. 

We  can  imagine  the  Admiral's  feelings 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


593 


when,  after  passing  all  the  batteries  safely, 
he  saw  a  vessel  of  his  squadron  in  flames, 
away  off  in  the  outer  bay,  and  out  of  the 
main  channel.  Worst  of  all,  Acting-Mas 
ter  Seaver  deserted  his  vessel,  leaving  the 
signal-book  on  the  quarter-deck. 

The  "  Philippi "  was  an  express  vessel, 
and  a  great  loss  to  the  squadron.  It  was  a 
small  loss,  however,  compared  with  the  final 
gain,  and  it  merely  shows  that,  with  all  the 
precautions  that  a  commander-in-chief  may 
take,  there  is  always  some  one  person  who 
will,  for  want  of  common  sense,  do  his 
best  to  defeat  the  object  of  his  commander. 

Now  that  years  have  passed,  and  the 
prejudices  of  the  day  have  been  forgotten 
by  all  truly  loyal  men,  we  can  calmly  dis 
cuss  this  remarkable  battle  without  any 
fear  of  being  considered  partial  towards 
any  of  the  parties  concerned. 

The  question  has  often  been  asked, 
"  Was  Buchanan  justified  by  circumstances 
in  attacking  Farragut's  fleet,  unless  he  was 
covered  by  the  heavy  batteries  of  Fort 
Morgan  ?" 

Let  us  see  first  what  effect  the  "  Tennes 
see"  had  had  upon  the  fleet,  from  the  time  it 
came  under  the  fire  of  Fort  Morgan  until 
it  anchored  in  Mobile  Roads.  The  iron 
clad  occupied  a  commanding  and  raking 
position,  backed  by  the  three  gun-boats  and 
covered  by  Fort  Morgan  ;  but  every  vessel 
passed  her  without  being  disabled,  all  the 
serious  injury  which  they  received  coining 
from  the  guns  of  Fort  Morgan. 

It  was  expected  by  the  officers  of  the 
fleet  that  the  Confederate  iron-clad  would 
place  herself  right  in  the  way  of  the  lead 
ing  vessel,  sink  her  with  her  formidable 
prow,  throw  the  fleet  into  confusion,  and 
keep  them  huddled  together  under  'the  fire 
of  the  fort  until  she  could  get  into  their 
midst  and  deal  destruction  on  every  side. 
This  is  the  course  which  Buchanan  should 
have  pursued,  for  it  will  be  seen  that  his 
iron-clad  was  quite  strong  enough  to  with 
stand  the  battering  of  any  vessel  in  the 
Union  fleet.  She  was  rammed  by  the 
"  Monongahela,"  "Lackawanna,"  "Hart 
ford,"  and  "  Ossipee."  The  first  two  ves 
sels  were  seriously  injured,  the  "  Hartford  " 
only  hit  a  glancing  blow,  and  the  •' Ossi 
pee"  received  more  injury  than  she  inflicted; 
in  fact,  all  their  attacks  were  harmless 
against  the  iron-clad  hull  of  the  ram,  which 
had  been  built  expressly  to  stand  just  such 
encounters.  The  Board  which  examined 
her  after  the  battle  reported  that  there  were 
no  visible  marks  or  evidence  of  injury  done 
by  the  ramming  she  had  received.  This 
shows  that  the  calculations  made  by  Bu 
chanan  were  not  without  due  consideration. 
He  knew  every  ship  in  the  Union  fleet,  the 
number  and  calibre  of  their  guns,  their 

88 


speed,  the  strength  of  their  hulls,  and,  in 
fact,  all  that  was  worth  knowing  about 
them.  But  he  failed  to  appreciate  the  merit 
of  their  commanding  officers,  and,  ever 
following  in  the  wake  of  the  "  lost  cause," 
he  forgot  the  spirit  of  the  brave  seamen 
who  manned  the  Union  ships. 

He  well  knew  what  would  be  the  effect 
of  the  11  and  15  inch  shot  that  would  be 
fired  from  the  Monitors.  He  had  seen  in  the 
fight  of  the  '  •  Monitor"  and  ' '  Merrimac  "  that 
11-inch  shot  would  not  penetrate  the  4-inch 
armor  of  the  latter,  and  he  had  seen,  from 
the  reports  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter  by  the  Monitors,  that  15-inch  shot 
had  not  enough  penetrating  power  to  break 
through  masonry  that  was  easily  bored 
through  and  through  by  a  6-inch  rifle.  He 
knew  that  the  fleet  had  very  few  rifled 
guns,  and  that  what  they  had  were  small 
calibre  Parrotts,  which  it  was  necessary  to 
load  with  reduced  charges  in  order  to  guard 
against  explosion.  He  had  placed  one-third 
rnore  armor  on  the  "Tennessee"  than  was 
on  the  "Merrimac,"  and  had  strengthened 
her  in  other  ways  as  no  vessel  had  ever 
been  strengthened  before. 

We  have  seen  from  the  accounts  of  this 
battle  that  the  hull  of  the  "  Tennessee"  was 
virtually  uninjured  by  the  shots  from  the 
Monitors.  Only  one  15-inch  shot  penetrated 
her  armor,  while  the  11-inch  shot  made  no 
impression  on  her  beyond  shattering  the 
port  shutters ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
carrying  away  of  her  exposed  steering  gear 
and  "smoke-stack,  Buchanan's  calculations 
might  have  been  verified. 

Yet  the  only  real  damage  done  to  the 
"Tennessee"  was  by  the  Monitors,  and  it 
may  be  asked:  "Would  not  the  Monitors 
have  captured  her  without  the  aid  of  the 
wooden  ships  ?  "  We  think  they  ought  to 
have  done  so,  unless  by  her  superior  speed 
she  had  escaped  under  the  guns  of  the 
fort.  The  wooden  ships  smothered  her  by 
their  heavy  blows,  demoralizing  her  crew 
and  keeping  them  from  the  guns,  for 
they  did  not  know  what  would  be  the  re 
sult  of  this  constant  ramming.  It  is  cer 
tain  that  the  "Tennessee"  did  not  fire  a 
gun  after  her  last  encounter  with  the 
"Hartford." 

The  Confederates  claim  that  she  was  at 
tacked  by  a  squadron  of  eighteen  vessels, 
and  that^Buchanan,  single-handed,  held  his 
own  for  hours;  while  the  fact  is,  she  was  at 
tacked  by  only  seven  vessels  of  the  fleet 
(four  of  them"  wooden),  and  the  action 
lasted  but  an  hour  and  a  quarter— (8:45  to 
10  A.  M.) 

Considering  all  things.  Admiral  Buchanan 
made  a  mistake  in  attacking  the  fleet  when 
he  did;  he  ought  to  have  remained  under 
shelter  of  Fort  Morgan  until  the  fleet  at 
tacked  him,  or  else  have  come  out  in  the 


594 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


night  when  the  vessels  were  at  anchor  and 
at  a  disadvantage.  That  was  his  only 
chance  of  success.  As  he  took  upon  himself 
to  go  out  and  seek  battle,  instead  of  waiting 
for  it  to  be  offered  to  him,  one  would  natu 
rally  suppose  that  his  ship  had  a  resisting 
power  that  was  only  known  to  himself,  and 
that  he,  as  one  of  the  best  sailors  afloat, 
felt  himself  authorized  to  attack  the  whole 
fleet  by  daylight.  If  this  was  the  case,  the 
forces  on  each  side  might  be  considered  as 
about  equal,  in  spite  of  the  disparity  of  num 
bers. 

One  point  must  not  be  lost  sight  of,  and 
that  is,  that  no  damage  was  inflicted  on  the 
"  Tennessee  "  before  the  Monitors  came  up, 
and  when  they  did  attack  her  the  battle 
was  soon  ended.  It  is  a  significant  fact 
in  favor  of  iron-dads,  and  if  the  Monitors 
had  possessed  more  speed  they  would  not 
have  required  any  assistance  from  wooden 
vessels. 

In  this  connection  we  must  mention  a 
very  creditable  action  of  Commander  Nich 
olson.  The  charge  for  the  15-inch  gun,  as 
regulated  by  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance,  was 
only  35  Ibs.  of  powder,  but  Captain  Nichol 
son  nearly  doubled  it,  using  65  Ibs. — taking 
the  responsibility  of  bursting  the  gun — but 
proving,  in  fact,  that  it  could  bear  that 
charge  for  a  limited  number  of  rounds. 
The  result  was,  that  he  pierced  the  armor 
of  the  ram,  and  dispelled  the  illusion  of 
Buchanan  and  his  crew — that  their  ship 
was  invulnerable. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  "Tennessee" 
was  at  that  time  the  most  formidable 
vessel  the  Confederates  had  ever  built, 
and  they  might  well  feel  proud  of  their 
great  war  monster,  and  believe  her  to  be 
a  match  for  half  a-dozen  Monitors.  In  fact, 
she  might  have  been  more  than  a  match 
for  them  if  the  fight  had  taken  place  in 
the  open  sea,  where  her  superior  speed  and 
long-range  guns  would  have  given  her  a 
great  advantage. 

This  battle  gave  the  Government  a  great 
deal  of  experience,  and  demonstrated  be 
yond  question  that  the  9  and  11  inch  guns 
were  perfectly  useless  against  six  inches 
of  iron,  heavily  backed,  even  when  fired 
at  close  quarters.  But,  with  this  lesson 
before  them,  the  U.  S.  Government— for 
twenty  years  after  the  war -has  held  on  to 
these  guns,  and  paraded  them  about  the 
world  in  obsolete  wooden  ships,  which  all 
other  nations  have  abolished  as  unfit  for 
war  purposes. 

The  two  great  systems  of  iron-clad  con 
struction,  which  had  been  introduced  on  the 
scene  of  war  by  the  North  and  the  South 
respectively,  had  on  this  occasion  a  fair 
chance  of  being  fully  tested,  and  in  a  man 
ner  admitting  of  no  dispute,  and  the  palm 
s  given  to  Ericsson's  invention.  The 


was 


want  of  speed  and  a  proper  armament  are 
not  faults  inherent  in  his  system. 

The  "Tennessee"  was  a  formidable  ves 
sel,  and  her  designers  and  constructors  de 
served  great  credit  for  the  result  of  their 
labors.  Had  she  succeeded  in  winning  a 
victory  in  Mobile  Bay,  the  world  would 
have  been  some  years  longer  groping  in  the 
dark  for  the  right  kind  of  an  iron  clad,  but 
would  have  found  it  finally  in  the  Ericsson 
"Monitor,"  which  to-day  has  no  superior 
throughout  the  world. 

This  battle  rendered  Mobile  of  no  value 
to  the  Confederacy,  for,  although  owing 
to  shoal  water  and  obstructions,  the  Navy 
could  not  reach  the  city,  it  was  as  her 
metically  sealed  against  blockade-runners 
as  if  actually  surrendered.  A  few  vessels 
only  were  kept  inside  the  bay,  leaving  Far- 
ragut  at  liberty  to  use  his  remaining  force 
on  the  coast  of  Texas,  where  General  Banks 
(after  his  failure  up  the  Red  River)  had 
evacuated  all  the  important  points  which 
had  been  captured  by  the  Army  and  Navy, 
and  thus  left  the  Texan  ports  open  to 
the  blockade-runners. 

The  work  of  the  Navy  seemed  to  be  end 
less.  It  had  not  only  to  fight  the  enemy, 
but  to  repair  the  blunders  of  quasi-mili 
tary  men,  who  would  not  even  hold  the 
positions  which  the  Navy  placed  in  their 
hands.  Yet  the  officers  and  sailors  worked 
on  with  unwearying  activity  and  bravery 
to  reach  the  victorious  end,  and  every  bat 
tle  won  diminished  in  an  increasing  ratio 
the  Confederates'  chance  of  success. 

The  battle  of  Mobile  Bay  proved  several 
things  which  it  is  as  important  to  know  to 
day  as  it  was  then.  Guns  mounted  en 
barbette,  even  when  protected  by  proper 
traverses,  can  be  silenced  and  passed  by 
steamers  on  their  throwing  in  a  heavy  and 
concentrated  fire,  especially  if  they  carry 
a  large  number  of  guns  in  broadside.  No 
fort  now  existing  in  this  country  can  keep 
out  a  fleet  unless  the  channel  is  thoroughly 
obstructed. 

Up  to  the  present  time,  ships-of-war  are 
gaining  in  strength  over  the  forts  of  this 
country,  and  the  saying  that  "  one  gun  on 
shore  is  worth  three  on  board-ship"  may 
very  properly  be  reversed.  Steam  has 
changed  the  whole  principle  of  war,  and 
iron-clads  with  rifled  guns  are  too  strong 
for  our  walls  of  stone,  brick  and  mortar. 

NOTE. — As  the  "Tennessee  "  was  the  most 
powerful  and  remarkable  vessel  the  Con 
federates  ever  built,  the  scientific  reader 
may  take  some  interest  in  the  following 
description  of  her  construction,  from  the 
report  of  a  Board  of  Survey,  ordered  by 
Admiral  Farragut,  after  the  battle  : 


OF    THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


595 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  IRON-CLAD 
"  TENNESSEE.  " 

The  vessel  had  been  built  at  Mobile,  Alabama, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Messrs.  Pierce  and 
Kassett,  naval  constructors,  and  Mr.  Frick,  chief 
engineer  of  the  station. 

Hull.  The  hull  of  the  vessel  was  very  strongly 
built  in  every  part,  the  materials  being  oak  and 
vellow  pine,  with  iron  fastenings.  Length  from  stem 
to  stern  on  deck,  209  feet ;  greatest  breadth  of 
beam  on  deck,  48  feet;  mean  average  draught  of 
water  about  14  feet. 

The  deck  was  covered  fore  and  aft  with  wrought  - 
iron  plates,  two  inches  thick. 

The  sides  of  the  vessel  were  protected  by  an  over 
hang,  sponsoned,  and  covered  with  two  layers  of 
2 -inch  wrought -iron.  This  overhang  extended 
about  six  feet  below  the  water  line. 

The  sides  of  the  vessel  below  the  deck  were  eight 
feet  thick,  and  the  distance  from  the  knuckle  or 
outside  of  the  overhang  on  deck,  to  the  base  of  the 
casemate  on  either  side,  was  ten  feet.  The  vessel 
was  provided  with  a  strong  beak  or  prow,  which 
projected  about  two  feet  underwater,  formed  by  the 
continuation  of  the  sponsoning  and  covered  with 
wrought -iron  plates. 

The  Casemate  was  very  strongly  built.  J  t  was 
78  feet  8  inches  long,  and  28  feet  9  inches  wide  in 
side  the  sides  of  the  vessel  extending  ten  feet  Iroin 
it  on  either  side  at  the  greatest  breadth  of  beam. 

The  framing  consisted  of  heavy  yellow  pine 
beams,  13  inches  thick,  and  placed  close  together 
vertically.  Outside  planking  of  yellow  pine,  5i 


DIVGIUM  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  IRON-CLAD  RAM 
"TENNESSEE." 

inches  thick,  laid  on  horizontally  ;  and  outside  of 
this  horizontal  planking  there  was  a  layer  of  oak 
timber  4  inches  thick,  bolted  on  vertically,  upon 
which  the  iron  plating  was  secured. 

The  plating  or  armor  of  the  casemate  forward 
was  6  inches  thick,  consisting  of  three  2-inch  iron 
plates,  of  about  6  inches  wide  each,  and  abaft  and 
on  the  sides  5  inches  thick,  consisting  of  [two] 
2-inch  and  one  1-inch  iron  plate  of  the  same  width. 
The  yellow  pine  framing  of  the  casemate  was 
planked  over  inside  with  2.1-inch  oak  timber,  laid 
on  diagonally.  The  whole  of  the  armor  plating  was 
fastened  with  through  bolts,  U  inch  diameter,  with 
washers  and  nuts  inside. 

The  casemate  was  covered  on  top  with  wrought- 
iron  gratings  composed  of  bars  2  inches  thick  and 
6  inches  wide,  laid  flat,  and  supported  on  wooden 
beams  12  inches  square,  and  about  5  feet  distant 
from  each  other.  Some  of  these  gratings  were 
hinged  and  fitted  to  open  from  the  inside. 

There  were  ten  gun- ports  in  the  casemate,  three 
in  the  broadside  on  either  side,  two  forward  and 
two  aft,  The  forward  and  after  ports,  to  port  and 
starboard,  were  placed  so  as  to  enable  the  forward 
and  after  pivot-guns  to  be  used  as  broadside  guns. 
The  directly-forward  and  after-ports  were  on  a  line 
with  the  keel. 

The  ports  were  elongated  and  made  just  wide 
enough  for  the  entrance  of  the  muzzle  of  the  guns 
in  training,  and  only  high  enough  to  allow  a  moder 
ate  elevation  and  depression  of  the  gun. 

The  wooden  backing  was  cut  away  on  each  side 
of  the  ports  inside  of  the  casemate,  to  allow  the 
guns  to  be  trained  about  one  point  forward  and  aft. 
The  gun  ports  were  covered  with  wrought-iron 
sliding  plates  or  shutters  five  inches  thick;  those  for 
the  four  broadside  guns  were  fitted  in  slides.  The 


sliding  plates  or  shutters  for  the  pivot-guns  were 
pivoted  on  the  edge  with  one  bolt  that  could  be 
knocked  out,  detaching  the  shutter  if  necessary, 
and  were  worked  by  a  combination  of  racks  and 
pinions. 

Armament.  The  armament  of  the  "Tennes 
see"  consisted  of  six  rifled  guns,  Brooke's  rifles. 

The  two  pivot-guns  were  7.125-inch  bore,  and  the 
four  broadside  guns  were  6-inch  bore.  These  guns 
were  reinforced  at  the  breech  by  two  wrought-iron 
bands,  two  inches  thick  respectively.  Weight  of 
projectiles,  95  pounds  and  110  pounds,  solid  shot. 

The  pivot-guns  were  fitted  on  wooden  slides,  with 
a  rack  let  into  them.  On  an  arm  attached  to  the 
carriage  there  was  a  pinion  for  running  out  the  gun, 
and,  by  raising  the  arm,  the  rack  was  thrown  out 
of  gear  to  allow  the  gun  to  recoil. 

Quarters  for  Officers  and  Crew.  For  an  iron 
clad  vessel  the  cabin  was  large  and  comfortable. 
The  ward-room  was  situated  immediately  over  the 
engine,  and  was  open  to  it;  but  although  sufficiently 
commodious,  its  ventilation  was  so  bad,  and  the 
smell  arising  from  the  accumulation  of  bilge- water 
so  offensive,  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  for 
officers  or  others  to  preserve  their  health  or  to  live 
there  comfortably  for  any  length  of  time. 

The  quarters  of  the  crew  were  good  and  com 
fortable  for  an  iron-clad  vessel  of  her  description. 
They  consisted  of  a  roomy  berth-deck,  with  rooms 
fitted  up  on  either  side  for  the  junior  officers. 
When  in  port  the  crew  were  quartered  on  a  covered 
barge,  anchored  near  the  vessel. 

The  steering  arrangements  were  very  defective, 
nor  were  the  accommodations  for  the  pilot  and 
helmsman  good. 

Machinery.  The  machinery  of  the  vessel  consisted 
of  two  geared  non-condensing  engines.  Cylinders, 
24  inches  diameter  and  7  feet  stroke. 

These  engines  had  been  taken  out  of  the 
Alabama  River  steamer,  "  Alonzo  Child."  They 
were  placed  fore  and  aft  in  the  vessel,  geared  to  an 
idler-shaft  by  spur  gearing  with  wooden  teeth,  and 
from  the  idler-shaft  to  the  propeller-shaft  by  bevel 
cast-iron  gear. 

Boilers.  There  were  four  horizontal  flue  boilers, 
24  feet  long,  placed  side  by  side,  with  one  furnace 
under  the  whole  of  them  ;  the  products  of  com 
bustion  returning  through  the  flues  were  delivered 
into  one  smoke-pipe. 

The  engine  and  fire-rooms  were  insufferably  hot 
and  very  badly  ventilated. 

INJURIES  RECEIVED   IX  THE   ACTION. 

"  The  injuries  to  the  casemate  of  the  '  Tennessee ' 
from  shot  are  very  considerable.  On  its  after-side 
nearly  all  the  plating  is  started;  one  bolt  driven  in; 
several  nuts  knocked  off  inside;  gun-carriage  of  the 
after  pivot-gun  damaged,  and  the  steering  rod  or 
chain  cut  near  that  gun.  There  are  unmistakable 
marks  on  the  after-part  of  the  casemate  of  not  less 
than  nine  11-inch  solid  shot  having  struck  within 
the  space  of  a  few  square  feet  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  that  port.  On  the  port  side  of  the  case 
mate  the  armor  is  also  badly  damaged  from  shot. 

"  On  that  side  nearly  amidships  of  the  casemate, 
and  between  the  broadside  guns,  a  15-inch  solid 
shot  knocked  a  hole  through  the  armor  and  back 
ing,  leaving  on  the  inside  an  undetached  mass  of  oak 
and  pine  splinters,  about  three  by  four  feet,  and 
projecting  inside  of  the  casemate  about  two  feet 
from  the  side.  This  is  the  only  shot  that  penetrated 
the  wooden  backing  of  the  casemate,  although  there 
are  numerous  places  on  the  inside  giving  evidence 
of  the  effect  of  the  shot. 

"  There  are  visible  between  forty  and  fifty  inden 
tations  and  marks  of  shot  on  the  hull,  (leek  and  case 
mate,  varying  from  very  severe  to  slight ;  nine  of 
the  deepest  indentations  on  the  after-part  of  the  case 
mate  (evidently  being  11-inch  shot),  and  the  marks 
of  about  thirty  of  other  calibres  on  different  parts  of 
the  vessel. 


590 

"There  are  also  a  few  other  marks,  being,  how 
ever,  merely  scratches  or  slight  indentations  < 

P  "  The  smoke-stack  was  shot  away,  although  it  is 
not  i  mprobable  the  heavy  rauuui ng  by  the  Monon - 
gahela,'  'Lackawanna,'  and  the  'Hartford  had 
previously  prepared  it  for  its  fall. 

"  Three  of  the  wronght-iron  port  shutters  or  slides 
were  so  much  damaged  by  shot  as  to  prevent  the 
firing  of  the  guns. 

"  There  are  no  external  visible  marks  or  evidences 
of  injury  inflicted  upon  the  hull  of  the  '  Tennessee 
bv    the  severe   ramming   of   the    '  Monongahela, 
1  Lackawanna,'  and  '  Hartford  '  ;  but  inasmuch  as 
the  decks  leaked  badly,  and  when  there  is  a  moder 
ate  sea  running  in  the  bay,  her  reported  usual  leaK- 
age  of  three  inches  an  hour  being  now  increased  1 
five  or  six  inches  an  hour,  it  is  fairly  to  be  interred 
that  the  increased  leakage  is  caused  by  the  concus- 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


sion  of  the  vessels.  The  '  Tennessee '  is  in  a  state 
to  do  good  service  now.  To  restore  her  to  the 
state  of  efficiency  in  which  she  was  when  she  went 
into  action  with  this  fleet  on  the  5th  instant,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  overhaul  much  of  the  iron  plating 
on  the  port  and  after-sides  of  the  casemate,  and  re 
place  some  of  it. 

"  The  iron  gun-port  slides  or  shutters,  which  were 
damaged,  must  be  either  removed  or  repaired. 

"  A  new  smoke-stack  is  required,  and  additional 
ventilators  should  be  fitted. 

'•Blowers  are  required  to  produce  proper  ven 
tilation  in  the  engiue-rooin  and  on  the  berth- 
deck. 

"  When  these  small  repairs  and  additions  shall 
have  been  made,  the  iron-clad  '  Tennessee '  will  be 
a  most  formidable  vessel  for  harbor  and  river  ser 
vice,  and  for  operating  generally  in  smooth  water, 
both  offensively  and  defensively." 


WEST  GULF  SQUADRON,   JANUARY   IST,    1804. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  G.   FARRAGUT. 


CAPTAIN     PERCIVAL     DRAYTON,     FLE ET - C A PT AIN. 

[Vessels  and  Commanders  marked  with  a  *  were  in  the  Battle  of  Mobile  Bay.] 


*  STEAMER    "  HARTFORD  " — FLAG-SHIP. 

Captain,  Percival  Drayton,  at  Mobile ;  Lieuten 
ant-Commander,  L.  A.  Kimberly,  executive  officer 
at  Mobile  ;  Lieutenants,  H.  B.  Tyson  and  J.  C. 
Watson;  Fleet  Surgeon,  James  C.  Palmer:  Fleet 
Paymaster,  Edw.  T.  Dunn-  Surgeon,  John  J.  Gib 
son;  Assistant-Surgeon,  Wm.  Commons;  Paymas 
ter,  Wm.  T.  Merideth;  Marines:  Captain,  Charles 
Heywood  ;  First-Lieutenant,  C.  L.  Sherman;  En 
signs,  C.  D.  Jones  and  LaRue  P.  Adams ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  Wm.  H.  Whiting,  G.  D.  B.  Glidden,  C.  W. 
Snow  and  Geo.  Munday ;  Pilot,  Martin  Freeman ; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  J.  J.  Tinelli,  Wm.  H.  Hat- 
horne,  W.  H.  Childs,  R.  P.  Herrick,  G.  R.  A  very 
and  H.  Brownelh  Fleet  Engineer,  Win.  H.  Shock; 
Chief  Engineer,  Thorn  Williamson;  Second- Assist 
ants,  E.  B.  Latch,  F.  A.  Wilson,  Isaac  DeGraff, 
C.  M.  Burchard  and  John  Wilson;  Third- Assistants. 
J.  E.  Speights,  H.  L.  Pilkington  and  Alfred  Hoyt; 
Boatswain,  Robert  Dixon;  Gunner,  J.  L.  Staples: 
Carpenter,  O.  S.  Stimson;  Sailinaker,  T.  C.  Herbert. 

STEAMER   "PENSACOLA." 

Commodore,  Henry  H.  Bell,  commanding  squad 
ron  pro  tern.,'  Lieutenant -Commander,  Samuel  R. 
Franklin;  Lieutenants,  F.  V.  McNair  and  G.  W. 
Sumner  ;  Surgeon,  Win.  Lansdale  ;  Assistant-Sur 
geon,  W.  H.  Jones  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  H.  Stevenson;  Marines:  First-Lieutenant,  Norval 
L.  Nokes;  Acting-Masters,  F.  T.  King,  Thos.  An 
drews  and  S.  B.  Washburne;  Acting-Ensign,  V.  W. 
Jones;  Engineers:  First- Assistant,  John  Purdy,  Jr.; 
Second-Assistants,  A.  H.  Able  and  Alfred  Colin  ; 
Third-Assistants,  T.  W.  Fitch,  F.  C.  Burchard  and 
G.  W.  Baird;  Boatswain,  James  Herold;  Gunner, 
David  Roe;  Carpenter,  Edward  Cox;  Sailmaker, 
Chas.  Lawrence. 

STEAM-FRIGATE    "COLORADO." 

Commodore,  Henry  K.  Thatcher;  Lieutenants,  H. 
W.  Miller  and  Benj.  F.  Day;  Paymaster,  W.  H.  H. 
Williams;  Chaplain,  D.  X.  Junkin;  Assistant- 
Surgeons,  A.  W.  H.Hawkins  and  Matthew  Chal 
mers;  Marines:  Captain,  Geo.  R.  Graham;  Second- 
Lieutenant,  S.  C.  Adams;  Acting  Masters,  Thos. 
Hanrahan  and  Charles  Folsom  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Henry  A  very,  F.  P.  Bibles  and  B.  B.  Knowlton; 


Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  O.  Child,  C.  H.  Little- 
field,  W.  G.  Perry,  J.  L.  Vennardand  Leon  Bryant; 
Chief  Engineer,  R.  M.  Bartleman;  Acting-First-As 
sistant,  C.  W.  Penningtpn  ;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  G.  S.  Perkins;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  J. 
Lavery,  R.  Wallace  and  H.  B.  Green  ;  Boatswain, 
A.  M.  Pomeroy;  Gunner,  R.  H.  Cross;  Carpenter, 
John  A.  Dixon;  Sailmaker,  W.  N.  Maull. 

*  STEAMER   "OSSIPEE." 

Commander,  William  E.  LeRoy,  at  Mobile;  Cap 
tain,  John  P.  Gillis;  Lieutenant,  J.  A.  Howell;  Sur 
geon,  B.  F.  Gibbs  ;  Assistant-Surgeon,  G.  H.  E. 
Baumgarten;  Paymaster,  E.  Foster;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  C.  C.  Bunker;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  S.  Lambert, 
Chas.  Putnam,  C.  W.  Adams,  W.  A.  VanVleckand 
C.  E.  Clark  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  Wingood, 
W.  W.  Black  and  P.  P.  Hawkes;  Engineers :  Act 
ing-Chief,  J.  M.  Adams;  Acting-First-Assistant, Geo. 
L.  Harris;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  W.  Webb; 
Third -Assistants,  G.  W.  Kidder,  John  Mathews, 
Wm.  Collier,  W.  W.  Yanderbilt  and  James  Ger- 
mon;  Boatswain,  Andrew  Milne ;  Gunner,  J.  Q. 
Adams. 

*STEAMER   "RICHMOND." 

Captain,  Thornton  A.  Jenkins ;  Lieutenant- 
Commander,  Edward  Terry;  Surgeon,  L.  J.  Wil 
liams;  Assistant-Surgeon,  J.  D.  Murphy;  Paymaster, 
Edwin  Stewart;  First-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  S.  W. 
Powell;  Acting  Masters,  P.  S.  Borden  and  C.  J. 
Gibbs;  Ensign,  P.  H.  Cooper;  Acting-Ensigns,  J. 
F.  Beyer,  C.  M.  Chester  and  Lewis  Clark;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  Wm.  R.  Cox,  James  West,  T.  J. 
Warner  and  W.  C.  Seymour;  Chief  Engineer,  Jack 
son  McElmell  ;  First -Assistant,  E.  J.  Brooks; 
Second-Assistant,  A.  J.  Kenyon  ;  Third  Assistants, 
A.  J.  Kirby,  Robert  Weir,  James  Patterson,  John 
D.  Ford,  W.  H.  Crawford  and  C.  W.  C.  Senter; 
Boatswain,  I.  P.  Choate  ;  Gunner,  Wm.  Cheney; 
Carpenter,  H.  L  Dixon;  Sailmaker,  Wm.  Rogers. 

*  STEAMER   "LACKAWANNA." 

Captain,  John  B.  Marchand  ;  Lieutenants,  T.  C. 
Bovven  and  S.  A.  McCarty  ;  Surgeon,  Thomas  W. 
Leach;  Paymaster,  James  Fulton  ;  Acting-Master, 
Felix  McCurley;  Ensigns,  G.  H.  Wadleigh  and 
Frank  Wildes;  Acting-Ensign,  Geo.  T.  Chapman; 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


597 


Acting-Master's  Mates,  Charles  Welles  and  John 
Cannon;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  W.  A.  R.  Lati- 
iner;  Second  Assistants,  R.  H.  Gunnell  and  E.  J. 
Whittaker:  Third- Assistants,  G.  W.  Roche,  C.  P. 
Marsland,  B.  E.  Pike  and  I.  B.  Fort;  Boatswain, 
W.  E.  Leeds;  Gunner,  J.  G.  Foster. 

*  STEAMER    "  ITASCA." 

Lieutenant-  Commander,  George  Brown,  at  Mo 
bile;  Acting-Master,  Richard  Hustace;  Acting-En 
signs,  C.  H.  Hurd  and  James  Igo;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  Henry  Rock  wood;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  George  L.  Mead;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate, 
Henry  Myron  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -Assist 
ant,  M.  H.  Gerry;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  Owen 
Raney  and  George  C.  Irelan. 

NOTE. — List  not  given  in  Navy  Register  for  Jan 
uary,  and  is,  therefore,  incomplete. 

STOKE  SHIP    "POTOMAC.'' 

Commander,  Alex.  Gibson  ;  Assistant  -  Surgeon, 
Geo.  R.  Brush;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H. 
Wood:  Chaplain,  Robert  Given;  Captain  of  Marines, 
Geo.  W.  Collier;  Acting-Master,  Geo.  D.  Upham; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Edwin  Cressy  and  L.  B.  King  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  Whiting,  W.  H.  Metz 
and  James  Connell;  Gunner,  Henry  Hamilton;  Act 
ing-Carpenter,  John  C.  Hoffman. 

*  STEAMEB   "MONOXGAHELA." 

Commander,  James  H.  Strong ;  Lie'utenant, 
Roderick  Prentiss;  Surgeon,  David  Kindleberger; 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Forbes  Parker;  Acting- Mas 
ters,  Ezra  Leonard  and  Chas.  Higgins;  Ensign,  G.  M. 
Brown;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  D.  Sigsbee,  1).  W.  Mul 
len  and  H.  W.  Grinnell;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  W. 
S.  Armand;  Chief  Engineer,  Geo.  F.  Kutz;  Second- 
Assistants,  Joseph  Trilly  and  N.  B.  Clark;  Third- 
Assistants,  J.  J.  Bissett,  Edw.  Cheney,  P.  G.  East- 
wick  and  P.  J.  Langer;  Boatswain,  Win.  Green; 
Gunner,  J.  D.  Fletcher. 

*  STEAMEK    "METACOMET.' 

Lieutenant-Commander,  James  E.  Jouett,  at  Mo 
bile  ;  Acting  -  Masters,  Henry  J.  Sleeper,  N.  M. 
Dyer  and  C.  "NV.  Wilson ;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  C. 
Nields,  G.  E.  Wing,  John  White  and  John  O.  Morse; 
Act  ing- Assistant  Paymaster,  Horace  M.  Harriman; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Edw.  D.  Payne;  Acting-Master's 

Mates,  J.  K.  Goodwin, Miller,  Chas.   C.   Jones 

and  Henry  Wyman  ;  Engineers  :  First  -  Assistant, 
Jas.  Atkins  ;  Second-Assistant,  Joseph  Morgan  ; 
Acting  Third-Assistants,  S.  W.  King  and  George 
B.  Rodgers  ;  Acting  -  Gunners,  James  Lamen,  at 
Mobile,  and  Peter  McGovern  January  1). 

SLOOP-OF-WAR   "  PORTSMOUTH." 

Commander,  L.  C.  Sartori;  Assistant-Surgeon,  C. 
S.  Giberson;  Assistant  Paymaster,  Caspar  Schenck; 
First-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  W.  H.  Hale  ;  Acting- 
Masters,  G.  Richmond,  John  Wallace  and  Eben 
Hoyt;  Acting-Ensigns,  John  H.  Allen  and  Abraham 
Rich  ;  Act  ing- Master's  Mates,  T.  H.  Jenks,  W.  F. 
Buel  and  Samuel  Carpenter;  Boatswain,  John  Ross; 
Sailmaker,  L.  B.  Wakeman. 

*  STEAMEB  "  ONEIDA  " 

Commanders,  J.  R.  M.  Mullany,  at  Mobile,  and 
W.  E.  LeRoy;  Lieutenant,  C.  L.  Huntington  ;  Sur 
geon,  John  Y.  Taylor;  Paymaster,  C.  W.  Hassler; 
Acting-Masters,  Thomas  Edwards  and  Elijah  Rose; 
Ensign.  E.  N.  Kellogg;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  V.  Grid- 
ley  and  John  Sears  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Ed 
ward  Bird,  D.  H.  Clark  and  Chas.  Gainesford; 
Chief  Engineer,  Win.  H.  Hunt;  Second- Assistants, 
J.  H.  Morrison  and  R.  H.  Fitch  ;  Third- Assistants, 
W.  D.  Mcllvaine  and  C.  W.  Breaker:  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  W.  E.  Dearer  and  Nicholas  Dillon;  Boat 
swain,  H.  Dickinson;  Gunner,  Wm.  Parker. 

STEAMEB    "PRINCESS  BOYAL." 

Commander,  M.  B.  Woolsey  ;  Lieutenant,  C.  E. 
McKay;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  K.  Chandler; 


Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  T.  Morton;  Acting- 
Master,  F.  J.  Grover;  Acting-Ensigns,  T.  H.  Paine 
and  F.  A.  Miller;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Freeman 
Langly  and  W.  E.  Cannon;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Wm.  Huntley  ;  Acting  -  Second- 
Assistant.  W.  H.  Thompson ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  Andrew  Redmond,  Charles  Wolf  and  Peter 
Taylor. 

•STEAMEB  "SEMINOLE." 

Commanders,  E.  Donaldson,  at  Mobile,  and 
Henry  Rolando;  Lieutenant,  A.  T.  Mahan;  Sur 
geon,  Charles  Martin ;  Paymaster,  T.  T.  Caswell  ; 
Acting-Master,  C.  G.  Arthur;  Ensign,  G.  K.  Has- 
well;  Acting-Ensigns,  F.  A.  Cook,  G.  B.  Stevenson 
and  F.  Kempton  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  D.  K. 
Perkins,  J.  P.  Knowles  and  John  Dennett ;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  C.  B.  Babcock  ;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  A.  R.  Calden  ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  Wm.  Drinkwater,  G.  S.  Thurston.  P.  J. 
Hughes  and  H.  M.  Quig;  Boatswain,  Paul  Atkin 
son;  Acting-Gunner,  Wm.  H.  Herring. 

*STEAMER    "OCTOBARA." 

Lieutenant-Commanders,  C.  H.  Greene,  at  Mobile, 
and  W.  W.  Low;  Lieutenant,  C.  M.  Schoonmaker; 
Assistant-Surgeon,  E.  R.  Dodge;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  W.  H.  Higbee ;  Acting-Masters,  E.  A, 
Howell  andW.  D.  Urann;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  F. 
Hollis,  A.  R.  Jones  and  G.  H.  Dodge,  Jr.;  Engi 
neers:  First-Assistant,  J.  W.  Whittaker;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  W.  W.  Shipman;  Third- Assist 
ants,  C.  R.  Morgan  and  J.  G.  Cooper;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  Joseph  Knight. 

STEAMEB   "KANAWHA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Wm.  K.  Mayo;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  W.  Brigham  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  L.  L.  Penniman  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
L.  S.  Trickett,  W.  A.  Purdie  and  H.  Banks;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  R.  P.  Boss  and  James  Clark;  En 
gineers:  Second-Assistant,  Edward  Farmer;  Third- 
Assistants,  W.  S.  Cherry,  M.  M.  Murphy  and  M. 
W.  Mather. 

STEAMEB   "OENESEE." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Edward  C.  Graf  ton  ; 
Lieutenant,  Thomas  S.  Spencer  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  F.  Hutchinson;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  F.  C.  Alley;  Acting-Masters,  Wm.  Hanson 
and  C.  M.  Merchant;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  H.  Baxter 
and  E.  W.  Halcro;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  AV.  J. 
Crosby  and  John  Conner;  Engineers  :  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  John  Cahill:  Acting  Second-Assistant, 
C.  H.  Harrab;  Acting- Third -Assistants,  Christo 
pher  Milton,  Michael  McLaughlin  and  Henry 
Webster. 

*  STEAMEB   "GALENA." 

Lieutenant  Commander,  C.  H.  Wells,  at  Mobile; 
Acting-Volunteer- Lieutenant,  C.W.  Wilson;  Acting- 
Master,  D.  C.  Kells:  Acting-Ensigns,  Henry  Pease, 
Jr.,  and  S.  S.  Miner;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
George  P.  Wright ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
Theo.  S.  Kitchen  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Francis 
Tuttle,  Jas.  H.  Delano  and  O.  H.  Robbins  :  En 
gineers:  First-Assistant,  Wm.  H.  Buehler  :  Second- 
Assistants,  C.  H.  Greenleaf  and  J.  A.  Scott;  Acting- 
Third  -  Assistants,  Patrick  Burns  and  William 
Welcker;  Captain's  Clerk,  Lesley  G.  Morrow. 

STEAMEB   "  OWASCO." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  E.  W.  Henry;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon.  G.  H.  Van  Deusen;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  W.  B;  Colemaii;  Acting-Masters, 
E  A.  Terrill  and  T.  B.  Sears  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
T  H.  Baker,  W.  H.  Titcomb,  and  T.  McL.  Miller  ; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  R.  N.  Eldridge  ;  Engineers  : 
Second  -  Assistant,  F.  S.  Barlow  ;  Third  -  Assistant, 
B.  D.  Clemens;  Acting -Third -Assistants,  T.  H. 
Carton  and  James  Eccles. 


598 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


STEAMER   "  KATAHDIN. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  P.  C.Johnson;  Assistant- 
Surgeon,  Ira  Bragg;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  L. 
8.  Bradley;  Acting-Ensigns,  M.  W.  McEntee,  G.  A. 
Faunce,  P.  R.  Maclaurin  and  George  Leonard  ;  Act 
ing  Master's  Mate,  John  Leeds;  Engineers:  Second- 
Assistant,  T  W.  Rae;  Third-Assistants,  \V.  J.  Reed, 
W.  W.  Heaton,  John  Mclntyre  and  Thomas  Tuttle. 

*STEAMER   "POBT   EOYAL." 

Lieutenant -Commander,  Bancroft  Gherardi,  at 
Mobile;  Lieutenant-Commander,  George  U.  Morris; 
Acting-Assistant-Surgeon,  E.  R.  Hutchins  ;  Pay 
master,  G.  A.  Sawyer;  Acting-Masters,  E.  Van  Slyck 
and  Edward  Herrick;  Acting-Ensigns,  William  Hull 
and  Peter  Faunce ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  O. 
Tyson,  H.  D.  Baldwin  and  W.  A.  Prescott;  En 

flneers:  Second-Assistant,   W.   C.   Selden  ;    Third  - 
ssistants,  E.  M.  Breeze,  F.  B.  Allen,  Henry  Snyder 
and  W.  C.  F.  Reichenbach. 

STEAMEB   "CHOCITKA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Bancroft  Gherardi;  Act- 
ing-Asistant  Surgeon,  B.  F.  Hamell;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  E.  L.  Turner;  Acting-Master,  Alfred 
Washburn;  Acting-Ensigns,  D.  M.  Carver,  Robert 
Beardsley  and  T.  T.  Tracy;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
A.  P.  Atwood  and  Thomas  Kennedy;  Engineers: 
Second-Assistant,  H.  H.  Maloney;  Third-Assistants, 
Theodore  Cooper,  Andrew  Bly the  and  IS.  H.  Law- 
ton;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  O.  D.  Hughes. 


STEAMEB   *    PEMBINA. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  L.  H.  Newman;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  R.  Holmes;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Walter  Fuller;  Acting-Masters,  Bowen 
Allen  and  J.  W.  Saunders;  Acting-Ensigns,  William 
Lyddon,  B.  M.  Chester  and  Olof  Sandstrom;  Acting- 
Muster's  Mate,  H.  T.  Davis;  Engineers:  Second -As 
sistants.  T.  A.  Stephens  and  J.  W.  Sydney;  Third- 
Assistants,,  R.  M.  Hodgson,  J.  F.  Bingham  and 
C.  F.  Nagle. 

STEAMEB    "  PENOBSCOT." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  E.  K.  Benhani;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  C.  Sargent;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  F.  H.  Hininan;  Acting-Master,  C. 
E.  Jack;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  D.  Edwards,  F.  W. 
Hearn,  J.  B.  Fairchild  and  W.  G.  Campbell;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First- Assistant,  W.  M.  Rhodes;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  W.  C.  Barrett  and  A.  E.  McCon- 
nell ;  Third-Assistants,  Warren  Howland  and  J.  F. 
Plant. 

SLOOP-OF-WAB    "VINCENNES." 

Lieutenant  Commander,  C.  H.  Greene;  Assistant- 
Surgeon, G.  B.  Slough;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
Samuel  Jordan;  Acting-Masters,  J.  T.  Searer  and  A. 
E.  Hunter;  Acting  -  Boatswain,  A.  O.  Goodsoe; 
Gunner,  William  Wilson;  Sailmaker,  N.  Lynch. 

*STEAMEB    "KENNEBEC." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  W.  P.  McCann  ;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  C.  H.  Perry  ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  C.  L.  Burnet;  Acting-Master,  Edward 
Baker;  Acting-Ensigns,  A.  L.  Emerson,  J.  J.  But 
ler,  J.  D.  Ellis  and  H.  E.  Tinkham;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  H.  C.  Nields;  Engineers:  Third- Assistants,  B. 
C.  Gowing,  E.  E.  Roberts,  L,  W.  Robinson  and  G. 
R.  Holt. 

STEAMEB    "  PINOLA  " 

Lieutenant-Commander,  O.  F.  Stanton;  Assistant- 
Surgeon,  L.  M.  Lyon;  Acting -Assistant  Paymaster, 
A.  B.  Robinson;  Acting-Master,  W.  P.  Gibbs;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  C.  V.  Rummell,  G.  M.  Bogart  and  H. 
Crosby;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  J.  G.  Rosling;  Engi 
neers:  First-Assistant,  John  Johnson;  Third -Assist 
ants,  John  Everding,  F.  E.  Hosmer,  C.  O.  Farciot 
and  S.  A.  Appold. 


STEAMEB  "CAYUGA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Wm.  H.  Dana;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  E.  Parsons;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  J.  N.  Whiff  en;  Acting-Masters,  E.  D. 
Percy  and  John  Hanscom;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
F.  P.*  Stevens,  R.  O.  Longfare  and  I.  A.  Abbott; 
Engineers:  Second-Assistant,  J.  M.  Harris;  Third- 
Assistants,  W.  A.  H.  Allen,  J.  C.  Chaffee  and  Ralph 
Aston. 

STEAMEB    ' '  CALHOTTN  ." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Geo.  A.  Bigelow;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  D.  M.  Skinner;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  D.  W.  Riddle;  Acting-Ensigns.  J.  S.  Clark 
and  J.  M.  Chadwick;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  J.  L. 
Blauvelt,  J.  P.  Sturgin  and  J.  Mavo;  Engineers: 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  W.  H.  Brown,  F.  D.  Stu 
art,  Lucius  Harlow  and  Richard  Dwyer. 

STEAMEB    "ESTEELLA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  P.  Cooke ;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Thomas  Hiland  ;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  F.  J.  Painter ;  Acting-Master,  G.  P.  Pom- 
eroy;  Acting-Ensign,  W.  W.  Duley;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  W.  H.  Wetmore  and  Thomas  Kelly;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Second  Assistant,  R.  G.  Pope;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  G.  R.  Marble,  W.  D.  Pancake, 
J.  F.  Winters  and  John  Gilbert. 

»  STEAMEB   "NEW  LONDON." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Weld  N.  Allen;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  A.  Chadwick;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  H.  L.  Sturgis;  Acting-Ensigns,  Edward  Pen- 
dexter  and  Eugene  Biondi;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
Edward  Hennessy  and  Francis  Way;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second  Assistant,  H.  P.  Powers;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  Chas.  Haskins,  John  Dunlap  and 
James  Creery. 

STEAMEE     "ABOOSTOOK." 

Lieutenant -Commander,  Chester  Hatfield;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  H.  W.  Birkey ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  W.  L.  Pynchon  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  S. 
Russ  and  J.  Griffin  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  S. 
Bellows,  Wm.  Barker  and  Edw.  Culbert  ;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  C.  Cree;  Third- 
Assistants,  James  Entwistle,  Samuel  Gregg  and 
Nathan  Brown. 

STEAMEB    "SOIOTA." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  George  H.  Perkins; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  P.  Colby;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  C.  H.  Lockwood;  Acting- Master, 
B.  Van  Voorhis;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  S.  Beck,  S.  H. 
Bevins  and  Geo.  W.  Coffin  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
W.  A.  Osborne,  Charles  Atkins  and  Richard 
Graham;  Engineers:  Second-Assistant,  Horace  Mc- 
Murtrie;  Third-Assistants,  A.  H.  Price,  W.  F.  Pratt 
and  Daniel  Dod. 

STEAMEB    '•  ABKANSAS." 

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant,  David  Gate  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  D.  G.  Smith;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  E.  G.  Bishop;  Acting-Master, 
James  McDonald;  Acting-Ensigns,  B.  F.  Russell 
and  F.  H.  Beers;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  T.  S.  Ran 
som,  G.  F.  Carey  and  Roger  Farrill;  Engineers: 
Acting-First-Assistant,  James  Blenkinsop;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  S.  T.  Reeves  and  Benjamin  La 
Bree;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  James  Crooks. 

STEAMEB     "ALBATBOSS." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Theodore  B.  Du- 
Bois;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  I.  C.  Whitehead ; 
Acting- Assist  tint  Paymaster,  G.  R.  Martin;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  R.  E.  Anson  and  Alfred  Hornsby;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  James  Brown,  John  Clark  and  J. 
T.  Thompson  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant, 
J.  Tucker;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  H.  Slack, 
J.  Shields  and  J .  Pearce. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


500 


STEAMEB    "J.    P.   JACKSON. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  L.  W.  Pennington; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  S.  Yard ;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  C.  B.  Perry;  Acting-Masters,  M. 
B.  C  ro  well  and  J.  F.  Dearborn;  Acting-Ensign,  J. 
S.  Gellett ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Howard 
and  Jer.  Murphy  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second- 
Assistant,  J.  C.  Mockabee;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
J.  I).  Cadwell,  T.  W.  Harding  and  James  Lock- 
Wood. 

STEAMER    "VIRGINIA." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Charles  H.  Brown; 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  H.  Mason;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  C.  Bowman  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  L.  G.  Cook;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.  H.  Thomas.  J. 
H.  Rogers,  A.  F.  West  and  N.  A.  Blume;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  F.  E.  Brackett;  Engineers:  Acting; 
Second-Assistant,  S.  S.  Glass;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants.  E.  J.  Gillespie,  Charles  Goodwin  and  E.  M. 
Clark. 

STEAMER    "PENGUIN." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  James  R.  Beers  ; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  D.  White;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  T.  C.  Hutchinson  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  Tolford  Durham ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Charles 
Kriowles,  N.  S.  Haydenand  Benj.  Caullet;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  Charles  Smith,  Jr.,  F.  C.  Aluiy 
and  W.  A.  Hannah;  Engineers:  Acting-First-As 
sistant,  F.  W.  Warner  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
Milton  Randall ;  Acting- Third -Assistants,  John 
Webster,  Edw.  Reilly  and  DeWitt  C.  McBride. 

STEAMER    "TENNESSEE.'' 

Acting  -Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Pierre  Giraud  ; 
Assistant-Surgeon,  W.  C.  Hull ;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  B.  F.  D.  Fitch;  Acting-Master,  Geo.  E. 
Nelson;  Acting  Ensigns,  J.  B.  Trott,  W.  S.  Bacon 
and  Jos.  Marthon;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  H.  E. 
Giraud;  Engineers:  Acting- First- Assistant,  D. 
Frazer;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  E.  C.  Maloy;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  Thos.  Fitzgerald,  G.  W.  Kier- 
sted  and  Thomas  Campbell. 

BARK   "  W.   G.   ANDERSON." 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  John  A.  Johnstone; 
Acting-Asssistant  Surgeon,  T.  M.  Drummond;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  S.  Dabney;  Acting- 
Masters,  J.  F.  Winchester  and  A.  Cook ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  R.  H.  Cary,  A.  P.  Sampson,  S.  H.  New 
man  and  S.  A.  Brooks ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Rosville  Davis,  S.  C.  Heath,  Charles  Brown  and 
James  Morgan. 

BARK    "ARTHUR." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  T.  F.  Wade;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  E.  Mitchell ;  Acting- 
Masters,  W.  O.  Lundt  and  S.  Withington. 

BRIG   "BOHIO." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  W.  D.  Roath:  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  M.  Skillman  ;  Acting- 
Master,  W.  M.  Stannard;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  W. 
Baker  and  James  Sheppard. 

STEAMEB   "  ARIZONA." 

Acting -Master,  H.  Tibbetts  ;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  S.  H.  Weil ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
W.L.  Darling;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  J.  Butler  andWm. 
Harcourt;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Mallon  and 
T.  P.  Jones  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant, 
C.  H.  Harrington;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  W. 
Smyth  ;  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  E.  Fallon  and  L. 
Golden. 

STEAMER    "ANTONA." 

Acting-Master,  A.  L.  B.  Zerega;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  H.  M.  Whittemore;  Acting  Ensigns,  J. 
A.  Davis,  J.  F.  Perkins,  A.  L.  C.  Bowie  and  H.  L. 
Ransom:  Acting-Master's  Mate.  J.  P.  Cole:  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  W.  D.  Aclair:  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  R.  H.  Alexander,  Barna  Cook 
and  F.  A.  Hurd. 


STEAMER    "GRANITE  CITY." 

Acting-Masters,  C.  W.  Lamson  and  A.  H.  Atkin 
son  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  C.  Ver  Mulen  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  John  Reed ;  Acting 
Ensigns,  S.  R.  Tyrrell  and  A.  H.  Berry;  Acting  Mas 
ter's  Mates,  T.  R.  Marshall,  T.  E.  Ashmead  and  D. 
Hall;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  S.  Green; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  M.  Schryver,  J.  H. 
Rollins  and  R.  H.  Gordon. 

STEAMEB  "JASMINE." 

Acting-Master,  Win.  A.  Maine;  Acting-Ensign, 
F.  J.  Brenton;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  L.  E.  Heath 
and  F.  W.  Kimball;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-As 
sistant,  Samuel  Lemon;  Third-Assistant,  Jay  Dins- 
more;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  M.  Cheeney  and 
J.  H.  Pelton. 

STEAMEB   "HOLLYHOCK." 

Acting-Master,  Meltiah  Jordan;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Lewis  Milk  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  J.  F.  Butler;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Arthur 
Clements  and  S.  B.  Rannells;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  G.  S.  Prvor  and  Arthur  Irwin. 

STEAMEB    "COMMODORE."' 

Acting-Master,  John  R.  Hamilton;  Acting-Mas 
ters  Mates,  M.  G.  Nickerson  and  Richard  Seward; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Wm.  Connell, 
E.  A.  Hopkins  and  Sanford  Curran. 

STEAMEB    "  GERTRUDE." 

Acting-Master,  Henry  C.  Wade:  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  Adam  Shirk;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
R.  R.  Brawley;  Acting-Ensigns,  Fred  Newell,  Wm. 
Shepherd  and  Horace  Walton;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  C.  A.  Osborne,  Benj.  Leeds  and  T.  W.  Jones; 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  C.  P.  Maples; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  F.  C.  Murrey,  Philip  Ket- 
ler  and  J.  H.  Nesson. 

STEAMEB    "EUGENIE." 

Acting  -  Ensign,  N.  M.  Dyer;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  John  Locke  and  Edmund  Aiken;  Engineers: 
Acting -Second- Assistant,  Wm.  Morris;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  W.  L.  Wallace. 

SHIP   "FEAR-NOT." 

Acting-Master,  D.  S.  Murphy;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymasters,  T.  E.  Ryan  and  W.  C.  Cook;  Acting- 
Ensign,  M.  H.  Karlowski;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
C.  H.  Blount  and  H.  R.  Rome. 

SHIP   "  NIGHTINGALE." 

Acting-Master.  E.  D.  Bruner;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  JohnFlynn;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
H.  D.  Kimberly;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  T.  W. 
Stevens  and  Alonzo  Gowdy. 

SHIP    "KITTATINNY." 

Acting-Master,  I.  D.  Seyburn;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  A.  Depue ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Henry 
Jackson,  G.  H.  Barry,  X.  J.  Blasdell  and  W.  H. 
De  Grosse;  Acting-M'aster's  Mates,  J.  W.  Brown, 
W.  H.  Sprague  and  F.  A.  Johnson. 

SHIP  "PAMPERO." 

Acting-Masters,  F.  E.  Ellis  and  A.  H.  Mitchell; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  W.  Langley;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  S.  Wheeler. 

BARK   "  J.    C.    KUHN." 

Acting- Master,  John  F.  Hardin  ;  Acting-En 
signs,  J.  P.  Pearson  and  Alex.  Hanson. 

BABKENTINE    "HORACE  BEALS." 

Acting-Master,  D.  P.  Heath;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mate,  Francis  Keeiian;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
Ichabod  Norton. 

BRIG    "SEAFOAM." 

Acting- Master,  D.  C.  Woods;  Acting  -  Master'? 
Mate,  George  Woodland. 


600 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


YACHT    "  COBTPHETJS. 

Acting-Master,   Francis  H.   Grove;    Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  J.  H .  Gregory  and  H .  H .  Nicholson. 

SCHOONEB   "MARIA  WOOD  " 

Acting-Master,  S.  C.  Cruse;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  J. 
Kane;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Charles  Fort. 

SCHOONER   "ORVETTA." 

Acting-Master,  Enos  O.    Adams;  Ac  ting- Master's 
Mates,  John  Broe  and  Stephen  Nelson. 

SCHOONER    "JOHN   GRIFFITHS." 

Acting  -  Master,  Henry  Brown  ;   Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  Alex.  Moses  and  John  McAllister. 

SCHOONER   "SAMUEL  HOUSTON." 

Acting- Master,  C.  W.  Pratt. 


SCHOONER    "SARAH   BRTJEN." 

Acting-Master,  A.  Christian. 

SCHOONER   "HENRY  JANES." 

Acting-Ensign.  Joseph  A.  'Chadwick;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  T.  S.  Russell,  Zach.  Predmore  and  Wm. 
Roberts. 

SCHOONER    "OLIVER   H.    LEE." 

Acting-Ensign,  Douglas  F.  O'Brien;  Acting- Mas 
ter's  Mate,  Cornelius  Dailey. 

NAVAL  STATION,  NEW  ORLEANS,  LA. 

Acting-Master,  Adrien  C.  Starrett. 

NAVAL   HOSPITAL. 

Surgeon,  J.  S.  Dungan;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  H. 
Clark;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Went- 
worth. 

SOUTHWEST   PASS. 

Acting- Master,  William  Jones. 


THE  FOLLOWING   OFFICERS  PARTICIPATED   IN   THE   BATTLE 

OF  MOBILE   BAY. 


This  list  has  been  compiled  from  the  official  reports  of  the  battle.     The  Navy  Register  for  January  1,  1864,  does  not  give  them  as  part  of  the 
West  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron,  and  they  were,  therefore,  omitted  in  their  proper  places. 


FLAG-SHIP   "HARTFORD." 

Lieutenant,  A.  R.  Yates,  Volunteer  from  the 
"Augusta";  Ensign,  Wm.  Starr  Dana;  Acting- 
Ensign,  R.  D.  Bogart ;  Acting  -  Ensign,  Joseph 
Marthon  r'  Tennessee  ");  Surgeon,  Philip  Lansdale  ; 
Acting- Assisting  Engineer,  Wm.  G.  McEwan  ;  Ad 
miral's  Secretary,  A.  McKinley  ;  Carpenter,  George 
E.  Burcham. 

"LACK  A  WANNA." 

Acting-Master,  John  H.  Allen  ;  Ensign,  Clarence 
Rathbone  ;  First  -  Assistant  Engineer,  James  W. 
Whittaker. 

"  MONONGAHELA." 

Lieutenant,  Oliver  A.  Batcheller  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
J.  D.  Ellis,  (."Kennebec.") 

"OCTORARA." 

Acting-Masters,  H.  R.  Billings  ("Vincennes")  and 
Horace  S.  Young ;  Acting-Ensign,  Maurice  W.  Mc- 
Entee  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Pyn- 
chon ;  Acting-First-Assistant  Engineer,  Wm.  W. 
Shipman  had  charge  of  Engineer's  Department. 

"KENNEBEC." 

Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  W.  Hatch. 

"  ONEIDA." 

Lieutenant,  Chas.  S.  Cotton  ;  Acting-Ensign, — 
Hall  ;  Acting- Master's   Mate,  John  Devereux  ;  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  R.  Martin  •  Pilot,  John  V ' . 
Grivet ;  Paymaster's  Clerk,  W.  P.  Treadwell ;  Cap 
tain's  Clerk,  G.  A.  Ebbetts. 

"MANHATTAN." 

Commander,  J.  W.  A.  Nicholson;  Lieutenant, 
C.  M.  Schoonmaker ;  Acting- Master,  Robert  B. 
Ely  ;  Acting  Ensign,  John  B.  Trott ;  Acting-First- 
Assistant  Engineer,  Chas.  L.  Carty.  [NOTE. — A 
more  complete  list  cannot  be  obtained.] 


"  TECUMSEH." 

*Commander,  Tunis  A.  M.  Craven  ;  *Lieutenant, 
J.  W.  Kelly  ;  Acting  Master,  C.  F.  Langley  ;  Acting- 
Master,  Gardner  Cottrell  :  Acting-Ensign,  John 
J.  P.  Zettick  ;  'Acting  Ensign,  Robert  Price  ;  *Act- 
ing  Ensign,  Walter  L.  Titcomb  ;  Pilot,  John  Col 
lins  ;  *Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  George  Work ; 
*Chief  Engineer,  John  Farron  ;  *Second-Assistant 
Engineers,  Elisha  Harsen,  F.  S.  Barlow  arid  H.  L. 
Leonard.  [*Drowned  by  sinking  of  "  Tecumseh/'j 

"BROOKLYN." 

Captain,  James  Alden  ;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
E.  P.  Lull ;  Lieutenants,  Thomas  L.  Swann  and 
Chas.  F.  Blake  ;  Ensigns,  Douglass  R.  Cassell, 
Chas.  D.  Sigsbee  and  C.  H.  Pendleton  ;  Acting-En 
sign,  John  Utter;  Chief  Engineer,  Mortimer  Kel 
logg  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant  Engineer,  H.  H. 
Arthur  ;  Surgeon,  George  Maulsby  ;  Captain  of  Ma 
rines,  G.  P.  Houston ;  Captain,  E.  Denicke,  U.  S. 
A.  (Signal  Officer):  Pilot,  Christopher  Lawrence; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm.  H.  Cook,  F.  C.  Dun 
can  and  A.  L.  Stevens  ;  Paymaster's  Clerk,  — 
Baker;  Boatswain,  Chas.  A.  Bragdon ;  Acting- 
Gunner,  John  Quevedo;  Carpenter,  R.  G.  Thomas; 
Sailmaker,  D.  C.  Bray  ton.  [NOTE. — A  more  com 
plete  list  cannot  be  obtained.] 

"  WINNEBAGO." 

Commander,  Thomas  H.  Stevens  ;  Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant,  Wm.  T.  Shankland  ;  First- Assist 
ant  Engineer,  JohnPurdy  ;  Pilot,  Wm.  H.  Wroten; 
Acting-Gunner,  Robert  Sherman.  [NOTE. — A  more 
complete  list  cannot  be  obtained.] 
"CHICKASAW." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Geo.  H.  Perkins  ;  Act 
ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  William  Hamilton  :  Act 
ing  Master,  E.  D.  Percy ;  Gunner,  J.  A.  McDonald. 
[NOTE.  —  A  more  complete  list  cannot  be  ob 
tained.] 


CH  A  PTER     XLV. 


THE   CRUISE   OF    THE   "SUMTER"   AND   THE   HAVOC    SHE    COMMITTED. 

GRANTING  BELLIGERENT  RIGHTS.—  THE  POLICY  OF  ENGLAND  AND  FRANCE. —  SEMMES' 
REPUTATION. — THE  COMMISSIONING  OF  THE  "SUMTER,"  THE  FIRST  CONFEDERATE  SHIP- 
OF-WAR. — THE  "  SUMTER''  RUNS  THE  BLOCKADE  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  PURSUED  BY  THE 
•'BROOKLYN." — SEMMES  DISPLAYS  THE  BRITISH  ENSIGN. —  THE  MERCHANT  -  SHIP 
"  GOLDEN  ROCKET  "  CAPTURED  AND  BURNED  OFF  ISLE  OF  PINES. — A  BRILLIANT  SCENE. 
—CAPTURE  OF  Two  BRIGANTINES;  ONE  ESCAPES,  THE  OTHER  TAKEN  INTO  THE  HARBOR 
OF  ClENFUEGOS. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "BEN  DUNNING,"  "ALBERT  ADAMS,"  "WEST 
WIND,"  "LOUISA  KILLUM,"  AND  "  NAIAD."- -THE  PRIZES  TAKEN  TO  CIENFUEGOS, 
AND  RELEASED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  SPANISH  AUTHORITIES. — SEMMES'  LETTER  TO  THE 
GOVERNOR. — THE  GOVERNOR  OF  CURACOA  BROUGHT  TO  TERMS  BY  THE  EXPLOSION  OF 
A  SHELL. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "ABBY  BRADFORD." — PUERTO  CABELLO,  AND  WHAT  OC 
CURRED  THERE.  —  THE  "ABBY  BRADFORD"  RECAPTURED  BY  THE  U.  S.  STEAMER 
"POWHATAN." — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "JOSEPH  MAXWELL." — PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  PROC 
LAMATION.  --  THE  "  SUMTER  "  AT  THE  ISLAND  OF  TRINIDAD.  —  SEMMES'  ABSOLUTE 
AUTHORITY. — ORDER  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. — THE  "SUMTER  "AT 
CAYENNE  AND  PARAMARIBO  — THE  "POWHATAN"  IN  CLOSE  PURSUIT. —  THE  "SUMTER" 
THOROUGHLY  EQUIPS  AT  MARANHAM. — THE  GOVERNOR'S  COURTESY  TO  SEMMES.— 
DISCOURTESY  SHOWN  TO  THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE  U.  S.  STEAMER  "  POWHATAN." — THE 
"JOSEPH  PARKE"  CAPTURED  AND  BURNED. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  SCHOONER  "DANIEL 
TROWBRIDGE." — THE  "SUMTER"  AT  MARTINIQUE. — U.  S.  STEAMER  "!ROQUOIS"  BLOCK 
ADES  THE  "  SUMTER."- -  THE  "SUMTER"  ESCAPES. —  CAPTURE  OF  THE  "ARCADIA," 
"  VIGILANT,"  AND  "  EBENEZER  DODGE." — THE  "  SUMTER  "  CROSSES  THE  ATLANTIC. — AR 
RIVAL  AT  CADIZ. — ORDERED  TO  LEAVE. — THE  SHIPS  "  NEAPOLITAN"  AND  "  INVESTIGA 
TOR"  CAPTURED  AND  BURNED. — THE  "SUMTER"  AT  GIBRALTAR. — CROWDED  WITH 
VISITORS. — THE  "SUMTER"  IN  TROUBLE.— CORRESPONDENCE  BETWEEN  SEMMES  AND 
THE  AUTHORITIES.— SEMMES'  PAYMASTER  ARRESTED. — THE  "SUMTER"  LAID  UP  AND 
SOLD. 


IN  granting  belligerent  rights  to  the 
Confederates,  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment  not  only  yielded  the  claim 
that  the  secessionists  were  merely 
armed  insurgents,  but  also  yielded  the  right 
to  the  latter  to  fit  out  cruisers  to  prey  on 
Northern  commerce,  for  it  was  impossible 
to  prescribe  a  mode  of  warfare  for  the 
Confederates  to  adopt.  This  view  was  also 
taken  by  the  leading  nations  of  Europe, 
who  gave  in  many  instances  all  the  aid  and 
comfort  to  the  Confederate  cruisers  it  was 
possible  to  extend.  England  permitted  the 
Confederates  to  build  and  equip  vessels  in 
her  ports  and  enlist  English  seamen,  and 
they  allowed  the  cruisers  to  roam  at  will 


over  the  ocean,  plundering    and    destroy 
ing  Federal  merchant-ships. 

Whether  this  policy  of  the  British  Gov 
ernment  will  be  of  any  benefit  to  Great 
Britain  in  the  end  is  doubtful,  for,  in 
case  she  should  become  involved  in  war, 
the  same  tactics,  which  were  so  effective 
against  the  United  States,  might  be  made 
even  more  disastrous  to  herself.  The  cap 
tures  by  these  Confederate  cruisers  were 
finally  paid  for  by  the  British  Government, 
but  such  payments  can  only  partially  com 
pensate  the  ship-owners  or  the  country. 
The  greatest  damage,  the  interruption  or 
destruction  of  trade,  and  the  expense  to 
which  the  United  States  Government  was 


(601) 


602 


THE   NAVAL    HISTORY 


put  in  pursuing  the  cruisers,  was  never 
taken  into  account.  No  one  seemed  to 
think  of  the  encouragement  this  wholesale 
destruction  of  American  commerce  gave 
the  Confederates,  who  depended  as  much 
on  that  circumstance  to  bring  about  a  peace 
as  they  did  upon  their  armies. 

In  "recognizing  these  cruisers,  Great 
Britain  and  France  were  encouraging  a 
kind  of  predatory  warfare  unknown  in 
recent  days.  The* Confederates,  having  no 
ports  into  which  to  send  their  prizes,  burned 
or  sank  them  wherever  taken,  so  that  their 
course  was  marked  by  burning  hulls  and 


and  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  give  a 
sketch  of  his  career. 

While  in  the  United  States  Navy,  Semmes 
had  little  reputation  as  an  officer.  He  had 
no  particular  taste  for  his  profession,  but 
had  a  fondness  for  literature  and  was  a  good 
talker  and  writer.  He  made  a  study  of  the 
law,  and  had  he  devoted  himself  to  the  legal 
profession  would  doubtless  have  been  very 
successful.  He  was  indolent  and  fond  of 
his  comfort,  so  that  altogether  his  associ 
ates  in  the  Navy  gave  him  credit  for  very 
little  energy. 

What  was,  then,  the  astonishment  of  his 


COMMANDER  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  RAPHAEL  SEMMES,  C.  S.  NAVY. 


floating  debris.  Their  Courts  of  Admiralty 
were  on  the  high  seas,  and  the  commanding 
officers  were  the  judges  whether  to  destroy 
vessel  and  cargo  or  to  transfer  the  latter  to 
their  own  holds.  Whether  portions  of  val 
uable  cargoes  were  sold  in  neutral  ports,  for 
the  purpose  of  procuring  coal  and  other 
supplies,  is  a  point  not  fully  ascertained  ; 
but  it  is  not  likely  that  men  in  command 
of  cruisers,  whose  legality  was  somewhat 
doubtful,  should  be  over-scrupulous  of  the 
means  by  which  to  carry  out  their  cherished 
objects. 

Captain  Raphael  Semmes,  in  the  "  Ala 
bama,"  was  perhaps  the  most  vindictive  of 
all  the  officers  of  the  Confederate  Navy, 


old  companions  to  find  that  Semmes  was 
pursuing  a  course  that  required  the  great 
est  skill  and  vigor ;  for  there  never  was  a 
naval  commander  who  in  so  short  a  time 
committed  such  depredations  on  an  enemy's 
commerce,  or  who  so  successfully  eluded 
the  vessels  sent  in  pursuit  of  him,  up  to  the 
time  of  the  sinking  of  the  "  Alabama." 

Semmes  was  the  last  man  to  have  em 
barked  in  the  business  of  destroying  North 
ern  commerce,  for  during  his  service  in  the 
war  with  Mexico  he  wrote  an  interesting 
book,  giving  an  insight  into  the  character 
of  the  Mexican  people.  At  the  time  of  his 
writing  this  book,  the  Mexican  Government 
was  discussing  the  project  of  issuing  letters 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


of  marque  to  vessels,  authorizing  them  to 
prey  upon  the  commerce  of  the  United 
States.  Lieutenant  Semmes  took  the  ground 
that  all  such  cruisers  should  be  treated  as 
pirates,  since  they  had  no  ports  into  which 
they  could  take  captured  vessels,  but  must 
destroy  them  on  the  high  seas.  The  events 
of  1801-65  changed  Semmes'  opinions,  and 
the  convictions  he  so  strongly  maintained 
ii])  to  the  year  1861  vanished  when  he  was 
offered  a  vessel  by  which  he  could  inflict 
damage  on  Unitecl  States  commerce,  with 
the  prospect  of  high  reward  in  the  future 
for  his  services  in  burning  and  sinking. 

We  wish,  in  our  narrative,  to  be  just  to 
all  parties,  but  we  cannot  justify  Semmes' 
course,  even  although  he  may  have  had  a 
shadow  of  international  law  to  plead  in  his 
defence.  He  might  have  joined  the  Southern 
Army  or  Navy,  as  many  others  did,  and 
fought  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability,  and  no 
thing  would  now  be  laid  against  him;  but  for 
a  man  born  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and 
who  had  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  to 
middle  age  in  holding  himself  ready  to  de 
fend  the  flag,  to  turn  and  bend  all  his  ener 
gies  to  the  destruction  of  Federal  unarmed 
merchant  vessels,  there  seems  to  be  no  jus 
tification.  It  would  have  been  better  to 
have  left  that  part  of  the  Confederate  war 
operations  to  some  of  the  enthusiastic  mer 
chant  captains  of  the  South  who  honestly 
believed  in  the  secession  theory,  and  were 
not  bound  by  a  solemn  oath  to  support  the 
Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States. 

Commander  Semmes  asserted  that  he  with 
drew  his  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United 
States  because  he  considered  the  Southern 
States  had  a  right  to  dissolve  partnership 
with  those  of  the  North.  He  believed  the 
South  to  have  had  greater  justification  than 
had  the  United  Colonies  when  they  declared 
their  independence  of  Great  Britain.  The 
South  had  no  actual  grievances.  They 
wished  to  extend  their  slave  system,  which 
was  objected  to  by  the  North,  and  by  the 
election  of  a  Republican  President  they 
were  ruled  out  of  power  held  for  twenty 
years,  and  given  to  understand  that  there 
should  be  no  further  extension  of  slavery, 
which  the  vast  majority  of  Northern  people 
considered  a  blot  on  our  escutcheon. 

It  was  Semmes'  duty  as  an  officer  of  the 
Government  to  help  put  down  insurrection 
in  whatever  quarter  or  in  whatever  shape 
it  might  appear,  for  armies  and  navies  are 
intended  for  such  purposes  as  well  as  for 
carrying  on  war  with  foreign  enemies. 
What  would  become  of  any  Government  in 
Europe  if,  at  the  breaking  out  of  an  insur 
rection,  the  military  forces  should  object  to 
serving  against  their  compatriots  ?  An 
officer  of  the  Army  or  Navy  who  has  en 
gaged  to  support  the  de  facto  Government 
of  the  country  can  lay  no  claim  to  allegi 


ance  to  State  or  city,  and  if  he  violates  his 
oath  to  support  the  Government  he  sim 
ply  becomes  a  traitor  and  liable  to  the  pen 
alty  of  death.  Commander  Semmes  could 
hardly  have  expected  to  draw  fifty  thou 
sand  dollars  or  more  in  pay  from  the  United 
States  Government — which  is  about  the 
amount  he  received  up  to  the  date  of  his 
resignation — and  then  at  the  first  speck  of 
trouble  go  off  and  fight  against  it.  His  case 
is  much  worse  than  that  of  a  private 
citizen  whose  interests  are  bound  up  in  a 
particular  locality,  and  who  owes  no  special 
allegiance  to  the  General  Government  ex 
cept  such  as  may  be  dictated  by  the  im 
pulses  of  patriotism. 

Being  a  native  of  Maryland,  Semmes  had 
not  even  the  excuse  of  siding  with  his  State, 
for  if  he  had  he  would  have  fought  against 
the  South.  This  difficulty  he  easily  skips 
over  by  claimingto  be  a  citizen  of  Alabama, 
yet  he  stigmatizes,  as  "traitors  to  their 
States  "  officers  of  Southern  birth  who  re 
mained  loyal  to  the  Union.  Semmes  has 
published  what  he  doubtless  considered  a 
masterly  argument  in  defence  of  his  cause; 
but,  although  he  speaks  of  Webster  and 
Story  with  great  contempt,  he  was  hardly 
equal  to  either  of  them  as  a  constitutional 
lawyer,  and  the  secession  fallacy  has  been 
so  thoroughly  exposed  that  we  have  no  fears 
of  another  civil  war  based  on  State  Rights 
theories. 

Commander  Semmes  resigned  his  com 
mission  in  the  United  States  Navy  on  the 
15th  of  February,  1861,  and  made  'the  best 
of  his  way  to  the  capitpl  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy,  temporarily  fixed  at  Mont 
gomery,  Alabama.  On  his  arrival  he  put 
himself  in  communication  with  Mr.  Conrad. 
Chairman  of  the  Confederate  States  Naval 
Committee,  and  when  President  Davis 
reached  the  city,  a  few  days  afterwards, 
offered  his  services  to  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment.  They  were  at  once  accepted,  and 
Semmes  proceeded  to  Washington,  after  a 
visit  to  Richmond  and  Harper's  Ferry,  to 
ascertain  the  character  of  certain  ma 
chinery  at  the  latter  place,  in  anticipation 
of  the  enlargement  of  the  Tredagar  Works 
at  Richmond,  for  the  South  meant  war  from 
the  beginning,  in  case  of  any  attempt  on 
the  part  of  the  Northern  States  to  prevent 
them  from  carrying  out  their  designs. 

When  the  Confederate  Government  had 
been  fairly  organized,  they  found  them 
selves  badly  supplied  with  materials  from 
which  to  improvise  a  Navy,  and  Semmes 
here  made  himself  useful,  being  the  first  to 
propose  "  a  well-organized  system  of  pri 
vate  armed  ships  called  privateers."  Mr. 
Mallory.  the  Confederate  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  readily  agreed  to  all  that  Commander 
Semmes  proposed  ;  for  the  latter,  being 
much  the  cleverer  man  of  the  two,  provided 


004 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


the  Secretary  with  ideas  which  he  was  only 
too  willing  to  accept. 

A  Board  of  Confederate  naval  officers  as 
sembled  in  New  Orleans  charged  with  the 
duty  of  procuring,  as  speedily  as  possible, 
some  swift,  light-armed  steamers  that  could 
be  used  to  prey  upon  Northern  commerce  ; 
and  the  Federal  Navy  was  in  such  a  dis 
organized  condition  that  the  Confederate 
Government  might  well  feel  secure  in 
sending  out  these  light  cruisers,  for  they 
would  hardly  meet  with  any  interference 
until  they  had  swept  the  whole  Northern 
coast. 

Several  vessels  were  examined  by  the 
Board,  among  them  was  a  500-ton  sea- 
steamer  with  a  speed  of  ten  knots,  but  with 
capacity  for  but  five  days'  coal,  and  with  no 
accommodations  for  the  crew  required  by  a 
vessel-of-war.  She  was  condemned  by  the 
Board,  and  the  report  sent  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  who  showed  it  to  Commander 
Semmes.  The  latter  at  once  exclaimed : 
"  Give  me  that  ship,  I  think  I  can  make  her 
answer  the  purpose."  The  request  was 
granted,  and  officers  were  at  once  detailed 
to  accompany  Semmes  on  his  cruise  for  the 
destruction  of  Northern  commerce. 

Semmes  was  certainly  the  very  man  the 
Confederates  wanted  for  the  occasion.  He 
manifested  no  doubts  of  success  with  the 
vessel,  and  seemed  to  have  no  fear  of  the 
consequences.  The  inertness  he  had  dis 
played  while  in  the  United  States  Navy 
had  disappearad  ;  he  had  become  a  new 
man.  "The  labors  and  associations  of  a 
lifetime  had  been  inscribed  in  a  volume 
that  had  been  closed,  and  a  new  book, 
whose  pages  were  as  yet  all  blank,  had 
been  opened."  Semmes'  volume,  we  might 
also  add,  though  containing  matter  suffi 
cient  for  a  dozen  books,  embraced  not 
an  account  of  one  act  of  bravery  or  gen 
erosity,  but  only  records  of  burning,  sink 
ing,  and  destroying,  worthy  of  the  bucca 
neers. 

Semmes  was  appointed  to  command  the 
"  Sumter  "  with  the  rank  of  commander, 
the  same  rank  that  he  had  held  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  for  the  Confederates 
were  slow  in  conferring  increased  rank 
until  sure  that  their  officers  had  earned  a 
reward.  The  following  order  from  Mr. 
Mallory  was  sent  to  Semmes  the  day  after 
his  interview  with  that  gentlemen  : 

CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 
MONTGOMERY,  April  18,  1861. 
SIR  —  You  are  hereby  detached  from  duty   as 
Chief  of  the  Light-house  Bureau,  and  will  proceed 
to  New  Orleans  and  take  command  of  the  steamer 
"  Sumter"— named  in  honor  of  our  recent  victory 
over  Fort  Sumter.      The   following  officers  have 
been  ordered  to  report  to  you  for  duty  :    Lieuten 
ants  John  M.  Kell,  R.  T.  Chapman,  J.  M.   Stribling 
and  William  T.  Evans  ;  Paymaster  Henry  Myers  : 
Surgeon  Francis  L.   Gait  ;    Midshipmen    Wm.    A. 


Hicks,  Richard  F.  Armstrong,  Albert   G.  Hudgins, 
John  F.  Holden  and  Joseph  D.  Wilson. 
I  am  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
S.  R.  MALLORY, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  Semmes  took  com 
mand  of  his  vessel  in  New  Orleans.  The 
"  Sumter  "  was  simply  a  coasting  steamer, 
cumbered  with  upper  cabins,  and  with  ap 
parently  none  of  the  attributes  of  a  ship- 
of-war.  Who  would  imagine  that  so  much 
harm  lurked  in  that  frail  vessel  ?  though 
her  graceful  lines  and  jaunty  air  pleased 
her  commander,  who  seemed  to  have  had 
a  vivid  idea  of  the  destruction  he  could 
accomplish  with  this  little  craft. 

Frenchmen  are  popularly  supposed  to  be 
prone  to  revolution,  and  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  French  population  of  Louisiana  had 
been  early  excited  at  the  idea  of  the  seces 
sion  of  the  Southern  States.  Almost  im 
mediately,  preparations  were  made  by  un 
authorized  persons  to  prey  upon  United 
States  commerce,  and  several  vessels  were 
captured  and  taken  to  New  Orleans.  The 
Federal  Government  became  alarmed  at 
the  probable  consequences  of  a  wholesale 
system  of  privateering,  and  President  Lin 
coln  at  once  issued  his  Proclamation. 

As  soon  as  it  became  evident  that  hos 
tilities  had  broken  out  between  the  United 
States  and  the  seceding  members  of  the 
Union,  European  Governments,  with  singu 
lar  unanimity,  declared  their  neutrality  be 
tween  the  contending  parties,  and  their 
intention  to  treat  both  alike  ;  viz. ,  that 
neither  United  States  nor  Confederate 
cruisers  should  take  their  prizes  into  neu 
tral  ports.  At  first  sight,  this  looked  like  a 
concession  to  the  United  States,  as  it  ex 
cluded  Confederate  prizes  from  European 
ports ;  but  it  was  really  the  other  way, 
since  it  recognized  the  Confederates  as  bel 
ligerents.  Commander  Semmes  was  shrewd 
enough  to  know  what  this  arrangement 
portended,  and  such  was  his  confidence 
that  he  made  a  requisition  before  sailing 
simply  for  the  modest  amount  of  ten  thou 
sand  dollars,  saying,  "  This  will  suffice 
until  I  have  the  opportunity  of  replenishing 
my  military  chest  from  the  enemy."  How 
readily  he  adopted  that  word  "enemy," 
when  scarcely  three  months  from  the  ser 
vice  of  the  Government  that  had  fostered 
him  for  thirty-six  years  !  We  may  be  too 
sentimental  on  this  point,  but,  no  doubt, 
our  feelings  will  be  shared  by  many  of  our 
readers. 

There  was  no  end  to  Semmes'  trials  and 
disappointments  in  his  task  of  fitting  out 
the  "Sumter,  "and  the  patience  and  energy 
he  exhibited  were  worthy  of  a  better  cause. 
On  June  3d,  1861,  the  ship  was  put  in  com 
mission,  and  her  commander  gazed  proudly 
on  the  "  Stars  and  Bars  "  floating  from  her 
peak.  Having  received  his  sailing  orders, 


OF   THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


605 


Semmes  dropped  down  to  the  forts  prepara 
tory  to  getting  to  sea  past  the  blockading 
vessels  at  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi — the 
"Powhatan,"  Lieutenant  D.  D.  Porter,  at 
Southwest  Pass,  and  the  "Brooklyn."  Com 
mander  Charles  H.  Poor,  at  Pass  a  1'Outre. 
Semmes'  sailing  orders  were  brief  and  to  the 
purpose.  He  was  to  burn,  sink  and  destroy, 
within  the  limits  prescribed  by  the  laws  of 
nations,  and  with  due  attention  to  the  laws 
of  humanity.  After  long  watching  and 
waiting,  Semmes  made  his  escape  to  sea  by 
the  Pass  a  FOutre,  while  the  "Brooklyn" 
was  absent  from  that  mouth  of  the  river  in 
chase  of  a  vessel  some  eight  miles  to  west 
ward.  As  soon  as  the  black  smoke  of  the 
"  Sumter"  was  seen  coming  down  the  river, 
the  "Brooklyn"  started  to  return  to  her 
anchorage,  and  had  nearly  the  same  dis 
tance  as  the  "  Sumter"  to  run  before  reach 
ing  the  bar,  but  the  latter  vessel  had  the  ad 
vantage  of  a  four-knot  current  in  her  favor, 
while  the  "Brooklyn"  had  the  current 
against  her. 

The  "Sumter  "  with  a  skillful  pilot  passed 
the  bar  while  the  "Brooklyn"  was  three 
and  a  half  miles  distant  from  it,  and  out 
of  gun-shot.  The  engineers  and  firemen 
of  both  vessels  did  their  whole  duty,  and 
thick  volumes  of  smoke  poured  from  the 
chimneys.  The  "Sumter"  went  off  at  the 
rate  of  nine  and  a  half  knots,  while  the 
"  Brooklyn,"  to  assist  her  speed,  set  every 
sail  that  would  draw.  The  "Sumter"  also 
set  her  sails,  bracing  them  up  sharp  on  the 
starboard-tack. 

The  "  Brooklyn  "  was  at  this  time  a  little 
on  the  weather  quarter  of  the  "  Sumter," 
and  as  Semmes  knew  he  could  lay  closer  to 
the  wind  than  his  pursuer,  having  the  ad 
vantage  of  larger  fore-and-aft  sail,  he  re 
solved  to  hold  his  wind  so  closely  as  to 
compel  the  "Brooklyn"  to  furl  her  sails, 
although  this  would  carry  him  athwart  her 
bows  and  bring  him  perhaps  a  little  nearer 
for  the  next  half-hour  or  so.  A  rain  squall 
now  enveloped  the  two  vessels,  hiding  them 
from  each  other  ;  but  as  the  squall  passed 
away  and  the  sloop-of-war  reappeared,  she 
seemed  to  Semmes  to  be  much  nearer,  and 
he  began  to  think  his  chance  of  escape  very 
dubious.  As  Semmes  stood  looking  at  the 
"  Brooklyn  "  coming  on  astern,  he  could  not 
but  admire  the  majesty  of  her  appearance, 
with  her  broad  flaring  bow  and  clean,  beau 
tiful  run,  with  her  masts  and  yards  as  taunt 
and  square  as  can  only  be  seen  in  a  ship-of- 
wrar.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  appeared  from 
time  to  time  under  the  lee  of  the  spanker, 
and  with  a  glass  a  crowd  of  officers  could 
be  seen  on  the  quarter-deck  apparently 
watching  the  efforts  of  the  "Sumter"  to 
escape. 

As  the  "Brooklyn"  still  gained  on  the 
Confederate  vessel,  Semmes  ordered  the 


paymaster  to  prepare  to  throw  his  iron 
chest  and  all  its  contents  overboard,  an  in 
cident  which  shows  what  gloomy  forebod 
ings  must  have  possessed  him  when  he  was 
ready  to  sacrifice  the  precious  treasure 
which  was  to  aid  him  in  his  career  of  de 
struction.  Coming  from  fresh  into  salt 
water  had  caused  the  "  Sumter's  "  boilers 
to  "foam,"  which  circumstance  prevented 
her  for  a  while  from  getting  up  as  good  a 
supply  of  steam  as  would  otherwise  have 
been  the  case;  but  at  the  crisis  of  the  chase 
the  foaming  ceased,  and  the  engineer  re 
ported  the  engine  working  beautifully.  At 
the  same  time,  the  breeze  freshened  and 
favored  the  "Sumter;"  and  what  was  more, 
the  latter  was  eating  the  "  Brooklyn  "  out 
of  the  wind,  yet  the  latter  vessel  did  not 
fire  a  gun. 

Semmes  naturally  supposed  that  as  soon 
as  the  "Brooklyn"  fell  in  his  wake  she 
would  furl  her  sails,  and  this  shortly  came 
to  pass,  and  for  the  first  time  Semmes  began 
to  breathe  a  little  easy.  He  had  feared  that, 
instead  of  pursuing  a  career  of  destruction, 
he  would  oe  taken  prisoner  and  tried  for 
violating  the  President's  proclamation, 
while  his  little  cruiser  would  be  turned  into 
a  Yankee  blockader.  But  Semmes'  good 
fortune — or  perhaps  we  might  rather  say 
his  evil  fortune — decreed  otherwise.  The 
"Brooklyn  "  was  under  sail  to  royals  when 
suddenly  every  sail  in  the  ship  was  clewed 
up  at  once,  the  yards  came  down  together 
and  the  men  laid  out  to  furl.  In  less  than 
three  minutes  every  stitch  of  canvas  had 
vanished.  If  the  crew  of  the  "Brooklyn" 
had  had  any  visions  of  prize-money,  they 
evaporated  a  few  minutes  after  this  beauti 
ful  evolution  which  even  the  Confederate 
officers  admired.  In  their  hearts  they  could 
not  help  being  proud  of  the  skill  and  disci 
pline  of  "the  Old  Navy,"  and  comparing 
the  seamen  of  the  service  they  had  aban 
doned  with  the  heterogeneous  crew  of  the 
"Sumter,"  that  they  had  not  yet  time  to 
discipline. 

It  seems  strange  to  us,  as  it  did  to  Semmes, 
that  this  beautiful  evolution  of  the  "Brook 
lyn"  was  not  followed  by  a  ricochet-shot 
from  the  bow  gun  of  that  ship,  for  the 
Confederates  evidently  thought  themselves 
within  range;  but  not  a  shot  was  fired  dur 
ing  the  pursuit.  This  was  perhaps  one  of  the 
most  exciting  chases  of  the  war.  Semmes 
knew  perfectly  well  the  exact  speed  of 
the  "Brooklyn,"  which  was  about  the  same 
as  that  of  the  "  Sumter,"  and  believed  if  he 
could  hold  his  own  until  dark  that  he  could 
elude  his  enemy  after  nightfall  ;  but  he 
never  expected  the  "  Brooklyn"  to  abandon 
the  chase  as  long  as  the  "Sumter"  remained 
in  sight. 

When  the  sloop  of-war  furled  her  sails 
the  "Sumter"  began  to  draw  slightly 


606 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


ahead,  as  steam  was  crowded  on  her  boil 
ers  almost  to  the  bursting  point.  Then  the 
engineer  reported  the  journals  as  heating 
so  much  that  the  brasses  would  soon  melt. 
That  meant  capture,  and  all  waited  for  the 
first  shot  from  the  "  Brooklyn,"  announcing 
that  their  fate  was  sealed.  No  shot  came, 
and  the  "  Sumter"  still  gained,  if  only  a 
trifle.  Just  then  the  ''Brooklyn"  put  her 
helm  a-starboard,  went  around  in  the  op 
posite  direction  and  abandoned  the  chase, 
returning  to  Pass  a  1'Outre,  where  there 
was  no  longer  anything  to  blockade,  as  the 
bird  had  flown  :  while  the  "  Sumter  "  slowed 
her  engines  until  the  journals  cooled  down, 
and  her  crew  gave  three  cheers  for  the  Con 
federate  flag.  The  shades  of  night  soon  hid 
the  vessel  from  any  possible  pursuit. 

Many  were  the  criticisms  on  the  escape 
of  the  "Sumter,"  which,  as  they  may  do 
injustice,  we  will  not  here  repeat.  Naval 
officers,  as  a  rule,  are  disposed  to  give 
credit  for  skill  and  gallantry  from  whatever 
quarter  it  may  come,  and  all  agreed  that 
Semmes'  escape  in  the  "Sumter"  was  a 
bold  and  dashing  adventure. 

Great  latitude  had  been  given  Semmes  in 
his  instructions,  and  his  plan  was  to  make  a 
cruise  upon  the  coast  of  Cuba,  destroy  all 
American  shipping  he  could  meet  with  in 
that  quarter,  coal  at  some  convenient  point, 
and  finally  proceed  to  Brazil.  Accordingly, 
the  "Sumter"  steamed  along  the  coast  of 
Cuba,  in  the  direct  track  of  vessels  bound 
for  the  Gulf,  and  while  between  the  coast  and 
the  Isle  of  Pines  two  sail  were  reported  in 
sight,  both  standing  in  the  same  direc 
tion  with  the  Confederate.  When  within 
signal  distance,  the  British  ensign  was  dis 
played  by  the  latter,  and  the  nearest  ves 
sel  proving  to  be  a  Spanish  brig,  was  per 
mitted  to  proceed.  The  other,  though  she 
showed  no  colors,  was  soon  discovered  to 
be  an  American,  and  a  shot  was  fired — the 
first  that  was  fired  afloat  by  ex-naval  officers 
at  an  American  vessel.  The  "hateful" 
Stars  and  Stripes  were  soon  run  up  to  the 
stranger's  peak,  but  it  awoke  no  sentiment 
of  remorse  or  regret  in  the  bosoms  of  the 
"  Sumter' s"  officers.  Every  noble  senti 
ment  was  sacrificed  to  a  wild  idea  which 
was  mistaken  for  duty. 

It  is  impossible  for  us  to  understand  the 
feeling  of  joy  and  exultation  that  was 
evinced  at  the  capture  of  the  first  American 
merchant  ship,  unarmed  and  helpless.  This 
first  prize,  Semmes  records,  was  from  the 
"  Black  Republican  State  of  Maine,  "  and 
when  her  flag  was  hoisted — the  flag  which 
Semmes  had  been  educated  to  venerate,  but 
which  now  seemed  the  very  incarnation  of 
all  that  was  hateful — the  "  Sumter"  showed 
at  her  peak  the  emblem  of  the  Confederacy, 
a  flag  which  might  easily  have  been  mis 
taken  for  that  of  Hay ti  or  the  Society  Islands, 


whose  cruisers  if  met  upon  the  high  seas 
would  be  naturally  objects  of  suspicion.  To 
Semmes,  the  Stars  and  Stripes  appeared  to 
look  abashed  in  the  presence  of  the  latest 
symbol  of  Southern  sovereignty,  "as  a 
burglar  might  be  supposed  to  feel  who  had 
been  caught  in  the  act  of  looking  into  a 
gentleman's  house."  Some  of  our  readers 
may  differ  in  opinion  with  the  gallant  cap 
tain  and  think  that  the  master  of  the  mer 
chant  vessel  had  a  right  to  be  astonished  in 
finding  a  cruiser,  which  he  supposed  to  be 
policing  the  seas,  turn  out  a  marauder. 
Semmes  avers  that  he  felt  some  pity  for  the 
captain  of  the  merchantman,  but  this  senti 
ment  was  not  in  sufficient  quantity  to  delay 
his  doom. 

The  master  of  the  vessel,  a  mild,  amiable- 
looking  man,  when  he  found  into  what 
hands  he  had  fallen,  merely  expressed  his 
surprise  at  the  appearance  of  the  Confed 
erate  flag  in  Cuban  waters.  The  name  of 
the  prize  was  the  "Golden  Rocket,"  an  ap 
propriate  one,  for  she  would  go  off  in  a 
blaze,  and  be  remembered  in  history  as  the 
first  illegal  prize  made  by  a  Confederate 
vessel-of-war  —  for  Semmes  had  no  more 
right  to  capture  her  than  he  had  to  seize 
the  Spanish  vessel  he  first  encountered. 
Semmes  at  the  time  was  simply  an  insur 
gent  like  Lopez,  the  Cuban  "fillibuster," 
who  was  garotted  in  the  plaza  at  Havana, 
(because  belligerent  rights  had  not  been  ac 
corded  him,)  and  he  was  under  the  ban  of 
proclamation. 

By  sunset  the  wind  had  died  away,  and 
the  night  came  on  of  such  pitchy  darkness 
as  would  seem  emblematical  of  the  deed 
about  to  be  committed.  The  crew  of  the 
"  Golden  Rocket." and  everything  onboard 
the  vessel  needed  by  the  "'  Sumter,"  had 
been  transferred  to  that  vessel.  The  boat 
which  had  been  sent  on  the  errand  of  de 
struction  pulled  out  of  sight,  and  neither 
ship  nor  boat  could  be  seen  by  the  watchers 
who  crowded  the  decks  of  the  "  Sumter," 
although  but  a  few  yards  distant.  Sud 
denly  one  of  the  crew  of  the  "Sumter" 
exclaimed,  "She  is  on  fire!" 

The  decks  of  the  doomed  vessel  were  of 
pine,  the  seams  caulked  with  oakum  and 
payed  with  pitch,  while  her  forecastle  was 
stored  with  paints  and  oil,  therefore  the 
flames  leaped  at  once  into  the  darkness. 
The  boarding  officer  had  done  his  work  like 
an  adept,  and  applied  the  torch  in  several 
parts  of  the  ship,  and  the  flames  rushed  up 
through  three  apertures,  lighting  up  the 
scene  as  plainly  as  if  the  drama  had  been 
enacted  on  the  stage  of  a  theatre.  The 
masts  and  hull  of  the  "Sumter"  were  re 
flected  on  the  mirror-like  sea,  and  the  dense 
columns  of  smoke  ascending  to  the  skies 
seemed  like  a  grand  funeral  pyre.  The  rush 
of  air  into  the  hold  of  the  burning  ship  ad- 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


007 


ded  every  moment  new  fury  to  the  flumes, 
which  now  ascended  to  the  trucks,  raging 
like  a  mighty  furnace  in  full  blast.  The 
ship  had  been  laid  to  with  her  maintopsail 
to  the  mast,  and  all  her  light  canvass  was 
flying  loose  about  the  yards,  the  headsails 
hanging  from  the  booms,  and  the  forked 
tongues  of  flame  ran  rapidly  up  the  shrouds 
and  from  the  tops  to  the  light  sails  flut 
tering  in  the  breeze.  A  topgallantsail  or 
royal  all  on  fire  would  now  fly  off  from  the 
yard  and  settle  upon  the  surface  of  the  sea 
like  some  fiery  albatross.,  then  followed 
yards  in  flames  till  the  sea  was  lighted  up 
by  a  hundred  floating  lamps.  At  one  time 
the  intricate  network  of  cordage  was  traced 
as  with  a  pencil  of  fire  upon  the  black  sky. 
Then  the  masts  went  by  the  board,  the 
mainmast  being  the  last  to  fall  with  a 
crash,  as  when  in  the  northern  forest  it  fell 
by  the  stroke  of  the  woodman.  Numbers 
of  sea-birds  flew  round  the  burning  ship, 
their  discordant  cries  contributing  to  the 
horror  of  the  scene;  but  at  length  the  fire 


CONFEDERATE  STEAM-CRUISEK  "8UMTER." 

burned  down,  the  vengeance  of  man  was 
satisfied,  and  the  "  Sumter  "  moved  away  by 
the  light  of  the  expiring  flames  in  pursuit 
of  other  prey. 

Of  all  men  in  the  Southern  Confederacy 
Semmes  was  perhaps  the  best  qualified  to 
carry  out  the  designs  of  his  employers  on  the 
commerce  of  the  United  States.  'The  burn 
ing  of  the  "Golden  Rocket"  was  like  the 
first  glass  of  liquor  taken  by  the  drunk 
ard.  Burning  ships  became  a  passion, 
and  if  ever  a  man  had  the  bump  of  de- 
structiveness  on  his  cranium  that  man  was 
Raphael  Semmes.  He  slept  peacefully  that 
night  in  the  thought  that  he  had  performed 
a  meritorious  action,  one  that  would  inure 
to  the  cause  of  Southern  liberty  fighting 
against  the  Northern  people,  who  after 
twenty  years  of  Southern  domination  had 
dared  to  elect  a  President  to  suit  them 
selves. 

According  to  the  Law  of  Nations  the 
*•  Sumter"  was  not  a  vessel  of  war.  When 


the  South  had  belligerent  rights  accorded 
them  by  the  United  States  the  case  was  dif 
ferent.  As  we  have  said  before,  the  captain 
of  the  "  Golden  Rocket  "  took  the  destruc 
tion  of  his  ship  philosophically,  although, 
apart  from  any  monetary  considerations, 
it  must  have  been  hard  to  see  her  set  on 
fire  and  consumed  before  his  eyes  without 
power  to  raise  a  hand  to  save  her;  but  one 
consolation  the  master  had,  the  ship  was 
insured,  and  the  loss  fell  on  the  under 
writers. 

But  what  became  of  the  "old  flag"? 
It  was  marked  with  the  date  of  capture, 
latitude  and  longitude,  etc.,  and  consigned 
to  a  bag  in  charge  of  the  Signal  Quarter 
master  to  keep  company  ere  long  with  nu 
merous  other  copies  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
that  accumulated  under  Semmes'  auspices 
ere  his  career  was  brought  to  a  close  by 
the  guns  of  the  "  Kearsarge."  As  Semmes 
writes :  "I  committed  to  the  keeping  of 
the  guardian  spirits  of  that  famous  bat 
tle-ground  a  great  many  bags  full  of  '  old 
flags,'  to  be  stowed  away  in  the  caves  of  the 
sea  as  mementoes  that  a  nation  once  lived 
whose  naval  officers  loved  liberty  more 
than  the  false  memorial  of  it  under  which 
they  had  once  served,  and  who  were  capa 
ble,  when  it  became '  Hate's  polluted  rag,' 
of  tearing  it  down."  Yet  who  can  doubt 
that  Commander  Semmes,  in  case  the  Con 
federate  Navy  officers  had  been  reinstated  in 
the  Federal  service,  would  have  been  among 
the  first  to  resume  his  station  under  that 
"  polluted  rag,"  again  to  forswear  his  allegi 
ance,  if  it  suited  his  convenience  so  to  do. 

The  day  following  the  destruction  of  the 
"  Golden  Rocket"  was  the  4th  of  July,  an 
anniversary  which  had  ever  been  venerated 
by  all  true  Americans  ;  but  it  was  not  cele 
brated  on  board  the  "  Sumter,"  because 
associated  so  intimately  with  the  '"old 
flag,"  which,  in  the  opinion  of  Commander 
Semmes  and  his  followers,  had  all  at  once 
become  a  sham  and  a  deceit.  It  was  also,  in 
the  opinion  of  these  persons  connected 
"  with  the  wholesale  robberies  which  had 
been  committed  on  Southern  property,  and 
with  the  vilification  and  abuse  which  had 
been  heaped  upon  their  persons  by  their 
late  copartners  for  a  generation  or  more." 
What  generosity  could  be  expected  by  his 
foes  from  an  intelligent  man  holding  such 
sentiments  as  these  ? 

At  daylight  next  morning  two  sail  were 
reported  in  sight  ahead,  which  proved  to  be 
two  American  brigantines.  The  "Sumter" 
hoisted  the  Confederate  flag,  ran  alongside 
and  captured  the  vessels,  both  of  which 
were  loaded  with  sugar  and  molasses  be 
longing  to  neutrals,  and  both  bound  from 
Trinidad  de  Cuba  to  English  ports.  These 
vessels  Semmes  did  not  venture  to  burn, 
but  taking  them  in  tow  he  steamed  for 


608 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


Cienfuegos,  in  order  to  test  the  dispo 
sition  of  the  Spanish  authorities  towards 
the  Confederacy.  France  and  England  had 
issued  proclamations  forbidding  the  intro 
duction  of  prizes  to  their  ports,  but  Spain 
had  not  yet  spoken,  and  Semmes  hoped  the 
Spanish  officials  might  have  different  views. 
The  vessels  together  being  more  than  the 
"Sumter"  could  tow,  the  prize-master  of 
the  "  Cuba"  was  ordered  to  cast  off  and  fol 
low;  but  when  the  former  got  out  of  sight, 
the  master  and  crew  of  the  "Cuba"  over 
powered  the  prize  -  crew,  recaptured  the 
vessel,  and  eluding  their  captors,  finally 
reached  their  destination. 

On  arriving  off  the  harbor  of  Cienfuegos 
two  more  sail  were  descried  from  the  "  Sum- 
ter,  "  standing  off  the  land.  Two  more 
American  brigantines  were  captured — the 
"  Ben  Dunning"  of  Maine,  and  the  "  Albert 
Adams  "  of  Massachusetts.  They  had  left 
the  port  of  Cienfuegos  three  hours  before, 
and  their  cargoes  of  sugar  were  documented 
as  Spanish  property.  Prize  -  crews  were 
thrown  on  board,  and  the  prize-masters  di 
rected  to  stand  in  for  Cienfuegos  light-house 
and  lay-to  until  morning. 

Thus  in  the  space  of  three  days,  Semmes 
had  captured  five  prizes  heavily  laden.  His 
crew  had  become  quite  enamored  of  the 
service,  which  just  suited  these  worthy 
successors  of  Lafitte,  who  were  mostly 
from  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  which  could 
then  boast  of  possessing  the  worst  class 
of  seamen  in  the  country.  Without  doubt, 
there  were  a  number  of  persons  on  board 
the  "Sumter"  who  acknowledged  no  alle 
giance  to  any  nation,  and  whose  love  of 
plunder  would  incite  them  to  any  disrep 
utable  deed.  To  such  men  the  American 
flag  conveyed  no  sentiment  any  more  than 
did  the  flag  of  the  Confederacy.  Under  the 
latter  they  might  hope  to  plunder,  and,  no 
doubt,  shipped  with  this  expectation.  If 
they  were  disappointed,  it  was  because 
there  was  an  innate  love  of  discipline  among 
their  officers  which  forbade  their  entering 
on  a  course  which  might  ultimately  subject 
them  to  severe  penalties.  The  crew  were 
as  eager  in  pursuit  of  vessels  as  dogs  in 
chase  of  game,  but  they  were  too  ignorant 
to  know  that  burning  and  destroying  could 
bring  them  no  profit. 

As  daylight  broke  with  all  the  beauty  of 
a  tropical  morning,  and  the  prizes  moved 
sluggishly  waiting  for  the  sea-breeze,  three 
American  vessels  in  tow  of  a  steam-tug  were 
seen  coming  out  of  the  harbor.  Here  was 
a  piece  of  good  fortune!  Semmes  had  reck 
oned  on  carrying  three  prizes  into  Cien 
fuegos  ;  here  were  three  more,  but  he  could 
not  molest  them  in  neutral  waters — a  little 
management  was  necessary.  The  neu 
tral  belt  extended  a  marine  league  from 
the  shore,  so  Semmes  hoisted  a  Spanish 


jack  for  a  pilot,  giving  orders  to  disarrange 
the  yards,  etc.,  that  the"  Sumter"  might 
look  as  much  like  a  merchant  vessel  as  pos 
sible.  To  still  further  carry  out  the  deceit, 
most  of  the  crew  were  sent  below  and  the 
Spanish  ensign  hoisted.  These  were  the 
very  tactics  adopted  by  Lafitte,  the  Barra- 
tarian,  in  the  early  part  of  this  century, 
which  would  indicate  that  Semmes  had 
taken  a  leaf  from  his  book. 

The  prize-masters  showed  themselves 
adepts  in  following  the  methods  of  their 
commander  and  hoisted  the  American  flag 
at  the  fore  of  their  respective  prize-vessels 
for  a  pilot  also.  This  deceived  the  people 
on  board  the  vessels  coming  out,  and  they 
proceeded  on  their  way  in  tow  of  the  tug 
until  they  were  well  off  the  land,  when 
they  cast  off  and  made  all  sail  to  enable 
them  to  get  a  good  offing  before  the  sea- 
breeze  set  in. 

As  soon  as  the  tug  had  cast  off  from  the 
vessels  she  proceeded  to  the  steamer  to  ask 
if  the  captain  wanted  a  pilot,  for  even  the 
Spaniards  had  been  deceived  by  Semmes' 
ruse.  The  Confederate  commander  replied 
in  the  affirmative,  but  said  to  the  pilot  :  "I 
am  waiting  a  little  to  take  back  those  ships 
you  have  just  towed  out."  ''Diablo!"  ex 
claimed  the  Spaniard;  "how  can  that  be  ? 
they  are  North  Americans  bound  to  Boston 
and  New  York."  "  That  is  just  what  I 
want,"  said  Semmes.  "  We  are  Confeder 
ates,  at  war  with  the  North  Americans." 
"Ah!"  said  the  pilot,  turning  picaroon  at 
the  first  sign  of  plunder,  "  That  is  good; 
give  her  the  steam  quick,  captain  !"  Here 
was  a  scoundrel,  who  had  just  piloted  these 
vessels  to  sea  and  received  his  pay,  ready  to 
pounce  upon  them  and  take  them  back 
again  for  another  fee.  Nothing  could  bet 
ter  please  that  sort  of  man  than  this  game 
of  semi-piracy.  Probably  he  was  a  descend 
ant  of  some  of  those  pirates  who  infested 
the  Spanish  West  Indies  in  1824-26,  murder 
ing  the  crews  of  American  merchant  ves 
sels,  plundering  their  cargoes,  and  then  de 
stroying  the  vessels. 

Semmes  was  determined  not  to  lay  him 
self  liable  for  violating  any  neutrality  laws; 
he  was  too  conscientious  for  that.  He  said 
to  the  impatient  pilot,  "  Wait  awhile,  I  must 
not  fail  in  respect  to  Her  Majesty  the  Queen 
of  Spain  and  the  Captain-General.  I  must 
wait  until  these  vessels  are  beyond  their 
jurisdiction,  one  league  from  shore."  So 
when  the  American  vessels  were  supposed 
to  be  beyond  the  imaginary  line,  the  "  Sum- 
ter "  was  let  loose  like  a  tiger  on  its  prey. 
A  booming  gun  and  the  hoisting  of  the 
Confederate  flag  soon  disclosed  the  "  Sum- 
ter's  "  character,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
three  vessels  were  prizes  to  the  Confederate 
steamer  and  joined  the  others  off  Cien 
fuegos.  When  the  sea  -  breeze  set  in, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


609 


Semmes  stood  into  the  harbor,  followed  by 
liis  six  prizes,  much  to  the  astonishment  of 
those  who  had  seen  the  ''West  Wind"  of 
Rliode  Island,  the  "Louisa  Killuin"  of 
Massachusetts,  and  the  "  Naiad  "  of  New 
York,  sail  but  a  few  hours  before  on  their 
legitimate  business. 

Semmes  was  treated  at  Cienfuegos  with 
all  due  courtesy,  and  hobnobbed  with  the 
Captain  of  the  Port,  who  had  at  first  fired 
upon  him  with  musketry,  not  knowing 
.  what  flag  he  sailed  under  ;  but  when 
-Semmes  assured  him  that  he  did  not  come 
to  sack  the  town  like  the  buccaneers 
of  old,  the  official  took  him  to  his  heart. 
He  had  but  a  vague  idea  of  the  locality  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  probably 
V  never  suspected  that  the  "  North  American" 
expeditions  against  the  island  were  mostly 
fitted  out  from  the  Southern  States — the  fair 
haven  of  filibusters. 

Semmes  wrote  a  specious  letter  to  the 
Governor  of  Cienfuegps.  a  timid  old  man, 
who  knew  as  little  of  international  law  as 
his  friend  the  pilot.  This  letter  may  not 
agree  with  the  opinions  of  our  standard 
authorities  on  international  law,  but  the 
originality  of  its  views  should  preserve  it 
from  oblivion.  Unfortunately  for  the  en- 
enterprising  sea  -  lawyer,  the  letter  had 
exactly  the  contrary  effect  to  what  he 
had  expected.  The  Spanish  officials  saw 
plainly  that  their  harbors  were  about  to  be 
made  the  receptacles  for  prizes,  and  the 
Spanish  Government,  following  the  ex 
ample  of  England  and  France,  issued  a 
E reclamation  that  no  prizes  should  be 
rought  into  their  ports.  Therefore,  as  soon 
as  the  Queen's  proclamation  was  received, 
the  Captain-General  ordered  all  the  prizes 
to  be  restored  to  their  legitimate  owners. 
Spain  was  not  going  to  lose  her  best  cus 
tomer,  nor  be  liable  to  a  suit  for  damages 
from  the  United  States  after  the  civil  war 
was  over. 

The  commander  of  the''Sumter"  natu 
rally  felt  despondent  over  this  decision  of 
the  Spanish  authorities,  and  it  may  have 
influenced  him  somewhat  in  his  subsequent 
career,  when  he  burned  and  sank  without 
much  thought  whether  he  was  acting  ac 
cording  to  international  law  or  not.  The 
following  is  the  letter  to  the  Governor 
referred  to  above  : 

CONFEDERATE  STATES  STEAMER  "SuMTER,11 
ISLAXD  OF  CUBA,  July  6,  1801. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  of  my  arrival 
at  the  port  of  Cienfuegos  with  seven  prizes  of 
war.  These  vessels  are  the  brigantines  "Cuba," 
"Machias,"  "Ben  Dunning,'1  "Albert  Adams,"  and 
"Naiad,'' and  barks  "West  Wind"  and  "Louisa 
Killum,''  property  of  citizens  of  the  United  States; 
which  States,  as  your  Excellency  is  aware,  are  wag 
ing  an  aggressive  and  unjust  war  upon  the  Confed 
erate  States,  which  I  have  the  honor  with  this  ship 
under  my  command  to  represent. 

I  have  sought  a  port  of  Cuba  with  these  prizes, 

39 


with  the  expectation  that  Spain  will  extend  to  the 
cruisers  of  the  Confederate  States  the  same  friendly 
reception  that,  in  similar  circumstances,  she  would 
extend  to  the  cruisers  of  the  enemy  ;  in  other  words, 
that  she  will  permit  me  to  leave  the  captured  ves 
sels  within  her  jurisdiction  until  they  can  be  ad 
judicated  by  a  Court  of  Admiralty  of  the  Confed 
erate  States.  As  a  people  maintaining  a  Govern 
ment  de  facto,  and  not  only  holding  the  enamy  in 
check,  but  gaining  advantages  over  him,  we  are  en 
titled  to  all  the  rights  of  belligerents,  and  I  confi 
dently  rely  upon  the  friendly  disposition  of  Spain, 
who  is  our  near  neighbor  in  the  most  important  of 
her  colonial  possessions,  to  receive  us  with  equal 
and  even-handed  justice,  if  not  with  the  sympathy 
which  our  identity  of  interests  and  policy,  with  re 
gard  to  an  important  social  and  industrial  institu 
tion,  are  so  well  calculated  to  inspire.  A  rule  which 
would  exclude  our  prizes  from  her  ports  during  the 
war,  although  it  should  be  applied  in  terms  equally 
to  the  enemy,  would  not,  I  respectfully  suggest,  be 
an  equitable  or  just  rule.  The  basis  of  such  rule,  as' 
indeed  of  all  the  conduct  of  a  neutral  during  war, 
is  equal  and  impartial  justice  to  all  the  belligerents, 
without  inclining  to  the  side  of  either ;  and  this 
should  be  a  substantial  and  practical  justice,  and 
not  exist  in  terms  merely,  which  may  be  deceptive. 
Now,  a  little  reflection  will,  I  think,  show  your  Ex 
cellency,  that  the  rule  in  question,  in  the  exclusion 
of  prizes  of  both  belligerents  from  neutral  ports, 
cannot  be  applied  in  the  present  war,  without  op 
erating  with  great  injustice  to  the  Confederate 
States.  It  is  well  known  to  your  Excellency  that 
the  United  States  are  a  manufacturing  and  com 
mercial  people,  while  the  Confederate  States  are  an 
agricultural  people.  The  consequence  of  this  dis 
similarity  of  pursuits  was  that,  at  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war,  the  former  had  within  their  limits  and 
control  almost  all  the  naval  force  of  the  old  Govern 
ment.  This  naval  force  they  have  dishonestly 
seized  and  turned  against  the  Confederate  States, 
regardless  of  the  just  claims  of  the  latter  to  a  large 
proportion  of  it,  as  tax-payers,  out  of  whose  con 
tributions  to  the  common  treasury  it  was  created. 
The  United  States,  by  this  disseizin  of  the  prop 
erty  of  the  Confederate  States,  are  enabled  in  the 
first  months  of  the  war  to  blockade  all  the  ports  of 
the  latter  States.  In  this  condition  of  things  observe 
the  practical  working  of  the  rule  I  am  discussing, 
whatever  may  be  the  seeming  fairness  of  its  terms. 

It  will  be  admitted  that  we  have  equal  belligerent 
rights  with  the  enemy.  One  of  the  most  im 
portant  of  these  rights  in  a  war  against  a  com 
mercial  people  is  that  which  I  have  just  exercised, 
of  capturing  his  property  on  the  high  seas.  But 
how  are  the  Confederate  States  to  enjoy,  to  its  full 
extent,  the  benefit  of  this  right  if  their  cruisers  are 
not  permitted  to  enter  neutral  ports  with  their 
prizes,  and  retain  them  there,  in  safe  custody,  until 
they  can  be  condemned  and  disposed  of  ?  They 
cannot  send  them  into  their  own  ports,  for  the 
reason  already  mentioned,  namely,  that  those  ports 
are  hermetically  sealed  by  the  agency  of  their  own 
ships,  forcibly  wrested  from  them.  If  they  cannot 
send  them  into  neutral  ports,  where  are  they  to  send 
them  ?  Nowhere.  Except  for  the  purpose  of  de 
struction,  therefore,  their  right  of  capture  would  be 
entirely  defeated  by  the  adoption  of  the  rule  in 
question,  while  the  opposite  belligerent  would  not 
be  inconvenienced  by  it  at  all,  as  all  his  own  ports 
are  open  to  him.  I  take  it  for  granted  that  Spain 
will  not  think  of  acting  upon  so  unjust  and  unequal 
a  rule. 

But  another  question  arises,  indeed,  has  already 
arisen,  in  the  cases  of  some  of  the  very  captures 
which  I  have  brought  into  port.  The  cargoes  of 
several  of  the  vessels  are  claimed,  as  appears  by 
certificates  from  among  the  papers,  as  Spanish 
property.  This  fact,  cannot,  of  course,  be  verified, 
except  by  a  judicial  proceeding,  in  the  Prize  Courts 


610 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


of  the  Confederate  States.  But  if  the  prizes  cannot 
be  sent  either  into  the  ports  of  the  Confederate 
States  or  into  neutral  ports,  how  can  this  verifica 
tion  be  made  ?  Further—supposing  there  to  be  no 
dispute  about  the  title  to  the  cargo,  how  is  it  to  be 
unladen  and  delivered  to  the  neutral  claimant  un 
less  the  captured  ship  can  make  a  port  ?  Indead, 
one  of  the  motives  which  influenced  me  in  making 
a  Spanish  colonial  port  was  the  fact  that  these 
cargoes  were  claimed  by  Spanish  subjects,  whom  I 
was  desirous  of  putting  to  as  little  inconvenience  as 
possible,  in  the  unlading  and  reception  of  their 
property,  should  it  be  restored  to  them  by  a  decree 
of  the  Confederate  Courts.  It  will  be  for  your  Ex 
cellency  to  consider  and  act  upon  these  grave  ques 
tions,  touching  alike  the  interests  of  both  our  Gov 
ernments. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.,  &c. 

RAPHAEL.  SEMMES. 
Semmes  remarks  : 

"  I  did  not  expect  much  to  grow  immediately  out  of 
the  above  communication.  Indeed,  as  the  reader  will 
probably  surmise,  I  had  written  it  more  for  the  eye  of 
the  Spanish  Premier  than  for  that  of  the  Governor 
of  a  small  provincial  town  who  had  no  diplomatic 
power  and  whom  I  knew  to  be  timid,  as  are  all  the 
subordinate  officers  of  absolute  Governments.  I 
presumed  that  the  Governor  would  telegraph  it  to 
the  Captain  General  at  Havana,  and  that  the  latter 
would  hold  the  subject  in  abeyance  until  he  could 
hear  from  the  home  Government. 

"  .Nor  was  I  disappointed  in  this  expectation,  for 
Lieutenant  Chapman  returned  from  Cienfuegos  the 
next  morning,  and  brought  me  intelligence  to  this 
effect. 

"  To  dispose  of  the  question  raised,  without  the 
necessity  of  again  returning  to  them,  the  reader  is 
informed  that  Spain,  in  due  time,  followed  the  lead 
of  England  and  France  in  the  matter  of  excluding 
prizes  from  her  ports  ;  and  that  my  prizes  were 
delivered — to  whom  do  you  think,  reader  ?  You 
will  naturally  say  to  myself,  or  my  duly  appointed 
agent,  with  instructions  to  take  them  out  of  the 
Spanish  port.  This  was  the  result  to  be  logically 
expected.  The  Captain-General  had  received  them, 
in  trust,  as  it  were,  to  abide  the  decision  of  his 
Government.  If  that  decision  should  be  in  favor 
of  receiving  the  prizes  of  both  belligerents,  well ;  if 
not,  I  expected  to  be  notified  to  take  them  away. 
But  nothing  was  further,  it  seems,  from  the  inten 
tion  of  the  Captain-General  than  this  simple  and 
just  proceeding  ;  for,  as  soon  as  the  Queen's  proc 
lamation  was  received,  he  deliberately  handed  back 
all  my  prizes  to  their  original  owners  ! " 

But  the  Confederates  were  not  without 
comfort.  Sympathizers  flocked  to  them 
from  the  town  on  their  landing.  The 
houses  of  the  principal  citizens  were  open 
to  the  officers,  and  the  night  was  made 
merry  by  the  popping  of  champagne  corks. 
Yet  Commander  Semmes  was  not  happy, 
though  he  regretted  less  the  loss  of  his 
prizes  than  his  failure  to  convince  the 
Spanish  authorities  that  he  was  a  great  ex 
pounder  of  the  law  of  nations.  Meanwhile 
the  natives  wondered  where  all  the  United 
States  gun-boats  were,  that  this  Confederate 
hawk  should  be  permitted  thus  to  nutter 
the  Yankee  dovecotes.  The  reader  will,  no 
doubt,  share  their  astonishment  at  the  fail 
ure  of  the  Navy  Department  to  protect 
Federal  commerce  in  the  Caribbean  Sea  as 
well  as  in  other  quarters.  The  fact  is, 
every  passage  to  that  sea  ought  to  have 


been  guarded  as  soon  as  it  was  known  the* 
*'  Sumter"  had  escaped,  and  she  should  have 
been  followed  up  until  captured  or  driven 
from  the  ocean. 

Commander  Semmes  having  appointed  a 
prize-agent  to  take  charge  of  his  prizes  un 
til  they  could  be  taken  to  a  Southern  port 
for  adjudication  before  a  Court  of  Ad 
miralty,  and  obtained  a  supply  of  coal  and 
provisions  from  his  neutral  friends  at  Cien- 
f uegos,  departed  from  that  port  on  the  8th 
of  July  with  the  intention  of  proceeding 
via  Barbadoes  to  Cape  St.  Roque,  in  the 
great  line  of  travel  for  vessels  bound  from 
the  East  Indies  to  the  United  States  or 
Europe.  Owing  to  the  strength  of  the  trade- 
winds  his  coal  ran  short,  and  he  made  sail 
for  the  Dutch  island  of  Cura9oa,  and  on 
the  16th  the  "  Sumter"  entered  the  port  of 
St.  Anne  —  the  capital  town  of  this  little 
colony.  The  American  consul  did  all  he 
could  to  persuade  the  Governor  that  the 
"Sumter "was  not  a  legitimate  vessel-of- 
war,  and  that  officer,  therefore,  forbade 
the  ship's  entering  the  port,  saying  that 
he  had  received  recent  orders  from  Hol 
land  to  that  effect.  Semmes  was,  how 
ever,  well  aware  that  these  colonial  mag 
nates  were  generally  men  of  little  char 
acter  or  intelligence,  so  he  sent  one  of  his 
brightest  officers  on  shore  with  the  follow 
ing  letter  to  the  Governor  : 

CONFEDERATE  STATES  STEAMER  "SUMTER." 

OFF  ST.  AXXE'S,  CURACOA,  July  17,  18(51. 
His  Excellency  Governor  Crol: 

I  was  surprised  to  receive  by  the  pilot,  this  morn 
ing,  a  message  from  your  Excellency,  to  the  effect 
that  this  ship  would  not  be  permitted  to  enter  the 
harbor  unless  she  was  in  distress,  as  your  Excellency 
had  received  orders  from  your  Government  not  to 
admit  vessels-of-war  of  the  Confederate  States  of 
America  to  the  hospitality  of  the  ports  under  your 
Excellency's  command.  I  most  respectfully  suggest 
that  there  must  be  some  mistake  here,  and  I  have 
sent  to  you  the  bearer,  Lieutenant  Chapman,  of 
the  Confederate  States  Navy,  for  the  purpose  of 
explanation.  Your  Excellency  must  be  under  some 
misapprehension  as  to  the  character  of  this  vessel. 
She  is  a  ship-of-war  duly  commissioned  by  the  Gov 
ernment  of  the  Confederate  States,  which  States 
have  been  recognized  as  belligerents,  in  the  present 
war,  by  all  the  leading  powers  of  Europe,  viz. : 
Great  Britain,  France,  Spain,  etc.,  as  your  Excel 
lency  must  be  aware. 

It  is  true,  that  these  Powers  have  prohibited 
both  belligerents,  alike,  from  bringing  prizes  into 
their  several  jurisdictions;  but  no  one  of  them  has 
made  a  distinction,  either  between  the  respective 
prizes,  or  the  cruisers  themselves,  of  the  two  bellig 
erents — the  cruisers  of  both  Governments,  unac 
companied  by  prizes,  being  admitted  to  the  hos 
pitalities  of  the  ports  of  all  these  great  Powers  on 
terms  of  perfect  equality.  In  th3  face  of  these 
facts,  am  I  to  understand  from  your  Excellency  that 
Holland  has  adopted  a  different  rule,  and  that  she 
not  only  excludes  the  prizes,  but  the  ships-of-war 
themselves,  of  the  Confederate  States  ?  And  this  at 
the  same  time  that  she  admits  the  cruisers  of  the 
United  States  ;  thus  departing  from  her  neutrality, 
in  this  war,  ignoring  the  Confederate  States  as 
belligerents  and  aiding  and  abetting  their  enemy  ? 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


611 


"If  this  be  the  position  which  Holland  has  as 
sumed  in  this  contest,  I  pray  your  Excellency  to  be 
kind  enough  to  say  as  much  to  me  in  writing." 

When  the  Governor  had  read  this  commu 
nication,  he  summoned  all  the  civil  and  mili 
tary  dignitaries  of  the  colony,  and  it  took  a 
lot  of  thinking,  talking,  smoking  and  drink 
ing  to  get  the  matter  fairly  imbedded  in  their 
brains,  the  Confederate  officer  in  the  mean 
while  making  friends  with  the  citizens,  and 
helping  them  with  their  drinking,  which 
'  seems  to  have  been  their  main  employment. 

After  waiting  an  hour  or  two,  Semmes 
thought  he  would  go  to  quarters  and  fire  a 
few  shells  at  a  target;  but  it  so  happened 
that  one  of  the  shells  passed  across  a  win- 
jiow  of  the  room  where  the  council  was  in 
"session — the  "Sumter"  was  not  more  than 
fifty  yards  from  the  mouth  of  the  narrow 
harbor — and  exploding,  shook  the  little 
town  as  if  by  an  earthquake.  Up  flew  the 
windows  of  the  council-room,  and  out  popped 
the  heads  of  the  dignitaries.  It  was  decided 
nem.  con.  that  the  Confederacy  should  be 
recognized,  and  the  "Sumter"  allowed  to 
enter  the  port,  which  she  did  shortly  after 
wards.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  enthusi 
asm  with  which  the  "  Sumter  "  was  received 
at  Cura9oa.  Semmes  and  his  officers  were 
the  heroes  of  the  hour.  The  ten  thousand 
dollars  with  which  he  had  started  seemed 
inexhaustible. 

Everything  needed  was  supplied  to  the 
ship  without  a  question,  and  Semmes  was 
everywhere  honored  as  the  representative 
of  the  great  Southern  Confederacy,  although 
few  people  had  the  least  idea  what  that  was. 

While  at  St.  Anne's  Semmes  missed  a 
great  opportunity.  President  Castro,  one 
of  the  South  American  adventurers,  re 
quested  his  assistance  to  reinstate  him 
in  the  presidential  chair  of  Venezuela;  but 
the  Confederate  officer  declined  to  play  the 
part  of  a  Warwick.  Castro  claimed  to  be 
President  de  jure,  but  Semmes  professed  to 
scorn  all  Governments  except  those  that 
were  de  facto. 

After  remaining  a  week  at  St.  Anne's 
and  accomplishing  all  he  wanted,  Semmes 
bade  adieu  to  his  kind  friends  and  steamed 
out  of  the  harbor  on  the  24th  of  July.  Cura- 
§oa  lies  but  a  short  distance  from  the  coast 
of  Venezuela,  and  as  both  the  ports  of  La 
Guayra  and  Puerto  Cabello  have  consider 
able  trade  with  the  United  States,  Semmes 
determined  to  look  in  upon  them.  When 
about  thirty  miles  off  the  coast,  a  sail  was 
sighted  on  the  lee  bow  standing  obliquely 
towards  the  "  Sumter."  Chase  was  given, 
and  in  a  short  time  a  large  schooner  was 
taken.  She  proved  to  be  the  "  Abby  Brad 
ford,"  of  New  York,  bound  to  Puerto  Cabello. 
The  schooner  had  left  New  York  before  the 
"  Sumter's"  escape  was  known  in  the  North, 
hence  the  old  captain  was  more  than  sur 


prised  when  he  found  that  he  had  fallen  into 
the  clutches  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

Porto  Cabello  being  but  a  short  distance 
under  his  lee,  Semmes  determined  to  try  his 
hand  with  Castro's  opponent,  the  de  facto 
President  of  Venezuela.  He  thought  surely 
some  arrangement  could  be  made  with 
the  South  American  republics,  which  were 
too  weak  to  be  worth  the  notice  of  the 
stronger  Powers.  What  right  had  they  to 
be  putting  on  the  airs  of  nations  and  talk 
about  acknowledging  other  people  who  had 
never  themselves  been  acknowledged  by 
Spain?  In  this  instance  Semmes  reckoned 
without  his  host,  for  he  found  at  least  one 
Government  that  had  some  respect  left  for 
the  great  republic  of  North  America. 

Semmes  arrived  off  Puerto  Cabello  after 
night  -  fall,  and  the  next  morning,  mak 
ing  the  ship  and  crew  as  much  like  those 
of  a  man-of-war  as  circumstances  would 
permit,  he  steamed  into  the  harbor,  the 
prize -vessel  following  under  sail.  The 
"  Sumter"  had  hoisted  the  Confederate  flag 
early  in  the  morning,  and  the  Venezuelan 
colors  were  hoisted  from  the  fort  in  re 
sponse.  The  town  looked  like  some  old 
Moorish  establishment  transported  to  the 
New  World,  and  its  most  prominent  inhab 
itants  appeared  to  be  turkey  -  buzzards, 
which  reminded  the  Confederate  com 
mander  of  the  sacred  birds  he  had  met  so 
often  in  the  Queen  City  of  the  Confed 
eracy.  His  hopes  increased  as  he  noted 
the  similarity  between  Puerto  Cabello  and 
the  city  that  had  first  given  a  stimulus  to 
his  career  of  adventure.  He  saw  at  once 
what  an  advantage  it  would  be  if  the  Presi 
dent  would  admit  his  prizes,  for  in  the 
course  of  a  few  months  he  could  make  the 
harbor  busier  than  it  had  ever  been.  He 
even  thought  he  could  have  given  a  new 
impulse  to  the  revolutions  and  make  the 
people  rich  enough  to  indulge  in  apronun- 
ciamento  once  a  week. 

It  never  appears  to  have  occurred  to  the 
romantic  adventurer  that  his  own  beloved 
Confederacy  might  one  day  become  like  a 
South  American  republic,  ruled  by  unprin 
cipled  adventurers,  or  a  prey  to  anarchy. 

No  one  seemed  to  notice  the  "  Sumter  " 
after  she  anchored.  Semmes  carefully 
scanned  the  features  of  the  "castle."  its 
three  or  four  guns,  worthless  for  any  pur 
pose  beyond  firing  a  salute,  and  compared 
it  with  his  trim  battery  of  shell-guns.  He 
was  satisfied  with  the  comparison  and  im 
mediately  wrote  the  Governor  of  the  town 
a  letter,  which  he  sent  ashore  by  one  of  his 
officers.  This  missive  was  to  the  following 
effect  : 

CONFEDERATE  STATES  STEAMER  "  SUMTER,"  ) 
PUERTO  CABELLO,  July  26,  1861.        ) 
His  Excellency  the  Governor: 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  your  Excellency  of  my 
arrival  at  this  place,  in  this"  ship  under  my  com- 


612 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


mand,  with  the  prize  schooner  "Abby  Bradford" 
in  company,  captured  by  me  about  seventy  miles 
to  the  northward  and  eastward.  The  "Abby  Brad 
ford"  is  the  property  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  with  which  States,  as  your  Excellency  is 
aware,  the  Confederate  States,  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  represent,  are  at  war,  and  the  cargo  would 
appear  to  belong  also  to  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  who  have  shipped  it  on  consignment  to  a 
house  in  Puerto  Cabello. 

Should  any  claim,  however,  be  given  for  the 
cargo,  or  any  part  of  it,  the  question  of  ownership 
can  only  be  decided  by  the  prize-courts  of  the  Con 
federate  States.  In  the  meantime  I  have  the  honor 
to  request  that  your  Excellency  will  permit  me  to 
leave  this  prize  vessel,  with  her  cargo,  in  the  port  of 
Puerto  Cabello,  until  the  question  of  prize  can  be 
adjudicated  by  the  proper  tribunals  of  my  country. 
This  will  be  a  convenience  to  all  parties  ;  as  well  to 
any  citizens  of  Venezuela  who  may  have  an  interest 
in  the  cargo  as  to  the  captors  who  have  also  valu 
able  interests  to  protect. 

In  making  this  request,  I  do  not  propose  that  the 
Venezuela  Government  shall  depart  from  a  strict 
neutrality  between  the  belligerents,  as  the  same 
rule  it  applies  to  us  it  can  give  the  other  party  the 
benefit  of  also.  In  other  words,  with  the  most 
scrupulous  regard  for  her  neutrality,  she  may  per 
mit  both  belligerents  to  bring  their  prizes  into  her 
waters,  and  of  this  neither  belligerent  could  com 
plain,  since  whatever  justice  is  extended  to  its  en 
emy  is  extended  also  to  itself.  *  *  *  *  Thus 
your  Excellency  sees  that,  under  the  rule  of  exclu 
sion,  the  enemy  could  enjoy  his  right  of  capture  to 
its  full  extent — all  his  own  ports  being  open  to  him 
— whilst  the  cruisers  of  the  Confederate  States 
could  enjoy  it  sub  inodo  only,  that  is,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  destroying  their  prizes.  A  rule  which  would 
produce  such  unequal  results  as  this,  is  not  a  just 
rule  (although  it  might  in  terms  be  extended  to 
both  parties),  and  as  equality  and  justice  are  of 
the  essence  of  neutrality,  I  take  it  for  granted  that 
Venezuela  will  not  adopt  it. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  rule  admitting  both  par 
ties,  alike,  with  their  prizes  into  your  ports,  until 
the  prize-courts  of  the  respective  countries  could 
have  time  to  adjudicate  the  cases,  would  work 
equal  and  exact  justice  to  both  ;  and  this  is  all  that 
the  Confederate  States  demand. 

With  reference  to  the  present  case,  as  the  cargo 
consists  chiefly  of  provisions,  which  are  perishable, 
I  would  ask  leave  to  sell  them  at  public  auction,  for 
the  benefit  of  "whom  it  may  concern,"  depositing 
the  proceeds  with  a  suitable  prize  agent  until  the 
decision  of  the  court  can  be  known.  With  regard 
to  the  vessel,  I  request  that  she  may  remain  in  the 
custody  of  the  same  agent  until  condemned,  and 
sold. 

Although  his  Excellency  of  Puerto  Ca 
bello  probably  knew  very  little  of  interna 
tional  law,  the  American  consul  at  the  port 
was  sufficiently  well  posted,  and  he  at  once 
advised  the  Governor  what  course  to  pur 
sue.  The  inhabitants  were  dependent  upon 
their  trade  with  New  England  and  New 
York  for  the  supply  of  their  necessities, 
and,  of  course,  the  Governor  was  naturally 
in  favor  of  his  friends  rather  than  a  doubt 
ful-looking  stranger.  So  he  sent  a  reply, 
with  ''God  and  Liberty"  on  the  seal, 
simply  informing  the  Confederate  com 
mander  that  he  had  not  the  necessary 
funcion  to  answer  him  diplomatically,  but 
would  lay  his  communication  before  the 
supreme  Government;  meanwhile  he  desired 


the  "  Sumter  "  to  leave  Puerto  Cabello,  and 
take  the  "  Abby  Bradford"  with  her. 

Had  Commander  Semmes  erected  a  tar 
get,  and  burst  a  few  shells  over  it  just  out 
side  the  harbor,  it  might  have  had  some 
effect ;  there  was  110  room  inside  for  such 
practice,  and  a  shell  bursting  near  the 
town  or  fort  would  have  been  too  much  for 
Spanish  pride,  and  a  stray  shot  from  the 
dilapidated  castle  might  have  gone  through 
the  "Sumter's"  unprotected  machinery, 
and  ended  her  career  by  enabling  the  Fed 
eral  gun-boats  to  overtake  her;  therefore 
Semmes  prudently  refrained  from  any  at 
tempt  to  show  the  power  of  the  Confederacy. 

After  reading  the  Governor's  letter,  to 
which  he  paid  no  attention,  Semmes  sent 
his  Paymaster  on  shore,  and  purchased  such 
articles  as  he  required.  The  Governor, 
after  an  inspection  of  his  artillery  and  a 
consultation  with  the  military  command 
ant,  made  up  his  mind  that  it  would  be 
best  not  to  coerce  any  ship  belonging  to  the 
Southern  Confederacy,  for  fear  that  these 
modern  representatives  of  Drake  and  Mor 
gan  might  follow  the  example  of  their  il 
lustrious  predecessors  if  interfered  with, 
and  left  Semmes  to  do  pretty  much  as  he 
pleased. 

The  "  Abby  Bradford  "  was  sent  in  charge 
of  a  prize-crew  to  New  Orleans,  to  report 
her  arrival  to  Commodore  Rousseau,  de 
livering  to  him  the  prize-papers,  seals  un 
broken,  etc.  The  vessel  reached  Barrataria 
Bay,  but  was  recaptured  by  the  "  Pow- 
hatan,"  Lieutenant  D.  D.  Porter,  and  re 
stored  to  her  owners.  Semmes  did  not 
burn  the  "  Abby  Bradford,"  because,  as  he 
says,  "  I  only  resorted  to  that  practice  when 
it  became  evident  there  was  nothing  else  to 
do." 

As  soon  as  Lieutenant  Porter  ascertained 
from  the  crew  of  the  "  Abby  Bradford  "  the 
whereabouts  of  the  "Sumter,"  he  obtained 
the  permission  of  Flag-officer  McKean,  and 
started  in  pursuit  of  the  Confederate  vessel, 
following  her  from  port  to  port  to  the  coast 
of  Brazil,  and  thence  to  the  equator,  from 
which  point  Semmes  shaped  his  course,  so 
that  his  trail  was  lost. 

After  having  dispatched  the  "  Bradford," 
Semmes  put  to  sea,  and  was  no  sooner  out 
side  the  harbor  than  an  American  vessel 
was  sighted.  In  less  than  an  hour  the 
"Sumter"  came  up  with  the  bark  "Joseph 
Maxwell,"  of  Philadelphia.  Half  her  cargo 
was  the  property  of  a  neutral  doing 
business  in  Puerto  Cabello;  and  here  again 
Semmes  was  in  a  dilemma.  Leaving  the 
bark  outside  the  marine  league,  Semmes 
returned  in  the  "  Sumter  "  to  Puerto  Cabello 
and  sent  another  letter  to  the  Governor 
informing  him  of  the  capture  he  had  made, 
and  inquiring  if  some  arrangement  could 
not  be  had  for  the  protection  of  the  neutral 


OF  THE  CIVIL    }\'AR. 


013 


half-owner's  interests — in  other  words,  to 
ascertain  if  the  prize,  in  which  a  citizen  of 
Venezuela  was  interested,  would  not  be  per 
mitted  to  enter  the  harbor  and  remain  until 
she  could  be  adjudicated. 

Much  to  the  surprise  of  Semmes,  the  Gov 
ernor  in  his  reply  commanded  the  represent 
ative  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  to  deliver 
the  "  Maxwell "  over  to  him  until  the  courts 
of  Venezuela  could  determine  whether  or 
not  she  had  been  captured  within  the  ma 
rine  league  ! 

In  the  words  of  Commander  Semmes, 
"  This  insolence  was  refreshing — I  scarcely 
knew  whether  to  laugh  or  be  angry."  The 
"  Sumter"  was  then  lying  close  under  the 
guns  of  the  fort,  which  were  manned  by 
•some  half-naked  soldiers.  Semmes  beat  to 
quarters  and  cast  loose  his  guns,  not  knowing 
but  the  Governor  might  attempt  to  prevent 
his  going  to  sea  again,  and  with  his  crew 
standing  at  their  quarters  steamed  out  of  the 
harbor,  without  opposition  from  his  Excel 
lency,  who  was  only  too  happy  to  be  rid  of 
him. 

As  Semmes'  conscience  would  not  permit 
him  to  destroy  neutral  property,  he  sent  the 
"  Maxwell "  with  a  prize-crew  to  Cienf  uegos 
to  join  his  other  prizes,  still  clinging  to  the 
hope  that  Spain  ''would  dare  to  be  just,  in 
the  face  of  the  truckling  of  England  and  of 
France." 

Semmes  had  been  in  the  Caribbean  Sea 
from  the  3rd  to  the  27th  of  July,  1861,  had 
captured  ten  prizes,  and  not  a  Federal  gun 
boat  had  been  heard  of,  although  the  United 
States  Consul-General  at  Havana  had  been 
promptly  informed  of  all  his  transactions 
at  Cienfuegos.  Five  of  the  fast  steam 
ers  purchased  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
stores  to  the  several  squadrons,  well  armed 
and  manned,  would  have  caught  the  "  Sum 
ter  "  ten  days  after  her  escape  from  Pass  & 
TOutre,  saving  many  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  property  and  terminating  Semmes' 
career.  Although  the  Federal  Navy  De 
partment  displayed  a  great  deal  of  energy 
throughout  the  war,  it  was  lacking  in  fore 
thought  in  regard  to  the  matter  of  Confed 
erate  cruisers.  The  Department  had  prob 
ably  no  idea  that  the  Confederates  would 
exhibit  so  much  energy  in  this  direction, 
forgetting  that  men  who  embark  in  a  des 
perate  undertaking  generally  show  far  more 
activity  than  the  power  they  are  opposing, 
besides  being  less  particular  in  the  means 
employed  to  gain  their  ends. 

The  Federal  Government  should  have  sent 
swift  vessels  to  all  parts  of  the  world  as  soon 
as  it  became  evident  that  the  Confederates 
had  designs  on  its  commerce.  President 
Lincoln's  proclamation  declaring  Confeder 
ate  privateers  "pirates"  was  unheeded  by 
European  Governments,  and  it  must  have 
been  evident  that  the  success  of  the  "  Sum 


ter  ''  would  prompt  the  Confederates  to  send, 
as  many  vessels  as  possible  on  the  same  er 
rand.  Had  the  "Sumter"  been  captured 
soon  after  her  escape  from  the  Mississippi 
River,  there  would  probably  have  been  no 
more  Confederate  cruisers,  the  Confeder 
acy  would  have  been  deprived  of  its  most 
energetic  agent  in  this  line  of  business,  and 
the  ocean  commerce  of  the  United  States 
would  have  been  uninterrupted. 

After  sending  off  the  "  Maxwell,"  the 
"Sumter"  pursued  her  course  along  the 
Spanish  main  and  through  the  Caribbean 
Sea  to  the  Port  of  Spain,  in  the  Island  of 
Trinidad.  An  English  merchant  vessel, 
passing  out,  paid  the  "  Sumter"  the  honor 
of  a  salute  by  lowering  her  flag — a  sign  of 
hostility  to  the  United  States  Government 
exhibited  at  that  time  by  almost  everything 
British. 

The  Governor  of  Trinidad  had  already 
received  Queen  Victoria's  proclamation  of 
neutrality,  and  when  Commander  Semmes 
called  upon  him  his  Excellency  promptly 
informed  the  Confederate  Commander  that 
he  should  receive  the  same  hospitality  that 
would  be  shown  to  a  Federal  cruiser — this 
hospitality  consisted  in  extending  to  the 
"Sumter"  every  facility  for  prosecuting 
her  operations  against  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States. 

Semmes  lost  no  time  in  coaling  ship  and 
laying  in  provisions.  His  trouble  now  was 
to  get  rid  of  his  prisoners.  The  "  Maxwell's  " 
crew,  in  particular,  were  held  as  hostages  un 
til  the  case  of  the  prisoners  captured  in  the 
pilot-boat  "Savannah,"  who  had  been  tried 
and  condemned  as  pirates,  was  disposed  of. 
Not  until  Semmes  heard  that  the  crew  of 
the  "  Savannah"  were  treated  as  ordinary 
prisoners-of-war,  did  he  conclude  to  dis 
charge  these  merchant  seamen,  who  had 
been  made  to  understand  from  day  to  day 
what  their  fate  would  be  if  any  of  the 
"Savannah's"  crew  were  executed.  For 
tunately,  the  Federal  Government  was  not 
disposed  to  stain  its  record  by  any  bloody 
reprisals,  although  a  mistake  was  made  in 
issuing  a  proclamation  which  it  would  not 
have  been  wise  to  enforce. 

The  feelings  of  the  "  Maxwell's  "  crew  on 
hearing  that  they  were  to  be  discharged  can 
be  imagined,  and  even  Semmes  experienced 
relief  when  he  found  that  it  would  not  be 
necessary  to  hang  unoffending  non-com 
batants  at  the  yard-arm.  Semmes  remarks 
in  relation  to  this  matter  :  "I  would  be 
stretching  a  point  in  undertaking  retalia 
tion  of  this  serious  character  without  in 
structions  from  my  Government,  but  the 
case  was  pressing,  and  we  of  the  '  Sumter ' 
were  vitally  interested  in  the  issue.  The 
commission  of  the  '  Savannah,'  although 
she  was  only  a  privateer,  was  as  lawful  as 
our  own,  and  judging  by  the  abuse  that  had 


614 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


already  been  heaped  upon  us  by  the  North 
ern  papers,  we  had  no  reason  to  expect  any 
better  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  well- 
paid  New  York  District  Attorneys  and  well- 
packed  New  York  juries."  It  only  required 
that  Sernmes  should  appear  in  this  new  role 
of  executioner  011  the  high  seas  to  have  in 
sured  him  an  immortality  equal  to  that  of 
Captain  Kidd.  He  would  have  progressed 
but  little  further  in  making  himself  judge 
and  jury  to  condemn  innocent  merchant 
seamen  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the  hos 
tilities  between  the  North  and  the  South, 
than  he  had  already  in  establishing  a  Court 
of  Admiralty  on  the  high  seas,  where  all  the 
rules  of  law  and  rights  of  property  were  set 
aside.  As  to  any  humanity  shown  his 
prisoners  by  turning  them  loose  to  shift  for 
themselves  in  a  foreign  land,  it  was  due 
solely  to  the  inexpediency  of  keeping  his 
ship  full  of  Northerners  that  might  some 
day  rise  and  overpower  his  crew. 

Commander  Sernmes  had  already  received 
his  cue  from  the  Confederate  authorities, 
but  it  would  detract  from  his  reputation  for 
cleverness  to  believe  that  he  imagined  him 
self  invested  with  authority  to  commit  such 
an  act  as  he  had  intimated,  and  we  will  be 
charitable  enough  to  think  that  his  ex 
pressions  on  the  subject  were  simply  gas 
conade. 

When  one  of  the  men  captured  in  the 
privateer  "Jeff  Davis "  was  convicted  of 
piracy  in  the  Philadelphia  Court,  the  Con 
federate  Government  issued  the  following 
order,  which  Semmes  took  for  his  guide, 
apparently  forgetting  that,  while  his  Gov 
ernment  might  incur  the  responsibility, 
he,  not  the  one  hundred  thousandth  part 
of  that  Government,  had  110  more  right 
to  commit  such  an  act  than  the  common 
est  seaman  in  his  vessel.  The  letter  of 
Mr.  Secretary  Benjamin,  which  came  so 
near  causing  murder  to  be  done  on  the  high 
seas,  is  herewith  inserted,  showing  to  what 
dreadful  lengths  the  asperities  of  civil  war 
will  drive  people.  It  may  be  hoped  that  in 
future  wars  men  will  not  be  condemned  to 
death  simply  for  being  led  astray  by  reck 
less  leaders,  and  that  retaliation  may  not 
be  exercised  against  men  who  have  borne 
an  innocent  part  in  the  conflict : 
ORDER  OF  MR.  BENJAMIN  TO  GENERAL  WINDER 
IN  CHARGE  OF  FEDERAL  PRISONERS. 

SIR— You  are  hereby  instructed  to  choose  by 
lot  from  among  the  prisoners-of-war,  of  highest 
rank,  one  who  is  to  be  confined  in  a  cell  appropri 
ated  to  convicted  felons,  and  who  is  to  be  treated 
in  all  respects  as  if  such  convict,  and  to  be  held  for 
execution,  in  the  same  manner  as  may  be  adopted 
by  the  enemy  for  the  execution  of  the  prisoner-of- 
war  Smith  recently  condemned  to  death  in  Phila 
delphia. 

lou  will  also  select  thirteen  other  prisoners-of- 
war,  the  highest  in  rank  of  those  captured  by  our 
forces,  to  be  confined  in  cells,  reserved  for  prisoners 
accused  of  infamous  crimes,  and  will  treat  them  as 


such,  so  long  as  the  enemy  shall  continue  so  to  treat 
the  like  number  of  prisoners-of-war  captured  by 
them  at  sea,  and  now  held  for  trial  in  New  York  as 
pirates. 

As  these  measures  are  intended  to  repress  the  in 
famous  attempt  now  made  by  the  enemy  to  com 
mit  judicial  murder  on  prisoners-of-war,  you  will 
execute  them  strictly,  as  the  mode  best  calculated 
to  prevent  the  commission  of  so  heinous  a  crime. 

While  the  "  Sumter  "  remained  at  Trini 
dad  she  was  thronged  with  visitors  ;  some 
were  sympathizers  with  the  Confederate 
cause,  others  were  there  from  mere  curi 
osity;  but  the  officials  generally  held  aloof 
for  fear  of  compromising  themselves  if  they 
took  much  interest  in  the  Confederates. 
All  Semmes  cared  for  was  to  obtain  a  stock 
of  coal  and  provisions,  and  these  not  being 
considered  contraband  of  war  were  freely 
furnished.  Semmes  met  with  some  op 
position  from  the  authorities,  but  he  bore 
his  trials  with  meekness,  for  he  knew  that 
the  heavy  guns  commanding  the  harbor 
could  soon  be  manned,  and  were  too  for 
midable  to  trifle  with.  Nor  could  he  tell 
how  soon  a  British  man-of-war  might  come 
into  port  with  orders  for  the  Governor  to 
detain  the  "  Sumter." 

On  the  25th  of  August  the  "Sumter" 
sailed  from  Trinidad  bound  for  Maranham. 
So  far,  nothing  had  been  heard  of  a  United 
States  vessel-of-war.  The  slow  old  frigate 
"  Powhatan  "  was  following  on  the  track  of 
the  marauder,  never  missing  a  port  at 
which  the  "  Sumter  "  had  stopped.  But  for 
defective  boilers  the  "Powhatan"  would 
have  overtaken  the  ''Sumter"  at  Maranham. 
It  must  have  given 'the  inhabitants  of  the 
places  Semmes  visited  a  poor  idea  of  the 
power  of  the  Federal  Government,  to  see 
the  "Sumter"  roving  at  will,  with  110 
opposition. 

In  addition  to  his  other  tasks,  Semmes 
undertook  to  play  the  part  of  a  missionary, 
and  teach  the  people  among  whom  he  went 
the  difference  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern  governments ;  the  former  an  ef 
fete  affair,  without  resources  ;  the  latter  a 
young  giant  that  was  to  carry  everything 
before  it.  Of  course,  there  were  plenty  of 
people  to  believe  all  this.  They  had  seen  the 
evidence  of  Northern  commercial  wealth  in 
the  number  of  vessels  that  had  visited  their 
ports,  but  they  had  no  evidence  of  Federal 
military  or  naval  power,  which  is,  after  all, 
what  counts  most  with  nations.  In  the 
'*  Sumter"  they  beheld  an  engine-of- war  that 
could  do  much  harm,  and,  although  she  was 
not  a  large  vessel,  yet  they  saw  nothing 
opposed  to  her  to  repress  her  ill-doings. 
Had  there  been  a  fair-sized  United  States 
vessel  -  of  -  war  at  either  of  the  ports  the 
"  Sumter  "  entered,  the  latter  would  have 
probably  been  refused  a  supply  of  coal. 

The  "  Sumter,"  owing  to  strong  head 
winds  and  currents,  soon  expended  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


615 


greater  portion  of  her  coal,  and  had  then 
to  resort  to  her  sails  ;  but  on  the  19th  of 
August  she  made  the  harbor  of  Para 
maribo  and  obtained  a  supply  of  coal  and 
provisions,  fraternizing  with  the  officials 
of  the  town  and  with  some  French  and 
Dutch  officers,  who  seemed  to  recognize  in 
the  "  Sumter"  the  germ  of  a  Navy  that 
was  to  supplant  that  of  the  United  States. 
All  this  now  seems  like  the  merest  mock 
ery,  and  we  can  hardly  realize  how  the 
representatives  of  old  -  established  Gov 
ernments  could  lend  themselves  to  the 
schemes  of  the  Confederates  before  they 
had  the  slightest  evidence  that  the  latter 
could  maintain  their  position.  It  must 
have  been  a  serious  matter  to  admit  the 
ships  of  long-established  Governments  into 
neutral  ports  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
coal  with  which  to  prey  upon  each  other's 
commerce  ;  but  to  admit  a  vessel  of  such 
doubtful  character  as  the  "Sumter,"  with 
a  flag  never  before  seen,  was  certainly  go 
ing  to  the  utmost  extreme.  The  secret  of 
the  matter  was,  probably,  not.  so  much 
sympathy  with  the  South,  as  a  general  dis 
like  to  the  institutions  of  the  United  States, 
which  were  a  standing  menace  to  the  gov 
ernments  of  the  Old  World.  Had  the  United 
States  been  provided  with  a  Navy  propor 
tioned  to  its  wealth  and  resources,  with 
ships  stationed  at  every  part  of  the  world 
frequented  by  its  commerce,  the  Confed 
erates  could  not  have  kept  the  seas,  for 
want  of  coal,  and  would  soon  have  been 
obliged  to  abandon  their  cruising,  even  if 
their  vessels  escaped  capture.  The  argu 
ment  enforced  by  war  vessels  is  better  than 
diplomacy,  which  has  not  such  support ; 
and,  although  Mr.  Seward  had  duly  in 
structed  all  the  diplomatic  and  consular  re 
presentatives  of  the  United  States,  these 
gentlemen  could  never  satisfactorily  an 
swer  the  question,  "Why  don't  you  send 
your  Navy  to  repress  the  '  Sumter'  ?" 

The  "Sumter"  left  Paramaribo  on  the 
30th  of  August,  the  commanding  officer 
giving  the  pilot  to  understand  that  he  was 
bound  to  Barbadoes  to  look  after  the  U.  S.  S. 
'  •  Keystone  State,"  which  vessel  he  had 
learned  was  in  pursuit  of  him.  Semmes 
had  satisfied  himself  that  the  display  of  the 
"  Sumter  "  and  the  Confederate  flag  in  Cay 
enne  and  Paramaribo  had  had  a  most  ex 
cellent  effect  on  the  fortunes  of  his  young 
republic  ! 

The  "Powhatan"  arrived  off  Surinam 
River  only  two  or  three  days  after  the 
"  Sumter  "  sailed.  The  pilot  said  she  had 
caulked  her  ports  in  and  sailed  for  Barba 
does;  but  Lieutenant  Porter,  feeling  satis 
fied  that  Semmes  was  aiming  to  get  on  the 
track  of  American  vessels  bound  round 
Cape  St.  Roque,  and  knowingthat  he  would 
have  to  touch  at  Maranham  for  coal,  lost  no 


time,  but  stood  in  the  direction  of  the  latter 
port,  sometimes  under  three  boilers,  some 
times  under  one  only,  the  engineer's  force 
working  night  and  day  patching  the  worn- 
out  boilers. 

This  old  representative  ship  of  the  United 
States  Navy  at  times  made  not  more  than 
three  knots  an  hour,  scarcely  enough  to 
stem  the  current  setting  along  the  Brazilian 
coast. 

With  all  the  difficulties  attending  this 
pursuit,  which  Semmes  calls  "Quixotic," 
the  "  Powhatan"  had  gained  over  fifteen 
hundred  miles  on  the  "  Sumter"  since  she 
first  started  in  pursuit;  and  had  the  former 
vessel  been  fit  for  sea  the  Confederate 
cruiser  would  have  been  easily  overtaken, 
which  shows  the  remissness  of  the  Govern 
ment  in  not  dispatching  a  dozen  fast  ves 
sels  in  pursuit,  even  if  they  had  to  be  taken 
from  blockade  duty. 

On  the  6th  of  September  the  "Sumter" 
arrived  in  the  Port  of  Maranham,  and  the 
Port  Admiral  sent  a  lieutenant  to  inquire 
of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Confed 
erate  vessel  what  strange  flag  that  was 
he  carried  at  his  peak,  and  was  duly 
informed  that  it  was  the  emblem  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy.  A  cordial  under 
standing  was  soon  had  with  all  the  Brazil 
ian  authorities,  including  the  Governor  of 
the  province,  who  was  made  to  understand 
that  there  were  now  two  "United  States" 
instead  of  one,  that  the  Northern  govern 
ment  abhorred  slavery  and  all  that  per 
tained  to  it.  This  statement  struck  a  chord 
in  the  breast  of  the  Governor,  who,  like 
most  of  the  Brazilians  at  that  time,  was 
a  strong  advocate  of  the  peculiar  institu 
tion.  So  he  took  Semmes,  his  officers  and 
men,  at  once  to  his  heart,  and  welcomed 
them  to  Maranham.  Yet  Semmes  and  his 
officers  were  not  invited  to  a  grand  ball 
given  by  his  Excellency,  as  diplomatic  eti 
quette  forbade  this  without  the  permission 
of  the  Emperor.  "The  only  feeling  excited 
in  us,"  Semmes  remarks,  "by  this  official 
slight  was  of  contempt  for  the  silliness  of 
the  proceeding,  a  contempt  heightened  by 
the  reflection  that  we  were  a  race  of  Anglo- 
Saxons,  proud  of  our  lineage  and  proud  of 
our  strength  (!)  frowned  upon  by  a  set  of 
half-breeds." 

Semmes  was  more  anxious,  however,  to 
capture  merchant  vessels  than  to  attend  of 
ficial  gatherings.  The  day  after  the  ball 
the  Governor  gave  him  an  audience,  and 
after  Semmes  had  satisfied  him  that  the 
"  Sumter  "  was  entitled  to  belligerent  rights, 
granted  permission  for  the  ship  to  have 
everything  desired  except  munitions  of  war, 
as  if  granting  coal  was  not  a  far  greater 
injury  to  United  States  commerce  than  all 
the  munitions  in  the  world  without  it. 

If  England  had  been  the  plaintiff,  Amer- 


616 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ica  would  not  have  permitted  those  ves 
sels,  with  their  imitation  of  the  British  flag, 
to  obtain  supplies  to  carry  on  their  depreda 
tions  against  a  country  with  whom  they  were 
on  terms  of  friendship,  and  with  whom  they 
had  treaties.  All  such  vessels  would  have 
been  excluded  from  their  ports,  or.  if  admit 
ted,  would  be  detained  to  prevent  their  doing 
mischief.  Great  Britain  would  not  condone 
such  an  offence  as  giving  aid  and  comfort 
to  such  cruisers  would  be.  and  would  have 
had  her  war  ships  promptly  on  hand  to  de 
mand  reparation.  Who  is  there  that  does 
not  admire  and  applaud  the  policy  of  such 
a  nation  in  protecting  the  interests  of  her 
citizens,  although  her  operations  may  often 
seem  to  conflict  with  the  maxims  of  writers 
on  international  matters  ? 

The  Federal  Government  was  too  slow  in 
sending  war  vessels  abroad  to  look  out 
for  its  merchant  marine,  and  depended 
on  the  poorly  paid  consuls  at  the  differ 
ent  ports  to  oppose  their  feeble  influence 
against  a  plausible  person  like  Commander 
Semmes,  who  had  as  advisers  men  in  the 
Confederate  councils  still  more  clever. 
These  same  men  had  deluded  many  States 
filled  with  intelligent  people,  and  it  would 
have  been  strange  if  they  could  not  delude 
a  few  old  Governors,  especially  when  the 
latter  were  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the 
Confederacy  had  England  and  France  to 
back  her,  and  would  be  acknowledged  by 
all  the  Powers  of  Europe  in  less  than  six 
months. 

In  Maranham,  during  their  stay,  Com 
mander  Semmes  and  his  officers  were  the 
lions  of  the  hour,  and  brought  a  good  deal 
of  odium  on  the  head  of  the  United  States 
consul,  who  did  all  in  his  power  to  prevent 
the  "  Sumter  "  from  proceeding  on  her  work 
of  destruction.  His  small  pay  had  pre 
vented  him  attaining  much  social  consider 
ation,  so  that  he  had  but  little  influence. 
Semmes'  greatest  objection  to  this  gentle 
man  was  that  he  was  a  dentist,  and  forced 
to  practice  his  profession  to  eke  out  a  live 
lihood. 

On  the  15th  of  September  Semmes  left 
Maranham,  his  ship  thoroughly  equipped 
from  keel  to  truck.  For  very  good  reasons, 
considering  the  character  of  his  vessel, 
Semrnes  determined  to  steer  to  the  north 
ward  and  eastward  and  reach  the  calm  belt 
north  of  Cape  St.  Roque,  where  he  expected 
to  fall  in  with  a  number  of  vessels  bound 
from  ports  south  of  the  equator. 

Four  days  after  the  departure  of  the 
"Sumter "the  "Powhatan"  appeared  off 
Maranham.  This  vessel  had  worked  her 
way  in  a  fog  through  the  dangerous  chan 
nel  leading  to  the  port,  for  the  pilots  had  all 
been  withdrawn  from  the  outer  anchorage 
and  not  even  a  fisherman  was  encountered. 
The  "Powhatan"  had  but  ten  hours'  coal 


on  board  and  was  so  light  that  her  paddle- 
wheels  had  but  little  hold  on  the  water.  By 
careful  navigation  the  outside  of  the  har 
bor  was  reached  and  an  insolent  negro  pilot 
was  received  on  board — the  same  person 
that  had  taken  the  "Sumter"  out.  "How  did 
you  get  through  all  the  shoals  ?"  he  inquired. 
"  By  the  chart,"  was  the  answer.  "  I  don't 
believe  it,"  he  said.  "  You  must  have  had 
the  devil  for  a  pilot.  No  ship  of  this  size 
can  come  through  those  channels  without 
a  good  pilot.  Even  the  little  '  Sumter ' 
struck  coining  in  and  came  near  leaving 
her  bones  among  them."  "She  is  here, 
then  ?"  said  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
"  Powhatan."  his  eyes  glistening  with 
pleasure.  The  negro  laughed  and  replied, 
impudently  :  "  No,  you  can't  catch  her,  she 
is  miles  away — she  sailed  four  days  ago." 

It  was  high-water  when  the  "  Powhatan" 
entered  the  harbor  and  came  to  anchor  in 
five  fathoms.  The  tide  rises  some  fourteen 
feet  and  runs  very  strong  on  the  ebb. 
Three  hours  after  the  "Powhatan"  an 
chored  she  began  rasping  on  the  bottom 
and  pounding  against  her  anchor,  and  at 
low-water  was  hard  and  fast  in  the  mud 
with  three  feet  of  copper  out  of  water. 
This  was  evidently  intentional  on  the  part 
of  the  pilot,  but  fortunately  no  damage- 
was  done,  and  at  high  tide  the  ship  was 
moved  into  deeper  water.  The  hope  of  the 
pilot  was  undoubtedly  that  the  ship  would 
bring  up  on  the  bill  of  her  anchor  and 
knock  a  hole  in  her  bottom. 

The  Stars  and  Stripes  floated  proudly  at 
the  peak  of  the  "  Powhatan."  but  no  official 
visited  the  ship.  The  paymaster  was  sent 
on  shore  to  purchase  coal,  but  could  not 
procure  any.  The  "  Powhatan,"  in  the  eyes 
of  these  people,  represented  the  cause  of 
slave  emancipation.  When  application  for 
coal  was  made  to  the  agent  of  the  British 
Mail  Steamship  Company,  he  charged  at  the 
rate  of  twenty-two  dollars  a  ton,  at  least 
twice  as  much  as  it  was  worth.  The  offer 
was  accepted;  but  the  ship  had  scarcely 
commenced  coaling  when  a  black  officer, 
with  an  aide  of  the  same  complexion,  came 
on  board  and  haughtily  demanded  in  the 
name  of  the  Governor  that  the  "  Powhatan  " 
should  stop  taking  in  coal.  He  was  told  to- 
go  on  shore  and  not  to  interfere  with 
that  which  did  not  concern  him.  The  coal 
barges  were  towed  alongside  the  ship  and  a 
marine  with  loaded  musket  placed  in  each 
one. 

That  is  all  the  communication  the  "  Pow 
hatan  "  had  with  Maranham,  except  that 
a  Brazilian  gentleman  came  on  board  and 
strongly  protested  against  the  Governor's 
acts  ;  but  he  could  effect  nothing,  as  he  was 
on  the  wrong  side  in  politics. 

As  soon  as  the  "Powhatan"  had  coaled 
she  departed  in  pursuit  of  the  "  Sumter," 


OF   THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


01? 


the  commanding  officer  declining  the  ser 
vices  of  a  pilot  for  fear  the  good  ship's  bones 
might  be  left  on  some  ugly  reef. 

The  '•  Sumter"  reached  the  calm  belt  on 
the  24th  of  September.  The  next  day  a  sail 
was  sighted  ;  the  "  Sumter  "  pursued  under 
steam  showing  the  American  flag.  The 
stranger,  thinking  this  a  United  States 
gun-boat,  ran  up  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 
The  vessel  proved  to  be  the  "Joseph  Parke," 
of  Boston  ;  a  prize- ere w  was  put  011  board 
and  she  was  sent  to  the  westward  to  act  as 
a  decoy  to  other  vessels,  and  to  report,  by 
signal,  all  sails  that  hove  in  sight.  A  few 
days  afterwards,  as  nothing  appeared,  the 
''  Parke "  was  set  on  fire  and  destroyed, 
after  removing  all  valuables.  Vessels  on 
the  Brazilian  coast  had  heard  of  the  "Sum- 
ter's "  escape  and  had  taken  a  new  route 
homeward  consequently.  Semmes  gained 
little  by  cruising  between  the  parallels  of 
2°. 30'  and  9Q.30'  North  and  the  Meridians 
41°. 30'  and  47°. 30'  West.  So  he  made  his 
way  back  to  the  West  Indies,  while  the 
"Powhatan"  about  the  same  time  followed 
in  his  track. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  the  "Sumter" 
captured  the  schooner  "Daniel  Trowbridge," 
of  Xew  Haven,  loaded  with  everything  a 
cruiser  could  desire,  her  deck  even  being 
filled  with  live  stock.  It  took  these  cor 
morants  two  or  three  days  to  clear  out  this 
well-filled  schooner,  and  as  boat-load  after 
boat-load  was  sent  from  the  prize  to  the 
'•  Sumter,"  Semmes  gloated  over  the  luxu 
ries  he  was  receiving.  It  does  not  seem  to 
have  occurred  to  him  how  much  this  re 
sembled  the  achievements  of  old  buccaneer 
ing  days,  when  the  sea-rovers  overtook  their 
victims  and  treated  them  in  pretty  much 
the  same  fashion,  finally  consigning  their 
vessels  to  the  flames.  There  is  this  to  be 
said  in  Semmes'  favor,  that  he  did  not  make 
his  prisoners  walk  the  plank.  Semmes  is 
silent  as  to  the  fate  of  this  vessel,  from 
which  he  received  five  months'  provisions; 
but  she  was  probably  sunk,  as  it  was  not 
desirable  to  burn  her  when  so  many  vessels 
were  about. 

Many  vessels  were  now  chased  without 
any  prizes  being  taken,  most  of  them  being 
the  property  of  neutrals,  and  the  "  Sumter" 
at  length,  on  the  9th  of  November.  1861, 
made  Port  de  France,  in  the  Island  of  Mar 
tinique,  having  been  at  sea  nearly  two 
months  since  leaving  Maranham.  Of  late 
the  "Sumter"  had  taken  few  prizes,  but 
her  career,  as  a  whole,  had  been  very  de 
structive  and  caused  premiums  on  insur 
ance  to  assume  formidable  proportions. 

At  one  time  Semmes  came  very  near  be 
ing  captured  by  the  "  Powhatan."  He  re 
marks  in  his  journal  :  "  At  Trinidad  the 
'  Keystone  State  '  lost  our  trail,  and,  instead 
of  pursuing  us  to  Paramaribo  and  Maran 


ham,  turned  back  to  the  westward.  We 
learn  from  the  same  papers  that  the  en 
emy's  steam-frigate '  Powhatan/  Lieutenant 
Porter,  with  more  sagacity,  pursued  us  to 
Maranham,  arriving  there  one  week  [four 
days]  after  our  departure.  At  a  subsequent 
date,  Lieutenant  (now  Admiral)  Porters 
official  account  fell  into  my  hands,  and, 
plotting  his  track,  I  found  that  on  one  oc 
casion  we  had  been  within  forty  miles  of 
each  other,  almost  near  enough  on  a  still 
day  to  see  each  other's  smoke."  This  was 
at  the  time  when  the  "  Sumter"  burned  the 
"  Joseph  Parke  "  near  the  equator. 

Commander  Semmes  heard  of  the  pres 
ence  of  the  "Iroquois,"  Commander  James 
S.  Palmer,  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  soon  after 
his  arrival  at  Martinique,  and  made  haste 
to  get  away  from  that  place  before  he 
should  be  blockaded  by  the  Federal  steamer. 
The  "  Iroquois"  was  superior  in  every  re 
spect  to  the  "Sumter,"  and  Semmes  had 
not  the  slightest  idea  of  getting  within 
range  of  her  guns,  if  he  could  help  it. 

On  November  13,  the  "  Sumter"  left  Port 
de  France  and  anchored  off  St.  Pierre,  and  a 
day  or  two  later  the  "  Iroquois "  appeared 
off  the  harbor,  and  sent  a  boat  ashore  to 
the  United  States  consul,  after  which  she 
steamed  outside  and  kept  up  a  steady 
blockade  until  the  authorities  at  Martinique 
called  Captain  Palmer's  attention  to  the 
fact  that  he  was  violating  the  sanctity  of 
neutral  waters,  and  requested  him  to  re 
tire  beyond  the  marine  league.  The  ma 
noeuvring  on  the  part  of  Semmes  to  get  to 
sea,  and  of  Palmer  to  prevent  him.  forms 
an  interesting  episode  in  the  history  of  the 
war.  Semmes.  in  the  end,  was  too  clever 
for  Palmer,  and  one  dark  night  the  "  Sum 
ter  "  made  her  escape  under  full  steam  while 
the"  Iroquois"  was  watching  for  her  in  an 
other  direction.  It  is  a  difficult  thing  for 
one  steamer  to  prevent  the  passage  of  an 
other  out  of  an  open  bay  with  head-lands 
three  or  four  miles  apart,  as  was  conclu 
sively  proven  in  this  instance. 

Finding  that  the  Federal  cruisers  were 
getting  on  his  track,  the  commander  of  the 
"Sumter"  determined  to  leave  the  Carib 
bean  Sea  and  cross  the  Atlantic.  On  his 
way  Semmes  captured  and  destroyed  the 
•'Arcadia,"  "Vigilant"  and  "Ebenezer 
Dodge,"  making  the  total  number  of  cap 
tures  by  the  "  Sumter"  fourteen. 

Semmes  had  done  as  well  for  the  Confed 
eracy  as  possible,  and  the  Confederate 
Government  was  well  satisfied  with  his 
operations;  but  the  crowning  blow  was  yet 
to  come,  when  Semmes,  in  a  more  efficient 
vessel,  could  still  better  illustrate  the  fact 
that  a  great  commercial  country,  without 
a  sufficient  naval  force,  is  at  the  mercy  of 
any  set  of  adventurers  in  case  war  should 
suddenly  break  out.  Had  the  "Sumter" 


618 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ILri/Cfcll  If  li.  U.J.         J-LCVl    k7V7i          \JJ,         V>CI 

pleasing  anticipations,  s 
he  forgot  the  ravages  lie 


started  on  such  a  crusade  against  British 
commerce,  the  seas  would  have  swarmed 
with  swift  cruisers,  and  Semmes'  career 
would  have  come  to  a  sudden  and  inglori 
ous  termination.  He  showed  a  deal  of 
cleverness  in  achieving  so  much  for  his 
Government,  but  he  had  few  vessels  in 
search  of  him.  and  only  one  of  these  was  fast 
enough  to  overtake  him  if  he  was  sighted. 

From  an  English  vessel  that  Semmes  en 
countered  he  obtained  newspapers  that  gave 
him  interesting  information.  Among  other 
things  he  learned  that  another  Confederate 
cruiser  called  the  "  Nashville,"  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Pegram,  had  put  to 
sea  and  had  burned  a  large  American  mer 
chant  ship,  the  "  Harvey  Birch."  in  the 
British  Channel.  She  was  loaded  with  tea 
and  just  from  China.  This  news  stimulated 
Semmes  to  fresh  exertions,  that  he  might 
replenish  his  coal  and  continue  his  pleasant 
employment  of  burning  and  sinking.  Hav 
ing  been  well  received  at  Cienfuegos,  he 
calculated  on  meeting  similar  treatment  in 
other  Spanish  ports,  and  he  now  entered  the 
beautiful  harbor  of  Cadiz  with  the  most 

so  that  for  a  moment 
he  had  committed  on 

unoffending  people  who  had  taken  no  part 
in  the  war  against  the  South,  and  many  of 
whom,  for  all  he  knew,  might  have  sym 
pathized  with  the  secession  cause.  He 
showed  a  vindictiveness  towards  every 
thing  relating  to  the  North  which  nobody 
thought  to  have  existed  in  his  character. 
Those  who  knew  him  as  an  officer  of  more 
than  thirty  years'  service  in  the  United 
States  Navy,  supposed  that  he  would  feel 
some  little  compunction  in  pulling  down  the 
honored  flag  of  the  Union  and  consigning 
its  ships  to  the  flames;  but,  so  far  from  this, 
Semmes  exulted  in  every  deed  he  com 
mitted,  and  showed  himself  in  acts  and  lan 
guage  so  rancorous  against  everything  be 
longing  to  the  North,  that  one  would  have 
supposed  he  had  received  the  greatest  in 
juries  from  the  United  States  Government. 
We  can  understand  that  a  man  may  be  led 
by  his  sympathies  and  the  persuasion  of  his 
friends  to  embark  in  a  bad  cause,  but  there 
should  be  enough  of  humanity  in  him  to 
cause  him  to  feel  regret  at  deserting  the 
flag  he  had  professed  to  love  for  so  many 
years. 

Semmes  was  not  received  at  Cadiz  with 
that  consideratton  he  thought  he  had  a 
right  to  expect,  and  after  some  correspond 
ence  with  the  authorities  was  ordered  by  a 
dispatch  from  Madrid  to  proceed  to  sea 
within  twenty-four  hours;  but  after  consid 
eration  the  '•  Sumter  "  was  allowed  to  go 
into  dock  for  repairs  and  Semmes  was  per 
mitted  to  land  his  prisoners,  who  were 
making  serious  inroads  on  his  provisions. 
He  met  with  no  encouragement  at  Cadiz. 


In  the  eyes  of  the  Spaniards  the  secession 
movement  was  a  mere  political  outbreak, 
in  which  Spain  was  not  concerned. 

Part  of  the  "Sumter's"  crew  deserted 
while  the  vessel  was  in  dock.  Semmes' 
money  had  given  out;  he  could  not  purchase 
coal,  and  every  day  he  was  urged  by  the  au 
thorities  to  depart.  Having  a  small  supply 
of  coal  remaining,  Semmes  determined  to 
shake  the  dust  of  Cadiz  from  his  feet,  and 
that  night  he  laid-to  off  the  Straits  of  Gibral- 
ter.  At  daybreak  several  sail  were  sighted 
coming  down  the  Mediterranean  bound 
through  the  Straits.  Semmes  could  not 
think  of  going  into  Gibraltar  without  first 
examining  these  vessels,  as  his  predeces 
sors,  the  Barbary  corsairs,  were  wont  to  do 
on  this  very  spot  in  days  gone  by.  It  was 
two  hours  before  the  *' Sumter"  came  up 
with  the  first  of  these  vessels.  She  was 
standing  to  wards  the  African  coast,  though 
still  distant  from  the  land  six  or  seven 
miles;  yet  who  would  have  asked  whether 
she  was  within  the  marine  league  or  not? 
What  did  Semmes  care  for  the  guns  at 
Ceuta  ?  When  near  enough,  the  Confed 
erate  flag  was  displayed  and  the  usual 
gun  fired,  when  the  American  hove-to, 
much  astonished  at  this  summons;  but  lie 
soon  found  himself  in  the  hands  of  an  en 
emy  from  whom  there  was  no  escape.  The 
master  of  the  vessel  stated  before  the  "Ad 
miralty  Court"  sitting  on  board  the  "  Sum 
ter  "that  his  ship  belonged  to  the  English 
house  of  Baring  Brothers  and  was  con 
signed  to  an  agent  in  Boston;  but,  notwith 
standing  his  expostulations,  he  was  in 
formed  that  his  ship  would  be  destroyed. 
The  other  vessel  was  approaching  and 
Semmes  had  no  time  to  parley.  So  the 
torch  was  applied  to  the  beautiful  bark 
"  Neapolitan,"  of  Kingston,  Massachusetts, 
and  she  with  her  valuable  cargo  was  totally 
consumed.  Commander  Semmes'  justifica 
tion,  to  use  his  own  expressions,  was  that 
"  Gallant  naval  officers  wearing  Mr.  Welles' 
shoulder  -  straps,  and  commanding  Mr. 
Welles'  ships,  were  capturing  little  coast 
ing  schooners  laden  with  fire-wood,  plun 
dering  the  houses  and  hen-roosts  of  non- 
combatants  along  the  Southern  coast,  de 
stroying  salt-works  and  intercepting  medi 
cines  going  to  Confederate  hospitals."  Is 
it  strange  that  men  who  would  tell  such 
falsehoods  as  the  above  would  burn  the 
ships  of  non-combatants? 

The  "Neapolitan  "  was  no  sooner  on  fire 
than  the  "Sumfcer"  started  in  pursuit  of 
the  other  vessel,  which  proved  to  be  the 
bark  "  Investigator,"  of  Searsport,  Maine. 
The  cargo  being  clearly  the  property  of 
neutrals,  the  vessel,  after  giving  a  ransom- 
bond,  was  allowed  to  proceed  on  her  course. 

Commander  Semmes  had  now  to  be  some 
what  careful  of  seizing  neutral  property,  as 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


619 


he  was  in  civilized  Europe  and  not  among 
a  set  of  "  half-breeds  "  before  whose  coun 
cil  windows  he  could  "flash  his  shells,"  or 
hector  a  pack  of  feehle  officials. 

That  night  the  "  Sumter "  lay  in  the 
'•  man-of-war  anchorage  "  in  Gibraltar  Bay. 
It  was  not  necessary  to  tell  the  inhabitants 
<>f  Gibraltar  what  the  "Sumter"  was.  for 
she  had  been  expected.  It  was  quite  in 
keeping  that  Semmes  should  announce  his 
arrival  by  burning  a  ship;  but  it  would  have 
been  still  more  suited  to  his  character  if  he 
had  waited  until  night  to  illuminate  the 
shores  of  Spain  and  Africa,  and  run  into 
the  anchorage,  showing  the  Confederate 
flag  by  the  lurid  light  of  the  flames. 

Some  of  the  officers  of  the  garrison  of 
Gibraltar,  being  ardent  admirers  of  the 
Confederate  cause,  expressed  themselves 
unreservedly.  In  other  words,  they  disliked 
the  United  States,  and  would  have  been 
delighted  to  see  the  whole  fabric  of  the 
Union  broken  to  pieces. 

The  only  restrictions  placed  upon  the 
"  Sumter  "  were  that  she  should  not  make 
Gibraltar  a  station  from  which  to  sally  out 
for  war  purposes,  and  should  not  receive 
on  board  any  contraband  of  war.  That  is, 
she  could  purchase  all  the  coal  needed  to 
enable  her  to  commit  depredations  upon 
United  States  commerce,  but  could  not  re 
place  what  few  blank  cartridges  had  been 
expended  in  bringing  vessels  to,  and  the 
shells  with  which  she  had  made  a  target  of 
her  prizes. 

What  would  Great  Britain  have  thought 
had  Ireland  thrown  off  her  allegiance,  and 
sent  out  vessels  to  destro}'  British  com 
merce,  if  these  vessels  had  been  received  in 
New  York,  and  the  authorities  had  allowed 
them  to  refit  and  repair  and  sent  them  on 
their  way.  When  Washington  was  Presi 
dent,  and  Genet  Minister  from  France  to 
the  United  States,  certain  French  privateers 
put  into  Philadelphia,  and  an  attempt  was 
made  to  refit  them  so  that  they  might  com 
mit  depredations  on  British  commerce. 
The  President  issued  an  order  prohibiting 
this,  and  on  Minister  Genet  protesting 
against  it,  the  President  declined  to  receive 
him  as  the  representative  of  France.  Yet 
the  French  had  materially  assisted  us  to 
gain  our  independence  from  Great  Britain. 
The  diplomatic  correspondence  of  the  civil 
war  will  show  how  different  the  conduct  of 
the  British  Government.  It  might  be  ad 
visable  for  Great  Britain  to  proclaim  her 
neutrality,  but  there  was  certainly  no  reason 
why  she  should  give  aid  to  those  in  rebellion 
against  the  United  States.  The  limits  of 
this  work  will  not  permit  a  lengthy  discus 
sion  of  this  matter,  however,  and  we  can 
only  chronicle  the  movements  of  the 
Confederate  cruisers  and  the  measures 
taken  to  check  their  career. 


While  the  "Sumter"  remained  in  Gib 
raltar  she  was  crowded  with  visitors.  Peo 
ple  came  from  a  distance  to  see  the  wonder 
ful  vessel  that  had  strewn  the  ocean  with 
blackened  hulls  The  Duke  of  Beaufort 
and  Sir  John  Inglis  went  on  board  and  ex 
amined  the  ship — men  whose  ancestors  had 
stigmatized  Paul  Jones  as  a  pirate  when, 
in  the  "Bon  Homme  Richard."  he  left  the 
whole  English  coast  in  terror,  and  sunk  the 
"  Serapis,"  in  a  contest  that  will  be  forever 
memorable. 

But  in  spite  of  the  sympathy  showered 
upon  the  "  Sumter  "  and  her  interesting 
commander,  the  tide  gradually  turned,  and 
Semmes  wore  out  his  welcome.  Two  Fed 
eral  gun-boats  were  watching — one  from 
Algesiras,the  other  at  Gibraltar — neither  of 
them  violating  any  neutrality,  or  frater 
nizing  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  shore, 
yet  every  movement  was  reported  to  the 
Governor  of  Gibraltar  as  a  violation  of 
neutrality.  The  escape  of  the  "  Sumter" 
had  put  Secretary  Seward  on  his  mettle, 
and  he  made  the  strongest  protests  against 
her  being  received  or  recognized  as  a  bel 
ligerent,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to  de 
nounce  her  as  a  pirate.  The  British  Gov 
ernment  began  to  consider  the  matter  more 
carefully,  and  the  idea  doubtless  suggested 
itself  that  England  was  establishing  a 
precedent  which  might  give  her  much 
trouble  in  case  of  future  wars.  Whatever 
the  cause,  the  career  of  the  "  Sumter"  ter 
minated  at  Gibraltar.  Semmes  could  raise 
no  money,  and  the  presence  of  the  United 
States  vessels  had  a  strong  moral  influ 
ence  against  him.  Semmes  took  up  his 
old  employment  of  writing  letters,  which 
were  referred  by  the  Governor  to  the 
authorities  at  home.  When  it  was  found 
that  Semmes  had  no  money  to  purchase 
coal,  the  sympathizers  with  secession  be 
came  lukewarm,  and  as  every  one  in  Gib 
raltar  was  more  or  less  under  the  influence 
of  official  authority,  even  the  Army  and 
Navy  officers  became  cooler  towards  the 
officers  of  the  "Sumter."  The  calm  bear 
ing  of  the  officers  of  the  two  United  States 
vessels  had  its  effect,  they  seemed  to  be  of 
the  right  metal — the  representatives  of  an 
old-established  Government.  The  "  Sum 
ter"  might  be  a  lion  for  a  time  while  the 
story  of  her  exploits  was  still  fresh  in  peo 
ple's  minds,  but  when  two  bona-fide  ships- 
of-war  appeared  in  pursuit  of  her,  the 
glamour  seemed  to  evaporate,  and  the  bold 
cruiser  was  merely  the  fugitive  from  jus 
tice.  The  "  Sumter  "  was  like  some  young 
fellow  entertained  as  a  visitor,  with  two 
policemen  watching  the  house  ready  to 
seize  him  when  he  came  out. 

To  make  matters  still  more  unpleasant 
for  Commander  Semmes,  Paymaster  Myers 
of  the  "Sumter"  was  arrested  at  Tangier 


620 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Straits.  Mr. 
Myers  was  on  his  way  to  Cadiz  to  negotiate 
for  coal  or  money,  and  landed  from  the 
passenger  steamer  to  walk  about  the  town. 
The  United  States  treaty  with  Morocco  called 
for  the  surrender  of  all  persons  accused  of 
offences  against  the  United  States ;  and 
the  consul,  having  civil  and  criminal  juris 
diction,  had  Mr.  Myers  and  an  ex-consul 
who  was  traveling  with  him  arrested  and 
placed  in  close  confinement.  They  were 
then  transferred  to  the  U.  S.  naval  vessel  at 
Algesiras — much  against  the  wishes  of  the 
commanding  officer — by  the  consul,  who 
demanded  that  these  persons  should  be 
taken  to  the  United  States,  charged  with 
piracy  on  the  high  seas  and  aiding  and 
abetting  the  same.  The  fact  that  officers 
of  the  '•  Sumter  "  could  be  arrested  by  the 
emissaries  of  a  foreign  Government  put 
a  still  more  dubious  aspect  on  the 
"  Sumter s  "  case.  There  was  a  flaw  in  the 
"  Sumter "  somewhere,  and  this  episode 
was  the  feather  that  broke  the  camel's 
back. 

We  do  not  dwell  with  any  satisfaction  on 
the  action  of  the  consul  at  Tangier,  who 
was  doubtless  prompted  in  his  course  by 


the  instructions  from  the  Department  of 
State  denouncing  the  Confederate  cruisers 
as  pirates.  The  paymaster  of  the  "'  Sum 
ter  "  was  of  little  consequence  one  way  or 
another,  and  whether  he  was  a  prisoner, 
or  at  large,  made  not  much  difference. 
Semmes  tried  in  vain  to  procure  the  re 
lease  of  his  officer,  for  the  United  States 
Government  had  considerable  prestige,  and 
was  every  day  growing  more  powerful. 
Mr.  Secretary  Seward  was  assuming  a  de 
termined  tone  to  which  foreign  powers 
were  forced  to  listen.  After  much  cor 
respondence  the  unlucky  paymaster  was 
released  from  confinement  and  placed  on 
parole  as  a  prisoner-of-war. 

As  it  was  impossible  to  get  to  sea,  the 
"Sumter"  was  finally  laid  up  at  Gibraltar 
in  charge  of  a  midshipman,  while  Semmes 
and  some  of  his  officers,  on  the  15th  of 
April,  1862,  embarked  on  board  the  mail 
steamer  for  Southampton,  in  search  of  a 
better  vessel  with  which  to  renew  their 
depredations  on  United  States  commerce. 
The  "Sumter"  became  a  blockade-runner, 
and,  after  the  war,  terminated  her  career  on 
some  dangerous  shoals  in  the  China  Sea 
and  all  her  crew  were  lost. 


CHAPTER     XLVI 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  THE  '"FLORIDA"  ("ORETO")  AND  "ALABAMA." 
ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  "  KEARSARGE1'  AND  "ALABAMA." 

DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  NATION'S  COMMERCE.  —  SEMMES'  CAREER  IN  THE  OLD  NAVY.  - 
SEMMES  IN  ENGLAND.  --  TAKES  PASSAGE  FOR  NASSAU.  —  RECEIVES  CAPTAIN'S  COM 
MISSION. —  ORDERED  TO  COMMAND  THE  "ALABAMA."  -THE  "  ORETO  "  SEIZED  BY 
BRITISH  AUTHORITIES.  AFTERWARDS  RELEASED. — RECEIVES  HER  ARMAMENT  AT  GRAND 
KEY. — THE  "ORETO"  ("FLORIDA")  SAILS  FOR  MOBILE. — RUNS  THROUGH  BLOCKADING 
SQUADRON.  —  RUNS  BLOCKADE  A  SECOND  TIME.  —  MAFFITT  LIGHTS  UP  THE  SEA.  - 
THK  "ALABAMA."  —  SEMMES  JOINS  THE  "ALABAMA"  AT  TERCEIRA. —  IN  COMMISSION. 
—  CAPTURE  OF  "STARLIGHT,"  "OCEAN  ROVER,"  "ALERT,"  "WEATHER-GAUGE" 
AND  "ALTAMAHA."  -EXCITING  CHASE. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "BENJAMIN  TUCKER," 
"COURSER,"  "  VIRGINIA  "  AND  "  ELISHA  DUNBAR." — ROUGH  SEA  AND  A  PICTURESQUE 
CONFLAGRATION. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "BRILLIANT,"  "EMILY  FARNUM,"  "DUNKIRK," 
"  WAVE  CREST,"  " TONAWANDA,"  "MANCHESTER,"  " LAMPLIGHTER,"  " CRENSHAW "  AND 
"  LEVI  STARBUCK."- -  EXCITING  ADVENTURES.  —  LANDING  PRISONERS  AT  PORT  DE 
FRANCE.— BLOCKADED.— THE  "ALABAMA"  ESCAPES  IT.  S.  S."SAN  JACINTO."— CAPTURE 
OF  THE  "PARKER  COOKE,"  "UNION"  AND  "ARIEL." — INCIDENTS  ON  BOARD  THE  ''ARIEL." 
-THE  "ALABAMA"  IN  GULF  OF  MEXICO.  —  SINKS  U.  S.  S.  "HATTERAS."  —  LANDING 
PRISONERS  AND  REFITTING  AT  JAMAICA. —  CAPTURE  OF  "GOLDEN  RULE,"  "CHASTE- 
LAINE,"  "PALMETTO,"  "OLIVE  JANE"  AND  "GOLDEN  EAGLE."  -THE  SEA  ABLAZE 
\VITH  BURNING  VESSELS. — THE  TOLL-GATE  UPON  THE  SEA. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "WASH 
INGTON."  "JOHN  A.  PARKS,"  "  BETHIAH  THAYER,"  "PUNJAUB,"  "MORNING  STAR," 
"KINGFISHER,"  "CHARLES  HILL,"  "  NORA,"  "  LOUISA  HATCH,"  "  LAFAYETTE  "  AND 
"KATE  CORY." — CAPTURE  OF  THE  WHALERS  "NYE,"  " DORCAS  PRINCE"AND  "UNION 
JACK."  -THE  "ALABAMA"  AND  CONFEDERATE  STEAMER  "GEORGIA"  AT  BAHIA. - 
CAPTURE  OF  THE  " GILDERSLIEVE,"  "JUSTIANA,"  "JABEZ  SNOW,"  "AMAZONIAN," 
'•TALISMAN"  AND  "CONRAD."- -THE  "CONRAD"  COMMISSIONED  AS  A  CONFEDERATE 
CRUISER. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "ANNA  F.  SCHMIDT." — THE  "  TUSCALOOSA."— CAPTURE  OF 
THK  ••  SEA-  BRIDE."--  U.  S.  S.  "  VANDERBILT"  AND  "WYOMING."  -THE  "WINGED 
RACER"  AND  THE  "CONTEST"  IN  FLAMES.— THE  "ALABAMA"  GIVES  THE  "WYOMING" 
THE  SLIP. — CAPTURE  OF  THE  "MARTABAN."  "SONORA"  AND  "HIGHLANDER." — BURN 
ING  OF  THE  "EMMA  JANE."  --  RELEASE  OF  THE  "  TUSCALOOSA."-- CAPTURE  OF  THE 
"  ROCKINQHAM  "  AND  "  TYCOON."— THE  "  ALABAMA"  ANCHORS  IN  HARBOR  OF  CHER 
BOURG. — ARRIVAL  OF  THE  "KEARSARGE." — A  CHALLENGE. — PREPARATIONS  TO  FIGHT. 
—ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  "ALABAMA"  AND  "KEARSARGE." — INCIDENTS  OF  BATTLE. 
-THE  "  ALABAMA  "  SUNK  !— SEMMES  ESCAPES.— CAPTAIN  WINSLOW'S  REPORT.—  OF 
FICERS  AND  CREW  OF  THE  "  KEARSARGE." — OFFICERS  OF  THE  "  ALABAMA." 

THERE  is  no  more  interesting  chap-  Tins  commerce  had  long  been  the  pride 

ter  in  the  history  of  the  war  than  of  the   nation,  and  its  white  sails  covered 

the  account  of    the  performances  nearly  every  sea  ;  but   that   it  was  poorly 

of    those    who     commanded     the  protected    by   the   Government    was    well 

cruisers  that   were  sent  forth   by  known   to  all  the  world,  and   it  was  pre- 

the  Confederate  Government  to  destroy  the  dieted  by  those  who  thought  seriously  upon 

commerce  of  the  Northern  States.  the  subject  that  the  day  would  come  when 

(621) 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  rude  hands  of  some  foreign  power 
would  be  laid  upon  it,  in  some  future  war. 
when  it  would  be  swept  from  the  seas  ;  but 
who,  in  his  wildest  conjectures,  would  ever 
suppose  that  the  blow  would  come  from 
those  whose  greatest  pride  once  was  that 
they  were  born  under  the  ''  Stars  and 
Stripes,"  and  that  they  loved  every  stripe 
and  star  in  the  dear  old  flag  that  had  borne 
itself  so  bravely  in  times  past,  on  land  and 
sea,  in  the  defence  of  human  rights,  and  in 
the  vindication  of  its  own  honor  ? 

Yet  men  change  their  creeds  so  rapidly 
with  the  circumstances  of  the  times,  that 
it  would  be  impossible  to  predict  their  ac 
tions  when  revolution  overwhelms  a  na 
tion,  and  changes  the  most  loyal  hearts. 
Men,  who  with  patriotic  pride  had  looked 
upon  our  flag  with  a  veneration  almost  as 
great  as  they  owed  their  God,  forsook  it  at 
a  moment's  warning — at  a  time  when  it 
most  needed  their  support.  And,  strange 
to  say,  some  of  these  not  only  placed  them 
selves  in  opposition  to  the  Government — to 
which  they  had  been  bound  by  the  most 
sacred  ties — but  they  did  all  in  their  power 
to  drive  its  flag  from  the  ocean,  by  destroy 
ing  the  noble  ships  that  carried  it. 

There  was  a  large  corps  of  these  officers, 
and  among  them  some  of  the  most  gallant 
and  fiery  spirits  of  the  old  Navy,  without 
whose  intelligent  aid  the  Confederates 
could  have  inflicted  little  or  no  injury  upon 
American  commerce.  It  is  well  known 
that  all  the  attempts  made  by  the  merchant 
captains  of  the  South  to  fit  out  privateers 
were  failures.  Their  vessels  were  always 
captured,  simply  because  their  commanders 
lacked  the  training  and  intelligence  of  the 
regular  naval  officers  who  went  South  when 
their  States  seceded. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Commander 
Semmes  was  one  of  the  most  intelligent  of 
these  officers,  and  he  not  only  willingly  en 
tered  into  Mr.  Mallory's  plan  for  the  destruc 
tion  of  American  commerce,  but  embarked 
in  the  career  with  so  much  energy  that  it 
amounted  to  vindictiveness ;  so  that,  al 
though  he  performed  many  daring  exploits, 
he  is  hardly  entitled  to  be  called  a  hero.  We 
have  seen  what  he  accomplished  with  the 
"  Sumter,"  a  small  vessel  which  had  been 
condemned  by  a  Board  of  naval  officers  at 
New  Orleans.  Sernmes,  however,  at  once  de 
cided  that  she  would  suit  his  purpose,  and, 
with  an  energy  he  had  never  been  thought  to 
possess,  he  got  her  to  sea,  eluded  the  block- 
aders,  and  after  capturing  fifteen  mer- 
chantment,  arrived  at  Cadiz.  From  this 
port  he  went  to  Gibraltar,  where  the  career 
of  the  "  Sumter,"  as  a  commerce-destroyer, 
ended.  She  was  in  an  unsea worthy  condi 
tion,  and,  being  closely  blockaded.  Semmes 
decided  that  she  could  be  of  no  further  use 
to  the  Confederacy.  He  sold  her  in  such  a 


way  that  his  adopted  country  could  benefit 
by  the  purchase-money,  and  then  started 
in  pursuit  of  some  other  field  of  action. 

As  we  have  said  before.  Commander 
Semmes  had  denounced  the  Mexican  Gov 
ernment  for  proposing  to  do  what  he  was 
doing  in  the  '"Alabama,''  but  no  one  can  tell 
how  a  man  may  change  his  nature  or  his 
opinions  when  swayed  by  some  passion  that 
may  have  been  dormant  in  him  for  years, 
and  which  only  required  to  be  called  into 
action  to  make  the  inert,  indifferent  officer 
throw  off  the  old  man  and  take  on  the  new; 
there  are  so  many  instances  where  such 
men  have  come  to  the  surface  in  great 
revolutions,  that  it  is  not  strange  that  Com 
mander  Semmes,  from  being  the  mildest- 
mannered  gentleman  in  the  Navy,  should 
have  assumed  a  character  bordering  on  that 
of  an  ancient  viking. 

This  officer  would  not  perhaps  have  mer 
ited  these  remarks  had  he  not  through 
out  his  career  shown  the  most  vindictive 
feelings  towards  anything  that  claimed 
to  belong  to  the  United  States ;  he  was 
so  inhumane  in  his  treatment  of  pris 
oners,  and  so  indifferent  to  the  rights  of 
property,  that  he  could  scarcely  have  ex 
pected  to  be  treated  as  mildly  as  his  com 
patriots  who  inflicted  great  damage  on 
American  commerce,  but  were  content  after 
the  war  was  over  to  remain  quietly  in  their 
retirement  without  boasting  of  what  they 
had  done  in  a  book  that  tended  to  keep 
alive  the  bad  passions  which  it  were  better 
for  both  North  and  South  to  bury  in  oblivion. 

We  have  seen  Commander  Semmes  in  the 
"Sumter,"  we  have  yet  to  see  him  in  the 
"  Alabama,"  which  he  made  ten  times  more 
famous  as  a  destroyer  than  the  little  vessel 
which  first  carried  his  fortunes.  During  his 
second  command  he  carried  such  terror  into 
the  hearts  of  peaceful  merchantmen  that 
many  of  them  abandoned  their  flag  and 
placed  their  ships  under  the  protection 
of  England,  where  they  knew  they  would 
be  safe  from  molestation. 

When  Semmes  arrived  in  England  he 
found  that  a  commission  of  Confederate 
naval  officers  had  been  sent  abroad  to  pur 
chase  or  build  cruisers  for  the  Southern 
Navy,  but  that,  owing  to  the  difficulties 
thrown  in  their  way  by  the  protests  of  the 
American  Minister  and  Secretary  of  State, 
little  headway  had  been  made  in  the  desired 
direction  ;  and,  although  he  was  offered  the 
first  command,  he  saw  little  prospect  of  im 
mediate  employment  and  determined  to  re 
turn  to  the  Confederate  States.  An  oppor 
tunity  soon  offered,  and  he  took  passage  on 
the  fast  blockade-runner  "Melita,"  which 
landed  him  at  Nassau,  N.  P.,  on  the  13th  of 
June,  1862.  On  the  same  evening  Semmes 
was  quartered  at  the  Victoria  Hotel  writh 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


623 


his  staff,  where  he  was  surrounded  by  many 
Confederates,  who  all  consorted  together 
after  a  manner,  and  at  least  with  apparent 
harmony,  for  they  were  all.  as  a  rule,  en 
gaged  in  the  same  errand  (search  for  plun 
der)  :  and  the  greedy  look  and  hungry  eyes 
of  many  of  these  parties,  as  they  longingly 
gazed  upon  the  thousands  of  bales  of  cot 
ton  which  strewed  the  beach,  showed  that 
their  hearts  were  wrapped  up  in  that  beau 
tiful  staple. 

Nassau,  originally  an  insignificant  town, 
sought  only  as  a  place  of  resort  for  invalids, 
had  now  assumed  the  airs  of  a  thriving 
city.  The  harbor  was  filled  with  shipping, 
and  its  warehouses,  wharves  and  quays 
were  overflowing  with  merchandise  of  all 
kinds,  ready  to  be  sent  into  Confederate 
ports.  There  was  almost  as  much  bustle 
and  activity  here  as  at  the  wharves  of 
New  York.  Ships  were  constantly  arriv 
ing  from  England  with  merchandise,  great- 
guns,  small-arms,  ammunition,  and  every 
thing  else  that  could  be  wanted  by  the 
Confederates  to  enable  them  to  carry  on 
the  war,  and  light  -  draft  steamers.  Con 
federate  and  English,  were  constantly  re 
loading  these  articles  and  running  them 
into  Southern  ports.  So  successful  were 
some  of  these  traders  in  running  the  block 
ade  that  they  made  their  voyages  as  regu 
larly  as  mail-packets,  returning  again  and 
again  to  Nassau  with  heavy  loads  of  cot 
ton,  which  were  there  transferred  to  the 
vessels  which  had  brought  arms  and  muni 
tions  of  war  from  England. 

What  was  there  to  prevent  the  Confeder 
ates  from  maintaining  and  equipping  their 
fast  cruisers  except  the  unwearying  vigi 
lance  of  the  blockading  fleet  ?  This  trying 
duty  was  well  performed,  however,  and,  al 
though  some  escaped  them,  the  Federal  offi 
cers  captured  1,150  blockade-runners  during 
the  war.  This  faithful  work  was  attributed 
by  Commander  Semmes  to  the  greed  of  the 
"Old  Navy."  He  complained  that  "this 
duty  became  a  bone  of  contention  among 
the  Federal  naval  officers,  which  of  them 
should  be  assigned  to  the  lucrative  command 
of  the  blockading  squadron,"  and  that 
"the  Admiral  of  one  of  their  squadrons 
would  frequently  awake  in  the  morning 
and  find  himself  richer  by  twenty  thousand 
dollars  by  reason  of  a  capture  made  by 
some  one  of  his  subordinates  the  night  be 
fore.*'  This,  he  said,  was  "the  'mess  of  pot 
tage  '  for  which  so  many  unprincipled 
Southern  men  in  the  Federal  Navy  sold 
their  birthright."  Is  it  any  wonder  that  these 
loyal  men  refused  to  recognize  Semmes 
when  he  was  left  by  the  war  in  indigent 
circumstances  and  could  not  make  a  living 
by  the  law  ? 

Commander  Semmes  met  several  Confed 
erate  officers  at  Nassau,  among  them  Com 


mander  J.  N.  Maffitt,  who  had  arrived  in  the 
"  Oreto,"  a  vessel  that  had  been  purchased 
in  England  by  the  Confederate  commission 
and  fitted  out  as  a  cruiser.  At  this  moment 
she  was  detained  at  Nassau  by  the  Attorney- 
General  of  the  colony  for  a  violation  of  the 
British  "Foreign  Enlistment  Act."  Semmes 
passed  his  time  in  listening  to  the  argu 
ments  in  this  case,  and  in  the  meanwhile  re 
ceived  a  commission  as  Captain  in  the  Con 
federate  Navy,  with  orders  to  return  to* 
England  and  take  command  of  the  steamer 
"Alabama"  (then  known  as  "No.  290"). 
She  had  been  so  far  secured  by  the  Con 
federate  commissioners  that  they  felt  quite 
certain  of  getting  her  to  sea. 

The ' '  Oreto,"  of  which  Commander  Maffitt 
had  charge,  was  quite  swift,  but  not  so- 
formidable  a  vessel  as  the  "290."  She  had 
left  England  unarmed,  but  with  all  the 
arrangements  made  to  mount  guns,  and 
with  all  the  appliances  below  to  stow  pow- 


COMMANDER  J.  NEWLAND  MAFFITT,  C.  8.  N. 

der  and  shell.  After  a  long  trial  she  was 
released  by  the  British  authorities,  and 
Maffitt  again  prepared  to  put  her  in  fighting 
trim.  This  vessel  was  afterwards  known 
as  the  '•  Florida,"  and  though  she  did  not 
equal  the  "Alabama,"  she  made  herself 
sufficiently  famous  to  give  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  and  cause 
it  to  put  forth  all  its  energies  for  her  cap 
ture. 

Maffitt  was  a  different  kind  of  man  from 
Semmes.  A  thorough  master  of  his  profes 
sion,  and  possessed  of  all  the  qualities  that 
make  a  favorite  naval  commander,  he  be 
came  a  successful  raider  of  the  sea  ;  but  he 
made  no  enemies  among  those  officers  who 
had  once  known  him  and  who  now  missed 
his  genial  humor  in  their  messes.  He  was  a 
veritable  rover,  but  was  never  inhumane  to 
those  whom  the  fortunes  of  war  threw  into 
his  hands,  and  he  made  himself  as  pleas- 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


ant,  while  emptying  a  ship  of  her  cargo 
and  then  scuttling  her.  as  Claude  Duval 
when  robbing  a  man  of  his  purse  or  bor 
rowing  his  watch  from  his  pocket. 

After  Maffitt's  vessel  was  released  from 
the  Court  of  Nassau  (the  trial  having  been  a 
farce),  he  made  arrangements  to  mount  her 
guns  and  man  her  from  the  motley  crew  of 
sailors  that  floated  about  the  town  ready 
for  any  kind  of  work  that  might  offer,  so 
long  as  they  did  not  compromise  themselves 
with  some  power  having  plenty  of  ships-of- 
war,  that  could  catch  them  and  hang  them 
to  the  yard-arm  if  they  happened  to  burn 
or  sink  anything  belonging  to  it.  This 
they  knew  was  piracy  ;  but  for  English 
sailors  to  ship  in  an  English  port  on  board  a 
Confederate  cruiser,  to  assist  in  burning  or 
sinking  American  vessels,  they  considered 
to  be  merely  the  exercise  of  belligerent 
rights. 

The  vessel  loaded  with  the  "Oreto's"  guns 
and  stores  had  arrived  while  her  case  was 
before  the  court  at  Nassau.  It  was  shown 
by  the  defendants  in  this  trial  that  the 
"Oreto"  had  not  sailed  with  any  warlike 
stores  on  board,  and  there  the  investigation 
ended  ;  while  it  was  well-known  to  all  on 
the  island  that  the  arms  were  actually  in 
port,  only  waiting  to  be  put  on  board  the 
Confederate  as  soon  as  she  was  released. 

Maffitt  was  too  clever  to  actually  violate 
English  neutrality  laws  by  any  overt  act. 
He  made  arrangements  with  J.  B.  Lafitte, 
the  Confederate  agent  at  Nassau,  to  meet 
him  at  Grand  Key,  where  the  guns  were 
to  be  delivered  by  a  schooner  chartered 
for  that  purpose.  The  meeting  took  place, 
and  Maffitt  succeeded  in  arming  his  ship, 
but  was  obliged  to  trust  to  recruiting  his 
crew  from  such  disaffected  Americans  as 
might  elect  to  join  him  from  captured  ves 
sels.  He  had  at  this  time  but  five  firemen, 
and  fourteen  deck-hands.  So  short-handed 
was  he,  that  when  he  met  the  schooner 
with  his  battery  on  board  he  had  to  take 
off  his  coat  and  work  as  a  common  sailor. 
Every  hour  was  precious  to  him,  for  the 
Federal  cruisers  hovering  in  the  neighbor 
hood  might  pounce  upon  him  at  any  mo 
ment.  The  work  was  especially  laborious 
under  the  scorching  rays  of  an  August 
sun,  and  it  almost  exhausted  the  energies 
of  all  hands  ;  but  at  the  end  of  five  days 
the  "Oreto"  had  all  her  stores  and  guns 
on  board,  and  Captain  Maffitt  steamed  out 
upon  the  ocean  and  put  his  ship  in  commis 
sion.  The  British  flag,  which  she  had 
worn  since  her  departure  from  England, 
was  hauled  down,  and  the  Confederate 
ensign  hoisted  amid  the  .cheers  of  her  mot 
ley  crew.  The  ship  was  christened  the 
"  Florida." 

All  this  looked  very  much  like  the  ways 
of  the   buccaneers,  who,  in  years  gone  by, 


used  to  meet  at  these  rendezvous,  and  pre 
pare  for  raids  on  harmless  merchantmen 
and  their  helpless  passengers  ;  but  these 
people  were  pirates  in  every  sense  of  the 
word — ignorant,  cold-blooded,  brutal  men, 
who  had  no  nationality,  and  not  education 
enough  to  teach  them  right  from  wrong. 
The  "  Florida,"  however,  was  not  a  pirate. 
It  had  been  declared  by  the  most  civilized 
and  Christian  nation  on  the  face  of  the 
earth,  followed  by  France,  that  these  ves 
sels  were  belligerents,  and  entitled  to  all 
belligerent  rights.  The  only  trouble  was 
that  England,  in  her  anxiety  to  follow  a 
strictly  neutral  course  (!),  was  not  careful 
enough  to  see  her  own  laws  maintained, 
and  her  "  Foreign  Enlistment  Act  "  strictly 
enforced.  Had  she  done  so,  the  Confeder 
ate  cruisers  would  never  have  sailed  from 
an  English  port ;  or,  if  they  did,  the  British 
Navy  would  have  been  instructed  to  arrest 
them  on  the  high  seas,  or  in  any  English 
port,  fora  violation  of  the  "Foreign  En 
listment  Act."  But  this  was  not  attempted, 
and  the  English  Navy,  in  their  scrupulous 
care  to  be  neutral,  almost  deserted  the 
West  Indies,  leaving  the  Confederate  agents 
to  carry  on  their  operations  for  the  future 
destruction  of  American  commerce  at  their 
discretion. 

The  work  of  getting  the  guns  on  board 
the  ' '  Oreto  "  had  been  so  severe  in  that 
burning  climate  that  it  produced  sickness 
among  her  crew.  The  captain's  steward 
was  buried  on  the  day  the  cruiser  went 
into  commission,  and,  on  investigation,  it 
appeared  that  he  had  died  of  yellow  fever. 
The  constantly  increasing  sick  -  list  con 
firmed  this  opinion.  There  was  no  surgeon 
on  board,  and  the  captain  was  compelled 
to  assume  all  the  duties  of  medical  officer 
as  well  as  his  own. 

On  the  fifth  day  out,  the  "  Florida"  found 
herself  off  the  little  island  of  Anguila,  and 
by  report  of  the  hospital  steward  the  epi 
demic  had  reduced  the  working  force  to 
one  fireman  and  four  deck  -  hands.  Being 
no  longer  able  to  keep  the  sea,  Maffitt  ran 
into  the  Port  of  Cardenas,  in  the  Island  of 
Cuba.  Here  all  the  officers  and  men  were 
attacked  in  succession,  and  the  disease  be 
ing  epidemic  on  shore,  no  medical  aid  could 
be  obtained.  Maffitt  himself  was  at  last 
taken  down,  and  never  perhaps  in  the  his 
tory  of  yellow  fever  was  there  a  ship  in  a 
worse  condition  than  this.  But  "it  is  an 
ill-wind  that  blows  nobody  good,"  and  the 
peaceful  merchantmen  could  now  follow 
their  way  unmolested  by  the  "Florida"  ;  and 
thus  many  of  them  escaped  burning  or  scut 
tling  by  this  misadventure  of  the  Confeder 
ate  cruiser — which  some,  no  doubt,  attrib 
uted  to  an  act  of  Providence,  but  which 
was  simply  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
sailors  had  been  indulging  too  freely  at 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


625 


Nassau,  and  there  laid  in  the  germs  of 
fever,  which  were  afterwards  developed  by 
their  work  in  the  hot  sun. 

There  was  a  dreadful  condition  of  affairs 
on  board  the  "  Florida,"  but  amidst  it  all 
Maffitt  never  lost  his  self-possession  until  he 
became  unconscious  and  was  given  up  for 
dead.  While  in  this  apparently  hopeless 
condition  his  young  son  died,  followed 
shortly  afterwards  by  the  chief  engineer,  and 
the  "  Florida  "  bade  fair  to  lay  at  anchor  in 
the  Bay  of  Cardenas  until  the  war  was 
over.  But  Maffitt  recovered;  his  indomit 
able  will  carried  him  through  the  dreadful 
ordeal,  and  the  doom  of  the  "  Florida  "  was 
not  yet  sealed.  When  he  and  most  of  his 
crew  were  convalescent,  the  Captain-Gen 
eral  of  Cuba  sent  a  message  to  request  the 
commander  of  the  "Florida"  to  proceed  to 
Havana,  on  the  ground  (it  is  asserted)  that 
his  vessel  would  be  safe  from  an  attack  of 
Federal  gun-boats,  when  it  is  well  known  that 
there  was  but  one  instance  during  the  war 
where  a  Confederate  cruiser  was  molested 
in  neutral  waters.  In  fact,  there  was  such 
an  absence  of  Federal  gun-boats  all  along 
the  Bahama  banks  and  coast  of  Cuba,  from 
the  time  the  "  Florida  "  first  appeared  in  Nas 
sau  up  to  the  time  of  her  leaving  Havana, 
that  it  was  the  cause  of  severe  and  well  de 
served  strictures  upon  the  neglect  of  the 
Navy  Department,  which  seemed  to  be 
oblivious  to  the  fact  that  the  Confederates 
were  fitting  out  these  vessels  as  fast  as  their 
means  would  permit. 

Though  the  Captain-General  had  invited 
the  commander  of  the  " Florida"  to  go  to 
Havana  for  the  above  reason,  it  was  actu 
ally  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  him  from 
violating  Spanish  neutrality  laws  ;  and 
when  Maffitt  arrived  in  Havana  he  found 
himself  so  tied  up  with  restrictions  imposed 
by  the  Spanish  authorities,  that  he  deter 
mined  to  go  to  Mobile  and  fit  his  ship  out 
there. 

He  therefore  got  underway  for  that  port 
on  the  1st  of  September,  and  arrived  in 
sight  of  Fort  Morgan  on  the  4th,  having 
started  on  his  perilous  adventure  with  his 
crew  just  convalescing,  and  he  himself 
scarcely  able  to  stand  from  the  prostrating 
effects  of  the  fever. 

It  may  appear  to  the  reader  that  we  have 
exhibited  more  sympathy  for  Commander 
Maffitt  and  given  him  more  credit  than  he 
deserved  :  it  must  be  remembered  that  we 
are  endeavoring  to  write  a  naval  history  of 
the  war,  and  not  a  partisan  work.  This 
officer,  it  is  true,  had  gone  from  under  the 
flag  we  venerate  to  fight  against  it ;  but 
we  know  that  it  was  a  sore  trial  for  him  to 
leave  the  service  to  which  he  was  attached, 
and  that  he  believed  he  was  doing  his  duty 
in  following  the  fortunes  of  his  State,  and 
had  the  courage  to  follow  his  convictions. 

40 


He  did  not  leave  the  United  States  Navy 
with  any  bitterness,  and  when  the  troubles 
were  all  over  he  accepted  the  situation 
gracefully.  What  we  are  going  to  state  of 
him  shows  that  he  was  capable  of  the 
greatest  heroism,  and  that,  though  he  was 
on  the  side  of  the  enemy,  his  courage  and 
skill  were  worthy  of  praise. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  at  2  P.  M.,  the 
"  Florida"  made  Fort  Morgan,  and  at  the 
same  time  it  was  discovered  that  three  of 
the  enemy's  cruisers  lay  between  her  and 
the  bar.  Maffitt  was  assisted  on  deck,  being 
too  sick  to  move  without  help.  He  deter 
mined  to  run  the  risk  of  passing  the  block- 
aders  ;  and,  if  he  failed  in  that,  he  made  his 
preparations  to  destroy  his  vessel  so  that  she 
might  not  fall  into  Federal  hands.  He 
hoisted  the  English  ensign,  and  assumed 
the  character  of  an  English  ship-of-war. 
The  moment  the  "Florida"  was  seen  by 
the  blockaders,  as  she  stood  boldly  in,  two 
of  these  vessels  got  underway  and  stood 
towards  her.  The  blockading  force  was  at 
this  time  under  the  command  of  Com 
mander  George  H.  Preble,  in  the  "  Oneida," 
a  prudent,  careful  officer,  who  tried  hard 
not  to  commit  any  mistakes  ;  but  on  this 
occasion  he  was  too  careful  not  to  com 
promise  his  Government  by  attacking  an 
English  man-of-war,  as  he  supposed  the 
"  Florida  "  was,  from  the  bold  manner  in 
which  she  stood  towards  him. 

Several  gun  -  boats  had  been  employed 
blockading  outside  the  bar,  the  "Kana- 
wha,"  "  Pinola  "  and  "  Kennebec,"  and  the 
steam  -  frigate  "  Susquehanna  "  had  also 
been  there,  but  all  of  these  vessels  had  been 
temporarily  withdrawn  for  other  duty. 
The  "  Oneida  "  had  been  making  repairs  on 
her  boilers,  and  the  "Winona"  was  the 
only  other  vessel  actually  on  the  blockade 
at  that  moment.  The  "Oneida"  was  one 
of  the  fine  ships  built  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  and  was  supposed  to  be  a  12- 
knot  vessel.  Her  armament  consisted  of 
two  11 -inch  Dahlgrens  (one  forward  and 
the  other  aft),  four  32-pounders  and  three 
Dahlgren  30-pounder  rifles.  The  "  Winona  " 
carried  one  11-inch  Dahlgren  pivot  -  gun 
(forward),  and  two  32-pounders  ;  and  the 
schooner  "Rachel  Seaman  "  (bomb  vessel), 
which  happened  to  be  beating  up  to  the 
bar  at  the  time,  carried  two  32 -pounders. 
The  "Oneida,"  owing  to  repairs  that  were 
going  on,  could  not  carry  a  full  press  of 
steam,  and  may  be  said  to  have  been  caught 
napping. 

Commander  Maffitt  could  not  have  chosen 
a  more  auspicious  time  to  attempt  his  dar 
ing  feat,  though,  be  it  said  to  his  credit,  he 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  run  through  the 
whole  blockading  fleet  if  necessary.  It  was 
his  last  chance  ;  he  had  only  to  do  that  or 
run  his  vessel  on  shore  and  burn  her,  for  she 


620 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


was  of  no  use  to  the  Confederates  in  her 
then  condition. 

As  soon  as  Maffitt  discovered  the  Federal 
vessels,  he  stood  directly  for  them,  know 
ing  that,  as  the  "Florida"  resembled  an 
English  gun-boat,  she  would  probably  be 
mistaken  for  one,  and  trusting  to  his  speed 
to  save  him  at  the  last  moment.  Intelli- 

gence  had  been  received  at  Pensacola.  the 
eadquarters  of  the  squadron,  of  the  "  Flor 
ida's  "  having  left  Nassau;  but  no  news 
of  her  having  reached  Cardenas  had  fol 
lowed,  and  for  some  reason  no  intimation 
had  been  sent  to  the  fleet  off  Mobile  that 
she  was  on  a  cruise. 

At  that  time  English  ships-of-war  were 
in  the  habit  of  going  along  the  coast  to  see 
if  the  blockade  was  effectual,  and  it  was 
customary  for  them  to  enter  blockaded 
ports  after  reporting  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  blockading  force  and  obtain 
ing  his  permission.  Commander  Preble, 
thinking  this  to  be  a  case  of  that  kind,  ran 
out  to  meet  the  supposed  Englishman,  and 
rounded-to,  to  go  in  with  him  on  the  same 
course.  The  ' '  Florida  "  approached  rapidly, 
her  smoke-pipes  vomiting  forth  volumes  of 
black  smoke  and  a  high  press  of  steam  es 
caping  from  her  steam-pipe.  As  she  came 
within  hailing  distance,  the  Federal  com 
mander  ordered  her  to  heave-to,  but  Maffitt 
still  sped  on,  having  sent  all  his  men  below, 
except  the  man  at  the  wheel,  and  returned 
no  reply  to  the  hail.  Preble  then  fired  a 
shot  ahead  of  the  "  Florida."  still  supposing 
her  to  be  some  saucy  Englishman  disposed 
to  try  what  liberties  he  could  take,  though 
the  absence  of  men  on  deck  should  have 
excited  suspicion.  He  hesitated,  however, 
and  his  hesitation  lost  him  a  prize  and  the 
honor  of  capturing  one  of  the  Confederate 
scourges  of  the  ocean.  Preble  had  his  crew 
at  quarters,  however,  and  as  soon  as  he  saw 
that  the  stranger  was  passing  him  he  opened 
his  broadside  upon  her,  and  the  other  two 
blockaders  did  the  same.  But  the  first  shots 
were  aimed  too  high  and  the  "Florida" 
sped  on  toward  the  bar,  her  feeble  crew 
forgetting  their  sickness  and  heaping  coal 
upon  the  furnace  fires  with  all  possible 
rapidity.  Every  man  was  working  for  his 
life,  while  the  captain  stood  amid  the  storm 
of  shot  and  shell  perfectly  unmoved,  keenly 
watching  the  marks  for  entering  the  port, 
and  wondering  to  himself  what  his  chances 
were  for  getting  safely  in. 

The  first  broadside  of  the  "  Oneida," 
which  was  fired  from  a  distance  of  a  few 
yards  only,  cut  away  the  "  Florida's"  ham 
mocks,  smashed  her  boats,  and  shattered 
some  of  her  spars.  The  shock  seemed 
to  give  a  new  impetus  to  her  speed,  the 
English  colors  were  hauled  down,  and  an 
attempt  was  made  to  hoist  the  Confeder 
ate  flag  in  their  place,  but  the  man  who 


was  bending  it  to  the  halyards  had  his 
fingers  shot  away,  and  it  was  not  run  up 
while  under  fire. 

The  "  Winona  "  now  opened  on  the  chase 
with  her  heavy  guns,  as  did  also  the 
"Rachel  Seaman"  with  her  32-pounders,  but 
the  latter  vessel  was  at  a  distance  and  her 
fire  was  of  little  effect.  The  "Oneida" 
fired  rapidly  from  all  the  guns  she  could 
bring  to  bear;  but  as  she  could  not  make 
more  than  seven  knots  an  hour,  the  "  Flor 
ida"  was  rapidly  leaving  her.  One  11- 
inch  shell  entered  the  side  of  the  blockade- 
runner  just  above  the  water-line,  passed 
through  both  sides,  and  exploded.  Had  it 
exploded  one  second  sooner  the  career  of 
the  "Florida"  would  have  ended  and  she 
would  have  gone  to  the  bottom  ;  but  an 
inch  or  two  saved  her.  On  she  sped, 
faster  and  faster,  until  even  those  who 
longed  for  his  discomfiture  could  not  but 
admire  the  steady  bearing  of  the  brave  man 
who  stood  alone  upon  the  deck.  Another  shell 
passed  through  the  cabin,  and  her  after- 
spars  began  to  tremble  as  their  supports- 
were  cut  away.  The  firing  of  the  Union 
vessels  was  bad,  however,  and  the  Confed 
erate  finally  escaped  with  but  one  man 
killed  and  seven  wounded — a  small  loss 
compared  to  their  great  gain. 

During  the  whole  war  there  was  not  a 
more  exciting  adventure  than  this  escape 
of  the  "Florida"  into  Mobile  Bay.  The 
gallant  manner  in  which  it  was  conducted 
excited  great  admiration,  even  among  the 
men  who  were  responsible  for  permitting 
it.  We  do  not  suppose  there  was  ever  a 
case  where  a  man,  under  all  the  attending 
circumstances,  displayed  more  energy  or 
more  bravery. 

The  "  Florida  "  remained  four  months  in 
Mobile  preparing  for  sea.  and  watching  a 
chance  to  get  out.  The  blockading  squad 
ron  had  been  enlarged  to  seven  vessels, 
among  them  the  "  R.  R.  Cuyler,"  a  very 
fast  steamer,  that  had  been  sent  to  this 
station  with  the  certainty  that  she  would 
be  able  to  intercept  the  "Florida  "if  she 
attempted  to  run  out. 

Maffitt  came  down  from  Mobile  one  after 
noon  in  the  "Florida,"  and  noted  the  number 
and  positions  of  the  blockaders.  while  he  was 
plainly  visible  to  them.  The  Federal  com 
manders  had  been  in  a  continual  state  of 
vigilance  for  three  months,  and  it  was  a 
great  relief  to  them  to  see  the  coveted  prize  at 
last.  One  would  have  supposed  that  on  sucli 
an  occasion  every  man  would  have  been  at 
his  post,  and  the  vessels  with  steam  up  and 
the  chains  ready  to  slip  ;  but  this  was  not 
the  case.  The  "Cuyler"  only  was  ordered 
to  change  her  position  after  dark,  and  be 
ready  to  start  after  the  "  Florida"  the  mo 
ment  she  appeared.  Not  a  vessel  was  sent 
off  eight  or  ten  miles  to  head  the  Confed- 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


627 


erate  off  if  she  should  get  the  lead,  and  no 
extraordinary  precautions  were  taken. 
At   about  2  A.  M.  the  "  Florida"  was  re- 

Eorted  as  coming  out.  She  passed  directly 
etween  tlie  "Cuyler  "and  the  "  Susque- 
hamm,"  at  a  distance  of  300  yards  from  the 
former.  It  is  stated  that  half  an  hour  was 
lost  in  the  '•  Guy lerV  getting  underway, 
owing  to  a  regulation  of  the  ship  that  the 
officer  of  the  watch  should  report  to  the 
captain  and  wait  for  him  to  come  on  deck 
before  slipping  the  cable  (in  this  instance 
it  would  have  been  well  if  the  Captain  had 
slept  on  deck). 

The  "Oneida's"  officers  saw  the  signal, 
beat  to  quarters,  but  remained  at  anchor, 
though  she  was  assigned  as  one  of  the  chas 
ing  vessels  !  and  at  3:50,  "having  seen  no 
vessel  run  out,  beat  the  retreat ! "  Such  is  the 
extract  from  her  log.  The  "Cuyler's"  offi 
cers,  however,  saw  the  "  Florida  "  distinctly, 
and  chased  her  during  the  whole  of  the  next 
day,  making  as  her  greatest  speed  during 
the  chase  only  12|  knots,  although  she  had 
previously  made  14.  At  night  the  "  Florida  " 
changed  her  course,  and  ran  for  the  coast 
of  Cuba,  where  she  was  engaged  in  burning 
prizes  the  next  day,  while  the  "  Cuyler " 
was  hunting  for  her  in  the  Yucatan 
Channel. 

On  the  day  after  the  "Florida"  ran  out, 
the  "Oneida"  was  sent  in  pursuit  of  her; 
but  she  missed  the  Con  federate  cruiser,  and 
Commodore  Wilkes,  who  at  that  time  com 
manded  a  "flying  squadron"  of  slow  ves 
sels,  fell  in  with  her,  detained  her  and  made 
her  a  part  of  his  command,  as  he  also 
did  the  "Cuyler"  when  she  fell  into  his 
hands. 

And  so  the  "  Florida  "  was  allowed  to  go 
on  her  way  without  molestation,  and  Maf- 
fitt  was  enabled  to  commence  that  career  on 
the  high  seas  which  has  made  his  name 
one  of  the  notable  ones  of  the  war.  He 
lighted  the  seas  wherever  he  passed  along, 
and  committed  such  havoc  among  Ameri 
can  merchantmen,  that,  if  possible,  he  was 
even  more  dreaded  than  Semmes.  We 
have  only  to  say.  that  his  being  permitted 
to  escape  into  Mobile  Bay,  and  then  to  get 
out  again,  was  the  greatest  example  of 
blundering  committed  throughout  the  war. 
Every  officer  who  knew  Maffitt  was  certain 
that  he  would  attempt  to  get  out  of  Mo 
bile,  and  we  are  forced  to  say  that  those 
who  permitted  his  escape  are  responsible 
for  the  terrible  consequences  of  their  want 
of  vigilance  and  energy. 

To  return  to  Captain  Semmes  :  He  had 
been  kept  several  anxious  weeks  at  Nassau 
waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  return  to 
Europe.  The  "290,"  then  fitting  out  in 
England,  was  nearly  ready  for  sea — and  it 
was  deemed  advisable  to  send  her  out  as 


soon  as  possible,  before  the  application  of 
the  British  "Foreign  Enlistment  Act" 
should  become  more  stringent. 

Semmes  wrote  to  Captain  Bulloch.  who 
had  charge  of  fitting  out  the  "  290,"  to 
bring  her  to  a  rendezvous  where  he  would 
join  her.  The  former  then  made  his  way 
to  Liverpool  in  the  steamer  "  Bahama,"  and 
found  that  the  "  290  "  had  succeeded  in  elud 
ing  the  vigilance  (!)  of  the  English  authori 
ties  and  had  proceeded  to  the  island  of 
Terceira,  where  she  was  awaiting  the  arrival 
of  her  battery  on  another  vessel,  which  had 
also  eluded  these  vigilant  Englishmen  ! 

The  "Alabama  "  was  built  by  John  Laird, 
an  eminent  ship-builder,  and  we  believe 
that  she  was  built  especially  for  the  Con 
federate  Government.  This  book  does  not 
pretend  to  enter  into  a  lengthy  legal  dis 
cussion  of  the  rights  of  the  Confederates  to 
build  and  equip  ships  in  English  ports  for 
the  destruction  of  American  commerce, 
though  the  writer  condemns  the  practice 
in  toto.  The  Queen  of  England,  at  the  out 
break  of  the  civil  war  in  America,  issued 
a  proclamation,  in  which  it  was  stated  that 
England  would  preserve  a  strict  neutrality 
between  the  contending  parties.  This  neu 
trality  consisted  not  only  in  permitting  the 
Confederates  actually  to  build  and  equip 
cruisingsteamships  for  the  purpose  of  inflict 
ing  injury  on  the  Federals,  but  these  ships 
managed  to  leave  England  in  violation  of 
the  "  Foreign  Enlistment  Act."  and  did  in 
flict  serious  injury  to  the  shipping  of  the 
United  States. 

A  great  many  arguments  were  brought 
forward  by  Confederate  writers  to  prove  that 
no  laws  wore  violated  by  the  above  proceed 
ings,  but  a  folio  of  such  arguments  is  not 
worth  much  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  in  1871 
a  commission  was   appointed  by   England 
and  the  United  States  to  settle  what  were 
known  as  the  "Alabama  Claims,"  but  which 
included  the   vessels  captured   by    all   the 
Confederate  cruisers  fitted  out  in  England. 
The  result  of  that  Commission   was  that 
Great  Britain  paid  to  the  United  States  the 
sum  of  $15,000,000  as  indemnification  for 
the  damage  inflicted  on  United  States  com 
merce   by  Confederate  cruisers,  owing  to 
the  neglect  of  the  British  authorities  in  not 
preventing  the  said  cruisers  from  getting 
to  sea.     There  could  be  no  better  argument 
than  this  against  all  the  specious  writings 
which  have   appeared  from  time  to  time, 
and    it    especially   refutes  the  attempt   of 
Commander  Semmes  to  justify  his  course. 
Great  Britain  is  a  nation  from  whom  noth 
ing  like  payment  could  have  been  exacted, 
but  the   concurrence  of  the  English  Com 
missioners  was  based  on  that  higli  sense  of 
justice   and    fair-play  which  is  the  ruling 
characteristic  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race. 

Commander   Semmes,    after  spending  a 


628 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


few  days  in  Liverpool,  collecting  his  officers 
and  making  financial  arrangements,  de 
parted  on  the  13th  of  August,  1862,  in  the 
steamer  "Bahama,"  to  join  the  "  290." 

Commander  James  D.  Bullock,  formerly 
of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  accompanied  him,  to  be 
present  at  the  christening  of  the  "290," 
which  he  had  contracted  for  and  superin 
tended  while  she  was  building. 

The  "290"  was  a  vessel  of  900  tons 
burden,  2dO  feet  in  length,  32  feet  beam, 
and,  when  provisioned  and  coaled  for  a 
cruise,  drew  15  feet  of  water.  Her  model 
was  of  the  most  perfect  symmetry,  and  she 
sat  upon  the  water  with  the  lightness  and 
grace  of  a  swan.  She  was  barken  tine- 
rigged,  with  long  lower  masts,  that  en 
abled  her  to  carry  large  fore-and-aft  sails, 
which  are  of  so  much  importance  to  a 
steamer  in  most  weathers.  She  was  of  the 
lightest  build  compatible  with  strength, 
and  was,  in  fact,  constructed  with  the  one 
idea  of  making  her  an  efficient  commerce- 
destroyer.  She  was  a  fast  steamer,  but  her 
two  modes  of  locomotion  were  independent 
of  each  other.  Her  speed  was  about  10 
knots,  though  she  made  11^  on  her  trial 
trip.  She  was  well  armed  with  8  guns,  six 
32-pounders  in  broadside  and  two  pivot 
guns,  one  a  100-pounder  Blakely  rifle,  and 
the  other  a  long  8-inch  smooth-bore.  The 
crew  required  for  the  "290"  (not  counting 
those  in  the  engine-room)  numbered  120 
men,  and  she  carried  24  officers. 

This  was  the  vessel  that  became  so 
famous  in  burning  and  sinking  that  her 
reputation  in  this  kind  of  warfare  has 
eclipsed  that  of  all  the  other  Confederate 
vessels  engaged  in  the  same  business. 

A  week  after  Semmes  left  Liverpool  he 
was  in  Porto  Praya,  where  he  found  the 
"290"  with  some  of  her  stores  already  on 
board.  Some  objections  being  made  to  his 

fetting  guns  on  board  in  West  Angra  Bay, 
emmes  got  underway  with  his  flotilla  and 
proceeded  far  enough  to  sea  to  be  outside  of 
neutral  jurisdiction,  and  there,  in  smooth 
water,  got  the  vessels  alongside  and  com 
pleted  his  outfit.  He  then  steamed  back  to 
Terceira  and  filled  his  vessel  with  coal. 

Terceira  is  a  beautiful  place,  nearly  every 
foot  of  the  island  is  under  cultivation,  and 
from  a  distance  the  whole  country  looks 
like  a  rambling  village,  where  Nature 
seems  to  smile  as  it  does  nowhere  else. 
There  is  everything  here  to  allure  the  heart 
of  man  to  harmony  and  peace.  The  little 
town  of  Angra,  near  which  the  "Alabama" 
was  anchored,  was  a  perfect  picture  of  a 
Portuguese-Moorish  settlement,  with  its 
red-tiled  roofs,  sharp  gables,  and  parti-col 
ored  verandas,  while  the  quiet  peacefulness 
that  hung  over  this  spot,  so  far  removed 
from  the  highways  of  the  world,  gave  it  an 
unusual  charm. 


Yet  from  this  beautiful  spot,  where  it 
seemed  as  if  nothing  unlawful  could  exist, 
started  forth  one  of  the  most  devastating 
expeditions  against  a  nation's  commerce 
known  in  the  history  of  war. 

The  "  290"  lay  at  her  anchors  in  all  her 
rakish  beauty;  but  to  one  who  could  have 
known  of  her  mission  she  would  have  been 
an  offence  instead  of  an  object  of  admira 
tion.  Who,  to  look  at  her  in  that  beautiful 
harbor,  would  ever  have  supposed  that  she 
was  bound  on  a  mission  of  vengeance,  and 
that  she  was  destined  to  rove  the  high  seas 
in  search  of  plunder  and  leave  behind  her  a 
track  of  flame! 

Semmes  had  arrived  in  Terceira  on  a 
Wednesday,  and  by  Saturday  night  all  his 
labors  were  completed.  The  "  290  V  battery 
was  on  board,  her  provisions  all  stowed 
away,  and  her  coal-bunkers  full. 

Sunday  morning  dawned  bright  and 
beautiful,  and  Semmes  and  his  co-workers 
took  it  as  a  harbinger  of  success.  The  ship 
had  not  been  yet  put  in  commission,  i.  e.. 
had  not  been  baptized,  and  the  time  hav 
ing  now  come  to  perform  this  ceremony, 
every  preparation  was  made  to  carry  it 
through  in  man-of-war  style.  The  decks 
were  cleaned,  the  rigging  hauled  taut,  and 
the  vessel  made  to  look,  as  her  captain  ex 
pressed  it,  "like  a  bride,  with  the  orange- 
wreath  about  her  brow,  readv  to  be  led  to 
the  altar  ! " 

But  the  crew  had  not  yet  been  enlisted  ; 
there  were  some  ninety  stalwart  fellows  in 
the  two  steamers  who  had  been  brought 
thus  far  under  articles  of  agreement  that 
were  now  no  longer  binding.  Some  had 
shipped  for  one  voyage — some  for  another 
—but  none  of  them,  it  is  said,  had  been  en 
listed  for  service  on  board  a  Confederate 
cruiser.  This  course  had  been  pursued  in 
order  to  avoid  a  breach  of  the  British  "  For 
eign  Enlistment  Act,"  but  no  one  can  doubt 
that  these  rough  and  devil-may-care-look 
ing  fellows  were  ready  for  any  adventure 
that  promised  plunder  or  profit ;  they  were 
the  same  kind  of  men  tnat  accompanied 
Morgan  all  through  the  West  Indies,  across 
the  Isthmus,  and  even  to  the  gates  of 
Panama. 

But  to  perform  these  functions  for  the 
christening  of  the  "  290,"  it  was  necessary 
to  be  careful  that  no  neutral  law  should  be 
violated.  Not  for  anything  in  the  world 
wrould  Semmes  and  his  confederates  have 
done  anything  of  this  kind,  and  it  was 
therefore  essential  that  the  "290"  should 
get  underway  and  steam  off  beyond  the 
marine  league,  where,  upon  the  broad 
ocean,  it  was  neutral  for  all  the  world. 
After  steaming  the  required  distance,  the 
"290"  was  stopped  and  the  programme 
carried  out. 

The  officers  were  all  in  full  uniform,  and 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


629 


the  crew  neatly  dressed.  All  hands  were 
summoned  aft  on  the  quarter-deck,  and, 
mounting  a  gun-carriage,  Semmes  read  his 
commission  as  a  Captain  in  the  Confederate 
service,  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy's 
order  directing  him  to  assume  command 
of  the  "  Alabama."  When  this  reading 
was  finished,  the  Confederate  flag  and  pen 
nant  were  run  up,  while  the  English  colors 
were  hauled  down  ;  a  gun  was  fired,  the 
band  played  '"  Dixie,"  and  thus  was  chris 
tened  the  "Alabama" — a  vessel  whose 
career  was  destined  to  throw  that  of  the 
"Sumter"  into  the  shade. 

Captain  Semmes  congratulated  himself 
on  having  performed  this  ceremony  in  the 
most  legal  manner.  The  fact  that  it  had 
all  been  done  upon  the  high  seas,  more 
than  a  marine  league  from  the  land,  where 
Mr.  Jefferson  Davis  had  as  much  jurisdic 
tion  as  Mr.  Abraham  Lincoln,  made  it  en 
tirely  legal  in  his  sight. 

Up  to  this  time  not  a  single  sailor  had 
shipped  for  the  coming  cruise  of  the  "  Ala 
bama";  but  the  stalwart  fellows  who  were 
now  moving  about  her  decks  had  well  un 
derstood  before  they  left  Liverpool  that 
they  were  to  enlist  in  the  Confederate  ser 
vice,  and  thus  violate  the  "  Foreign  Enlist 
ment  Act  "  of  the  British  nation. 

The  new  cruiser  cannot  be  considered  to 
have  been  a  representative  Confederate 
man-of-war,  for,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
officers,  all  on  board  of  her  were  English 
men,  who  possessed  no  sentiment  of  loyalty 
towards  the  Government  under  which  they 
were  now  to  serve.  It  was  not  a  crew  of 
enthusiastic  Southerners  who  were  going 
forth  to  fight  for  a  cause  they  really  loved, 
but  a  band  of  foreign  mercenaries  who  had 
no  feeling  but  of  indifference  towardseither 
of  the  combatants;  and  when  one  thinks  of 
the  character  of  these  sailors  there  is  some 
excuse  for  comparing  them  to  pirates  who 
fight  with  no  other  motive  than  that  of 
plunder. 

In  this  case  they  had  been  quietly  told 
that  they  would  receive  double  the  amount 
of  wages  paid  elsewhere,  and  that  the  Con 
federate  Congress  would  vote  them  prize- 
money  to  the  full  value  of  every  ship  they 
destroyed.  Captain  Semmes  had  touched 
the  hearts  of  these  Englishmen  in  the  right 
place,  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  enlist 
ing  80  out  of  the  90  sailors  who  had  come 
out  from  the  Mersey  in  the  two  steamers, 
and  they  came  forward  willingly  to  sign 
their  names  and  receive  their  advance 
wages.  This  ended  the  democratic  part  of 
the  proceedings.  There  was  no  more  talk 
about  nationalities  or  liberties  or  double 
wages.  The  strict  discipline  of  an  Ameri 
can  man-of-war  was  at  once  enforced  by 
Semmes  and  his  officers  (most  of  whom 
had  been  educated  in  the  old  Navy),  and  the 


new  vessel  was  quickly  put  into  a  state  of 
efficiency. 

If  these  officers  were  engaged  in  a  bad 
cause,  they  were  at  least  faithful  to  it  in 
the  extreme.  They  had  succeeded  far  be 
yond  their  most  sanguine  expectations, 
having  got  their  vessel  to  sea  in  spite  of 
the  watchful  care  of  the  American  minister 
in  London  and  the  apparent  zeal  of  the 
British  Government  to  prevent  it.  How 
far  Her  Majesty's  Government  were  sincere 
in  their  intentions  can  be  seen  from  the 
following  extract,  which  we  give  from  the 
work  of  a  clever  naval  writer,  Professor  J. 
Russell  Soley,  U.  S.  N.  : 

"The  second  cruiser  built  in  England  for  the  Con 
federates  was  the  'Alabama,'  whose  career  began 
in  July,  1862.  The  attention  of  the  Foreign  Office 
had  been  first  called  to  this  vessel  by  a  note  from 
Mr.  Adams  on  the  23d  of  June.  The  evidence  then 
submitted  as  to  her  character  was  confined  to  a 
statement  made  by  the  Consul  at  Liverpool,  of 
suspicious  circumstances  connected  with  the  vessel. 
The  communication  was  referred  to  the  law  officers 
of  the  Crown,  who  gave  the  opinion  that,  if  the 
allegations  were  true,  the  building  and  equipment 
of  the  vessel  were  a  '  Manifest  violation  of  the  For 
eign  Enlistment  Act,  and  steps  ought  to  be  taken 
to  put  that  act  in  force  and  to  prevent  the  vessel 
from  going  to  sea.' 

"  It  was  added  that  the  Customs  authorities  at 
Liverpool  should  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  truth 
of  the  statements,  and  that,  if  sufficient  evidence 
could  be  obtained,  proceedings  should  be  taken  as 
early  as  possible.  On  the  4th  of  July,  the  report 
of  the  Customs  officers  was  transmitted  to  Mr. 
Adams,  tending  to  show  that  there  was  no  suf 
ficient  evidence  that  a  violation  of  the  act  was  con 
templated. 

''Other  correspondence  and  opinions  followed. 
On  the  21st,  affidavits  were  delivered  to  the  author 
ities  at  Liverpool,  one  of  which,  made  by  a  seaman 
who  had  been  shipped  on  board  the  vessel,  declared 
that  Butcher,  the  captain  of  the  'Alabama,'  who 
engaged  him,  had  stated  that  she  was  going  out  to 
fight  for  the  Confederate  States.  Other  depositions 
to  the  same  effect  were  received  on  the  23d  and 
25th,  all  of  which  were  referred,  as  they  came  in,  TO 
the  law  officers.  The  latter  rendered  the  opinion 
that  the  evidence  of  the  deponents,  coupled  with 
the  character  of  the  vessel,  make  it  reasonably  clear 
that  she  was  intended  for  warlike  use  against  the 
United  States,  and  recommended  that  she  be  seized 
without  loss  of  time. 

"Notwithstanding  that  the  urgency  of  the  case 
was  well  known  to  the  Government,  and  notwith 
standing  also  that  of  the  four  depositions  upon 
which  the  law  officers  chiefly  based  their  opinion, 
one  had  been  received  on  the  21st  of  July,  two 
others  on  the  23d,  and  the  fourth  on  the  2of  h,  the 
report  was  not  presented  until  the  29th.  On  that 
day,  however,  the  'Alabama'  left  Liverpool,  with 
out  an  armament,  and  ostensibly  on  a  trial  trip.  She 
ran  down  to  Port  Lynas,  on  the  coast  of  Anglesea, 
about  fifty  miles  from  Liverpool.  Here  she  re 
mained  for  two  days  completing  her  preparations. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  31st  she  got  underway 
and  stood  to  the  northward  up  the  Irish  Sea  ;  and, 
rounding  the  northern  coast  of  Ireland,  she  passed 
out  into  the  Atlantic. 

"Among  the  innumerable  side-issues  presented 
by  the  case  of  the  '  Alabama,'  the  facts  given  above 
contain  the  essential  point.  That  the  attention  of 
the  British  Government  was  called  to  the  suspicious 
character  of  the  vessel  on  the  23d  of  June  ;  that 
her  adaptation  to  warlike  use  was  admitted  ;  that 


G30 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


her  readiness  for  sea  was  known  ;  that  evidence  was 
submitted  on  the  21st,  the  23d,  and  finally  on  the 
25th  of  July,  that  put  her  character  beyond  a 
doubt ;  and  that,  in  spite  of  all  this,  she  was  allowed 
to  sail  on  the  29th,  make  the  real  foundation  of  the 

case  against  Great  Britain. 

*  *  *  •         *  *  ^  * 

"The  inference  is  unavoidable  that  the  Govern 
ment  deliberately  intended  to  pursue  a  policy  as 
unfriendly  as  it  could  possibly  be  without  passing 
the  technical  bounds  of  a  legal  neutrality/' 

The  proof  of  the  illegality  of  all  these 
acts  is  the  fact  that  the  British  Government 
finally  paid  the  award  of  the  "Alabama 
Commission,"  which  was  an  acknowledg 
ment  on  its  part  that  the  responsibility  for 
the  acts  of  the  Confederate  cruiser  rested 
with  the  Power  that  by  indifference  and 
neglect  of  a  plain  duty  had  allowed  its  laws 
to  be  violated. 

The  "  Alabama"  had  not  far  to  go  before 
she  could  strike  a  blow  at  the  commerce  of 
the  North.  The  theatre  of  her  perform 
ances  was  close  at  hand.  The  whaling 
season  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Azores 
generally  ends  about  the  1st  of  October. 
Avhen  the  winter  gales  begin  to  blow,  and 
food  for  the  whales  becomes  scarce.  The 
whales  then  migrate  to  other  feeding 
grounds,  and  are  followed  up  by  their  pur 
suers. 

It  was  now  in  the  early  days  of  Septem 
ber,  and  Semmes  had  but  a  few  weeks  left 
in  which  to  accomplish  his  purpose  of  strik 
ing  a  blow  at  the  whale  fishery  of  the 
United  States,  which  had  for  years  been 
carried  on  in  these  peaceful  latitudes.  The 
people  pursuing  this  industry  had  no  idea 
that  there  was  such  a  vessel  in  existence  as 
the  "  Alabama."  The  "  Ocmulgee."  of  Ed- 
gartown,  was  lying  off  Fayal.  made  fast  to 
a  dead  whale,  when  her  captain  was  as 
tonished  by  the  appearance  of  a  Confederate 
cruiser.  When  the  "  Alabama  "  first  came 
in  sight  she  carried  the  American  flag,  and 
was  naturally  mistaken  for  one  of  the  new 
cruisers  that  were  reported  to  be  fitting  out 
for  the  protection  of  Federal  commerce 
and  the  whaling  industry. 

The  same  old  story  is  to  be  told  of  the 
"Ocmulgee,"  as  with  the  "Sumters" 
prizes.  Semmes  was  too  old  a  hunter 
to  burn  her  by  night,  when  the  light  of 
his  bonfire  would  serve  as  a  warning  to 
other  whalers  that  might  happen  to  be  in 
the  neighborhood,  although  by  so  doing  he 
risked  disappointing  the  descendants  of  the 
old  Norsemen  in  his  crew,  who  would 
greatly  have  enjoyed  the  spectacle.  He  well 
knew  that  it  was  necessarv  to  keep  these 
men  amused,  for  they  might  at  any  time  take 
the  bit  m  their  teeth,  bid  defiance  to  him  and 
his  officers,  and  take  the  "Alabama"  into 
a  Northern  port,  where  their  claim  for 
prize-money  would  have  been  cheerfully 
acknowledged.  He  had  read  about  the 


mutinies  at  the  Nore,  and  on  board  the 
"  Bounty."  and  was  well  aware  what  freaks 
men  of  this  class  were  capable  of  commit 
ting,  but  on  this  occasion  he  was  compelled 
to  defer  gratifying  their  taste  for  brilliant 
effects,  and  he  waited  until  daylight  next 
morning  before  applying  the  torch  to  his 
prize. 

On  the  following  day.  Semmes  stood 
in  for  the  beautiful  island  of  Flores, 
spread  his  awnings,  cleaned  his  ship,  and 
read  to  his  crew  the  "Articles  of  War" 
of  the  old  Navy.  It  must  have  been 
very  amusing  to  the  descendants  of  the 
Norsemen  when  they  heard  that  "any 
officer  of  the  Navy  guilty  of  treason  shall 
suffer  death."  It  was  intended  that  this 
occasion  should  be  an  impressive  one,  for 
the  crew  had  not  up  to  this  time  assumed 
the  orderly  bearing  of  men-of-war's  men. 
Somehow  or  other  they  had  got  it  into  their 
heads  that  they  were  bound  on  a  privateer 
ing  expedition,  and  that  the  "  Alabama  " 
was  not  a  bona-fide  man-of-war.  They 
looked  earnestly  at  each  other  as  the  read 
ing  of  death-penalties  went  on,  and  openly 
signified  that  they  did  not  fear  being 
brought  up  and  shot  for  insubordination 
by  a  man  who  had  set  such  a  shining  ex 
ample  !  Yet  Semmes  seemed  to  think  that 
this  reading  of  the  Articles  of  War  had  so 
rivetted  the  chains  of  discipline  upon  his 
men  that  he  could  count  on  them  to  the  end 
for  any  adventure  he  might  choose  to  em 
bark  in. 

On  the  next  day,  the  schooner  "  Star 
light."  from  Boston,  was  captured.  Her 
crew  consisted  of  seven  persons,  and  there 
were  several  lady  passengers.  Here 
Semmes  appears  in  a  new  role.  Having 
heard  of  the  treatment  received  by  the 
paymaster  of  the  "  Sumter,"  he  determined 
to  practice  a  little  retaliation  on  his  own 
account,  and  the  crew  of  the  "  Starlight  " 
were  forthwith  put  in  irons.  This  was 
taking  upon  himself  the  authority  only 
possessed  by  his  Government  ;  for,  when 
retaliatory  measures  are  adopted  by  one 
Government  against  another,  it  is  done 
formally,  and  by  an  edict,  endorsed  with 
all  the  forms  of  lawful  authority.  '  If  this 
were  not  the  case,  and  if  every  commander 
of  a  ship  or  of  a  regiment  were  allowed  to 
retaliate  for  every  supposed  offence,  war 
would  run  into  a  species  of  brutality  worthy 
only  of  savages.  Hence,  this  power  of  re 
taliation  is  properly  kept  in  the  hands  of 
heads  of  governments,  and  any  subordinate 
who  assumes  this  power  and  causes  injus 
tice  to  innocent  people  is  held  personally 
and  morally  responsible. 

But  Captain  Semmes  was  a  law  unto 
himself,  and  cared  for  no  authority  or  prece 
dents  that  interfered  with  his  design  in 
the  present  case.  Because  some  brute  of  a 


OF   THE   CIVIL  WAR. 


631 


merchant  captain,  to  whose  care  the  pay 
master  of  the  "  Sumter  "  had  been  intrusted, 
had  not  conscience  or  kindness  of  heart 
enough  to  treat  his  prisoner  with  respect, 
Semmes  determined  that  all  Yankee  crews 
captured  by  the  "Alabama"  should  suffer 
for  it.  It  was  not  the  Federal  Government 
that  had  treated  the  paymaster  of  the 
4 '  Sumter  "  with  cruelty.  It  was  an  irrespon 
sible  merchant  captain,  and  the  Confeder 
ate  Government  had  in  consequence  issued 
no  order  of  retaliation.  Captain  Semmes 
merely  followed  his  own  notion,  that  the 
Yankees  should  be  chastised  for  the  sins 
which  one  man  had  committed  against  a 
Southerner  ;  but  let  it  be  remembered  that 
these  men  whom  he  was  putting  in  irons, 
and  subjecting  to  every  indignity,  had  not 
borne  arms  against  the  South,  nor  com 
mitted  any  overt  act.  They  were  peaceful 
traders,  following  their  avocations,  and  it 
is  not  likely  that  they  would  ever  have 
interfered  with  either  one  side  or  the  other. 
He  continued  this  practice,  however,  with 
the  captains  and  crews  of  the  next  eight  or 
ten  prizes,  and  treated  them  with  the  great 
est  rigor.  The  only  effect  of  this  action 
wras  to  embitter  the  North  against  an 
officer  who  thus  took  upon  himself  undue 
authority. 

Two  more  fine  prizes  were  soon  after 
wards  taken  by  the  "  Alabama,"  the  ships 
"  Ocean  Rover  "  and  "  Alert."  both  of  which 
were  filled  with  such  supplies  as  the  Con 
federates  wanted.  The  crews  of  these  ves 
sels  were  allowed  to  take  their  boats  with 
sufficient  provisions,  and  start  for  the 
shore,  which  was  then  distant  about  five 
miles.  Semmes  did  not  want  them,  for,  as 
they  would  not  enlist,  they  would  simply 
eat  up  his  provisions  without  being  of  any 
use  to  him,  and  he  was  glad  to  get  rid  of 
them  on  any  terms.  The  three  last  prizes 
were  all  burnt  that  afternoon,  and  the 
successors  of  the  Norsemen  were  delighted 
as  the  smoke  from  three  funeral  pyres 
ascended  to  the  skies  at  the  same  mo 
ment. 

While  this  work  was  going  on,  an  in 
cautious  American  schooner  (the  "Weather- 
gauge  ")  hove  in  sight  and  was  speedily 
captured.  There  were  some  Northern 
papers  on  board  the  prize  that  dealt  out 
liberal  invectives  against  the  South,  and 
the  reader  may  rest  assured  that  they  did 
the  "  Weather-gauge'*  no  good.  Her  crew, 
however,  were  put  in  their  boats  to  seek  the 
shore,  while  a  pillar  of  fire  behind  them  re 
vealed  the  fate  of  their  floating  home. 

Three  days  after  this  the  whaler  "  Alta- 
maha."  of  New  Bedford,  was  taken  and 
burned;  but.  as  she  had  not  made  asucces- 
ful  "catch,"  her  bonfire  was  somewhat  of 
a  disappointment  to  Semmes'  adventurers. 
Still  she  counted  in  the  game;  her  name 


and  qualifications  were  all  entered  on  the 
"  Alabama's  "  log-book,  and  the  quarter 
master,  whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  to  such 
matters,  stowed  away  her  clean  new  flag  in 
his  plethoric  bag. 

There  was  often  a  little  excitement  and 
some  poetry  in  these  chases,  especially 
when  the  "  Alabama  "  happened  to  fall  in 
with  a  clipper  of  a  vessel  that  would  give 
her  as  much  as  she  could  attend  to.  At 
such  a  time  the  best  helmsman  would  be 
placed  at  the  wheel,  and  every  sail  set 
and  trimmed  to  a  nicety,  while  officers  and 
men  watched  the  result  with  the  keenness 
of  sportsmen  in  pursuit  of  a  hare.  The 
"Alabama "was  a  long,  lean  racer,  with 
three  large  fore-and-aft  sails  and  square 
yards.  When  in  a  heavy  breeze  and  she 
wanted  to  go  to  windward,  she  could  furl 
her  square-sails  and  then  become  a  three- 
masted  schooner,  and  when  under  this  sail 
few  vessels  could  equal  her  in  speed. 

On  a  dark  night,  shortly  after  the  last 
burning,  while  Semmes  was  asleep  in  his 
cabin,  an  old  quartermaster  went  below 
and  shook  him  by  the  arm,  informing  him 
that  there  was  a  large  ship  just  passing  to 
windward  of  them  on  the  opposite  tack. 
He  sprang  out  of  bed  at  once,  and  throwing 
on  a  few  clothes  was  on  deck  as  soon  as  the 
quartermaster,  and  gave  orders  to  "  wear 
ship  "  and  give  chase  to  the  stranger.  The 
"  Alabama  "  was  under  topsails  at  the  time, 
and  it  took  some  moments  to  get  all  sail 
upon  her,  and  when  this  was  done  the 
chase  was  three  or  four  miles  ahead,  yet 
quite  visible  to  a  good  eye  in  the  bright 
moonlight.  Both  vessels  were  now  close 
hauled  on  the  starboard-tack,  and  it  wras 
evident  that  the  merchant  captain  was 
doing  his  best  to  escape.  He  set  his  light 
sails  with  alacrity,  and  trimmed  his  yards 
to  the  greatest  advantage  ;  but  this  was  the 
"Alabama's"  best  point  of  sailing,  and 
when  the  sheets  of  her  great  trysails  were 
hauled  flat  aft,  and  the  fore-tack  boarded, 
she  bounded  over  the  water  like  something 
imbued  with  life.  What  would  not  that 
merchant  captain  have  given  at  that  mo 
ment  if  the  moon  could  have  been  blotted 
out  ?  But  the  darkness  would  not  have 
covered  her,  for  the  Confederates  were  pro 
vided  with  the  best  English  night-glasses, 
made  on  purpose  to  spy  out  American  prizes 
on  dark  nights. 

The  "Alabama"  gained  on  the  chase 
from  the  very  first,  and  in  two  hours  was 
on  her  weather-quarter,  having  head- 
reached  and  gone  to  windward  of  her. 
The  stranger  was  not  more  than  a  mile  off, 
on  the  lee  bow,  when  the  stillness  of  the 
night  was  broken  into  by  the  boom  of  a 
heavy  cannon.  The  gun  "was  unshotted 
and  tlie  merchantman  paid  no  attention  to 
it — not  a  tack  or  sheet  was  slacked  in 


632 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


obedience  to  the  thundering  summons;  but 
the  Confederates  saw  that  preparations 
were  being  made  to  keep  off  from  the  wind 
and  set  stun'sails.  Poor  fellows!  Never 
did  merchant  sailors  work  with  such  a  will. 
They  knew  how  little  mercy  they  had  to 
expect  from  the  Southern  rovers.  The 
burnings  of  the  "Sumter"  were  known  in 
every  sea  where  a  newspaper  could  reach. 

The  merchant  ship  now  began  to  move 
briskly  through  the  water,  by  keeping  off, 
and  the  delusive  hope  sprung  up  in  the 
captain's  breast  that  he  might  yet  evade  his 
pursuer.  For  a  moment  the  "  Alabama" be 
gan  to  drop  astern,  but  it  was  only  for  a  mo 
ment.  As  soon  as  she  followed  the  move 
ments  of  the  chase  and  stood  on  a  parallel 
course,  she  made  such  good  speed  that  be 
fore  the  stranger  could  get  his  foretopmast 
stun'sail  set  she  was  within  good  point- 
blank  range  of  a  long  32-pounder.  The 
moon  was  shining  brightly  and  every  rope 
and  sail  proved  the  stranger  to  be  Ameri 
can. 

The  chase  was  very  exciting,  and  the 
crew  of  the  "Alabama"  were  grouped 
about  on  her  deck,  wondering  if  the  "old 
man  "  would  not  soon  bring  it  to  a  close, 
and  let  them  have  a  good  night  display  of 
burning  before  changing  watches,  and 
they  \vere  soon  gratified  by  the  order  to 
fire  another  gun  shotted,  as  the  "Alabama" 
ranged  up  under  the  stern  of  her  prey,  not 
more  than  300  yards  distant.  This  was  too 
much  for  the  nerves  of  the  old  merchant 
captain.  He  was  not  a  fighting  man,  and, 
if  he  had  been,  he  had  nothing  to  fight  with, 
so  he  wisely  hauled  up  his  courses  and  lay- 
to.  It  was  a  pretty  picture — that  large 
ship  lying  in  the  light  of  the  moon,  with  the 
long,  low  clipper  silently  stealing  up  along 
side  of  her — and,  no  doubt,  reminded  the 
spectators  of  the  yarns  oft  told  in  the  fore 
castle  of  the  times  when  the  bold  buccaneers 
sailed  along  the  Spanish  main,  burning 
vessels  and  making  their  crews  walk  the 
plank. 

Semmes  at  once  gave  the  order  to  board 
the  prize,  and  directed  the  officer  to  hoist 
a  light  at  the  peak  in  case  she  proved  to  be 
an  American.  When  the  boat  came  along 
side,  the  old  captain  was  relieved  of  his 
worst  apprehensions,  instead  of  his  pur 
suer  being  a  pirate,  she  was  only  the 
"  Alabama."  and  though  he  was  told  his 
vessel  would  be  burned  in  the  morn  ing,  and 
that  all  his  worldly  goods  would  go  up  in  a 
cloud  of  smoke,  he  thanked  God  that  it  was 
no  worse.  The  light  was  hoisted  at  the 
peak  as  directed,  and  Semrnes  went  below 
to  finish  the  nap  so  unceremoniously  broken, 
and  dream  of  the  sport  he  would  be  able  to 
give  his  men  next  morning  when  he  de 
stroyed  the  prize. 
Next  morning  when  he  came  on  deck  he 


was  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed.  He  ruled 
the  ocean  for  miles  around,  as  far  even  as 
the  Saragossa  Sea.  for  there  was  not  such 
a  thing  as  an  American  man-of-war  in  all 
those  waters.  The  fifty  cruisers  that  should 
have  been  afloat  six  months  before,  and 
guarding  every  point  where  American 
merchantmen  could  be  found,  were  yet 
upon  the  stocks — nay,  many  of  them  were 
only  on  paper.  An  old  commodore  with  a 
fleet  of  fourteen  vessels  at  his  heels,  was 
steaming  up  and  down  the  Gulf  and  Carib 
bean  Sea,  looking  for  "Alabamas"  that 
were  hundreds  of  miles  away  and  upset 
ting  all  the  plans  of  the  Navy  Department. 

As  Semmes  looked  about  him  that  morn 
ing,  his  eye  rested  on  the  fine  large  ship 
lying  close  by,  awaiting  his  orders.  She 
proved  to  be  the  whaler,  "Benjamin 
Tucker,"  of  New  Bedford,  eight  months- 
out,  with  340  barrels  of  oil.  But  the  Con 
federate  captain  had  no  need  for  oil,  so  he 
took  from  her  only  the  tobacco  and  small 
stores,  and  after  transferring  her  crew  of 
thirty  persons  to  his  own  vessel,  applied  the 
torch,  and  before  ten  o'clock  she  was  a 
mass  of  flames  fore-and-aft. 

The  next  morning  he  overtook  and 
burned  the  schooner  "Courser,"  of  Prov- 
incetown,  Massachusetts.  For  a  moment 
the  springs  of  pity  opened  in  the  breast  of 
the  Confederate  as  he  surveyed  this  pretty 
little  craft,  and  looked  upon  her  handsome 
young  captain ;  but  he  had  just  finished 
reading  a  Northern  paper,  in  which  he  was 
spoken  of  in  terms  that  were  anything  but 
polite,  and  he  had  to  steel  his  heart  against 
his  better  feelings  and  let  the  laws  of  war 
be  executed. 

He  had  now  the  crews  of  his  three  last 
prizes  on  board,  and  as  they  somewhat 
crowded  the  "Alabama,"  he  stood  in  for 
the  Island  of  Flores,  put  them  in  eight  cap 
tured  whale-boats,  and  sent  them  off  to  land 
as  best  they  might,  and  compare  notes  with 
the  poor  fellows  already  on  shore. 

What  fun  it  must  have  been  to  the  Norse 
men  to  see  that  regatta,  in  which  eight 
boats  were  struggling  to  reach  the  shore 
and  get  as  far  as  possible  out  of  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  "Alabama"  !  Semmes  was 
not  otherwise  inhumane  to  these  men,  but 
they  were  in  his  way  and  he  wanted  to  get 
rid  of  them,  and  he  seemed  to  think  that 
they  were  so  well  pleased  with  him  that, 
with  a  little  coaxing,  they  would  have  given 
three  cheers  for  the  '  'Alabama  "  ! 

We  are  now  to  see  the  new  cruiser  in 
rough  and  tempestuous  weather.  We  have 
seen  her  in  smootli  seas  and  moonlight 
nights;  but  it  often  happens  that  these 
smooth-water  sailors  do  not  maintain  their 
reputation  when  they  have  to  contend  with 
heavy  weather.  The  "Alabama"  had  been 
built  as  a  type  of  a  perfect  cruiser,  one  that 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


633 


could  maintain  her  character  under  sail  as 
well  as  under  steam.  But  up  to  this  time 
Semmes  had  had  no  opportunity  to  test  her 
in  all  weathers,  which  would  decide  the 
character  of  the  vessel,  and  prove  whether 
she  was  the  most  dangerous  machine  to  be 
used  against  American  commerce  ever  yet 
planned,  or  simply  one  of  those  expensive 
failures  of  which  the  United  States  had  so 
many  in  its  own  Navy.  The  opportunity 
soon  occurred. 

The  wind  was  rapidly  freshening  into  a 
gale,  when  in  the  morning,  after  the  burn 
ing  of  the  "  Courser,"  a  large  American  ship 
was  discovered  and  soon  overtaken.  This 
was  the  whaling-ship  "Virginia,"  and  she 
was  burned  like  the  rest,  after  being  de 
spoiled  of  such  articles  as  the  ''Alabama" 
needed.  The  only  difference  was  that,  as  the 
torch  was  not  applied  until  late  in  the  after 
noon,  the  fire  burned  brightly  for  a  part  of 
the  night,  and  could  be  seen  when  many 
miles  away,  as  the  flames  and  burning 
masses  of  timber  were  whirled  into  the  air 
by  the  strong  eddies  of  a  freshening  wind. 

Next  morning  a  bark  hove  in  sight,  and 
as  soon  as  those  on  board  made  out  the 
"Alabama"  they  commenced  making  ef 
forts  to  escape.  By  this  time  it  was  blow 
ing  half  a  gale,  and  both  vessels  were  under 
snug  sail;  but  the  reefs  were  now  shaken 
out  and  topgallant  sails  set  in  both  of  them. 
It  seemed  at  first  as  if  the  topgallant  masts 
of  the  "  Alabama  "  would  go  over  the  side, 
the  sticks  buckled  so;  but  John  Laird  had 
selected  good  timber  for  the  craft,  which 
he  had  pronounced  to  be  the  finest  cruiser 
of  her  class  in  the  world,  and  the  broad, 
tough  English  cross-trees  kept  everything 
in  its  place.  Not  a  mast  snapped,  nor  did 
a  rope-yarn  part,  so  perfect  were  all  the 
appliances  of  the  vessel.  The  bark  hung 
on  to  all  the  sail  she  could  carry,  though 
she  was  short-handed,  and  her  commander 
evidently  seemed  determined  to  escape  from 
his  pursuer  or  let  his  masts  and  sails  go 
overboard. 

Though  the  "Alabama"  was  much  the 
smaller  vessel  of  the  two,  it  was  quite  evi 
dent  that  she  was  as  much  at  home  in 
this  rough  weather  as  the  prey  in  view. 
Both  vessels  were  at  times  almost  under 
water  during  this  exciting  chase,  yet  the 
"  Alabama"  gained  so  rapidly  and  steadily 
that  it  was  plainly  seen  that  the  bark's 
only  chance  of  safety  lay  in  the  Confeder 
ate  losing  some  of  his  spars.  But  it  was  the 
same  old  story.  The  •  'Alabama"  carried  sail, 
and  in  three  hours  had  the  stranger  within 
reach  of  her  32 -pounders,  and  there  was 
nothing  left  for  the  merchant  captain  to  do 
but  surrender.  He  had  made  a  gallant  run 
for  it,  and  had  carried  his  canvas  in  a 
manner  worthy  of  a  man-of-war's-man,  but 
Semmes  made  short  shrift  of  his  vessel  (the 


"  Elisha  Dunbar,"  of  New  Bedford),  and 
she  was  soon  destroyed. 

Semmes  did  not  in  this  case  wait  even 
long  enough  to  examine  the  papers  of 
his  prize,  for  the  gale  was  increasing  and 
he  desired  to  get  his  boat  on  board  as  soon 
as  possible.  What  cared  he  whether  her 
cargo  included  neutral  property  or  not  ? 
Was  not  there  a  "prize-court"  sitting  in  the 
"Alabama's"  cabin  night  and  day,  and 
did  not  this  court  feel  perfectly  qualified  to 
settle  all  questions  of  law  and  fact  ?  Had 
not  the  English  Government  tacitly  ad 
mitted  that  neutrals  who  shipped  goods  in 
vessels  belonging  to  either  belligerent  must 
take  the  chances  of  war  and  apply  for 
redress  and  compensation  to  a  prize-court  ? 

That  Semmes  had  under  his  command 
brave  and  daring  officers,  no  one  will  deny, 
for  that  day  put  their  zeal  and  seamanship 
to  the  severest  test.  The  boats  of  the 
"Alabama"  were  well  managed,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  transferring  all  the  persons  with 
out  accident.  Nothing  was  taken  out  of 
the  prize  but  her  chronometer  and  flag,  and 
by  the  time  the  boats  were  alongside  the 
"Alabama,"  the  "Dunbar"  was  all  in 
flames,  with  her  sails  set  just  as  when  she 
hove-to.  The  gale  howled,  as  if  giving  out 
a  solemn  requiem  over  the  destruction  of 
this  fine  vessel,  and  the  sea-birds  that  brave 
the  gale  and  were  hovering  around  with 
discordant  cries,  added  their  apparent 
grief  to  the  noise  and  crashing  of  timbers 
and  roaring  eddies  of  wind  that  were  rush 
ing  through  the  doomed  vessel. 

The  burning  ship  was,  without  doubt,  a 
beautiful  spectacle,  which  the  descendants 
of  the  Norsemen  enjoyed  amazingly.  What 
cared  they  who  was  injured  by  the  de 
struction  of  the  "Elisha  Dunbar,"  since 
even  Earl  Russell  was  not  averse  to  seeing 
a  little  English  commerce  consigned  to  the 
bottom  of  the  ocean,  as  long  as  the  whole 
American  merchant  marine  could  be  de- 
troyed  or  transferred  to  the  flag  of  Great 
Britain  ! 

The  black  clouds  were  mustering  their 
forces  in  fearful  array,  ready  to  burst  in 
anger  over  this  scene  of  destruction.  Night 
seemed  suddenly  to  have  wrapped  the  day 
in  its  mantle  of  darkness.  The  thunder 
rolled  in  the  high  heavens,  reverberating 
for  miles  away  to  leeward,  the  awful  crash 
seeming  to  shake  the  sea  and  earth  to  their 
centres,  and  lightning  leaped  from  cloud 
to  cloud,  adding  greatly  to  the  grandeur  of 
a  scene  which  110  pen  can  describe.  All  na 
ture  seemed  to  protest  against  such  un 
natural  and  wanton  proceedings.  The  sea 
was  by  this  time  raging  fearfully,  and 
spray  that  was  blown  from  the  tops  of  ris 
ing  waves  cut  the  faces  of  the  sailors  as  if 
it  had  been  small  shot.  The  winds  howled, 
and  rain  descended  in  torrents,  as  if  deter- 


634 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


mined  to  quench  the  fires  raised  by  rebel 
lious  hands  ;  but  nothing  could  save  the 
"Dunbar,"  and  the  flames  burned  yet  more 
fiercely  as  she  lay  rolling  and  tossing  upon 
the  tumultuous  sea.  Now  an  ignited  sail 
would  fly  away  from  a  yard  and  scud  off 
before  the  gale  like  some  huge  albatross 
with  its  wings  on  fire,  while  the  yards,  with 
braces  burned  and  released  from  all  control, 
would  sway  about  violently,  as  if  anxious 
to  escape  from  this  turmoil  of  fire  and 
wind,  and  finally  drop  into  the  sea.  The 
masts,  one  after  another,  went  by  the  board, 
as  the  hull  rocked  and  heaved  like  some 
great  animal  in  its  death  throes,  and  finally 
the  sea  broke  in  and  met  the  flames  with  a 
shriek  resembling  the  howl  of  a  thousand 
demons.  The  ship  gave  one  great  roll, 
and  then  went  to  the  bottom,  "  a  victim  to 
the  passions  of  man  and  the  prey  of  the 
elements." 

These  were  the  scenes  that  followed  in  the 
track  of  the  "  Alabama."  Semmes  looked 
on  unmoved  amidst  the  howlings  of  the 
storm,  and  the  descendants  of  the  Norsemen 
added  a  new  scene  to  their  adventures,  here 
after  to  be  told  under  the  forecastle  to  their 
admiring  shipmates  who  had  not  had  the 
glory  of  serving  on  a  Confederate  cruiser. 

The  storm  was  at  its  height,  but  the 
"  Alabama"  rode  it  out  under  reefed  sails 
like  a  duck ;  and  Captain  Semmes  was 
satisfied  that  he  had  under  his  command 
not  only  a  formidable  war-vessel,  but  a 
capital  sea-boat.  John  Laird  had  kept  his 
word  with  the  Confederate  agent  when  he 
designed  and  built  the  "  Alabama,"  and  it 
is  reasonable  to  suppose,  since  he  gave  so 
much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  this 
cruiser,  that  his  heart  was  much  interested 
in  the  Confederate  cause. 

Semmes  felt  that  he  had  a  vessel  on 
which  he  could  depend  for  any  emergency. 
It  was  now  the  month  of  October,  aiid  the 
gales  of  the  season  were  beginning  to  blow. 
He  had  completely  swept  the  seas  in  the 
whaling  district,  and  there  was  nothing 
more  of  consequence  to  be  done  in  that 
latitude.  He  had  not,  so  far,  burned  a 
pound  of  coal  in  his  pursuit  of  United 
States  commerce  ;  all  his  operations  had 
been  conducted  under  sail,  and  he  had 
never  found  a  vessel  that  could  escape  the 
'"Alabama."  He  now  sighed  for  new  scenes 
of  adventure,  and  his  officers,  who  also 
longed  fora  change,  suggested  going  to  the 
ground  where  the  grain-ships  of  the  North 
might  be  picked  up  when  on  their  way  to 
Europe  to  feed  the  great  multitudes  there 
who  depended  on  American  grain  for  a 
subsistence. 

The  descendants  of  the  Norsemen  had  got 
tired  of  capturing  whalers,  and  they  longed 
to  get  into  the  track  of  traders,  whose  rich 
cargoes  would  afford  better  opportunities 


for  obtaining  plunder.  Semmes  knew  how 
to  manage  his  men,  and  that  it  was  neces 
sary  to  amuse  them.  Sailors  are  like  chil 
dren  all  the  world  over;  and.  although  they 
must  be  governed  with  a  firm  hand,  it  is 
sometimes  advisable  to  let  them  think  that 
their  wishes  are  consulted.  Semmes  never 
forgot  the  lessons  taught  by  mutineers  in 
times  past,  and  he  attempted  to  keep  his 
sailors  in  a  contented  frame  of  mind  by 
occasional  concessions. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  October  3d  two 
sails  were  simultaneously  reported  from 
the  "Alabama's  "  mast-head  ;  but,  as  both 
ships  were  standing  in  the  direction  of 
the  cruiser,  there  was  no  need  to  chase. 
They  were  running  right  into  the  spoiler's 
net,  and  suspected  no  danger  until  they 
were  within  gunshot,  when  the  "  Ala 
bama"  fired  a  gun  and  hoisted  the  flag 
that  had  carried  such  terror  to  the  whale- 
ships  of  the  Azores.  These  vessels  were 
the  "Brilliant"  and  "Emily  Farnum," 
both  of  New  York,  and  both  loaded  with 
grain.  The  latter  being  what  Semmes  con 
sidered  "properly  documented"  was  re 
leased  on  ransom-bond,  and  he  took  the 
opportunity  of  sending  away  in  her  all  his 
prisoners,  of  whom  he  had  5<)  or  GO,  besides 
those  just  captured.  The  "  Brilliant  "  was 
burned  with  her  valuable  cargo. 

On  the  afternoon  of  October  7th,  the  bark 
"  Wavecrest  "  was  taken  ;  and.  after  being 
relieved  of  everything  that  could  be  of  use 
to  the  Confederates,  she  was  made  a  tar 
get  for  gun  practice,  and  finally  destroyed. 

Next  day  the  brig  "  Dunkirk,"  of  New 
York,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  "Alabama," 
and,  as  her  captain  could  offer  no  evidence 
of  neutral  ownership,  she  also  was  com 
mitted  to  the  flames. 

Up  to  this  time  Semmes  had  destroyed 
twelve  valuable  vessels,  with  their  cargoes, 
and  all  this  work  had  been  done  in  little 
over  a  month,  with  his  ship  under  sail 
alone,  and  here  he  was  now  right  in  the 
track  of  the  grain  trade  between  New  York 
and  Europe  with  not  a  single  Federal  man- 
of-war  in  the  neighborhood  to  interfere 
with  his  proceedings.  He  approached  the 
coast  with  confidence,  for  he  had  not  as  yet 
ever  heard  of  any  vessel  having  been  sent 
in  pursuit  of  him— much  less  seen  one. 
Crowds  of  vessels  were  daily  leaving  New 
York  for  Liverpool,  but  they  were  mostly 
foreigners,  with  cargoes  properly  docu 
mented,  who  were  taking  advantage  of  the 
times  to  reap  golden  harvests.  These  ves 
sels  Semmes  could  not  touch,  but  he  gave 
them  as  much  trouble  as  possible. 

Why  the  United  States  Government 
should  have  left  this  great  highway  un 
protected  no  one  to  this  day  can  conjecture. 
The  vessels  that  were  sent  to  look  for  the 
"Alabama"  always  went  to  the  wrrong 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


G35 


places,  when  it  must  have  been  known  that 
she  would  seek  the  highways  of  trade 
as  naturally  as  a  bluerish  would  seek 
the  feeding-grounds  of  the  menhaden. 
"Whatever  success  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  may  have  had  in  blockading  the 
enemy's  ports,  its  attempts  to  protect  the 
merchant  marine  were  nearly  always  fail 
ures  :  and  it  shows  how  necessary  it  is  for 
a  nation  to  keep  on  hand  in  time  of  peace 
vessels  that  will  prove  useful  in  time  of 
war. 

There  seemed  to  be  no  limit  to  his  success, 
and  Semmes  had  so  much  to  do,  and  so 
many  legal  questions  to  decide,  that  he 
was  sometimes  brought  to  a  standstill.  One 
ship  that  lie  captured  (the  "Tonawanda") 
carried  a  number  of  women  and  children, 
who  filled  the  air  with  piteous  lamentations 
at  what  appeared  to  them  to  be  a  dreadful 
fate.  This  was  more  perplexing  than  a 
dozen  ordinary  cargoes,  for  he  could  burn 
these  if  his  "  prize-court"  so  decided,  but 
could  not  so  easily  dispose  of  the  women 
and  children  :  and  he  was  obliged  to  sail 
about  for  some  time  with  this  living  cargo 
following  in  his  wake,  hoping  that  he  might 
fall  in  with  some  neutral  vessel  to  which  he 
could  transfer  his  passengers,  and  then  be 
at  liberty  to  destroy  the  floating  home  of 
these  poor  people  before  their  eyes.  If  he 
had  been  a  man  of  any  generosity,  he 
would  have  said  to  the  captain  of  the 
"  Tonawanda,"  "  Go  in  peace;  we  are  not 
warring  against  women  and  children,  and 
these  helpless  ones  shall  not  be  molested." 
But  not  he  :  he  had  no  sentiment  about 
him,  and,  although  he  knew  the  agony  felt 
by  these  people,  he  kept  them  sailing  in  his 
wake  until  another  victim  should  heave  in 
sight. 

But  it  seems  that  the  "  Alabama"  still 
had  to  play  out  her  role  before  she  left  the 
North  Atlantic.  The  good  intentions  that 
were  entertained  towards  the  passengers  of 
the  "Tonawanda  "—to  put  them  on  board 
a  neutral  vessel— were  frustrated  by  the  ar 
rival  of  another  heavy  ship  of  the  "junk 
fleet  "  (as  the  grain  ships  were  called  by 
Semmes'  men).  This  vessel  approached  the 
"  Alabama"  unsuspectingly  until  the  boom 
of  a  gun  and  the  Confederate  flag  at  the 
stranger's  peak  showed  the  merchant  cap 
tain  that  his  fate  was  sealed,  and  he  im 
mediately  surrendered. 

The  "  Alabama  "  had  by  this  time  become 
pretty  well  known  in  the  United  States, 
and  Semmes'  methods  were  understood. 
Ships  were  heavily  insured  before  sailing, 
and  a  shipmaster  surrendered  his  vessel 
with  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  some 
time  in  the  future  his  losses  would  be  re 
imbursed.  The  ship  "Manchester,"  that 
had  now  fallen  into  the  "  Alabama's"  toils, 
was  a  more  valuable  prize  than  the  '*'  Tona 


wanda,"  so  the  latter  was  allowed  to  pro 
ceed  on  her  voyage,  while  the  former  was 
burned  in  her  place. 

On  the  15th  of  October  the  next  ship  was 
taken;  but  Semmes  and  his  officers  were 
very  much  disappointed  when  they  sat 
down  to  breakfast  that  morning  at  not  hav 
ing  their  regular  batch  of  newspapers.  This 
vessel  was  the  •'  Lamplighter,"  loaded  with 
tobacco,  and  after  the  Confederates  had 
taken  what  they  wanted  out  of  her  they 
burned  her,  and  thus  approached  the  coast, 
leaving  a  track  of  flames  behind  them; 
while  the  Federal  Government,  which  had 
been  immediately  apprised  of  her  escape 
from  Liverpool,  took  no  effective  measures 
to  arrest  the  career  of  the  cruiser  that  was 
attacking  American  commerce  and  driving 
its  vessels  to  seek  protection  under  the 
British  flag. 

The  English  Ministry  might  well  afford 
to  ignore  the  occasional  destruction  of  part 
of  a  British  cargo,  when  they  knew  that 
the  system  pursued  by  Semmes  was  driv 
ing  all  merchants  to  ship  their  cargoes  in 
British  bottoms,  or  to  register  their  vessels 
under  the  English  flag.  The  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  in  Liverpool,  writing  to  Earl 
Russell,  as  late  as  November,  18(52.  in  re 
gard  to  the  destruction  of  neutral  goods  by 
the  "  Alabama,"  received  the  reply:  *'  Brit 
ish  owners  of  property  on  board  of  Federal 
siiips,  alleged  to  have  been  unlawfully  cap 
tured  by  Confederate  cruisers,  are  in  the 
same  position  as  any  other  neutral  owner 
shipping  in  enemy's  bottoms  during  the 
war."  Of  course,  this  drove  all  British  prop 
erty  to  seek  neutral  bottoms;  and  when  Eng 
lish  owners  of  captured  property  were  told 
to  apply  to  the  Confederate  prize-courts  for 
redress,  it  convinced  everybody  that  the 
British  Government  was  not  going  to  pro 
tect  the  property  of  its  subjects  on  the  high 
seas  as  long  as  an  American  flag  waved 
upon  the  ocean. 

With  all  her  great  Navy,  Her  Britannic 
Majesty  had  not  a  vessel  on  the  ocean  look 
ing  after  the  proceedings  of  these  Confed 
erate  cruisers,  while  quite  a  number  of 
them  were  employed  in  watching  the  opera 
tions  of  the  Federal  Navy  on  the  coast,  and 
officiously  inspecting  the  blockade,  to  see 
that  it  was  lawfully  maintained. 

The  "  Alabama "  made  her  sixteenth 
capture  on  the  21st  of  October :  a  fine  large 
ship  running  down  to  her— the  fly  and  the 
spider  again — looking  a  perfect  picture, 
with  her  sails  all  beautifully  drawing,  and 
her  masts  swaying  and  bending  under 
the  cloud  of  canvas,  while  the  sea  was 
rolling  before  her  broad,  flaring  bows  as  if 
nothing  could  oppose  her  progress.  It  was 
a  beautiful  sight,  this  almost  living  sign  of 
a  nation's  greatness,  that  could  boast  at 
that  time  that  the  white  sails  of  her  ships 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


covered  every  sea.  But  a  little  puff  of 
smoke  from  the  "Alabama's"  guns  soon 
changed  the  picture :  her  cloud  of  canvas 
seemed  to  shrivel  and  disappear  as  if  it  had 
been  a  scroll  rolled  up  by  an  invisible  hand, 
and  all  the  symmetry  of  the  great  mass 
that  had  so  lately  been  swaying  gracefully 
above  the  water  was  gone. 

Though  the  cargo  of  the  prize  was  cer 
tified  to  all  over  as  being  the  property  of 
neutrals,  and  also  covered  with  British  con 
sular  seals  that  had  heretofore  been  re 
spected.  Semmes  was  not  satisfied  until  he 
had  held  an  "Admiralty  Court "  in  his  cabin, 
and  the  court  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
"  Lafayette  "  must  burn.  Earl  Russell  had 
decided  that  neutrals  shipping  in  vessels 
belonging  to  the  belligerents  must  suffer 
the  consequences  of  war,  and  the  British 
Minister  at  Washington  simply  carried  out 
the  instructions  of  his  superior,  and  referred 
all  complainants  to  the  Southern  prize- 
courts. 

Semmes  found,  that  day,  newspapers  on 
board  the  "  Lafayette  "  in  which  were  some 
very  severe  strictures  in  regard  to  his 
course  in  the  cases  of  the  "Brilliant"  and 
"Emily  Farnum" — in  fact,  some  of  the  pa 
pers  denounced  his  acts  as  piracy,  a  term 
always  galling  to  him.  This  did  not  help  the 
case  of  the  "  Lafayette,"  and  she  was  ruth 
lessly  destroyed  as  soon  as  the  captain  of 
the  "  Alabama  "  was  satisfied  that  he  had 
taken  everything  out  of  her  that  could  be 
of  service  to  himself  or  his  crew. 

Three  days  after  this  capture  the 
"Crenshaw"  was  taken,  plundered  and 
burned.  She  was  only  a  schooner,  and  it 
did  not  take  the  "  prize-court  "  in  the  "Ala 
bama's  "  cabin  ten  minutes  to  decide  her 
fate. 

Semmes  now  found  that  his  supply  of 
coal  was  running  out,  and  decided  to  shape 
his  course  for  the  Island  of  Martinique, 
where  he  had  directed  Captain  Bullock  to 
send  him  a  coal-ship. 

On  the  2d  of  November  he  captured  the 
"  Levi  Starbuck,"  a  New  Bedford  whaler, 
bound  on  a  voyage  to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
Like  all  her  class  just  starting  out,  she  was 
filled  with  all  sorts  of  stores  and  Yankee 
mcknacks;  and  although  the  "Alabama" 
had  been  filled  up  a  dozen  times  since  she 
started  from  the  Azores  with  stores  taken 
from  her  prizes,  yet  she  had  the  maw  of  a 
cormorant  and  always  seemed  to  want  to 
be  fed.  All  this  booty  was  easily  acquired, 
and  it  went  just  as  easily.  The  amount  of 
food,  tobacco  and  clothing  used  by  the  90 
men  and  24  officers  on  board  the  "Ala 
bama"  was  among  the  most  remarkable 
events  of  her  cruise.  But,  notwithstanding 
the  comforts  bestowed  upon  her  captors 
by  the  "  Levi  Starbuck/'  she  was  burned  at 
night-fall. 


It  will  be  observed  how  easily  all  these 
vessels    were   taken   by    the    "  Alabama." 
Some  would  call  this  good  luck  on  the  part 
of  the  Confederate  commander;  but,  in  fact, 
it  was  the  result  of  good  management  and 
forethought.      Semmes  did  no   more    than 
follow   the   channels  of    trade   which    the 
American  ships  were  known  to  travel,  and 
it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that,  if  Federal 
ships-of-war  had  followed  the  same  tracks, 
they  would  have  picked  up  the  bold  adven 
turer  before  he  had  been  many  days  at  sea. 
About  this  time  the  "Alabama"  was  ap 
proaching    another    track     of    commerce, 
across  which  it  was  intended  to  run  on  her 
way  to  Martinique,  viz.,  the  track  of  home 
ward-bound  East  Indiamen,    and  the    day 
after  getting  in  the  track  she  fell  in   with 
and  captured  the  "  T.  B.  Wales,"  of  Boston. 
Captain  Semmes  now  liberally  construed 
the  Confederate  prize-law,  that  "  No  person 
in  the  Navy  shall  take  out  of  a  prize   or 
vessel  seized  as  a  prize,  any  money,  plate, 
goods,  or  any  part  of  her  rigging,  unless  it 
be  for  the  better  preservation  thereof,  or 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  use  of  any  of 
the  vessels  of  the  Confederate  States."     He 
helped  himself  not  only  to  anchors,  chains, 
stores  and  provisions,  but  to  the  main-yard 
of  the  "  Wales,"  which  happened  to  be  the 
right  size  and  in  better  condition  than  that 
of  the  "Alabama."    No  wonder  the  Confed 
erates    were    able    to   keep    a    number   of 
cruisers  at  sea,  when  they  found  a  victu 
alling  station  in  everything  they  captured, 
and  could  supply  themselves  with  all  neces 
saries  at  these  floating  dockyards. 

There  were  "women  and  children  on  board 
the  East  Indiaman,  but  they  were  all  trans 
ferred  to  the  "  Alabama,"  and  that  night 
they  were  treated  to  the  sight  of  a  burning 
vessel;  but,  as  much  of  their  personal  prop 
erty  went  up  in  the  flames,  it  is  not  likely 
that  they  en  joyed  the  spectacle  to  any  great 
extent.  It  can  be  said  to  Semmes'  credit, 
however,  that  he  showed  these  poor  people 
all  attention,  and  made  them  as  comforta 
ble  as  circumstances  would  permit. 

About  the  16th  of  November  the  "Ala 
bama"  sighted  the  island  of  Dominica, 
the  first  land  she  had  made  since  leaving 
Terceira  in  the  Azores.  Semmes  now  put 
his  vessel  under  steam  and  ran  for  Martin 
ique — where  he  expected  to  meet  his  coal- 
ship — passed  close  by  the  harbor  of  St. 
Pierre,  to  see  that  there  were  no  United 
States  ships-of-war  there,  and  then  into  the 
harbor  of  Port  de  France,  where  he  came  to 
anchor. 

Here  the  "Alabama  "  landed  her  prisoners 
and  took  on  board  what  stores  she  needed; 
but  Semmes  did  not  attempt  to  coal  his  ves 
sel  in  this  port,  as  he  feared  the  appearance 
of  an  American  man-of-war.  This  precau 
tion  was  well  taken,  for  the  coal-ship  had 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


637 


hardly  got  clear  of  the  Island  when  the  U.  S. 
steamer  "San  Jacinto"  appeared  off  the 
entrance  to  the  harbor  and  blockaded  him. 
But  Semmes  did  not  fear  this  slow  and  an 
tiquated  ship,  as  he  knew  that  his  superior 
speed  would  enable  him  to  make  his  escape 
whenever  he  was  ready. 

The  "San  Jacinto"  was  an  old  steam- 
frigate,  under  the  command  of  Commander 
Ronckendorff,  carrying  a  heavy  battery, 
but  not  able  to  make  more  than  7  knots 
under  steam,  and  Semmes  cared  no  more  for 
her  than  if  she  had  been  an  old-fashioned 
sailing  three-decker.  Commander  Ronck 
endorff  stationed  himself  just  outside  of 
the  marine  league,  and  kept  a  sharp  watch 
on  the  "  Alabama,"  but  she  escaped  with 
out  difficulty  under  cover  of  the  night,  and 
joined  her  coal-ship  at  Blanquilla,  a  little 
island  on  the  coast  of  Venezuela. 

From  this  point  Semmes  shaped  his 
course  for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  in  hopes  of 
overtaking  an  expedition  said  to  be  fitting 
out  under  General  Banks  for  the  purpose 
of  invading  Texas,  and,  as  this  expedition 
was  to  rendezvous  at  Galveston,  he  steered 
for  that  port.  At  the  same  time,  he  hoped 
to  make  his  cruise  remunerative  by  way 
laying  one  of  the  steamers  from  Panama 
carrying  gold  to  the  North.  He  had  several 
weeks  to  spare,  and  the  idea  of  levying  upon 
the  mail-steamers  gave  him  much  pleasure, 
as  a  million  or  so  of  dollars  deposited  in 
Europe  would  naturally  aid  him  in  his  op 
erations  upon  the  sea. 

On  November  2Gth  Semmes  stood  for  the 
Mona  Passage  between  St.  Domingo  and 
Porto  Rico.  This  was  the  general  route 
of  the  mail-steamers  on  their  way  to  the 
North  from  Aspinwall,  and  he  naturally 
approached  it  with  great  caution,  expect 
ing  to  find  a  Federal  ship -of -war  sta 
tioned  there,  but  there  was  none,  and  the 
Confederate  captain  seemed  still  to  be  sail 
ing  under  a  lucky  star.  It  was  Sunday 
when  the  cry  of  "Sail  ho!''  came  from 
aloft :  everything  was  dropped  for  the  new 
excitement,  as  it  had  been  some  time  since 
a  prize  had  been  sighted.  The  "Alabama's" 
head  was  pointed  towards  the  stranger, 
her  topmen  sprang  aloft  at  the  order,  and 
in  five  minutes  she  was  under  a  cloud  of 
canvas  from  rail  to  truck.  The  chase  was  a 
short  one.  a  run  of  a,  few  hours  brought  the 
"Alabama"  up  with  the  vessel,  which 
proved  to  be  the  "  Parker  Cooke,"  of  and 
from  Boston. 

This  capture  greatly  pleased  the  descend 
ants  of  the  Norsemen,  for  they  had  learned 
from  experience  that  the  Boston  traders 
always  contained  the  very  best  of  every 
thing,  from  a  needle  to  a  barrel  of  crackers 
or  firkin  of  butter.  So  it  was  in  this  case; 
the  "Parker  Cooke"  was  plethoric  with 
good  things,  and  all  that  day  the  capacious 


maw  of  the  "  Alabama"  was  open  to  receive 
the  cargo  of  her  prize.  The  trader  was 
completely  emptied,  and  yet  the  maw  was 
still  unsatisfied,  and  the  wonder  will  al 
ways  remain  what  the  120  men  on  board  this 
cruiser  did  with  the  cargoes,  or  parts  of 
cargoes,  of  eighteen  vessels  which  had  been 
transferred  to  her  from  time  to  time.  It 
was  sunset  before  the  prisoners  and  cargo 
were  transferred,  the  torch  was  then  ap 
plied  to  the  beautiful  merchantman,  and 
soon  the  flames  were  casting  a  broad  light 
on  the  bold  mountains  of  St.  Domingo,  and 
were  reflected  on  the  soft,  smooth  sea. which 
already  sparkled  with  the  phosphorescence 
of  those  latitudes. 

While  waiting  for  the  mail-steamers, 
the  "Alabama"  captured  the  Baltimore 
schooner  "  Union,"  to  which  the  prisoners 
were  transferred  and  the  vessel  allowed  to 
depart  on  a  ransom- bond. 

Semmes  knowing,  from  the  Northern 
papers,  that  the  California  steamer  was  due 
next  day,  kept  a  bright  look-out  for  her,  and 
soon  a  large  brig-rigged  steamer  appeared. 
All  was  now  excitement  on  board  the  "Ala 
bama";  the  propeller  was  lowered,  sails 
furled,  steam  raised,  and  in  twenty  min 
utes  she  was  ready  for  the  chase. 

The  reader  is,  no  doubt,  hoping  that  some 
thing  will  happen  to  warn  the  coming 
steamer  in  time  to  avoid  her  threatened 
fate.  But  she  came  on  rapidly,  and 
when  within  three  or  four  miles,  the  "Ala 
bama  "  hoisted  the  American  flag.  It  was 
astonishing  how  often  Semmes  resorted  to 
using  what  he  called  "  the  flaunting  lie" — 
which  he  derided  on  all  occasions — forget 
ting  that  in  the  days  of  the  Revolution  it  had 
been  carried  to  victory  by  the  bravest  and 
most  chivalrous  men  of  the  South.  Yet  he 
did  not  feel  degraded  at  having  that  flag 
flying  at  his  peak  as  long  as  he  could  draw 
his  enemy  into  his  net  ;  and  that  foolish 
steamer,  seeing  the  old  flag,  put  her  whole 
faith  and  trust  in  it,  and  came  on  with  in 
creased  speed  to  greet  the  defenders  of  the 
Union,  whom  an  energetic  and  benign  Gov 
ernment  had  sent  to  that  spot  to  assure 
them  a  safe  passage  !  ! 

When  within  a  mile  of  the  "Alabama" 
the  steamer  was  making  great  speed,  and 
even  at  that  moment  could  have  turned 
and  escaped,  but  the  merchant  captain 
never  thought  of  examining  carefully 
that  clipper-built  hull  and  English  rig,  so 
totally  unlike  anything  American.  All 
eyes  were  bent  on  the  American  ensign,  and 
the  one  small  gun  the  steamer  carried  for 
signalling  purposes  was  loaded  to  fire  a 
passing  salute  to  the  flag  of  their  country. 
Semmes  placed  his  vessel  directly  across 
the  path  of  the  huge  steamer,  which  came 
foaming  through  the  water  towards  him, 
and  if  the  captain  of  that  vessel  had  been 


638 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


a  bold  man  he  would  have  crashed  through 
the  "Alabama,"  as  soon  as  he  discovered 
her  character,  and  sent  her  to  the  bottom 
off  the  island  of  San  Domingo,  where 
many  a  rich  galleon,  after  being  robbed 
by  the  Drakes  and  Morgans  of  old,  had 
been  sunk  before  her. 

The  mail -packet  had  all  her  awnings 
spread,  and  underneath  them,  on  the  upper 
deck,  were  congregated  a  number  of  pas 
sengers  of  both  sexes,  among  whom  could 
be  seen  the  occasional  uniform  of  an  officer 
or  soldier.  It  was  a  happy  picture  as  they 
crowded  to  the  side  to  look  upon  the  de 
fenders  of  their  country,  and  the  officers  of 
the  "Alabama"  watched  the  expression  of 
their  faces  as  they  appeared  to  criticise  or 
admire  their  vessel.  They  saw  plainly  that 
not  even  the  captain  and  officers  had  yet 
suspected  danger,  when  Semmes  surprised 
them  by  wheeling  in  pursuit,  firing  a  blank 
cartridge,  and  hoisting  the  Confederate  flag. 
The  panic  that  now  ensued  was  dreadful ; 
the  screams  of  women  filled  the  air,  and 
men  turned  pale  as  they  realized  the  prox 
imity  of  one  of  the  dreaded  Confederate 
cruisers — which  were  designated  in  the 
North  as  pirates,  and  which  were  as  much 
feared  at  that  time  as  was  the  vessel  of  the 
famous  Lafitte  by  the  Spaniards  and  French 
men  in  180G-8. 

The  merchant  captain,  astonished  at  the 
turn  of  affairs,  gave  the  order  to  open  wide 
the  throttle  of  his  engines  and  make  all  pos 
sible  speed.  For  the  moment  he  had  no 
intention  of  slacking  up,  but  the  "Alabama" 
was  within  three  or  four  hundred  yards  of 
him,  in  hot  pursuit,  with  a  long  gun  ready 
to  be  fired  if  it  should  prove  necessary  to 
use  force.  It  was  very  plain  from  the  be 
ginning  that  the  packet  was  going  rapidly 
away  from  the  "Alabama,"  and  that  if 
Semmes  wished  to  detain  her  he  would 
have  to  use  shot  and  shell.  She  was  a  fine 
large  target,  and  he  knew  that  his  gunners 
would  not  be  likely  to  miss  her — after  their 
varied  and  extended  practice.  Nor  was  he 
disappointed — a  curl  of  white  smoke,  a  flash, 
and  a  shower  of  large  splinters  from  one  of 
the  steamer's  masts,  were  all  the  result  of 
a  moment. 

That  was  sufficient — the  mast  had  not 
been  cut  away  entirely,  but  the  practice  told 
those  in  charge  of  the  steamer  that  they 
were  entirely  in  the  power  of  their  pursuer, 
and  that  they  had  better  stop  before  another 
shot  was  sent  crashing  through  the  stern 
among  the  women  and  children.  The  walk 
ing-beam  of  the  engine  began  to  move  more 
slowly,  and  the  bell  in  the  engine-room  soon 
signalled  to  stop.  The  "Alabama  "  slowed 
down,  ranged  up  alongside,  and  took  posses 
sion  of  her  prize.  But  now  Captain  Semmes 
experienced  a  keen  disappointment.  In 
stead  of  a  homeward  -  bound  California 


steamer,  with  a  couple  of  millions  of  dollars 
in  her  safes,  he  discovered  that  his  prize, 
the  "  Ariel,"  was  outward-bound  and  had 
as  passengers  some  500  women  and  chil 
dren.  Here  was  an  elephant  on  his  hands 
that  he  had  not  bargained  for,  and  he  did 
not  know  what  to  do  with  his  prize.  He 
could  not  take  her  into  a  neutral  port, 
for  that  was  forbidden  by  the  Orders  in 
Council;  he  could  not  land  the  passengers, 
and  he  could  not  take  them  on  board  the 
"Alabama."  The  best  he  could  hope  to  do 
was  to  capture  some  inferior  prize  in  the 
next  few  days,  place  all  the  passengers  on 
board  of  her,  and  letthem  getinto  portas  best 
they  could.  He  would  then  be  at  liberty  to 
burn  the  "Ariel,"  and  proceed  on  his  voyage. 

One  of  the  most  humiliating  things  about 
this  capture  was  that  the  "  Ariel  "  carried 
a  battalion  of  marines  and  a  number  of 
naval  officers,  who  were  on  their  way  to 
join  ships  in  the  Pacific.  How  these  men 
must  have  blushed  for  their  country  and 
bitten  their  lips  in  anger,  as  they  listened 
to  the  taunts  and  jeers  of  their  captors! 
There  were  140  of  them,  rank  and  file,  and, 
as  they  were  all  paroled,  Semmes  congratu 
lated  himself  on  having  disarmed  so  many 
of  his  country's  enemies. 

The  boarding  officer,  on  his  return  to  the 
"'  Alabama,"  reported  that  a  dreadful  state 
of  alarm  existed  on  board  the  "  Ariel,"  that 
the  women  were  all  in  tears,  and  many  of 
them  in  hysterics.  They  had  read  in  the 
papers  of  the  doings  of  the  "Alabama," 
and  took  her  officers  and  crew  to  be  nothing 
better  than  pirates  ;  and,  indeed,  the  be 
havior  of  the  "Alabama's"  men  on  many 
occasions  justified  people  in  coming  to  this 
conclusion,  unless  it  were  possible  to  con 
sider  as  legal  all  the  decisions  of  the  "  Ad 
miralty  Court "  which  sat  in  the  cabin  of 
the  commerce  destroyer. 

Captain  Semmes  was  not  insensible  to  the 
distress  of  his  fair  captives,  and  at  once 
took  steps  to  quiet  their  fears.  He  sent  for 
his  handsomest  lieutenant  (history  does  not 
give  his  name),  and  ordered  him  to  array 
himself  in  his  most  gorgeous  uniform,  and 
gird  on  the  finest  sword  to  be  found  in  the 
ward-room.  The  young  man  soon  returned, 
looking  as  bewitching  as  possible  in  a  uni 
form  that  was  somewhat  tarnished  by  sea, 
air,  and  the  Captain  ordered  his  own  gig,  a, 
handsome  boat  fitted  with  beautiful  scarlet 
cushions,  to  be  placed  at  his  disposal. 
"Go,"  said  the  humane  commander  !  "and 
coax  those  ladies  out  of  their  hysterics." 
"  Oh,  I'll  be  sure  to  do  that,  sir,"  replied  the 
young  coxcomb,  "I  never  knew  a  fair  crea 
ture  who  could  resist  me  more  than  fifteen 
minutes."  This  sounds  very  much  like 
some  of  the  scenes  enacted  on  board  the 
"Red  Rover,"  in  Coopers  novel,  but  it  is. 
true  to  the  letter,  nevertheless. 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


639 


In  order  to  do  justice  to  the  scene  which 
followed,  we  must  take  the  description  of  it 
as  given  by  the  Captain  of  the  "Alabama": 

"A  few  strokes  of  the  oars  put  him  alongside  of 
the  steamer,  and  asking  to  be  shown  to  the  ladies' 
cabin,  he  entered  the  scene  of  dismay  and  confusion. 
So  many  were  the  signs  of  distress,  and  so  numer 
ous  the  wailers,  that  lie  was  abashed,  for  a  moment, 
as  he  afterward  told  me,  with  all  his  assurance. 
But  summoning  courage,  he  spoke  to  them  about 
as  follows  :  '  Ladies  !  The  Captain  of  the  '  Ala 
bama  has  heard  of  your  distress,  and  sent  me  on 
board  to  calm  your  fears,  by  assuring  you  that  you 
have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  Southern  gentlemen, 
under  whose  protection  you  are  entirely  safe.  We 
are  by  no  means  the  ruffians  and  outlaws  that  we 
have  been  represented  by  your  people,  and  you 
have  nothing  whatever  to  fear.'  The  sobs  ceased 
as  he  proceeded,  but  they  eyed  him  askance  for  the 
first  few  minutes.  As  he  advanced  in  their  midst, 
however,  they  took  a  second  and  more  favorable 
glance  at  him.  A  second  glance  begat  a  third,  more 
favorable  still,  and  when  he  entered  into  conver 
sation  with  some  of  the  ladies  nearest  him,  picking 
out  the  youngest  and  prettiest,  as  the  rogue  ad 
mitted,  he  found  no  reluctance  on  their  part  to  an 
swer  him.  In  short,  he  was  fast  becoming  a  favor 
ite.  The  ice  being  once  broken,  a  perfect  avalanche 
of  loveliness  soon  surrounded  him,  the  eyes  of  the 
fair  creatures  looking  all  the  brighter  for  the  tears 
that  had  recently  dimmed  them.' 

"Was  ever  woman  in  such  humor  wooed  ? 
Was  ever  wuiuaii  in  such  humor  won  ?  " 

This  shows  the  fickleness  of  Northern 
women  ;  had  they  been  Southern-born  they 
would  not  have  looked  at  a  Northern  officer, 
even  had  he  rescued  them  from  fire  or 
wreck.  But  it  cannot  be  disguised  that  the 
ladies  on  board  the  "Ariel''  allowed  them 
selves  to  believe  that  a  man  could  be  a  gen 
tleman  and  a  man  of  honor,  even  though 
differing  from  them  in  politics,  and  one  of 
them  even  so  far  forgot  herself  as  to  re 
quest  her  handsome  enemy  to  give  her  a 
button  from  his  uniform  coat,  as  a  memento 
of  the  occasion.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
the  request  was  granted,  for  the  young 
officer  was  now  so  intoxicated  with  the 
beauty  about  him  that  he  would  have 
given  away  his  coat,  cap,  sword  and  boots, 
had  he  been  asked  to  do  so.  Others  fol 
lowed  the  example  of  the  fair  petitioner, 
and  when  the  lieutenant  reported  to  his 
commander  he  was  in  the  condition  of  a 
picked  chicken  ! 

The  male  passengers  were  not  so  deeply 
impressed  by  the  appearance  of  the  envoy, 
and  occupied  the  time  of  his  visit  in  over 
hauling  their  baggage,  and  secreting  their 
valuables. 

"  '  In  fact,'  said  the  lieutenant,  as  he  reported  to 
Captain  Seinmes,  '  I  really  believe  that  these 
fellows  think  we  are  no  better  than  the  Northern 
thieves  who  are  burning  dwelling-houses,  and  rob 
bing  our  women  and  children  in  the  South  ! '' 

This  was  a  Southern  view  of  the  matter, 
which  had  not  been  modified  by  the  plun 
dering  and  burning  of  the  "  Alabama  "  on 
the  high  seas.  Semmes  himself  was  deeply 
impressed  by  the  good  conduct  of  his  offi 


cers  and  men  on  this  occasion.  He  estimated 
that  each  of  the  five  hundred  passengers 
had  from  three  to  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
thought  that  under  the  laws  of  war  all  this 
money  would  have  been  a  fair  prize.  "  But 
not  one  dollar  of  it,"  he  says.  "  was  touched, 
or  indeed  so  much  as  a  passenger's  baggage 
examined,"  and  we  are  glad  that  history  will 
vouch  for  it  for  the  credit  of  Southern  offi 
cers  who  once  belonged  to  the  United  States 
Navy.  The  fact  remains,  however,  that  to 
have  taken  one  dollar  or  piece  of  property 
from  any  passenger  on  board  the  "Ariel" 
would  have  been  a  base  act  of  piracy. 

Semmes  carried  out  his  intention  of 
keeping  the  "  Ariel "  in  company,  and  it 
was  not  until  he  had  given  up  all  hope  of 
falling  in  with  another  merchantman  that 
he  allowed  her  to  go  on  her  way  rejoicing. 
The  Captain  of  the  "  Ariel  "  was,  of  course, 
obliged  to  give  a  "ransom-bond ";  but  it  was 
a  great  disappointment  to  Captain  Semmes 
not  to  be  able  to  burn  this  fine  large  packet, 
especially  as  he  knew  she  belonged  to 
Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  who  had  given  a 
fast  steamer  to  the  United  States  Govern 
ment  for  the  express  purpose  of  pursuing 
Confederate  cruisers.  Semmes  looked  upon 
this  act  of  a  private  citizen  as  an  outrage 
that  should  meet  with  condign  punishment, 
forgetting  that  there  are  two  sides  to  every 
question,  and  that  Vanderbilt  was  merely 
showing  his  devotion  and  loyalty  to  the 
Republic  in  a  most  practical  and  sensible 
manner.  Semmes  also  complained  that  Van 
derbilt  never  redeemed  the  "ransom-bond"; 
but  this  was  not  singular,  for  the  general 
understanding  was  that  these  bonds  were 
only  to  be  paid  in  case  the  South  was  suc 
cessful. 

On  the  23d  of  December  the  "Alabama" 
joined  her  coal-ship  at  Areas  Islands,  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  prepared  to  waylay  the 
Banks  expedition,  which  was  expected  to 
reach  Galveston  by  the  10th  of  January. 
Semmes'  plan  was  to  approach  the  harbor 
of  Galveston  at  a  time  when  the  army  trans 
ports  would  probably  have  arrived,  make 
careful  observations  of  their  positions  by 
daylight,  and  then  withdraw  until  night 
fall.  He  then  proposed  to  run  in  and  attack 
the  fleet  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  and 
hoped  to  be  able  to  sink  or  scatter  the  whole 
of  them. 

This  was  a  bold  and  feasible  plan,  and  no 
one  can  deny  that  Semmes  displayed  great 
daring  in  thus  bearding  the  lion  in  his  den, 
and  entering  waters  that  he  knew  to  be 
full  of  his  enemy's  gun-boats.  But  he  knew 
the  character  of  every  vessel  on  the  coast, 
and  was  well  aware  that  but  few  of  the  "old 
tubs  "  in  the  Federal  Navy  could  catcli  him. 
The  "  Florida"  had  distanced  the  "  Cuyler," 
the  fastest  vessel  off  Mobile  bar,  and  the 
"Alabama"  was  faster  than  the  "  Florida." 


6iO 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


Under  these  conditions  he  felt  quite  safe,  as 
he  could  either  run  or  fight. 

On  the  oth  of  January  Semmes  left  the 
Areas  and  headed  for  Galvestpn.  As 
he  approached  the  harbor,  he  discovered 
that,  instead  of  Banks'  transports,  there 
were  five  men-of-war  anchored  off  the 
town.  This  was  a  damper,  and  for  a  short 
time  he  was  undecided  what  to  do.  He  had 
promised  his  men  some  fun  in  this  vicinity, 
and  did  not  like  to  go  away  without 
gratifying  them.  He  was  soon  relieved 
from  his  quandary,  however,  by  the  look-out 
aloft  reporting  that  one  of  the  Federal  gun 
boats  was  coming  out  in  chase.  This  was 
the  unfortunate  "Hatteras,"  the  story  of 
whose  sinking  by  the  "Alabama"  has  al 
ready  been  told  in  another  part  of  this  his 
tory. 

The  course  pursued  by  the  Confederate 
commander  in  this  action  cannot  be  justified 
by  the  rules  of  war.  In  answer  to  a  hail  from 
the  "Hatteras,"  he  declared  hisvesselto  be 
Her  Britannic  Majesty's  steamer  "Petrel," 
and  when  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Blake 
proposed  to  send  a  boat  along-side  of  him, 
expressed  his  willingness  to  receive  the  offi 
cers  in  a  friendly  manner.  This  implied 
that  the  "Alabama"  was  what  Semmes 
reported  her  to  be,  a  neutral  man-of-war. 
If  it  had  been  simply  a  ruse  to  escape 
while  the  boat  was  being  lowered,  it  might 
have  passed.  But  when,  as  in  this  case, 
it  was  to  gain  time  in  which  to  train  the 
guns  upon  the  vital  parts  of  an  enemy, 
and  make  preparations  for  taking  human 
life,  it  was  simply  perfidy,  such  as  a  Zulu 
warrior  would  hardly  resort  to.  There  are 
certain  laws  of  courtesy  in  war  which  the 
meanest  nations  observe.  When  two  men- 
of-war  meet  in  the  day-time  their  national 
ity  is  shown  by  their  flag;  but  when,  under 
cover  of  darkness,  a  false  nationality  is 
given,  and  willingness  to  receive  a  friendly 
visit  expressed,  it  is  the  same  as  violating  a 
flag  of  truce,  for  the  visitor  goes  on  board 
with  the  full  expectation  of  meeting  a  kind 
reception  and  does  not  anticipate  treachery. 

The  first  broadside  is  often  the  turning- 
point  in  a  battle,  especially  when  there  is, 
as  in  this  case,  a  disparity  of  force.  As  the 
boat  approached  the  "  Alabama,"  Semmes 
gave  the  order  to  open  fire  upon  the  "  Hat 
teras,"  and  the  little  vessel  actually  stag 
gered  under  the  blow.  At  the  same  time 
he  ordered  his  first-lieutenant  to  hail  the 
enemy,  and  reveal  the  true  character  of  the 
"Alabama."  As  has  been  already  nar 
rated,  the  "Hatteras"  was  literally  cut  to 
pieces,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  went  to  the 
bottom. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  give  any  other 
reason  for  the  loss  of  the  "  Hatteras,"  than 
that  her  antagonist  was  more  than  a  match 
for  her  in  every  respect.  The  Confederate 


vessel  carried  heavier  guns  and  was  strongly 
built,  while  the  "Hatteras"  was  a  mere 
shell — an  iron  side- wheel  river-boat,  that 
had  been  used  to  carry  passengers  on  the 
Delaware.  The  "  Alabama  "  had  much  the 
greater  speed,  and  her  fire  was  more  accu 
rate,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  crew  of 
the  "Hatteras"  were  somewhat  demoral 
ized  by  the  first,  unexpected,  broa.dside. 

Semmes  did  not  seem  disposed  to  make 
much  capital  out  of  this  victory.  Nothing 
remained  for  him  to  do  in  this  vicinity; 
so,  after  he  had  picked  up  the  officers 
and  crew  of  the  "  Hatteras,"  he  put  out 
all  his  lights  and  steamed  away  for  the 
coast  of  Yucatan,  congratulating  himself 
that  he  had  been  able  to  satisfy  his  men 
with  this  substitute  for  his  contemplated 
attack  on  Banks'  transports.  The  "Ala 
bama"  received  little  damage  in  the 
fight,  and  on  January  20th  arrived  at 
Jamaica,  where  the  prisoners  were  landed, 
on  parole,  to  find  their  way  home  as  best 
they  could.  It  is  but  fair  to  state  that  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  "Hatteras"  were 
kindly  treated  by  their  captors,  and  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Blake  was  received  as  a 
guest  in  the  cabin. 

The  "Alabama"  sailed  from  Jamaica  on 
the  25th  of  January,  1803,  bound  for  the 
coast  of  Brazil.  Captain  Semmes  had  been 
treated  with  every  possible  attention  by 
the  British  officers  at  Jamaica,  and  flat 
tered  himself  that  they  implicitly  believed 
in  his  right  to  burn,  sink  and  destroy  Amer 
ican  merchantmen,  even  if  they  carried 
English  goods,  for  the  Confederacy  would 
be  sure  to  make  amends  in  her  prize-courts 
as  soon  as  the  war  was  over  ! 

In  fact,  the  English  Admiral  and  his 
officers  behaved  with  a  great  want  of  dig 
nity  in  thus  taking  sides  with  the  "  Ala 
bama."  and  treating  the  officers  of  the 
"  Hatteras"  with  such  marked  discourtesy. 
The  military  bands  played  that  lovely  air 
"  Dixie  "  with  all  the  pathos  they  could 
throw  into  the  music ;  while,  much  to  the 
delight  of  the  Confederates,  they  performed 
"Yankee  Doodle"  with  all  their  drums, 
cymbals  and  squeaking  clarionets  in  the 
harshest  manner,  as  if  in  mockery  of  the 
American  nation.  It  was.  no  doubt,  a  great 
source  of  satisfaction  to  the  British  to  see 
the  once  great  commerce  of  the  United 
States  being  turned  over  to  the  protection  of 
the  British  flag,  and  giving  employment  to 
all  the  vessels  that  had  been  lying  idle  for 
ye&,rs  at  the  English  docks.  But  they  for 
got  the  pertinacity  of  these  Yankees,  whom 
they  were  trying  to  turn  into  ridicule,  and 
they  also  forgot  that  the  Northern  officers 
and  men,  who  were  now  obliged  to  listen 
to  their  taunts,  were  prisoners-of-war  who 
possessed  nothing  but  the  clothes  they  stood 
in,  and  that  they  were  entitled  to  all  the 


OF   THE   CITIL    WAR. 


641 


courtesy  a  generous  nation  could  give  them. 
They  forgot,  for  a  time,  that  the  people 
whom  they  were  attempting  to  ridicule 
were  wont  to  remember  injuries  and  wrongs 
received,  and  sooner  or  later  to  find  a  day 
of  reckoning.  The  day  of  reckoning  for 
these  insults  came  when  the  Americans 
received  an  indemnity  of  $15.000,000  for  the 
pranks  of  the  "  Alabama"  arid  "  Florida,*' 
which  the  Englishmen  paid  to  the  tune  of 
Yankee  Doodle,  at  a  time  when  the  re 
united  States  had  adopted  "Dixie  "as  one 
of  its  national  airs. 

Soon  after  leaving  port  the  "  Alabama" 
fell  in  with  the  American  ship  "Golden 
Rule,''  from  New  York,  bound  to  Aspinwall. 
The  island  of  San  Domingo  was  sufficiently 
near  to  allow  its  inhabitants  to  witness  a 
splendid  bonfire.  Semmes  says  in  his 
journal: 

'•  A  looker-on  upon  that  conflagration  would  have 
seen  a  beautiful  picture,  for,  besides  the  burning 
ship,  there  were  the  two  islands  mentioned,  sleep 
ing  in  the  dreamy  moonlight  on  a  calm  bosom  of  a 
tropical  sea,  and  the  rakish-looking  '  British  pirate' 
steaming  in  for  the  land,  with  every  spar  and  line 
of  cordage  brought  out  in  bold  relief  by  the  bright 
flame — nay,  with  the  very  'pirates'  themselves  visi 
ble,  handling  the  boxes  and  bales  of  merchandise 
which  they  had  'robbed 'from  this  innocent  Yan 
kee,  whose  countrymen  at  home  were  engaged  in 
the  Christian  occupation  of  burning  our  houses 
.and  desolating  our  fields." 

There  was  more  truth  than  poetry  in  the 
first  part  of  this  quotation.  No  doubt,  if 
the  oldest  inhabitants  among  these  simple 
islanders  could  have  refreshed  their  mem 
ories,  they  might  have  brought  back  the 
days  when  the  buccaneers  of  old  (many  of 
whom  were  stout  Anglo-Saxons  in  English- 
"built  ships)  roved  these  seas  and  left  be 
hind  them  a  trail  of  fire — even  as  the  "  Ala- 
Lama  "  was  now  doing. 

Soon  after  the  capture  of  the  "Golden 
Rule/'  a  beautiful  hermaphrodite  brig  hove 
in  sight.  It  was  blowing  half  a  gale,  and 
in  the  bright  moonlight  she  looked  like  a 
sea-gull  skimming  along  over  the  top  of  the 
waves.  Her  white  sails  and  rakish  rig  pro 
claimed  her  to  be  an  American,  and  she 
was  at  once  brought-to  by  a  shot  from  the 
"  Alabama."  She  proved  to  be  the  %'Chas- 
ielaine,"  a  Boston  vessel,  and  the  fiat 
went  forth  at  once — burn  her.  Her  crew 
wrere  removed,  the  torch  applied,  and  with 
sail  set,  the  doomed  vessel  bounded  away 
over  the  waves,  like  a  courser  with  his  nos 
trils  breathing  fire.  The  light  of  her  burn 
ing  hull  illumined  the  sea-girt  walls  of  Alta 
Vela  (a  tall  island  about  ten  miles  from  San 
Domingo),  and  disturbed  the  slumber  of 
sea-gulls  and  cormorants  for  the  rest  of 
the  night;  while  the  "Alabama"  sailed 
away  in  the  darkness,  and  this  adventure 
soon  ceased  to  be  a  matter  of  comment 
among  her  crew. 

Semmes  next  appeared  in  the  Mona  Pas- 


sage,  and  found  this  important  channel  of 
commerce  still  unguarded  by  American 
men-of-war.  In  fact,  it  had  remained  so 
ever  since  his  last  visit,  while  an  old  com 
modore,  with  a  large  squadron,  had  been 
sailing  about  the  Caribbean  Sea,  interfer 
ing  with  neutral  commerce  and  watching 
the  English  mail-steamers  that  were  pur 
suing  their  legitimate  business. 

The  "  Alabama  "  had  hardly  got  through 
the  passage  before  she  fell  in  with  and  cap 
tured  the  schooner  "Palmetto,"  from  New 
York,  bound  to  St.  John's.  Porto  Rico.  This 
vessel  carried  neutral  goods,  but  they  were 
not  under  consular  seals,  and  Captain 
Semmes  decided  that  they  came  under  the 
rule,  "that  when  partners  reside,  some  in  a 
belligerent  and  some  in  a  neutral  country, 
the  property  of  all  of  them,  which  has  any 
connection  with  the  house  in  the  belliger 
ent  country,  is  liable  to  confiscation."  It 
wras  wonderful  how  many  rules  of  interna 
tional  law  this  officer  could  interpret  to 
suit  his  own  convenience  ;  for  only  one  or 
two  instances  exist  in  which  any  vessel  was 
released  by  the  "  Alabama,"  unless  it  was 
desired  to  get  rid  of  a  lot  of  prisoners. 
The  "Palmetto"  had  short  shrift,  and  was 
forgotten  in  an  hour. 

The  Confederate  cruiser  was  now  obliged 
to  work  her  way  into  "the  variables,"  and 
proceed  to  the  eastward,  near  the  thirtieth 
parallel  of  latitude,  a  sufficient  distance  to 
clear  Cape  St.  Roque  on  the  coast  of  South 
America.  She  soon  sighted  a  sail  from 
aloft,  and  quickly  afterwards  three  more  ap 
peared  and  caused  the  Confederates  to  think 
they  had  fallen  upon  a  perfect  bonanza  of 
prizes.  Chase  was  given  to  the  first  sail, 
but  finally  abandoned,  as  it  was  leading  the 
"Alabama"  away  from  the  other  three 
vessels,  which  were  fine  tall  ships,  and  ap 
parently  American.  Coming  up  with  the 
eastward  -  bound  ship,  a  prize  -  crew  was 
thrown  on  board  of  her  and  the  prize-mas 
ter  ordered  to  follow  the  "  Alabama,"  which 
vessel  started  in  pursuit  of  one  of  the  others, 
that  was  at  least  fifteen  miles  distant  by 
this  time,  and  running  off  before  the  wind 
with  steering  sails  set  "alow  and  aloft." 
This  vessel  was  overtaken  after  quite  a 
chase,  and  proved  to  be  the  "  Olive  Jane,"  of 
New  York,  loaded  with  French  wines  and 
brandies.  Captain  Semmes  decided  that,  al 
though  much  of  this  cargo  evidently  be 
longed  to  Frenchmen,  it  was  not  properly 
documented,  so  he  applied  the  torch  with 
out  waiting  to  make  any  searching  inves 
tigation,  not  allowing  so  much  as  a  bottle 
of  brandy  or  a  case  of  champagne  to  be 
taken  out  of  her.  This  last  was  a  wise  pre 
caution  on  his  part,  for  he  had  had  great 
trouble  in  controlling  a  number  of  his 
drunken  sailors  at  Jamaica,  and  knew 
that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  subject  them 


643 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


to  temptation.  Although  the  Confeder 
ate  Captain  regretted  not  being  able  to 
indulge  himself  and  his  men,  he  chuckled 
with  delight  when  he  thought  of  the  disap 
pointment  of  New  York  "  shoddy ites"  and 
" nouveau-riche  plebeians.''  at  the  loss  of 
the  rich  wines,  olives  and  "pate-de-fois- 
gras,"  which  had  been  intended  to  tickle 
their  palates. 

Amid  the  crackling  of  the  fire,  the  bursting 
of  brandy  ca.sks.  the  shrivelling  of  sails  and 
the  falling  of  the  lighter  spars  from  aloft, 
the  "Alabama"'  turned  her  head  to  the 
eastward  again  and  rejoined  her  first  prize. 
This  ship  was  the  "  Golden  Eagle,''  and  the 
great  bird  itself  was  sitting  on  the  cutwater, 
spreading  his  wings,  as  if  he  owned  all  the 
ocean,  and  seemingly  unconscious  of  his 
approaching  fate.  An  inquiry  into  the 
papers  of  this  vessel  showed  that  her  cargo 
was  wholly  owned  by  Americans.  She  had 
sailed  full  of  guano  from  Rowland's  Island 
in  the  Pacific,  "for  Cork  and  a  market,  and 
after  having  buffeted  gales  off  Cape  Horn, 
threaded  her  way  through  icebergs,  been 
parched  by  the  heat  of  the  tropics  and 
drenched  with  the  rains  of  the  equator,  it 
was  her  misfortune  to  be  captured  when 
within  a  few  hundred  miles  of  port." 

Semmes  himself  felt  sorry  for  a  moment 
for  these  people  (!).  and  regretted  that  he 
was  obliged  to  destroy  this  fine  ship  with  so 
large  a  cargo  of  fertilizing  matter  that 
would  have  made  fields  stagger  under  a 
load  of  grain  and  carried  joy  to  many  a 
farmer's  heart.  But  this  feeling  quickly 
passed  away  when  he  remembered  that 
these  fields  would  be  the  fields  of  his 
enemies,  or.  if  the  guano  was  not  used  by 
them,  its  sale  would  pour  a  stream  of  gold 
into  their  coffers.  So  he  applied  the  torch 
without  compunction,  and  the  career  of  the 
"  Golden  Eagle"  was  speedily  terminated. 

The  "Alabama"  now  crossed  the  equa 
tor  and  stationed  herself  in  the  great  toll- 
gate  of  commerce,  through  which  traders 
from  India,  China,  the  Pacific  Ocean  and 
South  America  were  continually  passing, 
rejoicing  as  they  reached  these  latitudes 
that  the  long,  weary  road  was  behind  them, 
and  that  but  a  short  and  easy  passage  lay 
between  them  and  their  homes. 

It  had  never  occurred  to  the  American 
Government  to  send  half-a-dozen  gun 
boats  or  '  'double  enders"  to  these  latitudes. 
They  could  easily  have  been  spared,  and 
a  depot  for  coaling  vessels  could  have  been 
established  under  the  smooth  waters  of  the 
equator,  at  which  all  the  vessels-of-war  in 
the  Navy  could  have  been  supplied.  If  the 
"Alabama"  knew  where  to  go  to  catch 
American  merchantmen,  why  did  not  the 
Federal  Government  know  where  to  seek 
the  "Alabama  "  ?  The  policeman  looks  for 
rogues  in  the  most  frequented  part  of  the 


city,  or  at  points  where  the  \vealth  of  the  city 
is  least  guarded  ;  and  even  if  he  does  not 
catch  the  rascals,  he  prevents  their  doing 
harm.  This  was  a  parallel  case.  It  was 
not  the  particular  smartness  of  Semmes 
that  enabled  him  to  escape  capture.  It  was 
the  omission  or  indifference  of  the  Navy 
Department  in.  not  sending  proper  vessels  to 
the  right  localities. 

Many  foreign  ships  passed  along  this 
route  ;  but  Americans  had,  in  a  measure, 
taken  the  alarm,  and  were  pursuing  longer 
and  safer  lines  of  travel.  Still  Semmes 
•was  amply  repaid  for  watching  at  the  toll- 
gate,  even  though  many  passed  through 
without  paying  toll.  He  captured  the  ship 
"Washington  "  from  the  Chincha  Islands 
with  a  cargo  of  guano,  bound  to  Antwerp. 
Finding  difficulties  in  the  way  of  destroy 
ing  her  neutral  cargo,  he  put  his  prisoners 
on  board,  and  let  her  go  on  a  ransom-bond. 
The  fact  wras,  he  was  anxious  to  get  rid  of 
his  prisoners  who  were  eating  him  "out  of 
house  and  home." 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  March  the 
"  Alabama"  captured  the  fine  ship  "John 
A.  Parks, "of  Hallowell,  Maine.  Her  cargo, 
consisting  of  lumber  for  Montevideo,  was 
covered  by  the  seals  of  the  British  con 
sul,  and  was  as  neutral  as  any  cargo 
could  be.  But  the  ship  was  burned,  never 
theless.  A  large  quantity  of  newspapers 
were  taken  from  the  "  Parks,"  which,  as 
they  contained  many  unflattering  notices 
of  the  "Alabama."  gave  her  officers  and 
crew  something  to  sharpen  their  appetites 
upon  until  they  overhauled  another  prize. 

The  next  vessel  taken  was  the  "  Bethiah 
Thayer."  last  from  the  Chinchas  with  a 
cargo  of  guano  for  the  Peruvian  Govern 
ment,  and,  as  her  cargo  was  properly  docu 
mented,  she  was  released  on  bond. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  the  ship  "Punjaub," 
of  Boston,  was  captured  ;  but  as  her  cargo 
was  English  property,  and  was  properly  cer 
tified  to,  she  was  released  on  a  ransom-bond, 
after  the  prisoners  were  all  transferred  to 
her.  Semmes  was  getting  merciful ;  the  mild 
climate  of  the  tropics  was  acting  favorably 
upon  his  temperament,  while  his  crew,  for 
want  of  excitement,  began  to  look  gloomy 
and  disconsolate.  All  this  time  Semmes 
made  but  little  change  in  his  position,  lying 
under  easy  sail  near  the  toll-gate,  and  al 
lowing  his  prey  to  come  to  him. 

On  the  2:Jd  of  March,  the  "Morning  Star," 
of  Boston,  from  Calcutta  to  London,  and  the 
whaling  schooner,  "  Kingfisher."  of  Fair- 
haven,  Massachusetts,  were  captured.  The 
fact  that  the  cargo  of  the  "  Morning  Star  " 
was  English  saved  that  vessel,  but  the 
"Kingfisher"  was  burned.  Although  this 
little  vessel  did  not  make  as  large  a  bonfire 
as  some  of  her  predecessors,  it  served  to 
beguile  the  time;  and,  in  order  to  make  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


643 


spectacle  more  interesting  to  his  men, 
Semmes  applied  the  torch  at  night -fall, 
when  the  effect  of  the  burning  oil.  amid  the 
rain  and  wind  of  a  tropical  squall,  was 
quite  brilliant. 

Next  day  t\vo  large  ships  hove  in  sight, 
evidently  Americans.  They  were  sailing 
close  together,,  their  captains,  no  doubt, 
having  a  chat  about  matters  at  home  and 
congratulating  each  other  at  having  so 
far  escaped  the  "  Alabama  "  and  '•  Florida." 
Their  tete-a-tete  was  suddenly  interrupted 
by  seeing  a  piratical-looking  craft  lying 
directly  in  their  course,  and  they  sepa 
rated,  as  if  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  But  it 
was  too  late  :  they  had  run  directly  under 
the  guns  of  their  bitterest  foe,  and  were 
soon  obliged  to  shorten  sail  and  submit 
to  their  fate.  They  were  the  "Charles 
Hill  "  and  the  "Nora,"  both  of  Boston,  and 
although  their  cargoes  were  owned  in  part 
by  neutrals,  Semmes  took  a  new  view  of 
the  law.  and  burned  them,  after  helping 
himself  to  about  forty  tons  of  coal. 

A  day  or  two  after  this,  in  the  morning- 
watch,  the  look-out  on  the  ''Alabama" 
sighted  a  tall,  fine  ship  standing  to  the 
southward.  All  sail  was  made  in  chase, 
and  as  the  southwest  wind,  then  blowing 
fresh,  was  favorable  to  the  "  Alabama," 
she  overhauled  the  stranger  before  night 
fall.  The  prize  was  the  "Louisa  Hatch." 
of  Rockland,  Maine,  from  Cardiff,  with 
a  cargo  of  Welsh  coal  for  Port  de  Galle, 
Island  of  Ceylon.  The  bill  of  lading  re 
quired  this  cargo  to  be  delivered  to  the 
"  Messageries  Imperiales  "  Steamship  Com 
pany,  and  a  certificate  was  on  the  back  of 
this  document  to  the  effect  that  the  coal  be 
longed  to  that  company.  But,  in  Captain 
Semmes'  opinion,  this  certificate  was  not 
properly  sworn  to,  so  he  decided  that  the 
••  Louisa  Hatch  "  was  a  good  prize-of-war  ; 
and  this  idea  was  strengthened  by  the  fact 
that  she  was  loaded  with  the  best  Cardiff 
coal,  exactly  what  the  "Alabama"  most 
needed. 

Was  there  ever  such  a  lucky  man  as  the 
Captain  of  the  ''Alabama"  ?  If  he  wanted 
a  cargo  of  provisions  it  fell  into  his  hands. 
If  he  required  to  visit  a  dock-yard  to  fit  out 
his  ship,  a  vessel  came  along  filled  with 
cordage,  canvas  and  anchors.  If  he  wanted 
lumber,  a  lumber  vessel  from  Maine  came 
right  into  his  path  ;  and  if  he  needed  to 
reinforce  his  crew,  renegades  from  cap 
tured  vessels  would  put  their  names  to  the 
shipping  articles,  after  listening  to  the 
thrilling  tales  of  the  Norsemen,  of  burning 
ships  and  abundant  prize-money. 

The  prize  at  first  seemed  an  elephant,  as 
Semmes  would  lose  too  much  time  if  he  at 
tempted  to  transfer  her  cargo  at  sea,  so  he 
determined  to  send  her  to  Fernando  de  No- 
ronha,  and  depend  on  future  contingencies. 


If  the  "  Agrippina,"  his  coal-tender,  should 
arrive  in  time  he  could  burn  the  "Louisa 
Hatch";  if  not,  the  latter  would  supply  him 
with  coal.  The  Scotch  collier  did  not.  how 
ever,  appear  at  Fernando  de  Noronha,  for 
the  Captain  of  the  vessel,  becoming  fright 
ened  at  the  illicit  business  in  which  he  had 
embarked,  sold  his  coal  to  the  best  advan 
tage  and  left  the  "Alabama"  to  look  out 
for  herself. 

The  Island  of  Fernando  de  Noronha  is  a 
penal  settlement  of  Brazil.  Few  vessels 
stopped  there,  though  many  sighted  it,  to 
take  a  fresh  departure.  Although  prohib 
ited  from  taking  his  prizes  into  a  neutral 
port.  Semmes  did  not  hesitate  to  take  the 
"  Louisa  Hatch"  into  the  harbor  and  coal 
from  her,  and  for  two  weeks  the  officers  and 
crew  of  the  Confederate  vessel  fraternized 
with  the  interesting  swindlers  and  homi 
cides  who  colonized  the  island.  At  the  end 
of  five  days,  when  the  "  Alabama"  had 
finished  coaling,  signal  was  made  from  the 
high  peaks  of  the  island  that  two  large 
American  whalers  had  hove-to  and  were 
sending  boats  on  shore.  Semmes  imme 
diately  got  up  steam  and  proceeded  in 
search  of  his  prey.  The  Confederate  cruiser 
was  soon  alongside,  and  no  time  was  lost 
in  determining  their  fate.  The  "  Lafayette," 
of  New  Bedford,  in  the  course  of  an  hour, 
was  burning  brightly,  much  to  the  amuse 
ment  of  the  robbers  and  murderers  on  shore. 
The  other  prize,  the  "  Kate  Cory,"  of  West- 
port,  was  retained  to  act  as  a  cartel  and 
convey  the  one  hundred  and  ten  prisoners  on 
board'the  ''Alabama"  to  the  United  States. 

By  7  P.  M.  the  "Alabama"  again  an 
chored  in  the  harbor  with  her  prize,  without 
any  objection  from  the  Governor,  yet  the 
Government  of  Brazil  subsequently  pre 
tended  to  be  very  indignant  at  the  viola 
tion  of  neutrality  whereby  the  Confeder 
ate  cruiser  "Florida"  was  taken  from  one 
of  her  ports* 

There  was  no  end  to  the  indignities 
heaped  upon  the  United  States  and  its  com 
merce  while  the  "Alabama"  remained  at 
this  colony  of  criminals.  Semmes  changed 
his  mind  about  sending  his  prisoners  to  the 
United  States,  and  engaged  the  master 
of  a  Brazilian  schooner  to  convey  them  to 
Pernambuco.  No  feeling  of  humanity  at 
the  sufferings  so  many  persons  crowded 
into  a  small  and  filthy  vessel  must  undergo 
troubled  Semmes.  The  apologist  for  Wirtz, 
the  Andersonville  jailer,  did  not  stick  at 
trifles. 

The  "  Cory  "  suffered  the  same  fate  as  the 
"Hatch."  Semmes  being  careful  to  burn 
both  beyond  the  marine  league,  so  as 
not  to  offend  the  delicate  susceptibilities 
of  the  Governor  of  Fernando  de  Noronha, 
and  to  pay  due  respect  to  the  Empire  of 
Brazil,  the' great  ally  of  the  Confederacy. 


G44 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


On  the  22d  of  April,  the  "  Alabama"  was 
again  on  the  wing  under  plain  sail  for  a 
cruise  along  the  Brazilian  coast,  and  in 
less  than  twenty-four  hours  another  unfor 
tunate  whaler,  the  "  Nye."  of  New  Bed 
ford,  was  in  her  hands,  making  the  six 
teenth  whaler  that  had  been  captured.  The 
"  Nye"  had  sent  home  one  or  two  cargoes 
of  oil,  and  had  now  425  barrels  on  board. 
For  a  moment  Semmes  thought  "'what  a 
pity  to  break  in  upon  these  old  salts,  who 
had  encountered  so  many  gales  and 
chased  the  whale  through  so  many  lati 
tudes!  "  But  such  thoughts  never  remained 
long  with  this  sea-rover.  He  had  a  special 
hatred  for  New  Englanders,  and  the 
"Nye."  well  saturated  with  oil.  soon  blazed 
up  in  a  way  to  satisfy  the  most  vindictive 
partisan  of  the  Southern  cause.  The  old 
whalers,  who  for  nearly  three  years  had 
risked  their  lives  in  a  dangerous  calling, 
stood  silent  and  in  tears  as  they  beheld 
their  hard-earned  property  disappear  in  a 
cloud  of  smoke.  The  people  of  the  South 
necessarily  suffered  much  at  the  hands 
of  Union  soldiers,  and  it  is  hard  to  tell 
what  men  will  not  do  in  the  heat  of  war, 
but  it  may  be  fairly  said  there  was 
nothing  during  the  civil  conflict  to  equal 
the  atrocity  of  the  "Alabama's"  doings. 

The  day  after  the  destruction  of  the 
"  Nye."  the  "  Dorcas  Prince,"  of  New  York, 
loaded  with  coal,  was  encountered;  but,  as 
the  "Alabama's"  bunkers  were  already 
filled,  the  vessel  was  set  on  fire  and  de 
stroyed. 

On  the  third  of  May  the  Clipper  ship, 
"Union  Jack,"  fell  into  the  "Alabama's" 
power  and  a  prize  crew  was  sent  on  board,  as 
just  afterwards, the  "  Sea  Lark,"  bound  from 
New  York  to  San  Francisco,  was  sighted — 
two  fine  prizes  in  two  hours.  Three  women 
and  some  children  were  taken  from  the 
last  prize  and  conveyed  on  board  the  "  Ala 
bama."  Both  ships  were  burned  after  their 
crews  were  removed. 

On  the  llth  of  May  the  "Alabama" 
landed  her  prisoners  at  Bahia,  and  was 
ordered  by  the  Brazilian  authorities  to 
leave  the  port  in  twenty-four  hours  for 
violation  of  the  neutrality  laws;  but  Semmes 
was  so  much  cleverer  than  the  Governor 
that  he  was  finally  permitted  to  remain 
and  give  his  men  liberty  on  shore,  where 
they  turned  the  town  upside  down  gener 
ally. 

These  Brazilian  officials  were  easily  in 
fluenced  by  the  threats  of  Semmes  to  call 
down  on  them  the  vengeance  of  the  South 
ern  Confederacy  after  it  had  disposed  of 
its  "  Yankee  war,"  and  they  had  never  been 
taught,  by  the  display  of  a  proper  Federal 
naval  force,  to  respect  the  United  States. 
The  British  residents  of  Bahia  did  all  in 
their  power  to  make  Semmes'  stay  pleasant, 


congratulating  themselves  that  the  com 
merce  of  the  United  States  was  being 
rapidly  driven  from  the  ocean,  and  this 
although  Bahia  derived  its  chief  import 
ance  from  its  trade  with  that  country. 

While  the  "Alabama"  was  in  Bahia, 
the  Confederate  steamer  "  Georgia,"  Com 
mander  William  L.  Maury  commanding, 
anchored  in  the  port,  much  increasing  the 
respect  of  the  Governor  for  the  Southern 
Confederacy;  although  the  latter  was  some 
what  afraid  of  trouble  with  the  Emperor, 
who  was  believed  to  favor  the  Federal 
Government.  He  accordingly  requested 
Semmes  to  leave  as  soon  as  possible.  This 
request  Semmes  politely  ignored  ;  amusing 
himself  with  traveling  about  the  country, 
and  perfecting  plans  with  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  "Georgia"  for  the  destruction 
of  United  States  commerce  on  the  coast  of 
Brazil. 

After  the  "  Alabama"  bade  farewell  to 
the  "  Georgia  "  at  Bahia,  she  was  put  un 
der  press  of  sail,  and  quickly  overhauled 
the  "Gilderslieve."  of  New  York,  and  the 
"  Justin  a,"  of  Baltimore.  The  latter,  being 
a  Maryland  ship,  was  converted  into  a 
cartel,  and  after  taking  all  Semmes'  prison 
ers  on  board  and  giving  a  ransom-bond, 
was  allowed  to  depart.  The  other  ves 
sel  was  loaded  with  coal;  but  as  the  captain 
had  no  sworn  certificate  of  ownership  by 
British  subjects,  and  as  the  "  Alabama  " 
did  not  need  it,  Semmes'  "Admiralty  Court " 
decreed  that  the  "Gilderslieve"  should  be 
converted  into  a  bonfire. 

The  next  day,  the  "Jabez  Snow,"  of 
Bucksport,  Maine,  laden  with  Cardiff  coal, 
was  captured.  As  the  cargo  was  evidently 
British  property,  Semmes  might  perhaps 
have  released  the  vessel  under  a  ransom- 
bond  but  for  a  letter  found  onboard  to  the 
following  effect: 

"We  hope  you  will  arrive  safely  and  in  good 
season,  but  we  think  you  will  find  business  rather  flat 
at  Liverpool,  as  American  ships  especially  are  under 
a  cloud,  owing  to  dangers  from  pirates,  more 
politely  styled  privateers,  which  our  kind  friends  in 
England  are  so  willing  should  slip  out  of  their 
ports  to  prey  upon  our  commerce." 

Such  letters  as  the  above  were  always 
considered  by  the  "Admiralty  Court"  in 
Semmes'  cabin  as  not  only  stupid  and  ma 
licious,  but  positive  evidence  against  the 
neutral  ownership  of  anything  on  board  a 
prize  ;  so  the  crew  of  the  "'  Jabez  Snow  " 
were  promptly  removed,  and  the  vessel  set 
on  fire. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  the  "  Alabama  "  fell 
in  with  the  clipper  bark  "  Amazonian," 
from  New  York  for  Montevideo,  with  an 
assorted  cargo.  Semmes  remarks:  "  There 
was  an  attempt  to  cover  two  of  the  consign 
ments  in  this  ship,"  but  the  "Court  of  Ad 
miralty  "  decided  that  "  the  bark  being  evi- 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


645 


tlently  Yankee,  the  certificates  were  not 
worth  a  cent !  "  So  the  ship  was  plundered 
and  burned. 

The  next  day  Semmes  fell  in  with  an 
English  brig,  the  master  of  which  agreed 
to  receive  his  forty-one  captives  and  land 
them  in  Rio  de  Janeiro,  the  consideration 
being  twice  as  much  provisions  as  the  pris 
oners  could  eat.  and  a  chronometer.  Of 
the  latter  articles  Semmes  had  an  abun 
dant  supply,  the  property  of  the  merchant 
captains  he  had  taken  prisoners,  although 
he  professed  to  respect  private  property. 
All  the  other  "Confederate  cruisers  "ex 
hibited  the  same  weakness  for  chronom 
eters,  which  may  be  accounted  for  by  the 
fact  that  they  would  all  be  needed  for  the 
great  Navy  it  was  proposed  to  build  in  Eng 
land.  The  virtuous  Briton  at  first  demurred 
to  the  proposition  to  receive  the  prisoners 
from  Semmes,  on  the  ground  that  "  it 
might  offend  Earl  Russell,"  but  the  offer  of 
a  chronometer  silenced  his  objections.  As 
the  Earl  had  a  keen  sense  of  humor,  he  would 
doubtless  have  remarked  had  he  ever  heard 
of  this  incident,  that  as  chronometers  are 
made  to  go  they  might  as  well  go  that  way 
as  any  other. 

The  clipper-ship  "  Talisman,"  of  New 
York,  was  the  "Alabama's"  next  capture, 
and,  as  usual,  was  given  but  short  shrift. 
After  taking  from  the  vessel  her  crew  and 
such  of  the  cargo  as  he  wanted,  Semmes 
applied  the  torch,  and  she  went  off  before 
the  wind  in  flames  with  all  sail  set.  The 
•'Talisman"  had  a  number  of  12-pounder 
field-pieces  011  board,  and  boilers  and  ma 
chinery  for  a  gun-boat  to  be  built  in  China 
to  take  part  in  the  Chinese  war.  Semmes 
took  two  of  the  guns  on  board  his  vessel 
for  the  purpose  of  fitting  out  a  consort  when 
the  proper  vessel  should  fall  into  his  hands. 

Semmes  continued  his  course  along  the 
Brazilian  coast,  and  now  began  to  fall  in 
with  American  vessels  under  the  British 
flag;  for  what  Earl  Russell  had  foreseen  had 
now  come  to  pass,  and  the  United  States 
carrying-trade  was  being  transferred  to  Eng 
lish  hands.  The  papers  of  these  vessels  were 
so  carefully  made  out  that  Semmes'  "  Court 
of  Admiralty "  did  not  dare  meddle  with 
them,  as  a  rule;  however,  he  was  enraged  at 
seeing  such  prizes  slip  through  his  judicial 
fingers;  but  on  the  20th  of  June  the  fates 
were  propitious  in  bringing  another  fly  to 
the  "  Alabama's"  web. 

This  was  the  bark  "Conrad,"  of  Phila 
delphia,  and  although  her  cargo  was  Eng 
lish,  she  was  taken  possession  of  and 
quickly  converted  into  a  "  vessel-of-war." 
Three  or  four  officers,  a  dozen  men,  and  the 
two  captured  field-pieces  were  put  on  board 
the  little  clipper  with  a  celerity  that  would 
have  astonished  Mr.  Gideon  Welles,  and 
the  new  Confederate  cruiser  was  christened 


the  "  Tuscaloosa."  The  baptismal  ceremony 
was  not  elaborate.  When  all  was  ready, 
signal  was  given,  the  "  Tuscaloosa  "  ran  up 
the  Confederate  flag,  and  the  crew  of  the 
"  Alabama  "  gave  three  cheers,  which  were 
duly  acknowledged  by  those  on  board  the 
new  man-of-war.  Semmes'  prisoners,  now 
thirty-nine  in  number,  were'  on  the  same 
day  put  on  board  an  English  vessel,  to  be 
landed  in  Rio  de  Janeiro. 

It  was  now  time  for  the  "  Alabama  "  to 
change  her  cruising-ground,  not  only  be 
cause  the  United  States  Navy  Department 
might  be  supposed  to  have  heard  of  her 
operations  and  taken  measures  to  bring 
them  to  a  close,  but  also  for  the  reason 
that  there  was  little  more  damage  to  be 
inflicted  in  that  quarter.  Semmes  was 
astonished  that  no  Federal  ships -of -war 
were  on  the  Brazilian  coast  when  he  ar 
rived  there.  For  months  he  had  been 
working  his  way  in  that  direction,  his  track 
marked  by  burning  vessels  ;  but,  in  any 
event,  one  might  have  been  reasonably  sure 
that  Semmes  would  ultimately  seek  that 
great  thoroughfare  of  vessels,  along  the 
coast  of  Brazil.  At  Cape  St.  Roque  the 
ocean  highway  becomes  so  narrow  by  the 
influence  of  the  northeast  trade-winds,  and 
the  vessels  are  so  close  together,  that  they 
are  at  the  mercy  of  any  enemy's  cruiser 
stretching  backward  and  forward  across  the 
road.  If  heavier  and  faster  vessels  than 
the  "  Alabama "  had  been  stationed  in 
latitude  30°  North,  and  others  at  the  equator 
to  the  eastward  of  Fernando  de  Noronha, 
Confederate  cruisers  could  have  done  little 
harm ;  their  principal  object  on  hearing 
of  the  proximity  of  Federal  vessels  being 
to  get  out  of  their  way.  As  it  was,  Semmes 
could  make  his  calculations  pretty  accu 
rately,  and  when  he  thought  it  time  for  a 
Federal  cruiser  to  appear  on  the  scene 
of  action,  he  would  slip  off  to  "  fresh 
fields  and  pastures  new." 

The  "Alabama"  and  her  consort  now 
shaped  their  course  for  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope ;  but,  finding  his  bread  spoiled  by 
wevil,  Semmes  was  obliged  to  put  back  to 
Rio  for  a  supply  of  provisions.  On  the  1st 
of  July  the  ship  "Anna  F.  Schmidt,"  from 
Boston,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  was  over 
hauled,  and,  to  use  Semmes' own  language, 
"it  took  us  nearly  the  entire  day  to 
do  the  necessary  amount  of  '  robbing.'  ' 
The  vessel  was  abundantly  supplied  with 
provisions,  including  bread  :  and  after  the 
"  robbing"  was  concluded  the  burning  was 
commenced,  and  the  "  Schmidt  "  shared  the 
fate  of  her  predecessors.  Semmes'  usual 
good  fortune  had  served  him  well  in  this 
instance,  saving  him  a  journey  of  nearly  a 
thousand  miles  in  search  of  a  bake-shop. 

While  the  "  Schmidt"  was  in  flames  and 
drifting  before  the  wind,  a  large  ship,  un- 


640 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


der  a  cloud  of  canvas,  went  rushing  by. 
taking  no  notice  of  the  burning  vessel. 
The  light  of  the  fire  was  reflected  on  her 
white  sails,  which  seemed  to  mark  her  as 
an  American,  and  the  "Alabama"  followed 
in  pursuit,  firing  a  gun  to  induce  the  stran 
ger  to  heave-to,  but  the  only  notice  taken 
was  a  gun  in  return  from  the  latter. 

Senimes  now  ordered  all  steam  and  sail 
to  be  crowded  on  the  "  Alabama."  while 
his  crew  became  greatly  excited,  thinking 
from  the  strangers'  firing  a  gun  that  a 
fight  was  about  to  ensue.  It  was  midnight 
before  the  ''Alabama"  overhauled  the 
chase,  which  loomed  up  very  large  in  the 
darkness.  The  ship  had  a  white  streak 
like  a  man-of-war,  and  with  a  night  glass 
five  guns  could  be  seen  protruding  through 
her  side.  A  voice  from  the  "Alabama" 
cried  out:  "What  ship  is  that?"  "Her 
Britannic  Majesty's  ship  'Diomede!'"  was 
the  reply.  When  the  British  officer  was 
informed  that  the  pursuing  vessel  was  the 
Confederate  States  steamer  "  Alabama," 
he  remarked:  "  I  suspected  as  much  when 
I  saw  you  making  sail  by  the  light  of  the 
burning  ship." 

It  may  be  remarked  that  Semmes  did  not 
ask  to  see  the  stranger's  commission,  to 
ascertain  whether  he  was  really  one  of  her 
Majesty's  cruisers,  and  his  sailors  were 
somewhat  uneasy  at  their  proximity  to  a- 
British  ship-of-war,  as  a  search  might  have 
taken  place  for  deserters  ;  but  they  need 
not  have  troubled  themselves,  for  the  Eng 
lish  were  in  full  sympathy  with  the  "Ala 
bama,"  as  was  evidenced  by  their  not  stop 
ping  to  inquire  into  the  fate  of  those  on 
board  the  burning  vessel. 

The  "Alabama"  now  continued  on  her 
way  towards  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  cap 
turing  and  destroying  on  the  passage  the 
ship  "  Express,"  of  Boston.  On  the  28th  of 
July  Semmes  anchored  in  Saldanha  Bay. 
not  venturing  to  Cape  Town  until  he  had 
ascertained  that  the  coast  was  clear  of 
American  vessels-of-war.  Every  ship  that 
had  touched  at  the  Cape  had  brought  intel 
ligence  of  the  wonderful  doings  of  the 
'  Alabama,"  and  Semmes  in  his  journal 
remarks:  "Mr.  Seward  and  Mr.  Adams, 
Earl  Russell  and  the  London  Times,  have 
made  the  '  British  pirate  '  famous." 

At  Saldanha  Bay  Semmes  received  every 
civility  from  the  people,  who  appeared  to 
be  nearly  as  barbarous  as  the  aboriginal 
owners  of  the  soil  whom  they  had  dispos 
sessed  of  their  country.  These  Boers  flocked 
on  board  the  "  British  pirate,"  and  were 
mightily  interested  in  all  they  saw.  They 
knew  that  the  ship  and  crew  were  British, 
and  to  this  circumstance  attributed  all  the 
success  which  had  followed  the  career  of 
the  "  Alabama."  A  simon-pure  Confeder 
ate  vessel,  officered  and  manned  bv  South 


erners,  would  have  elicited  far  less  enthu 
siasm  in  any  British  port  that  Semmes  vis 
ited. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  the  "Alabama" 
sailed  for  Table  Bay,  encountering  on  the 
way  her  consort  the  "  Tuscaloosa,"  which 
was  sent  into  Simon's  Bay  to  refit.  The 
same  day  the  bark  "  Sea-Bride,"  of  Boston, 
was  captured.  This  vessel  was  on  a  trad 
ing  voyage  to  the  east  coast  of  Africa  with 
an  assorted  cargo.  Her  capture  was  wit 
nessed  from  Cape  Town  and  caused  intense 
excitement  among  the  inhabitants,  a  ma 
jority  of  whom  could  not  conceal  their  joy 
at  the  seizure  of  a  well-known  trading  ves 
sel  that  had  often  stopped  at  their  port  to 
supply  their  necessities.  The  local  news 
papers  raved  over  the  gallant  deeds  of  the 
"  Alabama,"  and  all  the  people  followed 
suit.  In  the  little  English-built  vessel  they 
saw  the  representative  of  a  rising  power 
that  was  to  destroy  the  commercial  su 
premacy  of  the  great  republic,  and  they 
naturally  wanted  to  make  friends  with  the 
winning  side.  The  power  of  the  United 
States  had  been  estimated  in  the  remote 
parts  of  the  earth  by  its  commercial  ma 
rine;  but  this  moral  influence  ceases  to  pre 
vail  in  time  of  war,  when  that  commercial 
marine  is  not  protected  by  a  suitable  force 
of  war  vessels,  but,  on  the  contrary,  is 
everywhere  being  driven  from  the  sea. 

The  U.  S.  Steamer  "  Vanderbilt"  arrived 
at  Cape  Town  after  the  "Alabama"  left, 
but  the  officers  and  crew  received  no  such 
welcome  as  was  given  the  Confederates. 
The  people  rejoiced  that  the  "Alabama" 
had  escaped,  and  none  gave  a  hint  whither 
the  bird  had  flown. 

Several  complications  arose  while  the 
"Alabama"  was  in  Table  Bay,  yet,  not 
withstanding  some  of  her  acts  were  in  plain 
violation  of  local  and  international  law,  the 
authorities  sustained  Semmes,  even  in  fit 
ting  out  prize-vessels  for  belligerent  pur 
poses. 

Semmes  next  visited  Simon's  Bay,  the 
naval  station  of  the  colony,  whither  the 
"Tuscaloosa"  had  preceded  her.  The 
United  States  Consul  raised  the  question 
that  the  "Tuscaloosa"  was  not  a  vessel  of 
war,  but  the  Confederate  commander  re 
plied,  that  although  the  "Tuscaloosa"  had 
not  been  condemned  by  a  prize-court  of 
the  Confederate  States,  yet  the  sovereign 
power  of  the  Confederacy,  acting  through 
its  authorized  agent,  had  commissioned  her 
as  a  ship-of-war,  which  was  the  most 
solemn  condemnation  of  the  prize.  He 
claimed  that  no  nation  had  the  right  to  in 
quire  into  the  antecedents  of  the  ships  of 
another  nation. 

Everybody  except  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  British  naval  forces  was 
silenced,  if  not  convinced,  by  this  logic, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


64? 


and  recognized  the  "  Tuscaloosa  "  as  a  bona- 
fide  ship-of-war;  but  Admiral  Sir  Baldwin 
Walker  wrote  to  the  Governor  :  "Viewing 
all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  they  af 
ford  room  for  the  supposition  that  the  ves 
sel  ("  Tuscaloosa'')  is  styled  a  tender,  with 
the  object  of  avoiding  the  prohibition 
against  her  entrance  as  a  prize  into  our 
ports,  where,  if  the  captors  wished,  ar- 
rangements  could  be  made  for  the  disposal 
of  her  valuable  cargo."  This  opinion  was 
overruled,  but  the  British  Government  in 
structed  the  Colonial  Governor  that  he 
should  have  detained  the  "  Tuscaloosa," 
Accordingly,  when  the  "  Tuscaloosa  "  again 
came  into  port  after  a  cruise,  the  Governor 
seized  her,  but  the  Home  Government  veer 
ing  round  ordered  him  to  restore  her  to 
Lieutenant  Low,  her  commanding  officer, 
on  the  ground  that  "having  been  once  al 
lowed  to  enter  and  leave  the  port,  he  was 
fairly  entitled  to  assume  that  he  might  do 
so  a  second  time  !" 

The  "Alabama''  remained  five  days  at 
Simon's  Bay.  The  flag-ship  and  two  other 
British  men-of-war  were  there,  and  every 
attention  in  the  way  of  dinner  parties,  etc., 
was  shown  to  the  Confederates  by  the  Eng 
lish  officers  and  the  civil  authorities.  The 
"  Alabama''  then  sailed  from  Simon's  Town 
and  joined  her  consorts  at  Angra  Pequeiia, 
in  the  Hottentot  country.  While  at  Cape 
Town,  an  English  merchant  proposed  to  pur 
chase  the  "Sea  Bride  "and  her  cargo.  The 
transfer  was  made  at  Angra  Pequeiia  for 
about  one-third  the  real  value  of  the  prop 
erty,  the  merchant,  of  course,  having  to 
take  a  considerable  risk.  This  questionable 
transaction  took  place  right  under  the  eyes 
of  the  British  authorities,  who  were  doing 
all  in  their  power  to  promote  the  extinction 
of  American  commerce. 

Again,  the  "  Alabama"  is  off  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  where  she  cruised  for  several 
days  without  success,  and  finally  proceeded 
to  Simon's  Bay,  where  Semmes  learned  that 
the  U.  S.  S.  "  Vanderbilt,"  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Baldwin,  had  just  left  the  port  in 
search  of  him.  On  the  day  that  the  '•  Van 
derbilt"  left  Simon's  Bay.  the  "Alabama" 
was  cruising  further  off  the  land  than 
usual,  a  lucky  circumstance  for  Semmes. 
whose  romantic  career  would  otherwise 
have  been  brought  to  a  sudden  and  igno 
minious  termination.  The  coal-dealers  were 
the  only  people  who  welcomed  the  "Van 
derbilt."  for,  as  we  have  before  mentioned, 
all  the  hospitality  of  the  officials  and  citi 
zens  was  given  to  the  "Alabama."  The 
latter,  after  coaling,  shaped  her  course  for 
the  Straits  of  Sunda.  a  channel  of  com 
merce  much  frequented  by  American  mer 
chant  vessels.  On  this  voyage  Semmes' 
only  prize  was  an  immense  albatross, 
caught  with  hook  and  line. 


On  nearing  the  straits  Semmes  boarded 
an  English  brig,  and  was  informed  that  the 
U.S.  S.  "  Wyoming"  was  cruising  in  the 
straits  in  company  with  a  three-masted 
schooner  fitted  as  a  tender.  Two  days  after, 
he  obtained  similar  information  from  a 
Dutch  vessel,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  the 
design  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
United  States  vessel  to  make  his  where 
abouts  generally  known. 

The  "  Alabama  "  had  scarcely  entered  the 
straits  when  she  captured  and  burned  the 
bark  "Amanda,"  of  Boston,  and  the  next 
day  overhauled  the  clipper-ship  *'  Winged 
Racer."  Semmes  anchored  with  his  last 
prize  under  North  Island,  and  after  the  latter 
had  been  despoiled  of  her  valuable  cargo, 
her  captain,  with  his  family,  officers  and 
crew  were  granted  permission  to  take  their 
own  boats  and  proceed  to  Batavia. 

While  these  operations  were  in  progress 
the  two  ships  were  surrounded  by  Malay 
boats  bringing  provisions  of  every  kind  for 
sale,  when  all  at  once  a  great  blaze  sprung 
from  the  hold  of  the  "  Winged  Racer,"  and 
the  Malays  for  the  first  time  realized  that  she 
had  been  captured  by  the  "Alabama,"  when 
the  crew  of  the  latter  vessel  gave  three 
lusty  cheers.  The  Malays  were  great  pi 
rates  themselves,  and  many  European  and 
American  ships  have  been  plundered  and  de 
stroyed  and  their  crews  murdered  by  these 
picturesque  vagabonds.  Mistaking  the  "Ala 
bama"  for  a  corsair,  and  fearing  to  be  car 
ried  off  and  sold  for  slaves,  they  made  all 
haste  to  get  away  from  the  "English 
pirate." 

But  where  was  the  "  Wyoming  "  all  this 
time  that  her  watchful  commander  could 
not  see  the  blazing  ship?  Had  he  visited 
the  spot  where  the  "  Winged  Racer"  was 
burning,  he  would  not,  however,  have  en 
countered  Semmes,  for  the  "  Alabama  "  had 
departed  as  soon  as  the  captured  vessel  was 
fairly  ablaze. 

Next  day  the  "Alabama "sighted another 
American  clipper-ship  on  a  wind  under  a 
press  of  sail.  Not  until  the  "Alabama  "  got 
up  steam  did  she  gain  on  the  chase,  and  it 
was  only  after  many  hours  that  the  Con 
federate  vessel  overhauled  and  captured  her. 
On  this  occasion  the  "Alabama,"  for  the 
first  time,  hoisted  the  new  flag  of  the  South 
ern  Confederacy,  a  white  ensign  with  cross 
and  stars,  rather  a  handsome  flag  and  a 
great  improvement  on  the  original  banner 
of  secession,  although  it  could  have  little 
effect  in  sustaining  a  declining  cause.  The 
prize  was  the  "  Contest"  from  Yokohama, 
with  a  light  cargo  of  Japanese  goods  con 
signed  to  merchants  in  New  York.  The 
two  vessels  were  anchored  in  fourteen 
fathoms  in  the  open  sea  with  no  land  visible, 
and  it  was  after  night-fall  before  the  crew 
and  plunder  of  the  prize  were  removed  to 


648 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  '"Alabama."  Then  the  torch  was  ap 
plied  to  the  captured  vessel,  and  the  little 
plunderer  sailed  away  in  search  of  other 
victims. 

Semmes  now  turned  the  "Alabama's'' 
head  to  the  eastward,  and  passed  through 
Carimata  Strait  in  five  days,  although  ves 
sels  are  sometimes  thirty  days  in  making 
the  passage. 

The  •'Alabama"  was  now  in  the  China 
seas,  having  left  the  ''Wyoming"  some 
where  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda  looking  for 
Confederate  cruisers  !  Instead  of  one  ves 
sel  there  should  have  been  a  dozen  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  straits.  Xo  wonder  Semmes 
asked  himself :  '•  Where  is  the  Yankee, 
that  he  is  permitting  all  this  rich  harvest  of 
commerce  in  the  East  to  pass  away  from 
him  ? "  Had  English  commerce  been 
threatened  with  destruction  by  an  enemy's 
cruisers,  how  her  men-of-war  would  have 
swarmed  in  the  Chinese  seas!  English  naval 
officers  could  smile  calmly  at  the  proceed 
ings  of  the  Confederate  plunderer,  even 
where  she  might  occasionally  destroy  a 
cargo  belonging  to  British  subjects,  for  this 
would  induce  the  latter  to  ship  goods  in 
British  bottoms. 

Semmes  cruised  in  the  China  seas  in 
search  of  American  merchant  vessels,  but 
without  success.  He  played  the  Rajah  at 
Pulo  Condore,  where  he  got  springs  upon 
his  cable  in  order  to  bring  his  broadside  to 
bear  upon  the  "Wyoming,"  and  rake  her 
fore  and  aft  before  she  could  get  alongside 
of  the  "Alabama"  in  case  she  should 
enter  that  narrow  harbor.  In  this  harbor 
Semmes  spent  two  weeks  refitting  his  ship 
and  studying  natural  history,  and  became 
so  absorbed  in  watching  the  habits  of  lo 
custs  and  monkeys,  that  he  appears  to  have 
quite  forgotten  the  "Wyoming,"  which  ves 
sel  ought  to  have  heard  of  his  whereabouts. 
Probably  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
;' Wyoming"  was  deceived  by  Semmes'  ec 
centric  movements,  while  the  latter  calcu 
lated  that  the  "Wyoming"  had  gone  to 
Canton  and  Shanghai  in  pursuit  of  him. 

The  "Alabama"  next  proceeded  to  Singa 
pore  for  coal  and  stores.  Semmes'  stay  was 
short,  but  the  officers  and  crew  were  sump 
tuously  entertained.  The  day  he  left  Singa 
pore  Semmes  captured  a  beautiful  ship 
which,  though  flying  the  British  fla°-,  was 
evidently  an  American  vessel,  officered  and 
manned  by  "the  hated  Yankees."  The 
ship's  papers  appeared  to  be  in  due  form 
and  she  had  been  transferred  by  a  bill  of 
sale  to  her  British  owner.  After  a  thorough 
examination.  Semmes  satisfied  himself  tliat 
the  transfer  was  not  a  real  one.  so  he  hauled 
down  the  British  ensign  and  burned  the 
Martaban"  (late  the  "Texan  Star"),  vir 
tuously  indignant  at  the  unprincipled  con 
duct  of  the  shipmaster  in  attempting  to  de 


ceive  the  representative  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy.  After  this  little  matter  was 
settled,  Semmes  apparently  had  some  mis 
givings,  lest  the  British  authorities  might 
call  him  to  an  account  for  burning  a  vessel 
under  the  British  flag,  so  he  called  the  un 
lucky  shipmaster  into  his  cabin  and  extorted 
from  him  a  confession  that  he  had  resorted 
to  a  stratagem  to  save  his  ship  in  case  he 
should  fall  in  with  the  "Alabama." 

Notwithstanding  the  uncomplimentary 
manner  in  which  Captain  Semmes  had 
treated  the  flag  which  has  "  braved  a  thou 
sand  years  the  battle  and  the  breeze,"  when 
the  "Alabama"  arrived  at  her  next  port 
and  anchored  off  the  little  town  of  Ma 
lacca,  the  English  officers  and  inhabitants 
went  wild  over  her.  After  leaving  this 
place,  Semmes  fell  in  with  an  English  ves 
sel,  the  master  of  which  gave  him  such  in 
formation  as  enabled  him  to  capture  two 
large  American  ships  in  that  vicinity,  the 
"  Sonora,"  of  Newburyport,  and  the  "  High 
lander."  of  Boston.  When  the  Master  of 


THE   "ALABAMA"   OFF  CAPETOWN. 

FBOM    A    SKETCH    BY    REAR-ADMIKAL    WALKE. 

the  "Sonora"  came  on  board  the  "Ala 
bama,"  he  said  pleasantly  to  Captain 
Semmes  :  "I  have  been  expecting  you  for 
the  last  three  years."  Semrnes  answered 
that  he  was  glad  the  Captain  had  found 
him  after  so  long  a  search.  "It  is  some 
such  search,"  replied  the  other,  "as  the 
devil  may  be  supposed  to  make  after  holy 
water  ! :  This  good  humor  saved  the  cap 
tives  from  imprisonment,  and  they  were 
allowed  to  take  their  boats  with  provisions 
and  start  for  Singapore.  After  the  usual 
cremation  services,  the  "Alabama"  steamed 
out  past  the  light-ship,  and  was  once  more 
in  the  Indian  Ocean.  Query,  were  the  two 
ships  above  -  named  burned  in  neutral 
waters  ? 

The  "Alabama"  now  proceeded  to  the 
Bay  of  Bengal,  and  on  the  llth  of  January 
captured  and  burned  the  "Emma  Jane," 
of  Bath.  Maine.  This  was  the  last  vessel 
burned  by  Captain  Semmes  in  that  quarter. 
Further  continuance  in  the  East  Indies  did 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


049 


not  promise  much  profit  and  the  "Alabama" 
finally  proceeded  towards  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  But  even  in  that  quarter  there  were 
no  prizes  to  be  found.  American  vessels 
that  were  not  laid  up  in  port  or  transferred 
to  the  British  flag  avoided  the  beaten  track. 

On  the  20th  of  March  Semmes  went  into 
Cape  Town  for  coal  and  provisions,  and 
there  found  the  "  Tuscaloosa,"  which  vessel 
he  had  sent  to  cruise  on  the  coast  of  Brazil 
and  which  had  been  seized  by  the  British 
authorities  and  afterwards  released.  The 
news  received  at  Cape  Town  from  the  Con 
federate  States  was  far  from  encouraging; 
everything  seemed  to  be  gradually  falling 
into  Federal  hands.  Captain  Semmes,  for 
his  part,  was  quite  satisfied  with  the  mis- 
chief  he  had  wrought,  estimating  that  he 
had  destroyed  or  driven  for  protection  under 
the  British  flag,  one  -  half  of  the  United 
States  vessels  engaged  in  trade  with  English 
ports.  Still  greater  damage  was  done  to 
American  trade  with  other  nations.  Com 
merce  with  the  South  American  States  was 
practically  broken  up,  and  that  on  the  Paci 
fic,  including  the  important  whale  fishery, 
greatly  crippled. 

Semmes  left  Cape  Town  March  25th,  the 
"Alabama"  keeping  in  the  "  fair  way"  lead 
ing  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  the 
equatorial  region  where  the  Confederate 
cruisers  had  been  so  successful,  shortening 
sail  from  day  to  day  and  tacking  to  and  fro 
in  the  ''high-way,"  but  for  some  time  the 
American  flag  was  nowhere  to  be  seen 
among  the  numerous  vessels  passing  on 
their  way.  At  last  an  unlucky  "  Yankee" 
was  reported,  and  although  he  made  all 
sail  and  handled  his  ship  with  great  skill, 
the  "  Alabama  "  overtook  the  fugitive.  She 
proved  to  be  the  ship  "  Rockingham,"  from 
the  Chincha  Islands,  with  a  cargo  of  guano, 
bound  to  Cork.  Semmes,  after  removing 
the  crew  and  such  provisions  and  stores  as 
he  wanted,  made  a  target  of  the  "  Rocking- 
harn,"  exercising  his  crew  in  firing  shot  and 
shell  at  her,  which  they  did  with  "great  pre 
cision,"  owing  doubtless  to  the  circumstance 
that  the  ••Rockingham"  could  not  return 
the  fire  ;  for  we  find  on  a  subsequent  oc 
casion,  when  the  "Kearsarge"  was  the 
target,  this  same  crew  fired  with  very  little 
effect. 

On  the  27th.  of  April  the  "  Tycoon,"  of 
New  York,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  was 
b  rough  t-to;  the  hold  of  the  "Alabama" 
was  filled  up  with  stores,  and  the  night 
illuminated  by  another  burning  ship. 

About  this  time  Semmes  crossed  the  equa 
tor,  and  ran  up  to  the  old  toll-gate,  where  so 
many  American  vessels  had  been  made  to 
haul  down  their  flags.  He  now  felt  that 
he  was  getting  towards  the  end  of  his 
career.  The  latest  captured  newspapers 
had  given  him  an  insight  into  the  desper 


ate  condition  of  the  Southern  Confederacy, 
and  he  saw  that  his  commerce-destroying 
was  about  ended.  To  quote  his  own  words: 
"  The  poor  old  '  Alabama  '  was  not  now 
what  she  had  been.  She  was  like  the 
weary  foxhound,  limping  back  after  a  long 
chase,  footsore  and  longing  for  quiet  and 
repose.  Her  commander,  like  herself,  was 
well-nigh  worn  down.  Vigils  by  day  and 
night,  the  storms  and  the  drenching  rain, 
the  frequent  and  rapid  change  of  climate- 
now  freezing,  now  melting  or  broiling,  and 
the  constant  excitement  of  the  chase  and 
capture — had  laid,  in  the  three  years  of  war 
he  had  been  afloat,  a  load  of  a  dozen  years 
upon  his  shoulders.  The  shadows  of  a  sor 
rowful  future,  too,  began  to  dawn  upon  his 
spirit."  From  this  melancholy  moralizing 
we  might  almost  imagine  that  Semmes  an 
ticipated  some  such  fate  as  befell  Conrad 
the  Corsair  : 

"'Tis  idle  all,  moons  roll  on  moons  away, 
And  Conrad  conies  not,  came  not  since  that  day: 
Nor  trace,  nor  tidings  of  his  doom  declare 
Where  lives  his  grief,  or  perished  his  despair  !  " 

On  his  way  to  Europe  Semmes  met  with 
no  prizes.  American  merchant  vessels  had 
scattered  in  all  directions  like  chickens 
threatened  by  the  hawk,  many  of  them 
seeking,  under  the  British  and  other  flags, 
the  protection  which  their  own  Government 
failed  to  afford. 

On  the  llth  day  of  June,  1804,  the  "Ala 
bama  "  anchored  in  the  pore  of  Cherbourg, 
France ;  and  three  days  afterwards  the 
U.  S.  steamer  "  Kearsarge,"  Captain  John  A. 
Winslow,  steamed  into  port,  communicated 
with  the  authorities,  steamed  out  again 
without  coming  to  an  anchor,  and  took  a 
station  off  the  breakwater,  in  order  to  pre 
vent  the  "  Alabama  "  from  escaping. 

It  was  evidently  not  Semmes'  intention  to 
fight  anybody,  for  he  was  about  to  go  into 
dock  and  give  his  men  two  months'  leave, 
when  they  would  have  scattered  to  parts 
unknown ;  but  as  Cherbourg  was  exclu 
sively  a  naval  port,  the  French  Admiral 
would  not  admit  the  "  Alabama"  into  dry- 
dock  until  he  obtained  permission  from  the 
Emperor,  then  absent  at  Biarritz.  Had  the 
latter  been  in  Paris,  the  fight  with  the 
"  Kearsarge  "  would  never  have  taken  place. 
Under  the  circumstances,  it  would  not  have 
done  to  decline  the  combat  which  the 
"  Kearsarge  "  offered;  and  Captain  Semmes, 
after  so  long  warring  on  peaceful  merchant 
vessels,  directed  the  Confederate  agent  in 
Cherbourg  to  request  Captain  Winslow  to 
wait  for  him  and  he  would  give  him  battle 
as  soon  as  he  could  get  some  coal  on  board. 

The  Captain  of  the  "  Alabama  "  occupied 
four  days  in  preparations  for  battle,  filling 
the  bunkers  so  that  the  machinery  would 
be  protected,  sending  down  all  useless  spars 
and  top  hamper,  and  doing  everything  possi- 


650 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


ble  to  achieve  success  in  the  corning  contest. 
Semmes'  principal  anxiety  seemed  to  have 
been  lest  his  English  crew  had  grown  rusty 
for  want  of  gunnery  practice,  which  he  had 
been  obliged  to  neglect  in  the  more  con 
genial  business  of  plundering  and  burning; 
still,  as  the  force  of  the  "  Kearsarge  "  was  as 
nearly  as  possible  the  same  as  his  own  ship, 
he  was  exceedingly  hopeful  of  success. 
Semmes  tried  after  the  battle  to  make  it 


'ALABAMA." 

6  long  32-pounders, 

1  rifled  100-pounder,  (Blakeley) 

1 8-inch  shell-gun, 

8  guns, 


Ibs. 

192 

100 

68 

300 


In  speed  the  "  Kearsarge  "  had  somewhat 
the  advantage.  In  tonnage  the  vessels  were 
almost  the  same.  The  ' '  Kearsarge  "  had  103 
officers  and  men,  the  "Alabama,"  149.  It 


CAPTAIN  (AFTERWARDS  RKAR-ADMIKAL)  JOHN  A.  WINSLOW. 


appear  that  the  "Kearsarge"  had  the  ad 
vantage  in  size,  weight  of  ordnance  and 
number  of  guns  and  crew  ;  but  this,  like 
many  other  of  his  assertions,  is  disputed 
by  official  records,  which  state  as  follows  : 

"KEARSARGE.1'  Ibs. 

4  short  32-pounders,  weight  of  projectile,  128 

2 11-inch  pivot-guns,         "        "  272 

1  30-pounder  rifle,                                   "  30 

•  430 


was  a  matter  of  little  consequence  what  bat 
tery  the  "Alabama  "  carried,  as  so  few  of  her 
shots  struck  the  "Kearsarge";  and  if,  as 
has  been  asserted,  many  of  Semmes'  crew 
were  old  English  man-of-war's  men,  their 
shooting  did  little  credit  to  their  training. 

With  wise  precaution,  Semmes  sent  all 
his  valuables  on  shore  before  steaming  out 
to  meet  his  antagonist,  who  was  eagerly 
watching  for  his  appearance.  The  weather 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


651 


was  fine,  and  a  large  number  of  people 
were  assembled  on  the  heights  to  witness 
the  engagement.  The  English  yacht  "  Deer- 
hound,"  owned  by  one  of  Semmes'  sympa 
thizers,  followed  in  the  "  Alabama's  "  wake, 
and  the  French  iron-clad  "Couronne" 
steamed  out  of  port  to  see  that  the  neutral 
ity  of  French  waters  was  not  violated. 

Before  going  into  battle,  Captain  Semmes 
made  the  following  address  to  his  officers 
and  men,  who  were  all  attired  in  their  best 
clothes  : 

"Officers  and  seamen  of  the  'Alabama':  you 
have  at  length  another  opportunity  of  meeting  the 
enemy  the  first  that  has  been  presented  to  vou 
since  you  sank  the  ' Hatteras\'  In  the  meantime 
you  have  been  all  over  the  world,  and  it  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  you  have  destroyed  and  driven 
for  protection  under  neutral  flags  one-half  of  the 
enemy's  commerce,  which  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war  covered  every  sea.  This  is  an  achievement  of 
which  you  may  well  be  proud ;  and  a  grateful 
country  will  not  be  unmindful  of  it.  The  name 
of  your  ship  has  become  a  household  word  wher 
ever  civilization  extends.  Shall  that  name  be 
tarnished  by  defeat  ?  The  thing  is  impossible ! 
Remember  that  you  are  in  the  English  Channel, 
the  theatre  of  so  much  of  the  naval  glory  of  our 
race,  and  that  the  eyes  of  all  Europe  are  at  this 
moment  upon  you.  The  flag  that  floats  over  you  is 
that  of  a  young  Republic,  who  bids  defiance  to  her 
enemies,  whenever  and  wherever  found.  Show  the 
world  that  you  know  how  to  uphold  it !  Go  to 
your  quarters." 

The  "Kearsarge"  ran  off  shore  a  few 
miles  so  as  to  draw  the  Confederate  vessel 
as  far  as  possible  from  the  land  and  be  able 
to  intercept  her  in  case  she  should  attempt 
to  retreat  in  shore. 

As  soon  as  the  "  Kearsarge  "  turned  to  ap 
proach  the  "  Alabama."  the  latter  opened 
fire  from  the  distance  of  a  mile;  the  Federal 
vessel  not  replying,  but  steaming  at  full 
speed  for  the  enemy,  receiving  a  second 
and  third  broadside. 

When  within  nine  hundred  yards,  the 
"Kearsarge"  slowed  and  returned  the  fire 
with  her  starboard  battery,  and  then  at 
tempted  to  gain  a  position  where  she  could 
rake  the  "  Alabama."  The  latter  avoided 
this  by  sheering,  still  keeping  her  starboard 
broadside  bearing  on  the  "Kearsarge." 
These  tactics  brought  the  combatants  cir 
cling  around  each  other,  each  working 
their  starboard  batteries.  As  Captain 
Semmes  appeared  to  avoid  close  action. 
Captain  Winslow  was  apprehensive  that  he 
might  make  for  the  shore,  and  therefore 
determined,  with  full  speed  and  a  port 
helm,  to  run  under  the  "Alabama's"  stern, 
and  if  possible  rake  her.  It  was  Semmes' 
anticipation  of  this  manoeuvre  that  forced 

the  "Alabama"'  ,-- ^  under  full  steam 

into  a  circular  /  \  track  during  the 

action  as  in  the^  ^diagram,  with 

the  result  thatfi  J|at  the  close  of 

the  fight  the  \  7  '•Alabama"  was 

then  nearlvfi  ve  ^-~— *S  miles  off  shore. 


and  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  escape  within 
French  jurisdiction,  as  her  commanding 
officer  intended  in  case  the  battle  should  go 
against  him. 

The  firing  of  the  Confederates  was  rapid 
and  wild  until  near  the  close  of  the  engage 
ment,  when  it  became  better,  while  that  of 
the  Federal  gunners,  owing  to  the  careful 
training  of  Lieutenant-Commander  James 
S.  Thornton,  the  executive  officer  of  the 
"Kearsarge."  was  very  effective.  The  su 
perior  training  of  the  •' Kearsarge's  "  crew 
was  evident  from  the  beginning  of  the  ac 
tion,  their  guns  telling  fearfully  on  the  hull 
and  spars  of  the  Confederate.  On  the  sev 
enth  rotation  on  the  circular  track  the 
"Alabama  "set  her  foresail  and  two  jibs, 
with  head  in  shore.  Her  speed  was  now 
retarded,  and,  by  winding  her.  the  port 
broadside  was  presented  to  the  "Kear 
sarge,"  with  only  two  guns  bearing,  being 
able  to  shift  but  one  gun  from  the  star 
board  side. 

At  this  time  the  "  Alabama "  was  com- 


THE    U.    S.    S.    "  KEAUS.UUiE." 

pletely  at  the  mercy  of  the  "  Kearsarge,'' 
and  a  few  more  well-directed  shots  brought 
down  the  Confederate  flag.  Fifteen  min 
utes  after  the  action  commenced,  the 
spanker-gaff  of  the  "Alabama"  was 
away,  and  her  flag  came  down,  but 
immediately  hoisted  at  the  mizzen. 
"Kearsarge's"  shot  told  fearfully  on 
"Alabama's"  hull,  killing  and  wounding 
numbers  of  men  in  different  parts  of  the 
ship.  So  that,  in  sixty-five  minutes  after 
the  commencement  of  the  fight,  the  "  Ala 
bama"  was  discovered  to  be  sinking,  an 
11-inch  shell  having  entered  her  side 
near  the  water  line,  making  a  huge  aper 
ture,  through  which  the  water  poured  in 
torrents.  For  a  moment  Semmes  had  an 
idea  of  escaping,  and  crowded  on  steam  and 
sail,  heading  the  "  Alabama"  for  the 
French  coast ;  but  the  fires  in  the  engine- 
room  were  soon  extinguished  and  he  was 
obliged  to  surrender. 

Semmes  asserts  that  his  ship  was  fired 
upon  five  times  after  he  had  hauled  down 
his  colors;  but  this  assertion  is  not  supported 
by  other  evidence,  for  when  the  Confeder 
ate  flag  came  down,  Captain  Winslow,  al- 


jnt  eitiovtdottr(£  cirrf fsTfitrrymt  Oi*  ytnfTVl  ihrtf-ti 
0t*0iGslcti<jWj,a  curr-mt  stttuy  if  wejtward&rz 
perl 


CHART  OF  THE  ACTION  BETWEEN  THE  "ALABAMA"  AND  "KEARSARGE." 


(652) 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


653 


though  unable  to  ascertain  whether  it  had 
been  hauled  down,  or  shot  away,  gave  the 
order  to  reserve  the  "  Kearsarge's  "  m'e-  -^- 
white  flag  was  displayed  over  the  Confed 
erate's  stern,  and  a  moment  after  the  "Ala 
bama  "  opened  on  her  antagonist  with  the 
two  guns  on  the  port  side,  drawing  the  fire 
of  the  "Kearsarge"  once  more.  It  was  at 
this  moment  the  Federal  vessel  steamed 
ahead,  placing  herself  across  the  "  Ala 
bama's''  bow  in  a  position  for  raking  ;  but, 
seeing  the  white  flag  still  flying,  the  "Kear 
sarge  ''  again  reserved  her  fire. 

Immediately  afterwards,  the  "Alabama's" 
boats  were  lowered,  one  of  them  pulled 
alongside  the  "  Kearsarge"  with  some 
of  the  wounded,  and  in  twenty  minutes 
afterwards  the  "Alabama''  went  down 
stern  foremost,  leaving  a  large  number  of 
her  officers  and  crew  struggling  in  the 
water.  Most  of  the  "Kearsarge's"  boats 
were  rendered  useless  by  fragments  of  shell, 
as  the  Confederates  fired  high  ;  but  as  soon 
as  possible  the  launch  and  second  cutter 
were  hoisted  out  to  pick  up  the  drowning 
men,  while  the  "  Alabama's  "  boat  was  sent 
back  for  the  same  purpose. 

Meanwhile  the  English  yacht  "Deer- 
hound,"  which  had  been  viewing  the  com 
bat  from  a  distance  of  about  a  mile,  ran 
under  the  stern  of  the  "Kearsarge"  and 
volunteered  to  pick  up  the  men  in  the  water, 
to  which  proposition  Captain  Winslow  as 
sented;  for  this  was  no  time  to  think  of 
anything  but  the  claims  of  humanity,  to 
which  American  officers  and  seamen  have 
ever  shown  due  appreciation.  In  spite  of 
the  officers  and  crew  of  the  "Kearsarge" 
having  done  everything  possible  to  rescue 
their  opponent,  Captain  Semmes,  in  his 
chagrin  at  being  so  thoroughly  beaten,  re 
flects  upon  Captain  Winslow  for  not  sooner 
getting  his  boats  to  the  rescue  of  the  "  Ala 
bama's"  crew. 

The  prisoners  picked  up  by  the  boats  of 
the  "  Kearsarge"  were  taken  on  board  that 
vessel,  while  the  "  Deerhound,"  after  rescu 
ing  Captain  Semmes  and  many  of  his  offi 
cers  and  crew,  steamed  away  for  the  English 
coast,  leaving  others  struggling  for  their 
lives  in  the  water.  Six  officers  and  sixty- 
four  men,  including  twenty  wounded,  were 
received  on  board  the  "  Kearsarge"  ;  so  that, 
notwithstanding  Semmes'  accusation,  it  ap 
pears  that  most  of  the  people  of  the  (t  Ala 
bama"  were  saved  by  the  "Kearsarge's" 
boats,  while  the  Confederate  Captain,  as 
soon  as  he  was  safe  on  board  the  "  Deer- 
hound,"  fearing  that  Winslow  would  de 
mand  his  surrender,  urged  his  friend,  the 
owner  of  the  yacht,  to  save  him.  The 
latter  accordingly  made  off  without  further 
efforts  at  rescue  ;  so  that,  if  any  one  was 
drowned,  it  was  due  more  to  the  selfishness 
of  Captain  Semmes  than  to  any  other  cause. 


Although  the  actions  of  the  owner  of  the 
"  Deerhound  "  may  be  open  to  criticism,  as 
an  Englishman  he  could  hardly  be  ex 
pected  to  deliver  up  as  prisoners  men 
whom  he  found  struggling  for  their  lives  in 
the  water.  It  is  honorable  to  the  English 
flag  that  it  is  a  protection  to  everything  it 
waves  over,  and  that  the  whole  power  of  the 
British  nation  will  sustain  the  rights  of 
even  the  meanest  of  its  citizens.  Captain 
Semmes'  escape  made  little  difference  one 
way  or  the  other,  for,  with  the  "  Alabama" 
at  the  bottom  of  the  channel,  his  power  of 
mischief  had  departed.  As  the  Confeder 
acy  was  in  its  last  agonies,  there  was  110 
chance  of  fitting  out  any  more  "cruisers." 

The  action  between  the  "Kearsarge"  and 
the  "Alabama,"  although  comparatively  a 
small  battle,  much  impaired  the  prestige 
of  the  Confederate  Navy.  The  British  pub 
lic  might  rejoice  over  the  destruction  of 
helpless  merchantmen,  but  when  it  came  to 
fighting,  the  "Kearsarge"  did  her  work  so 
quickly  and  effectively  that  the  blindest 
could  but  detect  the  difference  between  the 
true  and  the  false  coin. 

Mr.  Secretary  Welles  attached  more  im 
portance  to  the  escape  of  Semmes  and  his 
companions  in  the  "  Deerhound"  than  the 
matter  deserved,  and  even  blamed  Captain 
Winslow  for  his  course  in  paroling  the  pris 
oners.  Mr.  Welles  characterized  all  those 
connected  with  the  "Alabama"  as  "pi 
rates,"  but  they  were  not  so  in  the  eyes  of 
European  Governments,  which  had  recog 
nized  the  Confederates'  armed  vessels  as 
belligerents,  and  although  many  of  the  acts 
of  the  "Alabama"  bordered  on  the  pirat 
ical,  yet  such  irregularities  are  always 
found  existing  in  revolutionary  struggles, 
where  the  worst  passions  are  engendered  in 
the  breasts  of  those  who  have  staked  their 
all  on  the  hazard  of  a  die,  and  are  not  al 
ways  scrupulous  as  to  the  means  of  accom 
plishing  their  ends. 

The  fault  of  encouraging  the  Confederate 
cruisers  lay  chiefly  with  the  English  and 
French,  and  to  them  is  due  the  latitude 
the  former  were  allowed  on  the  ocean. 
Possibly  the  English  may  have  thought 
that  a  country  capable  of  putting  a  million 
of  men  in  the  field  must  have  been  able  to 
muster  a  sufficient  force  of  cruisers  to  put 
an  end  to  the  "piracy  "  of  which  Mr.  Welles 
complained. 

As  to  the  implied  censure  on  Captain 
Winslow  for  not  pursuing  the  "Deer- 
hound"  and  recovering  his  prisoners,  the 
question  arises  :  Were  they  Winslow's  pris 
oners  at  all,  any  more  than  if  they  had 
succeeded  in  landing  on  fragments  of  the 
wreck  at  some  point  on  the  coast  of  Eng 
land,  for  an  English  ship  represents  English 
soil  ?  A  similar  sentiment  animates  the 
American  people,  and  it  would  be  very  in- 


G54 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


consistent  for  them  to  wish  to  apply  an 
other  standard  to  foreigners,  and  maintain 
that  it  was  Captain  Winslow's  duty  to  com 
mit  violence  upon  the  "  Deerhound,"  and 
thereby  involve  the  Federal  Government 
in  a  serious  complication  with  that  of  Great 
Britain. 

While  the  "Alabama"  was  sent  to  the 
bottom  in  sixty-five  minutes,  with  her  hull 
cut  to  pieces,  thirty  of  her  cre\v  killed  and 
wounded,  and  ten  drowned,  the  "  Kear- 
sarge "  incurred  little  damage  in  hull  or 
spars  and  had  but  three  men  wounded. 
Out  of  three  hundred  and  seventy  shot  and 
shell  fired  by  the  Confederate  vessel,  thirteen 
or  fourteen  only  struck  the  "Kearsarge"  in 
or  about  the  hull,  and  some  sixteen  about 
the  masts  or  rigging.  The  latter  vessel  was 
in  perfect  readiness  to  engage  another  im 
mediately  after  sinking  the  "Alabama." 

If  the  "Alabama's  "  guns  were,  as  it  has 
been  asserted,  manned  by  trained  gunners 
from  the  practice-ship  ';  Excellent,"  of  the 
Royal  Navy,  their  firing  did  little  credit  to 
the  school  in  which  they  had  been  edu 
cated.  On  the  other  hand,  the  fire  of  the 
"  Kearsarge  "  showed  the  great  superiority 
of  the  American  crew — as  great  as  was 
manifested  on  so  many  occasions  during 
the  war  of  1812. 

The  "  Kearsarge  "  fired  one  hundred  and 
seventy-three  projectiles,  less  than  half  the 
number  fired  by  her  antagonist;  but  what 
damage  they  did  and  whom  they  killed  will 
never  be  known.  Captain  Semm.es  states 
that  one  shot  alone  killed  and  wounded 
eighteen  men.  Another  exploded  in  the 
coal-bunkers,  completely  blocking  up  the 
engine-room  ;  others  exploded  against  the 
sides,  making,  as  Semmes  expresses  it, 
"  great  gaping  wounds"  which  let  in  the 
water  and  sent  the  ship  to  the  bottom,  with 
the  precious  bag  of  captured  flags,  and 
probably  the  old  quartermaster  who  had 
charge  of  the  trophies. 

No  account  can  be  given  of  the  casual 
ties  on  board  the  "Alabama"  beyond  that 
furnished  by  Captain  Semmes  that  we  have 
already  quoted.  Out  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-nine  officers  and  men,  forty  seem  to 
have  been  killed  or  drowned,  although  it  was 
stated  by  the  prisoners  that  a  number  of  men 
joined  the  ship  at  Cherbourg,  in  addition  to 
the  regular  complement  of  the  "Alabama." 

It  is  remarkable  that  there  was  no  one 
killed  on  board  the  "Kearsarge"  in  the 
action — although  three  men  were  wounded, 
one  mortally — as  shells  were  continually 
bursting  over  the  heads  of  the  crew. 

Semmes  tried  to  make  it  appear  that  the 
"  Kearsarge  "  was  an  iron-clad  in  disguise, 
because  Captain  Winslow  had  hung  his 
spare  chains  up  and  down  the  sides  of  his 
ship  abreast  of  the  machinery.  This  had 
been  done  some  time  before  meeting:  the 


"Alabama"  with  the  design  to  protect  the 
boilers  and  engines,  in  case  the  coal  in  the 
bunker  should  get  so  reduced  as  to  leave 
them  exposed  to  shot.  It  was  not  done  with 
any  especial  reference  to  meeting  Semmes, 
who  might  have  adopted  a  similar  plan  had 
he  chosen  to  do  so — and  this  had  been  done 
extensively  during  the  civil  war,  a  fact 
well  known  to  the  commander  of  the  "  Ala 
bama." 

Semmes  remarks  that  the  shells  fired 
from  the  "Alabama  "  burst  against  the  sides 
of  the  "  Kearsarge  "  without  effect,  owing 
to  this  chain  armor;  but  the  fact  is,  only  two 
projectiles  struck  the  chain — a  32-pound 
shot  and  a  Blakeley  shell.  The  latter  did 
not  burst,  but  broke  some  of  the  links  of 
chain.  It  was  of  very  little  use  for  Captain 
Semmes  to  try  and  excuse  himself,  after 
being  so  thoroughly  beaten  by  the  superior 
discipline  of  the  "Kearsarge,"  and  the  skill 
of  her  crew  in  gunnery.  It  was  the  intention 
to  make  short  work  with  the  "Alabama"  in 
case  the  "  Kearsarge''  fell  in  with  her,  and 
the  action  would  have  terminated  sooner 
but  for  the  difficulty  of  coming  to  close  quar 
ters  with  the  Confederate  vessel. 

No  wonder  the  people  of  the  North  were 
overjoyed  when  they  read  Captain  Wins- 
low's  modest  dispatch  announcing  the  de 
struction  of  the  despoiler  that  had  sent  so 
many  of  their  merchant  ships  to  the  bottom. 
The  writer  evidently  states  what  in  his 
mind  was  a  foregone  conclusion,  and  it  is 
pleasing  in  its  simplicity  and  brevity: 

UNITED  STATRS  STEAMER  "KEARSARGK,"  / 
CHERBOURG,  FRANCE,  June  19,  p.  M.,  1864.    f 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  the  Department 
that  the  day  subsequent  to  the  arrival  of  the 
"Kearsarge''  off  this  port,  on  the  24th  instant,  I 
received  a  note  fro.ii  Captain  Semmes  begging  that 
the  "  Kearsarge  "  would  not  depart,  as  he  intended 
to  fight  her,  and  would  delay  her  but  a  day  or  two. 
According  to  this  notice,  the  "  Alabama  "  left  the 
port  of  Cherbourgthis  morning  at  about  (J:30o'clock. 
At  10:20  A.  M.  we  discovered  her  steering  towards 
us.  Fearing  the  question  of  jurisdiction  might 
arise,  we  steamed  to  sea  until  a  distance  of  six  or 
seven  miles  was  attained  from  the  Cherbourg  break 
water,  when  we  rounded-to,  and  commenced  steam 
ing  for  the  "  Alabama." 

As  we  approached  her,  within  about  twelve  hun 
dred  yards,  she  opened  fire ;  we  receiving  two  or 
three  broadsides  before  a  shot  was  returned.  The 
action  continued,  the  respective  steamers  making 
a  circle  round  and  round  at  a  distance  of  about 
nine  hundred  yards  from  each  other.  At  the  ex 
piration  of  an  hour  the  "Alabama1'  struck,  going 
down  in  about  twenty  minutes  afterward,  carrying 
many  persons  Avith  her. 

It  affords  me  great  gratification  to  announce  to 
the  Department  that  every  officer  and  man  did 
their  duty — exhibiting  a  degree  of  coolness  and 
fortitude  which  gave  promise  at  the  outset  of  cer 
tain  victory. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  most  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

JOHN  A.  WINSLOW, 

Captain. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  JVaoy,  Washington,  D,  C. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


655 


To  this  dispatch  the  Secretary  of  the 
Xavy  responded  as  follows  : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  July  6,  1864. 

SIR — Tour  very  brief  dispatches  of  the  19th  and 
20th  ultimo,  informing  the  Department  that  the 
piratical  craft  "Alabama,"  or  "290,"  had  been 
sunk  on  the  19th  of  June  near  meridian,  by  the 
"  Kearsarge,"  under  your  command,  were  this  day 
received.  I  congratulate  you  on  your  good  fortune 
in  meeting  this  vessel,  which  had  so  long  avoided 
the  fastest  ships  and  some  of  the  most  vigilant  and 
intelligent  officers  of  the  service  ;  and  for  the  ability 
displayed  in  this  combat  you  have  the  thanKs  of 
the  Department. 

You  will  please  express  to  the  officers  and  crew 
of  the  "  Kearsarge"  the  satisfaction  of  the  Govern 
ment  at  the  victory  over  a  vessel  superior  in  tonnage, 
superior  in  number  of  guns,  and  superior  in  the 
number  of  her  crew.  The  battle  was  so  brief,  the 
victory  so  decisive,  and  the  comparative  results  so 
striking,  that  the  country  will  be  reminded  of  the 
brilliant  actions  of  our  infant  Navy,  which  have 
been  repeated  and  illustrated  in  this  engagement. 

The  "Alabama"  represented  the  best  maritime 
effort  of  the  most  skilled  English  workshops.  Her 
battery  was  composed  of  the  well-tried  32-pounders 
of  57-hundred  weight,  of  the  famous  68-poimder  of 
the  British  Navy,  and  of  the  only  successful  rifled 
100-pounder  yet  produced  in  England.  The  crew 
were  generally  recruited  in  Great  Britain,  and  many 
of  them  received  superior  training  on  board  Her 
Majesty's  gunnery  ship,  the  "Excellent." 

The  "Kearsarge"  is  one  of  the  first  gun-boats 
built  at  our  Navy  Yards  at  the  commencement  of 
the  rebellion,  and  lacks  the  improvements  of  ves 
sels  now  under  construction.  The  principal  guns 
composing  her  battery  had  never  been  previously 
tried  in  an  exclusively  naval  engagement,  yet  in 
one  hour  you  succeeded  in  sinking  your  antagonist, 
thus  fully  ending  her  predatory  career,  and  killed 
many  of  her  crew  without  injury  to  the  "Kear 
sarge,"  or  the  loss  of  a  single  life  on  your  vessel. 

Our  countrymen  have  reason  to  be  satisfied  that 
in  this,  as  in  every  naval  action  of  this  unhappy 
war,  neither  the  ships,  the  guns  nor  the  crew  have 
been  deteriorated,  but  that  they  maintain  the 
abilities  and  continue  the  renown  which  ever 
adorned  our  naval  annals. 

The  President  has  signified  his  intention  to  rec 
ommend  that  you  receive  a  vote  of  thanks,  in 
order  that  you  may  be  advanced  to  the  grade  of 
commodore. 

Lieutenant-Commander  James  S.  Thornton,  the 
executive  officer  of  the  "  Kearsarge,"  will  be  recom 
mended  to  the  Senate  for  advancement  ten  num 
bers  in  his  grade,  and  you  will  report  to  the  Depart 
ment  the  names  of  any  other  of  the  officers  or  crew 
whose  good  conduct  on  the  occasion  entitles  them 
to  especial  mention. 

Very  respectfully, 

GIDEON  WELLES, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
CAPTAIN  JOHN  A.  WINSLOW, 

Commanding  11.  8.  Steamer  "  Kearsarge^ 
Cherbourg,  France. 

There  was  no  occurrence  during  the  war 
more  grateful  to  the  Northern  people  than 
this  victory  of  the  "  Kearsarge  "  over  the 
•'•  Alabama."  Winslow  became  the  hero  of 
the  hour,  for  he  had  not  only  disposed  of 
a  most  troublesome  enemy,  but  he  had 
demonstrated  the  superiority  of  a  United 
States  ship,  crew  and  guns  over  an  English- 
built,  English-armed  and  English-manned 
vessel  of  equal,  if  not  superior,  force. 

The  triumph  was  the  greater  because  the 


British  Government  and  a  large  section  of 
the  British  people  had  given  every  assist 
ance  to  the  "Alabama,"  in  the  way  of  moral 
and  material  support,  in  her  business  of 
destroying  the  commerce  of  a  friendly  na 
tion.  That  it  was  a  moral  victory  over  the 
English  can  hardly  be  disputed,  and  they 
felt  it  to  be  such,  as  was  proven  by  the  des 
perate  efforts  of  a  large  portion  of  the 
newspapers  to  show  that  VVinslow's  success 
was  unimportant,  while  the  courage  and 
ability  of  Semmes  were  extolled  to  the  skies. 
The  fiction  on  which  these  newspapers 
most  relied  to  belittle  the  victory  of  the 
"  Kearsarge  "  was  the  assertion  that  the 
United  States  vessel  was  an  iron-clad  in 
disguise — an  idea  which  Captain  Semmes 
took  every  opportunity  to  disseminate,  and 
which  was  generally  received  by  the  British 
public. 

While  Captain  Winslow  received  great 
credit  and  promotion  for  his  victory, 
his  executive  officer,  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Thornton,  was  complimented  by  an 
advance  of  only  ten  numbers  on  the  list  of 
officers  of  his  grade,  although  it  was  well 
known  that  to  his  close  attention  to  the 
drilling  of  the  crew,  and  his  management 
of  the  <%  Kearsarge,"  was  due  the  speedy 
result  of  the  action.  He  deserved  and 
should  have  received  promotion  to  the  rank 
of  commander  ;  but,  as  he  died  soon  after 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  never  obtained  any 
substantial  advancement,  although  he  lives 
in  the  memor}'  of  those  who  can  properly 
estimate  his  services. 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  U.  S.  S.  "KEARSARGE." 
John  A.  Winslow,  Captain;  James  S.  Thornton, 
Lieutenant  -  Commander;  John  M.  Browne,  Sur 
geon;  J.  A.  Smith,  Paymaster;  Wm.  H.  Cushman, 
Chief  Engineer;  James  K.  Wheeler,  Eben  M.  Stod- 
dard  and  David  H.  Sunnier,  Acting- Masters  ;  Wm. 
H.  Badlam,  Second-Assistant  Engineer  ;  Fred.  L. 
Miller,  Sidney  L.  Smith  and  Henry  McConnell, 
Third  -  Assistant  Engineers;  Edward  E.  Preble, 
^Midshipman;  David  B.  Sargent,  Paymaster's  Clerk; 
S.  E.  Hart  well,  Captain's  Clerk;  Frank  A.  Graham, 
Gunner;  James  C.  Walton,  Boatswain:  William  H. 
Yeaton,  Charles  H.  Danforth  and  Ezra  Bartlett, 
Acting-Master's  Mates. 


PETTY  OFFICERS  AND  CREW. 

George  A.  Tittle,  Surgeon's-Steward  ;  C.  B.  De 
Witt,  Yeoman;  J.  N.  Watrus,  Master-at-Arms;  Chas. 
Jones,  Seaman;  Daniel  Charter,  Landsman:  Ed. 
ward  Williams,  Officer's-Steward;  George  Williams, 
Landsman  ;  Charles  Butts,  Quartermaster ;  Chas. 
Bedding,  Landsman;  James  Wilson,  Coxswain; 
William  Gowan  (died),  Ordinary  Seaman;  James 
Saunders,  Quartermaster;  John  W.  Dempsey, 
Quarter-Gunner ;  William  D.  Chapel,  Landsman; 
Thomas  Perry,  Boatswain's-Mate  ;  John  Barrow, 
Ordinary  Seaman ;  William  Bond,  Boatswain's- 
Mate;  James  Haley,  Captain-of-Forecastle  ;  Robert 
Strahn,  Captain -of -Top ;  James  O.  Stone.  First- 
Class  Boy;  Jacob  Barth.  John  H.  McCarthy  and 
James  F.  Hayes,  Landsmen;  John  Hayes,  Cox 
swain;  James  Devine,  Landsman;  Geo.  H.  Russell, 
Armorer  ;  Patrick  McKeever,  Nathan  Ives  and 


€56 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Dennis  McCarty,  Landsmen;  John  Boyle  and  John 
C.  Woodberry,  Ordinary  Seamen;  Geo.  E.  Reed, 
Seaman  ;  James  Morey,  Ordinary  Seaman  ;  Bene 
dict  Drury  and  William  Giles,  Seamen  ;  Timothy 
Hurley,  Ship's  Cook ;  Michael  Conroy,  Ordinary 
Seaman;  Levi  W.  Nye  and  James  H.  Lee,  Seamen; 
John  E.  Brady,  Ordinary  Seaman;  Andrew  J.  Row 
ley,  Quarter-Gunner;  Jauies  Bradley,  Seaman;  Wm. 
Ellis,  Captain  -  of  -  Hold  ;  Henry  Cook,  Captain  -  of  - 
Afterguard;  Charles  A.  Reed  and  William  S.  Mor 
gan,  Seamen  ;  Joshua  E.  Carey,  Sailmaker's-Mate  ; 
James  Magee,  Ordinary  Seaman;  Beiij.  S.  Davis, 
Officer's  Cook  ;  John  F.  Bickford,  Coxswain  ;  AVm. 
Gurney,  Seaman ;  Wm.  Smith,  Quartermaster ; 
Lawrence  T.  Crowley,  Ordinary  Seaman ;  Hugh 
McPherson,  Gunner's  Mate  ;  Tarari  Phillips,  Or 
dinary  Seaman;  Joachim  Pease,  Seaman  ;  Benj.  H. 
Blaisdell  and  Joel  B.  Blaisdell,  First-Class  Firemen; 
Charles  Fisher,  Officer's-Cook;  James  Henson,  Wm. 
M.  Smith,  AVm.  Fisher,  George  Bailey  and  Martin 
Hoyt,  Landsmen;  Mark  G.  Ham,  Carpenter's-Mate; 
Wm.  H.  Bastine,  Landsman;  Layman  P.  Spinney, 
Adoniram  Littlefleld,  John  W.  Youngand  Will  AVain- 
wright,  Coalheavers;  John  E.  Orchon,  Second-class 
Fireman;  George  W.  Remick,  Joel  L.  Sanborn,  Jere. 
Young  and  Wm.  Smith,  First  -  class  Firemen ; 
Stephen  Smith,  John  F.  Stackpole,  Wm.  Stanley 
and  Lyman  H.  Hartford,  Second-class  Firemen ; 
True  W.  Priest  and  Joseph  Dugan,  First-class 
Firemen  ;  John  F.  Dugan,  Coalheaver;  James  W. 
Sheffield,  Second-class  Fireman;  Charles  T.  Young, 
Orderly  -  Sergeant ;  Austin  Quimley,  Corporal- of  - 
Marines;  Roscoe  G.  Dolley  and  Patrick  Flood, 
Privates  of  Marines ;  Henry  Hobson,  Corporal-of- 
Marines;  James  Kerrigan,  John  McAleen,  Geo.  A. 
Raymond,  James  Tucker  and  Isaac  Thornton, 
Privates-of-Marines;  Wm.  Y.  Evans,  Nurse;  Wm. 
B.  Poole,  Quartermaster:  F.  J.Veannoh,  Captain-of- 
Afterguard  ;  Charles  Hill.  Landsman  ;  Henry 
Jameson,  First-class  Fireman ;  John  G.  Batchelder, 
Private-of -Marines;  John  Dwyer,  First-class  Fire 
man;  Thomas  Salmon  and  Patrick  O'Conner,  Second- 
class  Firemen;  Geo.  H.  Harrison  and  George  An 
drew,  Ordinary  Seamen;  Charles  Moore,  Seaman; 
George  A.  Whipple,  Ordinary  Seaman  ;  Edward 
Wallace,  Seaman;  Thomas  Marsh,  Coalheaver; 
Thomas  Buckley,  Ordinary  Seaman;  Edward  Wilt, 
Captain-of-Top;  Geo.  H.  Kinnie,  Ordinary  Seaman; 
Augustus  Johnson,  Jeremiah  Horrigan,  William 
O'Halloran  and  William  Turner,  Seamen;  Joshua 
Collins  and  James  McBeath,  Ordinary  Seamen; 
John  Pope,  Coalheaver;  Charles  Mattison,  Ordi 
nary  Seaman  ;  George  Baker,  Timothy  G.  Cauty, 
John  Shields,  Thomas  Alloway,  Philip  Weeks  and 
Win.  Barnes,  Landsmen;  George  E.  Smart,  Second- 
class  Fireman  ;  Chas.  A.  Poole,  Timothy  Lynch, 
Sylvanus  P.  Brackett  and  John  W.  Sanborn,  Coal- 
heavers;  W.  H.  Donnally,  First-class  Fireman.  All 
the  above  natives  of  the  United  States.  Wm.  Als- 
dorf  and  Clement  Antoine,  Coalheavers;  JoseDab- 
ney,  Landsmen;  Benjamin  Button  and  Jean  Briset, 
Coalheavers;  Vanburn  Francois,  Landsman;  Peter 
Ludy  and  George  English,  Seamen;  Jonathan  Brien, 
Landsman;  Manuel  J.  Gallardo,  Second  class  Boy, 
and  John  M.  Spnius,  First-class  Boy.  The  above 
are  of  foreign  birth. 

It  thus  appears  that  out  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty-three  officers  and  crew  of  the 
"  Kearsarge,"  only  eleven  persons  were 
foreign-born. 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  OF   CONFEDERATE   STEAMER 
"ALABAMA,"  JUXE  25,  1864. 

Raphael  Semmes,  Captain;  J.  M.  Kell  and  Arthur 
Sinclair,  Lieutenants;  R.  K.  Howell,  Lieutenant-of- 
Marines;  J.  S.  Bulloch,  Sailing  Master;  E.  A.  Maffitt 
and  E.  M.  Anderson,  Midshipmen;  R.  F.  Armstrong 
and  Jos.  D.  Wilson,  Lieutenants;  M.  J.  Freeman 


Chief  Engineer ;  John  W.  Pundt  and  M.  O'Brien, 
Third-Assistant  Engineers;  J.  O.  Cuddy,  W.  Craw 
ford  and  C.  Seymour,  Gunners  ;  Captain's- Clerk, 
W.  B.  Smith;  Boatswain,  B.  L.  McClaskey-  Francis 
L.  Gait,  Surgeon  ;  W.  P.  Brooks,  Second-Assistant 
Engineer  ;  Henry  Alcott,  Sailmaker ;  D.  H.  Llew 
ellyn,  Assistant  -  Surgeon  ;  G.  T.  Fullam,  James 
Evans,  Max  Mulliner  and  J.  Schroeder,  Master's- 
Mates  ;  Wm.  Robinson,  Carpenter. 

There  has  been  doubt  expressed  whether 
Captain  Semmes  challenged  Captain  Wins- 
low  to  do  battle:  but  the  latter  could  not 
well  have  accepted,  since  the  "Alabama" 
was  not  recognized  by  the  United  States 
Government  as  a  Confederate  ship- of  - 
war.  On  the  contrary,  her  acts  had  been 
denounced  as  ''piratical.''  Winslow  pur 
sued  the  only  course  proper  for  him  :  he 
went  off  Cherbourg  and  waited  as  near 
as  possible  to  the  entrance  of  the  port,  to 
see  that  the  "Alabama"  did  not  escape. 
Captain  Semmes'  notification  to  Winslow, 
that  he  would  give  him  battle  in  a  day  or 
two  if  the  latter  would  wait,  was  hardly 
necessary,  as  Winslow  had  not  the  slightest 
idea  of  avoiding  a  contest. 

For  Winslow  to  have  challenged  Semmes 
would  have  been  to  put  the  "  Alabama  "  in 
the  status  denied  her  by  the  Federal  Navy 
Department,  namely,  that  of  a  recognized 
vessel-of-war  of  a  de  facto  Government. 
The  propriety  of  sending  challenges  from 
one  commanding  officer  to  another  in  time 
of  war  has  been  questioned.  In  this  in 
stance  Winslow  did  exactly  the  right  thing 
— waited  till  his  enemy  came  out  of  port 
and  defeated  him  without  bluster. 

A  few  words  in  regard  to  Semmes'  char 
acter  and  abilities,  as  an  agent  in  carrying 
out  the  views  of  the  Confederate  Govern 
ment,  may  not  be  out  of  place.  As  an  in 
dividual,  he  had  great  defects  of  character, 
but  as  a  bold  and  capable  commander,  on 
whom  the  Confederacy  could  depend  to  in 
flict  the  greatest  damage  on  United  States 
commerce,  Semmes  had  probably  no  equal. 
Although  he  had  served  many  years  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  none  of  his  associates 
ever  supposed  that  in  time  of  war  he  would 
exhibit  so  much  efficiency;  for,  although  his 
courage  was  undoubted,  his  tastes  were 
rather  those  of  the  scholar  than  of  the  dash 
ing  naval  officer  and  destroyer  of  com 
merce. 

It  became  common  in  the  North  to  speak 
of  the  "  Alabama"  as  the  "English  pirate," 
and  Semmes  in  his  memoirs  frequently  ap 
plies  the  term  in  a  sarcastic  manner  to 
his  own  vessel;  yet,  although  he  was  guilty 
of  many  irregularities,  if  not  outrages,  he 
could  not,  in  justice,  be  so  stigmatized.  The 
writer  has  on  several  occasions  compared 
Semmes'  acts  with  those  of  the  buccaneers, 
who  were  sometimes  regularly  commis 
sioned  by  royal  authority  to  plunder  the 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


Spaniards:  but  such  actions  do  not  consti 
tute  piracy,  and  the  Law  of  Nations  is  so 
elastic  on  the  subject  that  a  commander 
may  do  a  great  many  outrageous  things  and 
still  keep  within  the  legal  limits. 

In  the  case  of  the  "  Alabama,"  her  Cap 
tain  seems  to  have  been  a  law  unto  himself, 
and  his  vessel  a  Court  of  Admiralty  of  the 
Confederate  States,  with  power  to  commis 
sion  vessels  on  the  high  seas.  With  his  pen 
this  clever  navigator  could  baffle  the 
shrewdness  of  colonial  authorities  and  cre 
ate  discord  in  the  councils  of  the  Home  Gov 
ernments.  He  set  the  proclamation  of 
Queen  Victoria  at  defiance,  took  his  prizes 
into  British  ports,  and  fitted  them  out  as 
cruisers  whenever  it  suited  him  to  do  so. 
To  call  this  enterprising  individual  a  "  pi 
rate  "  would  give  rise  to  the  suspicion  that 
want  of  success  in  stopping  his  career  of 
destruction,  and  a  fear  of  being  held  re 
sponsible  for  negligence  in  the  premises, 
had  influenced  persons  in  authority  to  throw 
all  the  odium  possible  on  Semmes. 

The  "Alabama"  certainly  fulfilled  most, 
if  not  all,  the  requirements  of  a  vessel-of- 
war.  She  was  the  sole  property  of  the  Con 
federate  Government;  and  therefore,  for  all 
acts  committed  under  the  general  orders  to 
"burn,  sink,  and  destroy,''  the  said  Gov 
ernment  was  answerable. 

As  a  general  rule,  a  vessel  purchased  in 
a  neutral  port,  to  war  upon  another  nation, 
in  order  to  be  armed  and  commissioned, 
should  proceed  to  a  port  of  the  nation  pur 
chasing  her,  and  there  be  fitted  for  service  ; 
but  there  is  so  much  latitude  allowed  in 
practice  that  it  would  perhaps  be  difficult 
to  settle  this  matter  authoritatively  before 
the  courts.  The  high  seas  are  certainly 
neutral,  in  one  sense  of  the  word,  for  all 
nations;  and  although  the  Confederates  un 
doubtedly  violated  British  law,  yet  Semmes 
had  a  right  to  take  command  of  an  armed 
vessel  placed  in  his  possession  at  sea. 

It  would  be  well  if  there  could  be  a  care 
ful  reconsideration  of  all  the  laws  and  pre 
cedents  bearing  on  this  subject  by  the  mari 
time  governments  of  the  world,  in  order 
that  in  future  no  "Alabamas  "  could  get  to 
sea,  and  commercial  nations  be  free  from 
depredations  such  as  were  committed  upon 
the  commerce  of  the  United  States  in 
1861-05. 

The  question  has  been  often  debated 
whether  the  "  Alabama  "  and  her  consorts 
were  entitled  to  be  considered  vessels-of- 
war  on  a  par  with  those  of  other  nations. 
The  powers  of  Europe  accorded  belligerent 
rights  to  the  Confederates,  and  proclaimed 
their  intention  of  observing  strict  neutrality 
between  the  contending  parties.  Such  a 
recognition  was  in  many  respects  inconsist 
ent,  for  although  the  Confederate  cruisers 
were  acting  in  behalf  of  a  Power  that  had 

42 


been  accorded  belligerent  rights,  yet  no 
recognition  further  than  this  had  been  ex 
tended  to  the  State  itself  by  any  European 
Government.  The  Confederates  could  have 
no  representatives  abroad,  and  it  might  well 
be  considered  an  anomalous  state  of  things 
when  a  State  was  accorded  belligerent 
rights  by  foreign  powers  which  held  no 
official  relations  with  it,  and  could  not 
therefore  depend  upon  the  ordinary  methods 
for  redress  if  Confederate  vessels  should 
commit  offences  against  their  sovereignty. 
This  condition  of  affairs  would  seem  to  cast 
a  doubt  upon  the  validity  of  the  commissions 
of  the  Confederate  cruisers;  and  for  this 
reason,  if  for  no  other,  the  character  of  ships- 
of-war  was  never  accorded  to  the  "Ala 
bama  ''  and  the  other  Confederate  cruisers 
by  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 

Captain  Semmes'  method  had  a  good 
deal  to  do,  perhaps,  with  the  action  of  the 
United  States  Government,  for  according 
to  his  own  account  he  plundered  his  prizes 
of  whatever  he  pleased,  and  even  took  the 
chronometers,  which  were  the  private  prop 
erty  of  the  shipmasters. 

Whether  Confederate  naval  officers  could 
take  delight  in  the  destruction  of  the 
Federal  commerce,  which  they  once  felt 
such  pride  in  protecting,  is  very  doubtful  in 
the  case  of  all  except  Captain  Semmes. 
He  appears  to  have  gloried  in  the  burn 
ing  of  ships,  as  if  it  was  the  greatest 
pleasure,  instead  of  a  disagreeable  duty, 
imposed  upon  him  by  the  stern  necessities 
of  war  ;  and  it  is  not  known  that  he  ever 
experienced  much  regret  for  the  burning 
of  a  beautiful  ship,  or  sympathy  for  her 
master  or  crew — a  sentiment  one  would 
naturally  expect  to  exist  in  the  bosom  of  an 
officer  brought  up  in  a  chivalrous  service 
such  as  that  of  the  United  States  Navy. 

As  a  fighting -man,  Semmes  was  not  a 
success  when  he  met  an  enemy  of  equal 
force,  as  was  proved  by  the  "Kearsarge" 
sinking  the  "  Alabama"  in  about  an  hour, 
killing  and  wounding  a  great  number  of 
men,  while  the  "  Kearsarge  "  was  uninjured 
in  hull  or  spars,  and  only  had  three  men 
wounded.  The  fact  is,  the  "Alabama's" 
crew,  not  being  well  drilled,  were  doomed 
to  defeat  from  the  outset;  for,  although  the 
"  Kearsarge "  stood  for  her  for  some  mo 
ments  and  received  three  broadsides,  no 
damage  was  inflicted,  and  out  of  three  hun 
dred  and  seventy  shot  and  shell  fired  by 
the  Confederate  vessel,  only  thirteen  struck 
the  hull,  and  fifteen  the  rigging  and  spars. 
The  difference  between  the  efficiency  and 
discipline  of  the  vessels  was  too  marked 
to  admit  of  argument,  although  Semmes 
insisted  that  the  victory  would  have  been 
his  if  one  of  the  shells  which  struck  the 
"  Kearsarge's"  stern-post  had  exploded  ! 

Captain  Semmes'  want  of  generosity  is 


658 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


shown  by  his  attempting  to  deprive  Wins- 
low  and  his  officers  and  men  of  the  credit 
of  their  victory,  on  the  ground  that  the 
<;  Kearsarge"  was  an  "  iron-clad,"  and  that 
Winslow  had  taken  a  dishonorable  advan 
tage  of  him.  A  brave  man  should  accept 
his  defeat  in  dignified  silence,  in  the  hope 
that  at  some  future  time  he  may  have  an 
opportunity  of  retrieving  his  fortunes. 

With  regard  to  Semmes  making  his  es 
cape  after  the  sinking  of  his  ship,  that  was 
a  matter  between  him  and  his  conscience. 
No  man  is  a  prisoner  until  he  is  actually  in 
the  custody  of  the  victor,  and  if,  when  strug 
gling  in  the  water,  he  is  rescued  by  a  neu 
tral,  the  latter  should  protect  him  from  cap 


ture  if  he  has  the  power  to  do  so.  There  is 
even  less  censure  to  be  given  Semmes  and 
his  officers  for  making  off  in  the  "Deer- 
hound,"  because  they  were  under  the  im 
pression  that  they  would  be  harshly  treated 
if  they  fell  into  the  power  of  the  United 
States  Government. 

We  have  endeavored  to  do  Captain 
Semmes  no  injustice,  but  simply  to  state  our 
impressions  of  his  character,  for  we  knew 
him  well.  His  career  is  certainly  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  of  the  civil  war;  and  if  he 
had  served  the  United  States  while  he  re 
mained  in  its  Navy  as  faithfully  as  he  did 
the  Confederacy,  his  resignation  would  have 
been  accepted  with  great  regret. 


SPECIAL   SERVICE,   JANUARY  1,   1864. 


STEAMER     "  MOHICAN." 

Captain,  O.  S.  Glisson  ;  Lieutenant,  R.  K.  Duer ; 
Surgeon,  Edw.  F.  Corson  ;  Assistant  -  Paymaster, 
James  Hoy,  Jr.  ;  Acting-Master,  Robert  B.  Ely  ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  A.  D.  Campbell  and  A.  T.  Holmes  ; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  J.  S.  Reynolds,  W.  P.  Velt- 
man,  E.  N.  Snow  and  George  T.  Ford;  Engineers : 
Acting-First-Assistant,  G.  W.  Halloway ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  John  Lardner  and  C.  R.  Weaver; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  James  Buckley  and  J.  W. 
Buck;  Acting-Boatswain,  Geo.  C.  Abbott ;  Gunner, 
James  Hutchinson. 

STEAM-SLOOP  "  KEABSARGE . " 

Captain,  John  A.  Winslow  ;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  James  S.  Thornton  ;  Surgeon,  John  M. 
Browne ;  Paymaster,  Joseph  A.  Smith ;  Engineers  : 
Chief,  William  H.  Cushman ;  Second -Assistant, 
Wm.  H.  Badlam  ;  Third-Assistants,  Fredk.  L.  Mil 
ler,  Sidney  L.  Smith  and  Henry  McConnell  ;  Boat 
swain,  James  C.  Walton  ;  Acting-Gunner,  Franklin 
A.  Graham. 

STEAMEB   " SACBAMENTO . " 

Captain,  Henry  Walke  ;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
H.  D.  Todd  ;  Lieutenant,  G.  P.  Ryan;  Surgeon,  J.  S. 
Kitchen;  Assistant  -  Paymaster,  J.  P.  Woodbury  ; 
Ensigns,  Marston  Niles,  P.  W.  Lowry,  J.  D.  Clark 
and  J.  B.  Coghlan ;  Acting- Master's  Mates.  D.  C. 
Harrington,  O.  G.  Moore,  E.  N.  R.  Place  and  Charles 
Pease,  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  John  Yates;  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Win.  Tipton;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ants,  J.  S.  G.  Aspinwall  and  E.  A.  Bushnell;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  G.E.  Savory,  John  Moquon,  Leon 
ard  Pratt  and  E.  B.  Dyer;  Boatswain,  John  Bates  ; 
Gunner,  Andrew  Wilson  ;  Carpenter,  G.  E.  Ander 
son. 

STEAMER    "MICHIGAN." 

Commander,  John  C.  Carter ;  Paymaster,  C.  C 
Jackson;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Win. 
Baas,  Bennet  Jones  and  Robert  Reilly. 

STEAMER  ' '  WACHUSETT ." 

Commander,  Napoleon  Collins  ;  Lieutenant-Com 


mander,  L.  A.  Beardslee  ;  Surgeon,  Win.  M.  King; 
Assistant-Paymaster,  W.  W.  Williams  ;  Acting- 
Master,  J.  H.  Stimpson;  Ensign,  E.  M.  Shepard  ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Nicol  Ludlow  and  C.  J.  Barclay  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  R.  Haskins,  Reuben  Rich 
and  John  Hetherington ;  Engineers:  Chief,  Wm. 
H.  Rutherford ;  Second- Assistants,  Geo.  W.  Mel 
ville,  M.  Knapp  and  Edmund  Lincoln ;  Third-As 
sistants,  H.  D.  McEwen,  R.  S.  Stedman  and  J.  A. 
Barton  ;  Boatswain,  John  Burrows  ;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  John  Russell. 

SLOOP-OF-WAR   "  ST.  LOUIS." 

Commander,  George  H.  Preble  ;  Lieutenant  Wm. 

F.  Stewart ;  Surgeon,  A.    L.  Gihon  ;  Assistant-Sur 
geon,  F.  B.  A.  Lewis;  Paymaster,  J.  S.  Post;  First- 
Lieut  enant-of- Marines,  W.  J.  Squires  ;  Acting-Mas 
ters,  J.  N.   Rowe,  Geo.    Cables  and    Allan  Hoxie; 
Acting-Ensign,     Hazard    Marsh ;     Acting- Master's 
Mates,  P.  W.  Fagan,  F.  L.  Bryan  and  J.  H.  Lang- 
ley -Acting-Boatswain,   George   Brown;    Gunner, 

G.  P.    Cushman  ;  Carpenter,   Daniel  Jones  ;   Sail- 
maker,  I.  E.  Crowell. 

SHIP  "ONWARD." 

Acting- Masters,  Wm.  H.  Clarke;  T.  G.  Groove  and 
William  Collins ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  David 
Watson ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  S.  Allen; 
Acting-Ensigns,  G.  J.  Conklin  and  Wm.  Rogers; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  F.  A.  Gording,  A.  F.  TJlmer 
and  J.  S.  Newbegin. 

STEAMER    "IROQTTOIS." 

Commander,  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers ;  Lieutenants, 
S.  Dana  Greene  and  A.  H.  McCormick ;  Acting- 
Master  Thomas  Hanrahan ;  Surgeon,  J.  Corbin ; 
Assistant  -  Paymaster,  J.  A.  Bates,  Jr.  ;  Ensigns, 
Henry  C.  Taylor,  Allan  D.  Brown  and  W.  K. 
Wheeler ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  F.  Purrington, 
Carleton  Race,  B.  F.  Ritter  and  William  Welch ; 
Engineers  :  Acting  -  Chief,  J.  W.  Stormes  ;  Acting- 
First-Assistants,  W.  H.  Best  and  R.  E.  Stall;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  JohnB.  Roach;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  H.  P.  Gray  and  Edward  Ewel;  Acting- 
Gunner,  J.  C.  Clapham. 


CHAPTER    XLVII. 


OPERATIONS  OF  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  BLOCKADING  SQUADRON,  UNDER  REAR- 
ADMIRAL   DAHLGREN,  DURING  LATTER  END  OF  1863  AND  IN  1864. 

FORT  SUMTER  BOMBARDED.  —  DAMAGES  TO  THE  FORT  AND  IRON-CLADS.  —  Loss  OF  THE 
"WEEHAWKEN." — ATTACK  ON  BATTERIES  IN  STONO  RIVER. — REVIEW  OF  WORK  DONE 
BY  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON  UNDER  DAHLGREN. — ACTIONS  IN  WHICH  IRON-CLADS 
WERE  ENGAGED. — DESTRUCTION  OF  BLOCKADE-RUNNERS. — OPERATIONS  OF  CONFEDERATE 
TORPEDO  CORPS. — PLANS  TO  BLOW  UP  FLEET. — DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  "  HOUSATONIC." 
—SUBLIME  PATRIOTISM. — ORIGINATORS  OF  TORPEDO. — OPERATIONS  OF  GUN-BOATS  IN 
FLORIDA  RIVERS. — DESTRUCTION  OF  STEAMER  "  HARRIET  A.  WEED"  AND  TRANSPORT 
"MAPLE-LEAF."  -HAZARDOUS  CUTTING-OUT  EXPEDITIONS.  —  HOT  RECEPTIONS  FROM 
MASKED  BATTERIES. — CAPTURE  OF  U.  S.  STEAMER  "  WATER  WITCH"  AND  RIVER-BOAT 
"COLUMBINE." — TREATMENT  RECEIVED  BY  ASSISTANT  SURGEON  PIERSON. — PRISONERS 
EXPOSED  IN  DANGEROUS  PLACES. — FAILURE  OF  EXPEDITION  TO  CUT  RAILROADS. — MIS 
CELLANEOUS  EXPEDITIONS. —  BLOCKADE  OF  WHOLE  SOUTHERN  COAST. —  EXTREMITIES 
OF  CONFEDERATE  ARMIES,  ETC. — VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  BLOCK 
ADING  SQUADRON,  JANUARY,  1864. 


ON  the  26th  of  October,  1863,  General 
Gillmore  opened  fire    upon    Fort 
Sumter  from  his  battery  on  Morris 
Island,  his  object  being  to  complete 
the  reduction  of  this  work,  drive 
out  the  garrison,  and  occupy  it  with  Union 
troops.      This,  as  a  matter  of    sentiment, 
might  have  been  a  good  move  ;  but,  as  the 
Confederates  still  commanded  Fort  Sumter 
with  the  guns  of  Fort  Moultrie  and  other 
batteries,  they   could    have    rendered    the 
place  untenable,  as  they  did  in  the  time  of 
Colonel  Anderson. 

But  the  Navy  was  desirous  of  performing 
its  share  in  this  useless  operation,  and  the 
Monitors  "  Lehigh"  and  *'  Patapsco  "  were 
ordered  to  take  positions  at  a  distance  of 
from  1,600  to  2,000  yards  of  the  fort,  and 
open  fire  upon  it  with  their  rifled  guns. 

These  vessels  were  within  range  of  Fort 
Moultrie  for  some  time,  but  suffered  little 
damage,  while  their  rifle  projectiles  told  on 
the  walls  of  Fort  Sumter  with  considerable 
effect.  Large  masses  of  masonry  were  dis 
placed,  heavv  timbers  thrown  into  the 
air.  gun-cartridges  destroyed,  and,  in  fact, 
the  work  reduced  to  a  great  heap  of  ruins ; 
but  there  it  stood  as  unassailable  by  land 


forces  as  ever,  and  Dahlgren  was  no  nearer 
getting  into  Charleston  than  DuPont  had 
been  when  he  relinquished  the  command  be 
cause  of  an  implied  reflection  on  his  ability 
to  decide  whether  a  proper  force  had  been 

E laced  at  his  disposal  or  not.  About  eight 
undred  and  fifty  shells  were  fired  by  the 
Navy  at  the  ruins  of  Fort  Sumter,  which 
helped  to  crumble  the  works  more  and  more; 
but  that  business  had  better  have  been  left  to 
General  Gillmore  with  his  siege-guns,  and 
the  attack  of  the  Monitors  should  have 
been  turned  upon  Moultrie  and  Beauregard, 
where  their  rifle  projectiles  would  have 
done  good  service. 

On  November  16th  more  congenial  work 
offered.  General  Gillmore  telegraphed: 
"  The  enemy  have  opened  a  heavy  fire  on 
Cummings'  Point.  Will  you  have  some  of 
your  vessels  move  up,  so  as  to  prevent  an  at 
tack  by  boats  on  the  sea-face  of  the  Point?  " 
That  night  the  Monitors  moved  up  at 
about  10  o'clock,  and  boats  were  placed  on 
patrol  to  prevent  any  attack  of  the  enemy 
at  the  place  indicated. 

On  November  17th  the  "Lehigh"  grounded, 
and  the  enemy,  perceiving  her  dilemma, 
opened  heavily  on  her  from  Fort  Moultrie 


(659) 


660 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


and  adjacent  batteries.  Signal  was  at 
once  made  to  all  the  Monitors  to  get  under 
way  and  cover  the  "  Lehigh,"  and  the  Ad 
miral  himself  went  up  in  the  "  Passaic  "  to 
attend  the  operations  in  person.  The  "Na- 
hant,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Cornwell, 
was  already  alongside  the  "Lehigh,"  and, 
by  getting  out  hawsers,  succeeded  in  tow 
ing  her  off  at  high  water.  Both  vessels 
were  subjected  to  a  brisk  fire,  but  they  re 
ceived  no  serious  damage.  The  "  Lehigh  " 
received  twenty -two  hits,  nine  of  which 
were  on  her  deck-plates,  and  she  had  one 
officer  and  six  men  wounded.  The  "  Mon- 
tauk  "  also  assisted  in  getting  the  "Le 
high  "  off,  but  there  were  no  casualties  in 
the  assisting  vessels. 

Assistant- Surgeon  Wm  Longshaw  was 
handsomely  mentioned  on  this  occasion  for 
going  to  and  fro  in  a  small  boat,  carrying  out 
hawsers  under  a  heavy  fire  of  shot  and 
shell.  This  kind  of  service  always  deserves 
recognition,  and  especially  when,  as  in  this 
case,  it  is  voluntarily  undertaken  by  an 
officer  who  would  never  have  been  called 
upon  to  perform  it  in  the  ordinary  course 
of  his  profession.  Surgeon  Longshaw  was 
recommended  for  promotion  in  his  corps 
by  the  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Medicine  and 
Surgery. 

On  December  6th,  Rear-Admiral  Dahl- 
gren  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  Moni 
tor  "Weehawken"  under  the  following 
circumstances,  as  given  in  the  report  of 
Commander  J.  M.  Duncan : 

"On  the  morning  of  the  5th  I  arrived  here,  and 
in  the  evening  took  command  of  her  [the  'Wee 
hawken  ']  and  went  up  on  the  advanced  picket,  and 
remained  there  until  9:30  of  the  morning  of  the  6th  ; 
then  came  down  ;  made  fast  to  buoy  No.  2  ;  then 
came  on  board  this  vessel  [the  flag-ship]. 

"About  1:30  p.  M.  a  signal  was  made  that  the 
'Weehawken'  wanted  assistance.  I  immediately 
got  in  a  boat  with  the  pilot  of  this  vessel.  Before 
we  could  reach  her  she  went  down.  Boats  from  all 
the  vessels  around  went  to  the  assistance  of  the 
men  that  were  overboard,  and  succeeded  in  saving 
all  but  four  of  the  engineers  and  twenty-seven  of 
the  men.  When  I  left  the  vessel  everything  ap 
peared  to  be  right ;  the  anchor-hold  was  all  dry, 
no  water  coming  through  the  hawse-pipe.  *  *  *  * 
Not  being  on  board  myself  at  the  time,  I  am  not 
able  to  give  any  account  of  the  sad  accident. 
41  Very  respectfully,"  etc. 

From  statements  of  officers  who  were  on 
board  the  "Weehawken"  at  the  time  of 
the  disaster,  it  appears  that  the  immediate 
cause  of  her  sinking  was  that  a  heavy  sea 
swept  over  her  forecastle,  and  entering 
the  fore-hatch,  filled  the  anchor-well.  This, 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  would  not 
have  proved  fatal  to  the  ship's  safety;  but 
she  was  heavily  loaded  forward  with  am 
munition,  and  the  slight  increase  of  weight, 
due  to  the  water  in  her  forward  compart 
ment,  caused  an  opening  between  the  over 
hang  and  the  hull,  which  made  itself  mani 
fest  by  numerous  leaks.  As  the  water  ac 


cumulated  forward,  her  bow  commenced  to 
settle  rapidly,  and  she  soon  went  to  the 
bottom,  with  a  number  of  her  brave  offi 
cers  and  men. 

This  was  a  serious  loss  to  Rear-Admiral 
Dahlgren.  who  was  at  that  moment  urging 
the  Government  to  send  him  more  Mon 
itors,  in  view  of  the  necessity  of  defending 
his  command  against  the  iron-clads  which 
the  Confederates  were  building  at  Charles 
ton.  No  doubt  the  Confederates  considered 
that  the  sinking  of  the  "Weehawken"  was 
due  to  the  shot  and  shell  which  they  fired 
at  the  "  Lehigh  " — as  they  could  not  tell  one 
from  another. 

Nothing  of  interest  occurred  in  Dahlgren's 
command  from  November  6th  up  to  Decem 
ber  25th,  when  the  "Pawnee."  Commander 
G.  B.  Balch,  the  "  Marblehead."  Lieutenant- 
Commander  R.  W.  Meade,  Jr.,  and  the 
schooner  "  C.  P.  Williams,"  Acting-Master 
S.  N.  Freeman,  were  attacked  by  Confed 
erate  batteries  in  Stono  River. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Meade  reports 
that  on  December  25th  the  enemy  opened 
fire  on  the  "  Marblehead,"  at  6  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  from  two  batteries  of  field 
and  siege  pieces  posted  advantageously  in 
the  woods.  At  the  time  mentioned,  the 
"  Marblehead  "  had  steam  on  the  port  boiler 
only.  The  gun-boat  returned  the  enemy's 
fire  vigorously,  and,  slipping  his  cable,  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Meade  took  a  position 
nearer  the  batteries,  and  after  a  short  en 
counter  caused  them  to  retreat  in  disorder, 
leaving  two  guns  and  caissons. 

No  attempt  was  made  by  the  "  Marble- 
head  "  to  retire  from  this  unequal  contest, 
though  she  was  struck  over  twenty  times 
and  much  cut  up,  having  three  men  killed 
and  four  wounded.  Officers  and  men  stood 
to  their  guns  with  great  gallantry,  and  the 
precision  of  their  fire  was  shown  by  the  com 
plete  discomfiture  of  the  enemy.  Acting- 
Ensign  Geo.  F.  Winslow  and  the  officers  of 
the  gun  divisions  are  handsomely  mentioned 
in  this  report. 

During  the  action,  the  "  Pawnee  "  took  an 
enfilading  position  in  the  Keowah  River, 
while  the  "Williams"  was  ordered  to  work 
up  towards  Legareville.  The  three  vessels 
kept  up  such  a  fire  that  the  enemy  fled 
precipitately.  Commander  Balch  speaks  in 
the  highest  terms  of  Lieutenant-Commander 
Meade's  coolness  and  bravery,  the  manage 
ment  of  his  vessel,  and  the  remarkable  ra 
pidity  of  his  fire. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  firing,  General 
Gordon,  commanding  the  troops  at  the 
south  end  of  Folly  Island,  sent  an  infantry 
force  to  bring  off  the  guns  left  by  the  Con 
federates  ;  which,  on  reaching  the  spot 
where  the  batteries  were  posted,  found  two 
guns,  one  soldier  in  the  throes  of  death,  six 
dead  artillery  horses,  and  all  the  enemy's 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


661 


intrenching  tools,  knapsacks,  etc.  As  night 
was  coming  on,  and  it  was  found  impossible 
to  bring  off  the  guns  in  face  of  a  heavy 
force  of  the  enemy,  not  far  off,  they  were 
disabled  and  abandoned. 

This  was  a  handsomely-executed  affair, 
particularly  on  the  part  of  the  "  Marble- 
head,"  which  bore  the  brunt  of  the  fire 
from  the  enemy's  8  -  inch  guns.  There 
was  some  dispute  as  to  the  credit  due  the 
different  vessels,  which  ought  not  to  have 
been  the  case  where  all  did  so  well.  In 
addition  to  Lieutenant  Commander  Meade's 
gallantry  in  the  action,  he  made  a  recon- 
noissance  of  the  ground  abandoned  by  the 
enemy,  and  then,  by  direction  of  Com 
mander  Balch,  headed  an  expedition  to 
bring  off  the  guns  which^ General  Gordon 
had  failed  to  take  possession  of.  His  force 
consisted  of  3  boats,  3  officers,  and  50 


- 


CAPTAIN  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  GEORGE  B.  BALCH. 

men  from  the  ';  Pawnee  "  ;  4  boats,  4  offi 
cers  and  20  men  from  the  "Marblehead," 
and  1  officer  and  12  men  from  the  "  C.  P. 
Williams ''—total,  8  boats,  8  officers  and 
82  men,  of  which  22  were  marines,  under 
Sergeant  W.  Fredlickson,  of  the  ''  Pawnee." 

On  reaching  the  earthworks,  near  a  bayou 
which  flows  southwesterly  of  Legare- 
ville,  Acting -Ensign  Moore  was  directed 
to  take  the  ''Pawnee's"  men  and  get  the 
nearest  gun  into  her  cutter.  The  other 
gun  in  the  most  northern  work  was  then 
raised  with  great  difficulty,  lashed  to  the 
carriage  of  a  12-pound  howitzer,  and  hauled 
with  great  exertion  to  the  bayou,  a  distance 
of  a  mile,  and  finally  gotten  into  the  "  Mar- 
blehead's  "  launch. 

The  whole  affair  was  a  perfect   success  ; 


the  two  guns,  8-inch  seacoast  howitzers, 
were  taken  off,  the  gun-carriages  and  im 
plements  thrown  into  the  river,  and  all  done 
in  the  space  of  two  hours. 

Though  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  had  not, 
up  to  this  time,  forced  any  of  the  obstruc 
tions  in  Charleston  harbor,  or  made  his 
way  past  the  batteries  (thus  verifying  the 
assertion  of  Admiral  DuPont,  that  the  force 
of  Monitors  was  not  equal  to  the  occasion), 
he  had  shown  great  pertinacity  in  sticking 
to  the  work  assigned  him,  and  had  given 
all  the  aid  in  his  power  to  the  land-batteries 
under  General  Gillmore.  The  following 
review  of  the  services  of  Admiral  Dahlgren 
when  in  command  of  the  South  Atlantic 
squadron  will  give  a  fair  insight  into  the 
value  of  his  work: 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1863,  Rear-Admiral 
DuPont  delivered  to  Rear  -  Admiral  Dahl 
gren  the  command  of  the  forces  occu 
pying  the  coast  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
and  part  of  Florida.  This  force,  which 
consisted  of  70  vessels  of  all  classes,  was 
scattered  along  the  coast  for  a  distance  of 
300  miles;  there  was  no  concentration,  the 
object  being  rather  to  distribute  the  vessels 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  enforce  an  efficient 
blockade 

When  Dahlgren  took  command,  the  Navy 
Department  was  much  more  liberal  towards 
him  than  it  had  been  to  DuPont;  for  he  was 
left  to  exercise  his  own  judgment,  unhamp 
ered  by  orders  of  any  kind.  His  instruc 
tions  were  so  couched  that  they  merely 
directed  him  to  assume  command,  without 
confining  him  to  any  course  of  action. 
They  went  no  further,  nor  was  it  necessary 
that  they  should  do  so.  There  was  an 
enemy  in  front  who  had  defied  the  Govern- 
ment'to  the  utmost ;  the  Department  and 
the  President  had  already  signified  their 
wishes  to  Admiral  DuPont,  and  it  was 
clearly  the  duty  of  his  successor  to  go  to 
work  as  soon  as  possible  and  compel  the 
enemy  to  obedience  if  he  could.  But  it 
must  be  remembered  that  the  Department, 
in  view  of  the  difficulties  that  had  beset 
the  first  expedition,  had  modified  its 
opinion,  and  was  now  satisfied  that  it 
would  be  better  to  have  a  combined  attack 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  against  the  heavy 
works  in  Charleston  harbor  than  to  de 
pend  on  the  Monitors  alone. 

The  ;'  New  Ironsides"  was  off  Charleston 
bar,  two  Monitors  were  at  Edisto,  one  at 
Stono  River,  three  at  Port-Royal,  and  one 
at  Ossabaw.  General  Gillmore  having 
arrived,  arrangements  were  immediately 
made  between  him  and  Rear- Admiral  Dahl 
gren  for  a  descent  on  Morris  Island,  where 
the  former  was  to  establish  his  batteries. 

The  naval  part  of  the  operations  con 
sisted  in  assembling  all  the  Monitors  at 
Charleston,  so  as  to  cross  the  bar  at  early 


662 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


daylight,  and  be  ready  to  cover  the  landing 
of  the  army,  with  its  guns,  munitions,  etc. ; 
and  then  to  co-operate  in  whatever  way 
the  army  might  desire  to  attack  the  enemy. 

On  the  9th  of  July  all  was  in  readiness. 
In  the  combined  attack  which  followed,  the 
"Catskill,"  "Montauk,"  "  Nahant,"  and 
"Weehawken"  were  laid  in  line  parallel 
with  the  land  opposite  the  southern  emi 
nences  of  Morris  Island,  and  they  poured 
in  such  a  steady  fire  upon  the  Confederate 
batteries  at  that  point  that  they  made  but 
a  feeble  show  of  fight.  At  8  o'clock  the 
troops  that  had  been  brought  from  the 
Folly  River  by  the  boats  of  the  squadron 
advanced  to  the  attack ;  and,  under  the 
covering  fire  of  the  Monitors,  occupied 
all  the  enemy's  outer  positions,  and  were 
only  stopped  when  they  came  in  contact 
with  Fort  Wagner. 

Until  the  fall  of  Wagner,  on  September 
7th,  the  iron-clads  and  gun-boats  kept  up 
a  constant  fire  on  the  place,  which  could 
only  be  taken  by  hard  and  patient  work. 
But  this  work  was  not  crowned  with  suc 
cess  until  after  several  desperate  assaults 
had  been  made  by  the  Army,  and  a  heavy 
bombardment  by  the  Navy.  All  assaults 
were  failures,  however,  and  it  was  proved 
that  the  great  engineering  skill  of  the 
Confederates  had  produced  a  work  that 
could  only  be  taken  by  the  slow  and  la 
borious  operation  of  a  regular  siege. 

And  here  Admiral  Dahlgren  gives  a  very 

good  reason  why  the  delay  in  reaching 
harleston  subsequently  ensued,  viz.,  that 
there  was  a  paucity  of  troops  in  the  first 
place;  that  there  ought  to  have  been  men 
enough  to  make  the  first  assault  an  assured 
success;  that  Wagner  might  have  been  car 
ried  at  the  first  assault;  Gregg  would  have 
yielded  in  consequence;  Sumter  would  soon 
have  followed,  and  the  iron-clads,  untouched 
by  severe  and  continued  battering,  would 
have  been  in  condition  to  come  quickly  in 
contact  with  the  imperfect  interior  defences. 
The  Admiral  forgot,  however,  that  he  would 
still  have  had  the  line  of  obstructions  to 
break,  and  the  batteries  at  Moultrie  and 
on  Sullivan's  Island  to  pass,  and  that  the 
Monitors  would  have  found  the  same  diffi 
culties  in  forcing  their  way  through  the  in 
terior  defences  as  DuPont  met  with  in  his 
first  attack. 

The  military  and  naval  attacks  were  as 
gallant  as  anything  could  be,  but,  though 
they  achieved  a  great  deal,  they  did  not 
succeed  in  driving  the  enemy  out  of  Wag 
ner  before  he  had  time  to  convert  Fort 
Johnson  from  a  very  imperfect  work  into 
a  powerful  fort.  Moultrie  received  similar 
advantages,  and  most  of  the  cannon  of 
Sumter  were  divided  between  Johnson  and 
Moultrie.  Batteries  were  established  along 
the  south  shore  of  the  channel  from  Fort 


Johnson  towards  the  city;  and  thus  an  in 
terior  defence  was  completed  that  rendered 
access  to  the  upper  harbor  far  more  difficult 
than  it  was  before,  because  a  heavy  fire 
could  be  concentrated  from  additional  bat 
teries  upon  vessels  attempting  to  enter.  In 
fact,  the  enemy  had  profited  by  the  exper 
ience  gained  in  their  outer  defences,  and 
had  placed  their  guns  so  as  to -obtain  a  con 
centrated  fire.  When  the  troops  who  garri 
soned  Wagner  were  informed  that  the  inter 
ior  forts  were  completed,  they  quietly  evacu 
ated  that  post  on  the  eve  of  an  assault  by  the 
Union  troops,  and  occupied  the  new  positions 
so  adroitly  prepared  by  their  able  engineers. 

In  all  the  siege  of  this  tough  work  the 
Navy  bore  a  conspicuous  part,  having  kept 
up  a  continuous  and  heavy  fire  whenever 
the  opportunity  offered.  But  the  more  they 
battered  it,  the  more  apparent  it  became 
that  the  small  force  of  iron  -  clads  off 
Charleston  was  not  capable  of  forcing  its 
way  up  to  the  city  through  obstructions 
that  were  now  commanded  by  the  newly 
built  defences. 

The  services  of  the  vessels  during  the  at 
tack  on  Wagner  were  invaluable,  as  the 
fire  of  their  guns  prevented  the  access  of  re 
inforcements,  or  their  accumulation  between 
Wagner  and  Gregg  ;  and,  in  fact,  without 
the  assistance  of  the  Navy,  the  Army  would 
not  have  been  able  to  maintain  its  position 
a  day  without  further  reinforcements. 

The  boats  of  the  squadron  were  engaged 
on  picket  duty  by  night  along  the  sea-shore 
of  Morris  Island,  and  in  the  little  stream  on 
its  inner  border.  A  detachment  of  seamen 
and  marines  were  also  engaged,  under  Com 
mander  F.  A.  Parker,  in  the  attack  on  the 
batteries  at  Fort  Sumter,  working  four  Navy 
rifled  cannon  that  had  been  landed  for  the 
purpose. 

Besides  the  principal  attacks  made  on 
Wagner,  there  were  few  days  from  the  first 
attack  on  Morris  Island  (July  10)  to  its 
evacuation  (September  7)  that  some  iron 
clads  or  gun-boats  were  not  engaged  with 
the  enemy's  works. 

The  following  table  will  exhibit  the  work 
done  by  the  fleet  from  July  18th  to  Septem 
ber  8th  : 

Object. 
July  18.     Assault  on  Wagner 

July  22.     Wagner 

Tiiiv  QJ.      Wagner    (to    cover) 
July  24.        advance.) j 

July  25.     Wagner  

July  28.     Wagner 

July  29.     Wagner 


Date. 
1863. 


July  30.     Wagner 

July  31.     BaItet]earl11d80n.^?"!?( 
Aug.    1.     Wagner  


Vessels  engaged. 

•Montauk,"  "Ironsides,"  "Catskill," 
"  Nantuoket,"  "  Weebawken,"  "  Pa- 
tapsco,"  "Paul  Jones,"  "Ottawa," 
"Seneca,"  "Chippewa,"  "  Wissa- 
hickon." 

'Nantucket,"  "Ottawa." 

"Weehawken."  "Ironsides,"  "Cat- 
skill,"  "Montauk,"  "  Patapsco," 
"Nantucket,"  "Ottawa,"  "Dai 
Ching,"  "Paul  Jones,"  "Seneca." 

'•Ottawa,"  "Dai Ching,"  "Paul  Jones." 

'Weehawken,"  "Catskill,"  -'Ottawa." 

'Ironsides,"  "Patapsco." 

"Ironsides,"  "Catskill,"  "Patapsco," 
"Ottawa." 

"  Ottawa." 

"Montauk,''  "Patapsco,"  "Catskill," 
"Weehawken,"  "Passaic,"  "Na 
hant,"  "  Marblehead." 


OF   THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


663 


Date. 

Aug. '  2. 
Aug.  4. 
Aug.  6. 

Aug.  8. 
Aug.  11. 
Aug.  13. 

Aug.  14. 
Aug.  15. 


Aug.  17. 

Ang.  18. 

Aug.  19. 
Aug.  20. 
Aug.  21. 

Aug.  22. 
Aug.  23. 

Sept.  1. 
Sept.  5. 
Sept.  6. 

Sept.  7. 
Sept.  8. 


Object. 


Vessels  engaged. 


Wagner "Ottawa."  "Marblehead." 

Wagner..  "Montauk,"  "Marblehead." 

Wagner "  Marblehead." 

Wamer  ("Ottawa,"      "Mahaska,"     "  Marble- 

Wagner  and  vicinity  "Patapsco,"  "Catskill." 
Morris  Island  I  "  Dili  Chin8-"  "Ottawa,"  "Mahaska," 

Q(l \         "  Racer."  "  Wissahickon." 

"Wissahickon,"  "Mahaska,"  "'Dan 
Smith,"  "Ottawa."  "  Dai  Ching," 
"  Racer." 

"  Racer,"  "  Dan  Smith." 
"Weehawken,"  ••  Ironsides,"  "Mon 
tauk,"  "Nahant."  "Catskill." 
"Passaic,"  "Patapsco,"  "Canan- 
daigua."  "Mahaska,"  "Ottawa," 
"  Cimmaron,  "  "  Wissahickon, " 
"Dai  Ching,"  "Lodona." 
"Ironsides,"  "Passaic,"  "Weehaw 
ken,"  "Wissahickon,"  "Mahas 
ka,"  "  Dai  Chiug,"  "  Ottawa," 
"Lodoua." 

Wagner "Ironsides." 

XT      •    T  i      i  ("Ironsides,"  "Mahaska."  "Ottawa," 

Morns  Island >         ,.  Dai  c'hing>..  ..  Lodona  » 

Sumter  and    Wag-  |  "  Ironsides,"       "  Patapsco,"      "  Ma- 

ner )         haska."  "  Dai  Ching. " 

Wo  _  ("Weehawken,"  "Ironsides,"  "  Mon- 

Wa"ner i         tauk." 

|  ''  Weehawken,"     "  Passaic,"     "  Mon- 

^r I         tank,"  "Patapsco,"  "Nahant." 

Weehawken,"  "  Montauk,"  "  Pas 
saic."  "  Patapsco,"  "  Nahant," 
"  Lehigh." 

Between       Sumter  (.,  T   ,,•  ,   „  ,.  XT  ,       .  „ 
an,i  (^P™  i     Lehigh,        Nahant. 

"  Ironsides,"  "  Weehawken,"  "  Mon 
tauk,"  "Passaic,"  "Patapsco," 
"Nahant."  "Lehigh." 

Batteries  on    Sulli-  \  "  Ir?"^n't'  "  PataPsco- "  ".Lehigh," 
hawkeu." 


Morris  Island 

Wagner 

Batteries  on  Morris 
Island  to  direct 
fire  from  the  bat 
teries  which  open 
ed  on  Sumter. 

Wagner,  to  prevent 
assault 


Sumter     and 
structious 


ob- 


and  Grej__ 
Wagner  and  Greg 

Batteries  on    Sul 

van's  Island 

< 

Bitteries   on    Sulli    ("Ironsides,"  ••  Nahant,"  "Patapsco," 
via's  Island  1         ••Lehigh,"     "Montauk,"    "Wee- 


"  Moutauk,"     "Wee 


hawkeu." 
SERVICE  OF  IRON-CLADS. 
SOUTH  ATLANTIC  BLOCKADING  SQUADRON. 

Shots  fired  and  hits  received  by  them  during  operations  against 
Morris  Island: 


Vessels 

No.  of  shots 
fired. 

Hits. 

Hits 
Apr.7, 
1863. 

Hits 
at 
Ogee- 
chee. 

Total 
hits. 

106 
214 
36 
134 
105 
144 
187 
104 
164 

15-in.  |ll-iu. 

Catwkill  "             .... 

13S 
301 
41 
119 
170 
178 
264 
44 

425 
478 
28 
107 
276 
230 
633 
155 
4439 

86 
154 
36 
90 
69 
96 
134 
53 
1C4 

20 
14 

35 
36 

47 
53 
51 

46 
'9 
'l 

Nahant  "  .  .  .  .           

Patapsco  "         

Nantucket  "  

Ironsides  "  

Totals  

1255      6771      882 

256 

56 

1194 

No.  of  shots  fired.     Weight  of  pro.jee.  fired  in  tons. 

By  "  Ironsides  " 4,439  'JHXij 

11-in.  by  Monitors 2332 

15-iu.  by  Monitors 1.255 

Total 8,026 

That  these  vessels  were  subjected  to  a 
terrific  fire  there  can  be  no  doubt  ;  and  it 
shows  that,  though  there  may  have  been 
defects  in  the  building  of  some  of  the 
Monitors,  yet  that  Ericsson's  system  was  the 
most  perfect  one  then  invented,  and  that 
110  ship  in  European  navies  then  built 
could  have  contended  successfully  with  any 
one  of  them  for  an  hour. 

During  the  progress  of  the  engineering 
work  under  General  Gillmore,  which  was 
of  the  most  laborious  kind,  the  iron-clads 
and  gun-boats  played  a  most  conspicuous 
part,  as  has  been  shown  in  instances  already 
quoted.  It  would  have  been  as  easy  for 
the  enemy  to  have  worked  towards  the 
Union  position  as  for  the  Federals  to  ad- 


vance  towards  theirs,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  fire  of  the  vessels  which  confined  them 
to  the  main  fort  and  prevented  their  ex 
tending  its  lines  of  defence.  If  this  had 
not  been  the  case,  the  Confederates  could 
have  kept  pace  with  the  Federal  troops,  and 
the  latter  at  the  end  of  a  month  would  have 
been  no  nearer  their  object  than  before. 
But  the  naval  commanders  were  always  on 
the  alert  to  sweep  the  plain,  and  prevent 
the  erection  of  any  new  works  on  the  side 
of  Wagner,  or  any  assault  on  Gillmore's 
position.  In  fact,  the  fire  from  the  fleet  en 
filaded  the  entire  width  of  the  narrow 
island,  and  not  only  absolutely  interdicted 
any  aggressive  operations  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy,  but  kept  them  constantly  occupied 
in  repairing  damages  to  the  main  work  ; 
and.  finally,  on  the  day  before  the  last  as 
sault  was  contemplated,  Dahlgren  took  in 
his  whole  force  of  iron  dads  and  battered 
the  fort  into  sand-heaps. 

History  cannot  but  award  great  praise 
to  the  brave  Confederates  who  remained 
at  their  posts  for  two  months  under  this 
terrible  fire,  and  kept  a  great  Army  and 
Navy  at  bay  until  their  interior  defences 
were  so  strengthened  that  they  could  af 
ford  to  abandon  the  outer  work. 

The  operations  of  the  iron-clads  at  Morris 
Island  were  appropriately  closed  by  a 
severe  contest  with  Forts  Moultrie  and 
Beauregard,  Battery  Bee,  and  all  the  bat 
teries  on  Sullivan's  Island,  to  relieve  the 
"  Weehawken,"  which  vessel  had  grounded 
under  their  guns  and  was  in  great  danger, 
the  tide  having  fallen  and  exposed  her  un 
protected  hull.  This  last  affair  showed 
conclusively  that  Fort  Moultrie  and  the 
batteries  mentioned  might  have  been 
attacked  with  success,  could  a  strong  force 
of  Federal  troops  with  heavy  rifled  guns 
have  been  stationed  on  Sullivan's  Island,  to 
co-operate,  as  was  done  at  Morris  Island. 
No  doubt  the  struggle  would  have  been  a 
severe  one,  but,  if  as  ably  carried  out  as  in 
the  first  instance,  success  would  assuredly 
have  followed. 

It  is  not  always  easy  for  the  historian  to 
give  the  full  credit  where  it  is  due.  He 
must  be  governed  by  the  official  reports, 
except  in  cases  where  there  are  glaring  in 
consistencies.  Hence  the  tabulated  form 
of  reports  adopted  by  Rear-Admiral  Dahl 
gren  has  been  followed.  This  plan  is  in 
tended  to  show  at  a  glance  what  each  ves 
sel  had  done  ;  but,  with  all  the  care  a  com 
manding  officer  may  take  to  do  justice  to 
his  subordinates,  discrepancies  will  creep 
into  official  reports  at  times.  This  may  im 
ply  a  want  of  accuracy  on  the  part  of  a 
commander-in-chief,  when,  in  fact,  it  may 
have  been  due  to  the  hurried  performance 
of  a  multiplicity  of  duties,  or  to  the  indis 
cretion  of  a  secretary.  But  it  is  the  duty 


664 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


of  the  historian  to  correct  these  discrepan 
cies  when  they  are  manifest,  where  it  can 
be  done  without  raising  questions  that 
might  end  in  angry  controversies. 

There  was  published  in  the  Army  and 
Navy  Journal,  on  the  16th  of  April,  1864,  a 
review  of  the  services  of  the  Monitors  in 
Southern  waters.  Commander  Edward 
Simpson,  in  a  report  dated  April  21st.  ex 
pressed  himself  as  dissatisfied  with  the 
amount  of  credit  given  his  vessel,  the 
"  Passaic,"  in  the  official  reports.  On  the 
29th  of  July,  1863,  the  "Passaic''  went  into 
action  with  Fort  Wagner,  followed  by  the 
"  Patapsco"  and  the  "  New  Ironsides."  The 
presence  of  the  "  Passaic"  is  not  mentioned 
in  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren's  review. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  1863,  the  most  se 
rious  engagement  in  which  the  iron-clads 
had  yet  taken  part  occurred  between  Fort 
Moultrie  on  one  side,  and  the  Monitors 
"Patapsco,"  "Weehawken,"  "Passaic," 


COMMANDER   (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)   EDWARD   SIMPSON. 


and  "Nahant"  on  the  other;  the  detach 
ment  being  under  the  command  of  -Com 
mander  T.  H.  Stevens,  on  board  the  "  Pas 
saic."  During  the  action,  the  "Passaic" 
grounded  about  half  a  mile  from  Fort  Moul 
trie,  and  was  severely  hammered  by  the 
guns  of  that  work  before  she  floated  off. 
This  affair  was  not  mentioned  in  the  re 
view,  though  it  was  a  much  more  serious 
one  than  the  engagements  with  Wagner 
and  Battery  Gregg,  on  Morris  Island. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  actions  between  iron-clads  and 
shore  -  batteries  that  ever  occurred  was 
fought  under  command  of  Commodore 
S.  C.  Rowan,  between  the  batteries  on 


Sullivan's  Island  on  the  .one  side,  and  the 
"New  Ironsides,"  "Patapsco,"  "  Lehigh," 
"Passaic,"  •' Nahant,"  and  "  Weehawken" 
(aground),  on  the  other.  This  action  lasted 
three  hours,  and  terminated  in  silencing 
the  fire  of  the  batteries  on  the  island. 

During  this  action,  the  "Passaic"  was  at 
the  head  of  the  line,  having  received  an  or 
der  from  the  Commodore  as  she  was  going 
into  action  to  go  well  up  and  engage  Bat 
tery  Bee.  In  this  affair  the  vessel  was  hit 
in  fifty-one  new  places. 

The  presence  of  the  "  Passaic "  is  not 
mentioned.  It  was  very  difficult  to  keep 
this  vessel  in  effective  condition  for  firing, 
as  her  turret  had  got  jammed  on  the  6th  of 
September,  which  caused  the  spindle  and 
pilot  house  to  take  up  motion  with  the  tur 
ret,  thus  disabling  the  steering  gear,  which 
required  the  most  ingenious  expedients  to 
rectify. 

After  all  his  efforts  to  keep  his  vessel 
available,  and  after  having  endured  such  a 
battering  from  Moultrie's  lu-iiich  shot,  it  was 
disheartening  to  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Simpson  to  find  that  the  presence  of  his 
vessel  in  this  action  was  not  mentioned, 
particularly  as  she  had  been  more  bat 
tered  than  any  in  the  Monitor  fleet. 

Admiral  Dahlgren,  however,  did  in  a 
measure  rectify  this  mistake,  as  will  ap 
pear  from  the  following 

"  ADDITIONAL  LIST  OF  ACTIONS,  in  which  the 
iron  clads  were  engaged  with  the  Confederate  bat 
teries  in  Charleston  harbor  while  reducing  Morris 
Island." 


.Date. 
1863. 

Name. 

Ko'ds 
fired. 

Hits  by 
Enemy 

Dist'iice 
Yards. 

Object. 

Remarks. 

July  18. 

"New  Ironsides.  ' 

805 

4 

1,400 

Wagner 

July  20. 

«            .< 

168 

13 

1,300 

Wagner. 

Aug.  23. 

"           •• 

90 

4 

. 

Wagner. 

Ship    was 

underway 

—distance 

v  a  r  i  e  d 

from  1,100 

t  o      1,300 

yards. 

Sept.   2. 

.«           « 

41 

1,000 

Gregg. 

Hits  from 

Gregg  and 

Moultrie. 

Ship      a  t 

anchor. 

Sept.   2. 

..           ., 

9 

1,500 

Surater. 

Sept.   5. 

•• 

488 

1,300 

Wagner. 

Sept.    5. 

" 

32 

'i 

1,800 

Gregg. 

Hit    from 

Gregg. 

"On  July  29th,  the  'Passaic'  engaged  Wagner, 
and  on  August  31st  Moultrie.  On  September  8th. 
the  '  Passaic  '  (in  a  disabled  condition),  '  Patapsco/ 
'Weehawken,' and  'Nahant'  engaged  Moultrie." 

This  was  scant  justice  to  an  officer  who 
had  so  well  maintained  the  reputation  of 
the  Navy  at  Charleston,  under  the  hottest 
fire;  but,  no  doubt,  he  obtained  full  credit 
from  his  comrades  in  arms,  who,  after  all, 
are  the  ones  who  appreciate  a  brother  offi 
cer's  services  on  such  occasions. 

One  of  the  points  in  the  efficiency  of  the 
iron-clads  was  the  manner  in  which  they 
had  almost  closed  up  the  harbor  of  Charles- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


665 


ton  against  the  blockade- runners.  We  say 
almost,  for.  notwithstanding  all  the  watch 
fulness  of  the  officers  on  patrol  duty,  some 
of  these  vessels  did  force  their  way  in,  and 
even  succeeded  in  getting  as  far  as  Moul- 
trie.  where  they  thought  themselves  secure. 

On  February  3d,  1804,  at  daylight,  a  beau 
tiful  blockade  -  runner,  the  "Presto,"  was 
perceived  close  under  the  batteries  of  Moul- 
trie,  which  was  the  first  notice  of  her  pres 
ence,  she  having  crept  in  during  the  night 
under  the  management  of  some  daring  cap 
tain,  who  was.  no  doubt,  assisted  by  range- 
lights.  He  had  anchored  close  to  Moultrie, 
intending,  no  doubt,  to  go  up  to  Charleston 
as  soon  as  he  could  get  a  pilot  to  take  him 
through  the  obstructions.  Dahlgren  at 
once  ordered  up  the  nearest  Monitor,  and 
directed  her  commander  to  open  fire  upon 
the  intruder  with  his  rifled  gun  from  a  dis  • 
tance  of  about  2,500  yards.  Other  Monitors 
were  ordered  up  in  succession,  for  it  was 
desirable  to  show  these  blockade-runners 
that  Charleston  was  a  sealed  port  to  them. 
The  "  Lehigh."  "  Passaic."  "  Catskill  "  and 
"  Nahant "  opened  on  the  doomed  vessel. 
Colonel  Davis,  commanding  Morris  Island, 
also  opened  from  Fort  Strong  and  Battery 
Gregg,  and  the  steamer  was  soon  set  on  fire 
and  destroyed. 

It  was  remarkable  that,  under  the  circum 
stances,  any  blockade-runner  should  have 
attempted  such  a  dare-devil  feat  ;  but  the 
greed  of  gain  was  overpowering  in  that 
class  of  people,  and  one  successful  trip 
often  made  them  rich  for  life. 

There  was  no  end  to  the  energy  of  the 
Confederates,  who.  after  they  had  lost  the 
forts  on  Morris  Island  and  seen  Sumter 
battered  out  of  shape  by  the  Army  and 
Navy,  determined  to  show  that  they  were 
not  at  all  subdued.  They  had  strengthened 
the  works  in  the  inner  harbor  above  Moul 
trie,  and  made  the  place  more  difficult  of 
approach  than  ever.  Colonel  Davis  held 
Morris  Island  up  to  Cummings'  Point  and 
commanded  Sumter,  which  was  of  no  use 
to  any  one,  with  his  guns. 

General  Gillmore,  who  seemed  to  think 
for  the  present  that  he  had  done  all  he  could 
to  close  the  port  against  blockade-runners, 
informed  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren,  on  Feb 
ruary  5th.  18G4.  that  he  was  about  to  throw 
a  force  into  Florida,  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  St.  John's  River,  and  desired  his  assist 
ance.  In  consequence,  three  gun-  boats 
were  sent  to  the  St.  John's  River  by  the 
commander-in-chief,  who,  the  same  even 
ing,  departed  himself  for  that  point,  leav 
ing  the  blockade  of  Charleston  in  charge  of 
Commodore  Rowan.  This  was  virtually 
abandoning  the  attempt  to  capture  Charles 
ton,  that  long-cherished  object  of  the  Navy 
Department,  and  seeking  a  new  and  much 
less  important  field  of  operations.  But  as 


this  expedition  only  required  the  presence 
of  the  Navy  while  the  troops  were  disem 
barking,  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  soon  after 
returned  to  Port  Royal,  leaving  a  sufficient 
force  of  gun-boats  in  the  St.  John's  River 
to  co-operate  with  the  Army  if  necessary. 

The  Confederates  were  not  slow  to  take 
advantage  of  the  lull  which  had  taken 
place  after  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  that 
had  been  poured  down  upon  their  devoted 
heads,  and  their  torpedo  corps  went  to 
work  to  fit  out  another  "  David  "  (or  torpedo- 
boat),  after  the  plan,  with  improvements, 
of  the  one  that  had  attempted  to  blow  up 
the  "Ironsides."  The  first  attempt  was 
such  a  complete  failure  that  the  Federal 
officers  on  the  outside  blockade  had  grown 
somewhat  careless. 

As  early  as  January  14,  1864,  the  Navy 
Department  had  written  to  Rear-Admiral 
Dahlgren,  informing  him  that  it  had  re 
ceived  notice  that  the  Confederates  had  on 
foot  a  plan  to  blow  up  his  fleet,  and  that 
it  considered  it  of  sufficient  importance 
to  notify  him  of  it.  Dahlgren.  however, 
did  not  think  that  such  a  plan  would  be 
carried  out  against  the  vessels  blockading 
outside  of  the  harbor,  but  only  against  the 
iron-dads  on  the  inside ;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  thought  it  advisable  to  give  notice 
to  the  officers  on  the  outer  blockade,  so 
that  they  might  be  on  their  guard.  Not 
withstanding  these  precautions,  the  Con 
federates  managed  to  get  one  of  their  tor 
pedo-boats  over  the  bar.  and  on  the  night 
of  the  17th  of  February  the  fine  new  ship 
"  Housatonic,"  while  lying  at  anchor  off 
Charleston,  in  a  most  convenient  position 
to  be  attacked  by  torpedo-boats,  was  de 
stroyed  under  the  folio  wing  circumstances  : 

At  about  8:45  p.  M.,  the  officer  of  the 
deck  on  board  the  "  Housatonic,"  Acting- 
Master  J.  K.  Crosby,  discovered  something 
in  the  water,  about  one  hundred  yards 
away,  moving  towards  the  ship.  All  the 
officers  in  the  squadron  had  been  informed 
of  the  character  of  the  "  Davids,"  and 
what  they  looked  like  on  the  water.  The 
commander-in-chief  had  had  printed  full 
descriptions  of  these  infernal  machines, 
and  directions  as  to  the  best  manner  of 
avoiding  them.  He  had  attached  more 
importance  to  torpedoes  than  persons  gen 
erally  did  at  that  time,  and  considered 
that  they  constituted  the  most  formidable 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  getting  to  Charles 
ton.  He  felt  that  the  whole  line  of  block 
ade  would  probably  be  attacked  with  these 
cheap,  convenient  and  formidable  weapons, 
and  that  officers  should  adopt  every  means 
to  guard  against  them. 

When  this  machine  was  first  seen  by  the 
officer  of  the  deck,  it  had  the  appearance  of 
a  plank  moving  along  on  the  water.  It 
came  directly  towards  the  ship,  and,  within 


666 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


two  minutes  of  the  time  it  was  first  sighted, 
was  alongside.  The  chain  was  slipped, 
the  engine  backed,  and  all  hands  called  to 
quarters.  But  it  was  too  late — the  torpedo 
struck  the  "Housatonic"  just  forward  of 
the  main-mast  on  the  starboard  side,  in  a 
line  with  the  magazine.  The  man  who 
steered  her  knew  where  the  vulnerable 
spots  of  the  steamer  were,  and  he  did  his 
work  well.  As  the  after  pivot-gun  was 
pivoted  to  port,  it  was  found  impossible  to 
bring  a  gun  to  bear  on  the  daring  intruder, 
while  those  on  board  of  her  were  coolly 
making  their  arrangements  to  knock  a 
hole  in  the  ship's  bottom,  for  the  "  David" 
laid  alongside  a  full  minute.  When  the  ex 
plosion  took  place  the  ship  trembled  all 
over,  as  if  by  the  shock  of  an  earthquake, 
and  seemed  to  be  lifted  out  of  the  water, 
and  then  sank  stern  foremost,  heeling  to 
port  as  she  went  down. 

It  must  have  been  a  large  hole  in  the  bot 
tom  that  could  sink  her  so  rapidly.  There 
was,  of  course,  great  consternation  on  board 
at  this  unlooked-for  event,  for  there  is  noth 
ing  more  appalling  than  to  have  a  torpedo 
exploded  under  a  ship's  bottom.  A  hun 
dred  pounds  of  powder  on  a  pole,  is  enough 
to  blow  the  bottom  through  the  heaviest 
iron-clad — how  destructive  must  it  have 
been  then  to  a  wooden  vessel !  Most  of  the 
crew  flew  up  the  rigging  for  safety,  and 
all  order  was  at  an  end  on  board  the 
"Housatonic."  Her  captain  (Pickering) 
was  stunned  and  somewhat  bruised  by  the 
concussion,  and  the  order  of  the  day  was 
"  sauve  qui  pent"  A  boat  was  dispatched 
to  the  "  Canandaigua,"  not  far  off,  and  that 
vessel  at  once  responded  to  the  request  for 
help,  and  succeeded  in  rescuing  all  but  the 
following  officers  and  men,  who  are  sup 
posed  to  have  been  drowned  :  Ensign  E.  C. 
Hazletine,  Captain's  Clerk  C.  O.  Muzzey, 
Quartermaster  John  Williams,  Landsman 
Theodore  Parker,  and  Fireman  John  Walsh. 

Strange  to  say,  the  "  David  "  was  not  seen 
after  the  explosion,  and  was  supposed  to 
have  slipped  away  in  the  confusion;  but 
when  the  "Housatonic"  was  inspected  by 
divers,  the  torpedo-boat  was  found  sticking 
in  the  ^hole  she  had  made,  having  been 
drawn  in  by  the  rush  of  water,  and  all  her 
crew  were  found  dead  in  her.  It  was  a 
reckless  adventure  these  men  had  engaged 
in,  and  one  in  which  they  could  scarcely  have 
hoped  to  succeed.  They  had  tried  it  once 
before  inside  the  harbor,  against  the  "Iron 
sides,"  with  the  same  boat,  or  one  very  simi 
lar,  and  failed,  and  some  of  the  crew  had 
been  blown  overboard.  How  could  they 
hope  to  succeed  on  the  outside,  where  the 
sea  might  be  rough,  when  the  speed  of  the 
"David  "would  not  be  over  five  knots  an 
hour,  and  when  they  might  be  driven  out 
to  sea  ?  Reckless  as  it  might  be,  it  was  the 


most  sublime  patriotism,  and  showed  the 
length  to  which  men  could  be  urged  in 
behalf  of  a  cause  for  which  they  were  willing 
to  give  their  lives  and  all  they  held  most 
dear. 

Torpedo  practice  was  at  that  time  cried 
down  by  humanitarians,  but  the  use  of  it  in 
war  was  perfectly  legitimate,  and  had  the 
Federal  Government  availed  itself  of  it  a 
little  more  freely,  fewer  blockade-runners. 
and  less  munitions  of  war,  provisions  and 
clothing  would  have  reached  the  Con 
federate  armies.  What  was  considered 
un-Christian  warfare  then,  is  now  resorted 
to  by  all  nations,  only  in  more  destructive 
shapes.  The  torpedo  which  was  so  success 
fully  used  by  the  Confederates  was  a  very 
primitive  arrangement.  It  has  been  so  im 
proved  and  enlarged  in  destructive  ability 
that  it  bids  fair  to  become  a  great  factor  in 
keeping  the  peace  throughout  the  world: 
and  those  nations  which  have  built  great 
iron-clad  fleets,  with  which  to  dominate 
weaker  nations,  may  well  stop  to  consider 
whether  it  is  worth  while  to  extend  the 
system,  in  view  of  the  advances  made  in 
the  locomotive  torpedo,  which  will  likely 
put  the  smaller  nations  more  on  a  par  with 
the  stronger  ones. 

It  was  to  the  naval  officers  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy  that  we  were  mostly  indebted 
for  what  we  knew  about  torpedoes.  At  the 
present  time  we  may  have  improved  on  the 
slow- moving  "David,"  which  could  only 
make  five  miles  an  hour,  and  brought  up 
the  speed  of  the  present  torpedo-boats  to 
twenty  knots  an  hour;  but  we  are  not  at  all 
in  advance  of  the  system  adopted  by  the 
Confederates,  which,  if  it  did  not  keep  the 
Navy  out  of  their  harbors,  yet  contributed 
in  a  great  measure  in  prolonging  the  war, 
and  was  the  cause  of  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  losing  a  large  number  of  valuable 
vessels-of-war.  The  energy  of  the  Confed 
erates  in  regard  to  their  inventions  in  the 
torpedo  line  was  most  remarkable,  and  in 
quite  strong  contrast  to  that  of  the  other- 
side.  During  the  whole  war  the  Federals 
never  invented  anything  except  a  torpedo 
in  a  steam  launch,  called  the  Wood-Lay 
torpedo,  which  was  nearly  as  dangerous  to 
the  crew  as  to  the  enemy. 

In  March,  1864,  the  gun-boats  in  Florida, 
under  the  command  of  Commander  George 
B.  Balch,  were  participating  in  the  expedi 
tion  up  the  St.  John's  River.  When  the 
Federal  troops  landed,  they  threw  up  such 
heavy  intrenchments  that  it  was  not  likely 
the  Confederates  could  make  much  impres 
sion  on  them.  The  Confederates  of  that 
region,  however,  did  not  propose  to  allow 
their  native  State  to  be  invaded  without 
making  a  stubborn  resistance,  and  left  no 
means  untried  to  annoy  the  military  posi- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


667 


tions  whenever  there  was  an  opportunity  of 
doing  so.  But  the  gun-boats  were  gener 
ally  at  hand  with  their  heavy  guns  and 
bursting  shells,  and  the  Southerners  were 
usually  discomfited. 

General  Gordon  landed  at  Jacksonville 
on  the  9th  of  May,  and  assumed  command 
of  the  district  of  Florida ;  and,  in  view  of 
the  long  line  of  river  to  be  kept  open,  oJb- 
jected  to  any  reduction  of  the  naval  force 
in  the  St.  John's  River,  in  which  Com 
mander  Balch  concurred  with  him. 

The  activity  of  the  Confederates  in  this 
quarter,  as  elsewhere,  was  very  marked  ; 
for,  though  they  yielded  up  all  the  forts 
along  the  coast,  they  seemed  determined  to 
resist  any  further  entrance  of  Federal 
troops  into  the  interior  of  the  State,  and 
they  tried  to  confine  the  Navy  as  much  as 
possible  to  the  lower  part  of  the  St.  John's 
River. 

Notwithstanding  the  vigilance  of  the 
naval  commanders,  the  Confederates  suc 
ceeded  in  planting  torpedoes  in  the  river 
in  the  channel.  On  May  10th,  the  steamer 
"Harriet  A.  Weed"  ran  into  two  of  these 
torpedoes,  which  exploded  at  the  same  mo 
ment  and  completely  destroyed  the  vessel, 
sinking  her  in  less  than  one  minute's  time, 
with  five  men  killed  and  ten  badly  wounded. 

The  naval  force  employed  in  the  St.  John's 
River,  under  Commander  Balch,  was  com 
posed  of  the  "Pawnee,"  "Mahaska"  and 
"Norwich,"  off  Jacksonville,  and  the  "Ot 
tawa  "  at  Palatka.  With  such  a  small  force 
it  would  have  been  impossible  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  practicing  their  system  of 
torpedo  warfare,  which  they  had  found  to 
be  so  effective  wherever  the  Federal  gun 
boats  were  employed. 

On  about  the  last  of  March,  the  transport 
''Maple-leaf"  offered  another  success  for 
the  Confederates,  and  was  blown  up  by  a 
torpedo,  fifteen  miles  above  Jacksonville — 
this  being  the  highway  to  Palatka  and 
above,  where  Federal  troops  were  being 
constantly  transported.  The  duty  on  the 
river  became  very  hazardous,  for  a  severe 
torpedo  warfare  was  carried  on  in  small 
boats  during  dark  nights  by  the  Confederate 
torpedo  corps,  which  first  made  its  appear 
ance  on  the  Mississippi  in  1862. 

The  above  operations  in  Florida  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  lasted  from  March  6th  to 
April  16th,  when  orders  were  received  from 
the  War  Department  for  the  troops  to  be 
sent  North,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
gun-boats  were  withdrawn  ;  bilt  while  em 
ployed  with  the  Army,  Commander  Balch, 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  S.  Livingston 
Breese,  of  the  "  Ottawa,"  and  the  com 
manders  of  the  "  Mahaska "  and  "Nor 
wich  "  performed  good  and  gallant  service. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  there  were 
not  constantly  occurring  gallant  affairs  on 


the  Federal  side  as  well  as  on  that  of  the  Con 
federates  ;  for  though  the  latter  resorted  to 
every  means  in  their  power  to  damage  the 
Federal  vessels,  yet  the  officers  of  the  Navy 
were  ever  on  the  alert  to  take  advantage  of 
anything  that  would  enable  them  to  circum 
vent  the  enemy.  These  were  small  affairs, 
but  they  were  hazardous,  and  showed  the 
skill  of  the  Union  officers  and  men. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  a  steamer,  supposed 
to  be  loading  with  cotton,  was  discovered  up 
the  Santee  River,  at  a  point  called  McClel- 
lansville,  and  Commodore  Rowan,  senior 
officer  of  the  blockading  squadron,  ordered 
Lieutenant  A.  W.  Weaver,  of  the  gun-boat 
"  Winona,"  to  fit  out  an  expedition  and  cut 
her  out.  Accordingly,  an  expedition  was 
started  from  the  "  Winona,"  under  the  com 
mand  of  Acting-Master  E.  H.  Sheffield  (exe 
cutive  officer),  consisting  of  the  gig  and 
second  and  third  cutters.  Acting-Ensign 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  (NOW  CAPTAIN)   A.  W.  WEAVER. 


Wm.  McKendry  was  in  charge  of  one 
cutter,  Acting -Master's  Mate  L.  N.  Cprn- 
thwait  in  charge  of  the  other,  with  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon  Charles  Little  and  As 
sistant  -  Engineer  W.  I.  Barrington  ;  the 
sailors  consisted  of  21  of  the  crew.  Mr. 
Sheffield  had  orders  to  proceed  up  the  San- 
tee,  capture  the  steamer  if  possible,  and 
bring  her  out:  if  not,  to  burn  her.  Cutting- 
out  expeditions  are  always  hazardous,  and 
this  was  no  exception  to  the  rule. 

It  was  a  dark  night  with  drizzling  rain, 
just  such  a  night  as  an  enemy  might  be  sup 
posed  to  be  taking  care  of  himself  in  snug 
quarters.  The  boats  had  to  thread  their  way 
in  the  uncertain  darkness  through  marshes, 
with  their  numberless  small  ditches  or 
creeks.  They  could  not  be  positive  whither 
they  were  going,  and  frequently  lost  their 
way.  But,  at  6  in  the  morning,  the  com 
mander  of  the  expedition  sighted  the  steamer 


6G8 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


lying  at  anchor  off  the  bank,  when  the  boats 
pushed  ahead  for  the  anticipated  prize. 

As  the  boats  got  near  the  vessel,  a  large 
number  of  men  were  seen  to  be  rushing 
about  the  decks,  and  a  boat  was  lowered  ; 
when  the  boats  of  the  "  Winona"  boarded 
her,  drove  the  men  below,  and  a  sentry  was 
placed  at  each  hatch.  The  captain  of  the 
prize  had  been  captured  by  the  sailors 
while  attempting  to  make  his  way  on  shore. 

There  being  no  indication  of  a  battery 
on  shore,  Engineer  Barrington  immediately 
commenced  to  start  the  fires.  The  chain 
was  hove  short,  but  the  vessel  was  so  fast 
ened  by  stern  chains  that  were  shackled 
around  her  after-bitts  that  it  was  found 
impossible  to  slip  them,  and  the  party  com 
menced  to  cut  them  with  cold-chisels,  when 
a  masked  battery  of  three  rifled  guns 
opened  on  them  and  put  a  stop  to  their  pro 
ceedings.  The  shot,  fired  at  short  range, 
went  in  one  side  and  out  the  other — one 
penetrating  the  steam-drum  and  another 
the  boilers,  destroying  the  tubes,  etc. 

The  artillerists  had  evidently  been  pre 
pared  for  the  attack,  and  perforated  the  ves 
sel  in  many  places,  evidently  determined  to 
disable  her  in  case  she  was  boarded.  The  fire 
of  the  enemy  was  successful,  and,  as  the  ves 
sel  was  iron  and  could  not  be  burned,  the 
party  were  obliged  to  leave  or  be  cut  to 
pieces.  The  result  was  a  retreat  after  a  gal 
lant  attack  that  ought  to  have  been  success 
ful,  and  it  detracts  nothing  from  the  gal 
lantry  of  this  affair  that  it  was  not  so. 

Operations  in  Florida  continued  on  a  small 
scale — Commander  Balch,  in  the  "'Pawnee," 
and  two  gun-boats  being  stationed  there  to 
assist  the  Army.  Not  much  scope  existed 
for  brilliant  action;  but  now  and  then  a 
small  expedition  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy 
or  capture  some  river  steamer  would  be 
fitted  out  by  young  officers,  who  showed 
great  cleverness  and  gallantry  in  most  of 
the  planned  expeditions  undertaken,  partic 
ularly  in  one  by  General  Gordon,  opposite 
Palatka — backed  by  the  Navy;  and,  though 
they  were  of  no  great  import,  were  always 
successful. 

It  is  pleasant  to  see  that  the  Navy  service 
was  appreciated  by  the  Army,  as  will  ap 
pear  by  the  following  letter  : 


HEADQUARTERS  OF  AUXILIARY  COLUMN  TO 

GORDON'S  COMMAND, 
JACKSONVILLE,  FLORIDA,  June  3,  1864. 

CAPTAIN  —  It  is  a  duty  and  pleasure  to  express 
through  you  to  the  officers  and  privates  of  your 
branch  of  the  service,  my  high  sense  of  the  effi 
cient  aid  rendered  by  them  to  my  column  in  their 
advance,  auxiliary  to  Gordon's  late  expedition. 

We  found  the  whole  extent  of  the  waters  to  be 
traversed  by  one  portion  of  the  expedition  had 
been  thoroughly  searched  for  torpedoes,  and  that, 
in  the  vicinity  of  our  landing,  your  picket-boats  had 
pervaded  and  patrolled  every  part  of  the  surface. 


I  desire  you  particularly  to  express  to  Captain 
Lewis  iny  thanks  for  his  admirable  arrangements 
for  the  rapid  landing  of  the  troops,  and  his  efficient 
supervision  thereof. 

Accept,  also,  for  yourself  our  obligations  for 
the  prompt  and  complete  arrangements  made  by 
you  to  protect  and  effect  our  transportation  and  de 
barkation. 

I  am,  Captain,  with  sentiments  of  high  respect 
and  regard,  your  obedient  servant,  etc..  etc., 

W.  H.  NOBLE, 

Colonel  Commanding  Auxiliary  Column. 
CAPTAIN  GEO.  B.  BALCH, 

Commanding  Naval  /Squadron,  St.  John's  River. 

In  these  small  affairs  whatever  was  at 
tempted  was  well  executed,  under  the  effici 
ent  preparations  made  by  Captain  Balch,  in 
all  cases  where  the  land  forces  wanted  assist 
ance;  and  the  officers  under  his  command, 
guided  by  his  example,  left  nothing  undone 
to  assist  the  Army,  no  matter  how  unreason 
able  its  demands  might  sometimes  be.  Cap 
tain  Balch  was  not  a  precise  officer,  but  a 
very  gallant  one,  and  his  name  frequently 
appears  in  the  dispatches  of  the  commaiider- 
in-chief  as  always  doing  well  in  whatever 
situation  he  was  placed. 

The  operations  of  the  Navy  were  con 
ducted  all  along  the  coast  of  South  Carolina 
and  in  Florida,  after  the  active  and  exciting 
raids  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston.  Sev 
eral  vessels  were  taken  by  the  enemy  :  the 
"Columbine,"  a  captured  river- boat,  was 
retaken  by  the  Confederates  up  the  St.  John's 
River,  and  the  U.  S.  S.  "Water  Witch" 
captured  by  a  number  of  boats  in  Ossabaw 
Sound  after  a  gallant  defence;  but  these 
were  small  mishaps,  and  to  be  expected  in  a 
large  base  of  operations.  The  last  mentioned 
might  have  been  avoided  by  shifting  the 
berth  after  dark,  and  keeping  the  watch  at 
quarters  in  a  place  where  a  boarding  ex 
pedition  of  the  enemy  was  to  have  been 
expected.  They  were  quite  as  fertile  in  ex 
pedients  to  destroy  and  capture  as  were  the 
Federal  forces.  Most  of  the  officers  of  the 
"  Water  Witch  "  were  wounded  during  the 
first  of  the  attack,  and  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Austin  Pendergrast,  the  command 
ing  officer,  was  himself  cut  down  with  sword 
in  hand,  bravely  defending  his  vessel.  It  was 
thought  by  him  that  but  for  the  casualties 
among  his  officers  the  enemy  would  have 
been  repulsed  ;  but  they  were  not.  and 
therein  lies  the  difference.  The  "Water 
Witch  "  was  a  favorite  little  steamer,  which 
had  performed  some  remarkably  good  ser 
vice,  and  her  loss  caused  great  regret. 

Amid  all  their  gallantry,  there  were  too 
many  occasions  in  which  the  Confederates 
departed  from  the  usages  of  war,  and  prac 
ticed  unnecessary  cruelty  on  their  pris 
oners.  This  occurred  in  the  case  of  the  offi 
cers  and  men  of  the  "Water  Witch."  The 
surgeon  supposed  that  he  would  be  treated 
according  to  the  usual  manner  of  captured 
medical  officers.  Understanding  that  there 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


G69 


was  an  arrangement  between  the  Federals 
and  Confederates  that  the  medical  officers 
should  be  permitted  to  attend  their  own 
wounded,  and,  after  there  was  no  longer 
any  necessity  for  their  services,  be  allowed 
to  depart.  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon  W.  H. 
Pierson  made  a  request  in  writing  to  Flag- 
officer  W.  W.  Hunter,  that  the  Confed 
erate  Secretary  of  the  Navy  be  applied  to 
for  his  release,  according  to  the  supposed 
agreement  ;  but  he  only,  after  a  second  ap 
plication,  received  for  answer  the  following 
letter: 

SAVANNAH,  July  17.  1864 

I  have  received  your  note  of  this  day.     In  reply, 
I  have  to  inform  you  that  I  am  instructed  by  the 
honorable  Secretary  of  the  Xavv  as  follows,   viz. : 
*•  When  the  services  of  Assistant- Surgeon  Pierson, 
*•  United  States  Navy,  are  no  longer  needed  with  the 
wounded  officers  and  men  in  the  hospital,  he  will 
be  turned  over  to  the  proper  military  authorities  to 
be  treated  as  other  prisoners-of-war"." 
Respectfully, 

W.  W.  HUNTER, 

Flag-Officer,  etc. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  edict,  this 
gentleman  was  sent  to  Macon  Prison.  His 
daily  ration  consisted  of  one  pint  of  unbolted 
corn-meal,  a  tablespoonful  of  rice,  a  little 
miserable  and  sometimes  maggoty  bacon 
(called,  in  derision,  soap-grease)  a  very  little 
salt,  and  a  moderate  supply  of  poor  mo 
lasses.  It  was  said  at  that  time  that  the 
same  ration  was  served  out  to  Confederate 
soldiers;  if  that  was  so,  they  were  in  a  bad 
strait,  and  could  not  help  it.  But  there  is 
always  a  courtesy  due  a  prisoner  of-war 
taken  in  honest  battle,  and  it  is  quite  evi 
dent  that  this  courtesy  was  not  extended  to 
Union  officers. 

It  is  but  fair  to  say  that,  through  the  Con 
federate  surgeons,  Assistant-Surgeon  Pier- 
son  afterwards  received  better  treatment, 
was  finally  released  through  the  same  in 
fluence,  and  found  himself  under  the  old  flag 
again,  without  any  conditions. 

We  dislike,  and  have  always  avoided  as 
much  as  possible  referring  to  cruelties  prac 
ticed  by  the  Confederates  in  retaliation  for 
supposed  injuries  received  by  Southern 
prisoners — or  for  the  purpose  of  prevent 
ing  Federal  batteries  firing  on  besieged 
places.  But  the  following  letter,  received 
in  June  from  the  Confederate  commander 
at  Charleston,  must  have  shocked  the  sense 
of  humanity  and  propriety  which  every 
gallant  officer  must  feel  at  having  to  carry 
out  such  an  order.  It  plainly  showed  what 
straits  the  Confederates  were  in  when  they 
could  resort  to  such  a  measure  to  prevent 
besiegers  from  firing  on  a  city  which  was  a 
fair  object  of  attack  according  to  the  strict 
est  rules  of  war,  and  when,  if  the  besieged 
non-combatants  were  in  any  danger,  it  was 
the  duty  of  the  military  authorities  to  have 
them  removed,  unless  they  determined  to 
remain  and  stand  the  consequences  : 


HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  MILITARY  DISTRICT,  ) 

DEP'T  OF  S.  C.,  GA.,  AND  FLORIDA.     > 

June,  13,  1864.          ) 

GENERAL — I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  for  trans 
mission  to  the  Commanding  General  of  the  United 
States  forces  on  this  coast,  a  letter  from  Major 
Samuel  Jones,  commanding  this  Department.  The 
letter  informs  him  that  five  generals  and  45  field- 
officers  of  the  Federal  army,  prisoners,  have  been 
ordered  to  be  confined  in  Charleston.  These  officers 
have  been  placed  in  my  charge,  and  will  be  pro 
vided  with  commodious  quarters  in  a  part  of  the 
city  occupied  by  non-combatants,  the  majority  of 
whom  are  women  and  children. 

It  is  proper  that  you  should  know,  however,  that 
the  portion  of  the  city  in  which  they  are  located  is, 
and  has  been  for  some  time,  exposed  day  and  night 
to  the  fire  of  your  guns. 

Very  respectfully,  etc., 

R.  S.  RIPLEY, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
GENERAL  SCHIMMELFENNIG, 

Commanding  United  States  Forces, 

Morris  and  Foily  Islands,  etc. 

There  is  much  to  be  said  against  exer 
cising  this  kind  of  warfare  ;  and  exposing 
the  lives  of  prisoners  in  a  place  to  prevent 
an  enemy  from  firing  upon  it,  can  only 
be  considered  a  violation  of  the  usages  of 
civilized  warfare  which  would  damage  any 
cause. 

The  shelling  of  a  beleagured  city  is  a  right 
of  war.  and  though  the  duties  of  humanity 
towards  women  and  children  should  be 
strictly  observed,  and  they  should  have  full 
time  given  them  to  remove  from  the  scene 
of  danger,  yet,  if  they  do  not  do  so,  military 
operations  could  not  be  interfered  with. 
To  expose  captives  to  the  close  confinement 
of  a  place  under  fire,  with  the  hopes  of 
thereby  putting  a  stop  to  a  bombardment,  is 
making  an  unfair  comparison  between  the 
captives  and  non-combatants,  for  the  latter 
have  the  power  to  withdraw  from  the  fire, 
while  the  captives  cannot.  It  had  not  been 
the  custom  to  send  captives  from  other 
parts  to  Charleston  to  be  kept  in  confine 
ment;  on  the  contrary,  all  prisoners  had  been 
sent  away  from  there;  and  it  is  evident  that 
the  Union  officers  were  sent  there  to  be 
sacrificed  in  case  the  Union  batteries  kept 
up  their  fire  on  the  citv. 

The  destruction  of  Charleston  in  a  mili 
tary  point  of  view  was  just  as  necessary 
as  the  destruction  of  the  Confederate  forts. 
It  was  a  store-house  of  arms  and  munitions- 
of-war  from  which  the  forts  could  draw 
supplies.  It  contained  a  large  arsenal  of 
military  stores  and  ammunition  ;  and 
while  these  existed,  the  General  command 
ing  the  Federal  forces  was  justified  in  at 
tempting  to  destroy  them.  A  siege  with 
out  a  bombardment  would  have  been  of  no 
use,  as  the  city  was  open  in  the  rear,  and 
supplies  of  all  kinds  could  be  brought  in 
from  the  surrounding  country.  This  is  the 
only  reason  which  can  be  given  why  the 
military  commander  of  the  Union  forces 
should  have  forborne  to  use  his  guns  upon 


670 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  city.  It  was  of  no  use  in  bringing' 
about  a  surrender,  for  it  might  have  been 
known  from  the  character  of  the  defences 
of  Charleston  that  they  would  not  have 
surrendered  the  city  until  the  outside  works 
were  taken,  and  it  would  have  been  more 
profitable  to  have  expended  the  shot  and 
shell  on  the  surrounding  forts. 

If  General  Gillmore  at  a  distance  of  over 
5,000  yards  "  had  reduced  Sumter  to  a  pulp," 
it  is  quite  possible  that  the  Federal  Army 
and  Navy,  by  keeping  up  the  same  kind  of 
fire  on  the  forts,  would  eventually  have  re 
duced  them,  as  they  did  Wagner  and  Sumter, 
and  enabled  the  Navy  to  remove  the  ob 
structions,  so  that  the  Monitors  could  go  on 
up  to  Charleston.  The  Confederates  had 
shown  an  immense  amount  of  energy  and 
courage  in  holding  their  own. 

This  shelling  the  city  gave  the  Confeder 
ates  the  opportunity  of  saying  that  the  fire 
was  kept  up  from  the  disappointment  the 
Federal  forces  had  met  with  in  not  bringing 
about  a  surrender.  An  opportunity  should 
never  have  been  given  the  enemy  to  cast  a 
shadow  of  reflection  upon  the  acts  of  Fed 
eral  officers,  who  could  afford  to  be  forbear 
ing  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  Charleston, 
as  a  base  of  supplies  through  the  means  of 
blockade  -  runners,  could  never  be  of  any 
more  use  to  the  Confederacy,  and  that  the 
larger  the  force  that  was  kept  there  to  hold 
the  place  the  more  advantageous  it  was  for 
the  Federal  arms. 

That  the  situation  of  the  Confederates 
was  becoming  desperate  about  that  time 
we  now  know  full  well,  and  probably  some 
civilian  member  of  the  Confederate  Cabinet 
suggested  this  confinement  of  Federal  pris 
oners  in  Charleston;  for  it  cannot  be  con 
ceived  that  any  of  the  high-toned  officers, 
who  on  many  occasions  showed  true  chival- 
ric  feeling  in  the  capture  of  Federals,  should 
have  instituted  a  scheme  that  would  surely 
have  reflected  on  them  as  honorable  sol 
diers. 

On  the  20th  of  June  the  Rear- Admiral 
commanding  received  a  notification  from 
the  Navy  Department  in  Washington 
"  that  the  Confederates  in  Charleston  were 
preparing  for  a  simultaneous  move  on  the 
blockade,  inside  and  out,  in  order  to  cover 
the  exit  of  a  large  quantity  of  cotton."  The 
next  day,  the  "  Sonoma,"  Commander 
George  H.  Cooper,  and  "  Nipsic,"  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  William  Gibson,  were 
sent  as  outside  cruisers  to  cover  the  block 
ade  south  of  Port  Royal,  where  it  was 
weakest,  and  where  the  chief  effort  was  to 
be  made. 

A  plan  was  laid  between  General  Foster 
and  Admiral  Dahlgren  to  make  a  diversion 
by  cutting  the  railroad  between  Charleston 
and  Savannah.  Generals  Foster,  Schim- 
melfennig  and  Hatch  were  to  land,  each 


with  a  force  considered  adequate  for  the 
occasion,  while  General  Birney  was  to  go 
into  the  North  Edisto,  and  as  high  as  possi 
ble,  to  destroy  the  railroad.  The  Navy  was 
to  enter  the  Stono  to  co-operate  with  General 
Schimmelfennig.  One  or  two  gun-boats 
were  to  ascend  the  North  Edisto,  and  co-op 
erate  with  General  Birney  to  secure  his 
landing. 

On  the  2d  day  of  July  the  Monitors  "  Le- 
high"  and  "Montauk"  crossed  the  Stono 
bar,  while  the  remaining  naval  force  con 
sisted  of  the  "Pawnee,"  "McDonough" 
and  '•'  Racer." 

Though  the  plans  were  well  made,  noth 
ing  resulted  from  this  expedition.  The  dif 
ferent  co-operating  parties  reached  some  of 
the  points  aimed  at  and  attacked  the  Con 
federate  troops  that  were  out  to  receive 
them,  and  the  gun-boats  and  Monitors 
opened  on  such  forts  as  they  were  directed 


COMMANDER   (NOW   REAR-ADMIRAL)  GEORGE  H.   COOPER. 


to  fire  upon ;  but  there  was  no  success  in  the 
attack.  The  Federal  troops  failed  to  cap 
ture  any  of  the  enemy's  batteries;  and  after 
one  or  two  days  spent  in  desultory  fighting, 
it  was  decided  that  the  enemy  were  in  too 
strong  force,  that  further  efforts  would 
not  be  profitable,  and  therefore  the  troops 
should  be  withdrawn  from  John's  Island. 

These  operations  lasted  about  six  days, 
during  which  there  was  a  good  deal  of  hard 
work  and  the  usual  display  of  gallantry  on 
the  part  of  the  Navy,  under  the  guns  of 
which  the  Army  safely  re-embarked. 

Rear -Admiral  Dahlgren  speaks  hand 
somely  of  his  staff,  and  particularly  men 
tions  the  services  of  Commander  Balch 
and  Lieutenant-Commanders  Semmes,  Fil- 
lebrown,  A.  W.  Johnson,  R.  L.  Phythian, 
and  Acting-Masters  Phinney  and  Furber. 

This  was  about  the  last  operation  of  any 
importance  that  occurred  in  the  South  At 
lantic  squadron  up  to  October  22,  when 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


G71 


the  account  of  its  operations  for  the  year 
ended.  Some  minor  expeditions  were  un 
dertaken — in  one  of  which  the  brig  "  Perry  " 
lost  fifteen  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  pris 
oners — and  in  another  a  schooner  loaded 
with  cotton  was  set  on  fire  and  burned  by  a 
party  of  brave  fellows;  but  we  miss  the  ex 
citing  scenes  which  occurred  in  the  attacks 
on  the  batteries  of  Charleston,  where  the 
officers  and  men  fought  persistently  for 
so  many  days  and  nights,  demonstrating 
their  capacity  to  command,  and  exhibiting 
a  gallantry  never  exceeded,  and  a  disap 
pointment  that  cannot  be  described,  at  their 
unsuccessful  efforts  to  win  the  works  of 
Charleston.  The  innumerable  obstacles 
thrown  in  their  way  by  a  powerful  and  ac- 
tive  foe,  full  of  resources  and  full  of  means, 
to  check  the  advance  into  his  harbor,  were 
too  great  for  a  force  entirely  too  small  in 
the  first  place  for  such  an  undertaking. 

The  Southern  coast  was,  on  the  whole, 
thoroughly  blockaded,  and  Charleston  no 
longer  of  any  use  to  the  Confederates  ;  and 
there  was  really  no  further  necessity  for 
their  holding  it,  except  for  the  sake  of  a 
sentiment  connected  with  the  fact  that  it 
was  the  first  place  to  raise  the  flag  of  se 
cession,  and  desired  to  be  the  last  that 
would  haul  it  down. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1SG4,  owing 
to  the  stringent  blockade  of  the  whole 
Southern  coast  by  the  Navy,  except  at  the 
entrance  to  Wilmington,  the  Confederate 
States  began  to  be  placed  in  great  distress 
for  the  want  of  food  to  supply  their  armies, 
and  at  one  time  there  was  a  prospect  of 
their  being  starved  into  submission,  even 
without  victories  by  the  Federal  armies. 

In  the  early  part  of  May  there  were 
on  hand  but  two  days'  rations  for  Lee's 
army  at  Richmond,  and  on  the  23d  of  June 
only  thirteen  days'  rations,  showing  how 
the  Navy  had  cut  off  the  foreign  supply; 
and  to  meet  the  demand,  and  keep  the  Con 
federate  army  from  disbanding,  the  Com 
missary-General  had  to  offer  market  rates 
for  wheat  then  growing  in  the  fields. 

A  great  deal  of  this  distress  and  exhaus 
tion  of  supplies  was,  however,  owing  to  the 
exhaustion  of  Virginia.  The  prevalence  of 
droughts,  and  the  fact  that  the  crops  all 
over  the  State  had  been  destroyed  by  the 
Federal  armies,  rendered  it  very  difficult  to 
subsist  so  large  a  number  of  troops  as  were 
located  in  and  around  Richmond.  The  ef 
fect  of  the  advance  of  the  Federal  forces 
was  to  oblige  the  Confederates  to  call  out 
their  reserves,  and  these  had  to  be  fed. 
Many  farmers  were  detailed  for  military 
duty  and  ordered  into  the  field,  at  the  very 
time  it  was  most  necessary  for  them  to  be 
at  home  attending  to  the  seeding  of  wheat. 

Yet  the  blockade  was  far  more  ruinous 
to  the  Confederate  cause  than  all  other 


operations  put  together.  As  long  as  a 
blockade-runner  could  get  into  any  of  the 
Southern  ports,  bringing  bacon  and  flour, 
the  soldiers  could  be  sustained  ;  and  when 
ever  two  or  three  of  these  supply-vessels 
were  captured  by  the  Federal  fleet,  it  car 
ried  dismay  to  the  hearts  of  those  who 
ruled  the  destinies  of  the  South.  In  Virginia 
the  supply  of  breadstuff  was  practically 
exhausted.  The  negro  field-hands  were  ab 
sconding  for  fear  of  being  employed  in  the 
army,  and  were  taking  refuge  in  the  Union 
lines,  while  Sherman's  march  through  the 
South  had  cut  off  all  supplies  of  grain  or 
cattle  from  that  region.  It  may  be  im 
agined,  then,  how  important  it  was  for  the 
Confederate  armies  that  the  blockade-run 
ners  should  now  and  then  obtain  safe  en 
trance  into  the  Southern  harbors  with  their 
military  supplies. 

As  late  as  November,  1864,  President 
Davis  applied  to  the  Commissary -General 
to  ascertain  how  many  rations  there  were 
on  hand,  to  feed  not  only  the  army  at 
Richmond,  but  the  other  forces  in  the  field, 
and  was  informed  that  there  was  a  very 
alarming  state  of  affairs  in  that  Depart 
ment;  that  Georgia,  Alabama  and  Missis 
sippi  were  the  only  States  where  there  was 
an  accumulation,  and  that  the  Confederate 
Army  was  at  that  time  being  subsisted  from 
these  States. 

The  Commissary  of  Georgia  sent  dis 
patches  that  he  could  not  send  another 
pound  of  provisions  to  Richmond.  Alabama, 
under  the  most  urgent  call,  could  only  send 
forward  135.000  pounds  of  food.  Missis 
sippi  was  doing  all  she  could  in  supplying 
rations  to  General  Beauregard's  army. 
South  Carolina  could  only  subsist  the 
troops  at  Charleston  and  the  prisoners  in 
the  interior  of  the  State.  The  enemy  had 
visited  every  section  of  North  Carolina, 
and  that  State  was  only  able  to  supply  the 
forts  at  Wilmington  with  rations  of  the 
most  ordinary  kind,  and  not  a  pound  of 
meat  could  be  shipped  to  either  Wilming 
ton  or  Richmond. 

Fortunately  for  the  Confederates,  the 
blockade-runner  "Banshee"  succeeded  in 
eluding  the  blockaders  and  getting  into 
Wilmington;  and  owing  to  this  timely  sup 
ply  of  provisions  the  reserves  at  the  forts 
were  prevented  from  being  starved  out.  As 
it  was,  the  commissaries  were  only  able  to 
supply  them  with  thirty  days'  rations.  At 
that  moment  there  were  only  3,400,000  ra 
tions  of  bacon  and  pork  in  the  whole  Con 
federacy  to  subsist  300,000  men  for  25  days. 

In  the  month  of  December  matters  were 
still  worse;  there  was  not  meat  enough  in 
the  Southern  Confederacy  for  the  armies  it 
had  in  the  field.  That  the  meat  must  be  . 
obtained  from  abroad  was  plainly  seen,  and 
it  was  also  recognized  that,  in  order  to  ob- 


673 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


tain  it,  it  would  be  necessary  to  break  the 
blockade  by  some  means  then  untried  or 
unknown.  Nor  was  the  transportation  ad 
equate  to  the  demands  of  the  occasion.  The 
supply  of  fresh  meat  to  General  Lee's  army 
was  precarious,  and,  if  the  army  fell  back 
from  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  there  was 
every  probability  that  it  would  cease  to  ex 
ist  altogether. 

This  condition  of  affairs  was  brought 
about  by  the  vigilance  of  the  Federal  Navy, 
which  worked  hard,  day  and  night,  to  pre 
vent  supplies  from  getting  in  from  the  sea; 
and  the  only  part  of  the  coast  where  the 
blockade  was  sometimes  open  to  the  run 
ners  was  at  the  port  of  Wilmington,  where 
the  enemy  had  been  allowed,  under  an  un 
wise  management,  to  build  heavy  works 
at  the  entrance  to  Cape  Fear  River,  under 
which  the  blockade  -  runners  could  take 


shelter  at  night  and  bid  defiance  to  their 
pursuers.  This  was  the  only  rendezvous 
the  Confederates  had  from  the  entrance  of 
Hatteras  Inlet  to  the  capes  of  Florida;  and 
so  uncertain  was  this,  that  there  was  no 
knowing  how  soon  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  would  take  proper  measures  to  stop 
it,  even  if  the  advance  of  Sherman's  army 
through  the  South  did  not  cause  the  evacu 
ation  of  Wilmington. 

The  Navy,  it  is  true,  did  not  succeed  in 
capturing  Charleston,  but  it  closed  that 
port  against  blockade-runners  so  completely 
that  it  was  forbidden  ground  to  them. 
This  was  well  worth  the  time,  money 
and  fighting  expended  on  this  Confederate 
stronghold,  for  at  the  close  of  the  naval 
campaign  of  1861  the  Confederates  could 
only  subsist  their  troops  there  on  the  mean 
est  rations. 


SOUTH   ATLANTIC    SQUADRON,   JANUARY,    1864. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  JOHN   A.    DAHLGREN. 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER   JOSEPH    M.    BRADFORD,    FLEET-CAPTAIN. 


STEAM-FRIGATE   "  W ABASH  " — FLAO-SHIP. 

Captain,  John  De  Camp ;  Lieutenant,  Lloyd 
Phenix;  Fleet  Surgeon.  Win.  Johnson;  Fleet  Pay 
master,  J.  O.  Bradford;  Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  M. 
Weld;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  N.  L.  Campbell; 
Paymaster,  R.  J.  Richardson;  Chaplain,  C.  A.  Davis; 
Marines:  Captain,  E.  McD.  Reynolds;  Second-Lieu 
tenant,  L.  E.  Fagan;  Ensign,  H.  T.  French;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  A.  Tuttle  and  T.  H.  Daggett;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  J.  H.  Gordon,  J.  C.  Graves,  Joseph 
Gregory  and  B.  O.  Carpenter;  Engineers:  Fleet 
Engineer,  Robert  Danby;  Second-Assistants,  P.  R. 
Voorhees,  W.  C.  Williamson  and  Elisha  Harsen- 
Third-Assistants,  J.  S.  Green,  H.  H.  Kimball,  A. 
Michener  and  J.  B.  Place;  Boatswain,  Francis 
McLoud  ;  Gunner,  Christopher  Long ;  Carpenter, 
J.  G.  Thomas;  Sailmaker,  H.  W.  Frankland. 

IKON-CLAD  STEAMER    "NEW  IRONSIDES." 

Captain,  Stephen  C.  Rowan;  Lieutenant  Com 
mander,  Geo.  E.  Belknap;  Lieutenant,  H.  B.  Robe- 
son;  Surgeon,  Marius  Duvall:  Assistant  Surgeon, 
Edw.  Kershner;  Paymaster,  Alex.  W.  Russell; 
Marines  :  First-Lieutenant,  Henry  A.  Bartlett;  Sec 
ond-Lieutenant,  James  B.  Young;  Acting-Masters, 
G.  W.  Domett,  Lewis  West  and  J.  M.  Skillings- 
Ensigns,  H.  L.  Johnson,  J.  J.  Read  and  Walter 
Abbot;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  C.  Wise,  G.  T.  Davis 
S.  S.  Hand  and  W.  S.  McNeilly  ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  J.  W.  Caswell,  J.  D.  Wingate  and  Thomas 
Hollms;  Engineers:  Chief,  Alex.  Grier-  First-As 
sistant,  N.  B.  Littig;  Second-Assistant,  J.  J.  Noble- 
Third- Assistants,  Everett  Battelle,  H.  C.  Beck  with' 
Jb .  T.  H.  Ramsden  and  Win.  S.  Wells;  Boatswain, 
Ihomas  Bennett;  Gunner,  Charles  Stewart;  Car 
penter,  E.  H.  Bishop;  Sailmaker,  John  A.  Birdsall. 

STEAMER   "CANANDAiaUA." 

Captain,  Joseph  F.  Green;  Lieutenant,   H.   DeH 
Manley;  Surgeon  ;  James  Suddards  ;    Paymaster, 
Idredge;  Acting  Masters,  Samuel  Hall  and 
,  Y?  ,d;  Aeting-Ensigns,  R.  P.  Leary  and  Ed 
ward  Daley;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  J.  Vincent 
James  Wilbur,  Adna  M.  Bates  and  W.  C.  Howard- 


Engineers  :  Chief,  Win.  S.  Stainm;  Third- Assistants, 
Albert  Jackson,  Philip  Miller,  E.  T.  Phillippi,  O.  B. 
Mills,  J.  J.  Barry  and  J.  Pemberton,  Jr.  ;  Boat 
swain,  TJiomas  Smith;  Gunner,  John  Gaskins;  Car 
penter,  S.  N.  Whitehouse;  Sailmaker,  David  Bruce, 

STEAMER  "HOUS  ATONIC." 

Captain,  Charles  W.  Pickering;  Lieutenant,  F.  J. 
Higginson;  Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  T.  Plant  ;  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  J.  S.  Woolson;  Acting-Masters, 
J.  W.  Congden  and  J.  K.  Crosby;  Ensign,  Edw.  C. 
Hazeltine;  Acting-Ensign,  G.  M.  McClure;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  E.  A.  Butler,  B.  F.  Jacobs,  H.  A.. 
Hudson  and  Louis  Cornthwaite;  Engineers:  Chief, 
John  S.  Albert;  Second- Assistant,  C.  F.  Mayer,  Jr.; 
Third  -  Assistants,  J.  W.  Hollihan,  C.  A.  Evans, 
J.  A.  B.  Smith,  W-  M.  Barr  and  Charles  Hopkins; 
Acting-Boatswain,  Win.  Ray;  Acting -Gunner,  A.  C. 
Holmes. 

STORE-SHIP    "VERMONT.1' 

Commander,  William  Reynolds;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Win.  C.  West;  Surgeon,  Win.  Lowber;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  W.  J.  Bowdle;  Paymaster,  Frank 
C.  Cosby;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Wilbur  Ives; 
Chaplain,  John  Blake ;  Marines  :  Second-Lieuten 
ant,  H.  J.  Bishop;  Acting- Masters,  W.  U.  Grozier, 
H.  W.  Hand,  R.  B.  Hines,  J.  C.  Cox  and  W.  W. 
Carter  ;  Acting- Ensigns,  Andie  Hartshorne,  W.  A. 
Morgan  and  C.  J.  Lawrence;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
W.  Van  Wyck,  S.  N.  Grey,  J.  G.  Rose  and  F.  W. 
Beck;  Engineers :  Acting-First-Assistant,  John  L. 
Peake;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  S.  Geer;  Acting- 
Boatswain,  R.  C.  Barnard;  Gunner,  Geo.  W.  Allen; 
Acting-Gunner,  Thos.  Holland;  Carpenter,  C.  W. 
Babbitt;  Sailmaker,  John  Joins. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER   "  PATAPSCO." 

Commander,  Thomas  H.  Stevens  ;  Lieutenant, 
Alex.  S.  Mackenzie;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Samuel  H. 
Peltz;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  S.  Creevey; 
Acting-Master,  Geo.  P.  Lee;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  T. 
Ross,  A.  Kloeppel  and  Win.  Chase;  Engineers:  Sec 
ond-Assistant,  J.  B.  Carpenter;  Third-Assistants, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


G73 


G.  P.  Sweet,  J.  J.  Ryan,  DeWitt  G.  Davis  and  Win. 
H.  Barclay. 

STEAMER    "PAWNEE." 

Commander,  Geo.  B.  Balch;  Lieutenant,  John 
W.  Philip  ;  Paymaster,  Geo.  Lawrence  ;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  Henry  Shaw;  Acting-Masters,  J.  C. 
Champion  and  James  P.  Lindsey  ;  Ensign,  Henry 
Glass;  Acting-Ensigns,  Thomas  Moore  and  C.  J. 
Rogers;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  H.  Poor,  A.  A. 
Franzen  and  J.  G.  Bache;  Engineers  :  Second-As 
sistant,  Alfred  Adamson;  Third-Assistants,  Wm.  J. 
Clark,  Jr.,  J.  G.  Brosnahan,  Arthur  Price  and  J.  L. 
Haiinum;  Boatswain,  James  Brown;  Gunner,  James 
Hayes. 

STEAMER     "SONOMA." 

Commander,  Geo.  H.  Cooper;  Lieutenant,  Geo. 
W.  Hay  ward;  Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  F.  Shaw;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  F.  Hastings;  Acting- 
Master,  Wm.  M.  Post;  Acting-Ensigns,  Win.  N. 
Price,  S.  H.  Pollock  and  H.  H.  Johnson;  Acting- 
Masters  Mates,  S.  S.  Willett,  G.  W.  Eckert,  C.  C. 
Neil  and  R.  W.  Robins;  Engineers:  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  A.  B.  Dunlap;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
A.  B.  Cullins;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  W.  A.  Smith, 
Rufus  Burton  and  J.  Hawkey;  Gunner,  J.  M.  Hogg. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER    "  LEHIOH." 

Commander,  Andrew  Bry son;  Lieutenant,  Moreau 
Forrest;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Wm.  Longshaw,  Jr.; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  C.  Imlay;  Acting- 
Master,  Richard  Burke;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  Edw. 
Tilghman,  C.  M.  Thwing,  J.  E.  Stickney  and  F.  W. 
Towne;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  G.  W.  Leland;  En 
gineers  :  First  Assistant,  W.  D.  Pendleton;  Second- 
Assistant,  Alfred  Hedrick;  Third- Assistant,  C.  M. 
Van  Tine,  J.  H.  Thomas  and  S,  C.  McLanahan. 

STEAMER   "PAUL   JONES." 

Commander,  James  M.  Duncan;  Lieutenant, 
James  O'Kane;  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  W.  Coles; 
Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  A  Berry;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  J.  Potts,  Chas.  Clauson,  Henry  Hamre 
and  Chas.  Weidenbien  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates, 
J.  H.  Manning,  J.  L.  Rowe  and  C.  E.  Everdean;  En 
gineers:  First-Assistant,  James  Sheriden;  Third- 
Assistants,  James  A.  Chasmer,  E.  D.  Weems,  Geo. 
Paul  and  L.  T.  Safford;  Acting-Gunner,  John 
Brown. 

STEAMER    "MAHASKA.' 

Commander,  J.  B.  Creighton ;  Lieutenant,  E.  C. 
V.  Blake;  Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  S.  Pitkin;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Chas.  Fairchild;  Acting- Mas 
ter,  Benj.  Dyer;  Acting-Ensigns,  Frederick  Elliott, 
N.  W.  Black,  Chas.  G.  Boyerand  G.  E.  French;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate,  Wm,  White;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First- Assistant,  G.  E.  Ashby;  Third- Assistants, 
Thomas  La  Blanc,  E.  L.  Hewettand  N.  H.  Lamdin. 

STEAMEB  "CIMMARON." 

Commander,  Aaron  K.  Hughes ;  Lieutenant, 
Adolphus  Dexter;  Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  S.  Olcott; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  W.  Griffin;  Acting- 
Master,  S.  A.  Waterbury  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  H. 
Anderson,  G.  F.  Howes,  Chas.  Renfleld,  J.  W. 
North  and  T.  R.  Dayton;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
Thomas  Newton,  P.  J.  Markoe,  J.  D.  Reed  and  E. 
P.  Crocker;  Engineers:  Second- Assistant,  Reynolds 
Driver;  Third-Assistants,  W.  H.  Kelley,  W.  L. 
Bailie  and  G.  L.  Palmer;  Gunner,  M.  A.  Lane. 

IRON  CLAD  STEAMER   4:  PASSAIC." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Edward  Simpson;  Lieu 
tenant,  Wm.  Whitehead;  Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  C. 
Eckstein;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  L.  C.  Tripp; 
Acting  Master,  James  Ogilvie';  Acting-Ensigns,  L. 
G.  Emerson,  D.  B.  Hawes,  A.  Delano,  Jr.  and  W.  H. 
Roberts;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  W.  H.  Lewis;  Engi 
neers:  First-Assistant,  Henry  Mason;  Second-Assist 
ant,  F.  H.  Fletcher;  Third -Assistants,  William  A. 
Dripps,  Joseph  Hooper  and  C.  Kenyon. 


STEAMER    "NIPSIC." 

Lieutenant -Commander,  Wm.  Gibson  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  J.  Gilfillen;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  H.  T.  Mansfield;  Acting  Master,  W.  L. 
Churchill;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  A.  Greene,  J.  A.  Win 
chester  and  A.  B.  Prince;  Acting  Master's  Mates, 
G.  S.  Johnson,  W.  K.  Orcutt  and  W.  H.  Kitching,  Jr.; 
Engineers:  First-Assistant,  S.  L.  P.  Ayres;  Second- 
Assistants,  A.  W.  Morley  and  C.  E.  Emery ;  Third- 
Assistants,  R.  B.  Plotts  and  B.  R.  Stevens. 

STEAMEB    "CHIPPEWA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  T.  C.  Harris;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Louis  Zenzen  ;  Act  ing- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  G.  A.  Robertson;  Acting-Master,  W.  H.  DeWolf; 
Acting-Ensigns,  J.  M.  Crocker  and  H.  T.  Blake; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J,  C.  Butler  and  J.  A.  H. 
Willmuth;  Engineers:  Second  -  Assistant,  R.  H. 
Thurston;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Thos.  Heenan; 
Third  -  Assistants,  A.  Sackett,  C.  R.  Mosher  and 
J.  M.  Murray. 

IRON-CLAD   STEAMER     "  NANTUCKET ." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Stephen  B.  Luce  ;  Lieu 
tenant,  H.  L.  Howison ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  B. 
Judson;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, L.  S.  Brigham; 
Acting-Master,  W.  H.  Maies;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  F. 
Otis,  C.  C.  Starr  and  John  Meyers  ;  Engineers : 
Second-Assistants,  George  H.  White  and  I.  R.  Mc- 
Xary;  Third-Assistants,  N.  W.  Buckhout  and  J.  K. 
timedley;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  A.  L.  Grow. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "MONTAUK." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  L.  Davis;  Lieuten 
ant,  Gilbert  C.  Wiltse;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
W.  H.  Harlin;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H. 
Sellman;  Acting-Master,  Edmund  Jones;  Acting-En 
signs,  T.  F.  DeLuce,  I.  J.  McKinley  and  G.  H.  Avery; 
Acting- Master's  Mate,  Robert  Craig  ;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  C.  A.  Stuart  and  Simon 
Rockefeller;  Third-Assistants,  Jesse  F.  Walton,  S.  C. 
Lane  and  Montgomery  West. 

STEAMER    "UNADILLA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  W.  Johnson  ;  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  C.  S.  Hubbard;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  G.  S.  Benedict;  Acting-Master,  R.  M.  Cor 
nell,  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  Field  and  G.  E.  Thomas; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  James  Such  and  A.  F.  Taffe; 
Engineers:  Second-Assistant,  R.  S.  Talbot ;  Third- 
Assistants,  M.  T.  Sunstrom,  N.  P.  Towne  and  M. 
N.  Knowlton. 

STEAMER   "  OTTAWA." 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  S.  Livingston  Breese  ; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  W.  Woods;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  G.  W.  Huntington;  Acting- Ensigns,  W. 
H.  McCormick,  J.  L.  Gamble,  Benj.  Mitchell,  C.  H. 
Choate  and  E.  M.  Dimon;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
A.  W.  Tripp  a::d  F.  W.  Turner ;  Engineers : 
Second -Assistants,  J.  P.  Sprague,  E.  W.  Koehl 
and  F.  C.  Prindle;  Third  Assistant,  R.  B.  Hirie. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER  "NAHANT." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  J.  Cornwell;  Lieuten 
ant,  H.  C.  Tallman;  Assistant  Surgeon.  D.  F.  Rick- 
etts;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  D.  A.  Smith, 
Jr  ;  Acting-Master,  C.  C.  Ricker;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
W.  E.  Thomas  and  S.  A.  Gove;  Engineers  :  Second  - 
Assistant,  W.  H.  G.  West ;  Third-Assistant,  W.  S. 
Neal  and  Robert  Crawford;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
T.  B.  Green. 

STEAMER    "HURON.'1 

Lieutenant-Commander,  F.  H.  Baker  ;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  C.  H.  White;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster. 
Chas.  Stewart ;  Acting-Masters,  Wm.  A.  Mills  and 
W.  H.  Baldwin;  Acting  Master's  Mates,  Samuel 
Delano,  Peter  O'Conner  and  Wm.  Henderson; 
Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  C.  P.  Roebuck; 
Third-Assistants,  Sylvanus  Mclntyre,  J.  P.  Kelly, 
John  Lowe,  Thomas  Cruuimey  and  F.  C.  Russell. 


6T4 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


STEAMEB  "WATEB  WITCH." 

Lieutenant  -  Coininander,  Austin  Pendergrast  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Pierson  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  L.  G.  Billings;  Acting-Mas 
ters,  C.  W.  Buck  and  W.  B.  Stoddard;  Acting-En 
signs,  J.  M.  Forsyth,  A.  T.  Stover  and  Chas.  Hill  ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  D.  W.  Parsons,  C.  P.  Wes- 
tpn  and  H.  V.  Butler;  Engineers:  Acting-First-As 
sistant,  Samuel  Genther;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
J.  P.  Cooper,  J.  Hollingsworth  and  I.  A.  Conover. 

STEAMER    "  MARBLEHEAD.'' 

Lieutenant-Commander,  R.  W.  Meade,  Jr.;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  B.  H.  Kidder ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  James  Winter;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  A. 
Harriman  and  G.  F.  Winslow;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  B.  O.  Low,  T.  L.  Fisher  and  F.  Millett;  En 
gineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Frank  Hender 
son;  Third-Assistants,  H.  W.  Bulkley,  M.  A.  Suth 
erland  and  F.  W.  Bissett. 

STEAMER    "  WISSAHICKON." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  George  Bacon:  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  S.  Fife ;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  Chas.  Dutcher;  Acting-Master,  J.  E. 
Jones;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  C.  Odiorne,  H.  B. 
Francis  and  C.  F.  Bearing;  Acting-Master's'  Mate, 
D.  J.  King  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant, 
W.  S.  Hazzard;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  H.  J.  Tarr, 
Chas.  E.  Jevens  and  G.  S.  Odell. 

STEAMER    "SENECA." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Alfred  Hopkins;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  B.  C.  Sawyer;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Elijah  Ward  ;  Acting  -  Masters, 
Henry  Vaughan  and  G.  W.  Ewer;  Acting-Ensigns, 
G.  H.  Wood  and  J.  H.  Ankers;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  J.  G.  Paine  and  E.  W.  Fiske;  Engineers  : 
Second- Assistants,  Jos.  Watters,  H.  H.  Burritt  and 
Thomas  Lynch;  Third- Assistant,  R.  T.  Bennett. 

STEAMEB    "MEMPHIS." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Thos.  H.  Eastman;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Louis  Michel;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  W.  E.  Foster;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.  A. 
Magone,  J.  B.  Childs,  G.  A.  Churchill  and  S.  W. 
Cowing ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  J.  G.  Crocker, 
Silas  Owen,  J.  W.  Moore  and  J.  W.  DeCamp;  En 
gineers:  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Chas.  McCarty, 
and  Peter  Anderson  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants, 
J.  H.  Vaile  and  Win.  Adams. 

IRON-CLAD  STEAMER    "  CATSKILL." 

Lieutenant-Commander,  F.  M.  Bunce  ;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Robert  Willard;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  G.  F.  Barker;  Acting-Master,  G.  W.  Parker  • 
Acting-Ensigns,  C.  P.  Walters  and  G.  W.  Prindle ; 
Acting-Master's  Mate,  Peter  Trescott;  Engineers: 
Second-Assistant,  G.  D.  Euimons;  Third-Assistants 
J.  T.  Booth,  Frank  Marsh  and  Jas.  Plunkett. 

STEAMEB    "LODONA." 

Acting -Lieutenant,   Edgar  Broadhead;   Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  W.  Meckley  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  A.   M.   Stewart ;    Acting  -  Master 
H.  S.  Blanchard;  Acting-Ensigns,  N.  W.  Rathburn 
H.   G.    McKennee,  R.   C.   McKenzie  and   Le  G.  B 
Bngham:  Acting-First-Assistant  Engineer,    F.  A. 
Bremen;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Richard  Durfee 
and  M.  C.  Heath;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  Mol- 
lineaux,  C.  A.  McDowell  and  Fred.  Wagner. 

STEAMEB     "  FLAMBEAU." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Edward  Cavendy 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  B.  Hoppin-  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  V.  D.  Horton:  Acting-Mas 
ters,  A.  S.  Megathlin  and  W.  L.  Kempton  ;  Acting- 
?n£i??S,',  GL  Cottre11'  T.  H.  D'Estimeauville  and 
J.P.Gallagher;  Engineers:  Acting-First  Assistant, 
John  Harris;  Acting-Second  Assistant,  Edw.  Allin  • 
Acting- Third  -  Assistants,  W.  H.  Anderson  and 
Leonard  Atwood. 


STEAMER    "  COMMODORE   M'DONOtTOH." 

Acting-Master,  J.  W.  Tuck;  Acting-Assistant  Sur 
geon,  W.  H.  Campbell  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  R.  Freeman;  Acting-Master,  Wm.  Knapp;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  J.  K.  Winn  and  D.  B.  Hallett;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  E.  Goodwin  and  D.  Lester;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  S.  Warren  and 
S.  S.  Hetrick;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Nelson  Rose 
and  W.  W.  Hartley. 

STEAMER    "MOHAWK." 

Acting-Master,  Alex.  Tillinghast ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  G.  H.  Andrews ;  Acting-Ensign, 
E.  Rich,  Jr. ;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Win.  Trott;  En 
gineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  R.  K.  Morrison  ; 
Acting-Third- Assistant,  G.  E.  Whitney. 

STEAMER     "  HOME.  ' 

Acting- Master,  Nicholas  Kirby  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  N.  Pindell;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  T.  W.  Burger ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  Shack- 
ford,  A.  E.  Barnettand  J.  M.  Smalley;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  F.  K.  S.  Nye,  J.  K.  Gould  and  F.  H. 
Munroe  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants, 
C.  Dandreau  and  C.  Armberg;  Acting- Third-Assist 
ants,  Paul  Dandreau,  C.  R.  Rodker  and  R.  De 
Cordy. 

STEAMER    "POTOMSKA." 

Acting- Volunteer-  Lieutenant,  Geo.  E.  Welch  ; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  C.  Smith  ;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  F.  H.  Swan  ;  Acting  -  Masters, 
R.  P.  Walter  and  B.  W.  Leary;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  D. 
Wells;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Woodward  Carter; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  G.  H.  Guyer; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  Edwin  Vaughan  and  W. 
L.  McKay. 

STEAMEB    "STETTIN." 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  C.  J.  Van  Alstine  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  J.  Pigott;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  C.  M.  Burns,  Jr.;  Acting-Master, 
J.  M.  Butler;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  R.  Bailey,  C.  B. 
Pray  and  J.  C.  Staples ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Benj.  Russell  and  C.  H.  Fernald;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  J.  B.  Edwards  ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  John  Hawkins,  John  Ryan  and  Anthony 
Gale. 

STEAMEB  "IBIS." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  Barrymoce  ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  W.  W.  Brandt,  A.  H'  L.  Bowie  and  Thomas 
Irving;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Thos. 
Fewkes;  Acting-Third- Assistants,  Morris  McCarty 
and  Dennis  Lyng. 

STEAMEB  "PHILADELPHIA." 

Acting-Master,  Geo.  R.  Durand;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  J.  H.  Culver;  Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  L. 
Wait;  Acting-Ensigns,  L.  A.  Waterman,  J.  E. 
Wallis  and  J.  Worth;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  Geo. 
H.  Bartlett,  C.  F.  Moore  and  A.  Truesdell;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  C.  A.  Norris  ;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  AV.  H.  Capen  and  Robert 
Mulready. 

STEAMEB    "  O.    M.    PETTIT." 

Acting-Master,  T.  E.  Baldwin;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  E.  L.  Smith,  Charles  Hanson  and  E.  P. 
Crocker  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant, 
Reuben  McClanahan  ;  Acting-  Third  -  Assistants, 
Aug.  Wandell  and  Win.  P.  Wynn. 

STEAMEB   "NOBWICH." 

Acting-Masters,  F.  B.  Merriam  and  R.  B.  Ar- 
rants;  Act  ing- Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  E.  McPherson; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  C.  Boardman;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  J.  H.  Linscott  and  S.  S.  Hand;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  A.  J.  L.  Barker,  Peter  Moakler,  T. 
M.  Durham  and  Henry  Sinclair;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Secpnd-Assistant,  P.  B.  Robinson  ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  A.  A.  Odell,  Benjamin  Cobb,  Jr.,  and 
W.  W.  Thain. 


OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


675 


STEAMER    "MART   8ANFORD." 

Acting- Master,  Wm.  Rogers;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Paymaster,  G.  C.  Bissell ;  Acting-Ensigns,  M.  J. 
Daly,  0.  A.  Pike,  G.  W.  Pease  and  W.  Caldwell,  Jr.; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  F.  Rich  and  C.  Seymour; 
Engineers;  Acting-First-Assistant,  Wm.  Johnson; 
Acting- Third- Assistants,  Jas.  Hare,  J.  L.  Rookeand 
C.  H  Hunt. 

STEAMER    "E    B.  HALE." 

Acting-Master,  Chas.  F.  Mitchell  ;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  S.  N.  Fisk;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  O.  B.  Giluian;  Acting-Ensigns,  Henry  Stahl, 
G.  H.  Smith,  J.  N.  Van  Boskirk  and  Geo.  Edwards; 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  James  Fagan; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  D.  A.  Lawrence  and  Geo. 
Taylor. 

STEAMER    "  SOUTH   CAROLINA." 

Acting-Masters,  James  H.  Magune,  E.  M.  Bald 
win  and  F.  F.  Baury  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Sur- 
geon,  Geo.  A.  Bright;  Acting-Paymaster,  A.  S. 
Kenny;  Ensign,  J.  C.  Pegram;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.W. 
Bourne,  C.  F.  Taylor  and  John  Gunn  ;  Acting- 
Master  s  Mates,  E/Holbrook,  A.  S.  Hitch  and  S.  L. 
Withington  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant, 
J.  T.  Hathaway;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  H. 
Ro\ve,  Henry  Gormley  and  F.  W.  H.  Whittaker; 
Acting-Third"- Assistant,  Thomas  Slater. 

STEAMER    "OLEANDER.  ' 

Acting- Master,  John  S.  Dennis;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Jos.  Frost  and  A.  P.  Bashford  ;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  Wm.  C.  King ;  Acting-Engineers  :  Acting- 
Second  -  Assistant,  Samuel  Swartwout  ;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  R.  B.  Dick  and  H.  S.  Brown. 

BARK   "  ETHAN  ALLEN." 

Acting-Master,  J.  A.  Pennell:  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  H.  W.  Mitchell;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  W.  R  Woodward;  Acting- Ensigns,  T.  M. 
Peakes,  J.  H.  Bunting,  Jos.  McCart  and  Win.  Mero; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  T.  Dexter,  G.  H.  Red- 
ford  and  C.  F.  Adams. 

BARK    "  BRAZILIERA." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  T.  Gillespie;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Geo.  B.  Todd;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  C.  H.  Longstreet;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  H. 
Bennett  and  N.  C.  Borden;  Acting- Master's  Mates. 
J.  B.  F.  Smith,  W.  N.  Smith,  Isaac  Severns  and 
F.  H.  W.  Harrington. 

BARK    "A.    HOUGHTON." 

Acting-Master,  Newell  Graham  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
E.  B.  Cox;  Acting  Master's  Mate,  C.  H.  Nicholls. 

BARK    "  KINGFISHER." 

Acting-Masters,  J.  C.  Dutch  and  S.  W.  Rhoades; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Westcott;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  N.  W.  Blakeman:  Acting- 
Ensigns,  T.  E.  Chapin  and  Wm.  Nelson;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  H.  G.  Seaman  and  Frank  Jordan. 

BARK    "FERNANDINA." 

Acting-Masters,  E.  Moses  and  C.  C.  Childs;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  P.  Boyer  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  T.  N.  Murray;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Christopher  Flood  and  W.  H.  Thomas;  Acting- 
Masters  Mates,  Geo.  Newlin  and  John  Wright. 

BARK    "  MIDNIGHT." 

Acting-Masters,   Wm.    H.    Garfleld    and    Edwin 
Coffin;     Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,    J.    M.  Darner 
Acting  -  Assistant    Paymaster,     Franklin    Miller 
Acting -Ensigns,    Z.    L.    Tanner    and     N.    Pratt 
Acting-Master's  Mates,    A.    K.    Noyes   and   S.    H. 
Maunders. 

SCHOONER    "HOPE." 

Acting- Master,  John  E.  Rockwell;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  W.  E.  Gould,  Elisha  Hubbard  and  J.  S. 
Leon. 


SCHOONER    "  DAN   SMITH." 

Acting- Master,  B.  C.  Dean  ;  Acting- Ensign,  Paul 
Annandt;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  C.  Vandeven- 
terand  W.  W.  Hunt. 

ORDNANCE  SLOOP    "JOHN   ADAMS." 

Acting-Masters,  A.  S.  Gardner  and  J.  P.  Carr; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Israel  Bushong  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Tracy  Coit ;  Acting-Ensign, 
John  Blitz;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  Charles  Henley, 
Benjamin  Lawton,  Franklin  James  and  C.  E. 
Cool. 

BRIG    "  PERRY." 

Acting-Master,  S.  B.  Gregory;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  T.  A.  Emerson;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  C. 
Hanford,  J.  H.  Clark  and  R.  R.  Donnell;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  E.  H.  Sheer,  T.  H.  McDonald  and 
C.  P.  Bridges. 

STORE-SHIP   "SUPPLY." 

Acting- Masters,  D.  G.  McRitchie,  Z.  Kempton  and 
Norman  H.  Penfield ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
Reuben  Smith  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  B.  F. 
Munroe  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  F.  M.  Montell,  J.  W. 
Butler  and  F.  H.  Phipps;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
J.  W.  Alrny,  W.  S.  Howlandand  J.  S.  Carpenter. 

SCHOONER   "F.  A.  WARD." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  L.  Babcock;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  J.  A.  Fife ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Alonzo  El  well,  N.  M.  Baker,  Jr.,  and  G.  A.  Olmstead. 

SCHOONER    "RACER." 

Acting- Master,  Alvin  Phinney  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Eugene  Littell ;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
H.  C.  Whitinore,  D.  B.  Corey  and  J.  F.  Kavan- 
augh. 

SCHOONER    "  C.    P.    WILLIAMS." 

Acting-Master.  S.  N.  Freeman  ;  Acting- Ensigns, 
Jacob  Cochran  ;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Lloyd  E. 
Daggett. 

SCHOONER   "GEORGE  MANGHAM." 

Acting- Master,  John  Collins  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  C.  S.  Eastwood  ;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  J.  G.  Holland;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.  Gabriel- 
son  and  F.  Marshall ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Ezra 
C.  Colvin  and  G.  A.  Johnson. 

STEAMER   "GERANIUM." 

Acting-Ensign,  Geo.  A.  Winson;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  J.  B.  Newcomb,  David  Lee  and  C.  T.  Rem- 
monds;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  H. 
Foster;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  S.  W.  Midlaui, 
Chas.  Henry  and  Win.  J.  Carman. 

STEAMER    "LARKSPUR." 

Acting  -  Ensign,  F.  B.  Davis;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates;  John  O'Conner,  E.  H.  Frisbie  and  Jacob 
Kemp;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  G. 
Farroat  and  J.  T.  Greenwood. 

STEAMER    "DAFFODIL." 

Acting-Ensign,  F.  W.  San  born;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  J.  C.  Wentworth,  C.  L.  Weeden,  T.  E.  Har 
vey  and  D.  Lester ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-As 
sistant,  T.  W.  Dee;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Wm. 
Fisher  and  W.  F.  Henderson. 

STEAMER  "  JONQUIL." 

Acting  Ensign,  Israel  T.Halstead;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  J.  G.  Brown  and  George  Bowers;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  David  Gayring;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants;  Jesse  Wright  and  Win.  Leonard. 

STEAMER   "CARNATION." 

Acting-Ensign,  Wm.  Boyd;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
A.  Burnham  andE.  H.  Frisbie;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  T.  S.  Jennings;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  C.  W.  Plaisted  and  J.  H.  Fulcher. 


676 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


STEAMEB   "CLOVEB." 

Acting-Ensign,  Chas.  A.  Blanchard;  Acting- Mas 
ter's  Mate,  F.  S.  Leach;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Geo.  Divine;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  G. 
C.  Brown. 

SOHOONEK    "NORFOLK  PACKET." 

Acting-Ensign,  Geo.  W.  "Wood;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Andrew  Tower;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J-  kingsley,  Timothy  Ryan  and  Geo.  Delaps. 

STEAMEB   "DANDELION." 

Acting -Master's  Mates,  J.  B.  Russell,  Louis  Boun 
and  W.  R.  Lyons;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- Assist 
ant,  J.  G.  Rossman;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  John 
Mulready  and  John  Grimes. 


SCHOONER   "BLUNT." 

Acting-Ensign,  B.  D.  Reed;  Acting-Master's  Mates 
C.  W.  Cleaves,  W.  R.  Pease  and  W.  Arising. 

STEAMEB    "COLUMBINE." 

Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm.  B.  Spencer,  James 
Martin  and  John  Davis;  Engineers  :  Acting-Third- 
Assistaiits,  H.  J.  Johnson  and  Geo.  H.  Luther. 

STEAMEB    "BESCUE." 

Acting- Master's  Mate,  A.  G.  Borden;  Engineers: 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  G.  "VV.  Howe  and  J.  G. 
Dennett. 

OFFICEES  NOT  ASSIGNED   TO   VESSELS. 

Commanders,  J.  W.  A.  Nicholson  and  N.  B.  Har 
rison;  Lieutenant-Commander,  Wm.  B.  Gamble. 


CH  A  PTER    XLVI  I  I, 

POTOMAC  FLOTILLA.      INCREASE  OF  THE  NAVY,  AND  IMPROVEMENTS 
IN  NAVAL  SHIPS,  DURING  THE  YEAR  1864. 


THE  Potomac  Flotilla  during  18G4  re 
mained  under  the  command  of 
Commander  Foxhall  A.  Parker,  a 
valuable  officer,  who  conducted  the 
affairs  of  his  little  squadron  with 
so  much  efficiency  that  he  was  enabled  to 
carry  out  all  the  objects  for  which  the 
flotilla  was  intended. 

The  work  of  this  department  of  the 
Navy  was  not  brilliant,  but  it  was  useful. 
Besides  the  duties  involved  in  patroling 
the  Potomac,  the  Rappahannock  River  was 
added  to  Commander  Parker's  district. 

There  was  at  one  time  an  extensive  con 
traband  trade  between  Virginia  and  the 
lower  part  of  Maryland,  by  which  the  Con 
federates  frequently  received  large  amounts 
of  supplies  ;  and  the  blockade-runners  (such 
as  they  were)  were  quite  as  indefatigable 
in  their  attempts  to  provision  the  Confed 
erates  in  Virginia  as  the  larger  vessels 
running  the  blockade  on  the  coast. 

The  small  craft  that  were  engaged  in 
this  traffic  between  Maryland  and  Virginia 
were  well  adapted  for  the  business,  and 
calculated  to  avoid  detection.  The  traders 
themselves  were  reckless  and  unscrupulous 
men,  not  working  with  any  patriotic  feeling 
to  serve  the  Confederate  cause,  but  to  en 
rich  themselves  by  the  large  returns  they 
received  for  the  supplies  so  much  needed 
by  private  and  public  parties. 

No  greater  vigilance  was  exhibited  any 
where  than  was  shown  by  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  Potomac  flotilla  ;  and  what  was 
done  by  the  blockaders  on  the  coast  on  a 
large  scale  was  equally  well  done  by  the 
Potomac  flotilla  on  a  small  one. 

It  was  impossible  to  break  up  this  block 
ade-running  altogether,  with  such  a  long 
line  of  communication  to  be  patroled,  and 
with  so  small  a  number  of  vessels  and  boats 
to  do  it.  Opportunities  could  almost  al 


ways  be  found  to  elude  the  blockade,  and 
the  temptations  were  so  great  that  men 
fearlessly  risked  their  lives  to  secure  the 
large  profits  that  awaited  them  in  case  of  a 
successful  run.  They  were  aided  by  sym 
pathetic  friends  on  either  side,  who  in  most 
cases  enabled  them  to  evade  detection 
when  they  were  chased  to  the  shore.  Num 
bers  of  them  were,  however,  captured  while 
in  transit,  while  many  of  their  boats  were 
ferreted  out  of  their  hiding  places,  captured 
and  destroyed.  Most  of  this  work  had  to 
be  done  at  night,  and  throughout  the  war 
the  most  wearing  vigilance  was  kept  up  by 
the  different  commanders  and  officers  who 
had  been  employed  in  the  Potomac  flotilla. 

Besides  the  watchfulness  required  in  pur 
suit  of  the  blockade -runners,  the  flotilla 
was  at  all  times  ready  to  give  its  active  and 
willing  co-operation  to  any  military  move 
ment,  and  this  assistance  was  frequently 
called  for.  While  the  Federal  Army  was 
in  the  vicinity  of  Fredericksburg,  in  the 
spring  and  summer,  the  services  of  the 
smaller  steamers  were  constantly  invoked. 
They  opened  communication  between  mili 
tary  forces,  cleared  large  numbers  of  tor 
pedoes  from  the  river,  made  it  safe  for 
the  transports  to  move  with  supplies  or 
troops,  drove  the  Confederate  bushwhackers 
from  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  returned 
with  the  sick  and  wounded  from  the  field  of 
battle. 

The  gun-boats  that  served  upon  this  duty 
were  of  very  light  draft,  purchased  for 
this  particular  work,  which  will  account 
for  so  many  vessels  of  inferior  character 
being  in  the  Navy.  Consequently,  those 
who  served  on  board  of  them  in  a  hostile 
country  were  exposed  to  more  than  ordinary 
peril.  It  was  wonderful  to  see  these  slightly- 
built  vessels  go  into  action  against  the  Con 
federate  batteries,  which  one  would  suppose 


(677) 


678 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


from  their  rapid  firing  would  soon  cut  them 
to  pieces;  but  the  stern  discipline  existing 
and  precise  aiming  of  the  somewhat  heavy 
guns  of  these  "pasteboard"  craft  would, 
nine  times  out  of  ten,  carry  the  day. 

In  these  operations  Commander  Parker 
made  his  mark,  assisted  mostly  by  gallant 
volunteer  officers,  who,  toward's  the  end  of 
the  war,  became  very  expert  in  all  that  re 
lated  to  this  kind  of  warfare.  Had  a  larger 
field  of  operations  offered  to  Commander 
Parker,  he  was  just  the  man  who  would 
have  done  infinite  credit  to  himself  and 
have  conferred  honor  upon  the  Navy.  The 
trying  work  and  perilous  duties,  with  the 
effects  of  a  malarial  climate,  caused  him 
to  contract  disease,  which  brought  him 
to  a  premature  death  not  long  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  The  Navy  lost  in  him 
a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  who  had 
proved  himself  to  be  efficient  in  whatever 


COMMANDING    THE    POTOMAC    FLOTILLA. 

position  he  was  placed.  There  were  many 
like  him  who  succumbed  to  disease  and  ex 
posure,  who,  but  for  the  war,  might  be  liv 
ing  to-day. 

INCREASE   OP  THE   NAVY  AND   IMPROVEMENTS 
IN  NAVAL  SHIPS  UP  TO  DECEMBER,  1864. 

As  the  war  progressed,  it  became  evi 
dent  that  the  Federal  Government  should 
not  only  build  vessels  for  blockading  the 
Southern  coast  and  patroling  the  Western 
and  Southern  rivers,  but  for  the  protec 
tion  of  their  own  coast  against  a  foreign 
foe,  and  for  the  capture  of  the  Confederate 
cruisers  which  were  then  committing  such 
havoc  upon  Federal  commerce. 

No  one  knew  at  what  time  the  United 
States  might  be  involved  in  war  with  Eng 


land  or  France,  particularly  the  former  coun 
try,  which  had  afforded  the  South  so  much 
assistance  in  fitting  out  cruisers,  that  mat 
ters  could  not  go  on  any  longer  without 
subjecting  the  Federal  Government  to  the 
contempt  of  all  civilized  Powers.  Although 
the  Confederate  Government  only  managed 
to  procure  vessels  from  England  through 
shifts  and  stratagems,  yet  it  was  very  evi 
dent  that  the  British  Government  was  not 
taking  vigorous  steps  to  put  a  stop  to  a 
practice  in  violation  of  its  "  Foreign  En 
listment  Act."  and  was  oblivious  to  the  fact 
that  these  cruisers  were  now  and  then  de 
stroying  British  goods  in  Federal  vessels. 
They  were  willing  to  suffer  the  smaller  evil 
that  the  greater  good  might  accrue  to  Eng 
lish  commerce,  which  it  was  hoped  would, 
through  the  destruction  of  American  ship 
ping,  have  a  monopoly  all  over  the  world. 
If  British  goods,  properly  documented,  were 
not  respected  on  board  American  vessels, 
the  end  would  be  the  destruction  of  all 
American  commerce — as  was  seen  by  the 
unhesitating  manner  in  which  Semmes  di 
rected  every  vessel  he  captured,  and  chose 
to  consider  subject  to  condemnation,  to  be 
consigned  to  the  flames. 

There  is  a  certain  amount  of  respect 
which  every  civilized  nation  demands  for 
its  commerce — that  it  shall  only  be  captured 
by  belligerents  under  certain  laws  laid  down 
for  the  protection  of  neutrals,  and  the 
country  having  its  commerce  subjected  to 
captures  is  in  duty  bound  to  see  that  the 
law  is  respected;  while  it  is  the  duty  of  each 
belligerent  to  instruct  its  naval  command 
ers  accordingly.  But  the  Confederate 
Government  took  no  steps  in  this  matter, 
leaving  its  agents  to  work  out  their  ends, 
and  "burn,  sink  and  destroy"  at  their 
discretion.  It  seemed  as  if  they  did  not 
consider  themselves  responsible  for  any 
thing  that  might  happen  on  the  oceaii. 
The  Confederacy  was  incapable  of  nego 
tiating  with  foreign  Powers,  who  could  not 
recognize  its  diplomatic  agents  without 
practically  acknowledging  the  independ 
ence  of  the  Confederate  States;  and  this 
point  should  not  only  have  warned  neutral 
Powers  against  granting  belligerent  rights, 
but  it  should  have  emboldened  them  to  resort 
first  to  emphatic  remonstrances  against  the 
manner  in  which  the  captures  of  the  Confed 
erates  were  made,  and  then  to  sending  out 
cruisers  to  enforce  their  demands,  and  thus 
put  an  end  to  the  violation  of  their  own  laws. 

The  right  to  capture  an  enemy's  com 
merce  on  the  high  seas  is  fully  recognized 
by  the  law  of  nations  ;  but  that  law  should 
only  apply  to  regularly  recognized  govern 
ments.  The  Confederacy  was  not  and 
could  not  be  held  responsible  for  anything 
done  by  its  cruisers,  as  was  shown  in  the 
end  by  its  collapse.  The  United  States 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


679 


alone  could  then  be  held  responsible  for 
what  the  Confederates  had  done  against 
the  commerce  of  any  other  government. 

There  was  in  the  latter  part  of  1S64  a  grow 
ing  feeling  in   the  Federal  States  against 
the  action  of  Great  Britain,  which,  though 
the  latter  began  to  pay  more  attention  to 
its  neutral  obligations  (owing  to  the  strong 
protests  of  Mr.  Adams,  Federal  minister  at 
the  Court  of  St.  James),  still  allowed  these 
cruisers  to  escape  to  sea ;  and  several  iron 
clad  rams,  built  by  John  Laird  &  Co.,  were 
preparing    for    sea,    at    Liverpool.     These 
rams  would,  no   doubt,  have  escaped  but 
for  the  earnest  remonstrances  of  the  Ameri 
can   minister,  who   in   the  most  emphatic 
manner    declared  to  the    British   Govern 
ment  that,  to  permit  these  vessels  to  depart, 
would  be  considered  an  act  of  war.     Under 
these  circumstances  Her  Majesty's  Govern 
ment  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  reasons 
for  seizing  and  detaining  the  rams,  after  a 
three  months'  controversy  over  the  matter. 
Among  the  most  outspoken  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Federal  Cabinet  in  regard  to  the 
violation  of  neutrality  by  the  British  Gov 
ernment    in    permitting    the    Confederate 
cruisers  to  escape  its    vigilance,  was   Mr. 
Gideon  Welles,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
He  had  appealed  to  Congress  time  after  time 
to  appropriate  money  to  enable  the  Navy 
Department  to  build  a  class  of  vessels  that 
would  make  it  possible  for  him  to  put  a 
stop  to  the  depredations  of  the  Confederate 
commerce-destroyers,    but    Congress   dealt 
out  money    in    such    insufficient   amounts 
that   Mr.  Welles  could   not  at   once  equip 
the  class  of  vessels   desired,    not   only  to 
put  a  stop  to  the   destruction   of  Federal 
commerce,    but  to    show    foreign    Powers 
that,  even  with  the  -great  strain  that  was 
laid  upon   Federal    resources,    the    United 
States  could  not  only  fit  out  cruisers  against 
the  "Alabamas."  but  could  build  such  ves 
sels  as  would  do  good  service  against  for 
eign  ships  of-war,  in  case  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  was  driven  to  resort  to  the  last  ex 
tremity   to   preserve    its    prestige    and  its 
honor. 

Mr.  Welles,  in  his  annual  reports,  was  un 
ceasing  in  his  denunciations  of  the  remiss- 
ness  of  the  British  Government  and  the 
depredations  of  the  Confederate  cruisers, 
whom  in  his  loyal  zeal  he  always  main 
tained  were  pirates  ;  and  he  showered  in 
vectives  on  the  commanders  of  those  ves 
sels  in  language  not  altogether  parliamen 
tary,  but  which  he  honestly  believed  to  be 
the  truth. 

The  Secretary  had,  no  doubt,  made  efforts, 
with  the  intelligent  aid  of  his  assistant, 
Mr.  Fox.  to  fit  out  sea  vessels  of  a  character 
that  could  pursue  these  cruisers  with  effect; 
but,  unfortunately,  there  were  obstacles  in 
the  way  which  for  a  time  impeded  the  pro 


gress  of  his  plans.     In  the  first  place,  Mr. 
Welles  attached  too  much   importance  to 
the  blockade  of  the  Southern  ports  and  list 
ened    too   much  to    the   clamors   of    com 
manders  of  squadrons  for  more  vessels  on 
their  stations;  for  inferior -built  steamers 
could  have  performed  that  duty  as  well  as 
the  sea-going  corvettes.      Then,  his   plans 
were  interfered  with  by  Commodore  Wilkes, 
who  not  only  had  a   squadron  of  twelve 
vessels  with  which   he  patrolled  the  Gulf 
and  West  Indies,  but  also  seized  upon  the 
fastest  cruisers  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
had  sent  on  special  duty  to  go  in  pursuit 
of    the    Confederates,   and    detained    the 
vessels  belonging  to  the  neighboring  sta 
tions  and  attached  them  to  his  squadron. 
In  one  instance,  at  least,  there  was  a  chance 
of  capturing  the  *'  Alabama,"   which  had 
touched  at  all  the  ports  where  her  pursuer 
followed  her,  but  the  latter  was  just  a  month 
too  late.     Though    the    Navy   Department 
may  have  been  at  fault  in*  its  judgment 
in  not  sending  fast  vessels  to  the  channels 
of  trade  in  the  first  instance,  it  more  than 
made  up  for  it  by  putting  its  whole  energies 
to  work  to  place  the  Navy  in  a  condition  to 
meet  any  emergency  that  might  offer,  even 
at  the  end  of  the  war. 

The  Department,  as  well  as  the  Adminis 
tration,   had  been  very    much  abused  for 
the  depredations  of  the  Confederate  cruisers, 
especially  by  those  who  were  sufferers,  and 
the  opposition   party  were  glad  of  the  op 
portunity  to   berate    the   Government  for 
its  want  of  forethought  in  not  anticipating 
the  evils  that  were  falling  upon  the  Fed 
eral  commerce.    For  the  first  time  Congress 
began  to  be  aroused  to  a  sense  of  the  dan 
ger  that  threatened  the  country,  not  only 
by  the  complete  destruction  of  the  foreign 
trade,  but  also  the  danger  of  being  driven 
into  a  foreign  war  to  preserve  the  Federal 
honor,  if  not   its  nationality.     Under  the 
plea  of  providing  against  the  commerce- 
destroyers  of  the  Confederacy,  large  strides 
were  made  in  building  up  the  Navy;  which 
it  will  be  seen  in  the  end  was  the  wisest 
policy  to  pursue,  as  it  taught  those  Powers 
that  were  forgetting  their  neutral   obliga 
tions  that  the  policy  they  had  hitherto  pur 
sued  would  no  more  be  tolerated,  and  showed 
them  that  the   longer  the  war  lasted  the 
stronger  the    Federal   Government   would 
grow,  no  matter  what  might  be  the  drafts 
upon  its  treasury. 

For  attacks  on  forts  and  for  river  work  the 
Federal  Government  had  by  1863  a  suffi 
cient  number  of  vessels  to  close  the  Confed 
erate  ports:  and  it  was  determined  to  build 
a  number  of  large  vessels  that  would  be  su 
perior  to  any  ships  of  their  class  abroad,  not 
only  in  the  power  of  their  guns  but  in  their 
speed. 
At  that  moment  the  exigencies  of  the 


680 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


times  had  stimulated  the  inventive  facul 
ties  of  American  ship  and  engine  builders 
to  make  vast  improvements  in  vessels-of- 
war — in  machinery,  in  naval  ordnance  and 
in  projectiles.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
war,  the  Federals  may  be  said  to  have  been 
in  their  infancy  in  such  matters,  and  had  to 
make  great  exertions  to  catch  up  with  the 
powers  of  Europe;  but  by  the  end  of  1804 
they  were  quite  in  a  condition  to  vindicate 
their  rights  and  rebuke  Great  Britain  and 
France  for  the  unfair  advantage  they  had 
taken  in  their  hour  of  distress.  Besides  a 
number  of  single  -  turreted  Monitors  (the 
names  of  which  have  often  appeared  in 
these  pages),  there  were  built  seven  or  eight 
double-turreted  Monitors  of  the  "Monad- 
nock  "  class,  which  alone  were  quite  capable 
of  guarding  the  coast  against  the  heaviest 
ships  in  the  French  or  English  navies. 

Seven  vessels  were  building  at  the  Navy 
Yards,  in  which,  to  gain  great  speed,  some 
of  the  armament  had  to  be  sacrificed.  This 
class  of  vessels  was  represented  by  the 
"Ammonoosuc"  and  the  "Chattanooga." 
There  were  also  in  process  of  construction 
twenty  heavily  armed  vessels.  Ten  of  these, 
of  the  "  Guerriere"  class,  were  to  have  cov 
ered  decks,  and  to  carry  twenty  heavy  guns; 
two  were  to  be  protected  against  the  effect 
of  shells.  The  remaining  ten  built  at  the 
Navy  Yards  were  of  somewhat  less  size, 
but  to  be  of  great  speed ;  and  as  nearly  all 
of  these  were  of  full-sail  power,  they  were 
expected  to  maintain  their  positions  at  sea 
for  at  least  three  months,  and  to  be  used  on 
the  most  distant  stations. 

Among  the  wonders  of  the  age  at  that 
time  were  built  a  set  of  vessels  called  the 
<;  Miantonomoh  "  class — a  wooden  vessel  de 
signed  by  the  naval  constructors,  and  built 
at  the  Navy  Yards  with  Ericsson  turrets, 
the  machinery  designed  by  Engineer-in- 
chief  B.  F.  Isherwood,  chief  of  the  Bureau 
of  Steam  Engineering  ;  with  a  high  rate  of 
speed,  perfect  ventilation,  impregnable,  and 
with  the  enormous  battery  of  four  15-inch 
guns,  all  combined  in  a  vessel  of  the  mod 
erate  rate  of  1,560  tons,  drawing  only  12 
feet  of  water.  Others  of  the  same  type, 
with  increased  tonnage  and  of  still  higher 
speed,  were  also  in  the  course  of  construc 
tion,  and  the  Federal  Government  had,  ap 
parently,  realized  at  last  the  importance  of 
having  a  powerful  Navy,  by  which  alone  it 
could  maintain  its  position  among  the  na 
tions  of  the  earth. 

Mr.  Seward's  earnest  letters  and  Mr. 
Adams'  strong  protests  may  have  had  some 
influence  upon  the  British  Government  in 
deciding  them  to  carry  out  the  terms  of 
their  "Foreign  Enlistment  Act,"  but  there 
was  a  stronger  argument  in  the  heavy 
ships  and  guns  that  the  Federals  were  build 
ing  so  rapidly;  and  this  will  ever  be  the  case 


as  long  as  we  maintain  a  properly  equipped 
naval  force  to  prevent  any  interference 
in  our  affairs  by  foreign  Powers,  and  to 
enable  us  to  assert  ourselves  whenever  oc 
casion  may  require 

The  following  table  will  explain  all  that 
the  Navy  Department  had  done  from  the 
outbreak  of  the  war,  and  the  exhibit  shows 
that  a  great  amount  of  zeal,  intelligence 
and  practical  ability  was  manifested  by 
those  who  were  engaged  in  building  up  the 
Navy.  It  will  be  seen  in  the  end  that  it  did 
more  to  establish  the  standing  of  the  United 
States  abroad  than  even  the  advance  of  the 
Federal  armies;  and,  among  other  things, 
it  completely  stopped  all  attempts  of  the 
Confederates  to  fit  out  cruisers  in  neutral 
ports. 

It  was  at  this  crisis  that  Mr.  Fox,  Assist 
ant  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  did  so  much  by 
his  influence  and  his  progressive  mind,  in 
Congress  and  in  the  Department,  in  further 
ing  all  the  plans  brought  to  the  Secretary's 
notice;  and  it  is  only  fair  to  say  that,  with 
out  his  assistance  and  the  ability  he  dis 
played  in  all  professional  matters,  the 
Navy  Department  would  not  have  reached 
the  point  of  efficiency  which  at  that  time 
existed.  This  was  appreciated  by  officers 
throughout  the  service ;  and  it  is  evident, 
from  the  latitude  given  Mr.  Fox  by  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy,  that  the  latter  leaned 
upon  him  as  his  ablest  adviser. 

REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY. 

A  tabular  statement  is  appended  of  the 
number  of  naval  vessels,  of  every  class, 
that  had  been  constructed,  or  were  in  the 
course  of  construction,  since  March  4,  1861  : 

GENERAL    EXHIBIT     OF    THE     NAVY,     INCLUDING 
VESSELS  UNDER  CONSTRUCTION,   DEC.,   1864. 


Description. 


No.  of 
guns. 


113    Screw  steamers  especially  constructed  for  naval 


purposes 


1,426 


52    Paddle-wheel  steamers  especially  constructed  for 

I        naval  purposes i     524 

71    Iron-clad  vessels . .         ....      275 

149    Screw-steamers   purchased,   captured,   &c.,  fitted 

for  naval  purposes 614 

174  [Paddle-wheel  steamers  purchased,  captured,  &c., 

fitted  for  naval  purposes |     921 

112    Sailing  vessels  of  all  classes !     850 


671 


Total 4.610 


No.  of 


51,878 
80,596 

60,380 

78,762 
69,549 

510,396 


COMPARATIVE  STATEMENT  OF  THE   NAVY,   DECEM 
BER,    1863   AND   1864. 


109 


Description. 


Total  navy,  December,  1864 
Total  navy,  December,  1863. 


Actual  increase  for  the  year  

Total  losses  by  shipwreck,  in  battle,  capture,  &c., 
during  the  year. 


Actual  addition  to  the  navy  from  December, 
1863,  to  December,  1864         


No.  of;  No.  of 
guns.  :    tons. 


4.610     510,396 
4,443     467,967 


167      42,429 
146       13,084 

55,513 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


681 


VESSELS     CONSTRUCTED      FOB     THE 
MARCH  4,    1861. 


NAVY      SINCE 


IRON-CLAD   VESSELS. 


No. 

7 
1 

2 
10 

6 
2 
8 
4 
8 
23 
9 
2 
13 

26 
7 

1 

Description. 

Guns. 

Ton'age 

23.637 
2,038 

25,416 
6,730 
23,480 
4,092 
8,584 
2,480 
11,040 
3,462 
4,744 
11,661 
3,150 
340 

H,024 
25,324 

7,210 
974 

No. 

2 
3 
4 

4 
1 
4 

8 
G 

20 
2 
3 
2 

"62" 

203 

Sea-going  caser 
"  New  Iron 
Sea-going  turret 
and  "  Roan 
Double  turret  v 
and  3,200  tc 
Double  turret  v< 
and  1,564  to 
Double   turret 
1,250  tons 

Screw   sloops,    "Ammonoosnc"   class,    17   to   19 
gnus  3,213  to  3  713  tons  each  

121 

8 

200 
50 
130 
40 
74 
23 
96 
32 
71 
123 
18 
4 

98 
272 

70 
12 

Screw  sloops,  spar  deck,  "Java"  class,   25  gxint. 

Screw  sloops,  epardeck,  "Hassalo"  class,  25  gnus 

Screw    sloops,    clippers,    single    deck,  "Contoo- 
cook  "  class.  13  guns  and  2,348  tons  each..   . 
Screw  sloops,  '  '  Kearsarge  "  class,  8  to  12  guns,  and 

Double  turret  v 
and  970  ton 
Single  turret  ve 
and  1,034  tc 
Single  turret  ve 
and  844  ton 
Single  turret  ve 
and  614  ton 
Single  turret  \ 
etta,"  2  gui 
Single   turret  \ 
"  Osage,"  2 
Casenfated  ves.' 
cothe,"  5  au 

Total 

Screw  sloops.  "  Shenandoah  "  class,  8  to  16  guns 
and  1  367  to  1,533  tons  each                   

Screw  sloops,  "  Ossipee"  class,  10  to  13  guns  and 
1  240  tons  each  ....                    .       ... 

Screw  sloops,  "  Serapis  "  class,  12  guns  and  1,380 

Screw  sloops,  "Resaca"  class,  8  guns  and  831  to 
900  tons  each  

Screw  sloops,  "Nipsic"   class,   7  to  12  guns  and 
593  tons  ea'-h      

Screw  gun-boats,  "TTuadilla"   class,   4  to  7  guns 

Screw  tugs,  "Piiita"  class,   2  guns  and   350  tons 
each    

Screw  tugs,  "  Pilgrim"  class,  2  guns  and  170  tons 

The  foregoing  tab 
tion  of  vessels  that 
struction.  for  the  Na 
suppression  of  the 
others  by  the  Govei 
the  number  those  c< 
in  the  same  period, 
viz.  :  the  sloops  "  H 
"Monitor,"  "  \Veeh 
sen,"  the  aggregate  > 
Picket-boats,  and 
embraced  in  this  sta 

Paddle-wheel    steamers,    double-enders,    "  Octo- 
rara"  class,  7  to  11  guns  and   730  to  &55  tons 

Paddle-wheel    steamers,    double-enders,   "Sassa- 
cus"  class,  10  to  14  guns  and  974  tons  each  ..  . 
Paddle-wheel   steamers,   of  iron,    double-euders, 
"  Mohougo  "   class,   10  guns    and  1,030  tons 

Paddle-wheel    steamer,     of    iron,    double-ender, 
"  Wateree,"  12  guns  and  974  tons  

141 

1,142 

175.986 

POTOMAC    FLOTILLA,    JANUARY    1,    1864. 


COMMANDER   FOXHALL   A.    PARKER. 


STEAMEK 


"ELLA." 

Acting- Master,  J.  H.  Eldredge;  Paymaster,  J.  N. 
Carpenter;  Acting-Ensign,  E.  A.  Roderick;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Flood,  H.  C.  Eldredge  and 
W.  L.  Gilley;  Engineers:  Acting- First -Assistant, 
John  F.  Reilly;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  T.  Gallo 
way;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Win.  Cornell,  F.  M. 
Dykes  and  T.  H.  Cross;  Acting-Carpenter,  J.  C.  Tier. 

STEAMER  "YANKEE." 

Acting  -  Volunteer  Lieutenant,  Edward  Hooker  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  S.  T.  Brown;  Acting- 
Ensign.  G.  D.  Gilderdale;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
H.  C.  Borden  and  Robert  Robinson;  Engineers: 
Acting-Third- Assistants,  W.  H.  Hughes  and  John 
F.  Costar. 

STEAMER  "COMMODORE  READ." 

Acting-Master,  G.  E.  Hill;  Acting- Assistant-Sur 
geon,  James  Wilson;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  J.  Duffleld;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  E.  McConnell,  C. 
Ainsworth  and  L.  Wold:  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Guy 
Morrison,  E.  K.  Howland  and  G.  A.  Patchke  ;  En 
gineers:  Aeting-First-Assistant,  A.  K.  Gaul;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  John  Westinghouse,  Wesley  J. 
Phillips  and  George  Smith. 

STEAMER    "CT7RRITUCK." 

Acting-Master,  W.  H.  Smith;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  Henry  Johnson;  Acting  -  Assistant  Pay 
master,  Frank  Clark  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  Thomas 
kelson,  Ambrose  Felix  and  J.  A.  Havens;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  G.  B.  Hall;  Engineers:  Acting-Sec 
ond-Assistant,  Alfred  Clum ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  O.  P.  Thompson  and  C.  B.  Wright. 

STEAMER  "JACOB  BELL." 

Acting-Master,   G.    C.    Shultze ;   Acting-Assistant 


Surgeon,  Wm.  »Neilson,  Jr. ;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  Samuel  Anderson;  Acting-Ensigns,  Benja 
min  Walker  and  D.  W.  Hodson  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Robert  L.  Oinensetter  and  Arthur  Clegg;  En 
gineers:  Acting  Second -Assistant,  Thomas  Bent  ley; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  Wm.  H.  White  and  J.  H. 
McConnell. 

STEAMER  "FtTCHSIA." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  T.  Street;  Acting-Ensign, 
C.  H.  Walker:  Acting- Master  s  Mates,  W.  G.  Borden 
and  S.  B.  Cline;  Engineers:  Acting  Second- Assist 
ant,  S.  H.  Magee;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  Cas- 
tell  and  A.  F.  Bullard. 

STEAMER    ''CCEUR  DE  LION." 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  G.  Morris;  Acting-Ensign, 
C.  F.  Watson ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  Wm. 
Hornby;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  M. 
Dexter;  Acting-Third  Assistant,  Henry  Knight. 

STEAMER    "RESOLUTE." 

Acting-Master,  J.  C.  Tole;  Acting  Ensign,  J.  S. 
Benjamin;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  Ed.  Huger  and 
J.  S.  Franklin  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  George  Dereamer  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant, 
J.  E.  Smith. 

STEAMER     "FREEBORN." 

Acting-Master,  W.  A.  Arthur;  Acting- Assistant- 
Surgeon,  H.  H.  Smith;  Acting  -  Assistant  Pay 
master,  D.  A.  Dickinson;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
C.  A.  Peacock  and  L.  N.  Rollins;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant.  W.  P.  Magaw;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  G.  W.  Yoe  and  W.  E.  Webster. 
STEAMER  "ANACOSTIA." 

Acting-Master,  Nelson  Provost;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  David  Guernsey;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.  D. 


682 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Edmunds  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  James  Softly 
and  Richard  Still;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  George  Faron  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  T. 
Buckley;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  E.  Lynch  and 
Thomas  Hineline. 

SCHOONER    "SOPHBONIA." 

Acting  -  Master,  James  Taylor;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
H.  F.  Dorton  and  E.  S.  Shurtliff  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  W.  H.  Hunt  and  J.  O.  Con  way. 

SCHOONER    "MATTHEW   VASSAB." 

Acting-Master,  Henry  O.  Stone;  Acting-Ensign, 
R.  O.  Wright ;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  Win.  Duffy, 
G.  H.  Marks  and  S.  W.  Ward. 

SCHOONER   "ADOLPH  HUGEL." 

Acting  -  Master,  S.  Nickerson;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  H.  C.  Fuller,  J.  H.  Taylor  and  J.  H.  King. 

SCHOONER   "WILLIAM  BACON." 

Acting-Master,  Samuel  Haines  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
J.  A.  Merrill ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  H.  E.  Ripley, 
Win.  Coomes  and  J.  W.  Davis. 

STEAMEB    "WYANDANK." 

Acting  Ensign,  J.  J.  Brice;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  J.  Porter  Loouiis;  Acting-Ensign,  W.  H. 


Hand ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  G.  G.  Bachelder, 
Thomas  Seager  and  George  Thomas;  Engineers: 
Acting  -  Second -Assistant,  Levi  Sweetzer;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  Harvey  Brown  and  F.  T.  Clark. 

STEAMER    "TULIP." 

Acting  Ensigns,   S.   G.  Sluyter  and  D.    Stevens; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  Roffenterg  and  C.  H.  Mc- 
Clellan;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-Assistants,   G.  H. 
Parks,  H.  P.  Gray  and  Jolan  Gordon. 
STEAMER  "PRIMROSE." 

Acting-Ensign,  James  H.  Jackson;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  H.  L.  R.  Woods  and  John  Shields;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second  Assistant,  L.  B.  Leland;  Acting- 
Third1  Assistant,  H.  C.  Marrow. 

STEAMER    "TEASER.'' 

Acting-Ensign,  Philip  Sheridan;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Charles  Case,  Thomas  Power  and  Louis 
Reinberg;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant, 
John  Johnson;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  G.  C.  Stead- 
man. 

STEAMER      ' '  DRAGON. " 

Acting-Ensign,  J.  W.  Turner;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  David  Hall  and  S.  M.  Carey;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant  Engineer,  G.  E.  Riddle. 


CH  AFTER     XLIX. 

FIRST    ATTACK    OX    FORT    FISHER. 

DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  RAM  "ALBEMARLE,"  ETC. 

DEFENCES  AT  THE  MOUTH  OF  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER.— THE  ARMY  TO  CO-OPERATE  WITH  THE 
NAVY.  —  REAR  -  ADMIRAL  PORTER  ASSUMES  COMMAND  OF  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC 
SQUADRON.  —  PREPARATIONS  TO  ATTACK  FORT  FISHER.  —  ATTEMPT  TO  CLOSE  THE 
PORT  OF  WILMINGTON,  N".  C. — METHODS  RESORTED  TO  BY  BLOCKADE-RUNNERS,  AND 
THEIR  PROFITS.  — VALUE  OF  THE  VESSELS  DESTROYED.  —  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAM 
••ALBEMARLE"  BY  LIEUTENANT  CUSHING. — NAMES  OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEN  WHO 
RISKED  THEIR  LIVES  WITH  GUSHING.  —  BOMBARDMENT  OF  AND  CAPTURE  OF  PLY 
MOUTH,  N.  C. — LOSSES  AND  FRUITS  OF  VICTORY. — THE  FAMOUS  POWDER-BOAT. — DE 
SCRIPTION  OF  FORTS  AND  BATTERIES. — THE  FLEET  RIDES  OUT  A  TERRIFIC  GALE. — GEN 
ERAL  BUTLER'S  POWDER  -  BOAT  EXPLODED.  —  GREAT  Loss  OF  POWDER,  BUT  NO 
DAMAGE  DONE  TO  FORT  FISHER. — FIRST  ATTACK  ON  FORT  FISHER  BY  THE  FLEET.— 
BATTERIES  SILENCED. — LANDING  OF  THE  ARMY. — GENERAL  ORDERS. — CORRESPOND 
ENCE  BETWEEN  ADMIRAL  PORTER  AND  GENERAL  BUTLER. — GENERAL  BUTLER  ABAN 
DONS  THE  ATTEMPT  TO  CAPTURE  FORT  FISHER. —  GENERAL  BUTLER  SUCCEEDED  BY 
GENERAL  TERRY. — CRITICISMS. — CAPTURE  OF  FLAG-POND  BATTERY. — LIST  OF  VESSELS 
THAT  PARTICIPATED  IN  FIRST  ATTACK  ON  FORT  FISHER. — LETTERS  IN  REGARD  TO  THE 
UNNECESSARY  DELAY  OF  THE  EXPEDITION. — LETTERS  AND  TELEGRAMS  FROM  SECRE 
TARY  WELLES. — REPORTS  OF  OFFICERS. 


N  a  communication  dated  September  5, 
1864,  Mr.  Secretary  Welles  states  that, 
since  the  Winter  of  1862,  he  had  tried 
to  obtain  the  co-operation  of  the  War 
^     Department  in  a  joint  Army  and  Navy 
attack   on   the  defences  at  the  entrance  of 
Cape  Fear  River.  N.  C. 

It  seems  the  Secretary  of  War  had  de 
cided  that  no  troops  could  be  spared  for 
this  purpose,  and,  in  consequence,  from 
small  and  unimportant  works  the  huge 
fortification  known  as  Fort  Fisher  had  grad 
ually  arisen.  These  works  bade  defiance  to 
any  ordinary  naval  force,  unsupported  by 
troops,  so  that  what  in  the  first  instance 
might  have  been  prevented  by  the  persist 
ent  attacks  of  a  dozen  gun-boats,  grew 
to  a  series  of  works  so  formidable  that  it 
was  evidently  a  matter  of  difficulty  to  ef 
fect  their  reduction — that  is,  if  the  Confed 
erates  should  make  a  vigorous  defence. 

Early  in  the  contest  a  squadron  of  light- 
draft  gun-boats  could  have  made  their  way 
past  the  small  batteries  and  taken  posses 


sion  of  Cape  Fear  River,  closing  that  chan 
nel  of  blockade-runners,  and  paving  the 
way  for  the  troops  to  hold  the  point  on 
which  Fort  Fisher  was  finally  built.  But 
this  was  not  attempted  until  the  fortifica 
tions  were  so  far  advanced  as  to  become  the 
most  formidable  series  of  works  in  the  Con 
federacy. 

At  the  entrance  of  Cape  Fear  River, 
the  principal  operations  of  the  blockade- 
runners  were  carried  on,  supply  ing  the  Con 
federate  armies  with  clothing,  arms  and 
munitions  of  war  to  the  amount  of  sixty  or 
seventy  millions  of  dollars. 

The  Federal  Navy  Department  finally  be 
came  aware  that,  unless  these  supplies  were 
cut  off  from  the  Confederate  armies,  the  war 
was  likely  to  be  greatly  prolonged.  The 
blockade-runners  were  very  fast  steamers, 
well-manned,  and  with  experienced  pilots, 
and  so  regular  were  their  trips  to  Wilming 
ton,  that  their  arrival  was  counted  on  al 
most  as  confidently  as  if  they  had  been 
mail-steamers.  Of  course,  many  of  them 


(R83) 


GS4 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


fell  into  the  hands  of  the  blockaders,  or 
were  run  upon  the  beach  to  escape  capture. 
In  the  latter  case,  if  protected  by  artillery 
on  shore,  the  blockade  runners  would  land 
the  most  valuable  portion  of  their  cargoes 
and  set  fire  to  their  vessels. 

In  September,  18G4,  Mr,  Welles  made  an 
other  application  for  troops  to  co-operate 
with  the  Navy  in  an  attack  on  the  defences 
of  Cape  Fear  River,  and,  being  encouraged 
by  General  Grant  to  expect  assistance,  the 
Navy  Department  began  to  assemble  a,t 
Hampton  Roads  a  proper  force  of  vessels 
for  the  occasion.  The  command  of  the 
squadron  was  tendered  to  Rear  -  Admiral 
Farragut,  and  on  the  5th  of  September, 
1SG-4,  Mr.  Secretary  Welles,  in  a  letter  to 
that  officer,  says  : 

"  Lieu  tenant-General  Grant  has  recently  given 
the  subject  his  attention,  and  thinks  an  army  force 
can  be  spared  and  moved  by  the  first  day  of  Oc 
tober.  Upon  consultation,  he  is  of  the  opinion  that 
the  best  results  will  follow  the  landing  of  a  large 
force  under  the  guns  of  the  Navy  on  the  open 
beach  north  of  New  Inlet,  to  take  possession  and 
intrench  across  to  Cape  Fear  River,  the  Navy  to 
open  such  fire  as  is  possible  on  the  works  on  Fed 
eral  Point  in  conjunction  with  the  army,  and  at 
the  same  time  such  force  as  can  run  the  batteries  to 
do  so,  and  thus  isolate  the  rebels. 

"  You  are  selected  to  command  the  naval  force, 
and  you  will  endeavor  to  be  at  Port  Royal  by  the 
latter  part  of  September,  where  f  urther'orders  will 
await  you.  Bring  with  you  to  the  rendezvous  at 
Port  Royal  all  such  vessels  and  officers  as  can  be 
spared  from  the  West  Blockading  Squadron  with 
out  impeding  its  efficiency  ;  and  when  you  leave, 
turn  over  the  command  of  the  squadron  to  the  offi 
cer  next  in  rank  to  yourself  until  the  pleasure  of 
the  Department  is  known." 

Owing  to  failing  health,  Admiral  Farra 
gut  declined  accepting  this  command,  and 
on  the  22d  of  September  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy  wrote  to  Rear- Admiral  Porter  as 
follows  : 

"SiR— Rear-Admiral  D.  G.  Farragut  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron  on 
the  5th  instant;  but  the  necessity  of  rest  on  the 
part  of  that  distinguished  officer  renders  it  necessary 
that  he  should  come  immediately  North.  You  will 
therefore,  on  the  receipt  of  this  order,  consider 
yourself  detached  from  the  command  of  the  Missis 
sippi  squadron,  and  you  will  turn  over  the  com 
mand,  temporarily,  to  Captain  A.  M.  Pennock.  As 
soon  as  the  transfer  can  be  made,  proceed  to  Beau 
fort,  N.  C.,  and  relieve  Acting- Rear- Admiral  S.  P. 
Lee,  in  command  of  the  North  Atlantic  Blockading 
Squadron.  Take  with  you  your  personal  staff,  and 
a  number  of  officers,  not  exceeding  five,  may  be 
transferred  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  North  At 
lantic  squadron.'' 

Under  the  above  orders,  Rear-Admiral 
Porter  assumed  command  of  the  North  At 
lantic  squadron,  and  visited  City  Point,  Va., 
in  company  with  Mr.  Fox,  Assistant-Secre 
tary  of  the  Navy,  to  confer  with  General 
Grant  in  regard  to  the  necessary  contingent 
of  troops  required  to  co-operate  with  the 
Navy  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Fisher. 

Admiral  Porter  had  asked  for  but  eight 
thousand  troops,  and  a  sufficient  number  of 


vessels  to  fire  one  hundred  and  fifty  guns 
in  broadside.  As  Fort  Fisher  had  seventy- 
five  heavy  guns  mounted,  the  above  would 
only  be  two  guns  afloat  to  one  on  shore,  a 
small  proportion  considering  that  most  of 
the  naval  force  would  be  wooden  ships, 
against  heavy  earth-works,  protected  by 
solid  traverses.  The  wishes  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  Navy  were  made  known  to 
General  Grant,  and  he  at  once  decided  to 
send  the  requisite  number  of  troops  to  co 
operate  with  the  Navy  as  soon  as  the  ships 
could  be  prepared. 

The  next  thing  was  to  select  a  General  to 
command,  who  would  act  in  harmony  with 
the  Navy.  There  were  plenty  of  able  com 
manders,  but  the  trouble  was  whom  could 
General  Grant  best  spare.  Admiral  Porter 
merely  suggested  one  thing — namely,  that 
General  Butler  should  not  go  in  command. 
North  Carolina  was  in  the  district  over 
which  Butler  held  control,  and  the  Admiral 
did  not  know  but  that  the  General  would 
claim  the  right  to  go  in  command  of  troops 
operating  in  that  district.  It  was  at  length 
decided  that  General  Weitzel  should  have 
command  of  the  military  part  of  the  ex 
pedition. 

By  the  loth  of  October,  1804,  the  ships-of- 
war  of  the  fleet  destined  to  attack  Fort 
Fisher  were  assembled  at  Hampton  Roads, 
to  the  number  of  about  one  hundred. 
Many  of  them  were  from  other  squadrons 
which  had  been  depleted  for  the  occasion. 
There  was  a  great  variety  of  vessels,  as 
every  class  in  the  Navy  was  represented, 
from  the  lofty  frigate  down  to  the  fragile 
steamer  taken  from  the  merchant  service ; 
but  all  mounted  good  guns. 

Admiral  Porter  had  quite  a  task  before 
him  to  organize  this  large  force  and  make 
it  fit  for  combined  service,  for  it  was  not  in 
good  condition  for  battle  such  as  the  oc 
casion  demanded.  A  regular  system  of 
drilling  was  at  once  commenced  with  sails, 
masts,  yards  and  guns,  particularly  the 
latter,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  time  was 
spent  in  target  practice.  Immense  quanti 
ties  of  shells  were  fired  away,  for  the  com 
manding  officers  of  the  ships  were  given 
carte  blanche  in  this  respect,  the  Admiral 
believing  that  it  would  be  an  ultimate 
saving  in  time  of  battle. 

The  fleet  was  now  formed  into  three  di 
visions.  There  were  five  Commodores  in 
the  fleet  —  Thatcher,  Lanman,  Godon, 
Schenck  and  Radford.  The  latter  officer 
had  immediate  command  of  the  iron-clads. 
From  all  these  officers  Rear  Admiral  Porter 
received  hearty  support,  although,  owing  to 
the  fortunes  of  war,  he  had  been  advanced 
over  their  heads,  and  naturally  expected 
to  find  some  little  feeling  in  regard  to  it ; 
but  there  was  none  whatever.  They  met 
the  Admiral  in  the  most  cordial  manner  and 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


085 


ever  gave  him  their  heartiest  support.  This 
was,  it  is  true,  the  proper  course,  for  success 
has  always  in  time  of  war  been  recognized 
in  all  services  by  promotion.  Several  of 
these  gentlemen  were  officers  of  great 
ability,  and  it  may  be  wondered  why  they 
were  not  employed  in  command  of  inde 
pendent  squadrons.  The  wonder  will  be 
less  when  we  consider  how  little  was  known 
by  the  Navy  Department  of  the  character 
and  qualifications  of  officers.  With  the  ex 
ception  of  Assistant  -  Secretary  Fox,  there 
seemed  to  be  nobody  at  headquarters  who 
had  much  comprehension  of  the  matter,  and 
we  had  so  few  squadrons  that  it  was  diffi 
cult  to  find  separate  commands  for  all  who 
deserved  them. 

The  Navy  Department,  through  Assist 
ant-Secretary  Fox,  showed  great  energy  in 
assembling  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  at  Hamp 
ton  Roads,  and  they  never  denied  Admiral 
Porter  anything  he  asked  for. 

As  soon  as  the  fleet  was  fairly  organized, 
Admiral  Porter  made  an  effort  to  close  up 
the  port  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. ,  so  that  sup 
plies  could  not  get  in,  or  cotton  get  out. 
This  was  a  most  difficult  thing  to  do,  and 
his  predecessor,  Acting-Rear- Admiral  Lee, 
with  one  of  the  largest  squadrons  afloat, 
had  never  succeeded  in  the  attempt.  His 
officers,  it  is  true,  captured  a  large  number 
of  vessels,  but  where  one  was  captured  or 
destroyed  two  new  ones  were  built  on  an 
improved  plan. 

Towards  the  last  the  English  commenced 
building  these  vessels  of  steel — long,  nar 
row  and  shallow — which  were  capable  of 
great  speed,  and  could  cross  the  bar  of  Cape 
Fear  River  at  all  times  day  or  night,  for  at 
night  range-lights  were  kept  burning.  Once 
under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher  they  were 
safe.  The  gun-boats  generally  drew  too 
much  water  to  follow  the  blockade-runners 
over  the  bar.  where  the  depth  never  ex 
ceeded  ten  feet. 

The  conduct  of  the  blockading  officers 
was  sometimes  severely  criticised  by  the 
Northern  newspapers,  who,  although  they 
had  positive  evidence  of  their  watchfulness 
in  the  shape  of  numerous  fine  prize  steam 
ers,  loaded  with  cotton,  coming  into  North 
ern  ports,  were  not  satisfied  unless  every 
bottle  of  brandy  and  bunch  of  cigars  sent  to 
the  Confederates  were  captured  to  fill  the 
pockets  of  Northern  prize-agents.  The  peo 
ple  at  home  had  little  idea  of  the  arduous 
service  performed  by  the  blockading  vessels, 
whose  officers  and  men  had,  at  the  peril  of 
their  lives,  to  hold  on  to  Wilmington  bar  at 
all  seasons,  in  the  endeavor  to  prevent  the 
entrance  and  exit  of  blockade-runners. 

The  advantage  was  all  011  the  side  of  the 
latter.  They  could  chose  their  own  time. 
Painted  a  light,  neutral  tint,  they  fearlessly 
approached  the  bar,  the  range  -  lights 


guiding  them  by  night  as  well  as  if  it  were 
daylight,  and  a  vessel  within  a  short  dis 
tance  could  only  surmise  their  presence 
by  a  faint  streak  of  light  made  by  their 
wake.  If  the  gun-boats  fired,  they  were 
liable  to  hit  each  other;  if  they  made  the 
flash  -  signal  agreed  upon  between  them, 
the  blockade-runner  would  make  a  simi 
lar  one,  and  in  the  confusion,  the  latter, 
going  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  miles  an  hour, 
would  soon  pass  out  of  sight.  If  the  Federal 
vessels  laid  close  in  to  the  bar,  they  ran 
a  risk  of  being  carried  into  the  breakers 
by  the  current,  in  which  case  their  de 
struction  was  certain.  The  display  of  a 
twinkling  light  on  board  one  of  the  gun 
boats,  near  the  bar,  was  the  signal  for  a 
general  discharge  from  the  guns  of  Fort 
Fisher,  and,  although  these  shots  were 
more  noisy  than  damaging,  yet  a  stray 
shell  striking  one  of  the  Federal  boats 
would  have  knocked  it  to  pieces. 

Sometimes  the  Federal  vessels  would  dis 
cern  "  black  smoke"  in  the  distance  ;  then 
all  was  bustle  and  excitement.  Chase 
would  be  given,  and  a  '"long,  low  two-pipe" 
steamer  would  show  herself  standing  in  for 
the  bar.  With  the  slow  vessels,  there  was 
often  not  much  chance  of  catching  one  of 
these  swift  blockade  -  runners,  but  they 
were  sometimes  intercepted  and  driven 
back  to  Nassau  or  Bermuda  to  make  a 
fresh  attempt.  Eight  times  in  ten  they  suc 
ceeded  in  eluding  the  closest  blockade  of  a 
coast  ever  maintained.  The  profits  of  a 
successful  voyage  were  so  great,  that  the 
English  adventurers,  provided  with  good 
pilots,  readily  took  the  risks,  which  were 
nothing  compared  with  those  run  by  the 
blockading  vessels.  If  one  vessel  in  three 
succeeded  in  running  into  port,  it  remuner 
ated  the  owners  largely.  They  were  paid 
for  their  ventures  in  Confederate  cotton  at 
eight  cents  a  pound,  worth  at  that  time 
eighty  cents  in  England  and  one  dollar  in 
the  North.  At  first  the  blockade-runners 
were  insured  in  England  against  capture, 
so  many  successful  voyages  were  made,  but 
towards  the  last  the  insurers  charged  very 
high  premiums.  Admiral  Lee's  squadron 
captured  or  destroyed  a  large  number  of 
blockade-running  steamers,  perhaps  to  the 
value  of  ten  millions  of  dollars.  The  shores 
of  North  Carolina  were  strewn  with  the 
wrecks  of  these  vessels,  which  were  gener 
ally  run  aground  and  set  on  fire  to  prevent 
the  Federal  Navy  from  deriving  any  benefit 
from  their  capture. 

We  do  not  know  what  were  Admiral 
Lee's  particular  plans  in  regard  to  the 
blockade-runners,  but  it  was  determined, 
while  the  fleet  was  waiting  for  the  Army  to 
get  ready,  that  a  new  system  should"  be 
adopted  to  take  the  contraband  traders  by 
surprise.  A  chart  was  furnished  to  every 


680 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


vessel  on  the  blockade  of  Cape  Fear  River, 
upon  which  was  described  two  half-cir 
cles  close  to  the  two  bars  at  the  en 
trance  of  that  stream.  Here  were  sta 
tioned  twenty  vessels,  ranged  in  a  half- 
circle,  ten  off  each  bar.  At  the  termina 
tion  of  Frying-Pan  Shoals  was  described 
another  half-circle  of  about  twelve  miles' 
radius.  On  this  circle  was  stationed,  five 
miles  apart,  some  twenty  of  the  fastest 
vessels,  which  could  communicate  with 
each  other  by  signal  all  the  way  round. 
One  hundred  and  thirty  miles  from  land 
was  the  third  line,  on  which  the  vessels 
were  about  eight  miles  apart,  the  half-circle 
ending  at  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  on  one  side,  and 
closing  in  on  the  south  entrance  to  Cape 
Fear  River.  If  a  blockade-runner  came  out 
of  Wilmington  before  daylight,  she  would  be 
seen  by  vessels  on  the  middle  circle;  and, 
if  she  escaped  those,  she  would  be  chased 
by  the  vessels  on  the  outer  circle.  If  she 
started  at  midnight,  she  would  be  seen  at 
midday  by  the  vessels  of  the  outer  circle. 
Should  a  vessel  approach  the  outer  circle  in 
order  to  run  into  Wilmington  just  before 
daylight,  the  outer  circle  would  chase  her 
off;  or,  if  she  eluded  the  outer  circle  after 
dark,  she  would  be  picked  up  by  the  middle 
circle;  and  instances  were  rare  of  vessels  at 
tempting  to  run  this  stringent  blockade 
that  were  not  captured  or  driven  off. 

The  number  of  English  steamers  sent 
into  Hampton  Roads  was  surprising.  They 
came  in  on  an  average  of  nearly  one  each 
day,  and  the  commodores  commanding  di 
visions — who  shared  in  these  prizes — were 
well  pleased  to  see  them  coming  into  port. 
The  blockade-runners  themselves  were  quite 
astonished  and  crowded  into  Nassau  to  con 
coct  new  plans  to  circumvent  the  Federal 
cruisers;  but  from  that  time  the  business 
grew  more  and  more  unprofitable,  for  in 
thirty-seven  days  some  six  million  of  dol 
lars  worth  of  property  was  captured  or  de 
stroyed. 

While  General  Sherman  was  marching 
through  the  South,  he  used  up  everything 
in  the  shape  of  provisions  for  the  support 
of  an  army,  and  the  enemy  at  Richmond 
depended  in  a  great  measure  on  what  sup 
plies  they  could  get  from  Nassau  for  the 
maintenance  of  300,000  men.  By  an  order 
of  the  Confederate  Government,  one-third 
of  the  space  in  every  vessel  running  the 
blockade  was  devoted  to  carrying  provis 
ions  and  stores  for  the  Army.  Had  this 
stringent  blockade  been  kept  up  for  three 
months,  the  port  of  Wilmington  would  have 
been  deserted ;  but  this  was  hardly  pos 
sible,  for  the  United  States  Government 
would  have  been  obliged  soon  to  withdraw 
a  large  portion  of  the  blockading  vessels  for 
service  elsewhere,  and  the  old  system  would 
likely  have  been  resumed. 


While  these  operations  were  in  progress, 
Admiral  Porter  was  engaged  in  perfecting 
the  organization  of  his  fleet,  and  his  only 
objection  to  the  delay  was  the  fact  that 
the  winter  was  rapidly  approaching,  the 
season  when  storms  are  very  severe  on  the 
coast  of  North  Carolina.  However,  the  de 
lay  gave  Admiral  Porter  an  opportunity  to 
become  acquainted  with  his  officers,  so  that 
when  the  time  came  he  knew  where  to  place 
them.  The  plan  of  attack  had  been  litho 
graphed  on  a  large  scale,  and  each  vessel 
assigned  the  position  it  would  occupy  in 
action.  Every  commanding  officer  had 
a  copy  of  this  chart,  and  all  that  was  want 
ing  now  were  the  troops  to  co-operate  with 
the  Navy. 

In  the  meantime  the  naval  forces  were 
not  idle.  One  of  the  best  executed  feats 
of  the  war  was  the  destruction  of  the 
Confederate  ram  "Albemarle,"  at  Ply 
mouth,  N.  C.  This  was  most  important ; 
for,  as  has  been  already  related,  when  the 
ram  sunk  the  "Southfield"  and  drove  off 
the  "  Miami,"  she  attacked  the  flotilla  under 
Captain  Melancton  Smith,  and  after  a  hard 
fight  slipped  off  in  the  darkness  and  re 
turned  to  Plymouth.  Here  she  was  fastened 
to  a  wharf  to  undergo  necessary  repairs 
after  the  terrible  hammering  received  from 
the  flotilla,  and  it  was  evident  that  her 
commanding  officer  did  not  care  to  make 
another  attack  until  his  vessel  was 
strengthened  in  those  parts  which  had 
been  shown  to  be  the  weakest. 

The  engagement  was  criticised  somewhat 
at  the  time,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  vessels  of  the  flotilla  were  unarmored, 
and  that  they  fought  gallantly  against  a 
vessel  completely  encased  in  iron;  that  the 
misfortune  which  happened  to  the  "Sassa- 
cus  "  might  have  happened  to  one  or  two 
more,  in  which  case  not  only  the  injured 
vessels,  but  all  the  others  in  the  sounds  of 
North  Carolina,  would  have  been  at  the 
mercy  of  the  enemy.  These  considerations 
made  it  important  for  Captain  Smith  to 
avoid  risking  a  defeat,  and  that  he  was  suc 
cessful  in  getting  rid  of  the  ram,  and  de 
priving  her  for  the  time  being  of  power  to 
do  further  mischief,  is  proof  that  he  was 
master  of  the  situation.  This  was  the  view 
taken  of  the  affair  by  the  Navy  Depart 
ment,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  compli 
mentary  letter  : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
May  25,  1864.          J 

SIR — I  have  had  great  satisfaction  in  receiving 
and  perusing  your  report,  as  the  senior  officer  of 
the  several  vessels  that  were  engaged  with  the 
rebel  rain  "  Albeinarle  "  and  her  tender  on  the  5th 
instant,  in  Albemarle  Sound. 

The  Department  congratulates  all  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  United  States  Navy  who  partici 
pated  in  this  remarkable  contest  between  wooden 
gun-boats  and  a  formidable  armored  vessel,  in 
which  the  latter  was  forced  to  retreat  to  prevent 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


687 


capture,  and  it  particularly  thanks  you  for  the 
vigilant  and  gallant  use  made  of  the  means  placed 
at  your  command  to  thwart  the  designs  of  the 
rebels  to  regain  control  of  the  Sounds  of  North 
Carolina. 

GIDEOX  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
CAPTAIN  MELA^CTOX  SMITH,  U.  S.  N., 

Senior  Officer  commanding  Sounds  of  North 
Carolina. 

Notwithstanding  the  satisfaction  ex 
pressed  at  the  gallant  conduct  of  Captain 
Smith,  the  Department  was  greatly  troubled 
over  the  fact  ihat  the  "Albemarle"  still  ex 
isted,  and  might  sally  out  from  Plymouth  as 
soon  as  the  necessary  repairs  were  made,  and 
drive  the  Federal  gun-boats  from  the  Sounds. 
The  Department  considered  that  they  had 
no  vessels  at  their  disposal  fit  to  cope  with 
the  ram;  but  the  attack  of  the  "Sassacus" 
should  have  showed  them  that  four  or  five 
double-enders,  each  fitted  with  a  heavy  iron 
shield  to  the  stem,  would  have  been  all-suffi 
cient  to  crush  the  ram  by  a  simultaneous 
attack.  The  experience  of  the  Confederate 
commander  had  assured  him  of  this  fact, 
which  was  probably  the  chief  reason  why 
he  did  not  again  venture  out. 

Under  these  circumstances,  Lieutenant 
W.  B .  Gushing  was  offered  a  further  opportu 
nity  to  distinguish  himself  —  an  offer  he 
at  once  accepted.  He  was  sent  to  New 
York,  to  superintend  the  fitting  out  of  three 
torpedo  steam-launches,  arranged  accord 
ing  to  the  plans  of  Chief  Engineer  W.  W. 
W.  Wood  and  Assistant  -  Engineer  G.  W. 
Lay,  which  proved  to  be  all  that  were 
claimed  for  them.  About  the  middle  of 
October,  1864,  the  launches  were  ready,  and 
Gushing  got  away  with  them  from  the 
New  York  Navy  Yard. 

Gushing  was  not  so  well  adapted  for 
the  command  of  a  flotilla,  even  of  steam- 
launches,  as  he  was  of  a  single  vessel. 
One  of  his  torpedo  -  launches  sank  soon 
after  he  started,  and  another  was  run 
ashore  and  surrendered  to  the  Confederates 
in  Chesapeake  Bay,  while  Gushing,  steam 
ing  through  a  rough  sea,  safely  reached 
Hampton  Roads,  and  reported  to  Rear- Ad 
miral  Porter,  then  on  board  his  flag-ship, 
the  "Malvern." 

Lieutenant  Cushing's  condition  at  this 
time  was  pitiable.  He  had  been  subjected 
to  terrible  exposure  for  more  than  a  week, 
had  lost  all  his  clothing  except  what  he  had 
on,  and  his  attenuated  face  and  sunken 
eyes  bore  witness  to  the  privations  he  had 
undergone.  Himself  and  crew  had  existed 
on  spoiled  ship's  biscuits  and  water,  with 
an  occasional  potato  cooked  before  the 
boiler  fire.  Admiral  Porter  at  once  ordered 
Gushing  to  get  some  necessary  rest  and  not 
to  come  near  him  until  sent  for;  and  in  the 
meantime  his  torpedo  -  launch,  which  had 
been  somewhat  shattered  and  disarranged, 
was  put  in  perfect  order.  Gushing  was  then 


instructed  to  proceed  at  once  to  blow  up 
the  •' Albemarle."  Commander  W.  H.  Ma- 
comb,  commanding  in  the  Sounds  of  North 
Carolina,  was  ordered  to  give  him  all  the 
assistance  in  his  power,  and,  in  case  Gush 
ing  was  successful,  to  attack  and  recover 
the  town  and  defences  of  Plymouth. 

On  the  very  morning  appointed  for  Gush 
ing  to  set  out.  an  order  came  from  the  Navy 
Department  directing  Admiral  Porter  to  in 
vestigate  some  charges  preferred  by  Mr. 
Secretary  Seward  against  Gushing  for 
violating  certain  neutral  rights  while  in 
command  of  a  vessel  on  the  Southern  coast. 

Here  was  a  dilemma  ;  but  the  Admiral, 
after  a  brief  investigation,  decided  that 
Gushing  was  free  from  blame,  and  the 
brave  fellow,  who  dreaded  a  court-mar 
tial  far  more  than  he  did  the  enemy,  went 


LIEUTENANT  (AFTERWARDS  COMMANDER)  WM.  B.  GUSHING. 

on  his  way  rejoicing,  passed  through  the 
Dismal  Swamp  Canal,  and  on  the  27th  of 
October  reported  to  Commander  Macomb. 

That  night  Gushing  proceeded  up  the 
river  in  the  steam  torpedo-launch  with  thir 
teen  officers  and  men,  mostly  those  who  had 
volunteered  from  Commander  Macomb's  flo 
tilla  for  the  service.  The  distance  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river  to  where  the  ram  lay 
was  about  eight  miles,  and  the  stream,  of 
an  average  width  of  two  hundred  yards, 
was  lined  with  the  enemy's  pickets.  The 
wreck  of  the  U.  S.  S.  "Southfield"  lay  a 
mile  below  the  town,  surrounded  by  some 
schooners,  and  it  was  understood  that 
a  gun  was  mounted  here  to  command  the 
bend  in  the  river.  In  consequence  of  this 
report,  an  armed  boat  from  the  U.  S.  S. 
"  Shamrock  "  was  taken  in  tow,  with  orders 
to  cast  off  and  board  these  schooners,  in 


688 


case    the    expedition    was    hailed   by 
enemy. 

When  the  steam  launch  and  her  tow 
n eared  the  wreck  of  the  "  Southfield,"  there 
were  anxious  feelings  on  the  part  of  the 
brave  fellows  whose  lives  it  was  thought  by 
many  would  ail  be  sacrificed  on  this  hazard 
ous  expedition;  but  no  one  faltered,  and 
Cushing's  keen  eye  looked  into  the  dark 
ness  intent  only  on  the  "  Albetnarle."  The 
•'Southfield"  was  passed  by  the  party  un 
observed  by  the  enemy,  and  the  pickets 
along  the  river  banks,  depending  on  those 
at  the  outpost  to  give  the  alarm,  were  not 
on  the  alert.  This  was  a  fortunate  circum 
stance  for  Gushing  and  his  comrades,  for  he 
was  thus  enabled  to  approach  unmolested 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  "Albemarle." 

The  look-out  on  board  the  iron-clad  finally 
hailed,  when  Gushing,  casting  off  the  cut 
ter,  ordered  her  to  proceed  back  to  the 
wreck  of  the  "  Southfield"  and  capture  the 
picket  guard.  Gushing  then  dashed  ahead 
under  full  steam  for  the  "  Albemarle," 
which  was  secured  to  the  wharf  within  a 
pen  of  logs  extending  about  thirty  feet  from 
the  vessel.  A  fire  on  shore  lighted  up  the 
surroundings  and  Cushing's  quick  eye  at 
once  took  in  the  situation.  He  dashed  at 
the  logs,  which  the  steam-launch  shoved 
aside,  and  struck  the  "Albemarle  "  bows  on. 

In  the  meantime  the  enemy  had  become 
thoroughly  aroused,  and  the  men  on  board 
the  ram  rushed  to  their  quarters  and  opened 
a  severe  fire  on  the  assaulting  party  ;  but 
they  were  swept  away  by  a  discharge  of 
canister  from  the  12 -pound  howitzer 
mounted  in  the  torpedo-boat's  bow.  A  gun 
loaded  with  grape  was  also  fired  at  the 
launch,  but  the  fire  from  the  howitzer  dis 
concerted  the  gunner's  aim  and  the  shots 
were  harmless.  While  all  this  firing  was 
going  on.  the  torpedo  boom  was  deliberately 
lowered,  and  by  a  vigorous  thrust  Gushing 
drove  the  torpedo  under  the  ram's  over 
hang  and  exploded  it.  There  was  a  tre 
mendous  crash  and  a  great  upward  rush  of 
water  which  filled  the  steam-launch.  The 
pumps  of  the  "Albemarle"  were  manned, 
and  her  commanding  officer,  Lieutenant 
Warley,  encouraged  his  crew  to  try  and 
keep  the  vessel  free,  but  the  water  gained 
so  rapidly  through  the  great  aperture  made 
by  the  explosion  that  the  "Albemarle" 
soon  went  to  the  bottom,  her  smoke-stack 
only  showing  the  place  where  she  had  last 
floated.  As  the  enemy  had  none  of  the 
necessary  appliances  at  hand  for  raising  the 
iron-clad,  they  made  vigorous  efforts  to  still 
further  disable  her,  anticipating  that  the 
Federal  gun-boats  would  soon  be  on  the 
spot  to  try  and  secure  the  sunken  vessel. 

The  "Albemarle,"  although  apparently 
taken  by  surprise,  had  been  quite  prepared 
for  the  emergency.  There  were  two  field- 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


pieces  on  her  deck  loaded  with  grape,  and 
manned  by  a  company  of  artillery  ready  to 
fire  at  a  moment's  notice.  That  a  good  watch 
was  kept  on  board  is  proven  by  the  quick 
ness  with  which  the  crew  got  to  quarters, 
and  opened  fire  on  the  torpedo-boat.  It  was 
fortunate  for  Gushing  that  he  succeeded  in 
passing  the  pickets  along  the  river  undis 
turbed,  otherwise  the  sailors  on  board  the 
"Albemarle  "  and  the  troops  on  shore  might 
have  given  him  such  a  warm  reception  as 
would  have  prevented  the  carrying  out  of 
his  design.  But  Gushing  seemed  ever  to  be 
the  child  of  fortune  and  his  good  luck  fol 
lowed  him  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

But  to  return  to  the  torpedo-boat :  when  the 
fire  was  opened  on  her  by  the  enemy.  Pay 
master  Swann  was  wounded  at  Cushing's 
side,  and  how  many  others  had  been  injured 
he  did  not  know.  It  seemed  as  if  a  shower 
of  grape-shot  had  struck  the  boat,  but  in  the 
confusion  the  aim  was  misdirected  and  the 
grape  did  little  injury.  The  torpedo,  ex 
ploding  directly  afterwards,  filled  the  launch 
with  water,  when,  seeing  that  she  would  be 
captured,  Gushing  and  others  jumped  into 
the  river  and  swam  down  stream  under  a 
shower  of  musketry,  which,  however,  failed 
to  do  any  harm. 

As  soon  as  the  Confederates  saw  the  tor 
pedo-launch  filled  with  water  and  floating 
away,  they  sent  boats  to  take  possession  of 
her.  and  captured  most  of  her  crew.  Some 
of  the  latter  were  drowned  in  their  efforts 
to  reach  the  opposite  shore  ;  and.  so  far  as 
Gushing  knew  at  the  time,  only  one  escaped 
besides  himself,  and  he  in  a  different  direc 
tion.  As  he  swam  down  the  stream  he  met 
Acting-Master's  Mate  Woodman  struggling 
in  the  water,  almost  exhausted,  and  en 
deavored  to  assist  him  to  the  shore;  but  the 
attempt  was  a  failure,  and  Mr.  Woodman 
was  drowned.  Gushing  himself  could 
barely  crawl  out  of  the  water  when  he  suc 
ceeded  in  reaching  the  bank,  half  a  mile 
below  the  town.  He  dragged  himself  into 
a  swamp,  and,  while  lying  concealed  a  few 
feet  from  the  path  along  the  river,  two  of 
the  "  Albemarle's  "  officers  passed,  and  from 
their  conversation  Gushing  learned  for  the 
first  time  that  the  iron-clad  was  at  the  bot 
tom  of  the  river. 

As  soon  as  his  strength  would  allow, 
Gushing  plunged  into  the  dense  swamp, 
where  he  would  not  likely  be  followed,  and 
after  incredible  difficulty  in  forcing  his  way 
through  the  mud  and  slime,  he  reached  a 
point  well  below  the  town ;  and  met  a  iie- 
gro,  whom  lie  sent  into  Plymouth  to 
find  out  the  particulars  of"  the  sink 
ing  of  the  ram.  The  negro  soon  re 
turned  with  assurances  that  the  "Albe 
marle  "  was  actually  sunk.  Thus  cheered, 
Gushing  pursued  his  tedious  journey 
through  the  swamps,  till,  coming  suddenly 


OF   THE   CITIL    WAR. 


089 


on  a  creek,  he  found  one  of  the  enemy's 
picket-boats,  of  which  he  took  possession, 
and  pulled  away  with  all  his  remaining 
strength,  not  knowing  at  what  moment  he 
might  get  a  bullet  through  his  brain.  By 
11  o'clock  the  following  night  he  reached 
the  gun-boat  "  Valley  City,"  and  was  taken 
on  board  and  cared  for,  after  one  of  the  most 
perilous  adventures  on  record. 

The  blowing-up  of  the  "Albemarle"  was 
a  very  gallant  achievement.  It  was  done 
in  the  face  of  almost  insurmountable  obsta 
cles,  for,  as  we  have  shown,  the  enemy  had 
taken  every  precaution  against  just  such 
an  attempt  as  was  made.  Here  was  a 
chance,  and  Gushing  seized  it.  He  would 
undoubtedly  have  made  the  attempt  if  he 
had  had  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  the  picket- 
iiring  all  the  way  to  Plymouth. 

Gushing  himself  did  not  know  when  he 
arrived  on  board  the  "Valley  City"  who 
had  been  captured  and  who  had  escaped; 
but  the  following  list  from  a  report  he 
subsequently  prepared  gives  the  names  of 
the  gallant  fellows  who  risked  their  lives 
to  dispose  of  an  iron-clad  that  threatened 
the  destruction  of  all  the  vessels  in  the 
Sounds  of  North  Carolina: 

"  William  B.  Gushing,  Lieutenant,  commanding 
expedition,  escaped;  William  L.  Howarth,  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  picket  -  boat,  missing  ;  William 
Stotesbury,  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant  Engineer, 
picket  -  boat,  missing  ;  John  Woodman,  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  U.  S.  S.  '  Commodore  Hull.' 
drowned  ;  Thomas  S.  Cray,  Acting  Master's  Mate, 
U,  S.  S.  '  Otsego,'  missing ;  Charles  8.  Keener, 
Acting- Third- Assistant  Engineer,  U.  S.  S.  'Ocsego,' 
missing ;  Francis  H.  Swan,  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  U.  S.  S.  ' Otsego,'  missing;  Edward  T. 
Horton,  ordinary  seaman,  U.  S.  S.  '  Chicopee,' 
escaped ;  Bernard  Harley.  ordinary  seaman,  U.  S.  S. 
'  Chicopee,'  missing ;  William  Smith,  ordinary 
seaman,  U.  S.  S.  '  Chicopee,'  missing ;  Richard 
Hamilton, coalheaver,  U.  S.  S.  'Shamrock,' missing; 
It.  H.  King,  landsman,  picket  boat,  missing;  - 

Wilkes,     landsman,    picket -boat,    missing;  

Demming,  landsman,  picket-boat,  missing;  Samuel 
Higgins,  first-class  fireman,  picket-boat,  drowned." 

The  bodies  of  Acting  -  Master's  Mate 
Woodman  and  Fireman  Higgins  floated  on 
shore  near  Plymouth,  and  it  was  a  great 
satisfaction  to  know  that  only  two  of  Cush- 
ing's  comrades  lost  their  lives  in  this  des 
perate  adventure. 

We  cannot  hope  to  do  justice  to  this  re 
markable  episode  in  the  naval  history  of 
the  civil  war.  The  narrative  should  be 
written  in  letters  of  gold  on  a  tablet  for  the 
benefit  of  future  ages  ;  but  we  will  here  in 
sert  the  official  communication  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  Navy  to  Lieutenant  Gushing, 
after  the  latter's  report  had  been  forwarded 
by  Admiral  Porter  to  the  Department  : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  November  9,  1864. 

SIR— Your  report  of  October  30  has  been  received, 
announcing  the  destruction  of  the  rebel  iron-clad 
steamer  "Albemarle.''  on  the  night  of  the  27th 
ultimo,  at  Plymouth,  North  Carolina. 


When,  last  Summer,  the  Department  selected  you 
for  this  important  and  perilous  undertaking,  and 
sent  you  to  Rear- Admiral  (jregory,  at  New  York,  to 
make  the  necessary  preparations^  it  left  the  details 
to  yourself  to  perfect.  To  you  and  your  brave 
comrades,  therefore,  belong  the  exclusive  credit 
which  attaches  to  this  daring  achievement.  The 
destruction  of  so  formidable  a  vessel,  which  had 
resisted  the  combined  attack  of  a  number  of  our 
steamers,  is  an  important  event  touching  our  future 
naval  and  military  operations.  The  judgment  as 
well  as  the  daring  courage  displayed  would  do 
honor  to  any  officer,  and  redounds  to  the  credit  of 
one  of  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

On  four  previous  occasions  the  Department  has 
had  the  gratification  of  expressing  its  approbation 
of  your  conduct  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  and  in 
each  instance  there  was  manifested  by  you  the  same 
heroic  daring  and  innate  love  of  perilous  adventure, 
a  mind  determined  to  succeed,  and  not  to  be  de 
terred  by  any  apprehensions  of  defeat. 

The  Department  has  presented  your  name  to  the 
President  for  a  vote  of  thanks,  that  you  may  be 
promoted  one  grade,  and  your  comrad'es  also  shall 
receive  recognition. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  recall  the  assurance  you 
gave  me,  at  the  commencement  of  your  active  pro 
fessional  career,  that  you  would  prove  yourself 
worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  you,  and  of  the 
service  to  which  you  were  appointed.  I  trust  you 
may  be  preserved  through  further  trials ;  and  it  is 
for  yourself  to  determine  whether,  after  entering 
upon  so  auspicious  a  career,  you  shall,  by  careful 
study  and  self-discipline,  be  prepared  for  a  wider 
sphere  of  usefulness  on  the  call  of  your  country. 
Very  respectfully,  etc., 

GIDEON  "WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
LIEUTENANT  W.  B.  GUSHING.  U.  S.  N., 

Washington. 

As  soon  as  he  heard  of  the  sinking  of 
the  "  Albemarle, "  Commander  Macomb 
promptly  prepared  to  carry  out  the  orders 
of  Admiral  Porter,  which  directed  that  in 
case  of  the  destruction  of  the  ram  he  should 
proceed  to  recapture  Plymouth.  For  their 
part,  the  Confederates  were  not  idle  in  pre 
paring  to  resist  the  advance  of  the  gun 
boats,  although  their  main  dependence  was 
now  taken  from  them.  They  impeded  the  ad 
vance  of  the  flotilla  by  sinking  schooners  in 
the  channel  under  the  guns  of  the  fortifi 
cations. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1864,  the  flotilla 
proceeded  up  the  Roanoke  River  in  the  fol 
lowing  order  :  "  Commodore  Hull,"  "  Sham 
rock."  "Chicopee."  "Otsego,"  "Wyalu- 
sing  "  and  "'Tacony."  At  the  same  time 
the  "Valley  City  "  went  up  the  "Middle 
River,"  which  joined  the  Roanoke  above 
Plymouth,  in  order  to  cut  off  any  vessels 
the  enemy  might  send  in  that  direction. 

At  about  noon  Commander  Macomb  came 
within  range  and  opened  fire  on  the  land 
batteries  protecting  Plymouth.  The  fire 
was  promptly  returned,  but  Macomb  con 
tinued  to  advance  until  he  was  checked  by 
the  sunken  vessels  and  exposed  to  the  fire 
of  the  enemy's  heavy  guns  protected  by 
earth -works.  Present  advance  was  out  of 
the  question,  and  signal  was  made  for  the 
vessels  to  retire  down  the  river.  In  the 


690 


THE  NA  VAL    HISTORY 


meantime  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
"  Valley  City,"  hearing  the  firing  cease, 
concluded  that  the  Federal  vessels  had  won 
the  day,  and  ran  down  towards  Plymouth, 
when,  fire  being  opened  on  his  vessel,  he 
also  returned  to  the  Sound. 

Thus  far  the  expedition  was  a  failure. 
Something  must  be  done,  and  from  the  re 
ports  of  the  "  Valley  City,"  and  a  recon- 
noissance  made  by  Lieutenant-Commander 
Earl  English  in  a  boat,  it  was  found  that 
there  was  plenty  of  water  in  the  channel  of 
"  Middle  River,"  and  that  any  of  the  vessels 
could  turn  the  bends  with  the  assistance  of 
a  tug.  This  would  enable  Macomb  to  come 
out  into  the  Roanoke  River,  above  Ply 
mouth,  a  contingency  which  the  Confed 
erates  had  not  provided  against. 

The  flotilla  accordingly  again  got  under 
way  to  try  the  new  channel,  Commander 


LIEDTEXANT-COMMAXDER  (NOW  COMMODORE)  WILLIAM  T. 
TRUXTUN, 

COMMANDING   THE    "  TACONY." 

Macomb  in  the  ''Shamrock"  following  the 
tug  "  Bazley,"  Acting-Ensign  M.  D.  Ames, 
having  on  board  the  pilot  of  the  "  Wyalus- 
ing; "  next  came  the  "  Otsego,"  Lieutenant- 
Commander  H.  N.  T.  Arnold;  ".Wyalus- 
ing,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Earl  English; 
"Tacony,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Wm.  T. 
Truxtun;  "Commodore  Hull,"  Acting- 
Master  Francis  Josselyn,  in  the  order 
named.  Owing  to  the  skill  of  the  pilot, 
Acting -Master  Alfred  Everett,  the  vessels. 
with  a  great  deal  of  hard  work,  succeeded 
in  entering  Roanoke  River  at  4  p.  M..  with 
the  exception  of  the  "  Commodore  Hull," 
which  remained  in  "  Middle  River"  to  pre 
vent  the  enemy  from  laying  torpedoes  there, 
in  case  the  vessels  should  be  obliged  to  re 
turn  that  way. 


When  the  flotilla  got  near  Plymouth  the 
vessels  commenced  shelling  the  enemy's 
works,  which  was  the  first  intimation  the 
Confederates  had  of  the  approach  of  the 
Federal  forces  from  this  unexpected  direc 
tion.  As  it  was  now  late  in  the  day,  it  was 
not  deemed  judicious  to  make  a  serious  at 
tack  in  the  dark,  but  the  vessels  dropped 
close  enough  to  the  town  to  keep  up  a  fire 
and  command  the  channel,  so  that  no  tor 
pedoes  could  be  planted. 

Next  morning,  the  "  Commodore  Hull  " 
joined  the  flotilla,  and  at  9  A.  M.  the  attack 
was  made  in  close  order.  The  Confederates 
kept  up  a  heavy  fire,  particularly  on  the 
"Commodore  Hull"  and  the  "Shamrock"; 
but  as  the  vessels  neared  the  batteries  the 
order  was  given,  "  Go  ahead  at  full  speed! " 
so  that  the  flotilla  was  soon  pouring  in  a 
shower  of  grape  and  canister,  which  drove 
the  artillerists  from  their  guns  and  cleared 
the  rifle-pits  of  sharp-shooters.  In  ten  min 
utes  time  the  victory  was  complete,  and 
Plymouth  was  once  more  in  Union  hands. 
One  battery  still  held  out,  but  a  shell  from 
the  "  Shamrock  "  exploding  in  the  maga 
zine,  the  fort  blew  up,  some  of  the  fragments 
falling  on  the  decks  of  the  steamers.  The 
explosion  caused  a  panic  among  the  Con 
federates,  who  ceased  firing  and  fled  in  all 
directions. 

The  Union  forces  were  landed  and  took 
possession  of  the  batteries  without  resist 
ance.  Never  was  victory  more  complete, 
and  the  news  was  transmitted  by  Rear-Ad 
miral  Porter  to  the  Navy  Department  in 
the  following  dispatch : 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "  MALVERN,''     ) 
HAMPTOX  ROADS  November  11,  1864.  f 
SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  you  the  report 
of  Commander  William  H.   Macomb,  in  relation  to 
the  capture  of  the  batteries  and  the  town  of  Ply 
mouth,  North  Carolina,   which  place  with  all  its 
defences  was  captured  from  our  land  forces  some 
time  last  spring. 

This  was  a  very  gallant  affair,  and  reflects  great 
credit  on  the  commander  of  the  expedition  and  all 
concerned.  I'  is  a  handsome  finishing  stroke  after 
the  blowing  up  of  the  ram. 

The  fruits  of  this  capture  are  twenty-two  cannon, 
thirty-seven  prisoners,  two  hundred  stand  of  arms, 
and  more  being  picked  up  daily. 

The  flags  of  the  forts  and  of  the  "Albemarle" 
and  a  large  amount  of  amunition  were  also  taken. 
I  am  sir,  respectfully,  etc., 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Hox.  GIDEON  WELLES,  Rear- Admiral. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

This  recapture  of  Plymouth  was  an  im 
portant  event,  as  both  sides  had  been  con 
tending  for  its  possession  ever  since  the 
Federal  forces  gained  a  foothold  in  the 
Sounds  of  North  Carolina.  The  place  had 
been  strongly  fortified  and  armed  with  9- 
inch  navy  guns,  with  the  expectation  that 
the  Federals  would  hold  it  indefinitely;  but 
the  appearance  of  the  "Albemarle"  and  her 
subsequent  successs  demoralized  the  gar- 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


691 


rison,  and  the  Confederates  were  enabled  to 
reoccupy  the  works. 

Plymouth  was  not  far  distant  from  im 
portant  lines  of  railway,  and  with  an  ade 
quate  force  of  Federal  troops  maintained  at 
this  point  they  would  have  been  in  con 
stant  danger.  It  completely  commanded 
in  both  directions  the  Roanoke  River,  on 
which  the  Confederates  built  several  iron 
clad  floating  batteries,  including  the  "Albe- 
marle.''  Had  the  channel  above  the  town 
been  obstructed  and  planted  with  torpedoes, 
the  "Albemarle  "  would  never  have  reached 
Plymouth.  The  troops,  however,  rested  in 
fancied  security,  relying  on  the  gun-boats 
to  deal  with  the  enemy's  vessels,  and  those 
on  board  the  flotilla  felt  willing  and  able 
to  contend  with  any  force  the  Confederates 
might  send  against  them. 

Three  heavy  forts  armed  with  twenty 
guns,  besides  the  ram  "Albemarle,"  which 
lay  sunk  at  the  wharf,  were  captured  in  less 
than  an  hour  by  a  very  inadequate  force  of 
vessels,  and  a  large  body  of  the  enemy's 
troops  were  driven  precipitately  from  the 
town.  This  was  an  achievement  of  which 
every  officer  and  man  in  the  flotilla  might 
well  be  proud,  for  the  batteries  of  Plymouth 
were  manned  by  as  good  soldiers  as  could 
be  found  in  the  Confederacy  ;  but  the  sudden 
dash  of  the  steamers  disconcerted  their  aim, 
and  the  grape,  canister,  and  shrapnel  fall 
ing  in  their  ranks  from  the  distance  of  only 
a  few  yards  were  too  much  for  human 
nature  to  resist. 

The  "Commodore  Hull,"  Acting-Master 
Josselyn,  was  very  much  cut  up  by  the 
enemy's  shot,  and  lost  four  men  killed  and 
three  wounded.  She  was  exposed  to  the 
fire  of  the  enemy's  heavy  guns,  and,  as  she 
neared  the  batteries,  a  heavy  fire  of  mus 
ketry  was  poured  in  from  the  rifle-pits.  A 
shell  from  a  9-inch  gun  came  in  on  the 
starboard  bow,  killing  one  man  and  mor 
tally  wounding  another,  and  three  others 
slightly  at  the  forward  gun.  passed  through 
the  berth-deck  and  ward-room,  cut  away 
the  railing  around  the  after-hatch,  struck 
the  after-port  gun-carriage,  where  it  lodged, 
and  disabled  the  gun.  That  was  good  work 
for  a  single  shell  which  did  not  explode. 
Another  shell  passed  through  the  vessel 
from  stem  to  stern,  knocking  the  officers' 
quarters  to  pieces,  but  doing  no  further 
damage.  A  third  shell,  in  passing  over  the 
hurricane-deck,  cut  away  part  of  the  wood 
work  on  the  port  side  and  knocked  out  the 
bows  of  the  second  cutter.  The  upper 
works  of  the  vessel  were  considerably  shat 
tered  and  the  frame  much  racked  by  the 
firing  and  the  explosion  of  a  magazine  on 
shore.  This  vessel  was  one  of  those  frail 
craft  of  which  we  have  so  often  spoken,  in 
which  so  much  was  dared  and  done. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander  English,  in  the 


"  Wyalusing."  had  the  forethought,  when 
the  enemy  began  to  retreat,  to  cover  the 
road  by  which  they  were  moving  off  with 
his  guns  and  kept  up  a  rapid  fire  with 
bursting  shell,  which  caused  the  Confeder 
ates  to  throw  away  their  arms  and  accoutre 
ments,  many  of  which  were  picked  up. 
Acting-Master  Mr.  R.  Hathaway  and  Act 
ing-Ensign  Foster,  of  the  "  Wyalusing," 
were  the  first  to  enter  Fort  Williams,  one  of 
the  strongest  works,  where  they  planted  the 
Union  colors  and  captured  three  prisoners. 

The  "  Shamrock,"  Commander  Macomb's 
vessel,  was  struck  six  times  by  shot  and 
shell,  most  of  the  enemy's  projectiles  pass 
ing  over  her.  Two  of  her  men  were  killed 
and  seven  wounded.  These,  with  the  killed 
and  wounded  on  board  the  "Commodore 
Hull,"  were  the  only  casualties  on  the  flo 
tilla,  which  was  remarkable,  considering 
the  number  of  heavy  guns  the  Confederates 
had  in  position,  and  the  large  number  of 
sharp-shooters  in  rifle-pits. 

All  the  commanding  officers  of  vessels 
spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  conduct 
of  those  under  their  command.  Commander 
Macomb  did  not  neglect  to  bring  to  the  no 
tice  of  the  Navy  Department  the  command 
ing  officers  who  had  so  well  sustained  him 
on  that  day,  31st  October,  1864.  He  recom 
mended  them  all  for  the  promotion  they  so 
justly  deserved  for  a  victory  gained  over  a 
superior  force,  with  a  dash  that  must  al 
ways  excite  admiration;  but  the  victory 
was  not  appreciated  in  Washington,  and 
the  only  official  notice  of  it  was  a  short  let 
ter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  com 
mending  the  officers  and  men,  and  inform 
ing  Commander  Macomb  that  he  would  be 
recommended  to  the  President  for  advance 
ment  ten  numbers  in  his  grade.  The  cases 
of  the  commanding  officers  of  the  vessels 
were  afterwards  considered  by  a  Board  of 
Admirals  convened  at  Washington  to  ap 
portion  the  rewards  to  be  given  for  those 
who  had  distinguished  themselves  in  battle; 
but  the  Board  was  limited  to  the  petty  figure 
of  thirty  numbers  as  the  maximum  of  ad- 
viincement  for  the  most  gallant  exploit. 

The  patience  of  the  Navy  Department  and 
of  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  large  fleet 
lying  in  Hampton  Roads  began  to  be  se 
verely  tried  by  the  delay  in  the  appearance 
of  the  troops  for  the  combined  attack  on 
Fort  Fisher.  The  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
was  apprehensive  that  he  would  have  to 
disperse  the  vessels  to  other  points,  whence 
they  had  been  taken  for  this  expedition,  and 
where  their  absence  had  been  greatly  felt. 
The  delay  and  the  great  expense  attending 
it  annoyed  Mr.  Welles  so  much  that  he  ap 
pealed  to  the  President  in  the  hope  of  ac 
celerating  the  shipment  of  the  troops,  say 
ing,  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  that 


692 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


"Every  other  squadron  had  been  depleted  and 
vessels  detached  from  other  duty  to  strengthen 
this  expedition.  The  vessels  are  concentrated  at 
Hampton  Roads  and  Beaufort,  where  they  remain, 
an  immense  force,  lying  idle,  awaiting  the  move 
ments  of  the  army.  The  detention  of  so  many  ves 
sels  from  blockade  and  cruising  duty  is  a  most  seri 
ous  injury  to  the  public  service,  and,  if  the  expedi 
tion  cannot  go  forward  for  want  of  troops,  I  desire 
to  be  notified  so  that  the  ships  may  be  relieved  and 
dispersed  for  other  service. 

"The  importance  of  closing  Wilmington  is  so  well 
understood  by  you,  that  I  refrain  from  presenting 
any  new  arguments.  I  am  aware  of  the  anxiety  of 
yourself  and  of  the  disposition  of  the  War  Depart 
ment  to  render  all  the  aid  in  its  power.  The  cause 
of  the  delay  is  not  from  the  want  of  a  proper  con 
ception  of  the  importance  of  the  subject,  but  the 
season  for  naval  coast  operations  will  soon  be  gone. 
"  General  Bragg  has  been  sent  from  Richmond  to 
Wilmington  to  prepare  for  the  attack,  and  the 
autumn  weather  so  favorable  for  such  an  expedi 
tion  is  passing  away.  The  public  expect  this  attack, 
and  the  country  will  be  distressed  if  it  is  not  made. 
To  procrastinate  much  longer  will  be  to  peril  its 
success.  Of  the  obstacles  which  delay,  or  prevent 
military  operations  at  once,  I  cannot  judge;  but  the 
delay  is  becoming  exceedingly  embarrassing  to  this 
department,  and  the  importance  of  having  the 
military  authorities  impressed  with  the  necessity 
of  speedy  action  has  prompted  this  communication 
to  you." 

Noth  withstanding    this     urgent     appeal 
from  Mr.  Welles  to  the  President,  a  copy  of 
which   was   sent  to  General   Grant,  there 
was  still  delay  in  furnishing  the  military 
forces  required.     It  could  not  have  been  for 
want  of  troops  in  General  Butler's  command, 
for  he  occupied  a  strong  position,  backed 
by  a  large  force  of  gun-boats,  with  a  bridge 
of  boats  across  the   James,  by   which  he 
could  retreat,  if  he  thought  necessary,  with 
entire  safety  under  cover  of  the  Navy  guns. 
We  are,  therefore,  forced  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  only  reason  for  the  contingent  of 
troops  destined  to  co-operate  in  the  attack 
on  Fort  Fisher  not  appearing  in  Hampton 
Roads,  was  that  General  Butler  had  deter 
mined  they  should  not  move  until  it  suited 
his  convenience.     At  that  time  the  Confed 
erates  were  so  closed  up  in  Richmond  that 
they  could  make  no  important  demonstra 
tion  on  the  Federal  lines  without  getting 
severely  handled,  as  the  different  divisions 
of  the  Union  Army  were  within  supporting 
distance  of  each  other.     There  was,  then, 
some  motive  in  the  delay  of  the  expedition 
to  Fort  Fisher  which  does  not  seem  consist 
ent  with  patriotism. 

Mr.  Secretary  Welles  had  shown  the 
greatest  patience  and  persistence  all 
through  this  affair,  and  it  was  owing  to 
the  exercise  of  these  qualities  that  the  expe 
dition  was  finally  enabled  to  get  off.  Gen 
eral  Butler  was  at  last  forced  to  take 
some  steps  to  show  that  he  was  not  setting 
at  defiance  the  orders  received  from  Gen 
eral  Grant  early  in  October.  Accordingly, 
accompanied  by  General  Weitzel  and  his 
personal  staff,  General  Butler  went  on 


board  the  flag-ship  "  Malvern  "at  Hampton 
Roads,  and  communicated  to  Rear-Admiral 
Porter  a  plan  for  the  destruction  of  Fort 
Fisher,  the  idea  having,  it  seems,  been  sug 
gested  by  the  explosion  of  a  canal  -  boat 
loaded  with  powder  at  Eric  on  the  Thames, 
by  which  a  large  amount  of  property  had 
been  destroyed.  General  Butler's  idea  was 
that  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  powder 
confined  on  board  a  vessel  and  exploded 
within  a  short  distance  of  Fort  Fisher 
would  inflict  immense  damage  on  the 
enemy,  and  he  promised,  if  the  powder-boat 
was  prepared,  he  would  detail  the  necessary 
troops  and  have  them  embarked  as  soon  as 
possible. 

Any  expedient  that  would  get  the  expedi 
tion  off  was  hailed  with  delight  by  the  Rear- 
Admiral  commanding,  who  agreed  to  But 
ler's  proposition,  notwithstanding   he   had 
little  faith  in  the  project;  though,  strange  to 
say,  the  General  had  met  with  encourage 
ment  from  scientific  men  to  whom  he  had 
disclosed  his  scheme.    It  was  considered  ad 
visable  to  try  almost  any  expedient,    and 
the   Navy  Department   did  not,  therefore, 
refuse    to   countenance    General    Butler's 
plan  ;  although,  as  the  General  was  then  a 
power  in  the  land,  it  would,  perhaps,  have 
favored  ideas  still  more  absurd  emanating 
from  that  quarter.     An  officer  who  could 
disobey  the  orders  of  his  immediate  com- 
mander-in-chief  for  months,  delay  a  large 
fleet  assembled  at  infinite  cost  and  pains  to 
deal  a  final  blow  to  the  Confederacy,  and 
finally  assume  command  of  an  expedition 
assigned  to   another   General,   all  without 
rebuke  from  headquarters,  must  have  had 
immense  influence.     All  men  seemed  afraid 
of  Butler's    political  power :    it   was   even 
potential  with  the  President  and  Secretary 
of  War,  although,  in  justice  to  Mr.  Secretary 
Welles,    we    must   say,  it    had  much  less 
weight  with  him. 

It  was  towards  the  last  of  November 
when  General  Butler  unfolded  his  plan  of  a 
powder-boat,  and  it  took  some  days  to  make 
all  the  necessary  preparations  to  get  the 
great  torpedo  ready.  The  steamer  "  Louis 
iana,"  a  vessel  of  little  value,  was  selected 
for  the  service,  and  sent  from  Newbern  to 
Hampton  Roads,  where  the  immense  mass 
of  powder  required  was  collected  from  the 
Army  and  Navy  magazines,  and  carefully 
stowed  on  board  in  bags.  To  Commander 
A.  C.  Rhind,  a  gallant  officer,  who  had  on 
more  than  one  occasion  shown  the  coolness 
in  the  face  of  danger  so  necessary  for  such 
a  perilous  duty,  was  assigned  the  charge 
of  the  powder-vessel.  Commander  Rhind 
did  everything  possible  with  the  means  at 
hand  to  render  the  explosion  successful. 

By  the  time  the  "  Louisiana"  was  pre 
pared,  General  Butler  had  so  identified  him 
self  with  the  expedition  that  it  was  evident 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR, 


693 


to  all  who  knew  him  that  he  proposed  to 
command  the  troops  in  person,  for  he  was 
not  wont  to  take  so  much  trouble  for  any 
one  else.  General  Grant  probably  did  not 
know  the  extent  of  Butler's  interference 
with  the  expedition,  or  else  attributed  his 
action  to  zeal  for  its  success.  It  is  not 
likely  that  he  supposed  that  one  of  his 
generals  would  withhold  orders  that  he  had 
issued  to  a  subordinate  to  command  the 
troops,  although  it  may  be  that  even  Grant 
felt  the  weight  of  that  political  power 
which  oppressed  every  one  who  came 
within  its  influence.  As  soon  as  Butler 
had  succeeded  in  gaining  a  secure  foot 
ing  in  the  expedition,  he  was  all  anxiety 
to  embark  his  soldiers,  notwithstanding 
there  was  every  appearance  of  a  gale  com 
ing  on  and  the  powder-boat  was  not  ready. 
Without  proper  preparation,  the  troops  were 
hurried  into  the  transports,  with  but  a  few 
days'  rations  and  a  scant  supply  of  water. 
The  gale  came  on  and  the  poor  soldiers, 
cooped  up  in  their  narrow,  uncomfortable 
quarters,  were  quite  worn  out  before  the 
expedition  sailed.  Fortunately,  after  a 
few  days  of  wind  and  rain,  the  weather 
cleared  up  and  the  transports  sailed  from 
Hampton  Roads  on  the  10th  of  December, 
18G4. 

Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no  official 
notice  that  General  Butler  would  go  on  the 
expedition.  General  Grant  several  times 
went  on  board  the  "  Malvern  "  for  the  pur 
pose,  no  doubt,  of  talking  the  matter  over 
writli  Admiral  Porter,  but  he  would  scarcely 
put  his  foot  on  board  ere  General  Butler 
would  make  his  appearance.  Butler's  pres 
ence  was  always  enough  to  make  Gen 
eral  Grant  quiet  and  meditative,  and  he 
soon  took  his  departure.  General  Weitzel 
generally  accompanied  General  Butler  on 
his  visits  to  the  flag-ship,  but  he  was  as 
taciturn  as  Grant,  and  apparently  was  un 
certain  whether  he  was  to  have  command 
of  the  troops  in  the  expedition  or  not.  When 
asked  one  day  by  Lieutenant -Commander 
K.  R.  Breese,  the  Fleet-Captain,  what  were 
General  Butler's  plans,  Weitzel  replied  that 
he  didn't  believe  Butler  had  any,  which  was 
the  general  impression. 

Now,  here  was  an  expedition  in  which  it 
was  absolutely  necessary  that  the  utmost 
harmony  and  concert  of  action  should  exist 
between  the  commanding  officers  ;  but,  al 
though  Admiral  Porter  did  his  best  to  obtain 
from  General  Butler  some  statement  of  his 
intentions,  he  never  succeeded  in  the  at 
tempt.  Butler  was  furnished  with  copies 
of  the  Admiral's  written  orders  to  his  fleet, 
but  he  sent  none  in  return,  and  merely  noti 
fied  the  Admiral  that  his  transports  would 
assemble  off  Masonboro'  Inlet,  thirty  miles 
from  Wilmington,  where,  if  one  of  his  ves 
sels  showed  herself,  the  destination  of  the 


expedition  would  be  immediately  known  to 
the  enemy. 

There  was  never  a  more  beautiful  day  for 
a  fleet  to  sail  than  the  one  on  which  the  ex 
pedition  left  Hampton  Roads.  The  Moni 
tors  had  to  stop  at  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  to  coal 
and  receive  their  ammunition;  for  now  that 
the  expedition  had  waited  two  months  there 
was  no  particular  hurry,  and  the  Confeder 
ates  had  by  this  time  learned  the  particulars 
of  the  expedition,  and  were  prepared,  as 
they  thought,  to  defeat  it. 

Many  combined  operations  in  different 
parts  of  the  world  have  failed  from  want 
of  concert  between  the  Army  and  the  Navy, 
but  none  of  Grant's  or  Sherman's  opera 
tions  were  endangered  by  this  cause,  owing 
to  the  harmony  with  which  the  two 
branches  of  the  service  acted  together;  and 
both  those  distinguished  officers  were  care 
ful  to  express  their  wishes  in  such  a  way 
as  to  be  agreeable  to  all  concerned.  General 
Butler  could  never  be  made  to  understand 
what  was  due  to  an  officer  of  another 
branch  of  the  service,  hence  he  was  fre 
quently  involving  himself  in  difficulties 
with  navy,  and  indeed  with  army,  officers. 

Neither  Butler  nor  Weitzel  were  adapted 
to  command  the  troops  in  such  an  expe 
dition  as  that  to  Fort  Fisher.  Grant  dis 
covered  this  fact  later  in  the  season;  but  it 
was  known  in  the  Navy  from  the  begin 
ning,  and  the  Admiral  felt  the  need  of  all 
his  good  fortune  to  carry  him  safely 
through  the  ordeal.  The  latter  remained 
in  Hampton  Roads  until  the  last  transport 
had  started  and  got  underway  the  same 
evening.  General  Butler,  in  his  "  flag-ship." 
remaining  at  the  dock.  That  night,  the 
General,  in  his  fast  steamer,  got  ahead  of 
the  fleet,  and  took  his  station,  with  his 
transports,  off  Masonboro'  Inlet. 

In  the  meantime,  Admiral  Porter  had  put 
into  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  to  give  another  look 
at  the  fittings  of  the  powder-boat,  for  he  de 
termined  to  do  everything  to  make  the  lat 
ter  experiment  a  success,  even  although  he 
knew  it  was  all  folly.  When  all  was  ready, 
the  Admiral  proceeded  to  the  rendezvous  off 
the  entrance  to  Cape  Fear  River. 

The  fleet  anchored  off  Fort  Fisher,  twenty- 
miles  from  shore,  in  twenty -five  fathoms 
water.  General  Butler  and  his  transports 
were  at  anchor  off  Masonboro'  Inlet,  quite 
out  of  sight  of  the  naval  vessels.  The 
Admiral  wrote  to  the  General  that  he  should 
send  the  powder-boat  in  and  explode  her  on 
the  18th  of  December,  after  which  he  should 
attack  the  enemy's  works.  It  was  inti 
mated  to  the  General  that,  as  the  explosion 
would  be  in  the  nature  of  an  earthquake,  it 
would  be  prudent  for  him  to  move  at  least 
twenty  miles  from  the  scene  and  let  his  ves 
sel's  steam  run  down  !  In  order  to  make  as 
surance  doubly  sure,  the  General  retired  to 


G94 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


Beaufort,  sixty  miles  from  the  scene  of  ac 
tion,  and  there  awaited  the  dreadful  crash. 
Fort  Fisher  and  dependencies  were  an  im 
mense  series  of  works,  more  than  a  mile  in 
length,  constructed  of  bags  filled  with  sand, 
the  result  of  immense  lahor  from  the  very 
beginning  of  the  civil  war,  and  the  best  en 
gineering  talent  in  the  Confederate  Army. 
It  was  believed  by  the  Confederates  that  this 
work  was  sufficient  to  repel  any  force  of 
ships  that  might  be  brought  against  it  or 
might  attempt  to  pass  the  batteries.  The 
latter  operation  was,  in  fact,  impossible,  as 
there  was  but  nine  feet  of  water  on  the  bar 
of  Cape  Fear  River  at  ordinary  tides.  The 
channel  was  tortuous,  and  the  bar  generally 
covered  with  heavy  breakers,  except  when 
the  wind  blew  from  the  northwest. 

Fort  Fisher  consisted  of  two  lines  of 
works  at  right  angles  with  each  other.  The 
land-front  ran  across  the  sandy  peninsula, 
which  was  here  about  half  a  mile  in  width, 
and  mounted  seventeen  heavy  guns,  bear 
ing  north,  to  prevent  an  attacking  force 
from  advancing  in  that  direction.  These 
guns  were  practically  protected  from  a  sea 
ward  fire  by  heavy  bomb-proof  casemates, 
with  capacity  for  sheltering  four  or  five 
thousand  men.  The  sea -front  extended 
from  the  great  battery  at  the  angle  of  the 
two  faces,  along  the  beach  to  the  south 
ward,  a  distance  of  over  three-quarters  of 
a  mile,  and  was  terminated  by  a  huge  erec 
tion  eighty  feet  in  height,  known  as  the 
"Mound  Battery."  This  was  probably  in 
tended  to  command  the  interior  of  Fort 
Fisher,  should  the  enemy  gain  a  footing 
there  ;  while  the  garrison  taking  shelter  in 
the  bomb-proofs  could  resist  an  enemy  for  a 
long  time  from  those  retreats.  On  the  sea- 
face  of  the  work  were  mounted  fifty-four 
heavy  guns  protected  by  traverses  against 
an  enfilading  fire,  and  some  of  these  trav 
erses  were  also  bomb-proof.  In  the  Mound 
Battery  were  three  or  four  150 -pounder 
Brooke  rifles,  making  the  total  number 
of  guns  in  this  formidable  work  seventy- 
five. 

The  sea-front  was  intended  to  prevent 
the  enemy's  vessels  from  running  through 
New  Inlet  into  Cape  Fear  River,  or  landing 
troops  on  Federal  Point — an  unnecessary 
precaution,  since  nature  had  placed  greater 
obstacles  to  vessels  of  any  size  crossing 
the  bar,  in  the  shape  of  shoal  water. 

One  mile  westward  of  the  Mound  Bat 
tery,  at  the  end  of  Federal  Point,  was  a 
heavy-armed  earth-work  mounting  six  or 
eight  11-inch  Dahlgren  guns,  fitted  exactly 
as  if  on  the  deck  of  a  ship.  This  was  Fort 
Buchanan,  and  it  was  officered  and  manned 
from  the  Confederate  Navy.  It  commanded 
the  channel  and  a  shoal  called  the  "  Rips,'' 
over  which  no  vessel  drawing  more  than 
eleven  feet  could  pass  at  high  water.  This 


is  a  general  sketch  of  Fort  Fisher.  The  de 
tails  were  similar  to  those  of  other  fortifi 
cations  of  this  kind. 

It  was  the  evident  intention  of  the  Con 
federates  to  prevent  a  landing  of  the  Fed 
eral  troops  or  to  dislodge  them  as  soon  as 
they  reached  the  shore,  which  might  have 
been  done  had  not  a  large  force  of  gun 
boats  been  sent  to  cover  the  landing,  a 
force  which  no  army  could  have  with 
stood. 

At  the  time  when  the  fleet  arrived  off 
Fort  Fisher,  the  Confederates  had  about 
eighteen  hundred  men  in  the  works,  but 
they  were  by  no  means  the  best  of  troops. 
The  commanding  officer  of  the  fort  was 
Colonel  William  Lamb,  a  gallant  and  capa 
ble  soldier,  while  Major-General  Wm.  H. 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  K.  RANDOLPH   BREESE. 
(FLEET-CAPTAIN.) 

C.  Whiting,  formerly  of  the  U.  S.  Engi 
neers,  commanded  all  the  defences  of  the 
Cape  Fear  River. 

When  the  fleet  was  all  ready  to  proceed 
to  the  attack,  Commander  Rhind  was  or 
dered  to  take  the  powder-boat  in  and  ex 
plode  her.  It  had  been  calm  all  that  day, 
December  18,  with  only  a  light  swell  on. 
which  increased  at  night.  Fleet-Captain 
K.  R.  Breese  was  sent  on  board  General 
Butler's  vessel  to  inform  the  General  what 
was  to  be  done,  and  that  the  troops  might 
be  landed  in  the  morning  for  the  attack. 
The  General  sent  word  to  the  Admiral  that 
he  thought  the  attempt  premature,  and  re 
quested  that  it  be  postponed  until  the  sea 
went  down.  To  this  Admiral  Porter  at 
once  agreed,  yet  General  Butler  afterwards 
complained  of  the  delay,  grounding  his 
failure  on  that  circumstance.  It  was  just 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


695 


as  well  that  the  attempt  was  not  made  on 
the  day  appointed,  for.  on  the  following 
morning,  a  heavy  gale  came  on  from  the 
southeast  with  a  tremendous  swell  setting 
towards  the  beach,  so  that  it  was  thought 
at  one  time  all  the  vessels  would  have  to 
leave  the  coast  to  avoid  being  driven  on 
shore.  General  Butler  and  his  transports 
had  disappeared  and  sought  refuge  in  the 
harbor  of  Beaufort. 

No  occurrence  during  the  war  reflects 
more  credit  on  the  Navy  than  the  way  in 
which  that  large  fleet  rode  out  the  gale, 
anchored  in  twenty  fathoms  water,  with 
the  whole  Atlantic  Ocean  rolling  in  upon 
them.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  line 
of  vessels  extended,  each  with  two  anchors 
ahead  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  fathoms 
of  chain  on  each.  The  wind  blew  directly 
on  shore,  the  sea  breaking  heavily,  and  ap 
pearing  as  if  it  would  sweep  everything  be 
fore  it,  yet  only  one  vessel  in  all  the  line 
left  her  anchorage  and  stood  out  to  sea  as  a 
place  of  safety.  It  was,  indeed,  a  grand 
sight  to  see  these  ships  riding  put  such  a 
gale  on  such  a  coast  in  midwinter.  The 
most  experienced  seaman  will  long  remem 
ber  the  event  as  the  only  case  on  record 
where  a  large  fleet  rode  out  a  gale  at  anchor 
on  our  coast.  It  was  one  of  the  features  of 
this  memorable  expedition  in  the  highest 
degree  creditable  to  the  seamanship  of  the 
Federal  Navy. 

After  the  gale  abated,  the  Rear-Admiral 
commanding  the  fleet  looked  around  in  the 
hope  of  seeing  something  of  General  Butler's 
command,  for,  knowing  that  the  wind  would 
come  out  from  the  northwest,  and  blow 
the  sea  down,  he  wished  to  take  advantage 
of  the  circumstance  and  commence  the  at 
tack.  As  nothing  was  heard  of  the  General, 
the  Admiral  made  arrangements,  which 
will  appear  in  the  reports  of  operations 
annexed. 

We  have  noticed  that  the  explosion  of  the 
powder-boat  was  postponed  at  the  request 
of  General  Butler,  after  Commander  Rhind 
had  started  to  carry  out  the  order  to  blow 
the  vessel  up.  The  peril  of  this  service  was 
very  great,  for  it  was  certain  that  the  Con 
federates  had  been  fully  apprised  that  a  pow 
der-vessel  was  being  fitted  to  explode  undei 
the  walls  of  Fort  Fisher.  It  was  therefore 
to  be  expected  that  the  enemy  would  main 
tain  a  vigilant  look-out,  and  when,  through 
their  night-glasses,  an  object  was  seen  ap 
proaching  the  fort,  they  would  open  with 
shells  and  blow  up  the  vessel  and  all  on  board 
if  they  could.  Or  a  mistake  might  occur  in 
the  timing  of  the  Gomer  fuse,  or  in  the 
clock  that  was  to  ignite  the  powder  at  a 
given  moment,  so  as  to  allow  the  adventur 
ous  party  on  board  the  "  Louisiana"  time 
enough  to  get  well  clear  of  the  vessel.  There 
was  more  than  one  chance  of  a  premature 


explosion.  Besides  these  dangers,  there  was 
in  the  smoothest  weather  a  heavy  ground- 
swell  on  the  beach  where  the  "  Louisiana'' 
was  to  be  anchored,  and  the  rolling  motion 
might  easily  disarrange  tiie  intricate  ma 
chinery  designed  for  the  explosion  of  the 
powder.  To  risk  so  many  valuable  lives  of 
officers  and  men  seemed  almost  a  crime — 
the  game  was  not  worth  the  candle — and 
this  useless  powder  -  boat  excited  more 
anxiety  in  the  fleet  on  account  of  those  who 
had  volunteered  for  so  hazardous  an  ex 
pedition  than  for  the  expected  attack  on 
Fort  Fisher. 

The  officers  and  men  who  volunteered  to 
go  with  Commander  Rhind — himself  a  vol 
unteer — were  Lieutenant  Samuel  W.  Pres 
ton  of  the  Admiral's  staff.  Second- Assistant 
Engineer  A.  T.  E.  Mullan,  Master's  Mate 
Paul  Boyden;  Frank  Lucas,  Coxswain; 
William  Gainn,  Captain-of-the-Forecastle; 
Charles  T.  Bibber,  Gunner's  Mate;  John 
Neil,  Quarter-Gunner;  Robert  Montgomery, 
Captain-of -the- Afterguard;  James  Roberts 
and  Dennis  Conlan,  Seamen;  James  Sul 
livan,  Ordinary  Seaman;  William  Horri- 
gan.  Second-class  Fireman;  Charles  Rice, 
oal-heaver.  The  men  were  all  volunteers 
from  Commander  Rhind's  vessel,  the  "  Aga- 
wam." 

General  Butler  had  been  again  notified 
that  the  powder-boat  would  be  exploded  on 
.the  night  of  the  23d  December,  as  near  the 
beach  at  Fort  Fisher  as  it  was  possible  to  get 
her,  but  the  exact  distance  could  not  be 
estimated  in  the  darkness.  Although  the 
"Louisiana"  had  low  steam  up,  she  was 
towed  to  within  a  short  distance  of  her 
station  by  the  steamer  "'Wilderness,'' 
which  vessel  then  remained  in  the  vicinity 
to  take  off  the  party  from  the  powder-boat. 
The  arrangements  of  the  "Wilderness" 
were  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant 
R.  H.  Lamson,  assisted  by  Mr.  J.  O.  Bradford 
of  the  Coast  Survey,  and  Acting -Master 
Geo.  F.  Bowen  (Pilot).  The  "  Wilderness" 
was  under  the  command  of  Acting  -  Master 
Henry  Arey,  and  he  and  his  officers  and 
men  shared  with  the  others  the  danger  at 
tending  the  enterprise. 

The  powder-boat  was  finally  anchored  as 
near  the  beach  as  possible — a  somewhat  diffi 
cult  task,  as  by  approaching  too  near  the 
breakers  the  vessel  would  be  liable  to  drift  on 
shore.  Commander  Rhind  and  Lieutenant 
Preston  then  lighted  the  candles,  while  the 
fire  of  pine-knots  in  the  "  Louisiana's"  cabin 
was  started  by  Engineer  Mullan.  Com 
mander  Rhind  was  then  obliged  to  let  go  an 
other  anchor  with  a  short  scope  of  chain,  as 
he  saw  that  the  vessel  would  not  tail  in  shore. 
This  done,  the  party  jumped  into  their 
boats,  and  pulled  for  the  "Wilderness," 
which  vessel  had  steamed  off  shore  a  con 
siderable  distance,  and  then  let  her  steam 


696 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


go  down,  as  it  was  supposed  that  the  con 
cussion  would  seriously  affect  the  boilers  if 
a  high  pressure  of  steam  was  maintained. 

The  fuzes  were  set  by  the  clocks  to  one 
hour  and  a  half,  but  the  explosion  did  not 
take  place  until  twenty  minutes  after  the 
expected  time,  when  the  after-part  of  the 
"Louisiana"  was  in  flames.  Exactly  at 
1:30  A.  M.  of  the  24th,  the  powder-boat  went 
up  in  the  air,  the  shock  being  scarcely  felt 
by  the  vessels  of  the  fleet.  For  a  moment 
the  scene  was  illuminated,  then  darkness 
settled  down,  and  all  was  still  as  bef ore- 
no  sound  or  movement  in  the  fort  indicat 
ing  that  any  damage  had  been  done.  In 
fact,  the  Confederates  took  the  explosion 
for  that  of  a  blockade  -  runner  with  a 
quantity  of  ammunition  on  board,  and 
were  not  at  all  troubled  about  the  matter. 

When,  after  the  lapse  of  twenty  years, we 
think  of  this  futile  attempt  to  destroy  such 
a  powerful  work  as  Fort  Fisher  at  the  risk 
of  so  many  valuable  lives,  in  order  that  the 
pet  scheme  of  a  Major- General  of  Volun 
teers  should  be  carried  out,  we  may  wonder 
that  any  one  should  countenance  such  an 
absurdity.  The  only  powder  that  was  needed 
was  that  fired  from  the  cannon  of  the  ships, 
and  what  would  have  been  fired  from  the 
muskets  of  the  gallant  soldiers  had  they 
been  permitted  by  their  commanding  gen 
eral  to  advance  on  the  enemy.  But  these 
experiences  will  teach  the  soldiers  and  sail-  • 
ors  of  the  future ;  and  if  fehere  is  ever  a 
scheme  proposed  for  blowing  up  a  huge 
earth-work  with  a  powder-boat,  the  recol 
lection  of  Fort  Fisher  will  deter  people 
from  attempting  to  carry  it  out. 

It  was  supposed  by  Admiral  Porter  that 
the  explosion  would  be  heard  on  board  the 
transports  and  bring  them  all  in  by  morn 
ing  ;  but,  although  the  water  was  quite 
smooth,  the  transports  seemed  to  keep  as 
far  as  possible  from  Fort  Fisher. 

Agreeably  to  the  orders  issued  the  pre 
ceding  evening,  the  fleet  got  underway  at 
daylight  on  the  24th  of  December,  1864, 
and  stood  in,  in  line  of  battle.  At  11:30 
A.  M.  the  signal  was  made  to  engage  the 
forts,  the  '-Ironsides"  leading,  and  the 
'Monadnock,"  "Canonicus"  and  "Ma- 
hopac"  following.  The  "  Ironsides"  took 
her  position  in  the  most  beautiful  and  sea- 
manlike  manner,  got  her  spring  out,  and 
opened  deliberate  fire  on  the  fort,  at  that 
time  opening  on  her  with  all  its  guns,  which 
did  not  seem  numerous  in  the  northeast 
face,  though  what  appeared  to  be  seventeen 
guns  were  counted.  These  were  fired  from 
that  direction,  but  they  were  silenced  al 
most  as  soon  as  the  fleet  opened  all  their 
batteries. 

The  "Minnesota"  took  her  position  in 
handsome  style,  and  her  guns,  after  get 
ting  the  range,  were  fired  with  rapidity; 


while  the  "Mohican,"  "  Colorado  "  and  the 
large  vessels  marked  on  the  plan,  got  to 
their  stations,  all  firing  to  cover  themselves 
while  anchoring.  By  the  time  the  last  of 
the  large  vessels  anchored  and  got  their 
batteries  into  play,  but  a  few  guns  of  the 
enemy  were  fired,  this  feu  cTenfer  driving 
them  all  to  their  bomb-proofs. 

The  small  gun-boats  "Kansas,"  "  Una- 
dilla,"  "Pequot,"  "Seneca,"  "  Pontoosuc," 
"  Yantic  "  and  "Huron"  took  positions  to 
the  northward  and  eastward  of  the  Moni 
tors,  enfilading  the  works.  The  4<  Shenan- 
doah,"  Ticonderoga,"  "Mackinaw/'  "Ta- 
cpny  "  and  "  Vanderbilt  "  took  effective  po 
sitions,  as  marked  on  the  chart,  and  added 
their  fire  to  that  already  begun.  The  "  San 
tiago  de  Cuba,"  Fort  Jackson."  "Osceola," 
"Chippewa,"  "Sassacus,"  "  Rhode  Island," 
"  Monticello,"  "  Quaker  City  "  and  "  losco," 
dropped  into  position  according  to  order, 
and  the  battle  became  general. 

In  an  hour  and  a  quarter  after  the  first 
shot  was  fired,  not  a  shot  came  from  the 
fort.  Two  of  the  magazines  in  the  works 
had  been  blown  up  by  shells,  and  the  wood 
work  in  the  fort  set  on  fire  in  several 
places  ;  and  such  a  torrent  of  missiles  were 
falling  into  and  bursting  over  the  works, 
that  it  was  impossible  for  anything  human 
to  withstand  it.  Finding  that  the  batteries 
were  completely  silenced,  the  ships  were 
directed  to  keep  up  a  moderate  fire,  in 
hopes  of  attracting  the  attention  of  the 
transports  and  bringing  them  to  the  scene 
of  action.  At  sunset  General  Butler  came 
in  with  a  few  transports,  the  rest  not  hav 
ing  arrived  from  Beaufort.  As  it  was  too 
late  to  do  anything  more,  the  fleet  was 
signalled  to  retire  for  the  night  to  a  safe 
anchorage,  which  movement  took  place 
without  molestation  from  the  enemy. 

Some  mistakes  were  made  this  day  when 
the  vessels  went  in  to  take  position,  al 
though,  the  plan  of  battle  being  based 
on  accurate  calculation  and  reliable  infor 
mation,  it  seemed  almost  impossible  to  go 
astray.  Those  vessels  that  had  not  followed 
the  plan  of  battle  closely  were  required  to 
get  underway  and  assume  their  proper  posi 
tions,  which  was  done  promptly  and  without 
confusion.  The  vessels  were  placed  some 
what  nearer  to  the  works,  and  were  able 
to  throw  in  their  shells,  which  were  before 
falling  short. 

One  or  two  leading  vessels  having  an 
chored  too  far  off  shore,  caused  those  com 
ing  after  them  to  make  a  like  error;  but 
when  they  all  got  into  place  and  com 
menced  work  in  earnest, the  shower  of  shell 
— one  hundred  and  fifteen  per  minute — was 
irresistible.  So  quickly  were  the  enemy's 
guns  silenced  that  not  an  officer  or  man  in 
the  fleet  was  injured  by  them,  but  there 
were  some  severe  casualties  bv  the  bursting 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


G97 


of  several  100-pounder  Parrott  cannon.  One 
burst  on  board  the  "Ticonderoga,"  killing 
six  of  the  crew  and  wounding  seven  others; 
another  burst  on  board  the  "  Yantic."  kill 
ing  one  officer  and  two  men  ;  another  on 
board  the  "  Juniata,"  killing  two  officers, 
and  killing  and  wounding  ten  other  per 
sons;  another  on  board  the  ''Mackinaw," 
killing  one  officer  and  wounding  five  men; 
another  on  board  the  "  Quaker  City," 
wounding  two  or  three  persons.  The 
bursting  of  these  guns  much  disconcerted 
the  crews  of  the  vessels,  and  gave  them 
great  distrust  of  the  Parrott  100-pounder. 

Some  of  the  vessels  were  struck  once  or 
twice  from  the  fort.  The  "Mackinaw" 
had  her  boiler  perforated  with  a  shell,  and 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER   (NOW   REAR-ADMIRAL) 
JOHN   LEE   DAVIS. 

ten  or  twelve  persons  were  badly  scalded. 
The  "Osceola"  was  struck  with  a  shell 
near  her  magazine,  and  was  at  one  time 
in  a  sinking  condition,  but  her  efficient 
commander  stopped  the  leak,  while  the 
"Mackinaw"  fought  out  the  battle,  not 
withstanding  the  damage  she  had  received. 
( >nly  one  vessel  left  the  line  to  report  dam 
ages. 

Commander  John  Guest,  in  the  "  losco," 
at  the  east  end  of  the  line,  showed  his 
usual  intelligence  in  selecting  his  position 
and  directing  his  fire.  Twice  his  shot  cut 
away  the  flag-staff  on  the  Mound  Battery, 
and  he  silenced  the  guns  there  in  a  very 
short  time,  the  "Keystone  State"  and 
"  Quaker  City"  co-operating  effectively. 

Lieutenant-Commander  John  L.  Davis  in 
the  "Sassacus,"  with  both  rudders  of  his 


vessel  disabled,  got  her  into  close  action 
and  assisted  materially  in  silencing  the 
works,  and  the  "Santiago  de  Cuba"  and 
"Fort  Jackson"  took  such  positions  as 
they  could  get,  owing  to  other  vessels  not 
forming  proper  lines  and  throwing  them 
out  of  place,  and  fought  their  guns  well. 
The  taking  of  a  new  position  while  under 
fire  by  the  "Brooklyn"  and  "Colorado" 
was  well  done,  and  when  they  got  into 
place  both  ships  delivered  a  fire  that  noth 
ing  could  withstand.  The  "  Brooklyn  "  well 
sustained  her  good  name  under  her  com 
manding  officer.  Captain  James  Alden, 
and  the  "Colorado"  gave  evidence  that 
Commodore  H.  K.  Thatcher  fully  under 
stood  the  duties  of  his  position.  The  "  Sus- 
quehanna  "  was  most  effective  in  her  fire, 
though  much  hampered  by  a  vessel  near 
her  that  had  not  found  her  right  place. 
The  "Mohican"  went  into  battle  gallantly 
and  fired  rapidly  and  with  effect ;  and 
when  the  "  Powhatan."  "  Ticonderoga  "  and 
"  Shenandoah  "  got  into  their  positions,  they 
did  good  service.  The  "Pawtucket"  fell 
handsomely  into  line,  and  did  good  service 
with  the  rest,  and  the  "  Yanderbilt  "  took 
her  place  near  the  "  Minnesota"  and  threw 
in  a  rapid  fire.  The  firing  of  the  Monitors 
was  excellent,  and  when  their  shells  struck 
great  damage  was  done,  and  the  little 
gun  -  boats  that  covered  them  kept  up  a 
fire  sufficient  to  disconcert  the  enemy's 
aim. 

The  Confederates  fired  no  more  after  the 
vessels  all  opened  on  them,  except  a  few 
shots  from  the  Mound  and  upper  batteries, 
which  the  "losco"  and  consorts  soon 
silenced. 

The  men  were  at  work  at  the  guns  five 
hours  and  were  glad  to  get  a  little  rest. 
They  came  out  of  action  with  rather  a  con 
tempt  for  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  anxious 
to  renew  the  battle  in  the  morning. 

On  Christmas  Day  all  the  transports  had 
arrived,  and  General  Butler  sent  General 
Weitzel  to  see  Admiral  Porter,  and  arrange 
the  programme  for  the  day.  It  Was  decided 
that  the  Navy  should  again  attack  the 
works,  while  the  Army  should  land  and 
assault  them,  if  possible,  under  the  heavy 
fire  of  the  ships.  The  Admiral  dispatched 
seventeen  gun-boats,  under  command  of 
Captain  O.  S.  Glisson,  to  cover  the  troops 
and  assist  with  their  boats  in  landing  the 
soldiers.  Finding  the  smaller  vessels  kept 
too  far  from  the  beach,  which  was  quite 
bold,  the  "  Brooklyn  "  was  sent  in  to  carry 
out  the  Admiral's"  orders.  To  the  number 
before  sent  were  added  all  the  small  vessels 
that  were  acting  as  reserves  ;  and,  finally, 
there  were  sent  some  eight  or  nine  vessels 
that  were  acting  under  Commander  Guest 
in  endeavoring  to  find  a  way  across  the  bar. 
This  gave  a  hundred  boats  with  Avhich 


098 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


to  land  the  troops,  in  addition  to  the  twenty 
with  which  the  army  was  already  provided. 

At  7  A.  M.,  on  the"  25th,  signal  was  made 
for  the  ships  to  get  underway  and  form  in 
line  of  battle,  which  was  quickly  done.  The 
order  to  attack  was  given,  and  the  "  Iron 
sides  "  took  the  position  in  her  usual  hand 
some  style,  the  Monitors  following  close 
after  her.  All  the  vessels  followed  accord 
ing  to  order,  and  took  position  without  a 
shot  being  fired  at  them,  excepting  a  few 
fired  at  the  last  four  vessels  that  got  into 
line.  The  firing  this  day  was  slow,  only 
sufficient  to  distract  the  enemy's  attention 
while  the  army  landed,  which  they  were 
doing  five  miles  northward  of  the  fleet. 

About  three  thousand  men  had  landed, 
when  the  Admiral  was  notified  they  were 
re-embarking.  He  had  seen  the  soldiers 
near  the  forts  reconnoitering  and  sharp- 
shooting,  and  was  in  hopes  an  assault  was 
deemed  practicable.  General  Weitzel,  in 
person,  was  making  observations  about  six 
hundred  yards  off,  and  the  troops  were  in 
and  around  the  works.  One  gallant  officer 
went  on  the  parapet  and  brought  away  the 
Confederate  flag  that  had  been  shot  down 
by  the  Navy  fire  ;  a  soldier  went  into  the 
works  and  led  out  a  horse,  killing  the  orderly 
mounted  on  the  animal  and  capturing  his 
dispatches.  Another  soldier  fired  his  mus 
ket  into  a  bomb-proof  among  the  Confed 
erates,  and  eight  or  ten  others  who  had 
ventured  near  the  forts  were  wounded  by 
shells  from  the  fleet. 

As  the  ammunition  gave  out,  the  vessels 
retired  from  action,  and  the  iron  -  clads 
"Minnesota,"  "Colorado"  and  "  Susque- 
hanna"  were  ordered  to  open  rapidly, 
which  they  did  with  such  effect  that  it 
seemed  to  tear  the  works  to  pieces.  The 
fleet  drew  off  at  sunset,  leaving  the  iron 
clads  to  fire  through  the  night,  expecting 
the  troops  would  attack  in  the  morning, 
when  the  ships  would  recommence  the 
bombardment.  The  Admiral,  however,  re 
ceived  a  message  from  General  Weitzel, 
informing  him  that  it  was  impracticable 
to  assault ;  and  later  a  letter  from  General 
Butler,  assigning  his  reasons  for  withdraw 
ing  his  troops  ;  which  letter,  together  with 
the  Admiral's  answer  to  the  same,  we  shall 
insert  in  full. 

n  In  the  bombardment  of  the  2oth,  the  fleet 
fired  slowly  for  seven  hours.  The  enemy 
kept  a  couple  of  guns  on  the  upper  bat 
teries  firing  on  the  vessels,  hitting  some  of 
them  several  times  without  doing  them 
much  damage.  The  "  Wabash"  and  the 
"Powhatan."  being  within  their  range,  the 
object  seemed  mainly  to  disable  them,  but 
a  rapid  fire  soon  silenced  the  Confederate 
guns.  Everything  was  coolly  and  system 
atically  done  throughout  the  day,  and  there 
was  some  beautiful  practice. 


The  army  commenced  landing  about  2 
o'clock.  Captain  Glisson,  in  the  '*  Santiago 
de  Cuba,"  having  shelled  Flag-Pond  battery 
to  insure  a  safe  landing,  and  they  com 
menced  to  re-embark  about  5  o'clock,  the 
weather  coming  on  thick  and  rainy.  About 
a  brigade  were  left  on  the  beach  during  the 
night,  covered  by  the  gun-boats.  As  the 
troops  landed,  sixty-five  Confederate  sol 
diers  hoisted  the  white  flag,  and  delivered 
themselves  up  to  the  seamen  landing  the 
troops,  and  were  conveyed  to  the  '•  Santiago 
de  Cuba."  Two  hundred  and  eighteen 
more  gave  themselves  up  to  the  reconnoiter 
ing  party,  all  being  tired  of  the  war.  We  do 
not  pretend  to  put  our  opinion  in  opposition 
to  General  Weitzel,  whose  business  it  was 
to  know  more  of  assaulting  forts  than  a 
sailor  could  know  ;  but  we  cannot  help 
thinking  that  it  was  worth  while  to  make 
the  attempt  after  coming  so  far. 

About  noon  the  Admiral  sent  in  a  detach 
ment  of  double-enders  under  Commander 
John  Guest,  to  see  if  an  entrance  through 
the  channel  could  be  effected.  The  great 
number  of  wrecks  in  and  about  the  bar  had 
changed  the  whole  formation,  and  where 
the  original  channel  had  been,  Guest  found 
a  shallow  bar. 

The  Admiral  then  sent  Lieutenant  W.  B. 
Gushing  in  to  sound  and  buoy  out  a  channel, 
if  he  could  find  one,  with  orders  for  Com 
mander  Guest  to  drag  for  torpedoes  and  be 
ready  to  run  in  by  the  buoys  when  directed. 
A  very  narrow  and  crooked  channel  was 
partly  made  out  and  buoyed,  but  running 
so  close  to  the  upper  forts  that  boats  could 
not  work  there.  Lieutenant  Gushing,  in 
his  boat,  went  in  as  far  as  Zeke's  Island, 
but  his  researches  would  not  justify  at 
tempting  the  passage  with  six  double-end 
ers,  some  of  which  had  burst  their  rifled 
Parrott  guns  and  injured  many  of  their  men. 

One  boat  belonging  to  the  "  Tacony  "  was 
sunk  by  a  shell,  and  a  man  had  his  leg  cut 
off;  still,  they  stuck  to  their  work  until  or 
dered  to  withdraw  for  other  duty. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  report  to  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy,  Rear- Admiral  Porter 
makes  the  following  remarks  : 

"Allow  me  to  draw  your  attention  to  the  con 
duct  of  Commander  Rhindand  Lieutenant  Preston. 
They  engaged  in  the  most  perilous  adventure  that 
was,  perhaps,  ever  undertaken ;  and,  though  no 
material  results  have  taken  place  from  the  effects 
of  the  explosion  that  we  know  of,  still  it  was  not 
their  fault.  As  an  incentive  to  others,  I  beg  leave 
to  recommend  them  for  promotion  ;  also  that  of 
Lieutenant  R.  H.  Lamson,  who  piloted  them  in 
and  brought  them  off.  No  one  in  the  squadron 
considered  that  their  lives  would  be  saved,  and 
Commander  Rhind  and  Lieutenant  Preston  had 
made  an  arrangement  to  sacrifice  themselves  in 
case  the  vessel  was  boarded — a  thing  likely  to  hap 
pen. 

"  I  inclose  herewith  the  report  of  Commander 
Rhind,  with  the  names  of  the  gallant  fellows  who 
volunteered  for  this  desperate  service.  Allow  me 


OF    THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


699 


also  to  mention  the  name  of  Mr.  Bradford,  of  the 
Coast  Survey,  who  went  in  and  sounded  out  the 
place  where  the  'Louisiana1  was  to  go  in,  and  has 
always  patiently  performed  every  duty  that  he  has 
been  called  on  to  carry  out. 

"  My  thanks  are  due  to  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
K.  R.  Breese,  Fleet-Captain,  for  carrying  about  my 
orders  to  the  fleet  during  the  action,  and  for  his 
general  usefulness  ;  to  Lieutenant  -  Commander 
H.  A.  Adams,  for  his  promptness  in  supplying  the 
fleet  with  ammunition.  Lieutenant  M.  W.  Sanders, 
Signal-Officer,  whose  whole  time  was  occupied  in 
making  signals,  performed  his  duty  well,  and  my 
aides,  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Terry  and  Lieutenant 
S.  W.  Preston,  afforded  me  valuable  assistance. 

"  I  have  not  yet  received  a  list  of  the  casualties, 
but  believe  they  are  very  few,  from  the  enemy's 
guns.  We  had  killed,  and  wounded,  about  forty- 
five  persons  by  the  bursting  of  the  Parrott  guns. 
I  beg  leave  to  suggest  that  no  more  of  these  guns 
be  introduced  into  the  service.  There  is  only  one 
kind  of  firing  that  is  effective  at  close  quarters, 
that  is,  from  9,  10  and  11  inch  guns,  they  cannot  be 
equalled. 

"  Until  further  orders,  I  shall  go  on  and  hammer 
away  at  the  fort,  hoping  that  in  time  the  people  in 
it  will  get  tired,  and  hand  it  over  to  us.  It  is  a  one 
sided  business  altogether,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
we  must  dismount  their  guns,  if,  as  General  Weitzel 
says,  we  cannot  'injiire  it  as  a  defensive  work.' 
The  Government  may  also  think  it  of  sufficient 
importance  to  undertake  more  serious  operations 
against  these  works. 

"An  army  of  a  few  thousand  men  investing  it 
would  soon  get  into  it,  with  the  aid  of  the  Navy. 
When  smooth  water  permits,  I  will  go  to  work 
looking  for  a  channel  over  the  bar,  which  has  not 
yet  been  found  to  my  satisfaction. 

''  I  must  not  omit  to  pay  a  tribute  to  the  officers 
and  crews  of  the  Monitors — riding  out  heavy  gales 
on  an  open  coast  without  murmuring  or  complain 
ing  of  the  want  of  comfort,  which  must  have  been 
very  serious.  They  have  showrn  a  degree  of  forti 
tude  and  perseverance  seldom  witnessed.  Equally 
brave  in  battle,  they  take  the  closest  work  with 
pleasure,  and  the  effect  of  their  shells  is  terrific. 

"  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  commanding 
officers,  and  I  hope  I  shall  keep  them  under 
my  command :  Commodore  William  Radford, 
commanding  '  New  Ironsides  '  ;  Commander  E.  S. 
Parrott,  commanding  'Monadnock';  Commander 
E.  R.  Colhoun,  commanding  'Saugus'  ;  Lieutenant 
(ieorge  E.  Belknap,  commanding  '  Canonicus '  ; 
Lieutenant-Commander  E.  E.  Potter,  commanding 
'  Mahopac.' 

"  There  are  about  one  thousand  men  left  on  shore 
by  the  army  who  have  not  yet  got  off  on  account 
of  the  surf  on  the  beach.  These  will  he  taken  off 
in  the  morning,  and  the  soldiers  will  then  be  sent 
home. 

"  1  inclose  general  order  for  the  attack." 

RKAR- ADMIRAL  PORTER'S  GENERAL,  ORDER  NO.  70. 
[GENERAL  ORDERS  NO.  70.] 
NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,        ) 
U.  S.  FLAG  SHIP  "  MALVERN,"  \ 
HAMPTON  ROADS,  December  10,  1864.         \ 
The  chart  plan  of  the  proposed  attack  on  the 
batteries  of  the  enemy  at  New  Inlet,  mouth  of  Cape 
Fear  River,  will  explain  itself,  but  the  order  of  tak 
ing  position  is  as  follows  : 

It  is  first  proposed  to  endeavor  to  paralyze  the 
garrison  by  an  explosion,  all  the  vessels  remaining 
twelve  miles  out  from  the  bar,  and  the  troops  in 
transports  twelve  miles  down  the  coast,  ready  to 
steam  up  and  be  prepared  to  take  the  works  by  as 
sault  in  case  the  latter  are  disabled. 

At  a  given  signal,  all  the  bar  vessels  will  run  off 
shore  twelve  miles,  when  the  vessel  with  powder 


will  go  in  under  the  forts.  When  the  explosion 
takes  place,  all  the  vessels  will  stand  in  shore  in  the 
order  marked  on  the  plan. 

The  "  New  Ironsides "  will  steam  along  shore, 
coming  from  eastward,  until  the  flag-staff  on  Fort 
Fisher  bears  southwest  by  west  -  half  -  west,  and 
anchor  (chain  ready  to  slip)  with  her  broadside 
bearing  on  the  largest  of  the  enemy's  works,  and 
open  fire  without  delay.  The  Monitors  will  come 
up  astern,  anchoring  not  more  than  one  length 
apart,  directly  in  line  along  the  shore,  leaving  space 
only  fora  gun-boat  to  lie  outside  of  them,  and  fire 
between  them  or  over  them.  The  "  New  Ironsides  " 
and  Monitors  will  lie  in  not  less  than  three  and 
a  half  fathoms  water,  which  will  place  them  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  Fort  Fisher,  and  a 
little  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  beach. 

In  the  meantime,  the  large  ships  will  lie  formed 
in  line  of  battle  to  the  eastward  of  the  iron-clads, 
and  heading  parallel  with  the  land  in  a  south-half- 
west  course,  in  five  fathoms  water. 

When  the  signal  is  made  to  "take position, "the 
"Minnesota"  (the  headmost  vessel)  will  go  ahead 
slowly  and  anchor  about  a  mile  from  Fort  Fisher, 
opening  fire  the  moment  she  passes  the  "  Ne'w 
Ironsides,"  and  anchoring  so  that  her  stern  gun 
will  fire  just  clear  of  that  vessel.  The  "  Mohican  " 
will  then  anchor  ahead  of  the  "Minnesota,"  "Colo 
rado"  ahead  of  "Mohican,"  "Tuscarora"  ahead 
of  "Colorado,"  "Wabash"  ahead  of  "Tuscarora," 
"  Susquehanna ''ahead  of  "Wabash,"  "Brooklyn" 
ahead  of  "Susquehanna,"  "  Powhatan"  ahead  of 
"Brooklyn,"  "Juniata''  ahead  of  "Powhatan," 
with  their  cables  ready  to  slip,  and  with  not  more 
than  fifteen  fathoms  of  chain,  the  fifteen -fathom 
shackle  inside  the  hawse-hole. 

The  "  Seneca,"  "  Shenandoah,"  "  Pawtucket," 
"Ticonderoga,"  "  Mackinaw,"  "  Maumee."  "  Yan- 
tic"and  "Kansas"  will  take  their  positions  be 
tween  and  outside  the  different  vessels,  as  marked 
on  the  plan,  anchoring  with  their  cables  ready  to 
slip. 

When  the  large  ships  and  intermediate  ones  get 
fairly  into  position,  the  "Nyack,"  "  Uiiadilla," 
"Huron"  and  "Pequot"  will  "take  positions  be 
tween  and  outside  the  Monitors,  in  the  order 
marked  on  the  plan,  keeping  up  a  rapid  fire  while 
the  Monitors  are  loading. 

The  following  vessels  will  next  take  their  posi 
tions  as  marked  on  the  plan. 

Commencing  with  the  "  Fort  -Jackson,"  which 
vessel  will  anchor  ahead  of  the  "Juniata."  leaving 
a  space  between  of  three  lengths,  "  Santiago  de 
Cuba,"  "  Tacony."  "  Osceola,"  ^l  Chippewa,''  "  Sas- 
sacus,"  "Maratanza,"  "Rhode  Island,"  "  Monti- 
cello,"  "Mount  Vernon."  "Montgomery,"  "  R.  R. 
Cuyler,"  "  Quaker  City"  and  "  losco  "  will  pass  on 
slowly,  commencing  with  the  rear,  until  they 
form  the  line  marked  on  the  plan. 

The  reserves  of  each  division  will  form  a  line,  as 
per  plan,  out  of  gun-shot,  ready  to  act  as  occasion 
may  require. 

This  is  the  main  plan  of  the  battle.  Circum 
stances  may  require  some  deviation  from  it,  such 
as  a  partial  attack  (^before  going  seriously  to  work  i 
to  feel  the  enemy's  strength,  all  of  which  will  be 
regulated  by  signal  or  by  orders.  Great  care  and 
coolness  will  be  required  to  drop  the  vessels  in  their 
right  places,  and  a  too-early  commencement  of  fire 
on  the  part  of  those  going  into  position  may  create 
confusion. 

As  we  know  but  little  about  the  calibre  and  num 
ber  of  rebel  guns,  the  vessels  must  concentrate 
their  fire  on  the  heaviest  batteries  ;  but  get  the 
range  before  firing  rapidly.  For  instance,  the 
large  vessels  and  iron  clads  concentrate  on  Fort 
Fisher,  while  the  "  Vanderbilt."  'Fort  Jackson," 
and  the  vessels  in  the  line  with  "  Fort  Jackson  " 
will  open  on  the  forts  within  their  reach  between 
Fort  Fisher  and  the  Mound. 


THE  XA  VAL   HISTORY 


All  the  reserve  vessels  will  prepare  to  attack 
Zeke's  Island  battery  by  taking  a  position  where 
they  can  enfilade  it,  which  is  when  the  fort  bears 
northwest.  Vessels  drawing  fourteen  feet  can  go 
within  a  mile  and  three-quarters  with  perfect 
safety,  and  use  their  rifle-guns  with  good  effect. 
They  can  also  reach  the  forts  on  Federal  Point, 
and  prevent  their  firing  accurately  on  the  other 
portions  of  the  fleet  in  closer  range. 

All  the  movements  of  the  different  lines  will  be 
made  by  sending  orders  in  a  tug,  as  signals  will  not 
be  seen  in  the  smoke. 

As  it  is  desirable  not  to  have  superfluous  direc 
tions,  each  commander  will  be  furnished  with  a 
plan,  and  the  matter  fully  discussed,  and  points 
explained  at  a  general  meeting  of  commanders. 

Vessels  in  distress,  and  finding  it  necessary  to  re 
tire  from  battle,  will  steer  out  southeast,  excepting 
the  headmost  vessels,  "losco,"  "Quaker  City," 
"  R.  R.  Cuyler,'*  etc.,  which  had  better  keep  on 
southwest  half-south  course,  until  they  clear  an 
eight-foot  shoal  (at  low  water)  outside  of  them. 

It  is  not  desirable  that  the  vessels  of  the  squad 
ron  should  show  themselves  to  the  enemy  until  the 
time  comes  for  them  to  act,  and  they  will  keep  off 
shore  about  twenty -five  miles,  or  far  enough  not  to 
be  seen,  with  New  Inlet  bearing  west,  in  about  the 
latitude  of  33  56,  longitude  77  20 ;  that  will  be  the 
rendezvous.  Commanders  of  divisions  will  as 
semble  the  vessels  of  their  divisions,  get  them  into 
line,  and  keep  them  so,  each  division  being  far 
enough  from  the  other  to  allow  them  to  manoeuvre 
without  interfering.  When  the  signal  is  made  or 
given  to  fall  in  line  of  battle,  every  vessel  will  take 
her  station  in  line  according  to  the  plan  of  the 
chart,  the  first  division  forming  first,  and  the  others 
dropping  in,  in  order. 

As  only  low  steam  will  be  required,  those  vessels 
that  can  move  and  work  handily  with  half  their 
boilers  will  only  use  those  on  one  side,  keeping  the 
boilers  (on  the  side  near  the  enemy)  full  of  water 
and  without  steam,  with  water  warm  only,  and 
ready  to  make  steam  in  case  of  necessity. 

Slow,  deliberate  firing  is  desirable  ;  ttiere  will  be 
smoke  enough  anyhow.  Rapid  and  indiscriminate 
firing  will  amount  to  little  or  nothing.  I  hope  no 
shot  may  be  thrown  away. 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Rear-Admiral  Commanding  North  Atlantic 
Squadron. 

LETTER  OF  MAJOR-GENERAL  BUTLER  TO  REAR- 
ADMIRAL  PORTER. 
HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT 

VIRGINIA  AND  NORTH  CAROLINA, 

December  25,  1864. 

ADMIRAL— Upon  landing  the  troops  and  makin* 
a  thorough  reconnoissance  of  Fort  Fisher,  both 
General  Weitzel  and  myself  are  fully  of  the  opinion 
that  the  place  could  not  be  carried  by  assault,  as 
it  was  left  substantially  uninjured  as  a  defensive 
work  by  the  Navy  fire  We  found  seventeen  guns 
protected  by  traverses,  two  only  of  which  were  dis 
mounted,  bearing  up  the  beach  and  covering  a 
strip  of  land— the  only  practicable  route— not  more 
than  wide  enough  for  a  thousand  men  in  line  of 
of  battle. 

Having  captured  Flag -Pond  Hill  battery,  the 
garrison  of  which— sixty-five  men  and  two  com 
missioned  officers— were  taken  off  by  the  Navv  we 
also  captured  Half-Moon  battery  and  seven  officers 
and  two  hundred  and  eighteen  men  of  the  Third 
.North  Carolina  Junior  Reserves,  including  its  com 
mander  from  whom  I  learned  that  a  portion  of 
Hoke  s  division,  consisting  of  Kirkland's  and  Hay- 
good  s  brigades,  had  been  sent  from  the  lines  before 
Richmond  on  Tuesday  last,  arriving  at  Wilming 
ton  Friday  night. 

General  Weitzel  advanced  his  skirmish  line  within 
fty  yards  of  the  fort,  while  the  garrison  was  kept 


in  their  bomb-proofs  by  the  fire  of  the  Navy,  and 
so  closely,  that  three  or  four  men  of  the  picket  line 
ventured  upon  the  parapet  and  through  the  sally 
port  of  the  work,  capturing  a  horse,  which  they 
brought  off,  killing  the  orderly,  who  was  the  bearer 
of  a  dispatch  from  the  chief-6f-artillery  of  General 
Whiting  to  bring  a  light  battery  within  the  fort, 
and  also  brought  away  from  the  parapet  the  flag 
of  the  fort. 

This  was  done  while  the  shells  of  the  Navy  were 
falling  about  the  heads  of  the  daring  men  who  en 
tered  the  work,  and  it  was  evident,  as  soon  as  the 
fire  of  the  Navy  ceased  because  of  the  darkness, 
that  the  fort  was  fully  manned  again,  and  opened 
with  grape  and  canister  upon  our  picket  line. 

Finding  that  nothing  but  the  operations  of  a 
regular  siege,  which,  did  not  come  within  my  in 
structions,  would  reduce  the  fort,  and  in  view  of 
the  threatening  aspect  of  the  weather,  wind  rising 
from  the  southeast,  rendering  it  impossible  to  make 
further  landing  through  the  surf,  I  caused  the 
troops  with  their  prisoners  to  re-embark,  and  see 
nothing  further  that  can  be  done  by  the  land- 
forces.  I  shall,  therefore,  sail  for  Hampton  Roads 
as  soon  as  the  transport-fleet  can  be  got  in  order. 

My  engineers  and  officers  report  Fort  Fisher  to 
me  as  substantially  uninjured  as  a  defensive  work. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

BENJ.  F.  BUTLER, 
Major- General  Co m »ia nding. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  PORTER, 

Commanding   North   Atlantic  Blockading 
Squadron. 

REPLY  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  PORTER  TO  MAJOR- 
GENERAL  BUTLER. 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,         ) 
U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "MALVERN."  f 

GENERAL — I  beg  leave  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  of  this  date,  the  substance  of  which 
was  communicated  to  me  by  General  Weitzel  last 
night. 

I  have  ordered  the  largest  vessels  to  proceed  off 
Beaufort  and  fill  up  with  ammunition,  to  be  ready 
for  another  attack,  in  case  it  is  decided  to  proceed 
with  this  matter  by  making  other  arrangement*. 

We  have  not  commenced  firing  rapidly  yet,  and 
could  keep  any  rebels  inside  from  showing  their 
heads  until  an  assaulting  column  was  within  twenty 
yards  of  the  works. 

I  wish  some  more  of  your  gallant  fellows  had 
followed  the  officer  who  took  the  flag  from  the 
parapet,  and  the  brave  fellow  who  brought  the 
horse  out  from  the  fort.  I  think  they  would  have 
found  it  an  easier  conquest  than  is  supposed. 

I  do  not,  however,  pretend  to  place  my  opinion 
in  opposition  to  General  Weitzel,  whom  I  know  to 
be  an  accomplished  soldier  and  engineer,  and  whose 
opinion  has  great  weight  with  me. 

I  will  look  out  that  the  troops  ape  all  off  in  safety. 
We  will  have  a  west  wind  presently,  and  a  smooth 
beach  about  three  o'clock,  when  sufficient  boats 
will  be  sent  for  them. 

The  prisoners  now  on  board  the  lt  Santiago  de 
Cuba "  will  be  delivered  to  the  Provost-Marshal 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  unless  you  wish  to  take  them 
on  board  one  of  the  transports,  which  would  be 
inconvenient  just  now. 

I  remain,  General,  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Rear  Admiral. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  B.  F.  BUTLER, 

Commanding,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

The  abandonment  of  the  expedition  by 
General  Butler,  with  his  army,  created  the 
greatest  indignation  on  the  part  of  the 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


701 


Navy,  who  had  seen  the  prize  so  nearly 
within  their  reach.  It  had  been  the  hope 
of  the  Admiral  to  hand  over  the  fort  to  the 
Government  as  a  fitting  Christinas  present; 
hut  now  all  that  could  be  done  was  for  the 
Navy  to  hold  on  in  the  hope  that  General 
Grant  would  send  the  troops  back  again, 
under  another  leader,  and  bring  the  matter 
to  a  conclusion.  The  Admiral  sent  a  mes 
sage  as  soon  as  possible  to  General  Grant, 
requesting  that  this  might  be  done,  and  his 
request  was  complied  with,  the  troops  re- 
embarked,  and,  under  command  of  Brevet- 
Major-General  Alfred  H.  Terry,  returned  to 
the  scene  of  action. 

In  consequence  of  the  improper  inter 
ference  of  General  Butler,  in  assuming 
command  of  an  expedition  for  which  Gen 
eral  Weitzel  had  been  designated,  the  for 
mer  was  directed  to  proceed  to  his  home  in 
Lowell,  Mass.,  and  report  from  that  place, 
which  virtually  ended  his  career  in  the  Army, 
while  Weitzel  succeeded  him  in  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  James.  In  one  respect 
this  was  unfair  to  General  Butler.  It  was 
not  considered  by  the  Army  that  Butler  had 
any  military  ability,  either  natural  or  ac 
quired,  but  he  had  around  him  men  of  tal 
ents  and  reputation,  who  were  supposed  to 
be  his  advisers.  The  chief  of  these  was 
General  Weitzel.  whose  counsel  seems  to 
have  had  great  influence  with  Butler  on  all 
occasions,  and,  particularly,  on  the  Fort 
Fisher  expedition.  Instead  of  asserting  his 
claim  to  command  the  military  part  of  the 
expedition,  Weitzel  simply  figured  as  But 
ler's  chief  -  of  -  staff,  and  while  all  orders 
were  signed  by  General  Butler,  as  "  Major- 
General  Commanding,"  General  Weitzel 
seems  to  have  really  directed  all  the  mili 
tary  operations.  It  was  a  mixed-up  affair, 
and  it  was  evidently  General  Butler's  pur 
pose  to  claim  the  credit  if  the  fort  was  cap 
tured,  and  to  let  Weitzel  bear  the  odium  in 
case  of  failure. 

It  is  not  at  all  certain  that  the  result  of 
the  expedition  would  have  been  different 
had  General  Weitzel  had  sole  command  of 
the  troops,  as  he  seems  to  have  advised 
General  Butler  in  all  his  movements.  In 
a  letter  we  have  quoted,  from  General  But 
ler  to  Rear- Admiral  Porter,  the  former  says: 

"Both  General  Weitzel  and  myself  are  fully  of 
the  opinion  that  the  place  could  not  be  carried  by 
rts^ult,  as  it  was  left  substantially  uninjured  as  a 
defensive  work  by  the  Navy  fire." 

Notwithstanding  which  statement,  he  in- 
consistebtly  relates  in  the  same  letter  that 

"  Gen.  WeuVel  advanced  his  skirmish  line  within 
fifty  yards  of  ths'  fort,  while  the  garrison  was  kept 
in  their  bomb-proofs  by  the  fire  of  the  Navy,  and  so 
closely  that  three  or  four  men  of  the  picket  line 
ventured  upon  the  parapet  and  through  the  sally 
port  of  the  work,  capturing  a  horse,  which  they 
brought  off,"  etc. 

Comment  on  the  above  is  unnecessary; 


yet,  in  the  face  of  this  condition  of  affairs 
and  with  the  certain  victory  that  could 
have  been  gained,  General  Weitzel  recom 
mended  a  retreat  to  Hampton  Roads  !  The 
officer  who  was  to  have  gone  in  command 
advised  the  one  who  had  usurped  it,  that  he 
had  better  abandon  the  field  on  the  eve  of 
victory  and  let  the  Navy  manage  the  affair 
as  best  they  could. 

General  Weitzel's  course  at  Fort  Fisher 
was  quite  in  keeping  with  his  previous 
recorcf  at  Sabine  Pass,  where,  with  a  force 
greatly  outnumbering  the  enemy,  he  ig- 
nominiously  retired,  leaving  two  frail  gun 
boats  to  attack  the  Confederate  works  and 
be  cut  to  pieces;  at  Baton  Rouge,  where  he 
was  only  saved  from  defeat  and  capture  by 
a  gun-boat;  and  at  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip,  which  works  he  also  reported  as 
"  substantially  uninjured  "  by  the  Federal 
bombardment.  It  is  possible,  if  General 
Weitzel  had  been  in  independent  command 
with  the  entire  responsibility  resting  on  his 
shoulders,  he  might  have  viewed  matters 
at  Fort  Fisher  in  a  different  light,  espe 
cially  when  seconded  by  so  gallant  a  soldier 
as  General  Curtis,  who  volunteered  to  as 
sault  the  works  with  the  military  forces 
that  were  landed  on  the  beach. 

The  author  regrets  to  be  obliged  to  criti 
cise  the  acts  of  any  officer,  but  the  facts 
must  be  related  in  order  to  account  for  the 
utter  failure  of  the  Army  in  the  first  attack 
on  Fort  Fisher,  and  to  show  the  world  that 
the  Navy  was  in  nowise  responsible  for  it. 
The  official  correspondence  of  the  time  con 
tains  a  pretty  full  account  of  what  oc 
curred  between  the  naval  and  military  com 
manders,  and  a  history  of  the  Fort  Fisher 
affair  would  not  be  complete  without  it. 

The  plea  of  General  Weitzel,  that  Fort 
Fisher  was  uninjured  as  a  defensive  work, 
is  of  no  avail  in  the  light  of  the  facts  as 
certained  by  the  commanding  officers  of 
the  ships.  Commodore  Thatcher,  in  his 
official  report,  says: 

"On  the  24th  instant,  an  explosion  took  place 
during  a  heavy  fire  from  the  fleet  within  the  main 
fort  ot  the  rebels,  immediately  after  which  flames 
were  observed  streaming  high  above  the  walls, 
naturally  leading  to  the  conclusion  that  we  had 
fired  the  barracks  and  other  tenements  connected 
with  the  fort.  During  the  continuance  of  this 
blaze,  Avhich  continued  for  hours,  not  a  gun  was 
fired  by  the  enemy  except  from  the  isolated  work 
called  the  '  Mound  Battery.' 

"  On  the  25th  instant,  the  range  was  shorter  and 
the  firing  of  the  fleet  more  accurate  than  on  the 
preceding  day.  It  is  my  belief  that  not  a  shot  or 
shell  was  fired  by  the  advanced  line  of  ships  that 
did  not  either  penetrate  the  earth- works  of  the 
enemy  or  explode  within  them. 

"On  the  first  day,  1,569  projectiles  were  fired  from 
the  '  Colorado '  into  the  fort.  This  ship  ('Colorado') 
planted  230  shot  in  the  enemy's  works  on  the  25th, 
and  exploded  996  shells." 

The  above  will  give  a  general  idea  of  the 
precision  of  the  firing  throughout  the  fleet. 


702 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


How,  under  such  circumstances,  an  engi 
neer-officer  could  report  the  work  "unin 
jured,"  especially  after  the  strong  palisades 
were  nearly  all" knocked  away,  is  beyond 
ordinary  comprehension. 

The  following  letter  from  Rear- Admiral 
Porter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  gives 
a  more  detailed  account  of  the  bombard 
ment  and  expresses  the  disappointment  felt 
at  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  : 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON, 
U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "MALVERN," 
OFF  NEW  INLET,  December  27,  1864. 

SIR— My  dispatch  of  yesterday  will  give  you  an 
account  of  our  operations,  but  will  scarcely  give 
you  an  idea  of  my  disappointment  at  the  conduct 
of  the  army  authorities  in  not  attempting  to  take 
possession  of  the  forts  which  had  been  so  completely 
silenced  by  our  guns;  they  were  so  blown  up,  burst 
up,  and  torn  up.  that  the  people  inside  had  no  in 
tention  of  lighting  any  longer.  Had  the  army  made 
a  show  of  surrounding  it,  it  would  have  been  ours  ; 
but  nothing  of  the  kind  was  done. 

The  men  landed,  reconnoitred,  and,  hearing  that 
the  enemy  were  massing  troops  somewhere,  the 
order  was  given  to  re-embark. 

They  went  away  as  soon  as  the  majority  of  the 
troops  were  on  the  transports,  and  it  coming  on  to 
blow  rather  fresh,  about  700  were  left  on  shore. 
They  have  been  there  ever  since,  without  food  or 
water,  having  landed  with  only  twenty-four  hours1 
rations.  I  opened  communication  with  them  this 
morning  and  supplied  them  with  provisions. 

To  show  that  the  rebels  have  no  force  here,  these 
men  have  been  on  shore  two  days  without  being 
molested.  I  am  now  getting  them  off,  and  it  has 
taken  half  the  squadron  (with  the  loss  of  many 
boats  in  the  surf)  to  assist. 

I  can't  conceive  what  the  army  expected  when 
they  came  here  ;  it  certainly  did  not  need  seven 
thousand  men  to  garrison  Fort  Fisher— it  only  re 
quires  one  thousand  to  garrison  all  these  forts, 
which  are  entirely  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher  ; 
that  taken,  the  river  is  open.  Could  I  have  found 
a  channel  to  be  relied  on  in  time,  I  would  have  put 
the  vessels  in,  even  if  I  had  got  a  dozen  of  them 
sunk  ;  but  the  channel  we  did  find  was  only  Avide 
enough  for  one  vessel  at  right  angles,  and  we  were 
not  certain  of  the  soundings.  There  never  was  a 
fort  that  invited  soldiers  to  walk  in  and  take  pos 
session  more  plainly  than  Fort  Fisher  ;  and  an  offi 
cer  got  on  the  parapet  even,  saw  no  one  inside,  and 
brought  away  the  flag  we  had  cut  down. 

A  soldier  goes  inside,  through  the  sallyport, 
meets  in  the  fort,  coming  out  of  a  bomb-proof,  an 
orderly  on  horseback,  shoots  the  orderly,  searches 
his  body,  and  brings  away  with  him  the  horse  and 
communication  the  orderly  was  bearing  to  send  up 
field-pieces. 

Another  soldier  goes  in  the  fort  and  brings  out  a 
mule  that  WHS  stowed  away;  and  another  soldier, 
who  went  inside  while  our  shells  were  falling,  shot 
his  musket  into  a  bomb-proof,  where  he  saw  some 
rebels  assembled  together ;  he  was  not  molested. 
Ten  soldiers,  who  went  around  the  fort,  were 
wounded  by  our  shells.  All  the  men  wanted  was 
the  order  to  go  in;  but  because  every  gun  was  not 
dismounted  by  our  fire,  it  was  thought  that  the 
fort  "was  not  injured  as  a  defensive  work,"  and 
that  it  would  be  to  lose  men  to  attack  it.  It  was 
considered  rash  to  attack  the  works  with  wooden 
ships,  and  even  the  officers  who  have  been  on  the 
bar  a  long  time  (and  witnessed  the  building  of  the 
works)  thought  that  half  the  ships  would  be  de 
stroyed;  and  it  was  said  that  the  only  hope  we  could 
have  of  silencing  the  batteries  was  in  case  the  pow 
der-vessel  did  the  damage  expected 


We  silenced  the  guns  in  one  hour's  time  and  had 
not  one  man  killed  vthat  I  have  heard  of),  except  by 
the  bursting  of  our  own  guns,  in  the  entire  fleet. 

We  have  shown  the  weakness  of  this  work.  It 
can  be  taken  at  any  moment,  in  one  hours  time,  if 
the  right  man  is  sent  with  the  troops.  They  should 
be  sent  here  to  stay—io  land  with  a  month's  provis 
ions,  intrenching  tools,  guns,  and  Cohorn  mortars. 
Ten  thousand  men  will  hold  the  whole  country. 
The  rebels  have  been  able  to  send  here,  ill  told, 
about  4,000  men;  seventy-five  of  them  that  were 
sent  here  to  observe  us  gave  themselves  up  to  the 
Navy.  Two  hundred  and  eighteen  men  sent  on  the 
same  duty  gave  themselves  up  to  our  reconnoitering 
party,  and  this  would  have  been  the  case  all 
the  way  through. 

If  I  can't  do  better,  I  will  land  the  sailors,  and 
try  if  we  can't  have  full  credit  for  what  we  do.  I 
trust,  sir,  you  will  not  think  of  stopping  at  this, 
nor  of  relaxing  your  endeavors  to  obtain  the  right 
kind  of  troops  for  the  business,  the  right  number, 
and  the  proper  means  of  taking  the  place,  even  if 
we  fail  in  an  assault.  Every  attack  we  make  we 
will  improve  in  firing,  and  if  the  weather  would 
permit,  I  could  level  the  works  in  a  week's  firing, 


COMMANDER  (NOW  BEAR-ADMIRAL)  JOHN  C.  HOWELL. 

strong  as  they  are  ;  but  there  is  only  one  day  in  six 
that  a  vessel  can  anchor  so  close.  We  had  a  most 
beautiful  time,  and  the  weather  for  the  attack  was 
just  what  we  wanted. 

If  General  Hancock,  with  ten  thousand  men,  was 
sent  down  here,  we  could  walk  into  the  fort. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your»obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

HON.  GIDEON  WELLES,  near-Admiral. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


ADDITIONAL  REPORT   OF    COMMANDER     J.     C.  HOW- 
ELL — CAPTURE  OF   FLAG-POND  BATTERY. 

U.  S.  STEAMER  "  NEREUS, 
OFF  WILMINGTON,  December  27,  1864. 
ADMIRAL — At  12:40  p.  M.,  in  obedience  to  your 
verbal  order,  I  anchored  off  Flag-Pond  battery, 
mooring  head  and  stern  in  four  and  a  half  fathoms 
of  water.  Immediately  opened  fire  upon  the  bat 
tery.  No  response  was  made  by  those  inside  ;  and 
at  2:15  p.  M.  a  white  flag  was  waved  and  the  soldiers 
inside  the  fort  shoAved  themselves.  A  boat  was  im 
mediately  sent  from  one  of  the  small  gun-boats,  the 
American  flag  planted  on  the  fort,  and  the  surrender 
of  the  command  received  by  a  naval  officer.  Some 


OF  THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


703 


sixty-five  or  seventy  men,  a  captain  and  lieutenant, 
were  captured.  The  "Santiago  de  Cuba"  and 
"Nereus"  sent  boats,  and,  by  order  of  Captain  Glis- 
son,  the  prisoners  were  transferred  to  the  ''Santi 
ago  de  Cuba.1'  Respectfully,  Admiral, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
J.  C.  Ho  WELL, 

Commander. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 

eti-.,  et<-.,  etc., 

LIST  OF  VESSELS,  ETC.,  THAT  PARTICIPATED  IN  THE 
ATTACK  UPON  FORT  FISHER. 
NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON, 

U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "MALVERN." 
BEAUFORT,  N.  C.,  December,  31, 1864. 

SIR — In  my  accounts  of  the  actions  of  the  24th 
and  25th  instant,  against  Fort  Fisher,  I  omitted 
mentioning  the  names  of  the  commanders  of  the 
different  vessels,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  ; 
this  might  look  like  an  invidious  distinction,  which 
was  not  intended  by  any  means  ;  and  though  the 
name  of  each  commander  is  well-known  to  the  pub 
lic,  I  desire  to  correct  the  omission,  that  history 
may  give  credit  to  those  engaged  in  these  actions. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  all  the  vessels 
engaged  with  the  forts,  and  the  names  of  their  com 
manders.  Having  so  well  performed  their  part  in 
reducing  these  formidable  works  to  a  condition 
where  they  could  be  easily  taken  possession  of ,  they 
are  entitled  to  all  the  credit  they  have  so  well 
earned: 

"  Minnesota,"  Commodore  Joseph  Lauman  ;  "  Mo 
hican,  "'Commander  1).  Ammen  ;  "  Colorado,"  Com 
modore"  H.  K.  Thatcher;  "  Tuscarora,"  Commander 
J.  M.  Frailey;  '•  Wabash,"  Captain  M.  Smith; 
"  Susquehanna,"  Commodore  S.  W.  Godon ; 
"Brooklyn,"  Captain  James  Alden  ;  "Powhatan,'' 
Commodore  J.  F.  Schenck;  "  Juniata,"  Captain  W. 
R.  Taylor;  "Kansas,"  Lieutenant-Commander  P. 
G.  Watmough;  "Yantic,"  Lieutenant-Commander 
T.  C.  Harris;  "Maumee,"  Lieutenant-Commander 
R.  Chandler;  "  Mackinaw,1'  Commander  J.  C. 
Beaumont;  "  Ticonderoga,"  Captain  C.  Steedman; 
"  Pawtucket,"  Commander  J.  H.  S  potts;  "Shenan- 
doah,"  Captain  D.  B.  Ridgely;  "Seneca,"  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  M.  Sicard;  "  New  Ironsides,"  Com 
modore  William  Radford;  "  Mpnadnock,"  Com 
mander  E.  G.  Parrott;  "  Canonicus,"  Lieutenant- 
Commander  George  E.  Belknap;  "  Mahopac," 
Lieutenant-Commander  E.  E.  Potter;  "Saugus," 
Commander  E.  R.  Colhoun;  "  Nyack,"  Lieutenant- 
Commander  L.  H.  Newman;  "  Unadilla,'' Lieuten 
ant-Commander  F.  M.  Ramsay;  "Huron,"  Lieuten 
ant  Commander  T.  O.  Selfridge;  "  Pequot,"  Lieu 
tenant -  Commander  D.  L.  Braine;  "Pontoosac," 
Lieutenant-Commander  W.  G.  Temple;  "Nereus," 
Commander  J.  C.  Howell:  "  Vanderbilt,''  Captain 
C.  W.  Pickering;  "  Fort  Jackson,''  Captain  B.  F. 
Sands;  "Santiago  de  Cuba,"  Captain  O.  S.  Glis- 
son;  "Tacony,"  Lieutenant -Commander  W.  T. 
Truxtun;  "Osceola,"  Commander  J.  M.  B.  Glitz; 
"Chippewa,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  -A.  W. 
Weaver;  "Sassacus,"  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  L. 
Davis;  "  Maratanza,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  G. 
W.  Young;  "  Rhode  Island,"  Commander  S.  D. 
Trenchard;  "  Mount  Vernon,"  Acting  -  Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  James  Trathen;  "Britannia,"  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  Samuel  Huse;  "  Quaker  City,1' 
Commander  W.  F.  Spicer;  "  losco,"  Commander 
John  Guest;  "Howquah,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieu 
tenant  J.  W.  Balch;  "Wilderness,"  Acting-Master 
H.  Arey;  "Cherokee,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
W.  E.  Dennison;  "A.  D.  Vance,"  Lieutenant -Com 
mander  J.  Upshur;  "  Moccasin,"  Acting -Ensign 
James  Brown;  "Gettysburg.'  Lieutenant  R.  H. 
Lamson;  "Alabama,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
Frank  Smith  ;"  Keystone  State,"  Commander  H. 
Rolando;  "  Nansemond, '  Acting- Master  J.  H. 


Porter;  "  Emma,"  Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant 
T.  C.  Dunn;  "  Tristram  Shandy,"  Acting-Ensign 
Ben.  Wood;  "Governor  Buckingham,'1  Acting  Vol 
unteer  -  Lieutenant  J.  MeDiarmid ;  "Little  Ada," 
Acting- Master  S.  P.  Crafts. 

I  should  have  mentioned  that  the  "  Saugus,'' 
Commander  Colhoun,  was  not  in  the  first  day's  fight; 
she  arrived  from  Hampton  Roads  the  morning  of 
the  25th,  just  in  time  to  take  her  place  with  the 
other  Monitors,  and  anchored  within  eight  hun 
dred  yards  of  Fort  Fisher ;  though  there  was  no 
response  of  any  consequence  from  the  fort,  she  did 
good  service  in  knocking  away  traverses,  etc.,  and 
only  fired  slowly  until  the  ariny  should  come  up. 
At  no  time  during  this  day's  work  did  any  of  the 
vessels  open  all  their  batteries  ;  the  order  was  to 
"  fight  only  one  division  of  guns  from  each  vessel," 
some  vessels  only  fired  one  shot  or  shell  per  minute, 
holding  on  for  the  moment  when  it  was  expected 
the  troops  would  approach  and  enter,  for  that 
would  have  been  the  result.  I  cannot  conceal  my 
dissatisfaction,  nor  can  the  officers  under  my  com 
mand,  at  the  turn  things  have  taken.  My  first 
dispatch  to  the  department  will  show  you  how  san 
guine  I  was  that  the  works  would  be  ours  before 
sunset  if  the  troops. came  up.  I  supposed  that  the 
assaulting  was  a  matter  of  course,  knowing  that,  as 
soon  as  the  troops  landed  and  surrounded  the 
works  in  the  rear,  the  white  flag  would  be  hung 
out ;  but  reports  of  large  armies  coming  up  to  the 
relief  of  the  rebels  changed  all  the  General's  plans, 
if  he  ever  had  any.  To  show  how  absurd  such  ap 
prehensions  were,  every  rebel  soldier  seen  gave  them 
selves  up  the  moment  our  troops  were  ashore,  when 
they  had  nothing  to  fear  from  their  own  people  ; 
this  would  have  been  the  case  all  the  way  through 
had  the  troops  all  landed. 

General  Butler  mentions  in  his  letter  to  me  that 
he  had  captured  Flag-Pond  battery  with  65  men, 
and  Half-Moon  battery  with  218  men  and  seven 
officers.  This  is  making  capital  out  of  very  small 
material.  Flag-Pond  battery  was  some  loose  sand 
thrown  up,  behind  which  the  rebels  used  to  lie 
with  field-pieces  arid  fire  at  our  blockaders  when 
they  chased  runners  ashore.  It  doesn't  deserve  the 
name  of  a  work.  Sixty-five  or  seventy  rebels  in  it 
came  forward  and  delivered  themselves  up  to  the 
Navy  and  were  taken  on  board  the  "  Santiago  de 
Cuba."  The  men  in  Half-Moon  battery  (which  is 
no  work  at  all,  and  exactly  like  the  other)  came 
forward  and  delivered  themselves  up  to  the  Army. 
They  could  easily  have  escaped  had  they  desired 
to  do  so.  There  were  no  guns  in  these  temporary 
works,  and  no  protection  in  the  rear.  The  country 
will  scarcely  be  cajoled,  as  it  has  been  a  hundred 
times  this  war,  by  announcement  of  captures  hav 
ing  no  foundation  whatever. 

»*»*** 

We  all  know  very  well  that  a  fort  onshore,  unless 
attacked  by  troops'at  the  same  time  ships  are  bom 
barding,  will  always  hold  out  against  the  ships ; 
that  is,  the  enemy  will  leave  the  works  (and  let  the 
ships  fire  away),  and  enter  again  when  the  ships 
have  gone.  We  know,  from  the  history  of  this  war, 
that  in  no  case  have  we  failed  to  take  a  fortification 
where  the  troops  did  their  share  of  the  work  ;  and 
this  is  what  the  troops  under  the  command  of  Gen 
eral  Butler  failed  to  do. 

The  brave  fellows  who  showed  the  way  into  the 
works  brought  off  horses,  mules,  and  flags,  should 
have  their  names  chronicled  far  and  near.  Had  the 
same  spirit  been  felt  in  other  quarters,  Christmas 
would  have  been  a  happier  day  than  usual  with  the 
nation.  There  was  evidently  a  misapprehension  on 
the  part  of  the  military  leader  that  we  could  not 
cover  and  protect  troops  on  shore. 

This  fleet  demonstrated  its  ability  to  hold  on  at 
anchor  in  deep  water  and  twenty  miles  from  shore, 
throuerh  a  heavy  gale  from  the  southward— all  gales 
from  this  direction,  however,  never  blowing  home 


704 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


or  blowing  less  as  the  shore  is  approached.  The 
only  sales  to  be  dreaded  here  are  the  northeasters, 
and  then  the  vessel  would  lie  along  the  shore  with 
their  broadsides  bearing  on  the  beach. 

This  fleet  would  drive  off  an  army  of  three  hun 
dred  thousand  men,  intrenched  or  attacking,  on 
such  a  level  field  as  that  where  our  troops  landed. 

Seven  hundred  men  were  left  on  the  beach  by 
General  Butler  when  he  departed  for  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  and  we  had  no  difficulty  in  protecting  them 
from  the  rebel  army  said  to  be  in  the  background, 
which  was  a  very  small  army,  after  all.  General 
Bragg  must  have  been  very  agreeably  disappointed 
when  he  saw  our  troops  going  away  without  firing 
a  shot,  and  to  see  an  expedition  costing  millions  of 
dollars  given  up  when  the  hollowness  of  the  rebel 
shell  was  about  to  be  exposed. 

All  through  this  war  we  have  lost  chances  never 
to  be  recovered,  owing  to  the  timidity  of  com 
manders,  and  their  hesitating  to  attack  what  offers 
itself  the  most  easy  of  conquest. 

The  report  of  an  army  coming  up — which  army 
never  existed — changes  the  whole  plan  of  a  cam 
paign,  when  in  my  opinion,  it  would  be  better  to 
face  the  army  of  the  enemy  and  see  what  stuff  they 
are  made  of. 

Here  was  our  fleet  of  six  hundred  guns,  com 
manding  a  peninsula  two  miles  wide  only,  and  able 
to  cover  for  miles  any  number  of  troops  we  might 
land.  I  call  this  a  dead  failure.  There  is  no  use  in 
mincing  matters,  for  though  the  navy  did  all  that 
was  expected  of  it,  or  could  do,  we  gained  no  re 
sults.  We  will  only  have  the  satisfaction  of  know 
ing  that  the  naval  part  was  well  and  handsomely 
done,  and  that  we  will  do  it  again  the  first  oppor 
tunity. 

It  is  now  blowing  heavy  from  the  southward  east 
ward,  and  the  larger  vessels  are  riding  it  out  nicely 
outside.  This  is  the  only  wind  we  care  for  on  this 
coast.  In  all  the  other  gales  we  can  find  a  lee  or  a 
partial  protection. 

If  you,  sir,  have  no  intention  of  making  any 
change  in  the  number  of  vessels  in  this  squadron, 
1  would  respectfully  say,  let  us  work  this  matter 
through;  at  least,  defer  any  changes  imtil  I  say  that 
we  have  given  up  the  idea  of  taking  the  forts. 

The  rebels  will,  no  doubt,  claim  a  victory.  A  fail 
ure  is  half  a  victory.  They  foreshadowed  the  failure 
in  their  papers,  and  stated  what  would  be  the 
cause,  which  came  true. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

HON.  GIDEON  WELLES,  Hear- Admiral. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Washington,  D.  C. 


LETTER  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER  RELA 
TIVE  TO  THE  ALLEGED  UNNECESSARY  DELAY 
IN  THE  ATTACK. 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  ) 
U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "MALVERN,"  - 
BEAUFORT,  JN.  C.,  January  9, 1805.  ) 
SIR — I  understand  that  there  is  now  an  attempt 
being  made  to  create  an  impression  that  I  delayed 
much  longer  than  necessary,  and  could  have  at 
tacked  on  the  18th  as  well  as  the  24th.  1  don't  see 
what  that  has  to  do  with  the  question  under  dis 
cussion.  We  went  down  to  silence  tne  batteries, 
demoralize  the  men  in  the  forts,  so  that  the  Army 
could  easily  assault  the  works.  It  would  be  a  mat 
ter  of  no  consequence  whether  this  was  done  on  the 
18th  or  the  25th,  as  long  as  we  did  our  share  of  the 
work  effectively,  which,  I  believe,  no  one  denies. 
If  the  Army  after  landing  on  the  25th  would  not 
undertake  the  assault,  they  would  not  have  done  so 
on  the  18th.  The  delay,  if  any,  gave  them  1,000  men 
more,  a  large  steamer  and  another  transport  under 
General  Ames  having  come  in  on  that  dav. 


When  General  Butler  was  about  to  start  from 
Fortress  Monroe  (having  embarked  his  men  in  a 
storm,  when  I  told  him  he  could  not  possibly  leave 
for  three  days),  I  requested  him  to  wait  a  day  after 
I  sailed,  as  my  vessels  were  slow,  and  I  would  have 
to  fill  up  the  powder- vessel ;  but  finding  that  the 
Monitors  were  going,  he  started  off  for  the  rendez 
vous  he  had  established  himself,  showed  himself 
and  some  of  the  transports  to  the  enemy,  was  fired 
at  by  the  forts,  and  revealed  our  whole  design. 

Now  for  the  log-book.  On  the  16th  December 
wind  was  south,  with  a  swell  rolling  on  the  beach, 
so  that  no  boat  could  land.  One  hour  only  during 
the  day  was  there  a  northwest  breeze  ;  on  the  17th 
wind  southwest,  a  heavy  sea  rolling  in  on  the 
beach ;  18th,  wind  east  and  northeast,  east-iiorth- 
east,  east  by  west,  blowing  right  on  the  beach  ;  no 
boat  could  land ;  19th,  wind  fresh,  east-southeast 
and  southwest,  with  a  swell  setting  on  the  beach  ; 
20th,  for  a  little  while  wind  west-northwest,  but 
shifted  to  east-northeast,  blowing  fresh,  heavy 
breakers  on  the  beach  ;  21st,  a  gale  coming  on  from 
the  south  .and  east,  which  ended  by  blowing  heavy 
from  south  and  west,  heavy  breakers  on  beach; 
22d,  wind  shifted  to  west,  all  the  transports  out  of 
sight ;  gone  to  make  a  harbor  at  Beaufort ;  at  mid 
night  wind  off  the  land,  but  heavy  breakers  on 
the  beach  and  all  over  the  bar,  heavy  swell  from 
seaward  ;  steamed  in  under  the  land  ;  23d,  wind 
north -north  west  and  beach  comparatively  smooth  ; 
steamed  in  and  reconnoitred  ;  still  too  much  sea  for 
a  boat  to  land  without  capsizing  ;  met  General  But 
ler's  dispatch-boat  at  5:30  p.  M.  ;  sent  word  to  General 
Butler  that  the  time  was  so  fair  that  I  would  blow 
up  the  boat  at  midnight  and  attack  in  the  morn 
ing.  We  were  sixty-nine  miles  from  Beaufort ;  the 
captain  said  his  boat  could  make  fourteen  miles 
per  hour  ;  this  would  give  him  five  hours  to  go  to 
Beaufort,  which  would  put  him  there  at  11  o'clock 
P.M.  General  Butler,  leaving  with  the  transports  at 
6  o'clock  in  the  morning,  could  have  reached  the 
bar  at  1  o'clock,  allowing  him  to  make  nine  miles  an 
hour,  which  all  his  transports  could  do.  We  did 
not  attack  until  12,  and  General  Butler  only  came 
in  with  his  own  vessel  and  two  or  three  transports 
at  sunset.  He  saw  the  fort  silenced,  defeated,  as  far 
as  the  Navy  was  concerned,  and  no  doubt  could  be 
left  on  his  mind  about  our  ability  to  do  the  same 
the  next  day.  It  was  the  preliminary  attack  to  test 
the  strength  of  the  works. 

The  programme  was  made,  the  troops  landed,  and 
without  the  faintest  sign  of  an  assault  beyond  what 
was  done  by  one  or  two  gallant  soldiers.  The 
Army  Commanders  concluded  that  the  work  was 
"substantially  uninjured  as  a  defensive  work." 
The  letter  of  Lieutenant-Commander  Temple,  and 
the  testimony  of  deserters,  prove  that  the  works 
would  have  been  ours  had  the  troops  been  allowed 
to  assault,  as  they  desired.  What  matters  it,  then, 
whether  we  attacked  on  the  18th  or  24th?  The 
result  would  have  been  the  same.  General  Butler 
left  Fortress  Monroe  with  his  troops  in  transports 
that  could  not  lie  at  anchor  in  rough  weather  that 
was  ridden  out  by  our  Monitors,  tugs,  and  small- 
wheeled  boats;  the  powder  -  boat  "Louisiana" 
hanging  to  the  stern  of  another  vessel.  General 
Butler,  having  left  the  ground  with  his  vessels, 
where  my  lightest  vessels  held  on,  was  not  on  the 
ground  to  take  advantage  of  the  first  day's  good 
weather,  though  that  had  nothing  to  do  with  the 
matter,  as  he  did  not  do  anything  when  the  landing 
did  take  place ;  so  what  matters  it  when  it  was 
done? 

General  Butler,  with  all  his  soldier-like  qualities, 
could  scarcely  be  considered  as  good  a  judge  of 
weather  and  the  proper  time  of  landing  as  myself; 
and,  as  a  sensible  person,  would  not  venture  to  put 
his  opinion  in  opposition  to  mine,  even  backed  by 
some  old  sailor  on  his  flag-ship. 

I   do  not  ascribe  to  him,  therefore,   the  excuse 


OF   THE   CIVIL     WAR. 


705 


made  for  not  taking  Fort  Fisher,  when  we  had 
opened  its  pate  for  him ;  I  attribute  the  report 
"that  we  had  wasted  time  "to  some  of  the  junior 
members  of  the  staff,  who  are  not  as  good  seamen  as 
the  General.  At  all  events,  if  we  lost  any  time  in 
The  beginning,  we  made  up  for  it  when  we  went  to 
work  ;  but  allowing  that  we  lost  time,  that  the 
beach  was  as  smooth  as  paper,  it  doesn't  account 
for  not  taking  Fort  Fisher  when  the  works  were 
battered  and  burnt  to  that  degree  that  there  ap 
peared  no  life  within  the  walls. 

The  military  part  of  the  expedition  was  got  up  in 
most  unmilitary  manner  ;  the  troops  were  placed  in 
inferior  transports  that  could  not  condense  water, 
and  had  a  short  allowance  only  on  hand  ;  the  troops 
hail  four  days'  cooked  rations  (which  were  eaten  up 
while  lying  in  the  storui  at  Hampton  Roads ,  and 
ten  days'  other  rations  ;  there  were  no  intrenching 
tools  of  any  kind,  no  siege  guns ;  the  whole  pro 
ceeding  indicated  that  the  General  depended  on 
the  Navy  silencing  the  works,  and  he  walking  in 
•.  and  taking  possession.  No  allowance  was  made  for 
contingencies,  for  bad  weather,  or  for  delays  after 
getting  onshore  ;  the  powder-boat  when  it  exploded 
was  to  have  done  the  whole  thing;  the  walls  of  a 
strong  sand  fort  were  to  have  been  blown  down,  and 
the  rebels  all  to  be  discomfited.  I  thought  a  good 
deal  might  be  done  by  the  explosion,  but  still  I  laid 
in  a  double  allowance  of  shell  and  shot,  and  did 
not  depend  on  a  doubtful  experiment.  Start 
ing  as  that  expedition  did  was  not  the  way  to 
make  war  ;  and  landing  troops  who  were  full  of 
enthusiasm,  and  then  embarking  them  again  when 
they  were  eager  to  seize  the  trophy  laid  at  their 
feet,  was  not  the  one  to  improve  the  morale  of  the 
Army. 

No  matter  what  might  be  the  delay  on  my  part 
(and  there  wras  none  ,  the  General  failed  to  take  ad 
vantage  of  the  opportunity  I  gave  him  to  take  the 
fort,  when  a  large  portion  of  the  troops  were 
landed  and  stood  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
of  the  works,  unmolested,  some  few  of  them  going 
on  the  parapet.  No  musketry  or  grape-shot  Were 
fired  at  him  during  the  day;  a'few  muskets,  "  about 
twenty,'1  were  fired  after  night-fall  by  the  alarmed 
rebels,  and  one  or  two  guns  ;  but  the  "Ironsides" 
opened  her  broadside,  and  the  firing  ceased  imme 
diately.  Ten  of  the  pickets  were  left  by  forgetful- 
ness  near  the  forts  after  night-fall,  and  they  saw 
quite  a  number  of  men  leave  the  works  and  embark 
in  boats,  which  was  the  garrison  leaving  to  prevent 
capture.  Until  late  in  the  day  on  the  26th  the  forts  lay 
at  our  mercy,  and  if  the  men  had  not  been  brought 
off,  the  rebels  would  have  surrendered  when  they 
marched  up  and  the  Navy  opened  fire.  All  the 
reasoning  in  the  world  will  not  make  the  affair  ap 
pear  in  a  better  light.  I  have  no  doubt  that  had 
the  Army  been  obliged  to  assault  the  works  alone, 
without  the  fire  of  the  Navy,  they  would  have  been 
well  handled  ;  but,  as  matters  stood,  we  have  every 
proof  that  the  fort  was  ours. 

It  is  useless,  then,  to  excuse  a  military  blunder  by 
trying  to  make  out  that  the  Navy  was  behind  time. 
The  ships  lay  two  months  at  Hampton  Roads,  wait 
ing  for  the  army  to  move,  and  we  were  satisfied 
with  the  reasons  that  General  Grant  gave  for  not 
sending  troops.  There  was  no  necessity  after  all 
the  delay  for  rushing  into  the  matter  unprepared, 
and  when  the  weather  was  unfavorable  ;  a  more 
flimsy  excuse  could  not  be  invented. 

In  making  these  statements,  I  do  not  do  so  for  the 
purpose  of  making  any  excuse  whatever  for  the 
naval  part  of  the  expedition;  I  consider  that  a  set 
tled  thing  in  the  estimation  of  the  whole  country; 
but  I  have  so  often  during  this  war  seen  attempts 
made  to  cast  odium  on  the  Navy,  and  in  self-defence 
I  put  myself  on  record,  wishing  this  used  only  if 
found  necessary  to  correct  false  statements. 

I  am  quite  sure  the  Lieutenant- General  feels  as  I 
do ;  he  says  in  a  communication  to  me,  "  Dear  Ad 


miral,  hold  on  where  you  are  for  a  few  days  and  I 
will  endeavor  to  be  back  again  with  an  increased 
force,  and  without  the  former  commander.'1 

The  remark  is  not  very  suggestive  of  confidence 
in  the  late  management  of  affairs. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Rear-Admiral. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

Mr.  Secretary  Welles,  after  reading  the 
above  dispatches,  sent  the  following  tele 
gram  in  cipher  to  General  Grant,  for  he  was 
determined  the  Navy  should  succeed  : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

December  29,  1864. 
Lieutenant-General  Grant,  City  Point,  Va.  : 

The  substance  of  dispatches  and  reports  from 
Rear- Admiral  Porter  off  Wilmington  is  briefly  this  : 
The  ships  can  approach  nearer  to  the  enemy's 
works  than  was  anticipated  ;  their  fire  can  keep 
the  enemy  away  from  their  guns ;  a  landing  can 
easily  be  effected  upon  the  beach  north  of  Fort 
Fisher,  not  only  of  troops  but  of  all  their  supplies 
and  artillery  ;  this  force  can  have  its  flanks  pro 
tected  by  gun-boats  ;  the  Navy  can  assist  in  a  siege 
of  Fort  Fisher  precisely  as  it  covered  the  operations 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Wagner.  The 
winter  also  is  the  most  favorable  for  operations 
against  Fort  Fisher.  The  largest  naval  force  ever 
assembled  is  ready  to  lend  its  co-operation  ;  Rear- 
Admiral  Porter  will  remain  off  Fort  Fisher,  con 
tinuing  a  moderate  fire  to  prevent  new  works  from 
being  erected,  and  the  iron-clads  have  proved  that 
they  can  maintain  themselves  in  spite  of  bad 
weather.  Under  all  these  circumstances,  I  invite 
you  to  such  a  military  co-operation  as  will  insure 
the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  the  importance  of  which 
has  already  received  your  careful  consideration. 

This  telegram  is  made  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
President,  and  in  hopes  that  you  will  be  able  at 
this  time  to  give  the  troops,  which  heretofore  were 
required  elsewhere.  If  it  cannot  be  done,  the  fleet 
will  have  to  disperse,  whence  it  cannot  again  be 
brought  to  this  coast. 

GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

(CONFIDENTIAL.) 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,        | 
Saturday,  December  31,  1864.  f 
SIR — Lieutenant  -  General   Grant  will    send  im 
mediately  a  competent  force,  properly  commanded, 
to  co-operate  in  the  capture  of  the  defences  on 
Federal  Point.     It  is  expected  that  the  troops  will 
leave  Hampton  Roads  next  Monday  or  Tuesday. 

This  is  all  the  information  the  Department  has 
to  give  you,  but  relies  upon  your  skill  and  judg 
ment  to  give  full  effect  to  any  more  that  may  be 
arranged. 

The  Department  is  perfectly  satisfied  with  your 
efforts  thus  far,  and  you  will  convey  to  all  hands 
the  satisfaction  the  Department  feels. 
1  am,  sir,  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding   North     Atlantic   Blockading 
Squadron  off  Wilmington. 

After  the  transports  had  departed  there 
was  nothing  for  the  fleet  to  do  but  to  pro 
ceed  to  Beaufort.  X.  C.,  and  fill  up  with 
coal  and  ammunition,  while  awaiting  the 


706 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


promised  reinforcements.  Besides,  the 
weather  was  getting  stormy,  and  it  was 
advisable  to  get  the  smaller  vessels  into 
port. 

It  would  not  do  to  attempt  an  assault  on 
the  Confederate  works  with  sailors,  for  they 
had  been  heavily  reinforced  by  General 
Hoke,  and,  for  the  present.  Fort  Fisher  was 
secure  against  attack.  The  troops  that 
General  Butler,  in  his  hurry  to  get  away, 
had  left  on  the  beach  were  embarked 
after  the  gale  was  over,  and  returned  to 
Fortress  Monroe. 

This  ended  the  first  attack  on  Fort 
Fisher  ;  which,  although  unsuccessful  in 
reducing  the  enemy's  works,  was  not  with 
out  its  valuable  lessons,  which  contributed 
to  cause  in  the  second  attack  a  final  and 
gratifying  success. 

The  reports  of  the  commanding  officers 


COMMODORE  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL,  JAS.  F.  SCHENCK. 

of  vessels  in  the  North  Atlantic  squadron 
are  too  many  and  too  voluminous  to  insert 
them  all  here,  but  we  append  some  of  the 
most  graphic  and  interesting,  which  are 
animated  with  the  zeal  in  the  performance 
of  duty  which  is  characteristic  of  the  naval 
profession  : 

REPORT  OF  COMMODORE  SCHENCK,  COMMANDING 

u.  s.  s.  "POWHATAN"  AND  3o  DIVISION 
NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "POWHATAN  ") 

OFF  BEAUFORT,  N.  C.,  January  1,  1865.  \ 

ADMIRAL— Your  General  Order  No.   75  did  not 

reach  me  until  this  morning,  owing  to  its  being 

sent  on  board  the  "  Colorado."    In  reply  to  that 

part  of  it  requiring  me  to  make  a  report  of  the  part 

I  took  in  the  actions  of  the  24th  and  25th  ultimo, 

I  have  to  state  that  at  1:20  p.  M.,  on  the  24th,  I  took 

my  position  in  the  line,  as  directed  by  you,  with  a 


kedge  upon  my  port  quarter  acting  as  a  spring, 
letting  go  my  port  anchor  with  twenty-five  (25  > 
fathoms  of  chain,  which  brought  my  starboard 
broadside  to  bear  upon  the  forts.  I  immediately 
opened  a  vigorous  fire  upon  the  batteries,  paying 
especial  attention  to  Fort  Fisher  with  my  11-inch 
gun,  and  to  the  Mound  with  my  two  (2)  100  pounder 
Parrotts,  and  with  my  9-inch  guns  to  the  batteries 
more  immediately  abreast  of  us.  It  is  reported 
arid  believed  on  board  this  ship  that  one  of  the 
shells  from  our  11-inch,  which  exploded  in  Fort 
Fisher,  set  fire  to  it.  At  2:45  p.  M.,  finding  that 
some  of  my  9-inch  shell  fell  short,  and  that  the 
"Brooklyn,"  being  underway,  occasionally  inter 
fered  with  my  line  of  sight,  I  got  underway,  con 
tinuing  the  action,  and  stood  into  four  and  a-half 
(41)  fathoms  water,  from  which  position  every  shot 
told  with  great  effect.  From  this  time  the  action 
was  continued  underway.  At  3:10  p.  M.  the  end  of 
our  spanker  gaff  was  shot  away,  and  our  flag  came 
down  with  it ;  hoisted  it  immediately  at  themizzen. 
About  the  same  time,  the  rebel  flag  on  Fort  Fisher 
was  shot  away,  and  was  not  raised  again  during 
the  action.  At  3:45  p.  M.  the  flag-staff  on  the  Mound 
was  shot  away,  which  shot  is  claimed  by  our  pivot 
rifle.  At  5:20  p.  M  the  signal  was  made  to  discon 
tinue  the  action.  Hauled  off,  having  sustained  no 
loss  of  life  or  injury  to  the  ship. 

During  this  day's  action  we  fired  two  hundred 
and  thirty-six  (236)  9-inch  shell,  fifty-four  (54)  11-inch 
shell,  and  eighty-two  (82)  100-pounder  rifle  shell. 
Not  a  shell  was  wasted  from  the  11-inch  and  rifles, 
and  only  a  few  in  the  early  part  of  the  action  from 
the  9-inch  guns.  The  starboard  battery  only  was 
used  in  action,  viz :  eight  (8)  9-inch  guns,  two  (2) 
100-pounder  Parrott  rifles,  and  one  (1)  11-inch  pivot- 
gun. 

On  the  25th  I  took  my  position  as  before,  although 
nearer  the  batteries,  and  further  in.  The  batteries 
between  Fort  Fisher  and  the  Mound  being  abreast 
of  us,  my  position  was  an  admirable  one  for  engag 
ing  these  batteries,  and  my  9-inch  guns  were  prin 
cipally  employed  in  doing  this,  as  it  was  only  by 
these  we  were  annoyed,  with  an  occasional  shot 
from  the  Mound.  During  this  day  not  a  shot  fell 
short,  which  accounts  for  my  increased  expenditure 
of  9-inch  shell.  At  2:10  P.  M.  we  opened  fire,  which 
was  replied  to  by  the  batteries  abreast  of  us  more 
vigorously  than  the  day  before.  I  am  not  aware 
of  having  received  a  single  shot  from  Fort  Fisher 
this  day. 

At  3:30  P.  M.  a  port  main  shroud  was  shot  away  ; 
soon  after  we  were  struck  three  (3)  times  in  pretty 
rapid  succession.  One  (1 )  shot  struck  us  under  No.  3 
port,  three  feet  above  the  water  line,  passing 
through  into  a  store-room  and  depositing  itself  in 
a  mattress;  it  is  a  solid  8-inch  shot.  Two  (2)  shot 
struck  under  No.  2  port  twenty  inches  below  the 
water  line,  one  remaining  in  the  side  and  the  other 
going  through  and  lodging  in  a  beam  on  the  orlop 
deck,  causing  the  ship  to  leak  badly.  A  glancing 
shot  struck  the  stern  of  the  ship,  but  did  no  ma 
terial  injury,  and  some  of  our  running  rigging  shot 
away.  At  4:10  p.  M.,  having  expended  all  the  am 
munition  for  11-inch  and  rifles,  and  nearly  all  for 
my  9-inch  guns,  made  signal,  "Ammunition  I  am 
short  of,"  which  was  replied  to  "Save  some,"  and 
immediately  after,  "Discontinue  the  action,"  when 
I  weighed  my  anchor,  lifted  my  kedge,  and  hauled 
out  of  line. 

During  this  day's  action  we  fired  four  hundred 
and  ninety-four  (494)  9-inch  shells,  fifty-two  (52) 
11-inch  shell,  and  seventy-two  (72)  rifle  shell. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  state  that  every 
officer  and  man  on  board  this  ship,  under  my  com 
mand,  did  his  duty  nobly,  and  I  have  yet  to  hear 
of  any  complaint,  either  of  officer  or  man,  except  as 
to  the  failure  to  take  advantage  of  our  two  (2)  days' 
work.  With  regard  to  the  "damage  apparently 
done  to  the  works,"  I  must  confess  that  I  was  pay- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


707 


w  IRONSIDES,") 
ringN.N.W., 
eembr  31,  1864. ) 


ing  more  attention  to  the  proper  management  of  my 
own  battery  than  the  general  effect ;  but  it  appears 
to  me  utterly  impossible  that  any  works  could 
withstand  such  a  tire  and  not  be  terribly  damaged  ; 
and  I  am  also  fully  impressed  with  the  belief  that  by 
a  prompt  and  vigorous  assault  late  in  the  after 
noon  of  either  day,  Fort  Fisher  might  have  been 
taken  by  a  comparatively  small  force,  say  one 
thousand  1 1,000)  resolute  "men.  Fort  Fisher  was 
silent,  the  Mound  firing  feebly  ;  the  only  active 
firing  from  the  enemy  that  I  witnessed  was  from 
the  two  or  three  guns  that  annoyed  me,  and  as 
long  as  my  ammunition  permitted  me  to  fire  rapidly 
I  could  keep  them  pretty  quiet. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

JAS.  FlNDLAY   SCHENCK, 

Commi  dore    Commanding    U.   8.   Steamer 
"  Powhatan,"  3d  Division  North  Atlan 
tic  Squadron. 

REPORT  OF  COMMODORE  WILLIAM  RADFORD,  COM 
MANDING  U.  S.  S.  "NEW  IRONSIDES." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "NEW  IRONSIDES," 
Anchored  at  sea,  Beaufort,  bearing 
Distant  about  five  miles,  Decembr  31, 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  obedi 
ence  to  your  orders,  I  took  possession  under  the 
guns  of  Fort  Fisher,  from  thirteen  to  fifteen  hun 
dred  yards  distant,  or  as  near  as  the  depth  of 
water  would  permit,  the  Monitors  "Canonicus," 
"  Monadnock,  and  "  Mahopac  r  following  the  "New 
Ironsides"  in.  As  soon  as  I  anchored,  I  opened  my 
starboard  battery,  and  continued  a  well-directed 
fire  for  some  five  (5)  hours.  Night  coming  on,  I 
hauled  off,  in  obedience  to  orders.  On  the  morning 
of  the  25th  the  iron-clad  division  again  led  in  under 
the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher  and  took  the  position  we 
occupied  the  day  previous.  The  "Saugus,1'  having 
arrived  the  night  previous,  took  her  station,  and 
this  division,  in  connection  with  the  others,  drove 
the  men  from  the  guns  in  the  fort,  they  only  firing 
one  or  two  guns,  and  those  at  long  intervals.  All 
the  Monitors  were  handled  and  fought  well. 
Lieutenant-Commander  Belknap  took  the  in-shore 
berth,  and  is  reported  to  have  dismounted  one  or 
more  guns  in  the  fort 

Judging  from  the  immense  number  of  shells  which 
struck  the  fort,  it  must  have  been  considerably  in 
jured.     Several  guns  were  reported  to  have   been 
dismounted,  two  explosions  took  place,  and  three 
fires. 

The  face  of  the  fort  was  very  much  plowed  up 
by  the  shells  from  the  fleet.  If  the  fort  was  unin 
jured  (as  a  defensive  work  ,  no  artillery  known  to 
modern  warfare  can  injure  it.  My  impression  is, 
that  any  considerable  number  of  troops  could  have 
stormed  and  taken  the  fort,  immediately  after  the 
second  day's  bombardment,  with  but  little  loss. 

All  the  officers  and  men  belonging  to  the  "  New 
Ironsides  "  served  their  guns  and  country  well ;  and 
I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Lieutenant-Commander 
Phythian,  the  executive  officer,  for  his  energy  and 
ability  in  getting  the  crew  and  ship  in  such  good 
fighting  order. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WM.   RA.DFORD, 

Commodore  Commanding  Iron-clad  Division. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  N.  A.  Squadron. 


REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  JAMES  ALDEN,  COMMANDING 
UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "BROOKLYN.'' 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "BROOKLYN," 

OFF  BEAUFORT,  N.  C.,  December  30,  1864. 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 

of  General  Order  No.  75,  which  not  only  calls  upon 

commanding  officers  to  give  you  a  report  of  the  part 


they  took  in  the  action  of  the  24th  and  25th  instant, 
but  also  their  impressions  as  to  the  damage  done  to 
the  enemy's  work,  the  effect  of  our  firing,  and  the 
defensibility  of  the  fort  after  we  had  finished  the 
bombardment. 

On  the  first  day,  the  24th,  this  ship  was  in  line  of 
attack  and  opened  fire  on  Fort  Fisher  at  12:50 
P.  M.,  being  then  within  good  "10-second"  range. 
The  fire  was  kept  up,  with  occasional  intermissions 
for  the  men  to  rest,  till  5:15  (more  than  four  hours), 
when  dcirkness  intervened,  and  the  signal  was  made 
to  retire.  The  enemy's  fire,  during  the  whole  of 
that  time,  was  much  less  than  that  of  one  of  our 
large  ships  ;  an  occasional  shot  was  fired  from  Fort 
Fisher  ;  a  very  feeble  and  desultory  reply  to  our  fire 
was  kept  up  by  the  forts  between  the  main  work 
and  the  Mound  battery,  which  latter  was  heard 
from  but  five  or  six  times  during  the  whole  after 
noon. 

In  a  word,  I  am  satisfied  from  past  experience, 
that  if  this  ship,  or  any  one  of  the  larger  ones,  could 
have  gotten  near  enough,  say  within  two  or  three 
hundred  yards,  she  would  not  only  have  silenced 


COMMODORE  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL)  WILLIAM  RADFORD. 

their  batteries  fully  and  entirely,  but  would  have 
driven  every  rebel  from  the  point. 

On  the  second  day,  the  25th,  this  ship  was  sent  to 
silence  some  of  the  enemy's  earth-works,  which  were 
contiguous  to  the  place  fixed  upon  for  the  disem 
barking  of  the  troops,  to  shell  the  woods,  and  to 
cover  their  landing.  The  first  troops  landed  at 
about  2  P.  M.  ;  sent  all  our  boats  to  assist.  At  4 
o'clock,  just  two  hours  after  the  landing  commenced, 
the  General  commanding  came  alongside  this  ship 
and  said,  "It  has  become  necessary  to  re-embark  the 
troops;  will  you  send  your  boats  to  assist?"  You 
can  judge  of  my  surprise  at  the  turn  affairs  had 
taken,  for  tat  that  moment  everything  seemed  propi 
tious.  The  bombardment  was  at  its  height,  little  or 
no  surf  on  the  beach,  and  no  serious  indications  of 
bad  weather.  Still,  the  order  for  retiring  had  gone 
forth,  and  our  boats  were  employed  till  very  late 
(the  launch  not  returning  till  next  morning)  in  re- 
embarking  the  troops,  the  surf  riot  interfering  seri 
ously  with  operations  till  near  midnight,  when  it 
became  impossible  to  land  with  any  safety.  Much 


708 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


dissatisfaction,  I  am  told,  was  shown  by  the  soldiers 
and  their  officers  when  they  were  informed  that 
they  were  to  re-embark,  and  it  was  with  some  diffi 
culty  that  they  could  be  made  to  get  into  the  boats. 
They  were  loud  in  their  denunciation  of  the  order 
turning  them  back,  saying  that  they  had  gone 
there  to  take  the  fort,  and  they  were  going  to  do  it 
before  they  left,  etc.,  etc. 

The  next  day,  the  26th,  the  surf  was  too  high  for 
safe  transit  from  the  shore,  and  this  vessel  was  em 
ployed  in  making  a  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's 
works.  Nothing  new,  however,  was  discovered, 
and  after  exchanging  a  few  shots  with  Fort  Fisher 
we  returned  to  the  anchorage  for  the  night.  The 
following  day  all  our  boats  were  sent,  and,  after 
some  difficulty,  the  remaining  troops  were  safely 
embarked. 

I  have  endeavored  in  the  above  to  give  you  my 
ideas  of  the  effect  of  our  fire  on  the  enemy's  works, 
which  was  to  almost  silence  them.  In  regard  to 
the  damage  clone,  it  is,  under  the  circumstances, 
impossible  for  any  one  to  tell  without  a  closer  in 
spection,  for,  as  you  remember  at  Forts  Jackson  and 
St.  Philip,  everything  from  the  outside  seemed  in 
statu  quo,  hardly  any  trace  of  injury  was  apparent; 
but  on  entering  and  looking  around,  the  terrible 
effect  of  the  bombardment  was  manifest  at  every 
turn.  So,  too,  at  Fort  Morgan,  little  or  no  injury 
could  be  discovered  from  without,  but  upon  close 
examination  it  was  found  that  almost  every  gun  on 
its  carriage  was  seriously  damaged,  if  not  entirely 
destroyed. 

Now,  as  to  the  "  defensibility  "  of  the  fort.  The 
rebels,  I  am  satisfied,  considered,  from  the  moment 
that  our  troops  obtained  a  footing  on  the  shore,  the 
work  (battered  as  it  was)  was  untenable,  and  were 
merely  waiting  for  some  one  to  come  and  take  it. 

The  General  commanding  furnishes  us  with  proof 
of  that  fact.  I  think,  in  his  letter  to  you,  informing 
you  of  his  determination  to  withdraw,  a  copy  of 
which  you  sent  me,  he  says  that  "  threeor  four  men 
ventured  upon  the  parapet  and  through  the  sally 
port  of  the  work,  capturing  a  horse,  which  they 
brought  off  ;  *  *  and  also  brought  away  from 
the  parapet  the  flag  of  the  fort."  This  was  all  done 
in  open  day  and  without  resistance— if,  indeed,  there 
was  anybody  there  who  was  disposed  to  question 
their  right  to  such  trophies.  From  that  and  other 
current  testimony,  I  am  satisfied  that,  if  our  troops 
had  not  been  stopped  in  their  triumphant  march 
towards  Fort  Fisher,  they  would  have  been  in  it 
before  dark,  in  quiet  possession  without  firing  as  hot. 

With  great  respect,  I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  ALDEN,  Captain. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 


REPORT     OP    COMMANDER     DANIEL    AMMEN,     COM 
MANDING  U.  S.  S.  "  MOHICAN." 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  MOHICAN,"       j 
OFF  BEAUFORT,  N.  C.,  December  31,  1864.  j 

ADMIRAL— I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  General  Order  No.  75,  directing 
commanding  officers  to  make  their  report  in  rela 
tion  to  our  attack  on  Fort  Fisher  and  the  adjacent 
earth-works,  and  also  a  copy  of  a  communication  to 
you  from  Major-General  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  and, 
in  regard  to  some  points  touched  upon,  you  request 
an  opinion. 

At  about  11:30  A.  M.  of  the  24th,  the  fleet  got  un 
derway  and  stood  in,  in  line  of  battle,  towards  Fort 
Fisher,  bearing  about  west-southwest,  and  some  six 
or  seven  miles  distant.  The  "Mohican1'  was  kept 
closely  in  position  assigned,  following  the  leading 
vessel,  the  frigate  "  Minnesota,"  and  followed  by 
the  frigate  "  Colorado,  '  and  she  successively  by  the 
other  vessels  forming  the  main  line. 

At  about  IP.  M.,  the  "  Minnesota"  sheered  in  out 


of  line  and  took  up  her  position  at  anchor,  opening 
at  once  on  Fort  Fisher,  some  twenty-one  hundred 
yards  distant.  As  per  plan  of  battle,  the  "Mo 
hican  "  was  sheered  in  ahead  of  her,  fired  slowly  on 
the  fort  to  get  a  range  and  anchored,  then  opened 
briskly  with  the  whole  battery.  The  fort  had 
opened  on  the  "  Minnesota  "  and  on  the  "  Mohican  '' 
previous  to  our  anchoring.  The  "Colorado' 
sheered  in  ahead  of  us,  letting  go  kedge  astern, 
and  then  anchored  and  opened  fiercely  on  the  fort. 
The  vessels  forming  the  line  then  successively,  with 
more  or  less  success,  took  up  their  positions  and 
opened. 

The  iron-clads,  led  by  the  "New  Ironsides,"  had 
anchored  a  few  minutes  preceding  the  "  Minne 
sota"  some  five  or  six  hundred  yards  to  the  north 
ward  and  westward,  and  were  slowly  getting  their 
range  when  we  anchored,  and  the  outer  line  of  ves 
sels  moved  into  position  after  the  main  line  had 
anchored  and  opened  on  the  Mound  and  several 
detached  casemated  guns. 

The  fire  from  the  forts  became  weak  as  the  vessels 
anchored  and  opened  fire.  It  was  soon  apparent 
that  they  could  not  work  their  barbette  guns  with 
out  great  loss  of  life,  and  the  guns' crews,  no  doubt, 
retreated  under  shelter,  with  a  few  exceptions, 
where  high  traverses  and  favorable  angles  gave 
them  great  protection. 

Different  casemated  guns,  particularly  those 
mounted  in  detached  mounds  and  towards  the 
Mound,  continued  to  fire  slowly,  and  evidently  with 
not  much  effect,  nor  would  the  position  of  the  guns 
served  favor  an  effective  fire.  The  whole  body  of 
Fort  Fisher  was  filled  with  bursting  shells,  and  only 
at  long  intervals,  if  at  all,  was  a  gun  fired  from  the 
main  work.  In  the  meantime,  owing  to  the  wind 
and  the  set  of  the  tide,  I  found  that  the  use  of  the 
propeller  and  the  helm  would  no  longer  enable  me 
to  bring  the  broadside  to  bear,  and  was  obliged  to 
weigh  anchor  and  manoeuvre  under  steam,  holding 
our  position  as  nearly  as  possible,  and  avoiding  in 
terfering  with  the  firing  of  the  other  vessels. 

After  exhausting  all  the  filled  9-inch  shells  on 
board  ready  for  use,  the  "Mohican"  was  with 
drawn  from  the  line  at  about  4:10  p.  M.,  making 
signal  to  you  of  the  cause,  and  we  commenced  fill 
ing  shells  without  delay.  After  sunset  the  fleet 
withdrew,  and  the  "Mohican"  ran  into  line  and 
anchored. 

At  about  9  A.  M.  of  the  25th,  signal  was  made  to 
get  underway  and  form  line  of  battle.  The 
"  Mohican  "  took  her  position,  and  the  fleet  stood 
in  to  the  attack.  When  nearly  under  fire,  I  vyas 
directed  verbally  from  you  "  not  to  take  position 
until  further  orders."  The  "  Minnesota,"  the  lead 
ing  vessel  of  the  main  line,  proceeded  in  and  anch 
ored,  got  underway,  and,  after  various  attempts, 
obtained  a  well  -  chosen  position,  the  main  line 
awaiting  her  movements.  The  iron-clixds,  having 
preceded  during  this  time,  were  in  position,  firing 
slowly,  and  receiving  a  part  of  the  fire  of  Fort 
Fisher.  After  the  position  of  the  "  Minnesota"  was 
satisfactory,  I  received  orders  from  you  about  noon 
to  take  position  close  astern  of  the  "  New  Ironsides," 
which  I  did  without  delay,  firing  slowly  until  a 
good  range  was  obtained,  then  opened  briskly  on 
the  fort.  I  was  enabled  to  see,  through  the  absence 
of  smoke,  that  our  fire  was  very  effective,  delivered 
at  a  short  ten  second  range.  One  of  the  rebel  guns 
was  seen  to  be  dismounted  by  our  fire.  Half  an 
hour  after  we  had  anchored,  the  "  Colorado'1  passed 
ahead  of  the  "Minnesota"  and  into  position,  anch 
oring  and  delivering  a  very  effective  fire.  The 
whole  line  soon  took  position,  and  opened  very 
heavily,  and  evidently  with  great  effect,  driving 
the  rebels  from  their  guns,  with  a  few  exceptions, 
as  those  in  casemates  and  other  places  sheltered 
and  distant.  The  position  of  the  "Mohican"  enabled 
me  to  see  well,  as  I  was  first  at  anchor  within  half 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


709 


a  ship's  length  of  the  "New  Ironsides,'' and,  find 
ing  that  anchoring  impeded  an  effective  use  of  the 
battery,  I  weighed,  and.  in  delivering  fire,  drifted 
one  or  two  hundred  yards  nearer  the  fort. 

At  2:03  P.  M.  the  supply  of  ten-second  fuses  and 
the  rifle  ammunition  was  exhausted,  and  the  "  Mo 
hican  "  was  withdrawn  from  action  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  more,  speaking  the  "  Malvern  '  for  the 
purpose,  and  obtaining  none.  Not  being  directed 
to  go  under  fire  again,  we  remained  spectators  near 
the  "Minnesota"  until  about  4  p.  M..  when  I  re 
ceived  orders  to  aid  in  debarking  troops,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  execute  ;  but,  instead  of  debarking,  aided 
in  bringing  off  the  soldiers  that  had  already  reached 
the  shore. 

'It  has  not  been  my  lot  to  witness  any  operations 
comparable  in  force  or  in  effect  to  the  bombard 
ment  of  Fort  Fisher  by  the  fleet,  and  I  feel  satisfied 
that  any  attempt  to  keep  out  of  their  bomb-proofs 
or  to  work  their  guns  would  have  been  attended 
with  great  loss  of  life  to  the  rebels,  and  would  have 
proven  a  fruitless  attempt. 

On  the  first  day  we  delivered  two  hundred  and 
seventeen  (217)  9-inch  shells,  fifty-nine  59)  one  hun 
dred-pound  rifles,  and  eighty-nine  (39)  thirty-pound 
rifle  shells.  On  the  second  day  we  delivered  one 
hundred  and  three  '103)  9  inch  shells,  twenty  (20) 
one  hundred-pound  rifles,  and  twenty-five  (25 )  thirty- 
pound  rifle  shells,  making  a  total  of  five  hundred 
and  thirteen. 

Our  firing  was  effective  as  well  as  rapid,  and  I 
have  to  express  my  high  appreciation  of  the  ability 
and  zeal  ot  Lieutenant  J.  D.  Marvin,  the  executive 
officer  of  this  vessel,  and  of  Acting-Master  William 
Burditt,  whose  long  and  varied  professional  ex 
perience  proved  useful;  Acting-Boatswain  Josiah 
B.  Aiken,  owing  to  a  deficiency  of  officers,  had 
charge  of  the  one  hundred-pounder  rifle  and  served 
it  admirably.  I  have  to  express  my  satisfaction  at 
the  excellent  behavior  of  the  officers  and  crew, 
and  do  not  doubt  that,  when  the  occasion  arrives 
when  they  should  do  so,  they  will  stand  to  their 
guns  as  long  as  enough  men  remain  to  serve  them. 

In  relation  to  the  effect  of  the  fire  of  the  fleet  on 
the  fort,  I  beg  leave  to  express  my  congratulations, 
as  I  did  verbally  on  meeting  you  after  the  action. 
It  did  not  require  a  visit  to  the  fort  to  see  that 
enormous  traverses  were  nearly  levelled,  as  at  the 
southeast  angle.  The  stockade  or  abatis  must  have 
been  much  shattered,  and  the  debris  from  the  par 
apets  must  have  filled  in  the  ditch  greatly.  I  feel 
satisfied  that  everything  was  effected  that  can  be 
by  powerful  batteries  against  a  sand-work,  and 
that  we  could  and  can  keep  the  enemy  in  their 
bomb-proofs  pending  an  advance  of  troops  to  the 
foot  of  the  parapet. 

The  official  letter  of  General  Butler  referred  to, 
states  that  General  Weitzel  advanced  his  skirmish 
line  within  fifty  yards  of  the  fort,  while  the  garrison 
was  kept  in  their  bomb-proofs  by  the  fire  of  the 
Navy,  and  so  closely  that  three  or  four  men  of  the 
picket  line  ventured  upon  the  parapet  and  through 
the  sallyport  of  the  work,  is,  I  think,  entirely  con 
firmatory  as  to  the  effectiveness  of  our  fire.  He 
adds:  "This  was  done  while  the  shells  of  the  Navy 
were  falling  about  the  heads  of  the  daring  men  who 
entered  the  work  ;"  but  he  appears  to  forget  that, 
at  any  given  signal  from  an  assaulting  column, 
this  fire  would  cease,  and  the  enemy  be  found  not 
defending  the  parapet,  but  safely  stowed  away  in 
bomb-proofs. 

I  do  not  know  what  more  could  be  asked  of  naval 
guns  than  to  afford  a  safe  approach  to  the  foot  of 
the  parapet,  with  no  lines  of  the  enemy  drawn  up 
to  receive  our  forces  ;  beyond  that,  I  suppose  every 
thing  would  depend  upon  the  relative  forces  of  the 
combatants  and  the  vigor  of  the  assault;  and  al 
though  the  work  might  not,  in  a  military  sense,  be 
much  injured,  I  would  think  the  likelihood  of  car 


rying  tha  work  would  be  greatly  increased  by  such 
disposition,  without  loss  of  life  to  the  assaulting 
forces. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant. 

DAMEL  AMMEN,  Commander. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 


REPORT    OF    LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER    M.    SICARD, 
COMMANDING  U.  S.  S.  "SENECA.1' 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  SENECA,"  t 
December  31,   1804.  f 

ADMIRAL — I  would  respectfully  report  that,  in 
the  action  of  the  24th  and  25th  instant,  this  vessel 
was  with  the  vessels  on  the  extreme  right  that  were 
operating  with  the  iron-clads. 

It  was  evident  from  the  first  half-hour  of  the  en 
gagement  that  the  enemy  did  not  intend  seriously 
to  reply  to  the  fire  of  the  fleet.  This  vessel  fired 
one  hundred  and  twelve  11-inch  shells  and  one  hun 
dred  and  forty  20 -pounder  Parrott  shells  at  the 
northeast  face  of  Fort  Fisher  during  the  two  days' 
bombardment. 

Our  division  fired  quite  slowly  on  the  second  day, 
and  as  I  was  quite  close  to  the  fort  in  the  afternoon, 
and  only  fired  at  long  intervals,  the  enemy  fired  at 
me  several  times  with  a  heavy  rifle,  which,  however, 
did  no  damage,  being  evidently  hurriedly  pointed. 
This  gun  could  have  been  silenced  in  a  few  minutes 
if  the  vessels  had  chosen  to  throw  away  shot  on  it; 
and  as  it  was,  by  an  occasional  shot  from  the 
divi  ion,  it  soon  ceased  its  fire.  I  refrained  from 
firing  much  towards  the  close  of  the  second  day's 
work,  because  I  expected  an  assault  by  the  troops, 
and  I  wished  to  save  my  shrapnel  for  the  purpose 
of  covering  their  advance. 

I  was  much  disappointed  that  the  Army  did  not 
make  an  attempt  on  the  fort.  I  saw  the  advance 
of  a  skirmish  line,  and  of  a  reserve  (comprising  in 
all  about  K)  men). 

They  advanced  quite  close  to  the  works — within 
pistol-shot.  After  that  I  lost  sight  of  them  until  I 
saw  two  returning  along  the  beach  with  the  flag  of 
the  fort,  which  had  been  shot  away  about  an  hour 
previously  by  a  Monitor. 

At  dusk,  and  fora  short  time  after,  there  was 
some  musketry-firing  between  this  skirmish  line 
and  the  fort,  but  up  to  dark  no  attempt  was  made 
by  any  adequate  body  of  the  Army  to  assault  the  fort. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  the  fire  of  the  fort  was  com 
pletely  under  the  control  of  the  fleet,  and  that  we 
could  stop  it  whenever  we  chose,  as  the  fire  by  the 
two  frigates  on  the  afternoon  of  December  25th 
abundantly  showed.  In  fact,  the  fort  was  silent 
nine-tenths  of  the  time  that  w  j-  were  engaging  it.  I 
am  furthermore  of  the  opinion  that  the  fort  could 
not  hold  out  against  a  combined  attack  of  the 
Army  and  Navy. 

I  think  it  a  good  proof  of  the  effectiveness  of 
the  fire  of  the  fleet,  that,  though  our  skirmishers  ad 
vanced  so  close  to  the  fort,  no  serious  fire  was 
opened  on  them.  Indeed,  I  do  not  know  from  my 
own  observation  (and  I  was  in  a  good  position  to 
see  ,  that  they  were  fired  on  at  all  in  this  first  ad 
vance  ;  and  I  scarcely  think  that  the  enemy  would 
have  suffered  his  flag"  to  be  upon  the  ground  so  long 
after  it  was  shot  away,  though  he  must  have 
known  that  we  were  landing  troops,  and  that  from 
the  flag's  position  it  was  very  liable  to  capture), 
unless  he  had  been  fearful  "to  venture  out  and 
recover  it  under  our  fire. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
MONTGOMERY  SICARD, 

Lieutenant  Commander,   Commanding   U.   S.   S. 

"Seneca." 
REAR  ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North,  Atlantic  Squadron. 


CHAPTER   L. 


SECOND  ATTACK  ON  FORT  FISHER. 

PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  ATTACK. —  THE  FLEET  WITHSTANDS  THE  ELEMENTS. —  GENERAL 
TERRY  ARRIVES  AND  PREPARES  TO  CO-OPERATE  WITH  THE  NAVY.— GENERAL  BUTLER  vs. 
GENERAL  TERRY.— LANDING  OF  TROOPS.— IRON-CLADS  OPEN  FIRE  ON  THE  BATTERIES.— 
SAILORS  LAND  AND  THROW  UP  INTRENCHMENTS.  —  PLAN  OF  GENERAL  ATTACK  BY 
ARMY  AND  NAVY.— BOMBARDMENT  OF  THE  FORTS.— SAILORS  MAKE  A  GALLANT  ASSAULT, 
BUT  ARE  REPULSED  WITH  GREAT  Loss.— THE  SOLDIERS  SURPRISE  THE  CONFEDERATES  IN 
REAR  OF  FORTIFICATIONS.  —  FORT  FISHER  CAPTURED. —  FEARLESS  GALLANTRY  DIS 
PLAYED  BY  TROOPS. —  SERIOUS  DAMAGE  TO  CONFEDERATE  CAUSE. —  GRAPPLING  FOR 
TORPEDOES.— THE  "  TALLAHASSEE"  AND  "  CHICKAMAUGA "  BLOWN  UP.— EVACUATION 
OF  FORT  CASWELL  AND  WORKS  ON  SMITH'S  ISLAND.— WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  BLOCKADED. 
—  LIST  OF  OFFICERS  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED  DURING  ATTACK  ON  FORT  FISHER.— 
GENERAL  ORDERS  OF  SECOND  ATTACK. — REPORTS  OF  THE  ADMIRAL  AND  OTHER  OFFI 
CERS.— CASES  OF  INDIVIDUAL  FEATS  OF  HEROISM.  —  CASUALTIES.— EVACUATION  OF 

FORTS  ALONG  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER. — CAPTURE  OF  SMITHVILLE. — LIST  OF  GUNS  MOUNTED 
IN  CHAIN  OF  FORTS. — BOMBARDMENT  AND  CAPTURE  OF  FORTS  ANDERSON,  STRONG  AND 
LEE. —  SCRIMMAGE  WITH  INFERNAL  MACHINES.  —  CAPTURE  OF  WILMINGTON,  N.  C.— 
FIRING  NATIONAL  SALUTES. — ADDITIONAL  REPORTS  OF  OFFICERS. — OPERATIONS  AFTER 
CAPTURE  OF  FORT  FISHER.  —  CONFEDERATE  GUN-BOATS  AND  THEIR  MOVEMENTS  IN 
JAMES  RIVER. — MISCELLANEOUS  OPERATIONS  OF  NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  FROM 
OCTOBER,  1804,  TO  APRIL,  18G5. 


THE  reader  can  imagine  the  disap 
pointment  in  the  North  when  the 
failure  to  take  Fort  Fisher  was  an 
nounced,  and  the  numerous  reports 
that  were  flying  about  must  have 
considerably  mystified  the  public.  One  said 
the  whole  expedition  had  rjone  back  to 
Hampton  Roads,  and  the  chances  were  that, 
in  the  estimation  of  the  public,  the  Navy 
should  be  consigned  to  oblivion.  What  an 
ignominious  fate  that  would  have  been  ! 
However,  the  Admiral's  equanimity  was  not 
in  the  least  disturbed.  He  knew  that  this 
set-back  was  one  of  the  chances  of  war,  and 
did  not  regret  it,  as  it  would  show  the  stuff 
American  naval  officers  were  made  of. 
Here  was  a  large  fleet  of  over  seventy  ves 
sels,  most  of  them  too  large  to  enter  any 
harbor.  They  had  expended  nearly  all  their 
coal  and  ammunition ;  the  commander* 
were  obliged  to  anchor  their  vessels  off 
Beaufort,  N.  C.,  on  an  open  coast,  with  pro 


tection  only  from  the  northwest  winds,  and 
with  a  southeast  gale  blowing  at  least  once 
a  week.  Yet  they  were  ordered  to  repair 
there  at  once  and  fill  up  with  coal  and  am 
munition  without  delay. 

To  the  Admiral's  great  surprise,  he  found 
that  General  Butler  had  seized  a  large 
quantity  of  coal  (which  the  Navy  had  in  re 
serve)  for  his  transports  to  get  home  with, 
and  that  the  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Equip 
ment,  through  some  misunderstanding,  had 
ordered  that  no  more  be  sent  to  Beaufort. 
The  naval  ammunition  had  not  all  arrived 
from  Hampton  Roads,  and  the  ships  bade 
fair  to  be  found  unprepared  in  case  General 
Grant  ordered  the  troops  to  return.  No 
time  was  lost  in  sending  dispatches  over 
land  to  Norfolk,  directing  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Nichols  to  hurry  forward  every 
pound  of  coal  and  ammunition  available. 
Fortunately,  a  fair  wind  brought  all  this 
down  to  Beaufort,  and  matters  looked  more 

(710) 


THE  XAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


71  r 


cheerful ;  the  Navy  also  seized  the  Army 
coal  in  Beaufort,  upon  the  plea  that  •' neces 
sity  knows  no  lav/." 

It  is  difficult  to  appreciate  the  hardships 
and  delays  encountered  by  the  fleet  in  coal 
ing  and  getting  on  board  the  ammunition. 
Gale  after  gale  swept  over  the  coast,  through 
all  of  which  the  ships-of-war,  the  coal  and 
ammunition  vessels  had  to  ride  it  out.  Many 
anchors  and  chains  were  lost,  ships  were 
damaged  and  boats  swamped;  but  no  one 
left  his  post.  There  was  a  dogged  de 
termination  to  take  Fort  Fisher  even  if  the 
Navy  had  to  do  it  alone.  When  the  wind 
howled  at  night,  and  the  sound  of  the 
breakers  was  heard  booming  in  the  dis 
tance,  the  Admiral  would  go  to  sleep  feel 
ing  as  secure  as  if  nothing  was  going  on, 
knowing  that  he  had  good  sailors  with 
brave  hearts  in  his  ships,  and  that  no 
one  would  desert  his  post  any  more  than 
he  would  in  time  of  action.  Every  morn 
ing,  at  daylight,  the  officer  of  the  watch 
would  come  down  and  report,  "The  fleet  is 
all  right,  sir;"  and  answering,  "I  knew 
it,"  the  Admiral  would  turn  over  and  take 
another  sleep.  There  was  all  kinds  of  fight 
ing  in  the  Navy,  but  this  was  a  new  phase 
of  the  matter — fighting  the  elements  as  men 
never  fought  them  before.  It  was  a  new 
school  of  practice  to  the  officers,  who  had 
been  taught  that  ours  was  the  wrorst  coast  in 
the  world,  and  that  a  vessel  could  not  there 
ride  out  a  gale  at  her  anchors.  If  they 
profited  by  the  experience  they  gained  on 
that  occasion,  they  should  feel  amply  repaid 
for  any  anxieties  they  may  have  felt.  An 
officer  should  realize  that  great  risks  should 
be  run  to  insure  success.  We  do  not  wonder 
that  Admiral  Farragut  said  :  "  Porter  will 
lose  that  fleet :  he  is  rash  to  undertake 
operations  when  the  elements  are  so  op 
posed  to  him."  It  was  not  judicious  in  him, 
it  is  true,  and  was  not  an  evidence  of  what 
he  would  have  done  himself ;  but  if  he 
had  remembered  the  perseverance  shown 
in  getting  his  vessels  over  the  bar  at  New 
Orleans,  when  all  others  had  given  it  up, 
lie  would  have  said  otherwise. 

The  moment  Butler's  troops  re-embarked, 
the  Admiral  sent  a  swift  steamer  to  General 
Grant  and  told  him  the  situation  of  affairs, 
urging  him  to  send  "  other  troops  and 
another  General.-'  Grant  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  dp  so  the  moment  he  heard  of 
Butler's  failure.  The  Admiral  was  daily 
expecting  this  force  and  dreaded  its  arrival 
before  he  was  ready.  It  was  a  joyful 
sight  when  he  saw  the  signals  flying  from 
each  masthead,  reporting,  "All  ready  for 
action."  He  had  watched  all  the  operations 
with  a  critical  eye  and  could  see  no  one  lag 
ging.  He  endeavored,  with  the  means  at 
his  disposal,  to  be  impartial  in  supplying 
the  materials  of  war.  Let  anv  one  think  of 


a  fleet  of  seventy  vessels -of -war  to  be  coaled 
and  supplied  with  ammunition  at  sea,  and 
all  to  be  done  in  time  to  co-operate  with  an 
army  that  could  be  moved  in  a  week  !  We 
recollect  that  some  of  the  old  officers  with 
whom  we  sailed  at  different  times  would 
not  go  within  ten  miles  of  Cape  Fear  shoals 
in  good  weather,  and  would  think  any  man 
crazy  who  was  rash  enough  to  anchor  off 
Beaufort  one  night,  much  less  ride  out  a 
gale  there.  It  was  rough  practice,  and  we 
sincerely  hope  the  lesson  will  not  be  lost  on 
the  young  men  now  coming  forward,  many 
of  whom  participated  in  the  events  of  that 

Eeriod.     Many  of  them  were  unknown  to 
ame,  but  they  performed  their  parts  well, 
and  will  show  hereafter  of  what  material 
the  American  Navy  is  made. 

On  January  8th,  18G5,  General  A.  H. 
Terry  arrived  at  Beaufort,  and  communi 
cated  the  intelligence  that  he  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  army  that  was  toco-operate  with 
the  Navy  in  capturing  Fort  Fisher.  The 
Navy  was  all  ready  for  its  share  of  the 
work;  but,  as  a  storm  was  approaching,  the 
Admiral  advised  Terry  of  the  fact,  and 
suggested  that  his  transports  should  go  in 
side,  where  there  was  plenty  of  room  for 
them.  To  his  disappointment,  Terry  de 
clined  any  advice,  and  decided  that  they 
should  ride  it  out  with  the  Navy.  This  be 
ginning  did  not  augur  well  for  a  good  un 
derstanding  between  General  Terry  and 
the  Admiral.  Terry  was  rather  cold  and 
formal  in  his  manner,  and  did  not  meet  the 
Admiral  at  once  with  the  frankness  of  a 
true  soldier.  He  had,  however,  been  a 
long  time  under  the  command  of  General 
Butler,  who,  for  a  wonder,  had  treated  him 
very  well,  because  he  saw  he  was  a  good 
soldier,  and  a  man  of  talent  besides.  Butler 
also  relied  on  Terry  to  help  him  over  the 
rough  spots  of  soldier  -  life.  Of  course, 
Terry  had  heard  his  side  of  the  story,  and 
was  cautious  in  his  first  approaches;  but  all 
this  wore  off  like  snow  before  a  summer's 
sun  when  Terry  found  that  the  Admiral 
had  but  one  object  in  view — the  capture  of 
Fort  Fisher,  and  did  not  care  how  it  was 
done  or  who  got  the  credit  of  it.  On  his 
second  visit  Terry  was  quite  a  different 
man,  and  they  soon  understood  each  other. 
Here  was  a  different  person  from  the  Ad 
miral's  last  "confederate" — we  wonder 
what  Butler  would  say  at  our  calling  him 
a  confederate — who  was  fond  of  display, 
and  whose  staff  was  exceptionally  large. 
Terry  had  no  staff,  wore  no  spurs,  and  we 
do  not  think  he  owned  a  sword.  He  had  a 
well-formed  head,  full  of  sense,  which 
served  him  in  lieu  of  feathers,  sword,  boots, 
spurs  and  staff — of  which  a  General  can 
have  too  many.  General  Terry  was  ac 
companied  by  General  Comstock,  of  the 
Engineers,  who  had  been  on  Butler's  staff 


712 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


in  the  former  expedition,  and  this  fact  made 
the  Admiral  careful  about  expressing  his 
views  in  his  presence. 

He  learned  finally  to  appreciate  Comstock 
as  a  good  officer.  The  Admiral  was  made 
to  say  a  spiteful  thing  of  him  by  the  re 
porter  of  the  War  Committee,  an  untrue 
statement;  and,  if  the  General  or  his  heirs 
are  living  when  this  is  published,  they  will 
absolve  the  Admiral  from  saying  or  mean 
ing  anything  disrespectful  concerning  him. 
General  Grant  thought  highly  of  Comstock, 
and  that  was  the  latter's  recommendation 
with  the  Navy.  If  Comstock  had  not  been 
made  by  that  same  reporter  of  the  War 
Committee  to  say  some  untrue  things  about 
the  Admiral,  the  latter  would  have  taken 
to  him  at  first  sight  and  endorsed  him  as  an 
"  A  No.  1"  engineer,  as,  no  doubt,  he  was. 

Admiral  Porter  offered  to  do  all  he  could 
for  General  Terry,  and  explained  to  him  how 
matters  stood.  The  Admiral  was  not  shown 
Terry's  instructions,  but  afterwards  saw 
them  printed  in  General  Grant's  report.  They 
were,  in  effect,  "to  defer  to  Admiral  Por 
ters  opinions  in  all  that  related  to  nautical 
matters,  and  to  confide  in  his  judgment,  as 
he  was  an  officer  who  had  the  nerve  to  carry 
out  anything  he  might  propose."  Had  the 
Admiral  been  shown  these  orders,  Terry 
and  himself  would  have  understood  each 
other  at  once;  but  we  do  not  think  the  Gen 
eral  appreciated  the  Navy  until  after  the 
capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  when  he  saw  the 
fruits  of  its  labors,  and  witnessed  the  un 
selfish  sincerity  with  which  all  worked  for 
the  public  good. 

It  was  arranged  that  the  fleet  should  sail 
from  Beaufort  on  the  12th  of  January. 
This  was  done — the  Navy  sailing  in  three 
lines,  the  Army  transports  in  another. 
Terry  preserved  quite  as  good  order  among 
his  vessels,  in  the  matter  of  sailing,  as  the 
Admiral  did  with  his — which  is  saying  a 
great  deal. 

At  8  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  the  13th  of  January, 
1865,  the  Navy  commenced  to  land  General 
Terry's  troops,  batteries  and  provisions, 
and  by  2  o'clock  there  were  8,000  troops  on 
shore,  with  all  their  stores  and  munitions- 
of-war.  The  Admiral  then  got  underway, 
making  signal  to  the  fleet,  and  attacked 
the  batteries,  by  way  of  diverting  the 
minds  of  some  of  the  soldiers  who  had 
been  dropped  into  the  water.  So  Butler 
would  have  been  landed,  but  he  would  not 
be  made  a  hero  of  on  any  such  terms,  and 
so  lost  his  chances  for  the  Presidency. 

Quite  a  change  had  been  made  in  the 
Confederate  arrangements  since  the  fleet 
last  left  Fort  Fisher.  The  enemy  gained 
a  great  deal  of  experience  in  the  first  bom 
bardment,  and  had  strengthened  every 
weakness  that  had  developed  under  the 
hammering  from  the  ships.  They  had  also 


repaired  all  damages  as  far  as  was  neces 
sary  to  make  the  fort  more  enduring,  and 
had  placed  a  larger  force  within  the  works. 
The  Confederate  authorities  had  in  the  first 
instance  placed  too  much  confidence  in 
their  strong  sand- works,  and  had  no  idea 
of  the  effect  of  a  steady  naval  fire  from 
three  or  four  hundred  heavy  guns;  but  hav 
ing  realized  this,  they  did  the  best  they 
could  in  twenty  days  to  remedy  all  defects. 
The  authorities  at  Richmond  became  very 
much  alarmed  when  they  heard  how  near 
the  fort  came  to  falling  into  Federal  hands, 
and,  in  consequence,  President  Davis  se 
lected  General  Bragg  to  command  at  its 
second  defence.  Bragg's  name  had  once 
been  a  household  word  in  the  United  States, 
but  he  was  not  so  well  thought  of  by  some  of 
the  Southern  politicians.  It  was  a  foregone 
conclusion  to  them  that  Fort  Fisher  would 
fall,  under  his  management  of  affairs.  To 
do  justice  to  Bragg,  the  best  General  in 
the  Southern  Confederacy  could  not  have 
held  Fort  Fisher,  with  the  force  he  had, 
against  the  terrific  fire  that  was  poured 
upon  the  works  by  the  Federal  fleet. 

The  most  important  matter  to  the  Con 
federates  was  to  prevent  a  landing  by  the 
Federal  troops,  or  to  dislodge  them  as  soon 
as  they  got  on  shore,  and  drive  them  into 
the  sea;  but  this  had  been  anticipated  by 
having  a  line  of  sixteen  or  seventeen  gun 
boats  anchored  inside  of  the  transports 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  beach,  the 
"  Brooklyn  "  with  her  heavy  battery  lying 
in  the  centre  of  the  line  ;  and,  before  a  sin 
gle  boat  was  allowed  to  leave  a  transport, 
there  was  opened  all  along  the  line  such  a 
tremendous  fire  from  the  vessels  reaching 
as  far  as  Cape  Fear  River,  about  a  thou 
sand  yards  distant,  that  no  troops  could 
withstand  it  five  minutes.  General  Terry 
landed  his  troops  as  rapidly  as  one  hundred 
and  twenty  boats  could  put  them  on  shore. 
With  their  intrenching  tools,  within  an 
hour  after  landing,  they  had  thrown  up 
heavy  intrenchments  right  across  the  land 
to  the  river,  and  manned  them  so  that  at 
the  very  first  step  the  fort  was  compara 
tively  cut  off  from  all  support.  By  two 
o'clock,  8,000  troops  had  been  landed,  and 
the  artillery  posted  behind  the  breastworks. 
The  place  of  landing  was  admirably  se 
lected,  the  troops  being  disembarked  just 
above  the  neck  of  the  Sound,  interposing  a 
small  stretch  of  water  between  them  and 
an  attacking  force,  or  compelling  such  force 
to  work  around  the  lower  extreme  of  the 
Sound,  either  of  which  movements  would 
have  to  be  executed  under  the  fire  of  the 
whole  fleet. 

General  Hoke  had  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  the  Confederate  troops,  and  it  was 
his  purpose  to  attack  the  Federals  as  they 
landed  from  the  boats.  His  cavalry  was 


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THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


thrown  out  on  the  right  flank  to  observe 
the  Federal  movements,  and  report  the  first 
step  towards  establishing  a  line  across  the 
neck  of  land  to  the  river  ;  but  it  was  found 
in  the  morning  that,  owing  to  the  want  of 
vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates, 
the  Federals  had  laid  out  a  second  line  of 
defence  during  the  night ;  General  Terry's 
troops,  passing  between  Hoke's  cavalry 
and  threading  their  way  through  the  thick 
undergrowth  of  the  marsh,  made  their  ad 
vance  to  the  river,  and  the  next  morning 
held  an  intrenched  line  on  Hoke's  right 
flank,  extending  nearly  across  the  penin 
sula.  General  Bragg  at  first  gave  the  order 
to  charge  the  Federal  troops  in  their  works; 
but  after  a  reconnaissance,  which  discov 
ered  the  Federal  force  and  position,  he  de 
termined  to  withdraw,  after  managing  to 
increase  the  number  of  men  in  the  fort  to 
2,500,  which  was  the  force  that  manned  the 
works  on  the  second  attack.  The  Federals, 
the  same  afternoon  of  the  landing,  pushed  a 
reconnaissance  within  five  hundred  yards  of 
the  fort,  and  held  the  point  attained. 

While  all  these  Army  movements  were 
going  on,  the  fleet  was  moving  into  position 
for  the  attack.  This  time  a  different  plan 
was  pursued  from  the  last.  The  "Iron 
sides  "  (Commodore  Radford)  leading,  was 
followed  in  by  the  Monitors  "  Saugus," 
"Canonicus,"  "  Monadnock"  and  "  Maho- 
pac,"  taking  a  position  within  eight  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  fort,  and  much  nearer  than 
on  the  last  occasion.  At  7:30  A.  M.  the  forts 
opened  on  them  as  they  approached,  but 
they  took  up  their  position  without  firing  a 
gun  until  they  were  ready,  and  then  opened 
their  batteries.  In  this  way  the  enemy  was 
tempted  to  engage  the  iron-clads,  so  that 
their  points  of  fire  could  be  observed  and 
the  positions  of  their  guns  noted,  thus 
showing  how  to  dismount  them.  When 
the  iron-clads  were  well  engaged,  Com 
mander  Rhind  was  sent  in  a  boat  to  plant  a 
buoy  in  four  fathoms  of  water  at  the  point 
where  the  "  Minnesota"  was  to  anchor,  and 
also  to  serve  as  a  guide  for  the  other  vessels. 

The  fleet  stood  in,  in  three  columns.  Line 
No.  1,  led  by  the  "Brooklyn,"  Captain 
James  Alden,  consisted  of  the  "  Mohican," 
Commander  Daniel  Ammen;  "Tacony," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  W.  T.  Truxtun  ; 
"  Kansas,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  P.  G. 
Watmough  ;  "Yantic,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  T.  C.  Harris;  "  Unadilla,"  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  F.  M.  Ramsey;  "Huron," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  T.  O.  Self  ridge  ; 
"  Maumee,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Ralph 
Chandler;  "Pequot,"  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  D.  L.  Braine;  "Pawtucket,"  Com 
mander  S.  H.  Spotts  ;  "  Seneca,"  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  M.  Sicard  ;  "Pontoosac," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  W.  G.  Temple ; 
•'  Xereus,"  Commander  J.  C.  Howell. 


Line     No.    2,  "  Minnesota."  Commodore 

Joseph   Lanman  leading,  consisted  of  the 

"  Colorado."  Commodore  H.  K.  Thatcher; 

"Wabash,"   Captain   M.   Smith  ;"  Susque- 

hanna,"  Commodore  S.  W.  Godon  ;  "  Pow- 

hatan,"  Commodore  J.  F.  Schenck;  "  Juni- 

ata,"  Lieutenant-Commander  T.  S.  Phelps  ; 

'  Shenandoah,"    Captain    D.    B.    Ridgley  ; 

'  Ticonderoga,"  Captain  Charles  Steedman : 

'  Vanderbilt,"   Captain   C.  W.    Pickering  : 

•  Mackinaw."  Commander  J.  C.  Beaumont; 

'  Tuscarora,"  Commander  J.  M.  Frailey. 

Line  No.  3,  "Santiago  de  Cuba,"  Captain 
O.  S.  Glisson  leading,  consisted  of  the 
"Fort  Jackson,"  Captain  B.  F.  Sands; 
"Osceola,"  Commander  J.  M.  B.  Clitz; 
"Sassacus,"  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  L. 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  (NOW  COMMODORE)  D.  L.  BRAINE, 

COMMANDING   U.    S.    S.    "  PEQCOT  " 

Davis;  "Chippewa,"  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  E.  E.  Potter;  '  R.  R.  Cuyler," 
Commander  C.  H.  B.  Caldwell ;  "  Mara- 
tanza,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  George 
W.  Young;  "  Rhode  Island,"  Commander 
S.  D.  Trenchard;  "  Monticello,"  Lieutenant 
W.  B.  Cushing;"  Alabama,"  Acting- Volun 
teer- Lieutenant  A.  R.  Langthorne;  "  Mont 
gomery,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  T. 
C.  Dunn ;  "  losco,"  Commander  John  Guest. 
The  reserve  division,  under  Lieutenant- 
Commander  J.  H.  Upshur,  in  the  "  A.  D. 
Vance,"  consisted  of  the  "  Britannia." 
Acting- Volunteer  -  Lieutenant  W.  A.  Shel 
don  ;  "Tristram  Shandy,"  Acting- Volun- 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


715 


teer- Lieutenant  F.  M.  Green:  ''Lillian," 
Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  T.  A.  Harris; 
"  Fort  Donaldson."  Acting-Master  G.  W. 
Frost;  "Wilderness."  Acting-Master  H. 
Arey  ;  "Aries."'  Acting- Volunteer- Lieu 
tenant  F.  S.  Wells;  "Governor  Bucking 
ham."  Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant  J.  Mac- 
diarmid.  The  "Nansemond,"  Acting-Mas 
ter  J.  H.  Porter;  "Little  Ada."  Acting- 
Master  S.  P.  Crafts  ;  "  Eolus,"  Acting- 
Master  E.  S.  Keyser,  and  "  Republic,"  Act 
ing-Ensign  J.  W.  Bennett,  being  used  as 
reserve  vessels. 

Some  of  the  vessels  that  accompanied  the 
last  expedition  were  badly  damaged  in  vari 
ous  ways.  The  "Sassacus"  had  both  rud 
ders  disabled,  but  her  energetic  commander. 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  J.  L.  Davis,  was 
ready  in  time.  The  "Mackinaw,"  Com 
mander  J.  C.  Beaumont,  had  one  of  her 
boilers  knocked  to  pieces,  but  her  com 
mander  would  go  with  but  one  boiler.  The 
"Osceola,"  Commander  J.  M.  B.  Clitz,  in 
the  same  condition — one  boiler  smashed  up 
with  shot  and  a  hole  near  the  bottom — was 
ready  for  anything,  and  no  complaint  was 
heard  from  any  one.  With  such  a  disposi 
tion  on  the  part  of  the  officers,  the  Admiral 
anticipated  the  most  favorable  results. 

The  different  divisions,  having  formed 
into  line  of  battle,  steamed  towards  Fort 
Fisher,  the  "Colorado"  leading  (the  "Min 
nesota  "  having  a  hawser  around  her  pro 
peller).  The  vessels  took  their  positions 
handsomely — having  had  some  practice  at 
that  place — and  delivered  their  fire  as  they 
fell  in.  The  rapid  fire  of  the  Monitors  and 
"Ironsides"  kept  the  enemy  partly  away 
from  their  guns,  and  they  inflicted  no 
damage  on  the  fleet,  their  firing  being  very 
unsteady — indeed,  it  was  strange  how  they 
could  fire  at  all.  After  the  first  and  second 
lines  got  fairly  anchored  in  position,  the 
bombardment  was  very  rapid  and  severe. 
The  fire  was  continued  without  intermis 
sion  from  4  o'clock  p.  M.  until  some  time 
after  dark,  when  the  wooden  vessels  were 
ordered  to  haul  out  and  anchor.  The  Moni 
tors  and  "  Ironsides  "  were  directed  to  keep 
up  the  fire  during  the  night.  The  enemy 
had  long  ceased  to  respond,  and  kept  in  his 
bomb-proofs.  It  was  seen  that  the  bom 
bardment  had  damaged  some  of  the  en 
emy's  guns,  and  it  was  determined,  be 
fore  the  Army  went  to  the  assault,  that 
there  should  be  no  guns  within  reach  to 
arrest  its  progress.  Having  found  that  the 
enemy  could  still  bring  some  heavy  guns 
to  bear,  which  annoyed  the  fleet  somewhat, 
the  Admiral  determined  to  try  another 
plan,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th, 
ordered  in  all  the  small  gun-boats  carrying 
11-inch  guns,  to  fire  slowly  and  try  to  dis 
mount  the  guns  on  the  face  of  the  works 
where  the  assault  was  to  be  made.  The 


"  Brooklyn "  was  ordered  to  throw  in  a 
pretty  quick  fire,  to  keep  the  enemy  from 
working  their  guns.  The  attack  was  com 
menced  at  1  P.  M.  and  lasted  till  long  after 
dark.  One  or  two  guns  only  were  fired  this 
day  from  the  upper  batteries,  inflicting  no 
serious  damage  on  any  of  the  vessels,  ex 
cept  cutting  away  the  maintopmast  of  the 
"  Huron  "  and  hitting  the  "  Unadilla  "  once 
or  twice.  These  guns  were  always  silenced 
when  a  rapid  fire  was  opened.  The  attack 
of  the  gun-boats  lasted  until  long  after  dark, 
and  one  vessel  was  employed  at  a  time  (an 
hour  each)  in  firing  throughout  the  night. 

On  this  evening  General  Terry  went  on 
board  to  see  the  Admiral  and  arrange  the 
plan  of  battle  for  the  next  day.  The 
troops  had  got  rested  after  their  long  con 
finement  on  shipboard  and  sea-voyage, 
and  had  recovered  from  the  drenching 
they  received  when  landing  through  the 


SURGEON  (NOW  MEDICAL  DIRECTOR)  GEORGE  MAULSBY, 
FLEET-SURGEON. 

surf.  Having  been  long  enough  on  their 
native  element,  they  were  eager  for  the 
attack.  It  was  arranged  between  the  Gen 
eral  and  Admiral  that  the  ships  should  all 
go  in  early,  and  fire  rapidly  through  the 
day  until  the  time  for  the  assault  arrived. 
Thie  hour  named  was  3  P.  M. 

The  Admiral  detailed  1,600  sailors  and  400 
marines  to  accompany  the  troops  —  the 
sailors  to  board  the  sea  -  face,  while  the 
troops  assaulted  on  the  land  side.  Many  of 
the  sailors  were  armed  with  cutlasses  and 
revolvers,  while  a  number  had  Sharpe's 
rifles  or  short  carbines.  We  insert  the  order 
of  attack  on  the  fort,  and  the  manner  of  ap 
proaching  it. 

The  Admiral  and  General  had  a  perfect 
understanding  and  established  a  system  of 


716 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


signals  by  the  Army  Code,  by  which  they 
could  converse  at  pleasure,  even  amid  the 
din  of  battle,  when  they  were  nearly  a 
mile  apart.  At  9  A.  M.,  on*  the  loth,  the  fleet 
was  directed  by  signal  to  attack  in  three 
lines,  or  assume  position,  as  shown  in  the 
plan.  The  vessels  all  reached  their  stations 
at  about  11  A.  M.,  and  each  opened  fire  when 
anchored.  The  same  guns  in  the  upper  bat 
teries  opened  again  this  day,  and  with  some 
effect;  but  no  vessel  was  injured  enough  to 
interfere  in  the  least  with  her  efficiency. 
The  fire  was  kept  up  furiously  all  day. 
The  Mound  Hill  Battery  returned  a  rather 
galling  fire  with  its  heavy  guns,  but  the 
enemy  was  driven  from  its  works  into  the 
bomb-proofs,  so  that  no  vessel  was  in  the 
least  disabled.  The  signal  for  the  vessels 
to  "change  the  direction  of  their  fire,"  so 
that  the  troops  might  assault,  was  expected 
at  2  o'clock.  The  sailors  and  marines  by 
digging  ditches,  or  rifle-pits,  had  worked  to 
within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  and 
were  all  ready.  The  troops,  however,  did 
not  get  into  position  until  later,  and  the 
signal  was  not  made  until  3  o'clock.  The 
vessels  then  changed  their  fire  to  the  upper 
batteries,  all  the  steam-whistles  were  blown, 
and  the  troops  and  sailors  dashed  ahead, 
nobly  vying  with  each  other  in  the  en 
deavor  to  reach  the  top  of  the  parapet. 
The  fleet  had  evidently  injured  all  the  large 
guns,  so  that  they  could  not  be  fired  to  an 
noy  any  one.  The  sailors  went  to  the  as 
sault  by  the  flank  along  the  beach,  while 
the  troops  rushed  in  at  the  left  through  the 
palisades  that  had  been  knocked  away  by 
the  fire  of  the  fleet.  All  the  arrangements 
on  the  part  of  the  sailors  were  well  carried 
out.  They  succeeded  in  getting  up  to 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  fort,  and 
lay  securely  in  their  ditches,  with  but  a 
few  killed  or  wounded  to  this  point.  The 
marines  were  to  have  held  the  rifle-pits 
and  cover  the  boarding  party,  but  failed  to 
do  so.  On  rushing  through  the  palisades, 
which  reached  from  the  fort  to  the  sea, 
the  head  of  the  column  received  a  murder 
ous  fire  of  grape  and  canister,  which  failed, 
however,  to  check  the  officers  and  sailors 
who  were  leading  in  their  advance.  The 
parapets  then  swarmed  with  Confederates, 
who  poured  in  a  destructive  fire  of  mus 
ketry.  At  this  moment,  had  the  covering 
party  of  marines  performed  their  duty, 
every  one  of  the  enemy  on  the  parapet  must 
have  been  killed  or  wounded. 

The  Admiral  witnessed  the  whole  affair, 
saw  how  recklessly  the  enemy  exposed 
themselves,  and  what  an  advantage  they 
gave  the  marine  sharp-shooters,  whose  guns 
were  scarcely  fired,  or  fired  with  no  precis 
ion.  Notwithstanding  the  hot  fire,  the  offi 
cers  and  sailors  in  the  lead  rushed  on,  some 
even  reaching  the  parapet,  while  a  lar^e 


number  reached  the  ditch.  The  advance 
was  swept  from  the  parapet  like  chaff;  and, 
notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  made  by 
commanders  of  companies  to  stop  them,  the 
men  in  the  rear,  seeing  the  slaughter  in 
front,  and  that  they  were  not  covered  by 
the  marines,  commenced  to  retreat;  and. 
as  there  is  no  stopping  a  sailor  if  he  fails  on 
such  an  occasion  at  the  first  rush,  the  as 
sault  on  this  front  had  to  be  abandoned. 

In  the  meantime,  the  troops  on  their  side 
were  more  successful.  The  Confederates 
seeing  so  large  a  body  of  men  advancing 
on  the  sea-front,  were  under  the  impression 
that  this  was  the  main  attack.  They,  there 
fore,  concentrated  their  forces  at  that  point, 
and  when  they  gave  three  cheers,  thinking 
they  had  gained  the  day,  they  received  a 
volley  of  musketry  in  their  backs  from 
the  gallant  soldiers  who  had  been  success 
ful  in  gaining  the  highest  parapets.  Then 
commenced  such  a  system  of  fighting  as 
has  seldom  been  beaten.  The  soldiers  had 
gained  two  traverses,  while  the  Admiral 
directed  the  "  Ironsides  "  to  fire  on  the  trav 
erses  occupied  by  the  enemy  Four,  five 
and  six  traverses  \vere  carried  by  the 
troops  in  the  space  of  an  hour.  These 
traverses  were  immense  bomb-proofs, about 
sixty  feet  long,  fifty  feet  wide  and  twenty 
feet  high;  seventeen  of  them  in  all  being  oil 
the  northeast  face.  Between  each  traverse, 
or  bomb-proof,  were  one  or  two  heavy  guns. 
The  fighting  lasted  until  10  o'clock  at  night, 
the  "  Ironsides "  and  the  Monitors  firing 
through  the  traverses  in  advance  of  the 
troops,  while  the  level  strip  of  land  called 
Federal  Point  was  enfiladed  by  the  ships, 
to  prevent  reinforcements  reaching  the 
enemy.  General  Terry  himself  went  into 
the  fort,  and  the  Admiral  kept  up  constant 
communication  with  him,  until  three  hearty 
cheers,  which  were  taken  up  by  the  fleet, 
announced  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher. 
Finding  that  the  General  felt  anxious  about 
the  enemy  receiving  reinforcements,  the 
sailors  and  marines  relieved  the  troops  in 
the  outer  line  of  defences,  and  a  large  num 
ber  of  soldiers  were  thus  enabled  to  join 
the  forces  in  the  fort.  It  will  not  be  amiss 
to  remark  here, that  we  never  saw  anything 
like  the  fearless  gallantry  and  endurance 
displayed  by  the  troops — they  fought  like 
lions,  and  knew  no  such  word  as  fail.  They 
fought  and  chased  the  enemy  from  traverse 
to  traverse,  until  they  finally  reached  Bat 
tery  Lamb,  or  the  Mound,  a  work  extend 
ing  about  1,400  yards.  At  this  point  the 
Confederates  broke  and  fled  to  the  end  of 
Federal  Point.  The  victorious  troops  fol 
lowed,  and  the  enemy  surrendered  at  dis 
cretion. 

Thus  ended  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
battles  on  record,  and  one  which  did  more 
damage  to  the  Confederate  cause  than  any 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


717 


that  took  place  during  the  war.  Twenty- 
five  hundred  Confederates  manned  Fort 
Fisher  :  eighteen  hundred  were  taken  pris 
oners;  the  rest  were  killed  or  wounded. 

We  visited  Fort  Fisher  and  the  adjoining 
works,  and  found  their  strength  greatly 
beyond  what  had  been  conceived.  An  en 
gineer  might  be  excused  for  saying,  they 
could  not  be  captured  except  by  regular 
siege.  We  wonder  even  now  how  it  was 
done.  The  work  was  really  stronger  than 
the  Malakoff  Tower,  which  defied  so  long 
the  combined  power  of  France  and  Eng 
land,  and  yet  it  was  captured  by  a  hand 
ful  of  men  under  the  fire  of  the  guns  of  the 
fleet,  and  in  seven  hours  after  the  attack 
began  in  earnest. 

We  cannot  say  too  much  in  praise  of  the 
conduct  of  the  fleet  during  the  time  it  had 
been  engaged  in  these  operations.  We  do 
not  know  an  officer  in  command  who  did  not 
perform  his  duty  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 
There  may  have  been  some  who  did  better 
than  others,  but,  after  all,  that  may  be  a 
mere  matter  of  opinion,  or  a  matter  of 
prejudice  or  partiality — all  did  their  best. 
To  make  invidious  distinctions  would  be 
causing  matter  for  dispute,  and  we  shall  be 
content  with  saying  that  the  Government 
might  well  be  proud  of  those  to  whom  it 
intrusted  the  command  of  its  vessels. 

The  result  of  the  attempt  on  the  sea-face 
was  not  what  the  Admiral  expected  when  he 
planned  the  attack  ;  but  it  would  have  suc 
ceeded  without  severe  loss  had  the  marines 
done  better.  As  it  was,  the  Xavy  lost  heav 
ily,  including  some  gallant  officers  who  fell 
on  the  ramparts.  The  success  was  so  great 
that  the  country  should  not  complain.  Men. 
it  seems,  had  to  die  that  this  Union  might 
live,  and  the  Constitution  under  which  we 
have  gained  our  prosperity  be  maintained. 
We  regret  the  dead  heroes  and  shed  a  tear 
over  their  remains:  but.  if  the  Confederates 
had  succeeded,  we  should  have  nothing  but 
regret  left  us,  and  our  lives  would  have  been 
spent  in  terror  and  sorrow. 

As  soon  as  the  forts  were  taken,  the  light- 
draft  gun-boats  were  pushed  into  the  river 
—that  is,  as  soon  as  they  could  find  and 
buoy  out  the  channel  and  take  up  the  tor 
pedoes,  which  were  very  thick.  The 
searchers  found  the  wires  leading  to  many, 
and  underran  them  with  boats.  The  tor 
pedoes  were  too  heavy  to  lift  with  ordinary 
means,  and  some  of  them  must  have  con 
tained  at  least  a  ton  of  powder.  The  Con 
federates  seemed  disposed  to  pay  the  fleet 
back  for  the  famous  torpedo  "Louisiana," 
which  exploded  in  their  harbor  and  did  them 
no  harm.  There  was  some  difficulty  in  get 
ting  the  vessels  across  the  bar  and  into  the 
river,  as  the  channel  was  very  narrow  and 
the  bar  very  shoal ;  a  few  of  them  got 
aground  but  were  hauled  off  again  with  the 


tide.  After  three  of  the  gun-boats  were  in 
side  the  bar  and  under  the  Mound,  the  Con 
federates  prepared  to  evacuate  Fort  Cas  well. 
Two  steamers  near  the  fort  (the  "Tallahas 
see"  and  "Chickamauga")  were  set  on  fire 
and  blew  up  with  a  heavy  explosion  after 
the  enemy  had  set  fire  to  the  fort.  This 
was  followed  by  some  minor  explosions. 
The  barracks  were  apparently  in  flames 
all  night,  and  some  small  works  between 
Fisher  and  Cas  well  were  blown  up.  The 
enemy  commenced  burning  up  everything 
in  Wilmington,  and  were  getting  away  as 
fast  as  they  could.  In  the  meantime  a  large 
force  of  gun-boats  occupied  the  river  be 
tween  Caswell  and  Wilmington.  The 
latter  place  was  hermetically  sealed  against 


ACTING-ENblliN  VNOW  COMMANDER)  EOBLEY  D.  EVANS,  U.  8.  N. 

OF   THK   U.    B.    8.    "POWHATAS." 

blockade  -  runners,  and  no  "  Alabamas  '' 
or  "Floridas,"  '•  Chickarnaugas  "  or  "  Tal- 
lahassees  "  could  ever  fit  out  again  from  that 
port.  Forty-four  thousand  shells  were  ex 
pended  in  the  bombardment  and  as  many 
more  were  left  on  hand.  The  fleet  was 
much  indebted  to  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance 
for  so  promptly  supplying  it  with  guns  and 
ammunition. 

The  number  of  guns  captured  in  Fort 
Fisher  amounted  to  seventy  -  five,  many 
of  them  superb  rifle-pieces  of  very  heavy 
calibre.  All  those  facing  the  ships  were 
dismounted  or  injured,  so  they  could  not  be 
used,  or  the  muzzles  filled  up  with  sand  or 
dirt,  which  rendered  them  useless.  There 
were  only  two  that  were  not  rendered  per- 
fectlv  useless. 


718 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


LIST     OP     OFFICERS     KILLED    AND     "WOUNDED 
DURING   THE  ATTACK  UPON  FORT  FISHER. 

Killed  in  the  assault — Lieutenant  S.  W.  Preston, 
Flag-Lieutenant ;  Lieutenant  B.  H.  Porter,  com 
manding  flagship  "Malvern":  Assistant  Surgeon 
Wm.  Longshaw,  U.  S.  steamer  Minnesota ''  ;  Act 
ing-Ensign  Robert  Wiley,  U.  S.  steamer  "  Mont 
gomery.  " 

Killed  by  explosion  of  magazine  in  Fort  Fisher, 
January  16— Acting -Assistant  Paymaster  R.  H. 
Gillett,  U.  S.  steamer  "Gettysburg";  Acting-En 
sign  J.  S.  Leighton,  U.  S.  steamer  "Gettysburg." 

Wounded  in  the  assault — Lieutenant-Commander 
W.  N.  AUen,  U.  S.  steamer  "  Tuscarora"  ;  Lieuten 
ant  G.  M.  Bache,  U.  S.  steamer  "Powhatan"  ;  Lieu 
tenant  R.  H.  Lainson,  commanding  U.  S.  steamer 
"Gettysburg";  Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant  F.  F. 
Baury,  U.  S.  steamer  "Colorado' ':  Ensign  R.  D. 
Evans,  U.  S.  steamer  "  Powhatan "  ;  Ensign  Ira 
Harris,  U.  S.  steamer  "Powhatan";  Acting -En 
sign  L.  R.  Chester,  U.  S.  steamer  "Pontoosuc"; 
Acting  -  Ensign  James  Bertwistle,  U.  S.  steamer 
"Minnesota";  Acting  -  Ensign  F.  A.  O'Connor, 
U.  S.  steamer  "Minnesota"' ;  Acting-Ensign  G.  W. 
Coffin,  U.  S.  steamer  "Gettysburg";  Acting-En 
sign  B.  Wood,  U.  S.  steamer  "  Tristram  Shandy": 
Acting-Master  A.  J.  Louch,  U.  S.  steamer  "Mack 
inaw  " ;  Acting-Master's  Mate  E.  K.  Green,  U.  S. 
steamer  "MacKinaw";  Acting-Master's  Mate  J.  M. 
Simms,  U.  S.  steamer  "Minnesota";  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mate  A.  F.  Aldridge,  U.  S.  steamer  "Tusca 
rora." 

Total  officers  killed  and  wounded,  21. 

KILLED,    WOUNDED  AND  MISSING    IN    THE  ATTACK 
UPON  FORT  FISHER,   INCLUDING  THE  EX 
PLOSION   OF  THE  MAGAZINE. 

Flag-ship  "Malvern/'  3  killed  and  1  wounded  ; 
"  Saugus,"  1  wounded  ;  "  Pontoosuc,"  7  wounded  ; 
"Kansas,"  1  wounded  ;  "  Tacony,"  2  killed  and  12 
wounded  ;  "  Canoiiicus,"  3  wounded  ;  "  Ticon- 
deroga,"  1  killed  and  6  wounded  ;  "  losco,"  2  killed 
and  12  wounded;  "  Shenandoah,"  6  killed  and  5 
missing;  "Tuscarora,"  3  killed  and  12  wounded; 
"  Rhode  Island,"8  killed  and  2  wounded  ;  "  Huron," 
5  wounded  ;  "  Montgomery,"2  killed  and4  wounded; 
"  Monticello,"  4  killed  and  4  wounded  ;  "  Wabash," 
(incomplete)  12  wounded  ;  "  Tristram  Shandy,"  2 
wounded  and  1  missing;  "Susquehanna,"  3  killed 
and  15  wounded;  "Juniata,'  5  killed  and  10 
wounded;  "Santiago  de  Cuba,"  1  killed  and  9 
wounded;  "Fort  Jackson,"  1  killed  and  10  wounded; 
"Yantic,"  2  killed  and  2  wounded  ;  "Powhatan," 
3  killed,  19  wounded  and  7  missing;  "Minne 
sota."  13  killed  and  23  wounded;  "Colorado,"  3 
killed,  14  wounded  and  8  missing  ;  "  Nereus  "  3 
killed  and  3  wounded  ;  "  Pequot,"  3  killed  and  5 
wounded;  "Gettysburg,'' 6  killed  and  6  wounded; 
"  Mackinaw,"  2  wounded  ;  "  Mohican,"  12  killed. 

Total— Killed,  74  ;  wounded,  213  ;  missing,  22.— 
Total  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  309. 

GENERAL  ORDER  ON  SECOND  ATTACK. 
[SPECIAL  ORDER  NO.  10.] 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON, 
FLAG-SHIP  "  MALVERN,"  January  9,  1865. 
The  following  vessels  will  form  a  separate  line 
under  the  command  of   Lieutenant  -  Commander 
Upshur,  for  the  purpose  of  landing  the  provisions 
and  stores  for  the  army,  viz. :  "A.  D.  Vance  "  "  Fort 
Donaldson,"  "Aries,"  "Emma,"  "Lillian,'"  "Tris 
tram   Shandy,"    "Britannia"   and    "Wilderness" 
The  "  Nansemond,"  "  Moccasin "  and  "Little  Ada" 
will  act  as  messengers,  as  before. 

It  is  proposed  now  that  the  troops  shall  be  first 
landed  before  any  attack  is  made  on  the  fort  by  all 
the  vessels.  The  "Brooklyn "  will  lead  in  with  the 
vessels  attached  to  her  line,  and  anchor  in  a  posi 


tion  to  cover  the  landing,  and  drive  away  the  rebels, 
if  there  are  any.  The  landing  will  probably  be  made 
at  the  same  place  as  before. 

Line  No.  2  will  anchor  where  their  guns  can 
reach  (somewhere  in  about  five  fathoms  water  and 
not  less),  and  where  they  can  fire  clear  of  the  first 
line. 

Line  No.  3  will  keep  underway  a  short  distance 
outside  the  other  lines,  ready  to  act  as  ciz'curu- 
stances  may  require. 

The  transports  will  anchor  in  line  outside  line 
No.  1,  and  be  ready  to  deliver  their  troops  as  fast 
as  the  boats  go  alongside.  All  the  vessels  will 
lower  their  boats  as  quick  as  they  anchor,  and  send 
them  to  the  transports;  line  No.  3  doing  the  same. 

When  the  troops  are  all  landed,  the  boats  will  be 
hoisted  upon  the  port  side,  and  those  belonging  on 
the  starboard  side  will  be  secured  alongside  for 
towing,  so  that  they  can  be  manned  at  a  moment's 
notice  when  the  assault  comes  off. 

If  practicable,  the  "New  Ironsides"  and  the 
Monitors  will  be  ordered  in  to  bombard  the  fort 
and  dismount  the  guns  while  the  troops  are  getting 
on  shore.  This  will  be  done  when  the  signal  is 
made  to  the  "  New  Ironsides"  to  attack,  the  Moni 
tors  following  her. 

While  the  vessels  are  firing,  the  commanders  will 
keep  an  intelligent  officer  at  the  maintopmast-head 
to  regulate  the  firing  and  tell  the  effect  of  the  shot. 
The  commanders  of  smaller  vessels  will  have  a 
like  look  out  kept  at  the  main-mast-head.  The 
officers  aloft  will  note  all  information  that  may  be 
valuable,  as  they  can  see  what  is  going  on  in  the 
river  inside. 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Rear-Admiral,  Commanding  North  Atlantic 
Squadron. 


[GENERAL  ORDER  NO.  78.] 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,      ) 
FLAG-SHIP  "  MALVERN,"  January  2,  1865.  f 

The  order  of  attack  for  the  next  bombardment  of 
Fort  Fisher  will  be  as  follows  : 

The  "New  Ironsides,"  Commodore  Radford,  will 
lead  in,  and  anchor  with  the  centre  of  the  northeast 
face  of  the  fort  bearing  west  by  south  half-south, 
the  Monitors  following.  The  irdn-clads  will  anchor 
in  succession,  as  follows:  The  "Mahopac."  "Ca- 
nonicus,"  and  "  Saugus  "  will  anchor  in  a  line  close 
together,  between  the  "New  Ironsides"  and  the 
beach  ;  and  the  "  Monadnock  "  will  select  a  position 
in  the  same  line,  so  that  she  will  have  room  to  swing 
and  bring  both  turrets  to  bear. 

When  these  vessels  are  fully  engaged,  signal  will 
be  made  to  the  "Brooklyn  "  to  go  in  and  engage 
the  enemy,  taking  a  position  at  anchor  close  un 
der  the  stern  of  the  "New  Ironsides,"  with  her 
broadside  bearing  on  Fort  Fisher.  The  "Brooklyn" 
will  be  followed  in  by  the  "Mohican,"  "Tacony," 
"Kansas,"  "  Unadilla,"  "Huron,"  "  Maumee." 
"Pawtucket,"  "Seneca,"  "Pontoosuc."  "Nyack," 
"Yantic,"  and  "Nereus,"  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  marked  on  the  chart.  The  line,  when 
anchored,  should  be  with  the  ''Brooklyn,"  bearing 
about  south  by  east.  This  will  be  line  of-battle 
No.  1. 

Line  No.  2  will  take  position  when  the  leading 
vessel  of  line  No  1  is  anchored,  with  the  "Minne 
sota"  leading,  "Colorado"  next,  "Wabash,"  "Sus 
quehanna."  "Powhatan,"  "Juniata,"  "Shenan 
doah,"  "  Ticonderoga."  After  the  "Minnesota" 
anchors  in  her  old  place  (or  closer),  where  her  guns 
will  clear  the  "New  Ironsides,"  the  "Colorado" 
will  pass  her  and  anchor,  both  ships  firing  slowly 
to  get  their  range  as  they  go  in.  When  the  "Col 
orado"  is  anchored  and  firing  with  effect,  all  the 
vessels  of  line  No.  2  will  anchor  in  position,  exactly 
as  they  did  on  a  previous  occasion. 

The  "Vanderbilfwill  then  anchor  a  little  out- 


OF  THE  CIVIL    IV AR. 


719 


side  of  and  between  the  "Colorado"  and  "  Wa- 
bash/  "Mackinaw,"  between  "Susquehanna  '  and 
"Wabash,"  and  "Tuscarora''  between  "  Juiiiata" 
and  "Powhatan." 

When  line  No.  2  has  anchored,  line  No.  3  will 
take  position,  the  "  Santiago  de  Cuba  "  leading, 
which  vessel  will  anchor  with  the  centre  of  the 
southeast  face  of  Fort  Fisher  bearing  northwest 
half  north,  or  just  ahead  of  "  Ticonderoga."  The 
"  Fort  Jackson  "  will  then  pass  the  "Santiago  de 
Cuba/'  and  anchor  as  close  as  she  can  get ;  the 
"  Osceola  "  will  pass  the  "Fort  Jackson '"and  anchor, 
and  soon  with  the  "Sassacus,"  "Chippewa/1  "  R.  R. 
Cuyler,"  "Maratanza,"  "Rhode  Iskiud,"  "Monti- 
cello/'  "Alabama,"  "Montgomery,"'  "Keystone 
State/'  "Quaker  City/'  ending  with  the  "  losco." 

When  the  signal  is  made  to  form  line  of  battle, 
all  the  vessels  of  lines  Nos.  1,  2  and  3  will  fall  in  line 
in  the  order  mentioned;  the  "Brooklyn"  leading 
line  No.  1,  the  "Minnesota"  line  No.  2,  and  the 
"Santiago  de  Cuba''  line  No.  3.  When  any  vessel 
is  missing,  the  vessels  behind  must  close  up.  All 
the  vessels  can  with  safety  get  in  closer  than  they 
did  the  last  time.  For  this  they  must  depend  oh 
the  lead  and  past  experience. 

All  firing  against  earth -works,  when  the  shell 
bursts  in  the  air,  is  thrown  away.  The  object  is  to 
lodge  the  shell  in  the  parapets,  and  tear  away  the 
traverses  under  which  the  bomb-proofs  are  located. 
A  shell  now  and  then  exploding  over  a  gun  en 
barbette  may  have  good  effect,  but  there  is  nothing 
like  lodging  the  shell  before  it  explodes.  The  red 
lines  on  the  chart  indicate  the  object  each  vessel 
is  to  fire  at,  as  near  as  we  can  make  out  the  works. 

In  case  it  is  determined  to  land  the  troops  before 
engaging  the  forts,  signal  will  be  made.  Each  reserve 
vessel  will  have  her  boats  in  readiness  to  disembark 
the  troops  as  rapidly  as  possible.  When  the  signal 
is  made,  they  will  run  in  and  anchor  close  to  the 
shore,  covering  the  landing  with  their  guns.  The 
paddle -steamers  will  not  use  their  paddle-boats 
( but  only  their  davit-boats)  unless  ordered  to  do  so. 
All  these  things  will  be  regulated  by  signal.  All 
the  precautions  observed  in  General  Order  No.  75 
will  be  observed  on  this  occasion. 

Fire  deliberately.  Fill  the  vessels  up  with  every 
shell  they  can  carry,  and  fire  to  dismount  the  guns, 
and  knock  away  the  traverses.  The  angle  near  the 
large  ships  has  heavy  casemates  ;  knock  it  away. 
Concentrate  fire  always  on  one  point.  With  the 
guns  disabled,  the  fort  will  soon  be  ours. 

No  vessel  will  retire  from  line  unless  in  a  sinking 
condition,  nor  without  permission. 

So  many  accidents  have  happened  with  the  100- 
pounder  rifles  that  I  recommend,  if  they  be  used  at 
all,  the  charges  be  reduced  to  seven  (7)  pounds  ; 
and  as  the  time-fuzes  burst  after  leaving  the  gun, 
fire  them  with  a  patch  on  or  fire  percussion  shell. 

When  the  troops  are  ready  for  the  assault,  signal 
will  be  made  to  "change  the  direction  of  fire,"  by 
hoisting  general  signal  2211,  and  blowing  the 
steam-whistle,  which  whistle  every  vessel  will  re 
peat,  and  officers  will  be  stationed  at  the  hatches 
to  pass  the  word.  When  the  signal  2211  is  made, 
all  the  vessels  will  stop  firing  at  Fort  Fisher,  and 
concentrate  their  fire  on  the  batteries  to  the  left  or 
above  it ;  the  "Tacony,"  "Kansas/'  "  Unadilla/' 
"Huron,"  "Maumee,"  "Pawtucket,"  "Seneca," 
"Pontoosuc,"  "Nyack,"  "Yantic"  and  "  Nereus," 
giving  their  guns  great  elevation,  and  firing  over 
to  reach  the  river,  to  disturb  any  rebel  troops  that 
may  be  resting  there.  To  avoid  accidents  by  firing 
over  our  troops  by  these  last  -  mentioned  vessels, 
the  patches  will  not  be  taken  off  the  shell,  until  the 
assaulting  column  is  in  the  works. 

If  the  troops  are  driven  back,  the  firing  will  be 
directed  on  Fort  Fisher  again  when  the  signal  is 
made,  and  this  plan  will  be  followed  from  time  to 
time  as  assaults  are  made  and  repulsed. 

There  is  one  thing  to  which  I  beg  leave  to  call 


attention.  When  the  range  is  once  obtained,  the 
officer  of  division  shall  note  in  a  book  the  distance 
marked  on  the  sight,  so  that  he  will  not  forget  it. 
When  the  smoke  becomes  thick,  and  objects  dim, 
a  reference  to  the  notes  and  an  examination,  to  see 
if  the  sight  is  properly  set,  will  assist  very  much 
in  insuring  accuracy  yf"  fire. 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Rear- Admiral,  Commanding  Jiort/i  Atlantic 
Squadron. 

REAR  ADMIRAL,  PORTER'S  LANDING  ORDERS. 

FLAG-SHIP  "MALVERN," 
OFF  NEW  INLET,  N.  C.,  January  15,  1865. 
[Landing  Orders.] 

The  landing  party  will  land  out  of  gun-shot  of 
the  fort,  and  as  fast  as  the  boats  get  rid  of  their 
loads  they  will  be  shoved  off,  and  the  boat -keepers 
will  pull  off  and  hang  to  the  stern  of  the  "Nanse- 
mond/'  which  vessel  will  be  anchored  off  the  land 
ing.  When  the  men  are  landed  they  will  be  formed 
and  kept  together,  the  marines  forming  by  them 
selves. 

Lieutenant  S.  W.  Preston  will  have  charge  of  the 
men  with  shovels.  He  will  advance  as  near  the 
fort  as  he  safely  can,  without  running  the  risk  of  a 
single  man,  and  commence  throwing  up  rifle-pits 
rapidly.  He  will  first  advance  with  a  thin  line  of 
sappers,  and  as  soon  as  he  can  get  a  ditch  deep 
enough  for  shelter,  the  marines  will  go  in,  in  thin 
squads,  and  occupy  them.  As  the  sand  is  thrown 
up  high  enough  to  conceal  a  person,  other  sappers 
will  come  in  behind  and  dig  it  deeper.  There  will 
be  required  a  three  and  a  half  feet  ditch,  and  about 
the  same  height  of  earth  thrown  out.  The  object 
is  to  get  as  close  to  the  fort  as  possible,  and  with 
perfect  safety,  so  that  the  men  will  have  shelter  to 
go  to  in  case  of  the  enemy  firing  grape  and  canister. 

The  officers  leading  the  men  must  make  them 
keep  under  command — not  show  themselves  until  the 
signal  is  made  and  the  Army  moves  to  the  assault. 
No  move  is  to  be  made  forward  until  the  Army 
charges,  when  the  Navy  is  to  assault  the  sea  or 
southeast  face  of  the  work,  going  over  with  cutlasses 
drawn  and  revolvers  in  hand.  The  marines  will 
follow  after,  and  when  they  gain  the  edge  of  the 
parapet,  they  will  lie  flat  and  pick  off  the  enemy  in 
the  works.  The  sailors  will  charge  at  once  on  the 
field-pieces  in  the  fort,  and  kill  the  gunners.  The 
mouths  of  the  bomb-proofs  must  be  secured  at  once, 
and  no  quarter  given  if  the  enemy  fire  from  them 
after  we  enter  the  fort.  Any  man  who  straggles  or 
disobeys  orders  is  to  be  sent  to  the  rear  under  a 
guard.  The  men  must  keep  their  flags  rolled  up 
until  they  are  on  top  of  the  parapet  and  inside  the 
fort,  when  they  will  hoist  them. 

Remember,  the  sailors,  when  they  start  to  board, 
are  to  go  with  a  rush,  and  get  up  as  fast  as  they 
can.  Officers  are  directed  not  to  leave  their  com 
panies  under  any  circumstances,  and  every  com 
pany  is  to  be  kept  together.  If,  when  our  men  get 
into'the  fort,  the  enemy  commence  firing  on  Fort 
Fisher  from  the  Mound,  every  three  men  will  seize  a 
prisoner,  pitch  him  over  the  walls,  and  get  behind 
the  fort  for  protection,  or  into  the  bomb-proofs. 
The  fleet-captain  will  take  charge  of  the  landing 

Strty,  and  all  the  commands  will  report  to  him. 
e  represents  me  on  this    occasion,  and   all    his 
orders  will  be  promptly  obeyed. 

DAVID  D.  PORTER,  Rear-Admiral. 


REPORT  OF  FLEET  CAPTAIN  K.  R.  BREESE. 

FLAG-SHIP  "MALVERN," 
OFF  FORT  FISHER,  N.  C.,  January  16.  } 
SIR — I  have  to  report  that,  in  obedience  to  your 
order,  I  represented  your  flag  in  commanding  the 
assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  and  beg  leave  to  state  as 
follows : 

Lieutenant  S.  W.  Preston  had  charge  of  a  force 


720 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


of  about  ten  men  from  each  ship,  with  shovels  and 
picks,  and  threw  up  within  600  yards  of  the  fort  a 
well-protected  breastwork,  and  from  that  gradually 
advanced  to  within  two  hundred  yards  a  succession 
of  rifle-pits,  which  were  most  promptly  occupied 
by  a  line  of  skirmishers  composed  of  marines  under 
Second  -  Lieutenant  L.  E.  Fagan,  United  States 
marine  corps.  The  manner  in  which  this  was  done 
reflects  most  creditably  upon  Lieutenant  Preston. 
As  the  advance  was  made,  he  came  to  me  and  re 
ported  his  work  finished,  and  asked  that  he  might 
be  employed  in  any  way.  Lieutenant  Preston's 
services  were  most  useful  to  me,  and  in  his  last  mo 
ments  he  attempted  to  send  me  word  that  he  had 
carried  out  my  orders. 

The  assaulting  party  was  composed  of  about  six 
teen  hundred  seamen  and  four  hundred  marines, 
divided  into  four  lines,  as  follows  :  First  line,  com 
posed  of  marines,  Captain  L.  L.  Dawson,  United 
States  marine  corps,  commanding.  Second  line, 
composed  of  the  landing  party  of  the  first  and 
fourth  divisions  of  the  squadron,  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  C.  H.  Cushman,  commanding.  Third  line, 


LIEUT.  SAMUEL  W.  PRESTON  OF  ADMIRAL  PORTER'S  STAFF. 
(KILLED  IN  THE  ASSAULT  ON  FORT  FISHER). 

composed  of  the  landing  party  of  the  second  divis 
ion  of  the  squadron,  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Commander  James  Parker,  who  most  generously 
waived  his  seniority  upon  reading  your  order  that 
I  should  represent  you  on  shore.  Fourth  line,  com 
posed  of  the  landing  party  of  the  third  division  of 
the  squadron,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  T.  O.  Selfridge.  The  second,  third,  and 
fourth  lines  were  of  about  equal  strength. 

It  was  intended  that  the  men  should  assault  in 
line,  the  marines  acting  as  sharp-shooters,  and  the 
different  lines  were  to  charge  over  them ;  but  from 
the  difficulty  I  had  of  informing  myself  of  the  time 
when  the  army  was  to  assault,  which  was  to  guide 
our  movements,  that  moment  found  us  too  far  off 
to  move  to  the  attack  unless  under  cover.  When  I 
discovered  that  the  army  was  moving  to  attack 
the  fort,  I  ordered  the  men  to  advance  by  the  flank, 
along  the  beach,  hoping  to  be  able  to  form  them 
for  the  assault  under  cover  of  the  marines ;  but 
four  hundred  yards'  distance,  exposed  to  a  most 


galling  fire  of  musketry,  threw  a  portion  of  the 
marines  into  the  first  line,  and  the  rest  of  them  did 
not  take  position  as  they  should. 

The  second  and  third  lines  came  along,  and  the 
heads  of  the  three  lines  joined  and  formed  onecom- 

g act  column,  which,  filing  up  to  the  sea-face  of  Fort 
isher.  assaulted  to  within  fifty  yards  of  the  para 
pet,  which  was  lined  with  one  dense  mass  of  mus 
keteers,  who  played  sad  havoc  with  our  men. 
Although  exposed  to  a  most  severe  fire  from  the 
enemy,  the  men  were  rallied  three  times  under  the 
personal  encouragement  and  exposure  of  their  com 
manding  officers,  but  failed  to  gain  much  ground. 
A  few  officers  and  men  reached  the  parapet.  I  don't 
know  their  names,  but  they  will  doubtless  be  found 
in  thereports  of  the  officers  accompanyingthe  party. 

The  marines,  having  failed  to  occupy  their  posi 
tion,  gave  the  enemy  an  almost  unmolested  fire 
upon  us. 

Men  armed  with  Sharpens  rifles,  and  the  few 
marines  in  the  front,  opened  fire,  but  it  was  too 
feeble  to  be  of  avail.  Finding  the  rear  of  the  men 
retreating,  I  hastened  toward  it  to  form  them  un 
der  cover,  and  have  them  use  their  rifles;  but  they 
were  too  far  distant  for  me  to  reach  them,  and  I  ac 
cordingly  returned  to  a  position  near  the  works. 
As  I  did  so,  the  remaining  men,  notwithstanding  all 
attempts  to  stop  them,  fled,  with  the  exception  of 
about  sixty,  among  whom  were  Lieutenant-Com 
manders  James  Parker,  C.  H.  Cushman,  T.  O. 
Selfridge,  and  M.  Sicard,  and  Lieutenants  N.  H. 
Farquhar  and  R.  H.  Lamson,  the  latter  of  whom 
was  wounded,  and  several  volunteer  officers  whose 
names  I  unfortunately  do  not  know. 

The  fire  of  the  enemy  was  so  severe  that  the  few 
of  our  men  remaining  had  to  seek  such  cover  as 
they  could,  and  there  remained  until  dark,  when  a 
demonstration  upon  the  part  of  the  rebels  induced 
all  to  make  a  rush,  and  most  succeeded  in  escaping. 

The  country  will  regret  the  death  of  Lieutenant 
S.  W.  Preston,  acting  as  my  aide  in  carrying  orders, 
who  was  killed  in  front  ;  and  of  Lieutenant  B.  H. 
Porter,  killed  in  the  early  assault,  at  the  head  of 
the  column  ;  and  of  several  volunteer  officers,  sea 
men,  and  marines,  killed  during  the  attack. 

Of  Assistant  Surgeon  William  Longshaw  special 
mention  should  be  made  on  account  of  his  great 
bravery  and  attention  to  the  wounded  under  the 
hottest  fire,  until  finally  he  fell  a  victim  in  the 
very  act  of  binding  up  the  wounds  of  a  marine 

I  can  but  attribute  the  failure  of  the  assault  to 
the  absence  of  the  marines  from  their  position,  as 
their  fire  would  have  enabled  our  boarders  to  use 
their  cutlasses  and  pistols  most  effectively.  By  this 
I  would  imply  the  lack  of  proper  organization,  it 
being  impossible  in  the  short  space  of  time,  on  ac 
count  of  throwing  so  many  small  squads  of  men 
from  the  different  vessels  together  in  one  mass, 
lacking  proper  company  formations,  and  wholly 
unacquainted  with  each  other,  to  secure  such 
organization. 

This  led  to  the  confusion  exhibited,  for  it  was  not 
due  to  any  want  of  personal  valor  on  the  part  of 
the  officers  or  men. 

Although  the  officers  and  men  were  exposed  to  a 
severe  fire  from  the  enemy,  to  them  of  a  novel  char 
acter  and  upon  a  novel  element,  which  would  have 
tried  veterans,  yet  they  advanced  nobly,  and  the 
survivors  must  be  satisfied  that  they  contributed 
in  no  small  degree  to  the  success  of  the  army.  The 
enemy  believing,  as  I  am  informed,  that  the  main 
assault  was  to  come  from  us,  were  much  surprised 
upon  looking  to  their  rear  to  find  the  army  so  far 
advanced  in  their  works. 

The  medical  officers  sent  on  shore  with  the  land 
ing  party  established  their  field  hospital  at  a  work 
about  a  mile  from  the  fort,  where  Assistant  Surgeon 
B.  H.  Kidder  took  charge  of  the  wounded  who  were 
conveyed  there,  and  attended  to  their  wants  as  well 
as  circumstances  would  permit. 


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OF   THE    CIVIL     WAR. 


721 


As  near  as  I  could  estimate,  there  were  about 
sixty-live  killed  and  two  hundred  wounded. 

Lieutenant-Commander  W.  B.  dishing,  in  the 
extreme  front,  finding:  nothing  could  be  done,  left 
with  the  retreating  men,  and  succeeded  finally  in 
rallying  them,  and,  at  the  request  of  General  Terry, 
occupied  the  lines  near  his  headquarters,  which  en 
abled  him  to  withdraw  men  to  reinforce  his  force 
111  the  fort. 

Being  a  witness  to  the  assault  of  the  army  after 
our  repulse,  I  cannot  but  express  my  admiration  of 
the  extreme  gallantry  of  its  attack. 

Where  one  act  of  personal  bravery  was  displayed 
011  the  part  of  the  enemy,  a  dozen  or  more  were 
conspicuous  on  our  part  ;  and  it  was  the  most  im 
posing  sight  to  see -how  splendidly  our  brave  sol 
diers  did  their  work. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  say  that  I  may  have  omitted 
the  names  of  officers  who  have  distinguished  them 
selves  by  their  gallantry,  yet  I  could  not  fail  to 
mention  those  above  named,  who  came  personally 
under  my  notice,  and  I  trust  that  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  assaulting  lines  will  do  justice  to  all. 

To  Lieutenant-Commander  James  Parker  I  would 


ADMIRAL'S  SECRETARY,  CARLISLE  P.  PORTER  (NOW  FIRST- 
LIEUTENANT  U.  S.  MARINE  CORPS). 

say  that  I  was  a  witness  to  his  efforts  to  advance 
the  men,  to  the  free  exposure  of  his  person,  and, 
although  ranking  me,  he  would  let  no  obstacle  of 
that  nature  interpose  and  check  his  endeavors  to 
do  his  utmost  to  capture  the  fort. 

To  your  secretary,  Mr.  C.  P.  Porter,  acting  as 
my  aide,  I  am  very  much  indebted.  Though  fre 
quently  sent  to  the' rear  with  orders,  he  was  most 
promptly  back,  and  at  the  assault  he  was  found  at 
the  front. 

Although  the  assaulting  party  failed,  I  think  it 
but  due  to  those  that  advanced,  and  to  the  memo 
ries  of  the  slain,  to  claim  for  them,  through  their 
strong  demonstrations,  a  corresponding  resistance 
from  the  enemy,  and  a  weakening  of  the  rebel  de 
fence  toward  our  army 

1  have  been  informed  by  the  officers  who  con 
versed  with  prisoners  that  the  enemv  believed  ours 
to  be  the  main  assault,  and  concentrated  against  us 

46 


the:r  main  force.  In  saying  this,  I  would  wish  not 
to  be  understood  in  the  least  to  detract  from  the 
splendid  gallantry  exhibited  by  our  army,  which 
was  worthy  of  the  highest  commendation  that  can 
be  bestowed. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

K.  R.  BBKESE, 

Fleet-Captain. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 


DISPATCH  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 
COMMENDING  OFFICERS,  ETC. 
NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  ) 

U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "MALVERN,"  >• 
CAPE  FEAR  RIVER,  January  28,  1865.         ) 
SIR — After  such  an  engagement  and  success  as 
this  fleet  has  met  with,  I  think  it  due  to  the  officers 
engaged  to  mention  those  particularly  who,  in  my 
opinion,  deserve  the  commendation  of  the  Depart 
ment  or  merit  promotion.     I  did  not  think  it  well 
to  mention  these  matters  in  my  late  official  dis 
patch,  as  such  reports  seldom  or  ever  give  satisfac 
tion  to  officers  or  their  friends,  and  give  rise  more 
often  to  heart-burnings  and  jealousies,  which  it  is 
desirable  to  avoid  on  an  occasion  like  this.      It  is 
no  easy  matter  for  a  commander-in-chief  to  do  full 
justice  to  all  concerned,  but  I  will  endeavor  to  do 
so  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  without  partiality  to 
any  one  beyond  what  I  must  naturally  feel  towards 
those  who  have  given  me  their  warmest  support  on 
tuis  occasion.      I  trust  I  need  not  remind  the  De 
partment  that  our  success  here  has,  in  material  and 
facts,  been  greater  than  on  any  other  occasion  dur 
ing  this  war.      I  trust  that  some  promotions  will 
grow  out  of  this,  if  only  to  show  the  officers  that 
there  is  reward  in  store  for  those  who  do  the  fight 
ing.     First  and  foremost  on  the  list  of  commodores 
is  Commodore   H.    K.   Thatcher.      Full  of  honest 
7,eal  and  patriotism,  his  vessel  was  always  ready 
for  action,  and  when  he  did  go  into  it,  his  ship  was 
handled  with  admirable  skill  ;    no  vessel    in  the 
squadron  was  so  much  cut  up  as  the  "Colorado'  ; 
for  some  reason  the  rebels  selected  her  for  a  target. 
I  believe  Commodore  Thatcher  would  have  fought 
his  ship  until  she  went  to  the  bottom,  and  went  in 
to  the  fight  with  a  full  determination  to  conquer  or 
die.    There  is  no  reward  too  great  for  this  gallant 
officer  ;  he  has  shown  the  kind   of   ability  naval 
leaders  should  possess — a  love  of  fighting  and  an 
invincible  courage.     Commodore  Joseph  Lanman, 
commanding  the  "  Minnesota,"  was  selected  to  lead 
the  line,  his  vessel  being  the  slowest  and  least  man 
ageable  ;  consequently  he  led  into  action,  except  on 
an  occasion  when  the  "  Colorado''  took  his  place. 
I  was  much  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  he 
handled  his  ship  and  fired  throughout  the  action, 
the  whole  affair  on  his  part  being  conducted  with 
admirable  judgment  and  coolness.    I  recommend 
him  to  the  consideration  of  the  Department  as  one 
on  whom  they  can  place  the  utmost  reliance,  place 
him  in  any  position.     Commodore  S.  W.  Godon, 
commanding  the  "Susquehanna,''  is  an  unusually 
intelligent  officer,  and  who  does   not  need  to  be 
told  a  second  time  where  to  go  in  time  of  action. 
This  is  the  second  important  affair  in  which  he  has 
been  engaged  during  this  wir,  in  both  of  which  he 
has  acquitted  himself  in  the  most   handsome  man 
ner.     His  ship   was  beautifully   handled,  and   im 
pressed  me  with   her  good  discipline  and  accurate 
firing.     To  me  personally  he  has  given  his  warmest 
support,  and  I  should  fail  in  my  duty  if  I   did  riot 
give  him  the  full  credit   he  deserves.     His  conduct 
throughout  this  harassing  affair  has  met  my  warm 
est  approbation,  and  I  think  he  is  one  who  merits 
promotion  when  the  Government  thinks  proper  to 
reward  those  who  have  borne  the  brunt  of  the  battle. 
Commodore  Jas.  F.  Schenck  and  his  vessel,  the 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


"Powhatan,"  have  come  up  to  my  expectations  in 

every  respect.  This  officer  in  battle  has  shown 
himself  worthy  to  command  so  fine  a  ship.  He  per 
formed  his  duty  most  faithfully,  and  I  am  proud 
not  only  to  have  had  him  under  my  command,  but 
to  see  him  reinstated  in  the  position  to  which  he 
has  done  so  much  credit.  He  deserves  all  I  can  say 
of  him,  and  is  worthy  of  promotion. 

Commodore  William  Radford,  in  command  of 
that  noble  ship  the  "Ironsides,"  and  also  in  com 
mand  of  the  division  of  Monitors,  gained  my  warm 
est  admiration  by  his  conduct  throughout  this  r /- 
fair.  He  has  shown  abilities  of  a  very  high  char 
acter,  not  only  in  fighting  and  manceuvering  his 
vessel,  but  in  taking  care  of  his  division.  Ready 
at  all  times  for  battle,  and  eager  to  go  into  the 
fight  alone,  he  performed  admirably  when  his  guns 
were  brought  to  bear  on  the  enemy.  His  vessel  did 
more  execution  than  any  vessel  in  the  fleet ;  and 
even  when  our  troops  were  on  the  parapet,  I  had  so 
much  confidence  in  the  accuracy  of  his  fire  that  he 
was  directed  to  fire  through  the  traverses  in  advance 
of  our  troops  and  clear  them  out.  This  he  did  most 


COMMODORE  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  S.  W.  GODON, 

COMMANDING   THE   U.    S.    S.    "  SUSQUEHAXNA." 

effectually,  and  but  for  this,  victory  might  not  have 
been  ours.  Having  broken  his  rudder  in  a  heavy 
gale,  he  rigged  up  a  temporary  one  under  adverse 
circumstances,  and  had  his  ship  ready  as  soon  as 
the  rest.  He  seemed  never  to  tire  of  fighting,  and 
for  three  days  laid  within  1,000  yards  of  Fort  Fisher 
without  moving  his  anchor,  and  made  the  rebels 
feel  that  we  had  come  there  to  stay.  Under  all  and 
every  circumstance,  Commodore  Radford  has  ac 
quired  an  enviable  reputation,  and  is  deserving  of 
the  greatest  promotion  that  can  be  given  him. 
Captain  James  Alden,  commanding  the  "Brook 
lyn,"  has  been  near  me,  and  at  times  associated 
with  me  during  this  war.  He  h;id  already  done 
enough  to  deserve  promotion  before  the  commence 
ment  of  operations  before  Fort  Fisher  ;  but  if  this 
matter  was  at  any  time  doubtful,  he  has  certainly 
earned  promotion  now.  Always  leading  heretofore, 
or  assisting  with  all  his  energies,  he  has  been  en 
gaged  in  all  the  successful  attacks  on  forts.  His  aid 


to  me  on  this  late  occasion  has  been  very  valuable. 
Always  inteliigent  and  energetic,  he  never  had  to  be 
told  to  get  ready;  he  always  kept  ready;  he  anti 
cipated,  which  is  a  quality  very  desirable  in  an 
officer,  and  without  which  he  cannot  be  expected 
to  be  very  useful.  His  vessel  was  always  in  the 
right  place  and  at  the  right  time,  and  when  his  bat 
teries  opened,  no  frigate  could  have  done  more  execu 
tion.  I  have  spoken  before  of  the  high  qualities  of 
this  officer.  I  consider  him  able  and  worthy  to  fill 
the  highest  rank,  and  I  know  that  the  Government 
has  no  one  in  its  navy  more  full  of  energy,  zeal  or 
intelligence  in  his  profession.  I  shall  feel  much 
disappointed  if  Captain  Alden  is  not  promoted  to  a 
rank  he  has  won  more  than  once  during  this  rebel 
lion.  I  am  sure  the  Department  will  appreciate 
all  I  have  said  of  This  gallant  officer.  His  record 
speaks  for  him. 

Captain  Melanetori  Smith,  on  the  "  Wabash,''  has 
performed  his  duty  well.  He  has  also  made  a  good 
record  at  the  department,  and  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  fighting  since  the  rebellion  first  broke 
out.  His  old  ship  has  done  good  service  here  ;  and 
if  he  had  done  nothing  more  than  assist,  as  he  has 
done  in  the  capture  of  this  place,  he  deserves  pro 
motion,  which  I  hereby  recommend. 

I  also  recommend  Captain  Charles  Steedman, 
commanding  "  Ticonderoga,''  and  Captain  I).  B. 
Ridgley,  commanding  "Shenandoah.  Though 
command  ng  smaller  vessels  than  the  others,  and 
less  effective  in  their  fire,  they  did  the  best  they 
could.  This  is  the  second  important  affair  Captain 
Steedman  has  been  in,  and  Captain  Ridgley  has 
been  very  energetic  during  the  war  against  block 
ade-runners.  I  recommend  them  both  for  promo 
tion. 

Lieutenant- Commander  R.  ~K.  Breese,  my  fleet- 
captain,  has  been  with  me  nearly  all  the  time  since 
the  rebellion  broke  out.  In  command  of  a  division 
of  the  mortar  fleet,  which  opened  the  way  to  New 
Orleans,  he  made  his  first  record  there.  In  the 
Mississippi  with  me  for  two  years,  engaged  in  har 
assing  and  dangerous  duties,  he  always  acquitted 
himself  to  my  satisfaction.  In  charge  of  the  mor 
tars  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  he  helped  to  hasten 
the  surrender  of  that  stronghold.  At  Fort  Fisher 
he  led  the  boarders  in  the  assault,  and  though  we 
were  not  successful  in  getting  into  the  work  in  the 
face  of  equal  numbers,  yet  that  assault  helped  ma 
terially  to  gain  the  day,  as  is  generally  admitted  on 
every  side.  Our  troops  obtained  a  footing  without 
much  resistance  and  then  nobly  maintained  what 
they  had  won.  Lieutenant-Commander  Breese  did 
all  he  could  to  rally  his  men,  and  made  two  or  three 
unsuccessful  attempts  to  regain  the  parapet;  but  the 
marines  having  failed  in  their  duty  to  support  the 
gallant  officers  and  sailors  who  took  the  lead,  he 
had  to  retire  to  a  place  of  safety.  He  did  not,  how 
ever,  leave  the  ground,  but  remained  under  the 
parapet  in  a  rifle-pit,  using  a  musket,  until  night 
favored  his  escape.  He  is  a  clever,  gallant  officer, 
and  I  strongly  recommend  his  immediate  promotion 
to  a  commander. 

I  also  recommend  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant- 
Commander  H.  A.  Adams,  Jr.,  ordnance  officer, 
without  whose  services  we  should  have  been 
brought  to  a  standstill  more  than  once.  He  volun 
teered  for  anything  and  everything. 

The  following  officers,  who  volunteered  to  lead 
their  men  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  deserve 
particular  notice.  These  officers  volunteered  for  the 
service,  and  undertook  what  was  considered  by  the 
regular  army  the  forlorn  hope  of  the  assault.  No 
where  in  the  annals  of  war  have  officers  and  sailors 
undertaken  so  desperate  a  service,  and  one  which 
was  deemed  impossible  by  a  former  general  and  an 
engineer  having  a  high  reputation  in  the  service. 
Twenty-one  officers  were  killed  and  wounded  in  this 
service,  and  twenty  officers  and  sixty  men  were  kept 
for  four  hours  under  fire  from  the  enemy's  sharp- 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


723 


shooters,  not  being  able  to  escape  until  night  set  in. 
The  courage  of  these  officers  deserves  the  highest 
reward.  Their  efforts,  though  unsuccessful,  gained 
the  day,  as  the  enemy  considered  this  the  main  at 
tack,  and  brought  superior  numbers  from  a  superior 
position  to  bear  on  it.  The  names  of  some  of  these 
officers  will  be  found  on  record  on  the  files  of  the 
Department,  among  which  those  of  Lieutenant- 
Commander  T.  O.  Selfridge  and  Lieutenant  George 
M.  Bache  will  be  found  most  conspicuous.  I  recom 
mend  that  Lieutenant  -  Commander  James  A. 
Parker,  Lieutenant-Commander  T.  O.  Selfridge, 
Lieutenant-Commander  C.  H.  Cushman,  Lieuten 
ant  R.  H.  Lamson  and  Lieutenant  George  M.  Bache 
be  promoted.  The  three  latter  were  severely 
wounded.  Though  the  marines  did  not  do  their 
duty,  Captain  L.  L.  Dawson,  Captain  George  But 
ler,  *  and  Second  -  Lieutenants  William  Wallace, 
Charles  F.  Williams  and  Louis  E.  Fagan.  were  found 
in  the  front,  and  fought  gallantly.  I  recommend 
them  to  the  favorable  notice  of  the  department. 

To  Captain  O.  S.  Glisson,  commanding  the 
"Santiago  de  Cuba,"  I  am  particularly  indebted 
for  his  zeal  in  covering  the  troops,  landing  guns, 


CAPTAIN*  (NOW  REAR-ADMIRAL    O.  S.  GLISSON, 

COMMANDING   THE   U.    S.    S.    "SANTIAGO    DE   CUBA." 


and  taking  his  division  into  action;  and  to  Captain 
B.  F.  Sands,  commanding  the  "  Fort  Jackson,"  for 
performing  the  different  duties  he  was  called  on  to 
perform.  I  recommend  them  both  for  promotion. 

I  refer  to  Captain  Glisson's  report  in  relation  to 
the  commanding  officers  in  his  division. 

I  also  recommend  to  the  department  Lieutenant- 
Commander  T.  S.  Phelps,  in  command  of  the  "  Ju- 
niata." 

Lieutenant-Commander  J.  H.  TJpshur,  in  the 
"A.  I).  Vance,"  had  charge  of  the  reserves,  and  was 
employed  night  and  day  in  landing  army  stores  and 
guns,  and  covering  the  troops  from  the  rebels  out 
side  of  our  lines.  His  guns  did  good  execution, 
and  though  his  duties  prevented  him  from  partici 
pating  in  the  attack  on  the  forts,  I  cannot  with 
hold  his  name,  and  recommend  him  for  advance 
ment. 

I  recommend  that  Commander  E.  G.  Parrott, 
commanding  the  "  Monadnock,"  Commander  E.  R. 
Colhoun,  commanding  the  "Saugus,"  Lieutenant- 
Commander  A.  W.  Weaver,  commanding  the  "  Ma- 
hopac."  and  Lieutenant  -  Commander  George  E. 
THelknap,  be  promoted.  These  officers  have  given 


a  world-renowned  name  to  the  Monitors,  and  have 
shown  what  they  were  capable  of  performing  when 
properly  placed  and  managed.  They  had  the 
hardest  part  of  the  work,  and  there  is  no  end  to 
their  energy,  bravery  and  untiring  zeal. 

I  can  draw  no  distinction  between  the  following 
officers,  whom  1  recommend  for  promotion.  They 
were  under  fire  most  all  the  time,  and  at  close  quar 
ters,  and  coolly  performed  what  was  required  of 
them  : 

Lieutenant-Commander  W.  T.  Truxton,  com 
manding  the  ''Tacony";  Lieutenant  -Commander 
P.  G.  Watmough,  commanding  the  "Kansas'"; 
Lieutenant-Commander  F.  M.  Ramsay,  command 
ing  the  "Unadilla";  Lieutenant  -  Commander  1). 
L.  Braine,  commanding  the  "Pequot"';  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Ralph  Chandler,  commanding  the 
"Maumee";  Lieutenant  -  Commander  M.  Sicard, 
commanding  the  "Seneca";  Commander  J.  H. 
S  potts,  commanding  the1'  Pawtucket"  ;  Lieutenant- 
Commander  W.  G.  Temple,  commanding  the  "Pon- 
toosac  "  ;  Lieutenant  -  Commander  T.  C.  Harris, 
commanding  the  "Yantic";  Commander  J.  C. 
Howell,  commanding  the"Nereus";  Commander 
D.  Ammen,  commanding  the  "Mohican1  ;  Com 
mander  J.  C.  Beaumont,  commanding  the  "Mack 
inaw  ''  ;  Commander  J.  M.  B.  Glitz,  commanding 
the  "Osceola'1;  Lieutenant  -  Commander  J.  L. 
Davis,  commanding  the  "Sassacus ";  Lieutenant- 
Commander  E.  E.  Potter,  commanding  the  "Chip- 
pewa1' ;  Lieutenant  W.  B.  Gushing,  commanding 
the  "  Monticello '' ;  Commander  S.  D.  Trenchard, 
commanding  the  "Rhode  Island";  Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant  A.  R.  Langthorne,  commanding 
the  "Alabama"  ;  Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant  T. 
C.  Dunn,  commanding  the  "Montgomery."  I  also 
recommend  for  promotion  Acting- Master  S.  P. 
Crafts,  commanding  the  "  Little  Ada";  Acting- 
Master  J.  H.  Porter,  commanding  the  "  Nanse- 
mond";  Acting- Master  E.  Keyser,  commanding 
the  "Bolus" — for  gallant  conduct  throughout  the 
action ;  also  Acting- Volunteer  John  McDiarmid, 
commanding  the  "Governor  Buckingham."  I 
must  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  different  com 
manders  for  "recommendations  of  those  under  their 
command,  as  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  know 
anything  in  relation  to  them.  When  it  is  remem 
bered  that  the  surrender  of  the  defences  of  Cape 
Fear  River  is  one  of  the  most,  if  not  the  most,  im 
portant  event  of  the  war,  in  which  the  largest 
stronghold  of  the  enemy  was  captured  under  ad 
verse  circumstances,  the  justice  of  promotion  will 
be  seen.  Its  importance  will  be  soon  felt  in  the  fall 
of  Richmond,  to  which  it  is  as  necessary  now  as  the 
main  artery  is  to  the  human  system.  I  trust  the 
Department  will  be  liberal  in  its  promotions.  This 
is  almost  a  naval  affair  entirely,  for  the  idea  origi 
nated  in  the  Navy  Department ;  and  until  the 
reputation  of  the  Army  became  in  danger  of  being 
reflected  upon,  we  met  from  that  branch  of  the  ser 
vice  little  or  no  encouragement.  Few  promotions 
have  taken  place  during  the  war,  and  it  would  be 
gratifying  to  the  friends  of  all  concerned  to  see  the 
advancement  of  those  who  have  worked  so  patiently 
for  three  years,  and  have  made  so  handsome  a 
denouement.  I  have  heard  a  matter  freely  dissussed 
among  the  officers,  to  which  I  beg  leave  to  draw  the 
attention  of  the  Department.  A  distribution  of 
medals  to  officers  would  be  a  most  popular  thing. 
This  is  so  common  a  method  among  modern  na 
tions,  and  so  universally  accepted  as  a  reward  for 
eminent  services  among  officers  arid  men,  that  I 
recommend  its  adoption  in  our  naval  service.  Any 
one  who  has  seen  the  pride  with  which  sailors  wear 
the  medals  bestowed  upon  them  for  gallant  conduct 
can  readily  imagine  how  grateful  it  would  be  to 
officers.  Trifling  as  such  a  mere  bauble  may  be  in 
intrinsic  value,  yet  the  history  of  war  tells  how  val 
uable  they  are  as  inducements  to  perform  gallant 
deeds.  1  trust  the  department  will  not  think  me 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


presuming  in  recommending  what,  no  doubt,  they 
already  intend  to  adopt. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respect  fully,  your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER,  Rear-Admiral. 
HON.  GIDEOX  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Nacy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

COMPLIMENTARY  LETTER  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL 
PORTER  IX  REGARD  TO  GENERAL  TERRY. 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  ) 

U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  ''MALVERN.'' 
OFF  SMITHSVILLE,  N.  C.,  Jan.  20,  1865.  ) 

SIR— I  have  been  so  much  pleased  with  General 
Terry,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  has  conducted 
his  part  of  the  operations  here,  that  I  deem  it 
worthy  of  a  special  dispatch  to  express  what  I 
feel. 

General  Terry  is,  no  doubt,  well  known  to  his  as 
sociates  in  the  field,  who  have  served  with  him, 
and  to  the  Lieutenant-General  who  selected  him 
for  the  service,  but  the  American  people  should 
know  and  feel  the  very  great  service  he  has  ren 
dered  them  by  his  most  admirable  assault  on  these 
tremendous  works.  Young,  brave  and  unassuming, 
he  bears  his  success  with  the  modesty  of  a  true 
soldier,  and  is  willing  to  give  credit  to  those  who 
shared  with  him  the  perils  of  the  assault.  No  one 
could  form  the  slightest  conception  of  these  works, 
their  magnitude,  strength  and  extent,  who  had  not 
seen  them,  and  General  Whiting,  the  engineer, 
must  have  had  an  abiding  faith  in  the  durability 
of  the  Confederacy  when  he  expended  so  many 
years  labor  on  them. 

The  result  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  was  the  fall 
of  all  the  surrounding  works  in  and  near  this  place 
—Fort  Caswell,  a  large  work  at  the  West  Inlet, 
mounting  twenty -nine  guns,  all  the  works  on 
Smith  s  Island,  the  works  between  Caswell  and 
Smiths ville  up  to  the  battery  on  Reeves'  Point,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river — in  all,  169  guns  falling 
into  our  hands ;  2  steamers  were  burnt  or  blown  up, 
and  there  never  was  so  clean  a  sweep  made  any 
where. 

A  timid  man  would  have  hesitated  to  attack  these 
works  by  assault,  no  matter  what  assistance  he 
may  have  had  from  other  quarters,  but  General 
Terry  never  for  an  instant  hesitated;  and  though  I 
feel  somewhat  flattered  at  the  confidence  he  reposed 
in  my  judgment,  I  am  quite  ready  to  believe  that 
he  acted  on  his  own  ideas  of  what  was  proper  to  be 
done  in  the  matter,  and  was  perfectly  qualified  to 
judge  without  the  advice  of  any  one. 

Throughout  this  affair  his  conduct  has  been 
marked  by  the  greatest  desire  to  be  successful,  not 
for  the  sake  of  personal  considerations,  but  for  the 
cause  in  Avhich  we  are  all  alike  engaged. 

I  don't  know  that  I  ever  met  an  officer  who  so 
completely  gained  my  esteem  and  admiration. 

I  have  the  honor  "to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER,  Rear-Admiral. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of.  the  Navy,  Washington,  T).  C. 


ADDITIONAL    REPORT     OF     FLEET  -  CAPTAIN    K.      R. 
BREESE. 

FLAG-SHIP  "  MALVERN,'' 
CAPE  FEAR  RIVER,  January  28,  1865. 
ADMIRAL — In  my  report  of  the  assault  of  Fort 
Fisher,  I  did  not  mention  the  fact  of  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Cushman  being  wounded,  as  he  made 
so  light  of  the  affair  and  did  not  wish  to  be  in 
cluded  among  those  mentioned  as  such.  Since,  I 
have  learned  that  Lieutenant-Commander  Cush- 
man's  wound  was  more  severe  than  I  had  even 
thought,  and  I  think  it  but  right  that  I  should 
mention  that,  though  in  this  condition  and  very 
much  fatigued  from  his  efforts  of  the  day,  being  re 


lieved  by  darkness  from  the  fire  of  the  fort,  he  col 
lected  together  the  men  of  his  column,  and  posted 
them  in  the  lines  occupied  by  us  that  night,  re 
quiring  a  great  exertion  and  constant  movement 
until  2  A.  M^  the  following  morning. 

I  also  would  wish  to  bring  to  your  notice  the  con 
duct  of  a  young  lad  of  the  "Wabash,"'  named 
Myers,  who  three  several  times  left  a  good  protec 
tion  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy  and  went  to  the 
assistance  of  Ayounded  men,  and  under  fire  carried 
them  to  the  friendly  shelter  of  his  hole  in  the  sand, 
and  this  within  a  hundred  yards  of  Foit  Fisher.  I 
had  hoped  to  obtain  the  name  of  a  very  brave  and 
gallant  officer  of  the  "  Vanderbilt,"  who  led  their 
assaulting  party,  but  have  been  unable  to  do  so. 
This  officer  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry  and 
most  richly  deserves  special  mention. 

I  would  also  wish  to  say  that  Acting-Lieutenant- 
Commander  Danels,  of  the  '*  Vaiiderbilt,''  suffering 
from  ill-health  and  unable  to  keep  up  with  the  as 
saulting  party,  rendered  much  valuable  assistance 
in  rallying  the  men  and  in  caring  for  the  wounded. 
I  regret  that  my  personal  acquaintance  with  the 


LIEUTENANT  BENJAMIN  H.  PORTER  (OF  ADMIRAL 
PORTER'S  STAFF.) 

(KILLED   IN   THE    ASSAULT    ON  FOKT   FISHER.) 

many  brave  officers  and  men  around  me  on 
that  day  was  so  slight  that  I  could  not  soon 
recognize  to  what  ships  they  belonged,  except 
in  the  instances  named,  and  that,  necessarily,  I 
have  failed  to  mention  particularly  some  who,  I 
saw,  behaved  splendidly,  and  have  trusted  to  the 
commanding  officers  of  columns  to  name  them.  I 
wish  also  to  bear  witness  to  the  handsome  manner 
in  which  Lieutenant  Fagan,  of  the  marine  corps, 
did  his  duty  with  his  sharp-shooters,  and  to  the 
gallantry  he  exhibited  in  advancing  his  men  so 
close  to  the  enemy's  works.  An  additional  regret  I 
feel  in  the  loss  of  Flag-Lieutenant  Preston,  who 
could  so  much  better  have  done  justice,  that  it  de 
volves  upon  me  to  mention  how  well  the  officers 
and  men  behaved  in  digging  rifle-pits,  and  of  the 
bravery  evinced  by  many  of  them  in  advancing  un 
der  a  perfectly  exposed  "fire  to  within  300  yards  of 
the  fort,  and  digging  their  pits  under  the  fire.  A 
number  were  killed  and  wounded  in  the  undertak 
ing.  Although  these  men  had  been  hard  at  work 
all  day*,  and  were  told  by  Lieutenant  Preston  that 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


they  were  not  expected  to  join  in  the  assault,  I 
know  of  scarcely  any  who  had  arms  that  did  not 
join  it. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

K.  R.  BREESE,  Fleet-Captain. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 

DISPATCH  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER,  TRANS 
MITTING  REPORT  OF  FLEET  -  CAPTAIN  K.  R. 
BREESE,  IN  REGARD  TO  THE  DEATHS  OF  LIEU 
TENANTS  PORTER  AND  PRESTON. 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON, 

U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  "  MALVERN,'' 
CAPE  FEAR  RIVER,  February  1,  1865. 

SIR  -I  inclose  a  communication  from  my  fleet- 
captain,  Lieutenant-Commander  K.  R.  Breese,  in 
relation  to  the  lamented  Lieutenants  Preston  and 
Porter,  who  fell  together  before  the  walls  of  Fort 
Fisher,  and  while  trying  to  plant  the  Union  colors 
on  the  enemy's  ramparts.  No  eulogy  passed  upon 
these  two  gallant  men  could  do  them  full  justice. 
To  me  thev  had  both  endeared  themselves  by  their 
noble  qualities,  and  in  their  deaths  I  feel  as  if  I 
had  lost  two  members  of  my  own  family.  Their 
names  and  gallant  deeds  during  their  short  service 
in  the  war  will  long  be  remembered  by  their  as 
sociates  in  arms,  and  the  meYnory  of  their  heroic 
gallantry  will  inspire  future  heroes' to  emulate  their 
conduct.  The  officers  of  the  squadron  propose  to 
erect  a  monument  at  Annapolis  to  the  memory  of 
the  gallant  dead,  but  their  memories  will  live  in 
history  long  after  the  stone  that  records  their  deeds 
has  crumbled  into  dust.  J  must  not  omit  to  pay  a 
just  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  noble  Assistant 
Surgeon  William  Longshaw,  who  was  shot  dead 
near  the  enemy's  works  while  engaged  in  an  act  of 
mercy,  binding  up  the  wounds  of  a  sailor,  an;]  of 
the  gallant  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon  John  Black- 
mer,  who  fell  and  died  in  the  same  way.  Nor  must 
I  omit  the  name  of  Acting  Ensign  Robert  Wiley, 
who  died  fighting  manfully,  and  endeavoring  to 
reach  the  enemy's  parapets.  They  all  died  like 
herpes,  and  the  nation  is  as  much  bound  to  mourn 
their  loss  as  those  who  have  held  higher  positions. 

They  are  all  regretted  deeply  here,  and  their 
names  will  be  forever  associated  with  one  of  the 
most  gallant  attacks  ever  made  on  a  powerful  fort 
ress. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER,  Rear-Admiral. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES. 

Secretary  of  the  Nary,  Washington,  D.  C. 


REPORT  OF  FLEET-CAPTAIN  K.  R.  BREESE. 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  ) 

U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP"  MALVERN, " 
OFF  FORT  FISHER,  January  18,  1865.  ) 
ADMIRAL — In  my  report  of  the  assault  on  Fort 
Fisher  I  have  scarcely  mentioned  the  names  and 
services  of  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Preston,  your  flag-lieu 
tenant,  and  Lieutenant  B.  H.  Porter,  your  flag- 
captain,  thinking  that  by  a  little  delay  I  might  the 
more  do  justice,  yet  I  seem  to  feel  that  impossible 
in  me.  Preston,  after  accomplishing  most  splen 
didly  the  work  assigned  him  by  you,  which  was 
both  dangerous  and  laborious,  under  constant  fire, 
came  to  me,  as  my  aide,  for  orders,  showing  no  flag 
ging  of  spirit  or  body,  and  returning  from  the  rear, 
whither  he  had  been  sent,  fell  among  the  foremost 
at  the  front,  as  he  had  lived,  the  thorough  embodi 
ment  of  a  United  States  naval  officer.  Porter,  con 
spicuous  by  his  figure  and  uniform,  as  well  as  by 
his  great  gallantry,  claimed  the  right  to  lead  the 
headmost  column*  with  the  "  Malvern's"  men  he 
had  taken  with  him,  carrying  your  flag,  and  fell  at 
its  very  head.  Two  more  noble  spirits  the  world 
never  saw,  nor  had  the  navy  ever  two  more  in 


trepid  men.  Young,  talented,  and  handsome,  the 
bravest  of  the  brave,  pure  in  their  lives,  surely 
their  names  deserve  something  more  than  a  passing 
mention,  and  are  worthy  to  be  handed  down  to 
posterity  with  the  greatest  and  best  of  naval 
heroes. 

Were  you  not  so  well  acquainted  with  their  char 
acters,  1  should  deem  it  my  duty  to  speak  of  their 
high  merits ;  but,  as  chief  of  your  staff,  to  which 
they  belonged,  1  must  speak  of  their  wonderful 
singleness  of  purpose  to  do  their  whole  duty  ; 
always  most  cheerful  and  willing,  desirous  of  un 
dertaking  anything  which  might  redound  to  the 
credit  of  the  service  ;  giving  me  at  all  times  the 
most  ready  assistance  in  my  duties;  combining  with 
their  intelligence  a  ready  perception  as  to  the  best 
mode  of  accomplishing  their  orders,  the  country 
has  lost  two  such  servants  as  could  illy  be  spared, 
and  your  staff  its  brightest  ornaments. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

K.  R.  BREESE, 

Fleet-Captain,  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 

Thus  was  Fort  Fisher  won  after  a  gal 
lant  attack  and  as  gallant  a  defence  on  the 


SURGEON  (AFTERWARDS  SURGEON-GENERA!,)  PHILIPS.  WALES, 

OF   THE   V.    S.    S.    "FORT  JACKSON." 

part  of  the  Confederates  as  any  one  inter 
ested  in  their  cause  might  desire.  It  was 
a  terrible  sight  to  see  those  men.  all  of  one 
blood,  sternly  fighting  in  the  dark  for  over 
four  hours,  almost  breast  to  breast,  shoot 
ing  or  bayonetting  each  other  on  the  tops 
of  the  traverses  or  around  the  sides,  while 
the  ''Ironsides"  would  explode  her  11-inch 
shrapnel  so  well  timed  that  they  would 
burst  over  the  heads  or  in  amongst  the 
struggling  mass  of  Confederates,  who  were 
doing  their  utmost  to  hold  on  to  the  trav 
erses  behind  the  bomb-proof  ;  but  when  the 
calcium-light  of  the  il  Malvern"  was  thrown 
upon  these  desperate  soldiers,  and  exposed 
them  plainly  to  the  "Ironsides"  gunners, 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


they  were  swept  away  by  the  dozens. 
Never  did  men  fight  harder  than  the  Con 
federates,  and  never  were  cooler  soldiers 
than  the  Federals,  who  gained  traverse 
after  traverse  with  the  aid  of  the  wondrous 
fire  of  the  "  Ironsides,"  until  they  stood  on 
the  last  one,  when  the  enemy  fled  to  the 
beach  near  the  Mound,  pursued  by  the  Fed 
eral  troops;  and  the  former,  having  no  more 
hope  of  escape,  laid  down  their  arms  and 
submitted  to  their  captors. 

Three  cheers  went  up  from  the  Federal 
soldiers,  the  crews  on  board  the  ships  made 
the  welkin  ring  with  their  shouts  of  joy, 
the  steam-whistles  blew,  the  bells  rang, 
sky-rockets  filled  the  air,  and  every  yard- 
arm  was  illuminated  with  the  Coston  night- 
signals.  Not  a  man  there  but  saw  this  was 
the  death-blow  to  the  rebellion.  No  more 


COMMANDER  CIIARLE3  D.   SIGSBEE. 

ENSIGN   OX   THE   r.    S.    S.    "BROOKLYN,"    AT   FOKT    FISHER. 

army  provisions  or  clothing  could  enter  the 
only  open  port— Wilmington.  Submission 
might  not  come  immediately,  but  the  end 
was  not  far  off.  The  soldiers  who  had  so 
strenuously  fought  to  gain  the  stronghold 
would  go  back  rejoicing  to  Hampton  Roads, 
having  wiped  out  the  disgrace  inflicted 
through  no  fault  of  theirs,  and  could  now, 
at  the  end  of  the  war.  join  their  families 
with  the  proud  boast  that  they  were  the  as 
saulters  that  finally  carried "  Fort  Fisher. 
While  the  Navy,  that  had  for  so  many  days 
breasted  the  storms  of  winter  on  the  dan 
gerous  coast  of  North  Carolina,  could  hope 
soon  to  haul  into  ''Snug  Harbor,"  where, 
in  years  to  come,  they  could  tell  their  com 
panions  how  for  thirty-five  days  they  had 
fought  the  ocean  in  its  wrath"  and  defied 
the  elements:  how  they  coaled  their  ships 
and  took  in  their  ammunition  while  the  ves 
sels  were  rolling  and  pitching  "  like  mad." 


and  how  they  battered  the  heaviest  earth 
work  in  the  Southern  Confederacy  until 
not  a  gun  remained  serviceable  on  its  car 
riage. 

Amidst  all  the  rejoicing,  the  Army  and 
Navy  had  to  deplore  the  loss  of  a  great 
many  gallant  men  who  freely  offered  their 
lives  that  their  country  might  live  and 
move  on  in  the  march  of  progress,  civiliza 
tion  and  liberty,  that  in  future  ages  would 
make  it  the  greatest  nation  on  the  face  of 
the  earth.  The  casualties  of  the  Federal 
Army  were  691  officers  and  men  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  while  the  Navy  lost 
309  more.  The  defeated  but  gallant  enemy 
went  into  the  battle  2,500  strong  and  sur 
rendered  only  1,800  men. 

A  second  casualty  took  place,  the  morn 
ing  after  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  by  the 
blowing  up  of  a  bomb-proof.  How  it  hap 
pened  no  one  knew,  but  about  a  hundred 
bodies  were  thrown  up  into  the  air,  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  Confederates  all  mixed  up 
together.  It  was  a  sickening  sight  and 
took  away  much  of  the  pleasure  of  the  vic 
tory  ;  but  soldiers  and  sailors  grew  accus 
tomed  to  such  things  during  the  war,  and 
the  active  work  still  before  them,  ere  they 
could  reach  Wilmington  and  secure  the 
railroad  leading  to  Richmond,  soon  drove 
the  dreadful  spectacle  from  their  minds. 
Regarding  the  gallant  soldiers,  who  so  nobly 
fought  their  way  over  the  bomb-proofs,  too 
much  cannot  be  said  in  their  praise.  Terry, 
their  leader,  Ames,  Curtis.  Lawrence,  and 
Pennypacker,  should  never  be  forgotten; 
while  those  in  the  Navy,  who  fought  their 
ships  so  well  and  so  persistently,  will,  in 
future  years,  be  remembered  and  honored 
as  were  the  heroes  of  1812.  when  our  in 
fant  Navy  showed  the  mistress  of  the  seas 
that  she  would  one  day  have  to  divide  her 
honors  with  the  young  Republic. 

A  number  of"  the  100-pounder  Parrott 
rifles  burst  while  in  action,  and  the  com 
manders  and  men.  having  lost  confidence 
in  them,  they  were  no  longer  used.  The 
consequence  was  that,  before  the  forts  in 
Cape  Fear  River  could  be  attacked,  a  re 
quisition  had  to  be  made  on  the  Bureau 
of  Ordnance  in  Washington  for  twenty- 
four  11-inch  guns.  These  were  sent  from 
New  York  in  a  fast  steamer,  and  in  ten 
days  were  all  mounted  on  the  vessels  in 
Cape  Fear  River  and  ready  for  service. 
One  Monitor,  the  "  Montauk."  had  been 
gotten  over  the  bar,  and  the  gun-boat 
fleet  was  ready  to  move  up  as  soon  as 
the  Army  could  make  its  preparations  to 
advance.  The  Confederate  General.  Hoke, 
was  intrenched  about  six  miles  above  Fort 
Fisher,  where  it  was  said  that  General 
Bragg  intended  to  dispute  the  further  ad 
vance  of  the  Federal  troops — a  foolish  reso 
lution,  as  there  was  a  force  of  gun -boats 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


in  the  river  that  could  bid  defiance  to  all  the 
guns  the  Confederates  had  mounted. 

As  soon  as  General  Grant  heard  of  the 
victory,  he  proceeded  to  Fort  Fisher  in  a 
transport,  taking  with  him  General  Scho- 
field  and  an  additional  number  of  troops. 
General  Schofield's  seniority  gave  him  the 
command  of  the  whole,  a  circumstance  that 
could  not  be  well  avoided,  as  the  troops 
came  from  his  division.  As  soon  as  possi 
ble  after  General  Grant's  arrival,  prepara 
tions  were  made  for  the  Army  and  Xavy  to 
move  on  up  the  Cape  Fear  River  in  concert. 

The  effect  of  the  surrender  of  Fort  Fisher 
was  a  stampede  in  all  the  forts  south  of 
Federal  Point.  Lieutenant  Gushing  was 
sent  in  the  gun-boat  '•  Monticello"  around 
to  Fort  Caswell,  a  strong  fortification, 
built  in  former  days  by  the  United  States 
engineers  as  a  protection  to  the  Western 
bar.  Lieutenant  Gushing  found  Fort  Cas- 
Avell  blown  up,  the  works  at  Bald  Head 
destroyed,  Fort  Shaw  blown  up,  and  Fort 
Campbell  abandoned.  These  works,  mount 
ing  9  and  10  inch  guns  and  150-pounder  Arm 
strongs,  completely  commanded  the  chan 
nel,  and  were  nearly  out  of  reach  of  projec 
tiles  from  the  seaward. 

After  an  examination  of  the  forts.  Lieu 
tenant  Gushing  hoisted  the  American  flag 
on  Fort  Caswell  and  pushed  on  to  Smith- 
ville.  a  heavily  fortified  point  on  Cape  Fear 
River.  The  garrison  departed  as  soon  as 
the  %>  Monticello  "  hove  in  sight,  leaving 
everything  in  this  heavy  and  beautiful  for 
tification  uninjured,  and  only  two  9-inch 
guns  spiked  in  the  work  at  Deep  River 
Point. 

Up  to  January  20th,  only  one  gun-boat, 
the  ';  Tacony,"  Lieutenant-Commander  W. 
T.  Truxton.  had  succeeded  after  hard  work 
in  getting  past  the  Rip,  a  bad  shoal  which 
barred  the  way,  after  passing  Fort  Bu 
chanan,  to  the  fair  channel  of  Cape  Fear 
River.  The  Admiral  at  once  sent  her  to 
Reeves'  Point,  about  three  miles  above 
Fort  Fisher,  on  the  '-west  side  of  the 
river,"  to  disable  the  guns  at  that  place, 
presuming  that  the  enemy  had  already 
abandoned  it  in  the  panic. 

Thus,  in  twenty-four  hours  after  the 
capture  of  Fort  Fisher  and  its  outworks, 
all  the  formidable  chain  of  works  around 
the  two  entrances  of  Cape  Fear  River 
were  in  the  hands  of  the  Xavy,  and,  for 
want  of  troops  were  temporarily  garrisoned 
by  sailors.  Three  of  the  forts  had  been 
b:iilt  to  keep  out  any  force  that  could  be 
sent  against  them.  They  were  wonderful 
specimens  of  engineering  skill,  and  a  credit 
to  the  Confederate  engineers  who  planned 
and  constructed  them.  Anyone  seeing  them 
would  suppose  that  the  whole  Southern 
Confederacy  had  been  at  work  throwing  up 
fortifications. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  guns 
mounted  in  these  works  :  Reeves'  Point, 
three  10-inch  guns  ;  Smithville,  four  10-inch 
guns  ;  above  Smithville.  two  10-inch  guns  ; 
Fort  Caswell,  ten  10-inch  guns,  two  9-inch 
guns,  one  Armstrong  rifled  gun.  four  rifled 
32-pounders.  two  32-pounder  smooth-bores, 
three  8-inch  guns,  one  Parrott  20-pounder, 
three  rifled  field-pieces  and  three  8-inch 
guns— total  29  ;  forts  Campbell  and  Shaw, 
six  10- inch,  six  32-pounder  smooth-bore,  one 
32-pounder  rifled,  one  8-inch,  six  field-pieces 
and  two  mortars ;  Smith's  Island,  three 
10-inch  guns,  six  32-pounder  smooth-bores, 
two  22-pounders  rifled,  four  field-pieces,  2 
mortars  and  six  other  guns.  Grand  total, 
83  guns. 

When  General  Grant  went  to  Fort  Fisher 
and  General  Schofield  took  command,  a 
council-of-war  was  held  on  board  the 
"Malvern,"  at  which  General  Grant  pre 
sided,  and  it  was  concluded  to  land  an 
Army  Corps  under  General  Cox,  at  Smith 
ville,  on  the  west  bank  of  Cape  Fear  River, 
march  on  Fort  Anderson  by  a  good  road, 
while  the  gun-boats  attacked  it  by  water  ; 
but  this  plan  was  changed  after  General 
Grant  left,  and  General  Schofield  under 
took  an  expedition  by  way  of  the  beach, 
covered  by  some  six "  or  eight  gun-boats; 
but  it  came  on  to  blo\v  and  rain  heavily 
and  the  troops  had  to  return,  when  the  first 
plan  was  finally  adopted. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  the  gun-boats 
having  shifted  their  100-pounder  rifles  for 
11-inch  guns,  proceeded  up  the  river  to 
wards  Fort  Anderson  preparatory  to  an  at 
tack.  The  Army  Corps  under  General  Cox 
proceeded  by  the  Smithville  road  to  try  and 
cut  off  the  enemy  if  he  attempted  to  escape 
from  the  works.  The  Monitor  "  Montauk," 
Lieutenant-Commander  Edward  E.  Stone, 
was  anchored  eight  hundred  yards  from 
the  fort,  which  immediately  opened  fire 
upon  her,  but  her  thick  sides  and  turrets 
resisted  this  fire  until  the  other  vessels 
could  be  brought  into  position.  The  river 
channel  was  very  narrow,  crooked  and 
shoal,  and  the  vessels  had  great  difficult}' 
in  securing  a  berth  where  they  could  use 
their  heaviest  guns.  The  following  gun 
boats  were  engaged  : 

"  Lenapee,"  Lieutenant-Commander  John 
S.  Barnes;  "Sassacus,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  John  Lee  Davis;  "Mackinaw," 
Commander  J.  C.  Beaumont;  "Maratanza." 
Lieutenant -Commander  Geo.  W.  Young; 
••  Nyack,"  Lieutenant-Commander  L.  H. 
Newman;  '•  Chippewa,"  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  E.  E.  Potter;  "  Shawmut,"  Lieu 
tenant  -  Commander  John  G.  Walker  ; 
••  Seneca,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  M. 
Sicard ;  "Malvern,''  Acting-Ensign  Wm. 
C.  Wise;  *'  Pontoosuc,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Wm.  G.  Temple ;  "  Unadilla," 


728 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Lieutenant -Commander  F.  M.  Ramsey; 
"  Pawtucket,  Commander  J.  H.  Spotts ; 
"  Huron,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Thos. 
O.  Self  ridge  ;  "  Maumee,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Ralph  Chandler  ;  "  Pequot,"  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  D.  L.  Braine. 

The  "Montauk"  bore  the  fire  for  some 
hours  and  returned  it  leisurely.  The  Con 
federates,  finding  they  could  make  no  im 
pression  on  her,  reserved  their  fire  until 
they  could  find  something  more  vulnerable, 
and  kept  in  their  bomb-proofs.  On  the 
18th,  the  gun -boats  moved  to  within  a  thou 
sand  yards  and  opened  a  rapid  and  well- 
directed  fire,  which  was  returned  with  great 
vigor  for  half  an  hour.  The  Confederate 
fire  then  gradually  ceased.  They  left  the 
fort  and  retreated  to  Wilmington.  The  Army 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  JOHN  S.  BARNES, 

CHIEF-OF-STAFF  WITH  REAR-ADMIRAL  S.  P.  LEE,  AND  COMMANDING  U.'S.  S. 

"  LENAPEE,"   IN   CAPE   FEAR   RIVER,  AFTER   THE   ATTACK   ON 

FORT   FISHER. 

came  up  half  an  hour  afterwards  and  found 
the  fort  in  possession  of  the  Navy.  In  this 
day's  fight  the  loss  was  only  two  killed 
and  six  wounded  on  the  "Chippewa"  and 
"  Pequot."  About  fifty  boats  were  sent  out 
at  once  to  drag  the  river  for  torpedoes, 
and,  after  picking  up  all  that  could  be 
found,  pushed  on  and  transported  General 
Cox's  division  over  the  creeks,  where  the 
Confederates  had  burned  the  bridges,  so 
that  he  was  delayed  but  a  short  time  and 
was  enabled  to  move  on  to  Wilmington. 

In  the  meantime,  General  Term's  divis 
ion  at  or  near  Fort  Fisher  charged  General 
Hoke's  intrenchments,  and  the  Confeder 
ates  immediately  retreated  upon  Wilming 
ton  ;  so  that,  while  the  Army  was  march 


ing  on  that  place  on  both  sides  of  the  riverr 
the  gun-boats  were  pushing  up  as  fast  as- 
they  could  find  their  way  through  the  intri 
cate  channel. 

Before  General  Cox  or  General  Terry  had 
reached  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington,  the 
gun-boats  reached  Forts  Strong  and  Lee. 
Taking  a  position  at  thirteen  hundred  yards 
distant,  they  opened  with  their  11-inch  guns 
on  the  forts.  The  forts  were  in  an  elevated 
position  and  were  armed  with  eight  or  ten 
heavy  guns.  Soon  after  the  fleet  opened 
fire  the  forts  were  evacuated,  and  the  Union 
flag  was  hoisted  over  them  by  Lieutenant- 
Commander  K.  R.  Breese,  Chief  of  Staff. 
The  channel  had  to  be  dragged  for  tor 
pedoes  before  the  gun-boats  could  pass  up, 
and  night  came  leaving  them  huddled  to 
gether  in  a  mass  through  which  a  boat 
could  hardly  pass. 

A  little  before  sunset,  a  faithful  "  contra 
band,"  who  had  escaped  the  vigilance  of  the 
Confederates,  appeared  alongside  the  flag 
ship  and  informed  the  Admiral  that  the 
enemy  intended  sending  down  that  night 
two  hundred  floating  torpedoes  with  a  hun 
dred  pounds  of  powder  in  each. 

Orders  were  immediately  given  by  the 
Admiral  for  the  gun  -  boats  to  get  out  their 
fishing  seines — of  which  each  vessel  in  the 
Navy  carried  one — and  to  unite  and  spread 
them  across  the  river  in  two  lines.  Thus 
there  were  nine  hundred  and  sixty  yards 
of  seine  presented  as  an  obstacle  to  the 
expected  torpedoes,  placed  about  five  hun 
dred  yards  above  the  vessels,  while  on 
either  side  of  the  river  fish  weirs  extended 
through  the  shoal  water  to  shore.  This 
seemed  to  be  a  perfect  obstruction  to 
floating  torpedoes,  but  about  9  o'clock  at 
night  a  black  object  was  seen  from  the 
flag-ship  drifting  past  her.  The  gun-boat 
"  Shawmut  "  was  hailed  and  ordered  to 
send  a  boat  to  examine  it.  The  officer  of 
the  boat,  Acting-Ensign  W.  B.  Trufant, 
standing  in  the  bow,  saw  that  it  was  a 
barrel  and  fired  his  revolver  at  it  at  close 
quarters,  exploding  it,  by  which  he  was 
dangerously  wounded,  two  of  the  boat's 
crew  killed,  and  one  slightly  wounded,  while 
the  boat  was  shattered.  A  short  time  after, 
another  of  the  same  kind  exploded  in  the 
"  Osceola's "  wheel-house,  blowing  it  to 
pieces  and  knocking  down  some  bulkheads 
on  board,  but  doing  no  damage  to  the  hull. 
This  was  all  the  injury  done  by  these  ugly 
customers,  two  only  escaping  the  nets  out  of 
the  hundreds  sent  down.  Next  morning 
boats  were  sent  up  to  the  nets,  when  it  was 
found  that  a  great  number  of  the  infernal 
machines  had  been  caught  and  held. 
They  were  all  disposed  of  by  firing  mus 
kets  into  them  at  a  safe  distance  and  ex 
ploding  them. 

Such  were  the   obstacles   and   apparatus 


OF  THE  CIVIL    \VAK. 


that  opposed  a  more  rapid  advance  up  the 
river ;  but  after  it  had  been  thoroughly 
dragged  in  the  morning,  and  all  the  tor 
pedoes  taken  up,  the  gun-boats  pushed  on 
up,  hoping  to  arrive  at  Wilmington  before 
the  army:  but  General  Terry  reached  there 
before  them,  and  the  divisions  of  Cox  and 
Terry  shook  hands  in  the  streets  of  the 
captured  city.  This  ended  the  capture  of 
all  the  various  "works  in  and  about  Wil 
mington,  and  the  Confederates  retreated 
toward  Richmond  by  the  Wilmington  rail 
road.  Nothing  more  remained  to  be  done. 

A  quick  dispatch  -  vessel  was  sent  to 
Hampton  Roads  immediately  on  the  fall  of 
Fort  Fisher  to  notify  the  Navy  Department 
by  telegram  of  the  result,  and  now  the  final 
victory  was  announced  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy  in  the  same  manner. 

The  Admiral,  after  making  a  proper  dis 
tribution  of  the  gun-boats  to  co-operate 
with  the  army,  proceeded  in  the  steamer 
"Rhode  Island7'  to  Hampton  Roads,  while 
all  the  vessels  not  needed  in  Cape  Fear 
River  were  dispatched  to  their  stations,  or 
sent  to  several  other  points  which  the  enemy 
still  occupied. 

On  his  arrival  at  Hampton  Roads,  the 
Admiral  received  the  following  letter  from 
Secretary  Welles,  which,  if  not  as  ardent 
as  some  of  his  congratulations  to  other 
officers  who  had  gained  victories,  it  must 
be  remembered  that  he  had  written  so 
many  hearty  congratulations  that  he  could 
not  find  words  on  this  occasion  to  express 
his  gratification: 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  Jan.  17,  1865. 
SIR — The  Department  has    just    received    your 
brief,  but  highly  gratifying:,  dispatch  announcing 
the  fall,  on  the  15th  instant,  of  Fort  Fisher,  under 
the  combined  assault  of  the  Navy  and  Army,  and 
hastens  to  congratulate  you  arid    General  Terry 
and  the  brave  officers,  soldiers  and  sailors  of  your 
respective  commands  on  your  glorious  success. 
Accept  my  thanks  for  your  good  work. 

Very  respectfully, 

GIDEON  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron, 
off  Wilmington. 

The  following  telegram  was  sent  im 
mediately  on  the  receipt  of  the  news  to 
the  commandants  of  the  Navy  Yards  : 

"  Fire  a  national  salute  in  honor  of  the  capture, 
on  the  15th  instant,  of  the  rebel  works  on  Federal 
Point,  near  Wilmington,  by  a  combined  attack  of 
the  Army  and  Navy. 

"GIDEON  WELLES.'' 

To  complete  the  narrative  of  the  events 
described  in  this  chapter,  the  following  re 
ports  are  added  : 

REPORT  OF  COMMODORE  H.  K.  THATCHER. 
UNITED  STATES  STEAM-FRIGATE  "COLORADO,"/ 
OFF  WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  Jan.  14,  18H5.          j 
ADMIRAL — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  follow 
ing  as  the  result  of  the  operations  of  this  ship  on 


the  loth  instant :  At  4  A.  M.,  in  obedience  to  sig 
nal,  got  underway  from  our  anchorage,  near  Wil 
mington,  and  steamed  towards  the  forts  in  line  of 
battle,  the  "  Minnesota"  ahead.  At  8  A.  M.,  anch 
ored  within  easy  range  of  the  coast,  in  six  and  a 
half  fathoms  i forts  about  five  miles  distance,  bear 
ing  N.  E.  by  E.  ',  to  cover  the  landing  of  troops, 
and  sent  five  boats  to  assist  in  landing  them  from 
the  transports.  Commenced  shelling  the  woods 
skirting  the  coast;  at  8:55  ceased  firing,  in  obedience 
to  your  signal.  At  11 :10  the  third  line  of  gun-boats 
steamed  along  shore,  shelling  the  woods,  while  the 
troops  were  being  landed  rapidly.  At  3  p.  M.,  recalled 
boats,  in  obedience  to  your  signal.  At  3:15  got  un 
derway,  all  the  troops  having  been  successfully 
landed.  At  3:45  proceeded  to  attack  the  forts, 
without  regard  to  the  "  Minnesota,"  in  accord 
ance  to  your  signal,  followed  by  the  rest  of  tha 
line.  At  4:40  opened  fire  upon  the  forts,  with  steam 
hawser  fast  to  the  "New  Ironsides,"  and  continued 
the  action  briskly,  in  easy  range,  until  5:50  p.  M., 
when,  by  your  order,  we  ceased  firing,  and  retired 
from  action  (it  being  then  too  dark  to  discern  ob 
jects  on  shore).  At  7  p.  M.,  anchored  in  eight  fath 
oms.  Fort  Fisher  bearing  W.  S.  W.,  distance  three 
miles.  My  casualties  were,  one  killed  (Robert  Little, 
seaman \  one  severely  wounded,  one  wounded. 
Hulled  six  times  by  the  forts  ;  one  150-pound  solid 
shot  through  berth-deck  ;  one  150-pound  solid  shot 
through  gun-deck,  cutting  through  side  ;  one  150- 
pound  solid  shot  through  port  side,  above  water- 
line,  and  lodging  in  a  beam  end,  where  it  remained; 
two  150-pound  solid  shots,  striking  sheet-chain  and 
cutting  it  through.  The  enemy's  shell  exploded 
over  the  hull  of  this  ship,  but  without  serious  in 
jury.  I  forward  herewith  reports  of  Surgeon  Jas. 
McLelland  and  of  the  warrant  officers. 

I  am  much  gratified  to  have  it  in  my  power  to 
report  that  the  officers  and  crew  of  this  ship 
behaved  with  their  usual  gallantry.  I  have  to 
commend  to  your  notice,  especially,  Lieutenant  M. 
L.  Johnson,  who,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  enemy,  with  a  boat's  crew  of  volunteers,  carried 
a  hawser  from  this  ship  to  the  "New  Ironsides,"  in 
order  to  enable  us  to  bring  all  the  guns  to  bear 
from  the  port  battery,  and  was,  for  more  than  half 
an  hour,  a  target  for  the  forts,  which  they  availed 
themselves  of,  but  fortunately  without  success.  I 
cannot  omit  the  opportunity  to  speak  in  the  highest 
terms  of  Acting-Ensign  W.  G.  Perry,  who,  when  the 
action  commenced,  had  just  returned  to  the  ship, 
after  having  been  absent  all  day  with  the  boats  in 
landing  troops,  and,  although  drenched  to  the  skin 
and  worn  out  with  fatigue,  went  immediately  to  the 
second  division,  which  he  commanded,  and  fought 
his  guns  splendidly  through  the  action.  In  addi 
tion  to  this,  Mr.  Perry  is,  in  all  respects,  worthy  of 
an  additional  grade. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  K.  THATCHER,  Commodore. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER. 

Commanding  N.  A.  Station. 


REPORT  OF  COMMODORE  WM.  RADFORD. 

U.  S.  SHIP  "  NEW  IRONSIDES," 
AT  ANCHOR  OFF  FORT  FISHER,  January  15,  1865.  ) 
SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report,  that,  in  obedi 
ence  to  your  orders,  the  iron-clad  division  steamed 
in  and  took  their  position  under  the  guns  of  the 
battery  of  Fort  Fisher,  this  ship  leading  ;  anchored 
at  8.29  A.  M.  on  the  13th  instant,  The  "  Monad- 
nock,"  Commander  E.  G.  Parrott ;  "Canonicus," 
Lieutenant-Commander  G.  E.  Belknap  ;  "Saugus," 
Commander  G.  R.  Colhoun ;  and  "Mahopac." 
Lieutenant-Commander  A.  W.  Weaver.  The  bat 
tery  opened  on  this  ship  as  we  came  in.  I  did  not 
reply  until  I  obtained  my  desired  position,  open 
ing  then,  deliberately,  to  get  a  correct  range,  as  tho 


730 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


wooden  vessels  were  engaged  landing  troops,  etc. 
The  iron-clad  division  received  the  fire  nearly  all  day 
alone  from  Fort  Fisher,  without  receiving  any  very 
material  damage,  and  remained  in  position  during 
the  night.  By  orders  from  Admiral  Porter,  the 
iron-clad  division  commenced  the  action  at  10:47 
A.  M.  on  the  14th  instant,  and  continued  firing  until 
after  dark.  Some  of  the  wooden  gun-boats  came 
up,  and  commenced  firing  at  2:30  P.  M.,  hauling  off 
at  dark,  the  iron-clad  division  maintaining  their 
position.  On  the  morning  of  the  loth  we  com 
menced  the  action  at  7:16  A.  M.,  and  continued  to 
fire  during  the  day,  concentrating  it  upon  the  guns 
of  the  battery  which  \vas  doing  the  most  effective 
work,  which  we  invariably  soon  silenced  or  dis 
abled.  As  the  troops  were  advancing,  I  observed 
two  field-pieces  in  the  rear  of  the  fort  firing  on 
them,  which  we  soon  silenced  with  some  well- 
directed  shells  from  this  ship.  When  the  enemy 
came  out  of  their  bomb-proofs  to  defend  the  fort 
against  the  storming  party,  I  used  my  battery  with 
great  success  against  them,  every  shell  bursting, 
apparently,  in  the  right  place.  At  5:20  P.  M.  we 
ceased  firing  by  orders  from  the  flag  ship,  nearly 
every  gun  on  the  fort  facing  us  having  been  dis 
abled  in  the  first  two  days'  action.  I  cannot  close 
my  report  without  speaking  in  the  highest  terms 
of  the  battery  of  this  ship,  and  the  manner  in  which 
it  was  served,  for  three  consecutive  days,  my  offi 
cers  and  men  fighting  all  day  and  taking  in  am 
munition  during  the  night.  I  know  of  nothing  sur 
passing  it  on  record.  1  would  now  speak  of  the 
Monitors,  and  the  handsome  manner  in  which  they 
were  handled  and  fought  during  the  time;  and  the 
different  attacks  on  Fort  Fisher  has  not  only 
proved  that  they  could  ride  out  heavy  gales  at  sea, 
but  fight  their  guns  in  moderately  smooth  weather, 
which  has  been  doubted  by  many  intelligent 
officers. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  RADFORD, 

Commodore,  Commanding  Iron-clad  Division. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron, 
Flag -ship  "Malvern,"  off  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C. 


REPORT       OF      LIEUTENANT  -  COMMANDER       JAMES 
PARKER. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAM-FRIGATE  "MINNESOTA,"  ) 
OFF  FORT  FISHER,  X.  C.,  January  16,  1865.  f 
ADMIRAL— I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  fol 
lowing  in  regard  to  the  assault  made  upon  Fort 
Fisher,  on  the  loth  instant,  by  the  officers,  sailors 
and  marines  of  the  fleet  under  your  command,  who 
were  detailed  for  the  performance  of  that  duty. 
I  he  signal  for  landing  was  made  at  about  10  o'clock 
A.  M  By  iiocn  all  were  landed  and  formed  on  the 
beach. 

I  found  Lieutenant  -  Commander  K.  R.  Breese 
representing  you  in  command.  Although  I  am  his 
senior,  still,  as  you  had  assigned  him  to  the  com 
mand,  1  at  once  decided  to  act  as  his  subordinate. 

1  he  sailors  were  formed  in  three  divisions,  ac 
cording  to  the  divisions  of  the  fleet.  To  Lieutenant- 
Commander  C  H  Cushman  was  assigned  the  com 
mand  oi  the  first  division.  The  command  of  the 
second  division  fell  to  me  ;  that  of  the  third  divi- 
fri<?  Lieutenant-Commander  Thomas  O.  Sel- 

m?n  i"  ma£in<;s  f°™ned  a  fourth  division,  under  com 
mand  of  Captain  L.  L  Dawson,  of  the  "  Colorado." 
fp^!f r., a8semb»»g  the  several  divisions  on  the 
beach,  they  were  all  marched  by  the  flank  to  a 
point  about  a  mile  from  Fort  Fisher,  and  were  there 

^Ttfth"^ 

the  fronJ  f  H  *  thf  f°rt- :  the  marine  ^vision  in 
Sere  '  Others  in  the  order  of  their  num- 


The  men  who  had  been  detailed  for  intrenching 
duty  had,  as  soon  as  landed,  been  sent  forward  un 
der  "command  of  Lieutenant  S.  W.  Preston,  and, 
under  a  brisk  fire  of  grape  and  musketry  from  the 
fort,  were  engaged  in  digging  rifle-pits. 

By  the  time  this  last  formation  was  had,  the 
enemy  had  opened  upon  us  with  grape  and  shell, 
and  from  this  time  out  we  were  constantly  under 
fire.  After  forming,  the  force  was  marched  to  the 
front  by  the  right  flank  of  companies,  until  near 
enough  for  the  enemy  to  open  upon  us  with  rifles, 
when  the  divisions  were  again  inarched  by  the  left 
flank  along  the  beach  until  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  fort,  where  the  men  were  ordered  to  lie  down 
under  cover  of  the  crest  of  the  beach  to  await  the 
assault  of  the  army. 

The  force  thus  rested  for  about  half  an  hour,  all 
the  time  under  a  fire  of  musketry  and  occasionally 
grape  from  the  fort,by  which  several  were  wounded, 
and,  I  believe,  one  or  two  killed.  At  the  same  time, 
the  fleet  was  firing  over  us  at  the  fort,  and  many 
shells  bursting  prematurely  scattered  their  frag 
ments  in  alarming  proximity.  I  append  a  plan 
showing  the  line  of  march  from  the  time  of  land 
ing. 

At  about  3  o'clock  the  army  was  observed  mov 
ing  to  the  assault,  and  the  order  was  given  for  the 
sailors  and  marines  to  advance.  This  they  gal 
lantly  did,  cheering  as  they  went  "on  the  ruii"  (by 
the  flank)  along  the  beach,  and  in  a  short  time 
reached  the  point  "A"  marked  upon  the  plan,  at 
which  the  palisades  of  the  fort  join  the  beach.  As 
soon  as  the  fleet  observed  that  the  assault  had  be 
gun,  the  steam-whistles  were  sounded,  and  the  fir 
ing  on  the  fort  completely  ceased.  Observing  this, 
the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  us  of  musketry 
and  grape,  which  soon  became  very  hot.  A  few  of 
the  officers  and  men  passed  beyond  the  palisades, 
but  the  advance  along  the  beach  was  there  checked 
and  turned  along  the  palisades  towards  the  fort. 

In  the  hurry  of  the  advance,  the  different  divi 
sions  had  somewhat  intermingled,  and  a  large 
number  of  officers  and  sailors  and  a  few  marines 
had  congregated  at  "A,"  and  almost  every  shot 
from  the  enemy  carried  its  message  of  wound  or 
death  to  some  one  of  our  number.  Lieutenants 
Preston  and  Porter  and  Acting-Ensign  Wiley,  of 
the  "  Montgomery, "had  fallen  dead.  Lieutenants 
Lamson  and  Bache,  and  many  other  officers,  both 
regulars  and  volunteers,  had  been  killed  and 
wounded. 

Seeing  the  advance  had  been  checked,  the  rear 
also  at  once  halted,  and  sought  the  cover  of  the 
crest  of  the  beach.  Quite  a  large  space  was  left  be 
tween  that  part  of  the  force  congregated  at  "A" 
and  the  rest  of  it.  The  marines,  with  a  few  excep 
tions,  were  quite  far  down  the  beach.  I  desire  to 
name  Captain  George  Butler  and  Lieutenant  Wil 
liam  Wallace  as  being  at  the  front.  At  this  time 
Lieutenant-Commander  Breese,  who  had  been  all 
the  time  in  front  of  the  advance,  endeavored  to 
bring  the  rear  forward,  but  without  avail.  The 
officers  and  men  at  the  point  "A"  withstood  for  a 
long  time  the  hot  fire  of  the  enemy,  now  not  more 
than  sixty  or  seventy  yards  off  from  us,  without 
being  able  to  return  it.' 

I  had  been  fortunate  enough  to  reach  unhurt  the 
point  "B,"  marked  upon  the  plan,  and  at  this  time 
— observing  some  rebels  upon  the  parapet  of  the  fort 
who  were  seemingly  unarmed,  waving  their  hats 
to  us,  and  beckoning  us  forward — gave  the  order 
"forward,"  and  advanced  followed  by  many  offi 
cers,  both  regular  and  volunteer,  and  inen,  includ 
ing  a  few  marines.  As  I  did  so,  I  turned  to  see  if 
the  rest  of  the  men  were  following,  and,  to  my  in 
tense  surprise  and  mortification,  saw  that  a  panic 
had  seized  the  force,  and  that  they  were  inglori- 
ously  living  along  the  beach  away  "from  the  fort. 
Some  of  the  officers  (prominent  among  whom  I  ob 
served  Lieutenant-Commander  Self  ridge:  tried  to 


OF   rlHE  CIVIL    WAR. 


731 


rally  them,  and  their  fellow-men  who  were  near 
me  reproached  them  for  their  shameful  conduct ; 
but  in  vain — all  but  about  sixty  fled. 

The  enemy  began  to  cheer,  and  at  once  concen 
trated  their  whole  fire  upon  the  small  band  who  had 
not  fled.  In  an  instant  four  officers,  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Cushman,  Acting-Ensign  Frederick  A. 

0  Conner,  Acting-Master's  Mate  Joseph  M.  Shams, 
and    A.    F.    Aldrich    (of  the   "  Tuscarora "  >,    were 
wounded  and  fell  at  my  side.     I  saw  that  any  fur 
ther  attempt  at  advance  would,   with  our  small 
number,  be  folly,  and  so  ordered  all  who  were  left 
to  seek  the  protection  of  the  angle  "  B  "  of  the  pal 
isades.  This  we  did,  and  remained  there  until  dark, 
all  the    while  exposed  to  the  enemy,    who  never 
failed  to  fire  at  any  one  who  showed  himself.    After 
dark   we    all    came    safely     away,     bringing   our 
wounded,  our  colors,  and  our  arms.     Five  gallant 
fellows,  viz.,  Acting-Ensign  George  T.  Davis,  of  the 
"  Wabash'' ;  Acting-Master's  Mate  Aldrich,  of  the 
"Tuscarora";   Louis  C.   Sheppard,   sailor  of  the 
"Wabash'1;  one  man   (name  unknown  to  rue,  a 
petty  officer  from  the  "Tacony,"  and  a  private  of 
marines,  Henry  Thompson,  of  the  "  Minnesota,1'  got 
a  few  paces  beyond  "  B."    Mr.  Aldrich  was  severely 
wounded,  and  the  petty  officer  was  killed. 

I  am  utterly  at  a  loss  to  explain  the  panic  which, 
after  they  had  so  gallantly  charged  up  to  the  en 
emy's  works,  and  the  prospect  of  success  was  so 
good,  seized  upon  the  force.  It  was  certainly  not 
want  of  courage,  for  during  the  long  time  the 
column  had  been  under  fire  not  a  man  had  wavered, 
and  the  advance  to  the  assault  was  as  splendid  as 
could  have  been  made  by  veterans. 

Lieutenant-Commander  K.  R.  Breese,  who  com 
manded  the  assaulting  party,  added  to  his  already 
well-earned  and  established  reputation  for  bravery 
and  cool  .judgment  in  battle.  He  led  the  advance 
to  the  palisades,  and  when  he  saw  the  rear  del-iy- 
ing.  endeavored,  sword  in  hand,  to  bring  them  for 
ward  to  our  support.  Failing  to  accomplish  this, 
he  returned,  under  a  shower  of  bullets  directed  at 
him  alone,  to  the  sand-hills  at  "C,"  and  when  it 
seemed  no  longer  useful  to  remain  there,  coolly  fol 
lowed  the  retreating  mass.  How  he  escaped  death 
is  a  marvel  to  me. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander  Charles  H.  Cushman 
(wounded)  and  Montgomery  Sicard  ;  Lieutenants 
N.  H.  Farquhar,  R.  H.  Lamson,  Smith  W.  Nichols, 
and  John  R.  Bartlett  ;  Acting-Master  W.  H.  Males, 
of  the  "Seneca";  Acting  Ensigns  George  T.  Davis. 
"  Wabash  "  ;  Jame-  Birtwistle  and  F.  A.  O'Connor, 
"  Minnesota  "  ;  Dayton,  of  the  ''  Nereus,"  and  an  act 
ing-ensign  from  the  "Gettysburg"  (whose  name 
Lieutenant  Lamson  will  supply  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate  Joseph  M.  Simms,  "Minnesota,"  and  A.  F. 
Aklrich,  "Tuscarora,"  both  wounded,  fill  behaved 
very  gallantly,  and  did  not  retreat  until  I  ordered 
them,  after  dark,  to  do  so.  I  have  named  them 
because  they  are  all  known  to  me.  There  were 
others  there*  equally  brave  and  worthy,  whose 
names,  unfortunately,  are  not  in  my  possession. 

I  have  called  the  attention  of  my  commanding 
officer  .Commodore  Lanman)  to  Acting  Ensigns 
Birtwistle  and  O'Connor.  Both  these  gentlemen 
hold  their  present  appointments  as  a  reward  of  gal 
lant  conduct  under  fire.  They  are  both  competent, 
intelligent,  and  perfectly  correct  young  men,  and 
they  well  deserve  another  step  upwards.  I  ear 
nestly  press  them  upon  your  notice. 

Acting-Master's  Mate  Joseph  M.  Simms  and  A.  I 
Aldrich.  "Tuscarora."  are  fine  youn<*  men.     Simms 

1  personally  know  to  be  eminently   worthy.     Of 
Aklrich,  Commander  Frailey.  of  the   "Tuscarora." 
speaks  in  high  terms.   Both  were  severely  \vounded 
while  in  the  extreme  front ;  both  richly  merit  their 
nromotion. 

I   desire  to  say  a  few  words  in  respect  to  Act 
ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant-Commander    Joseph 
Dinels.  of  the  "  Vanderbilt."     HL>  came  ashore  in 


command  of  the  party  from  his  vessel,  and  was  of 
my  division.  Although  fitter  for  the  sick-bed  of  a 
hospital  than  tor  the  field,  he  persisted  in  going  to 
the  assault.  He  started  with  us,  inarched  until  his 
strength  gave  out,  and  his  weak  body  was  unable 
to  carry  his  brave  heart  forward,  when,  by  my 
orders,  he  went  into  the  trench  thrown  up  by  "Lieu 
tenant  Preston  s  party.  It  was  no  fault  of  his  that 
he  was  not  found  in  the  front  of  the  advance  when 
the  order  to  charge  came. 

Of  those  gallant  dead  the  country  may  well  be 
proud.  They  can  be  illy  spared,  but  their  names 
will  be  treasured  as  an  inspiration  for  the  future. 

Preston  and  Porter  were  killed  at  the  front,  and 
Assistant  -  Surgeon  William  Longshaw,  Jr.,  after 
adding  to  the  reputation  for  bravery  which  he 
gained  under  fire  of  the  batteries  at  Charleston 
while  serving  on  board  the  iron-clad  "Lehigh," 
was  shot  by  the  enemy  as  he  was  binding  up  the 
wounds  of  a  dying  man.  Their  dead  bodies  were 
found  laying  side  by  side  the  next  morning. 

It  is  painful  to  write  such  a  record,  but  I  feel 
compelled  to  state  that  I  often  saw  the  rebels  delib 
erately  fire  in  squads  at  the  wounded  who  were  en 
deavoring  to  crawl  away. 

I  cannot  close  this  report,  Admiral,  without  say 
ing  that,  although  our  naval  assault  did  not  meet 
with  the  .'•uccess  you  hoped  for,  still  it  was  of  vast 
service  to  the  country.  I  have  conversed,  since  the 
fort  was  taken,  with  many  rebel  officers  and  men 
(prisoners  ,  and  all  are  unanimous  in  saying  that  a 
large  part  of  their  force  was  kept  at  the  "sea-face  '' 
to  resist  our  attack.  I  know  that  a  large  force  was 
there  to  resist  us.  It  is  no  detraction  from  the 
eminent  skill  and  bravery  displayed  by  our  breth 
ren  of  the  army  to  claim  this  much  credit  for  our 
sailors. 

I  had  hoped  to  send  you  a  complete  list  of  all  those 
who  were  not  affected  by  the  panic  and  remained 
at  "  B.'  One  was  taken,'  but  I  am  not  able  now  to 
learn  who  has  it.  It  will  doubtless  be  found,  and 
I  shall  forward  it  whenever  it  is  found. 

I  congratulate  you,  sir,  upon  the  great  victory 
which  the  fleet  under  your  command  has,  in  con 
junction  with  the  army,  so  gloriously  won,  and  am, 
Verv  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  PARKER,  Lieutenant-Commander. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Com'dg  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 

REPORT  OF  LIEUTEXAXT  L.  E.  FAGA1S*,  U.  S.  MARINE 
CORPS. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAM-FRIGATE  "  WABASH, "> 
AT  SEA,  January  17,  1805.         } 

CAPTAIN" — In  olx?dience  to  your  order,  I  have  The 
honor  to  make  the  following  report  concerning  the 
part  taken  by  the  marine  guard  of  this  ship  in  the 
operations  against  the  rebel  Fort  Fisher,  command 
ing  the  entrance  to  New  Inlet,  N.  C.,  on  the  15th 
day  of  January,  1865. 

My  command  consisted  of  three  sergeants,  three 
corporals,  and  thirty-eight  privates:  and  to  prevent 
confusion  in  landing,  the  company  was  divided  into 
four  sections,  each  commanded  by  a  noii-commis- 
sioned  officer. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  instant,  at 
o'clock,  my  men  were  landed  and  formed  on  the 
beach,  about  two  miles  to  the  northward  of  Fort 
Fisher.  I  then  received  and  formed  into  other 
companies  the  marines  of  the  different  vessels,  until 
the  arrival  of  Captain  Butler,  United  States  Marine 
Corps,  when  I  turned  the  command  over  to  that  of- 

At  11  A  M  I  was  ordered  by  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  K'.  R.  Breese,  fleet-captain,  through  Cap 
tain  Butler,  to  take  my  guard  and  advance  to  the 
support  of  the  sailors  at  the  front,  wlio  were  throw- 
in"  up  intrenchments  near  Fort  Fisher,  under  the 
direction  of  Lieutenant  Preston,  United  States 


732 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


Navv  I  marched  my  company  up  the  beach  by 
the  flank  until  within  a  mile  of  the  rebel  fort,  when, 
finding  the  flre  severe,  I  deployed  my  men  as  skir 
mishers  across  the  plain,  and  continued  to  advance. 
Arriving  at  the  intrenchments,  I  ordered  my  men 
to  cover  themselves  from  the  enemy's  shot,  and  this 
they  partially  did  by  throwing  up  heaps  of  sand 
with  their  bayonets  and  hands.  After  the  sailors 
had  completed  their  breastworks,  I  was  ordered  by 
Lieutenant-Commander  Breese  to  advance  my  com 
mand  to  the  extreme  parallel  of  intrenchments; 
which  I  did,  my  men  inarching  to  the  front,  across 
a  plain  swept  by  fire,  with  alacrity  and  spirit.  In 
this  advance  I  frequently  ordered  my  men  to  he 
down;  and  as  soon  as  the  shower  of  grape  had 
passed,  the  march  was  resumed  at  the  double-quick. 
After  a  toilsome  march  through  the  sand,  we 
reached  a  line  of  intrenchments  about  forty  yards 
from  the  fort,  which  I  found  occupied  by  the  skir 
mish  line  of  the  147th  New  York  Volunteers.  During 
the  advance  two  of  my  men  were  badly  wounded, 
and  they  were  at  once'  sent  to  the  rear.  I  now  or 
dered  a  few  of  my  men  (good  shots)  to  open  fire  on 
the  rebel  gunners,  and  it  was  owing  to  their  skill 
that  a  field-piece  inside  the  palisade  was  forced  to 
be  abandoned  by  the  rebel  artillerists. 

I  now  awaited  further  orders:  but  finding  the 
beach  filling  up  with  soldiers,  and  supposing  the  at 
tack  about  to  be  made,  I  collected  and  marched  my 
men  by  the  flank  across  the  plain  towards  the  beach, 
where'l  saw  the  column  of  sailors  and  marines  ad 
vancing  to  the  front.  Seeing  no  officer  to  report  to, 
I  formed  my  men  with  the  rest  of  the  marines,  who 
were  in  the  centre  of  the  column,  the  advance  being 
composed  entirely  of  sailors.  In  this  manner  we 
marched,  under  a  severe  fire  of  musketry  from  the 
fort,  towards  the  northeast  angle  of  the  work,  until 
the  column  halted,  when  I  ordered  my  men  to  lie 
down  and  pick  off  the  rebels  on  the  parapet  of  Fort 
Fisher  until  the  order  was  given  to  charge.  My  men 
had  opened  fire  when  I  gave  the  word  to  cease  firing 
and  prepare  for  the  assault.  I  now  perceived  a 
movement  in  front  of  our  position,  and  soon  after  a 
body  of  men  rushed  past.  I  endeavored,  by  every 
means  in  my  power,  to  prevent  the  retreat  which  I 
now  plainly  saw  was  initiated,  but  my  appeals  and 
threats  were  qf  no  avail,  and  I  then  prepared  my 
self  for  the  worst,  knowing  that  a  retreat  would  be 
disastrous  and  more  deadly  than  a  charge  against 
the  fort.  My  command  maintained  its  position 
until  I  saw  Lieutenant-Commander  F.  B.  Blake, 
United  States  Navy,  who  informed  me  that  the  as 
sault  had  been  for  the  present  abandoned.  I  then 
collected  my  men  and  marched  down  to  the  beach. 
Having  seen  that  the  retreat  was  universal  on  the 
part  of  the  naval  forces,  I  gave  several  of  my  men 
permission  to  advance  again  to  the  front  and  annoy 
the  rebels  as  much  as  possible  with  sharp-shooting. 
Shortly  after,  hearing  that  an  attempt  was  about 
to  be  made  to  rally  the  men,  I  halted  and  allowed 
my  men  to  seek  cover,  while,  in  company  with 
Acting  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Danels,  of  the 
"  Vanderbilt,"  I  collected  straggling  sailors  and 
marines,  and  formed  the  men  under  some  sand-hills 
on  the  beach,  about  six  hundred  yards  from  Fisher. 
We  had  collected  quite  a  number  of  men,  when  I 
received  orders  from  Lieutenant-Commander  F.  B. 
Blake  to  take  my  men,  and  as  many  more  as  I  could 
find,  and  report  to  General  Terry,  United  States 
Army,  the  object  being  to  occupy,  with  sailors  and 
marines,  a  line  of  intrenchments  in  the  rear,  then 
threatened  by  the  enemy  I  collected  about  two 
hundred  marines,  and  marched  to  General  Terry's 
headquarters,  where  I  reported,  and  was  at  once 
assigned  to  a  position  on  the  northeast  line,  which 
position  the  marines  occupied  with  vigilance  and 
attention  until  the  morning,  when  we  were  relieved, 
and  I  embarked  my  command  for  the  "  W  abash." 

It  only  remains  for  me  to  add  that  one  sergeant 
and  six  privates,  who  became  detached  from  my 


guard  while  in  the  army  intrenchments  at  the 
front,  accompanied  the  army  in  the  storming  of 
the  fort,  and,  as  I  afterwards  heard  from  an  army 
officer,  behaved  with  gallantry  and  coolness  during 
the  hand-to-hand  conflict  that  ensued.  In  conclu 
sion,  captain,  I  would  say,  that  during  the  tima 
the  marine  guard  of  this  ship  was  on  shore,  they 
behaved  with  bravery  and  subordination  on  all  oc 
casions.  It  pleased  the  fleet-captain  (Lieutenant- 
Commander  Breese)  to  compliment  the  handsome 
manner  in  which  my  men  advanced  in  skirmish  line 
to  the  advanced  line  of  intrenchments  under  a 
heavy  fire,  and  I  feel  that  his  words  of  praise  were 
not  undeserved.  All  my  men  behaved  well,  but  I 
would  present  especially  to  your  attention  the  con 
duct  of  Corporal  Tomlin,  of  the  guard,  who,  under 
a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters,  ad 
vanced  into  an  open  plain  close  to  the  fort  and  as 
sisted  a  wounded  comrade  to  a  place  of  safety.  I 
respectfully  ask  that  his  conduct  may  be  made 
known  to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  so 
that  he  may  receive  a  medal  of  honor. 

The  marine  guard  is  at  present  accounted  for, 
and  on  board  the  ship  in  good  condition. 

Enclosed  please  find  a  list  of  wounded. 

I  am,  captain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

Louis  E.  FAGAN,  Lfent.  17.  8.  Marines, 

Comd'y  Guard.  Frigate  "•Wabash.'1'1 
CAPTAIN  MELANCTON  SMITH,  U.  S.  N., 

Commanding  U.  S.  Steam-frigate  '•  Wabash." 

REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  CHARLES  STEEDMAN. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  UTICONDEROGA,"  1 
OFF  WILMINGTON,  N.  C.,  January  17,  1865.      \ 
SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  lay  before  you  the  fol 
lowing  report  of  the  part  this  ship  took  in  the  re 
cent  attacks  upon  the  forts  on  Federal  Point,  which 
has  terminated  so  gloriously  and  successfully  to  the 
two  branches  of  the  service  engaged. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  13th  instant,  after  the  re 
turn  of  the  boats  employed  in  landing  troops,  in 
obedience  to  signal,  I  took  position  in  line  of  battle, 
and  at  5:15  p.  M.  anchored  ahead  of  the  line,  as  di 
rected  in  General  Order  No.  78.  From  this  point  a 
well-directed  fire  was  kept  up  on  the  batteries  to 
the  left  of  Fort  Fisher,  in  accordance  with  the  chart- 
plan  furnished  me.  Upon  hearing  the  signal- whistle, 
at  5:55  P.  M.,  I  had  the  battery  trained  upon  the 
Mound  and  on  the  guns  in  its  neighborhood.  A 
continuous  fire  was  then  kept  up  until  I  received 
orders  to  withdraw  from  action,  at  6:20  P.  M. 

I  am  happy  to  say  that  no  casualties  occurred  on 
board,  although  several  of  the  enemy's  shots  fell 
over  and  around  the  vessel.  The  only  loss  sustained 
was  that  of  the  stern  kedge-anchor,  caused  by  a 
rifle  shot  cutting  its  hawser. 

On  the  15th  instant,  in  obedience  to  signal,  I  got 
underway  and  took  position  at  the  end  of  the  second 
line.  At  10:35  A.  M.  a  storming  party  of  sailors  in 
three  (3)  boats,  in  charge  of  Ensign  George  W.  Cof 
fin,  and  the  marine  guard,  under  command  of  First- 
Lieutenant  Charles  F.  Williams,  were  sent  from  this 
vessel  to  report  to  the  flag-ship  for  orders.  At  the 
same  time  I  received  your  verbal  message  not  to 
move  until  further  orders.  At  11:45  p.  M.,  incom 
pliance  with  signal,  I  steamed  up  and  took  position 
ahead  of  the  second  line,  about  a  cable's  length 
ahead  of  the  "  Shenandoah."  From  this  point  a 
well-directed  fire  was  kept  up  with  the  starboard 
guns  on  the  batteries  well  to  the  left  of  Fort  Fisher, 
in  keeping  with  your  programme.  Before  opening 
fire  the  enemy  threw  several  heavy  rifle  shots  over 
and  near  me,  but  after  a  couple  of  rounds  from  this 
ship  his  fire  was  silenced.  At  1:05  p.  M.  I  received 
your  verbal  orders  to  shift  my  berth  nearer  in  ;  this 
was  done  with  some  little  delay  and  considerable 
trouble,  owing  to  the  strength  of  the  ebb-tide  and 
want  of  a  sufficient  head  of  steam.  By  spreading 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


733 


fires.  I  was  enabled  to  get  the  necessary  speed  to  give 
me  control  of  the  ship  and  to  take  a  position  nearer 
to  the  enemy's  battery. 

From  that  tune  my  fire  was  kept  up  in  the  same 
direction  as  heretofore,  until  the  signal  was  made  to 
cease  firing.  I  then  asked  permission  to  open  upon 
the  %-  Mound,"  which  had  turned  its  guns  upon  our 
assaulting  columns  ;  this  being  granted,  a  deliber 
ate  fire  was  directed  upon  that  fort  up  to  6:20  P.  M., 
when  I  discontinued  firing  and  secured  the  battery 
for  the  night.  For  one  hour  and  a  half  previous  to 
receiving  your  message  (by  tug)  to  cease  firing,  I  had 
not  fired  a  single  shot.  It  gives  me  great  pleasure 
to  express  my  entire  satisfaction  at  the  thorough 
and  efficient  manner  the  officers  and  crew  performed 
their  duty  during  the  time  we  were  engaged  in  bom 
barding  the  enemy's  works.  I  am  indebted  to  Lieu 
tenant  George  B.  White,  the  executive  officer  of  this 
vessel,  for  his  energetic  assistance. 

With  this  communication  I  transmit  copies  of  the 
reports  of  First-Lieutenant  C.  F.  Williams,  of  the 
marine  guard,  marked  "  A,"  and  Ensign  G.  W.  Cof 
fin,  who  had  command  of  the  assaulting  party  of 
sailors  sent  from  this  vessel,  marked  "  B  "  ;  also  the 
gunner  s  report  of  expenditure  of  ammunition.  The 
surgeon  s  report  of  casualties  has  already  been  for 
warded.  In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  congratulate 
you,  Admiral,  upon  this  brilliant  and  decided  suc 
cess,  which  has  resulted  in  planting  our  flag  on  one 
of  the  strongest  fortifications  possessed  by  the 
rebels. 

I  am,  sir.  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  STEEDMAX,  Captain. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding   North   Atlantic  Squadron, 
Floy-ship  "  Jfalvern." 


REPORT  OF  CAPTAIX  L.  L.  DAWSOX,  UXITED  STATES 
MARIXE   CORPS. 

MARINE  BARRACKS,         i 
NEW  YORK,  February  15,  1865.  \ 

ADMIRAL — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  follow 
ing  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  marines  under 
my  command  in  the  recent  assault  upon  Fort 
Fisher : 

Upon  landing,  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  of 
January,  I  found  all  the  men  that  were  to  consti 
tute  the  assaulting  column  on  shore.  There  were 
abovit  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  i3G5  men  in 
line,  exclusive  of  Lieutenant  Fagan,  who  had  been 
ordered  by  Captain  Breese  to  occupy  a  rifle-pit  off 
to  the  right,  near  the  army  advance,  before  I  had 
reached  the  shore. 

I  hastily  divided  the  line  into  four  (4)  companies, 
under  command  of  Captain  Butler,  First-Lieuten 
ant  Wallace,  First -Lieutenant  Corrie  and  First- 
Lieutenant  Parker,  giving  First-Lieutenant  Will 
iams  charge  of  some  twenty-five  (25)  skirmishers, 
and  First-Lieutenant  Meeker  acting  as  adjutant. 
I  received  two  or  three  orders  from  Captain  Breese 
to  "  bring  up  the  marines  at  once;  that  it  would 
be  late " :  so  that  I  had  to  move  off  without 
time  to  equalize  the  companies  ;  to  number  them 
off  for  pacing  and  marching  ;  to  select  sergeants  to 
replace  officers,  or  post  the  guides  of  a  single  com 
pany  or  platoon.  1  took  the  marines  up,  and  filed 
across  the  peninsula  in  front  of  the  sailors,  with 
skirmishers  thrown  out.  Captain  Breese  pointed 
out  some  light  intrenchments  towards  the  main  bas 
tion  of  Fort  Fisher,  which  were  dug  and  being  com 
pleted  under  cover  of  the  fire  of  the  fleet.  He 
ordered  me  to  advance  "  to  those  that  wore  finished, 
and  as  soon  as  tho^e  nearest  the  fort  were  com 
pleted,  to  occupy  them  ;  and  when  the  assault  was 
made,  that  I  should  keep  up  a  full  fire,  when  the 
sailors  would  rush  by  me,  and,  when  well  past,  the 
marines  follow  them* into  the  fort."  Thus,  in  the 
event  of  a  repulse,  we  would  have  had  cover  to 
fall  back  to,  and  a  point  to  rally  upon. 


I  had  .advanced  to  the  second  line  of  cover,  and 
was  waiting  for  the  nearer  intrenchments  to  be 
finished,  when  I  received  an  order  from  Captain 
Breese  "to  take  the  marines  down  on  the  beach, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  (150  yards  to  the  left, 
and  that  he  would  bring  up  the'  sailors  ;"  "that 
there  was  splendid  coyer  on  the  beach,  and  that 
Captain  Breese  was  going  that  way." 

1  was  surprised  at  this  order,  and  asked  the  gen 
tleman  who  delivered  it  if  he  was  not  mistaken  ; 
but  he  replied,  "No."  I  immediately  obeyed  the 
order,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  sailors  were  brought 
up.  My  men  were  formed  by  the  right  flank  when 
the  sailors  came  up,  the  first  division  passed  the 
marines,  and  the  whole  command  lying  down  by 
the  right  flank  :  marines  abreast  of  the  second  divi 
sion,  sailors  on  the  upper  side  of  the  beach.  While 
at  this  point  I  received  no  orders.  I  had  read  the 
Admiral's  order  to  Captain  Breese  respecting  the 
assault,  and  was  watching  the  army,  knowing  that 
agreeably  to  that  order  the  •' army" were  to  be  seen 
going  iu  over  the  northwest  parapet  of  the  fort  be 
fore  we  were  to  move  to  assault  the  sea -face." 
When  I  heard  the  order,  "Charge,  charge  !"  every 
one  rose  up  and  dashed  forward,  veiling  arid 
cheering  so  loudly  that  no  order  could  either  be 
heard  or  passed.  I  tried  to  prevent  the  noise,  but 
with  no  success. 

I  maintained  the  same  position  I  had  started  in, 
abreast  of  the  second  division  of  sailors;  and  as  the 
sand  was  much  heavier  on  the  upper  side  of  the 
beach,  I  could  gain  nothing  on  the  first  division 
until  they  got  under  the  heavy  fire  of  the  fort, 
when  the  first  company  of  marines  got  abreast 
with  the  centre  of  the  first  division  of  sailors.  I 
had  just  reached  the  head  of  my  men,  after  a  hard 
run,  when  I  saw  the  head  of  the  line  of  sailors, 
who  had  reached  the  end  of  the  stockade,  begin  to 
falter  and  turn  back,  and  was  myself  about  forty 
or  fifty  yards  from  the  end  of  the  stockade,  on  the 
beach.  I  saw  some  six  or  eight  men  go  around  the 
end  of  the  stockade,  but  immediately  return  ;  and 
it  was  at  this  instant  that  the  whole  line  com 
menced  doubling  up  and  flying,  everybody  for 
themselves,  except  some  thirty  officers  and  men  at 
the  head  of  the  line,  who  took  cover  under  an 
angle  in  the  stockade. 

The  efforts  of  the  officers  to  rally  the  men  were 
wholly  unsuccessful,  the  oi'der  to  retreat  being 
passed  along  generally.  At  the  moment  when  the 
head  of  the  line  gave  way,  the  marines  were  not 
near  enough  to  open  fire  effectually,  and  were  on 
the  double-quick,  and  quite  exhausted  ;  nor  was 
there  the  slightest  cover  this  side  of  the  stockade, 
except  a  few  sand-hills  very  near  the  stockade.  I 
saw  that  the  men  were  hopelessly  repulsed.  I 
looked  to  the  rear  of  the  line,  which  was  breaking, 
as  well  as  the  front,  and  that  a  good  many  marines 
were  joining  in  the  retreat,  so  that  I  at  once  or 
dered  the  marines  to  "  lie  down  and  fire  at  the  para 
pet,"  with  a  view  of  decreasing  the  rebel  fire,  and  to 
prevent  the  confusion  and  exposure  incident  to  such 
a  crowd  retreating  on  an  open  beach.  Nearly  all 
the  marines  of  the  first  and  second  companies 
obeyed  this  order;  the  two  rear  companies  I  could 
not  see,  but,  as  few  were  to  be  seen  after  the  retreat 
was  effected,  I  take  :t  for  granted  that  tiiey  went 
also. 

As  soon  as  the  panic  was  over,  I  ordered  those 
men  who  had  lain  down,  and  were  firing,  to  retreat 
in  squads,  as  I  supposed  the  fleet  would  soon  open 
on  that  bastion  of  the  fort.  1  did  not  retreat  my 
self,  but  stayed  on  the  beach  about  fifty  yards  from 
the  end  of  the  stockade  until  sunset,  watching  the 
progress  of  the  army. 

When  I  went  to  the  rear,  a  staff  officer  informed 
me  that  General  Terry  desired  all  the  marines  and 
sailors  who  had  arms  to  occupy  the  right  of  General 
Paine's  line;  that  the  rebels  were  demonstrating 
there.  Though  it  was  nearly  (.lark,  I  succeeded  in 


734 


THE   NAVAL   HISTORY 


getting  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  (180)  marines 
behind  the  breastworks,  near  General  Terry's  head 
quarters,  where  they  remained  until  morning.  The 
rebels,  from  the  manner  in  which  they  met  the  as 
sault,  evidently  regarded  it  as  the  main  attack,  as  it 
was  the  first. 

With  the  result  of  our  attack  no  one  was  more 
disappointed  than  myself.  I  obeyed  all  the  orders 
I  received  from  Captain  Breese  promptly,  and  ex 
erted  myself  all  I  could  to  make  the  assault  success 
ful  ;  and',  though  a  portion  of  ilie  marines  retreated 
with  the  sailors,  it  is  but  just  to  the  rest  to  say  that 
they  remained  and  performed  the  duty  of  good  sol- 
dier.s  until  I  passed  the  order  to  retreat. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

L.  L.  DAWSOX, 

Captain  United  States  Marine  Corps. 
REAR  ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTEXAXT-COMMAXDER    GEORGE   E. 
BELKXAP. 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  CAXOXICUS."    ) 
OFF  FORT  FISHER,    N.  C.,  January  17,  1865.  ) 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  during  the 
actions  of  the  13th,  14th  and  15th  instant,  which  re 
sulted  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  this  ship  en 
gaged  that  work  at  a  distance  of  seven  hundred 
1 700)  yards,  perhaps  a  little  closer  on  the  15th,  as 
the  smoothness  of  the  sea  enabled  me  to  go  into 
shoaler  water  than  on  the  preceding  days,  having 
at  one  time  only  a  foot  and  a  half  of  water  to  spare 
under  our  keel. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  attack,  the  13th,  the  enemy 
replied  vigorously  to  our  fire  until  late  in  the  after 
noon,  when  the  heavierships,  coming  into  line,  soon 
drove  them  into  their  bomb-proofs.  Soon  after  we 
had  taken  position,  it  became  evident  that,  since  the 
previous  attack,  a  reinforcement  of  experienced 
artillerists  had  been  received  in  the  fort,  as  its  fire 
was  much  more  accurate  and  spirited  than  before. 
They  soon  obtained  our  range  and  struck  the  ship 
frequently,  while  many  shots  fell  close  alongside. 
Upon  one  occasion,  two  shots  out  of  three,  fired 
simultaneously,  struck  the  side-armor  abreast  the 
turret. 

We  count  thirty-six  (36)  hits  this  day,  and  every 
thing  about  the  deck  not  shot-proof  was  badly  cut 
up.  Two  men  were  knocked  down  and  stunned  at 
the  guns  by  the  impact  of  a  10-inch  gun-shot  upon  the 
turret.  The  flag  was  shot  away  twice  and  gallantly 
replaced  by  Quartermaster  Daniel  D.  Stevens. 

Not  content  with  solid  shot,  the  enemy  fired  shells 
occasionally,  to  burst  over  the  turret,  and  now  and 
then  the  bullet  of  a  sharp-shooter  whistled  over  us. 

On  the  second  and  third  days  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  was  comparatively  feeble,  and  principally 
directed  at  the  gun-boats,  and  when  the  larger 
ships  came  into  action  ceased  altogether.  An  oc 
casional  musket-shot  fell  near  us,  and  when  the 
naval-assaulting  column  was  driven  back,  many  of 
the  bullets  and  grape-shot  fired  at  our  gallant  fel 
lows  passed  over  us,  some  few  striking  the  ship. 
Second-Assistant  Engineer  John  W.  Saville  received 
a  severe  wound  in  the  left  thigh  from  a  grape-shot 
At  this  time  we  also  received  a  10-inch  shot  on  the 
side-armor,  fired  from  the  water  battery  on  the  rio-ht 
of  the  sea-face  of  the  fort. 

Our  fire  was  slow  and  deliberate,  and  every  effort 
was  made  to  dismount  the  enemy's  guns,and  though 
almost  hidden  by  traverses,  I  am  happy  to  say  we 
succeeded  in  dismounting  two  of  them.  Acting- 
Ensign  M.  W.  Weld  knocked  over  a  six-inch  rifle  on 
the  second  day,  and  the  executive  officer,  Lieuten 
ant  R.  S.  McCook,  disposed  of  a  10-inch  columbiad 
on  the  third  day  of  the  action.  I  also  saw  a  shell 
from  the  "Monadnock"  dismount  a  gun,  and  a  shot 
from  the  "Mahopac"  knocked  the  muzzle  off  an 
other  ' 


We  expended  during  the  three  days  two  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  (297)  15-inch  shells. 

I  have  to  thank  the  officers  and  crew  for  the  zeal 
and  gallant  spirit  manifested  throughout  the  fight, 
and  for  the  cheerful  manner  in  which  they  worked 
at  night,  taking  on  board  ammunition  after  the 
arduous  and  exhausting  work  of  the  day. 

I  again  desire  to  bring  to  your  notice  and  that  of 
the  department,  the  services  of  the  executive  officer, 
Lieutenant  R.  S.  McCook,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  the  efficiency  and  readiness  which  enabled  me 
at  all  times  to  be  prompt  in  all  movements  required 
of  the  ship.  Equally  fortunate  in  the  services  of 
Chief  Engineer  D.  'B.  Macomb,  I  beg  leave  to 
recommend  him  to  your  favorable  consideration. 

The  powder  division  was  ably  commanded  by 
Acting-Master  D.  S.  Murphy,  assisted  by  Acting- 
Ensigns  Seekins  and  Center.  Acting-Ensign  M.  W. 
Weld  showed  great  aptitude  in  handling  the  gurs 
under  the  supervision  of  the  executive  officer. 
Assistant  Paymaster  R.  P.  Lisle,  acting  as  aide, 
merits  my  thanks  for  the  intelligent  manner  in 
which  he  attended  to  the  duties  of  signal  officer. 


LIEUTENANT  (AFTERWARDS  COMMANDER)  RODERICK  S. 
McCOOK, 

EXECUTIVE   OFFICER   OF   THE    "CASONICUS." 

Acting-Master  and  Pilot  Edward  A.  Decker  per 
formed  his  duties  with  his  accustomed  coolness  and 
discretion. 

I  inclose  the  executive  officers  report  of  damages 
received,  and  have  already  forwarded  the  surgeon's 
report  of  casualties.  I  beg  leave  to  congratulate 
you,  Admiral,  upon  the  brilliant  victory  which  has 
crowned  your  efforts  at  this  point,  and  which  is  the 
more  gratifying,  as  it  proves  conclusively  that  on  a 
former  memorable  occasion  the  possession  "would 
have  been  found  an  easier  conquest  than  was  sup 
posed,"  had  the  attempt  been  made  to  occupy  it. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  E.  BELKXAP, 
Lieutenant-Commander,  Commanding. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron,  Flag 
ship  "Malvem,"  off  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTEXAXT-COMMAXDER  THOMAS  O. 

SELFRIDGE. 

UXITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  HUROX."  ) 

OFF  FORT  FISHER,  January  17,  1833.    ) 

SIR — I   have  the  honor  to  report   that  having 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


735 


landed  with  the  men  of  this  vessel  to  join  in  the 
land  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  I  was  detailed  by  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Breese  to  command  the  third 
column  of  attack,  composed  of  detachments  from 
the  ships  of  the  third  and  a  portion  of  the  fourth 
divisions,  numbering  about  four  hundred  and  fifty 
men.  Lieutenant  G.  M.  Baehe  commanded  the 
right  wing,  Lieutenant-Commander  AV.  X.  Allen 
the  left  wing. 

I  formed  them  in  column  and  moved  forward  by 
the  head  of  companies,  until  near  our  first  rifle-pits, 
when  the  whole  assaulting  column  was  formed  in 
Hank  alongside  the  beach,  awaiting  the  signal  of 
assault  from  the  Army.  When  this  was  given,  I 
moved  my  column  forward  on  the  double-quick, fol 
lowed  close  on  to  the  second,  and  for  about  half  a 
mile  under  an  extremely  heavy  and  withering  lire 
of  musketry  and  grape. 

When  we  finally  reached  the  palisades,  I  found 
the  columns  which  had  proceeded  me  halted  and  ly 
ing  down.  Going  to  the  front,  an  effort  was  made  at 
this  time  to  get  the  men  to  charge;  but  the  fire  was 
so  heavy  that  the  few  who  passed  through  the 
stockade  were  compelled  to  fall  quickly  back.  At 
this  moment  an  unexplained  panic  took  place  in 
the  rear,  which  so  quickly  communicated  itself  to 
the  whole  that  it  was  impossible  to  rally  the  men. 

I  remained  near  the  fort  till  night,  when  I  left, 
with  a  few,  under  cover  of  the  darkness. 

My  column  moved  up  with  great  gallantry,  as  by 
the  time  I  got  up  the  rebels  had  concentrated  their 
whole  fire  upon  us;  and  until  we  came  to  a  halt  all 
seemed  to  be  moving  well. 

To  Lieutenant -Commander  W.  N.  Allen  and 
Lieutenant  G.  M.  Bache,  both  wounded,  I  am  in 
debted  for  assistance  in  forming  and  maintaining 
the  organization  of  the  division. 

I  regret  extremely  that  my  entire  unacquaintance 
with  any  of  the  officers  or  crews  of  my  division  ren 
ders  it  impossible  for  me  to  particularize  the  de 
serving,  but  until  the  panic  all  deserved  praise,  for 
none  faltered. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
THOMAS  O.  SELFRIDGE, 

L  it  lite  na  nt-  Com  m  a  nder. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron, 
Flagship  " Malcern."1' 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  W.  B.  GUSHING. 
UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  MONTICELLO,"  ) 
OFF  WILMINGTON,  January,  17,  1S65.      J 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  taken  by 
this  vessel  in  the  actions  of  the  13th,  14th  and  15th 
instant,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  the  harbor  de 
fences  of  Wilmington,  the  loss  of  foreign  supplies 
to  the  rebels,  and  the  ruin  of  those  holding  the 
Anglo-rebel  loan. 

On  the  13th  and  14th  the  "Monticello"  assisted 
in  guarding  the  troops  in  landing  and  advancing. 
On  the  15th  instant,  by  your  order,  I  took  position 
close  in  by  the  fort  and  shelled  the  rebel  privateer 
•'Chickamauga"  and  three  transport  steamers  from 
their  position  in  the  river,  thus  preventing  the 
landing  of  reinforcements  for  the  garrison.  The 
ship's  guns  were  then  turned  on  the  fort,  and  used 
with  effect  throughout  the  day. 

At  noon  I  landed  with  forty  men  from  this  vessel 
to  take  part  in  the  naval  assault  on  Fort  Fisher. 
My  men,  and  those  of  Lieutenant  Porter  of  the 
"  Malvern,'  led  the  advance  of  the  storming  party. 
The  marines  did  not  clear  the  parapet  of  the  fort, 
as  anticipated;  hence  the  assault  failerl.  Our  sailors 
were  close  under  the  walls,  subjected  to  a  heavy 
fire,  since  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  had  been 
drawn  to  that  point  to  resist  what  they  supposed 
to  be  the  weight  of  the  attack.  We  were  forced  to 
fall  back  with  the  loss  of  many  of  our  best  officers 
and  men,  but  not  before  the  Army,  through  its  own 


gallantry  and  our  diversion  in  its  favor,  had  effected 
a  lodgment  that  secured  subsequent  success.  Then, 
finding  myself  apparently  senior  officer,  I  rallied  as 
many  sailors  and  marines  as  possible,  and  at  night 
placed  them  in  the  trenches,  as  requested  by  Gen 
eral  Terry,  thus  relieving  some  regiments  that  went 
to  the  front.  In  this  1  was  greatly  assisted  by  your 
son,  Secretary  Porter,  and  by  Lieutenant  Wood 
ward,  of  the  '•  Minnesota."  Acting-Ensign  Daniel 
W.  Lakin,  of  this  vessel,  behaved  gallantly  and  ren 
dered  material  aid.  My  loss  during  the  day  con 
sisted  of  four  killed  and  four  wounded. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

*\V.  B.  CrsHiNG, 
Lieutenant,  Commanding. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  North  Atlantic  Squadron,  etc. 


REPORT  OF   ACTING-MASTER    H.   W.   GRINNELL. 

HEADQUARTERS  SHERMAN  s  ARMY,  / 
FAYETTKVILLE,  N.  C.,  March  12,  1805.     } 

SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  have  this 
day  succeeded  in  handing  to  Major-General  Sher 
man  the  cypher  dispatch  intrusted  to  me  by  Major- 
General  Schofield  at  Wilmington,  North  Carolina, 
on  the  4th  instant. 

I  left  the  "  Nyack  "  on  the  evening  of  the  4th  in  a 
small  dug-out,  with  a  party  consisting  of  Acting- 
Ensign  H.  B.  Colby,  Thomas  Gillespie,  seaman, 
and  Joseph  Williams,  ship's  painter,  armed  with 
Sharpe's  rifles  and  revolvers,  and  taking  two  days' 
rations.  After  proceeding  up  the  river  about  twelve 
miles  I  met  the  enemy's  advance  picket-post,  which 
I  succeeded  in  passing  without  discovery  ;  but  at  a 
point  near  Livingston's  Creek  I  found  the  picket  so 
strongly  posted  that  I  deemed  it  the  more  prudent 
course  to  abandon  my  boat,  and  to  attempt  to  com 
municate  with  General  Sherman's  forces  near  the 
Pedee  River.  I  left  my  boat  on  the  morning  of  the 
5th  instant,  and  struck  for  the  Wilmington  and 
Whitehall  road.  On  my  way  I  passed  through  the 
village  of  Summerville,  where  I  destroyed  some 
arms  which  I  found  in  the  possession  of  the  citi 
zens  ;  here  I  got  information  that  a  party  of  cavalry 
were  endeavoring  to  cut  me  off  at  Livingston's 
Bridge,  and  I  was  reluctantly  compelled  to  secrete 
myself  and  party  in  a  negro  hut  near  by  ;  here  I  re 
mained  two  days,  when  I  received  information  that 
the  enemy,  tired  of  waiting,  had  recrossed  the  river, 
thus  leaving  me  free  to  advance.  At  dark  on  the 
7th  instant,  having  secured  the  services  of  a  negro 
guide,  I  started  in  the  direction  of  Whitesville.  ad 
vancing  with  caution,  and  moving  only  by  night. 
After  much  tedious  and  difficult  marching  through 
the  swamps,  I  reached  a  point  near  Whitesville  on  the 
morningof  theftthinstant.  The  town  was  held  by  the 
enemy  in  strong  force,  and,  finding  traveling  on  foot 
consumed  too  much  time,  I  determined  to  impress 
horses,  and  by  a  bold  dash  break  through  the 
pickets  on  the  Lumbertown  road.  With  this  pur 
pose  in  view,  I  left  my  bivouac  in  the  swamps,  and 
succeeded  in  passing  unobserved  until  I  reached  the 
cross-road  to  Whitehall,  which  I  found  picketed. 
After  satisfying  myself  that  the  picket  had  no  re 
serve,  we  made  a  quick  dash  and  captured  two  men 
without  alarm,  and  before  they  became  aware  of 
our  purpose  I  disarmed  them,  and  after  compelling 
them  to  follow  me  for  about  five  miles  I  paroled 
them,  leaving  them  apparently  much  satisfied  at 
their  release.  They  were  members  of  Company  A, 
51st  North  Carolina  Infantry,  and  represented  their 
regiment  as  being  much  demoralized.  After  hard 
riding  night  and  day,  I  reached  Drowning  Creek  at 
a  point  near  the  town  of  Lumbertown  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  llth  ;  here  I  first  learned  definitely  of 
the  whereabouts  of  General  Sherman's  forces. 

I  in?t  a  small  scouting  partv  near  the  creek,  but 
thev  fled  to  the  woods  at  our  approach.  On  the 
morning  of  to-day  I  had  the  great  satisfaction 


736 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


of  meeting  the  rear  scouts  of  General  Sherman's 
forces  on  the  Lumber  Bridge  road,  about  twenty 
miles  from  tins  place.  The  several  roads  being 
blocked  up  by  wagons,  artillery,  etc.,  and  our  horses 
being  quite  worn  out  by  hard  riding,  I  did  not  reach 
these  headquarters  until  1  P.  M.  this  afternoon. 

General  Sherman  received  the  dispatch,  and  ex 
pressed  himself  much  surprised  at  receiving  it 
through  the  Navy,  and  by  such  a  route.  In  parts  of 
Robeson  County"!  found 'a  very  large  number  of 
deserters  from  the  rebel  army,  and  quite  a  strong 
Union  feeling. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  conduct  of  Act 
ing-Ensign  Colby,  also  "of  "the  two  men,  Thomas 
Gillespie  and  Jos.  Williams,  who  were  ever  ready 
to  encounter  any  danger  or  hardship  that  came  in 
their  way. 

General  Sherman  wishing  me  to  communicate 
with  you  as  soon  as  possible,  I  leave  to-night  by 
the  army  tug,  hoping  to  meet  you  on  my  way  to 
Wilmington. 

In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  thank  you  for  giving 
me  permission  to  undertake  this  rather  novel  naval 
scout. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  WALTON  GRISTHKLL, 
Acting-Master  U.  8.  Navy,  Commanding 
Expedition. 

LlEUTENAXT-COMMANDER  GEORGE  W.  YOUXG, 

Senior  Officer,  off  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

While  the  fleet  was  off  Wilmington,  and 
Admiral  Porter  engaged  in  taking  that 
place,  General  Grant  came  very  near  being 
put  to  great  inconvenience,  if  not  disaster, 
owing  to  a  circumstance  which  at  the  time 
seemed  rather  discreditable  to  the  Navy. 
Before  the  fleet  left  Hampton  Roads,  every 
care  was  taken  that  the  James  River,  be 
low  Hewlett's  Battery,  should  be  kept  so 
perfectly  guarded  by  a  naval  force  that 
there  could  be  no  possible  chance  left  for 
the  Confederate  iron-dads  to  make  an  at 
tack  on  the  vessels  below  the  obstructions 
sunk  in  the  river,  which  consisted  of  sev 
eral  large  schooners  loaded  with  stones  sunk 
in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  heavy  booms 
and  chains  extending  from  the  sunken  ves 
sels  to  either  shore  and  secured  to  anchors 
planted  in  the  bank. 

These  obstructions  were  immediately  un 
der  the  fire  of  the  %'  Onondago/'  a  double- 
turreted  Monitor,  carrying  four  15  -  inch 
guns,  several  double  -  enders.  carrying  11- 
inch  and  9-inch  guns,  a  torpedo-boat  of  ex 
cellent  construction,  and  also  a  battery  on 
shore  belonging  to  the  Army.  A  pontoon 
bridge  was  in  place  below  the  vessels 
guarding  the  obstructions,  to  enable  the 
Army  of  the  James  to  retreat  across  the 
river  under  cover  of  the  gun-boats,  in  case 
it  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force.  Every 
arrangement  had  been  made  to  prevent  a 
disaster  of  any  kind,  and  to  punish  the 
enemy  in  case  he  should  attempt  to  make 
an  attack.  There  could  be  no  possibility  of 
the  enemy's  fleet  getting  past  the  obstruc 
tions  while  the  Federal  naval  force  main 
tained  its  portion;  but,  in  case  it  should  be 
driven  away,  then  the  Confederates  could 
have  blown  up  the  obstruction,  passed 


through  and  broken  up  the  pontoon  bridge, 
thus  cutting  off  die  Army  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  James  from  its  supports,  and  threat 
ening  City  Point,  where  all  the  stores  were 
gathered  "for  the  use  of  the  Army  before 
Richmond. 

The  Confederate  naval  force  at  that  time 
in  the  James  River,  under  the  command  of 
Commodore  J.  K.  Mitchell,  consisted  of  the 
iron-clad  "Virginia"  (4  Brooke  rifles), 


Captain  Wilson  ;  "  Nansemond,"  wooden 
(•->  guns).  Captain  Butt;  "  Roanoke,"  wooden 
( 1  gun  ),  Captain  Wyatt,  and  "  Torpedo,'' 
wooden  (1  gun),  commanding  officer  un 
known.  This  fleet,  with  its  iron-clads  and 
rifle-guns,  was  no  match  for  the  ••Onon 
daga  "  and  the  gun-boats,  assisted  by  the 
torpedo  -  boat  ;  but  the  Confederate  com 
mander,  either  on  his  own  volition  or  by  an 
order  from  his  Government,  determined  to 
make  an  attempt  to  pass  the  obstructions 
and  break  up  the  pontoon  bridge.  At  the 
same  tiine  General  Lee  was  to  attack  the 
army  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and, 
while  the  Confederate  fleet  was  occupied  in 
driving  away  the  Union  gun-boats  and  the 
"  Onondaga,''  push  011  to  City  Point,  set  fire 
to  all  the  wharves  and  store-houses,  and 
create  a  scene  of  destruction  unparalleled 
in  the  annals  of  the  war. 

This  might  have  been  done  under  a 
bold  and  dashing  commander  who  knew 
what  he  was  about,  and  was  willing  to 
risk  the  loss  of  his  whole  fleet  to  gain 
an  important  advantage.  The  Confed 
erate  fleet  in  James  River  was  not  a 
particle  of  use  in  the  defence  of  that 
stream,  which  was  so  filled  with  obstruc 
tions  and  torpedoes,  backed  by  four  heavy 
forts,  that  no  man  having  common  sense 
or  judgment  would  have  attempted  to 
ascend  the  river,  especially  as  there  was 
no  particular  object  in  doing  so. 

The  forts  on  the  river  were  within 
supporting  distance  of  each  other,  and 
under  the  command  of  a  very  able  naval 
officer,  John  R.  Tucker,  who  also  had 
charge  of  the  torpedo  corps.  The  bed  of 
the  river  was  full  of  torpedoes,  and  a  dozen 
vessels,  no  matter  what  their  size  or 
strength,  would  have  been  sunk  before  they 
could  have  reached  the  first  obstruction 
above  .  Drury's  Bluff.  As  long  as  the 
'' Onondaga '' floated,  the  Confederate  ves 
sels  could  not  get  down  with  safety,  any 
more  than  the  Federal  ships  could  get  up, 
and  the  only  way  to  meet  with  any  success 
was  for  the  Confederates  to  risk  a  dozen 
lives  and  send  down  a  dozen  torpedo-boats, 
and  try  to  destroy  the  double-turreted 
Monitor.  This  may  have  been  the  inten 
tion,  but  it  was  never  carried  out. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


737 


A  night  was  appointed  for  Mitchell's  fleet 
to  make  an  attack  on  the  Federal  forces. 
At  daylight,  next  morning,  two  of  the  iron 
clads  appeared  around  the  point  near  Hew 
lett's  Battery  and  approached  the  obstacles, 
where  they  stopped.  Commander  William 
A.  Parker,  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
Federal  naval  force,  had  been  instructed  in 
written  orders  from  Admiral  Porter  that,  in 
case  the  Confederate  fleet  should  show  itself 
below  Hewlett's  Battery,  to  get  underway 
and  proceed  up  close  to  the  obstructions,  to 
hold  on  there  and  keep  up  his  fire  as  long  as 
a  Confederate  iron-clad  remained  in  sight. 
Strange  to  say.  Commander  Parker  turned 
the  head  of  his  vessel  down  stream  and 
seemed  for  a  moment  about  to  destroy  the 
pontoon  bridge;  but,  suddenly  reflecting,  he 
attempted  to  turn  his  ship  in  that  narrow 
river,  got  aground,  and  knocked  off  the 
wings  of  one  of  his  propellers.  His  given 
reason  for  pursuing  this  erratic  course  was 
"  that  he  wanted  to  get  down  stream  some 
distance  so  that  he  might  go  at  the  enemy 
with  all  speed."  This  was  ridiculous,  as  the 
Confederates  were  on  the  other  side  of  the 
obstructions,  and  could  not  be  reached  ex 
cept  by  shot  or  shell.  Parker  proved  after 
wards  to  be  of  unsound  mind,  though  it 
was  not  suspected  at  the  time,  and  previous 
to  this  fiasco  stood  high  in  the  naval  ser 
vice  both  as  a  brave  man  and  an  excellent 
officer.  It  would  therefore  be  ungenerous 
to  criticise  his  conduct,  except  to  regret 
that  the  Admiral's  original  intention  to 
leave  Commander  A.  C.  Rhine!  in  com 
mand  was  not  carried  out,  as  Rhind  would 
have  destroyed  the  two  iron-clads  that 
appeared  below  Hewlett's  Battery. 

The  commanders  of  the  two  Confederate 
iron-clads  behaved  in  quite  as  erratic  a 
manner  as  the  captain  of  the  "  Onondaga." 
They  both  came  to  anchor  at  a  place  called 
the  Crow's  Nest,  a  tall  frame-work  look-out, 
built  by  General  Butler  to  observe  the  move 
ments  of  the  Confederate  gun-boats  and  to 
communicate  by  signal  with  General  Grant. 
The  officers  of  the  Confederate  iron-clads 
landed  in  their  boats  and  seemed  to  examine 
this  structure  with  a  great  deal  of  curiosity. 
At  first  they  determined  to  burn  it,  but 
finally  retired  satisfied  with  cutting  their 
names  on  the  timbers,  and  returned  to  their 
vessels. 

So  far  it  does  not  appear  as  if  there  was 
any  concert  of  action  between  the  two  iron 
clads,  nor  does  the  motive  of  their  coming 
below  Hewlett's  Battery  appear.  They 
laid  at  anchor  all  night  at  the  look-out  and 
seemed  uncertain  what  to  do.  That  night 
the  torpedo-boat  could  have  blown  them 
both  up,  but  no  attempt  was  made  from 
any  quarter  to  disturb  them.  and.  no  doubt, 
they  wondered  what  had  become  of  the 
•'  Onondaga,"  when  she  was  seen  returning 


up  the  river,  very  much  shorn  of  her  speed 
by  the  ioss  of  one  of  her  propellers.  On 
seeing  her,  the  two  Confederate  iron-clads 
got  underway  and  proceeded  up  toward 
Hewlett's  Battery,  evidently  returning  in 
search  of  their  Commander-in-chief.  They 
did  not,  .  however,  get  off  without  some 
damage.  When  the  "  Onondaga  "  reached 
the  obstructions,  Commander  Parker  opened 
fire  on  the  retreating  vessels  with  all  his 
15-inch  guns. 

One  of  the  Confederate  iron-clads  had 
just  turned  the  point,  but  the  rear  one  re 
ceived  a  solid  shot  which  pierced  her 
side,  inflicting  some  injuries  to  her  hull, 
and  killing  and  wounding  several  of  her 
men.  A  15-inch  shell  from  the  "Onon 
daga"  struck  the  same  vessel  on  the 
knuckle  and  entered  three  or  four  feet,  but 
failed  to  explode.  Another  solid  shot  struck 
the  iron-clad  on  her  casemate,  shattering  it 
very  much,  and  knocking  down  a  number 
of  her  men.  By  this  time  she  had  passed 
the  point  and  was  shut  out  from  further 
danger. 

Thus  ended  this  remarkable  affair,  which 
might  have  caused  serious  trouble  if  it  had 
been  conducted  with  any  determined  dash, 
though  the  fact  that  the  *' Onondaga's" 
shot  had  inflicted  so  much  damage  in  so 
short  a  time  is  rather  a  proof  that,  if  both 
these  vessels  could  have  passed,  they  would 
have  been  knocked  to  pieces.  After  this, 
the  obstructions  were  further  strengthened 
by  sinking  another  large  schooner  loaded 
with  stone,  and  that  was  the  last  attempt 
the  Confederates  ever  made  to  reach  City 
Point  with  their  naval  force.  But  the  com 
mander  of  the  Federal  vessels  lost  an  op 
portunity  to  gather  some  laurels,  an 
opportunity  that  never  occurred  again, 
while  the  Federal  Navy  lost  a  page  in  his 
tory  which  might  have  been  chronicled  as 
one  of  the  brightest  events  of  the  war. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  '•'  Albemarle  " 
and  the  recapture  of  Plymouth,  the  opera 
tions  in  the  Sounds  of  North  Carolina  were 
comparatively  unimportant,  for  the  occa 
sional  raids  of  energetic  Confederate  gueril 
las  could  hardly  be  considered  of  much  con 
sequence.  The  Confederates  still  held  the 
Roanoke  River  above  Plymouth,  as  there  was 
not  a  sufficient  naval  force  in  the  Sounds  to 
operate  successfully  in  that  quarter.  A 
large  portion  of  the  enemy's  forces  in  North 
Carolina  had  been  drawn  off  to  fill  up  the 
ranks  of  GeneralJoseph  E.  Johnston's  army, 
which  was  charged  with  the  duty  of  im 
peding  General  Sherman  in  his  march  to 
the  sea. 

About  this  time  Sherman  had  captured 
Savannah  and  General  Grant  had  received 
the  news  of  the  utter  rout  of  Hood's  army 
in  Tennessee  by  General  Thomas,  which 
left  Sherman  at  liberty  to  march  through 


738 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  Carolinas  without  apprehensions  of  a 
formidable  enemy  in  his  rear,  and  with 
sufficient  addition  to  his  forces  from  the 
troops  of  Schofield  and  Terry  to  enable  him 
to  hold  his  own  until  he  reached  Golds- 
borough.  N.  C. ,  his  objective  point. 

The  middle  of  January,  1865,  saw  Sher 
man's  army  in  motion  for  the  Carolina 
campaign.  His  right  wing,  under  General 
Howard,  was  conveyed  by  water  to  Beau 
fort,  South  Carolina,  whence  it  started  on 
its  march  up  the  Charleston  railroad,  while 
the  left  wing,  under  General  Slocum,  with 
Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  crossed  the  Savannah 
river  and  moved  towards  Augusta.  These 
movements  were  made  for  the  purpose  of 
deceiving  the  Confederates  as  to  the  point 
aimed  at  by  General  Sherman.  The  Federal 
troops  destroyed  all  the  railroads  in  their 
rear. 

Sherman's  object  was  to  effect  a  junction 
with  Grant,  and  by  force  of  numbers  bring 
the  war  to  a  close.  He  passed  by  Augusta 
and  Charleston,  since  there  was  nothing  to 
be  gained  by  halting  at  either  place.  In  his 
official  report  General  Sherman  says : 
"  Without  wasting  time  or  labor  on  Branch- 
ville  or  Charleston,  which  I  knew  the  enemy 
could  no  longer  hold,  I  turned  all  the  col 
umns  straight  on  Columbia." 

From  Columbia,  after  making  a  feint  on 
Charleston,  Sherman  advanced  to  Fay- 
etteville  and  Goldsborough,  while  prepa 
rations  were  making  by  the  Federal  Gen 
erals  on  the  sea-coast  to  effect  a  junction 
with  his  army — one  body  of  troops  to  ad 
vance  from  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  and  the 
other  from  Newbern. 

All  the  troops  that  had  occupied  Charles 
ton,  Savannah,  Augusta,  Wilmington  and 
other  points  along  the  coast,  had  united, 
and  did  all  that  was  possible  to  impede 
Sherman's  march;  but,  although  the  Con 
federate  forces  had  swelled  to  a  consider 
able  army,  they  could  not  withstand  the 
Federal  advance,  and  from  desertions  and 
other  causes  they  soon  began  to  melt  away. 
Still  Sherman  was  not  master  of  the  situ 
ation  until  he  had  driven  Johnston's  army, 
from  which  he  had  experienced  the  strong 
est  resistance,  back  to  Smithfield.  The  junc 
tion  of  Schofield  with  Sherman's  army  was 
made  next  day.  the  23d  of  March,  1865,  at 
Goldsborough,  and  General  Johnston  and 
his  forces  were  held  as  in  a  vise  until  the 
final  surrender. 

These  movements  had  changed  the  whole 
state  of  affairs  in  North  Carolina.  The 
Confederate  troops  along  the  various 
rivers,  including  the  Roanoke,  had  either 
joined  General  Johnston  or  had  moved  off 
to  Richmond,  and  Admiral  Porter,  taking 
advantage  of  the  situation,  had  directed 
Commander  Macomb  to  advance  up  the 
Roanoke  with  a  naval  force,  destroy  or  cap 


ture  all  the  enemy's  depots  of  stores,  and 
also  an  iron-floating  battery  said  to  be  on 
the  river. 

On  the  llth  of  December,  1864,  Com 
mander  Macomb,  in  connection  with  a 
military  force,  proceeded  up  the  Roanoke 
in  the  double-ender  "  Wyalusing,"  accom 
panied  by  the  "  Otsego"  and  "Valley 
City  "  the  tugs  "  Belle"  and  "  Bazley,"  and 
a  steam- packet  boat.  Proceeding  slowly 
up  the  stream  the  vessels  prepared  to  an 
chor  for  the  night  at  a  sharp  bend  in  the 
river  just  below  Jamesville,  where  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  Army  forces  had 
agreed  to  communicate  with  the  naval  com 
mander.  In  obedience  to  signal,  the  "  Ot- 
sego  "  had  slowed  her  engines  and  was  about 
to  let  go  her  anchor  when  a  torpedo  exploded 
under  her  bottom  on  the  port  side,  and 
immediately  afterwards  another  exploded 
under  her  forward  pivot-gun,  which  was 
capsized  on  the  deck  by  the  concussion. 
In  three  minutes  the  vessel  sunk,  her  spar- 
deck  being  three  feet  below  the  water. 
She  had  anchored  over  a  nest  of  torpedoes, 
against  which  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  expedition  had  been  warned  and 
directed  to  drag  for  in  boats  before  pro 
ceeding  up  the  river;  but  this  officer  satis 
fied  himself  by  getting  out  spars  and  nets 
ahead  of  his  vessels  to  pick  up  any  subma 
rine  obstructions.  A  short  time  after  the 
sinking  of  the  gun-boat,  while  the  tug 
"  Bazley  "  was  transferring  her  crew  to  the 
"  Wy abasing,"  a  torpedo  exploded,  and  the 
'•'Bazley"  immediately  went  down  along 
side  the  "  Otsego."  Matters  became  at  this 
moment  rather  embarrassing,  for  the  ves 
sels  were  all  anchored  close  together,  and  it 
was  not  safe  to  move  in  the  dark  for  fear 
of  being  blown  up,  so  a  very  anxious  night 
was  passed. 

The  sinking  of  the  gun -boat  and  tug 
put  an  end  to  an  expedition  which,  if  suc 
cessful,  would  have  been  a  handsome  addi 
tion  to  the  sinking  of  the  "  Albemarle  "  and 
the  recapture  of  Plymouth  by  the  Navy. 
The  "Otsego"  made  the  number  of  naval 
vessels  blown  up  by  the  Confederate  torpedo 
corps,  since  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
about  twenty.  For  miles  along  the  Roanoke 
torpedoes  were  thickly  planted  to  prevent 
the  advance  of  the  Navy,  and  at  one  turn  in 
the  river  there  were  no  less  than  forty  of 
these  destructive  weapons  in  one  group. 

This  was  the  last  important  naval  move 
ment  undertaken  in  the  Sounds  of  North 
Carolina.  Sherman's  arrival  at  Golds- 
borough,  and  the  arrival  of  troops  by  sea  at 
Newbern,  warned  the  guerillas,  called  by 
the  Confederates  the  "  home  forces,"  that 
they  could  no  longer  hope  to  hold  their  own 
in  face  of  the  overwhelming  numbers  which 
at  any  moment  might  appear  in  this  vicinity ; 
so  they  quietly  dispersed,  and  all  that  por- 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


739 


tion  of  the  Confederacy  fell  permanently 
into  the  hands  of  the  Unionists.  But  for  the 
unfortunate  sinking  of  the  '"Otsego"  and 
the  "  Bazley."  all  the  operations  of  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron  from  October,  1864, 
to  April,  1865,  would  have  been  crowned 
with  success. 

Although  the  area  of  operations  in  and 
around  Plymouth  was  not  a  large  one,  what 
thrilling  incidents  had  occurred  in  that 
small  space  !  First:  the  capture  and  fortifi 
cation  of  Plymouth  by  the  Union  forces  ; 
then  the  appearance  of  the  "Albemarle" 
and  her  sinking  the  "  Southfield  "  ;  the  death 


of  the  gallant  Flusser,  and  the  retreat 
of  the  "Miami"  ;  the  attack  of  the  '•Albe 
marle  "  on  the  Sound  flotilla  ;  the  sinking  of 
the  "Albemarle"  by  Gushing;  the  dash  of 
Macomb  upon  Plymouth,  recovering  the 
place  after  as  handsome  an  attack  at  the 
cannon's  mouth  as  was  ever  seen  anywhere; 
and,  finally,  the  unfortunate  sinking  of  the 
"Otsego"  and  "  Bazley"  near  where  the 
"Albemarle  "  lay  at  the  bottom  of  the  river. 
All  these  vessels  were  afterwards  raised 
and  lay  side  by  side  at  the  wharf,  with  the 
Union  flag  floating  over  them,  as  if  they  had 
never  met  in  deadlv  strife. 


NORTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  JANUARY  IST,  1865. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  DAVID  D.  PORTER. 


STAFF— LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  K.  R.  BREESE,  FLEET-CAPTAIN  ;  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  H.  A. 
ADAMS,  JR.,  ORDNANCE  OFFICER  ;  LIEUTENANT  S.  W.  PRESTON  (FLAG)  ;  LIEUTENANT  M.  W.  SAN 
DERS,  SIGNAL  OFFICER  ;  LIEUTENANT  S.  W.  TERRY,  DETAILING  OFFICER  ;  FLEET-PAYMASTER, 
H.  M.  HEISKELL;  FLEET-SURGEON,  GEORGE  MAULSBY;  FLEET-ENGINEER,  THEO.  ZELLER;  ADMIRAL'S 
SECRETARY,  CARLISLE  P.  PORTER  ;  ASSISTANT-PAYMASTER,  C.  F.  GUILD  (SPECIAL  DUTY)  ;  ACTING- 
MASTER,  JAMES  M.  ALDEN  ;  ACTING  ENSIGNS,  H.  WOODRUFF,  R.  BATES,  J.  W.  GRATTAN  AND  F.  \V. 
GRAFTON  ;  ACTING-MASTER  s  MATE,  AARON  VANDERBILT,  AIDES. 


NOTE.— Those  vessels  marked  with  a  *  were  engaged  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher. 


*  "COLORADO"— FIRST  RATE. 

Commodore,  Henry  K.  Thatcher  ;  Lieutenants, 
George  Dewey,  H.  B.  Robesoii  and  M.  L.  Johnson; 
Surgeon,  James  McClelland;  Assistant-Surgeons, 
Robert  Willard  and  B.  H.  Kidder ;  Paymaster, 
Wru.  A.  Ingersoll ;  Marines,  Captain.  L.  L.  Daw- 
son;  First-Lieutenant,  E.  P.  Meeker;  Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant,  F.  F.  Baury  ;  Acting- Masters,  Ed 
win  Coffin  and  L.  B.  King ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  L. 
Vennard  and  W.  G.  Perry  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J.  W.  Wallace,  A.  B.  Arey,  E.  A.  Gould,  M.  V. 
Thomas  and  A.  F.  Tucker;  Engineers:  Chief,  B.  F. 
Garvin  ;  First-Assistant,  J.  H.  Bailey  ;  Second-As 
sistants,  E.  E.  Roberts,  H.  M.  Quig  and  C.  S. 
Maurice ;  Third  -  Assistant,  M.  A.  Sutherland  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  C.  Fernald,  J.  P.  Mes- 
ser  and  W.  B.  Whitmore ;  Boatswain,  John  K. 
Bartlett;  Gunner,  William  Wilson;  Carpenter,  J.  G. 
Myers  ;  Sailmaker,  Nicholas  Lynch. 

*  "MINNESOTA" — FIRST-KATE. 

Commodore,  Joseph  Lanmaii  ;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  James  Parker  ;  Lieutenants,  M.  S.  Stuy- 
vesant  and  E.  T.  Woodward  ;  Passed  -  Assistant  - 
Surgeon,  J.  P.  Quinn  ;  Assistant  -  Surgeons,  Win. 
Longshaw  and  W.  S.  Fort ;  Paymaster,  C.  C.  Up- 
ham ;  Marines :  Captain,  Geo.  Butler  ;  Second- 
Lieutenant,  G.  M.  Welles  ;  Acting  -  Master,  Theo. 
Werholf  :  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  C.  Wise,  J.  W.  Wil 
lard,  James  Bertwisle,  F.  A.  O'Connor  and  W.  H. 
Jennings;  Acting -Master's  Mates,  J.  M.  Simms, 
Fallas  Eager  and  J.  Amos  Merrill ;  Engineers  :  Act 
ing  Chief,  A.  R.  Eddowes  ;  Acting-First-Assistant, 
J.  E.  Cooper  ;  Second-Assistants,  Guy  Samson,  J.  C. 
Cross  and  H.  A.  Delius ;  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  D. 
Lee  and  J.  C.  Kafer ;  Acting  -  Third  Assistant, 
W.  H.  Mott;  Pilot,  F.  C.  Fowler;  Boatswain, 
Win.  Bunker ;  Gunner,  R.  H.  Cross ;  Carpenter, 
A.  O.  Goodsoe  ;  Sailmaker,  T.  O.  Fassett. 


*  "  POWHATAN  "—FIRST-RATE. 

Commodore,  James  F.  Schenck ;  'Lieutenants, 
Geo.  M.  Bache  and  Merrill  Miller  ;  Surgeon,  H.  O. 
Mayo  ;  Assistant-Surgeon,  W.  H.  Johnson  ;  Pay 
master,  C.  P.  Wallach  ;  First-Lieutenant  Marines, 
F.  H.  Corrie  ;  Acting-Master,  C.  R.  Wilkins ;  En 
signs,  Ira  Harris,  Jr.,  and  A.  G.  Kellogg  -Acting- 
Ensigns  R.  D.  Evans,  Francis  Morris  and  Edmund 
Parys  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  Geo.  P.  Abbott, 
Geo.  S.  Sands  and  John  Glitz  ;  Engineers  :  Chief, 
John  A.  Grier  ;  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  W.  H. 
Dobbs ;  Second  -  Assistants,  W.  S.  Smith,  James 
Long,  John  Franklin  and  Michael  Dundon  ;  Third- 
Assistant,  A.  C.  Engard  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
H.  F.  Grier  ;  Acting-Boatswain,  James  Gurney  ; 
Gunner,  G.  W.  Omensetter ;  Carpenter,  J.  Mac- 
farlane  :  Sailmaker,  B.  B.  Blydenburg. 

*  "SUSQUEHANNA"— FIRST-RATE. 

Commodore,  S.  W.  Godon  ;  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander,  F.  B.  Blake;  Lieutenants,  J.  R.  Bartlett  and 
Geo.  M.  Brown  ;  Surgeon,  J.  O'C.  Barclay  ;  Assist 
ant-Surgeon,  G.  H.  Perry;  Paymaster,  A.  J.  Clark; 
Chaplain,  J.  1).  Beugless;  First-Lieutenant  of  Ma 
rines,  Win.  Wallace;  Acting-Master,  H.  O.  Porter; 
Ensign,  E.  E.  Preble;  Acting-Ensigns,  T.  F.  Lacoek, 
W.  W.  Rhoadesand  O.  C.  K.  Benham;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  Chas.  Gainsford,  W.  H.  Sprague,  M.  S. 
Cooper  and  S.  T.  Paine;  Engineers:  Chief,  John 
Johnson;  First- Assistant,  I.  S.  Finney;  Second-As 
sistants,  James  Renshaw,  J.  H.  Hutchinson  and 
H.  A.  Smith:  Third- Assistants,  Thomas  Crummey 
and  C.  F.  Marsland  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant, 
Berna  Cook;  Boatswain,  Z.  Whitmarsh,  Jr. :  Gunner, 
E.  J.  Waugh ;  Carpenter,  J.  E.  Miller;  Sailmaker, 
J.  A.  Hoi  brook. 

*" NEW  IRONSIDES"    FIRST-RATE. 

Commodore,  Wm.  Radford  ;  Lieutenant -Com 
mander,  R.  L.  Phythian;  Lieutenants,  A.  R.  Me- 


740 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Nair,  H.  B.  Rumsey  and  H.  J.  Blake;  Surgeon,  Ed 
ward  Shippen;  Assistant-Surgeon,  G.  A.  Bright; 
Paymaster,  George  Plunkett ;  First  Lieutenant  of 
Marines,  R.  S.  Collom;  Acting-Masters,  H.  P.  Con 
ner  and  John  Dorey;  Acting-Ensigns,  Walter  Pearee, 
W.  A.  Duerand  J.  \V.  King;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
C.  C.  Bauiford,  J.  F  Silva  and  AV.  E.  Wilson  ;  En- 

fineers  :  Chief,  Alex.  Greer  ;  Second  -  Assistants, 
.  H.  Hunt,  W.  S.  Cherry,  W.  J.  Reid,  N.  P.  Towne 
and  W.  S.  Wells;  Third-Assistants,  J.  K.  Stevenson 
and  A.  H.  Henderson;  Boatswain,  Win.  E.  Leeds; 
Gunner,  Win.  C9pe;  Carpenter,  J.  E.  Cox;  Sail- 
maker,  G.  T.  Lozier. 

*  "  SANTIAGO  DE-CUBA" — SECOND-KATE. 
Captain,  O.  S.  Glisson ;  Lieutenant,  N.  H'.  Far- 
quhar;  Passed  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  S.  Oberly; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  D.  Murphy  ;  Acting-Masters, 
J.  A.  Hannum  and  F.  H.  Wilks  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
T.  Delano,  E.  C.  Bowers  and  C.  H.  Pierce  ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  Richard  Lyons,  S.  W.  Kempton, 
E.  C.  Finney  and  R.  S.  Shephard  ;  Engineers  :  Act 
ing-Chief,  Solon  Farrer ;  Acting-Second-Assistants, 
C.  R.  Weaver  and  F.  W.  H.AVhittaker;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  Geo.  A.  Barnard,  R.  E.  Hurley,  C.  R. 
Merrill,  Jos.  Jordan  and  G.  A.  Barnard;  Acting- 
Gunner,  J.  W.  Irwrn. 

"  w  ABASH"  -  FIRST-BATE." 

Captain,  Melancton  Smith;  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander,  C.  H.  C  ashman  ;  Lieutenants,  E.  C.  V. 
Blake  and  H.  C.  Tallman;  Surgeon,  H.  F.  McSherry; 
Passed- Assistant-Surgeon,  J.  H.  Tinkham  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  N.  L.  Campbell;  Paymaster,  Geo. 
Cochran;  Chaplain,  C.  A.  Davis;  Second-Lieutenant 
of  Marines,  L.  E.  Fagan;  Acting-Masters,  W.  U. 
Grozier  arid  S.  J.  White;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  T. 
Davis,  Whitman  Chase,  E.  A.  Small  and  J.  F. 
Brown;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm.  R.  Lyons,  D. 
E.  Knox,  J.  J.  Fuller,  Jr.,  Win.  Read,  Jr.,  E.  P. 
Blague,  H.  C.  Thorburn  and  J.  B.  Lukens;  Engi 
neers  :  Chief,  A.  C.  Stimers  ;  Second  -  Assistants, 
J.  S.  Green,  P.  R.  Voorhees,  W.  C.  Williamson, 
A.  Michener  and  N.  W.  Buckhout ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  J.  W.  Collins,  W.  H.  Peabody  and  J.  T. 
Smith ;  Boatswain,  Charles  Miller ;  Gunner,  Cor 
nelius  Dugan;  Carpenter,  Wm.  Hyde;  Sailmaker, 
H.  W.  Franklaiid. 

*"  VANDEBBILT  " — SECOND-KATE. 

Captain,  Charles  W.  Pickering;  Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  D.  Danels;  Surgeon, 
Joseph  Wilson;  Assistant-Surgeon,  L.  M.  Lyon; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  E.  Tolfree;  Captain 
of  Marines,  William  H.  Parker;  Acting  -  Masters, 
A.  M.  Keith  and  L.  F.  Tiinmerman;  Acting-Ensigns, 
A.  P.  Sampson  and  E.  N.  Snow;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  F.  B.  Atkinson,  Edw.  Thompson,  J.  B. 
Strout,  E.  P.  Pope  and  Edw.  Kearns;  Engineers : 
Acting-Chief,  John  Germain;' Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  W.  H.  Golden;  Acting -Second -Assistants, 
William  Welles  and  A.  Williams;  Acting  Third-As 
sistants,  John  Hyslpp,  Martin  Glennon,  George 
Germain,  John  O'Neil,  William  Wright  and  W.  H. 
Garrison;  Boatswain.  Jasper  Coghlan  ;  Gunner, 
George  Sirian;  Carpenter,  T.  H.  Bishop;  Captain's 
Clerk,  JohnS.  Stodder. 

*"  JTJNIATA  "—SECOND-RATE. 

Captain,  William  R.  Taylor;  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander,  Thomas  S.  Phelps,  (commanded  at  Fort 
Fisher  ;  Lieutenant,  F.  V.  McNair;  Surgeon,  A.  C. 
Gorgas  ;  Paymaster,  Caspar  Schenck ;  Acting- 
Master,  C.  H.  Hamilton;  Ensign,  Charles  McGregor; 
Acting  Ensigns,  W.  D.  Price  arid  S.  S.  Bissell;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  Lewis  Goeltze,  W.  F,  Warnick 
and  G.  H.  Prescott;  Engineers  :  Chief,  J.  Follans- 
bee  ;  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  E.  Fox ;  Second-As 
sistants,  J.  Van  Hovenburv  and  John  Everding; 
Third- Assistants,  Everett  Battelle  and  F.  C.  Bur- 
chard  ;  Acting-Thinl-Assistants,  B.  F.  Lewis  and 


Thomas  Connor  ;  Boatswain.   J.    A.  Selmer  ;    Gun 
ner,  D.  A.  Roe  ;  Carpenter,  John  Mills. 

*•'  FORT  JACKSON  "—SECOND-KATE. 

Captain.  B.  F.  Sands  ;  Lieutenant-Commander, 
Rush  R.  Wallace  ;  Lieutenant,  S.  H.  Hunt;  Sur 
geon,  Philip  S.  Wales  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
E  J.  O'Callaghan  ;  Paymaster.  Clifton  Hellen ; 
Acting-Masters,  J.  S.  Coney  and  H.  F.  Moffatt;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  S.  K.  Hopkins  and  J.  J.  Reagan  ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  H.  St.  C.  Eytinge,  J.  D.  Moore, 
G.  W.  Smoot,  F.  A.  Powers  and  Charles  Moran  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Chief,  Rodney  Smith  ;  Acting- 
First-Assistants,  Jared  Day  and  J.  A.  Hill ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  John  Herron  and  G.  T.  Gibbs  ; 
Acting -Third -Assistants,  C.  H.  AVakefield  and 
William  M.  Prentiss ;  Boatswain,  P.  A.  Chasoii ; 
Acting  -  Gunner,  Thomas  Reese  ;  Carpenter,  E. 
Thompson. 

*"  SHENANDOAH  "—SECOND-RATE. 

Captain,  Daniel  B.  Ridgely  ;  Lieutenant,  Smith 
W.  Nichols  ;  Surgeon,  James  McMaster  ;  Acting- 
Assistant-Paymaster,  C.  M.  Guild ;  Acting-Masters, 
J.  S.  Watson,  W.  H.  Brice  and  J.  A.  Bullard  ;  En 
signs,  Yates  Sterling  and  J.  H.  Sands  ;  Acting-En 
signs,  L.  H.  White  and  T.  H.  Wheeler;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  T.  D.  Wendell ;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
Chief,  Nelson  Winans  ;  Second  -  Assistant,  E.  A. 
Magee  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  S.  Kelleper  ; 
Third-Assistants,  D.  M.  Fulmer,  F.  W.  Towner  and 
William  Bond  ;  Boatswain,  J.  H.  Policy  ;  Gunner, 
George  Edmonds. 

*  "  TICOXDEBOGA  "—  SECOND-RATE. 

Captain,  Charles  Steedman;  Lieutenant,  Geo.  B. 
White;  Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, L.  G.  Vassallo; 
Surgeon,  C.  J.  Cleborne;  Paymaster,  H.  M.  Dennis- 
ton  ;  Ensigns,  W.  W.  Maclay,  A.  S.  Crowningshield 
arid  Geo.  W.  Coffin  ;  First-Lieutenant  of  Marines, 
C.  F.  Williams;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Wm.  Charle- 
ton.  Jr.,  E.  A.  Sibell,AVm.  Cooperand  L.  Norton:  En 
gineers:  Chief,  T.J.Jones;  Second-Assistant,  H.  H. 
Barrett;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  R.  I.  Middletoii 
and  M.  Smith;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  O.  Bassett, 
H.  M.  Noyes,  M.  W.  Thaxter  and  S.  J.  Hobbs; 
Boatswain,  H.  E.  Barnes;  Gunner,  Joseph  Smith; 
Acting-Carpenter,  M.  E.  Curley;  Sailmaker,  J.  C. 
Herbert. 

*  "BBOOKLYN  "--SECOND-BATE. 

Captain,  James  Alden;  Lieutenant,  T.  L.  Swann; 
Surgeon,  George  Maulsby;  Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  S. 
Pitkin  ;  Paymaster,  G.  E.  Thornton ;  Captain  of 
Marines,  G.  P.  Houston;  Acting-Master,  Robt.  Bars- 
tow;  Ensigns,  D.  R.  Cassell,  C.  H.  Pendleton  and 
C.  D.  Sigsbee;  Acting-Ensign,  C.  H.  Littlefield; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  Thos.  Stanfiekl,  J.  W.  De- 
Camp  and  R.  H.  Taylor;  Engineers:  Chief,  Morti 
mer  Kellogg;  Second-Assistants,  W.  H.  G.  West, 
Thos.  Lynch,  G.  E.  Tower  and  J.  A.  Bullard;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  R.  D.  Giborson ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  John  Matthews,  H.  H.  Arthur  and 
Timothy  Flanders;  Boatswain,  Rob't  McDonald; 
Acting-Gunner,  John  Quevedo;  Carpenter,  R.  G. 
Thomas;  Saihnaker,  D.  C.  Bray  ton. 

ORDNANCE-SHIP   "ST.    LAWBENCE." 

Commander,  D.  Lynch  ;  Acting-Master,  G.  W. 
Caswell  ;  Acting- Ensigns,  F.  Hopkins,  Wm.  Chand 
ler,  Thomas  Welsh  and  Aug.  Dame  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  M.  C.  Drennan  ;  Assistant  Paymaster, 
W.  Goldsborough  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  G.  E. 
Chiprnan  and  T.  B.  Seavey  ;  Gunner,  John  Webber. 

*'•'  TUSCABOBA" — THIBD-BATE. 

Commander,  James  M.  Frailey  ;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Weld  N.  Allen  ;  Surgeon,  John  Y.  Taylor  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  J.  Painter  ;  Acting- 
Master,  Alex.  Tillirighast  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  L. 
Griffin,  C.  H.  Carey,  Oliver  Swain  and  S.  E.  Wil- 
letts ;  Acting-Master's  Matesv  J.  A.  H.  Wilmuth  and 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


741 


A.  F.  Aldrich,  Jr.;  Engineers  :  Chief,  A.  J.  Kiersted; 
Acting-First-Assistant,  Jos.  A.  McKnight;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  W.  A.  Andress  and  A.  N.  Gil- 
more  ;  Acting -Third -Assistants,  Alex.  Dempster, 
W.  B.  Snow  and  J.  H.  Chesney  ;  Acting-Gunner, 
Thomas  Grail. 

*"MONADNOCK"-  THIRD-BATE. 

Commander,  E.  G.  Parrott;  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander,  J.  N.  Miller;  Acting-Masters,  B.  F.  Mil- 
liken  and  S.  H.  Mead;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  B.  Mix, 
T.  \V.  Swift,  Jr.,  and  P.  Davison  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  James  Wilton  ;  Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  S. 
\Voolson ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Chief,  J .  Q.  A.  Zeig- 
ler  ;  Acting -First -Assistants,  S.  A.  Randall  and 
W.  A.  Phillips ;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  B.  C.  Du 
Plaine  and  B.  Smith;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants, 
R.  Aklridge,  W.  P.  Whittemore,  John  Brice  and 
T.  J.  Wilde  ;  Gunner,  P.  Barrett. 

"  ONONDAGA  "  -  THIBD-RATE. 

Commander,  "Win.  A.  Parker;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  J.  M.  Pritchett;  Passed  Assistant  Surgeon, 
A.  Hudson;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  S.  T. 
Browne;  Acting-Masters,  W.  L.  Hayes  and  Henry 
Stevens;  Acting- Ensigns,  J.  De  Kay,  S  C.  Norton, 
Jr.,  M.  E.  Wandell  and  J.  Brennan;  Acting-Mas 
ters  Mate,  B.  Heath,  Jr. ;  Engineers :  Chief,  Alex. 
Henderson;  First-Assistants,  J.  C.  Hull;  Second-As 
sistants,  W.  Fort,  W.  L.  Nicoll  and  E.  M.  Lewis; 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  C.  Stanton;  Third- Assist 
ant,  T.  Cooke;  Acting  Third  xissistant,  Julius  Hill- 

Iliall. 

"  SHAMBOCK  "— THIRD-BATE. 

Commander,  W.  H.  Macomb;  Lieutenant,  R.  K. 
Duer;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  P.  H.  Barton; 
Acting-Assistant-Paymaster,  Louis  Sands;  Acting- 
Master,  P.  J.  Hargous;  Acting  Ensigns.  G.  T.  Ford, 
J.  W.  Lewis,  W.  W.  Meeter  and  R.  B.  Brown;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate,  W.  D.  Burlingame;  Engineers: 
Second-Assistants,  W.  H.  Harrison,  H.  P.  Gregory 
and  P.  H  "White;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  O.  C. 
Chamberlain  and  W.  F.  Blakemore;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  W.  Peterkin. 

*  "ERODE  ISLAND  "    SECOND-BATE. 

Commander,  Stephen  D.  Trenchard;  Lieutenant, 
F.  R.  Smith  ;  Assistant-Surgeon,  E.  B.  Bingham  ; 
Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  L.  Darling  ;  Acting-Mas 
ters,  C.  O'Neill  and  Z.  L.  Tanner  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Nichols  Pratt,  R.  O.  Lanfare  and  Lemuel  Pope ; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  P.  Fisher,  E.  E.  Brad 
bury,  H.  Gardiner,  G.  H.  Appleton  and  R.  W. 
Wallace  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Chief,  J.  F.  Mc- 
Cutchen  ;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  W.  Smith 
and  C.  W.  Radell ;  Acting  Third -Assistants,  C.  W. 
Rugg,  W.  J.  Patterson,  W.  H.  McCoy,  J.  A.  Hughes 
and  W.  B.  Bayley  :  Gunner,  Henry  Hamilton  ;  Cap 
tain's  Clerk,  L.  S.  Rogers ;  Paymaster's  Clerk,  Win. 
J.  Bennett. 

"CHICKOPEE"    THIRD-BATE. 

Commander,  A.  D.  Harrell  ;  Lieutenant,  E.  A. 
Walker  •,  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  L.  Simpson; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Mulford.Jr.; 
Acting-Master,  J.  D.  Wells  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  A. 
Crossman  and  A.  D.  Henderson  ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  C.  C.  Johnson,  G.  H.  Goodmansonand  J.  A. 
Belcher;  Engineers:  First-Assistant,  F.  J.  Levering; 
Second- Assistant,  Willmm  Pollard  ;  Third-Assist 
ants,  D.  B.  Egbert,  A.  G.  Bonsallaiid  J.  B.  Upham, 
Jr.;  Acting-Gunner,  W.  Black. 

*  "NEBEUS  "— THIBD-BATE. 

Commander,  J.  C.  Howell:  Lieutenant,  H.  E.  Mul- 
lan  ;  Acting-Master,  E.  L.  Haines;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  K.Walsh;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
B.  F.  Munroe;  Acting- Ensigns,  E.  G.  Dayton, 
G.  M.  Smith  and  George  Anderson  ;  Acting- Master  s 
Mates.  W.  C.  Cushman,  Win.  Rushmore,  W.  B. 
Spencer,  H.  E.  Giraud  and  Wm.  Gromack  ;  En 
gineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  Stephen  Henton  ; 


Second  -  Assistant,  Philip  Eckenworth  ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  R.  F.  Roswald  and  J.  A.  Patter 
son  ;  Third-Assistants,  T.  Tilton,  H.  J.  Allen  and 
R.  R.  Throckmorton;  Acting- Gunner,  J.  McCaffrey. 

*  "  MOHICAN  "— THIBD  BATE. 

Commander,  Daniel  Ammen ;  Lieutenant,  J.  D. 
Marvin  ;  Surgeon,  Charles  Martin  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  J.  C.  Canning  ;  Acting  -  Master, 
Wm.  Burditt ;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  B.  F.  Blair  and 
H.  T.  Page  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  J.  A.  Shaffer, 
J.G.  Paine  and  C.  P.  Cope;  Engineers:  First-Assist 
ant,  H.  S.  Davids;  Second -Assistant,  J.  K.  Smedley; 
Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  Enoch  George  and 
Charles  Buckelew  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  James 
O.  Herron  and  W.  W.  Chadwick  ;  Acting  -  Boat 
swain,  J.  B.  Aiken  ;  Acting-Gunner,  T.  S.  Cassidy. 

"KEYSTONE  STATE  "—THIBD-BATE. 

Commander,  Henry  Roland  ;  Lieutenant,  J.  P. 
Robertson  ;  Acting-Masters,  L.  E.  Degn  and  Wm. 
T.  Buck;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  M.  Bird,  J.  C.  Murphy, 
F.  E.  Ford  and  J.  S.  Ridgeway  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  A.  E.  Emery  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Pay 
master.  J.  W.  Fairfield  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates, 
D.  G.  Congerand  W.  H.  Howard;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  P.  L.  Fry  ;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  A.  B.  Kinney ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Wm. 
Brown,  Joseph  Smith,  J.  B.  Wilbur  and  C.  A. 
Blake  ;  Acting-Gunner,  D.  L.  Briggs. 

"  MENDOTA  " — THIBD-RATE. 

Commander,  Edward  T.  Nichols  ;  Acting-Masters, 
Lathrop  Wight,  Maurice  Digard  and  Thomas 
Smith  ,  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  B.  Barnes,  R.  B.  Pray, 
Isaac  Thayer  and  R.  E.  Peck  ;  Act  ing- Master's 
Mates,  E.  S.  McDonald  and  P.  A.  Cleary;  Engineers: 
First-Assistant,  A.  V.  Frazer;  Second-Assistants, 

B.  Bunce  and  D.   Jones;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
D.  R.  McElroy,  H.  S.  Ross  and  L.  L.  Poole;  Acting- 
Gunner,  James  Como. 

*"  IOSCO  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Commander,  John  Guest  ;  Lieutenant,  C.  L. 
Franklin;  Acting-Ensigns,  William  Jameson,  Ulric 
Feilberg,  Henry  Baker  and  Paul  Ware,  Jr. :  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  K.  H.  Bancroft;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  L.  L.  Scovel;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
T.  A.  Comstock,  Halsted  Hemans  and  Charles  A. 
Peacock;  Engineers :  First-Assistant,  Z.  Talbot; 
Second-Assistant,  Elijah  Laws  ;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  Harvey  Clapp,  James  McNabb  and  C.  M. 
S.  Gerry  ;  Acting-Gunner,  T.  M.  Benton. 

*"  OSCEOLA  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Commander,  J.  M.  B.  Glitz;  Lieutenant,  J.  Weid- 
man;  Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  F.  Winslow;  Assistant 
Paymaster,  Edw.  Bellows-  Acting-Masters,  E.  B. 
Hussey  and  Willett  Mott;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  L.  La 
Dein,  J.  F.  Merry  and  F.  C.  Warner;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  Thomas  Rogers,  H.  G.  Robinson  and 

C.  S.    Hardy;    Engineers :  Acting-First-Assistant, 
Thomas   McCausland;    Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant, 
Richard    Doran;    Acting-Third-Assistants,    Robert 
Berry  man,  C.  J.  Cooper  and  E.  J.  Swords;  Acting- 
Gunner.  J.  C.  Breslyn. 

*"  PAWTUCKET  "  —  THIRD-BATE. 

Commander,  James  H.  Spotts;  Lieutenant,  Allen 
V.  Reed;  Acting-Ensigns,  A.  F.  West,  J.  A.  Slamm, 
J.  O.  Winchester  and  P.  J.  Markoe;  Act  ing- Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  Henry  Johnson ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  G.  A-  Emerson;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 

D.  H.  Bellows,  F.    Hesslewood  and  L.  F.  Papanti; 
Engineers:  Second-Assistants,   A.   H.  Able,   M.    N. 
Knowlton  and  J.  G.  Cooper  ;    Acting-Third-Assist 
ant,  N.  G.  Vandegrift;  Gunner,  J.  D.  Fletcher. 

*"  MACKINAW  "—THIRD-BATE. 

Commander,  J.  C.  Beaumont  ;  Acting  -  Master, 
A  J.  Ijouch;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  H.  Penlield,  J.  F. 
Blanchard  and  Joseph  Estes;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  F.  Cottrell;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 


742 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


W.  T.  Whittemore;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  A. 
Thomas,  Solomon  Barstow  and  E.  K.  Green;  Engi 
neers  :  First- Assistant,  Jefferson  Young;  Second-As 
sistant,  D.  A.  Sawyer;  Third- Assistants,  R.  W.  Mil- 
ligan  and  Sylvanus  Mclntire;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  Patrick  Hagan  and  J.  W.  Reed;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  Thomas  Keer. 

*  "R.  B.  CUYLEB"— THIBD-EATE. 
Commander,  C.  H.  B.  Caldwell;  Lieutenant,  J.  J. 
Reed;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  D.  White;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  Wright;  Acting  - 
Master,  E.  Babson;  Acting-Ensigns,  B.  P.  Clough, 
W.  H.  Mentz,  W.  L.  Hatch  and  A.  T.  Hamblen; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  J.  P.  Jeffries  ;  Engineers  : 
Acting-Chief,  J.  D.  Williamson;  Acting-First- Assist 
ant,  D.  L.  King;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  Pol 
lard  and  F.  V.  Holt;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  A.  C. 
Crocker,  I.  H.  Fuhr,  G.  W.  Young,  D.  Gilliland 
and  E.  J.  Cram;  Acting-Gunner,  E.  P.  Palmer. 

"  MATTABESSETT  "      THIBD  BATE. 

Commander,  John  C.  Febiger;  Lieutenant,  A.  N. 
Mitchell;  Acting-Masters,  J.  L.  Plunkett  and  John 
Fountain;  Acting-Ensigns,  John  Greenhalgh,  F.  H. 
Brown  and  A.  F.  Dill;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
S.  P.  Boyer;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  C. 
Meade;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  M.  Beck  and 
C.  F.  Fisher;  Engineers  :  Second-Assistants,  J.  T. 
Hawkins,  A.  Sackett  and  C.  J.  McConnell;  Third- 
Assistants,  W.  A.  Mintzer,  A.  B.  Bates  and  Isaiah 
Paxson;  Acting-Gunner,  \Vm.  H.  Herring. 

''MASSASOIT  " — THIBD  BATE. 

Commander,  R.  T.  Renshaw;  Lieutenant,  Geo. 
W.  Sumner;  Acting-Masters,  H.  Reany,  C.  F.  Taylor 
and  W.  C.  Williams;  Acting-Ensigns,  R.  Rabadan 
and  Chas.  Wilson;  Acting- Master's  Mate,  G.  A. 
Burt;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  R.  Latson;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Stevenson;  Engi 
neers:  First-Assistant,  L.  R.  Green;  Acting  Second- 
Assistants,  J.  H.  Dinsmore  and  R.  K.  Monson;  Act- 
ing- Third- Assistants,  T.  R.  Jefferson  and  Wm.  Shee- 
han;  Acting  Gunner,  Wm.  B.  Jarvis. 

*  "  SAUGUS  " — FOUBTH-KATE. 

Commander,  Edmund  R.  Colhoun;  Lieutenant, 
Ben.].  F.  Day;  Acting  Master,  B.  W.  Leary;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  C.  A.  Henrickson,  Ira  Barsley  and  J.  P. 
Arnett;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Westcott; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  H.  Andrews;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Chief,  John  L.  Peake;  Acting-First- 
Assistants,  Andrew  Inglis  and  John  Carren;  Sec 
ond-Assistant,  O.  C.  Lewis;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  A.  F.  Rockefeller;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant, 
W.  J.  Bradley. 

"  AOAWAM  " — THIBD-BATE. 

Commander,  A.  C.  Rhind;  Acting-Master,  Thos. 
Syinmes;  Acting- Ensigns,  Clinton  Wiley,  C.  M. 
Anthony,  C.  L.  Willcomb  and  F.  H.  Lathrop;  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  H.  P.  Babcock;  Assistant  Pay 
master,  H.  M.  Hanna;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Rob't 
Anderson,  T.  P.  Jones  and  Paul  Boyden;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  F.  P.  Rust;  Sec 
ond-Assistants,  A.  T.  E.  Mullan  and  T.  M.  Jones; 
Third-Assistants,  G.  C.  Nelson  and  H.  Spear;  Act 
ing-Gunner,  H.  F.  Dunnels. 

"  QUAKEB  CITY  " — SECOND-BATE. 

Commander,  W.  F.  Spicer;  Lieutenant,  Silas 
Casey,  Jr.;  Ac  ting- Master,  S.  A.  Winnerton;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  C.  J.  Hill,  Rich.  Wilkinson  and  F.  D. 
Jacobson;  Acting-Assistant-Surgeons,  I.  C.  White- 
head  and  G.  W.  Gale,  Jr.;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  L.  A.  Frailey;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  O.  W. 
Clapp,  G.  E.  Sanborne,  W.  H.  Alger  and  J.  B.  Tew; 
Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  G.  W.  Farrar;  Second- 
Assistant,  George  J.  Burnap;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ants,  W.  J.  Howard,  J.  K.  Hickey,  Wm.  Mason  and 
J.  H.  Mathews;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  Pre<t, 


Jos.  R.  Peterson,  J.  D.  Wauklin  and  E.  E.  Porter; 
Acting-Gunner,  Joseph  Furkmg. 

*"  PONTOOSUC  " — THIBD-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Wm.  G.  Temple;  Acting- 
Masters,  B.  S.  Weeks  and  C.  H.  Frisbie;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  A.  D.  Campbell,  J.  J.  Kane  and  L.  R. 
Chester;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Pierson; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  A.  Lyon;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  E.  H.  Richardson,  F.  C.  Bailey, 
Thos,  Brown  and  D.  Lewis;  Engineers  :  First- As 
sistant,  Geo.  J.  Barry  ;  Second-Assistants,  M.  T. 
Sumstron  and  E.  J.  Whittaker;  Third-Assistant, 
J.  H.  Thomas;  Acting-Third-Assistant.  G.  C.  Brown; 
Acting-Gunner,  C.  Moran. 

"  ETJTAW  " — THIBD-BATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  H.  C.  Blake;  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  W.  Simmons;  Assistant- 
Surgeon,  C.  H.  Page;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
Thos.  Carstairs;  Acting-Masters,  C.  F.  Keith,  S.  B. 
Davis  and  T.  O.  Scranton;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  E. 
Rich,  W.  C.  King  and  Thos.  Morgan;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  E.  A.  Galindo,  B.  C.  Devine  and  H. 
Gardiner;  Engineers :  Second-Assistant,  J.  C.  Ste 
vens;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  E.  Hillard  and 
W.  H.  Crawford;  Third -Assistant,  H.  C.  Christo 
pher;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  A.  Satterlee  and 
J.  C.  Hillman;  Acting-Gunner,  C.  A.  Sampson. 

14  WYALTTSING  " — THIBD-BATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Earl  English;  Acting- 
Masters,  W.  R.  Hathaway  and  J.  G.  Green  ;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  J.  P.  Perkins,  H.  G.  C.  Kruse  and  L. 
H.  Fossett ;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  Holman; 
Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  J.  Pritchard ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  C.  Green,  W.  H.  Brown  and 
Henry  Watson  ;  Engineers:  Chief,  H.  H.  Stewart  ; 
Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  McCourt ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  E.  F.  Hedden,  J.  J.  Donohoe,  E.  T. 
Peake  and  S.  G.  Cottrell  ;  Acting-Gunner,  T.  Car 
penter. 

*  "  A.  D.  VANCE  "— FOUBTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  J.  H.  Upshur  ;  Acting- 
Masters,  G.  Cottrell  and  C.  M.  Lane ;  Acting-En 
signs,  W.  W.  Smith,  C.  F.  Ware,  C.  E.  Clark  and 
W.  J.  Eldredge  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeons,  D.  W. 
Jones  and  B.  F.  Ho  well ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  D.  C.  Chester;  Acting-Second-Assistants, 
C.  G.  Stevens,  C.  S.  Servoss  and  George  Devine  ; 
Acting- Third- Assistants,  Wm.  Madden.  G.  H. 
Whittemore  and  C.  B.  Nichols. 

*  "  YANTIC  "--FOUBTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  T.  C.  Harris  ;  Acting- 
Master,  L.  C.  Mclntyre;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  C.  Lord, 
S.  T.  Dederer,  Edwd.  Winnemore,  J.  F.  Churchill 
and  B.  B.  Sodenberg ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
H.  K.  Wheeler ;  Acting-Assistant-Paymaster,  S.  B. 
Huey ;  Engineers:  Second -Assistants.  W.  H.  Mes 
senger,  J.  J.  Noble  and  H.  C.  Beckwith ;  Third- 
Assistant,  H.  F.  Loveaire ;  Ac.ting-Third-Assistant, 
George  Holton  ;  Captain's  Clerk,  C.  M.  B.  Harris. 

*  "  SASSACUS"  —THIBD-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  L.  Davis  ;  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant,  A.  W.  Muldaur  ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  William  H.  Mayer,  Jr.,  August  Adler,  H.  W. 
O'Harra  and  David  Stephen  ;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  E.  McPherson  ;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  G.  W.  Garthwaite ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
T.  D.  Marble  and  J.  S.  O'Brien;  Engineers:  Second- 
Assistants.  J.  H.  Huxley,  R.  N.  Ellis  and  O.  W.  Aliis- 
son  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Wm.  Raynor,  H.  S. 
Mack  and  A.  Bigelow  ;  Acting-Gunner,  Neil  Mar^ 
tin. 

"  TAI/LAPOOSA  " — THIBD-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  E.  DeHaven  ;  Acting^ 
Master,  J.  H.  Platt;  Acting-Ensigns,  Jonathan  Jen> 
ney,  W.  A.  Rich,  A.  E.  Dunham  and  J.  D.  Bab- 
cock  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  E.  Warner  ; 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


743 


Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Daniel  Whalen  ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Lovejoy,  S.  T.  Ayres  and 
C.  M.  Tessimond ;  Engineers :  First- Assistant, 
David  Smith  ;  Second-Assistants,  J.  P.  Kelly  and 
W.  S.  Neal ;  Acting-Third-Assistant  W.  E.  Kenny 
and  G.  W.  Wakefleld  ;  Acting-Gunner,  J.  W.  Whi 
ting. 

*"TACONY"    THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  W.  T.  Truxtun  ;  Acting- 
Masters,  N.  S.  Morgan,  R.  Summers  and  S.  Blunt ; 
Acting  -  Ensigns,  J.  B.  Taney,  Thomas  Golding, 
E.  L.  Bourne  and  F.  H.  Fisher;  Acting- Assistant- 
Surgeon,  George  Hopkins  ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  W.  S.  Hosford  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates, 
J.  A.  Orcutt  and  F.  W.  Worstell;  Engineers:  First- 
Assistant,  T.  M.  Dukehart ;  Second  -  Assistants, 
C.  E.  Lee  and  H.  Parker,  Jr. :  Acting-Third-Assist 
ant,  A.  D.  Wood. 

NAVAL  STATION',    BEAUFORT. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  W.  C.  West ;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  S.  S.  Wood,  Jr.;  Gunner,  S.  D. 
Mines  ;  Carpenter,  J.  P.  Carter. 

"  MERCEDITA  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Milton  Haxton  ;  Acting- 
Master,  J.  A.  French  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  G.  Macy, 
Win.  Young  and  E.  D.  Pettengill ;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  J.  K.  Walsh  ;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  O.  F.  Browning;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate, 
R.  M.  Cornell ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant, 

B.  F.  Beckett  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Win.  Lan- 
nan,  D.  T.  Lannahan,  Wm.  McComb,   J.   H.   Hop 
kins  and   William  Ellis  ;     Acting-Gunner,   James 
Addison. 

*"  KANSAS  ''  -FOURTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  P.  G.  Watmough;  Act 
ing-Masters,  Samuel  Hall,  E.  S.  Goodwin  and  W.  S. 
Folsori  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  G.  C.  Williams,  C.  D. 
Thompson  and  C.  B.  Staples ;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
Isaac  Poole;  Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  Merritt  ;  En 
gineers  :  Acting- Second- Assistant,  Hugh  Rafferty  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  W.  Stott,  G.  L.  King 
and  George  B.  Stone. 

* ' '  MARATANZA  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant  Commander,  G.  W.  Young ;  Acting- 
Masters,  D.  E.  Taylor  and  J.  B.  Wood,  Jr. ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  J.  W.  Crowell,  H.  H.  Collamore  and  E. 
Lawson;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Alger,  A.  F. 
Williamson, George  E.  Chipman  and  C.  H. Grossman; 
Acting- Assistant-Surgeon,  J.  W.  Hamilton  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  H.  Noyes ;  Engineers  : 
Second- Assistants,  W.  H  Kilpatriek  and  R.  L. 
Webb;  Third-Assistants,  L.  R.  Harvey  and  R.  D. 
Taylor;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  J.  Gillespie 
and  J.  L.  Starkey;  Acting-Gunner,  W.  W.  Bradley. 

*'•  MAUMEE" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Ralph  Chandler;  Act 
ing-Master  Richard  Burk ;  Acting  Ensigns,  E.  R. 
Powers,  W.  J.  Shackford,  C.  P.  Gifford  and  C.  B. 
Nichols;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  P.  Goodhue; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Smoot;  Engi 
neers  :  Second-Assistant,  T.  J.  McK.  Daniels ;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  William  Veitch;  Third-As 
sistants,  J.  M.  Clark,  C.  R.  Mosherand  G.  A.  Pfeltz. 

*"  PEQUOT  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  D.  L.  Braine;  Acting- 
Masters,  L.  H.  Beattie  and  W.  F.  Chace ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  George  Lamb,  H.  W.  Loring  and  A. 
Smalley;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  R.  Watts; 
Acting"- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  G.  Hutchinson; 
Engineers:  Second-Assistants,  A.  H.  Fisherand  G. 

C.  Cook  ;  Third-Assistants,  James  Wylie  and  J.  W. 
Gardner;     Acting -Third -Assistants,  George     W. 
Rymes;  Captain's  Clerks,   J.  W.  Jones  and  — 
O'Brian  ("  Keystone  State"). 


"  NYACK  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  L.  H.  Newman;  Acting- 
Master,  H.  W.  Grinnell  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  B. 
Colby,  Charles  Nelson,  J.  W.  Hopkins,  G.  H.  Bar 
rows  and  James  Jordan  ;  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon, 
B.  F.  Bigelow  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  S. 
Halliday;  Engineers:  First- Assistant,  B.  C.  Bamp- 
tpn;  Second-Assistant,  John  Fornance;  Third  As 
sistant,  W-  A.  Windsor  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
W.  M.  Bartram  and  J.  C.  Veatch. 

*"  CANONICUS  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  George  E.  Belknap  ; 
Lieutenant,  R.  S.  McCook;  Acting-  Masters,  D.  S. 
Murphy,  E.  S.  Goodwin  and  E.  A.  Decker ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  C.  W.  Seekins,  M.  W.  Weld  and  F.  P.  Cen 
ter;  Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  N.  Beaumont;  Assistant 
Paymaster,  R.  P.  Lisle;  Engineers  :  Chief,  D.  B. 
Macomb;  Acting-First-Assistant,  C.  G.  Conklin  ; 
Second- Assistants,  F.  F.  McKean  and  J.  M.  Saville; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  William  S.  Brown,  Win. 
Keenan  and  J.  A.  Chandler. 

"  VICKSBURO  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  F.  H.  Baker  ;  Acting- 
Master,  F.  G.  Osborn  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  H.  Otis, 
R.  B.  Elder  and  D.  P.  Cook  ;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  T.  W.  Bennett ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  T.  E.  Smith  ;  Acting- Master's  Mate,  G.  V. 
Demorest ;  Engineers  :  Second  -  Assistant,  J.  L. 
Bright;  Acting- Second- Assistant,  H.  Harbenson  ; 
Third- Assistant,  A.  F.  Nagle ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  Levi  Coit  and  G.  W.  Yoe. 

*  "  CHIPPEWA  ^—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  W.  Weaver  (Lieu 
tenant-Commander  E.  E.  Potter  commanded  at 
Fort  Fisher);  Acti  ng- Master  J.  W.  Saunders  ;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  G.  H.  Wood,  Edw.  Tilghman,  W.  H. 
DeGrosse  and  W.  A.  Taylor  ;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  J.  E.  Gregory;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  M.  Flood  ;  Engineers :  Second  Assistant,  Jos. 
Watters;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  A.  A.  Winship  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  R.  W.  Wilton  and  Henry 
Romaine. 

"  SACO  " — FOURTH  -RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  G.  Walker ;  Act 
ing-Master,  W.  F.  Hunt ;  Acting-Ensigns,  O.  F. 
Wixon,  T.  J.  Rollins,  W.  H.  Potter  and  A.  H.  Os- 
trander;  Passed- Assistant-Surgeon,  A.  Matthewson; 
Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  H.  Hill;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  A. W.  Harris;  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  J.  P.  Cloyd  and  J.  A.  Crouthers; 
Acting  Third- Assistants,  W.  J.  Barren  and  W.  H. 
Woodward. 

*  "  UNADILLA  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Francis  M.  Ramsey; 
Acting  -  Master,  J.  M.  Skillings  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
John  Cullaton,  Wm.  Field,  Charles  Weidenbein 
and  Win.  Hanson  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon, 

D.  C.  Burleigh  ;   Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  I.  G. 
Hobbs  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  C.  H.  Smith  and 

E.  M.  Reed  ;  Engineers  :   Acting  -  First  -  Assistant, 
B.  F.  Bee ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  L.  M.   Ryfen- 
burg  ;    Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,   Win.    D.    Kay, 
James  Curran  and  J.  S.  Larkins. 

*  "  MAHOPAC  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant  Commander  E.  E.  Potter  (Lieuten 
ant-Commander  A.  W.  Weaver  commanded  at  Fort 
Fisher  ;  Acting- Masters,  C.  R.  Harris  and  D.  K.  Ken- 
nison;  Acting- Ensigns,  J.  E.  Jones,  W.  E.  Jones  and 
S.  C.  Holm;  Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  B  A.  Lewis;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  Addison  Pool;  Engineers: 
Acting-Chief,  M.  T.  Chevers  ;  Acting- First  -  Assist 
ant,  Charles  Dougherty  ;  Afting-Second-Assistant, 
Wesley  Randall;  Acting- Third- Assistants,  J.  G. 
Brown,  C.  A.  Enggren,  C.  O.  Putnam  and  J.  W. 
Buell. 


744 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


*  "HURON" — FOUBTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Thos.  O.  Selfridge  ;  Act 
ing  -  Master,  Benj.  Whitmore  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
Robert  Shepperd,  S.  H.  Munder,  W.  H.  H.  Curtis 
and  Andrew  McCleary  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate, 
Eugene  Coleman;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  James 
McMillan  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  D.  Col- 
lom  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First  -  Assistant,  James 
Blenkirisop  ;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  H.  F.  Hay- 
den  and  M.  Harloe-  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  F. 
Burket  and  E.  G.  Ingalls. 

*  ''SENECA" — FOUBTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Montgomery  Sicard  ; 
Acting-Master,  Wm  H.  Maies;  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm. 
Schutz,  Thomas  Mason,  W.  B.  Pierce  and  L.  C. 
Owen;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  H.  Greene; 
Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  M.  B.  Gushing;  En 
gineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  P.  Sweet  ;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  Alfred  Catchpole  ;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  S.  A.  Slater,  A.  J.  Doty  and 
T.  J.  Reaney. 

' '  HUNCHBACK  " — FOUBTH  BATE. 

Lieutenant,  Joseph  P.  Fyffe;  Acting-Master,  E.  K. 
Valentine;  Acting -Ensigns,  J.  W.  Thompson  and 
C.  W.  Jones  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  J.  F.  Sias, 
J.  L.  Robins,  T.  W.  Rack  and  F.  W.  Colton ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  Gushing  ;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  A.  Barnum ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  B.  Wilson  ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  S.  Hart,  G.  V.  Payton,  J.  E.  Edwards  and 
J.  W.  Smith. 

*  "  MONTIOELLO  " — FOUBTH  BATE. 

Lieutenant,  W.  B.  Gushing ;  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant,  D.  A.  Campbell :  Acting-Masters,  C.  A. 
Pettit  and  E.  A.  Elliott  ;  Acting  Ensigns,  W.  H. 
Gibson,  D.  W.  Lakin,  T.  B.  Huntington,  J.  H. 
Puckett  arid  J.  B.  Edwards  ;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  J.  F.  Billard  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster, 
John  Furey  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Charles  Cro 
ton  and  J.  S.  Clark  ;  Engineers  :  Second- Assistant, 
H.Missiner;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  C.A.Mar 
tin  and  F.  McKinley  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants, 
W.  R.  Gall,  and  J.  McCallum. 

* ' '  GETTYSBUBG ''—  FOUBTH  BATE. 

Lieutenant,  R.  H.  Lamson;  Acting-Master,  C.  B. 
Dahlgren;  Acting-Ensigns,  A.  S.  Leighton,  F.  P.  B. 
Sands,  F.  A.  Gross,  M.  G.  Keith  and  Charles  Miller; 
Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  S.  Eddy  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  R.  H.  Gillette  ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  H.  J.  Derbyshire  and  T.  H.  P. 
Gross;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistants,  G.  S. 
Perkins,  J.  M.  Case,  E.  G.  Maloy  and  A.  J.  Pixley; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  E.  B.  Carter  and  J.  W. 
Homans. 

*"MALVEBN  " — FOUBTH-BATE  (FLAG-SHIP) 

Lieutenant,  B.  H.  Porter;  Acting-Masters,  J.  A. 
Hamilton  and  John  Price  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Geo. 
Leonard,  John  Hill  and  G.  E.  Kidder;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  W.  F.  Horton,  Henry  Gardiner, 
A.  M.  Lyon  arid  W.  D.  Cobb,  Jr. ;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  J.  S.  Ramsey ;  Acting  Assistant  Paymaster, 
Poor;  Engineers:  Acting- First-Assistant, 
W.  E.  Moore;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  J.  Ash 
men  and  F,  J.  Hadley  ;  Third -Assistant,  Owen 
Jones;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Edwin  Bond,  A.  H. 
Perry  and  William  Finn;  Sub-Assistant  J.  S.  Brad 
ford,  U.  S.  Coast  Survey. 

*  "ALABAMA"— THIBD-BATE. 

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant,  A.  R.  Langthorn  ; 
Acting- Master,  Win. Bates;  Acting-Ensigns,  Albert 
Taylor,  Thos.  Williams  and  S.  F  Graves  ;  Acting 
Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  T.  T.  Nestell  ;  Acting- Assist 
arit  Paymaster,  E.  K.  Gibson  ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  G.  F.  Ellmore,  G.  S.  Wilcox  and  1).  H  Hall ; 
Engineers  :  First- Assistant,  Edward  Farmer ;  Act 


ing-Second-Assistants,  J.  G.  Rossman,  J.  C.  Lewis 
and  Greenville  Lewis;  Acting- Third- Assistants, 
Ezra  Gray  and  Geo.  Cowie,  Jr. 

*  "  MONTGOMEBT  " — THIBD-EATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  T  C.  Dunn  ;  Act 
ing-Masters,  W.  N.  Wells  and  A.  F.  Davis  ;  Acting 
Ensigns,  E.  T.  Mauter,  C.  G.  Whiting  and  Robt. 
Wiley  ;  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  John  Blackmer; 
Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  Watson ;  Acting- 
Master  s  Mates,  T.-J  Walker  and  C.  A.  Neill  ;  En 
gineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  G.  H.  Wade:  Act 
ing  Second-Assistants,  John  McEwen,  J.  Williams 
and  J.  Allen;  Acting- Third-Assistants,  G.  H.  Brown 
and  A.  Tester. 

*  "FOBT  DONELSON  "— THIBD  BATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Thomas  Pickering; 
(Acting-Master,  G.  AV.  Frost,  commanded  at  Fort 
Fisher  I ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  W.  Bennett,  E.  A.  But 
ler,  H.  C.  Leslie  and  J.  G.  Lloyd  ;  Acting  Master's 
Mates,  Geo.  Woodland  and  A.  F.  G.  Blanfuhr  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  M.  G.  Raefle ;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster  J.  F.  Dunham ;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
First  Assistant,  John  Miller  ;  Acring-Secorid-Assis- 
>*nt,  H.  L.  M.  Hodges;  Acting- Third -Assistants, 
G.  W.  Rymes,  L.  De  Arville,  W.  A.  Fuller,  J.  H. 
Sleanman  and  P.  M.  Kafer. 

"  MIAMI  "  —  THIBD-BATE. 

Acting  "Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Geo.  W.  Graves; 
Acting-Masters,  M.  Rodgers  and  John  Lear  ;  Acting- 
Ensign,  J.  R.  Peacock  ;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
G.  H.  Marvin  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  R.  F. 
Goodman  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants, 
C.  C.  Da  vis  and  David  Newell  ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  H.  D.  Heiser,  A.  Stewart  and  A.  Moore. 

*  "GOVEBNOB  BUCKINGHAM  "—THIBD-BATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  John  Macdearmid  ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  C.  H.  Sawyer,  L.  W.  Smith,  D.  M. 
Gaskins  and  L.  P.  Cassan  ;  Acting- Assistant-Sur 
geon,  W.  S.  Parker  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
G.  B.  Tripp  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  W.  Gard 
ner,  F.  H.  Poole  and  W.  W.  Hunter  ;  Engineers: 
Acting-First  Assistant,  F.  E.  Porter;  Acting  Second 
Assistant,  Eugene  Mack  ;  Acting-Third- Assistants, 
Thos.  Foley,  Owen  Kaney,  James  Fitzpatrick  and 
Chas.  Ward. 

* '  'ABIES  " — THIBD  -BATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  F.  S.  Wells  ;  Act 
ing  Ensigns,  G.  F.  Morse,  J.  A.  Brennan  and  Seth 
Hand  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  C.  Fowler  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  A.  Downes;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  D.  McCool  and  F.  A.  Haskeil ;  En 
gineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Simeon  Smith  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  R.  H.  Cornthwait,  T.  E. 
Wilson  and  J.  F.  Fraser. 

"  CAMBBIDGE  "—THIBD-BATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  F.  Nickels  ;  Act 
ing-Master,  S.  K.  Luce  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  I.  S.  Brad 
bury  and  A.  J.  Iverson  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  -  Sur 
geon,  John  Spare;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  J.  Pratt ;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  F.  U.  Northup  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting  First  -  Assistant,  G.  B.  Orswell ; 
Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  W.  W.  Tunis  and  John 
Whittaker;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  S.  D.  Edwards; 
Acting-Gunner,  Wm.  Scott. 

"  CHEBOKEE"— FOUBTH-BATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  AVm.  E.  Dennison  ; 
Acting- Ensigns,  T.  F.  DeLuce,  John  Parry,  A.  F. 
Parsons  and  C.  B.  Dickman  ;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  E.  T.  T.  March  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  C  Osterloh  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant, 
A.  W.  Reynolds  ;  Acting -Second- Assistants,  F.  H. 
Tlmrber  and  J.  H.  Potts  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants 
John  Gilmore  and  A.  I.  Sanborn. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


74.1 


"  HOWQUAH  "  —  FOURTH-RATE. 


•*••"••-•••'-*  "-o,    "•     t->.     OIHIL u  and    jj.    .f.    JiasKeil ' 

Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants.  W.  G  Mc 
Lean,  1).  R.  Wylie  and  J.  L.  DeMott ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  F.  W.  Moores,  Jr.,  and  Arthur  O'Brien. 

"  EMMA  "  -FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  J.  M.  Williams  • 
Acting-Ensigns,  C.  Zimmerman,  I).  S.  Beete,  I  8. 
Sampson,  C.  A.  Stewart  and  I.  C.  Fuller  •  Acting- 
Master  s  Mate,  R.  P.  Herrick ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  George  Doig  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  C.  H.  Hammatt  :  Engineers  :  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  E.  Barry;  Acting-Third-Assistants  A  S 
Churchill,  J.  C.  Smith,  R.  H.  Rvan,  J.  W.  Grant' 
and  J.  C.  Wells. 

"BIGNONIA" — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Win.  D.  Roath  • 
Acting-Ensigns,  T.  H.  Marks  and  H.  D  Trott  • 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  G.  C.  Short  and  W.  H.' 
Howland  ;  Engineers:  Acting  -  Second -Assistant, 
John  Moir  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  W.  S.  Dob- 
son,  T.  McCreary  and  James  Boyd. 

"COMMODORE   BARNEY"  -FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant,  Geo.  B.  Living 
ston  ;  Acting- Master,  J.  B.  Stover  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Joseph  Avant,  Albert  Buhner,  John  Aspinwall, 
Jr.,  and  James  Auld  ;  Acting- Master's  Mate,  W.  H 
Richmond;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  C. 
Webber;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster.  Thomas  Jer- 
negan  ;  Engineers :  Acting-First-Assistants,  Hiram 
\\arner;  Acting- Second -Assistants,  C.  B.  Culver 
and  D.  S.  Leffler  ;  Acting-Third- Assistants.  F.  G. 
Shannon  and  David  Reed. 

"  SHOKOKON  "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant,  W.  B.  Sheldon; 
Acting -Ensigns,  P.  C.  Asserson.  A.  O.  Kruge  and 
D.  W.  Lakin  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates.  R.  S.  Proud- 
fit  and  F.  Bradley;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
C.  J.  Todd;  Engineers:  Acting  First-Assistant,  W.  D. 
Forbes  ;  Acting-Third  Assistant,  James  Wilson. 

'•  DUNBARTON  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant.  Henry  Brown;  Act 
ing-Master,  Hamilton  Bingham ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
O.  A.  Thompson,  C.  T.  Somes.  Daniel  Merrill  and 
J.  A.Williams;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  H.  M.Guilford; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  W.  Holmes;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-Second  Assistant,  Charles  Bremen  ; 
Acting-Third  Assistants.  J.  W.  Mead.  G.  L.  Shoe 
maker,  Clark  Thurston  and  J.  T.  Boyd. 

"  CLEMATIS"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  E.  D.  Bruner;  Act 
ing  Ensigns,  C.  T.  Beth,  Isaac  Miller  and  Geo.  H. 
Gooding;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  M.  P.  Butts  and 
O.  C.  Currier;  Engineers:  Acting-  Second-  Assist 
ant,  Win.  Deacon  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  G.  Me 
Allister,  W.  S.  Kenworthy  and  Win.  Snedeker. 

"TRISTAM   SHANDY."  -  FOURTH  RATE 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  F.  M.  Green ;  Act- 
ting-Ensign,  Benj.  Wood,  J.  H.  Nash,  T.  M.  Smith, 
S.  T.  Dederer  and  John  Owens:  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  Robert  Clifford,  Maurice  Wagg  and  F.  T. 
Baldwin,  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  R.  Stow; 
Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  W.  W.  Whiting; 
Acting-Second  Assistants,  W.  S.  Pratt  and  H.  W. 
Miller;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Richard  Wareham, 
Thomas  Pentony,  William  Gladden  and  Thomas 
Holten. 

'"LILLIAN  "--FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant.  Thomas  A.  Harris; 
Acting-Master,  J.  S.  Gilett;  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  C. 


Underbill,  Joseph  H.  Clark,  T.  B.  Tucker,  Jr.,  and 
J.  G.  Lloyd;  Acting- Master's  Mate,  J.  P.  Sturgeon; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Charles  Sturdevant;  Act 
ing  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  Herman  Dorr  ;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  C.  Mockabee, 
H.  W.  Moore  and  David  Morris;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  Henry  Greatorex,  T.  J.  Foster  and  A.  T. 
Donegan. 

"  CRUSADEB  "  —  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Peter  Hays:  Act 
ing-Master,  C  Hallett;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  Taylor, 
W.  W.  Leonard  and  Geo.  Kendall;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  R.  H.  Whedon;  Engineers:  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  Cornelius  Carr;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
W.  F.  Andrews;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  C.  C. 
Howe,  W.  Barnet  and  J.  H.  Wilson. 

1 '  MOUNT    VERNON  "  -  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant,  James  Trathen- 
Acting-Masters,  E.  W.  White  and  F.  M.  Paine;  Act 
ing-Ensigns.  C.  G.  Walstrora,  H.  F.  Cleverly  and 
Jason  Rypn;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Ber- 
rett;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  B.  Brown; 
Acting- Master's  Mate,  Henry  Rogers  ;  Engineers  > 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  H.  Horsford  and  H.  S. 
Short ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Geo.  Ducker  and 
Win.  H.  Smith. 

"ATLANTA  ''  -  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  T.  J.  Woodward; 
Acting-Masters,  Curtis  Redmond  and  D.  V.  N. 
Wrights;  Acting-Ensigns,  Paul  Armandt,  A.  C. 
Southworth  and  H.  Wakefield  ;  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Thomas  Owens  ;  Acting- Assistant  Pav- 
master,  D.  S.  Bostwick;  Acting- Master's  Mate,  A. 
Loisons;  Engineers:  Acting- First  Assistant,  W.  S. 
Thompson;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Win.  Collier, 
Win.  Gumphert  and  J.  W.  Harnett;  Acting  Third- 
Assistants,  F.  O.  Brown,  D.  A.  McDermott  and 
T.  B.  Speakman. 

* '  •  BRITANNIA.  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenants,  Samuel  Huse,  and 
W.  A.  Sheldon  (commanded  at  Fort  Fisher);  Acting- 
Masters,  J.  S.  Coney  and  S.  J.  White;  Acting-En 
signs,  A.  J.  Lowell  and  W.  H.  Bryant;  Acting-As 
sistant  Surgeon,  F.  Nickerson;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  C.  B.  Culver;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
R.  L.  M.  Jones  and  W.  W.  Reed;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second  Assistants,  J.  Fernald  and  J.  M.  Barron- 
Acting-Third-Assistants,W.  D.  Butts,  Samuel  Dale, 
Jr.,  and  F.  S.  Andrews. 

' '  BANSHEE  "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant,  W.  H.  Garfield  ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  G.  W.  Prindle,  W.  C.  Gibson,  Paul 
Greene  and  J.  S.  Young;  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon, 
J.  M.  Garner;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  D.  P. 
Shuler;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  C.  Crans 
ton;  Acting-Second- Assistants,  Geo.  F.  Case  and 
Thomas  McXellis;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  L. 
Lowe,  J.  H.  Radcliffe,  J.  W.  Little  and  Charles 
Green. 

"MYSTIC  " — POURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Masters,  Win.  Wright  and  S.  B.  Meaders; 
Acting-Ensigns,  A.  T.  Hamblen,  H.  L.  Pierce  and 
Geo.  W.  Conner;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Alex. 
Mackenzie;  Assistant  Paymaster.  Augustus  Parrot; 
Engineers:  Acting- First-Assistant,  J.  B.  Lowell; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  Isaac  Buck  and  T.  W.  De 
Klyne. 

"  DAWN  "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Master.  J.  A.  Jackaway;  Acting-Ensigns, 
W.  B.  A very,  E.  T.  Sears  and  P.  W.  Morgan;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate,  S.  W.  Crossley;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  A.  S.  Lanbach;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  R.  C.  Peirce;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Assistant,  Sam'l  Tomlinson ;  Aeting-Third-Assist- 
ants.  T.  K.  Payson,  C.  W.  Williams  and  J.  D. 
Averill. 

"  WESTERN  WORLD  ''—FOURTH -KATE. 

Acting-Master,  Edward  Herrick;  Acting-Ensigns, 

A.  J.  L.  Barker,  Chas.  Hall,  R.  D.  Sparrow  and  E.  H. 
McDonald;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  F.  Brooks, 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Amos  D.  Allen;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  F.   R.   Shoemaker; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  A.  Anderson,  H.   L.  Per- 
rine,  J.  E.  Thumbert  and  Edw.  G.  Schwartz. 

"  COMMODORE  HULL  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Masters,  F.  Josselyn  and  J.  O.  Johnson; 
Acting  -  Ensign,  F.  J.  Runnells;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  Henry  Fleet ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  Chapman  ;  Engineers  :  Actiiig-Third-Assistaiits, 
O.  L.  Smith,  W.  C.  Remick  and  S.  T.  Hand. 

"RACHAEL  SEAMAN  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Samuel  Curtis;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 

E.  T.  Strong  and  1).  Organ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
H.  B.  Arbecam  and  W.  H.  Wording  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  T.  Thompson. 

"WHITEHEAD  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Geo.  W  Barrett  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
Jarvis  Wilson;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  T.  E.  Quayle, 
T.  M.  Nelson  and  W.  S.  Baldwin;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  G.  B.  McDeruiott  and  G.  S. 
Snaith. 

"  DELAWARE  "—  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Masters,  J.  H.  Eldredge  and  H.  Vander- 
veer ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Robert  Price  and  H.  Liver- 
more  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  George  Mackay, 

B.  Heath,  Jr.,  and  Thos.  Topliff :  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  F.  Henry;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster 
W.  W.  Woodhull;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  Chas.  Bennett;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  H. 
Keener  and  Thos.  F.  Hannigan. 

"  DAYLIGHT  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Master.  H.  A.  Phelan  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 

F.  L.  Harris,  B.  F.  Macintire,  C.  F.  Russell,  C.  Lin- 
derman  and  F.  Bradley;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  E. 
Mernman  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon.  J.  R.   May  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  F.C.  Imlay;  Engineers: 
Acting-First-Assistant,  1).  B.  Overton  ;  Actin»--Sec- 
ond- Assistant,  R.  Pallet  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
J.  B.  Rice,  H.  R.  Allen,  A.  P.  Smith  and  Jas.  Hill. 

"COMMODORE  MORRIS  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  Master,  R.  G.  Lee  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J  D 
Gossick,  A.  J.  Kane  and  Jos.  Ware;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  L.  Dempsey;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  R.W 
Clark;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  Higgins  • 
Engineers  ;    Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  V.  Cronk 
and  J.  EL  Watkins  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  L.  L. 
Copeland,  J.  Callahan  and  D.  A.  Bandell. 

*  "EOLUS"— FOURTH  -RATE. 

Acting  -  Master  E.  S.  Keyser  ;  Acting -Ensigns 
Thos  Stothard,  C.  A.  Stewart,  S.  M.  Lanf  and  E?  N 
Crockett ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  H  Jen^ 
kins;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  A.  Rocker- 

T  Verr;TTActing'Th^1-Assistants'  G-  L-  Rockwell, 
J.  M.  Hennesy  and  M.  L.  Ruth. 

"  SAMUEL  ROTAN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  W  G.  Nutting;  Acting-Ensigns, 
T.  W.  Spencer  and  W.  A.  Dailey  ;  Acting-Master's 

Forbes  J>   J'  KeUer'   W<    *'   Br°™e11  ^  P.  H! 

"RELEASE"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master  Jonathan  Baker;  Acting- Ensigns 

C.  H.  Beckshafft,  L.  Turlow,  H.   C.  Bowen    J   M' 
Taylor  and  F.  B.  Owens ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate, 


F.  W.  Kimball ;    Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  C. 
Tuttle  ;  Acting -Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  L.  Ely. 

"  CERES  '' — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Master,  H.  H.  Foster;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
T.  S.  Russell  and  Saml.  Weskett  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  J.  B.  Hopkins;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  J.  A.  Frank,  W.  H.  Touchton  and  Rich. 
Fowler. 

*  "  LITTLE  ADA  " — FOURTH-RATE 

Acting  -  Master,  S.  P.  Crafts  ;  Acting  -  Ensign, 
I.  F.  Atkins  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Joseph 
and  G.  W.  Lane  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  W.  H.  Johnson;  Acting  -  Third- Assistants, 
B.  Converse  and  J.  R.  Peterson. 

"  FAHKEE  v — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Masters,  F.  R.  Webb  and  D  W.  Carrall ; 
Acting  -  Ensigns,  E.  W.  Pelton,  Peter  Williams, 
J.  W.  Luscomb,  H.  A.  Winslow  and  A.  W.  Harvey  ; 
Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  B.  Thornton  ;  En 
gineers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  G.  W.  Foster  ; 
Acting -Second- Assistants,  E.  F.  Lewis  and  J.  H. 
Hutt on  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  B.  Edson. 

*"  WILDERNESS  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  H.  Arey  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  B.  O. 
Low,  C.  F.  Hull,  C.  E.  P.  Noyes  and  E.  McKeever; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  M.  Rogers;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  Win.  Phyffe ;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  Richard  Anderson;  Acting-Third 
Assistants,  E.  A.  Robinson,  Walter  Taylor  and 
David  Bod  den. 

*"  NANSEMOND  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Master,  James  H.  Porter;  Acting-Ensigns, 
J.  B.  Henderson,  Win.  Hunter  and  Henry  Waring  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  Hudson,  Jr. ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate,  A.  K.  Brown;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second -Assistant,  Edward  Aspald  ;  Acting -Third- 
Assistants,  C.  M.  Goodwin,  J.  T.  Earl  and  E.  A. 
Reilly. 

' '  MOUNT   WASHINGTON  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Master,  H.  H.  Haynie  ;  Acting-  Ensign, 
John  Nason;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Theo.  Morse; 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Sydney  Smith; 
Acting-Third- Assistant,  F.  A.  Whitfield. 

"  ZOUAVE  " — FOURTH-RATE 

Acting-Master,  Jacob  L.  Hayes  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Chas.  Attmore  ;  Second  Assistant  Engineer, 
Samuel  H.  Magee 

"  BEN  MORGAN  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  A.  B.  Mulford. 

''  PHLOX"— FOURTH-RATE." 

Acting-Ensign,  D.  F.  O'Brien;  Acting-Master,  T.  A. 
Wyatt  (Pilot)  ;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Samuel  Gor 
don  ;  Engineers:  Acting -Third  -  Assistants,  W.  C. 
Wright,  G.  Morrison  and  J.  H.  Coombs. 

"  EPSILON  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  F.  M.  Muitzer;  Engineers  :  G.  B. 
Polen  and  Chas.  Gould. 

"  CHABLES    PHELPS  ''—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  Ottiwell  and  C.  B.  Parry. 

' '  ROMAN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  H.  Merchant. 

"  GAMMA  " — TUG. 

Acting-Ensign,  Henry  F.  Curtis;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant  Engineer,  Thomas  Lee. 

"  MOCCASIN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  James  Brown  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Joseph  Fuller,  John  Johnson  and  J.  S.  Sin 
clair;  Engineers:  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  T.  T. 
Archer,  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  C.  H.Wilson, 
W.  H.  Garrecht  and  W.  B.  Boyd. 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


747 


"  LILAC ''  -FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  J.  A.  Chadwiek;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  1).  S.  Ingersoll;  Engineers:  Acting-Third- As 
sistants,  W.  T.  Graff,  J.  C.  Garner  and  J.  B.  Games. 

"  WILLIAM   BADGER  "—  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  S.  G.  Swain;  Acting- Master's  Mate, 
J.  B.  Somes. 

"  POPPY"'— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign, Win.  Clark;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
T.  P.  Jones;  Acting- Second- Assistant  Engineer, 
C.  W.  O'ISfeill. 

'  ANEMOXE" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  W.  C.  Borden  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  G.  W.  Briggs  and  Then.  Stone;  Engineers: 
Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  Win.  Higman;  Acting- 
Third:Assistants,  J.  L.  Wright  and  H.  Litchfield. 

"  ALERT  "--FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Ensign,  John  Bishop  ;  Acting-Master  and 
Pilot,  D.  M.  Abbott;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-As 
sistant,  Win.  Mahan ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Eli 
Tympenny  and  J.  W.  Briggs. 

"HELIOTROPE ''-    FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign. G.  B.  Griffin;  Acting  Master's  Mate, 
Samuel  Davis;  Engineers:  Acting  Second-Assistant, 
S.  G.  Flynn;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  John  McKen- 
nev  and  Edward  J.  Cahill. 


'   EPSILON  ''  —FOURTH-BATE. 

Acting- Ensign,  Eli  M.  Boggs;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  F.  M.  Wagner  and  Frank  Block i. 

'•  COHASSETT  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  Master's  Mate,  M.  K.  Henderson;  Engi 
neers:  Acting  Second  Assistant,  J.  H.  Finn;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  H.  Haney  and  R.  F.  Baker. 

"  DELTA  "      FOURTH-BATE 

Acting  Master's  Mate,  Wm.  F.  Gragg;  Engineers  : 
Acting-Third  Assistants,  Geo  Schultz  and  J.  N. 
Scheiick. 

"  AL15EMARLE  "—FOURTH-BATE. 

Acting- Assistant  Paymasters,  E.  Mellack  and  J.  G. 
Orme  ;  Acting  •  First  -  Assistant  Engineer,  Newton 
Eggleston  ;  Gunner,  E.  A.  McDonald  ;  Carpenter, 
M.  W.  Paul. 

"  PICKET   LAUNCH." 

Acting-Gunner,  Herman  Peters;  Acting- Second- 
Assistant  Engineer,  Marceline  Villazon. 

"SPUYTEX   DUYVIL." 


sistant,  Byron  S   Heath. 

*  "BEPUBLIC." 

Acting-Ensign,  J.  W.  Bennett. 


CH  A  PTER    LI, 

EFFECTS  OF  THE  FALL  OF  FORT  FISHER,  AND   CRITICISMS   ON  GENERAL 
BADEAU'S  MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 

GENERAL  BUTLER'S  INFLUENCE.— CONDITION  OF  GENERAL  LEE'S  ARMY.— MOVEMENTS  OF 
ARMIES  UNDER  GENERALS  GRANT  AND  SHERMAN.— HONOR  TO  WHOM  HONOR  is  DUE.— 
EXTRACTS  FROM  GENERAL  GRANT'S  MEMOIRS,  SHOWING  THE  ORIGIN  OF  FORT  FISHER 
EXPEDITION. — LETTERS  OF  INSTRUCTION  FROM  GENERAL  GRANT  TO  GENERALS  BUTLER 
AND  TERRY.— WHY  GENERAL  BUTLER  ABANDONED  THE  ATTEMPT  TO  CAPTURE  FORT 
FISHER  AFTER  FIRST  ATTACK.— WHY  SECOND  ATTACK  ON  FORT  FISHER  WAS  SUCCESS 
FUL. — LETTERS  OF  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY  TO  THE  PRESIDENT. — CRITICISMS  ON  GEN 
ERAL  BADEAU'S  MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. — INCIDENTS  OF  FINAL  AS 
SAULT  ON  FORT  FISHER. — EFFECTS  OF  FALL  OF  FORT  FISHER,  ETC. 


THERE  was  a  great  deal  of  acrimony 
and  recrimination  growing  out  of 
the  first  attack  on  Fort  Fisher. 
The  "Committee  on  the  Conduct 
of  the  War"  took  the  matter  up, 
and  it  proved  a  feast  for  the  politicians. 

General  Butler,  with  strong  political  in 
fluence,  had,  of  course,  a  host  of  supporters, 
and  these  flew  to  his  assistance  as  soon  as 
he  returned  from  Fort  Fisher,  in  the  hope 
of  finding  some  flaw  in  the  armor  of  General 
Grant  or  Admiral  Porter  through  which 
they  could  thrust  their  lances. 

Just  as  the  committee  were  accumulat 
ing  testimony  in  support  of  General  Butler, 
the  sound  of  the  one  hundred  guns  fired  at 
the  Washington  Navy  Yard,  in  honor  of 
the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  thundered 
through  the  Capitol,  and  the  baseless  fabric 
of  evidence  melted  into  thin  air.  Fort 
Fisher  was  won,  and  nobody  cared  to  hear 
about  the  failure  of  the  first  attack. 

Having  given  a  detailed  account  of  the 
naval  operations  before  Fort  Fisher,  it  now 
becomes  in  order  to  show  the  effect  of  the 
capture  of  that  stronghold,  and  its  influence 
in  hastening  the  close  of  the  civil  war. 

The  capture  of  the  defences  of  Wilming 
ton  closed  the  last  door  through  which  the 
Southern  Confederacy  received  their  sup 
plies  of  clothing,  arms  and  ammunition  ; 


therefore,  when  Fort  Fisher  fell,  it  was  only 
a  matter  of  a  short  time  when  the  rebellion 
would  collapse.  No  matter  how  brave  an 
enemy  may  be,  or  how  well  commanded,  he 
must liave' provisions  and  military  stores; 
and  at  this  time  General  Lee  had  not 
enough  material  of  war  to  last  him  three 
months. 

General  Grant  confronted  the  Confeder- 
erates  at  Petersburg  and  Richmond  with  a 
greatly  superior  force,  and  the  James  River 
was  blockaded  by  the  Navy ;  yet  Lee  held 
his  own  with  his  diminished  army,  and 
General  Grant  had  to  wait  until  necessity 
should  bring  the  enemy  to  terms. 

Despite  Grant's  great  numerical  supe 
riority,  Lee  had  secured  the  approaches  to 
Richmond  so  well  that  all  attacks  on  his 
lines  were  unsuccessful.  Sherman,  with 
50,000  men,  was  advancing  from  the  South, 
but  his  forces  were  in  such  position  that  it 
would  have  been  somewhat  difficult  to  con 
centrate  them  in  case  of  being  confronted 
by  a  large  army.  He  had  occupied  Savannah 
after  considerable  resistance  from  Hardee. 
wTho,  when  he  evacuated  the  place,  marched 
northward  to  make  a  junction  with  the 
40,000  men  under  General  J.  E.  Johnston. 

Sherman  always  supposed  that  Fort 
Fisher  and  the  other  defences  of  Wilming 
ton  would  finally  have  surrendered  to  him, 


(748) 


THE  XAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


74'J 


had  it  not  fallen  when  it  did  ;  but  because 
Savannah  and  Charleston  fell  on  the  ap 
proach  of  the  Federal  troops,  it  was  no 
reason  that  the  defences  of  Cape  Fear  River 
should  do  the  same.  The  forts  about 
Charleston  and  Savannah  were  far  less  cal 
culated  to  stand  a  siege  than  those  at  Wil 
mington,  and  it  was  shown,  by  the  heavy 
naval  bombardment  of  the  latter,  how  diffi 
cult  it  was  to  injure  the  works  sufficiently 
to  enable  an  assaulting  party  to  capture 
them.  Even  after  all  the  guns  were  ren 
dered  useless,  a  powerful  resistance  was 
offered  to  the  assailants,  covered  as  were 
the  latter  by  the  heavy  batteries  of  the  fleet, 
which  swept  the  enemy  from  the  parapets 
as  the  troops  advanced  over  the  bomb- 
proofs.  Sherman,  with  all  his  soldiers, 
could  never  have  reduced  the  forts  on  Cape 
Fear  River,  except  after  a  long  siege,  if  the 
enemy  had  shown  any  military  intelli 
gence. 

Previous  to  the  capture  of  Savannah, 
General  Sherman  had  informed  Grant  that 
he  had  initiated  measures  towards  join 
ing  him  with  50.000  infantry,  and,  inci 
dentally,  to  capture  Savannah.  No  doubt 
the  General  reflected  that  the  troops  from 
Savannah  and  Charleston,  combined  with 
those  at  Wilmington  and  Johnston's  army 
of  40.000,  with  20,000  from  the  vicinity  of 
Richmond,  would  have  given  the  enemy  at 
least  80,000  of  the  best  troops  to  meet  him 
before  he  could  make  a  junction  with  Grant. 
The  enemy  held  the  Wilmington  and 
Weldon  railroad  all  the  way  to  Richmond, 
the  points  along  the  Sounds  only  were  held 
by  the  Federal  Navy.  General  Johnston 
was  in  advance  of  Sherman  all  the  time  ; 
and.  having  assembled  his  army  at  a  con 
venient  point,  it  is  hardly  to  be  supposed 
that  so  skillful  a  commander,  with  a  force 
of  80,000  men.  would  allow  Sherman  to  join 
Grant  without  a  struggle,  which  might  have 
proved  disastrous  to  the  Union  forces. 

The  capture  of  Fort  Fisher  by  the  Army 
and  Navy  put  an  end  to  any  doubts  on  the 
subject.  'The  Northern  public  was  in  such 
a  state  of  excitement  that  it  would  have 
borne  with  bad  grace  a  reverse  of  any  kind; 
and,  although  it  was  impossible  to  prolong 
the  rebellion  owing  to  the  exhaustion  of 
the  South,  yet  it  would  have  been  a  great 
satisfaction"  to  the  latter  to  have  dealt  a 
final  blow  to  their  conquerors,  not  only  to 
injure  the  prestige  of  the  North,  but  to  en 
able  the  South  to  demand  better  terms  than 
they  could  otherwise  have  booed  for. 

When  the  Federal  troops  entered  Wil 
mington,  all  of  Cape  Fear  River  and  the 
Wilmington  and  Weldon  railroad  were 
placed  in  possession  of  the  Federal  authori 
ties  ;  and,  as  the  Navy  held  the  principal 
points  on  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina,  the 
United  States  Government  could  throw  any 


number  of  troops  into  the  enemy's  rear  by 
way  of  the  Weldon  railroad,  Newbern  and 
Plymouth,  and  furnish  them  with  provis 
ions  by  the  same  routes;  so  that  Sherman 
could  advance  through  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina  without  fear  of  opposition  from 
General  Johnston,  who  after  the  fall  of 
Fort  Fisher  evidently  gave  up  the  idea  of 
successful  resistance,  though  he  did  attempt 
to  prevent  Sherman  reaching  Goldsbor- 
ougli — a  forlorn  hope. 

Mr.  Lincoln  appreciated  the  difficulty 
with  which  the  Federals  had  to  contend  as 
long  as  General  Johnston  with  a  powerful 
army  kept  the  field.  A  check  to  General 
Sherman  in  his  progress  through  the  South 
ern  swamps  might  have  prolonged  the  war 
for  six  months,  but  this  could  not  happen 
after  Fort  Fisher  had  fallen  and  the  Wil 
mington  road  was  in  Federal  hands. 

Many  inaccuracies  have  been  stated  in 
regard  to  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher  and  the 
original  proposers  of  the  expedition,  and  no 
one  has  done  more  in  this  direction  than 
the  "military  historian."  We  will  not  pre 
tend  to  criticise  "  General "  Badeau  when  he 
treats  of  purely  military  movements  in  his 
'•history''  of  General  Grant,  although  our 
connection  with  the  several  commands  of 
the  latter  have  made  us  familiar  with  them  ; 
but  we  claim  a  right  to  express  views  fully 
in  cases  where  the  Navy  was  concerned, 
and  to  expose  the  mistakes  of  a  writer 
when  he  undertakes  to  reflect  upon  officers 
of  the  Navy  without  any  valid  reason  for 
so  doing. 

Some  of  the  military  historian's  state 
ments  .assign  the  origin  of  the  Fort  Fisher 
expedition  other  than  where  it  belongs, 
for  it  originated  in  the  Navy  Department. 
General  Grant  in  his  Memoirs  ingenuously 
disposes  of  these  statements,  and  gives  an 
impartial  account  of  the  matter,  which  is 
inserted  in  this  history. 

Some  of  the  assertions  of  the  military 
historian  are  also  disposed  of  by  this  ac 
count  from  General  Grant's  Memoirs  : 

"  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  was  the  most  im 
portant  sea-coast  ix>rt  left  to  the  enemy  through 
which  to  get  supplies  from  abroad,  and  send  cotton 
and  other  products  out  by  blockade-runners,  be 
sides  being  a  place  of  great  strategic  value.  The 
Navy  had  teen  making  strenuous  exertions  to  seal 
the  harbor  ot  Wilmington,  but  with  only  partial 
effect.  The  nature  of  the  outlet  of  Cape  Fear  River 
was  such  that  it  required  watching  for  so  great  a 
distance  that,  without  possession  of  the  land  north 
of  New  Inlet,  or  Fort  Fisher,  it  was  impossible  for 
the  Navy  to  entirely  close  the  harbor  against  the 
entrance  of  blockade-runners. 

"To  secure  the  possession  of  tins  land  required 
the  co  operation  of  a  land  force,  which  I  agreed  to 
furnish*  Immediately  commenced  the  assemblage 
in  Hampton  Roads,  under  Admiral  1).  D.  Porter,  of 
one  of  the  most  formidable  armada  ever  collected 
for  concentration  upon  one  given  point. 


750 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


''  This  necessarily  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
enemy,  as  well  as  that  of  the  loyal  North ;  and 
through  the  imprudence  of  the  public  press,  and, 
very  likely,  of  officers  in  both  branches  of  the  ser 
vice,  the  exact  object  of  the  expedition  became  a 
subject  of  common  discussion  in  the  newspapers 
both  North  and  South. 

"  The  enemy,  thus  warned,  prepared  to  meet  it. 
This  caused  a  postponement  of  the  expedition  un 
til  the  later  part  of  November,  when,  being  again 
called  upon  by  Hon.  G.  V.  Fox,  Assistant  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  I  agreed  to  furnish  the  men  required 
at  once,  and  went  myself,  in  company  with  Major- 
General  Butler,  to  Hampton  Roads,  where  we  had 
a  conference  with  Admiral  Porter  as  to  the  force  re 
quired  and  the  time  of  starting. 

"A  force  of  6,500  men  was  regarded  as  sufficient. 
The  time  of  starting  was  not  definitely  arranged, 
but  it  was  thought  all  would  be  ready  by  the  6th 
of  December,  if  not  before.  Learning,  on  the  30th 
of  November,  that  Bragg  had  gone  to  Georgia,  tak 
ing  with  him  most  of  the  forces  about  Wilmington, 
I  deemed  it  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the  ex 
pedition  should  reach  its  destination  before  the  re 
turn  of  Bragg,  and  directed  General  Butler  to 
make  all  arrangements  for  the  departure  of  Major- 
General  Weitzel,  who  had  been  designated  to  com 
mand  the  land  forces,  so  that  the  Navy  might  not 
be  detained  one  moment. 

"On  the  6th  of  December  the  following  instruc 
tions  were  given : 

'  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,        ) 
'December  6,  1864.  ) 

'GENERAL — The  first  object  of  the  expedition 
under  General  Weitzel  is  to  close  to  the  enemy  the 
port  of  Wilmington.  If  successful  in  this,  the 
second  will  be  to  capture  Wilmington  itself. 

'  There  are  reasonable  grounds  to  hope  for  suc 
cess,  if  advantage  can  be  taken  of  the  ab 
sence  of  the  greater  part  of  the  enemy's  forces, 
now  looking  after  Sherman  in  Georgia.  The  direc 
tions  you  have  given  for  the  numbers  and  equipment 
of  the  expedition  are  all  right,  except  in  the  unim 
portant  matter  of  where  they  embark  and  the 
amount  of  intrenching  tools  to  be  taken. 

'  The  object  of  the  expedition  will  be  gained  by 
effecting  a  landing  on  the  main  land,  between  Cape 
Fear  River  and  the  Atlantic,  north  of  the  north  en- 
trance  of  the  river.  Should  such  landing  be  effected 
while  the  enemy  still  holds  Fort  Fisher  and  the 
batteries  guarding  the  entrance  to  the  river,  then 
the  troops  should  intrench  themselves,  and,  by  co 
operating  with  the  Navy,  effect  the  reduction  and 
capture  of  those  places.  These  in  our  hands,  the 
Navy  could  enter  the  harbor,  and  the  port  of  Wil 
mington  would  be  sealed. 

'  Should  Fort  Fisher,  and  the  point  of  land  on 
which  it  is  built,  fall  into  the  hands  of  our  troops 
immediately  on  landing,  then  it  will  be  worth  the 
attempt  to  capture  Wilmington  by  a  forced  march 
and  surprise.  If  time  is  consumed  in  gaining  the 
first  object  of  the  expedition,  the  second  will  be 
come  a  matter  of  after  consideration. 

'  The  details  for  execution  are  intrusted  to  you 
and  the  officer  immediately  in  command  of  "the 
troops. 

'  Should  the  troops  under  General  Weitzel  fail 
to  effect  a  landing  at  or  near  Fort  Fisher,  they  will 
be  returned  to  the  armies  operating  against  Rich 
mond  without  delay. 

'  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  B.  F.  BUTLER.' 

"General  Butler  commanded  the  Army  from 
which  the  troops  were  taken  for  this  enterprise,  and 
the  territory  within  which  they  were  to  operate— 
military  courtesy  required  that  all  orders  and  in 
structions  should  go  through  him.  They  were  so 
sent;  but  General  Weitzel  has  since  officially  in 


formed  me  that  he  never  received  the  foregoing  in 
structions,  nor  was  he  aware  of  their  existence 
until  he  read  General  Butler's  published  official  re 
port  of  the  Fort  Fisher  failure,  with  niy  indorse 
ment  and  papers  accompanying  it.  I  had  no  idea 
of  General  Butler's  accompanying  the  expedition 
until  the  evening  before  it  got  off  from  Bermuda 
Hundred,  and  then  did  not  dream  but  that  Gen 
eral  Weitzel  had  received  all  the  instructions  and 
would  be  in  command. 

"  I  rather  formed  the  idea  that  General  Butler 
was  actuated  by  a  desire  to  witness  the  effect  of 
the  explosion  of  the  powder-boat.  The  expedition 
was  detained  several  days  at  Hampton  Roads, 
awaiting  the  loading  of  the  powder-boat. 

"The  importance  of  getting  the  Wilmington 
expedition  off  without  any  delay,  with  or  without 
the  powder-boat,  had  been  urged  upon  General 
Butler,  and  he  advised  to  so  notify  Admiral  Porter. 
The  expedition  finally  got  off  on  the  13th  of  De 
cember,  and  arrived  at  the  place  of  rendezvous,  off 
New  Inlet,  near  Fort  Fisher,  on  the  evening  of  the 
15th.  Admiral  Porter  arrived  on  the  evening  of 
the  18th,  having  put  in  at  Beaufort  to  get  ammu 
nition  for  the  Monitors. 

"  The  sea  becoming  rough,  making  it  difficult  to 
land  troops,  and  the  supply  of  water  and  coal  being 
about  exhausted,  the  transport  fleet  put  back  to 
Beaufort  to  replenish;  this,  with  the  state  of  the 
weather,  delayed  the  return  to  the  place  of  rendez 
vous  until  the  24th.  The  powder-boat  was  exploded 
on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  before  the  return  of 
General  Butler  from  Beaufort ;  but  it  would  seem, 
from  the  notice  taken  of  it  in  the  Southern  news 
papers,  that  the  enemy  were  never  enlightened  as 
to  the  object  of  the  explosion  until  they  were  in 
formed  by  the  Northern  press. 

"  On  the  25th  a  landing  was  effected  without  op 
position,  and  a  recpnnoissance  under  Brevet -Briga 
dier-General  Curtis  pushed  up  towards  the  fort. 
But,  before  receiving  a  full  report  of  the  result  of 
this  reconnoissance,  General  Butler,  in  direct  viola 
tion  of  the  instructions  given,  ordered  the  re-em- 
barkment  of  the  troops  and  the  return  of  the  expe 
dition.  The  re-embarknieiit  was  accomplished  by 
the  morning  of  the  27th. 

"  On  the  return  of  the  expedition,  officers  and 
men — among  them  Brevet  Major-General  (then 
Brevet-Brigadier-General)  N.  M.  Curtis,  First-Lieu 
tenant  G.  W.  Ross,  117th  New  York  Volunteers; 
First-Lieutenant  William  H.  Walling  and  Second- 
Lieutenant  George  Simpson,  142d  New  York  Volun 
teers—voluntarily  reported  to  me  that  when  re 
called  they  were  nearly  into  the  fort,  and,  in  their 
opinion,  itcould  have  been  taken  without  much  loss. 

"Soon  after  the  return  of  the  expedition,  I  re 
ceived  a  dispatch  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
and  a  letter  from  Admiral  Porter,  informing  me 
that  the  fleet  was  still  off  Fort  Fisher,  and  express 
ing  the  conviction  that  under  a  proper  leader  the 
place  could  be  taken.  The  natural  supposition 
with  me  was,  that  when  the  troops  abandoned  the 
expedition  the  Navy  would  do  so  also.  Finding  it 
had  not,  however,  I  answered  on  the  30th  of  Decem 
ber,  advising  Admiral  Porter  to  hold  on,  and  that  I 
would  send  a  force  and  make  another  attempt  to 
take  the  place. 

"  This  time  I  selected  Brevet-Major-General  (now 
Major-General)  A.  H.  Terry  to  command  the  expe 
dition.  The  troops  composing  it  consisted  of  the 
same  that  composed  the  former,  with  the  addition 
of  a  small  brigade  numbering  about  one  thousand 
five  hundred,  and  a  small  siege-train.  The  latter 
it  was  never  found  necessary  to  land. 

"  I  communicated  direct  to  the  commander  of  the 
expedition  the  following  instructions  : 

'  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  January  3,  1865. 

'GENERAL — The  expedition  intrusted  to  your 
command  has  been  fitted  out  to  renew  the  attempt 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


to  capture  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  and  Wilmington  ul 
timately,  if  the  fort  falls.  You  will  then  proceed 
with  as  little  delay  as  possible  to  the  naval  fleet 
lying  off  Cape  Fear  River,  and  report  the  arrival 
o"f  yourself  and  command  to  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter, 
commanding  the  North  Atlantic  Blockading  Squad 
ron. 

•  It  is  exceedingly  desirable  that  the  most  com 
plete  understanding  should  exist  between  yourself 
and  the  naval  commander.  I  suggest,  therefore, 
that  you  consult  with  Admiral  Porter  freely,  and 
get  from  him  the  part  to  be  performed  by  each 
branch  of  the  public  service,  so  that  there  may  be 
unity  of  action. 

4  It  would  be  well  to  have  the  whole  programme 
laid  down  in  writing.  1  have  served  with  Admiral 
Porter,  and  know  that  you  can  rely  on  his  judg 
ment  and  his  nerve  to  undertake  what  he  proposes. 
1  would,  therefore,  defer  to  him  as  much  as  is  con 
sistent  with  your  own  responsibilities. 

'The  first'  object  to  be  attained  is  to  get  a 
firm  position  on  the  spit  of  land  on  which  Fort 
Fisher  is  built,  from  which  you  can  operate  against 
that  fort. 

4  You  want  to  look  to  the  practicability  of  re 
ceiving  your  supplies,  and  to  defending  yourself 
against  superior  forces  sent  against  you  by  any  of 
the  avenues  left  open  to  the  enemy.  If  such  a 
position  can  be  obtained,  the  siege  of  Fort  Fisher 
will  not  be  abandoned  until  the  reduction  is  accom 
plished,  or  another  plan  of  campaign  is  ordered 
from  these  headquarters. 

'  My  own  views  are,  that,  if  you  effect  a  land 
ing,  the  Navy  ought  to  run  a  portion  of  their  fleet 
into  Cape  Fear  River,  while  the  balance  of  it 
operates  on  the  outside. 

4  Land  forces  cannot  invest  Fort  Fisher,  or  cut 
it  off  from  supplies  or  reinforcements  while  the 
river  is  in  possession  of  the  enemy.  A  siege  train 
will  be  loaded  on  vessels  and  sent  to  Fort  Monroe, 
in  readiness  to  be  sent  to  you  if  required.  All 
others  supplies  can  be  drawn  from  Beaufort  as  you 
need  them. 

4  Keep  the  fleet  of  vessels  with  you  until  your 
position  is  assured.  When  you  find  they  can  be 
spared,  order  them  back,  or  such  of  them  that  you 
can  spare,  to  Fort  Monroe,  to  report  for  orders. 

'In  case  of  failure  to  effect  a  landing,  bring 
your  command  back  to  Beaufort,  and  report  to 
these  headquarters  for  further  instructions.  You 
will  not  debark  at  Beaufort  until  so  directed. 

'General  Sheridan  has  been  ordered  to  send  a 
division  of  troops  to  Baltimore,  and  place  them  on 
sea-going  vessels.  These  troops  will  be  brought  to 
Fort  Monroe,  and  kept  there  on  the  vessels  until 
you  are  heard  from.  Should  you  require  them, 
they  will  be  sent  to  you. 

4  U.  S.  Grant,  Lieutenant-General. 
4  BREVET-MAJOR-GENERAL,  A.  H.  TERRY.' 

' -Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  B.  Comstock,  aide-de-camp 
'now  Brevet-Brigadier-General),  who  accompanied 
the  former  expedition,  was  assigned,  in  orders,  as 
chief  engineer  of  this.  It  will  be  seen  that  these 
instructions  did  not  differ  materially  from  those 
given  for  the  first  expedition,  and  that  in  neither 
instance  was  there  an  order  to  assault  Fort  Fisher. 
This  was  a  matter  left  entirely  to  the  discretion 
of  the  commanding  officer.  The  expedition  sailed 
from  Fort  Monroe  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  arriv 
ing  at  the  rendezvous,  off  Beaufort,  on  the  8th, 
where,  owing  to  the  difficulties  of  the  weather,  it 
lay  until  the  morning  of  the  12th,  when  it  got 
underway  and  reached  its  destination  that  evening. 
Under  cover  of  the  fleet,  the  disembarkation  of  the 
troops  commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  and 
by  3  o'clock  P.  M.  was  completed  without  loss. 

"On  the  14th  a  reconnaissance  was  pushed  to 
within  five  hundred  yards  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  a 
small  advance  work  taken  possession  of,  and  turned 


into  a  defensive  line    against  any  attempt    that 
might  be  made  from  the  fort. 

"The  reconnaissance  disclosed  the  fact  that  the 
front  of  the  work  had  been  seriously  injured  by  the 
Navy  fire.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  15th  the"  fort 
was  assaulted,  and  after  most  deperate  fighting  was 
captured  with  its  entire  garrison  and  armament. 
Thus  was  secured,  by  the  combined  efforts  of  the 
Navy  and  Army,  one  of  the  most  important  suc 
cesses  of  the  war.  Our  loss  was,  killed,  110; 
wounded,  536.  On  the  16th  and  17th,  the  enemy 
abandoned  and  blew  up  Fort  Caswell  and  the 
works  on  Smith's  Island,  which  were  immediately 
occupied  by  us.  This  gave  us  entire  control  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River." 

In  vol.  3.  page  224,  of  his  work,  the  mili 
tary  historian  states  as  follows  : 

44  While  thus  zealously  watching  the  varied  inter 
ests  and  changing  circumstances  in  Georgia  and 
Tennessee,  as  well  as  at  Richmond  and  in  the  val 
ley,  Grant  had  also  planned  [!]  to  take  advantage 
of  Sherman's  march  by  a  new  movement  on  the  At 
lantic  coast.  Wilmington,  near  the  mouth  of  Cape 
Fear  River,  in  North  Carolina,  was  the  only  im 
portant  seaport  open  to  the  enemy. 

"  It  was  originally  intended  that  the  expedition 
should  set  out  in  October,  but  through  the  impru 
dence  of  officers  both  of  the  Army  and  the  Navy,  and 
afterwards  of  the  public  press,  the  exact  object  of 
the  enterprise  became  known,  and  the  enemy  thus 
warned  prepared  to  resist  it." 

For  this  reason,  we  suppose,  the  expedition 
was  postponed  until  the  middle  of  winter,  so 
that  the  enemy  could  make  his  own  ar 
rangements;  for  the  military  historian  says: 
'•  This  caused  a  postponement  of  the  expe 
dition,  but  towards  the  end  of  November 
the  project  was  revived,  and  6.500  men  were 
vromined  [!]  from  the  Army  of  the  James." 

It  would  only  require  forty-eight  hours  to 
equip  8,000  troops  and  collect  the  trans 
ports,  yet  no  move  was  made  from  October 
until  the  middle  of  December.  General 
Grant  had  appointed  General  Weitzel  to 
command  the  troops,  but  from  the  very  be 
ginning  Butler  made  himself  the  prominent 
figure,  and  Weitzel  had  little  more  to  say 
than  if  he  had  been  the  General's  orderly. 
General  Grant  evidently  supposed  that  But 
ler  was  acting  only  as  the  commander  of  a 
division  of  an  army,  and  had  a  right  to  in 
terfere  in  getting  the  troops  ready  to  em 
bark;  but  Butler,  for  some  unaccountable 
reason,  was  delaying  the  expedition. 

General  Butler,  with  a  large  body  of 
troops,  held  an  almost  impregnable  position 
north  and  east  of  the  James.  General 
Grant  held  Lee  and  his  army  tight  in  Rich 
mond,  while  a  bridge  of  boats  connected 
the  two  armies,  and  a  large  force  of  naval 
vessels, including  the  heaviest  iron-clad,  oc 
cupied  the  river,  which  was  also  blocked 
with  sunken  vessels  filled  with  stones.  The 
Federal  Army  had  therefore  nothing  to  fear 
from  Lee,  and  certainly  8,000  men  could 
have  been  spared  from  Butler's  army. 

Referring  back  to  the  military  historian, 
who  says  that  the  Fort  Fisher  expedition 
;ihad  been  delayed  in  November,  owing  to 


752 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


the  indiscretion  of  Army  and  Navy  offi 
cers,  by  which  the  enemy  were  notified  of 
the  projected  movement,  and  were  fortify 
ing  the  place  strongly  in  consequence,"  and 
who  further  says:  "On  the  30th  of  No 
vember  Grant  notified  Butler  that  Bragg, 
who  had  been  in  command  at  Wilmington, 
had  set  out  for  Georgia,  taking  with  him 
most  of  the  forces "  !  Let  us  ask,  then, 
why,  with  such  information  in  his  posses 
sion,  did  Butler  delay  the  expedition  ?  It 
can  only  be  accounted  for  by  that  indomit 
able  will  for  which  he  was  celebrated,  and 
feeling  himself  master  of  the  situation, 
from  his  great  political  prestige,  he  did  as 
he  pleased— for  the  power  of  politics  at 
that  time  overshadowed  everything  else, 
and  even  General  Grant  was  careful  not  to 
ignore  it. 

"It  is  important,"  said  Grant  to  Butler, 
"that  Weitzel  should  get  off  during  his 
(Bragg's)  absence,  and  if  successful  in 
making  a  landing,  he  may,  by  a  bold  dash, 
succeed  in  capturing  Wilmington."  The 
Navy  had  been  ready  from  the  middle  of 
October,  and  yet  the  military  historian 
speaks  of  the  delays  of  the  Navy,  and 
want  of  co-operation  between  Butler  and 
the  Admiral. 

To  illustrate  how  little  delay  there  was 
on  the  part  of  the  Navy,  we  give  the  fol 
lowing  letter  from  Mr.  Secretary  Welles  to 
the  President  : 

"NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  Oct.  28,  1864. 

SIR — You  are  aware  that,  cnying  to  shoal  water 
at  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  River,  a  purely  naval 
attack  cannot  be  undertaken  against  Wilmington. 
Had  there  been  water  enough  for  our  broadside 
ships  of  the  "  Hartford  "  class,  the  naval  attacks  of 
New  Orleans,  Mobile  and  Port  Royal  would  have 
been  repeated  there.  I  have,  as  you  are  aware, 
often  pressed  upon  the  War  Department  the  im 
portance  of  capturing  Wilmington,  and  urged  upon 
the  military  authorities  the  necessity  of  undertak 
ing  a  joint  operation  against  the  defences  of 
Cape  Fear  River,  but  until  recently  there  never 
seems  to  have  been  a  period  when  the  department 
was  in  a  condition  to  entertain  the  subject. 

Two  months  ago  it  was  arranged  that  an  attack 
should  be  made  on  the  1st  of  October,  but  subse 
quently  postponed  to  the  15th,  and  the  naval  force 
has  been  ready  since  the  15th  inst.,  in  accordance 
with  that  agreement.  One  hundred  and  fifty  ves- 
sels-of-war  now  form  the  North  Atlantic  squadron. 

The  command,  first  offered  to  Rear- Admiral  Far- 
ragut.  but  declined  by  him,  has  been  given  to  Rear- 
Admiral  Porter.  Every  other  squadron  has  been 
depleted,  and  vessels  detached  from  other  duty  to 
strengthen  this  expedition.  The  vessels  are  con 
centrated  at  Hampton  Roads  and  Beaufort,  where 
they  remain — an  immense  force  lying  idle,  awaiting 
the  movements  of  the  army. 

The  detention  of  so  many  vessels  from  blockade 
and  cruising  duty  is  a  most  serious  injury  to  the 
public  service,  and  if  the  expedition  cannot  go  for 
ward  for  want  of  troops  I  desire  to  be  notified,  so 
that  the  ships  may  be  relieved  and  dispersed  for 
other  service. 

The  importance  of  closing  Wilmington  is  so  well 
understood  by  you  that  I  refrain  from  presenting 
any  new  arguments.  I  am  aware  of  the  anxiety  of 


yourself  and  of  the  disposition  of  the  War  Depart 
ment  to  render  all  the  aid  in  its  power. 

The  cause  of  the  delay  is  not  from  the  want  of  a 
proper  conception  of  the  importance  of  the  subject, 
but  the  season  for  naval  coast  operations  will  soon 
be  gone.  General  Bragg  has  been  sent  from  Rich 
mond  to  Wilmington  to  prepare  for  the  attack;  and 
the  autumn  weather,  so  favorable  for  such  an  expe 
dition,  is  fast  passing  away.  The  public  expect  this 
attack,  and  the  country  will  be  distressed  if  it  be 
not  made.  To  procrastinate  much  longer  will  be  to 
peril  its  success.  Of  the  obstacles  which  delay  or 
prevent  military  co-operation  at  once,  I  cannot 
judge;  but  the  delay  is  becoming  exceedingly  em 
barrassing  to  this  Department,  and  the  importance 
of  having  the  military  authorities  impressed  with 
the  necessity  of  speedy  action  has  prompted  this 
communication  to  you. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES. 
THE  PRESIDENT." 

According  to  the  military  historian,  Gen 
eral  Butler  never  received  any  detailed  or 
ders  regarding  the  expedition  until  Decem 
ber  Gth,  at  which  date  General  Grant  writes: 
''The  first  object  of  the  expedition,  under 
General  Weitzel,  is  to  close  the  port  of  Wil 
mington.  There  are  reasonable  grounds  to 
hope  for  success,  if  advantage  can  be  taken 
of  the  absence  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
enemy's  forces  now  looking  after  Sherman 
in  Georgia."  This  would  indicate  that  Gen 
eral  Grant  did  not  intend  that  Butler  should 
accompany  the  expedition,  but  that  the 
military  part  of  it  should  be  managed 
entirely  by  Weitzel.  Yet,  according  to  the 
military  historian — 

"Butler,  on  the  night  when  the  troops  embarked, 
proceeded  to  City  Point,  and  informed  General 
Grant  that  he  was  going  himself,  and  this  in  viola 
tion  of  his  commanding-generals  orders  !  who  'did 
not  desire  to  intrust  the  command  of  the  expedi 
tion  to  Butler  ;'  for,  as  repeatedly  shown,  although 
Grant  was  entirely  satisfied  with  that  officer's  zeal 
and  general  ability,  he  was  convinced  that  he 
lacked  some  qualities  essential  in  a  commander  in 
the  field.  Grant  did  not  pronounce,  but  he  felt 
certain,  that  the  peculiar  talent  of  a  successful  gen 
eral  was  not  possessed  by  the  Commander  of  the 
James.  He  therefore  directed  Butler  to  place 
Weitzel  in  command  of  the  expedition,  and  had,  in 
fact,  committed  to  Butler  movements  in  support 
of  those  of  Meade,  which  he  intended  should  de 
tain  him  in  Bermuda  Hundred. 

"Nevertheless,  he  did  not  now  forbid  Butler  to 
accompany  Weitzel.  It  was  difficult  thus  to  affront 
a  commander  of  such  high  rank  unless  it  was  in 
tended  to  relieve  him  entirely  from  command,  and 
this  Grant  was  not  prepared  to  do  without  consult 
ing  the  Government,  which  he  knew  would  dislike 
and  perhaps  forbid  the  step.  He  fancied,  besides, 
that  Butler's  object  might  be  to  witness  the  explo 
sion  of  the  powder-boat — in  which  he  took  great 
interest  —  rather  than  to  direct  the  expedition 

itself. 

******* 

"  It  is  certain,  however,  that  it  would  have  been 
better  if  Grant  had  frankly  ordered  Butler  back  to 
the  Army  of  the  James,  to  superintend  the  move 
ments  there. 

"His  dislike  to  wound  the  feelings  of  another 
should,  doubtless,  at  this  crisis  have  been  sacrificed. 

"Those  who  have  never  been  placed  in  situations 
of  great  delicacy  and  responsibility,  or  who  cannot 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


realize  the  various  considerations— military,  polit 
ical  and  personal — which  affect  the  decisions  of  men 
in  power,  will,  doubtless,  here  find  cause  to  censure 
Grant.'' 

General  Grant  might  well  have  exclaimed 
•  on  reading  this,  "Save  me  from  my 
friends  ! ''  The  military  historian  does  not 
give  his  authority  for  the  foregoing  state 
ments,  but  it  is  certain  that,  when  General 
Butler  reported  his  return  from  Wilming 
ton  to  General  Grant,  the  latter  relieved 
him  from  command. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1864,  General 
Grant  telegraphed  to  Butler  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  "Let  General  Weitzel  get  off  as 
soon  as  possible;  we  don't  want  the  Navy 
to  wait  an  hour.''  Yet  the  Navy  had 
waited  patiently  from  the  loth  of  October 
until  the  Cth  of  December,  fifty-one  days! 

It  will  be  seen  throughout  this  narrative 
that  we  have  given  General  Grant  on  all 
occasions  credit  for  the  highest  military 
ability,  and  in  this  instance  we  do  not 
desire  to  take  from  him  one  iota  of  it.  We 
only  refer  to  the  revelations  made  by  the 
military  historian,  in  relation  to  which 
General  Grant  is  not  responsible. 

In  volume  3,  page  390,  of  his  book,  the 
author  states  that  : 

"  About  the  18th  of  December,  1864,  there  was 
doubtless  a  lack  of  concert,  and  even  of  cordial 
co-operation,  between  the  naval  and  military 
chiefs.  Butler  was  not  popular  with  the  other 
branch  of  the  service,  and,  after  the  expedition 
started  from  Hampton  Roads,  neither  commander 
visited  the  other  !  " 

Now,  here  is  a  paragraph  that  ought  to 
make  our  "  historian  "  happy.  Imagine  a 
General  and  an  Admiral  calling  upon  each 
other  on  the  salt-sea  waves,  amid  tumbling 
billows,  in  the  dead  of  winter,  and  leaving 
cards ! 

The  Admiral's  reason  for  not  communi 
cating  with  Butler  personally  was,  that  he 
did  not  see  the  General  from  the  time  he 
left  Fortress  Monroe  until  the  time  when 
the  General  stated  he  was  going  to  leave  the 
Navy  in  the  lurch  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  But 
ler  did  not  communicate  with  the  Admiral, 
as  he  might  easily  have  done,  because  he 
had  been  informed  of  all  that  was  going  to 
be  done,  what  he  had  to  do,  and  what 
means  would  be  placed  at  his  disposal. 
There  was  no  communication  necessary 
until  just  before  landing,  when  General 
Weitzel  went  on  board  the  flag-ship  to  see 
Admiral  Porter,  who  agreed  to  all  Butler's 
propositions,  although  some  of  them  were 
needless. 

To  refer  to  that  portion  of  the  military 
"history."  which  seems  to  have  been  written 
without  consideration,  in  regard  to  a 
matter  of  which  the  author  really  knew 
nothing,  or  perhaps  to  let  up  General 
Butler,  of  whom  he  had  spoken  harshly,  he 
says  : 

48 


"Their  written  communications  were  few,  and  it 
was  the  chief -of-staff  of  the  Admiral,  and  the  rank 
ing  officer  under  Butler  (Weitzel)  [who  was  sup 
posed  to  be  in  command  of  the  Army  forces], 
through  whom  the  views  or  wishes  of  either  were 
made  known  to  each  other.  Porter  thought  that 
his  advice  was  not  taken  at  times  when  it  should 
have  been  controlling,  and  Butler  thought  that 
Porter  acted  without  duly  considering  or  consult 
ing  him.1'  [!] 

That  is,  Porter  managed  his  fleet  to  suit 
himself,  and  left  Butler  to  manage  his  own 
forces  until  the  time  came  for  action: 

"  Each  was  besides  annoyed  at  delays  which, 
though  inopportune,  were  unavoidable,  and  neither 
made  sufficient  allowance  for  the  difficulties  of  that 
branch  with  which  he  was  less  familiar.  They 
seemed,  indeed,  to  be  playing  at  cross  purposes. 
When  Butler  was  supplied  with  coal.  Porter  wanted 
ammunition,  and  when  Porter  had  all  the  ammuni 
tion  he  wanted,  Butler  was  out  of  coal  !  Even  the 
elements  conspired  against  them,  and  when  one 
could  ride  on  the  open  sea,  the  other  was  obliged  to 
stay  inside.'  [!  !] 

This  is  the  most  crooked  narrative  ever 
•written  by  one  claiming  to  be  a  historian. 
The  author  affirms  that  there  was  no  con 
cert  of  action  between  General  Butler  and 
the  Admiral,  and  yet  he  says  (vol.  3,  page 
315): 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  Butler  sent  Weitzel 
to  Porter  to  arrange  the  programme  for  the  day. 
It  was  decided  that  the  fleet  should  attack  the  fort 
again,  while  the  troops  were  to  land,  and,  if  possi 
ble,  assault  under  cover  of  the  naval  fire  as  soon  as 
the  Half  Moon  and  Flag- Pond  Batteries  were  si 
lenced.  At  7  o'clock  the  fleet  again  took  up  a  position 
within  a  mile  of  the  fort  [three-fourths  of  a  mile], 
not  a  shot  being  fired  by  the  enemy  except  at  the 
last  four  naval  vessels  as  they  were  moving  into  line. 
[This  for  the  reason  that  nearly  all  the  guns  had 
been  disabled  by  the  ships'  fire  and  by  the  sand 
that  had  been  driven  by  shells  into  their  bores.] 

"  At  12  o'clock  the  batteries  above  the  forts  were 
reported  silenced,  and  a  detachment  of  about  2,300 
men  of  General  Ames'  command  was  landed  two 
and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  fort  [without  a  gun 
being  fired  on  them].  The  debarkation  was  effected 
under  the  cover  of  seventeen  gun-boats,  which 
raked  the  woods  and  could  drive  away  any  force 
that  might  have  opposed  the  landing. 

"Five  hundred  men  under  General  Curtis  were 
the  first  to  land.  He  pushed  his  skirmish -line 
within  a  few  yards  of  Fort  Fisher,  causing  on  the 
way  the  surrender  of  the  garrison  of  Flag-Pond 
Battery,  already  silenced  by  the  naval  fire.  "NVeitzel 
accompanied  Curtis  and  approached  within  800 
yards  of  the  works.  He  counted  seventeen  guns 
in  position  bearing  up  the  beach,  observed  the 
traverses  and  stockades,  the  glacis,  ditch,  and 
counterscarp,  and  decided  that  the  work  had  ^npt 
been  materially  injured  by  the  naval  fire.  [ !]  Weit 
zel,  too,  had  been  in  many  unsuccessful  assaults, 
and  never  in  a  victorious  one;  he  had  a  distinct  and 
vivid  recollection  of  this  experience,  and  returned 
to  Butler  and  reported  that  it  would  be  butchery 
to  assault. 

"Curtis  was  now  within  fifty  yards  of  the  fort 
[not  a  shot  fired  at  him]  and  sent  word  to  Ames 
that  he  could  take  the  work,  whereupon  Ames  sent 
orders  for  an  assault.  Curtis  at  once  moved  for 
ward,  but  by  the  time  he  reached  his  position 
night  had  come  on,  and  the  fleet  had  nearly  ceased 
to  fire  ;  [and  yet,  Ames  and  Curtis,  under  Terry, 
assaulted,  and"  continued  to  assault,  Fort  Fisher 
until  it  was  taken  at  night]. 


THE  XA  VAL  HISTORY 


"  Some  of  the  rebal  troops  who  had  been  driven 
to  their  bomb-proofs  returned  to  their  puns'' 
[which  they  could  not  fire  as  the  guns  were  dis- 
disabledj.  At  this  juncture  the  order  to  embark 
arrived  ;tnd  no  assault  was  made.  Curtis  and  the 
officers  with  him  declared  that  the  fort  could 
have  been  easily  carried.  That  at  the  moment 
when  they  were  recalled  they  virtually  had 
possession,  having  actually  approached  so  close 
that  the  rebel  flag  (which  the  Navy  fire  had 
knocked  down)  had  been  snatched  from  the  para 
pet,  and  a  horse  brought  away  from  inside  the 
stockade.  Three  hundred  prisoners  had  been  cap 
tured  outside,  etc.  That  night,  Butler  informed 
the  Admiral  that  he  and  Weitzel  were  of  the 
opinion  that  the  place  could  not  be  carried  by 
assault,  having  been  left  substantially  uninjured 
by  the  naval  fire  ! 

"  Seventeen  guns,  he  said,  two  of  which  only  were 
iujured  [and  yet  none  of  them  fired  on  the 
troops],  were  bearing  up  the  beach,  covering  a 
strip  of  land,  the  only  practicable  route,  not  more 
than  wide  enough  for  1,000  men  in  line  of  battle — 
[the  place  where  Curtis  finally  assaulted  without 
losing  a  man]. 

"Hoke's  reinforcements  were  approaching,  and, 
as  only  the  operations  of  a  siege  would  reduce  the 
fort,  he  had  caused  the  troops  to  re  embark.  •  I 
shall,  therefore,"  said  he,  'sail  for  Hampton  Roads 
as  soon  as  the  transport  fleet  can  be  got  in  order."' 

Now  this  is  what  Badeau  calls  "  a  want  of 
concert  of  action  "  between  General  Butler 
and  Admiral  Porter.  Of  course,  Porter 
could  not  join  Butler  in  his  retreat,  as  will 
be  seen  by  Badeau's  next  paragraph: 

"  The  Admiral,  however,  was  of  a  different  mind, 
and  replied,  ll  have  ordered  the  largest  vessels  to 
proceed  off  Beaut'ort  and  fill  up  with  ammunition, 
to  be  ready  for  another  attack  in  case  it  is  decided  to 
proceed  with  this  matter  by  making  other  arrange 
ments  [meaning  sending  another  General].  We 
have  not  commenced  firing  rapidly  yet,  and  could 
keep  any  rebels  inside  from  showing  their  heads 
until  an  assaulting  column  was  within  twenty  yards 
of  the  works.  I  wish  some  more  of  your  gallant 
fellows  had  followed  the  officer  who  took  the 
flag  from  the  parapet,  and  the  brave  fellow  who 
brought  the  horse  from  the  fort.  I  think  they  would 
have  found  it  an  easier  conquest  than  is  supposed.' 

"  Butler,  nevertheless,  remained  unshaken  in  his 
determination,  and  on  the  night  of  the  25th  Decem 
ber  he  embarked  all  his  troops  except  Curtis1  com 
mand,  when  the  surf  became  high  and  he  sailed 
away,  leaving  these  ashore." 

They  were  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the 
fleet  and  they  were  all  safely  taken  off. 
On  the  27th  Butler  arrived  at  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  and  on  the  2Sth  had  an  interview  with 
General  Grant,  after  which  the  General- 
in-chief  telegraphed  to  the  President  : 

"  The  Wilmington  expedition  has  proved  a  gross 
and  culpable  failure.  Many  of  the  troops  are  back 
here.  Delays  and  free  talk  of  the  expedition  en 
abled  the  enemy  to  move  troops  to  Wilmington  to 
defeat  it.  After  the  expedition  started  from  Fort 
ress  Monroe  three  days  of  fine  weather  were  squan 
dered,  during  which  the  enemy  was  without  a  force 
to  protect  himself.  Who  is  to  blame,  will,  I  hope, 
be  known"! 

As  if  the  blame  could  rest  on  any  but  the 
one  who  went  to  Fort  Fisher  in  command 
of  the  troops,  and  disobeyed  orders  by  not 
intrenching  himself  under  the  protection 
of  the  guns  of  the  fleet. 


Grant  had  seen  enough  of  the  Navy  on 
the  Mississippi  to  know  that  it  would  not 
back  out  of  such  an  adventure  as  the  taking 
of  Fort  Fisher.  The  Navy  had  given  him 
sufficient  evidence  in  much  more  desperate 
undertakings  to  have  satisfied  him  that  it 
would  stay  before  Fisher  as  long  as  a  shot 
or  pound  of  coal  was  left. 

The  historian  says  :  "This  dispatch  was 
written  before  Grant  had  heard  from  Porter, 
or  from  Butler's  own  subordinates;  subse 
quently  he  was  inclined  (!)  to  attribute  the 
failure  to  other  causes.''  Other  causes  than 
the  Navy,  we  suppose;  and  here  Badeau 
relates  the  difficulties  with  which  the  fleet 
and  transports  had  to  contend  in  getting  to 
the  scene  of  action,  and  makes  the  follow 
ing  sensible  remark  : 

"But  whatever  the  delay,  and  whatever  the 
cause,  these  made  no  difference  in  the  result.  The 
troops  and  the  fleet  were  at  the  rendezvous,  the 
work  was  silenced,  and  the  landing  effected  before 
any  reinforcements  reached  the  fort. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  25th  only  1,600  men  had 
arrived  at  Wilmington.  This  day  General  Lee  tele 
graphed  Sedden:  '  Bragg  reports  the  enemy  made 
a  landing  three  miles  north  of  Fort  Fisher  about 
2  P.  M.  to  day,  and  were  still  landing  at  5:30  P.  M. 
General  Kirkland's,  the  only  troops  arrived,  except 
400  of  Hay  goods,  etc.' 

"  Whatever  number  arrived  before  the  27th,  they 
made  no  attempt  to  molest  Curtis'  little  band  of 
500  men,  who  remained  on  shore  two  days  after 
Butler  left,  with  no  support  except  the  guns  of  the 
fleet.  On  the  25th  of  December,  therefore,  there 
were  only  2,500  men  opposed  to  Butler's  6,500.  The 
garrison 'was  only  about  1,600  men.  It  is  true  the 
latter  occupied  a  strong  work,  but  Butler  had  the 
most  formidable  fleet  that  was  ever  assembled  to 
cover  and  protect  his  movements.'' 

We  will  make  one  more  quotation  from 
this  part  of  the  military  historian's  book. 
It  was,  no  doubt,  reviewed  by  General 
Grant.  The  latter,  after  inquiring  into  all 
the  circumstances,  had  sent  Butler  directly 
home  to  Lowell: 

"Butler,  indeed,  maintained  that  he  had  not  ef 
fected  a  landing,  that  only  a  third  of  his  troops 
were  on  shore,  when  the  sea  became  so  rough  that 
he  could  land  no  more.  But  his  subordinates  did 
not  confirm  this  statement,  and,  as  he  was  able  to 
get  all  his  troops  except  Curtis'  command  back  to 
the  transports,  he  could  certainly  have  put  them 
on  shore  if  he  had  been  at  all  anxious  to  do  so." 

The  latter  part  of  Badeau's  remarks  about 
Butler  are  not  complimentary,  but  he  tries 
to  ease  him  up  on  the  ground  that 

"  He  simply  displayed  on  this  occasion  once  more 
the  unmilitafy  features  of  his  character.  .  .  But, 
above  all,  he  had  not  appreciated  the  force  of 
Grant's  order  in  regard  to  remaining  and  intrench 
ing  on  the  peninsula,  or  else  he  forgot  them  alto 
gether  at  the  crisis  !  Weitzel  had  never  seen  the 
orders,  and  knew  nothing  of  them,  or  he  would 
doubtless  have  reminded  Butler  of  their  charac 
ter.  ''(!) 

Let  any  one  read  this  and  consider  the 
total  lack  of  military  arrangement  and  the 
absence  of  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the 
General  -  in  -  chief  of  the  Federal  armies, 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


755 


a  disobedience  that  would  have  rendered 
General  Butler  liable  to  be  shot  if  tried  by 
court-martial. 

The  military  historian  comments  on  the 
lack  of  co-operation  between  Butler  and  the 
naval  commander,  not  saying  decidedly 
where  the  blame  rested,  but  rather  imply 
ing  that  it  rested  with  the  Navy.  A  truth 
only  half  told  often  does  more  harm  than  a 
falsehood,  although  we  are  not  aware  that 
it  did  the  Navy  any  harm  in  this  instance. 
The  author  says: 

"The  lack  of  co-operation  between  Porter  and 
Butler  was  at  this  juncture  again  apparent, 
and  again  most  unfortunate.  The  Admiral  was 
a  man  not  only  of  brilliant  talent  but  of  extra 
ordinary  nerve  and  force  of  character,  and  though 
extravagant  and  inconsiderate  in  language,  written 
as  well  as  spoken,  he  understood  his  profession 
thoroughly.  He  was  aggressive  in  his  nature,  and 
always  favored  an  attack.  He  doubtless,  in  this 
instance,  overrated  the  results  accomplished  by  the 
fleet,  but  that  very  circumstance  would  have  made 
his  counsels  more  audacious,  and  audacity  is  some 
times  a  very  desirable  quality  in  a  commander. 
If,  instead  of  writing  or  sending  to  Porter  and 
announcing  his  withdrawal,  Butler,  who  was  the 
senior  in  rank,  had  waived  his  prerogative  and 
sought  and  obtained  a  personal  interview,  it  is  pos 
sible  that  he  might  have  been  convinced  by  the 
arguments  or  incited  by  the  spirit  of  the  sailor  into 
remaining  on  shore.  As  it  was,  he  sailed  off.  leaving 
Porter  to  pick  up  the  troops  he  (Butler)  had  left; 
and,  in  his  dread  of  incurring  disaster,  he  incurred 
what  to  a  soldier  is  infinitely  worse,  the  imputation 
of  unnecessary  failure.'' 

"SVe  don't  see  where  the  "  lack  of  co-oper 
ation  "  on  the  Admiral's  part  comes  in.  If 
the  author  had  confined  the  lack  to  Butler, 
he  would  have  stated  the  actual  fact. 

The  historian  comments  freely  on  the 
commander  of  the  naval  forces,  in  regard 
to  a  letter  he  wrote  to  the  Navy  Depart 
ment,  and  which  finally  came  out  in  inves 
tigations  on  the  conduct  of  the  war.  In 
reference  to  the  letter,  the  military  historian 
says  the  Admiral  could  not  be  accused  of 
concealing  his  sentiments.  The  following 
is  the  communication  alluded  to  as  part  of 
the  history  of  the  war.  There  does  not 
seem  to  be  anything  peculiar  in  it  beyond 
its  decided  tone: 

"My  dispatch  of  yesterday  will  give  you  an  ac 
count"  of  the  operations,  but  will  scarcely  give  an 
idea  of  my  disappointment  at  the  conduct  of  the 
Army  authorities  in  not  attempting  to  take  pos 
session  of  the  fort.     Had  the  Army  made  a  show  of 
surrounding  it.it  would  have  been  ours;  but  nothing 
of  the  kind  was  done.  The  men  landed,  reconnoitred, 
and  hearing  that  the  enemy  were  massing  troops 
somewhere,  the  orders  were  given  to  embark.  .  . 
There  never  was  a  post  that  invited  soldiers  to  walk 
in  and  take  possession  more  plainly  than  FortI 
.  .  .  It  can  be  taken  at  any  moment  in  one  hour 
time  if  the  right  man  is  sent  with  the  troops.    1  hey 
should  be  sent  to  stay.     I  trust,  sir,  you  will  not 
think  of  stopping  at  this,  nor  relax  your  endeavor 
to  obtain  the  right  number  of  men  and  the  mean 
of  taking  the  place.'1 

Now,  where  the  peculiarity  of  which  the 
military  historian  has  spoken  exists  in  this 


letter,  we  leave  to  others  to  determine.  The 
Admiral  wrote  very  decidedly,  and  it  had 
the  desired  effect.  Mr.  Secretary  Welles 
wrote  to  General  Grant : 

"The  ships  can  approach  nearer  to  the  enemy's 
works  than  was  anticipated;  their  fire  can  keep  the 
enemy  away  from  their  guns. 

''A  landing  can  easily  be  effected  upon  the  beach 
north  of  Fort  Fisher,  not  only  of  troops,  but  all 
their  supplies  and  artillery.  This  force  can  have 
its  supplies  protected  by  gun-boats. 

"  Admiral  Porter  will  remain  off  Fort  Fither,  con 
tinuing  a  moderate  fire  to  prevent  new  woiks  being 
erected. 

"Under  all  these  circumstances.  I  invite  you  to  a 
military  co-operation,  as  will  insure  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher." 

After  receipt  of  this  letter  General  Grant 
wrote  to  the  Admiral  : 

"  Please  hold  on  wherever  you  are  for  a  few  days, 
and  I  will  endeavor  to  send  the  troops  back  again 
with  an  increased  force  and  leithout  the  former  com 
mander. 

"Your  dispatch  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  was 
only  received  to-day.  I  took  immediate  ste'ps  to 
have  transports  collected  and  am  assured  they  will 
be  ready  with  coal  and  water  by  noon  of  the  3d  of 
January.  There  will  be  no  delay  in  embarking  and 
sending  off  the  troops.  If  they  effect  a  lodgment, 
they  can  at  least  fortify  and  maintain  themselves 
until  reinforcements  can  be  sent.  Please  answer  by 
bearer,  and  designate  where  you  will  have  the  fleet 
of  transports  congregate." 

The  letter  of  which  Badeau  speaks  had 
the  effect  of  drawing  forth  the  above  com 
munication  and  bringing  about  the  capture 
of  Fort  Fisher.  Yet  the  Navy  never  re 
ceived  any  particular  credit  for  this  oper 
ation,  which  was  the  final  stab  that  brought 
the  enemy  to  his  last  throes. 

To  those  who  take  an  interest  in  the 
naval  operations  of  the  war,  some  of  the 
remarks  of  the  military  historian  on  Fort 
Fisher  are  interesting.  In  spite  of  many 
inaccuracies,  he  shows  the  pertinacity  with 
which  the  Navy  held  on  to  what  they  had 
begun,  and  the  difficulties  they  had  encoun 
tered  against  the  fierce  gales  that  swept  the 
coast  during  those  months  of  December 
and  January.  Not  a  vessel  left  her  post, 
and  the  Navy  could  have  protected  the 
landing  of  any  number  of  troops. 

It  was  manifestly  the  object  of  the  mili 
tary  historian  to  give  the  Army  more  credit 
than  was  due  them,  and  make  the  Navy 
play  a  secondary  part  in  the  reduction  of 
the"  defences  in  Wilmington.  The  Navy 
covered  the  attack  of  the  troops  and  the 
sailors  attacked  the  sea-face  of  Fort  Fisher; 
the  garrison,  supposing  this  to  be  the  main 
attack,  rushed  to  the  sea-face,  and.  as 
Badeau  says,  swept  the  officers  and  sailors 
"away  like  chaff."  The  repulse  of  the 
naval  'storming  party  might  not  have  hap 
pened  had  the  troops,  who  were  to  have 
attacked  with  the  sailors  and  marines, 
come  to  time.  It  was  only  when  the  whole 
force  of  the  enemy  was  concentrated  at  the 


75G 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


sea-face  that  the   order  was  given  for   the 
troops  to  advance,  and 

"  Curtis'  brigade  at  once  sprung  from  the 
trenches  and  dashed  forward  in  line,  and  in  a  few 
moments  the  Army  occupied  three  or  four  traverses 
which  protected  them  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy, 
and  there  Curtis  held  011  until  Ames  and  Penny- 
packer  could  obtain  a  secure  footing  in  the  fort 
with  him.  Bell's  brigade  was  brought  up  and  the 
fort  was  occupied  by  the  troops.'' 

It  must  be  remembered  that  while  this 
assault  was  going  on  behind  traverses,  the 
"New  Ironsides,"  with  her  11-inch  guns, 
and  three  Monitors,  were  firing  through  the 
traverses  in  front  of  the  Federal  soldiers,  as 
the  enemy  would  assemble  to  meet  their 
approaches,  and  the  Confederates  were 
swept  away  by  the  Navy  shells. 

At  this  time*  General  Terry  requested  the 
Admiral  to  reinforce  the  troops  on  the 
outer  line  by  the  seamen  and  marines  who 
had  been  repulsed  from  the  sea-face,  which 
was  done  at  once.  This  stopped  the  ad 
vance  of  General  Hoke,  who  had  com 
menced  skirmishing  with  Terry's  northern 
outposts,  apparently  with  a  design  of 
attacking  in  that  quarter  to  make  a  diver 
sion.  Hoke's  withdrawal  enabled  Abbott's 
brigade  and  a  regiment  of  colored  troops  to 
be  brought  into  action  on  the  southern 
front. 

There  never  was  harder  fighting  any 
where  by  soldiers  than  on  this  memorable 
occasion;  and  while  the  Federal  troops 
behaved  like  heroes,  it  is  but  justice  to  say 
of  the  enemy  that  they  fought  equally  well, 
and  it  was  only  after  seven  hours  of  stout 
resistance  that  they  surrendered. 

The  military  historian  relates  all  this 
part  of  his  story  in  a  graphic  manner;  but, 
to  show  how  essential  was  the  fire  of  the 
Navy  to  the  success  of  the  assault,  we 
mention  the  following  incident : 

"  Terry,  finding  the  advance  so  slow,  directed  Cur 
tis  to  stop  fighting  and  intrench,  which  so  excited 
that  officer  that  he  exclaimed,  'Then  we  shall  lose 
what  we  have  gained  '  Fortunately,  the  firing  from 
the  '  Ironsides  '  and  the  Monitors  was  so  effective, 
that  at  ten  o'clock  p.  M.  every  traverse  was  emptied 
and  the  enemy  in  full  retreat  towards  the  end  of  the 
sand-spit  on  which  Fort  Fisher  was  situated." 

It  would  be  scarcely  worth  while  for 
Army  or  Navy  to  claim  on  this  occasion 
more  than  their  share  of  honor.  Each  did 
in  its  own  sphere  what  was  required,  and 
neither  could  have  succeeded  without  the  aid 
of  the  other.  That  the  naval  fire  was  per 
fect  was  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  every 
gun  in  Fort  Fisher  was  either  destroyed  oV 
so  injured  that  they  were  practically  use 
less;  so  that,  from  the  moment  the  army  ad 
vanced  to  the  assault,  they  had  nothing  to 
apprehend  from  the  enemy's  heavy  bat 
teries. 

In  all  the  last  seven  hours'  fighting  the 
Federal  army  lost  but  110  killed,  536 


wounded,  and  45  missing,  while  the  enemy 
lost  over  700. 

The  high  praise  bestowed  on  the  officers 
of  the  Army  by  the  military  historian  is 
well  deserved;  the  assault  on  Fort  Fisher 
was  the  most  remarkable  affair  of  the  war: 

"The  difficulties  of  the  weather  and  the  season  on 
one  of  the  stormiest  coasts,  in  the  world  were  over 
come,  the  disadvantages  incident  to  all  combined 
operations  entirely  disappeared,  and  the  disposi 
tions  of  the  Admiral  and  the  military  chief  at  the 
time  of  the  landing,  and  during  the  subsequent 
operations  up  to  and  including  the  assault,  were  a 
marvel  of  harmonious  effect." 

To  all  this  we  subscribe,  only  asserting 
that  up  to  the  time  when  Butler  left  Fort 
Fisher  the  naval  co-operation  with  him  was 
just  as  effective  as  with  Terry. 

Butler  had  no  obstacles  to  overcome, 
Terry  had  many.  Badeau  says  : 

"The  importance  of  this  victory  was  instantly 
recognized  by  the  rebels  and  loyal  people  alike.  The 
effect  was  felt  at  home  and  abroad.  Lee  knew  its 
significance  as  well  as  Grant,  and  the  rejoicing  at 
the  North  was  not  more  general  or  heartfelt  than  the 
despondency  it  occasioned  inside  the  Confederacy. 
The  gates  through  which  the  rebels  obtained  their 
largest  and  most  indispensable  supplies  was  forever 
sealed. 

"  In  little  more  than  a  year  before  the  capture,  the 
ventures  of  British  capitalists  and  speculators  with 
Wilmington  alone  had  amounted  to  $68,000,000, 
and  $65,000,000  worth  of  cotton  had  been  exported 
in  return.  In  the  same  period  397  vessels  had  run 
the  blockade  ;  all  this  was  at  an  end.  Europe  per 
ceived  the  inevitable  consequences,  and  the  British 
Government,  which  till  now  had  held  out  hopes  to 
the  Confederate  emissaries,  after  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  sent  a  communication  to  Jefferson  Davis, 
through  Washington,  rebuking  the  rebels  for  their 
stubbornness.  There  could  be  no  surer  evidence 
that  the  case  was  desperate." 

We  will  further  add  that  a  telegraphic 
dispatch  was  captured  from  General  Lee  to 
the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Fisher, 
which  read  as  follows:  ''If  Fort  Fisher 
falls,  I  shall  have  to  evacuate  Richmond." 

The  military  historian  remarks:  "At 
this  crisis  the  possession  of  Cape  Fear  River 
opened  another  base  for  operations  into  the 
interior.  It  enabled  the  general-in-chief  to 
look  forward  to  supporting  Sherman's  fu 
ture  movements  and  presented  an  oppor 
tunity  to  complete  the  isolation  of  Lee." 

In  fact,  Lee,  with  Cape  Fear  River  in  his 
possession,  might  have  prolonged  the  war 
greatly,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  terms  for 
the  Confederacy,  which  might  have  been  a 
triumph  for  them. 

After  making  the  proper  disposition  of 
the  vessels  of  the  fleet,  the  Admiral  hast 
ened  to  City  Point  in  a  fast  steamer  to 
witness  the  end.  It  came  two  months  later, 
when  Lee,  having  eaten  up  all  his  provis 
ions,  and  threatened  by  large  armies  whom 
he  had  no  longer  power  to  resist,  surren 
dered,  and  thus  ended  the  most  extraordi- 
narv  war  of  modern  times. 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


757 


"While*  our  armies  in  many  instances  im 
mortalized  themselves  by  acts  of  heroism, 
and  submitted  to  hardships  and  privations 
for  which  the  country  can  hardly  ever  repay 
them,  the  Navy  performed  its  fair  share  of 
hard  service,  and  without  its  aid  the  rebel 
lion  could  not  have  been  suppressed. 

As  long  as  the  Confederates  could  be  fed, 
and  supplied  with  munitions  of  war,  it 
would  have  been  extremely  difficult  to  con 
quer  them,  for  they  would  have  prolonged 
the  war  and  inflicted  such  injuries  on  the 
North  as  to  finally  have  obtained  whatever 
terms  they  might  demand. 

In  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Northern  people 
to  welcome  home  the  soldiers,  and  in  the 
honors  paid  to  them  on  all  sides,  the  Navy 
seemed  to  have  been  forgotten,  and  but  for 
the  published  dispatches  of  the  command 
ing  officers  of  the  Federal  naval  forces,  the 
general  public  would  hardly  have  known 
that  such  an  organization  as  the  Navy  ex 
isted. 

From  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  where  the  gun 
boats  covered  the  retreating  troops,  which 
rallied  under  their  protecting  fire  and  finally 
gained  the  day,  to  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher, 
the  Navy  played  a  more  active  part  than 
was  perhaps  ever  before  taken  by  naval 
forces,  and  though  illy  supplied  with  the 


proper  kind  of  vessels,  they  seldom  experi 
enced  reverses. 

There  were  the  fights  of  Hatteras,  Port 
Royal.  New  Orleans,  Mobile,  Vicksburg, 
and  all  along  the  Mississippi  and  its  tribu 
taries.  Red  River,  Arkansas.  White.  Ten 
nessee.  Cumberland  and  Ohio  Rivers,  Grand 
Gulf,  Port  Hudson,  Charleston,  Galveston, 
and  the  whole  coast  of  Texas  brought  under 
control.  This  was  a  large  field  of  naval 
operations,  seldom  equalled  in  the  history 
of  war.  and  never  exceeded,  as  far  as  naval 
successes  are  concerned. 

In  this  account  of  the  Fort  Fisher  affair 
we  have  endeavored  to  do  justice  to  all 
parties,  but  as  General  Butler  was  not 
partial  to  the  Navy,  and  might  perhaps 
think  that  a  naval  writer  would  not  do  him 
full  justice,  we  have  quoted  liberally  from 
the  work  of  General  Badeau,  who 'had  a 
favorable  leaning  toward  General  Butler, 
and  who  gave  him  credit  for  military  quali 
ties  wherever  he  could  possibly  do  so. 

We  have  reviewed  the  circumstances  con 
nected  with  Fort  Fisher  at  some  length, 
because  we  consider  such  review  neces 
sary  for  a  proper  understanding  of  this  im 
portant  victory,  and  also  with  a  view  to 
correct  misrepresentations  which  have  long 
since  been  made  apparent. 


CH  AFTER     LI  I. 

OPERATIONS  ABOUT  CHARLESTON,    1805.— FALL    OF  CHARLESTON, 

SAVANNAH,  ETC. 

FORMATION  OP  THE  NAVAL  BRIGADE.— OPERATIONS  OF  GENERALS  SHERMAN  AND  FOSTER  IN 
THE  VICINITY  OF  SAVANNAH. — EXPEDITION  UP  BROAD  RlVER  AND  BOYD'S  CREEK. — SA 
VANNAH  INVESTED.— EVACUATION  OF  SAVANNAH  AND  ITS  DEFENCES  BV  THE  CONFEDER 
ATES.— THE  NAVAL  VESSELS  AGAIN  IN  CHARLESTON  HARBOR.— MOVEMENTS  OF  ARMY 
AROUND  CHARLESTON.— NAVAL  PICKETS  CAPTURED.— LANDING  OF  NAVAL  FORCES  AT 
BULL'S  BAY.— GUN-BOATS  AND  BATTERIES  OPEN  A  TERRIFIC  FIRE  ON  FORT  MOULTRIE 
AND  WORKS  ON  SULLIVAN'S  ISLAND.— CHARLESTON  EVACUATED.  — ISOLATION  OF  THE 
CONFEDERACY.— NAVAL  OFFICERS  COMMENDED.— CONFEDERATE  VESSELS  CAPTURED. — 
INGENIOUS  METHODS  USED  BY  CONFEDERATES  TO  PREVENT  UNION  VESSELS  FROM  PENE 
TRATING  THE  INNER  HARBOR.— PLANS  OF  FORTS  ALONG  THE  RIVERS.— GEORGETOWN, 
S.  C.,  OCCUPIED.— THE  FLAG-SHIP  "  HARVEST  MOON"  SUNK  BY  TORPEDOES.— ADMIRAL 
DAHLGREN  RELIEVED. — COMPLIMENTARY  LETTER  FROM  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY,— 
LIST  OF  VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  SOUTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,  1805. 


IN  the  latter  part  of  November,  1804, 
Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  received  in 
formation  that  General  Sherman  had 
reached  Milledgeville  and  was  about 
to  march  upon  Savannah.  He  accord 
ingly  entered  into  an  arrangement  with 
General  Foster  to  co-operate  with  Sherman 
in  case  the  latter  might  require  assistance. 
It  was  decided  to  form  a  naval  brigade, 
to  be  furnished  with  two  field-howitzer  bat 
teries  of  four  guns  each.  All  the  forces 
that  could  be  spared  from  the  vessels  on 
blockade  were  withdrawn,  and  the  night  of 
November  28th  was  appointed  for  proceed 
ing  up  the  Broad  River  and  into  Boyd's 
Creek,  one  of  its  branches,  whence  a  short 
march  only  was  necessary  to  reach  the  rail 
road  connecting  Savannah  witli  Charleston. 
The  vessels  of  the  Navy  selected  for  this 
service  were  the  "Pawnee,"  Commander 
Balch  ;  "Mingoe,"  Commander  Creighton  ; 
"Pontiac,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Luce; 
"  Winona."  Lieutenant-Commander  Dana; 
"  Wissahickon,"  Lieutenant-Commanding 
McGlensey  ;  "Sonoma,"  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Scott ;  all  carrying  heavy  guns. 
There  were  four  half-companies  of  well- 
drilled  seamen  under  Lieutenant  James 


(758) 


O'Kane  ;  Lieutenant  -  Commander  E.  O. 
Mathews  commanded  the  Navy  artillery, 
and  the  marines  from  the  different  vessels 
were  under  the  command  of  First-Lieu 
tenant  George  G.  Stoddard. 

After  a  harassing  progress  of  twenty 
miles  through  a  thick  fog,  Admiral  Dahl 
gren  had  the  satisfaction  of  reaching  the 
appointed  landing  with  five  of  the  six  ves 
sels  with  which  he  had  started,  for  the 
"Wissahickon"  had  grounded  near  the  en 
trance  of  the  river  and  did  not  succeed  in 
joining  the  other  gun-boats.  The  troops 
were  somewhat  later  in  arriving,  but  finally 
the  transports  were  seen  coming  up  the 
river,  and  in  half  an  hour  afterwards  two 
batteries  of  naval  howitzers  and  nine  com 
panies  of  seamen  and  marines  were  landed 
under  Commander  Preble,  and  advanced  in 
skirmishing  order,  to  cover  the  landing  of 
the  troops.  Admiral  Dahlgren  returning  to 
his  duty  afloat. 

After  General  Foster  had  landed  all  his 
soldiers,  an  advance  was  made  towards  the 
railroad  above  Grahamsville.  The  Confed 
erates  had  assembled  in  considerable  force, 
and  did  all  they  could  to  impede  the  march 
of  the  Union  forces  by  a  fire  of  musketry 


THE  NAVAL  PIT  STORY  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


759 


and  field-pieces,  and  at  length  the  Federal 
forces  came  to  a  halt  before  a  strong  earth 
work  commanding  the  road,  and  flanked 
by  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  and  other  ob 
structions.  The  troops  under  General  Hatch 
assaulted  the  works,  but  were  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss,  while  the  men  from  the  fleet 
did  their  duty  with  boat  -  howitzers  and 
musketry. 

Skirmishing  and  reconnaissances  went 
on  for  several  days,  the  Federals  slowly 
advancing  towards  their  objective  point, 
the  railroad.  This  was  a  new  experience 
for  the  seamen  and  marines,  but  their  spir 
ited  conduct  won  for  them  the  applause  of 
the  soldiers  On  the  Oth  of  December  the 
Army  and  Navy  forces  proceeded  up  the 
Tulfiny  River,  and  at  about  8  A.  M.  landed 
on  an  island.  The  Confederates  sent  troops 
to  meet  them,  and  for  a  time  it  looked  as  if 
the  Federals  would  get  the  worst  of  the  en 
counter;  but  the  naval  contingent  coming 
rapidly  on  the  field,  and  opening  a  heavy 
fire  with  howitzers  and  musketry,  the  en 
emy  finally  gave  way,  retreating  in  good 
order.  This  skirmishing  lasted  all  day 
through  a  heavy  rain,  the  seamen  and 
marines  behaving  like  veteran  soldiers  in 
an  experience  entirely  new  to  the  greater 
portion  of  their  number.  The  object  of  the 
expedition  was  effected  in  spite  of  all  op 
position,  and  on  the  12 th  of  December  Rear- 
Admiral  Dahlgren  opened  communication 
with  General  Sherman,  who  was  then  near 
Savannah. 

The  news  of  Sherman's  arrival  in  the 
vicinity  of  Savannah  gave  great  satisfac 
tion  to  the  people  of  the  North,  who  had 
begun  to  feel  uneasy  in  regard  to  him,  ow 
ing  to  the  exaggerated  reports  from  Con 
federate  sources.  Prompt  steps  were  taken 
to  place  vessels-of-war  at  every  point  on  the 
coast  where  the  General  was  likely  to  ap 
pear,  and  on  the  18th  of  December  Sherman 
in  person  presented  himself  on  board  Ad 
miral  Dahlgren's  flag-ship,  and  was  warmly 
greeted  by  officers  and  men.  who  held  this 
gallant  commander  in  the  highest  respect. 
Arrangements  were  made  by  General  Sher 
man  with  Admiral  Dahlgren.  that,  while 
the  former  should  invest  Savannah  on  the 
land  side,  the  latter  should  hold  every  avenue 
by  water  ;  and  when  it  was  considered  that 
the  investment  was  complete.  Sherman 
summoned  General  Hardee,  the  Confederate 
commander,  to  surrender,  which  request 
being  declined  Sherman  prepared  to  attack 
the  enemy's  works.  The  Federal  army  was 
gradually  drawing  down  to  the  Savannah 
River,  and.  in  order  to  cut  off  the  escape 
of  the  Confederates,  it  was  concluded 
to  reinforce  the  troops  under  General  Fos 
ter  on  Broad  River,  and  make  a  demonstra 
tion  in  the  direction  of  the  railroad,  while 
that  on  Beaulieu  would  be  limited  to  the 


naval  cannonade,  which  was  begun  and 
continued  by  Lieutenant-Commander  Scott 
in  the  "  Sonoma,"  assisted  by  the  schooner 
"  Griffith,"  Acting-Master  James  Ogilvie. 

In  order  to  complete  the 'arrangements 
for  cutting  off  the  escape  of  the  enemy  and 
to  insure  the  co-operation  of  all  the  Federal 
forces  in  the  vicinity,  General  Sherman 
visited  Hilton  Head  in  company  with  Rear- 
Admiral  Dahlgren,  to  communicate  with 
General  Foster,  and  make  the  latter  ac 
quainted  with  his  plans  ;  but  on  his  return 
he  was  overtaken  by  a  tug,  with  the  follow 
ing  telegram  : 

To  General  Sherman  : 

General  Howard  reports  one  of  General  Legget's 
brigades  near  Savannah,  and  no  enemy.  Prisoners 
say  the  city  is  abandoned  and  enemy  gone  to 
Hardeesville. 

from  /Station,  near  Headquarters. 

On  receipt  of  this  dispatch  General  Sher 
man  hastened  to  his  headquarters,  and  the 
Admiral  to  the  division  of  vessels  lying  in 
front  of  Beaulieu,  when  the  facts  of  the 
case  became  apparent.  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Scott,  of  the  "  Sonoma,"  was  in 
possession  of  Forts  Beaulieu  and  Rose  Dew, 
and  all  the  other  fortifications  had  been 
evacuated,  leaving  Sherman  master  of 
Savannah  and  its  defences. 

Although,  no  doubt,  the  Army  would  have 
captured  Savannah  unaided,  yet  the  Navy 
was  of  great  assistance  in  blocking  up  the 
rivers  and  preventing  the  Confederates  from 
sending  reinforcements  to  General  Hardee. 
The  Navy  visited  many  points  inaccessible 
to  the  Army,  and  secured  a  large  quantity 
of  guns,  ammunition  and  stores  which  the 
Confederates  had  not  time  to  destroy.  Gen 
eral  Hardee's  boast,  that  he  held  two  lines 
of  intrenchments  and  was  in  communica 
tion  with  superior  authority,  did  not  prevent 
him  from  beating  a  speedy  retreat  as  soon 
as  Sherman's  advance-guard  hove  in  sight 
of  his  outposts. 

In  all  these  affairs  the  brigade  from  tiie 
fleet,  composed  of  seamen  and  marines,  re 
mained  with  General  Foster's  command, 
and  the  officers  and  men  were  transferred 
to  their  respective  vessels  only  when  Savan 
nah  and  all  the  points  around  it  were  gar 
risoned  by  Sherman's  troops. 

As  it  was  General  Sherman's  intention  to 
move  northward  as  soon  as  he  had  secured 
Savannah  against  any  attempts  on  the  part 
of  the  Confederates  to  repossess  it,  he  re 
quested  such  co-operation  on  the  part  of 
the  Navy  as  could  be  extended:  and  while 
his  army  was  apparently  advancing  on 
Charleston,  Rear -Admiral  Dahlgren  de 
termined  on  making  further  attacks  on  the 
works  within  the  harbor  of  that  place,  which 
with  the  assistance  of  the  army  lie  had 
some  hope  of  reducing.  Sherman,  however, 
did  not  favor  this  plan,  being  satisfied  that 


760 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


Charleston  would  necessarily  fall,  owing  to 
his  own  interior  movements. 

Admiral  Dahlgren  now  collected  all  his 
vessels  near  Charleston,  ready  to  co-operate 
with  Sherman  as  he  approached,  and  to 
keep  the  rivers  clear  of  torpedoes  and  light 
batteries,  so  that  the  Federal  transports 
could  reach  certain  points  and  supply  the 
wants  of  the  Union  army. 

In  order  to  deceive  the  Confederates  with 
regard  to  the  point  for  which  he  was  aim 
ing  in  his  march  to  the  northward,  General 
Sherman  requested  that  the  Navy  would 
make  such  demonstrations  as  would  draw 
the  attentions  of  the  Confederates  from  his 
operations.  The  gun-boat  ''Dai  Ching'"  and  a 
tug  were  placed  in  the  Ossabaw  River,  the 
"  Sonoma''  was  sent  out  to  the  North  Edisto 
and  the  "Pawnee"  to  the  Ashepoo  River, 
with  orders  to  drive  off  the  enemy's  troops 
and  knock  down  his  batteries  wherever 
they  could  be  reached.  The  "  Tuscarora." 
"Mingoe,"  "  State  of  Georgia  "and  "Nip- 
sic"  were  stationed  at  Georgetown,  S.  C., 
to  prevent  the  enemy  from  erecting  bat 
teries  at  that  point,  and  the  "  Pontiac  "  was 
in  the  Savannah,  advancing  with  General 
Sherman's  extreme  left.  Nearly  all  the 
Monitors  of  the  squadron  were  collected  at 
Charleston. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1865,  General 
Sherman  marched  on  Pocotaligo  and  the 
Coosawatchee,  and  the  next  day  made  a 
demonstration  on  Salkahatchee,  while  the 
gun-boats  went  up  the  Edisto  and  Stono 
Rivers  to  ascertain  whether  the  enemy  in 
tended  to  hold  Charleston  or  retreat  to  Col 
umbia.  It  would  require  General  Slocum 
at  least  five  days  to  get  his  troops  clear  of 
the  swamps  near  Savannah,  and  in  the 
meantime  General  Howard  was,  appar 
ently,  moving  directly  on  Charleston,  al 
though  with  no  intention  of  going  beyond 
Salkahatchee. 

The  enemy  had  still  a  considerable  force 
near  Savannah,  and  his  cavalry,  under  Gen 
eral  Wheeler,  was  exceedingly  active  in 
watching  the  movements  of  the  Federal 
army  and  picking  up  stragglers.  The 
"  Pontiac,"  Lieutenant  -  Commander  Luce, 
was  left  with  Slocum's  command,  and  on 
the  24th  anchored  off  Merrill's  Landing  or 
the  Three  Sisters,  forty  miles  above  Savan 
nah,  to  cover  the  crossing  of  the  river  by  a 
portion  of  the  20th  Corps.  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Luce  threw  out  pickets  to  see 
that  the  enemy  did  not  bring  guns  to  bear 
on  the  "Pontiac"  from  the  high  bluffs, 
which  could  not  be  reached  by  the  ship's 
battery.  This  party  had  been  warned 
against  scouting  too  far  from  the  ship,  but 
in  spite  of  this  they  were  captured  by  a 
squad  of  Confederate  cavalry. 

On  the  evening  of  the  27th  the  scouts  of 
General  Davis'  column  reached  the  point 


where  the  "  Pontiac  "  was  lying  at  anchor; 
and,  soon  after,  the  remainder  of  the  34th 
Corps  appeared,  after  a  most  arduous  march 
over  corduroy  roads  which  had  to  be  con 
structed  in  advance  of  the  forces.  Here 
the  soldiers  took  some  needed  rest,  with  the 
knowledge  that  they  were  not  likely  to  be 
disturbed  while  the"  Pontiac"  lay  in  their 
vicinity,  although  there  were  reported  to  be 
two  Confederate  gun-boats  about  eighty 
miles  up  the  river. 

Meanwhile  the  "  Pawnee  "  and  "  Sonoma "' 
were  making  their  way  up  the  North  Edisto, 
in  company  with  transports  conveying 
troops  under  the  command  of  General  Pot 
ter,  which  troops  were  landed  at  a  place 
called  White  Point.  Some  few  of  the  enemy 
were  seen  and  shelled  by  the  gun-boats,  but 
the  Confederates  were  not  in  force,  and  their 
guns  had  mostly  disappeared  from  the  river 
banks. 

Thus,  while  Sherman  was  advancing 
through  the  enemy's  country,  everything 
was  done  by  the  Navy  that  could  disconcert 
the  Confederates  and  prevent  them  from 
annoying  the  Union  army.  At  this  time, 
owing  to  heavy  rains,  the  freshets  had 
swept  away  most  of  the  bridges  along  the 
line  of  Sherman's  march,  and  the  move 
ments  of  the  gun  -  boats  were  in  every  re 
spect  desirable  to  cover  the  advance  of  the 
army.  Almost  every  stream  where  a  gun 
boat  could  float  was  guarded  by  the  Navy; 
their  good  services  enabled  General  Sher 
man  to  reach  midway  on  the  South  Carolina 
road  by  the  7th  of  February  without  moles 
tation.  The  fate  of  Charleston  was  now 
sealed,  and  the  only  thing  left  the  garrison 
to  avoid  capture  was  to  evacuate  the  place. 

On  the  llth  of  February  a  movement  was 
made  by  the  army  contingent  under  Gen 
eral  Potter,  and  a  considerable  naval  force 
under  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren,  consisting 
of  the  "  Shenandoah,"  "  Juniata,"  "  Ca- 
nandaigua,"  "State  of  Georgia,"  "Paw 
nee."  "Sonoma,"  "Ottawa,"  "  Winona," 
"Wando,"  "Geranium"  and  "Iris,"  with 
launches  in  which  to  land  troops  at  Bull's 
Bay.  Great  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  finding  a  channel  into  the  harbor,  but  a 
landing  was  finally  effected  ;  after  which, 
the  "  Pawnee  "  and  "  Winona  "  was  sent  to- 
South  Edisto  River  to  assist  General  Hatch, 
who  was  moving  on  Wellstown  with  his  di 
vision. 

On  the  17th  a  movement  was  made  from 
Stono  River  on  the  Confederates,  while  the 
iron-dads  "  Lehigh,"  the  "  Wissahickon" 
and  a  mortar  schooner  were  sent  up  the 
Stono  to  press  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy, 
while  the  gun-boat  "  McDonough  "  was  sent 
with  a  .mortar  schooner  up  the  Filly 
branch  to  bear  on  his  left  flank.  General 
Schimmelf  ennig.  in  command  of  the  troops- 
before  Charleston,  moved  on  the  enemy's. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


701 


front  from  Cole's  Island.  Admiral  Dahl- 
gren  also  sent  orders  to  Lieutenant  Hay- 
ward,  commanding  the  battery  of  11-inch 
guns  on  Cummings'  Point,  to  open  on  Sul 
livan's  Island  and  fire  continuously  through 
the  night.  The  contiguous  batteries  were 
also  put  in  operation  by  General  Schimmel- 
f  en  nig,  and  the  advance  Monitors  were 
ordered  to  open  fire  on  Fort  Moultrie.  The 
cannonading  during  the  night  was  sharp 
and  continuous;  the  Confederates  replied 
with  a  few  guns  from  Fort  Moultrie.  but  as 
the  night  wore  on  their  fire  entirely  ceased. 
In  fact,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy's 
troops  had  evacuated  Sullivan's  Island  at 
about  8  P.  M..  leaving  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men  to  keep  up  a  fire  and  delay 
the  knowledge  of  the  evacuation. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  the  anticipa 
tions  of  the  Union  forces  that  the  Confeder 
ates  were  retreating  from  Charleston  were 
confirmed.  Acting-Master  Gifford  entered 
the  harbor  in  a  tug,  and  at  Mount  Pleasant 
met  the  Mayor  of  the  city,  who  tendered  the 
submission  of  the  civil  authorities  to  the 
Federal  Government,  and  requested  pro 
tection  for  the  citizens  and  their  property. 

Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  was  up  the  Stono 
River  when  he  received  a  message  that 
there  were  indications  that  the  Confed 
erates  were  retreating  from  Charleston, 
and  he  immediately  proceeded  in  his  flag 
ship  to  the  city  which  for  four  years  had 
resisted  the  continued  attacks  of  the  Army 
and  Navy,  for  the  reason  that  its  strength 
had  been  underrated  by  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  and  a  sufficient  force  had  not  been 
sent  against  it.  The  place  only  fell  because 
of  the  advance  of  General  Sherman,  and 
the  fear  of  the  garrison  that  they  would  be 
cut  off  and  captured.  The  powerful  defences 
on  Sullivan's  Island,  the  shapeless  but  still 
formidable  ruins  of  Sumter,  the  numerous 

freat  earth-works  clustered  around  Fort 
ohnson,  Castle  Pinckney  and  the  heavy 
water  batteries  that  lined  the  wharves, 
looked  grim  and  terrible,  though  deserted. 
They  were  a  monument  to  the  zeal,  ability 
and  gallantry  of  those  who  had  to  the  last 
defied  the  power  of  the  Federal  forces. 

Charleston,  the  city  that  struck  the  key 
note  of  the  rebellion,  now  lay  helpless  in 
the  power  of  the  Federal  Government ;  its 
citizens,  worn  out  and  impoverished  by  the 
long  war  which  tiiey  had  themselves  in 
augurated,  now  seemed  willing  to  return 
to  the  shelter  of  the  flag,  since  it  was  evi 
dent  that  the  secession  cause  could  not 
prevail.  The  officers  of  the  fleet  walked 
through  the  streets  of  the  city  whose  out 
works  had  so  long  defied  them.  All  the 
houses  were  closed,  and  few  of  the  citizens 
appeared.  But  for  the  presence  of  the 
negroes,  it  might  have  passed  for  a  city 
stricken  with  the  pestilence. 


Notwithstanding-  the  great  outcry  that 
had  been  made  by  some  of  the  Confederate 
officers  against  General  Gillmore's  barbarity 
in  firing  from  the  "  Swamp  Angel  v  into  the 
town,  the  place  gave  little  indication  of 
having  suffered  from  an  enemy's  guns. 

Here  and  there  the  ground  was  plowed 
up  by  a  rifle-shell,  or  the  front  of  a  house  was 
scarred  by  the  fragments;  but  it  is  pleasant 
to  be  informed  that  tiie  women  and  chil 
dren  received  no  injury. 

The  fall  of  Charleston  was  of  course  an 
important  event  at  any  time,  since  it  was 
the  Mecca  of  the  Confederacy,  on  which 
the  eyes  of  every  Southern  enthusiast  were 
fixed.  The  courage  and  determination  of 
its  garrison  inspired  those  who  were  in 
clined  to  waver  in  their  allegiance  to  the 
Confederacy,  and,  while  Charleston  held 
out  the  cause  could  not  be  considered  alto 
gether  desperate.  The  heroic  example  set 
by  the  besieged  was  telegraphed  daily 
all  over  the  South,  and  the  name 
"  Charleston "  was  a  watchword  every 
where.  Even  the  most  radical  and  un 
compromising  Unionists  could  not  help  ad 
miring  the  courage  and  devotion  shown  by 
the  defenders  of  Charleston,  and  the  city 
escaped  any  injury  from  the  Union  forces, 
except  such  as  naturally  follows  the  occu 
pation  by  troops  of  a  place  lately  in  hostil 
ity,  where  vacant  houses  are  taken  posses 
sion  of  and  their  contents  not  too  scrupu 
lously  respected. 

There  was  considerable  disappointment 
expressed  in  the  South  because  Charleston 
was  so  suddenly  abandoned  on  the  approach 
of  General  Sherman's  army  ;  but  the  Con 
federates  in  the  city  did  not  know  what 
Sherman's  intentions  might  be,  and  they 
very  naturally  thought  it  best  to  evacuate 
the  place  before  the  Union  General  should 
envelope  them  and  compel  their  surrender. 
But  General  Sherman  was  anxious  to 
join  General  Grant  before  Richmond  as 
soon  as  possible  and  get  out  of  the 
lowlands  of  the  coast,  where  his  soldiers 
were  worn  out  with  building  corduroy 
roads  through  swamps,  bridging  the  count 
less  streams,  and  living  in  a  malarious 
country. 

The  capture  of  Fort  Fisher  and  other  de 
fences  of  Wilmington  had  doubtless  a  con 
siderable  effect  on  the  fall  of  Charleston; 
for.  now  that  the  stronghold  on  Cape  Fear 
River  was  taken,  a  small  garrison  could 
hold  it,  and  the  Union  forces  employed  in 
the  reduction  of  those  works  could,  if  neces 
sary,  march  on  Charleston. 

Whatever  claims  may  have  been  ad 
vanced  that  the  final  re'sult  was  brought 
about  by  the  movements  of  the  Navy  in  co 
operation  with  the  Army  under  General 
Foster,  we  can  only  say  that  the  attempt  to 
invest  Charleston "  by  Bull's  Bay  and  the 


762 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


Stono  River  was  bravely  undertaken,  al 
though  it  would  have  probably  experienced 
a  severe  repulse  but  for  the  position  held 
by  Sherman  at  Columbia. 

"The  fall  of  Charleston  was  in  every 
aspect  a  great  success  for  the  Union  cause. 
Although  it  had  long  been  nearly  impos 
sible  for  a  blockade-runner  to  land  her 
cargo  inside  the  harbor,  yet,  even  with  the 
close  watch  constantly  maintained,  cotton 
could  be  sent  out.  When  the  city  was  taken 
this  traffic  was  at  an  end,  and  the  credit  of 
the  Confederate  States  in  England  sank  to 
a  low  ebb.  Henceforth  the  Confederate 
armies  would  be  obliged  to  depend  on  the 
scanty  supplies  obtained  at  home,  and  their 
surrender  was  now  considered  only  a  mat 
ter  of  time. 

Owing  to  the  fall  of  Charleston,  the  Navy 
Department  was  enabled  to  greatly  deplete 
the  naval  forces  hitherto  employed  in  that 
vicinity,  and,  although  the  saving  thus  ef 
fected 'was  but  a  trine  compared  with  the 
large  sums  expended  upon  the  army,  yet  it 
was  a  change  in  the  right  direction,  as  the 
country  was  beginning  to  feel  uneasy  at 
the  vast  sums  daily  paid  from  the  treasury 
to  maintain  the  military  and  naval  forces. 

The  Confederacy  was  now  isolated  from 
the  outer  world  by  way  of  the  sea,  and  there 
could  no  longer  be  a  pretext  for  the  inter 
ference  of  foreign  powers,  the  trouble  being 
at  this  time  purely  domestic.  Now.  also, 
was  ended  that  fiction  of  belligerent  rights 
which  excluded  United  States  vessels-of- 
war  from  the  customary  hospitalities  of 
foreign  ports.  What  was  left  of  our  mer 
cantile  marine  could  pursue  its  avocations 
without  fear  of  molestation  by  Confederate 
cruisers,  which  so  lately  roamed  the  ocean 
at  their  will. 

Much  credit  is  due  to  the  commanding 
naval  officers  at  Bull's  Bay  for  the  manage 
ment  of  their  vessels,  and  the  energy  with 
which  they  responded  to  the  Confederate 
batteries  which  were  striving  to  prevent  a 
landing  of  the  troops.  So  effective  was  the 
fire  of  the  gun-boats  that  the  Confederates 
were  soon  driven  away  and  the  vessels  suf 
fered  little  damage. 

The  officers  particularly  commended  by 
Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  were  :  Captain  D. 
B.  Ridgely,  Commander  F.  Stanly,  Com 
mander  G.  B.  Balch,  Lieutenant -Com 
mander  T.  S.  Fillebrown.  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  A.  A.  Semmes,  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  A.  W.  Johnson,  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  S.  B.  Luce,  Acting- Master  W.  H. 
Mallard  and  Acting-Master  G.  W.  Parker 

At  the  fall  of  Charleston  the  following 
Confederate  vessels  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Navy  :  Iron -clad  ram  ''Columbia," 
steamer-transport  "  Lady  Davis,"  a  cigar- 
shaped  steamer  1GO  feet  long,  two  side- 
wheeled  steamers  and  three  torpedo-boats. 


As  everything  relating  to  the  defence  of 
Charleston  has  a  historic  interest,  we  insert 
the  report  of  Rear- Admiral  Dahlgren  in  re 
gard  to  the  instructions  issued  by  the  Con 
federates  to  prevent  the  Union  vessels  from 
penetrating  the  inner  harbor.  At  the  pres 
ent  day  these  arrangements  seem  rather 
primitive,  but  they  exhibit  skill  and  in 
genuity  on  the  part  of  the  Confederate  en 
gineers,  and  they  completely  answered  their 
intended  purpose,  by  preventing  the  Union 

vessels  from  proceeding  to  Charleston  : 
******* 

"  The  only  passage  from  the  outer  roads  into  the 
harbor  of  Charleston  is  less  than  a  mile  at  its  nar 
rowest  part,  between  Sullivan's  Island  and  the 
shoals  on  which  Fort  Sumter  is  built.  Across  this 
lay  the  first  series  of  obstructions.  When  first  re 
sorted  to,  these  were  of  different  kinds — of  rope,  or 
of  heavy  masses  of  timber,  floating  bars  of  railroad 
iron. 

"  It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  with  exactness  at 
what  time  each  of  these  were  adopted.  Common 
report  was  never  precise,  and  in  that  respect  was 
probably  a  fair  exponent  of  the  common  informa 
tion  at  the  time. 

"The  statements  of  the  persons  who  knew  any 
thing  of  the  matter,  and  were  acceptable,  differ  as 
to  which  of  these  were  used  first. 

"  According  to  Mr.  Smith,  who  had  been  actually 
employed  on  this  work,  the  rope  obstructions  were 
first  put  down  in  1801 ,  formed  into  one  continuous 
line,  and  floated  across  the  channel  from  Sumter  to 
Battery  Bee.  But  this  was  so  frequently  displaced 
by  the  current  that  it  was  cut  into  lengths,  which, 
with  the  addition  of  others,  were  anchored  at  one 
end  in  two  lines,  and  rode  to  the  tide. 

"It  is  probable  that  the  casks  seen  on  the  7th 
April  were  the  turpentine  barrels  of  this  obstruc 
tion:  and,  moreover,  a  plan  of  the  entrance,  signed 
by  Major  Echols,  engineer,  shows  the  double  line 
of  rope  obstructions. 

''In  the  summer  of  1803  the  boom  of  railroad- 
iron  was  placed,  consisting  of  several  timbers 
banded  into  a  mass  and  floating  the  railroad  bars. 
And  this  account  is  so  far  confirmed  that  in  Decem 
ber,  1863,  a  quantity  of  boom  answering  to  this 
description  was  washed  away  by  the  winter  gales 
and  came  down  the  channel.  Some  of  it  was  hauled 
up  on  the  beach  of  Morris  Island.  I  saw  this  work 
in  progress  one  day,  and  was  told  that  as  many  as 
thirty-three  of  the  bars  had  been  secured. 

"  I  have  been  at  a  loss  to  understand  the  exact 
manner  in  which  these  bars  were  connected  to  the 
timbers.  The  accounts  given  do  not  accord,  and 
some  separation  had  generally  been  effected  before 
any  of  them  were  seen  by  us. 

"They  may  have  been  encased  in  the  timbers, 
or  suspended  from  them,  as  described  by  Mr.  Smith; 
but  in  any  case  they  would  have  been  difficult  to 
remove  under  the  heavy  fire  of  the  rebel  works. 

"  It  is  probable,  from  the  several  statements,  that 
whenever  the  use  of  the  boom  obstructions  across 
the  entrance  between  Suiuter  and  Moultrie  may 
have  begun,  the  parts  were  not  renewed  as  they 
disappeared,  but  were  replaced  from  time  to  time 
by  those  of  rope,  until  at  last  the  winter  fivshets  of 
1863  and  1864  carried  away  the  whole  structure. 

"  The  obstructions  which  were  actually  found  in 
position  between  Sumter  and  Moultrie,  after  we 
entered,  were  of  rope  only. 

"The  entire  line  is  reported  to  have  been  made 
up  of  a  number  of  separate  parts,  each  of  which 
consisted  of  a  stout  shroud-laid  rope,  floated  at  in 
tervals  by  buoys  of  pine  logs,  and  anchored  by  a 
heavy  grapnel.  From  this  floating  rope  hung  down 
at  intervals  six  parts  of  a  lighter  rope.  The  exact 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


763 


dimensions  are  variously  given,  as  well  as  the  num 
bers  of  floats  and  hangers. 

"The  pine  buoys,  which  were  used  as  samples, 
were  thirty  nine  (39)  inches  long  and  fifteen  (15) 
inches  in  diameter,  with  a  stout  iron  staple  near 
e-.ich  end,  through  which  passed  the  part  of  rope 
that  was  to  be  floated. 

"It  was  said  to  have  been  the  design  to  place 
these  parts  or  sections  in  two  lines,  about  sixty  (60) 
or  one  hundred  (100  feet  apart,  with  similar  inter 
vals.  But  it  may  be  easily  conceived  that  the  in 
tention  could  not  be  carried  out  with  exactness  in 
the  first  place,  and  that  subsequently,  in  replacing 
sections  that  were  lost  or  not  visible,  the  plan  would 
be  still  further  confused,  partly  by  the  impossi 
bility  of  knowing  \vitb  certainty  at  night  where  the 
sections  were  missing,  and  partly  because  in  doing 
so  it  seemed  better  to  err  in  having  too  many  than 
too  few. 

"  Hence  the  directions  of  the  lines  were  not  main 
tained  with  exactness,  and  the  allotted  number  of 
sections  was  in  excess  of  that  contemplated.  Nor 
was  the  exact  po  ition  and  number  of  those  which 
were  found  in  place  noted  as  well  as  they  should 
have  been,  for  the  reasons  already  stated;  and  when 
my  attention  was  drawn  to  the  subject,  it  was  too 
late  to  remedy  the  omission.  Drawings  were,  there 
fore,  necessarily  made  from  the  several  parts,  but 
it  is  believed  they  afford  a  fair  representation  of  the 
entire  whole. 

"As  different  tugs  and  boats  were  employed  at 
different  times,  there  was  some  discrepancy  in  the 
returns  sent  me,  which,  as  already  stated,  Avere 
not  made  as  they  should  have  been. 

"  Mr.  Gray  gives  the  whole  number  as  226,  which, 
at  intervals  of  one  hundred  (100)  feet,  would  be  too 
many  to  be  included  in  the  distance  of  one  mile; 
but  it  may  be  explained  by  the  continued  renewal 
of  what  was  supposed  to  be  lost,  and  which  were 
not  so  really,  though  not  distinctly  visible. 

"  The  care  and  perseverance  which  the  rebels  gave 
to  the  maintenance  of  these  rope  obstructions  is 
well  shown  by  the  report  of  Acting-Master  Gilford 
(annexed) ;  they  watched  them  closely,  and,  when 
ever  a  section  disappeared  from  sight,  it  was  re- 
pi. -iced. 

"  Our  boats  were  always  observed,  and  driven  off 
if  possible,  and  it  was  necessary,  besides,  to  work 
with  great  caution,  as  they  were  near  powerful  bat 
teries,  and  liable  at  any  moment  to  a  destructive 
fire  of  grape. 

''The  purpose  of  the  boom  obstructions  was  evi 
dently  to  bar  the  passage  of  a  vessel  entirely,  while 
that  of  the  rope  obstructions  was  to  entangle  the 
screw  and  prevent  further  progress,  or  even  detain 
the  vessel  under  tire  of  the  batteries,  for  the  grapnel 
which  anchored  the  rope  would  also  serve  as  a  drag 
on  the  steamer,  and  it  would  be  almost  impossible 
to  cut  it  loose  when  under  fire. 

"  That  the  rope  obstructions  were  in  use  before  I 
took  command,  and  afterwards,  is  satisfactorily  as 
certained  from  other  evidence  than  that  of  Mr.  Gray. 

"  A  plan  of  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  signed  by 
Major  Echols,*  and  dated  April,  1863,  exhibits  two 
lines  of  obstructions,  designated  as  rope  obstruc 
tions,  the  general  direction  being  from  Sumter  to  a 
point  midway  between  Fort  Moultrie  and  Battery 
Bee.  The  delineation  shows  a  number  of  dotted 
lines,  resembling  the  section  of  rope  just  described: 
the  dots  indicate  only  four  buoys.  They  correspond 
closely  with  the  description  given  by  Commodore 
Rogers  of  what  he  saw  from  the  '  Weehawken  '  dur 
ing  the  attack  of  7th  of  April. 

"In  his  official  report  he  says  :  '  We  approached 
very  close  to  the  obstructions  extending  from  Fort 
Sumter  to  Fort  Moultrie — as  near,  indeed,  as  I  could 
get  without  running  upon  them.  They  were  marked 
by  rows  of  casks  very  near  together.  To  the  eye 
they  appeared  almost  to  touch  one  another,  and 
there  was  more  than  one  line  of  them. 

*  Confederate  Engineer. 


To  me  they  appeared  thus  : 

D  a  u  a 


"When  we  landed  on  Sullivan's  Island  (February, 
1865),  several  telegrams  came  into  my  possession. 
One  of  them,  dated  Sumter,  April  8,  1863,  runs  thus: 
' '  Blue  and  red  Coston  lights  indicate  the  enemy's 
boats  trying  to  cut  the  net;  the  batteries  will  open 
with  grape.' 

"Colonel  Freemantle,  of  the  Cold  stream  Guards,  in 
the  published  account  of  his  visit  to  Charleston, 
June,  1863,  says: 

"'There  are  excellent  arrangements  of and 

other  contrivances  to  foul  the  screw  of  a  vessel  be 
tween  Sumter  and  Moultrie.' 

"As  soon  as  the  picket  and  scout  boats  of  the 
fleet  were  able  to  approach  the  entrance,  the  pres 
ence  of  the  obstructions  was  verified;  but  in  the 
obscurity  of  the  night  it  was  difficult  to  ascertain 
precisely  what  they  were,  particularly  as  the  rebels 
were  then  in  strong  force  at  the  locality,  and  very 
little  time  was  permitted  for  examination. 

"  General  Gillmore's  impressions  at  the  time  may 
be  gathered  from  the  following  portion  of  his  tele 
gram  to  me  August  4: 

"'My  scout  has  just  reported  that  the  line  of 
floating  buoys  reaching  from  Sumter  to  Moultrie 
has  disappeared  since  yesterday.  These  buoys  are 
supposed  to  have  torpedoes  attached  to  them, 
etc.' 

"  This  disappearance  was  probably  a  mistake, 
owing  to  the  difficulty  of  discerning  with  certainty 
objects  so  small  at  such  a  distance,  for  no  report 
was  made  by  the  Navy  pickets,  and  soon  after  En 
sign  Porter,  who  was  specially  charged  with  the 
duty,  reported  that  'two  steamers  and  three 
schooners  were  at  anchor  in  the  centre  of  the  chan 
nel,  apparently  at  work  on  the  obstructions,  or  else 
sinking  others,'  etc.  Ensign  Porter,  who  was  very 
active  and  daring,  assured  me  that  chains  formed 
some  part  of  the  obstructions,  as  he  had  been  close 
enough  to  the  buoys  to  feel  them. 

"  The  buovs  themselves  were  visible  to  the  eye 
from  the  picket  Monitors  which  were  stationed  in 
the  advance.  Their  reports,  being  verbal  at  first, 
cannot  now  be  quoted;  but  subsequently  I  directed 
them  to  be  made  in  writing. 

"Captain  J.  L.  Davis,  commanding  the  'Men 
tank,'  reports  2oth  September : 

"  'At  low  water  to-day,  a  rip  was  discovered  ex 
tending  from  Fort  Sumter  in  a  line  to  the  western 
end  of  the  buoys,  stretching  from  near  Moultrie  in 
a  westerly  direction  ficross  the  channel.  At  first  I 
thought  it  was  the  meeting  of  the  tides,  but  as  it 
did  not  alter  position  I  came  to  the  conclusion  some 
hidden  obstructionsmight  be  there.' 

"  September  26th,  the  'Catskill'  reports  a  steamer 
plying  between  Sumter  and  Moultrie  on  the  previous 
night,  supported  by  two  iron-dads.  On  the  27th, 
the'Nahant1  reports  that  the  obstruction  buoys 
were  counted  by  several  officers,  and  the  average 
number  was  about  eighty  ^0  .  '  The  buoys  do  not 
seem  to  be  in  a  continuous  line,  but  as  if  they  were 
in  groups  of  five  or  six.  There  seems  to  be  another 
short  line  of  larger  buoys  bevond  the  first,  which  I 
judge  to  be  a  separate  obstruction  across  Hog 
Island  Channel.'  Which  description  is  remarkably 
in  accord  with  all  the  facts  since  ascertained 

"In  October  (21st  \  1863,  apart  of  the  rope  obstruc 
tions  floated  out  of  the  harbor,  and  was  discovered 
off  Beach  Inlet  by  the  '  Sonoma,1  which  towed  them 


764 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


inside  the  bar.  The  floating  away  of  these  sections 
— owing  to  various  causes,  sometimes  to  their  re 
moval  by  our  scouts — explains  the  variations  in  the 
numbers  of  the  buoys  counted  at  different  times 
from  the  Monitors;  and  their  renewal  by  the  rebels 
whenever  they  did  disappear  is  fully  established  by 
the  nightly  experience  of  Acting-Master  Gifford, 
who  rarely  failed  to  be  at  his  post  as  a  scout.  His 
report,  which  is  annexed,  is  of  interest,  as  it  ex 
hibits  the  results  of  much  arduous  service  and  close 
observation. 

"  The  accounts  of  deserters  and  refugees  confirmed 
in  a  general  way  the  existence  and  locality  of  the 
obstructions  ;  but  their  opportunities  lor  observa 
tion  were  seldom  as  good  as  our  own,  for  none  but 
those  engaged  in  the  work  were  allowed  opportuni 
ties  of  knowing  more  than  could  be  seen  from  a 
short  distance,  and  the  rebels  were  singularly  for 
tunate  in  the  precautions  to  keep  their  own  counsel 
as  to  the  nature  of  the  submerged  defences. 

"  The  general  existence  of  obstiuctions  at  an  early 
date  was  set  forth  in  a  circular  order  of  General  Rip- 
ley  (December  26,  1862  ,  regarding  the  defence  to  be 
made  against  our  attack. 

"  In  speakiug  of  these  impediments  it  says  :  '  The 
obstructions  will  also  be  designated,  and  under  no 
circumstances  will  the  enemy  be  permitted  to  re 
connoitre  them.' 

"  Besides  the  obstructions  at  the  entrance,  the 
middle  channel  was  closed  by  a  double  row  of  piles 
extending  some  distance  across  the  harbor,  which 
were  distinctly  visible  when  the  first  operations 
were  initiated  against  Charleston. 

"In  the  Hog  Island  Channel  was  also  a  set  of 
boom  obstructions,  found  in  April  last  by  the 
'  Clover '  while  engaged  in  clearing  away  the  frame 
torpedoes  placed  there. 

"  The  massive  and  complicated  character  of  these 
gave  much  trouble  in  their  removal.  They  con 
sisted  of  a  stout  chain  (J-inch  iron)  that  had  been 
floated  by  blocks  of  timber  secured  to  it  at  short  in 
tervals. 

"  These  blocks  were  made  of  four-squared  logs, 
fifteen  (15)  feet  long  and  one  1 1 1  foot  square,  kept 
together  by  an  iron  band  at  each  end. 

"Railroad  iron  linked  together,  and  suspended 
from  squared  timber,  was  associated  with  the  chain- 
boom.  This  boom  had  been  stretched  across  a  neck 
in  the  Hog  Island  Channel  when  there  was  least 
water,  and  the  passage  so  narrow  that  the  shoals  on 
each  hand  were  bare  at  low  water,  and  hardly  five 
hundred  (500)  feet  apart,  besides  being  directly  un 
der  fire  from  Battery  Bee  at  1,100  yards,  and  of 
Mount  Pleasant  battery  at  1,000  yards.  At  this 
time  they  had  been  so  much  worm-eaten  that  they 
sank,  but  the  depth  at  low  tide  would  still  have 
rendered  them  troublesome  to  all  but  light-draught 
vessels.* 

In  this  way  the  main  entrance  was  obstructed 
between  Sumter  and  Moultrie,  and  two  of  the  chan 
nels  leading  from  it  were  barred  by  piles  and  booms, 
leaving  open  only  the  main  channel  to  the  south, 
which  was  left  to  the  control  of  the  heavy  batteries 
that  lined  it. 

"These  obstructions  were  defended  by  torpedoes, 
and  by  a  series  of  batteries,  iron-clads  and  torpedo- 
boats. 

"After  obtaining  possession  of  the  harbor,  the 
examination  which  was  made  disclosed  the  use  of 
three  kinds  of  torpedoes.  The  floating  torpedo 
was  made  of  a  small  barrel,  capable  of  containing 
seventy  (70)  pounds  of  powder,  generally  mounting 
two  fuzes  on  the  bilge,  anchored  so  as  to  come 
in  contact  with  the  bottom  of  vessels  By  means 
of  a  small  weight  these  fuzes  Avere  kept  upper 
most. 

"  These  torpedoes  were  well  known  in  the  squad- 

*  And  Captain  Gray  states  that  they  were  afloat  up  to  the  last  that 
he  saw  of  them,  which  was  in  August,  1864. 


ron,  having  been  picked  up  and  encountered  at 
various  times  in  the  St.  John's  and  Stono,  explod 
ing  occasionally  with  full  effect.  They  were  liable 
to  be  lost  by  getting  adrift ;  or,  if  not  tight,  might 
be  spoiled  by  water;  but  the  rebels  kept  a  vigilant 
eye  on  them,  examining  them  at  times  and  replac 
ing  them  There  was  a  regular  establishment  here 
for  their  fabrication,  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Gray, 
who  held  the  position  of  captain. 

"A  part  of  thecorrespondence  of  this  branch  is  now 
in  my  hands,  from  which  it  appears  that  there  were 
thirty-five  (35)  to  forty  (40>  hands  employed,  and. 
that  Mr.  Gray  distributed  the  barrel  torpedoes 
along  the  coast  from  Georgetown  to  St.  John's; 
he  also  transmitted  a,  variety  of  material  even  as 
far  as  Mobile,  and  his  connection  was  direct  with 
several  commanding  officers. 

"Woods  and  Thompson  were  employe;!  in  the 
department  to  '  build  the  torpedoes,'  as  they  ex 
press  it. 

"  It  appears  that  no  great  number  of  these  was 
kept  placed  permanently  in  Charleston  harbor,  be 
cause  they  were  dangerous  to  vessels  moving  about 
on  the  ordinary  communications  by  water,  and  ac 
cidents  had  occurred.  They  could  readily  be  put 
down  in  a  very  short  time  on  the  appearance  of  a 
move  on  our  part. 

"  In  the  middle  of  January,  for  instance,  when 
this  was  suspected,  an  order  was  given  to  put  down 
several  lines  of  them.  Woods  and  Thompson  placed 
sixteen  (16)  of  them  in  the  vicinity  of  the  rope  ob 
structions,  between  Sumter  and  Moultrie,  and  seven 
(7)  at  the  entrance  of  the  Hog  Island  Channel. 
Others  were  directed  to  be  laid  down  from  Fort 
Johnson  to  Castle  Pinckney,  which  seems  to  have 
been  deferred  until  the  attack  began. 

"One  of  those  near  the  obstructions  was  en 
countered  by  the  Monitor  '  Patapsco,'  on  the  night 
of  the  15th  of  January,  when,  in  the  expectation  of 
co-operating  with  General  Sherman,  I  had  ordered 
a  vigorous  effort  to  be  made  to  remove  the  rope 
obstructions,  and  the  picket  Monitors  covered  the 
boats  so  engaged. 

"  It  seems  that  the  work  of  placing  these  tor 
pedoes  had  been  completed  that  very  night,  and 
the  '  Patapsco  '  went  down,  with  two-thirds  of  her 
crew,  almost  immediately  on  being  struck,  being  at 
the  time  about  six  hundred  (600)  vards  from  Sum 
ter. 

'  'Immediately  after  entering  the  harbor  of  Charles 
ton,  vigorous  efforts  were  made  to  remove  these 
floating  torpedoes;  but,  although  some  of  the  very 
men  who  had  put  them  down  were  employed,  with 
the  aid  of  steam  tugs  and  boats,  and  all  the  ordi 
nary  appliances,  to  recover  them,  dragging  and 
sweeping  the  water  for  many  days,  only  four  (4) 
could  be  found  of  the  sixteen  (16). 

"The  '  Bibb  '  came  in  contact  with  and  exploded 
one  on  the  17th  of  March,  and  the  'Massachusetts' 
grazed  one  on  the  19th,  so  that  the  balance  remain 
undiscovered. 

"  A  set  of  the  same  kind,  placed  across  the  mouth 
of  the  Wando,  were  recovered  and  destroyed.  Act 
ing-Master  Gifford  found  as  many  as  sixty-one  (61) 
at  different  points  of  the  shore,  about  the  harbor, 
ready  for  service,  or  nearly  so,  and  at  hand  to  be 
put  down  if  needed. 

"  At  Causten  s  Bluff,  in  St.  Augustine  Creek  (one 
of  the  approaches  to  Savannah),  were  found  a  num 
ber  lying  on  a  wharf  all  ready  for  immediate  use. 
They  were  conveniently  handled,  and  could  be  laid 
down  rapidly  and  easily.  Woods  and  Thompson 
say  that  with  one  boat  they  placed  them  at  the  rate 
of  four  in  an  hour. 

"This  kind  of  torpedo  was  the  most  convenient 
of  all,  and  the  most  dangerous,  though,  being  liable 
to  shift  with  the  current,  they  were  apt  to  trouble 
those  who  used  them.  One  rebel  steamboat 
( '  Marion  ')  had  been  blown  up  in  the  Ashley  River 
some  time  ago  by  one  of  them;  and,  in  June,  1864, 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


705 


another  rebel  steamer,  plying  from  Sumter  up  the 
harbor,  was  struck  by  one  and  beached  on  the 
shoal  near  Johnson,  to  prevent  sinking  in  deep 
water,  supposed  at  the  time  to  have  been  run  ashore 
accidentally. 

"  It  is  probable  that  the  '  Teeumseh  '  was  sunk  at 
Mobile,  in  Admiral  Farragut  s  attack,  by  one  of 
this  kind;  also  tiie  'Milwaukee/  the  '  Osage,'  the 
'Rudolph,1  and  a  tin-clad  (48,  in  the  recent  cap 
tures  of  the  forts. 

"  My  own  flag-ship,  the  '  Harvest  Moon,'  was  de 
stroyed  by  the  same  device,  in  Georgetown,  and 
three  army  transports  in  the  St.  John's— '  Maple 
Leaf,'  'Harriet  Weed,  and  another. 

"  Mr.  Gray  states  they  were  placed  in  such  num 
bers  about  the  main  entrance  and  channel,  about 
the  time  of  our  operations  against  Morris  Island, 
that  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  any  vessel  to 
escape  that  entered. 

"  There  were  also  permanent  torpedoes.  One  spe 
cies  of  these  consisted  of  a  frame  of  three  or  four 
heavy  timbers,  parallel  to  each  other  and  a  few  feet 
apart,  tied  together  by  cross-timbers;  at  the  head 
ot  each  timber  was  a. cast -iron  torpedo  with  a 
f  uz.e.  * 

The  frame  was  placed  obliquely,  and  held  by 
weights,  so  as  to  present  its  torpedoes  to  the  bottom 
of  a  vessel  approaching.  Series  of  them  were  placed 
in  particular  parts  of  the  channel. 

"Four  frames,  mounting  fifteen  (15)  torpedoes, 
•were  found  at  the  entrance  of  Ashley  River;  they 
had  been  there  some  time,  and  yet  were  in  such 
good  condition  that  one  exploded  when  towed 
away  carelessly,  and  though  a  dozen  feet  from  the 
tug  the  explosion  hurt  and  knocked  overboard  sev 
eral  men. 

"Frames  were  also  found  in  the  narrow  pass  of 
the  Hog  Island  Channel,  just  as  it  branches  from 
the  main  channel  near  Battery  Bee,  and  close  to  the 
boom  obstructions  already  described;  and  another 
set  in  the  neck  of  the  middle  channel  near  Castle 
Pinckney. 

"  There  is  said  to  be  another  set  in  the  shoal  con 
necting  the  middle  and  the  north  channel,  not  re 
moved  at  this  date. 

"  One  of  these  frames  was  found  lying  in  a  dock 
of  the  Cooper  River,  with  the  torpedoes  mounted 
ready  for  use. 

"In  many  cases  the  frames  had  been  much  worm- 
eaten,  so  that  in  attempting  to  remove  them  the 
timber  broke  and  fell  to  the  bottom. 

"  On  the  wharf  near  it  and  the  adjoining  buildings, 
which  had  been  used  as  a  factory  for  the  torpedoes 
until  our  shells  rendered  it  dangerous,  were  thirty 
(30 '  cast-iron  torpedoes  for  framing. 

"  This  kind  of  torpedo  was  used  in  the  Ogeeehee 
and  Savannah  Rivers,  where  they  were  distinctly 
visible  at  very  low  water;  and  probably  it  was  one 
of  this  kind  that  struck  the  'Montauk'in  February, 
186:5.  when  attacking  Fort  McAllister. 

"  As  torpedo  frames  could  not  be  fixed  in  very 
deep  water,  another  kind  was  used  for  the  purpose. 
This  was  a  large  sheet-iron  boiler,  capable  of  con 
taining  1.000  to  3,000  pounds  of  powder,  to  be  ex 
ploded  by  a  galvanic  battery  connected  by  an  insu 
lated  wire. 

"  Three  of  these  were  located  in  the  main  chan 
nel  between  Battery  Bee  and  Fort  Johnson;  the 
wire  rope  of  each  was  led  to  Sullivan's  Island,  and 
all  were  found  in  good  condition. 

"Persevering  efforts  were  made  by  the  squadron 
divers  to  follow  the  wires  from  the  shore  to  the  tor 
pedoes,  but  they  had  become  so  overlaid  by  depos 
its  of  sand  as  to  resist  all  attempts  to  release  them, 
and  were  broken  several  times  in  the  proceeding. 
A  large  quantity  of  the  wire  rope  was  taken  up.f 
Some  of  the  range-poles  having  been  removed,  it 

•A  model  of  this  kind  was  made  for  me  by  William  Flynn.  a  refu 
gee,  who  had  worked  on  them  in  Charleston. 

t  Some  of  it  was  used  subsequently  by  our  own  divers. 


was  found  impossible  to  determine  with  precision 
the  exact  locality  where  the  divers  could  reach  them 
without  following  the  wires. 

"A  torpedo  boiler  ready  to  receive  powder  was 
found  on  the  wharf,  where  the  cast-iron  torpedoes 
for  the  frames  already  mentioned  were  discovered, 
together  with  a  large  quantity  of  the  wire  rope. 

"  This  was  made  in  the  best  manner,  probably  in 
England.  The  copper  wire  was  insulated  by  a  tube 
of  India-rubber,  protected  by  a  wrapper  of  hemp, 
and  over  that  closely  laid  wire. 

''  In  this  connection  I  may  also  mention  the  tor 
pedoes  designed  for  the  rams  and  torpedo-boats, 
samples  of  which  were  recovered  by  divers  from  the 
bed  of  the  river,  where  they  had  been  thrown. 

"  There  were  two  sizes,  both  being  elongated  cop 
per  cylinders  with  hemispherical  ends,  and  diame 
ters  of  ten  (10)  inches,  but  one  was  thirty-two  inches 
long,  the  others  twenty-four  inches. 

"At  the  outer  end  were  screw-sockets  for  eight 
fuzes,  so  as  to  present  points  of  explosion  in  every 
direction.  The  torpedo  for  the  bow  of  a  ram  was 
of  copper,  barrel-shaped,  and  tapering  to  a  point 
at  the  outer  end.  It  had  sockets  for  seven  fuzes 
on  the  upper  bilge  and  end.  Its  contents  of 
powder  was  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  -  four 
pounds. 

"The  three  torpedo-boats  in  service  had  been  sunk 
in  the  Cooper  River,  off  the  city  wharves.  Two 
have  been  raised,  and  one  put  in  good  order  so  as 
to  steam  about  the  harbor;  in  length  about  sixty- 
four  (64)  feet,  and  five  and  one-half  (5\)  feet  in  di 
ameter,  capable  of  steaming  about  five  (5 1  knots. 
There  were  six  others  that  were  under  repairs,  or 
being  completed,  of  which  two  are  now  ready  for 
service.  Just  above  those  that  had  been  sunk  were 
the  three  iron-clads,  'Chicora.'  '  Palmetto,'  and 
'  Charleston,'  all  of  which  had  been  fired  and  blown 
up  on  the  day  we  entered.  The  '  Chicora '  alone  is 
visible  in  any  part,  and  that  only  a  few  inches  of 
the  casemate  at  low  water. 

"  Up  a  small  creek  was  found  a  fourth  iron-clad, 
the  '  Columbia,'  of  the  same  size  as  the  '  Charles 
ton,  'but  plated  with  six  (6)  inches  of  iron;  a  new 
well-built  vessel,  just  ready  for  service 

"  It  seems  that  about  a  month  before  the  entrance 
of  the  Union  forces  <  January  12),  the  vessel  had 
been  docked  in  the  creek  above  the  city,  and  in 
getting  her  out  of  the  dock  she  grounded.  The 
rebels  seem  to  have  begun  to  extricate  the  vessel, 
but  had  not  sufficient  time  before  they  abandoned 
Charleston.  Why  she  was  not  destroyed  is  difficult 
to  conceive,  as  they  sank  the  three  that  were  in 
service,  and  burned  two  new  iron-clads  that  were 
not  completed.  This  vessel  was  fully  ready  for 
service,  even  guns  mounted,  which,  it  was  said, 
were  taken  out  after  grounding,  and  a  portion  of 
the  plating  had  been  removed  as  a  preparation  for 
lightening  and  floating  the  vessel,  under  the  belief 
that  they  could  be  saved.  I  gave  the  neces 
sary  directions,  and  on  the  2Gth  had  the  satisfac 
tion  of  seeing  her  floated,  which  was  effected  by  the 
exertions  of  several  officers  —  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Matthews,  Fleet  Engineer  Dauby,  Chief 
Engineer  Kierstead — by  Master  Carpenter  Davis, 
by  Lieutenant  Churchill,  and  the  divers.  This  ves 
sel  has  an  extreme  length  of  two  hundred  and  sixteen 
(21(5)  feet ;  beam,  fifty-one  and  one-third  51.J)  feet ; 
is  plated  with  six  (6  inches  of  iron  ;  carries  six  (6) 
guns  of  the  heaviest  calibre,  has  two  engines  ;  high 
pressure,  ample  accommodations  on  berth-deck  for 
cabin,  ward-room  and  men,  with  good  quarters  in 
the  casemates.  Her  leakage  is  very  small,  indicat 
ing  no  great  injury  from  the  grounding.  Her 
steam-power  was  in  good  order,  only  requiring  the 
stack-pipe  and  smoke-box  to  be  replaced,  and  some 
of  the  interior  pipe  that  had  been  cut.  The 
4  Columbia  '  left  on  the  2M  of  May,  in  tow  of  the 
'  Vanderbilt,' and  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
Hayward. 


(706) 


Ml  ill  ^  5 

TW  %  i 

I     Id    [/i*  3 


768 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


"I  propose  to  place  four  of  my  own  new  10-inch 
guns  in  the  casemate  ;  one  at  each  corner.  They 
weigh  about  16,000  pounds,  and  will  throw  a  solid 
shot,  with  forty  pounds  of  powder,  which  has 
pierced  four  and  a  half  inches  of  good  iron  at  two 
hundred  yards.  If  the  two  other  guns  are  needed 
they  may  be  of  9-inch. 

44  Annexed  are  eighteen  sketches  illustrating  the 
various  devices  which  are  referred  to  in  the  forego 
ing,  as  well  as  the  defences  of  the  harbor  : 

44  1.  General  plan  of  the  harbor,  showing  the  posi 
tions  of  the  batteries,  obstructions  of  booms,  ropes 
and  piles,  torpedoes,  barrel,  frame  and  boiler,  sites 
where  lie  the  wrecks  of  the  Monitors  '  Weehawken  ' 
and  'Patapsco,'  steamship  '  Housatonic,'  rebel 
steamer  'Etiwan,'  etc. 

"  This  has  been  prepared  with  great  care  by  Cap 
tain  Boutelle,  from  drawings  on  the  spot,  of  the 
batteries,  determination  of  the  locality  of  the  ob 
structions,  etc.,   from   observations,   or    from    the 
statements  of  those  who  removed  them.     It  is  a 
valuable  and  highly  executed  specimen  of  coast 
survey  work,  which  'is  highly  creditable. 
"  2.  Fortifications  on  James  Island. 
"  3.  Fortifications  on  Sullivan's  Island. 
"  4.  Defences  of  Charleston  Harbor. 
"  These  three  maps  were  also  executed  by  Captain 
Boutelle,  of  the  coast  survey. 

"  5,  6  and  7.  Rope  obstructions  between  Sumter 
and  Moultrie,  their  anchors  and  floats. 

"  8.  Portion  of  boom  obstructions  in  Hog  Island 
Channel. 

44  9.  Barrel  torpedo 

"  10.  Torpedo  frame  found  in  Ashley  River,  Hog 
Island  and  middle  channel. 
41  11.  Its  torpedo. 

44 12.  Torpedo  frame  and  its  torpedo,  used  in  the 
Ogeechee  near  Fort  McAllister,  and  in  the  Savannah 
River  near  the  city. 

'4  13.  Torpedo  from  bow  of  rebel  ram." 
"  14  and  15.  Torpedoes  of  the  '  Davids'  or  torpedo- 
boats. 

"16.  Specimen  of  the  'David1  or  torpedo-boat, 
found  in  Charleston. 

44 17  and  18.  Sketch  of  rebel  rani  '  Columbia,'  cap 
tured  with  Charleston. 

41 12,  16,  17  and  18  are  by  Second -Assistant-Engi 
neer  Smith.  All  the  rest  were  made  under  the 
supervision  of  Captain  Boutelle,  of  the  coast  sur 
vey,  and  with  great  care,  from  actual  samples. 

44  The  foregoing  conveys  the  best  information  that 
I  could  collect  by  the  means  at  my  disposal  in  re- 
gcird  to  the  submerged  impediments  of  the  harbor; 
and  their  efficiency,  when  kept  in  good  order,  is  not 
to  be  judged  from  the  condition  in  which  we  found 
those  which  were  composed  more  or  less  of  heavy 
timber.  The  daily  care  and  renovation  that  they 
received  from  the  rebels  had  ceased  for  two  and 
even  three  months  before  we  handled  them  The 
boom  obstructions  and  frames  in  Hog  Island  Chan 
nel  were  reached  only  two  to  two  and  a  half  months 
after  the  city  was  abandoned,  and  the  frames  in 
the  middle  channel  had  been  left  unnoticed  for 
three  months.  It  may  be  conceived  that  daily  care 
was  indispensable  to  their  preservation,  and  this 
they  did  not  receive  after  the  rebels  evacuated 
Charleston. 

"Annexed  will  be  found  the  statements  of  various 
persons  in  regard  to  what  they  know  of  the  various 
kinds  of  obstructions,  etc  ,  used  to  defend  the  har 
bor  of  Charleston,  and  also  extracts  from  a  journal 
found  at  the  headquarters  of  the  torpedo  depart 
ment  in  Charleston. 

"  There  is  no  greater  diversity  in  these  accounts 
than  might  be  expected  from  the  nature  of  the  de 
vices  and  the  circumstances  under  which  the  differ 
ent  parties  obtained  information  of  them.  Quite 
sufficient  is  certain  to  show  that  these  several  con 
trivances  of  obstruction  and  torpedoes  would  have 
been  as  troublesome  as  it  was  expected  they  would 


be.  in  connection  with   the  heavy   batteries    that 
lined  the  harbor,  and  the  rebel  iron-dads 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant, 

"J.  A.  DAHLOREN, 
44  Rear- Admiral,  Commanding  South 

"  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron. 
41  HON.  GIDEOX  WKL.LKS, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy.'" 

The  best  illustration  that  can  be  given  of 
the  strength  of  Charleston  is  this  notice  of 
the  obstructions  added  to  an  account  of  its 
fortifications.  The  strong  positions  in  which 
the  latter  were  placed,  and  the  skill  dis 
played  in  their  construction,  show  what  ob 
stacles  had  to  be  overcome  by  the  Federal 
Army  and  Navy.  Anew  era  in  military  en 
gineering  had  commenced  on  the  outbreak 
of  the  civil  war  ;  and  although  the  Confed 
erates  made  use  of  the  forts  within  their  ter 
ritory  constructed  of  masonry,  these  were 
either  strengthened  by  sand-bags  or  sup 
ported  by  earth-works  of  the  most  formida 
ble  description.  Most  of  these  fortifications 
were  ultimately  mounted  with  foreign  guns 
of  the  largest  size  and  most  approved  pat 
tern;  and,  while  we  render  due  credit  to 
those  who  overcame  such  gigantic  obstacles, 
we  should  not  fail  to  acknowledge  the 
ability  and  energy  of  those  who  created 
them. 

The  old-fashioned  system  of  forts  was 
necessarily  ignored  by  the  Confederates 
from  the  first.  It  was  impossible  to  build 
fortifications  of  masonry  in  time  to  meet 
the  crisis  which  followed  the  attack  on  Sum 
ter,  and  in  the  sand  of  the  Southern  coast 
nature  had  supplied  an  excellent  material 
for  rapidly  building,  at  smaller  expense, 
the  military  works  required.  We  were 
taught  by  the  civil  war  that,  instead  of  ex 
pending  millions  of  dollars  on  fortifications 
of  masonry,  we  could  secure  the  same  or 
better  results  at  comparatively  little  ex 
pense  of  time  or  labor,  and  have  our  money 
to  spend  on  guns  and  torpedoes.  The  best 
way  to  understand  these  matters  is  to  ex 
amine  the  plans  of  fortifications  built  along 
the  Southern  coast.  Nothing  was  ever  be 
fore  constructed  of  sand-bags  so  formidable 
as  Fort  Fisher  and  the  other  defences  of 
Cape  Fear  River,  and  the  works  at  Charles 
ton  and  Savannah.  They  were  master 
pieces  of  military  engineering. 

In  order  to  show  the  difficulties  to  be  en 
countered  at  Charleston,  we  append  the 
general  plan  of  the  Confederate  works. 

When  the  Union  forces  took  possession 
of  Charleston,  they  were  rather  surprised 
to  find  but  one  hundred  and  forty-nine 
heavy  guns  in  all  the  forts.  This,  however, 
was  quite  sufficient  to  secure  the  place 
against  a  naval  attack,  while  the  army- 
contingent  was  never  sufficient  by  many 
thousand  men  to  make  much  impression  on 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


769 


the  land  defences.  At  the  same  time  the 
troops  were  useful  in  co-operating  with  the 
Navy  to  annoy  the  garrison.  The  duty  of 
the  army  was  harassing  beyond  descrip 
tion,  and  the  privations  of  the  soldiers  were 
many.  The  enemy  generally  outnumbered 
the  attacking  force  two  to  one,  so  that  if 
Charleston  could  be  called  "in  a  state  of 
siege"  it  was  a  most  incomplete  invest 
ment. 

As  for  naval  success  in  an  attack  on 
Charleston,  it  was  out  of  the  question.  The 
force  supplied  the  naval  commanders-in 
ch  ief  was  so  small,  and  the  obstructions, 
torpedoes  and  forts  so  numerous,  that  it 
would  have  been  little  less  than  a  miracle 
for  a  hostile  fleet  to  reach  the  city.  Had 
there  been  any  doubt  on  this  subject,  it 
would  be  removed  by  the  evidence  given 
after  the  fall  of  Charleston  by  persons  who 
had  charge  of  the  obstructions.  That  every 
effort  was  made  to  overcome  the  difficulties 
of  the  situation  by  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren 
and  his  gallant  officers  and  men  is  certain. 
They  were  always  ready  for  any  adventure, 
no  matter  how  hazardous.  Many  acts  of 
gallantry  were  performed  by  the  Army  and 
Navy;  but,  take  it  altogether,  the  siege  of 
Charleston  was  in  the  highest  degree  har 
assing  and  unsatisfactory  to  both  the  Army 
and  Navy  of  the  Union. 

General  Hardee  evacuated  Charleston  to 
enable  him  to  get  in  the  advance  of  General 
Sherman  and  reach  Raleigh  and  join  his 
forces  to  those  of  General  Beauregard,  and 
with  the  garrison  at  Augusta,  who  were 
aiming  to  reach  the  same  point.  This  left 
the  coast  of  South  Carolina  comparatively 
free  of  Confederate  troops;  yet  there  were 
still  points  that  required  attention.  Forti 
fications  along  the  rivers  had  to  be  de 
stroyed.  In  the  panic  at  the  movements  of 
Sherman's  army  most  of  these  places  had 
been  hurriedly  evacuated  without  injuring 
them,  and  the  enemy  might  again  occupy 
them. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  1865,  George 
town,  S.  C.,  was  occupied  by  the  naval 
forces,  in  view  of  the  movements  of  General 
Sherman,  who  might  desire  to  be  placed  in 
communication  with  it  before  entering 
North  Carolina.  There  were  at  this  point 
well-constructed  works,  mounting  sixteen 
guns,  two  of  them  10-inch  columbiads.  but 
no  resistance  was  made,  the  garrison  hav 
ing  departed. 

Acting-Ensign  A.  K.  Noyes,  commanding 
U.  S.  S.  "  Catalpa,"  was  sent  to  the  city  of 
Georgetown  to  hoist  the  Union  flag,  the 
municipal  authorities  having  offered  sub 
mission,  and  some  of  the  seamen  climbed 
the  dome  of  the  town  hall  and  ran  up  the 
Stars  and  Stripes.  As  soon  as  the  flag  was 
raised,  a  party  of  Confederate  horseman 
made  a  dash  into  the  town;  but  as  soon  as 

49 


the  alarm  was  given  the  seamen  from  the 
"Mingoe"  and  "  Catalpa"  were  landed  and 
drove  off  the  enemy. 

Gun-boats  were  sent  as  far  as  they  could 
go— about  forty  miles — up  the  Cooper  River, 
to  co-operate  with  an  army  force  under 
General  Schimmelfennig,  to  break  up  any 
parties  of  Confederate  troops  that  might 
still  linger  in  the  vicinity;  but  it  was  found 
that  the  enemy's  forces  had  all  crossed  the 
Santee,  burning  the  bridges  behind  them. 
These  movements  of  the  gun-boats  involved 
great  care  to  avoid  the  sunken  torpedoes 
known  to  exist  in  all  the  rivers. 

Even  the  "  Harvest  Moon,"  the  flag  ship 
of  Admiral  Dahlgren,  did  not  escape  un 
scathed.  While  proceeding  down  to  a  point 
two  or  three  miles  below  Georgetown,  this 
vessel,  with  the  Admiral  on  board,  was 
blown  up  by  coming  in  contact  with  a  tor 
pedo.  The  shock  was  tremendous,  the  ves 
sel  shivered  in  every  timber,  bulkheads 
were  driven  in,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  boil 
ers  had  burst  and  the  magazine  exploded. 
Before  any  one  could  fairly  realize  the 
situation,  the  "Harvest  Moon"  had  sunk  to 
the  bottom.  Had  the  torpedo  struck  the 
vessel  a  little  further  forward  or  aft  there 
would  have  been  great  loss  of  life,  but,  as 
it  was,  only  one  life  was  lost.  These  infer 
nal  machines  were  met  with  when  least  ex 
pected,  and  with  the  greatest  care  in  drag 
ging  for  them  were  often  overlooked. 

By  the  end  of  March,  1865,  the  coast  of 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia  may  be  said  to 
have  been  free  from  Confederate  raiders, 
and  the  inhabitants  were  rather  glad  to  see 
the  boat  expedition  sent  out  by  Admiral 
Dahlgren.  These  were  a  check  upon  the 
parties  of  deserters  from  General  Johnston's 
army  who  were  trying  to  reach  their 
homes,  and  were  rendered  indifferent,  by 
poverty  and  suffering,  on  whom  they  sub 
sisted.  The  condition  of  affairs  all  along 
the  coast  was  deplorable,  owing  to  the 
disasters  of  the  civil  war,  and  the  strong 
hand  of  power  was  necessary  to  put  an  end 
to  it. 

By  the  last  of  May  there  was  nothing 
left' for  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren  to  accom 
plish,  and  he  was  quite  ready  to  be  relieved 
from  a  command  that  had  brought  upon 
him  so  much  labor  and  care,  without  his 
having  accomplished  what  the  Navy  De 
partment  desired,  the  capture  of  Charleston 
by  the  fleet,  a  thing  which  under  the  cir, 
cumstances  was  almost,  if  not  quite,  im 
possible.  On  the  23d  of  June,  1865,  the 
Admiral  was  relieved  from  his  command, 
and  received  the  following  complimentary 
letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  June  23,  1865. 
SIR— Your  dispatch  of  the  21st  instant,  reporting 
your  arrival  in   Washington   in   pursuance  of  the 
authority  of  the  Department,  has  been  received. 


770 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


On  the  receipt  hereof,  you  will  haul  down  your 
flag  and  regard  yourself  as  detached  from  the  com 
mand  of  the  South  Atlantic  Squadron,  which  you 
have  conducted  with  ability  and  energy  for  two 
years. 

The  Department  takes  the  occasion  to  express  to 
you  its  approbation  of  your  services,  and  of  the  ser 
vices  of  those  who  have*  been  associated  with  you  in 
efficient  blockade  of  the  coast  and  harbors  at  a  cen 


tral  and  important  position  of  the  Union,  and  in  the 
work  of  repossessing  the  forts  and  of  restoring  the 
authority  of  the  Government  in  the  insurgent 
States. 

Respectfully, 

GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  JOHN  A.  DAHLGREN, 
Washington,  D.  C. 


SOUTH  ATLANTIC  SQUADRON,    JANUARY   1,    1865. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  J.   A.   DAHLGREN,   COMMANDING. 


STAFF— LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  JOSEPH  M.  BRADFORD,  FLEET- CAPTAIN  ;  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER 
E.  O.  MATHEWS,  FLAG-LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER;  LIEUTENANT  ALFRED  T.  MAHAN,  ORDNANCE- 
OFFICER;  LIEUTENANT  JAMES  O'KANE,  FLAG-LIEUTENANT;  ENSIGN  ERNEST  J.  DICHMAN,  AIDE; 
FLEET-ENGINEER,  ROBERT  DANBY;  FLEET-PAYMASTER,  JAMES  H.  WATMOUGH  ;  FLEET-SURGEON, 
WILLIAM  JOHNSON;  ACTING- VOLUNTEER-LIEUTENANT  AND  PILOT,  WM.  HAFFARDS  ;  ACTING-EN 
SIGN,  WALTER  COOPER  ;  ACTING-ENSIGN  AND  SIGNAL-OFFICER,  GEO.  H.  REXFORD. 


"  CANANDAIGUA  "—SECOND-RATE. 

Captain,  Gustavus  H.  Scott;  Commander,  N.  B. 
Harrison;  Lieutenants,  S.  B.  Gillett  arid  Walter  Ab 
bott;  Acting- Masters,  Calvin  C.  Childs,  J.  L.  Gif- 
ford  and  R.  G.  Lelar;  Acting-Ensigns,  T.  E.  Harvey 
and  Andrew  Wiilard;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  S.  S. 
Willard  and  James  Wilbar;  Surgeon,  C.  H.  Bur- 
bank;  Assistant  Paymaster,  AV.  H.  Anderson;  Engi 
neers:  Chief,  G.  B.  N. Tower;  Second  Assistant,  J.  J. 
Barry  ;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  Win.  McGrath 
and  J.  W.  Mellor ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  W.  M. 
Smith  and  H.  B.  Goodwin;  Boatswain,  Charles 
Fisher;  Gunner,  E.  J.  Beecham. 

STORE-SHIP    "  NEW  HAMPSHIRE." 

Commander,  William  Reynolds;  Ac  ting- Masters, 
H.  AV.  Hand,  R.  B.  Hines,  J.  C.  Cox  and  W.  A! 
Morgan;  Acting  Ensigns,  C.  S.  Lawrence,  Wood 
ward  Carter  and  Frank  Jordan;  Chaplain,  John 
Blake;  Surgeon,  H.  C.  Nelson;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  Levi  S.  Bingham;  First-Lieutenant  of 
Marines,  G.  G.  Stoddard;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
A.  B.  Flynn,  H.  A.  Rogers  and  Harry  Lucus;  Third  - 
Assistant  Engineer,  William  Charlton ;  Acting- 
Boatswain,  Edward  Hughes;  Acting-Gunner,  Geo. 
W.  Allen, 

"  FLAG  "— THIRD-RATE. 

Commander,  James  C.Williamson;  Acting- Volun 
teer-Lieutenant,  Win.  H.  Latham;  Acting-Master, 
Win.  Lallman;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  V.  Kelley,  S.  A. 
Gove,  E.  W.  Watson  and  John  Denson;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  Wm.  Merrill;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  O.  B.  Seagrave;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
W.  J.  Burge;  Engineers:  Second- Assistant,  I.  R. 
McNary  ;  Acting-Second-Assistanfc,  Campbell  Mc- 
Ewen  ;  Acting -Third- Assistants,  Lory  Bennett 
Theodore  Scudder  and  H.  A.  Chase ;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  J.  H.  Pennington. 

"  ST.    LOUIS  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Commander,  Geo.  H.  Preble;  Lieutenant,  Win  F 
Stewart;  Acting-Master,  S.  W.  Hadley;  Acting-En 
signs,  Hazard  Marsh,  Henry  Pease,  Jr.,  S.  S.  Minor 
and  Fred.  AVood;  Acting- Master's  Mate.  F.  L. 
Bryan;  Passed  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  H.  Macomber; 
Paymaster,  J.  S.  Post;  Acting-Boatswain,  George 
Brown;  Gunner,  G.  P.  Cushrnan;  Sailmaker,  1  E 
Crowell. 

"JAMES  ADGER  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Commander,  T.   H.   Patterson  ;  Lieutenant,  Gil 
bert  C.  Wiltse;  Acting-Master,  A.  F.   Holmes-  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  G.  E.  Halloway,  O.  C.  Snow  and  Chas 
Danenhower;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  L.  AV.  Smith 


Robert  Steel  and  J.  AV.  Thode;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  W.  AV.  Myers;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  Wilbur  Ives;  Engineers  :  Acting-Chief,  E.  A. 
Whipple;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  G.  AV.  Scobey 
and  J.  B.  Place;  Acting  -  Third- Assistants,  P.  J. 
Holmes,  Timothy  AVood  ruff,  Richard  Morgan  and 
John  Roach;  Acting  Gunner,  Joseph  Venable. 

"  PAWNEE"— SECOND-RATE. 

Commander,  George  B.  Balch;  Lieutenant,  AVm. 
AVhitehead;  Acting-Masters,  J.  C.  Champion,  Thos. 
Moore  and  E.  A.  Magone;  Ensign,  Henry  Glass; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  H.  Poor,  Jr.,  T.  L.  Fisher 
and  Jacob  Kemp;  Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  F.  Shaw;  As 
sistant  Paymaster,  C.  S.  Perley;  Engineers  :  Chief, 
B.  E.  Chassaing;  Second-Assistants,  AV.  J.  Clark, 
Jr.,  Arthur  Price  and  J.  G.  Brosnahan;  Third-As 
sistant,  Robert  Crawford;  Boatswain,  James  Brown; 
Gunner,  James  Hays. 

' '  CIMARRON  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Commander,  Egbert  Thompson ;  Acting- Master, 
AVm.  E.  Thomas;  Acting  Ensigns,  Geo.  F.  Howes 
and  Charles  Penfield;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  N.  Gold 
smith:  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  S.  Keith;  Act 
ing  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  T.  Lee  •  Engineers  : 
Second-Assistants,  J.  B.  Carpenter,  C.  F.  Meyer, 
Jr.,  AV.  H.  Kelly  and  AV.  L.  Bailey. 

"  MINGOE  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Commander,  J.  B.  Creighton;  Acting  -  Masters, 
J.  AV.  Cangdon  and  J.  C.  Went  worth;  Acting-En 
signs,  Sam  1  Merchant,  S.  R.  Carl  ton,  R.  F.  Dodge 
and  J.  A.Phipps ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  A. 
Cabel;  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  G/H.  Napheys; 
Engineers:  First- Assistant,  E.  A.  C.  DuPlain;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  James  Mitchell,  W.  F.  AVor- 
rell  and  Levi  Sinetzen;  Acting -Third -Assistants, 
AVm.  Emmarick  and  G.  G.  Blake;  Acting-Gunner, 
Andrew  Harmand. 

"  CATSKILL" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Edward  Barrett  ;  Lieu 
tenant,  Chas.  W.  Tracy;  Acting  -  Masters,  J.  C. 
Harnlin  and  AVm.  Reed  ;  Acting- Ensigns,  J.  D.  Bar 
clay,  E.  B.  Cox  and  Charles  Clauson  ;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  John  \V.  Coles  ;  Assistant-Paymaster,  H.  P. 
Tuttle  ;  Engineers ;  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  F. 
Butler ;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  G.  Dennett 
and  Jonas  T.  Booth ;  Third  -  Assistant,  Win.  M. 
Barr  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  H.  M.  Test. 

"  PATAPSCO  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  S.  P.  Quackenbush  ; 
Lieutenant,  AVm.  T.  Sampson  ;  Acting-Master,  John 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


771 


White  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  S.  Johnson,  A.  B.  Bash- 
ford  and  J.  C.  Brown  ;  Assistant-Surgeon,  S.  H. 
Peltz  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  S.  Creevey; 
Engineers  ;  First-Assistant,  Reynolds  Driver  ;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  G.  L.  Palmer  ;  Third-Assist 
ants,  D.  C.Davis,  G.  F.  Sweet  and  J.  J.  Ryan; 
Pilot,  G.  Pinckney. 

"  PONTIAC  ''—THIRD-KATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  S.  B.  Luce  ;  Acting- 
Master,  Geo.  F.  Winslow  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Thomas 
Stevens,  E.  M.  Clark,  T.  E.  Lawton  and  James  E. 
Carr  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  H.  Fitzgerald  and 
E.  L.  Kemp  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  S. 
Skelding;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  W.  Sherfy; 
Engineers  :  Second  -  Assistants,  Francis  Croiiin, 
Cipriano  Andrade  and  H.  F.  Bradford  •,  Third-As 
sistants,  C.  F.  Uber  and  J.  G.  Littig ;  Acting-Gun 
ner,  Chas.  F.  Adams. 

"  LEHIGH" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant- Commander,  Alex.  A.  Semmes  ;  Lieu 
tenant,  John  H.  Reed  ;  Acting  -  Masters,  W.  N. 
Price  and  John  H.  Bolles  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  D.  W. 
Hodson,  J.  H.  Cromwell  and  Rich.  Lanphier ;  Assibt- 
ant-Surgeon,  David  V.  Whitney  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  W.  F.  A.  Torbert  ;  Engineers  :  First  - 
Assistant,  W.  W.  Hopper  ;  Second -Assistant,  O.  B. 
Mills ;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  Henry  Wanklin 
and  J.  H.  Vaile  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant,  H.  C. 
Wilkins. 

"  SANGAMON  "—  FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Jonathan  Young  ;  Act 
ing-Master,  S.  A.  Waterbury  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  A. 
Pike,  R.  P.  Leary  and  G.  A.  Johnston  ;  Assistant- 
Surgeon,  W.  J.  Simon  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  D.  Corning ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  W.  S.  Hazzard;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  W.  J. 
Barrington  ;  Third  -  Assistant,  J.  A.  Kaiser  ;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  W.  E.  Coster  and  C.  H.  Hunt. 

''  NAHANT  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Win.  K.  Mayo;  Lieuten 
ant,  Henry  F.  Picking;  ActingMaster,  Win.  Shack- 
ford;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  J.  Rogers,  A.  B.  Prince, 

E.  H.  Frisbie  and  W.  C.   Mendel! ;   Assistant  Sur 
geon,  S.  G.  Webber ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
Win.  H.  Palmer;  Engineers:  Acting  First  Assistants, 
John  H.  Foster  and    T.  B.  Grene  ;  Second- Assist 
ant,  L.  T.  Stafford;  Third-Assistant,  J.  L.  Hannuui; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  Morris  McCarty. 

"  PAS3AIC  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  T.  Scott  Fillebrown  ; 
Lieutenant,  H.  L.  Johnson;  Acting-Masters,  A.  A. 
Owens  and  Charles  Cook  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  L.  A. 
Waterman,  Richard  Hepburn  and  Sylvester  Eld- 
ridge;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Win.  P.  Baird;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  A.  Wheeler;  Engineers: 
First  Assistant,  James  Sheridan;  Second- Assistants, 

F.  H.  Fletcher,  Webster  Lane  and  Joseph  Hooper; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  G.  S.  Odell. 

"  MONTAUK"  -FOURTH  RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander.  E.  E.  Stone:  Lieutenant, 
E.  F.  Brower;  Acting-Master,  W.  W.  Crowning- 
shields;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  W.  Bourne,  W.  T. 
Mitchell  and  E.  Gabrielson;  Acting-Assistant  Sur 
geon,  G.  B.  Todd  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
C.  A.  Bobbins  ;  Engineers  :  Second  -  Assistants, 
A.  Adamson  and  J.  W.  Hollihan  ;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  Simeon  Rockburn  and  Charles  Amberg; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  F.  Walton  and  Richard 
Bell. 

"  NANTUCKET  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  Robert  F.  R.  Lewis; 
Lieutenant,  J.  F.  McGlensey;  Acting-Master,  J.  M. 
Forsyth  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  T.  Chapman,  Frank 
Kemble,  G.  P.  Tyler  and  J.  W.  Burr;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  E.  M.  Cor'son;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 


G.  Walter  Allen;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant, 

D.  F.   Gerrish;  Second-Assistant,   C.   F.    Hollings- 
worth  ;   Acting-Second-Assistant,    F.     C.    Russell; 
Third-Assistant,   H.    H.    Kimball  ;    Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  J.  F.  Kingsley. 

"  WISSAHICKON"  FOURTH-RATE. 
Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  W.  Johnson;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  H.  B.  Francis,  H.  F.  Dorton  and  Alonzo 
Elwell  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  D.  J.  King  and 
Joseph  Gregory.  Jr.;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon, 
S.  C.  Johnson  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Chas. 
Dntcher  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  First-Assistant,  John 
Fallen;  Third- Assistant,  C.  W.  Kenyon  ;  Acting 
Third-Assistants,  C.  E.  Jevins  and  James  F.  Miller. 

"SONOMA  "    THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant- Commander,  R.  W.  Scott;  Acting- 
Master,  H.  M.  Merrill;  Acting-Ensigns,  S.  H.  Pal- 
lock,  Geo.  Couch,  S.  G.  Bryer  and  M.  J.  Daly; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  D.  W.  Spinney ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  David  Fairdrey,  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Wm.  Sellew;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  A.  B.  Cullins ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  Rufus  Barton,  R.  G.  Lewis,  George  Paul 
and  John  O'Keefe  ;  Gunner,  J.  M.  Hogg. 

"  NIPSIC  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant -Commander,  Edmund  W.  Henry; 
Acting- Masters,  George  P.  Lee,  J.  E.  Stickney  and 
H.  A.  Green;  Acting-Ensign,  Geo.  E.  Thomas;  Act 
ing-Masters  Mates,  W.  S.  Howland  and  J.  C.  Butler; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  J.  Gilfillan;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  H .  T.  Mansfield  ;  Engineers  : 
First-Assistant,  S.  L.  P.  Ayres :  Second-Assistant, 

E.  W.  Koehl;  Third -Assistant,  C.  R.   Roelker;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistant,  Wm.  J.  Dougherty. 

"  OTTAWA"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  James  Stillwell ;  Acting- 
Master,  Wm.  H.  Winslow;  Acting-Assistant  Sur 
geon,  L.  H.  Willard;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
G.  W.  Huntington  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Benj.  Mitchell, 
C.  H.  Choate,  W.  H.  McCormick  and  W.  N.  Smith; 
Engineers:  Second-Assistants,  Geo.  H.  White  and 
R.  B.  Hine;  Acting-Second  Assistant,  Wm.  Ross; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  C.  G.  Mead. 

"  WINONA  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Wm.  H.  Dana;  Acting- 
Masters,  E.  H.  Sheffield  and  Wm.  McKendry;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  Walter  Sargent  and  J.  Severns;  Acting- 
Maste^'s  Mate,  Alfred  Staigg;  Acting- Assistant- 
Surgeon,  Charles  Little;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  T  H.  Dickson;  Engineers  :  Second-Assistant, 
Alfred  Hendrick;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  B.  A. 
Allen,  Jr.;  Third  Assistant,  R.  L.  Wamaling;  Act 
ing-Third  Assistant,  C.  W.  Plaisted. 

"  DAI  CHING  '' — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  C.  Chaplin;  Acting- 
Masters,  J.  W.  Crosby  and  Geo.  Howorth;  Acting- 
Ensign,  Walter  Walton:  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon. 
J.  R.  Richardson;  Acting -Assistant  Paymaster, 
Edw.  Sherwin;  Engineers:  Acting  First  Assistant, 
G.  R.  Bennett  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  D.  Cas- 
tana,  J.  R.  Fulcher  and  Montgomery  West. 

"COMMODORE   M'DOXOUGH  "      FOURTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Alex.  F.  Grossman;  Act 
ing-Masters,  Wm.  Knapp  and  John  Mvers;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  N.  W.  White  and  George  Glass ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  Sam'l  Flaxington  and  L.  F.  Strant; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  R.  Freeman;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  I)"  J.  Harris;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistants,  Sylvanus  Warren,  S.  S.  Hettrick 
and  Nelson  Ross. 

NAVAL  BATTERY. 

Lieutenant,  Geo.  W.  Hay  ward;  Acting-Ensign, 
J.  A.  Edgron;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  B.  F. 
Brown;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  Chas.  Everdeen; 
Acting-Gunner,  Thos.  Holland. 


772 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


"  SARATOGA  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Acting-Volunteer  Lieutenant,  Edgar  Brodhead  ; 
Acting-Masters,  B.  S.  Melville  and  C.  H.  Baldwin; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Edw.  Rogers  and  G.  O.  Fabeus; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  H.  Chase  and  W.  A  Stan- 
nard;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  Winthrop  Butler; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Louis  A.  Yorke;  Boat 
swain,  Philip  J.  Miller;  Gunner,  Stephen  Young; 
Carpenter,  O.  H.  Gerry;  Saihnaker.  J.  C.  Bradford. 

"JOHN   ADAMS"— THIRD-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Alvin  Phiniiy  ;  Act- 
ting-Masters,  C.  C.  Ricker,  T.  C.  Chapinand  Henry 
Vaughan  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  H.  D.  Burolett,  T.  S. 
Avery,  A.  A.  Franzen,  P.  W.  Fragen,  G.  S.  John 
son  and  Frank  Fisher  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates, 
W.  M.  Gregg,  S.  E.  Adanison,  John  Ostega,  Nathan 
Brown  and  Oliver  O'Brien  ;  Acting- Assistant-Sur 
geon,  N.  M.  Randlett ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
Arch'd  McVey ;  Gunner,  J.  M.  Ballard  ;  Acting- 
Gunner,  A.  C.  Holmes  ;  Carpenter,  J.  G.  Thomas. 

"FLAMBEAU  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Actiiig-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Edward  Cavendy  ; 
Acting-Master,  Gilbert  Richmond  ;  Acting  Ensigns, 
J.  W.  Griffiths,  J.T.  Carver,  J.  S.  Thomles  and  J.  M. 
Hudson  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  J.  P.  Peterson  ; 
Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  P.  H.  Pursell ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  V.  D.  Horton  ;  Engineers  : 
Acting -First- Assistant,  John  Harris;  Acting-Sec 
ond-Assistant,  C.  B.  Curtes  ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  A.  F.  Bullard  and  Edw.  Humstone. 

' '  SOUTH  CAROLINA '' — THIRD-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant,  Win.  W.  Kennison; 
Acting-Master,  Win.  Bailey  ;  Acting- Ensigns,  John 
Gunn,  E.  M.  Dimon,  C.  G.  Boyer  and  Ansel  S. 
Hitch  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  C.  Vaughan  ; 
Acting -Assistant  Paymasters.  W.  Tanner;  En 
gineers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  J.  T.  Hathaway  ; 
Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  J.  H.  Rowe  and  Henry 
Gorniley  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  S.  C.  Lane  and 
John  Agnew. 

"  LODONA" — THIRD-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  R.  P.  Swann  ;  Act 
ing-Masters,  H.  G.  McKennee  and  R.  C.  McKenzie  ; 
Acting -Ensigns,  Wm.  S.  McNeilly  and  L.  B.  Brig- 
ham  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  W.  Meekly  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  M.  Stewart :  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  M.  C.  Heath  ;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants.  James  Mollineaux,  Wm.  Leon 
ard  and  W.  H.  H.  Hawes. 

"HOPE  '—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Wm.  L.  Churchill; 
Acting- Ensign,  Andy  Hartshorn ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Wm.  E.  Sauld  and  J.  S.  Leon. 

"  VALPARAISO  '' — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Geo.  E.Welch; 
Acting-Masters,  H.  S.  Blanchard,  J.  W.  Tuck.  A.  S. 
Gardner  and  S.  W.  Rhoades;  Acting- Ensign,  R.  W. 
Parker;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistants,  E.  H. 
Keith  and  John  Lardner;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
Jesse  Wright;  Gunner,  Wm.  Bartlett  ;  Carpenter, 
Samuel  N.  Whitehouse. 

"  STETTIN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant,  C.  J.  Van  Alstine  ; 
Acting-Master,  J.  M.  Butler;  Acting  Ensigns,  C.  B. 
Pray,  J.  C.  Staples  and  Win.  Jenny;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mate,  Edward  W.  Mosier ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  Robert  Stone;  Acting -Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  C.  M.  Burnes;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  John  Hawkins  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants, 
Anthony  Gale,  J.  W.  Elliott  and  W.  W.  Smith. 

"  MEMPHIS" — THIRD  RATE 

Acting-Masters,  R.  O.  Patterson  and  J.  B.  Childs- 
Acting  -  Ensigns,  S.  W.  Cowing,  B.  D.  Reed  and 
G.  C.  Chamberlain  ;  Acting-Master  s  Mate,  John  W. 


Moore  ;  Acting  •  Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Bates  ; 
Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  Wm.  E.  Foster;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  C.  H.  McCarty 
and  Peter  Anderson  ;  Third-Assistant,  S.  C.  Mc- 
Lanahan;  Acting  Third-Assistant,  Wm.  Adams. 

"  MARY  SANFORD  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Z.  Kempton  ;  Acting -Ensigns, 
John  Ross,  J.  F.  Otis,  G.  W.  Pease  and  Wm.  Cald- 
well,  Jr.;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  N.  F.  Rich;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  E.  Bissell ;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  Chas.  O.  Davis;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  A.  N.  Odell,  Thos.  Stimson  and 
James  Hare. 

"  HOME" — THIRD-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Benj.  Dyer;  Acting-Ensigns,  A.  E. 
Barnett,  R.  E.  Anson  and  A.  D.  Anderson;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  W.  Howard  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Ichabod  Norton;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  Cornelius  Dandreau;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  Paul  Dandreau,  T.  J.  Hamilton, 
Win.  Smith  and  G.  W.  Hughes. 

"  AZALIA  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Fred.  W.  Strong;  Acting-Ensign, 
Joseph  Frost;  Acting-Masters  Mates,  F.  C.  Simond 
and  Robert  N.  Turner;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Chas.  Gewans;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
W.  W.  Fish,  F.  L.  Strong  and  J.  Priest. 

"PERRY  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  S.  N.  Freeman  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
R.  R.  Donnell  and  Fred.  Elliott ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Edw.  H.  Sheer,  T.  H.  McDonald  and  C.  S. 
Bridges;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Benj.  Marshall; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  A.  Emerson. 

"HARVEST   MOON" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  John  K.  Crosby  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
W.  H.  Bullis,  D.  P.  McKevan,  A.  N.  Bates  andL.  A. 
Cornthwait;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  Sumner 
Dean ;  Acting  -Assistant  Paymaster,  L.  E.  Rice ; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  J.  A.  Miller 
and  G.  A.  Geer;  Acting-Third- Assistants,  Henry 
Fisher  and  F.  W.  Racoe. 

"  PHILADELPHIA"— FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Geo.  H.  Avery  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Geo.  B.  Bailey,  Geo.  Edwards.  E.  R.  Davison,  John 
B.  Starr  and  C.  D.  Duncan  ;  Assistant  -  Surgeon, 
J.  H.  Culver ;  Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  L.  Wait  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  Robert  Mul- 
ready ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  C.  T.  Wamaling 
and  John  Ryan. 

"  POTOMSKA  "—  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  F.  M.  Montell ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
A.  Cartes,  Frank  Watson,  W.  H.  Millett  and  G.  T. 
Joslin  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  E.  Rand  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  Edwin 
Vaughn ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  S.  M.  Van 
Clief,  E.  W.  Cross  and  L.  McNeil. 

"  WANDO  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Fred'k  T.  King  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
E.  K.  Smith,  M.  A.  Nickerson,  Lewis  Jennings  and 
Alex.  Cormack  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  W.  C. 
N.  Sanford  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  P.  C.  Whid- 
den  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  L.  G-Thayer; 
Engineers:  Second-Assistant,  J.  P.  Kelly  ;  Acting - 
Second-Assistant,  J.  J.  Sullivan ;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  Wm.  Norie,  T.  T.  Sanborn  and  G.  W. 
Wakefleld. 

"  WAMSUTTA  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Charles  W.  Lee;  Acting-Ensigns, 
E.  R.  Warren  and  T.  R.  Dayton  ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  F.  L.  Wheeler  and  Thos.  Nickerson  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  Charles  Loucks  ;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting -First -Assistant,  William  Johnston; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  B.  F.  Napheys,  David  Mc 
Donald  and  T.  T.  Risbell. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


773 


"AMARANTHUS"-    FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Enos  O.  Adams  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
Win.  R.  Cox  ;  Acting-Master  s  Mates,  Washington 
Van  Wyck,  James  O'Donnell  and  A.  D.  Damon ; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  C.  R.  Jones  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  Samuel  Fowler  and  H.  W. 
Force. 

"ETHAN   ALLAN"    -FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Masters,  J.  A.  Pennell,  W  L.  Kempton 
and  Jos.  McCart ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  H.  Bunting 
and  Win.  Mero  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  Edwards 
Dexter  :  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  Isaiah  Dowling; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Win.  R.  Woodward. 

"  CHAMBERS  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Master,  WilHam  Watson;  Acting  Ensigns, 
William  Jennings  and  L.  P.  Delan  ;  Acting-Master  s 
Mate,  A.  K.  Baylor  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
W.  D.  Walker. 

"  OLEANDER  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  R.  Price  Walter  ;  Acting  Ensigns, 
H.  (j.  Seaman  and  Geo.  Dunlap;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mate,  George  Newlin  ;  Engineers :  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  Samuel  Swartwout  ;  Acting  -  Third- 
Assistants,  Robert  B.  Dick,  H.  S.  Brown  and  L.  B. 
Joyce. 

"PARA  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  David  P.  Health  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
Edward  Ryan  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  John  Mc- 
Donough  and  Wm.  H.  Morse. 

"NORWICH "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting  -  Master,  W.  H.  DeWolf ;  Acting -Ensigns, 
J.  H.  Sinscatt,  J.  P.  Chadwick  and  R.  W.  Laid  ; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  Henry  Sinclair  and  Win. 
White ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  A.  Petrie; 
Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  F.  Gardner ;  En 
gineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  P.  B  Robinson  ; 
Third  -  Assistant,  L.  H.  Lamdim  ;  Acting -Third- 
Assistants,  H.  J.  Tarr  and  J.  B.  Johnston. 

"  FERNANDINA  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Masters,  Lewis  West  and  George 
F.  Hollis  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  Christopher  Flood, 

B.  H.   Chad-wick    and    Charles   Sawyer  ;    Acting- 
Master's    Mate,   Wm.    C.  King  ;    Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,   S.   B.    Kenney  ;    Acting  -  Assistant  Pay 
master,  T.  N.  Murray. 

' '  HOUGHLEN  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Master,   E.  S.  Fustier  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 

C.  M.  Shirving  and  Jacob  Cochran;  Acting  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,    Israel    Bashong;    Acting  -  Assistant 
Paymaster,  R  W.  Allen. 

"  DAFFODIL  '' — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  H.  Mallard  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
John  McGlathery  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  N.  B. 
Walker;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Win. 
H.  Capen,  Thomas  Forrest  and  John  Tucker. 

"  ORVETTA  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  Fales;  Acting-Ensigns,  E.W. 
Halcro,  Charles  Nellman  and  D.  W.  Andrews;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Paymaster,  Samuel  A.  Kay. 
"  HYDRANGA" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Charles  W.  Rodgers;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  J.  B.  Newcomb,  J.  G.  Underbill  and 
John  Wolstenholuie  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second 
Assistant,  A.  N.  Koones;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
H.  E.  Whitworth,  W.  B.  Hall  and  C.  M.  Adams. 

"  E.  B.  HALE  "  -  FOUKTH-RATE. 

Acting  Master,  Charles  F.  Mitchell;  Acting-En 
signs,  Henry  Stohl,  G.  A.  Smith,  J.  N.  Van  Buskirk, 
Wm.  L.  Pary  and  Wm.  Lauiee;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  6.  B.  Gilman;  Engineers:  Acting-Sec 
ond-Assistant,  Frank  Marsh:  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  R.  F.  Bennett,  W.  C.  Bond  and  Wm.  Fin- 
negan. 


"  c.  p.  WILLIAMS'"    FOURTH-RATE. 
Acting  -  Master,    L.    W.    Parker;  Acting- Ensign, 
J.  W.  North;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  L.  E.  Daggett 
and  W.  J.  Lane. 

"GEORGE  MANGHAM"    FOURTH-RATE 
Acting-Master,  John  Collins,  Jr. ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
J.  E.  Wallis  and  A.  Tuttle;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  T.  G.  Holland. 

4 '  DAN  SMITH  ''—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Barker  Van  Voorhis;  Acting-En 
signs,  A.  H.  L.  Bowie  and  Robert  Craig:  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  H.  P.  Diermanse. 

"  GEORGE  w.  RODGERS" — FOURTH-KATE. 
Acting-Master,    Loring  G.   Emerson;   Acting-En 
sign,  J.  H.  Handy;  Acting  Master's  Mate,  A.  Trens- 
dale. 

' '  ACACIA  v  -  FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Masters,  Wm.  Barrymore  and  J.  E.  Jones; 
Acting-Ensigns,  H.  F.  Blake  and  A.  S.  Rounds;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mates,  Wm.  J.  McFadden  and  James 
Hawkins;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  Joseph  Fos 
ter  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  T.  D. 
Crosby;  Acting -Third -Assistants,  J.  K.  Wright; 
A.  V.  Harvey,  E.  H.  Haggens  and  Robert  Henry. 

"T.  A.  WARD"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Robert  T.  Wyatt;  Acting-Ensign, 
W.  C.  Odroine  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  M.  M. 
Baker,  Jr.,  and  A.  Olmstead. 

"  RACEB  "  -FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Master,  E.    G.    Martin  :    Acting-Ensigns, 

D.  B.  Corey  and  J.  F.  Kavanaugh  ;  Acting  Master's 
Mate,    James  Williams;  Acting- Assistant-Paymas 
ter,  Charles  Smith. 

"JOHN  GRIFFITH  "  —  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Master,  James  Ogilvie;  Acting- Ensigns, 
Wm.  Knight,  W.  G.  Pitts  and  Thos.  Perry. 

1   SARAH  BRUEN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Win.  F.  Redding  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
S.  P.  Edwards  and  J.  Richardson  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Win.  H.  Olmey. 

"  IRIS" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Win.  H.  Anderson  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter  s  Mates,  W .  W.  Brandt,  Elisha  Hubbard  and 
Roger  Conoly ;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
Richard  Nash;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  Dennis 
Lyngand  James  Hankey. 

"  DANDELION" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  Ensign,  George  W.  Williams;  Acting-Mas 
ter  s  Mates,  W.  F.  Vincent,  J.  K.  Gould  and  James 
Sullivan;  Engineers:  Acting- Third- Assistants, 

E.  Babbit  and  John  McKeezer. 

"  ABETHUSA"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  Ensign,  John  V.  Cook ;  Acting  Master's 
Mates,  I.  D.  Lovett  and  F.  H.  Newcomb;  Engineers: 
Acting  Second  Assistant,  Geo.  W.  Howe  :  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  William  J.  Moore  and  J.  T.  Green 
wood. 

"  CAMELIA'' — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  David  B.  Howes  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Abraham  Leach,  F  H.  Muriroe  and  Wm.  F. 
Lard;  Engineers  :  Acting  Third-Assistants,  Benja 
min  Cobb,  Jr.,  John  Grimes  and  John  Corson. 

"  SWEET  15RIER"      FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  Ensign,  J.  D.  Dexter;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  T.  J.  Dill.  J.  R.  Grove  and  L.  H.  Brown; 
Engineers:  Acting -Second  -  Assistants,  M.  V.  B. 
Darling  and  T.  J  W.  Cooper;  Acting-Third- Assist 
ant,  J.  W-  Blake. 

"  PETTIT    '  —  FOURTH-RATE. 

\cting-Ensign,  Charles  Greive  ;  Acting- Masters 
Mates,  J.  A.  Smith,  C.  E.  Cool  and  Uriah  Folger ; 


774 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


Engineers:  Acting-Second  Assistants,  Reuben  Mc- 
Clenahan  and  Augustus  Wendell  ;  Acting-Third  - 
Assistants,  Edw.  Bannaclough  and  W.  J.  Phillips. 

u  GLADIOLUS  "— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Ensign,  Napoleon  Boughtori  :  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  S.  W.  Byram,  H.  B.  Eaton  and 
"Wm.  C.  Parker  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Third  Assist 
ant,  John  1).  Williams,  Geo.  W.  Beard  and  Au 
gustus  Straub. 

"CARNATION"  FOUBTH-KATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  William  Boyd  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  J.  D.  Reed,  Albion  Burnham  and  A.  H. 
Francis  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants, 
Wm.  C.  Boone  and  D.  M.  Spangler. 

"  LABURNUM" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting -Ensigns,  Sturgis  Center,  J.  D.  Kihlborn 
and  J.  P.  Thompson  ;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Peter 
Moakley  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant, 
James  Stevens  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  Denis 
Hayes  and  Walter  S.  Jarboe. 

"CATALPA  ''—FOURTH-BATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Allen  K.  Noyes  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  J.  W.  Mathews,  A.  S.  Taffe  and  John  Mc- 
Gee;  Engineers:  Acting-Second  Assistant,  Timothy 
McCarty;  Acting-Third- Assistants,  Nicholas  Cassin 
and  J.  Nicholson. 

"  CLOVEB" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting -Ensign,  Frank  S.  Leech;  Acting- Master's 
Mate,  S.  H.  Bryant ;  Engineers ;  Acting  Third 
Assistants,  W.  W.  Shane,  W.  F.  Henderson  and 
M.  Griffiths. 

"  GERANIUM  ''—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Ensign,  David  Lee ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  J.  D.  Wingale,  Benjamin  Russell  and  Win. 


Earle;  Engineers:  Acting  Second-Assistants,  S.  W. 
Widlam  and  C.  J.  Henry;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
Geo.  E.  Norris  and  H.  B.  Garabedian. 

"JONQUIL  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Charles  H.  Hanson;  Acting- Mas 
ter's  Mates,  Thos.  Newton  and  Henry  Lynch;  En 
gineers:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Win.  H.  Barclay 
and  J.  C.  Batchelder. 

"  NORFOLK  PACKET  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  Geo.  W.  Wood  and  S.  A.  Dayton; 
Acting -Assistant  Paymaster,  Andrew  Tower;  Act 
ing-Masters  Mates,  Charles  Bedell  and  Allen 
Moore. 

"  BRAZILIERA" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Ensigns,  J.  H.  Bennett,  N.  C.  Borden  and 
Horace  Dexter;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  F.  W.  H. 
Harrington  and  C.  A.  Austen;  Acting-Assistant  Sur 
geon,  George  S.  Fife;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster 
C.  H.  Longstreet. 

"G.  W.  BLUNT  " — FOURTH-RATE. 


Acting-Ensign,    G. 
Mates,  W.  R.  Lyons. 


G.    Curtis  ;    Acting  -  Master's 


"  CHATHAM  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master's  Mates,  George  W.  Post  and  Wm. 
Woods;  Engineers:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Fred 
erick  Wagner  and  H.  A.  Brown. 

"  LARKSPUR  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master's  Mates,  John  O'Conner,  W.  A.  Ar- 
kins  and  David  Wilson  ;  Engineers:  Acting-Thir*1- 
Assistants,  W.  J.  Cannon  and  A.  L.  Grow. 


CH  A  PTER   LI  II. 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  WEST  GULF  SQUADRON  IN  THE  LATTER  PART  OF 

1864,  AND  IN  18G5. 

JOINT  OPERATIONS  IN  MOBILE  BAY  BY  REAR-ADMIRAL  THATCHER  AND  GENERAL  CANBY. 

GALLANT  SERVICES  OF  COMMODORE  PALMER  — BLOCKADE-RUNNERS  ON  TEXAS  COAST. — DE 
MORALIZING  TENACITY  OF  CONFEDERATE  GOVERNMENT. — CUTTING  OUT  OF  THE  SCHOONER 
"  GOLDEN  BELLE."— CAPTURE  OF  THE  "  DELPHINA."  "ANNIE  SOPHIA."  AND  "PET," 
PRIZE-LADEN  SCHOONERS. — THE  STEAMER  "WILL-O'-THE-WISP"  BOARDED  AND  SET  ON 
FIRE.  —  EXCITING  AND  HAZARDOUS  ADVENTURES.  —  THE  CONFEDERATE  PRIVATEER 
"ANNA  DALE"  CAPTURED  AND  BURNED. — CONSPICUOUS  GALLANTRY  OF  THE  VOLUN 
TEER  ELEMENT  OF  THE  NAVY. — ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  THATCHER  RELIEVES  COMMO 
DORE  PALMER.  —  SHELLING  CONFEDERATE  BATTERIES  NEAR  MOBILE.  —  CAPTURE  OF 
SPANISH  FORT,  FORTS  ALEXIS,  HUGER  AND  TRACY. — MOBILE  SURRENDERS. — OPERATIONS 
OF  THE  GUN-BOATS  IN  RIVERS  OF  ALABAMA. — CONFEDERATE  RAMS  "  HUNTSVILLE"  AND 
"TUSCALOOSA"  SUNK. — FEDERAL  GUN-BOATS  SUNK  BY  TORPEDOES. — CONFEDERATE 
GUN-BOATS  AND  OTHER  PROPERTY  SURRENDERED  TO  THE  NAVY. — CONDITIONS  OF  SUR 
RENDER. — INSTRUCTIONS  TO  FLAG-CAPTAIN  SIMPSON. — PAROLE  GIVEN  BY  AND  LIST  OF 
OFFICERS  AND  MEN  SURRENDERED. — ENTRANCE  OF  GUN-BOATS  INTO  BLAKELY  RIVER.— 
COMPLIMENTARY  LETTER  RELATIVE  TO  COMMODORE  PALMER.— DESTRUCTION  OF  CON 
FEDERATE  RAM  "WEBB." — GALVESTON  SURRENDERS. — LIST  OF  VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS 
OF  WEST  GULF  SQUADRON,  1SG5. 


COMMODORE  James  S.  Palmer  com 
manded  the  West  Gulf  Blockad 
ing  Squadron  up  to  the  time  Rear- 
Admiral  Thatcher  took  command 
in  the  latter  part  of  February  or 
early  part  of  March,  1805.  After  being  re 
lieved,  he  continued  to  give  Rear  -  Admiral 
Thatcher  that  hearty  and  effective  support 
that  always  distinguished  him  in  his  former 
commands  under  Admiral  Farragut  on  the 
Mississippi  and  elsewhere,  marking  him  as 
one  of  those  cool  and  gallant  men  who 
perhaps  in  time  of  peace  would  not  attract 
much  attention,  but  whose  services  in  time 
of  war  are  strongly  marked  by  judgment  and 
gallantry  combined.  These  qualities  always 
leave  a  strong  impression  on  a  ship's  com 
pany  that  has  the  good  fortune  to  possess 
such  a  commander.  Whatever  duty  Com 
modore  Palmer  undertook  he  performed  it 
bravely  and  intelligently,  and  this  is  seen 


in  the  records  of  the  war,  where  the  com 
manders  under  whom  he  served  never 
parted  with  him  without  the  warmest  eulo- 
giums  in  his  praise,  all  of  which  were  de 
served.  While  he  had  the  ternporarv  com 
mand  of  the  West  Gulf  Blockading  Squad 
ron  he  kept  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  actively 
employed,  which  will  be  better  appreciated 
ana  understood  by  a  brief  outline  of  the 
operations. 

Commodore  Palmer  was  one  of  those  who 
encouraged  intrepidity  in  young  officers; 
and  as  there  was  not  a  large  field  for  dar 
ing  deeds,  and  as  the  duty  of  the  vessels 
under  his  command  was  chiefly  confined 
to  the  dull  routine  of  blockading  the  Texas 
coast,  no  opportunity  was  lost  to  obtain 
distinction,  and  at  the  same  time  inflict  in 
jury  upon  the  enemy. 

Since  the  closing  of  the  Confederate  ports 
on  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  blockade-runners 

(775) 


776 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


made  attempts  to  reach  the  coast  of  Texas, 
though  it  would  seem  that  it  was  scarcely 
profitable  for  them  to  carry  on  their  illicit 
trade  in  the  Gulf,  where  they  could  be  so 
easily  cut  off,  and  at  the  time  when  the  war 
must  have  appeared  to  any  one  with  an  ob 
servant  mind  to  be  so  rapidly  approaching 
a  close.  But  as  long  as  there  was  life  there 
was  hope,  and  the  Confederate  Government, 
to  the  very  last  moment  of  its  existence, 

Eut  on  a  bold  front  and  acted  as  if  in  the 
eyday  of  its  power.  The  only  way  it 
could  keep  up  its  credit  abroad  was  by  now 
and  then  getting  out  a  load  of  cotton  on  a 
steamer,  or  some  of  the  schooners  that  had 
been  left  to  them  after  the  several  raids 
that  had  been  made  on  such  coasting  vessels 


that  the  Texan  soldiers— a  very  brave  set 
of  men— had  never  felt  that  they  had  been 
worsted  in  the  least.  On  the  contrary,  they 
had  not  only  prevented  the  Federal  gener 
als  from  making  a  permanent  lodgment  in 
their  State,  but  had  given  a  large  quota 
of  their  troops  to  assist  the  Confederates 
in  every  other  quarter  of  the  Southern 
domain.  It  would  have  been,  indeed,  a 
grievous  infliction  if  the  Texans  had  suc 
ceeded  in  drawing  to  their  State  the  remains 
of  the  Confederate  armies  who  had  not  been 
driven  to  surrender,  for  they  might  have 
kept  up  the  war  two  or  three  years  longer, 
with  great  loss  to  the  North  in  expense  and 
with  no  gain  to  themselves. 
But  the  same  demoralization  of  the  Con- 


COMMODORE  (AFTERWARDS  REAR-ADMIRAL)  JAMES  8,  PALMER. 


as  they  possessed.  Though  the  communi 
cations  witli  Texas  and  the  northern  portion 
of  the  Confederacy  had  been  almost  en 
tirely  cut  off  by  the  vigilant  watchfulness 
of  the  Navy  on  the  coast  and  on  the  great 
river  which  divided  the  Confederacy,  yet 
the  Texans  were  as  active  as  ever  in 
carrying  on  operations,  particularly  in  the 
introduction  of  arms  of  all  kinds,  provisions, 
clothing  and  military  stores,  apparently 
with  a  view  to  carrying  on  the  war  on  their 
own  account  if  Richmond  fell,  or  to  offer  a 
place  of  retreat  to  those  dissatisfied  spirits 
who  could  see  nothing  good  in  a  union  with 
the  Northern  States.  The  Federal  in 
vasions  had,  so  far,  been  so  unsuccessful, 
and  were,  as  a  rule,  so  badly  conducted, 


federacy  which  was  so  painfully  apparent 
in  Richmond  was  also  felt  in  Texas. 
Though  they  appeared  to  be  imbued  with 
the  popular  enthusiasm  that  had  done  so 
much  to  prolong  the  contest,  and  though 
they  had  given  as  many  proofs  of  devotion 
to  the  cause  and  evidences  of  endurance 
and  noble  sacrifice,  yet  they  were  not  car 
ried  away  with  the  bitterness  of  feeling 
that  seemed  to  animate  the  people  further 
north. 

The  Texans  could  see  plainly  enough  that 
official  mismanagement  on  the  part  of  the 
Confederate  authorities,  together  with  the 
Union  victories  and  the  popular  resolution 
of  the  Northern  people  to  prosecute  the  war 
with  renewed  vigor,  had  made  it  probable 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


777 


that  Texas  would  become  the  great  battle 
ground,  and  that,  whatever  way  the  tide  of 
war  might  turn,  the  State  would  be  im 
poverished.  So  far,  Texas  had  borne  no 
hardships  that  soldiers  could  not  reasonably 
endure,  for  her  plains  were  full  of  hogs  and 
cattle,  and  her  fields  were  well  supplied 
with  corn,  and  they  had  sufficient  military 
ardor  to  uphold  them  to  the  last. 

But  there  were  large  amounts  of  cotton 
on  hand  from  which  no  revenue  was  de 
rived,  and  attempts  were  now  and  then 
made  to  get  the  fabric  to  market  in  any 
thing  that  would  float,  which,  in  many 
cases,  succeeded  when  success  was  least  ex 
pected.  Emboldened  by  their  first  attempts, 
the  blockade-runners  from  the  Texan  ports 
became  more  audacious,  so  much  so  that 
the  Federal  naval  officers  were  put  upon 
their  mettle,  and  hence  resulted  a  number 
of  small  but  gallant  affairs  which,  in  justice 
to  the  officers  concerned  in  them,  should 
not  be  omitted.  They  are  the  small  links 
that  make  up  the  chain  of  history,  and  were 
as  important  in  the  eyes  of  the  performers 
as  more  prominent  affairs. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1864.  a  large 
schooner,  named  the  "Golden  Belle,"  was 
lying  in  Galveston  harbor,  watching  a 
chance  to  evade  the  blockaders  outside, 
and  make  a  run  to  Havana  or  Nassau. 
Acting-Ensign  N.  A.  Blume,  of  the  "Vir 
ginia,''  asked  and  received  permission  from 
his  commanding  officer.  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant  Charles  11.  Brown,  to  go  in  and 
cut  out  the  schooner.  Obtaining  volun 
teers  from  the  crew  for  the  expedition,  he 
left  with  the  third  cutter  about  8:30  P.  M. 
Having  five  miles  to  pull  against  a  heavy 
head  sea,  Mr.  Blume  did  not  reach  Boliver 
Point  and  get  in  sight  of  the  schooner  until 
1  A.  M.  of  the  27th.  She  was  lying  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  Fort  Jackson,  about 
a  mile  from  Fort  Greene,  and  less  than 
four  hundred  yards  from  the  Confederate 
guard-schooner  "  Lecompte."  When  within 
five  hundred  yards  of  the  schooner,  a  light 
was  seen  moving  about  her  decks.  The 
boat  passed  her  and  came  up  astern,  not 
being  discovered  till  alongside.  She  was 
then  immediately  boarded  and  carried,  and 
the  prisoners  secured.  The  captors  im 
mediately  made  sail,  slipped  the  schooner 
cable  and  stood  down  the  bay,  the  guard- 
boat  supposing  that  she  had  started  out  to 
run  the  blockade.  Coolness  and  clever  man 
agement  was  manifested  in  piloting  the 
"Belle"  out  of  Galveston  harbor,  which  is 
an  intricate  one.  In  going  out.  the  prize  had 
to  pass  almost  within  hail  of  Fort  Point  on 
Galveston  Island,  then  find  her  way  in  the 
dark  through  the  main  channel  and  cross 
the  bar  at  the  right  point;  all  of  which  was 
done  without  a  mistake.  At  daylight,  the 
fleet  was  sighted  bearing  northwest,  and 


that  morning  the  owner  of  the  "Golden 
Belle''  could  see  her  from  Galveston  care 
fully  anchored  under  the  guns  of  the  Fed 
erals. 

As  it  resulted,  there  was  no  loss  of  life  on 
this  expedition,  and  the  glamour  which 
generally  attends  a  bloody  affair  was  miss 
ing  ;  but  it  was  none  the  less  a  dangerous 
one,  and  all  engaged  in  it  deserve  as  much 
credit  as  if  some  had  been  shot.  We  have 
made  it  a  rule  to  mention  the  names  of  the 
participants  when  good  work  was  per 
formed,  and,  this  being  a  case  in  point,  the 
following  are  entitled  to  a  place :  N.  A. 
Blume,  Acting- Ensign;  William  Steven 
son,  Master-at-Arms  ;  James  Webster,  Gun 
ner's  Mate ;  Thomas  Wallace,  Coxswain  ; 
Jacob  Bowman,  Captain  Forecastle  ;  Wil 
liam  Thompson,  Captain  Forecastle  ;  Au 
gustus  Miller,  Captain  After-guard ;  Peter 
Miller,  Seaman  ;  Thomas  K.  Fenley,  Lands 
man. 

On  January  24th,  1865,  quite  as  clever  an 
affair  took  place  off  Calcasieu  River,  by  a 
cutting-out  expedition,   under  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Richard  W.  Meade,  which  was 
a  complete  success  without  any  casualties. 
A  three-masted  schooner,  loaded  with  cot 
ton,  was  lying  at  the  second  bend  of  the 
Calcasieu  River,  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  its  mouth,  ready  to  slip  out  at  the  first 
opportunity,  and  the  object  of  the  expedi 
tion  was  her  capture.     As  a  large  force  of 
the  enemy  was  encamped  close  at  hand,  it 
was  deemed  best  to  take  a  force  sufficiently 
large  to  insure  success.     Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Meade  accordingly  fitted  out  the 
"Chocura's"  launch  and  first  cutter,  and 
took  forty  men  of  her  crew  under  his  per 
sonal  command.     The  night  of  the  2'2d  of 
January  was  chosen  for  the  attempt,  and  as 
it  was  cold  and  dark,  with  drizzling  rain 
and  a  norther  blowing,  it  was  just  such  a 
night  as  a  blockade-runner  would  select  to 
evade  the  blockaders.     The  party  left  the 
"Chocura"at  dark  and  pulled  in  silently 
for  the  river.     Just  as  they  entered  it,  the 
schooner  was  discovered  coming  down  un 
der  sail  with  a  fresh  breeze.     Had  the  boats 
been  ten   minutes    later    she   would   have 
reached  open  water  and  escaped.     She  was 
at  once  boarded  and  carried  ;  but,  unfortu 
nately,  her  captain  saw  the  boats  before 
they  "reached   his  vessel,  and,  putting  his 
helm  hard  down  and  letting  fly  his  sheets, 
ran  the  schooner  hard  and  fast  aground  on 
the  flats  close  to  the  beach  and  not  far  from 
the  enemy's  force.     Six  prisoners  were  se 
cured  at  once,  and  a  boat  that  was  towing 
astern  was  seen  to  push  off  and  pull  rapidly 
up  the  river,  in  which,  doubtless,  some  of  the 
crew  escaped.     The  prize  proved  to  be  the 
schooner   "  Delphina,"   with    one    hundred 
and  eighty  bales  of  cotton  on  board — one  of 
those  small  ventures  the  Texans  were  in 


778 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  habit  of  making  to  raise  money,  which, 
though  small  in  quantity,  was  none  the  less 
valuable  to  the  captors  when  it  could  be 
secured.  This  cargo  would  have  been 
worth  in  England  over  one  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars.  Every  effort  was  made  to 
get  the  "  Delphina  "  afloat.  The  after-deck 
load  was  thrown  overboard  and  her  anchor 
carried  out ;  but  as  the  norther  caused  the 
water  to  fall  rapidly,  leaving  in  an  hour 
only  about  a  foot  of  water  alongside,  the 
efforts  to  float  her  were  unavailing.  The 
launch  grounded  in  the  meantime,  and  it 
was  deemed  best  not  to  expose  the  men  to 
an  attack  from  an  overwhelming  force. 
The  schooner  was  therefore  set  on  fire  and 
the  expedition  returned  to  the  "  Chocura." 
Acting-Ensigns  Tracy  and  Beardsley  ac- 


LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER   (NOW  CAPTAIN)  B.  W.  MEADE. 

companied  Lieutenant-Commander  Meade. 
The  officers  and  men  behaved  as  all  men 
will  when  they  are  led  by  a  judicious  and 
gallant  commander.  They  were  not  alto 
gether  unfortunate  in  not  receiving  some 
prize-money.  Eighty  bales  of  cotton  were 
thrown  overboard  before  they  set  fire  to  the 
schooner  ;  this  drifted  out  to  sea.  and  thirty 
bales  were  picked  up  on  the  following 
morning,  and  very  likely  more  were  secured 
later.  This  was  hard  on  the  shippers ;  but 
such  are  the  fortunes  of  war,  and  it  was  the 
only  way  to  cripple  the  resources  of  the 
Confederacy.  Captain  Semmes,  of  Alabama 
fame,  railed  at  Union  naval  officers  a  great 
deal  for  what  he  called  their  greedy  spirit 
in  capturing  cotton  coming  out  and  arms 
going  in,  which  he  called  destroying  the 
property  of  Southern  people,  and  makes  an 


excuse  on  this  account  for  inflicting  harm 
on  Federal  merchant-ships.  It  was  not  to 
be  supposed  that  Union  officers  would  let  a 
vessel  put  to  sea  with  a  hundred  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  cotton  on  board  without 
using  every  effort  to  capture  it,  when  they 
knew  that 'if  it  reached  England  it  would 
soon  be  converted  into  cash  to  buy  arms 
with  which  to  shoot  Union  people.  There 
was  really  no  greedy  intent  which  induced 
officers  to  follow  up  vessels  in  port  loaded 
with  cotton,  but  simply  a  desire  on  their 
part  to  put  an  end  to  the  war.  Half  the 
time  the  vessels  and  cotton  were  burned 
when  it  might  frequently  have  been  saved, 
but  it  was  not  considered  worth  the  while 
to  risk  the  lives  of  officers  and  men.  This 
was  the  case  on  this  occasion,  as  there  was 
a  force  of  three  hundred  cavalry  at  the 
point  where  the  "Delphina"  was  burned. 

The  Confederates  were  very  watchful  and 
alert  in  getting  vessels  ready  for  sea  and 
loaded  with  cotton  bales,  but  the  blockaders 
were  equally  so;  and,  if  we  may  judge  by 
the  results,  much  more  active  in  the  pur 
suit  of  the  blockade-runners  and  in  the  cap 
ture  of  them  than  their  owners  were  in  get 
ting  their  wares  to  market. 

On  February  8,  18G5,  an  expedition  was 
fitted  out  by  Commander  Mullany,  of  the 
"  Bienville,"  assisted  by  Commander 
Woolsey,  of  the  "Princess  Royal,"  for  the 
purpose  of  destroying  the  steamer  "  Wren/' 
a  blockade-runner  lying  in  the  harbor  of 
Galveston,  and  also  of  capturing  two  cot- 
ton-ladened  schooners  that  were  lying  at 
anchor  under  the  forts,  ready  to  go  to  sea 
when  the  wind  and  weather  permitted. 

Two  boats  were  sent  on  this  expe 
dition,  viz.  :  The  "  Bienville's  "  first  cutter, 
with  thirteen  men,  Acting-Ensign  George 
H.  French,  in  charge,  and  the  "Princess 
Royal's  "  first  cutter,  with  a  crew  of  nine 
men,  Acting-Ensign  A.  H.  Reynolds,  in 
charge,  assisted  by  Acting-Master's  Mate 
Lewis  Johnson,  the  whole  under  the  com 
mand  of  Acting-Ensign  French,  of  the 
"'  Bienville."  The  boats  left  the  "  Bien 
ville  "  about  8.20  p.  M.,  and  stood  in  for  the 
harbor.  Mr.  French  intended  to  pass  inside 
the  schooners  and  make  his  first  attack  on 
the  "Wren,"  destroy  her,  and  then  capture 
the  schooners;  but  he  failed  in  this,  owing 
to  the  tide,  which  carried  him  so  far  out  of 
his  course  that  he  found  himself  close 
aboard  the  schooners.  Without  hesitation, 
orders  were  given  Mr.  Reynolds  to  board 
one,  while  Mr.  French  carried  the  other. 
Both  were  taken  without  resistance,  though 
the  crews  aggregated  twenty  men,  nearly 
equal  to  the  crews  of  the  two  boats.  The 
"Princess  Royal's"  cutter  captured  the  "An 
nie  Sophia,"  and  the  "  Bienville's,"  the 
"  Pet,"  both  supposed  to  be  English.  After 
getting  the  schooners  underway  and  secur- 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


779 


ing  their  crews,  one  was  placed  in  charge 
of  Boatswain's  Mate,  Thomas  Gallyer,  of 
the  "  Bienville,"  and  the  other  in  charge  of 
Acting-Master's  Mate  Johnson,  with  orders 
to  proceed  to  the  "  Bienville,"  where  they 
subsequently  arrived  in  safety.  Mr.  French 
then  proceeded  in  company  with  the  other 
boat  to  perform  the  duty  of  destroying  the 
"  Wren'';  but,  finding  it  impracticable  (ow 
ing  to  the  strong  current  and  wind  against 
him,  with  his  reduced  crews)  to  find  the 
"  Wren,"  or  make  good  headway,  and  hav 
ing  parted  company  from  the  other  boat  in 
the  darkness,  he  concluded  that  it  would  be 
injudicious  to  proceed  further,  as  day  was 
approaching,  and  returned  to  his  ship.  On 
the  whole,  this  might  be  called  a  good 
catch.  The  "Pet"  had  two  hundred  and 
fifty-six  bales  of  cotton,  and  the  "Annie 
Sophia"  two  hundred  and  twenty, — a  hand 
some  reward  to  the  adventurous  sailors  who 
went  on  the  expedition. 

The  dearth  of  blockade-running  steamers 
made  it  more  easy  to  capture  this  cotton,  for 
the  long,  low  runners  generally  laid  well 
up  the  harbor  under  the  protection  of  the 
forts,  while  the  schooners  had  to  move 
down  to  the  lower  bay  to  await  a  fair  wind 
and  get  to  sea  when  an  opportunity  offered. 

Yet  the  steamers  that  did  attempt  to 
run  the  blockade  often  failed,  as  was  the 
case  with  the  "  Will-o'-the-Wisp  "  (steamer), 
which  was  burned  off  Galveston  by  an  ex 
pedition  under  Lieutenant  O.  E.  McKay,  of 
the  "Princess  Royal."  The  " Will-o'-the 
Wisp  "  had  been  run  on  shore  off  the  har 
bor  of  Galveston,  where  she  was  caught  in 
the  act  of  landing  some  heavy  guns,  and 
was  chased  on  shore.  On  the  night  of  the 
9th  of  February,  1865,  a  boat  expedition 
was  fitted  out  by  Commander  M.  B.  Wool- 
sey,  consisting  of  two  boats'  crews,  one 
from  the  "  Princess  Royal,"  and  the  other 
from  the  gun-boat  "Antona,"  the  whole 
under  command  of  Lieutenant  McKay, 
with  orders  to  go  in  and  destroy  the 
steamer  and  prevent  her  landing  the  arms 
and  stores  she  had  on  board.  The  boats 
shoved  off  from  the  "  Princess  Royal"  be 
tween  2  and  3  A.  M.,  while  the  ship  and 
the  "Antona"  moved  in  toward  shore 
and  took  up  a  position  about  nine  hundred 
yards  from  the  "Will-o'-the-Wisp."  The 
boats  soon  reached  and  boarded  the  stranded 
steamer,  set  her  on  fire  in  the  wheel-houses, 
and  then  returned  to  the  "Princess  Royal." 
She  had  previously  been  riddled  by  the  fire 
of  the  two  blockaders,  and  had  been  set  on 
fire  by  their  shells,  so  that  she  was  almost 
a  total  wreck.  The  Confederates  had 
shown  their  usual  energy  in  getting  out  the 
cargo,  the  decks  being  torn  up  to  enable 
them  to  do  so.  Even  the  engines  had  been 
taken  to  pieces  and  carried  away,  so  that, 
when  the  boats  reached  her,  she  was  not 


worth  wrecking.  Although  there  was  no 
resistance  offered  by  the  enemy,  the  at 
tempt  made  by  the* boats  was  worthy  of 
all  praise.  The  Confederate  cavalry  "had 
thrown  up  heavy  breastworks,  and  It  was 
expected  that  the  landing  party  would  meet 
with  a  stout  resistance. 

One  gallant  affair  would  inspire  another, 
and  these  cutting-out  expeditions  became 
the  order  of  the  day.  When  they  started 
out,  no  man  knew  what  would  be  the  result 
of  an  expedition  until  it  was  over,  or 
what  force  was  likely  to  be  encountered. 
The  enemy,  knowing  the  ad  venturous  spirit 
of  the  officers  of  the  squadron,  might  set  a 
trap  for  them,  and.  instead  of  getting  a  load 
of  cotton,  they  might  get  a  load  of  grape- 
shot. 

The  Confederates  had  fitted  out  a  priva 
teer    or    vessel-of-war.  or  whatever  name 
that  class  of  vessel  might  be  recognized  un 
der — an  armed  schooner,  the  "  Anna  Dale." 
—which,  on  February  18.  1865,  was  lying  in 
Pass  Cavallo,  Texas,  waiting  for  part  of  her 
crew,  when  she  intended  to  slip  out  to  prey 
on  Federal  commerce.  This  vessel  had  been 
observed  for  several  days  apparently  watch 
ing  an  opportunity  to  get  to  sea  when  the 
wind  favored  her.    Lieutenant-Commander 
Henry    Erben,    Jr.,  of  the    "Panola,"had 
been  watching  her  closely,  and  at    night 
kept  picket-boats  close  to  the  inlet  to  see 
that  she  did  not  slip  out  without  due  notice 
from  the  boats.     On  the  night  of  the  18th 
he  sent  in  two   armed  boats,  the  gig  and 
third  cutter,  to  cut  the  schooner  out.  with 
Acting-Ensign  James  W.  Brown  in  charge, 
assisted    by     Acting-Master's    Mate    John 
Rosling.     The  work  was  handsomely  per 
formed.     The  boats  crossed  the  bar,  which 
was  quite  smooth  at  the  time,  and  found  the 
schooner  made  fast  to  a  wharf  with  a  bat 
tery  on  shore  close  aboard.  She  had  a  pivot- 
gun  mounted,  and  every  thing  indicated  that 
she  was  an  armed  vessel  with  this   battery 
to  protect   her.     Lights  were  seen  moving 
about  the  decks,  and  men   heard  talking, 
when    Mr.    Brown    made  a  dash  for  the 
schooner,  boarded  her,  drove  all  the  crew 
below  that   were    on    deck,  and    fastened 
down  the  hatches.    The  fasts  were  then  cut 
and  the  vessel  drifted  out  into  the  stream. 
Sail  was   made  on  the  "  Anna  Dale, "and 
everything  done  to  take  her  out,  but   she 
grounded,  and  it  was  determined  to  destroy 
her.     The  prisoners,   with  their  baggage, 
were  put  in  one  of  the  schooner's  boats  with 
some  small  arms  and  a  12-pounder  howitzer, 
and  the  vessel  was  then  set  on  fire. 

The  "Anna  Dale"  proved  to  be  a  Con 
federate  privateer,  but  had  not  yet  attained 
the  dignity  of  being  called  a  cruiser.  She 
was  o?  seventy  tons  burden,  well  armed, 
and  commanded  by  Joseph  L.  Stephenson, 
a  Master  in  the  Confederate  Navy,  who  said 


780 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


he  expected  twenty-five  more  men  at  sun 
set,  and  would  have  sailed  soon  after.  He 
expressed  great  surprise  that  the  boats 
were  not  fired  upon  by  the  battery,  which 
consisted  of  three  guns  and  a  hundred  men 
stationed  only  a  short  distance  off.  The 
"Anna  Dale"  was  a  fast  schooner,  and,  had 
she  escaped  the  vigilance  of  the  blockaders 
and  reached  the  northern  coast,  would  no 
doubt  have  done  much  damage  before  she 
was  captured. 

This  affair  was  certainly  well  executed 
and  was  without  loss  of  life,  which  makes 
such  events  all  the  more  acceptable.  Act 
ing-Ensign  Brown  was,  no  doubt,  a  gallant 
officer.  He  speaks  in  the  highest  terms 
of  the  behavior  of  Mr.  Rosling  and  of  Boat 
swain's  Mate  James  Brown  and  Quarter- 
Master  Benton  Bunker,  and  the  boat's  crew 
generally.  It  will  be  observed  that,  in  most 
of  these  affairs,  the  acting  or  volunteer  of 
ficers  bore  very  prominent  parts.  In  all 
this  kind  of  duty  the  volunteer  element  of 
the  Navy  was  always  conspicuous,  it  being 
more  congenial  to  them  than  parading  the 
deck  and  following  the  routine  of  a  regular 
man-of-war.  They  were  a  tough,  brave  set 
of  men,  full  of  resources  and  worthy  of 
every  trust. 

Captain  Semmes,  of  the  "Alabama."  in 
his  journal  of  that  vessel's  cruise,  berates 
the  volunteer  officers  of  the  Federal  Navy, 
and  calls  them  a  low-lived  set  of  fellows ; 
but  it  must  be  remembered  that,  in  the  fight 
between  the  "Kearsarge"  and  "Alabama," 
nearly  all  the  officers  of  the  former  were 
volunteers  raised  in  the  merchant  service, 
then  as  fine  a  school  of  seamanship  as  any 
in  the  world  ;  and  under  the  training  of 
their  gallant  and  efficient  first-lieutenant, 
Thornton,  made  a  practice  in  gunnery  that 
put  to  shame  the  firing  of  the  English  gun 
ners  that  are  said  to  have  joined  the  "  Ala 
bama"  from  the  English  naval  gunnery 
training-ship,  the  "Excellent."  In  this, 
perhaps,  can  be  found  the  reason  why  Cap 
tain  Semmes  did  not  approve  of  them. 


JOINT  OPERATIONS  IN  MOBILE  BAY  BY  REAR- 
ADMIRAL  THATCHER  AND  GENERAL  CANBY. 

After  the  capture  of  Wilmington,  Com 
modore  James  S.  Palmer  was  relieved  of 
the  command  of  the  West  Gulf  Squadron 
by  Acting-Rear- Admiral  H.  K.  Thatcher, 
an  officer  of  great  merit,  who  had  shown 

f^od    judgment     and     gallantry    at    Fort 
isher. 

The  moment  Rear- Admiral  Thatcher  ar 
rived  at  the  scene  of  his  command,  he  placed 
himself  in  communication  with  that  gallant 
and  efficient  military  commander,  Gen 
eral  Canby,  and  offered  all  the  co-opera 
tion  the  Navy  could  give  toward  the 
capture  of  Mobile,  which  still  held  out, 


notwithstanding  all  the  forts  in  the  bay 
had  surrendered  and  the  Confederate 
fleet  had  been  captured.  There  was  not 
the  slightest  chance  of  arms,  munitions- 
of  -  war.  or  provisions  reaching  the  Con 
federate  army  through  Mobile,  and  the 
enemy  continued  to  hold  it  simply  from  the 
same  sentiment  that  governed  every  other 
part  of  the  South.  Though  the  demoraliza 
tion  in  the  Confederacy  was  plainly  appar 
ent  to  those  who  had  eyes  to  see,  yet  the 
majority  could  not  be  made  to  believe  that 
the  Confederates  could  be  subjugated.  They 
could  not  be  made  to  understand  that  there 
was  anything  fatal,  in  a  military  point  of 
view,  in  Sherman's  memorable  march, 
though  they  received  daily  news  of  his  suc 
cessful  marchings,  his  occupation  of  At- 


REAR-ADMIRAL  HENRY  K.  THATCHER. 

lanta,  Savannah,  Columbia,  and  his  advance 
to  Goldsborough,  driving  before  him  an 
army  quite  equal  in  numbers  to  his  own, 
before  he  was  joined  by  Generals  Schofield 
and  Terry  with  some  thirty  thousand  troops, 
and  causing  the  ablest  generals  of  the  Con 
federacy  to  fall  back  before  his  triumphant 
legions.  If  the  demoralization  of  the 
country  could  ever  be  brought  to  the  sur 
face,  it  was  when  General  Joe  Johnston 
was  brought  to  bay  at  Smithsville,  with 
Sherman's  hardy  veterans  (that  had 
marched  through  the  South)  confronting 
him,  and  the  victorious  troops  of  Schofield 
and  Terry,  just  from  Wilmington,  hemming 
him  in. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


781 


Some  of  the  most  intelligent  men  in  the 
Confederacy  (though  the  most  deluded) 
clung  to  the  idea  that  it  was  a  physical  im 
possibility  for  the  South  to  be  subjugated 
by  the  troops  of  the  North.  This  impossi 
bility  was  clearly  stated  by  the  Confederate 
Congress  in  an  address  to  the  Southern 
people  as  late  as  the  winter  of  1804-5  ;  that 
the  passage  of  hostile  armies  through  the 
Southern  country,  though  productive  of 
cruel  suffering  to  the  people  and  great 
pecuniary  loss,  gave  an  enemy  no  perma 
nent  advantage  or  foothold.  To  subjugate 
a  country,  its  civil  government  must  be 
suppressed  by  a  continuing  military  force, 
or  supplanted  by  another,  to  which  the  in 
habitants  would  be  obliged  to  yield  obedi 
ence.  They  insisted  that  the  passage  of 
troops  through  their  country  could  not  pro 
duce  any  such  result.  Permanent  garrisons 
would  have  to  be  stationed  at  a  sufficient 
number  of  points  to  strangle  all  civil  au 
thority  and  overawe  the  people  before  it 
could  be  pretended  by  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  that  its  authority  could  be  extended 
over  the  Southern  States.  They  claimed 
that  to  subdue  the  South  would  require 
more  soldiers  than  the  United  States  could 
raise  to  garrison  all  the  different  points. 
In  a  geographical  point  of  view,  therefore, 
it  was  asserted  that  the  conquest  of  the 
Confederate  States  was  impracticable.  The 
geographical  point  of  view  was  decisive  to 
those  who  fomented  the  war  in  the  first 
place,  who  adopted  this  as  their  creed  with 
which  to  delude  their  suffering  people  ;  and 
when  Sherman  was  marching  his  irresist 
ible  army  all  through  the  South,  they  could 
see  nothing  in  it  but  a  harbinger  of  good  to 
their  cause  ;  though  he  had  passed  through 
the  country,  they  asserted  that  he  had  not 
conquered  it,  and  had  not  been  able  to 
leave  a  single  garrison  on  his  way  since  he 
left  Dalton.  They  argued  that,  even  if  he 
passed  out  of  the  Carol  in  as,  he  would  be  de 
feated  then,  and  all  the  country  he  had 
passed  through  would  be  re-opened  to  the 
Confederate  armies.  All  such  sophistries 
might  pass  muster  with  the  ignorant,  and 
this  appeal  to  the  common  herd,  no  doubt, 
had  its  effect ;  but  it  was  most  absurd  and 
criminal,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  for  the  pro 
moters  of  this'  rebellion  to  try  and  delude 
those  upon  whom  all  the  suffering  fell, 
when  they  could  see  the  handwriting  on 
the  wall  as  plainly  as  it  was  seen  at  the 
feast  of  Belshazzar"  All  the  deluded  people 
should  have  known  that,  as  Sherman's 
army  sped  along,  everything  in  the  shape 
of  a  soldier  left  the  side-points  of  defence 
and  joined  the  fleeing  mass  in  the  front. 
There  was  no  use  leaving  garrisons  in  the 
rear,  there  was  nothing  to  garrison.  Wild 
desolation  and  ruin  are  always  left  in  the 
tracks  of  such  armies,  and  no  General  living 


could  prevent  it  any  more  than  Lee  could 
prevent  destruction  on  his  march  to  and 
from  Gettysburg.  The  fact  is,  the  Confed 
eracy  vvas  in  its  last  throes  when  Sherman 
started  from  Columbia,  and  the  people  of 
the  South  everywhere  (owing  to  what  the 
promoters  of  the  rebellion  called  "the  decay 
of  public  spirit")  were  getting  impatient 
with  the  hardships  of  the  war,  having  no 
longer  any  confidence  in  the  ultimate  re 
sults.  Yet  there  were  places,  like  Mobile, 
that  had  for  a  time  flourished,  owing  to  the 
constant  flow  of  blockade-runners  to  their 
ports,  and  who  knew  but  little  of  the  suffer 
ings  of  the  war,  and  had  never,  in  fact, 
been  subjected  to  any  hardships,  deter 
mined  to  hold  on  to  the  last,  even  after 
Charleston  fell.  Ever  since  Admiral  Far- 
ragut  attempted  and  failed  to  reach  the 
city  of  Mobile,  the  channel  to  which  would 
not  admit  the  Union  vessels,  that  city  had 
settled  down  to  fancied  security,  no  doubt 
waiting  till  Richmond  should  fall,  and  they 
could  surrender  with  some  show  of  deter 
mination  to  resist  to  the  last.  They  did 
no  harm  to  the  Union,  but  their  defiant 
attitude  was  offensive,  and  Canby  and 
Thatcher  determined  to  reduce  their  preten 
sions. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  18G5,  Rear- Admiral 
Thatcher  received  information  from  Gen 
eral  Canby  that  there  were  indications  that 
the  enemy's  forces  in  Mobile  were  about  to 
evacuate  their  works,  and  had  torn  up  some 
thirty  miles  of  the  Mobile  and  Montgomery 
railroad,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pollard, 
and  were  removing  the  material  in  the  di 
rection  of  Mongomery,  and  suggesting  a 
reconnaissance  in  force.  This  Admiral 
Thatcher  immediately  undertook  with  the 
five  Monitors  he  had  at  his  disposal;  and 
proceeding  to  reach  a  point  in  as  close  prox 
imity  to  the  city  as  the  shallow  water  and 
the  obstructions  would  permit,  succeeded 
in  drawing  from  the  enemy  a  heavy  fire, 
and  demonstrated  that  the  defences  were 
intact  and  the  Mobilians  still  determined  on 
resistance. 

It  was  therefore  determined  by  the  two 
Federal  commanders  to  make  a  combined 
attack  on  the  works  and  city  without  delay, 
and  on  March  21st  the  landing  commenced 
from  the  transports  under  cover  from  the 
gun-boats  on  the  right  bank  of  Fish  River, 
at  a  point  called  Danley's  Mills,  about  sev 
enteen  miles  above  its  junction  with  Mobile 
Bay.  The  gun  boats  kept  shelling  the 
woods  from  Point  Clear  to  Blakely  River 
bar,  while  the  troops  were  landing,  to  clear 
the  coast  of  the  enemy's  forces  supposed  to 
be  lurking  in  that  vicinity,  and  also  to  draw 
the  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  should 
there  be  any  erected  between  Point  Clear 
and  Spanish*  Fort,  Numerous  streams  had 
to  be  crossed,  and  many  bridges  built  for 


783 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  passage  of  artillery.  The  troops  set  to 
work,  as  soon  as  landed,  to  construct  the 
bridges  and  to  make  their  advance,  while 
the  light-draft  gun-boats  kept  open  commu 
nications  with  the  army  along  shore  by 
boats  or  signals. 

General  Granger  had  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  the  Army,  and  this  accomplished 
officer  lost  no  time  in  pressing  forward  his 
troops.  The  first  fruits  of  their  labor  was 
tne  fall  of  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort  Alexis, 
which  surrendered  on  the  8th  of  April,  18G5, 
after  a  heavy  bombardment  of  ten  hours 
from  the  Army  and  Navy.  The  Navy 
landed  a  battery,  of  heavy  guns  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant-Commander  G.  H. 
Gillis,  late  of  the  "Milwaukee."  General 
Canby  commended  the  services  of  this  bat 
tery  highly  in  the  attack  on  these  forts, 
which  the  Confederates  regarded  as  the 
key  to  Mobile. 

Nearly  two  thousand  prisoners  and  sixteen 
heavy  guns,  with  ammunition  in  abun 
dance,  were  taken  in  these  works,  while  the 
enemy  lost  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded. 
Apalache  and  Blakely  Rivers  were  at  once 
dragged  by  the  sailors  in  boats,  and  six 
teen  large  submerged  torpedoes  were  taken 
up.  On  the  10th  instant  the  "Octorara," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  W.  W.  Low,  and 
the  iron  -  clads  were  succesf  ul,  by  the 
diligent  exertions  of  Commander  Pierce 
Crosby,  of  the  "  Metacomet,"  in  clearing 
the  rivers  of  torpedoes,  in  moving  up  nearly 
abreast  of  Spanish  Fort.  From  this  posi 
tion,  Lieutenant-Commander  Low,  with  his 
rifled  gun,  shelled  forts  Huger  and  Tracy 
with  such  effect  that  both  forts  were  evacu 
ated  on  the  llth  instant,  and  the  naval 
forces  took  possession,  capturing  a  few 
prisoners  in  the  adjoining  marshes.  The 
sailors  held  their  position  in  these  works 
till  General  Canby  could  garrison  them 
with  troops. 

On  April  12th,  Rear- Admiral  Thatcher 
moved  with  the  gun-boats,  convoying  8,000 
men  of  General  Granger's  force  to  the 
west  side  of  Mobile  Bay,  for  the  purpose  of 
attacking  Mobile.  On  their  anchoring  at 
the  objective  point,  it  was  found  that  the 
Confederates  had  evacuated  all  their  de 
fences  and  retreated  with  their  gun-boats 
up  the  Alabama  River.  The  city  of  Mobile 
was  thereupon  summoned  to  an  immediate 
and  unconditional  surrender  by  Rear-Ad 
miral  Thatcher  and  General  Granger  (Gen 
eral  Canby  being  at  Blakely),  on  the  ground 
that  it  was  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the 
Federal  forces,  they  being  in  possession  of 
the  outside  forts.  The  officers  sent  to  make 
the  formal  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the 
city  were  met  by  the  Mayor  and  other  civil 
authorities  at  the  City  Hall,  where  the  for 
mer  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the 
Federal  commanders : 


MAYOR'S  OFFICE, 

CITY  OF  MOBILE,  April  12, 1865. 
GENTLEMEN— I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  your  communication  at  the  hands  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  G.  Laughlin,  of  the  staff  of 
Major-General  Granger,  commanding  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps,  and  Lieutenant  -  Commander  S.  R. 
Franklin,  United  States  Navy,  of  the  staff  of  Ad 
miral  Thatcher,  demanding  the  immediate  and  un 
conditional  surrender  of  this  city.  The  city  has 
been  evacuated  by  the  military  authorities,  and  its 
municipal  authority  is  now  within  my  control. 
Your  demand  has  been  granted,  and  I  trust,  gen 
tlemen,  for  the  sake  of  humanity,  all  the  safeguards 
which  we  can  throw  around  our  people  will  be 
secured  to  them. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  H.  SLOUGH, 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Mobile. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  GORDON  GRANGER, 

Commanding  Thirteenth  Army  Corps. 
ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  H.  K.  THATCHER, 

Commanding  West  Gulf  Squadron. 

The  flag  of  the  United  States  was  then 
hoisted  on  the  City  Hall,  and  a  portion  of  the 
troops  immediately  advanced  to  preserve 
order  and  prevent  pillage.  A  provost 
guard  was  established,  and  the  works 
around  the  city,  which  were  of  immense 
strength  and  extent,  were  garrisoned. 

Thus  ended  the  contest  with  Mobile, 
which  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  had 
enjoyed  great  immunity  from  battle  and 
strife.  It  had  been  the  medium  through 
which  millions  of  dollars  worth  of  arms, 
provisions  and  clothing  had  reached  the 
Confederate  armies,  and  after  defying  the 
Federal  forces  unnecessarily  when  the  war 
was  virtually  over,  it  was  evacuated  in  a 
panic  before  the  Federal  gun-boats  had 
fired  a  shot  into  the  city. 

While  the  Army  was  landing  in  front  of 
Mobile,  the  "Octorara"  and  three  river 
iron-dads  worked  their  way  up  the  Blakely 
River,  and  thence  down  the  Tensas,  and 
anchored  in  front  of  the  city.  They  were 
sent  at  once  up  the  Tombigbee  River,  where 
the  Confederate  iron-clad  "  Nashville  "  and 
the  gun-boat  "Morgan"  had  fled.  The 
two  powerful  rams,  "'  Huntsville "  and 
"Tuscaloosa,"  were  sunk  in  the  Spanish 
River  before  the  place  was  evacuated.  The 
naval  forces  were  at  once  set  to  work  clear 
ing  the  main  ship  channel  of  torpedoes  and 
obstructions,  which  proved  to  be  a  formid 
able  task.  While  picking  up  torpedoes,  the 
tug-boat  "Ida"  was  blown  up  and  de 
stroyed,  as  well  as  a  steam-launch  belong 
ing  to  the  "Cincinnati."  The  tug-boat 
"Althea"was  destroyed  by  a  torpedo  in 
Blakely  River,  and  the  gun-boat  "Sciota" 
was  blown  up  while  underway,  running 
across  the  bay.  in  twelve  feet  of  water, 
making  the  fifth  vessel  (with  the  "  Mil 
waukee  ")  sunk  by  torpedoes  since  Admiral 
Thatcher's  operations  began  against  the 
city. 

On  May  4,  1865,  Rear- Admiral  Thatcher 
received   written  proposals   from    Commo- 


OF   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


783 


dore  Ebenezer  Farrand,  commanding  the 
Confederate  naval  forces  in  Mobile  waters, 
to  surrender  his  ships,  officers,  men  and 
public  property  generally,  and  desiring  a 
meeting  with  the  Admiral  to  arrange  the 
terms.  The  two  commanders  met  at  Cit- 
ronelle,  a  point  about  thirty  -  five  miles 
above  Mobile,  and  the  surrender  was 
agreed  upon  and  accepted  on  the  same 
basis  and  terms  as  were  granted  by  General 
Grant  to  General  Lee,  by  General  Sherman 
to  General  Johnston,  and  by  General  Canby 
to  General  Taylor,  which  last  surrender 
was  made  at  the  same  place  and  time. 

The  day  previous  to  the  receipt  of  the 
proposal  for  surrender.  Rear  -  Admiral 
Thatcher  had  made  preparations  for  attack 
ing  the  Confederate  vessels  in  the  Tombig- 
bee,  and  the  attack  would  have  undoubtedly 
been  made  had  Commodore  Farrand  de 
layed  his  surrender  a  day  longer.  As  a 
matter  of  record,  and  as  an  interesting  epi 
sode  of  the  Avar,  the  conditions  of  the  sur 
render  are  herewith  inserted,  with  accom 
panying  papers,  which  will  be  found  to  be 
interesting  reading.  It  will  be  seen,  on 
looking  over  the  list  of  naval  officers  who 
surrendered,  how  many  familiar  names  of 
those  who  once  belonged  to  the  United 
States  Navy  are  found  in  that  list — men 
who,  after  four  years  of  hard  work,  found 
out  how  futile  was  the  attempt  to  overturn 
a  properly  constituted  and  well-organized 
Government  by  a  set  of  malcontents,  who 
led  away  those  whose  true  interests  lay  in 
supporting  the  Constitution  and  the  flag  to 
which  they  had  sworn  allegiance.  They 
had  no  interest  in  supporting  the  political 
agitators  who,  for  their  own  purposes  and 
with  no  love  of  their  Southern  country, 
wanted  to  dissever  themselves  from  the 
great  union  of  States  which  alone  made  their 
country  a  great  one.  No  doubt,  when  those 
who  laid  down  their  arms  on  that  occasion 
look  back  and  remember  the  fallacious  hopes 
with  which  they  were  beguiled,  and  how 
little  was  done  to  make  the  condition  better 
than  it  was  in  the  United  States,  will,  in 
their  hearts,  regret  the  day  when  they  were 
tempted  by  State's-rights  fallacies  to  desert 
a  flag  whose  march  from  the  time  of  our 
first  Revolution  has  been  an  onward  one  of 
glory  and  honor.  Not  a  star  of  its  galaxy 
had  ever  been  dimmed  until  those  whose 
duty  it  was  to  hold  it  aloft,  beyond  the  reach 
of  treason,  undertook  to  trail  it  in  the  dust 
and  trample  it  under  their  feet.  It  shines 
brighter  after  all  it  has  gone  through  than 
ever  it  did  before,  as  gold  is  brightened  by 
being  purified  bv  fire. 

This  was  the  "last  of  the  naval  fighting 
of  the  war.  The  great  fabric  of  the  re 
bellion,  with  all  its  supports  knocked 
away,  toppled  to  the  ground  ;  and  all  who 
were  engaged  in  it,  seeing  the  hopelessness 


of  their  cause,  seemed  anxious  to  deliver 
up  their  trusts  into  the  hands  of  the  right 
ful  proprietors,  and  make  amends,  as  far 
as  possible,  for  the  injuries  attempted 
against  the  Federal  Government.  Every 
thing  in  Mobile  and  in  the  Confederate 
Navy  Department  was  turned  over  in  as 
good  condition  as  might  have  been  ex 
pected  under  existing  circumstances. 
Among  other  prizes  were  four  hundred 
heavy  guns  mounted  in  and  about  Mo 
bile. 

The  Confederates  evidently  understood 
the  importance  of  Mobile  as  a  military 
base,  and  it  was  their  intention  to  hold  it 
at  all  hazards  ;  yet,  at  one  time,  General 
Banks  might  have  snatched  this  rich  prize 
by  weight  of  his  superior  numbers  at  New 
Orleans  ;  but  he  preferred  to  go  flounder 
ing  around  in  the  swamps  and  morasses  of 
Texas  and  Louisiana,  where  no  object  was 
to  be  gained,  and  when  he  could  not  hold 
his  own  even  with  the  large  force  he  carried 
into  those  States. 


COMPLIMENTARY  LETTER  TO  ACTING  -  REAR  -  AD 
MIRAL  THATCHER  AND  MAJOR-GENERAL  GRAN 
GER. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  April  29,  1865. 

SIR — The  Department  has  received  your  several 
dispatches,  from  time  to  time,  advising  it  of  your 
operations  before  Mobile;  the  last  one,  dated  the 
15th  instant,  announcing  the  surrender,  on  the  day 
previous,  to  the  Army  and  Naval  forces  commanded 
respectively  by  Major- General  Granger  and  yourself. 

The  Department  has  watched  with  considerable 
interest,  but  with  no  fear  of  an  unsuccessful  result, 
the  combined  Army  and  Naval  movements  against 
the  immediate  defences  of  Mobile  for  the  last  few 
weeks,  and  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Alexis  and 
Spanish  Fort,  and  the  successful  shelling  resulting 
in  the  evacuation  of  Forts  Tracy  and  Huger,  was 
not  surprised  to  learn  of  the  retreat  of  the  insurgent 
force  to  the  interior,  and  the  abandonment  of  their 
last  formidable  foothold  on  the  coast. 

Although  no  bloody  strife  preceded  the  capture 
of  Mobile,  the  result  was  none  the  less  creditable. 
Much  had  been  expended  to  render  it  invulnerable, 
and  nothing  but  the  well-conducted  preparations 
for  its  capture,  which  pointed  to  success,  could  have 
induced  the  rebel  commander  to  abandon  it  with 
its  formidable  defences,  mounting  nearly  four  hun 
dred  guns,  many  of  them  of  the  newest  pattern  and 
heaviest  calibre,  its  abundant  supply  of  ammuni 
tion  and  ordnance  stores,  and  its  torpedo-planted 
roads  and  waters,  without  a  serious  conflict. 

I  am  happy  in  extending  to  you  and  those  under 
your  command,  and  to  Major-General  Granger  and 
those  under  his  command,  the  congratulations  for 
this  victory,  which  places  in  our  possession,  with 
but  one  exception,  all  the  chief  points  on  the  South 
ern  coast,  and  bids  fair  to  be  the  closing  naval  con 
test  of  the  rebellion. 

Very  respectfully,  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  H.  K.  THATCHKR, 

Commaruling  West  (Julf  Blockading 
Squadron,  etc. 

CONDITIONS  OF  SURRENDER. 

Memorandum  of  the  conditions  of  the  surrender 
of  the  Confederate  naval  forces  serving  under  the 


784 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


command  of  Commodore  Ebenezer  Farrand  in  the 
waters  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  made  at  Sidney, 
Alabama,  May  4,  1865  : 

first — The  officers  and  men  to  be  paroled  until 
duly  exchanged,  or  otherwise  released  from  the 
obligations  of  their  parole,  by  the  authority  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States.  Duplicate  rolls 
of  all  officers  and  men  surrendered  to  be  made,  one 
copy  to  be  delivered  to  the  officer  appointed  by 
Acting-Rear- Admiral  II.  K.  Thatcher,  and  the  other 
to  be  retained  by  the  officer  appointed  by  Com 
modore  E  Farrand;  officers  giving  their  individual 
paroles,  and  commanders  of  vessels  signing  a  like 
parole  for  the  men  of  their  respective  commands. 

Second — All  vessels-of-war,  their  guns  and  equip 
ments,  all  small  arms  and  ammunition  and  stores 
on  board  the  said  vessels,  to  be  delivered  over  to 
an  officer  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  Acting- 
Rear-Admiral  Thatcher.  Duplicate  inventories  of 
the  property  surrendered  to  be  prepared;  one  copy 
to  be  retained  by  the  officer  delivering,  and  the 
other  by  the  officer  receiving  it,  for  our  informa 
tion. 

Third — The  officers  and  men  paroled  under  this 
agreement  will  be  allowed  to  return  to  their  homes, 
wit  lithe  assurance  that  they  will  not  be  disturbed 
by  the  authorities  of  the  United  States  so  long  as 
they  continue  to  observe  the  condition  of  their 
paroles  and  the  laws  in  force  where  they  reside,  ex 
cept  that  persons  resident  of  Northern  States  will 
not  be  allowed  to  return  without  special  permis 
sion. 

Fourth — The  surrender  of  property  will  not  in 
clude  the  side-arms  or  private  baggage  of  officers. 

Fifth — The  time  and  place  of  surrender  will  be 
fixed  by  us,  respectively,  and  will  be  carried  out  by 
officers  appointed  by  us. 

Sixth— After  the  surrender,  transportation  and 
subsistence  to  be  furnished  by  Acting-Rear- Admiral 
Thatcher  for  officers  and  men  to  the  nearest  practi 
cal  point  to  their  respective  homes. 

H.  K.  THATCHER,  Acting-Rear- Admiral, 

Commanding  Western  Gulf  Squadron. 
E.  FARRAND,  Flag-officer, 

Commanding  C.  S.    Naval  Force  in  waters  of 
Alabama. 


INSTRUCTIONS  FROM  ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL,  H.  K. 
THATCHER  TO  FLEET-CAPTAIN  EDWARD  SIMP 
SON. 

WEST  GULF  SQUADRON,  ) 

U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP   "  STOCKDALE," 

OFF  CITY  OF  MOBILE,  May  8, 1865.  ) 
SlR-^Having  signed  and  exchanged  copies  of  an 
agreement  with  Commodore  E.  Farrand,  command 
ing  officer  of  the  vessels  of  the  Confederate  States 
Navy  in  the  waters  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  on  the 
4th  instant,the  terms  of  which  are  contained  in  the 
inclosed  document,  you  will  proceed  with  the 
United  States  steamer  "  Cincinnati "  to  the  Tom- 
bigbee  River,  the  point  designated  for  the  surren 
der  of  the  vessels  under  the  command  of  Commo 
dore  Farrand  and  receive  from  the  officer  appointed 
by  Commodore  Farrand  the  said  vessels,  their  guns, 
equipments  and  stores,  the  paroles  of  officers  for 
themselves  individually,  and  for  the  seamen,  ma 
rines,  etc.,  011  board  thereof  who  were  under  the 
command  of  Commodore  E.  Farrand  on  the  4th  in 
stant.  Having  received  the  surrender  of  said  ves 
sels,  their  appurtenances  and  stores,  you  will  cause 
them  to  be  brought  down  to  a  safe"  anchorage  in 
front  of  the  city  of  Mobile  and  report  to  me.  Should 
any  of  the  paroled  officers  or  men  desire  to  remain 
where  they  now  are,  they  may  do  so;  the  others,  in 
accordance  with  the  terms  of  surrender,  will  receive 
transportation  and  subsistence  to  the  nearest  prac 
tical  point  to  their  respective  homes.  The  steamers 
designated  in  verbal  orders  will  accompany  you  to 
the  Tombigbee.  Suitable  officers,  engineers  and 


crews  to  navigate  the  surrendered  vessels  will  ac 
company  you  to  the  place  of  surrender,  and  they 
alone  will  man  them. 

Very  respectfully, 
H.  K.  THATCHER,  Acting-Rear- Admiral, 

Commanding  West  Gulf  Squadron. 
COMMANDER  EDWARD  SIMPSON,  Fleet  Captain, 

West  Gulf  Squadron. 


REPORT  OF  FLEET-CAPTAIN  EDWARD  SIMPSON. 
UNITED  STATES  FLAGSHIP  " STOCKDALE,'') 

WEST  GULF  SQUADRON, 
OFF  MOBILE,  ALA.,  May  11,  1865.  ) 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  obedi 
ence  to  your  order,  I  proceeded  in  the  iron-clad 
steamer  "  Cincinnati'1  on  the  19th  instant  up  the 
Tombigbee  River  to  Nanna  Hubba  Bluff  for  the  pur 
pose  of  receiving  the  surrender  of  the  vessels  under 
the  command  of  Commodore  Ebenezer  Farrand,  of 
the  Confederate  States  Navy.  The  iron-clad  steamer 
"  Chickasaw  "  and  the  tin-clad  "  Nyanza  "  accom 
panied  the  "  Cincinnati.'1  On  the  morning  of  the 
10th  instant  the  vessels  had  all  assembled  at  the 
bluff.  Lieutenant-Commanding  J.  Myers,  the  offi 
cer  appointed  by  Commodore  Farrand  to  make  the 
surrender,  came  on  board,  and  after  some  consulta 
tion  with  me  on  the  points  of  the  condition  of  the 
surrender,  surrendered  the  following  vessels,  viz. : 
"  Morgan,"  side-wheel  gun-boat ;  "  Nashville,1'  side- 
wheel  iron-clad;  "Baltic,'  side-wheel  transport; 
"Black  Diamond,"  side  wheel  river-boat. 

I  received  inventories  of  the  stores  on  board  each 
vessel,  as  well  as  tin  inventory  of  stores  brought 
from  the  naval  station,  which  were  stored  on  board 
of  the  river  steamboat  "  Southern  Republic,''  which 
vessel  had  been  seized  by  Commodore  Farrand  for 
the  purpose  of  receiving  these  articles  when  the 
naval  station  at  Mobile  was  evacuated.  A  letter 
from  the  captain  of  the  "Southern  Republic"  ac 
companies  this  report. 

The  only  use  that  I  have  made  of  the  vessel  was 
to  transport  the  Confederate  officers  and  men  to 
Mobile. 

I  received  the  accompanying  rolls  of  all  the  offi 
cers  and  men,  after  which  I  paroled  one  hundred 
and  twelve  officers,  two  hundred  and  eighty-five 
enlisted  men,  and  tAyenty-four  marines.  The  offi 
cers  gave  their  individual  paroles  in  duplicate,  and 
the  commanding  officers  gave  their  paroles  for  the 
men  of  their  respective  commands. 

Having  completed  the  duty  on  which  I  was  or 
dered,  I  have  returned  to  Mobile  with  a  portion  of 
the  vessels. 

I  inclose  the  memorandum  of  the  conditions  for 
the  surrender,  a  copy  of  my  instructions,  and  a  copy 
of  the  instructions  given  to  Lieutenant-Command 
ing  J.  Myers  by  Commodore  Farrand,  and  also  the 
invoices  of  the  stores,  etc.,  received. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  SIMPSON, 

Fleet  Captain,  West  Gulf  Squadron. 
ACTING-REAR-ADMIRAL  H.  K.  THATCHER, 

Commanding  West  Gulf  Squadron. 


INSTRUCTIONS  FROM  COMMODORE  FARRAND,  C.  R.  N., 
TO  LIEUTENANT  COMMANDING  JULIAN  MYERS, 
C.  S.  N. 

HEADQUARTERS  NAVAL  COMMAND,        ) 
STEAMER  "SOUTHERN  REPUBLIC/' V 
McDowELL's  LANDING,   May  5,   1865.  ) 
SIR — You   will  proceed  to  Nanna  Hubba    Bluff 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  terms  of  surren 
der  of  the  naval  forces  under  my  command,  agreed 
upon  on  the  4th  instant,  a  copy  of  which  is  here 
with  inclosed. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

EBEN.  FARRAND,  Flan-officer,  etc. 
LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING  JULIUS  MYERS, 

P.  N.  C.  S.,  Steamer  "Southern  Republic.'1'' 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


7S5 


PAROLE  GIVEN  BY,    AND    LIST    OF,   OFFICERS    AND 
MEN  SURRENDERED. 

We,  the  undersigned,  prisoners-of-war  belonging 
to  the  Confederate  naval  forces  serving  under  the 
command  of  Commodore  Ebenezer  Farrand,  in  the 
waters  of  the  {State  of  Alabama,  this  day  surren 
dered  by  Commodore  Ebenezer  Farrand  to  Acting- 
Rear- Admiral  Henry  K.  Thatcher,  United  States 
Navy,  commanding  the  West  Gulf  Squadron,  do 
hereby  give  our  solemn  parole  of  honor  that  we  will 
not  hereafter  serve  in  the  Navy  of  the  Confederate 
States,  or  in  any  military  capacity  whatever,  against 
the  United  States  of  America,  or  render  aid  to  the 
enemies  of  the  latter,  until  properly  exchanged  in 
such  manner  as  shall  be  mutually  approved  by  the 
respective  authorities. 

Done  at  Nanna  Hubba  Bluff,  on  the  Tombigbee 
River,  Alabama,  this  tenth  day  of  May,  eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-five. 

L.  Rosseau,  Captain;  Ebenezer  Farrand,  Flag- 
officer;  Charles  W.  Hays,  Lieutenant;  Julian  Myers, 
Lieutenant;  C.  P.  MeGavy,  Lieutenant;  Charles  E. 
Yeatman,  Lieutenant;  F.  "Watlington,  Lieutenant ; 
E.  G.  Booth,  Assistant  Surgeon;  N.  E.  Edwards. 
Assistant  Surgeon;  Win.  W.  J.  Wells,  Paymaster; 


enant;  J.  E.  Armour,  Paymaster;  Lewis  W.  Munro, 
Surgeon;  A.  L.  Myers,  Master;  I).  R.  Lindsay,  Naval 
Storekeeper:  Thos.  G.  Lang,  Third- Assistant  Engi 
neer;  D.  B.  Conrad,  Fleet  Surgeon;  Geo.  H.  Oneal, 
Assistant  Paymaster;  J.  M.  Pearl,  Assistant  Paymas 
ter;  J.  R.  Jordan,  First-Assistant  Engineer;  S.  S. 
Herrick,  Assistant  Surgeon:  F.  B.  Dorwin,  Passed- 
Midshipman:  J.  S.  Wooddell,  Clerk;  John  H.  Pip- 
pen,  Clerk;  John  E.  O'Connell,  Second  Assistant 
Engineer;  W.  B.  Patterson,  Third-Assistant  Engi 
neer;  EdwardCairy,  Assistant  Surgeon;  Jos.  Preble, 
Acting- Master  ;  G.  W.  Turner,  Acting- Master's 
Mate;  W.  A.  Gardner,  Third- Assistant  Engineer; 
G.  E.  Courtin,  Paymaster's  Clerk;  Edward  P.  Hers- 
send,  -  — ;  Jos.  L.  Wilson,  Paymaster's  Clerk; 
Jas.  H.  Marsh,  Navy  Yard  Clerk;  Benjamin  G. 
Allen,  Gunner;  J.  R.  Shackett,  Pilot;  G.  H.  Linden- 
berger,  Mechanic;  W.  D.  Crawford,  -  — ;  J.  H. 
Hunt,  A.  M.  M.,  Commanding  steamer  "Baltic"; 
Ira  W.  Porter,  Acting-Gunner;  B.  H.  Weaver, 
Acting  -  Assistant  Engineer;  J.  W.  Bennett,  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding;  G.  A.  Joiner,  Passed-Mid- 
shipman  ;  Win.  Carroll,  Passed-Midshipman  ;  G.  H. 
Wellington,  Third  -  Assistant  Engineer;  Z.  A. 
Offutt,  Gunner ;  Howard  Quigley,  First  •  Assist 
ant  Engineer  ;  H.  S.  Smith,  Gunner  ;  C.  H. 
Mallery,  Gunner ;  J.  M.  Smith,  Paymasters 
Clerk;  George  Newton,  Sailmaker;  Thos.  L.  Har 
rison,  Lieutenant;  O.  S.  Iglehart,  Passed-Assist- 
ant  Surgeon;  D.  G.  Raney,  Jr.,  First-Lieuten 
ant,  M.  C.;  W.  G.  Craig,  Master  P.  N.  C.  S.;  Jos.  R. 
l)e  Many,  Master  P.  N.  C.  S.;  M.  M.  Seay,  Assistant 
Paymaster  P.  N.  C.  S. ;  N.  M.  Read,  Assistant  Sur 
geon;  G.  D.  Lining,  First-Assistant  Engineer; 
J.  R.  Y.  Fendall,  First-Lieutenant  C.  S.  M.;  A.  P. 
Beinre,  Passed-Midshipuian;  R.  J.  Peas,  Passed- 
Midshipman;  E.  Debois,  Second-Assistant  Engi 
neer:  M.  M.  Rogers,  Third-Assistant  Engineer;  F-  A. 
Lombard,  Third-Assistant  Engineer;  Charles  A. 
Joullian,  Third  -  Assistant  Engineer;  J.  Fulton, 
Third-Assistant  Engineer;  G.  W.  Nailor,  Third- 
Assistant  Engineer;  Wiu.  Fink,  Paymaster's  Clerk; 
F.  B.  Green,  Master's  Mate;  Avery  S.  Winston, 
Master's  Mate  P.  N.  C.  S. ;  John  Curney,  -  — ; 
Jos.  M.  Walker,  Pilot;  W.  L.  Cameron,  Paymaster's 
Clerk;  Louis  Williams,  Engineer;  M.L.Shropshire, 
Acting-First-Assistant  Engineer;  J.  V.  Harris,  As 
sistant  Surgeon;  Benj.  Herring,  First  -  Engineer; 
J.  P.  Redwood,  Clerk;  E.  W.  Johnson,  Masters 
Mate;  James  White,  Master's  Mate;  Win.  C.  Dogger, 
Engineer;  Wm.  P.  A.  Campbell,  First  Lieutenant; 

50 


Julian  M.  Spencer,  First  -  Lieutenant ;  Jasan 
C.  Baker,  First  -  Lieutenant  ;  W.  F.  Robinson, 
Second-Lieutenant;  Robert  F.  Freeman,  Passed- 
Assistant  Surgeon;  G.  W.  Claiborne,  Assistant  Sur 
geon;  H.  E.  McDuffie,  Assistant  Paymaster;  A.  N. 
Hully,  Master;  W.  Youngblood,  Chief-Engineer; 
John  L.  Rapier,  Second -Lieutenant;  Wm.  Faunt 
leroy,  Second-Assistant  Engineer;  Geo.  J.  Weaver, 
Second-Assistant  Engineer;  J.  Thomas  Mayburv, 
Gunner;  S.  H.  McMaster,  Paymaster's  Clerk; 
H.  L.  Manning,  Master's  Mate:  Joseph  Fry,  Lieuten 
ant  Commanding ;  Page  M.  Baker,  Master's  Mate  ; 
John  G.  Blackwood,  First-Lieutenant;  Wm.  H. 
Haynes,  Gunner  ;  Hiram  G.  Goodrich,  Third-Assist 
ant-Engineer;  John  Applegate,  Third-Assistant- 
Engineer  ;  Jacob  H.  Turner,  Acting- Master's  Mate  ; 
Thomas  A.  Wakefield,  Third-As.sistant-Engineer ; 
J.  1).  Johnson,  Commander  ;  W.  W.  Graves.  Assist 
ant  Surgeon ;  W.  T.  J.  Kunsh.  Third-Assistant- 
Engineer  ;  Henry  D.  Bassett,  Acting-Constructor. 

The  next  inclosure  is  the  parole  given  by  the 
seamen  of  the  Confederate  States  Navy  serving  on 
different  vessels,  fifty-three  in  number,  entered  into 
in  their  behalf  by  Julian  Myers,  Acting-Fleet  Cap 
tain. 

The  next,  the  parole  given  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men  of  the  steamer  "  Morgan,"  entered  into 
in  their  behalf  by  Joseph  Fry,  Lieutenant  Com- 
manding  the  "  Morgan.'' 

The  next,  the  parole  given  by  one  hundred  and 
twelve  men  of  the  "  Nashville,"  entered  into  in 
their  behalf  by  J.  W.  Bennett,  Lieutenant  Com 
manding  the  "Nashville." 

The  next,  the  parole  given  by  twenty-four  ma 
rines  entered  into  in  their  behaff  by  D. 'G.  Raney, 
Jr..  First  Lieutenant,  Confederate"  States  Marine 
Corps,  commanding  marines. 


ENTRANCE  OF  GUN-BOATS  INTO  BLAKELY  RIVER- 
COMPLIMENTARY  LETTER  RELATIVE  TO  COM 
MODORE  PALMER. 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  "STOCKDALE,'' ) 
WEST  GULF  SQUADRON, 

MOBILE,  ALA.,  May  3, 1865.  ) 

SIR  — -  The  Department  was  informed  by  Com 
modore  Palmer,  under  date  of  February  10,  1865, 
that  he  would  avail  himself  of  the  permission 
granted  by  it  to  return  North  after  the  fall  of 
Mobile  ;  and  as  he  is  now  about  to  leave  this  squad 
ron,  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  he  has  rendered  me 
most  efficient  and  untiring  service  throughout  the 
attack  upon  the  defences  of  the  city,  which  has  re 
sulted  so  favorably  to  our  arms  ;  and  I  am  indebted 
to  him  for  the  admirable  manner  in  which  the  vessels 
to  be  employed  for  this  service  were  prepared  un 
der  his  supervision  previous  to  my  arrival  on  the 
station,  and  1  part  with  him  with  reluctance  and 
regret. 

It  was  the  belief  of  the  enemy  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  our  Monitors  and  gun-boats  to  cross 
the  Blakely  River  bar,  owing  to  the  shallowness 
of  the  water  ;  but,  should  we  succeed  in  doing  so, 
their  hope  rested  in  our  entire  destruction  by  the 
innumerable  torpedoes  with  which  they  had  filled 
the  river,  combined  with  their  marsh  batteries; 
and  they  well  knew  that  our  success  in  overcoming 
these  obstacles  would  be  fatal  to  them;  but  by 
great  exertions  night  and  day  we  succeeded. 

Commodore  Palmer  comma'nded  the  first  division, 
consisting  of  the  Monitors  and  "  Octorara,"  and  suc 
cessfully  ascended  the  Blakely  with  them,  coming 
down  the  Tensas,  directly  in  front  of  the  city  ;  the 
remainder  of  the  gun  boats,  led  by  the  flag-ship, 
convoying  General  Granger's  command  for  the  pur 
pose  of  making  a  joint  attack  in  flank  and  front. 
These  movements,  having  been  anticipated  by  the 
enemy,  led  to  the  evacuation  ;  and,  although  Com 
modore  Palmer  did  not  have  the  satisfaction  of 
bombarding  the  city,  he  had  placed  himself  in  a 


78G 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


position  to  do  so  effectually  had  not  the  rebels  de 
prived  him  of  the  opportunity  by  flight. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
H.  K.  THATCHER,  Acting  Rear-Admiral, 

Commanding  West  Gulf  Squadron. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

There  seems  to  have  been  an  unusual  loss 
of  Federal  vessels  in  these  combined  opera 
tions,  from  the  effects  of  torpedoes,  which 
might  indicate  a  want  of  due  care  in  ap 
proaching  the  rivers,  where  it  was  known 
that  quantities  of  these  infernal  machines 
were  planted  ;  but,  because  these  vessels 
were  destroyed  in  their  anxiety  to  get 
ahead,  it  detracts  nothing  from  the  char 
acter  of  Rear-Admiral  Thatcher  and  his 
officers  for  the  apparent  want  of  that 
prudence  which  every  officer  should  exhibit 
in  all  military  operations,  who  has  the  lives 
of  officers  and  men  at  his  disposal.  It  is 
well  known  now  that  Mobile  was  better 
supplied  with  torpedoes  than  any  other 
point,  with  perhaps  the  exception  of  the 
James  River,  and  those  at  Mobile  having 
been  put  down  at  the  last  moment  were 
more  than  usually  dangerous. 

The  "Milwaukee,"  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  J.  H.  Gillis,  and  the  "Osage," 
Lieutenant  -  Commander  W.  M.  Gamble, 
were  sunk  at  the  entrance  to  Blakely  River, 
the  former  on  the  28th  of  March  and  the 
latter  on  the  29th.  The  tin-clad  "Ro- 
dolph  "  was  sunk  by  a  torpedo  on  the  1st  of 
April,  while  towing  a  scow  with  imple 
ments  to  try  and  raise  the  "Milwaukee." 
These,  with  the  two  steam -tugs,  two 
launches,  and  the  gun -boat  "Sciota" 
(blown  up),  made  eight  vessels  in  all  de 
stroyed  on  this  occasion.  Fortunately  the 
war  was  over  and  the  Government  did 
not  need  the  vessels,  which  were  valuable 
ones. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  losses  ex 
perienced  by  the  sinking  of  the  vessels 
named  above : 

"Osage,"  3  killed,  8  wounded;  "Ro- 
dolph,"  4  killed,  11  wounded;  "Cincin 
nati's"  launch,  3  killed  ;  "Althea,"  Skilled, 
2  wounded;  "Sciota,"  4  killed,  6  wounded; 
"  Ida,"  2  killed,  3  wounded. 

Though  the  war  may  be  said  to  have  vir 
tually  ended  by  the  surrender  of  General 
Lee,  on  April  9th,  1865,  and  of  General  Joe 
Johnston,  on  April  27th,  and  naval  and 
military  operations  against  the  Confed 
erates  may  be  said  to  have  ceased,  yet  up 
to  the  last  moment  the  Texans  were  ap 
parently  as  active  as  ever  in  their  domain, 
and  for  a  short  time  it  looked  as  if  they 
were  going  "to  fight  it  out  on  that  line,  if 
it  took  all  summer." 

One  of  their  last  acts  was  an  attempt  to 
run  the  blockade  with  the  ram  "Webb," 
which  had  made  herself  so  famous  in  sink 


ing  the  "Indianola."  The  "Webb"  was 
remarkably  fast  and  a  good  sea-going  ves 
sel.  She  was  loaded  with  cotton  by  private 
parties,  who  at  the  same  time  were  pre 
pared  to  fight,  and  had  put  on  board  a  crew 
of  forty-five  men.  Besides  the  cotton,  part 
of  her  cargo  was  made  up  of  rosin  and 
turpentine. 

No  one  was  thinking  of  such  an  attempt, 
when  the  "  Webb "  appeared  above  New 
Orleans  on  April  24th,  1865,  running  at  full 
speed,  and  passed  down  the  river.  She  was 
flying  the  United  States  flag,  and  had  a  tor 
pedo  on  a  pole  projecting  from  the  bow. 
Every  one  who  saw  the  "  Webb"  took  her 
for  an  army  transport,  but,  being  finally  rec 
ognized  by  some  one,  she  received  two  shot 
in  her  hull,  which,  however,  did  no  damage. 

The  "  Hollyhock,"  Lieutenant  -  Com- 
manander  Bancroft  Gherardi ;  the  "Flor 
ida,"  Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant  -  Com 
mander  Wm.  Budd ;  the  "Quaker  City," 
Commander  Wm.  F.  Spicer,  and  the  "  Ossi- 
pee,"  Commander  Wm.  E.  LeRoy,  got  un 
derway  as  soon  as  they  could  get  up  steam 
and  went  in  pursuit  of  the  "Webb,"  the 
"  Hollyhock "  far  in  the  lead.  When  the 
"  Webb  "  was  about  twenty-five  miles  below 
New  Orleans,  she  encountered  the  "  Rich 
mond,"  Captain  Theodore  P.  Green,  coming 
up  the  river.  The  chances  for  her  escape 
being  thus  cut  off,  the  "  Webb  "  was  headed 
for  the  left  bank  of  the  river  and  run 
ashore,  and  was  set  on  fire  by  her  com 
mander,  Edward  G.  Reed,  formerly  of  the 
United  States  Navy.  Her  cargo,  being  very 
inflammable,  she  was  soon  ablaze  from  stein 
to  stern  and  blew  up,  the  crew  escaping  to 
the  shore. 

Thus  ended  the  career  of  this  remarkable 
ram,  that  had  caused,  at  times,  a  good  deal 
of  uneasiness  along  the  river  and  had  done 
considerable  damage.  She  followed  in  the 
footsteps  of  all  the  Confederate  rams,  and 
was  the  last  one  that  we  know  of  that  was 
at  that  time  owned  by  the  Confederacy. 
The  following  officers  of  the  "Webb" 
gave  themselves  up,  after  having  been  pur 
sued  to  the  swamps  by  the  Navy  :  Lieu 
tenant  Read,  her  late  commanding  officer; 
Lieutenant  Wm.  H.  Wall,  Master  S.  P. 
LeBlanc,  Passed-Midshipman  H.  H.  Scott, 
Assistant  Surgeon  W.  J.  Addison,  and 
Pilot  James  West. 

It  was  not  until  the  25th  of  May  that  the 
Confederates  began  to  evacuate  their  forti 
fied  places  in  Texas  and  return  to  their 
homes.  The  first  place  evacuated  was  the 
works  at  Sabine  Pass,  which  had  been  a 
point  both  parties  had  contended  for 
throughout  the  war. 

About  May  27th,  the  Confederate  Army 
in  Texas  generally  disbanded,  taking  ad 
vantage  of  the  terms  of  surrender  entered 
into  and  executed  at  New  Orleans  be- 


OF  THE   CIVIL  WAR. 


787 


tween  the  Confederate  Commissioners  and 
General  Canby,  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  where 
all  the  Confederate  fortifications  and  prop 
erty  was  given  up. 

No  Confederate  naval  force  was  left  in 
Texas  except  the  remains  of  the  ram  "Mis 
souri,"  which  was  surrendered  to  the  com 
mander  of  the  Mississippi  Squadron. 

Galveston  was  surrendered  on  the  7th  of 
June,  and  the  place  taken  possession  of  by 
the  gun-boats  under  Captain  B  F.  Sands, 
who  took  the  proper  steps  to  buoy  out  the 
channel  and  take  charge  of  the  Govern 
ment  property.  Rear  -  Admiral  Thatcher 
visited  the  civil  authorities  on  shore,  who 
seemed  to  be  well  satisfied  with  the  turn 
affairs  had  taken,  and  again  and  again  re 
iterated  their  desire  that  there  should  be  no 
disturbance  of  the  existing  state  of  affairs, 
and  requesting  that  a  portion  of  the  gun 
boats  should  be  kept  at  Galveston  for  the  pro 
tection  of  the  city  !  AH  the  forts  through 
out  the  State  as  far  as  Brownsville  were 


soon  after  garrisoned  by  United  States 
troops,  and  thus  ended  the  war  in  Texas. 

When  peace  was  concluded,  the  Texans 
were  determined  to  observe  the  terms 
religiously.  These  people  had  fought 
bravely  and  squarely,  resorting  to  few,  if 
any,  of  the  tricks  and  offensive  measures 
pursued  by  the  home-guards  along  the 
Cumberland  and  Tennessee  Rivers  ;  and 
when  they  laid  down  their  arms  and  re 
turned  to  their  homes,  it  was  evidently 
with  the  intention  of  not  taking  them  up 
again  except  to  defend  the  flag  against 
which  they  had  been  so  lately  fighting. 

The  gallant  old  officer,  Acting-Rear-Ad- 
miral  Thatcher,  was  relieved  a  short  time 
after  from  his  command,  which  he  had  con 
ducted  with  vigor  and  remarkable  judg 
ment.  He  was  made  a  full  Rear- Admiral 
for  the  services  he  had  rendered  during 
the  war,  and  no  officer  in  the  Navy  better 
deserved  the  honors  he  had  won  or  the  re 
wards  he  had  reaped. 


WEST  GULF  SQUADRON,   JANUARY   1,    18G5. 


COMMODORE  JAMES  S.  PALMER. 


STAFF— LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  S.  R.  FRANKLIN,  FLEET-CAPTAIN  ;  FLEET-PAYMASTER,  EDWARD  T. 
DUNN  ;  FLEET-SURGEON,  JAMES  C.  PALMER  ;  FLEET-ENGINEER,  WILLIAM  H.  SHOCK  ;  ASSISTANT- 
SURGEON,  THEORON  WOOLVERTON  ;  ACTING-ENSIGNS,  FREDERICK  T.  MASON,  ALEX.  S.  GIBSON, 
T.  M.  L.  CHRYSTIE,  AIDES. 


"RICHMOND  v—  SECOND-RATE. 

Captain,  Thornton  A.  Jenkins;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Edw.  A.  Terry;  Acting- Volunteer-Lieuten 
ant,  Chas.  J.  Gibbs;  Surgeon,  L.  J.  Williams; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  McD.  Rice ;  Paymaster,  Ed 
win  Stewart;  Second-Lieutenant  of  Marines,  C.  L. 
Sherman  ;  Acting-Masters  and  Pilots,  J.  W.  Grivet 
and  C.  J.  Lawrence;  Ensign,  P.  H.  Cooper;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  C.  M.  Chester,  Lewis  Clark  and  A.  H. 
Wright;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  T.  J.  Werner;  En- 

fineers  :  Chief,  Jackson  McElmell ;  First-Assistant, 
.  J.  Brooks  ;  Second- Assistants,  John  Wilson,  A.  J. 
Kenyon,  Absalom  Kirby,  Robert  Weir  and  William 
H.  Crawford  ;  Third  Assistant,  C.  W.  Senter;  Act 
ing-Third  Assistant,  Thomas  McElmell;  Boatswain, 
I.  T.  Choate;  Acting-Gunner,  Addison  Fisk ;  Act 
ing-Carpenter,  O.  W.  Griffiths;  Sailinaker,  William 
Rogers. 

"  LACKA  WANNA  " — SECOND-KATE. 

Captain,  George  F.  Emuions;  Lieutenant-Com 
mander,  Chas.  S.  Norton  ;  Lieutenants,  S.  A.  Mc- 
Carty  and  C.  D.  Jones;  Surgeon,  Thomas  W.  Leach; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  F.  Hutchinson  ; 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  S.  Benedict;  Acting-Mas 
ter,  John  H.  Allen  ;  Ensigns,  Geo.  H.  Wadleigh  and 
Frank  Wildes;  Acting-Ensigns,  Clarence  Rathbone, 
F.  A.  Cook  and  W.  J.  Lewis  ;  Engineers :  Actiny- 
Chief,  W.  A.  R.  Latimer  ;  Second-Assistant,  G.  W. 
Roche;  Acting-Second- Assistant,  John  Miller;  Third- 
Assistant,  I.  B.  Fort;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  G.  W. 
Russell  and  T.W.  Sillman;  Acting- Boatswain,  J.  G. 
Briggs;  Gunner,  J.  G.  Foster. 

"POTOMAC  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Commander.  A.  Gibson;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon, 
E.  S.  Smith;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H. 


Wood;  Chaplain,  Robert  Given  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
R.  Canfield,  T.  H.  Baker,  Thus.  McLeavy,  J.  B. 
Barker  and  J.  H.  Church  ;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
A.  Whiting. 

"  MONONOAHELA"  —  SECOND-RATE. 
Commander,  James  H.  Strong;  Lieutenants,  T.  C. 
Bowen  and  Oliver  A.  Bcitcheller  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  Henry  Rockwood  ;  Assistant  Paymaster, 
Forbes  Parker  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Geo.  Gerrad, 
P.  F.  Harrington  and  D.  W.  Mullan  ;  Acting-M.i>- 
ter's  Mate,  W.  B.  Arnaud ;  Engineers:  Chief,  (ico. 
F.  Kutz  ;  First-Assistant,  Joseph  Trilley  ;  Second- 
Assistants,  John  J.  Bissett,  Edward  Cheney  and 
P.  J.  Langer;  Acting-Third- Assistants,  A.  C.  Wile-ox 
and  H.  L.  Churchill ;  Boatswain,  Wm.  Green  ;  Act 
ing-Gunner,  M.  B.  Means. 

"  PORTSMOUTH  "  —  THIRD-RATE. 

Commander.  Louis  C.  Sartori  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  William  C.  Lyman;  Assistant  Paynuister, 
E.  Putnam;  Acting-Masters,  John  Wallace  and  If.  M. 
Peirce;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  F.  Perkins  and  J.  P. 
Pearson;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  T.  H.  Jenks  and 
T.  S.  Flood;  Gunner,  W.  Cheney;  Carpenter,  G.  E. 
Burcham;  Sailmaker,  L.  B.  Wakeman. 

"OSSIPEE  "--SECOND-RATE. 

Commander,  Wm.  E.  LeRoy;  Lieutenants,  John 
A-  Howell  and  Richard  S.  Chew;  Surgeon,  B.  F. 
Gibbs;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  L.  Pynchon; 
Acting-Masters,  C.  C.  Bunker  and  H.  S.  Lambert; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Charles  E.  Clark  and  W.  A.  Van 
Vleck;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  James  M.  Adams; 
Second-Assistants,  W.  W.  Vanderbilt  and  W.  H. 
De  Hart;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  M.  H.  Gerry, 
J.  R.  Webb,  G.  W.  Kidder  and  William  Collier; 
Boatswain,  Andrew  Milne;  Gunner,  J.  Q.  Adams. 


788 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


SECOND-BATE. 

Commander,  J.  R.  M.  Mullany  ;  Lieutenant, 
Henry  L.  Howison;  Passed-Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  U. 
Rhoades;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  W. 
Goodwin  Acting-Master,  T.  N.  Meyer ;  Acting-En 
signs,  Emile  J.  Enfer,  G.  H.  French  and  F \  O.  Ab 
bott;  Act  ing-Master's  Mates,  J.  R.  Lee,  T.  H.  Soule, 
Jr.,  and  ().  G.  Spear;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief, Wm. 
F.Wright;  Acting-First-Assistant,  Warren  Ewen ; 
Acting  Second  Assistants,  P.  O.  Brightman  and 
E  D.  Merritt ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  I).  J. 
O'Keefeand  Edward  Torallas;  Acting-Gunner, Wm. 
T  Laforge. 

" SEMINOLE  "— THIBD-BATE. 

Commander,  Albert  G.  Clary;  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant,  George  Muiidy;  Surgeon  J.  C.  Spear; 
Paymaster,  L.  S.  Stock weU;  Acting-Master,  Wm.  A. 
Maine;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  D.  K.  Perkins  Francis 
Kempton  and  W.  S.  Church;  Acting- Master  s  Mates, 
Henry  Webb  and  C.  A.  Thorne;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistants,  CJaude  Babcock  and  A.  R.  Calden; 
Acting -Third- Assistants,  Wm.  Drinkwater,  P.  J. 
Hughes  and  Ge"o.  Ellis. 

"  ONEIDA"-THIBD-RATE. 

Commander,  Thomas  H.  Stephens;  Lieutenants, 
C.  L.  Huntington  and  E.  N.  Kellogg;  Surgeon,  John 
J.Gibson;  Assistant-Paymaster,  G.  R.  Martin;  Act 
ing-Ensign,  Chas.  V.  Vridley ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Edward  Bird  and  Daniel  Clark ;  Engineers  :  Chiel, 
Wm.  H.  Hunt;  Second  -  Assistant,  David  Bardie; 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  B.  S.  Cooke  and  W.  U 
Barrett ;  Acting-Boatswain,  Hallowell  Dickinson. 

"  PKINCESS  BOYAL  "—THIRD-KATE. 

Commander,  M.  B.  Woolsey ;  Lieutenant,  Chas. 
E  McKay;  Acting -Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  R.  Chan 
dler  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  T.  Morton  ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  A.  H.  Reynolds,  T.  A.  Witham,  J.  J. 
Moule  and  C.  K.  Porter ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates, 
Wm.  E.  Cannon  and  Lewis  Johnson;  Engineers  : 
Acting-First-Assistant,  Wm.  Huntley  ;  Second-As 
sistant,  J.  E.  Fallon;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  A.  J. 
Redmond,  Peter  Taylor  and  Geo.  W.  Caldwell. 

"  OCTOKAEA  "—  THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Wm.  W.  Low ;  Acting- 
Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Wm.  D.  TJrann  ;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  E.  R.  Dodge;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  H.  Pynchon  ;  Acting-Masters,  H.  S.  Young  and 
M.  W.  McEntee;  Acting-Ensigns,  Geo.  H.  Dodge  and 
J.  N.  Frost;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Geo.  P.  Gilford 
and  Geo.  W.  Adams  ;  Engineers  :  W.  W.  Shipman, 
R.  B.  Plotts  and  Joseph  Knight. 

"  KICKAPOO  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  M.  P.  Jones;  Acting- Vol 
unteer-Lieutenant,  D.  C.  Woods ;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  Foster  Thayer;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  F.  B.  Gilbert;  Acting-Masters,  S.  V.  Bennis  and 
De Wayne  Stebbins;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  W.  Chand 
ler,  Ezra  Bassett,  F.  W.  Grantzour  and  G.  G.  Tripp; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mates.  E.  R.  Bradley  and  L.  W. 
Sedam;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  D.  C.  Riter;  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  G.  W.  Lumpkins  ;  Acting-Sec 
ond-Assistants,  N.  F.  Johnson,  Andrew  Dolan  and 
Samuel  M.  Sykes;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Wm.  T. 
Baxter,  Wm.  S.  Robb,  John  Feihl  and  Martin  Hi- 
lands;  Acting-Gunner,  J.  H.  Howe;  Acting-Carpen 
ter,  Wni.  Ostermeyer. 

"  METACOMET  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  James  E.  Jouett;  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant,  H.  J.  Sleeper;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  E.  D.  Payne;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster, 
H.  M.  Harriman ;  Acting  -  Masters,  C.  C.  Gill  and 
H.  C.  Nields ;  Acting- Master  and  Pilot,  R.  Riggs ; 
Acting  -  Ensigns,  James  Brown  and  R.  N.  Miller  ; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  J.  K.  Goodwin  and  Chas. 
Harcourt;  Engineers:  First-Assistant,  James  Atkins; 


Second-Assistants,  C.  H.  Ball  and  G.  P.  Hunt;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  J.  H.  Nash,  S.  W.  King  and 
Patrick  Maloney;  Acting-Gunner,  James  Lamon. 

"  KINEO  "—FOURTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  Watters;  Lieuten 
ant,  Chas.  S.  Cotton  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon, 
E.  S.  Perkins;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Allen  J. 
Clark;  Acting-Ensigns.  H.  W.  Mather,  AV.  S.  Keen 
and  D.  J.  Starbuck;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- As 
sistant,  J.  S.  Harper;  Acting-Third- Assistant,  Rich 
ard  Thall. 

"J.  P.  JACKSON  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Bancroft  Gherardi;  Act 
ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  L.  W.  Pennington  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Thomas  S.  Yard;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Chas.  B.  Perry;  Acting-Master, 
H.  R.  Billings;  Acting -Masters  and  Pilots.  James 
Maycockand  Henry  Rehder;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  H. 
Howard  and  Jos.  H.  Wainwright  ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Achilles  Kalniski  and  C.  T.  Taylor  ;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Charles  Goodman; 
Acting -Third -Assistants,  J.  D.  Caldwell,  Albert 
Mayer  and  J.  E.  Hare. 

"CAYUGA  "—  FOUETH-EATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Henry  Wilson  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  E.  Parsons  ;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  Wm.  A.  Mann;  Acting -Master,  John 
Hanson  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  W.  F.  Dolliver,  Isaac  A. 
Abbott,  Robert  Morris  and  E.  P.  Stevens  ;  Engi 
neers:  Second -Assistants,  J.  C.  Chatfee  and  W.  A.  H. 
Allen  ;  Acting- Third- Assistants,  Thomas  Kidd  and 
J.  D.  Thompson. 

"PENOBSCOT  " — FOURTH-KATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  A.  E.  K.  Benham  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  C.  Sargeant  ;  Assistant 
Paymaster,  F.  P.  Himmin;  Acting  Master,  Charles 
E.  Jack;  Acting-Ensigns,  Edw.  Pendexter,  T.  McL. 
Miller,  W.  G.  Campbell  and  Wm.  Wingood,  Jr.;  En 
gineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  W.  M.  Rodes;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  Warren  Howland,  E.  T.  Henry 
arid  John  Carey. 

"  GENESEE"— THIED-KATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  Irwin;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  W.  L.  Wheeler  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  F.  C.  Alley;  Acting-Masters,  F.  H.  Grove, 
Wm.  Hanson  and  Edwin  Crissey;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Sydney  Hall,  John  Cannon  and  G.  B.  Foster;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate,  J.  N.  Peabody;  Engineers:  Sec 
ond-Assistants,  T.  W.  Rae,  M.  W.  Mather,  Michael 
McLaughlin  and  Christopher  Nulton;  Third-Assist 
ant,  E.  W.  Clark;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant,  John 
H.  Dee. 

"  AROOSTOOK  "— FOURTH-KATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Joseph  S.  Skerrett;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  H.  Richards;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  E.  St.  C.  Clarke;  Acting-Master, 
P.  S.  Borden;  Acting-Ensigns,  John  Griffin  and  Wm. 
Barker;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  Edward  Culbert  ; 
Engineers:  Second  -  Assistants,  Samuel  Gragg  and 
James  Entwistle;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Nathan 
Brown,  L.  M.  Reenstjerna  and  J.  P.  Sonierby. 

"  VINCENNES  "  —  THIKD-KATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  C.  H.  Greene;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  W.  Newcomer;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  Samuel  Jordan;  Acting-Masters,  A.  E.  Hun 
ter  and  L.  A.  Brown;  Acting-Ensign,  Robert  Hen 
derson  ;  Acting  -  Boatswain,  John  Smith  ;  Acting- 
Gunner,  Wm.  Kneeland;  Sailmaker,  Geo.  Thomas. 

"  MILWAUKEE"— FOUETH-EATE. 
Lieutenant-Commander,  James  H.  Gillis;  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant,  F.  John  Grover;  Acting-As 
sistant  Surgeon,  N.  Brewster;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  G.  S.  Home  ;  Acting-Master,  Geo.  W.  Gar 
rison;  Acting-Ensigns,  N.  T.  Crocker,  E.  D.  Springer, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


789 


R.  L.  E.  Coombs  and  J.  W.  Crocker:  Acting- Mas 
ter's  Mates,  Ofeo.  H.  Cole,  T.W.  Stuart  and  G.  W.  Per- 
rigo;  Engineers:  First-Assistant,  John  Purdy,  Jr.; 
Acting-Second- Assistants,  Chas.  Met/.ger,  John  Ad- 
kins,  Henry  Bauer,  S.  W.  Evans  and  Frank  Leon 
ard:  Acting-Third- Assistants,  F.  A.  Kurd,  Jacob 
Wahl,  H.  L.  Diekerson,  Morgan  Lutton,  J.  Henry 
Blanch  and  W.  A.  Blanch. 

"  SEBAGO  "—  THIRD-RATE 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Win.  E.  Fitzhugh;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  Munson  Coan;  Assistant 
Paymaster,  Henry  A.  Strong;  Acting-Master,  J.  B. 
Rodgers;  Acting  Master  and  Pilot,  J.  H.  Collins; 
Acting- Ensigns,  E.  t).  Martin,  S.  G.  Blood  and 
J.  T.  Hamilton;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  Thomas 
Elsmore  and  W.  A.  Hynard;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First  Assistant,  Win.  H.  Morris;  Acting-Second-As 
sistant,  W.  P.  Ayres;  Acting  Third  Assistants,  Rob 
ert  Miller  and  Franklin  Babcock;  Acting-Gunner, 
John  Roberts. 

"  KENNEBEC  "  -  FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant  Commander,  Trevett  Abbott;  Acting- 
Volunteer- Lieutenant,  Edward  Baker;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Taggert;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Elisha  Ward;  Acting-Masters,  A.  L. 
Emerson  and  J.  J.  Butler;  Acting- Ensigns,  J.  D. 
Ellis;  Acting-Master's  Mate.  A.  A.  Mann:  Engineers: 
Second-Assistant,  L.  W.  Robinson:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  J.  S.  Pearce  ;  Acting-Third- Assistants, 
J.  N.  Johnson  and  James  Eccles. 

"  ITASCA  "  -FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  George  Brown;  Surgeon, 
David  Kindleberger;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
A.  G.  Lathrop;  Acting- Master,  Richard  Hustace  ; 
Acting  Ensigns,  C.  H.  Hnrd,  James  Igo  and  E.  S. 
Lowe;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Marcus  Chapman  and 
L.  E.  Heath;  Engineers:  Second-Assistants,  John 
Borthwick  and  G.  C.  Irelan;  Acting  Second- Assist 
ant,  Alfred  Hoyt ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  C.  A. 
Laws. 

"KANAWHA"  -  FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Bush  rod  B.  Taylor;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  W.  Brigham  :  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  O.  Jube  :  Acting-Ensigns, 
W.  A.  Purdie,  R.  P.  Boss,  F.  H.  Deering  and  E.  R. 
Westcott:  Acting-Master's  Mate,  James  J.  Clark; 
Engineers:  Second- Assistant,  M.  M.  Murphy;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  B.  F.  Sanborn,  Anthony  Hig- 
gins,  W.  I).  Pancake  and  P  H.  Friel. 

"  PEMBINA"-  FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  G.  Maxwell :  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  R.  Holmes:  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  Walter  Fuller:  Acting-Masters,  Bowen 
Allen  and  F.  E.  Ellis:  Acting-Ensigns,  Wm.  Lyd- 
don,  B.  M.  Chester.  Chas.  Putnam  and  C.  L.  Cran- 
dall:  Acting-Master's  Mate.  H.  T.  Davis:  Engineers: 
Third  Assistants,  C.  F.  Nagle,  C.  F.  Strotid  and 
Augustus  Dewitt. 

"  PANOLA."  — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Henry  Erben  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  Y.  Hanson ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  A.  B.  Robinson  :  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  V. 
Rummell,  J.  W.  Brown  and  A.  P.  Gibbs:  Acting- 
Masters  Mate,  John  Rosling:  Engineers:  Second- 
Assistant,  Howard  D.  Potts:  Acting-Second- Assist 
ants.  S.  A.  Appold  and  J.  B.  McGavern;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  Philip  Ketler  and  F.  E.  Hosmer. 

"  CHOCURA  '' — FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant  Commander,  Richard  W.  Meade,  Jr. : 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon.  Charles  Gaylord ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  G.  Tobey  :  Acting- Master, 
Alfred  Wash'burn  :  Acting- Ensigns,  T.  F.  Tracy, 
M.  Carver.  Robert  Beardsley,  A.  P.  At  wood  and 
T.  G.  Watson  ;  Engineers  :  Second  -  Assistants. 
H.  H.  Moloney  and  Theodore  Cooper ;  Acting- 


Second-Assistant.  O.  D.  Hughes;  Third-Assistants, 
N.  H.  La-.vton  and  Andrew  Blythe. 

' '  WINNEBAGO  ''—FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  W.  A.  Kirkland;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  G.  Bell:  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  Henry  Gerrard;  Acting-Master,  A.  S.  Meg- 
gathlin;  Acting-Master  and  Pilot,  Wm.  H.  Wroten; 
Acting- Ensigns.  James  Whitworth,  Michael  Mur 
phy  and  John  Morrisey,  Jr.;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Win.  Edgar.  H.  C.  Atter  and  J.  L.  Hall:  Engineers: 
Acting-Chief,  Simon  Schultice;  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  James  Munroe:  Second-  Assistant,  John  Wilson; 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  Philip  Allman :  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  J.  M.  Quin,  R.  D.  Wright,  T.  J. 
Myers,  James  Morris,  S.  W.  Dalton,  Jr.,  and  John 
Donaldson. 

"CHICKASAW"      FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant -Commander,  George  H.  Perkins; 
Acting  -Volunteer  Lieutenant,  Wm.  Hamilton ; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  K.  Bacon;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  S.  Wheeler;  Acting-Master 
and  Pilot,  Benj.  Lancashier ;  Acting-Ensign,  G.  L. 
Jordan;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  F.  A.  Case,  M.  F. 
Keeshan.  Chas.  Atkins,  W.  A.  Osborn  and  M.  J. 
Jones;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Wm.  Rodgers: 
Acting- First  -  Assistant,  E.  P.  Bartlett;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  J.  M.  Maratta:  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  Alfred  Wilkinson,  A.  H.  Goff,  George 
Harris,  Henry  Duckworth  and  Alexander  Wig 
gins;  Gunner,  J.  A.  McDonald. 

"  SELMA  "•  -FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant,  Arthur  R.  Yates  ;  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant,  Felix  McCurley;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
Frederick  Krecker  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
C.  W.  Clapp:  Acting  Master  and  Pilot,  J.  H. 
Collins;  Acting-Ensigns.  L.  R.  Vance  and  W.  A. 
DeWitt;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  T.  G.  Gilmore;  En 
gineers:  Second  Assistants,  John  D.  Ford  and  J.W. 
Patterson;  Acting-Third  Assistants,  H.  W.  Whiting 
and  Edward  Kenney. 

"ARKANSAS  "—THIRD-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  David  Gate;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  O.  G.  Smith ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster.  E.  G.  Bishop;  Acting-Ensigns, 
F.  H.  Beefs  and  R.  C.  Dawes:  Acting-Master's 
Mates.  James  Scully.  T.  E.  Tinker  and  M.  J.  Nichol 
son;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  C.  Cree; 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  A.  M.  Clements;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  George  Anderson  and  Charles 
Wolff. 

"TRITONIA  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant,  George  Wiggin; 
Acting- Master  and  Pilot.  J.  Nicholson:  Acting -En 
sign.  F.  R.  laschke:  Acting-Masters  Mates,  C.  A. 
Trundyand  H.  P.  Fish:  Engineers:  Acting-Second - 
Assista'nt.  James  Findley:  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
Abraham  Geor. 

"  VIRGINIA  "-FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Charles  H.  Brown ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  H.  Kinney:  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  B.  Hoff:  Acting-Master, 
W.  G.  Mitchell.  Acting  Ensigns,  M.  A.  Blume  and 
F.  E.  BracUett  :  Acting- Master's  Mates,  Herman 
Wissing  and  E.  F.  Small:  Engineers:  Second- 
Assistant,  J.  D.  Toppen  :  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
J.  S.  Essler,  J.  E.  Scribner,  Charles  Hoskins  and 
Daniel  Ward. 

"  PENGUIN  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant,  James  R.  Beers; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  R.  Ruckley;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  C.  Hutchinson  ;  Acting 
Master.  Tolford  M.  Durham:  Acting  Ensign.  Benj. 
Cantlett;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  C.  G.  Smith,  F.  C. 
\lmvand  W.  A.  Hannah:  Acting-Engineers:  Act- 
ino--First- Assistant,  F.  W.  Warner;  Acting-Second- 


790 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Assistant,  M.  P.  Randall ;  Acting-Third- Assistants, 
John  Webster,  Richard  Reilly  and  Dewitt  C.  Mc- 
Bride. 

"CORNELIA  " — FOTTRTH-KATE. 

Acting  -Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  John  A.  John- 
stone;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  G.  Dearborne  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  Eastlake  ;  Acting- 
Master.  Geo.  Ferris;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  A.  Harri- 
inan,  Frank  Millett  and  G.  F.  Brailey ;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  W.  H.  Wood  and  G.  H.  Russell;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant,  S.  R.  Brumage; 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  T.  J.  Lavery  ;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants;  J.  A.  Boynton  and  George  Al- 
thaui. 

"  BUCKTHORN  "— FOTTBTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer -Lieu  tenant,  Washington  God 
frey;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  B.  F.  Robinson,  H.  J. 
Wynde  and  H.  A.  Mayo;  Engineers:  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  E.  R.  Hubbard  and  W.  H.  Allen. 

"ATTGUSTA  DINSMORE  " — THIRD-BATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  M.  B.  Crowell ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon.  Ezra  Pray ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  D.  F.  Power;  Acting  -Ensigns,  C.  F.  R 
Wappenhaus,T.  H.  Paine,C.  H.  Blount  and  F.  A.  G. 
Bacon;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  A.  S.  Eldredge;  En 
gineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  John  Seaman;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  Henry  Lyon,  Jr.,  W.  E. 
Deaver,  F.  V.  (Jhristin  and  F.  Scott. 

"ANTONA  "— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  John  F.  Harden  ; 
Acting-  Assistant  Surgeon,  S.  B.  Doty ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster.  H.  M.  Whitteniore ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  F.  W.  Hearn,  John  Sears,  W.  G.  Jones 
and  John  Bowman;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  C.  E. 
Schofield  and  G.  T.  Carey ;  Engineers :  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  S.  T.  Reeves  ;  Acting  -  Third- 
Assistants,  Thos.  Petherick,  Jr.,  J.  H.  Burchmore 
and  John  Chambers. 

"  STOCKDALE  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Thomas  Edwards; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymasters,  J.  W.  Day  and  W.  R. 
Sherwood;  Acting-Ensign,  H.  F.  Martin;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  S.  H.  Johnson,  C.  H.  Cleveland, 
Daniel  Dennis  and  George  Rogers;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  A.  McH.  Geary,  Ambrose 
Kimball  and  Win.  W.  Lewis. 

"  ELK  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant,  Nicholas  Kirby  ; 
Acting-Assistant-Surgeon,  H.  H.  AVilkins;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  C.  Robbins;  Acting-Master 
and  Pilot,  Jacob  Lindee;  Acting  -  Ensigns,  W.  D. 
Taberand  H.  W.  Brackett;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
Alfred  A.  J.  Emery;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-As 
sistants,  Benj.  Labree,  T.  H.  Nelson  and  R.  W. 
Mars;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  T.  R.  Thompson 
and  John  S.  Hays. 

"  CARRABASSETT  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Ezra  Leonard;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  W.  Knight;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  D.  W.  Riddle;  Acting-Ensign, 
A.  L.  C.  Bowie;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  A.  A.  Delano 
and  John  Devereux;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  J.  W.  Hindman;  Acting  -  Third -Assistants, 
T.  Harding,  James  Crooks  and  Jerome  Haas. 

"  NYANZA  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant,  C.  A.  Boutelle  ; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  G.  Frost;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  H.  S.  Gregory;  Acting-Master, 
J.  F.Beyer;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  M.  Chadwick;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate,  J.  H.  Mallon;  Engineers:  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Win.  Doyle;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  Bernard  Martin;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants, 
R.  G.  Watson  and  Henry  James. 


"  SCIOTA  "—FOURTH-KATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  H.  Magune;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  P.  Sawyer;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  B.  H.  Franklin;  Acting  -  Ensign, 
Chas.  A.  Cannon;  Engineers:  Second  -  Assistants, 
Wm.  F.  Pratt  and  Daniel  Dod. 

"  SAM  HOUSTON  " — FOURTH-BATE. 

Acting-Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Martin  Freeman ; 
Acting-Master,  Wm.  Stewart. 

"POET  BOYAL  "— FOUBTH-BATE. 

Acting-Master,  Thomas  M.  Gardner;  Acting- As 
sistant  Surgeon,  L.  R.  Boyce;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  F.  K.  Moore;  Acting-Master,  Wm.  Hull; 
Acting-Ensigns,  E.  W.  Snare  and  F.  S.  Hopkins; 
Acting- Master's  Mate,  E.  V.  Tyson,  S.  S.  Bumpers, 
W.  A.  Prescott  and  Wm.  Campbell;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  Henry  Movies;  Third-As 
sistant,  W.  C.  F.  Reichenbach;  Acting -Third-As 
sistant,  T.  B.  Brown. 

"  TALLAHATCHIE  "— FOUBTH-EATE. 

Acting-Master,  Thos.  J.  Lennekin  ;  Acting  Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  A.  1'Anglois  ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  J.  C.  Sawyer ;  Acting-Master  and  Pilot, 
James  Redding  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Haskell  Crosby, 
S.  H.  Berino  and  W  B.  Pease;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  Wm.  McKnight,  John  Smith  and  Thomas 
Pindar;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  D.  R. 
Sims;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  W.  M.  Stewart; 
Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  John  A.  Dalton  and 
J.  Moran. 

"GLASGOW"— FOURTH   RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Richard  J.  Hoffner;  Acting- Master 
and  Pilot,  Frank  Kane;  Acting-Ensign,  Charles 
Welles;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  F.  A.  Sherman, 
J.  F.  Baker,  and  W.  H.  Childs;  Engineers  :  Second- 
Assistant,  John  F.  Bingham  ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  R.  S.  Lytle  and  John  McAuliffe. 

"PAMPERO  "—FOUBTH-EATE. 

Acting- Master,  Oliver  Colbourn;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  E.  C.  Neal;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
A.  B.  Clark;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Rodger  Far- 
rell  and  J.  L.  Blauvelt. 

''  ABIZONA  "— FOUETH-BATE. 

Acting-Master,  Howard Tibbits;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  S.  S.  Green;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
G.  B.  Tripp;  Acting-Master,  Wm.  Harcourt;  Act- 
ing-Ensiern,  F.  Aug.  Miller;  Engineers:  Acting-Sec- 
ond-Assistanfc,  W.  H.  Thomson;  Second- Assistant, 
P.  G.  Eastwick;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant,  John 
Lewis. 

"  GEBTRUDE  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Henry  C.  Wade;  Act  ing- Assistant 
Surgeon,  Adam  Shirk;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
R.  R.  Bra \v ley;  Acting  -  Ensigns.  Wm.  Shepard 
and  Fred.  Newell;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  Benj. 
Leeds  and  C.  A.  Osborn;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  W.  H.  Brown;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
J.  H.  Nesen,  F.  C.  Morey  and  C.  O.  Farciot. 

"  POCAHONTAS  "—FOURTH-BATE. 

Acting-Master,  E.  E.  Pendletpn;  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  C.  L.  Green;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
A.  J.  Wright,  Jr.;  Acting-Ensign,  I.  J.  McKinley; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  B.  W.  Tucker,  Jr.,  J.  H. 
Pray  and  J.  L.  Gould;  Engineers:  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  W.  T.  Warburtonand  Alex.  McDonald; 
Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  R.  F.  Carter,  J.  H. 
Doughty  and  W.  D.  Hyde. 

''  ABTHUB  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Joseph  E.  Stannard;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  C.  E.  Mitchell;  Acting  -  Ensign, 
G.  M.  Bogart;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Robert  Wood. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


791 


"NEW  LONDON  "  —  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Lyman  Wells;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  Geo.  M.  Beard;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  K.  A.  Chad  wick;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  M.  C.  Rev- 
ille,  V.  W.  Jones  and  H.  Z.  Howard  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mate.  E.  J.  Hennessy;  Engineers:  Acting-Sec 
ond- Assistant.  H.  P.  Powers;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  John  Dunlap,  James  Creevy  and  John  Quinn. 

"FORT  GAINES" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  John  R.  Hamilton;  Acting-Ensign, 
S.  A.  Ryder;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  J.  Thorn 
ton,  Bernard  Segersteen  and  Win.  Brown;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Lucas  Golden,  Win. 
Clark,  Henry  Moxley  and  Thomas  Smith. 

"  OWASCO  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Masters,  Thomas  B.  Sears  and  John  Utter; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  J.  Smith;  Acting-As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Win.  B.  Coleman;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  F.  C.  Duncan  and  A.  L.  Stevens;  Engi 
neers:  Second-Assistant,  Haviland  Barstow;  Act 
ing  -  Third  -  Assistants,  T.  H.  Carton  and  G.  W. 
Latham. 

"  BOHIO  ''—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Win.  M.  Stannard;  Acting-Mas 
ter  s  Mate,  Daniel  Parsons. 

"  METEOR  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Meletiah  Jordan;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  John  M.  Skillman;  Acting-Ensigns, 
W.  S.  Romme,  J.  L.  Hall  and  C.  H.  Sawyer;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  T.  ^V.  Jones  and  J.  F.  Porter;  En 
gineers:  Acting -Third -Assistants,  Wm.  Connell, 
Wm.  Boyle,  William  Brown  and  P.  J.  Murphy. 

"  KATAHDIN  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Edward  Terrill;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  G.  D.  Buckner;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  L.  D.  Bradley ;  Acting-Master  and  Pilot,  Ber 
nard  Crone;  Acting-Ensigns,  G.  A.  FaunceandWm. 
Ross;  Engineers:  Second-Assistant,  N.  B.  Clark;  Act 
ing  -  Second  -  Assistant,  Thomas  Tuttle;  Acting- 
Third-Assistaiits,  Sam'l  Wallace  and  H.  C.Reynolds. 


ESTRELLA 


-FOURTH-RATE. 


Acting-Master,  G.  P.  Pomeroy;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  T.  E.  Clark;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
G.  L.  Hood  less;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  E.  G.  Cas- 
well  and  Charles  Sidney;  Engineers:  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  R.  G.  Pope:  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants, 
Geo.  R.  Marble  and  J.  F.  Winters. 

"RODOLPH  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  N.  M.  Dyer;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  E.  P.  Colby;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  C.  Graves;  Acting-Master  and  Pilot,  John  Rob 
inson  ;  Acting  -  Ensign,  J.  F.  Thomson ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  N.  B.  Hinckley  and  John  Dickson; 
Engineers:  Acting-Second  Assistant,  J.  W.  Smyth  ; 
Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  Levi  Robbius,  Joshua 
Halsall  and  Charles  Robinson. 

"  PINK  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Samuel  Belden  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
George  A.  Steen  and  H.  D.  Packard;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  A.  B.  Besse;  Acting  Third- 
Assistants,  S.  S.  Pettingell,  H.  C.  Jewett  and  J.  G. 
Cunningham. 

"  CORYPHEUS" — FOUBTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  J.  S.  Clark  ;  Acting-Ensign,  J.  H. 
Gregory;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  William  McCann. 

"  GLIDE"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Levi  S.  Fickett  ;  Acting-Assistant 
Paymaster,  Abraham  Depue;  Acting-Ensigns,  Jas. 
Sheppard  and  J.  P.  Cole;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
Joseph  Griffln,  W.  D.  Gregory  and  Charles  Heath; 
Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  M.  F.  Rogers; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  W.  Matthews  and  T.  R. 
Thompson. 


"MARIA  A.  WOOD"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  John  Ross;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
Charles  Fort  and  E.  S.  Stover. 

' '  COWSLIP  "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Wm.  T.  Bacon  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
John  Dennett  ;  Acting-Ensign  and  Pilot,  A.  Bel- 
landi;  Acting- Master  s  Mates,  Jacob  Teal  and  F.  A. 
Gross,  Jr.;  Engineers:  Acting- Second -Assistant, 
John  Rogers;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  R.  David 
son. 

"  HOLLYHOCK" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Franklin  Ellms;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Lewis  Milk  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second- 
Assistant,  Abraham  Wilcox ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  Thomas  Kennedy,  Frank  Rodgers,  Frank 
Royce  and  Thos.  Armstrong. 

«  KITTATINNY  "      FOURTH-BATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  N.  J.  Blaisdell  and  W.  F.  Chat- 
field. 

"  BOSE  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Walter  D.  Maddocks ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  A.  Plander,  B.  E.  Treat  and  G.  E. 
Symms;  Engineers:  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Wm. 
R.  Nutz;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Alpheue  Nichols, 
H.  A.  Guild  and  W.  L.  Lewis. 

"  ALTHEA  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  John  Boyle  and  C.  C.  Wilbur; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  Harry  White  and  C.  A. 
Blanchard;  Engineers  :  Acting  Second- Assistants, 
Jas.  Kelren, Frederick  D.  Henriquesand  J.  F.  Smith. 

"  JASMINE  "--FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Ensign,  J.  F.  Brenton;  Acting  -  Third- 
Assistant  Engineer,  L.  R.  Burgoyne. 

"FEAB  NOT" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  Abraham  Rich  and  P.  P.  Hawks; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  E.  Ryan;  Acting- 
Master's  Mate,  W.  Freeman. 

"  J.  C.  KUHN1'  — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Sewall  H.  Newman. 

"  W.    G.    ANDERSON  "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  Robert  H.  Carey  and  S.  A. 
Brooks;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  *T.  M.  Drum- 
mond;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  S.  Dabney; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  G.  H.  Rowen  and  Allan 
Reilley. 

"BLOOMEB  "— FOUBTH-BATE. 

Acting -Third -Assistant  Engineer,  Thomas  G. 
Jones. 

"  CHARLOTTE  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master's  Mate,  A.  Whiting. 

"IDA  " — FOURTH-BATE. 

Pilot,  Benj.Tarbell;  Acting  Master's  Mate,  Henry 
Kent. 

NEW  ORLEANS,  LA.,  NAVAL  RENDEZVOUS. 

Acting-Master,  E.  H.  Howell  ;  Act  ing- Assistant 
Surgeon,  D.  M.  McLean. 

NAVAL  HOSPITAL. 

Surgeon,  J.  Jones  ;  Assistant  Surgeons,  Thomas 
Hiland  and  Heber  Smith. 

MOBILE  BAY. 

Acting-Master,  F.  H.  Grove  ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  C.  R.  Marple  and  E.  A.  Morse;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant  Engineer,  J.  L.  Young. 

COAST  OF  TEXAS. 

Acting-Ensign,  Robert  M.  Hanson. 

SOUTHWEST   PASS. 

Acting- Master,  Wm.  Jones. 

MISSISSIPPI   RIVER. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Wm.  Mitchell,  Ordnance 
Officer;  Assistant  Paymaster  W.  C.  Cook,  Naval 
Storekeeper. 


CHAPTER    LIV. 

CAPTURE  OF  RICHMOND.— THE   DESTRUCTION   OF  THE   CONFEDERATE 
FLEET   IN  THE  JAMES   RIVER,   ETC. 

ASSEMBLING  OF  THE  NAVAL  VESSELS  IN  HAMPTON  ROADS  AND  ON  THE  JAMES  RIVER.— 
OPERATIONS  OF  THE  ARMIES  AROUND  RICHMOND.— PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  VISITS  CITY 
POINT.— THE  MEMORABLE  COUNCIL  ON  BOARD  THE  "RIVER  QUEEN."— DECISION  OF  THE 
COUNCIL.— THE  TERMS  OF  SURRENDER  OFFERED  TO  GENERAL  JOHNSTON.— ABILITY  OF 
THE  CONFEDERATE  GENERALS.— THE  EXAMPLE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.— THE  CONFED 
ERATE  IRON-CLADS  BLOCKADED  IN  THE  JAMES  RIVER.— THE  CONFEDERATE  FLEET  AS 
RE-ORGANIZED  UNDER  REAR-ADMIRAL  SEMMES.— RICHMOND  ENVELOPED.— ATTACK  ON 
PETERSBURG.— REMOVAL  OF  TORPEDOES  AND  OBSTRUCTIONS  IN  THE  RIVER. —RICH 
MOND  EVACUATED.— SEMMES'  INSTRUCTIONS  FROM  THE  CONFEDERATE  SECRETARY  OF 
THE  NAVY.— BLOWING  UP  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  FLEET.— END  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE 
NAVY.— THE  PRESIDENT  VISITS  RICHMOND.— AT  THE  RESIDENCE  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 
—AN  OVATION  WORTHY  OF  AN  EMPEROR.— TACTICS  OF  ASSASSINS.— JUSTICE  CAMPBELL 
VISITS  THE  PRESIDENT.— DUFF  GREEN  RECEIVES  A  MERITED  REBUKE. — PRESIDENT  LIN 
COLN  RETURNS  TO  WASHINGTON. — SCATTERING  OF  THE  VESSELS  OF  THE  NAVY.— THE 

WAR  ENDED.— A  NEW  NATIONAL  ANNIVERSARY. 


THE  naval  operations  on  the  South 
ern  coast  having  terminated,  ow 
ing  to  the  capture  of  the  enemy's 
ports,  the  vessels-of-war  were  dis 
tributed  to  other    points,   leaving 
only  a  sufficient  number  of  gun-boats  to 
preserve  the  peace  and  protect  the  inhabit 
ants  against  the  depredations  of  deserters 
from  the  Confederate  army,  who  were  mak 
ing  their  way  home  in  large  numbers,  and 
like  hungry  wolves  eating  up  everything 
which  came  in  their  way. 

Sherman's  army  on  its  march  through  the 
South  has  been  compared  by  Confederate 
writers  to  a  swarm  of  locusts;  but  these 
Confederate  deserters  were  ten  times  worse 
than  Sherman's  men,  who  were  supplied 
with  abundant  rations  from  their  own  com 
missariat. 

The  naval  vessels  on  the  coast  were  con 
stantly  called  upon  to  fit  out  boat  expedi 
tions  ;  whjch,  with  three  or  four  hundred 
well -equipped  men,  would  drive  off  the 
marauders  and  send  them  elsewhere  in 
search  of  plunder.  Thus,  the  Navy,  not  be 
ing  governed  by  an y  feelings  of  rancor 


towards  the  Confederate  sympathizers  on 
shore,  stood  ready  to  shield  from  harm 
many  who  had  been  the  bitterest  foes  of 
the  Union. 

Meanwhile,  a  large  number  of  naval  ves 
sels  assembled  in  Hampton  Roads  and  on 
the  James  River,  in  anticipation  of  coming 
events,  for  all  eyes  now  centred  on  Rich 
mond,  where  General  Lee  and  his  army  of 
veterans  were  making  their  final  stand  with 
little  prospect  of  success  against  the  over 
whelming  force  brought  to  bear  on  them. 
The  Federal  Army  was  ready  to  move  as 
soon  as  General  Grant  should  know  to  a  cer 
tainty  that  General  Sherman  had  reached 
Goldsboro',  where  it  was  expected  he 
would  come  in  contact  with  General  J.  E. 
Johnston's  army  of  some  forty  thousand 
men,  which  was  being  daily  strengthened 
by  Confederates  who  had  evacuated  Savan 
nah.  Charleston  and  Wilmington. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  anxious  mo 
ments  of  the  war.  Hitherto  Sherman  had 
met  with  no  serious  opposition  since  leaving 
Columbia,  but  as  he  approached  Golds 
boro'  the  increasing  numbers  of  the  Con- 


(792) 


THE  XA  VAL  HIS2OR}'  OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


federates  in  his  front  gave  evidence  that  lie 
was  to  meet  with  strong  resistance. 

Everything  had  been  done  by  General 
Grant  that  was  possible  to  reinforce  Sher 
man.  A  column  of  troops  from  Wilming 
ton  and  another  from  Newbern  were  dis 
patched  to  meet  him,  and  to  repair  the  rail 
roads  so  that  supplies  could  be  rapidly  sent 
to  the  Federal  armies.  All  these  movements 
were  observed  by  the  enemy  with  intense 
interest,  and  they  hoped  to  be  able  to  over 
whelm  and  defeat  these  detached  divisions 
before  Sherman  could  come  up.  The  column 
from  Newbern,  under  Schofield,  was  at 
tacked  by  General  Bragg  with  his  army, 
reinforced  by  Hill's  division  of  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee.  According  to  Confed 
erate  accounts,  Schofield  was  routed,  and 
fifteen  hundred  of  his  men  captured  ;  but 
as  General  Schofield  crossed  the  Neuse 
River  and  entered  Goldsboro'  on  the  21st,  it 
would  seem  that  the  Federal  progress  was 
little,  if  any,  impeded.  The  column  from 
Wilmington,  under  General  Terry,  reached 
the  Neuse  River  a  short  distance  above 
Goldsboro'  on  the  22d,  ready  to  cross  when 
it  suited  him  to  do  so. 

Goldsboro'  was  evidently  one  of  the  cul 
minating  points  of  the  war,  and  it  was  evi 
dent  that,  before  Sherman  could  finish  the 
last  stage  of  his  march  and  make  a  junc 
tion  with  Schofield  and  Terry,  he  would 
have  some  hard  fighting  to  do.  It  had, 
doubtless,  seemed  to  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment  good  policy  to  let  Sherman  advance 
to  a  point  where  all  their  forces  could  be 
easily  concentrated  against  him,  and  on 
the  result  of  the  General's  attempt  to  reach 
Goldsboro ',  in  face  of  all  the  attending  diffi 
culties,  depended,  in  a  great  measure,  the 
ultimate  course  of  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment. 

General  Grant's  movements  also  largely 
depended  on  the  success  of  Sherman.  The 
winter  had  been  rainy,  and  the  almost  im 
passable  condition  of  the  Virginia  roads 
made  it  impracticable  to  move  an  army 
with  anything  approaching  to  celerity,  even 
as  late  as  the  end  of  March.  This  was, 
therefore,  an  anxious  moment.  Had  it  been 
possible  for  General  Johnston  to  accumu 
late  an  army  sufficiently  strong  to  defeat 
Sherman,  Grant  could  not  have  gone  to  the 
latter's  assistance,  owing  to  the  condition 
of  the  roads.  Sherman  was  then  the  cen 
tral  figure  of  the  war — on  his  management 
depended  the  terms  that  would  be  demanded 
of  General  Lee  when  Grant  should  move  on 
Petersburg  and  Richmond. 

President  Lincoln,  being  no  longer  able  to 
restrain  his  anxiety,  now  proceeded  to  City 
Point,  and  would  doubtless  have  been 
joined  by  the  members  of  the  Cabinet  had 
he  not  expressly  forbidden  it. 

Besides  the  troops  under  the  command  of 


General  J.  E.  Johnston,  Sherman  had  some 
of  the  ablest  generals  in  the  Confederacy  to 
contest  his  inarch.  General  Beauregard 
had  been  reinforced  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  by 
General  Cheatham  and  the  garrison  of 
Augusta,  and  was  moving  towards  Raleigh. 
General  Hardee.  with  the  troops  from 
Savannah  and  Charleston,  was  marching 
towards  the  same  point,  as  were  General 
Bragg  and  Hoke  from  Wilmington  :  so  that 
it  appeared  as  if  Sherman  would  encounter 
an  army  of  eighty  thousand  men,  com 
manded  by  one  who  was  considered  by 
many  competent  judges  the  ablest  of  the 
Confederate  generals.  There  was  certainly 
no  general  011  the  other  side  for  whose  abili 
ties  Sherman  had  so  great  a  respect  as  for 
those  of  Johnston.  Beauregard,  Hardee 
and  Bragg  gave  him  comparatively  little 
uneasiness,  and  he  was  glad  when  Hood 
relieved  Johnston  at  Atlanta,  as  he  then 
felt  assured  of  victory. 

But  the  Confederate  army,  which  in  the 
enumeration  of  its  parts  appeared  so  im 
posing,  was  no  match  for  Sherman's  vic 
torious  hosts,  who  had  gained  a  prestige 
they  did  not  intend  to  forfeit.  Circum 
stances  also  combined  to  favor  Sherman's 
advance.  When  the  Federal  campaign  in 
South  Carolina  commenced,  Haraee  had 
eighteen  thousand  men  ;  when  he  reached 
Cheraw  he  had  but  eleven  thousand,  and  at 
Averyboro'  the  number  had  diminished  to 
six  thousand.  Most  of  this  falling  off  was 
due  to  desertions,  and  it  afforded  an  indica 
tion  of  the  rapid  collapse  of  the  military 
enthusiasm  which  had  once  prevailed  in 
the  Southern  Confederacy. 

General  Hardee  attempted  to  impede  Sher 
man's  march  when  the  latter  reached  the 
narrow  territory  between  the  Cape  Fear  and 
the  Black  River,  but  was  able  to  effect  very 
little,  retreating  as  night  came  on  towards 
Smithfield,  N.  C.  On  the  18th,  the  Federal 
Army  moved  on  Goldboro'  in  two  columns, 
the  loth  and  l?th  Corps  on  the  direct  road 
from  Fuyetteville.  and  the  14th  and  20th 
Corps  on  the  road  from  Averyboro'.  The 
former  column  was  supposed  by  the  Con 
federates  to  be  a  day's  march  in  advance  of 
the  other,  and  it  was  therefore  determined 
to  concentrate  all  their  available  troops 
against  it  on  the  19th. 

Then  was  fought  the  battle  of  Bentouville 
by  the  combined  forces  of  Bragg  and  Har 
dee,  with  the  object  of  crippling  Sherman 
before  he  could  effect  a  junction  with  Scho 
field  and  Terry,  and  the  action  was  for  a 
time  so  severe  that  it  looked  as  if  General 
Johnston  would  accomplish  his  purpose. 
But  on  the  20th  General  Sherman's  whole 
army  confronted  the  Confederates  ;  before 
daybreak,  on  the  22d.  General  Johnston 
moved  towards  Smithfield,  leaving  many 
of  his  wounded  on  the  field.  His  loss  in  the 


794 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


three  days'  fighting,  according  to  Confed 
erate  accounts,  was  234  killed  and  1,499 
wounded,  the  small  loss  being  accounted 
for  by  the  fact  that  the  Confederates  fought 
under  cover,  which  gave  them  a  great  ad 
vantage  over  the  Federal  troops.  Next  day 
(the  23d)  the  junction  was  made  by  General 
Sherman  with  the  troops  of  Schofield  and 
Terry,  which  disposed  of  General  John 
ston's  army  for  the  time  being. 

All  the  principal  lines  of  railroad  leading 
South  were  now  within  the  reach  of  Sher 
man's  forces  or  under  their  control,  and 
the  ultimate  result  could  not  be  doubtful. 
It  was  impossible  for  General  Johnston  to 
retreat  south  without  danger  of  his  army 
breaking  up  through  desertion,  and  his  only 
chance  was  to  strongly  intrench  himself 
and  maintain  a  threatening  attitude. 

General  Sherman  felt  so  sure  of  the  final 
surrender  of  General  Johnston,  that,  after 
placing  General  Schofield  in  command  of  his 
army  at  Goldsboro',  he  proceeded  in  the  little 
steamer  "Russia"  to  City  Point,  Virginia, 
to  confer  with  General  Grant  on  the  situa 
tion,  arriving  on  the  27th  of  March.  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  was  then  on  board  the  steamer 
"River  Queen," at  City  Point,  and  he  re 
ceived  General  Sherman  with  the  warmth 
of  feeling  which  distinguished  him,  for  he 
felt  that  the  presence  of  Sherman  at  City 
Point  was  an  assurance  that  the  latter  had 
Johnston's  army  in  such  a  position  that  it 
could  do  no  further  mischief. 

The  arrival  of  General  Sherman  brought 
joy  and  confidence  to  every  one  in  the 
Army  and  Navy  on  the  James  River,  for  it 
was  understood  that  he  now  held  General 
Johnston  in  a  position  from  which  the  lat 
ter  could  not  move  without  precipitating  a 
battle  with  over  eighty  thousand  veteran 
soldiers,  well  supplied  with  everything  nec 
essary,  while  the  Confederates  were  badly 
provided  with  provisions,  clothing,  and 
even  ammunition. 

At  one  time  it  was  thought  that  General 
Johnston  would  endeavor  to  break  away 
from  Smithfield  and  effect  a  junction  with 
General  Lee.  In  the  light  of  subsequent 
events,  this  is  seen  to  have  been  impossible. 
Again,  it  was  thought  that  Lee  would,  per 
haps,  evacuate  Richmond  and  make  a  junc 
tion  with  Johnston — a  movement  equally 
impracticable,  for  Grant  was  extending  his 
left  below  Petersburg,  and  should  Lee  leave 
his  fortified  lines  Grant  would  follow  him 
so  closely  that  it  would  be  impossible  for 
him  to  unite  with  General  Johnston  or  fall 
on  Sherman's  army.  Besides,  with  his 
eighty  thousand  men,  Sherman  felt  confi 
dent  that  he  could  hold  his  own  against 
Johnston  and  Lee  combined  until  Grant 
could  come  upon  the  scene  with  his  troops. 

The  morning  after  General  Sherman's 
arrival  at  City  Point,  a  council  of  war  was 


held  on  board  the  steamboat  '  'River  Queen, " 
at  which  were  present  the  President,  Gen 
eral  Grant,  General  Sherman  and  Admiral 
Porter.  As  considerable  controversy  has 
arisen  over  the  terms  of  surrender  offered 
to  General  Johnston,  and  the  truth  of  the 
matter  is  not  generally  known,  we  will  here 
narrate  what  occurred  on  the  occasion,  as 
we  violate  no  injunction  of  secrecy  by  so 
doing. 

The  principal  conversation  was  between 
the  President  and  General  Sherman.  The 
former  stated  his  opinion  at  length.  He 
feared  that  General  Lee,  seeing  the  Federal 
lines  closing  about  him  day  by  day,  the 
coast  completely  blockaded,  the  Confeder 
ate  army  almost  destitute  of  clothing  and 
provisions,  might  attempt  to  break  away 
from  his  fortifications  at  Richmond,  make 
a  junction  with  Johnston,  and  escape  to  the 
south.  This  was  rather  an  extreme  view 
to  take  of  the  matter,  for,  in  the  opinion  of 
those  best  qualified  to  judge,  such  an  at 
tempt  on  the  part  of  General  Lee  could  not 
have  succeeded.  General  Sherman  had 
eighty  thousand  fine  troops  at  Goldsboro', 
only  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from 
Richmond  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  from  Greensboro',  at  which  latter 
point  the  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad, 
the  only  route  by  which  Lee  could  escape, 
was  cut.  All  this  General  Sherman  ex 
plained  to  the  President,  who  was  somewhat 
reassured,  yet  the  number  of  shrewd  ques 
tions  propounded  by  Mr.  Lincoln  was  re 
markable,  and  some  of  them  were  found 
difficult  to  answer.  His  topographical 
knowledge  of  the  country  traversed  by 
Sherman's  army,  as  well  as  other  military 
matters  he  was  not  supposed  to  be  familiar 
with,  surprised  those  who  listened  to  him. 

Like  the  rest  of  those  present  at  the  coun 
cil,  the  President  was  confident  that  the  end 
of  the  war  was  close  at  hand,  and,  although 
a  bloody  battle  might  yet  be  fought,  Rich 
mond  must  soon  be  in  possession  of  the 
Federal  Government.  It  was  the  great  de 
sire  of  the  President  to  secure  the  surren 
der  of  the  Confederate  armies  without  fur 
ther  loss  of  life,  to  which  end  he  desired  the 
most  liberal  terms  should  be  granted.  "  Let 
them  surrender  and  go  home,"  he  said ; 
"  they  will  not  take  up  arms  again.  Let 
them  all  go,  officers  and  all,  let  them  have 
their  horses  to  plow  with,  and,  if  you  like, 
their  guns  to  shoot  crows  with.  Treat  them 
liberally.  We  want  these  people  to  return 
to  their  allegiance  and  submit  to  the  laws. 
Therefore,  I  say,  give  them  the  most  liberal 
and  honorable  terms."  These  sentiments 
were  worthy  of  the  man  who  uttered  them. 

General  Sherman,  however,  took  a  mili 
tary  view  of  the  situation.  He  had  made 
a  long  and  toilsome  march  and  desired  to 
reap  the  honors  due  to  a  victorious  general. 


OF  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 


705 


Fooling  certain  that  the  game  was  in  his 
own  hands,  lie  did  not  hesitate  to  differ  with 
the  President,  assuring  the  latter  that  he 
had  sufficient  force  and  strength  of  position 
to  dictate  his  own  terms  to  General  John 
ston,  and  he  graphically  illustrated,  with 
the  aid  of  a  map.  the  condition  of  affairs 
at  Goldsboro'  and  Smith  field. 

"All  I  want/'  said  General  Sherman,  "is 
two  weeks'  time  in  which  to  clothe  my 
soldiers.  I  will  then  be  ready  to  march 
on  Johnston  and  compel  him  to  surrender. 
He  is  short  of  everything,  and  in  two 
weeks  would  have  to  surrender,  anyway." 

"Yes,"  replied  the  President,  "but  two 
weeks  is  a  long  time,  and  the  first  thing 
you  know  General  Johnston  will  have 
gone  south  again  with  those  veterans  of 
his,  and  will  keep  the  war  going  indefi 
nitely.  No,  General,  he  must  have  no  ex 
cuse  for  going  away  ;  we  must  have  his 
surrender  at  all  hazards,  so  be  easy  with 
him  about  terms." 

"  Mr.  President,"  said  General  Sherman, 
"there  is  no  possible  way  for  Johnston  to 
escape  as  he  is  now  situated.  I  can  com 
mand  his  unconditional  surrender." 

'•'What  is  to  prevent  Johnston  from  es 
caping  with  his  army  by  the  southern 
railroads  while  you  are  fitting  out  your 
men?"  inquired  General  Grant. 

"  There  are  no  southern  railroads  to  speak 
of,"  replied  Sherman,  '•  by  which  Johnston 
could  escape.  My  'bummers'  broke  up 
the  roads,  and  did  their  work  too  well  to 
permit  them  to  be  used  by  any  one." 

"  But,"  said  General  Grant,  "  cannot  the 
Confederates  re-lay  the  rails,  as  our  troops 
have  done  from  Newbern.  to  Goldsboro'?" 

Sherman  smiled.  "No,"  he  said,  "my 
boys  don't  do  things  by  halves.  They 
make  a  fire  of  the  ties,  and  the  rails  are 
twisted  until  they  are  as  crooked  as  rams' 
horns ;  all  the  'blacksmiths  in  creation 
couldn't  straighten  them  out  again.  Mr. 
President."  said  Sherman,  turning  to  Mr. 
Lincoln,  "  give  yourself  no  uneasiness  ;  the 
Confederacy  will  collapse  in  a  few  days  : 
we  hold  the  line  between  Goldsboro'  and 
Wilmington  ;  my  transports  can  come  as 
far  as  Newbern.  ;  we  can  overrun  the 
South  without  hindrance  ;  we  are  masters 
of  the  situation,  and  General  Johnston 
must  surrender." 

"  All  very  well,"  said  the  President,  "  but 
we  must  make  no  mistakes,  and  my  way 
is  a  sure  one  :  Offer  General  Johnston  the 
same  terms  that  will  be  offered  Lee  ;  then, 
if  he  will  not  accept  them,  try  your  plan  ; 
but  as  long  as  the  Confederates  lay  down 
their  arms  I  don't  think  it  matters  much 
how  they  do  it.  Don't  let  us  have  any 
more  bloodshed  if  it  can  be  avoided. 
General  Grant  is  in  favor  of  giving  Gen 
eral  Lee  the  most  favorable  terms." 


"  Well,  Mr.  President."  said  General  Sher 
man,  "I  will  carry  out  your  wishes  to  the 
best  of  my  ability,  and  I  am  satisfied  when 
Richmond  falls  and  Lee  surrenders  Gen 
eral  Johnston  will  follow  his  example." 

This  ended  the  memorable  council  on 
board  the  "  River  Queen."  On  what  took 
place  on  that  occasion  might  depend  whether 
the  Confederates  would  lay  down  their  arms 
or  continue  hostilities,  thereby  reducing  the 
South  to  still  greater  straits,  if  possible, 
than  it  was  then  in.  The  President,  being 
desirous  that  General  Sherman  should  re 
join  his  command  as  soon  as  possible,  the 
latter  returned,  the  afternoon  of  the  council, 
in  the  U.  S.  steamer  "  Bat "  to  Newbern, 
N.  C. 

At  this  day  the  policy  of  Mr.  Lincoln  will 
be  recognized  as  good,  both  on  the  ground 
of  expediency  and  of  humanity.  We  were 
engaged  in  a  war,  not  with  foreigners,  but 
against  our  own  countrymen,  with  no  ob 
ject  except  to  vindicate  the  authority  of  the 
Federal  Government.  There  were  no 
knotty  questions  involved,  it  was  simply  a 
question  whether  the  Confederates  could 
carry  on  the  war  any  longer,  or  whether 
they  would  return  to  their  allegiance. 
Even  then  the  Confederates  were  more 
dangerous  foes  than  a  dozen  European  na 
tions  would  have  been,  although  in  the 
most  straitened  circumstances,  deficient 
in  food,  clothing  and  forage,  and  even  in 
ammunition,  so  indispensable  to  an  army. 
They  had  still  a  formidable  force  about 
Richmond,  which,  if  it  could  effect  a  junc 
tion  with  Johnston's  army,  would  offer  a 
stout  resistance  under  those  able  com 
manders.  The  Federal  Government  had 
had  too  many  proofs  of  the  ability  of  the 
Confederate  generals  and  the  gallantry  of 
their  soldiers  to  need  any  further  evidence, 
and  had  no  desire  to  drive  them  to  desper 
ation  by  requiring  a  degrading  submission 
to  its  authority.  The  Government  was  now 
in  a  position  to  display  not  only  its  military 
strength  but  its  magnanimity.  It  was 
right  that,  when  the  soldiers  of  the  North 
clasped  hands  with  those  who  had  so  long 
and  bitterly  opposed  them  in  the  field,  they 
should  desire  to  bury  the  past  in  oblivion, 
and  resume  once  more  the  bonds  of  frater 
nal  affection.  The  example  set  by  Presi- 
sident  Lincoln  was  followed  by  those  who 
had  borne  the  brunt  of  the  conflict,  and  had 
learned  to  appreciate  the  courage  and 
hardihood  of  their  late  antagonists.  Gen 
eral  Grant  shared  in  the  President's  desire 
for  the  most  liberal  arrangements  that 
could  be  entered  into  for  the  surrender  of 
the  Confederate  armies ;  and  while  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  implicit  confidence  in  Grant's 
military  abilities,  he  relied  no  less  on  his 
good  judgment  and  kind  feeling,  and  it  is 
fortunate  that  the  last  act  in  the  bloody 


796 


THE  KA  VAL  HISTORY 


drama  of  the  civil  war  was  under  the 
direction  of  the  two  men  acting  in  perfect 
accord,  whose  names  will  be  handed  down 
to  posterity  with  increase  of  honor  as  the 
years  roll  by. 

When  General  Lee  surrendered  at  Ap- 
pomattox  the  work  of  the  North  Atlantic 
Squadron  was  over,  for  all  the  James  River 
region  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Federals. 
Up  to  that  time  the  squadron  in  Trent's 
Reach  was  quietly  holding  the  Confederate 
iron-clads.  under  the  command  of  Raphael 
Semmes — recently  created  Rear- Admiral — 
above  Drury's  Bluff,  where  they  were  quite 
harmless  and  would  either  have  to  be  blown 
up  or  surrendered. 

Admiral  Semmes  assumed  command  of 
the  James  River  fleet  on  the  18th  of  Feb 
ruary,  18G5,  relieving  Commodore  J.  K. 
Mitchell.  The  fleet  as  reorganized  com 
prised  the  following  named  vessels  : 

"Virginia"  (iron-clad),  flag-ship,  four 
guns,  Captain  Dunnington  ;  ''Richmond" 
(iron-clad),  four  guns,  Captain  J.  D.  John 
son  ;  "  Fredericksburg"  (iron-clad),  four 
guns,  Captain  Glasse  ;  "Hampton" 
(wooden),  two  guns,  Captain  Wilson  (late 
of  the  "  Alabama  " )  ;  '•  Nansemond  " 
(wooden),  two  guns,  Captain  W.  K.  Butt ; 
"  Roanoke  "  (wooden)  two  guns,  Captain 
Polloc  ;  "Beaufort"  (wooden),  two  guns, 
Captain  Wyatt ;  "  Torpedo  "  (wooden),  one 
gun,  Captain  Roberts. 

This  fleet  was  assisted  in  the  defence  of 
the  river  by  shore  batteries  under  command 
of  naval  officers — such  as  Drury's  Bluff 
Battery,  Battery  Brooke.  Battery  Wood, 
and  Battery  Semmes.  The  Confederate 
vessels  were  not  in  the  most  efficient  condi 
tion  as  regarded  their  personnel,  which  was 
mostly  drawn  from  the  army.  The  real 
difficulty  in  getting  to  Richmond  with  the 
Federal  gun-boats  was  in  the  heavy  fortifi 
cations  along  the  James  River  above  Hew 
lett's  Battery,  the  sunken  torpedoes,  and  the 
obstructions  in  the  channel,  which  could  not 
be  removed  under  fire. 

While  theFederal  and  Confederate  forces 
on  the  river  were  in  this  position,  General 
Grant  was  gradually  enveloping  Richmond 
with  his  army.  The  Confederate  lines  in 
the  vicinity  of  Petersburg  having  been 
weakened  by  the  necessity  of  withdrawing 
troops  to  defend  Lee's  extreme  right  at  Five 
Forks,  General  Grant,  on  the  morning  of 
the  2d  of  April,  ordered  a  vigorous  assault 
to  be  made  on  the  enemy,  which  gave 
the  Federals  possession  of  Petersburg, 
and  rendered  Richmond  no  longer  ten 
able. 

The  night  following  this  success,  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  went  on  board  the  flag-ship 
"vMalvern"  as  the  guest  of  Admiral  Porter. 
On  every  hand  was  heard  the  sound  of 
artillery  and  musketry,  showing  that  the 


Federals  were  closing  in  on  the  Confeder 
ate  lines. 

The  night  before  Richmond  was  evacu 
ated  by  the  Confederate  forces,  the  Presi 
dent  and  Admiral  Porter  were  seated  on 
the  upper  deck  of  the  flag-ship  "Malvern," 
when  the  President  made  the  remark  to  the 
latter:  "Can't  the  Navy  do  something 
at  this  particular  moment  to  make  his 
tory  ?  "  The  Admiral  replied  :  "  The  Navy 
is  doing  its  best  just  now,  holding  the  en 
emy's  four  heavy  iron-clads  in  utter  useless- 
ness.  If  those  vessels  could  reach  City 
Point  they  would  commit  great  havoc — as 
they  came  near  doing  while  I  was  away  at 
Fort  Fisher.  In  consequence,  General  Grant 
ordered  the  channel  to  be  still  further  ob 
structed  with  stones,  so  that  no  vessel  can 
pass.  We  can  hold  the  fort  with  a  very 
small  force  and  prevent  any  one  from  re 
moving  the  obstructions.  Therefore,  the 
enemy's  iron-clads  are  useless." 

"But,  can't  we  make  a  noise?"  asked 
the  President.  "  Yes,"  replied  the  Admiral, 
"  and  if  you  desire  it  I  will  commence.'' 

The  Admiral  telegraphed  to  Lieutenant- 
Commander  K.  R.  Breese,  Fleet-Captain, 
who  was  just  above  Dutch  Gap.  to  have  the 
vessels'  guns  loaded  with  shrapnel,  to  point 
in  the  direction  of  the  forts  and  to  keep  up 
a  rapid  fire  until  directed  to  stop.  The 
firing  commenced  about  11  o'clock  P.  M., 
and  the  President  listened  attentively  while 
the  flashes  of  the  guns  lighted  up  the  hori 
zon.  In  about  twenty  minutes  a  loud  ex 
plosion  shook  the  flag-ship  and  the  Presi 
dent  exclaimed  :  "I  hope  to  Heaven  one  of 
our  vessels  has  not  blown  up  ! "  The  Ad 
miral  assured  him  that  the  explosion  was 
much  further  up  the  river  and  that  it  was 
doubtless  one  of  the  Confederate  iron-clads. 
A  second  explosion  soon  followed,  and  not 
long  after  two  more,  which  caused  the  Ad 
miral  to  remark  :  "That's  all  of  them  ;  no 
doubt  the  forts  are  evacuated  and  to-mor 
row  we  can  go  up  to  Richmond." 

By  eight  o'clock  the  following  morning 
the  work  of  removing  the  obstructions  in 
the  channel  was  completed  sufficiently  to 
allow  the  passage  of  the  flag-ship,  and  sev 
eral  of  the  smaller  vessels  went  up  the  river 
and  with  their  boats  began  sweeping  the 
stream  for  torpedoes.  It  was  soon  discov 
ered  that  all  the  forts  had  been  evacuated, 
and  nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  the  Confed 
erate  iron-clads  except  their  black  hulls, 
partly  out  of  water. 

In  the  meantime,  General  Weitzel,  who 
was  on  the  left  bank  of  the  James  with  a 
large  body  of  troops,  hearing  the  firing  of 
the  gun-boats  and  the  explosions  of  the  Con 
federate  iron-clads,  got  all  his  men  under 
arms,  supposing  that  the  Federal  gun-boats 
were  engaging  the  enemy's  vessels  and 
forts.  A  large  force  of  Confederates  in 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


797 


Weitzel's  front,  which  barred  the  way  to 
Richmond,  seems  to  have  been  of  the  same 
opinion,  and.  leaving  their  trenches,  re 
treated  on  the  city.  When  daylight  ap 
peared,  finding  that  there  was  no  force 
opposing  him,  and  that  the  road  to  Rich 
mond  was  clear,  Weitzel  marched  in  and 
took  possession  of  the  city.  This  was  the 
way  it  appeared  to  the  *  Federal  officers 
present  on  the  occasion ;  but  we  insert  the 
Confederate  side  of  the  story,  as  told  by 
Rear-Admiral  Raphael  Semmes,  who  cer 
tainly  ought  to  liave  known  something 
about  the  matter.  Admiral  Semmes  states 
that  when  sitting  down  to  his  dinner  on 
board  his  flag-ship,  about  4  o'clock  on 
the  2d  of  April,  the  day  Grant  had  broken 
through  Lee's  lines,  a  special  messenger 
brought  him  a  letter  from  the  Confederate 
Secretary  of  the  Navy.  As  Semmes  had 
not  heard  of  the  occurrences  at  Petersburg, 
he  was  somewhat  surprised  at  the  contents 
of  this  epistle,  which  were  as  follows  : 

CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,  ) 

RICHMOND,  VA.,  April  2,  18G5.  ) 
Rear-Admiral  Raphael  Semmes,  Commanding 

James  River  8quadron: 

SIR — General  Lee  advises  the  Government  to 
withdraw  from  the  city,  and  the  officers  will  leave 
this  evening  accordingly.  I  presume  that  General 
Lee  has  advised  you  of  this  and  of  his  movements, 
and  made  suggestions  as  to  the  disposition  to  be 
made  of  your  squadron.  He  withdraws  upon  his 
lines  towards  Danville  this  night ;  and,  unless 
otherwise  directed  by  General  Lee,  upon  you  is  de 
volved  the  duty  of  destroying  your  ships  this  night, 
and  with  all  the  forces  under  your  command  join 
ing  General  Lee.  Confer  with  him,  if  practicable, 
before  destroying  them.  Let  your  people  be  ra 
tioned  as  far  as  possible  for  the  march,  and 
armed  and  equipped  for  duty  in  the  field. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  R.  MALLORY, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

It  was  evident  that  Richmond  was  to 
have  been  evacuated  that  night,  and  by  a 
curious  coincidence  the  firing  from  the 
Federal  gun-boats  commenced  early  the 
same  evening,  which  doubtless  caused 
Semmes  to  expedite  his  movements.  He 
signalled  for  all  commanding  officers  of 
vessels  to  repair  on  board  the  nag-ship,  and 
impressed  upon  them  the  importance  of 
keeping  the  intended  operations  secret,  lest 
the  suspicions  of  the  Federals  might  be  ex 
cited. 

Semmes  remarks  :  "The  sun  was  shining  • 
brightly,  the  afternoon  was  calm,  and 
Nature  was  just  putting  on  her  spring  at 
tire."  He  could  not  help  contrasting  the 
peace  and  quiet  of  Nature  "with  the  descrip 
tion  of  a  great  Government  and  the  ruin  of 
an  entire  people,  which  was  at  hand  : '' 

"So  unsuspicious  were  the  Government  subordi 
nates  of  what  was  going  on.  that  the  flag-of-trm-e 
boats  were  still  plying  between  Richmond  ;md  the 


Federal  headquarters,  a  few  miles  below  on  the 
river,  carrying  backward  and  forward  exchange 
prisoners.  As  these  boats  would  pass  the  ships-Oi- 
war,  filled  to  overflowing  with  the  i>oor  fellows  just 
released  from  Yankee  prisons,  broken,  wan  and 
hollow-eyed,  the  prisoners  would  break  into  the 
most  enthusiastic  cheering  as  they  passed  the  Con 
federate  flag.  It  seemed  to  welcome  them  home. 
They  little  dreamed  that  it  would  be  struck  that 
night  forever,  and  the  fleet  blown  into  the;  air  that 
their  own  fetters  had  been  knocked  off  in  vain,  and 
that  they  were  to  pass  henceforth  under  the  rule  of 
the  hated  Yankee.'' 

Thus  mused  Rear  -  Admiral  Semmes  on 
the  eve  of  blowing  up  his  squadron.  Cir 
cumstances  prevented  him  from  commu 
nicating  with  General  Lee;  and,  seeing  that 
it  was  a  case  where  every  one  must  take 
care  of  himself,  Semmes  determined  to  de 
stroy  his  vessels  at  once,  especially  as  the 
Confederate  Army  seemed  to  be  setting  fire 
to  everything  around  them,  and  leaving 
in  a  hurry.  Semmes  had  originally  intended 
to  sink  his  vessels  quietly,  so  that  the  Fed 
erals  would  have  no  idea  of  what  was  go 
ing  on  ;  but  soon  after  dark  he  saw  the 
whole  horizon  to  the  north  of  the  James 
lighted  up,  rendering  concealment  on  his 
part  no  longer  necessary.  Semmes  omits 
to  mention  that  the  Federal  gun-boats  were 
thundering  at  the  gates,  which  was  the 
real  reason  for  so  hastily  destroying  the 
iron-clads.  The  officers  and  men  were  put 
on  board  the  small  gun-boats,  and  at  about 
midnight  the  iron  clads  blew  up,  one  after 
another,  with  a  terrific  explosion,  adding 
to  the  grandeur  of  the  scene  already  exist 
ing  of  burning  barracks.  The  shells  burst 
ing  as  the  fire  came  in  contact  with  them, 
the  signal-rockets  from  both  sides  filling  the 
air  like  thousands  of  shooting-stars  ;  the 
booming  of  guns  in  the  distance,  the  long 
roll  of  the  drums  calling  the  troops  to  fall 
in,  mingled  with  the  sound  of  trumpets,  all 
combined  to  make  a  spectacle  and  an  up 
roar  as  though  pandemonium  had  broken 
loose.  It  seemed  as  if  heaven  and  earth 
had  united  to  celebrate  the  conclusion  of  a 
struggle  that  had  caused  so  much  suffering. 

That  was  the  end  of  the  Conf  ederateNavy, 
which  went  up  in  what  might  have  been 
considered  a  blaze  of  glory,  but  for  the  fact 
that  the  James  River  fleet  had  been  the 
most  useless  force  the  Confederates  had  ever 
put  afloat — the  forts,  torpedoes  and  obstruc 
tions  on  the  river  being  far  more  formid 
able  adversaries,  and  quite  sufficient,  if 
properly  managed,  to  keep  any  hostile  ves 
sels  from  ascending  the  narrow  channel, 
where,  if  one  should  happen  to  be  sunk,  it 
would  effectually  bar  the  progress  of  those 
behind  it. 

The  work  of  the  Federal  Navy  was  all 
over  in  this  quarter,  and  those  who  for 
many  months  had  guarded  the  obstructions 
in  tlie  river  rejoiced  when  the  monotonous 
task  was  concluded.  If  rockets  were  scut 


798 


THE  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


up,  and  blue  lights  burned,  and  national 
salutes  fired,  the  demonstration  was  as 
much  on  account  of  the  return  of  peace  as 
in  honor  of  victory.  It  signalized  the  end 
of  that  fraternal  strife  between  people  who 
could  never  live  apart,  but  who,  united  un 
der  one  Government,  could  bid  defiance  to 
the  world  in  arms. 

Whether  our  country  will  profit  as  much 
as  it  should  do  from  past  experience  remains 
to  be  seen;  but,  so  far,  we  have  not  given 
much  evidence  «of  progress  in  matters  per 
taining  to  the  defence  of  our  coasts  and 
the  construction  of  a  Navy  adequate  to  pro 
tect  the  nation  from  foreign  and  domestic 
enemies  ;  which  latter  exist  in  every 
country,  no  matter  how  beneficent  may  be 
its  laws. 

When  the  channel  was  reported  clear  of 
torpedoes,  a  large  number  of  which  was 
taken  up,  Admiral  Porter  proceeded  up  to 
wards  Richmond  in  the  ''  Malvern,  with 
President  Lincoln  on  board  the  steamer 
''River  Queen."  Finally,  the  " Malvern " 
grounded  below  the  city,  and  the  Admiral, 
taking  the  President  in  his  barge,  accom 
panied  by  a  tug  with  a  file  of  marines,  con 
tinued  on  to  Richmond. 

About  a  mile  below  the  landing,  the  tug 
was  permitted  to  go  to  the  relief  of  a  party 
in  a  small  steamer  who  were  caught  under 
a  bridge  and  held  by  the  current,  and  the 
barge  proceeded  alone.  The  street  along 
the  river-front  was  deserted,  and,  although 
the  Federal  troops  had  been  in  possession 
of  the  city  some  hours,  not  a  soldier  was  to 
be  seen.  At  the  landing  was  a  small  house, 
and  behind  it  a  dozen  negroes  were  digging 
with  spades.  Their  leader,  an  old  man, 
sprang  forward  exclaiming:  "Bress  de 
Lord,  dere  is  de  great  Messiah!"  and  he  fell 
on  his  knees  before  the  President,  his  com 
rades  following  his  example.  The  Presi 
dent  was  much  embarrassed.  "  Don't  kneel 
to  me,"  he  said,  "  kneel  to  God  only,  and 
thank  Him  for  the  liberty  you  will  here 
after  enjoy."  It  was  a  minute  or  two  before 
the  officers  could  get  the  negroes  to  leave 
the  President;  but  time  was  precious.  The 
negroes  joined  hands  and  sang  a  hymn,  to 
which  the  President  listened  respectfully. 

Four  minutes  had  passed  since  the  party 
had  landed  in  apparently  deserted  streets; 
but,  now  that  the  hymn  was  sung. the  streets 
seemed  to  be  suddenly  alive  with  the  col 
ored  race,  the  crowd  around  the  President 
became  very  oppressive,  and  it  was  neces 
sary  to  order  the  boat's  crew  to  fix  bayonets 
and  surround  him  to  keep  him  from  being 
crushed.  The  negroes,  in  their  ecstasy, 
could  not  be  made  to  understand  that  they 
were  detaining  the  President,  and  would 
not  feel  that  they  were  free  unless  they 
heard  it  from  his  own  lips.  Mr.  Lincoln, 
therefore,  made  a  few  remarks,  assuring 


them  that  they  were  free  and  giving  them 
good  advice,  after  which  the  party  man 
aged  to  move  slowly  on  to  the  city. 

Passing  the  Libby  Prison,  the  President 
paused  for  a  moment  to  look  at  the  place 
where  so  many  Union  soldiers  had  dragged 
out  a  dreadful  existence.  "  We  will  pull 
it  down ! "  shouted  the  crowd  of  poor 
whites  and  negroes.  "  No."  said  the  Presi 
dent,  "  leave  it  as  a  monument." 

As  the  party  slowly  reached  the  city,  the 
sidewalks  were  lined  with  people,  white  and 
black,  but  there  was  no  anger  on  any  face. 
It  was  like  a  gala-day,  and  no  man  was 
ever  accorded  a  warmer  welcome.  The 
heat  of  the  weather  was  suffocating;  the 
President  towered  a  head  and  shoulders 
above  the  crowd,  fanning  himself  with  his 
hat,  and  looking  as  if  he  would  give  the 
Presidency  for  a  glass  of  water.  Now  the 
windows  flew  up.  and  eager,  peering  faces 
seemed  to  ask  :  "  Is  this  man,  with  soft  eyes 
and  kind  face,  the  one  that  has  been  held  up 
to  us  as  the  incarnation  of  wickedness,  the 
destroyer  of  the  South  ?  "  The  city  was  still 
on  fire,  and  the  smoke  almost  choked  the 
Presidential  party. 

While  stopped  a  moment  by  the  crowd,  a 
white  man  in  his  shirt-sleeves  rushed  to 
wards  the  President.  When  he  got  within 
ten  feet  of  him  he  stopped,  took  off  his  hat. 
and  cried  out,  "Abraham  Lincoln,  God 
bless  you  !  you  are  the  poor  man's  friend! " 
Just  after  this,  a  beautiful  girl  struggled 
through  the  crowd  and  presented  Mr.  Lin 
coln  with  a  bouquet  of  roses.  There  was 
no  cheering  at  this,  nor  any  evidence  of 
disapprobation,  but  it  was  evidently  a  mat 
ter  of  great  interest,  for  the  girl  was  sur 
rounded  and  plied  with  questions  on  return 
ing  to  the  sidewalk. 

What  could  ail  this  mean  but  that  the 
people  of  Richmond  were  glad  to  see  the 
end  of  the  war  and  the  advent  of  a  milder 
form  of  Government  ?  They  had,  no  doubt, 
felt  that  the  late  Government  should  have 
remained  at  the  capital  and  surrendered  in 
a  dignified  manner,  making  terms  for  the 
citizens,  guarding  their  rights  and  acknowl 
edging  that  they  had  lost  the  game.  There 
was  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of  in  such  a 
surrender.  Their  armies  had  fought  as 
people  never  fought  before,  and  all  that  was 
wanted  to  make  them  glorious  was  the 
submission  of  the  leaders  with  the  troops 
in  a  dignified  way,  while  they  might  have 
said:  "  We  have  done  our  best  to  win,  but 
you  are  too  strong  for  us;  we  pledge  our 
selves  to  keep  the  peace."  Instead  of  re 
maining  to  protect  the  citizens  against 
the  ruffianism  of  the  mob,  the  Confederate 
authorities  of  Richmond  left  that  to  the 
Federal  troops,  and  no  soldiers  ever  per 
formed  a  trust  more  faithfully.  At  the 
moment  when  President  Lincoln  entered 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


799 


the  city,  the  majority  of  them  were  engaged 
in  putting  out  the  fires  that  were  started 
by  the  Confederates  as  they  left  the  place, 
determined,  it  would  seem,  to  destroy  the 
public  works,  so  that  the  Federals  could 
derive  no  benefit  from  them. 

At  length,  a  cavalry-man  was  encoun 
tered  sitting  his  horse  and  gazing  at  the 
President  with  much  interest.  The  Ad 
miral  sent  him  at  once  to  inform  the  gen- 
eral-in-command  of  the  arrival  of  the  Presi 
dent,  and  to  request  a  military  escort  to 
guard  him  and  enable  him  to  force  his  way 
through  the  crowd.  A  troop  of  cavalry 
soon  arrived,  the  streets  were  cleared,  and 
the  President  soon  reached  the  mansion 
just  vacated  by  Mr.  Davis,  and  now  the 
headquarters  of  Generals  Weitzel  and 
Shepley.  It  was  a  modest  house,  comfortably 
but  plainly  furnished. 

A  great  crowd  of  civilians  now  assem 
bled  around  this  house,  greeting  the  Presi 
dent  with  loud  cheers.  General  Shepley 
made  a  speech,  after  which  the  President 
and  party  entered  a  carriage  and  visited 
the  State-House,  the  late  seat  of  the  Con 
federate  Congress.  The  building  was  in 
dreadful  disorder,  showing  the  sudden 
flight  of  the  legislators. 

After  this  inspection,  Admiral  Porter 
urged  the  President  to  go  on  board  the 
"  Malvern,"  as  he  began  to  feel  the  respon 
sibility  resting  on  him  for  the  care  of  his 
person.  The  Admiral  was  oppressed  with 
uneasiness  until  he  once  more  stood  with 
Mr.  Lincoln  on  the  deck  of  the  flag-ship, 
and  he  determined  the  President  should  go 
nowhere  again,  while  under  his  charge, 
without  a  guard  of  marines. 

That  evening,  at  about  eight  o'clock,  a 
man  hailed  the  "  Malvern/'  which  was  then 
anchored  off  the  city,  saying  that  he  had 
dispatches  for  the  President.  A  boat  was 
sent  on  shore,  with  orders  to  bring  the  dis 
patches,  but  not  the  bearer  of  them;  but  re 
turned  with  neither  dispatches  nor  man. 
The  boat  officer  said  the  person  would  de 
liver  the  dispatches  to  no  one  but  the  Presi 
dent  himself.  After  some  discussion,  the 
boat  was  sent  back  to  bring  the  man  on 
board,  but  he  had  disappeared.  The  Admiral 
inquired  about  his  appearance,  and  from 
the  description  was  afterwards  satisfied 
that  the  pretended  bearer  of  dispatches  was 
Wilkes  Booth.  Half  an  hour  later  another 
hail  came  from  the  shore,  which  was  not 
more  than  twenty  yards  distant.  A  sailor 
from  the  "Saugus"  wanted  to  report  on 
board.  There  was  no  such  vessel  in  the 
fleet,  though  there  was  one  of  that  name  in 
the  Navy.  A  boat  was  sent  to  bring  the 
man  off,  but  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 
These  circumstances  made  those  charged 
with  the  care  of  the  President  more  suspi 
cious,  and  every  precaution  was  taken  that 


no  one  should  get  on  board  the  "Malvern  " 
without  full  identification.  The  President 
himself  felt  a  little  nervous,  and  that  night 
a  marine  kept  guard  at  his  state-room  door. 

Next  morning,  at  10  o'clock,  Mr.  John  A. 
Campbell,  late  Associate  Justice  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  United  States,  sent  a 
request  to  be  allowed  to  come  on  board  with 
General  Weitzel,  to  call  on  the  President. 
He  spent  an  hour  on  board,  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  himself  seeming  to  enjoy  themselves 
very  much,  to  judge  from  their  laughter. 
After  General  Weitzel  and  Mr.  Campbell 
had  returned  on  shore,  Admiral  Porter 
went  below,  and  the  President  said  to  him  : 
"Admiral,!  am  sorry  you  were  not  here 
when  Mr.  Campbell  was  on  board.  He  has 
gone  on  shore  nappy.  I  gave  him  a  writ 
ten  permission  to  allow  the  State  Legisla 
ture  to  convene  in  the  Capitol  in  the  absence 
of  all  other  governments."  The  Admiral 
was  astonished  at  this  piece  of  information, 
and  felt  that  this  course  would  bring  about 
complications.  He  found  it  all  had  been 
done  by  the  persuasive  tongue  of  Mr. 
Campbell,  who  had  promised  the  President 
that,  if  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  could 
meet,  it  would  vote  the  State  right  back 
into  the  Union,  and  cause  all  the  Virginia 
troops  to  lay  down  their  arms  ;  that  it 
would  be  a  delicate  compliment  paid  to 
Virginia,  and  would  be  appreciated,  etc. 
General  Weitzel  agreed  with  Mr.  Campbell, 
and  the  President  was  won  over  to  agree  to 
what  would  have  been  a  most  humiliating 
thing  if  it  had  been  accomplished. 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  informed  the  Admiral 
that  General  Weitzel  had  gone  on  shore 
with  an  order  permitting  the  Legislature  to 
meet,  the  Admiral  reminded  the  President 
that  the  city  of  Richmond  was  under  mar 
tial  law,  and  that  no  civil  authority  could 
exercise  any  power  without  the  sanction  of 
the  General  commanding  the  Army.  This 
order  should  go  through  General  Grant, 
who  would  doubtless  protest  against  this 
arrangement  with  Mr.  Campbell. 

The  President  remarked,  "  Weitzel  made 
no  objection,  and  he  commands  here." 
"  That  is  because  he  is  Mr.  Campbell's  par 
ticular  friend,"  replied  the  Admiral,  "and 
wished  to  gratify  him." 

"Run  and  stop  them/' said  the  President, 
"and  get  my  order  back." 

To  make  things  sure,  the  Admiral  had  an 
order  signed  by  the  President,  and  directed 
to  General  Weitzel  as  follows  :  "  Return 
my  permission  to  the  Legislature  of  Vir 
ginia  to  meet,  and  don't  allow  it  to  meet  at 
all."  An  ambulance  wagon  was  at  the 
landing,  and,  giving  the  order  to  an  officer, 
the  Admiral  said  to  him.  "Jump  into  that 
wagon  and  kill  the  horse,  if  necessary,  but 
catch  the  carriage  which  carried  General 
Weitzel  and  Mr.  Campbell,  and  deliver  this 


800 


THE  XAVAL   HISTORY 


order  to  the  General."  The  carriage  was 
overtaken,  the  President's  order  was  sent 
back,  and  110  attempt  was  made  to  induce 
the  latter  to  reconsider  his  decision.  This 
was  a  clever  scheme  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Jus 
tice  Campbell  to  soothe  the  wounded  feel 
ings  of  the  South,  and  no  doubt  was  kindly 
meant,  but  it  would  have  created  a  com 
motion  in  the  North. 

About  an  hour  after  the  departure  of  Mr. 
Campbell,  a  man  dressed  in  gray  home 
spun,  with  a  huge  rough  stick  in  his  hand, 
appeared  at  the  landing  and  demanded  to 
see  the  President.  "  I  am  Duff  Green,"  he 
said;  "  I  want  to  see  Abraham  Lincoln,  and 
my  business  concerns  myself  alone.  You 
tell  Abraham  Lincoln  that  Duff  Green 
wants  to  see  him."  The  officer  of  the  deck 
delivered  this  message  in  the  cabin,  and 
the  President  said,  -'Let  him  come  on 
board  ;  Duff  is  an  old  friend  of  mine,  and  I 
would  like  to  talk  with  him." 

When  Mr.  Duff  Green  passed  over  the 
side,  he  stood  defiantly  on  deck,  scowled  at 
the  flag,  then  turning  to  Admiral  Porter, 
whom  he  knew  very  well,  said  :  "  I  want  to 
see  Abraham  Lincoln."  "When  you  come 
in  a  respectful  manner,"  said  the  Admiral, 
"the  President  will  see  you;  but  throw 
away  that  cord  of  wood  you  have  in  your 
hand  before  entering  the  President's  pres 
ence." 

"  How  long  is  it,"  inquired  Duff  Green, 
"  since  Abraham  Lincoln  took  to  aping  roy 
alty  ?  Man  clothed  in  a  little  brief  author 
ity  cuts  such  fantastic  capers  before  high 
heaven  as  make  the  angels  weep.  I  expect 
airs  from  a  naval  officer,  but  not  from  a 
man  with  Abraham  Lincoln's  horse-sense." 

The  Admiral  thought,  and  still  thinks, 
the  man  was  crazy  ;  but  he  made  Mr.  Green 
throw  his  stick  overboard,  which  was  done, 
with  the  remark  :  "  Has  it  come  to  that  ? 
Is  he  afraid  of  assassination  ?  Tyrants  gen 
erally  get  into  that  condition." 

The  Admiral  reported  all  this  to  the  Presi 
dent,  who  remarked:  "  Let  him  come  down; 
he  always  was  a  little  queer  :  I  shan't  mind 
him." 

When  Mr.  Green  was  shown  into  the 
cabin,  the  President  arose  and  offered  him 
his  hand.  •'  No,"  said  Green,  with  a  tragic 
air,  "it  is  red  with  blood  ;  I  can't  touch  it. 
When  I  knew  it,  it  was  an  honest  hand.  It 
has  cut  the  throats  of  thousands  of  my  peo 
ple,  and  their  blood,  which  now  lies  soaking 
into  the  ground,  cries  aloud  to  heaven  for 
vengeance.  I  came  to  see  you,  not  for  old 
remembrance'  sake,  but  to  give  you  a  piece 
of  my  opinion.  You  won't  like  it,  but  I 
don't  care,  for  people  don't  generally  like  to 
have  the  trutli  told  them.  You  have  come 
here,  protected  by  your  Army  and  Navy,  to 
gloat  over  the  ruin  and  desolation  you  have 
caused.  You  are  a  second  Nero/and  had 


you  lived  in  his  day  you  would  have  fiddled 
while  Rome  was  burning." 

When  the  fanatic  commenced  his  tirade, 
Mr.  Lincoln  stood  with  outstretched  hand, 
his  mouth  wreathed  in  a  pleasant  smile. 
He  was  pleased  at  meeting  an  old  and  es 
teemed  friend.  As  Duff  Green  started  on 
his  talk,  the  outstretched  hand  was  with 
drawn,  the  smile  left  his  lips  and  the  soft 
ness  in  the  President's  eyes  faded  out.  He 
was  another  man  altogether.  Green  went 
on  without  noticing  the  change  in  the  Presi 
dent's  manner  and  appearance:  "You 
came  here,"  he  continued  "  to  triumph  over 
a  poor  conquered  town,  with  only  women 
and  children  in  it,  whose  soldiers  have  left 
it,  and  would  rather  starve  than  see  your 
hateful  presence  here  ;  those  soldiers— and 
only  a  handful  at  that — who  have  for  four 
years  defied  your  paid  mercenaries  on  those 
glorious  hills,  and  have  taught  you  to  respect 
the  rights  of  the  South.  You  have  given 
your  best  blood  to  conquer  them,  and  now 
you  will  march  back  to  your  demoralized 
Capitol  and  lay  out  your  wits  to  win  them 
over  so  that  you  can  hold  this  Government 
in  perpetuity.  Shame  on  you !  Shame 
on— 

Mr.  Lincoln  could  stand  it  no  longer,  his 
hair  stood  on  end  and  his  nostrils  dilated. 
He  stretched  out  his  arm  until  his  lean  fore 
finger  almost  touched  Duff  Green's  face. 
"Stop,  you  political  tramp,"  he  exclaimed; 
"you,  the  aider  and  abettor  of  those  who 
have  brought  all  this  ruin  upon  your  coun 
try,  without  the  courage  to  risk  your  person 
in  defence  of  the  principles  you  profess  to 
espouse  !  A  fellow  who  stood  by  to  gather 
up  the  loaves  and  fishes,  if  any  should  fall 
to  you  !  A  man  who  had  no  principles  in 
the  North,  and  took  none  South  with  him  ! 
A  political  hyena,  who  robbed  the  graves 
of  the  dead  and  adopted  their  language  as 
his  own  !  You  talk  of  the  North  cutting 
the  throats  of  the  Southern  people.  You 
have  all  cut  your  own  throats,  and  unfor 
tunately  have  cut  many  of  those  of  the 
North.  Miserable  impostor,  vile  intruder  ! 
Go,  before  I  forget  myself  and  the  high 
position  I  hold  !  Go,  I  tell  you,  and  don't 
desecrate  this  national  vessel  another  min 
ute  ! " 

This  was  something  Mr.  Duff  Green  had 
not  calculated  upon.  His  courage  failed 
him,  and  he  fled  out  of  the  cabin,  never 
stopping  until  he  reached  the  deck,  where 
he  stood  looking  at  the  shore,  seemingly 
measuring  the  distance  to  see  if  he  could 
swim  to  the  landing.  The  Admiral  followed 
close  behind  him,  and  said  to  the  officer  of 
the  deck,  "Put  that  man  on  shore,  and  if 
he  appears  in  sight  of  this  vessel  while  we 
are  here,  have  him  sent  away  with  scant 
ceremony." 

When  the  Admiral  returned  to  the  cabin, 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


801 


fifteen  minutes  later,  the  President  was 
perfectly  calm,  as  if  nothing  had  happened, 
and  did  not  refer  to  the  subject  for  some 
hours.  "This  place  seems  to  give  you 
annoyance,  sir,"  said  the  Admiral ;  "  would 
you  prefer  going  to  City  Point,  where  we 
are  more  among  friends  than  here?"  "Yes," 
replied  the  President,  "let  us  go.  I  seem 
to  be  putting  my  foot  into  it  here  all  the 
time.  Bless  my  soul  !  how  Seward  would 
have  preached  and  read  Puffendorf,  Vattel 
and  Grotius  to  me,  if  he  had  been  here  when 
I  gave  Campbell  permission  to  let  the 
Legislature  meet !  I'd  never  have  heard 
the  last  of  it.  Seward  is  a  small  compen 
dium  of  international  law  himself,  and 
laughs  at  my  horse  -  sense,  which  I  pride 
myself  on,  and  yet  I  put  my  foot  into  that 
thing  about  Campbell  with  my  eyes  wide 
open.  If  I  were  you,  Admiral,  I  don't 
think  I  would  repeat  that  joke  yet  awhile. 
People  might  laugh  at  you  for  knowing  so 
much  more  than  the  President." 

Several  incorrect  accounts  of  the  Presi 
dent's  visit  to  Richmond  have  from  time 
to  time  appeared  in  print,  for  which  reason 
we  have  inserted  this  narrative  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  proceedings. 

The  President  returned  to  Washington, 
and  with  the  surrender  of  General  Lee  the 
war  was  virtually  at  an  end ;  so  that  the 
services  of  the  Navy  in  the  James  River, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  gun-boats, 
-could  be  dispensed  with.  The  latter  were 
needed  for  police  duty  along  the  river  and 
to  pick  up  stragglers  from  the  Confederate 
army.  No  one  but  an  eye-witness  could 
realize  the  great  change  in  the  aspect  of 
affairs  that  suddenly  took  place.  Naval 
vessels  headed  down  stream  towards  Fort 
ress  Monroe,  then  to  proceed  to  such  Navy 
Yards  as  they  might  be  ordered  to.  Army 
transports  were  hurrying  to  City  Point 
to  remove  troops  and  stores  as  might  be  re 
quired.  Officers  no  longer  wore  an  anxious 
look,  everywhere  contentment  reigned,  for 
•each  one  was  pleased  that  the  long  struggle 
was  over  and  there  was  a  prospect  of  soon 
seeing  a  united  country. 

Notwithstanding  Rear- Admiral  Semmes. 
in  his  Memoirs,  dilates  on  the  joy  of  the 
exchanged  prisoners  at  once  more  saluting 
the  Confederate  flag  waving  on  board  his 
vessels,  it  is  well  known  that  the  Confed 
erate  soldiers  and  sailors  had  for  a  year 
past  been  heartily  tired  of  the  war;  and 
that  their  armies  were  gradually  becoming 
demoralized,  as  was  evident  from  the  great 
number  of  desertions,  which  reduced  Lee's 
forces  to  such  a  small  number  at  the  sur 
render.  Those  who  remained  with  their 
General  to  the  end  may  be  compared  to  the 
Old  Guard  of  Napoleon.  Yet  even  these 


veterans  were  anxious  to  reach  their  homes, 
and  every  one  who  knew  anything  about 
the  matter  felt  with  Mr.  Lincoln  that  it  was 
well  to  give  them  their  horses  with  which  to 
plow  their  fields,  and  their  muskets  to 
shoot  the  crows  with,  for  which  indulgence 
they  would  feel  so  grateful  that  they  would 
probably  never  again  raise  their  hands 
against  the  Government. 

Had  it  been  necessary  to  equip  an  army 
for  the  purpose  of  driving  the  French  from 
Mexico,  the  very  troops  that  had  fought  so 
persistently  against  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  would  have  been  the  foremost  to  vol 
unteer  for  the  service,  and  would  have  been 
preferred  for  the  duty,  since  it  was  well  that 
such  unsettled  spirits  should  have  had  em 
ployment,  and  they  would  have  had  an  op 
portunity  to  strike  a  blow  for  the  old  flag 
which  would  tend  to  make  them  faithful  to 
it  forever.  It  may,  therefore,  be  considered 
a  misfortune  that  the  French  made  their 
exit  from  Mexico  on  the  first  demand  of  the 
United  States  Government,  for  to  have 
driven  them  out  with  a  combined  army  of 
the  blue  and  the  gray  would  have  contrib 
uted  more  to  make  our  country  united 
than  all  the  arts  of  politicians. 

We  have  several  days  appointed  during 
the  year  for  national  observance  —  July 
4th,  February  22d,  etc. — but  there  is  one 
day  which  brought  more  happiness  to  the 
country  than  any  other,  which  is  the  day 
when  peace  was  established  between  the 
North  and  South,  and  the  nation  was  once 
more  restored  to  its  entirety.  There  should 
be  a  national  anniversary  established  to 
commemorate  the  return  of  peace — the  anni 
versary  of  the  day  when  General  Lee  laid 
down  his  arms  with  the  determination 
never  to  take  them  up  again  against  the 
Union,  in  which  he  was  followed  by  Gen 
eral  Johnston  and  all  the  other  generals  of 
the  Confederacy. 

Such  a  national  anniversary  should  not 
be  observed  with  any  purpose  of  exulting 
over  those  who  laid  down  their  arms  and 
returned  to  their  allegiance,  but  simply  to 
commemorate  the  return  of  peace  and  the 
union  of  the  whole  nation — that  union  on 
which  the  prosperity  of  all  the  States  de 
pends.  That  would  be  a  day  in  which  every 
one  could  take  part ;  for  he  must  be  blind, 
indeed,  who  cannot  see  the  innumerable 
blessings  that  have  been  poured  upon  our 
country. 

We  join  hands  now  over  the  resting-places 
of  the  gallant  dead  and  strew  flowers  alike 
on  the  graves  of  the  boys  in  blue  and  the 
boys  in  gray.  Let  there  be  a  common  An 
niversary,  where  all  can  clasp  hands,  and 
let  that  be  the  memorable  day  when  the 
Confederacy  laid  down  their  arms. 


CHAPTER    LV, 

OPERATIONS   OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI   SQUADRON   IN  THE   LATTER  PART 

OF  1864  AND  IN  18G5. 

ACTING  REAR-ADMIRAL  S.  P.  LEE  TAKES  COMMAND.— Loss  OP  THE  TIN-CLAD  "  UNDINE." 
—BURNING  OP  THE  GUN-BOATS  "  TOWAH,"  "KEY  WEST"  AND  "ELFIN."— OPERATIONS 
OF  THE  ARMY  UNDER  GENERAL  THOMAS  AGAINST  GENERAL  HOOD. — THE  EFFECTIVE. 
WORK  PERFORMED  BY  THE  SQUADRON  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE  ARMY. — DESTROY 
ING  THE  CONFEDERATE  BATTERIES  ON  THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER. — GENERAL  GEORGE  H. 
THOMAS  COMPLIMENTS  THE  NAVY.— GENERAL  HOOD'S  RETREAT  AND  LOSSES. — THE 
CONFEDERATE  RAM  "  WEBB."— GALLANTRY  OP  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  FITCH  AND 
HIS  MEN. — END  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  NAVY  IN  THE  MISSISSIPPI  REGION. — SURRENDER 
OF  CONFEDERATE  PROPERTY  AT  SHREVEPORT. — LIST  OP  VESSELS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  THE. 
MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,  1865. 


ACTING  -  REAR  -  ADMIRAL  S.  P. 
Lee,  who  followed  Rear- Admiral 
Porter  in  October,  1864,  in  the 
command  of  the  Mississippi 
Squadron,  was  not  fortunate  on 
his  arrival  in  the  West. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  Admiral  Lee 
reports  the  loss  of  the  "  tin-clad  "  gun-boat 
"  Undine  "  in  an  engagement  with  the  Con 
federates  on  the  "  Tennessee."  The  enemy 
had  seven  pieces  of  artillery  against  the 
gun-boat's  four. 

On  the  4th  of  November  the  light-draft 
gun-boats  "  Towah,"  "Key  West"  and 
"  Elfin  "  had  a  severe  engagement  with  the 
enemy,  lasting  several  hours,  when  Acting- 
Volunteer-Lieutenant  E.  M.  King,  finding 
it  impossible  to  save  the  vessels,  ordered 
them  to  be  set  on  fire  and  abandoned.  These 

fun-boats  had  previously  recaptured  and 
urned  what  was  left  of  the  "  Undine"  and 
also  the  transport  "Venus."  The  latter 
and  seven  other  transports  were  obliged  to 
be  destroyed  to  prevent  their  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  commanding  officers  of  these  light 
gun-boats  fought  their  vessels  with  great 
bravery,  but  they  had  been  sent  on  duty 
that  more  properly  belonged  to  iron-clads, 
and  in  contending  against  the  enemy's 


(802) 


works  their  ardor  eclipsed  their  judgment.. 
In  their  desire  not  to  dim  the  record  of  the 
Mississippi  Squadron,  these  officers  held 
their  position  longer  than  they  should  have 
done,  by  which  eleven  steamers,  including 
transports,  were  given  to  the  flames. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Le  Roy  Fitch,  a 
most  gallant  officer,  was  in  command  of 
the  10th  District,  Mississippi  Squadron, 
which  included  the  vessels  destroyed.  Had 
he  been  present,  his  good  judgment  would 
have  led  to  a  different  result.  Fitch  ar 
rived  on  the  scene  when  the  batteries  of  the 
gun-boats  had  been  mostly  disabled,  andta 
have  run  the  enemy's  batteries  to  join  the 
gun-boats  would  only  have  added  to  the 
disaster.  So  he  witnessed  the  desperate 
engagement  from  below  the  enemy's 
works,  and  had  time  to  reflect  on  the  want 
of  judgment  displayed  in  sending  such 
frail  vessels  against  strong  earth-works 
mounting  rifled  field-pieces  in  a  narrow 
river  full  of  shoals  and  sand-bars. 

Notwithstanding  it  had  been  evident 
from  the  commencement  of  the  civil  war 
that  Tennessee  was  one  of  the  prizes  for 
which  the  Confederacy  would  contend,  and 
in  spite  of  all  the  trouble  the  Federal  Army 
and  Navy  had  incurred  to  get  the  State  un 
der  subjection,  it  had  again  been  abandoned 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


MI:; 


to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  Confederate 
rangers.  General  Thomas,  with  a  compara 
tively  small  force,  was  left  to  occupy  the 
whole  State,  so  that  when  General  Sherman 
defeated  Hood,  at  Atlanta,  the  latter  fell 
back  upon  Tennessee,  and  but  for  the  gen 
eralship  and  foresight  of  that  sturdy  old 
Roman,  George  H.  Thomas,  a  great  disaster 
would  have  overtaken  the  Union  cause. 

The  Confederate  General,  Forrest,  had 
invested  Johnsonville,  and  Hood's  entire 
army  was  reported  as  moving  on  that  place, 
the  scene  of  the  lace  destruction  of  the  gun 
boats  and  transports.  It  is  not  likely  that 
Acting  Rear-Admiral  Lee  had  been  apprised 
of  the  advance  of  Hood's  army  into  Ten 
nessee,  as  otherwise  he  would  have  sent 
some  iron-dads  to  that  quarter,  since  the 
"tin-clads"  were  entirely  too  light  to  con 
tend  against  the  heavy  batteries  opposed  to 
them. 

Soon  after  these  events,  the  "Carondelet" 
was  sent  to  Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch, 
who,  on  the  3d  of  December,  had  pushed  on 
up  to  Nashville  in  the  expectation  of  co 
operating  with  General  Thomas  against  the 
advancing  forces  of  Hood.  The  "  Caron- 
delet,"  Acting-Master  Charles  W.  Miller, 
was  stationed  to  assist  that  portion  of  the 
army  resting  on  the  river,  while  the  other 
vessels  of  Fitch's  command  were  kept  in 
readiness  to  move  wherever  they  might  be 
required.  During  the  day,  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Fitch  made  constant  trips  up  and 
down  the  river  in  the  gun-boat  "Moose," 
getting  everything  in  readiness  to  co 
operate  with  the  Army  to  the  best  advan 
tage. 

At  9  P.  M.,  Fitch  received  intelligence 
that  the  enemy's  left  wing  had  reached  the 
river  and  planted  batteries  at  Bell's  Mill, 
four  miles  below  Nashville  by  land,  but, 
owing  to  the  bends  in  the  river,  eighteen 
miles  by  water.  It  was  learned  that  the  en 
emy  had  captured  two  steamers,  arid,  al 
though  the  night  was  dark  and  a  storm 
threatening,  Fitch  determined  to  recapture 
or  destroy  the  vessels,  so  that  the  Confed 
erates  would  derive  no  benefit  therefrom. 

The  squadron  moved  in  the  following 
order:  "  Neosho,"  Acting- Volunteer-Lieu 
tenant  Samuel  Howard;  "  Carondelet," 
Acting-Master  Charles  W.  Miller;  "Fair 
Play,"  Acting  -  Master  Geo.  J.  Groves ; 
"Moose,"  Lieutenant-Commander  Le  Roy 
Fitch;  "Reindeer,"  Acting-Volunteer-Lieu 
tenant  H.  A.  Glassford;  "Silver  Lake," 
Acting-Master  J.  C.  Coyle.  Acting-Master 
Miller,  in  the  "Carondelet,"  was  directed 
to  run  below  the  enemy's  lower  batteries, 
giving  them  grape  and  canister  as  he 
passed,  then  round-to  and  fight  the  bat 
teries  heading  up  stream.  The  "  Fair  Play" 
was  to  follow  close  to  the  "Carondelet' 
and  act  in  concert  with  her;  the  "  Reindeer  " 


was  to  follow  the  "  Moose,"  and  the  "  Silver 
Lake"  was  to  bring  up  the  rear.  All  these 
vessels,  with  the  exception  of  the  "Caron 
delet"  and  "Neosho,"  were  light  gun-boats, 
known  in  the  vernacular  of  the  Mississippi 
Squadron  as  "tin-clads." 

The  vessels  moved  quietly  down  the  river, 
with  no  lights  visible,  and  were  not  seen  by 
the  enemy  until  the  "  Carondelet "  opened 
fire  on  his  lower  battery  and  encampment. 
The  Confederates  sprang  to  arms,  and  vol 
ley  after  volley  of  musketry  was  poured 
into  the  Union  vessels,  while  the  shore  bat 
teries  kept  up  a  brisk  fire. 

The  gun-boats  responded  with  equal  rapid 
ity,  and  the  narrow  river  was  soon  filled 
with  smoke,  which  caused  great  confusion 
for  a  time,  preventing  the  vessels  from  fir 
ing,  while  it  was  no  hindrance  to  the  en 
emy,  who  could  see  the  position  of  the  gun 
boats  and  kept  up  a  galling  fire  upon  them. 

The  chances  of  the  vessels  coming  in  col 
lision  with  each  other,  in  the  thick  smoke, 
caused  Lieutenant -Commander  Fitch,  in 
his  flag-ship,  to  back  up  the  river  past  the 
upper  batteries,  as  that  portion  of  the 
stream  was  clear  of  the  smoke.  In  per 
forming  this  manoeuvre,  the  "  Moose'*  was 
subjected  to  a  severe  fire  from  the  enemy's 
20-pounder  rifles ;  but  in  a  short  time 
the  fire  of  the  "Moose"'  began  to  tell,  and 
the  enemy  were  driven  from  their  guns  by 
the  shower  of  shrapnel.  The  "  Reindeer/' 
now  coming  to  the  assistance  of  the 
"Moose,"  the  two  vessels  swept  the  field. 
The  "Moose"  and  "Reindeer"  were 
lashed  side  by  side  together,  and  kept  up 
the  engagement  through  the  night.  The 
enemy's  fire  was  not  well  directed,  most  of 
their  shots  passing  over  the  vessels.  The 
latter,  although  a  good  deal  cut  up,  were 
not  in  any  way  disabled,  and  there  was  no 
loss  of  life  on  board. 

At  about  midnight  the  enemy  ceased  fir 
ing,  and  in  the  morning  were  nowhere  to 
be  seen.  The  "Moose"  then  moved 
down  the  stream  and  met  the  "Carondelet" 
and  "Fair  Play,"  in  company  with  the 
transports  the  enemy  had  captured  the  day 
before.  The  enemy  had  been  driven  out 
of  these  vessels  before  they  had  time  to  de 
stroy  them  or  to  remove  the  forage  and 
stores  with  which  they  were  loaded.  The 
prisoners  captured  by  the  Confederates  in 
the  transports  escaped  from  their  guards 
and  rejoined  the  vessels. 

This  whole  affair,  like  evervthing  else 
undertaken  bv  Lieutenant -Commander 
Fitch,  was  well  managed.  Although  his 
command  was  not  a  large  one,  this  young 
officer  was  often  mentioned  for  gallant  and 
efficient  service,  and  he  ever  displayed 
sound  judgment,  no  matter  in  what  position 
he  was  placed.  His  officers  and  men,  in 
spired  by  his  spirit,  were  conspicuous  for 


804 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


their  bravery.  The  management  of  the  ves 
sels  on  the  occasion  we  have  just  mentioned 
required  great  judgment  and  coolness  to 
avoid  collision.  The  greatest  width  of  the 
stream  was  seventy-five  yards,  and  it  was 
so  filled  with  smoke  that  it  was  almost  im 
possible  to  see  anything.  The  little  flotilla 
arrived  in  Nashville  with  the  two  recap 
tured  transports,  "Prairie  State"  and 
"  Prima  Donna/'  in  tow,  and  also  the  "  Mag 
net,"  which  had  been  retaken  from  the 
enemy.  The  loss  of  the  Confederates  in 
their  engagement  with  the  gun-boats  was 
afterwards  found  to  be  considerable. 

On  the  4th  of  December  the  iron -clad 
steamer  "Neosho"  had  joined  the  flotilla 
of  Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch.  She  car 
ried  two  11-inch  smooth-bore  guns  and  was 
well  protected  against  shots  from  field  bat 
teries. 

On  the  9th  of  December  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Fitch  started  down  the  river 
with  the  "  Neosho  "  and  some  of  the  lighter 
gun-boats  of  his  command,  together  with 
a  number  of  army  transports.  When  nearly 
abreast  of  the  scene  of  the  encounter  of  the 
3d  inst..  a  large  force  of  Confederates  was 
discovered  advantageously  posted  to  dis 
pute  the  passage  of  the  vessels.  Fourteen 
pieces  of  artillery  at  once  opened  on  the 
gun -boats,  accompanied  by  heavy  volleys 
of  musketry  from  rifle-pits.  Fitch,  with 
his  usual  judgment,  had  left  the  transports 
three  miles  in  the  rear  under  charge  of 
Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant  Glassf  ord, 
and  when  so  furiously  assailed  did  not  hesi 
tate  a  moment  what  to  do.  He  ordered  the 
pilot  of  the  "Neosho"  to  proceed  slowly, 
while  the  enemy's  fire  was  deliberately  re 
turned,  until  the  vessels  arrived  abreast  of 
the  lower  battery.  Fitch  then  rounded-to 
and  fought  with  his  vessel's  head  up  stream 
using  grape  and  canister,  while  the 
"Neosho"  was  receiving  the  concentrated 
fire  of  all  the  enemy's  batteries. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander  Fitch's  position 
was  the  only  one  from  which  he  could  bring 
his  guns  to  bear  upon  the  different  bat 
teries,  owing  to  the  manner  in  which  they 
were  sheltered  behind  the  spurs  of  hills.  He 
had  also  great  faith  in  the  "  Neosho,"  which 
had  been  built  to  defy  the  enemy's  field 
batteries.  She  was  now  in  a  position  to 
test  her  strength  and  to  allow  her  to  use 
grape  and  canister  at  a  distance  of  thirty 
yards.  The  enemy  kept  up  a  terrific 
cross-fire,  and  their  shot  and  shell  rattled 
against  every  part  of  the  vessel ;  but  the 
deliberate  and  accurate  fire  of  the  gun 
boat  soon  drove  back  the  sharp-shooters 
and  infantry,  although  the  artillery,  being 
strongly  posted  on  the  high  bluffs  with  a 
plunging  fire,  was  found  more  difficult  to 
silence. 

In  a  short  time  everything  perishable  on 


the  outside  of  the  "Neosho "was  demol 
ished,  yet  the  little  vessel  maintained  her 
position  for  two  hours  and  a  half,  until, 
finding  that  the  enemy's  shells  were  cut 
ting  away  the  "  fair-weather  pilot  -  house," 
and  letting  it  down  so  that  it  would  hide 
the  "  fighting  pilot  -  house,"  and  thus  ob 
struct  the  sight  of  the  commanding  offi 
cer  and  pilot,  Fitch  steamed  up  the  river 
again  under  a  raking  fire,  and  gained  the 
convoy  of  transports.  Finding  it  would 
be  impossible  to  get  the  transports  be 
low  the  batteries,  without  having  them 
cut  to  pieces,  Fitch  sent  them  back  to  Nash 
ville  under  convoy  of  the  "  Fair  Play"  and 
"Silver  Lake." 

But  Fitch  was  not  to  be  balked  by  the 
Confederate  batteries  as  long  as  his  am 
munition  lasted.  He  set  all  hands  to  work 
to  clear  away  the  debris,  and  then  pro 
ceeded  down  the  river  to  his  old  position, 
taking  with  him  the  "  Carondelet,"  a  ves 
sel  which  had  withstood  the  tempest  of 
shot  and  shell  from  Forts  Henry.  Donelson, 
Vicksburg  and  Grand  Gulf.  Having  secured 
the  "Carondelet"  to  the  bank  above  the 
enemy's  batteries,  with  orders  not  to  open 
fire  until  after  the  "Neosho"  should  en 
gage,  Fitch,  in  the  latter  vessel,  proceeded 
below  the  Confederate  batteries,  rounded-to, 
and  opened  as  before. 

As  on  the  former  occasion,  the  enemy 
opened  also,  but  this  time  they  got  the 
worst  of  it,  the  "  Carondelet,"  with  her 
heavy  guns,  dealing  destruction  right  and 
left.  Two  of  the  enemy's  pieces  were  soon 
dismounted,  and  by  dark  all  but  two  of 
them  were  silenced.  These  were  fired  as 
the  "Neosho"  proceeded  up  stream,  there 
being  nothing  more  for  her  to  do. 

This  event  is  mentioned  as  an  exhibition 
of  pertinacity  and  courage  seldom  equalled. 
The  gallant  Fitch  never  shrunk  from  the 
performance  of  any  duty  however  hazard 
ous.  He  was  always  under  fire  whenever 
opportunity  offered,  not  owing  to  chance 
circumstances,  to  which  sluggards  often  at 
tribute  a  man's  reputation  for  heroism,  but 
to  a  determined  will.  This  gallant  officer 
gained  little  promotion  for  his  war  services, 
and  his  highest  recognition  was  a  compli 
mentary  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  on  the  occasion  when  he  brought 
about  the  capture  of  General  John  Morgan, 
the  celebrated  Confederate  partisan  leader. 
In  the  engagement  with  the  Confederate 
batteries,  the  "Neosho"  was  struck  one 
hundred  and  ten  times  with  shot  and 
shell,  ranging  in  size  from  20  to  30 
pounders,  but  she  received  no  injury  that 
would  have  prevented  her  from  going  into 
battle  immediately  afterwards. 

From  the  7th  to  the  loth  of  December, 
1864,  Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch's  little 
flotilla  was  most  active  in  co-operating  with 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


805 


the  Army,  making  rec  onnoissances  and  at 
tacks  on  Confederate  batteries  whenever 
they  showed  themselves  along  the  river. 
On  the  14th  inst.,  Fitch  was  requested  to 
co-operate  with  the  Army  in  order  to  cap 
ture  some  artillery.  By  a  very  skillful 
manoeuvre  on  the  part  of  the  Army  and 
Navy,  a  battery  of  four  guns  was  captured. 
While  the  Navy  were  advancing  in  front, 
the  cavalry  surrounded  and  captured  the 
battery.  In  the  afternoon  the  same  tactics 
were  successful  against  another  battery  of 
four  guns,  which  i'ell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Federal  cavalry.  The  loss  of  these  guns 
was  a  severe  blow  to  General  Hood  at  that 
moment,  for  he  was  deficient  in  artillery 


SURGEON  NINIAN  PINKNEY,  FLEET  SURGEON.  MISSISSIPPI 
SQUADRON. 

In  this  expedition  the  Federals  found  them 
selves,  on  the  15th  inst.,  in  possession  of  the 
field. 

Throughout  the  long  and  harassing  opera 
tions  which  followed  the  invasion  of 
into  Tennessee,  the  Navy  co-operated  mo* 
zealously  with  the  Army,  patrolling  the 
river,  destroying  Hood's  pontoons,  and  con 
veying  troops  from  point  to  point  in  the 
gun-boats  in  the  absence  of  other  means  of 
transportation.  In  this  wav  General  A.  J . 
Smith,  that  gallant  officer  of  the  Red  River 
expedition,  was  enabled  to  effect  a  secure 
lodgment  near  Hood's  army. 


The  efficient  co-operation  of  the  Navy  on 
the  Tennessee  River,  in  fact,  contributed 
largely  to  the  demoralization  of  General 
Hood's  forces,  as  the  gun-boats  chased  the 
Confederates  along  the  banks  and  gave  them 
no  rest.  For  thirty  days  and  nights  the 
officers  of  the  gun-boats  had  very  little  rest, 
such  was  their  zeal  in  their  effort  to  defeat 
Hood's  army,  which  had  come  so  far  to  be 
beaten,  and  was  never  again  able  to  make 
headway  against  the  Federal  forces. 

In  this  important  campaign  the  following 
was  achieved  by  the  Federal  army  :  Four 
teen  thousand  Confederates  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners,  including  nineteen  general 
officers,  seventy  guns  captured,  over  three 
thousand  stand  of  arms  taken,  twenty  am 
munition  wagons,  and  a  great  quantity  of 
ammunition.  The  onlv  reason  that  pre 
vented  the  capture  of  the  whole  Confeder 
ate  army  was  the  wretched  condition  of  the 
roads,  which  prevented  any  rapid  pursuit. 

The  Confederates  were  also  greatly  aided 
by  the  water  falling  in  the  river,  preventing 
the  gun-boats  from  reaching  Muscle  Shoals, 
the  point  were  Hood  crossed  the  Tennessee. 
All  along  the  river,  where  the  vessels  of  the 
Navy  could  penetrate,  the  destruction  of 
pontoons  and  ferry  flats  was  immense,  so 
that  the  main  body  of  the  Confederate 
Army  was  forced  to  push  on  to  the  Shoals  be 
fore  they  could  cross  the  Tennessee.  This  de 
struction  extended  from  twelve  miles  below 
Florence  for  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  miles,  and  enabled  the  Federal 
troops 'to  cut  off  large  portions  of  Hood's 
demoralized  army,  and  filled  the  woods 
with  Confederate  stragglers. 

Anything  which  bears  the  signature  of 
that  "glorious  hero,  General  George  H. 
Thomas,  will  ever  be  interesting,  and  a 
compliment  from  him  paid  to  the  Navy  will 
be  appreciated.  General  Thomas  immedi 
ately  telegraphed  to  Acting-Rear-Admiral 
Lee"  the  result  of  his  operations  against 
General  Hood,  and  expressed  his  thanks  for 
the  aid  the  Army  had  received  from  the 
naval  flotilla  on  the  Tennessee  : 

UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH,  ) 
PADUCAH,  KENTUCKY,  Dec.  30, 1804.       \ 

FBv  telegraph  from  Headquarters  Department 
Cumberland,  Pulaski,  Dec.  29,  1804.1 

SIR— Your  two  telegrams  have  been  received. 
We  have  been  pressing  the  work  as  hard  as  the 
condition  of  the  roads  would  permit,  and  have  suc 
ceeded  in  taking  some  few  prisoners  —  probably 
some  five  or  six  hundred-since  the  enemy  crossed 
Duck  River.  From  the  best  information  I  have  at  this 
time  Hood's  losses  since  he  invaded  the  State  of  1  en- 
nessee  sum  up  as  follows:  Six  (6)  general  officers 
killed  six  (0)  wounded  and  one  (1)  taken  prisoner  at 
Franklin-thirteenin  all,  and  about  six  thousand 
S  000)  men  killed,  wounded  and  taken  prisoners  at 
iame  battle.  On  the  8th  instant,  at  Murfreesboro  ,  he 
had  one  (1)  general  officer  wounded  about  one 
thousand \1,000)  men  killed,  and  two  hundred  am 
seven  'SOT)  taken  prisoners,  losing  two  (2)  pieces  of 


806 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


artillery.  In  the  battles  of  the  1st  and  16th  instant, 
before  Nashville,  he  had  one  (1)  lieutenant-general 
severely  wounded,  one  (1)  major-general  and  three 
(3)  brigadier  generals,  with  four  thousand  four  hun 
dred  and  sixty-two  (4  462)  officers  and  men  made 
prisoners,  besides  losing  fifty-three  (53)  pieces  of 
artillery  and  over  three  thousand  (3,000)  stand  of 
small-arms. 

During  his  retreat  we  have  captured  fifteen  (15) 
more  guns,  and  from  fifteen  hundred  (1,500)  to  two 
thousand  (2,000)  prisoners,  and  a  large  number  of 
small-arms  have  been  picked  up  by  the  way.  Citi 
zens  report  that  he  passed  this  place  with  his  army 
completely  disorganized,  except  the  rear  -  guard, 
composed  of  about  five  thousand  (5,000)  men.  He  de 
stroyed  a  considerable  quantity  of  ammunition  at 
thisplace,  besides  abandoning  an  ammunition-train 
of  fifteen  (15  or  twenty  (20)  wagons  about  a  mile  be- 
vond.  Your  official  co-operation  on  the  Tennessee 
River  has  contributed  largely  to  the  demoralization 
'  of  Hood's  army. 

Major-General  A.  J.  Smith,  commanding  detach 
ment  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  will  probably 
reach  Clifton  by  Sunday  next,  January  1,  1865, 
where  transports  are  expected  to  meet  him  to  take 
his  command  to  Eastport. 

Please  afford  him  every  assistance  in  your  power 
in  effecting  a  secure  lodgment  at  Eastport ;  and  as 
I  consider  the  "  Cumberland"  now  entirely  safe,  I 
will  be  obliged  to  you  if  you  will  have  a  strong 
force  kept  in  the  "  Tennessee  "  to  keep  open  naviga 
tion  on  that  river.  In  concluding  this  telegram,  it 
gives  me  great  pleasure  to  tender  to  you,  your  offi 
cers  and  men,  my  hearty  thanks  for  your  cordial 
co-operation  during  the  operations  of  the  past 
thirty  days. 

G.  H.  THOMAS, 

Major-General. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  S.  P.  LEE, 

Commanding  Mississippi  Squadron,  Chicka- 
saw,  Alabama. 

These  were  about  the  last  important 
events  in  the  history  of  the  Mississippi 
Squadron,  as  the  war  was  now  drawing 
rapidly  to  a  close.  The  retreat  of  Hood 
left  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers 
comparatively  free  from  Confederates,  and 
there  was  little  prospect  of  another  in 
vasion  of  the  State  while  General  Thomas 
remained  in  command.  The  vessels  of  the 
Mississippi  Squadron  were  scattered  along 
the  great  river,  where  the  guerillas  still 
carried  on  their  operations  on  a  small  scale. 
Very  little  occurred  that  could  embellish 
the  pages  of  history.  The  Red  River  region 
was  revisited,  the  Washita  and  Black 
Rivers  patrolled,  and  every  precaution  taken 
to  guard  those  inland  waters. 

At  this  time  the  Confederate  ram  ' '  Webb  " 
succeeded  in  making  her  way  past  all  the 
vessels  of  the  fleet  and  reached  a  point 
twenty-five  miles  below  New  Orleans,  where 
she  was  destroyed,  as  we  have  heretofore 
mentioned.  This  episode  created  quite  an 
excitement  in  the  fleet  for  the  time,  but  it 
appears  that  no  one  was  to  blame  for  the 
"Webb"  getting  so  far  down  the  river 
unharmed.  The  dash  of  the  "  Webb " 
was  the  last  affair  of  the  expiring  Confed 
erate  Navy,  and  the  last  attempt  to  carry 
out  a  valuable  cargo  of  cotton  and  naval 
stores ;  which,  had  it  been  left  on  the 


levee  at  Shreveport,  La.,  a  few  days  longer, 
could  have  been  shipped  to  New  Orleans, 
openly  insuring  the  owners  a  good  profit. 

The^ Confederate  naval  officer  in  command 
at  Shreveport,  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Carter, 
notified  the  U.  S.  naval  authorities  at  the 
mouth  of  Red  River  that  he  was  ready  to 
surrender  to  the  United  States  Government 
all  the  property  in  his  possession,  consist 
ing  of  one  useless  iron-clad  and  a  quantity 
of  naval  stores.  Twenty -four  officers  and 
eighteen  men  surrendered  themselves  and 
were  paroled,  and  that  was  the  last  of  the 
Confederate  Navy  in  the  Mississippi  region. 

When  Lieutenant  -  Commander  W.  E. 
Fitzhugh  proceeded  to  Shreveport  to  take 
possession  of  the  Confederate  naval  prop 
erty  at  that  place,  he  was  received  in  a 
friendly  manner,  and  all  seemed  anxious 
that  he  should  secure  everything  that  had 
belonged  to  the  Confederate  Government. 
Above  Alexandria,  the  few  ravages  made 
by  the  invasion  of  General  Banks'  army  had 
been  obliterated,  and  the  people  were  living 
quietly  on  their  farms,  although  deprived 
of  many  comforts  to  which  they  had 
been  accustomed.  They  were  delighted 
at  the  return  of  peace,  and  in  their  hearts, 
no  doubt,  welcomed  the  Union  flag  as  an 
old  and  well-tried  friend.  They  saw  in  the 
Union  gun-boats  the  symbols  of  lawful 
authority,  that  would  respect  the  rights  of 
citizens  and  punish  law-breakers;  and  so 
conscious  were  the  civil  authorities  on  Red 
River  that  it  was  necessary  to  have  within 
reach  the  strong  arm  of  power,  that  they 
requested  a  sufficient  naval  force  should  be 
stationed  in  their  vicinity  to  overawe  the 
malcontents,  if  there  should  be  any,  and 
assure  those  anxious  to  return  to  their  al 
legiance  that  they  should  receive  protec 
tion. 

As  a  rule,  however,  the  people  of  Louis 
iana  were  only  too  glad  to  lay  down  their 
arms  and  return  to  the  pursuits  of  peace. 
Many  of  them  had  seen,  from  the  time  when 
the  Navy  obtained  possession  of  the  Missis 
sippi  and  its  tributaries,  that  it  would  be 
useless  to  contend  against  the  power  of  the 
North.  It  is  true  that  the  Confederate 
forces  in  Arkansas,  Louisiana  and  Texas 
showed  an  indomitable  spirit  in  resisting 
the  advance  of  the  Federal  armies,  yet  they 
received  a  sufficient  number  of  checks  to 
convince  them  that  the  subjugation  of  the 
whole  country  was  merely  a  question  of 
time. 

It  is  a  fact,  which  has  been  little  com 
mented  on,  that  at  least  three  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  soldiers  from  the  slave 
'States  fought  on  the  side  of  the  Union,  and, 
had  Texas  and  Western  Louisiana  been 
securely  held,  there  would  have  been  a 
number  of  recruits  in  that  quarter  ob 
tained  for  the  Federal  Army. 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


807 


MISSISSIPPI  SQUADRON,  JANUARY,  1865. 


ACTING  REAR-ADMIRAL  SAMUEL  P.  LEE,  COMMANDING. 

STAFF— LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  C.  A.  BABCOCK,  ACTING-FLEET-CAPTAIN  ;  LIEUTENANT  F.  J.  NAILB, 
FLAG-LIEUTENANT;  ACTING- VOLUNTEER-LIEUTENANT,  WILLIAM  G.  SALTONSTALL  ;  FLEET-SUR 
GEON,  NlNIAN  PlNKNEY  ;  FLEET-PAYMASTER,  ELISHA  W.  DUNN  ;  FLEET-ENGINEER,  SAMUEL  BlCK- 

ERSTAFF;  ACTING-MASTER,  C.  R.  KNOWLES  ;  ACTING  ENSIGNS,  WM.  R.  COOPER  AND  C.  C.  GUSHING. 


"  ESSEX  "—FOUBTH-BATE. 

Commander,  Andrew  Bryson;  Acting- Volunteer- 
Lieutenant,  J.  C.  Parker;  Acting  Ensigns,  Spencer 
Johnson,  E.  M.  Wood  and  J.  H.  Barry  ;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  A.  Whitesides  and  R.  D.  Punch; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Thomas  Allan;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Chas.  W.  Slamm;  Engineers: 
Acting-Chief,  Joseph  K.  Heap;  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  J.  L.  Milliard-  Acting-Second-Assistants.  E.  P. 
Sprague  and  C.  H.  Burt;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
Nicholas  Sauer;  Gunner, Charles  Earnshaw;  Acting- 
Carpenter,  Geo.  H.  Stevens. 

"BENTON  "—FOURTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant  Commander,  E.  Y.  McCauley;  Acting- 
Master,  W.  J.  Lees;  Acting-Ensigns,  P.  H.  Randolph 
and  P.  Frazer,  Jr.;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  William 
Kisnei,  Hiram  Simonton,  A.  T.  Bisel,  R.  L.  Evans 
and  Henry  Clifton ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  J.  S. 
Wells  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  J.  Lowndes; 
Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Joseph  V.  Starr;  Acting- 
First-Assistants,  H.  W.  Fairfowl  and  S.  L.  Walkin- 
shaw;  Acting-Second  Assistants,  Oliver  Bray,  A.  A. 
Jenks  and  B.  A.  Farmer;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
William  Hatfield;  Acting-Carpenter,  Richard  Ratch- 
ford. 

"  MANHATTAN  "—FOUBTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Edw.  C.  Grafton;  Act 
ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Robert  B.  Fly;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  G.  B.  Mott,  J.  B.  Trott,  C.  H.  Sinclair  and 
J.  L.  Harris;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  W. 
Mitchell  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  H.  G. 
Thayer;  Engineers:  Acting  Chief,*C.  L.  Carty;  Act 
ing-Second- Assistants,  W.  H.  Miller,  J.  B.  Ferrand 
and  Thomas  Finnie. 

"  CHOCTAW  v — THIBD-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  J.  J.  Cornwell ;  Acting- 
Master,  Ezra  C.  Beaiuan;  Acting-Ensigns,  M.  B. 
Muncy  and  H.  C.  Marsh;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
A.  V.  Forgey,  E.  F.  Crane  and  James  Stoddard; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Edw.  Kershner-  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  E.  N.  Whitehouse;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Chief,  N.  P.  Baldwin;  Acting-First-Assistants, 
C.  E.  Arbuthnot  and  J.  Blake;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  J.  F.  Stone  and  H.  G.  Moreland;  Acting- 
Third  Assistant,  S.  C.  Babbitt;  Acting-Carpenter, 
John  A.  Stuart. 

"  LAFAYETTE"— FOURTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant  Commander,  James  P  Foster;  Act 
ing-Masters,  J.  R.  Neeld,  F.  G.  Sampson  and  J.  H. 
Welsh;  Acting- Ensigns,  Paul  Morgan  and  C.  H. 
Slocum;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  S.  O.  Lovell,  Win. 
E.  Atkins  and  Edw.  C.  Eraley;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  D.  Hayden;  Acting- Assistant- Pay  master, 
J.  P.  Kelly;  Engineers:  Acting  Chief.  Robert  Tate; 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  James  Wilkins,  J.  W. 
Paul  and  E.  H.  Kidd;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  A.  A 
Johnson ;  Acting-Gunner,  Geo.  Price  ;  Acting-Car 
penter,  J.  W.  Lister. 

"BLACK   HAWK" — THIBD-BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  James  A.  Greer;  Acting 
Masters,  Edw.  Alford  and  Henry  Baker ;  Acting  En 
signs,  C.  A.  Calvert,  R.  T.  Howell,  J.  A.  Jones,  J.  C. 
Barr  and  J.  B.  Pratt;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  B.  R. 


Baker,  A.  S.  Ludlow,  D.  A.  Boies,  A.  H.  Ahrens 
and  Jay  Nyman;Passed-Assistant-Surgeon,  Mirha.-l 
Bradley;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  C.  H.  Kirk- 
endall;  Second  Lieutenant  of  Marines,  F.  L.  Church; 
Engineers:  Acting  Chief,  Geo.  W.  Walker;  Acting- 
First  -  Assistant,  O.  G.  Richey  ;  Acting  -  Second- 
Assistant,  C.  B.  Adams  ;  Acting-Third  -  Assistants, 
W.  B.  Richey  and  J.  W.  Cassell ;  Gunner,  John  R. 
Halt;  Acting-Carpenter,  Noah  Dean. 

"  SYBIL  " — FOUBTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  John  G.  Mitchell;  Act 
ing- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  W.  Atkinson;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  John  McCleane  and  Wm.  Hammett,  Jr.; 
Acting  Master's  Mates,  J.  R.  Hugle,  H.  B.  Sprague, 
W.  H.  Smith  and  W.  W.  Rumsey;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  H.  A.  Boduian;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  T.  B.  Reed  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistnnt, 
Samuel  Tubbs;  Acting -Second -Assistant,  F.  G. 
Seavey  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  W.  M.  Piercy. 

"  NEOSHO"—  FOUBTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Robert  Boyd,  Jr.;  Act 
ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Samuel  Howard;  Acting- 
Master,  E.  F.  Brooks  ;  Acting -Ensigns,  James 
Downs  and  W.  P.  Higbee;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 

C.  C.  Royce  and  C.  T.  Rees;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  M.   A.  Miller ;   Acting- Assistant   Paymaster, 
W.  H.  Byrm;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Win.  Mills; 
Acting  -  First- Assistant,  W.  C.  Sanford;  Acting-Sec 
ond- Assistant,  J.  S.  Miles;  Acting- Third- Assistants, 
J.  F.  Humphrey,  W.  H.  Dunning  and  M.  C.  Poland, 
Acting- Gunner,  W.  T.  Devlan. 

"  LOUISVILLB'' — FOUBTH-RATB. 
Lieutenant-Commander,  George  Bacon ;  Acting- 
Master,  H.  D.  Cofflnberry;  Acting-Ensigns,  R.  H. 
Langslands,  Geo.  V.  Mead  and  Chas.  Smith;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  J.  Drew,W.  H.  English  and  J.  T. 
Hensley;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  R.  Semans; 
Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Ishain  J.  Hardy;  Acting- 
First- Assistant,  C.  W.  Reynolds ;  Acting- Second- 
Assistant,  C.  F.  Degelman;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
L.  A.  Salade  ;  Acting-Carpenter,  James  McKuea. 

"TENNESSEE  " — FOUBTH  BATE. 

Lieutenant-Commander,  Edward  P.  Lull ;  Acting*- 
Master,  C.W.  Adams;  Acting- Ensigns,  "NV.W.  Duley, 
A.  A.  Ward  and  J.  J.  P.  Zettick;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  Henry  Wyman,  Thos.  Kennedy  and  J.  Cana- 
day  ;  Assistant  "Surgeon,  W.  H.  Jones  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  P.  H.  Tawo  ;  Engineers  :  Act- 
ing-First-Assistants,  W.  C.  Perry  and  Chas.  Chad- 
wick;  Second- Assistant,  F.  C.  Goodwin;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  B.  D.  Mulligan;  Acting-Third-As 
sistants,  W.  J.  Mack  and  D.  S.  Clarke. 

4<  MOOSE  "  —  FOUBTH-BATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander,  LeRoy  Fitch;  Acting- 
Master,  W.  C.  Coulson;  Acting- Ensigns,  John  Revell, 

D.  B.    Dudley  and  Isaac  Wiltse;  Acting- Masters 
Mates,  Daniel  Molony,  O.  W.  Miles  and  W.  S.   Hoi- 
den;   Assistant  Surgeon,  W.  M.  Reber;  Acting- As 
sistant   Paymaster,  Jas.  W.  Clark;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-Chief,  Wm.  D.  McFarland;  Acting  First- Assist 
ant.  Thos.  N.  Hall;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  Chas. 
McMillan;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  D.  Hedges. 


808 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


"  OUICHITA'' — FOURTH  RATE. 

Lieutenant  -  Commander  Byron  Wilson;  Acting- 
Master,  Eugene  Zimmerman:  Acting- Ensigns,  M.  M. 
Wheeler,  R.  T.  Lamport  and  J.  W.  Adams;  Acting- 
Master  s  Mates,  Rivers  DraKe,  E.  P.  Marshall,  A.W. 
Widup,  S.  A.  Park  and  J.  H.  Moss  ;  Acting  Asistant 
Surgeon,  Geo.  E.  Francis;  Acting  Assistant  Pay 
master,  J.  R.  Meeker;  Engineers:  Acting- Chief, 
Thos.  Hebron;  Acting  -  First  -  Assistants,  John  S. 
Moore;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  G  T.  Wilson  and 
A.  H.  Tyler;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Thos.  Reed 
and  F.  A.  Morse;  Acting-Carpenter,  Richard  Nisbet. 

"  GENERAL  BURNSIDE  "-FOURTH-RATE. 

Lieutenant,  Morean  Forrest ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
David  Putman;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  Roddie 
Reynolds,  Francis  McGlincey,  W.  C.  Mndge,  Louis 
Hartlet,  Hans  Trulsen  and  Edw.  McGaughey  ;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  R.  J.  Curtis;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Geo.  D.  Rand;  Engineers.  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  Benj.  Chester;  Acting  Second- As 
sistant,  Wm.  W.  Smith;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
J.  G.  Burkley  and  Jos.  Walter. 

' '  OSAGE  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  George  W.  Rogers; 
Acting-Master, Wm.  S.  Pease;  Acting-Ensigns.W.  J. 
Durney  and  Arthur  O'Leary;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
John  C.  Winslow  and  R.  W.  Rogers;  Act  ing- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  J.  R.  Bowler;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Chief,  Thos.  Doughty;  Acting-First-Assistant,  R.  J. 
Stone;  Acting-Second-Assistants,  W.  C.  Gabbrith 
and  Wm.  Grant;  Acting  -Third  -  Assistants,  Wm. 
Burke  and  J.  M.  Wilson;  Acting-Carpenter,  C.  C. 
Gilliland. 

"  CARONDELET  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant,  Chas.  P.  Clark; 
Acting- Master,  C.  W.  Miller;  Acting-Ensigns,  Oliver 
Donaldson,  S.  D.  Jordan  and  T.  A.  Quinn-  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  L.  W.  Hastings,  W.  H.  H.  DeGroot, 
Geo.  F.  Bean,  Wm.  J.  Fraks  and  W.  D.  McKean, 
Jr.;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  Curtis;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  G.  W  Robertson;  Engineers: 
Acting-Chief,  Chas.  H.  Caven;  Acting-Second-As 
sistants,  M ichael  Norton  and  W.  S.  Barlow;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  John  McWilliams  and  Thomas 
Mattingly;  Acting-Carpenter,  Geo.  W.  Kenny. 

"  CHILLICOTHE  "-  -FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant,  Geo.  P.  Lord;  Act 
ing-Master,  J.  M.  Holmes;  Acting-Ensigns  J.  D. 
Buckley,  H.  A.  Hannon,  H.  Shoemaker  and  R.  H. 
Day;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  W.  S.  Thomas,  James 
Harrington  and  JohnH.  Ely:  Acting- Assistant  Sur- 

5 eon,  Gk  C.  Osgood;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster, 
.  H.  Hathaway;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  A.  W. 
Hardy;  Acting-First- Assistant,  Chas.  Trotter;  Act 
ing-Second-  Assistants,  J.  W.  Hymen  and  Anthony 
Lane;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  *J.  W.  Ferrell;  Act 
ing-Gunner,  Wm.  E.  Keyes;  Acting-Carpenter,  J.  H. 
Fink. 

' '  AVENGER  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Charles  A.  Wright; 
Acting-Ensigns,  John  Gregg,  J.  H.  Neely  and  John 
Maloney;  Acting  -  Master  s  Mates,  Henry  Walters, 
J.  D.  Moore  and  E.  W.  Perry;  Acting  Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  H.  Moses;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster, 
J.  W.  Van  Cleve,  Jr.;  Engineers:  Acting  -  Chief, 
John  G.  Scott;  Acting-First-Assistant,  J.  A.  Burns; 
Acting  Second-Assistant,  S.  S.  Patterson;  Acting- 
Third  Assistants,  Wm.  Jayne  and  Thomas  McGar- 
rity  ;  Acting-Carpenter,  Benj.  H.  Brink. 

"  EXCHANGE  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  James  C.  Gipson; 
Acting-Ensigns,  C.  L.  Meany  and  R.  W.  Brown; 
Acting-Master's  Mates,  G.  T.  Miller,  B.  F.  Saunders 
and  J.  W.  Clawson;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  M. 
Goodwin;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  D.  Davis, 
Jr.;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  A.  G.  Per 


kins;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  C.  C.  Streepey;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistant,  B.  F.  Graham. 

"PITTSBURGH  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-  Lieutenant  -Commander,  Wm. 
R.  Hoel;  Acting-Master,  S.  B.  Coleman;  Acting-En 
signs,  James  Ovatt  and  Freeman  Vincent;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  John  Scott,  C.  B.  Jones  and  F.  M. 
McCord:  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  M  Follett, 
Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  Charles  H.  Gould;  En 
gineers  :  Acting-Chief,  Geo.  H.  Atkinson;  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  E.  R.  Pavy;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ants,  W.  H.  Mitchell  and  Robert  Milby;  Acting- 
Gunner,  F.  C.  Green;  Acting-Carpenter,  Wm.  C. 
Boggs. 

"  REINDEER" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  H.  A.  Glassford ; 
Acting-Master,  JohnH.  Rice;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.W. 
Spooner  and  T.  M.  Lewis  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates, 
G.  S.  Upton,  E.  Gasaway  and  W.  H.  Burton;  Act 
ing- Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  A.  Jordan;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  W.  W.  Barry;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  A.  H.  Bagby;  Acting  Second- As 
sistant,  N.  Conner;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  G.  M. 
Hayman. 

' '  TAYLOR  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  Fred'k  S.  Hill; 
Acting  Masters,  W.  T.  Power  and  Charles  Ackley; 
Acting-Ensigns,  J.  W.  Lalor  and  W.  H.  C.  Michael; 
Acting -Masters  Mates,  W.  P.  Eakle  and  H.  S. 
Allen;  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  Sam  1  Menden- 
hall;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  H.  Holt; 
Engineers  :  Acting-Chief,  James  Fleming;  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  J.  R.  Ramsey;  Acting-Second-As 
sistants,  Wm.  Furck  and  Philip  Sheridan;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  Walter  Mossington  and  S.  H. 
Lancaster;  Acting-Carpenter,  J.  M.  Peabody. 

"  VINDICATOR  " — THIRD-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Henry  H.  Gorringe; 
Acting-Masters,  J.  F.  Reed  and  D.  P.  Slattery; 
Acting-Ensigns,  W.  Zimmerman,  B.  C.  Wheeler  and 
J.W.Foster;  Acting -Master's  Mates,  L.  C.  Ball,. 
John  Davis,  Lewis  Lehman,  Henry  Kane  and  A.  A. 
King;  Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  E.  Vaughn; 
Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  W.  Hanson;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Chief, 'Thomas  Cook;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  Chas.  Tistandt,  Anthony  Courtway  and 
James  O  Neil ;  Acting -Third- Assistants,  S.  H.  Bro- 
gan,  Andrew  Lusk  and  John  Link;  Acting-Gunner, 
Win.  H.  Barton;  Acting-Carpenter,  James  Trulty. 

"  HASTINGS  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  J.  S.  Watson;  Act 
ing-Master,  Win.  Neil;  Acting-Ensigns,  C-  H.  Reed 
and  Jas.  McDonald  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates,  E.  C. 
Urnerand  W.  H.  Gray;  Assistant  Surgeon,  James 
M.  Flint;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  P.  J.  Stone, 
Jr.;  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  H.  L.  Juce; 
Acting  Second- Assistants,  Edwin  Senior  and  An 
drew  Wilson  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  A.  M.  Was- 
son  and  Geo.  W.  Amsden. 

"FOREST  ROSE"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  A.  N.  Gould  ;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  H.  B.  Graves,  C.  W.  Johnston  and 
Geo.  G.  Cox  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Ira  Athearn. 
C.  W.  Crooker  and  J.  M.  Stewart;  Acting- Assistant 
Surgeon,  R.  Cadwallader ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  A.  J.  Myers;  Engineers:  Acting  -  First- 
Assistant,  Francis  Marsh  ;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  Joseph  Kennedy;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Silas 
Huskey. 

"ST.   CLAIR  " — FOURTH- RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant,  James  S.  French; 
Acting-Ensigns,  Joseph  Sawyer,  W.  A.  Burchard 
and  H.  O.  Proctor;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  W.  S. 
Culbertson.  James  Reid  and  W.  T.  Ross  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  H.  Johnson;  Engineers t 


OF  THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


809 


Acting-First- Assistant,  Wr.i.  McLean  ;  Acting-Sec 
ond -Assistant,  Edward  Lozier ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ant,  Michael  J.  Soden. 

"  LEXINGTON  "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting -Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  William  Flye  • 
Acting- Ensigns,  Henry  Booby,  J.  G.  Megler, 
C.  C.  Briggs  and  Howard  Hale ;  Acting  -  Mas 
ter's  Mates,  C.  W.  Botten  and  Ezra  McDunn ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  M.  Mixer;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  Doane;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Chief,  W.  H.  Meredith;  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant, 
A.  L.  Mann;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  Reuben 
Story:  Acting  -Third  -Assistants,  Jacob  Vittinger 
and  Win.  T.  Xeal;  Acting-Gunner,  Louis  Frederick; 
Acting-Carpenter,  R.  Can-oil. 

' '  CINCINNATI  "  —FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Jason  Goudy;  Act 
ing-Master,  J.  R  Williams;  Acting-Ensigns,  Walter 
Pinner  and  S.  J.  Benight ;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
J.  G.  Abbott,  A.  B.  Allen  and  J.  B.  A.  Conant;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  E.  Dayton ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  J.  R.  Carmody ;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
Chief,  J.W.  Hartuper ;  Acting-First-Assistant,  E.  IX 
Collett ;  Acting- Second  -  Assistants,  T.  Guernsey 
and  G.  W.  Dean  ;  Acting  Third- Assistants,  Andrew 
Bolandand  John  Henry;  Acting  Gunner, L.  K.  Ellis; 
Acting-Carpenter,  John  Cronan. 

"  NAUMKEAG"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  John  Rogers;  Act 
ing-Ensigns,  Thos.  Cad  well;  Acting-Master  s  Mates, 
Alex.  Procter,  H.  R.  Ferris  and  J.  P.  Popejoy;  Act 
ing-Assistant  Surgeon,  Edgar  L.  R.  Draper;  Acting- 
Assistant-Paymaster,  Henry  B.  Mears  ;  Engineers  : 
Acting-First-Assistant,  Edward  Cage  ;  Acting-Sec 
ond-Assistant,  J.  A.  McCormick  ;  Acting  -  Third- 
Assistant,  J.  R.  Byland. 

"  FORT  HINDMAN" -FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  John  Pearce;  Act 
ing-Master,  J.  J.  Rogers;  Acting -Ensigns,  N.  T. 
Rennell  and  Chas.  Marsden  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 

C.  F.    A.    McCord,   S.  N.    Barker  and  E.  C.  Ellis ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  N.  L.  Gerouid  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,    J.    R.   Bowler;    Engineers: 
Acting-First-Assistant,  Thos.  Girty;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,    John    Coock  ;    Acting-Third-Assistants, 

D.  B.  Cox,  Eli  Powell  and  R.  Yocum. 

"BRILLIANT"    FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  Chas.  G.  Perkins  ; 
Acting-Master,  G.  D.  Little  ;  Acting-Ensign,  N.  F. 
Vaughan ;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  C.  D.  Griggs  ;  Act 
ing  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  Milton  James ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  B.  Page  ;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
First  -  Assistant,  W.  E.  Willey  ;  Acting  -  Second- 
Assistant,  Jas.  Cutler;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  C.W. 
Egster  and  R.  M.  Myers. 

"  OZ ARK  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant,  Geo.  W.  Brown; 
Acting-Master,  John  Powell ;  Acting-Ensigns,  Jos. 
Moyer,  C.  M.  Bragg  and  C.  M.  Fuller;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  N.  T.  Brown,  G.  A.  Ege  and  D.  C.  Fra- 
lick ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  F.  T.  Gillette  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistants,  J.  H.  Everhart 
and  A.  J.  Sypher  ;  Acting-Second  Assistants,  J.  L. 
Parsons  and  G.  M.  Baker;  Acting-Third-Assistants. 
C.  Beal  and  Southwell  Lyon;  Acting  Gunner,  J.  F. 
Riblett ;  Acting-Carpenter,  H.  J.  Ervin. 

"PEOSTA"— FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  J.  E.  Smith;  Act 
ing-Master,  J.  L.  Bryant ;  Acting-Ensigns,  C.  H. 
Gullick,  R.  T.  Nelson,"  J.  W.  Richards  arid  W.  W. 
Phillips;  Acting -Master's  Mates.  E.  A.  Dumont  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  Isaac  T.  Coates  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  C.  Spalding  :  Engineers  : 
Acting-First  Assistants,  Perry  South  and  J.  Bole- 


jack;  Acting-Second-Assistant.  T.  M.  Sloan;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  G.  W.  Mariield  :  Acting-Carpenter, 


lu.  Reid. 


"  JULIET  "—FOURTH-RATE. 


Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Thos.  B.  Gregory  ; 
Acting -Ensign,  E.  C.Williams;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  G.  A.  Gregory,  J.  S.  McCoy,  G.  W.  Ball  and 
W.  M.  Mullen  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  \V.  W. 
Wentworth;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  Linsly, 
Jr.,  Engineers:  Acting  First -Assistant,  W.  H. 
Hardin  ;  Acting -Second -Assistant,  J.  G.  Briggs; 
Acting-Third- Assistant,  Thomas  Hanua. 

"  KENWOOD  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting  -  Volunteer  -  Lieutenant,  John  Swaney  ; 
Acting-Ensigns,  J.  C.  Weeks,  J.  L.  Reed  and  N.  H. 
Coiiklin;  Acting  Master's  Mates,  M.  M.  Yorston  and 
W.  R.  Moffatt  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J).  W. 
Van  Houten  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  First- Assistant, 
T.  J.  Mallon  ;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  W.  J. 
Milligan ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  H.  Holman. 

"  INDIANOLA  "~  FOURTH- RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  James  Lanning. 

"  GENERAL  BRAGG  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,  Cyrenius  Deminey  ; 
Acting- Master,  W.  L.  Holcomb  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
M.  Houston  and  F.  H.Waite;  Acting-Master's  Mates, 
James  Williams,  C.  L.  Chapman  and  Win.  Dickson; 
Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  A.  Castle;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  L.  C.  Stebbins  ;  Engineers : 
Acting-Chief,  James  Miller;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ants,  Jos.  Anderson  and  J.  A.  Wilson  ;  Acting-Car 
penter,  J.  W.  Kennedy. 

"GENERAL  PRICE"  FOURTH-RATE. 
Acting- Volunteer  Lieutenant,  W.  R.  Wells  ;  Act 
ing-Master,  H.  E.  Bartlett ;  Acting-Ensigns,  J.  H. 
Leever  and  D.  P.  Bosworth,  Jr. ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  D.  McKay,  P.  Barclay  and  W.  W.  McCracker; 
Acting  -  Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  Harvey;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  T.  F.  Croft ;  Engineers  :  Act 
ing-Chief,  Thos.  Sheffer  ;  Acting -First -Assistant, 
A.  R.  Calhoun;  Actirig-Second-Assistant,  A.  Camp 
bell  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  J.  B.  Baldwin  and 
R.  A.  Hyle  ;  Acting-Carpenter,  W.  C.  Stiver. 

"  PAW-PAW  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master.  M.  V.  B.  Haines ;  Acting- Ensigns, 
J.  H.  Rivers  and  W.  L.  Constantino  ;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  John  Pybus  and  J.  D.  Coriell  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  O.  A.  Rives :  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  A.  S.  Me  Williams ;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  E.  Reynolds;  Acting-Second  Assist 
ant,  B.  S.  Bull ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  T.  K.  Hill. 

"  PBAIRIE  BIRD" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Thomas  Burns  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
J.  W.  Chambers  arid  W.  M.  Ernst ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  J.  B.  Morton,  J.  K.  Lull,  Jr.,  W.  D.  Bangs 
and  W.  D.  Carley ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster, 
Lafayette  Harter  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assist 
ant,  Geo.  Rodabaugh  ;  Acting  -  Second  Assistant, 
Joseph  Grippin  ;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant,  M.  G. 
Marsiilot. 

"  MOUND  CITY  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Frederick  T.  Coleman ;  Acting- 
Ensigns,  W.  H.  Decker  and  T.  J.  Dean;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  B.  W.  Herr,  S.  S.  Spangler,  W.  M.  Ster- 
ritt  and  C.  B.  Hapgood  ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  Win.  H.  Baer ;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Edw. 
Merriman  ;  Acting -First- Assistant,  Alex.  Magee; 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  M.  Hartwell,  J.  B.  At- 
wood,  G.  N.  Heisel  and  F.  Van/ant;  Acting- 
Gunner,  T.  H.  Green  ;  Acting  -  Carpenter,  Jerome 
Burns. 

"JUDGE  TORREVCE" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,   Jeremiah  Irwin  ;  Acting  Ensign. 


810 


THE  NAVAL    HISTORY 


"Win.  Sill ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  Chas.  White  ; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  H.  Marshall  ;  Engi 
neers:  Acting-Chief,  P.  R.  Hartwig;  Acting-Seoqnd- 
Assistants,  Jasper  Holman  and  E.  C.Jones;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  John  Denhart. 

1 '  AROOSY. " 

Acting-Master,  John  C.  Morong;  Acting- Ensigns, 
G.  T.  Hazlett  and  A.  B.  Homer ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  Peter  Lake  and  J .  A.  McCreary  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  R.  E.  Patterson  ;  Engineers  : 
Acting-First-Assistant,  Thos.  Blanchard  ;  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  Chas.  Silvercahn  ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  A.  Donnelly. 

"  ALEXANDRIA  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  D.  P.  Rosemiller;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  D.  M.  Stauffer  ;  Engineers:  Acting- First- 
Assistant,  H.  C.  Shibly  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
J.  S.  Willcoxan  ;  Acting -Third- Assistant,  J.  W. 
Morton. 

"  MARMORA  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Thomas  Gibson  ;  Acting- Ensigns, 
D.  D.  Bond  and  Thos.  West;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
Win.  Arnold,  E.  C.  Nye  and  W.  B.  Tice ;  Acting. 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Emile  Gavarret ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  Chas.  R.  Howard;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  A.  H.  Armstrong  ;  Acting-Sec 
ond-Assistant,  F.  A.  Cramer ;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ant,  C.  S.  Hamiiton. 

u  FAIR   PLAT  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  George  J.  Groves;  Acting-Ensigns, 
J.  H.  Singleton,  L.  R.  Hamersley  and  J.  S.  De  For 
rest  ;  Acting- Masters  Mates,  C.  B,  Thatcher,  J.  W. 
Harbin  and  W  H.  Roberts  ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  John  G.  Sankey ;  Engineers  :  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  Robert  Mattratha;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  John  Mayhugh  ;  Acting-Third- Assistants,  Wm. 
Davizley  and  C  C.  Rusford  ;  Acting  -  Carpenter, 
Thomas  Manning. 

"  FAWN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  John  R.  Grace  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
John  Sullivan  and  John  Conden  ;  Acting  -  Master  s 
Mates,  Chas.  Murray,  E.  D.  O'Bryon  and  J.  A.  Lea- 
man  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  A.  S.  Apgar  ; 
Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  Edw.  C.  Peck ; 
Acting  -  Second  -  Assistants,  G.  W.  Gough  and 
Michael  O'Reiley  ;  Acting-  Third  -  Assistant,  C.  A. 
Cooper. 

"HUNTRESS  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  John  S.  Dennis  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
J.  M.  Flynt  and  Frank  Middleton;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  H.  Z.  Allphin,  B.  F.  Brumback  and  J.  R. 
Thomas:  Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  H.  S.  DeFord; 
Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  E.  J.  Hurling:  Engi 
neers:  Acting-First  Assistant,  John  Cullin;  Acting- 
Second  -  Assistant,  Isaac  Ackley  ;  Acting  -  Third- 
Assistant,  Johnson  Crawford. 

"NEW  ERA" — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  A.  C.  Sears;  Acting-Ensigns,  W  B. 
Shilleto  and  C.  A.  Schetky;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
W.  F.  Renner,  A.  Hamiiton  and  Henry  Ufford  ; 
Acting- Assistant-Surgeon,  Geo.  A.  Warren;  Acting- 
Assistant-Paymaster,  Wm.  B.  Purdy  ;  Engineers  • 
Acting-First-Assistant,  Israel  Marsh;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  A.  W.  Smith  and  J.  W.  Edmundson  • 
Acting- Carpenter,  Byard  Martin. 

'  CRICKET  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Master,  M.  J.  Cronin  ;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
N.  A.  Closson  and  Ignatius  Daum  ;  Acting- Master's 
Mates,  H.  C.  Bates,  J.  W.  Summers,  Louis  J.  Mar 
shall  and  Walter  Lawrence  ;  Acting- Assistant  Sur 
geon,  Stephen  Cushing  ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  C.  S.  Dunscomb;  Engineers:  Acting  -  First - 
Assistant,  Jebin  Fox;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  T  C 
Ridgly  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  R.  A.  Halderman. 


' '  NYMPH  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Patrick  Donnelly;  Acting-Ensigns, 
F.  M.  Hathaway  and  L.  Gardner ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  W.  C.  Williams,  W.  C.  Frost,  C.  A.  Benham, 
F.  W.  Whiteside  and  W.  W.  Hosea ;  Acting-Assist 
ant  Surgeon,  D.  P.  Taylor  ;  Acting-Assistant  Pay 
master,  Arthur  Slbley  ;  Engineers:  Acting -First- 
Assistant,  N.  D.  Smith  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
Z.  Brickell ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  A.  T.  Horner 
and  W.  H.  Poulson. 

"  NAIAD  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Henry  T.  Keene  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
R.  W.  Alson  and  B.  G.  Van  Dyke ;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  L.  A.  Cole,  C.  H.  Leamanand  C.  E.  Townley; 
Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  M.  P.  Lowry  ;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  R.  P.  Morrow  ;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  C.  Abbott;  Acting -Third- 
Assistants,  W.  H.  Collins,  Edw.  W,  Brooks  and 
J.  H.  Henderson. 

"  GREAT  WESTERN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Benj.  Sebastian  ;  Acting-Ensign, 
D.W.  Tainter;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  A.  S.  Thomp 
son,  N.  E.  Moore,  W.  F.  Thomas  and  H.  P.  Bos- 
worth ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  F.  W.  Wunder- 
lich  ;  Paymaster,  Geo.  L.  Davis  ;  Chaplain,  W.  H. 
Stewart;  Engineers:  Acting-First- Assistant,  G.  W. 
Fulton  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  A.  L.  Sinis. 

"  FAIRY  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Masters,  W.  E.  H.  Fentriss  and  Chas. 
Swendson  ;  Acting- Ensigns,  J.  S.  Roberts,  J.  S. 
Hurlbut  and  C.  B.  Plattenburg  ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  H.  A.  Thoburn  and  James  Lawler  ;  Acting- 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  F.  Beasley  ;  Acting- Assist 
ant  Paymaster,  H.  T.  Wright;  Engineers  :  Acting- 
First-Assistant,  S.  H.  Linn  ;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  W.  H.  Stiles  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Lorenzo 
Fulton. 

"SILVER  CLOUD" — FOURTH-RATE. 
Acting-Master,  Win.  Ferguson  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
Rob't  Wilkinson,  J.  M.  Reid  and  J.  C.  Hall;  Acting- 
Master's  Mates,  J.  M.  Darrah,  R.  S.  Critchell  and 
J.  H.  Bentley ;  Acting  Assistant  -  Surgeon,  O.  B. 
Damon  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Paymaster,  W.  H.  Ha- 
thorne  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  First  -Assistant,  B.  F. 
Clark;  Acting  Second-Assistant,  W.  A.  Collins;  Act 
ing-Third-Assistants,  J.  W.  Shellenberger  and  C.  M. 
Milligan. 

"  PERI  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Thos.  M.  Farrell ;  Acting-Ensign, 
E.  C.  Higgins  ;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Carter 
and  W.  H.  Haven;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon,  T.  F. 
Leech ;  Acting- Assistant- Paymaster,  C.  W.  Bull ; 
Engineers :  Acting  Third-Assistants,  J.  A.  Good 
win,  David  Pace  and  John  W.  Ross. 

"  GENERAL  THOMAS  "--FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Gilbert  Morton ;  Acting-Ensign, 
Richard  McCallister;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Joseph 
Grenlick,  A.  C.  Orcutt,  L.  D.  Simonds  and  Hans 
Trulsen;  Engineers:  Acting-First-A-sistant,  G.  W. 
Burrows;  Acting-Second- Assistant,  W.  E.  Cowle; 
Acting-Third-Assistants,  Jackson  Andrew  and  J.W. 
Miles. 

"  ROMEO  "—  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master,  Thomas  Baldwin;  Acting-Ensigns, 
R.  P.  Shaw  and  J.  E.  Ernst;  Acting-Master's  Mates. 
John  Winram  and  W.  J.  Franks:  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  E.  R.  Moffatt;  Engineers:  Acting-First- 
Assistant,  J.  N.  McCurdy;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  W.  E.  Taylor  ;  Acting  -  Third-  Assistant,  Wm. 
Teal. 

"RATTLER  "—FOURTH-BATE. 

Acting-Master,  N.  B.  Willetts  ;  Acting-Ensigns, 
H.  N.  Wells,  S.  H.  Strunk  and  H.  E.  Church ;  Act 
ing-Master's  Mate,  John  Cronin  and  W.  N .  Bock ; 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


811 


Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  "W.  B.  Hartman;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  George  P.  Peck;  Engineers  : 
Acting- First-Assistant  C.  P.  Seager;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  G.  W.  Shields  and  J.  H.  Hurue. 

"  SIREN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  -  Master,  James  Fitzpatrick ;  Acting -En 
signs,  T.  G.  Herron  and  Z.  T.  Tibbatts ;  Acting 
Master's  Mates,  E.  H.  Thompson,  J.  P.  Jordan,  C.  E. 
Jordon  and  H.  W.  Gray  ;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
Lewis  Westfall ;  Acting-Assistant  Paymaster,  S.  S. 
Davis;  Engineers:  Acting-First  Assistant,  William 
Bishop;  Acting-Second- Assistant,  James  Abrams ; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  R.  Meredith. 

"SILVER  LAKE  " — FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting  -  Masters,  J.  C.  Coyle  and  G.  W.  Bone  ; 
Acting-Masters  Mates,  Samuel  McKee,  J.  S.  Dubois 
and  F.  N.  Schooley ;  Acting- Assistant  -  Surgeon, 
J.  H.  Mills:  Engineers:  Acting-First-Assistant,  Sam'l 
Ecoff  ;  Acting-Second-Assistant,  William  J.  O'Neill. 
"SPRINGFIELD  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Edrn.  Morgan ;  Acting-  Ensigns, 
H.  D.  Disereus  and  J.  E-  Wright ;  Acting-Master  s 
Mates,  J.  Cunningham,  H.  Homkomp  and  William 
J.  Rudd;  Engineer:  Acting-First-Assistant  R.  Mc 
Lean  ;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  William  Bell  and 
H.  J.  Spence. 

"  VICTORY  " — FOUBTH-RATE. 

Acting-Master,  Frederick  Read;  Acting  -  Ensigns, 
"W.  B.  Trufant  and  John  Fisher;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  R.  L.  Taylor,  J.  L.  Kelso  and  G.  W.  Kepler; 
Acting-Assistant  Surgeon,  G.  W.  Shields;  Acting- 
Assistant  Paymaster,  Benj.  Page;  Engineers:  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  J.  L.  Winston  ;  Acting-Second- 
Assistant.  J.  C.  Jones;  Acting -Third -Assistants, 
Sain'l  Henery  and  G.  W.  Postlethwaite. 

"  GENERAL  SHERMAN  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting- Master.  J.  W.  Morehead;  Acting-Ensigns, 
E.  D.  Hurd  and  C.  L.  McChing ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  D.  J.  Chadwick  and  M.  Pinney;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  J.  W.  Street  and  David 
Street;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  Horace  Stedman 
and  T.  H.  Hamilton. 

"  GENERAL  GRANT." 

Acting-Ensigns,  Joseph  Watson  and  S.  H.  Harbe 
son;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  E.  B.  McSweeney,  D.  G. 
Porter  and  H.  W.  Kruse;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeon, 
W.  D.  Hoffman;  Engineers  :  Acting- First- Assistant, 
H.  W.  Taylor;  Acting  Second-Assistant,  Edw.  Cos- 
tello  :  Acting-Third-Assistants,  William  McKenzie, 
D.  Shaw  and  G.  E.  Reno. 

<k  CHAMPION  "—FOURTH  RATE. 

Acting  -  Ensigns,  Thomas  Devine,  M.  Allen  and 
A.  Hagerup;  Acting-Master's  Mates,  Herman  Alms, 
Benj.  Nelson,  T.  J.  Eckert  and  C.  F.  Beall;  Act 
ing  Assistant  Surgeon,  Geo.  O.  Allen;  Acting- As 
sistant  Paymaster,  Geo.  F.  Bennis;  Engineers  :  Act 
ing-First-Assistant,  John  Johnston;  Acting  Second- 
Assistants,  Geo.  Walde  and  C.  A.  Fisher;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  J.  J.  Suor  and  Win.  Lingle. 

"  CURLEW  " — FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  H.  B.  O'Neill  and  M.  G.  Bailey; 
Acting  -  Master's  Mate,  Thomas  Crawford,  C.  W. 
Dunlap  and  Robert  S.  Balestier;  Acting-Assistant 
Surgeon,  John  Gorden;  Acting- Assistant  Paymas 
ter,  J.  R.  Morris;  Engineers  :  Acting-First-Assistant, 
Benj.  A.  Hoffman :  Acting-Second-Assistant,  L.  S. 
Everson  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  C.  C.  Grain. 
"  GAZELLE"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  A.  S.  Palmer,  James  Derring 
and  Conrad  Erickson  ;  Acting- Master's  Mates  A  G. 
Bog<^s  and  J.  W.  Mullen  ;  Acting  -  Assistant  1  .ay- 
master,  H.  A.  Mitchell;  Engineers:  Acting-First 
sistant,  A.  H.  Armstrong;  Acting-Second-Assistants, 
F  M  Peak  and  Frank  S.  Wyman;  Actmg-Third- 
Assistants,  F.  C.  Warrington  and  Frank  Leach. 


"  LITTLE   REBEL  "  —  FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensiern,  Jos.  P.  Pettey;  Acting-Master's 
Mates,  N.  P.  Jacobs,  J.  F.  Rulow,  Isaac  H.  Brown 
and  W.  H.  Evans:  Engineers:  Acting  -  Second  -  As 
sistants,  Julius  Elliter  and  J.  M.  Miller;  Acting- 
Third-Assistants,  E.  H.  Burton  and  G.  Dorsey. 

''  ROBB  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns.  James  Tushy  and  Howard  Hale; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  J.  H.  Jacoby  and  W.  L. 
Berrian;  Engineers:  Acting  First- Assistant.  Benj. 
Everson  ;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  J.  G.  Moore  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  B.  H.  Collier. 

"  TENSAS  "—FOURTH  BATE. 

Acting  -  Ensigns,  A.  C.  Van  Pelt  and  Jacob 
Rutherford;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  Henry  Van  Vel- 
sor;  Engineers  :  Acting  Second  Assistants,  Sam'l 
Weaver  and  Park  Scan  Ian;  Acting-Third-Assist 
ants,  Nathan  Spear  and  N.  J.  Brooks. 

"  VOLUNTEER  ''—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensigns,  M.  R.  Haines  and  Louis  Kenny; 
Acting- Master's  Mates,  J.  A.  Coleman  and  M.  L. 
Kirk;  Engineers:  Acting- First  -  Assistants,  Peter 
Wagner  and  G.  W.  Taylor;  Acting-Second-Assist 
ant,  R.  A.  Benneson;  Acting-Third-Assistant,  Wm. 
T.  Moore. 

"  SAMSON  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting  Ensign,  Geo.W.  Painter;  Acting- Assistant 
Paymaster,  H.  A.  Mitchell:  Engineers:  Acting- 
Chief,  C.  H.  Christopher;  Acting-First-Assistant, 
Win.  Paul,  Jr. 

"GENERAL  PILLOW  "- FOURTH -RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Frank  W.  Halsted;  Acting-Mas 
ter's  Mates,  Geo  B.  Hall,  B.  F.  Craig  and  W  H.  Do- 
bell ;  Engineers:  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistants,  J.  T. 
Slack  and  W.  H.  Cornell. 

"NEW  NATIONAL"— FOURTH-RATE. 

Acting-Ensign,  J.  M.  Farmer;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mates,  J.  D.  Holmes,  W.  B.  Floyd,  W.  E.  Jelleyand 
H.  A.  Taylor ;  Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  J.  W. 
Keley  ;  Engineers:  Acting -First- Assistant,  W.  O. 
Logue;  Acting-Third-Assistants,  G.  W.  Aikin,  G.  R. 
Bell,  Oliver  Rosebush  and  W.  M.  Ulix. 

RECEIVING-SHIP  "  GRAMPUS." 

Acting  -  Ensigns,  J.  W.  Litherbury  and  Robert 
Howdeu;  Acting  Master  s  Mates,  C.  J.  Dananda, 
A.  H.  Lewis  and  W.  H.  Corey  :  Acting  -  Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  J.  McElhany ;  Acting  -  Assistant  Pay 
master,  Edw.  D.  Hayden. 

HOSPITAL-SHIP  "RED  ROVER." 

Acting- Ensigns,  Charles  King  and  J.  J.  Irwin; 
Fleet-Surgeon,  Ninian  Pinkney  ;  Passed-Assistant 
Surgeon,  J.  S.  Knight;  Acting- Assistant  Surgeons, 
G.  H.  Bixby  and  J.  F.  Field;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  A.  W.  Pearson;  Acting-Master's  Mate,  R.  G. 
Van  Ness;  Engineers:  Acting-Chief,  Wm.  J.  Buf- 
finton;  Acting- First- Assistant,  Wm.  Sprague;  Act 
ing-Second-Assistant,  W.  M.  Fletcher;  Acting-Third- 
Assistants,  W.  H.  Vanwert  and  J.  T.  English;  Act 
ing-Carpenter,  Harlow  Kinney. 

TUG  "FERNV 

Acting-Ensign,  John  M.  Kelly;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Jacob  Bomgarnar;  Engineers:  Acting-Sec 
ond- Assistant,  John  Reed;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
A.  K.  Porter. 

TUG  "MISTLETOE." 

Acting-Ensign,  Janes  L.  Lingley;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  John  Thompson;  Engineers:  Acting-Sec-ond- 
Assistant,  D.  S.  Miller;  Acting  -  Third  -  Assistant, 
Allison  Hay  wood. 

TUG    "  MIGNONETTE." 

Acting-Ensign,  H.  D.  Green:  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second-Assistant,  W.  L.  Calhoun  ;  Acting-Third- 
Assistant,  G.  W.  Pyle. 


812 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


TUG  ' '  MYRTLE. 

Acting-Ensign,  Isaac  N.  Goldsmith;  Engineers: 
Acting-Second-Assistant,  Geo.  Longwell ;  Acting- 
Third-Assistant,  J.  H.  Wright. 

TUG  "PANSY." 

Acting- Ensign,  Wm.  Harris;  Acting-Master's  Mate, 
A.  McCarthy;  Engineer:  Acting-Second-Assistant, 
H.  A.  Cady. 

TUG  "  LAUREL." 

Acting-Ensign,  W.  R.  Owen;  Engineers:  Acting- 
Second  -  Assistant,  Chas.  Hilling;  Acting  -  Third 
Assistant,  L.  E.  Davis. 

TUG  "DAHLIA." 

Acting-Ensign,  W.  H.  Strope  ;  Acting  -  Master's 
Mate,  Thomas  Roach ;  Engineer  :  Acting  -  Second- 
Assistant,  A.  R.  Smith. 

TUG    "HYACINTH." 

Acting- Ensign,  J.  B.  Hizerman;  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  James  Malis  ;  Engineers  :  Acting  -  Second- 
Assistant,  M.  L.  Andrews  ;  Acting-Third-Assistant, 
L.  C.  Thatcher. 

TUG   "IVY." 

Acting-Ensign,  Perry  C.  Wright:  Acting-Master's 
Mate,  Daniel  Sullivan;  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant 
Engineer,  Thomas  Nerley. 

TUG    "  THISTLE." 

Acting-Ensign,  R.  J.  Ettingham  ;  Acting-Master's 


Mate,  J.  W.  Hamhrick  ;  Engineers  :  Acting-Second- 
Assistant,  W.  P.  Clugsten;  Acting-Third-Assistants, 
L.  H.  Jones  and  Byrd  Allen. 

TUG  "DAISY." 

Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  Joseph  Graham  ;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting  -  Second  -  Assistant,  F.  M.  Magers  ; 
Acting-Third-Assistant,  J.  E.  Henderson. 

"W.   H.    BEOWN  "— FOUBTH-EATE. 

Pilot,  Jefferson  A.  French;  Acting- Ensign,  J. 
Shinn  ;  Acting  -  Master's  Mates,  O.  Deweese,  Jr., 
R.  H.  Hopkins  and  C.  W.  Dimmock;  Engineers: 
Acting-First-Assistant,  R.  Cutter ;  Acting-Second- 
Assistants,  A.  C.  P.  French  and  G.  W.  Hart. 

"GENERAL  LYON  "—FOURTH-RATE. 

Pilot,  Richard  E.  Birch  ;  Acting-Ensigns,  James 
Martin  and  Thos.  Cadwell;  Acting- Master's  Mates, 
E.  W.  Robinson,  D.  V.  Balthis  and  F.  B.  Chase; 
Acting- Assistant  Paymaster,  Wm.  H.  Doane;  Engi 
neers  :  Acting-First-Assistant,  W.  J.  Hamilton  ; 
Acting-Second-Assistants,  James  Baldwin  and  R.  A. 
Smith ;  Acting-Third  Assistants,  G.  C.  Shull  and 
H.  Workhouse. 

"  ABRAHAM  "—FOURTH-BATE. 

Paymaster,  A.  E.  Watson;  Acting- Assistant  Pay 
master,  Louis  Jorgensen  ;  Acting -Ensign,  William 
Wagner  ;  Acting  -  First  -  Assistant  Engineer,  Enos 
Hoshier. 


CHAPTER     LVI, 


COMMERCE-DESTROYERS. 

THEIE  INCEPTION,  REMARKABLE  CAREER,  AND  ENDING. 
THE     "FLORIDA"     ("ORETO"),      "CLARENCE,"     "  TACONY,"     "ALEXANDRIA/'     "  GEORGIA " 

("JAPAN"),  " RAPPAHANNOCK,"  "NASHVILLE,"  "SHENANDOAH"  ("SEA  KING") 

'  TUSCALOOSA,"        "CmCKAMAUGA"      ("EDITH"),        "TALLAHASSEE"      ("ATLANTA") 

OLUSTEE,"  "CHAMELEON,"  ETC.— CUTTING  OUT  OF  THE  U.  S.  REVENUE  STEAMER 
"  CALEB  CUSHING  "  FROM  THE  HARBOR  OF  PORTLAND,  ME.— CAPTURE  OF  THE  "  FLORIDA  " 
ON  THE  COAST  OF  BRAZIL.— AN  APOLOGY  TO  THE  BRAZILIAN  GOVERNMENT.— CAPTAIN 
COLLINS'  PUNISHMENT.— THE  "FLORIDA"  SUNK  IN  HAMPTON  ROADS.— DESTRUCTION  OF 
THE  WHALING  FISHERY  IN  THE  ARCTIC  OCEAN.— NEUTRALITY  LAWS  VIOLATED  BY 
FOREIGN  GOVERNMENTS.— SCENES  ON  BOARD  THE  CONFEDERATE  CRUISERS.— ACTUAL 

LOSSES    INFLICTED   BY   THE    "ALABAMA"  AND  "  SHENANDOAH."— CRITICISMS,  REMARKS, 
ETC.,  ETC. 


WE  have   told  the    story    of  the 
"Sumter"  and  "Alabama," 
and  partly  that  of  the  "  Flor 
ida,"  which  latter,  after  her 
escape     from     the     Federal 
squadron   off   Pensacola,    particularly  the 
"R.    R.    Cuyler,"   in   January,    1863.    com 
menced    the    business  of    destruction    for 
which  she  was  fitted  out. 

In  her  first  attempts  at  destruction  the 
"  Florida  "  was  not  particularly  fortunate, 
for  in  the  course  of  ten  days  Captain  Maffitt 
only  succeeded  in  destroying  three  small 
vessels.  He  then  put  into  Nassau,  where, 
it  will  be  remembered,  the  "Florida,"  for 
merly  the  "  Oreto,"  had  been  seized  by  the 
authorities  and  her  case  brought  before  the 
courts  for  violation  of  the  "Enlistment  Act." 
The  merchant  to  whom  the  vessel  was  con 
signed  swore  that  the  "  Oreto"  was  a  bona 
fide  merchant  vessel,  while  at  that  very 
moment  her  guns  and  munitions  of  war 
were  on  board  another  vessel  in  the  harbor. 
When  the  ship  returned  to  Nassau  in  July, 
under  the  name  of  the  "  Florida,"  her  ap 
pearance  at  first  caused  considerable  con 
fusion  among  the  witnesses  and  officials, 
for  it  was  evident  that  a  flagrant  breach  of 

(813 


the    British   Foreign  Enlistment  Act  had 
been  committed. 

However,  this  circumstance  did  not  seri 
ously  influence  the  British  authorities  at 
Nassau.  Maffitt  had  entered  a  bona  fide 
Confederate  port,  and  now  that  he  was 
again  in  Nassau,  with  a  regular  commis 
sion,  a  good  crew,  and  the  Confederate  flag 
at  his  peak,  he  received  an  ovation.  The 
officials  allowed  the  "Florida"  thirty-six 
hours  to  remain  in  port  and  take  coal  and 
whatever  else  she  might  require,  although 
the  orders  of  the  Home  Government  limited 
the  supply  of  coal  to  what  was  supposed  to 
be  necessary  to  enable  a  Confederate  cruiser 
to  reach  one  of  the  ports  of  the  Confed 
eracy. 

From  Nassau  the  "Florida"  proceeded  to 
Barbadoes,  where  she  received  on  board  one 
hundred  tons  of  coal,  in  further  violation  of 
the  orders  of  the  Home  Government,  which 
provided  that  a  second  supply  of  coal 
should  not  be  allowed  within  three  months. 
Doubtless,  the  instructions  were  similar  to 
those  issued  by  Earl  John  Russell  to  the 
British  Minister  at  Washington  in  the  case 
of  the  "Trent," — one  set  to  be  shown  to  the 
American  Secretary  of  State,  and  a  second 


814 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


stating  the  real  intentions  of  the  Govern 
ment.  There  seemed  to  be  the  same  desire 
at  Barbadoes  as  elsewhere  to  see  American 
commerce  destroyed,  and,  with  such  a  feel 
ing  in  existence,  the  chances  for  the  escape 
of  Federal  merchant  vessels  were  much  di 
minished. 

The  "  Florida  "  did  not  commit  such  havoc 
as  the  "  Alabama,"  for  in  the  space  of  five 
months  she  captured  but  fifteen  vessels, 
which  were  all  destroyed  in  the  usual  style 
of  the  Confederate  cruisers.  Her  cruising- 
ground  extended  from  the  latitude  of  New 
York  to  the  southward  of  Bahia.  in  Brazil. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Fernando  Noronha,  Maf- 
fitt  picked  up  a  vessel  called  the  "  Lap 
wing,"  loaded  with  coal,  and,  by  converting 
her  into  a  tender,  was  enabled  to  supply 
himself  with  fuel  as  long  as  he  wished  to 
remain  on  the  station. 

On  the  6th  of  May  the  brig  "Clarence" 
was  captured  off  the  coast  of  Brazil,  armed 
by  Maffitt  with  some  light  guns,  and  placed 
in  command  of  Lieutenant  Charles  W. 
Read,  formerly  a  midshipman  in  the  U.  S. 
Nav}r — and  another  Confederate  State's  ves- 
sel-of-war  was  created  in  the  shortest  pos 
sible  time,  with  orders  to  burn,  sink  and 
destroy;  although  it  was  doubtful  if  Maf- 
fitt's  authority  to  commission  vessels  would 
have  been  recognized  in  case  he  should 
have  fallen  in  with  a  superior  force. 

Lieutenant  Read  was  bold  and  full  of  re 
sources,  seeming  to  disdain  all  danger.  He 
shaped  his  course  for  the  coast  of  the  United 
States,  and  by  the  10th  of  June  had  captured 
five  vessels,  four  of  which  were  destroyed. 
The  fifth  was  the  schooner  "Tacony,"'and 
this  vessel,  being  better  suited  to  his  purpose 
than  the  '"Clarence."  Read  burned  the  latter, 
after  transferring  her  crew,  guns  and  stores 
to  the  "Tacony." 

During  the  next  fortnight  the  "Tacony" 
made  ten  prizes.  Here  was  a  Confederate 
cruiser  right  upon  the  coast,  burning  and 
sinking  coasting  vessels  with  impunity,  for 
not  a  single  United  States  vessel  was  to  be 
seen.  This  was  a  new  style  of  warfare  in 
augurated  by  the  Confederacy,  without  the 
least  expense  to  them  and  without  any  of 
the  difficulties  of  violating  the  British  For 
eign  Enlistment  Act,  or  hoodwinking  colo 
nial  authorities  to  procure  necessary  sup 
plies.  As  to  the  pay  of  officers  and  men, 
as  that  was  probably  made  in  Confederate 
money,  the  expense  was  nothing. 

Read  soon  tired  of  the  "Tacony."  His 
ideas  enlarged  as  his  vessel  grew  plethoric 
with  spoils,  and  his  prolific  brain  was  at 
work  devising  new  schemes  for  Federal 
discomfiture.  The  last  of  his  prizes,  a  ves 
sel  called  the  "Archer,"  captured  off  the 
capes  of  Virginia,  seemed  preferable  to  the 
•  Tacony,"  and  he  accordingly  made  her 
into  a  cruiser  and  burned  the  latter.  Had 


Lieutenant  Read  kept  off  shore  he  would 
doubtless  have  made  the  "  Archer's"  name 
as  famous  as  that  of  her  predecessor;  but, 
not  satisfied  with  destroying  peaceable 
merchantmen,  he  longed  for  higher  distinc 
tion,  for  Read  had  in  him  the  stuff  to  make 
a  gallant  naval  commander. 

The  career  of  the  "Archer"  was  short. 
The  news  of  a  privateer  on  the  coast  of  New 
England  was  spread  far  and  wide.  Several 
gun-boats  were  cruising  up  and  down  the 
coast  in  search  ot  Maffitt,  who  was  reported 
off  Nova  Scotia  ;  but  their  commanders  do 
not  seem  to  have  been  aware  of  Read  and 
his  peculiar  performances. 

In  the  latter  part  of  June,  two  days  after 
the  "  Archer"  had  been  commissioned  as  a 
cruiser,  Read  determined  to  cut  out  the 
revenue-cutter  "  Caleb  Cushing,"  from  the 
harbor  of  Portland,  Maine.  In  this  design 
he  was  successful;  the  vessel  was  surprised 
by  the  boats  of  the  "  Archer  "  and  carried 
by  boarding.  The  people  on  shore  hastily 
manned  and  armed  several  steamers,  and 
followed  the  "  Caleb  Cushing  "to  sea.  As 
Read  saw  that  he  must  be  overtaken,  and 
that  he  could  make  no  successful  resistance, 
he  set  fire  to  the  "  Cushing  "  and  attempted 
to  escape  in  his  boats,  but  was  captured  and 
imprisoned  in  Fort  Warren. 

This  was  a  remarkable  raid  and  showed 
great  gallantry  on  the  part  of  Lieutenant 
Read,  although  the  presence  of  a  single 
Federal  gun-boat,  under  an  intelligent  cap 
tain,  would  have  nipped  the  whole  scheme 
in  the  bud.  As  it  was,  Read's  capture  was 
due  to  the  courage  of  private  citizens,  who 
did  not  know  what  force  the  Confederates 
had  outside  to  back  them.  After  the  affair 
was  settled,  gun-boats  flocked  in  from  the 
North  Atlantic  Squadron  in  pursuit  of  the 
raiders,  but  too  late  to  be  of  use. 

After  the  "  Florida's  "  cruise  on  the  coast 
of  Brazil,  she  refitted  and  coaled  at  Ber 
muda,  and  thence  sailed  for  Brest,  where 
she  was  docked  and  thoroughly  repaired. 
Maffitt  was  relieved  by  Captain  Joseph  N. 
Barney,  who  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Cap 
tain  Charles  M.  Morris.  The  "  Florida  "  re 
mained  nearly  six  months  at  Brest,  sailed 
from  that  port  in  February,  1864,  and,  after 
cruising  for  three  months  against  American 
commerce,  put  in  again  at  Bermuda,  where 
Captain  Morris  was  allowed  to  take  in  coal 
and  provisions.  The  Captain  announced 
his  intention  of  proceeding  to  Mobile, 
but,  instead  of  doing  so,  made  a  cruise  of 
three  months  on  the  coast  of  the  United 
States  against  Federal  merchant  vessels, 
proceeding  thence  to  Teneriffe,  and  on  the 
5th  of  October,  1864,  he  arrived  at  Bahia. 

For  a  wonder,  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Wachusett" 
happened  to  be  in  Bahia  when  the  "Florida  " 
entered  the  port  and  anchored  a  mile  distant, 
while  a  Brazilian  corvette,  in  anticipation 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


815 


of  a  difficulty  between  the  vessels,  took 
position  near  the  "  Florida."  The  latter 
vessel  had  received  permission  from  the 
authorities  to  remain  in  port  forty-eight 
hours  to  repair  and  coal  ship,  which  was 
twenty-four  hours  longer  than  the  usual 
time  allowed  these  vessels;  although  Cap 
tain  Semmes  had  been  allowed  to  do  pretty 
much  as  he  pleased  by  the  Governor  of 
Bahia.  and  also  by  the  Governor  of  Fer 
nando  de  Xoronha. 

American  officers  in  pursuit  of  Confeder 
ate  cruisers  were  kept  in  constant  excite 
ment  by  hearing  of  excesses  committed  by 
these  "sea-rovers,"  as  the  latter  were  some 
times  called,  and  were  greatly  disappointed 
at  not  falling  in  with  them,  although  there 
was  not  one  chance  in  a  hundred  of  their 
doing  so.  The  Northern  press  had  also  in 
dulged  in  strictures  on  the  Federal  Navy 
for  not  overtaking  the  Confederate  cruisers, 
while  the  Southern  newspapers  sneered  at 
the  Yankee  officers,  whom  they  asserted 
were  afraid  to  meet  the  Confederate  vessels 
for  fear  of  being  captured.  All  this  had  its 
effect,  and  Commander  Napoleon  Collins,  of 
the  "  Wachusett,"  determined  that  the 
"  Florida  "  should  not  do  any  more  damage 
if  he  could  prevent  it.  Collins  thought  of 
the  violation  of  neutrality,  and  dared  all 
the  consequences,  including  the  probable 
loss  of  his  commission. 

About  2  A.M.  the  "Wachusett"  got  un 
derway,  crossed  the1  bow  of  the  Brazilian 
corvette,  and  steered  directly  for  the  "  Flor 
ida/'  with  the  intention  of  running  her 
down  and  sinking  her;  but,  instead  of  strik 
ing  the  Confederate  ship  in  the  gangway 
as  was  intended,  the  "Wachusett"  crashed 
into  the  "  Florida"  on  her  starboard  quarter, 
cutting  down  her  bulwarks  and  carrying 
away  her  mainyard  and  mizzenmast.  The 
crew  of  the  "Florida"  seized  what  arms 
they  could  lay  hold  of  in  the  confusion, 
and  fired  into'the  "Wachusett,"  wounding 
three  of  her  crew  ;  but,  the  latter  vessel 
pouring  in  a  volley  of  small  arms  and  dis 
charging  two  broadside  guns  at  the  Confed 
erate  ship,  the  latter  surrendered.  Sixty- 
nine  officers  and  men  were  captured,  but 
Captain  Morris  and  many  of  his  officers  and 
crew  were  on  shore.  The  "Florida"  was 
then  towed  out  to  sea,  the  Brazilian  man-of- 
war  offering  no  opposition,  except  that  an 
officer  was  sent  to  inform  Collins  that,  if  he 
persisted  in  his  attack  on  the  "Florida," 
the  fort  and  vessels  would  open  fire  on  him, 
and  one  gun  was  subsequently  fired  by  the 
corvette.  It  was  afterwards  claimed  by  the 
Brazilians  that  Commander  Collins  had 
promised  to  desist  from  his  purpose  of  cap 
turing  the  "Florida";  but  this  seems  to  be 
merely  an  excuse  to  account  for  their 
supineness  in  taking  no  steps  to  prevent 
the  "Wachusett"  from  towing  the  "  Flor 


ida"  out  of  the  harbor.  The  fact  is,  the 
Brazilians  had  no  intention  of  proceeding 
to  extremities,  fully  realizing  that  the  cor 
vette  was  no  match  for  the  "  Wachusett." 

That  the  capture  of  the  "  Florida  "  was  a 
deliberate  violation  of  the  rights  of  neutrals 
no  one  can  deny,  and  it  placed  the  United 
States  Government  in  a  very  awkward 
position.  It  would  have  been  much  better 
for  Commander  Collins  to  have  waited  out 
side  for  the  coming  of  the  "  Florida,"  even 
at  the  risk  of  her  escaping,  than  to  have  so 
grossly  affronted  a  nation  whose  Emperor 
sympathized  with  the  Union  cause.  Com 
mander  Collins'  action  was  entirely  inde 
pendent  of  instructions,  and  he  was  willing 
to  run  the  risk  of  losing  his  commission  in 
order  to  put  a  stop  to  the  "  Florida's " 
career. 

The  Federal  Government  at  once  disa 
vowed  Collins'  action,  and  made  ample  apol 
ogy,  which  the  Government  of  Brazil  ac 
cepted,  only  stipulating  that  the  "  Florida  " 
and  those  captured  in  her  should  be  sent 
back  to  Bahia  Mr.  Secretary  Seward  did 
all  in  his  power  to  make  amends  for  the 
mistake  which  had  been  committed,  de 
nouncing  it  as  "an  unauthorized,  unlawful 
and  indefensible  exercise  of  the  naval  force 
of  the  United  States  within  a  foreign  coun 
try,  in  defiance  of  its  established  and  duly 
recognized  Government."  The  fact  of  Mr. 
Seward's  disapproval  was  quite  enough  to> 
make  Mr.  Secretary  Welles  give  his  sym 
pathy  to  Commander  Collins,  and.  although 
the  Secretary  did  not  express  himself  openly, 
there  is  little  doubt  that  he  would  have  been 
glad  if  all  the  Confederate  cruisers  could 
have  been  disposed  of  in  the  same  manner. 

Collins'  action,  indeed,  met  with  the  popu 
lar  approval,  and  it  would  have  been  a  diffi 
cult  matter  to  have  convicted  him  had  he 
been  brought  to  trial  before  a  court-martial. 
The  little  regard  that  had  been  shown  by 
neutral  nations,  during  the  civil  war,  to 
their  obligations,  and  their  favoring  the 
Confederate  cruisers,  had  awakened  great 
indignation  in  the  Northern  States,  so  that 
the  community  was  little  disposed  to  censure 
Collins'  action  in  the  case  of  the  "  Florida.'* 

Commander  Collins  made  little  effort  to 
defend  his  course.  In  his  report  to  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy,  he  says :  "  I  thought 
it  probable  that  the  Brazilian  authorities 
would  forbear  to  interfere,  as  they  had  done 
at  Fernando  de  Noronha,  where  the  Con 
federate  steamer  '  Alabama  '  was  permit 
ted  to  take  into  the  anchorage  three  Ameri 
can  ships,  and  to  take  coal  from  the  '  Cora 
Hatcli '  within  musket-shot  of  the  fort,  and 
afterwards,  within  easy  range  of  their  guns, 
to  set  on  fire  those  unarmed  vessels.  I  re 
gret,  however,  to  state,  that  they  fired 
three  shotted  guns  at  us  while  we  were  tow 
ing  the  4  Florida' out."  Whatever  action 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


the  Brazilians  may  have  taken,  it  seems  to 
have  been  extremely  mild  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  for  they  had  certainly  a  right 
to  compel  the  "  Wachusett "  to  relinquish 
her  prize  if  they  had  had  sufficient  force  to 
back  their  demand.  The  only  -  nishment 
inflicted  on  Commander  Collin  /as  an  or 
der  to  take  the  "  Florida  "  b?  to  Brazil 
with  all  his  prisoners,  and  del  r  the  vessel 
to  the  Brazilian  Governmei  .ntact.  For 
this  purpose  the  "Florida"  \N  i  sent  to  Ad 
miral  Porter,  at  Hampton  Re  ids,  that  she 
might  be  properly  prepared  for  sea. 

The  expedition  against  Fort  Fisher  was 
thenfittingout,  and  the  Roads  were  crowded 
with  vessels  of  every  description.  While 
the  "Florida"  was  lying  in  the  stream  an 
army  transport  came  in  collision  with  her, 
but  did  her  no  damage.  It  was  reported 
that  the  collision  was  intentional,  and  to 
avoid  further  accident  Admiral  Porter  di 
rected  the  "  Florida  "  to  be  stripped  of  every 
thing  valuable,  her  guns  taken  out  and  the 
vessel  moored  securely  head  and  stern  at 
Newport  News,  just  at  the  spot  where  the 
"  Cumberland "  was  sunk  in  very  deep 
water.  An  engineer  was  placed  on  board  in 
charge,  with  two  men  to  assist  him  in  look 
ing  after  the  water-cocks  ;  but,  strangely 
enough,  although  the  "  Florida"  was  to  all 
appearances  water-tight  when  she  reached 
Newport  News,  she  sank  that  night  at  two 
o'clock  in  ten  fathoms,  and  there  she  lay 
for  some  years  after  the  war.  This  was 
about  the  best  thing  that  could  have  hap 
pened  to  the  "Florida,"  for  the  Northern 
people  would  not  have  been  satisfied  to  see 
her  sent  back  to  Brazil  to  continue  her 
depredations  on  their  commerce,  and  it 
would  have  been  a  most  humiliating  duty 
for  Commander  Collins  to  perform.  When 
the  sinking  of  the  vessel  was  reported  to 
Admiral  Porter,  he  merely  said,  "Better  so"; 
while  the  Secretary  of  State  and  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  never  asked  any  questions 
about  the  matter,  being  too  well  satisfied 
to  get  the  elephant  off  their  hands. 

In  1863,  after  the  appearance  of  the 
"  Alabama"  and  the  "  Florida,"  many  at 
tempts  were  made  by  the  Confederate 
agents  abroad  to  get  cruisers  to  sea,  but 
these  attempts  were  not  always  successful, 
as  the  British  Government  was  beginning 
to  realize  the  impolicy  of  neglecting 
so  completely  their  neutral  obligations, 
and  Mr.  Adams,  the  American  minister, 
lost  no  opportunity  of  calling  attention 
to  the  numerous  violations  of  the  For 
eign  Enlistment  Act  which  were  taking 
place.  In  consequence  of  the  determined 
stand  taken  by  Mr.  Adams,  several  iron 
clads  building  by  Laird  &  Co.  were  seized. 
The  "Alexandria"  was  released  in  Eng 
land,  but  was  subsequently  libelled  at  Nas 
sau,  where  the  courts,  having  learned  some 


thing  from  the  case  of  the  "  Florida,"  de 
tained  her  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  watchfulness  of 
the  American  minister,  the  "  Georgia"  and 
"  Rappahannock  "  got  to  sea  in  1863.  The 
career  of  the  latter  was  brief.  She  had 
been  a  dispatch  vessel  in  the  Royal  Navy, 
and  was  sold  by  the  British  Government  to 
persons  ao'  jg  for  the  Confederacy.  She 
was  refitteY  at  Sheerness  under  the  direc 
tion  of  employees  of  the  Royal  Dock  Yard ; 
but  the  Government  proposing  to  inspect 
her,  in  order  to  avoid  detention  she  hastily 
put  to  sea  with  but  a  small  portion  of  her 
crew  on  board,  and  these  had  been  enlisted 
by  the  connivance  of  the  Government  offi 
cial  who  aided  in  getting  the  vessel  off. 
The  "  Rappahannock  "  was  commissioned 
as  a  Confederate  vessel-of-war  in  the  Brit 
ish  Channel,  and  was  seized  by  a  French 
gun-boat  off  Calais. 

The  "Georgia,"  a  screw  -  steamer  of 
seven  hundred  tons,  was  launched  on  the 
Clyde,  and  put  to  sea  in  April,  1863.  A 
British  merchant  was  her  ostensible 
owner,  and  her  guns  and  munitions  of  war 
were  put  on  board  the  vessel  off  Morlaix. 
The  case  of  this  vessel  was  no  greater  vio 
lation  of  the  neutrality  laws  than  that  of 
others;  but  the  British  Government,  wish 
ing  perhaps  to  show  that  it  would  be  neu 
tral  in  1863  if  it  had  not  been  in  1861,  in 
stituted  proceedings  against  the  persons 
concerned  in  sending  the  "'Georgia"  to 
sea,  and  upon  conviction  they  were  each 
sentenced  to  pay  the  enormous  fine  of  fifty 
pounds,  a  penalty  not  likely  to  deter  British 
subjects  from  violating  the  Foreign  Enlist 
ment  Act. 

The  career  of  the  "Georgia"  was  not 
very  exciting,  although  extending  over  a 
period  of  a  year.  The  "Sumter,"  "Ala 
bama  "  and  "  Florida  "  had  been  beforehand 
with  her,  and  there  was  little  left  for  the 
gleaner.  Fifteen  millions  of  dollars  worth 
of  United  States  commerce  had  been  swept 
from  the  ocean,  and  the  American  vessels 
had  either  sought  protection  under  other 
flags,  or  were  laid  up  in  port  until  the  war 
should  be  over.  The  "  Georgia,"  not  being 
very  successful  in  taking  prizes,  was  finally 
taken  to  Liverpool,  her  crew  discharged, 
and  the  vessel  sold  by  Captain  J  D.  Bul 
lock,  agent  of  the  Confederate  Navy  De 
partment,  to  an  English  shipowner.  This 
was  a  questionable  transaction,  and  the 
transfer  was,  no  doubt,  made  to  prevent  the 
seizure  of  the  "  Georgia"  by  the  British  au 
thorities  ;  for  the  latter,  owing  to  the  firm 
stand  taken  by  Mr.  Adams,  had  begun  se 
riously  to  reflect  on  the  probable  conse 
quences  of  further  trespassing  on  the  pa 
tience  of  the  United,  States  Government,  as 
it  was  evident  the  collapse  of  the  Confed 
eracy  was  now  not  far  off. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


817 


In  writing  of  the  probability  that  Laird's 
rains  would  be  permitted  to  get  to  sea,  Mr. 
Adams  remarks: 

"  In  the  notes  which  I  had  the  honor  to  address 
to  your  Lordship  on  the  llth  of  July  and  the  Uth 
of  August,  I  believe  I  stated  the  importance 
attached  by  my  Government  to  the  decision  in 
volved  in  this  case,  with  sufficient  distinctness. 
Since  that  date  I  have  had  the  opportunity  to  re 
ceive  from  the  United  States  a  full  'probation  of 
their  contents.  At  the  same  time  II  it  my  pain 
ful  duty  to  make  known  to  your  Lordship,  that  in 
some  respects  it  has  fallen  short  in  expressing  the 
earnestness  with  which  I  have  been  in  the  interval 
directed  to  describe  tae  £rave  nature  of  the  situa 
tion  in  which  both  countries  must  be  placed,  in  the 
event  of  an  act  of  ayr^ression  committed  against  the 
Government  and  people  of  the  United  States  by 
either  of  these  formidable  vessels." 

This  diplomatic  remonstrance  was  easily 
understood  by  those  who  had  tampered 
with  the  United  States  to  the  verge  of  war, 
and  now  that  almost  all  of  the  American 
commerce  left  afloat  had  been  transferred 
to  the  British  flag,  much  to  the  advantage 
of  Great  Britain,  they  were  unwilling  to 
have  that  commerce  depleted  by  hostilities 
with  the  United  States,  for  the  Federal 
Navy  was  now  adding  to  its  forces  a  class  of 
steamers  well  adapted,  in  speed  and  arma 
ment,  to  repeat  against  Great  Britain  the 
tactics  of  the  Confederate  cruisers  against 
the  United  States.  It  would  have  perhaps 
been  better  policy  for  the  United  States  to 
have  declared  war  with  Great  Britain  than 
to  have  submitted  longer  to  open  violations 
of  neutrality,  for  the  former  had  little  com 
merce  to  lose  and  could  have  swept  the 
trade  of  the  latter  from  the  ocean. 

When  Mr.  Adams  heard  that  the 
"  Georgia  "  was  sold  to  a  British  merchant, 
he  informed  Commodore  Thomas  T. 
Craven,  then  in  command  of  the  U.  S.  S. 
'"Niagara,"  lying  in  the  port  of  Antwerp, 
that  he  must  endeavor  to  intercept  and 
capture  the  converted  Confederate.  The 
•'Georgia"  was  captured  by  Commodore 
Craven  off  Lisbon,  was  sent  to  Boston  and 
condemned  by  the  Admiralty  Court,  her 
alleged  owner  never  receiving  a  penny  of 
the  ,£15,000  he  had  paid  into  the  Confeder 
ate  treasury  as  the  price  of  the  vessel. 

The  fate  of  the  "Nashville"  lias  already 
been  mentioned.  In  January  and  Febru 
ary.  1803,  several  attempts  were  made  to  de 
stroy  her  as  she  lay  above  Fort  McAllister, 
on  the  Great  Ogeechee  River.  On  the  27th 
of  February,  18G3,  she  was  set  on  fire  and 
blown  up  by  shells  from  the  Monitor 
"  Montauk."  Commander  John  L.  Worden. 

The  "  Shenandoah,"  originally  called  the 
"  Sea  King,''  was  the  last  and  the  most 
dangerous  of  all  the  Confederate  cruisers. 
She  was  a  full-rigged  ship  of  about  eight 
hundred  tons,  with  so-called  auxiliary 
steam  power,  and  very  fast  under  either 
sail  or  steam,  capable  of  making  three  hun 


dred  and  twenty  miles  in  twenty-four  hours 
under  favorable  circumstances,  which  ex 
ceeded  the  speed  of  any  vessel  in  the  U.  S. 

"XT 

Navv. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1804,  the  "Sea 
King"  cleared  from  London  for  Bombay. 
As  she  w.  '  not  equipped  for  war  purposes, 
there  was'  ">  question  in  regard  to  her;  but 
the  same  d.  she  sailed,  the  steamer  "  Lau 
rel  "  cleare1.  '  from  Liverpool  for  Nassau, 
with  severa1  Confederate  naval  officers  and 
a  cargo  of  c  Jes  marked  "  Machinery,"  but 
containing  £(uns  and  their  equipments. 
Near  Madeira,  the  "  Sea  King"  received  her 
armament  and  stores  from  the  "'Laurel," 
and  was  transferred  by  her  master,  who 
had  a  power  of  sale  from  her  owner,  to 
Commander  James  J.  Waddell,  of  the  Con 
federate  Navy,  Avho  put  her  in  commission 
as  the  "Shenandoah." 

The  plans  for  the  "Shenandoah's"  oper 
ations  had  been  carefully  matured  at  Rich 
mond  by  Commander  Brooke,  of  the  Con 
federate  Navy,  and  were  based  upon  the 
movements  of  the  Pacific  whaling  fleet. 
The  latter  habitually  cruised  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  Carolina  Islands  for  sperm 
whale,  going  north  to  the  Sea  of  Ochotsk 
for  right  whale,  thence  to  Behring's  Straits 
and  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Returning  from 
the  north,  the  whalers  generally  reached 
the  Sandwich  Islands  in  October  or  Novem 
ber  for  refreshment.  The  plan  was  for  the 
"  Shenandoah  "  to  be  at  these  various  points 
simultaneously  with  the  whaling  fleet,  and 
thus  to  sweep  it  from  the  sea.  There  was 
no  longer  much  opportunity  of  injuring 
United  States  commerce  in  the  ordinary 
channels  of  trade,  for  the  "  Alabama"  and 
"Florida"  had  done  their  work  pretty 
thoroughly,  and  a  number  of  new  and  f;i-t 
cruisers  had  been  sent  by  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  to  guard  what  remained.  The  new 
cruising-ground  mapped  out  for  the  "Shen 
andoah"  was,  therefore,  the  most  inviting 
field  of  operations  now  remaining  for  a 
Confederate  cruiser. 

The  '•  Shenandoah"  cruised  three  months 
in  the  Atlantic,  taking  several  prizes,  and 
then  proceeded  to  Tristan  d'Actinha,  where 
the  crews  of  the  captured  vessels  were 
landed.  She  next  proceeded  to  Melbourne, 
where  she  was  well  received  and  allowed  to 
repair  and  refit,  take  in  all  the  coal  required— 
in  short,  do  any  thing  that  would  assist  her  in 
her  attempt  to  destroy  the  American  whal 
ing  fleet.  In  violation  of  the  Foreign  En 
listment  Act,  Commander  Waddell  was  here 
permitted  to  ship  forty-three  men  as  an  ad 
dition  to  his  crew  ;  but  the  Australians  had 
little  respect  for  their  obligations  as  neu 
trals.  Their  ruling  sentiment  was  hatred 
to  the  United  States  Government  and  peo 
ple.  This  was  shown  in  the  early  mining 
days  of  185^,  when  the  British  Government 


818 


777^"  NA  VAL  HISTORY 


gave  American  merchant  vessels  the  privi 
lege  of  trading  on  the  Australian  coast  on 
the  same  terms  as  were  accorded  to  those 
of  Great  Britain  ;  but  the  colonists  placed 
so  many  restrictions  on  United  States  ves 
sels,  steam-ships  especially,  that  the  latter 
were  driven  away. 

On  the  18th  February,  1805,  the  "Shenan- 
doah  "  proceeded  under  sail  to  the  vicinity 
of  Behring's  Straits,  where  a  large  number 
of  whaling  vessels  were  captured  and  de 
stroyed.  Until  the  28th  of  June,  the  ocean 
was* ablaze  with  burning  ships,  whose  crews 
were  subjected  to  very  inhuman  treatment. 
Waddell  continued  his  operations  for  over 
two  months  after  hostilities  between  the 
North  and  South  had  terminated,  professing 
that  he  had  no  intimation  of  the  surrender 
of  the  Confederate  armies  until  the  date 
above  mentioned;  but  he  must  have  known 
when  he  left  Melbourne  that  the  Confed 
erate  struggle  for  independence  was  prac 
tically  at  an  end.  When  Waddell  was  as 
sured  that  the  Confederate  Government 
had  ceased  to  exist,  instead  of  surrender 
ing  his  vessel  to  the  nearest  United  States 
authority  as  he  should  have  done,  he  pro 
ceeded  to  Liverpool  and  delivered  the  "Snen- 
andoah  "  to  the  British  authorities. 

This  was  the  last  scene  in  the  terrible 
drama  inaugurated  by  Semmes  and  fin 
ished  by  Waddell.  The  story  of  the  Confed 
erate  cruisers  carries  with  it  a  moral  which 
should  not  be  forgotten.  The  civil  war  is 
now  remembered  as  a  dreadful  episode  in 
our  history,  bringing  death  and  misery  to 
the  North  and  South;  but  the  ravages  of 
the  Confederate  commerce-destroyers  were 
inflicted  upon  men  pursuing  a  peaceful 
avocation,  and  were  thus  of  peculiar  hard 
ship. 

The  Confederates  had  in  their  proceed 
ings  some  show  of  justification  ;  but,  as  a 
mode  of  carrying  on  warfare,  it  was  lack 
ing  in  the  chivalry  upon  which  Southern 
officers  peculiarly  prided  themselves  With 
one  exception,  we  do  not  believe  that  a 
Southern  officer,  engaged  in  the  business 
of  destroying  United  States  merchant  ves 
sels,  ever  boasted  after  the  war  of  what  he 
had  done,  or  cared  to  dwell  on  events  that 
were  calculated  to  leave  an  unpleasant  im 
pression  on  the  mind. 

The  destruction  of  United  States  com 
merce  did  not  fulfill  the  object  desired  — 
to  benefit  the  Confederate  cause  —  on  the 
contrary,  it  created  great  indignation,  even 
among  the  peace  party  of  the  North,  and 
caused  Congress  to  make  increased  appro 
priations  for  the  Navy.  Indeed,  but  for 
that  circumstance,  it  is  not  likely  that  the 
money  allowed  the  Navy  would  have  been 
more  than  enough  to  maintain  the  blockade 
of  the  Southern  coast  with  such  commercial 
vessels  as  the  Navy  Department  could  pur 


chase.  The  lessons  of  the  civil  war  will 
not  be  lost,  if  ever  the  United  States  is  en 
gaged  in  hostilities  with  either  of  the  na 
tions  that  assisted  the  Confederates  in  their 
raid  on  American  commerce.  It  is  true 
that  Great  Britain  made  the  amende  honor 
able,  after  years  of  discussion,  in  regard  to 
her  part  of  the  business;  but,  by  permitting 
Confederate  cruisers  to  roam  at  will  over 
the  ocean,  the  British  Government  taught 
her  future  foes  how  much  mischief  could 
be  done  by  three  or  four  ordinary  cruisers 
against  her  own  commerce,  which  is  spread 
all  over  the  world,  and  on  which  her  pres 
tige  as  a  nation  so  largely  depends.  Other 
nations  will,  doubtless,  resort  to  the  "Ala 
bama  "  mode  of  warfare,  so  inexpensive, 
and  so  easily  carried  on,  and  calculated  to 
do  so  much  injury  to  the  chief  commercial 
nation  of  the  world. 

As  the  original  "Monitor  "  changed  the 
system  of  building  vessels  of  war,  so  the 
plan  inaugurated  by  Semmes  has  made  an 
entire  change  in  the  class  of  vessels  to  be 
used  as  cruisers  and  commerce-destroyers. 
Such  strenuous  efforts  are  put  forth  by  the 
naval  powers  in  this  direction,  that  there  is 
little  difference  between  them  in  respect  to 
the  perfection  of  their  fast  steamers.  After 
years  of  idle  speculation,  the  United  States 
have  at  length  entered  into  competition  for 
the  best  vessels  for  general  war  purposes, 
and  we  are  not  likely  to  forget  the  lesson 
taught  us  by  Captain  Semmes,  with  his 
carefully-considered  plan  of  operations. 

Commerce -destroying  has  always  been 
practiced  during  war,  and,  in  spite  of  the 
protests  of  civilization  and  humanity,  it 
seems  likely  it  will  be  practiced  in  the  fu 
ture,  since  it  is  too  strong  a  temptation  to 
the  weaker  powers  to  permit  it  to  be  abol 
ished.  It  furnishes  also  a  strong  induce 
ment  for  adventurers  to  enlist  in  vessels-of- 
war,  with  the  hope  of  excitement  and  prize- 
money  ;  the  latter,  a  stimulus  which  will 
always  keep  a  navy  manned  in  time  of  war. 
If  it  should  ever  happen  that  the  commerce 
of  the  ocean  should  be  allowed  to  pass  un 
molested  by  belligerents,  and  that  ships-of- 
war  simply  be  kept  to  enter  into  conflict 
with  each  other  or  with  fortifications,  war 
would  become  a  comparatively  uninterest 
ing  business,  and  might  be  lengthened  out 
interminably,  so  that,  in  the  long  run,  there 
would  be  nothing  gained  by  the  departure 
from  the  old  system. 

The  question  has  never  been  settled  in 
the  popular  mind  as  to  whether  the  Confeder 
ate  cruisers  were  properly  constituted  ves- 
sels-of-war.  The  fact  that  most  of  them 
were  fitted  out  in  defiance  of  the  law  of  the 
country  in  which  they  were  built,  and  that 
the  aiders  and  abettors  of  the  scheme  were 
liable  to  a  heavy  penalty,  would  seem  to  be 
a  bar  against  their  regularity.  The  fact 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


819 


that  Great  Britain  subsequently  paid  for 
allowing  her  laws  to  be  violated  to  the  ex 
tent  of  jeopardizing  the  peace  with  a 
friendly  nation,  must  be  taken  as  additional 
evidence  against  the  Confederate  cruisers. 

Great  Britain,  with  propriety,  might  have 
sent  out  her  ships-of-war  and  captured  the 
Confederates  on  the  high  seas,  or  held  them 
on  entering  her  ports  to  refit.  The  inviola 
bility  which  is  supposed  to  surround  a 
national  vessel  should  not  shield  her  for 
violation  of  the  laws  of  a  neutral  nation, 
especially  when  she  belongs  to  a  govern 
ment  not  recognized  by  any  other.  Other 
wise  there  would  soon  be  an  end  to  law  and' 
order  upon  the  ocean,  and  every  little  island 
that  could  man  a  steamer  might  claim  bel 
ligerent  rights,  and  prey  upon  the  enemy's 
commerce  after  the  manner  of  the  Confed 
erate  cruisers. 

That  the  success  of  those  vessels  was  due 
to  the  inaction  of  the  British  Government 
cannot  be  doubted,  for,  if  Great  Britain  had 
been  mindful  of  her  neutral  obligations,  she 
would  have  remonstrated  so  emphatically 
with  the  Confederate  Government  against 
the  actions  of  their  ships-of-war  as  would 
soon  have  put  an  end  to  the  career  of  the 
latter. 

Although  the  Confederate  Government 
claimed  that  their  cruisers  were  ships-of- 
war,  that  assertion  did  not  make  them  so  : 
and  the  question  arises,  were  they  entitled 
to  the  privileges  accorded  such  ships  by  the 
usages  of  nations  ?  Their  position  was  cer 
tainly  anomalous,  being  recognized  as  bel 
ligerents,  although  the  State  to  which  they 
belonged  had  not  been  recognized  by  any 
Government.  The  only  recognition  ac 
corded  the  Confederates  by  Great  Britain 
was  the  Queen's  proclamation  of  neutrality, 
forbidding  either  belligerent  from  taking 
prizes  into  British  ports.  It  is  difficult  to 
understand  how  a  nation  can  concede  bel 
ligerent  rights  to  another  and  recognize 
the  seizure  of  neutral  property — as  did 
England  and  other  powers — and  yet  main 
tain  no  official  relations  with  her.  The 
clearest  and  most  convincing  statement  of 
this  question  is  embraced  in  a  work  on 
"  The  Blockade  and  the  Cruisers."  by  Pro 
fessor  James  R.  Soley,  U.  S.  N.  A  vast 
n mount  of  indulgence  was  shown  the  Con 
federate  cruisers  in  every  stage  of  their 
proceedings,  and  it  is  not  unlikely,  if  a  sim 
ilar  state  of  affairs  should  ever  again  oc 
cur,  that  neutrals  will  find  it  necessary  to 
draw  the  lines  closer  than  heretofore,  in 
order  not  to  be  liable  to  penalties  which 
are  apt  to  follow  so  liberal  a  course  as  was 
pursued  towards  the  Confederates,  during 
the  American  civil  war,  by  certain  Euro 
pean  governments. 

So  many  arguments  have  been  advanced 
for  and  against  the  system  adopted  by  the 


Confederate  Government  in  fitting  out 
cruisers,  that  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  inquire 
how  far  the  said  cruisers  were  justified  in 
committing  the  havoc  they  inflicted  on  the 
merchant  vessels  of  the  united  States.  It 
is  well  for  us  to  ascertain  whether  the  ads 
of  the  Confederates  came  within  the  strict 
limitations  of  the  law  of  nations,  for,  in 
case  of  war  between  any  mother  country 
and  her  colonies,  the  acts  of  these  cruisers, 
if  recognized  as  legal,  would  establish  in 
jurious  precedents. 

Every  government  owes  it  to  its  citizens 
to  extend  every  possible  safeguard  around 
the  commerce  of  the  ocean,  for  it  is  the 
faith  which  merchants  place  in  their  gov 
ernments  to  protect  them  at  all  hazards, 
which  induces  them  to  embark  their  prop 
erty  on  the  high  seas  ;  therefore,  the  differ 
ent  powers  should  combine  to  establish 
rules  of  action  binding  upon  them  all. 

There  were  a  dozen  ways  in  which  Great 
Britain  might  have  prevented  her  neutral 
ity  laws  from  being  violated.  Had  the 
authorities  adhered  to  the  terms  of  the 
Queen's  proclamation,  the  Confederate 
cruisers  could  never  have  extended  their 
operations  beyond  the  coast  of  the  United 
States,  where  their  career  would  have 
speedily  terminated  after  they  had  perhaps 
destroyed  a  few  unimportant  vessels.  Hav 
ing  issued  this  proclamation,  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  British  Government,  not  only  to  ab 
stain  from  aiding  in  the  destruction  of 
United  States  commerce,  but  to  order  all 
Confederate  cruisers  to  depart  at  once 
from  colonial  or  home  ports  ;  and,  in  case  of 
neglect  to  obey  the  order,  tne  Confederates 
should  have  been  summarily  dealt  with. 

No  government  can  afford  to  remain  pas 
sive  while  its  laws  are  being  violated,  for 
this  would  indicate  either  weakness  or 
duplicity.  If  the  Confederate  vessels  fitted 
out  in  England  were  sent  from  English 
ports  in  violation  of  English  laws,  they 
were  not  legally  authorized  to  capture  or 
destroy  an  enemy's  commerce;  and,  if  cap 
tured  in  their  turn,  the  Confederate  officers 
and  men  could  very  properly  have  been 
held  for  trial  before  the  United  States 
courts.  That  the  Confederate  cruisers  were 
subject  to  capture  by  British  vessels-of-war, 
for  violation  of  British  law.  there  can  be 
little  doubt.  This  would  suggest  that  the 
proceedings  of  the  Confederate  cruisers 
were  not  strictly  legal. 

It  was  natural  that  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment  should  take  advantage  of  any  flaw 
in  British  laws  to  enable  them  to  get  their 
vessels  to  sea ;  but  it  was  due  to  British 
self-respect  to  be  sure  that  those  laws  were 
not  violated,  and  the  British  Government 
should  therefore  have  emphatically  remon 
strated  with  the  Confederate  agents  for 
their  laxity  in  not  closely  respecting  Brit- 


820 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


ish  as  well  as  international  law.  No 
better  use  could  have  been  made  of  Brit 
ish  cruisers — had  one  of  these  purchased 
vessels  escaped  from  a  British  port — than 
to  send  them  in  pursuit  of  the  offending 
vessels. 

The  Confederate  cruisers  were  British 
vessels,  subject  to  the  laws  of  Great  Britain, 
and  were  commissioned  as  ships-of-war  on 
the  high  seas  ;  and  it  was  supposed  that  the 
high  seas  being  common  to  all  nations, 
their  being  so  commissioned  was  justifiable. 
But  this  would  not  obliterate  the  former 
delinquency — the  violation  of  British  laws 
enacted  to  prevent  the  very  course  pursued 
by  the  Confederate  agents.  The  first  steps 
taken  by  these  agents  were  so  clearly 
illegal,  that  the  consummation  of  their  pur 
pose  could  not  be  lawful,  and  the  resultant 
consequences  were  so  in  violation  of  all  law, 
that  it  is  not  strange  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  could  never  be  brought  to  look  upon 
these  vessels  as  legitimate  cruisers. 

To  show  the  very  dubious  character  of 
some  of  the  Confederate  cruisers,  we  will 
mention  that  it  was  not  uncommon  for 
them  to  run  the  blockade  under  the  British 
flag,  with  British  papers,  taking  in  cargoes 
of  goods  and  carrying  out  cotton,  and  then 
to  figure  for  a  time  as  vessels -of -war,  vary 
ing  their  character  to  suit  circumstances. 
Of  course,  such  proceedings  cannot  be  justi 
fied  by  any  of  the  usages  of  war.  We  will 
quote  a  few  cases  mentioned  by  Professor 
Soley,  who  has  taken  great  pains  to  ascer 
tain  the  facts,  and  the  reader  will  be  struck 
with  the  absurdity  of  claiming  for  vessels 
so  irregularly  fitted  out  the  character  of 
properly  constituted  ships  -  of  -  war.  We 
cannot  call  them  pirates  or  privateers,  but 
we  do  say  that  the  Confederate  cruisers 
were  not  regular  ships-of-war,  and  were 
acting  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  Great 
Britain  as  well  as  those  of  the  United 
States. 

The  "  Japan,"  or  "  Georgia,"  left  the  Clyde 
registered  in  the  name  of  a  British  subject, 
and  remained  for  nearly  three  months  still 
registered  in  the  name  of  her  ostensible 
owner,  although  during  this  time  she  was 
engaged  in  hostilities  against  the  Federal 
Government.  A  year  later  she  returned  to 
Liverpool,  was  dismantled  and  sold  to  a 
British  subject,  the  bill  of  sale  being  signed 
by  Captain  James  D.  Bullock,  of  the  Con 
federate  Navy.  The  "  Rappahannock  "  left 
Sheerness  in  haste  as  a  merchant  vessel, 
with  workmen  still  on  board,  who  were  car 
ried  off  against  their  will.  She  assumed 
the  character  of  a  Confederate  cruiser  while 
crossing  the  British  Channel,  and  sought 
admission  into  the  port  of  Calais  as  a  ship- 
of-war  in  distress  !  The  case  of  the  "  Tus- 
caloosa,"  already  mentioned,  is  too  glaring 
to  need  discussion. 


Towards  the  close  of  the  civil  war  the 
Confederate  Navy  List  must  have  presented 
a  curious  aspect,  for  one  day  a  vessel  would 
figure  as  a  blockade-runner  under  the  Brit 
ish  flag,  and  the  next  she  was  a  Confederate 
cruiser;  but,  strange  to  say,  the  British  colo 
nial  courts  could  not  find  any  law  for  in 
terfering  with  such  vessels.  The  blockade- 
runner  ''  Edith"  escaped  from  Wilmington, 
N.  C.,  one  night  in  October,  1864,  under  the 
name  of  the  Confederate  States  steamer 
"Chickamauga."  She  was  armed  with  a 
64 -pounder  and  a  32-pounder,  and  steering 
north  along  the  coast  destroyed  several 
unfortunate  vessels ;  when,  her  where 
abouts  becoming  known,  she  was  compelled 
to  run  the  gauntlet  into  Wilmington  again, 
and  resumed  her  former  character.  What 
particular  object  it  was  proposed  to  accom 
plish  by  such  proceedings  as  those  of  the 
'•Chickamauga"  is  hard  to  conceive,  for  at 
that  stage  of  the  civil  war  a  cruise  against 
the  coasting  trade  of  the  North  could  only 
show  the  desperate  straits  to  which  the 
Confederates  were  reduced,  and  was  merely 
an  attempt  to  keep  up  the  semblance  of  a 
war  on  the  ocean. 

The  "Atlanta"  made  two  trips  to  Wil 
mington  as  a  blockade-runner.  She  was 
then  converted  into  a  cruiser  and  named 
the  "  Tallahassee."  Under  this  name  she 
left  the  Cape  Fear  River  early  in  August, 
1804,  and  on  the  19th  of  that  month  arrived 
at  Halifax,  after  capturing  and  destroying 
several  vessels.  Owing  to  the  vigilance  of 
the  authorities,  who  in  this  instance  were 
upon  the  alert  to  prevent  a  violation  of  the 
neutrality  laws,  the  "  Tallahassee  "  was  un 
able  to  obtain  coal  or  other  supplies,  arid  was 
obliged  to  return  to  Wilmington.  In  Novem 
ber  this  vessel  made  another  attempt,  under 
the  name  of  the  %i  Olustee,"  and  took  a  few 
prizes,  but,  returning  to  Wilmington,  as 
sumed  her  old  character  of  merchant  vessel 
and  blockade-runner.  She  received  the  ap 
propriate  name  of  ''Chameleon,"  and  in 
December,  1864,  went  to  sea  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  John  Wilkinson,  of  the 
Confederate  Navy,  with  the  object  of  re 
turning  from  Bermuda  laden  with  provis 
ions  for  the  Confederate  army.  Although 
the  Governor  of  Bermuda  was  duly  apprised 
of  the  character  of  the  ''Chameleon,"  he 
expressed  himself  as  satisfied  that  she  had 
been  sufficiently  whitewashed  to  be  ad 
mitted  as  a  merchant  vessel.  The  cargo 
was  sold,  a  supply  of  stores  laid  in,  and  the 
vessel  returned  to  the  Confederacy,  only 
to  find  that  Wilmington  was  in  Federal 
hands.  Wilkinson  then  tried  to  get  into 
Charleston;  but,  failing  in  his  attempt,  he 
proceeded  to  Nassau,  landed  his  cargo,  and 
the  vessel  was  taken  to  Liverpool  and  de 
livered  to  Fraser,  Trenholm  &  Co.,  the 
Confederate  agents ;  but  as  the  British  au- 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


821 


thorities  had  now  become  very  particular 
in  regard  to  the  proceedings  of  these  non 
descript  vessels,  the  "Chameleon"  was 
seized  and  ultimately  surrendered  to  the 
United  States  Government. 

It  is  only  within  a  late  period  that  we 
have  ascertained  anything  of  the  inner  life 
on  board  the  Confederate  cruisers,  for  Cap 
tain  Semmes'  voluminous  narrative  of  the 
"Sumter"  and  '•Alabama"  does  not  by  any 
means  supply  this  want.  The  gallant  cap 
tain  represents  his  vessels  as  men-of-war, 
with  most  able  officers  and  subordinate 
crews,  where  affairs  were  conducted  in  a 
manner  to  meet  the  approbation  of  the 
most  hypercritical  person.  A  lately  pub 
lished  narrative  of  life  on  board  the 
"Alabama,"  written  by  one  of  the  crew, 
represents  things  very  differently  from 
the  rose-colored  view  of  the  command 
ing  officer.  According  to  this  account, 
the  usages  of  civilized  nations  were  not 
observed  by  the  crew  of  the  Confederate 
cruiser,  who  were  a  riotous  and  abandoned 
set  of  men,  who  paid  little  heed  to  the  rules 
and  regulations  of  the  vessel  or  the  orders 
of  their  officers.  This  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at,  when  we  consider  that  the  men  were 
shipped  in  illegal  fashion  and  were  most  of 
them  the  lowest  class  of  adventurers.  We 
give  a  few  quotations  from  this  interesting 
article: 

"  I  was  pleased  to  find  that  I  had  not  an  old  ship 
mate  aboard.  The  best  man  in  the  port-watch,  to 
which  1  belonged,  was  a  Scotchman  named  Gill. 
He  was  about  forty,  very  powerful,  and  could  hold 
an  ordinary  man  at  arm's  length  clear  off  the  deck. 
He  was  saturated  with  Calvinism,  and  could  quote 
Scripture  and  sermons  by  the  hour,  but  was,  all  the 
same,  a  daring,  dangerous  ruffian.  According 
to  his  own  account,  he  had  been  in  numerous 
mutinies,  in  one  case  taking  a  Spanish  brig, 
killing  the  officers,  beaching  her  on  the  Des- 
eada  Kev,  in  the  Leeward  Islands,  and  getting  to 
Porto  Rico  in  the  launch  with  the  plunder.  This 
m:iirs  influence  was  bad,  and  he  was  the  cause  of 
much  of  the  insubordination  that  took  place  on 
board.  *  *  *  * 

"  We  were  now  taking  prizes  rapidly,  being  not 
over  four  hundred  miles  from  New  York,  in  the 
'  rolling  forties,1  directly  in  the  track  of  American 
commerce.  The  treatment  of  the  prisoners  was 
fairly  good,  and  they  were  not  ill-used  on  board, 
but  the  conduct  of  the  boarding  crews  was  shame 
ful;  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  boat  had  no  control 
over  them,  and  they  rushed  below  like  a  gang  of 
pirates,  breaking  open  the  sailors1  chests,  and  tak 
ing  from  the  persons  of  the  prisoners  everything 
that  took  their  fancy.  I  never  saw  them  injure 
prisoners,  or  use  their  weapons,  except  to  frighten 
their  victims,  but  the  wanton  destruction  of  the 
clothes  and  effects  of  captured  sailors  w;is  simply 
disgraceful.  This  sort  of  thing  seriously  affected 
the  morale  of  the  men,  and,  had  we  then  met  an 
enemy  of  equal  force,  but  of  the  usual  standard  of 
man-of-war  discipline,  we  should  have  made  a  very 
poor  show.  The  prisoners  were  of  all  nationalities, 
but  their  officers  all  seemed  to  be  Americans  by 
birth,  and  were  mostly  a  line,  gentlemanly  lot.  The 
old  sea-dog  element,  so  common  among  English 
shippers  in  the  East,  does  not  seem  to  exist  among 
the  American  officers  of  the  merchant  marine; 


they  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  clerks  or  even 
professors.  Not  so  the  old  sailor,  in  command  of 
the  'tea  wagons'  and  .East  Indian  ships  —  their 
walk  and  lingo  proclaimed  them  sailors,  and  noth 
ing  else.  One  of  the  mates  of  a  whaling-ship  we 
took  and  burned  was  a  parson-like  man,  and 
preached  and  prayed  to  his  fellows.  He  was  long 
and  lanky,  and  two  of  our  roughs  began  to  ha/.c 
him,  but  they  mistook  their  calling,  and  in  two 
minutes  were  so  mauled  and  man-handled  that  it 
was  reported  aft ;  but  the  first-officer  said  it  served 
them  right,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  honest 
man  between  decks.  ****** 

"  November  18th  (1862),  we  arrived  at  Martinique 
and  had  an  'ovation';  the  exultation  of  the 
French  over  the  disasters  to  Yankee  commerce  im 
pressed  me.  A  French  corvette  lying  there  gave  a 
dinner  to  the  officers.  Gill  licked  two  of  the  French 
man's  petty  officers  nearly  to  death,  as  his  share  of 
the  entertainment,  and  our  liberty  was  stopped  in 
consequence.  Forest  swam  on  shore  that  night. 
and,  eluding  sharks  and  look-outs,  was  hauled  into 
one  of  the  berth-deck  ports,  with  five  gallons  of  the 
worst  liquor  I  ever  drank.  It  set  the  entire  watch 
crazy.  Forest  kept  comparatively  sober,  but  old 
Gill  'bowsed  up  his  jib '  until  he  could  scarcely 
stand.  Such  an  uproar  I  never  heard  ;  the  lanterns 
were  lit  in  defiance,  and.  when  the  watch  was  called, 
the  officer  of  the  deck  was  saluted  with  all  manner 
of  '  skrim-shander.'  The  boatswain  was  knocked 
down  and  hurt  by  a  blow  from  a  belaying-pin,  and 
everything  loose  was  fired  aft.  The  officers  and 
marines  with  the  sober  portion  of  the  crew  now 
charged  forward,  and  a  terrible  melee  ensued.  Gill 
knocked  a  gunner's-mate's  jaw  out  of  place,  and 
was  laid  out  by  a  capstan-bar,  and  finally  the 
drunken  men  were  secured.  *  *  * 

"We  now  sailed  for  Jamaica,  going  into  Port 
Royal,  and  had  a  pleasant  time.  Here  something 
occurred  that  few  knew  of.  An  Irishman  called 
"  King  post,"  from  his  build,  being  short  and  thii-k. 
was  suspected  of  giving  the  officers  information  of 
the  plans  of  Forest  and  his  mates.  He  was  closely 
watched  and  he  knew  it,  but  was  on  his  guard.  He 
took  his  liberty  with  the  others,  and,  of  course,  got 
drunk.  Seeing  Gill  and  another  man  leading  a 
third  and  going  towards  the  suburbs,  I  followed. 
and  made  out  the  third  man  to  be  King-post.  I 
missed  them,  and,  as  1  knew  that  Gill  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  pott,  I  at  once  conjectured 
that  he  had  seen  me  following  them,  and  had 
changed  his  course.  An  hour  after,  both  men  came 
back  and  I  joined  them.  I  asked  where  the  Irish 
man  was.  Gill  looked  at  me  with  his  hard  grav 
eyes,  and  significantly  said  :  '  I  dunna  know,  lad 
die,  but  he'll  hand  his  tongue  noo  ;  and  ye  had 
better  say  naithing,  yir  a  wise  fallow  !'  King-po-t 
never  came  back  and  was  supposed  to  have  de 
serted  ;  but,  no  doubt,  he  fell  a  victim  to  those  two 
ruffians.  The  crew  broke  all  bounds  here,  tfnd 
nearly  all  the  petty  officers  were  disrated,  much  to 
their  satisfaction,  as  thev  had  no  respect  from  the 
crew  and  were  responsible  for  them  to  their  officers. 
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  It  was  a  very  com 
mon  thing  for  the  crew  that  boarded  a  prize  to 
bring  liquor  back  with  them.  Once  some  fifteen 
bottles  of  brandy  were  smuggled  aboard,  and  all 
hands  partook.  As  usual,  there  was  a  terrible  time 
between  decks.  ( )ne  petty  officer  was  so  badly  hurt 
that  it  was  thought  he  would  die.  Many  of  the 
men  h:ul  grape-shot  in  a  netted  bag  fastened  to  the 
wrist  by  a  lanyard,  and  many  a  coward  blow  was 
given  with  these." 

Whether  such  performances  as  those 
mentioned  above  were  consistent  with  the 
discipline  of  a  vessel-of-war,  we  must  leave 
to  the  judgment  of  our  naval  readers. 

It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  the  proceedings 


832 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


of  the  Confederate  cruisers  with  the  prece 
dents  which  have  governed  vessels-pf-war 
in  modern  times,  and  their  toleration  by 
European  governments  must  be  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  said  governments  believed  the 
union  of  the  States  was  finally  dissolved, 
and  that  the  fragments  would  have  no 
power  to  exact  reparation  for  damages. 
The  present  condition  of  our  country  shows 
what  a  mistaken  idea  prevailed  abroad  dur 
ing  the  civil  war. 

What  is  now  chiefly  required  by  the 
United  States  is  an  adequate  naval  estab 
lishment  such  as  will  command  the  respect 
of  European  powers.  Under  such  circum 
stances,  we  would  never  have  to  fear  a 
recurrence  of  such  dreadful  scenes  as 
were  common  on  board  the  Confederate 
cruisers. 

In  the  glamour  attending  the  remarkable 
cruise  of  Semmes,  Waddell,  in  the  "  Shenan- 
doah,"  has  almost  been  lost  sight  of.  Cap 
tain  Semmes  lost  no  opportunity  of  advertis 
ing  himself  through  the  vessels  he  bonded, 
through  foreign  vessels,  or  otherwise.  His 
object  was  to  show  the  people  of  Europe 
the  dreadful  havoc  the  Confederates  were 
making  on  American  commerce;  and,  al 
though  by  this  course  he  ran  the  risk  of  be 
ing  followed  and  overtaken  by  the  Federal 
cruisers,  yet  he  was  so  adroit  in  his  pro 
ceedings  that  he  always  managed  to  leave 
a  cruising-ground  before  the  United  States 
Government  could  get  a  vessel  there. 
Semmes  frequented  some  of  the  best-known 
ports,  where  there  was  constant  communi 
cation  with  England,  so  that  the  Britons 
were  constantly  informed  of  the  effect  of 
their  policy  in  allowing  Confederate  cruisers 


to  be  fitted  out  in  their  harbors.  At  the  same 
time  this  news  was  transmitted  by  British 
packets  to  the  United  States,  having  its 
effect  there,  but  not  exactly  what  Semmes 
wanted.  Semmes  pursued  this  course,  with 
out  attempt  at  concealment,  until  his  vessel 
was  sunk  by  the  "  Kearsarge." 

Waddell,  in  the  "  Shenandoah,"  pursued 
an  entirely  different  course.  He  followed 
the  line  of  the  whale  fisheries  which  was 
unfrequented  by  other  vessels,  and  he  car 
ried  on  his  work,  with  little  chance  of  its  be 
ing  found  out,  until  he  had  destroyed  the 
entire  whaling  fleet.  The  actual  losses  in 
flicted  by  the  "Alabama  "—$6, 547, 609. 86— 
was  only  about  $00,000  greater  than  those 
inflicted  by  the  "  Shenandoah,"  yet  the  lat 
ter  was  only  in  commission  about  one- half 
as  long  a  time  as  the  "Alabama."  Com 
mander  Waddell  kept  his  movements  con 
cealed,  and  left  no  trace  behind  him  by 
which  he  could  be  followed.  He  eluded  the 
vigilance  of  the  United  States  cruisers  that 
were  in  pursuit  of  him,  and.  after  lightening 
his  vessel  of  a  portion  of  her  cargo,  de 
livered  her  to  the  British  authorities,  and 
she  was  at  last  turned  over  to  the  United 
States  Government.  An  account  of  the 
inner  life  on  board  the  '•  Shenandoah"  has 
never,  to  our  knowledge,  been  published, 
although  from  the  records  of  the  Court  of 
Alabama  Claims  we  know  the  exact  num 
ber  of  vessels  Waddell  captured  and  the 
damage  committed  ;  but,  if  ever  an  account 
of  this  cruise  is  published,  even  in  the 
boastful  spirit  which  characterizes  so  many 
Confederate  narratives,  it  will  no  doubt  be 
found  equally  interesting  with  the  story  of 
the  "Alabama,"  and  quite  as  disreputable. 


CHAPTER      L  V  I  I. 

THE  RAM  "STONEWALL." 

REMARKABLE  ENERGY  AND  FIDELITY  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  AGENTS  ABROAD.— THE  BUILD 
ING,  PURCHASE  AND  FITTING  OUT  OF  CONFEDERATE  CRUISERS.— THE  RAM  "STONEWALL" 

BUILT,  SOLD   TO    THE    DANISH    AUTHORITIES.  AND    REPURCHASED    BY   THE    CONFEDERATE 

GOVERNMENT.— THE  RAM  IN  COMMISSION.— THE  FEDERAL  VESSELS-OF-WAR  "  Ni  \<;  \i:  \" 
AND  "SACRAMENTO"  BLOCKADED  IN  THE  PORT  OF  CORUNN A.— ACTIONS  OF  COMMO 
DORE  CRAVEN.— THE  RAM  PROCEEDS  TO  LISBON.— COMMODORE  CRAVEN  COURT-MAR 
TIALED  AND  SENTENCED.— THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY  CENSURES  THE  COURT.  AND 

THE  PROCEEDINGS  SET  ASIDE.— COMMODORE  CRAVEN  RESTORED  TO  DUTY. Tin:  RAM 

ENDS  HER  CAREER  AT  HAVANA,  AND  is  FINALLY  SURRENDERED  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES 
BY  THE  SPANISH  AUTHORITIES.— REMARKS. 


THE  management  of  the  agents  of  the 
Confederate   Government    abroad 
in   supplying  it  with  cruisers  was 
very  remarkable,  and  shows  that 
the   Confederacy    was    extremely 
fortunate  in   the  selection   of    the  officers 
thus   employed.     The  agents  not  only  suc 
ceeded  in  eluding  the  supposed   vigilance 
of    the   authorities    in   England,  but   were 
even  able  to   contract    for  two    powerful 
rams    and    four    corvettes    in    France    to 
carry    the    most    formidable    guns    then 
known. 

One  of  the  cleverest  of  these  officers, 
and,  as  far  as  we  know,  the  best,  Captain 
James  D.  Bullock,  \vas  the  principal  agent 
in  England  for  the  purchase  of  vessels,  and 
though  the  laws  were  violated  in  the  trans 
action  of  building  or  purchasing,  the  viola 
tion  rested  principally  witli  the  builder  or 
seller.  In  all  his  business  transactions,  it 
is  fair  to  say  of  Captain  Bullock  that  the 
only  charge  brought  against  him  was  too 
great  a  fidelity  to  the  cause  he  had  espoused, 
coupled  with  the  ability  he  manifested  in 
getting  Confederate  cruisers  afloat.  Though 
it  is  true  that  he  was  the  prime-mover  in 
getting  these  cruisers  to  sea.  it  has  not  been 
charged  that  he  ever  resorted  to  dishonor 
able  means  to  attain  his  ends.  It  is  said 
that  he  made  contracts  fairly  and  openly 
with  builders,  and  left  it  with  them  to  de 


liver  the  ships  at  such  time  and  place  as 
they  thought  best.  That  the  latter  were 
adepts  in  violating  their  own  laws,  no  one 
will  doubt,  and  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
the  Confederate  agents  would  hesitate  to 
accept  a  well-fitted  ship  in  a  very  irregular 
manner,  as  it  seemed  to  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment,  for  human  nature  is  too  weak  on 
sucli  occasions  to  resist  temptation. 

Bullock  was  a  man  of  ability.  He  never 
tired  in  his  efforts,  and  if  he  met  with  diffi 
culties  at  one  turn  he  tried  another;  and 
when  the  British  Government,  seeing  "the 
handwriting  on  the  wall."  realized  the  im 
portance  of  not  becoming  involved  in  a  war 
\vith  the  United  States,  and  suddenly  exer 
cised  all  its  power  to  put  a  stop  to 'fitting 
out  cruisers.  Bullock  transferred  his  talents 
to  France,  or,  at  least,  pointed  the  way  to 
constructing  the  vessels  mentioned  in  that 
country.  The  career  of  the  cruisers  was 
nenrly  over;  but  they  had  been  so  success 
ful  that  the  Confederate  Government  was 
determined  to  show  that  it  was  able  to  drive 
off  the  large  frigates  and  other  vessels  be 
fore  the  Southern  ports,  and  raise  the  block 
ade  all  along  the  coast.  Perhaps,  had  the 
vessels  contracted  for  in  France  all  got  off 
together,  and  operated  in  concert,  they 
might  have  created  some  confusion  along 
the  coast  of  the  United  States. 

The  Emperor  had  failed  about  that  time 


(823) 


824 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


in  securing  joint  action  with  England 
against  Mexico,  and,  seeing  that  the  South 
ern  rebellion  was  fast  collapsing,  felt  sure 
that  the  first  step  of  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  would  be  to  march  a  large  army  into 
Mexico  to  drive  out  the  French  troops. 
That  army  might  possibly  have  been  com 
posed  of  Federal  and  Confederate  soldiers 
marching  shoulder  to  shoulder  to  defeat  the 
common  enemy,  who,  taking  advantage  of 
an  intestine  war,  had  presumed  to  establish 
an  Empire  right  at  our  doors  on  the  ruins 
of  a  sister  Republic. 

The  construction  of  the  vessels  for  the 
Confederate  Government  in  France  was 
undertaken  by  the  builders  with  the  tacit 
understanding  that  the  French  authorities 
would  not  prevent  their  delivery  on  comple 
tion.  But  owing,  undoubtedly,  to  the  Euro 
pean  apprehensions,  when  the  rams  were 
about  ready  for  sea,  peremptory  orders  were 
given  by  the  French  Government  that  all 
the  vessels  should  be  sold.  The  orders  were 
obeyed,  and  the  "Stonewall''  (then  the 
"Sphynx")  was  purchased  by  Denmark, 
just  as  the  Schleswig-Holstein  war  was  clos 
ing.  Delay  in  the  completion  and  final 
delivery  of  the  ram  to  Denmark  made  that 
government  lukewarm  in  carrying  out  the 
terms  of  the  purchase,  as  by  this  time  the 
war  was  at  an  end  and  the  ship  was  not 
required.  When,  therefore,  a  proposition 
was  made  by  the  builder  to  repurchase  the 
"Sphynx,"  after  delivery  at  Copenhagen, 
the  Danish  authorities  accepted  it  without 
hesitation,  and,  as  a  natural  sequence,  she 
passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Confed 
erate  agents,  was  by  them  put  into  commis 
sion,  and  christened  the  "  Stonewall."  The 
history  of  the  four  corvettes  is  not  pertinent, 
as  they  never  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  Confederate  Government.  The  "  Stone 
wall"  was  placed  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Thomas  Jefferson  Page,  an  able 
officer,  formerly  of  the  United  States  Navy. 
She  had,  we  regret  to  say,  an  opportunity 
of  inflicting  a  humiliation  upon  the  Amer 
ican  Navy  which  was  hard  to  bear,  consid 
ering  that  its  name  almost  throughout  the 
conflict  had  been  without  a  stain,  and  that 
the  reputation  it  had  gained  in  the  war  of 
1812  had  not  diminished  in  the  least. 

The  "Stonewall"  got  to  sea  January 
28th,  1865,  having  received  her  stores  and 
crew  from  another  vessel  dispatched  by 
Captain  Bullock  from  England,  atQuiberon 
Bay,  Belle  Isle,  France,  but,  owing  to  defects 
in  the  rudder  casing,  the  "Stonewall"  put  in 
to  Ferrol,  Spain,  for  repairs,  where  she  ar 
rived  February  2d,  and  fell  in  with  the  Fed 
eral  frigate  "Niagara"  and  sloop-of-war 
"  Sacramento,''  under  the  command  of  Com 
modore  Thomas  T.  Craven.  The  "Niagara" 
was  a  large  and  fast  vessel  of  4,600  tons  dis 
placement,  carrying  ten  150-pounder  Parrott 


rifles.  The  "Sacramento''  mounted  two 
11-inch  guns,  two  U-inch  guns  and  one  60- 
pounder  rifle,  with  some  smaller  pieces. 
The  "Stonewall"  carried  one  300-pounder 
Armstrong  rifle  in  a  casemate  in  the  bow 
and  two  70-pounder  rifles  in  a  fixed  turret, 
aft.  Her  sides  were  armored  with  4f  inches 
of  iron  ;  she  had  also  a  heavy  ram.  Such 
wTas  the  force  of  the  three  vessels  now  con 
gregated  in  a  Spanish  port,  the  Confeder 
ate  evidently  determined  to  try  conse 
quences  with  the  Federal  vessels. 

The  commander  of  the  "  Niagara."  not 
wishing  to  lay  in  the  same  port  with  the 
Confederate  vessel,  moved  his  ship  to 
Corunna.  where,  when  her  repairs  were 
completed,  she  was  followed  by  the  "  Stone 
wall."  which  remained  before  the  port 
blockading  the  two  American  ships-of-war, 
and,  '  as  the  Commodore  expressed  it, 
"flaunting  her  flags  in  his  face."  Cap 
tain  Page,  in  fact,  did  everything  he  could 
to  provoke  an  encounter;  and  it  must  have 
been  with  much  mortification  that  the 
Union  commodore  decided  to  remain  at  his 
anchors,  and  not  run  the  risk  of  a  battle 
with  a  foe  that  was  represented  as  built 
with  impervious  sides,  and  with  a  battery 
(though  smaller  in  numbers)  .very  much 
superior  to  his  own.  Unfortunately,  the 
Spaniards  looking  on  could  not  be  made  to 
understand  how  two  large  vessels,  mount 
ing  between  them  fifteen  heavy  guns,  could 
decline  a  contest  with  a  much  smaller  ves 
sel  carrying  only  three  guns,  and  hence 
arose  some  misconstruction  as  to  the  exist 
ence  of  that  prestige  which  American  of 
ficers  claimed  for  their  Navy.  It  must  have 
required  great  moral  courage  in  an  officer 
commanding  two  sucli  ships  to  refrain  from 
attacking  the  "  Stonewall."  on  the  ground 
that  an  engagement  would  result  disas 
trously  for  the  Union  vessels.  At  the  same 
time,  no  commander  would  be  held  justifi 
able,  merely  for  the  sake  of  making  a  repu 
tation  for  himself,  in  neglecting  other  in 
terests  and  attacking  an  enemy  so  superior 
to  him  that  he  would  have  no  chance  of 
success.  But  the  question  arises,  was  the 
"  Stonewall "  so  superior  to  the  "  Niagara  " 
and  "  Sacramento  "  ?  And  it  was  a  ques 
tion  that  could  only  be  ascertained  by  a 
contest  at  sea,  when  each  vessel  would 
have  an  opportunity  of  testing  the  other's 
qualities. 

As  the  "Stonewall"  was  seen  by  the 
commander  of  the  '•  Niagara."  who  was  a 
capital  sailor,  she  appeared  to  be  a  most 
powerful  antagonist,  and  if  well  handled 
she  would  probably  have  inflicted  serious 
injury  upon  the  two  vessels  he  commanded. 
He  thought,  perhaps  (and  so  thought  other 
professional  men),  that,  under  certain  cir 
cumstances,  the  ram  would  have  sunk  the 
two  Federal  ships  ;  while  others,  who  have 


OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


Bftfi 


since  seen  the  weak  points  in  the '•Stone 
wall/'  are  of  the  opinion  that  she  would 
have  been  no  match  for  the  Union  vessels. 
No  results  would  ever  he  arrived  at.  if  a 
commander  of  a  vessel  should  he  unwilling 
to  attack  another  about  which  he  knew 
nothing.  It  is  very  questionable  whether 
naval  actions  which  are  based  exclusively 
on  too  nice  calculations,  and  where  too 
much  consideration  is  given  to  the  risk  to 
be  run  in  engaging  an  enemy,  are  ever  fol 
lowed  by  any  gallant  results. 

There  was  great  excitement  in  the  Navy 
Department  on  hearing  the  conclusion  the 
commander  of  the  "  Niagara  "  had  reached 
in  regard  to  the  "Stonewall,"  and  that,  in 
consequence,  the  Confederate  vessel  had 
proceeded  to  Lisbon,  coaled,  and  continued 
on  her  way  toward  the  coast  of  the  United 
States,  without  being  followed  further  than 
that  place.  The  several  squadrons  on  the 
coast  were  warned  that  this  formidable 
vessel  was  about  to  attack  them,  and  di 
rected  to  keep  a  good  look-out  for  her;  but, 
as  a  general  rule,  her  advent  was  not  at  all 
apprehended,  and,  if  she  had  appeared, 
steps  had  been  taken  to  dispose  of  her  as 
all  Confederate  rams  had  been  disposed  of 
before  her. 

It  would  not  be  fair  for  any  one  to  judge 
harshly  of  the  action  of  the  Federal  com 
mander  in  this  matter,  unless  he  had  been 
placed  in  the  same  position  himself.  No 
officer  should  be  deprived  of  the  discretion 
ary  power  due  to  his  command,  or  be 
trammelled  by  the  opinions  of  those  who 
have  no  responsibility  resting  upon  them. 
It  would  never  do  to  establish  a  principle 
that,  for  the  sake  merely  of  his  reputation, 
an  officer  under  all  circumstances  should 
attack  an  iron-clad  with  two  wooden  ves 
sels.  Very  little  was  known  of  the  power 
of  sea-going  iron-dads  at  that  time,  and 
the  "  Stonewall."  for  all  the  commander  of 
the  "Niagara  "  knew,  might  be  impervious 
to  shot  or  shell,  and  with  maneuvering 
powers  that  were  unequalled  by  the  two 
ships  under  his  command.  Yet  there  may 
have  been  some  justification  for  censure  in 
the  want  of  judgment  in  the  commodore 
on  the  24th  day  of  May,  1865,  in  not  making 
some  exertion  to  obtain  constant  and  per 
sonal  observation  of  the  Confederate  ram 
while  at  Ferrol,  and  thus  ascertain  the 
truth  or  falsehood  of  the  received  reports 
of  her  character.  There  might  also  be 
some  cause  for  reflection  on  the  conduct  of 
the  Federal  commander  in  remaining 
quietly  at  anchor  in  the  Bay  of  Corunna, 
instead  of  going  outside  with  his  two  ves 
sels  in  the  same  neutral  water,  and  there 
making  observations  of  the  "  Stonewall's" 
speed,  power  of  turning,  etc. ;  and  he  might, 
with  propriety,  have  consulted  with  his 
junior  commander,  Captain  Henry  Walke, 


of  the  "Sacramento."  who  had  boldly  en 
gaged  on  the  Mississippi  River  a  much 
more  powerful  ram  —  the  "  Arkansas  "- 
while  in  command  of  the  "Carondelet."  a 
much  inferior  vessel — at  least,  he  might 
have  formed  with  his  consort  some  plan  of 
attack.  This  was  not  done,  perhaps  for 
the  reason  that,  as,  in  his  judgment,  no  en 
gagement  should  take  place,  it  was  useless 
to  form  plans  he  did  not  propose  to  under 
take. 

Some  of  these  ideas  were  evidently  para 
mount  in  the  mind  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  when  the  commander  of  the  "  Niag 
ara"  returned  to  the  United  States,  as  he 
brought  him  to  trial  by  court-martial  on  the 
following  charge  :  "'Failing  to  do  his  ut 
most  to  overtake  and  capture  or  destroy  a 
vessel  which  it  was  his  duty  to  encounter." 
The  court  was  composed  of  nine  of  the  most 
distinguished  officers  of  the  Navy,  with 
Vice- Admiral  Farragut  as  President.  The 
court  decided  that  Commodore  Craven  had 
been  remiss  in  his  duties,  and  sentenced 
him  to  two  years'  suspension  on  leave-pay. 
This  sentence  was  either  inadequate  to  the 
offence  charged,  or  it  was  very  unjust, 
which  will  be  plain  to  the  nautical  reader. 
Secretary  Welles  seemed  to  think  that,  not 
withstanding  the  opinion  of  nine  officers  of 
the  Navy,  the  sentence  was  inadequate  to 
the  offence,  and  addressed  a  severe  com 
munication  to  the  president  of  the  court  in 
returning  the  proceedings  for  revision. 
Whether  he  was  right  or  not  in  doing  so 
depends  on  the  latitude  the  revising  author 
ity  is  allowed  in  disapproving  the  finding 
of  a  court  of  officers  who  are  sworn  to  do 
their  whole  duty  in  the  premises  It  would 
seem  to  be  an  attempt  to  deprive  them  of 
that  discretionary  power  which  is  gener 
ally  a  beneficent  feature  in  a  military 
court-martial.  It  also  detracts  from  that 
dignity  which  properly  belongs  to  such  a 
body,  holding,  as  it  does,  the  power  even  of 
life  and  death.  The  following  is  an  extract 
from  the  Department's  letter,  returning  the 
record  to  the  court  for  revision  : 

"NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  ( 
"WASHINGTON',  December  1,  1865.  \ 

"  QIR — The  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  court 
of  which  you  are  President,  in  the  ease  of  Commo 
dore  Thomas  T.  Craven,  is  herewith  returned  for  a 
revision  of  the  finding,  which,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
Department,  is  in  conflict  with  law,  and.  if  ap 
proved,  would  tend  to  render  the  provisions  of 
law  which  the  accused  is  charged  with  violating,  a 
'dead  letter/" 

Having  received  this  letter,  the  court  pro 
ceeded  to  revise  its  action  upon  the  charge 
and  specifications,  and,  after  more  mature 
deliberation.  "  doth  find  the  chargeproven, 
except  the  words.  '  as  it  was  his  duty  to 
have  done.'  and  doth  find  the  accused. 
Commodore  Thomas  T.  Craven,  of  the 
charge,  guilty,  and  doth  award  the  follow- 


826 


THE  XAVAL   HfSTORT 


ing  punishment  :  That  the  accused.  Com 
modore  Thomas  T.  Craven,  be  suspended 
from  duty  for  two  years  on  leave-pay."  In 
his  final  revision  of  this  finding,  the  re 
marks  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  are  a 
severe  censure  on  the  action  of  the  court, 
the  proceedings  were  set  aside  and  the  ac 
cused  restored  to  duty. 

The  above  is  a  very  important  part  of 
the  history  of  the  war,  which  we  would  be 
glad  to  be  able  to  omit;  but  there  are  facts 
in  the  case  having  a  very  important  bear 
ing  upon  the  future  actions  of  officers  of 
the  Navy,  and  it  would  not  be  right  in  a 
historian  to  omit  that  which  is  unfavor 
able  to  the  naval  service  and  publish  only 
that  which  is  creditable.  This  case  may 
be  referred  to  hereafter  as  a  test  question, 
and  the  finding  of  the  court  and  the  opinion 
of  the  revising  power  may  be  adduced  to 
show  what  duties  are  enjoined  on  members 
of  courts-martial,  and  how  far  the  revising 
power  can  go  in  virtually  setting  aside  the 
sentence  of  a  court  when  it  is  not  consid 
ered  to  be  severe  enough,  and  in  censuring 
a  court  in  an  official  letter. 

It  is  a  well-established  principle  in  mili 
tary  or  naval  law,  that  when  charges  are 
brought  against  an  officer  to  any  one  of 
which  the  penalty  of  death  is  attached,  no 
other  sentence  can  be  awarded.  The  law 
is  imperative  that  courts  -  martial  shall 
adjudge  a  punishment  adequate  to  the  of 
fence  committed  and  only  leaves  it  discre 
tionary  with  the  court  to  recommend  the 
convicted  person  to  clemency,  that  clem 
ency  to  be  exercised  only  by  the  revising 
authority.  The  court  has  no  discretion  but 
to  make  its  finding  accord  with  the  law. 
In  the  case  under  consideration,  the  court 
may  have  deemed  that  the  law  under  which 
the  accused  was  tried  was  one  of  a  harsh 
character,  as.  no  doubt,  it  was  as  far  as 
regards  the  case  in  question,  but  it  was 
bound  by  a  solemn  obligation  to  administer 
it  as  it  stood  on  the  statute-books,  and  not 
to  modify  it  to  suit  their  own  views  of  jus 
tice.  They  had  full  authority  to  make 
recommendations  to  mercy  that  the  revis 
ing  power  would  hardly  feel  justified  in 
disregarding,  especially  as  a  similar  case 
had  never  been  presented  to  a  court  dur 
ing  the  war,  and  when  it  was  a  question 
whether  an  officer  had  any  discretionary 
power  in  avoiding  a  combat  with  a  vessel 
of  an  entirely  different  character  from  his 
own,  and  constructed  on  principles  many 
years  in  advance  of  vessels  of  the  class  he 
commanded. 

The  great  mistake  the  court  made  was  in 
endeavoring  to  modify  the  charge  of  which 
the  accused  was  or  was  not  guilty.  They 
had  either  to  say  one  thing  or  another,  and 
that  in  accordance  with  their  opinion  such 
was  the  case,  and  the  revising  power  could 


say  no  more.  No  ill  results  followed  the 
"  flaunting"  of  the  "  Stone  wall's  "  flag,  and 
it  was  in  some  respects  a  very  doubtful 
case.  Three  of  the  officers  of  the  court, 
Vice  -  Admiral  Farragut,  Rear  -  Admiral 
Davis  and  Captain  Melancton  Smith,  had 
had  some  rough  experiences  with  iron-clad 
rams,  and,  under  the  circumstances,  were, 
no  doubt,  disposed  to  judge  leniently,  and 
willing  to  allow  the  commander  of  the 
'''Niagara"  discretionary  rights  in  regard 
to  attacking  the  "  Stonewall."  The  court 
made  a  grave  mistake  in  not  more  care 
fully  considering  this  matter,  and  in  not 
inquiring  more  closely  into  the  points  of 
law ;  and  for  this  reason  it  may  be  said 
that  the  court  jeopardized,  in  a  measure, 
the  interests  of  the  accused  by  finding  him 
guilty  of  that  which  was  not  proved  ;  inas 
much  as  they  declared  by  implication  that 
it  was  not  his  duty  to  have  attacked  the 
"Stonewall,"  the  finding  being  as  follows: 
"Specification  of  the  charge  proven,  except 
in  so  far  as  the  words,  '  as  it  was  his  duty 
to  have  done,'  declare  it  to  have  been  the 
imperative  duty  of  the  accused  to  join 
battle  with  the  '  Stonewall '  on  the  24th  day 
of  March"— (18G5). 

How,  under  the  finding  of  the  court,  the 
commander  of  the  "Niagara"  could  be 
censured  for  "  want  of  zeal  and  exertion  in 
not  making  constant  and  personal  observa 
tion  of  the  '  Stonewall '  while  at  Ferrol, 
and  thereby  endeavoring  to  ascertain  the 
truth  or  falsehood  of  the  various  reports  of 
her  character,"  does  not  appear  ;  for,  while 
qualifying  their  finding,  they  reflect  upon 
him  in  three  several  instances  :  First,  in 
the  words  just  quoted  ;  second,  "  on  the 
conduct  of  the  accused  in  remaining  quietly 
at  anchor  in  the  bay  of  Corunna  while  the 
'  Stonewall '  was  parading  about  in  neutral 
waters,  flaunting  her  flags,"  etc ;  and, 
third,  in  that  no  plans  were  formed  for  con 
certed  action  between  the  "Niagara"  and 
"Sacramento"  by  the  accused.  Under  the 
circumstances,  and  considering  the  incon 
sistency  of  the  court,  the  revising  power 
found  it  impossible  to  determine  whether  the 
accused  was  guilty  or  not,  the  finding  on 
the  charge  declaring  him  guilty,  but  that 
on  the  specification,  not  guilty.  As  the 
court  adhered  to  its  finding  when  the  pro 
ceedings  were  returned  for  revision,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  concluded  to  set  the 
proceedings  aside,  and  restore  the  com 
mander  of  the  "  Niagara  "  to  duty. 

As  this  case  ended,  the  matter  is  left  in 
abeyance,  and  it  may  yet  happen  that  an 
officer  may  be  tried  under  the  same  circum 
stances  which  present  the  simple  question, 
Shall  an  officer  be  allowed  any  discretion 
ary  power  in  deciding  whether  or  not  to  join 
battle  with  an  enemy's  ships  or  with  an 
enemy's  forts  ?— for  the  principle  applies  to 


OF   THE  CIVIL    \YAR. 


827 


both.  In  the  light  of  Inter  events,  the  leni 
ency  of  the  court  at  that  time  is  generally 
approved,  and.  taking  into  consideration 
the  high  character  of  the  officers  who  com 
posed  it,  it  would  have  been  hut  courteous 
to  them  had  the  revising  power  yielded  to 
their  opinion,  which  was,  without  doubt,  the 
result  of  their  honest  convictions.  It  has 
been  conceded  that  Admiral  Byng,  of  the 
British  Xavy,  was  unjustly  shot,  to  satisfy 
public  opinion.  There  was  no  necessity  on 
this  occasion  for  such  an  example.  No 
man  could  know  whether  or  not  the  affair 
at  Corunna  was  an  error  of  judgment— in 


fact,  no  one  could  tell  whether  it  was  not 
the  right  course  to  pursue.  Any  officer 
commanding  two  wooden  ships  of  the  same 
kind  to-day  could  feel  perfectly  justified  in 
avoiding  a  battle  with  a  modern  iron-clad 
ram — whether  the  cases  are  analagous,  the 
reader  must  be  the  judge. 

After  all  the  trouble  and  excitement  cre 
ated  by  the  "  Stone  wall,"  she  never  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  beyond  Havana,  where, 
at  the  termination  of  the  war.  she  was 
given  up  to  the  Spanish  Government  by  her 
commander  in  an  honorable  manner  and 
surrendered  to  the  United  States. 


CHAPTER     LVI  I  I 


CONCLUSION. 


WHEN  the  war  ended,  the  United 
States  had  attained  a  position 
as  a  Naval  power  never  be 
fore  reached  by  the  Republic, 
and  could  claim  to  be  able  to 
meet  either  France  or  England  upon  the 
ocean.  Both  of  these  nations  had  looked  on 
with  surprise  at  the  rapid  manner  in  which 
the  Federal  Government  was  adding  to  its 
Navy.  If  not  anxious  for  the  dissolution  of 
the  United  States,  both  France  and  England 
were  quick  to  throw  their  weight  against 
it  by  proclamations,  giving  to  the  Con 
federates  a  character  that  did  much  to 
strengthen  their  cause,  by  offering  them 
most  substantial  aid.  and  in  permitting 
them  to  build,  arm  and  equip  vessels-of-war 
in  their  ports  for  the  destruction  of  Ameri 
can  commerce.  Even  at  a  time  when  the 
Federal  armies  had  advanced  so  far  in  the 
enemy's  country  that  the  final  result  was 
apparent  to  the  most  indifferent  observer, 
the  Confederate  sympathizers  in  France  and 
England  declared  that  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  was  making  no  progress  in  subduing 
the  Confederacy,  and  insisted  that  the  Navy, 
in  particular,  was  incapable  of  putting  down 
the  few  cruisers  that  were  destroying 
American  commerce  at  their  pleasure. 

France,  the  ancient  ally  of  the  United 
States,  that  had  stood  by  the  young  Repub 
lic  in  its  hour  of  need,  and  who  had  always 
been  bound  to  it  in  the  closest  ties  of 
amity,  under  the  avaricious  policy  of  her 
emperor,  who  had  his  eyes  fixed  on'Mexico, 
went  over  to  England  and  supported  her  in 
the  proclamations  issued  in  the  Queen's 
name,  but  dictated  by  Earl  Russell.  The 
emperor  hoped  to  persuade  England  to  em 
bark  in  a  scheme  that  was  to  benefit  France 
only  in  the  subjection  of  Mexico  to  French 
rule,  and  to  add  to  the  French  crown  that 
jewel  which  would  enrich  and  strengthen 
any  nation  that  possessed  it.  In  his  insane 
desire  to  obtain  possession  of  that  beauti- 


ful  country,  the  French  emperor  beheld  in 
the  supposed  waning  power  of  the  United 
States  the  opportunity  he  sought  to  enable 
him  to  plant  his  foot  firmly  on  the  soil  of 
the  Montezumas,  thinking  that,  once  the 
City  of  Mexico  was  occupied  by  his  troops, 
the  United  States  would  never  again  be 
in  a  condition  to  offer  any  obstacles  to  the 
permanent  establishment  of  French  au 
thority.  It  was  this  ambitious  project 
only  that  induced  France  to  abandon  her 
old  friendship  for  the  United  States,  and 
uphold  England  in  her  questionable  policy 
of  permitting  the  construction  of  Confed 
erate  cruisers  in  her  ports.  Had  France 
remained  strictly  neutral,  and  shown  Eng 
land  that  she  did  not  approve  of  the 
pretended  neutrality  the  latter  was  prac 
ticing,  the  moral  effect  of  her  course 
would  have  been  to  prevent  England  from 
assisting  the  Confederates. 

When  the  "Trent"  affair  took  place  (which 
did  not  in  the  least  concern  France),  and 
when  the  British  Government  had  taken 
such  precipitate  measures  to  humiliate  the 
Federal  Government — not  giving  it  time 
even  to  make  an  explanation — the  French 
emperor,  through  his  minister  in  Washing 
ton,  entered  an  entirely  uncalled-for  protest 
against  the  action  of  the  United  States  ves- 
sel-of-war  '•  San  Jacinto."  stating  that  such 
a  course  was  as  offensive  to  France  as  to 
England,  and,  in  fact,  to  all  European  gov 
ernments  ;  and  announcing  in  his  dispatch 
the  course  France  would  pursue  under  like 
circumstances — his  real  policy  being  to  urge 
England  into  a  war  with  the  United  States, 
which  would  further  French  views  in  re 
gard  to  Mexico.  This  shows  the  animus 
actuating  the  emperor;  though  the  Federal 
Administration  had  its  hands  full  at  that 
time,  his  object  was  apparent,  while  the  sin 
cerity  of  England  was  strongly  suspected. 

The  first  step  of  the  Navy^Department. 
when  it  could  command  the  money,  was  to 


(82" 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


829 


construct  a  Navy  not  only  for  the  purpose 
of  blockading  the  Southern  coast,  but  to 
protect  our  shores  from  foreign  foes,  and 
hold  their  own  upon  the  ocean  with  the 
cruisers  of  either  France  or  England.  We 
have  shown  how  inadequate  the  Navy  was 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  even  to 
blockade  the  Confederate  ports,  much  less  to 
offer  resistance  to  a  powerful  naval  antag 
onist;  but  even  the  first  year  of  the  war  was 
one  of  wonderful  development  for  the 
Navy,  not  only  in  establishing  a  complete 
blockade,  but  in  the  usefulness  of  naval 
vessels  in  assisting  the  Army  to  carry  out 
plans  of  conquest  that  it  could  never  have 
achieved  alone. 

In  a  very  short  time  after  the  Confeder 
acy  was  established,  all  the  great  rivers  of 
the  West  and  their  tributaries  were  in  Con 
federate  hands,  and  the  most  inaccessible 
points  therein  armed  with  ponderous  guns, 
manned  by  an  excited  soldiery.  The  Poto 
mac  River  was  blockaded  almost  from 
Alexandria  to  the  Chesapeake;  the  Sounds 
of  North  Carolina  were  rilled  with  powerful 
batteries,  and  the  channels  closed  by 
sunken  obstructions.  Every  port  on  the 
Southern  coast  was  protected  by  well-con 
structed  forts,  and  closed  against  the  few 
vessels  the  Government  owned,  and  for  a 
time  the  Federal  cause  looked  so  hopeless 
that  Europeon  despots  might  well  be  ex 
cused  for  supposing  that  it  would  be  an  im 
possible  task  to  recover  the  lost  domain, 
unprovided  as  the  Federal  Government 
was  with  ships  of  a  character  to  contend 
with  all  the  peculiar  difficulties  of  naviga 
tion  in  the  inland  waters. 

The  difficulties  to  be  overcome  have  only 
been  described  in  this  work  in  a  partial 
way,  for  no  description  could  give  an  ade 
quate  idea  of  all  that  was  done  by  the  Navy 
and  how  it  was  done.  Compare  the  results 
of  this  great  war  in  matters  connected 
with  the  Navy  alone  with  those  of  any 
other  scene  of  action  in  Europe  or  else 
where,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  history  of 
fers  no  example  where  so  much  was  accom 
plished  in  so  short  a  time,  or  where  so 
many  events  were  crowded  into  the  space 
of  four  years,  in  which  the  Navy  was  em 
ployed  subduing  a  coast  over  four  thou 
sand  miles  in  length,  and  recapturing  a 
river-coast  of  more  than  five  thousand 
miles. 

Let  us  compare  the  operations  of  England 
and  France  in  the  Crimea  with  those  on 
our  own  coast,  and  note  the  results.  These 
two  nations  had  but  a  small  amount  of 
territory  to  subdue— four  hundred  square 
miles  at  the  most;  the  two  great  navies  of  the 
world  were  at  their  command,  with  a  much 
larger  proportion  of  troops  than  ever  co 
operated  with  the  Federal  naval  forces  dur 
ing  the  war  of  the  rebellion  ;  they  started 


with  the  greatest  armada  the  world  ever 
saw — sixty  or  seventy  ships  of  the  line,  and 
numerous  other  vessels-of-war,  transports 
(filled  with  troops),  that  almost  covered  the 
sea  ;  and  still 'they  were  months  making 
any  impression  upon  the  Russian  strong 
hold,  which  did  not  in  any  way  compare 
with  Yicksburg. 

The  Federal  Government  commenced 
with  four  small  vessels  (carrying  in  all 
twenty-five  guns),  the  duty  of  capturing 
or  blockading  the  South  Atlantic  coast.  In 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  were  eight  more  ships; 
in  the  Mediterranean,  three  more;  seven 
were  on  the  coast  of  Africa;  two  on  that  of 
Brazil;  three  were  in  the  East  Indies,  and 
eight  in  the  Pacific — scattered,  in  fact,  all 
over  the  world ;  and  these  had  to  be  col 
lected  to  satisfy  England  and  France  that  a 
perfect  blockade  could  be  established.  They 
naturally  ridiculed  the  attempt,  yet  in  less 
than  a  year  the  blockade  was  accomplished, 
so  that  the  most  hypercritical  sovereign 
could  not  object  to  it.  and  every  foreign 
government  acknowledged  that  it  was  the 
great  feat  of  the  war.  All  the  skill  and 
capital  of  England  could  not  keep  this 
blockade  open,  though  they  might  at  times 
succeed  in  getting  their  vessels  into  South 
ern  ports  to  supply  the  Confederate  armies 
with  the  means  of  carrying  on  the  war. 
The  Navy  was  so  watchful  that  multitudes 
of  English  vessels  were  captured;  the  coasts 
of  the  South  were  strewn  with  the  wrecks 
of  English  clipper-steamers  which  were 
chased  on  shore  in  calm  and  in  storm  by 
officers  who  seldom  slept,  and  were  scan 
ning  the  horizon  night  and  day  for  the 
sight  of  an  incoming  blockade-runner. 

This  was  but  a  small  part  of  the  naval 
service  performed.  The  Navy  was  called 
upon  to  help  open  the  Potomac,  and  guard 
the  capital;  directed  to  capture  the  Hatteras 
forts,  and  the  fortifications  in  the  sounds 
and  rivers  of  North  Carolina.  The  forts  at 
Hilton  Head  defied  them,  but  naval  officers, 
with  their  wooden  vessels,  dismantled  them 
with  shell.  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip, 
which  French  and  English  officers  said 
would  sink  the  whole  Federal  Navy,  barred 
the  way  to  New  Orleans  ;  the  guns  of  the 
Navy  opened  the  gates  and  laid  New 
Orleans  captive  at  the  conqueror's  feet. 

Then  came  the  demand  that  the  Navy 
should  open  the  Mississippi  from  the  Ohio 
River  to  the  sea.  clear  out  the  obstructions 
in  the  shape  of  four  hundred  guns,  and 
restore  the  different  towns  on  the  banks 
of  that  great  river  to  the  control  of  the 
United  States  Government.  With  what 
was  it  all  to  be  done  ?  Could  their  frail 
vessels,  improvised  from  river-boats  and  a 
few  thin-plated  vessels,  be  able  to  force 
the  barriers  that  were  placed  on  every 
eligible  site?  Yet,  with  the  aid  of  the 


830 


THE  NAVAL   HIS  TOR  F 


Army,  a  little  over  two  years  after  the  war 
began,  the  Mississippi  was  open  to  the  sea. 
The  ideas  of  the  Navy  Department  grew 
with  the  success  of  the  Navy  afloat,  and 
the  work-shops  of  the  country  teemed  with 
mechanics  who  entered  heart  and  soul  into 
the  business  of  building  iron-dads  that 
could  not  only  cope  successfully  with  the 
heavy  forts  of  the  enemy,  but  could  remind 
unfriendly  nations  that  the  more  severely 
this  nation  was  tested,  the  more  she  would 
rise  in  her  strength. 

The  State  of  Tennessee,  the  great  prize 
and  battle-ground  (upon  which  the  enemy 
expended  a  large  portion  of  their  resources, 
and  through  which  they  hoped  to  attack 
the  northwestern  States),  was  under  the 
control  of  the  gun-boats,  and  the  Army 
was  placed  by  their  aid  securely  in  the 
heart  of  the  State.  From  the  time  a  naval 
force  was  placed  011  the  Tennessee  and 
Cumberland  Rivers,  the  stay  of  the  Con 
federate  forces  was  very  problematical, 
and  it  cannot  escape  the  attention  of  the 
reader  how  persistent  were  the  naval  offi 
cers  who  commanded  the  Western  Squadron 
in  keeping  open  two  rivers,  which  were  in 
all  cases  the  keys  to  the  situation. 

Only  two  important  points  on  the  sea- 
coast  had  been  maintained  by  the  enemy  — 
Charleston  and  Wilmington — but,  though 
they  flourished  for  a  time,  afforded  great 
assistance  to  the  Confederate  cause,  and 
kept  up  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  infatu 
ated  Confederacy,  the  rebellion  received  its 
death-blow  on  July  4th,  18G3.  Its  after- 
struggles  were  only  like  those  of  the  dying 
lion,  that  for  a  short  time  exhibits"  his 
greatest  strength  without  power  to  do  any 
injury  in  his  dying  throes,  no  matter  how 
much  prolonged. 

At  the  end  of  the  war  the  United  States 
Government  had  just  begun  to  realize  its 
strength,  and  those  who  had  the  direction 
of  its  affairs  might  well  feel  proud  of  the 
great  Army  and  Navy  which  stood  ready, 
now  that  the  intestine  troubles  were  over, 
to  take  in  hand  those  who  had  so  inso 
lently  interfered  with  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  not  from  any  real  sympathy  with  the 
Southern  cause,  but  from  a desireto  see  the 
free  institutions  of  this  country  over 
thrown,  and  the  whole  land  become' a  scene 
of  anarchy — to  show  that  man  was  in  no 
place  fit  for  self-government. 

What  the  Navy  Department  and  the  war 
did  towards  building  up  a  Navy,  and  a 
Navy  altogether  of  a  new  type,  can  onlv  be 
judged  by  a  reference  to  the  tables  annexed 
to  this  chapter,  which  give  a  correct  exhibit 
ot  tne  ships  built,  building,  and  altered, 
during  the  four  years'  war— a  feat  only  one 
other  nation  (Great  Britain)  could  have  ac 
complished  in  the  same  space  of  time 

All   of  this  Navy  that   is  known  in  his 


tory  as  having  performed  the  greatest  feat 
in  the  war  (the  most  complete  blockade  of 
a  coast  ever  established),  is  among  the 
things  of  the  past.  Its  dissolution  was  even 
more  rapid  than  its  creation.  It  was 
allowed  to  dwindle  away  without  an  effort 
to  replace  those  ships,  that  had  fallen  vic 
tims  to  decay,  with  others  of  a  suitable 
character.  The  vessels  were  sold  "under 
the  hammer,"  as  no  longer  suitable  for  the 
purposes  of  war,  which  had  changed  its 
character  entirely  since  the  beginning  of 
the  American  contest.  A  few  old  vessels 
still  remain  to  attest  the  uselessness  of  a 
branch  of  the  service  on  which  the  Gov 
ernment  must  depend  for  protection  in 
time  of  war  with  a  foreign  nation,  or  to 
keep  the  peace  at  home  against  insurrec 
tionists  of  whatever  character  that  may 
present  themselves. 

It  is  no  compliment  to  the  intelligence  of 
sixty  millions  of  people  to  have  it  said, 
that  the  United  States  has  not  one  iron 
clad  to  defend  her  coast  ;  not  a  perfectly 
equipped  cruiser  of  steel  to  carry  her  flag 
upon  the  ocean  ;  not  a  single  gun  in  her 
coast  defences  that  could  pierce  the  shield 
of  a  foreign  iron-clad,  and  not  a  fortifica 
tion  that  could  resist  the  attack  of  two  or 
three  foreign-built  iron-clads.  We  may  be 
said  to  be  a  great  nation  of  people,  but'cer- 
tainly  not  a  nation  of  great  people  ;  for, 
who  will  call  us  the  latter,  when  there 
seems  to  be  such  a  love  of  accumulating 
wealth,  without  the  manly  desire  to  have 
the  means  of  defending  it  against  the  ag 
gressions  of  any  power  that  may  choose  to 
make  war  upon  us  ?  The  Government  of 
the  United  States  cannot  defend  themselves 
against  the  weakest  naval  power,  much  less 
against  a  strong  one.  and  we  must,  per 
force,  rely  on  that  old  system,  so  much  in 
vogue  in  Thomas  Jefferson's  time,  of  pay 
ing  tribute,  as  we  did  from  1804  to  1815  to 
the  Barbary  powers,  to  prevent  them  from 
preying  on  our  commerce  and  carrying  our 
citizens  to  captivity. 

We  had  experience  enough  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion  to  satisfy  us  that  there 
•were  certain  European  governments  that 
desired  the  downfall  of  the  American 
Union,  and  it  was  only  by  means  of  an 
abject  compliance  with  their  demands  that 
we  escaped  war,  which  would  have  been 
the  signal  of  the  complete  triumph  of  the 
South  and  the  dissolution  of  the  Union 
which  our  forefathers  exercised  so  much 
wisdom  in  building  up.  What  a  noble 
sight  it  would  have  been,  after  the  settle 
ment  of  our  difficulties  at  home,  to  see  the 
American  people  set  to  work  and  build  a 
Navy  that  would  bid  defiance  to  any  naval 
power  in  the  world — to  rebuild  the  com 
merce  that  had  been  driven  from  the  sea 
by  the  "Alabamas"  and  "  Floridas,"  and 


OF  THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


831 


which  was  once  the  pride  and  wealth  of 
the  nation — to  give  an  exhibition  of  our 
wealth  and  resources  and  our  indomitable 
will,  that  no  nation  should  oppose  us,  or 
interfere  with  our  domestic  affairs.  But, 
instead  of  this  we  stood  still,  while  other 
nations  worked  on,  and  taking  advantage 
of  our  lethargy  robbed  us  of  our  com 
merce,  took  the  carrying  trade  all  in  their 
own  hands,  and  now  laugh  at  our  inane 
attempts  to  build  up  a  Navy,  which,  if  it 
ever  reaches  a  reputable  standard,  will  show 
that  we  are  so  deficient  in  the  elementary 
science  of  naval  construction  that  we  can 
not  keep  pace  even  with  the  modern  ex 
amples  that  have  been  set  us  by  European 
powers. 

We  can  be  no  more  exempt  from  war 
than  others:  indeed,  our  weak  condition  is 
so  well  understood  by  all  the  world  that  it 
only  invites  aggression  ;  and.  if  we  would 
not  desire  to  rest  under  the  imputation  of 
being  the  poorest  government  under  the 
sun,  and  unfit  to  take  care  of  the  interests 
of  sixty  millions  of  people,  we  must  shortly 
awake  from  an  apathy  that  would  disgrace 
any  country,  and  begin  to  provide  for  the 
national  defence. 

In  the  war  of  the  rebellion  the  people  on 
both  sides  exhibited  the  greatest  examples 
of  courage,  resources  and  perseverance, 
showing  what  we  could  do  were  our  shores 
to  be  invaded  ;  for  which,  no  doubt,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  world,  we  have  gained  that 
reputation  which  generally  follows  heroic 
deeds.  But  all  that  credit  would  disappear 
to-rnorrow  if  we  were  involved  in  a  foreign 
war  :  our  coasts  would  be  devastated,  our 
harbors  sealed  up  by  a  foreign  foe,  and  we 
would  again  be  obliged  to  pay  tribute  as  we 
did  to  the  Barbary  powers  of  old. 

Taking  into  consideration  the  situation 
of  the  United  States  at  the  present  time, 
it  looks  as  if  the  rebellion  had  taught  us 
nothing,  and  that  we  are  giving  wild  theo 
rists  of  the  past  and  present  some  show  of 
reason  to  assert  that  republican  forms  of 
government  are  unnecessarily  expensive, 
revolutionary,  and  deficient  in  the  elements 
for  the  maintenance  of  a  proper  protection 
from  an  outside  enemy  or  intestine  foe.  A 
government  which  maintains  no  army  or 
navy  for  the  preservation  of  law  and  order 
simply  runs  an  even  race  with  anarchy  and 
rebellion.  This  is  true  of  us  in  a  tenfold 
degree,  for  we  give  our  enemies  in  all  quar 
ters  the  opportunity  of  getting  their  forces 
first  into  the  field.  This  applies  more  particu 
larly  to  the  Navy  of  the  United  States,  which 
never  seems  to  attract  the  attention  of  those 
who  have  charge  of  the  national  defence. 
They  never  for  a  moment  think  that,  if  the 
dreadful  reality  of  war  was  sprung  upon  us, 
not  only  could  any  of  the  greater  powers 
within  twenty  days  lay  our  large  sea-coast 


cities  in  ashes,  and  exact  any  amount  of  trib- 
bute  they  might  think  proper,  but  even  the 
smallest  States,  with  any  pretensions  as 
naval  powers,  could  humiliate  us  to  any 
extent.  This  is  a  terrible  confession  to 
make,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true,  and,  unless 
those  who  have  these  matters  in  charge 
rise  to  a  proper  conception  of  their  dniv. 
they  may  live  to  ''reap  of  the  whirlwind/' 
and  receive  the  condemnation  of  the  sixty 
millions  of  people  who  now  depend  on  them 
for  that  protection  every  government  owes 
its  citizens. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  can  readily 
dispose  of  their  anarchists  on  the  land,  anil 
provide  against  all  their  revolutionarv 
ideas  by  the  bullet  or  bayonet,  when  they 
become  tired  of  listening  to  these  wild 
theorists  who  would  upset,  if  they  could, 
any  government,  no  matter  how  desirable. 
But  they  are  helpless  when  it  comes  to  de 
fending  themselves  against  the  attacks  of 
heavy  iron-clads,  which  can  only  be  met  by 
great  vessels-of-war  designed  for  the  pur 
pose  ;  which  we  do  not  possess,  and  which 
there  seems  very  little  prospect  of  our  ob 
taining. 

There  is  but  one  remedy  for  the  evils  un 
der  which  we  are  resting,  and  that  is,  for 
the  people  to  take  the  matter  in  hand  and 
demand  a  Navy  that  will  help  put  down 
rebellion  at  home  at  its  first  inception,  and 
bid  defiance  to  those  abroad  who  would 
commit  aggressions  upon  our  commerce,  or 
treat  our  citizens  unjustly  in  any  part  of 
the  world. 

Let  us  not  forget  that  something  akin  to 
Barbary  powers  still  exists,  though  in  the 
garb  of  Christian  civilization,  anil  that  they 
are  not  as  limited  in  number  as  they  were 
in  1804.  They  may  have  the  strongest 
treaties  binding  them  to  us  in  terms  of 
amity,  but  they  are  ever  ready,  like  the 
Algerines  of  old,  to  take  advantage  of  our 
weakness. 

We  might  naturally  be  supposed  to  have 
retained  some  bitter  feelings  against  Eng 
land  and  France  on  account  of  the  un 
friendliness  they  exhibited  when  we  were 
passing  through  the  greatest  struggle  of 
our  history  as  a  nation,  but,  though  we 
might  very  properly  be  so  influenced,  this 
idea  has  no  foundation  in  fact  ;  though  it 
might  well  be  impressed  upon  the  con 
sciences  of  many  of  the  British  people  who 
do  not  remember  with  complacency  the 
course  England  (as  a  nation)  pursued,  con 
sidering  her  intimate  relations  with  the 
United  States.  But  the  Americans  are  a 
forgiving  people,  and  forget  injuries,  only 
to  have  them  repeated  even  when  they 
know  they  were  intended  to  be  fatal.  We 
found  no  sympathy  in  our  great  revolution, 
which  became  a  struggle  for  our  actual  ex 
istence;  least  of  all  did  we  find  it  where  we 


832 


THE  NAVAL  HISTORY 


had  a  right  to  expect  it— in  free  England, 
who  had  taken  the  first  broad  step  towards 
the  emancipation  of  the  slave.  But  our  dis 
appointment  in  finding  a  foe  where  we 
should  have  found  a  friend  only  added  a 
vigor  to  our  action.  \Ve  found  ourselves 
strong  enough  to  fight  our  way  to  victory. 
We  could  well  afford  to  do  without  the 
sympathy  of  either  England  or  France;  for, 
though  the  task  became  harder,  owing  to 
their  opposition,  we  were  perfectly  con 
scious  from  the  first  that  their  aid  was  not 
needed,  and  that  their  opposition  would  be 
futile. 

The  adventurous  Napoleon  III.,  who 
staked  an  empire  on  the  acquisition  of 
Mexico  by  the  downfall  of  the  United 
States,  has  long  since  paid  the  penalty  of 
his  treachery  in  his  opposition  to  the  great 


Republic,  once  the  ally  of  France.  Even  his 
descendants,  to  the  last  generation,  have 
disappeared  from  the  face  of  the  earth, 
while,  in  his  old  age,  he  was  deprived  of 
all  he  held  dear— power  and  wealth.  There 
seems  to  be  a  Nemesis  at  work  in  all  such 
matters,  bringing  retribution  where  it  is 
most  deserved.  England  prospers,  and  ex 
tends  her  dominions,  spreading  freedom  to 
all  parts  of  the  earth,  and,  apparently, 
strengthening  her  power;  but  she  will  live 
to  see  her  colonies,  one  after  another,  going 
from  her,  each  one  seeking  in  turn  to  attain 
a  larger  degree  of  autonomy  than  they  now 
possess,  and  she  may  find  arrayed  against 
her  the  very  element  on  which  she  de 
pended  to  increase  her  prestige,  and  may 
then  miss  some  of  that  sympathy  she  de 
nied  us  in  our  hour  of  need. 


CHAPTER     LIX. 


PRIZES  ADJUDICATED  FROM  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OP  THE  REBELLION  TO  NOVEMBER  1,  1865, 
WITH  THE  NAMES  OF  VESSELS  OR  OTHER  MATERIAL  CAPTURED,  AND  THE  NAMES  OF 
VESSELS  ENTITLED  TO  SHARE  IN  DISTRIBUTION  OF  PROCEEDS. 


Name. 

Gross  pro 
ceeds. 

Costa    and 
expenses. 

Am  'tfor  dis 
tribution. 

Where  adjudi 
cated. 

Sent    to    4th 
Auditor    for 
distribution. 

Vessels  entitled  to  share. 

Sch.  Anna  Belle  

$6,743  74 
4,0*6  87 
125  00 
24,162  76 
8,533  5* 
1,190  01 

4:35  oo 

2,046  97 
139,202  08 
3,748  06 
2,118  11 
350  00 

30,446  32 

9.564  57 
5,249  88 
8,136  18 

$1,355  37 
1,244  82 
67  37 
1,761  96 
739  25 
233  70 
165  17 
621  63 
576  89 
885  32 
345  59 
119  27 
(  f5,708  32 
i   6,571  10 
2,077  85 
1,618  61 
1,064  55 
1,877  90 
1,277  96 
1,506  22 
267  85 
1,115  91 
2,227  95 
2,771  26 
249  35 
617  05 

1,625  38 
795  71 
240  85 
3.139  28 
2,027  89 

10.260  31 
1,784  74 
570  53 
1,074  97 
483  40 
595  85 
621  08 
716  89 
850  37 
905  23 
5,736  95 
118  35 
662  21 
327  57 
483  45 
3,237  02 
351  80 
308  22 
1,291   56 
60  15 
347  21 

$5,388  37 
2,844  05 
57  63 
22.400  80 
7,794  29 
956  31 
269  83 
1.625  34 
138,625  13 
2,862  74 
1,772  52 
230  73 

}  18.066  90 

7.4P6  72 
3,631  27 
2,071  65 
28,226  82 
18,858  75 
5,235  45 
832  15 
850  95 
14,034  43 
16,904  02 
250  65 
15,372  95 

9,051  84 
834  21 
359  15 
15.282  44 
14,609  20 

84,849  90 
1,321  80 
2,776  26 
1,330  03 
2.926  60 
3,136  75 
3,926  90 
4,732  04 
3.400  74 
1.887  92 
47,334  17 
1  55 
4,339  91 
1,792  82 
2,92fi  60 
8,197  06 
2,178  87 
2.991  18 
8,575  82 
No  proceeds 
175  40 

Key  West  .... 
do  
....do  

July  12.  1862 
Oct.   16,1862 

Pursuit. 
Connecticut. 

Huntsville. 
Huntsville. 
Sagamore. 
Sagamore. 
Henry  Jones,  Kensington,  Rachel  Seaman. 
Quaker  City. 
Perry. 
William  Bacon. 
Currituck. 

Vandalia,  Flag. 

Roanoke,  Seininole. 
Genisbok. 
Flambeau. 
Huron,  Augusta. 
Arizona. 
BienviUe. 
Ceres. 
Penguin,  Alabama. 
R.  H.  Cuyler.  New  London,  Massachusetts. 
Northern  Light. 
Delaware. 
Delaware,  Stars  and  Stripes.  Louisiana,  Com 
modore   Perry,   Valley  City,  Underwriter, 
Morse,    Commodore    Barney.    Southfleld, 
Hunchback,  Philadelphia,  Henry  Brincker, 
Loekwood. 
Kauawha. 
R.  R.  Cuyler. 
New  London,  R.  R.  Cuyler,  Massachusetts. 
New  London,  R.  R.  Cuyler,  Massachusetts. 
Seneca,  O.W.  Blunt,  Canandaigua.  Flag,  Mem 
phis,  1'owbatan,  Housatonir,  Marbletiead, 
Mercedita,  Flambeau,  Keystone  State. 
Restless,  Flag. 
Jamest  >wn. 
Memphis.  America. 
State  of  Georgia. 
Ladona. 
Heneca. 
Wanderer. 
Huntsville. 
Tioga 
Courier. 
Susqut-hanna,  Kanawha,  Preble. 
Tahonia.  Julia. 
Fort  Henry. 
Huntsville. 
Ladona. 
Huron. 
Fort  Henry. 
Restless. 
Susquehanna. 
Gem  of  the  Sea. 
Sagamore. 

•Sck.  Adeline  

Sch.  Aristides*  

Sob.  Agnes  

....do  
...do 

Feb.  17,  1863 
Oct.   14,  1863 
Oct.  17.  1863 
Oct.  24,  1863 
Oct.   17,  1863 
July  14,  1863 
Nov.    5,  1H63 
Oct.  19,  1863 
Oct.   19,  1863 

Dec.    3,1362 

July  17.  1863 
July  17,  1863 
July  IH,  1863 
May  19.  1863 
May     1.  1*63 
Sept.  15,  1863 

Nov.'  25J  1863 
Nov.    5,  1863 
Feb.  11,  1K63 
Nov.  25.  1863 
Dec.  20,  1863 

July  17,  1863 
Mar.    2,  1803 
July  21.  1863 
July  21,  1863 
Dec.    8.  1863 

Nov.    6,  1863 
Dec.    2,  1863 
Doc.  17,  1863 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Feb.  29.  1864 
July  28,  1861 
Juno  4.  1864 
Feb.  29.  1864 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Feb.  29.  1864 

Sell.  Ariel  

Sch  .  Avenger  

do  .     . 

Sch.  Agnes  

..do  
....do  
Boston  
..  do 

Sell.  Adventure     

Brig  Amy  Warwick  

Sch.  Alma     ... 

Sloop  Ann  Squires  
Sch.  American  Coaster  

Ship  Ameliat  

Washington.  . 
...  do  

Philadelphia.. 
..  doi  
....do..     - 
..  do  
....do  
...  do  
....do..        .. 
Now  York  ... 
....do  
....do  
....do  
....do  
....do  

...do  
....do  
....do  
....do  
....do  

...do... 

...do  
....do  
.  do  
Washington.. 
.  do  
Key  West    .. 
do  
...do  

Sch.  Albion  

Britf  Ariel    

Sch   Active.   

Sch.  Aquilla  

30,104  72 
20.136  71 
6,741  67 
1,100  00 
1,966  86 
16,262  38 
19,675  28 
500  00 
15,990  00 

10,677  22 
1,529  92 
600  00 
18,423  82 
16,637  09 

95,110  21 
3,106  54 
3,345  79 
2.405  (10 
3,410  00 
4,232  00 
4,547  9* 
5,448  93 
4251  11 
2,793  15 
53,071  12 
119  90 
5.002  12 
2.120  3!» 
3  410  00 

Sloop  Aurc'lia  

Sch   Alert  

Str.  Alicet  

Srh.  Albion    

Sch.  A.  J.  View  
Sch.  Agnes  H.  Ward     ..   .. 
Sch.  Albemarle     

Str.    Albemarle.    Rchs.    Old 
North  State.   Susan  Ann 
Howard,   and  sloop  Jeff. 
Davis  ... 

Str.  Anna  
Sch.  Annie  Dees  

Str.  Anglia  

Sch.  Aigburth  

Sch.  Alma  
Sch  Annie  B                 

New  York.... 
..  do  
Key  West  

Str  Ann     

..do  

Feb.  29,  1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 
Mar.  17.  1864 
Mar.  17.  1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 

Sch   A  J   Hodge..          .... 

..  do  
Washington. 
New  York  .  .  . 
Key  West  .  . 
do  
...  do  
...do  

Sch   Arctic 

Sch  Albert  

11,434  08 
2.530  67 
3,299  40 
9,867  38 
50  00 
322  61 

Sch.  Ann  
Sch.  Alabama  

Sch   Ann           

....do  

Mar.  29,  1864 

*  No  final  decree.                     t  $5.708.32  awarcl.-.l  to  claimant*.                     t  Taken  by  War  Department.    Not  yet  paid  for. 
53                                                                                                    («33) 

834 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


Name. 

Gross  pro 
ceeds. 

Costs    and 
expenses. 

Am'tfordis-  Whereadjudi- 
tribution.           cated. 

Str.  Aries  

$147,008  46 
136,202  02 
35U.829  20 
597  62 
5,000  00 
75,489  99 
875  10 
131,364  10 
237,300  81 
25,041  96 
3.531  00 
74,361  30 

745  05 
288.286  49 
6,416  42 
25,445  68 
44,461  82 
251,382  26 

14,847  96 
7,437  67 
29,145  C.9 
358,951  71 

5,551  28 
79,944  00 
192  05 
3,929  73 
2,108  31 
1.463  89 
270  88 
1,100  95 
682  70 
387  79 
173,670  55 
2,146  07 
512  70 
893  18 
4,642  00 
5,672  85 
7,641  38 
533  78 
1,918  05 
8,836  65 
31  75 
1,700  00 
183  00 
1,439  31 
452  55 
1,078  15 
29  75 
492  57 
355  95 
23,036  03 
111.216  65 
13,328  85 
390  25 
2,700  00 

$3,036  48 
4,520  60 
789  30 
143  06 
275  91 
5,050  70 
172  71 
10,412  60 
20,240  28 
1,760  22 
745  14 
3,822  74 

428  42 
5,047  71 
1,421  51 
2,598  31 
4,183  34 
7,321  53 

1,639  50 
476  9-2 
4.245  48 
24,639  97 

313  70 
2,645  30 
108  89 
504  76 
999  90 
277  00 
86  81 
273  79 
168  30 
119  11 
3,974  83 
291  75 
209  45 
196  85 
1,081  28 
614  95 
1,575  78 
144  04 
294  77 
884  59 
32  01 
865  42 
123  32 
678  85 
221  71 
361  65 

"274  19 
95  39 
2,308  40 
0,268  17 
2,416  37 
201  78 
261  45 

$143,971  98 
131,075  42 
350,039  96 
453  96 
4,724  09 
69,839  29 
702  39 
120,051  50 
217,060  53 
23.281  74 
2,785  86 
70,538  56 

317  5.3 

283,238  78 
4,994  *5 
22,847  37 
40,278  48 
244,060  73 

13.208  46 
0.900  95 
24,900  21 
329,311  74 

5,237  58 
77,298  70 
83  16 
3,423  97 
1,108  41 
1,186  89 
184  07 
833  16 
514  34 
268  08 
169,695  72 
1,854  92 
303  31 
696  33 
3,560  72 
5,057  90 
6,065  60 
389  74 
1,623  23 
7,952  06 
No  proceeds 
834  58 
59  68 
760  46 
230  84 
706  50 
No  proceeds 
218  38 
260  56 
20,727  54 
104,948  48 
10,912  48 
188  47 
2,438  55 
1,700  (10 

Boston  

New  York  
Boston  
Key  West  

Str.  Atlanta  

Boat  Alice* 

Str.  Alonzo  Childs        

Springfield  .  .  . 
New  Orleans  . 
....do  
do  

Sch.  Anita  

Sens.  Active  and  Blue  Bell  . 
Str.  Alabama  

Key  West  .... 
Boston 

Str.  Alliance  

Sch.  Alma  

New  Orleans  . 
...do  

Philadelphia  . 
New  York  
Philadelphia.. 
New  Orleans 
...do  
New  York  .  .  . 

Philadelphia  . 
Key  W  est  
New  Orleans  . 
New  York  

Key  West  .  .  . 
Washington  . 
Key  West  .  .  . 
New  York  
do. 

Sch.  Agnes.  ...   

Anchors,     etc.,    from    the 
Queen  of  the  Wave  

Sch.  Artist      

Sch.  Annie  Verden  

Sch  Albert  Edward  

Str.  Armstrong  

Sloop  Annie  Thompson  ... 
8ch.  Ann  Louisa  

Sch.  Anna  Sophia    

Str.  Annie  

Sch.  Augusta  

Bam  Albemarle  

Sloop  Annie  

Sch.  British  Empire  
Sch.  British  Queen  
Boats,  3  sail,  and  cargoes..  . 
Schooner  Blossom  

Washington.  . 

..do  — 
....do  
.  .  do.   . 

Boat.llife  
Boat,  1  yawl  

Boat,  a  flat-bottomed  
Str.  Britannia  

do... 

Boston  

Sch.  Beauregardt  

Sch.  Bv-George  

do 

Sch.  Brave  

....do  
Philadelphia.. 
Key  West  . 
..do  
..  .  .do.   .  .  . 

Sen.  Bettie  Kratzer  

Sloop  Bright  

Sch.  Brothers  

Boat,  sloop,  name  unknown 
Boat  Buckshot  

do 

Sloop  B  azer  

do 

Boat,  name  unknown  

do 

Sch.  Betsey  

New  Orleans  . 
...do  
New  York  
New  Orleans  . 
...  do  

Brandy,  29  cases  of,  etc  .  . 
Sch.  Belle    

Boat,  sail,  1  

Boats,  sail,  3  

Boat  ana  cargo,  1  

Boats  and  cargoes,  4  

New  Orleans 

Boots,  1  case,  etc  t  

Str.  Boston  

Boston. 
New  York  .... 
Philadelphia  . 
New  Orleans  . 
..  do  

Str.  Banshee  

Sloop  Buffalo  

Boat  and  cargo  

Boats,  2,  and  4  bales  of  cotton 
Str.  Bloomer  

do  

Sch.  Belle  
Str.  Blenheim  

26,586  74 
55,778  22 

10,834  32 
194  22 
891  67 
61,508  43 

2,600  00 

1,387  50 
61,010  82 
45,531  00 
6,095  05 

191,424  64 
80,265  03 
2,212  16 

6,276  05 

575  00 
1,300  7£ 
31,369  19 
2,811  49 
0,902  00 

3,430  19 
3,655  77 

947  89 
90  82 
123  61 
4,315  65 

322  85 

289  50 
5,192  22 
2,118  10 
994  04 

12.383  56 
4,930  10 
446  92 

859  25 

301  40 
308  12 
1,425  93 
1,390  39 
1,546  45 

23,156  25 
52,122  45 

9,886  43 
103  40 
768  06 
57,272  58 

2,27T  15 

1,098  00 
45,824  fiO 
43,412  4o 
5,101  01 

179,040  98 
75,334  93 
1,705  24 

5,416  80 

273  60 
992  63 
29,943  26 
1,421  10 
5,355  55 

..  do  

New  York.... 

Key  West  
.  .  do.   
...do  

Sch.  Badger  

Boat  and  sundries  .  .   ..... 
Boat,  no  name  ... 

Sch.  Bdigorrv  
Sens.  Comet,  J   J.  Critten- 
den,  and  sloop  America.  .  . 

Sch.  Captain  Speddeni  

...do  
New  York  
,..  do  

Str.  Calhoun  

do  

Philadelphia  . 

Str.  Catalina  

Str.  Cambria  and  part  of 
cargo  

do 

Str.  Calypso  

....do.... 
-...do  

....do  

Cotton,  28  bales  

Cotton,  30  bales.  .  .  . 

Cargo  of  4  canoesll  

Sloop  Clara  Ann  

do  
Boston  ... 
...  do  

Sch.  Charlotte  

Sch.  Cubat  

Key  West  

Sent  to  4th 
Auditor  for 
distribution. 


Mar.  22,  1804 
May  10,  1804 
April  23,  1864 


Mar.  29, 
April  1 2, 
April  12, 
April23, 
April  12, 
July  21, 
July  28, 
Oct.  7, 


1804 
1804 
1S04 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1804 
1SG4 


Vessels  entitled  to  share. 


Nor.  17, 
Jan.  19, 
Feb.  21, 
Feb.  14, 
April20, 

May  13, 
Aug.  25, 
June  26, 
Juue22, 

Aug.  16, 
Aug.  28, 
Sept. 29, 
Nov.  20, 
Nov.  25. 


1S04 
18  J5 
1865 
1805 
1800 

1865 
1805 
1805  j 
1805  | 

1865  ! 
1805 
1865  I 
1803 
1802 


Aug.  15, 
Oct.  19, 
Oct.  19, 
Oct.  6, 
Oct.  26, 


1862 
1803 
1803 
1865 
1803 


Oct.  24, 
Oct.  24, 
Feb.  18, 
Feb.  29, 
June  4, 
Dec.  19, 
Mar.  29, 
Mar.  29, 


1863 
1803 
1864 
1864 
1804 
1864 
1864 
1864 


Aprill2, 
April  12, 
April  12, 
April  12, 
April  26, 


1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1865 


June  4, 1864 


Oct.  10, 
Oct.  25, 
Nov.  23, 
Feb.  2, 
Mar.  27, 
Oct.  3, 
April  20, 
Junel9, 


1864 
1864 
1864 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 


June  29,  1865 


Aug.  16,  1805 
Aug.  16,  1865 


Oct.  22,1863 


Dec.  2,  1863 
Dec.  1,  1863 
May  2,  1863 


Jan.     4,  1864 


Stettin. 

Pocahontas. 

Weehawkt-n,  Nahant,  Cimarroa. 

Annie  Williams. 

Baron  De  Kalb. 

Granite  City. 

Owasco,  Cayuga. 

San  Jacinto,  Eugene,  Tennessee. 

De  Soto. 

South  Carolina,  T.  A.  Ward. 

Virginia. 

Chocura. 

Conemaugh.     (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 

Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Bermuda. 

Mobile. 

KatahdM. 

R.  R.  Cuyler,  Gettysburg,  Mackinaw,  Mont 
gomery . 

Fernaudiua. 

Proteus. 

Bienville,  Princess  Royal. 

Niphon,  Wilderness,  Alabama,  Kansas,  How- 
quah. 

Honeysuckle. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Cushing  and  party. 

Hibiscus. 

Isiae  Smith. 

Mount  Vernon. 

Reliance.    (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 

Reliance,  Anacostia,  Thomas  Freeborn. 

Jacob  Bell. 

Freeborn,  Eureka. 

Dan.  Smith. 

Santiago  de  Cuba. 

W.  G.  Anderson. 

Sagamore. 

Octorara. 

Flambeau. 

De  Soto. 

Tioga. 

Restless. 

San  Jacinto. 

Brooklyn. 

Ariel. 

Antona. 

Cayuga. 

Potomska. 

Corypheus. 

Corypheus. 

Commodore. 

Alfred  Robb. 

Fort  Jackson. 

Fulton,  Grand  Gulf. 

Braziliera. 

Tallahatchie. 

Commodore. 

Potomac. 

Virginia. 

Tristam  Shandy,  Lillian,  Britannia,  Osceola, 

Gettysburg. 
Adela. 

San  Jacinto.      Waiting  for  prize  list.) 
Ino. 
Bainbridge. 

Commodore  Perry,  Morse,  Underwriter,  Gen 
eral  Putnam,  Whitehead. 
Henry  Lewis,  New  London,  Water  Witch. 
Star  (now  Montict-llo). 
Samuel  Rotan,  Colorado,  Rachel  Seaman. 
Alabama,  Keystone  State. 


May    2,  1863    Huron,  Augusta. 
Jan.  19,  1864    Florida. 

Jan.  4,  1864  Stars  and  Stripes,  Louisiana,  Hetzel,  Dela 
ware,  Commodore  Perry,  Philadelphia, 
Valley  City,  Underwriter,  Commodore  Bar 
ney,  Southfield,  Morse,  Hunchback,  LoclJ- 
wood. 

Stars  and  Stripes,  Louisiana,  Hetzel,  Under 
writer,  Morse,  Commodore  Perry,  Souib- 
field,   H.   Brincker,   Delaware,   Lockwood, 
Commodore  Barney,  Valley  City,  Hunch 
back,  Philadelphia. 
Currituck. 
Yankee. 
Kanawha. 
Kanawha. 
Nov.  26,  1862    Somerset. 


Jan.  H,  1864 
Jan.  12, 1863 


*  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  Annio  Williams. 

t  Distributed  under  acts  of  March  3,  J819.  and  August  5   1861 

J  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Robb. 


§  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Water  Witch. 

II  Waiting  for  prize  list  ot  the  Currituck. 

IT  Part  ot  cargo  taken  for  use  of  army  not  paid  for. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


835 


Name. 

Gro  *s  pro- 
ci>eds. 

Costa   and 
expenses. 

Atn'tfordis- 
tribution. 

Where  adjudi 
cated. 

Sent  to  4th 
Auditor  for 
distribution. 

Vessels  entitled  to  share. 

Scb.  Corelia  

$1,430  02 
151.623  20 
3,647  10 

$494  9ii 
15,419  82 
613  62 
498  92 

574  83 
279  U 

$935  66 
136,103  38 
3,0-33  48 
1,928  06 

2,530  96 
8M  27 

Key  Weet  .... 

July  18,  1863 
Oct.  6,  1863 
Oct.  14.  1863 
Oct.  17,  1863 

Nov.  20,  1863 

James  3.  Chambers. 
Santiago  de  Cuba. 
Hunts  ville. 
Magnolia. 

Currituck. 

.I:n-iili    H..11      Vaul  ....     S  it..lli!,. 

Str.  Columbia  

Sch.  Courier  

do 

Soli.  Carmita  

•2.  426  98 

3,105  79 
1.101   41 

...do  
Washington.. 

Cargo  of  '.»  boats  and  sloop 
Queen  of  the  Fleet.    ... 
Caiioe.  1:  flatboat.  1*.  .  . 

Sch.  Cora  

Cotton,  208  bales 

Cotton,  52  '2  bales  ... 

Cotton,  37  '„  bales  . . . 

Cotton,  383  bales,  222  bar 
rels  rosin,  and  2,000 
staves 


Cotton,  27  bales        

Cotton,  42  bales,  etc 

Cotton,  5  bales 

Cotton,  17  bales 

Cotton,  55  bales 

Canoe  and  cargo 

Cotton,  12  bales 

Cotton,  20  bales 

Sch.  Charleston 

Str.  Cronstadt 

Str.  Cherokee   

Cotton,  39  bales 

Cotton,  cargo  of  Emma, 

120  bales 

Sch.  Caroline  and  Virginia. 


Str.   Caroline 106,00811 


Sch.  Charmert 
Sloop  Clara  Louisa 

Sloop  Clotilda   

Sell.  Crazy  Jane   . . . 
Sch.  Clara     . . '. 


624  50 
28,922  90 
14,037  90 
8,542  26 


6,576  15 

13.784  52 

1.017  72 

3.542  64 

15,434  52 

292  41 

3,552  72 

4,971  70 

13,872  49 

3U1.940  60  ' 

152,507  02 

7,923  09 

31,499  60 
3,050  00 


Sloop  C.   Rontereau  t. 


Str.  Cuba,  cargo  of 

Sch.  Comet,  No.  2 

Sch.  Clarita 

Cotton,  22  bales  

Cotton,  139  bales 

Cotton,  114  bales 

Str.  Comet. 

Cotton,  14  bagsg 

Cotton,  13  bales     

Sch.  Charm   

Corn.  250  bushels  

Cotton.  27  bales,  cargo  of 
sch.  Mary  Ann 

Cotton,  3  bales  and  2 
cratesll 

Cotton.  179  bales 

Cotton,  10  bales. 

Sch.  Corse    .  

Cotton,  10'£  bales 

Cotton,  64  bales 

Cotton,  154  bales,  and  5 
hogsheads  sugar 

Cotton,  6  bales     

Cotton,  10  bales 

Cotton.  3  balesf 

Cotton,  4  bales** 

Cotton,  8  bales 

Cottou,  14  bales 

Cotton,  3  bales  and  2 
pieces  of  bales 

Cotton,  2,129  bales,  28 bar 
rels  molasses,  18  bales 
wool 


700  00 
153  00 
7.533  86 
1,357  05 
3,898  26 
1,842  55 


778  84 

3.6(19  06 

2.289  66 

3,727  42 

39.192  93 

42,45'.)  13 

5,461  73 

199  13 

2,694  24 

9,756  25 

62  00 

8,910  75 

1.095  22 
38,312  98 
2,351  52 
5,850  66 
2,735  11 
16,867  72 

33,901  53 

1.444  97 

2,202  48 

334  56 

498  02 

1,509  98 

3,124  78 

657  30 


526  90 

1,784  30 

276  25 

207  19 


13,680  90 


406  43 

708  98 

138  56 

268  12 

717  63 

130  47 

245  78 

295  20 

2,646  65 

7,675  92 

4,732  47 

604  75 

2,294  01 

1,007  47 


6,853  85 
129  00 
90  11 
762  39 
253  00 
744  71 
490  84 


129  54 

6(55  86 

513  90 

390  68 

3,559  67 

2,829  3(5 

728  32 

83  64 

334  79 

1,017  54 

6  49 

973  07 

1,866  85 
231  66 
754  51 
394  60 

1.735  06 

7,916  89 
140  13 
168  86 
107  35 

114  05 
145  01 
203  31 

115  83 


97  60    Philadelphia..   Nov.  25, 1862 


Sch    Cecilia  D 5,399  8S 

Sch.  Cassandra 

Canoe,  1;  1  box  tobacco. . 

Sch.    Champion 4.52237 

Sch.  Camille ;  32.96099 

Cotton,  50  bales  ]  7,254  19 


465.234  95  ,      13,732  79 


1.009  95 


27.138  60 
13,761  65 
8,335  07 


48,498  46 


6,169  72 

13,075  54 

879  16 

3,274  52 

14,716  89 

161  94 

3,306  94 

4.676  50 

11,225  84 

294,264  68 

147.774  55 

7,318  34 

29,205  59 
2,042  53 


9-J.154  26 

571  00 

62  89 

6,771  47 

1.104  05 

3,153  55 

1,351  71 


649  20 

3.003  20 

1.775  76 

3,336  74 

85,633  26 

39,629  77 

4,733  41 

115  49 

2,359  45 

8,738  71 

1  51 

7,932  68 


Springfield. : .    Oct.   16,  1863 


Keystone  State. 
Baron  de  Kalb. 


Boston Nov.    9.  1863    Octorara. 

...do NOT.    5, 1863    Tioga. 


New  York 


Springfield.. 

...do , 

...do 

...do , 

do 

Washington.. 
Springfield... 

...do..., 


Philadelphia 
Boston. 

..do 

Key  West  — 

Philadelphia 
.do... 


.  ...do , 

Key  West  . . . 

...  do 

...do  ... 


..do 

...do 

Philadelphia. 


Key  West  . 

...do 

...do 

....do 

...do..., 


...do.. 

....do 

Springfield. 
Key  West  . . 

...do 

...do.  .. 


New  Orleans.   April  23, 1864 


Dec.  31,  1863  Stars  and  Stripes,  Louisiana,  Hetzel,  Commo 
dore  Barney,  Valley  City,  Underwriter, 
Commodore  Perry,  Southfield,  Hunchback. 
Philadelphia,  Morse,  H.  Brincker,  Lock- 
wood,  Delaware,  George  Mangham. 

June  11,  1864    Conestoga. 

Dec.    3,  1864    Linden. 

April  12,  1864    Pittsburg. 

June  4.  1864    Pittsburg. 

June  11, 1864    Conestoga. 

Nov.  17,  1864    George  Mangham. 

April  12, 1864  |  Lexington. 

June  11,  1864  i  Conestoga. 

Feb.  29,  1864    Seminole. 

Jan.  28,  1864  i  Rhode  Island. 

Feb    9,   1864    Canandaigua. 

Mar.  29,  1864    Fort  Henry. 

Jan.  23,  1864    Kittatinny. 

Jan.  27,1864  Stars  and  Stripes,  Delaware.  Louisiana,  Com 
modore  Perry.  Hetzel,  Valley  City,  Under 
writer,  Hunchback,  Commodore  Barney, 
Philadelphia  Southflelcl,  Morse,  H.  Brinck- 
«T.  Lockwood. 
Feb.  29,  1864  Montgomerv. 

S;  ^araore,  Oleander,  Beauregard,  Para. 
Sugamore. 
MrLellan. 
Tahoraa. 
Kauawha. 

powhatau,  New  Ironsides,  Canamiaigua,  Hon- 
satonic,  Paul  Jones.  Huron,  Unadilla,  Mar- 
blehead,  Wamputta,  Augusta,  Lodona,  Stet 
tin,  Dandelion,  Para,  South  Carolina. 
Mar.  29,  ls64     Do  .Soto. 
Mar.  29,  18(54    Kanawha. 
Mar.  29,  1864  ,  De  Soto. 
Mar.  29,  1864    Fort  Henry. 
Mar.  29,  1864    Hendrick  Hudson. 
Mar.  29, 1864    De  Soto. 
Mar.  29, 1864    Santiago  de  Cuba. 

General  Sterling  Price. 

Mar.  29,  18C.4    Port  Royal. 

Mar.  29.  1864    Sagamore.  Gem  of  the  Sea. 

Mar.  29, 1864    Fort  Henry . 

Antona. 


Feb.  29, 
Feb.  29, 
Mar.  12, 
Mar.  17, 


1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 


856  63  ...do 

36.446  13  Springfield. 

2.119  86  ;  Boston 

5,096  15    Key  West   . 

2,340  5  ...do 

15,132  66  ...do 


25,984  64    Springfield 


1,304  84 

2,033  62 

227  21 

383  97 

1,364  97 

2,921  47 

541  47 


451.502  16 


...do 

....do 

...do 

..do 

do 

...do 


April  23, 1864 
April  23,1864 
Jan.  7.  1865 
June  1,  1864 
June  2,  1864 

May  19.  1864 
Jan.  6,  1865 
Mar.  1,  1865 


.  .do. 


4.389  93    New  Orleans 

No  proceeds  Washington | 

No  proceeds  . . .  do i    | 

3  619  15    New  Orleans  .    Nov.  26.  1864    Potomac. 
30*177  90        .do Oct.     7,1864    Virginia. 

(','41269    New  York....    May,       1864     Vanderbilt. 


Granite  City. 

.  >-  IM, 

Niphon. 

Rachel  Soaman,  Kensington. 

Roebuck. 

James  L.  Davis. 

Conestoga. 

Pittsburg. 

Osage.  Choctaw,  Champion.  Fort  Hiudman. 

Juliet,  Great  Western,  Rattler. 

Lexington. 

May  19,  1864  Champion. 
Nov.  26,  1864  Kenwood. 

May  19, 1864    Tuscnmbia. 

Mar.  1  18T.5  Black  Hawk.  Eautport,  Lafavette.  Neooha. 
Ozark,  Choctaw.  Osage.  Chillicothe,  Louis 
ville,  Carondelet,  Fort  Hindman,  Benton. 
Pittsburg.  Mound  City,  Essex.  Lexington, 
Ouachita,  Cricket,  Gazelle.  General  Price. 
W.  H.  Brown.  [718  bales  of  cotton  still 
pending.] 

May  21.  1864    Antona. 


*  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Jacob  Bell, 
t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Oleander, 
t  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  the  New  Ironsides,  Huron, 
Unadilla,  Dandelion,  and  South  Carolina. 


§  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  General  Sterling  Price. 
II  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Granite  City. 

•I  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  the  Juliet.  Great  Western  and  Rattler. 
**  Waiting  for  priza  list  of  the  Lexington. 


836 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Name. 

Gross  pro 
ceeds. 

Costs    and 
expenses. 

Am't  fordis 
tribution. 

Wh  ere  adjudi 
cated  . 

Sent    to     4th 
Auditor    for 
distribution. 

Vessels  entitled  to  share. 

Cotton,  12    bales  and  14 
bags  

$2,834  69 
3,023  34 
340  90 
80,777  86 

2,584  37 
2,910  89 
4.115  70 
7,479  08 
14  TOO  00 

$524  19 
287  21 
107  93 
3.767  04 

197  49 
210  06 
267  37 
403  33 
889  36 
335  21 

192  87 
2,651  30 
290  54 

534  28 
935  49 

249  93 
1,149  28 

$2,310  50 
2,736  13 
232  97 
77,010  82 

2.386  8S 
2,700  83 
3,848  33 
7,076  75 
13,610  64 
7,790  50 

304  13 
33.739  78 
1,878  81 

1,863  00 
16,264  51 

679  47 

11,903  72 
28,536  95 
55,698  21 
804  58 
14,024  72 
17,455  63 
20,823  45 
69  239  66 

Key  West  
do  

Dec.  21,  1864 

Port  Royal. 
Somerset. 
Lexington. 
Louisville,  Romeo,  Petrel,  Prairie  Bird,  Ex 
change,  Marmora. 
Cricket. 
Marmora. 
Osage. 
W.  H   Brown. 
Samuel  Rotan,  Colorado,  Rachel  Seaman. 
Black  Hawk,  Fort   Hindman,  Cricket,  East- 
port,  Lafayette.  Neosha,   Ozark,   Choctaw, 
Osaee,  Chillicothe,  Louisville,  Carondelei, 
Ben  ton,  Pittsburg,  Mound  City,  Essex,  Lex 
ington,   Ouachita,   Gazelle,   General  Price, 
W.  H.  Brown. 
Narcissus,  Cowslip. 
Black  Hawk. 
Black  Hawk,  Fort  Himlman,  Cricket,   East- 
port,   Lafayette,  Neosha,  Ozark,  Choctaw, 
Osage,  Chillicothe,  Louisville,  Caronclelet, 
Benton,  Pittsiiurg,  Mound  City,  Essex,  Lex 
ington,    Ouachita.   Gazelle,   General  Price, 
W.  H.  Brown,  Juliet. 
Cimarron. 
Violet,  Aries,  Connecticut,   Maratanza,  Mer- 
cedita,  Montgomery. 
Eureka,  Yankee,  Freeborn,  Currituck,  Com 
modore  Read,  Teazer,  Fuchsia,  Jacob  Bell. 
Keystone  State,  Massachusetts. 
Samuel  Rotan,  Colorado,  Rachel  Seaman. 
Bermuda. 
Bienville. 
Mount  Vernon. 
Keystone  State. 
Keystone  State. 
Keystone  State. 
Tallahatchie. 
Tallahatchie. 
Sciota. 
Mobile. 
Aro«took. 
Sciota. 
Clyde. 
Stars  and  Stripes. 
Elk. 
De  Soti. 
Roebuck. 
Princess  Royal. 
Huron,  Dan  Smith. 
Kanawha.     (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 
Chocura. 
Itasca. 
Union.    (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 

Magnolia. 
Cayuga. 

Clyde. 
Gertrude. 
Cornubia. 
Vioksburg. 
Keystone  State. 
Quaker  City. 
Connecticut,  Keystone  State. 
Quaker  City. 
Governor  Buckingham,  Niphon. 
Gettysburg, 
luka. 
Panola. 
Somerset 
Gettysburg,  Keystone  State,  $620  counsel  fees 
R.  R.  Cuyler. 
Aries.      ($500  counsel  fee  deducted  from  cap 
tor's  share  ) 
Santiago  de  Cuba 
New  London,  R.  R  Cuyler,  Massachusetts. 
Santee. 
Keystone  State,  Gem  of  the  Sea. 
Braziliera. 
Corwin,  Currituck. 
Stettin. 
Kensington,  Rachel  Seaman. 
America,  Flag,  Canandaigua.  Flambeau. 
Kittatinny. 
Kanawha. 
Wachusett. 
Tceur  de  Lion. 
Midnight. 
Metacf>met. 
Pequot. 

Cotton,  1  balef    
Cotton,  207  bales  

Springfield.  .  . 

do  

...do  
.  do  

Juiie]9,  1865 
July  2tt,  1864 

Cotton,  8  bales  

Cotton  10  bales     .... 

...do  
...do  

New  Orleans  . 
Springfield  .  . 

New  Orleans  . 
Springfield.  .. 
do  

July  25,  1864 

Dec.    1.  1864 
June  20,1805 

Cotton  16  bales  g  

Cotton,  24  bales  

8,125  71 

497  00 
36,391  03 
2,169  35 

2,397  28 
17,200  00 

929  40 
13,353  00 

Cotton,  63  bales   

Oct.      7,  1864 
April  12,  1804 

Oct.   12.  180t 
Nov.  12,  1804 

Feb.  15,  1865 

Nov.    4,  1864 
Feb.  '29,  1S64 
Nov.  12,  1864 
Oct.     5,  1865 
Dec.    2,  1804 
Jan.    7,  18  >5 
Jan.     7,  1865 
Jan.    7,  1865 
Mar.  23,  1865 
Mar.  23,  1865 
April  22,  1865 
Feb.  21,  1865 
Feb.  21,  1805 
Feb.  21,  18«5 
Mar.  22,1865 
Mar.  22,  1865 
Oct.     4,  1805 
April  21,  1805 
April  21,  1865 
May    9,  1K65 
May    9,1865 

Cottou,  10^  bales  

do..  
Washington  .  . 

....do  
Boston  

Str.  Ceres  

Canoes,  25,  and  cargoes.  .  . 

Str.  Calhoun  

Philadelphia  . 
.  do  

Offee,  30  bags  

1,385  52 
14,559  47 

580  94 
534  75 

...do  
Boston  
Philadelphia  . 
....do., 
do  

Cotton   22  b  iles  

Cotton,  88  bales  

Cotton,  61  14  bales  .  .  . 

Cotton,  19  bales  

6,2'27  29 
2,138  00 
6,877  92 

907  48 
638  90 
1,073  12 

5,319  84 
1,499  10 
5,864  80 
12,665  66 
8,487  02 
16,388  07 
24,764  06 
15,218  54 
001  60 
134,517  79 
181  84 
40,252  40 
75,048  40 
2,767  88 
953  78 
5,254  16 
42  34 

3,259  25 
46  40 

24,216  54 
1,939  37 
3,510  38 
43,548  10 
2,503  99 
19,975  85 
63,187  90 
5,278  97 
17.575  20 
15,150  00 
4.465  71 
29,539  75 
315,371  39 
32,037  76 
21,725  95 
64,225  65 

20,354  50 
348  25 
4,696  82 
28,521  23 
2,700  38 
156  11 
27,725  02 
1,869  89 
13.072  96 
4,323  Ofi 
9,765  12 
28,161  85 
295  94 
275  68 
135,952  90 
94,878  65 

New  Orleans  . 
....do  
....do  
..do  
..do.. 

Cotton,  10  bales  

Cotton,  60  bales  and  2  bags 
Cotton,  38  bales     .... 

Cotton,  83  bales  
Cotton  67  bales     

"bV.oai'Ki' 

16,437  87 
773  06 
153,461  29 
306  07 
4R,C54  97 
81,684  78 
3,033  64 

2,270  83 
1,219  !'3 
172  06 
18,943  50 
124  23 
6  402  57 
6,636  38 
265  76 

...  do  
Key  West     .. 
....do  
New  Orleans.. 
Key  West  .. 
...  do.  .   
New  Orleans.. 
..do  
Philadelphia. 
New  Orleans.. 
...do  
Key  West 

Sch.  C  iroline  and  Gertrude. 
Coffee,  WhisVey,  etc  
Str.  Cumberland  

Slo  >p  Caroline  

Sch    Cora  

Str.  Chatham    
Cotton,  5  bales,  9  bags,  etc. 
Cotton  31  bales         

Sept.   1,  1805 
Aug.  21,  1805 

Sch.  Carrie  Mair  

6,363  65 
211  05 

3,766  83 

1,109  49 
163  71 

507  58 

Sloop  Caroline,  No.  2  

Cotton,  12  bales;  8  barrels 
turpentine  

...do  
New  Orleans  . 

Key  West  
New  Orleans  . 
..do..  

Aug.  25,  1865 
Sept.  1,  1865 

Aug.  25,  1865 
Sept.   1.  1805 
Sept.  1,  1865 
Aug.    9,  1865 
Aug.  16,  1866 
Aug.  16.  1865 
Aug.  21,  1805 
Aug.  21,  1865 
Sept.  1,  1865 
Sept.   1,  1865 
Sept.  1,  1865 
Sept.  1,  1865 
Sept.   8,  1805 
Sept.  22,  1805 
Sept.  29,  1865 
Sept.  29,  1865 

Oct.     6,  1865 
July  21,  1803 
Nov.  25,  1803 
Mar  13,  1803 
Mar.  11,  1863 
May    4,  18<52 
Jan.  11,  1864 
Oct.  21,  1803 
Oct.     5,  1805 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Mar.  17,  1804 
Jan.   11,  1864 
Oct.  12.  1864 
Oct.   27.  1864 
Nov.  19,  1864 

Cotton,  4  bales.  .  .  . 

Cotton,  42    bales  and    11 
bags..     

26,580  54 

2,364  0.1 

Cotton,  50  bales  

Cotton,  89  bales   

Cotton,  78  bales  

45,626  01 
2,701  44 
20,484  00 
66,955  68 
6,140  00 

2,077  91 
192  45 
508  15 
3,707  78 
861  03 

Cotton,  4  bales.   ..    
Cotton,  44  bales  

.  do  

..  do  
Philadelphia.. 
New  Orleans.. 
New  York  
...do.. 
Key  West  
do 

Cotton,  90  bales  

Str.  Cora      ...        

Cotton,  35  bales  

Cotton,  156  sacks,  etc.   .  .  . 

Sch.  Com  us  

5,166  52 
32.697  53 
352,313  -65 

700  81 
3,157  78 
36,942  26 

Sch.  Cora  

Sir.  Circassian  

do 

Cotton.  80  bales  

Philadelphia., 
do 

Cotton,  52  bales  

23,552  53 
57,210  33 

21,977  77 
600  00 
11,628  00 
30,950  87 
3,773  78 
285  10 
29,683  10 
2  :'flO  *4 

1,826  58 
2,984  68 

1,623  27 
251  65 
6,931  18 
2,429  64 
1,073  40 
128  99 
1,958  08 
520  95 
1,389  77 
1,094  91 
493  Id 
8,382  88 
169  51 
197  37 
4.047  10 
3,438  13 

Cotton,  82  bales  

...do  

...do..    
New  York  
.do. 
Philadelphia  . 

Cotton,  45  bales  

Sch.  Delight  

Brig  Delta  

Sch   Dixie  

Sch.  Defiance  

Sch.  Director  

Washington.  . 

Str.  Diamond  

Sch.  Dart  

Key  West  
Philadelphia.. 
New  York  .  .  . 
Key  West  .... 

Sch.  David  Crockett  

14,462  73 
5,417  97 
3,258  22 
36,544  73 
4(15  45 
473  05 
140.000  00 
98,316  78 

Sloop,  D  Sargent.     .  .  . 

Sch.  Dart,  No.  2  

Str.  Dolphin  

Dry  Goods,  lot  of  

Washington.. 

Sch.  Defy  

Str.  Donegal  

Philadelphia. 
Boston. 

Str.  Don  .   ... 

*  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Somerset, 
t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Lexington. 


t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Marmora. 

§  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  W.  H.  Brow>- 


II  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  Narcissus  and  Cowslip. 


OF  THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


837 


Name. 


Grot s  pro- 
ctods. 


Sch.  Delia $5,450  45 

Sob.   Kugeuie. 29.061  42 

Sch.  Emma 13.35J  52 

Sch.  Kugeuie  Smith  2.904  36 

Sch.  Elias  Kt-ed  21.7CI  53 

Sloop  Ellen   23500 

Sloop  Elizabeth 84112 

Sch.  Emily 15.40691 

Str.  Eureka '  293  75 

Sch.  Emily  Murray  50000 

Sch.  E.  J.  Waterman 8,222  95 

Sloop  Express 859  25 

ScU.  Edward  Barnard      .  32,068  74 

Str.  Ellis  and  armament 18,000  00 


Sloop  Express 

Sloop  Emeiiue 

Str.  Elmira 

Sch.  Eiuma 

Boat  Emma  

Boat  Enterprise 

Str    l.agle  

Str.  Ella  Warley 

Sch.  Emma  Amelia 

Sloop  Elisha  Beckwith.. 

S.-h.  Emma  Tuttle 

Str.  Eugenie 

Str  Eureka     ..,. 

Str.  Elizabeth 

Sch.  Exchange. ....    

Sch.  Ellen 

Sch.  Edward 

Sch.   Excelsior 

Str    Emilie 

Sch.  Experiment   

Str.  Els-.e  and  cargo 

Sch.  Emma 

Str.  Ella  and  Annie 

Str.  Emma  Henry 

Sch.  Eliza 

Sch.  Ezilda 

Brig  Eco 

S-h.  Flash.... 

Drig  Falcon 

Sch  Florida  

Sch.  Fiir wind  

Sch.  Fiirplay 

Sch.  Fannie  Laurie 

Seh.  F.  J.  Capron     

Sloop  Flying  Cloud 

f-ch.  Fashion     

Sch.   Frances 

Sloop  Flying  Fish 

Sch.  Fannie  Lee... 


Sloop  Florida  

Sch.  Frolic 

Sch.  Fashion,  No.  2  

Sch.  Five  Brothers 

Sch.  Floren  ce  Nightingale 

Sloop  Fashion 

Sch.  Friendship 

Son.  Fanny 

Sch.  Frederick  2d  

Sloop  Fortunate 

Sch.  Forest  King ... 

Sloop  Florida 

Sch.  Fly 

Sch.  Flash. 

Str.  Florida 

Sch.  Faunie  McRae 

Sch.  Florida 

Sloop  Florida 

Sch.  Grace  E.  Baker. 

Sloop  Good  Luck 

Goods,  lot  of  t 

Goo  Js.  lot  of 

Schooner  Gold  Leaf 

Goods  and  money,  lot  of. 

Ship  General  Parkhill 

Sch.  George  G.  Biker 

Sch  Guide 

Sch.  Glide 

Sch.  Garonne   

Sch.  Gipsy.  

Sch   Granite  City 

Str.  Gertrude 

Sch.  George  Chisholm 


600  00 

5.38H  33 

8,038  30 

1,486  15 

98  12 

872  00 

35,475  33 

102.709  88 

3,649  52 

2.174  39 

5.M33  f.4 

21.239  67 

27  273  88 

83,112  92 

6,052  «7 

5,557  23 

2,343  64 

2,630  88 

28,305  97 

20,785  18 

216,619  79 

32,122  15 

1S5.500  01 

2J4.H69  01 

5,74f>  41 

3,415  07 

4,281  21 

2,485  61 

3,655  93 

1,885  00 

2,250  00 

2  208  55 

15,627  77 

910  00 

226  00 

231  88 

1,208  48 

627  60 

19.940  54 


1,115  59 
27,648  32 

1.395  99 

7.313  65 
37.362  61 
12.348  87 

3,209  94 
10,317  61 
56,933  98 

1,270  58 
899  59 


Costs    and   Am'tfordi*-  Where  adjudi- 
expenses. 


Sent     to    4tb 


tribuuon. 


1,276  90 
MO  18 

7.856  90 
91,672  65 

4.3H4  87 

8,560  29 

702  32 

17.198  69 

1,401  83 
696  04 
197  46 
205  00 
288  65 

9,803  85 

6.840  60 
20.407  67 
22.980  84 

3,130  7o 

9.162  97 
f.8.829  81 
88,987  60 

1,327  86 


$301  64 
2,765  42 
4.070  48 

540  36 
3,401  45 

161  06 
266  25 

1,115  37 
134  93 
366  34 

1.194  58 

541  17 
3,379  28 

555  85 


247  65 

970  13 

634  47 

878  50 

84  15 

172  56 

5,355  46 

18,976  31 

503  94 

528  35 

1,332  52 

1,597  99 

2  665  00 

16.862  74 

1.05->  55 

970  58 

203  66 

678  31 

3,929  13 

1.460  11 

5,249  22 

3,727  88 

5.4^6  62 

6,973  92 

6(56  71 

1  255  71 

1,039  35 

1,117  18 

1,263  29 

1,106  76 

900  93 

1,392  02 

2,491  26 

181  74 

126  48 

138  23 

374  56 

222  55 

*4,213  22 

2,185  44 

172  86 

3,742  36 

336  70 

1,084  37 

2,904  04 

1,175  PI 

850  37 

1.126  66 

3.204  48 

4.52  32 

833  65 

172  18 

201  33 
1,917  05 
6.760  77 

293  16 
645  56 

202  41 
2,830  42 

220  09 

202  63 

116  50 

86  12 

170  45 

t  222  66 

2.392  43 

2.050  75 

1.549  53 

1.609  21 

1,079  44 

1.397  23 

4  253  44 

8.913  31 

295  60 


$5,148  41 

26,296  00 

9,282  04 

2,364  00 

18,390  08 

73  94 

574  87 

14,291  54 

158  82 

143  66 

7,028  37 

318  08 

2-«.689  46 

17  444  15 


352  35 

4,  UO  20 

7,403  33 

607  65 

13  97 

699  44 

30,119  87 

83,733  57 

3,145  58 

1,646  04 

4,501  12 

22,641  f,8 

24,608  88 

66,250  18 

5,000  32 

4,586  65 

2,139  98 

1,952  57 

24,376  84 

111,325  07 

211,370  57 

28,394  27 

381,013  79 

288,895  09 

5,078  70 

2,159  36 

3,246  86 

1,368  43 

2,392  64 

768  24 

1.349  07 

816  53 

13,136  51 

728  215 

98  62 

93  65 

833  92 

404  95 

|  13,541  88 

942  73 

23,905  96 

1,059  29 

6,229  28 

34.458  67 

11,172  96 

2,359  57 

9,191  95 

53,729  50 

B06  M 

65  94 

1,104  72 

458  85 

5.939  85 

84,911  8H 

4,091  71 

7,914  73 

499  91 

14,368  27 

1,181  74 

493  41 

80  »6 

118  8S 

118  20 


cated. 


Key  West  . . . 
....do 

...do.. 

...do.... 


.  do 

...do 

....do 

Washington . 
do 

.  do 

Philadelphia. 

..do 

Xew  York  . . 
...do.     . 


Vessels  entitled  to  share. 


....do 

...do 

Springfield.., 
Philadelphia 
Key  West  . . . 

...  do 

do 


Aug.  12. 
Oct.  16, 
Oct.  16, 
Feb.  6, 
Oct.  9, 
Oct.  24. 
Oct  23, 
Oct.  19. 
April  20. 
Feb.  9, 
Nov.  6, 
Feb.  18, 
Nov.  26, 
Dec.  6, 


1865 
1862 
1862 
1863 
186) 
1863 
186:) 
1863 
1862 
1863 
1862 
1864 
1862 
1863 


New  York  . 
Key  West .   . 

...do _.. 

Philadelphia 
Key  West 
New  Orleans 
New  York  .., 
New  Orleans 

...do 

Key  W  st  . . . 
New  Orleans 
Philadelphia. 
Vew  Orleans 
Boston. 
New  Orleans. 

Boston 

New  York  .. 
Key  West  .. 
(New  York.... 
iNew  Orleans. 
New  York.... 

...do..., 


...do 

Philadelphia 
....do.. 

..dp 

Washington. . 
...do.  .  .. 
Key  West  ... 

...do... 


Philadelphia., 

Key  West  . . . 

...do 

....do 

....do 

..do 

;  New  Orleans 

do 

.  do 

Key  West.  ... 
Philadelphia., 
iSew  York 


July  21, 
Dec.  24, 
Jan.  11, 
Feb.  18. 
June  7, 
April  12, 
Mar.  17, 
Mar.  22, 
Mar.  17, 
Mar.  29, 
Mar.  29, 
Mar.  29, 
April  23. 
April  12, 
April  23, 
June  10, 
June  2, 
May  21, 
April  26, 
July  28, 
Dec.  2, 
Feb.  21, 
Feb.  24 
Feb.  28, 
April  21, 
April  21, 
Aug.  23, 
Dec.  1. 
Jan.  2, 
Nov.  20. 
May  19, 
Oct.  19, 
Mar.  17, 
Api'il  29, 
Jan.  11. 
Nov.  26, 
Oct.  16, 
Oct.  21. 

Feb.  18,  1864 

Mar.  17. 1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 
Mar.  17.  1864 
Nov.  26,  1864 
June  22,  1814 
June  29, 1864 
April  12,  1864 
July  28.  1864 
Oct.  7,1864 
Feb.  7.  1865 


1863 
186) 
1864 
1804 
1864 
1864 
186t 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
18H 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1865 
1864 
1864 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1861 
1863 
1863 
1863 
1863 
1864 
1862 
1864 
1862 
1863 
1863 


Key  West... 

.do 

New  Orleans 
Philad  •Iphia 
Key  West... 

do 

...do 


Mar.  22,  1865 
April  20,  1865 
May  13,  1865 
Aug.  12, 1865 
An*.  16, 1865 


. .  do , 

. .  do 

Washington.. 

. ..  .do , 

..do 

...do 


Oct.  6.  1862 
Oct.  24,  1862 

Oct!"i3,"l865 
Jan.  11.  1864 
Oct.  17,1862 


Mahanka. 

Owasco. 

Connecticut. 

Boh  o. 

Ottorara. 

Sagamore. 

Hatteras. 

Satellite,  Anacootia. 

Dan  Smith,  George  Maugham,  Coeur  dc  Lion. 

Chocura,  Maratauza. 

South  Car  >lina. 

Ceres.  Valley  City,  Delaware,  Louisiana.  Un 
derwriter,  Hetzel,  Couioiodore  Ivrry, 
Morse, H.  Brincker.  Whitehead. Shawxlii'i-n, 
Lock  wood.  General  Putnam,  J.  N.  8-ymour 

New  London,  It.  K.  Cnyler,  Mawsachuseltfi. 

Petrel,  Forest  Rose. 

Adirondack. 

Fort  Henry. 

Sagamore. 

Octorara. 

Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Roebuck. 

Pembiua. 

Ho|>e. 

R.  R.  Cuyler,  Kennebec,  Kanawha. 

AroostooK. 

Keystone  State,  James  Adger. 

Antona. 

Gertrude. 

San  Jacmto. 

Katahdin. 

Flag,  Rextless. 

Virginia. 

Quaker  City,  Keystone  State. 

Mobile. 

Niphon. 

Cherokee. 

Roebuek. 

Sou tii  Carolina. 

Gertrude,  Princess.  Royal.  Kanawha.  Cayuga. 

Restless,  Onward. 

South  Carolina. 

Matthew  Vassar. 

Quaker  City. 

Gem  ol  the  Sea. 

Sliephe  d  Kuapp. 

Freeborn. 

Ana?ostia,  Primrose. 

I  than  Allen. 

Sagamore. 

Magnolia. 

St.  Lawrence. 

Stars  and  Stripes.  t    ' 

Sagamore,  Two  Sisters. 

Juniata. 

Octorara. 

Tioga.  Octorara. 

Port  Royal. 

Tennessee. 

'    '     V      L- 

Chocura. 
Bermuda. 
Crusader.  Mississippi.  (Waiting  for  prize 

list  of  Mississippi.) 
Honeysuckle. 
Honeysuckle. 
Prioctss  Koyal. 
Pursuit. 

Hendrick  Hudson. 
James  L.  Davis. 
Hibiscus. 
K.  R.  Cuyler. 
St.  Lawrence. 
George  Maugham. 
Dui  Smith. 
Jacob  Bell. 
Western  World. 


7,188  76   Philadelphia Niagara. 

.  do.... 
. .  do.  . . 

..do.  .. 
New  York 
...do 


4,789  85 
K*.-.s  it 
21,371  ft) 

2,051  26 

7,765  74 
64,576  37 
80,074  29 

1.032  26 


Feb.  17,  1863  Union. 

Nov.    6,  1862  Huron. 

Oct.   14, 1864  Marblehead,  Pasnaic.  Arigo.  Caswell. 

Mar.  11,  1863  Santee. 

Aug.  20, 1863  New  London.  Massachusetts. 


,1 Nov.  20.  1863    Tioga. 

do.......    Nov.  20.  1863    Vanderbilt. 

Washington..    Feb.  18,  1864    Dai  Ching. 


*  Liberated,  $4,213.22. 


t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  George  Maugham. 
t  $222.26  awarded  to  claimants. 


838 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Name. 

Gross  pro 
ceeds. 

Costs    and 
expenses. 

Am't  fordis 
tribution. 

Where  adjudi 
cated. 

Sent    to     4th 
Auditor    for 
distribution. 

Vessels  entitled  to  share. 

$113  62 
744  23 
12,128  59 
7,180  21 
17,302  25 
702  OS 

183  60 
497.858  55 
6,424  60 
3,601  05 
51,982  52 

37,337  76 
2,470  26 
3,625  00 
24,607  05 
13.455  37 
269,319  27 

1,718  53 
2,770  36 
15,031  31 

200  08 
5,586  42 
7.64S  76 
27  621  05 
64,399  30 
12,658  10 

2,584  72 
5,556  85 

$70  22 
469  49 
2,718  19 
2.021  21 
1,527  00 
211  23 

67  07 
12,896  54 
653  80 
414  37 
5,467  83 

4,041  62 
932  81 
1,217  47 
4,394  59 
1.997  52 
29,615  56 

824  68 
1,500  28 
1,108  28 

87  72 
684  80 
1,142  61 
4,019  90 
5,247  67 
1,142  23 

377  30 
645  45 
326  38 
350  86 
3,483  97 
376  75 
922  02 
851  42 
722  40 
7,895  52 
123  00 
107  57 
937  28 
768  38 
480  15 
455  10 
I,8fi5  48 
230  16 
65  58 
751  32 
1,204  77 
1,734  75 
1,865  31 

$43  40 
274  74 
9,410  40 
5,159  00 
15,775  25 
490  85 

116  53 

484,962  01 
4,770  80 
3,246  63 
46,514  69 

33,296  14 
1,£37  45 

2,407  5J 
20,212  46 
11.457  85 
239,703  71 

893  85 
1,270  08 
13,923  03 

112  26 
4,901  62 
6,503  15 
23,601  15 
59,151  63 
11,515  87 

2.207  42 
4,'Jll  40 
652  68 
2,296  87 
84,382  80 
323  25 
4,673  49 
3,583  14 
17,277  60 
263,296  83 
216  50 
132  05 
5,362  19 
8,193  58 
4,192  72 
329  05 
7,009  42 
256  58 
11  29 
848  68 
2,262  31 
4,207  87 
8,851  99 
35.237  06 

1,405  15 
21,187  18 
5,507  86 
5,229  98 
1,880  15 
2,103  80 
15,928  74 
390  15 
8,369  91 
130,393  67 
1,631  69 
6,032  47 
13,926  54 
1,465  85 
1,726  27 
10,280  69 
452  55 

223,244  46 
34,618  62 
8,459  96 
37,609  10 
32,682  60 
21,600  41 
6,848  74 
4.760  38 
284  08 
29,470  22 
1,492  80 
12,116  44 
4,252  88 
12,998  32 
13,433  40 
154,321  87 

Key  West  
do  

Dec.  19,  1864 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Nov.  12,  1864 
Mar.  9,  1864 

Roebuck, 
jithan  Allen. 
Sagamore,  Fort  Henry. 
Crusader,  Mahaska,  Samuel  Rotan. 
De  Soto. 
Primrose,  Cceur  de  Lion. 

Fairplay. 
Connecticut, 
beauregard. 
San  Jacinto. 
Harriet   Lane,  Minnesota,  Wabash,  Cumber 
land,  Susquehanna,  Monticello.  Pawnee. 
R.  R.  Cuyler,  Massachusetts,  New  London. 
Perry. 
Unim. 
Vandalia. 
Ottowa,  Housatouic,  Flambeau. 
Minnesota,    Cumberland,    P«rry,    Keystone 
State,  Star  now  called  Monticello). 
Pawnee. 
Jamestown. 
Juniata. 

Island  B^-lle,  Auacostia. 
Currituck. 
Bohio. 
Connecticut. 
Florida. 
Kanawha,  Colorado,  Lackawanna,  Pocahon- 
tas,  Aroostook,  Kenuebec,  R.  R.  Cuyler. 
Talspso. 
Tahoma. 
Octorara. 
Somerset. 
Tioga. 
Vineennea,  Cliff  aa. 
Ossipee. 
Virginia. 
Pawnee,  Columbine. 
Eolus. 
Beauregard. 
Sunflower. 
Beauregard. 
Merrimac. 
Montgomery. 
Mercedita. 
Jamestown. 
James  S  Chambers. 
Fort  Henry. 
Potomac. 
Mohican,  Potomska,  Pocahontas. 
Mohican,  Potomska,  Pocahontas. 
Augusta. 
Sonoma. 

Commodore  Perry,  Underwriter,  Whitehead. 
R.  R.  Cuyler. 
Harriet  Lane. 
Arthur. 
Shawsheen. 
Restless. 
Kittatinny. 
Sagamore. 
Cambridge. 
Connecticut. 
Circassian. 
De  Soto. 
Tioga. 
Tioga. 
Kennebec. 
Pembina. 
Benton,    St.  Louis,  Louisville,  Carondelet, 
Cairo 
De  Soto. 
Kennebec. 
Cayuga. 
Penobscot. 
Cimarron,  Nantucket. 
Conemaugh. 
Proteus 
Penobscot. 
Zouave. 
Augusta  Dinsmore. 
Sunflower. 
South  Carolina. 
Chocura. 
Seminole. 
Matthew  Vassar. 
Acacia. 

Sch.  Gipsy   
(••loop  (jr.  L.  Brockenborough 
Sch.  General  Taylor  

do.. 
Philadelphia  . 
Key  West 
Washington 

Springfield  .  .  . 
Boston  
Key  West  
....do  
New  York 

...do... 
....do  
...do  

Sch.  General  Prim  

Str.  General  Sigel,  4  boxes 
bitters,  12  boxes  wine,  2J4 
barrels  brandy,  &yx  bar 
rels  whiskey  f  

May  19,  1864 
Aug.  24,  1864 
Mar.  14,  1865 
June  29,  1865 
July  18,  1863 

Nov.  25,  1863 
Nov.  25,  181)3 
July  12.  1862 
Jan.  2,  18(53 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Feb.  6,  1864 

Oct.  17,1862 
July  22,  1863 
Oct.  19,  1863 

May  17,  1862 
Jan.  11,  1864 
Feb.  6,  1863 
Oct.  8,  1863 
Feb.  18,  1864 
Feb.  18,  1864 

Feb.  18,  1864 
Mar.  12,  1864 
.•  ar.  17,  3864 
Mar.  17,  1864 
April  12  1864 

Str.  Greyhound  

Sloop  General  Finnegau   .  .  . 
BrigH.  C  Brooks    

Str.  Henry  Lewis  
Sch.  Hanna  11.  Johnson  
Sch.  H  all  ie  Jackson  

...do  

Sch.  Hettiwan  
Bark  Hiawatha  

....do  
....do  

Philadelphia  . 
do  

Wasnington.  . 

...do... 

Sch.  Harriet  Ryan  

Sch.  Havelock  

Sch.  Harvest  

Hoop  Skirts,  2  boxes  whin- 

Sob.  Hampton  

....do.. 
Key  West    .  . 
...do  
New  York   .  .  . 
Philadelphia  . 

Washington.  . 
Key  West    .  . 
...do  
...do  
Boston  

Sch.  Henry  Travers  

Sch.  Hermosa        

8ch.Hat.tie  
Sch.  Hunter  

Sch.  Herald  

Sch.  Harriet  

Sch.  Handy  

979  06 
2,647  73 
87,866  77 
700  00 
5,595  51 
4,434  56 
18,000  00 
271,192  35 
339  50 
239  62 
6,299  47 
8,961  96 
4,672  87 
784  15 
8,874  90 
486  74 
76  87 
1,600  00 
3,467  08 
5,942  62 
10,717  30 

Sch.  Hortense  

Str.  Herald     

BarkH  M.  McGuinnt  

New  Orleans  . 
...do  

May  21,  1864 
June  8,1864 
Nov.  4,  1864 
Feb.  24,  1865 
Mar.  22,  1865 
April  21,  1865 
April  21,  1865 
Aug.  25,  1865 
Oct.  16,  1862 
Feb.  17,  1863 
Feb.  17,  1863 
Mar.  17,  1864 
Mar.  '^9,  1864 
Nov.  26,  1864 

Sch.  Henry  Colthirst  

....do  
St.  Augustine 
Boston     
Key  West  .. 
...  do  

Str.  Hattie  

Str.  Hope  

Sloop  Hannah  

Sloop  Hope 

..  do  

Sloop  Henrietta 

....do  

Sch.  Isabel  or  W.  B.  King. 
Sch.  Ida  

...  do  
....do  
Philadelphia.. 
Key  W  est  .  .  .  . 
.  ...do  

Brig  Intended.  ...          .... 

Sch.Ida    

Sloop  Isabella  

Sch.  Independence.   ... 

New  Orleans  . 
Philadelphia.. 

Iron,  railroad,  1,200  bars§ 
Iron,  railroad.  658  bars§ 
Sch.  Island  Belle  .  .. 

....do..        .. 

....do  

Nov.  17,  1864 
April  18,  1865 

Str.  Ida      

...do  
New  York     . 

Sch.    John   and   Nathaniel 
Taylor.  

1,700  00 
24,6:8  44 
7,503  00 
6,536  90 
2,200  00 
3.09K  34 
17,347  96 
571  39 
9,942  56 

294  85 
3,431  26 
1.U95  14 
1,306  92 
319  85 
986  54 
1,419  22 
181  24 
1,572  65 
4,608  44 
244  21 
667  24 
1,502  42 
454  68 
502  32 
1,466  52 
47  45 

17,651  16 
3,110  22 
1.465  04 
3,402  52 
3,299  80 
1,895  33 
1,482  99 
749  77 
168  03 
3,044  49 
333  97 
3,490  44 
1,215  93 
3,048  49 
599  06  : 
4,807  54 

Sch.  J.  W.  Wilder 

do  

Dec.  1,  1863 
Jan.  31,  1863 
Oct.  20,  1863 

Sch.  Joana  Ward  

...do  
....do.. 

Sch.  J.  G.  McNeil  

Sch.  James  Norcomll  

...do  

Sch.  Julia  Worden. 

Philadelphia.. 
Key  West  
...do  

Dec.  1,  1863 
Oct.  10,  1863 
Oct.  17,  1863 
April  27,  18  3 
Jan.  30,  1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 
Mar.  9,  1864 
Mar.  9,  1864 
Mar.  17,  U64 
Mar.  17,  1864 
Mar.  29,  1864 

Sch  .  Julia  

Sloop  Julia  

Sch.  Julia  

Boston.   . 
do 

Str.  Juno  

335,102  00 
1,875  90 
6,699  71 
15,428  96 
1,720  53 
2,228  59 
11  747  21 
500  00 

240,895  62 
37,728  84 
9,925  00 
41,011  62 
35,982  40 
23,495  74 
8,331  73 
5,510  15 
452  11 
32,514  71 
1,826  77 
15.606  48 
5,468  81 
16,046  81 
14.032  46 
159,129  41 

Hloop  John  Wesley  

Key  West  .... 
...do..  
do 

Sloop  Jane  Adelie  

Sloop  Julia  

Sloop  Justina.  

...do  
do. 

Sch.  Juniper.     

Sch.  Joe  Flanner  

.do  

Str.  Jeff  DavisH  

Springfield 

Str.  James  Battle  

Key  West  
New  Orleans  . 
....do  
.do..     . 

April  12,  1864 
April  23,  1864 
May  21,  1864 
June  18,  1864 
Oct.  11,  1864 
Oct.  7,  1864 
Oct.  11.  1864 
Oct.  12,  1864 
Oct.  19,  1863 
Mar.  22,  1865 
April  22,  1865 
April  21,  1865 
June  3,  1865 
June  26,  1865 
Aug.  12,  1865 
Aug.  16,  1865 

Sch.  John  Scott    

Sch.  J.  T.  Davis  

Sch  John  Douglas  

Sch.  Jupiter  

Philadelphia.. 
New  Orleans.. 
Boston   .. 
New  Orleans. 
Washington. 
New  Orleans 
Key  West  
New  York  .  . 
New  Orleans.. 
..do  
Key  West  
...do  

Sch.  Judson  

Str.  Jupiter  .       

Sch.  James  Williams  
Sch.  J.  C   McCabe         

Sch.  John  

Sloop  Josephine  ....        ... 

Sch  Joseph  H.  Toone  
Sch.  Julia  

Sch.  Josephine  

Sch.  John  Hale  

Str.  Julia  

*  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  Cceur  de  Lion. 

t  Vessel  not  included. 

t  Waiting  1'or  prize  lists  of  the  Vincennes  and  Clifton. 


§  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  Mohican,  Potomska,  and  Pocahontas. 

II  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  Shawsheen. 

t  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  Benton,  St.  Louis,  Louisville,  Carondelet,  Cairo. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


Name. 


Grosi  pro 
ceeds. 


Sch.  Kate $4.188  33 

Soli.  Kate,  cargo  of |  98  00 

Mr.  Kate  Dale ;  370,708  39 

Str.  Kaskaskia '  1.30300 

Str.  Kate 31,18000 


3,57-2  22 

711  81 

2.8-28  64 


Sloop  Kate. 

Sloop  Kate* 

Seh.  La  Criolla 

Str.  Lodoua 24b.U51  32 

Sch  Liou 4,1)35  25 

Sch.  Ladies'  Delight 

Sch.  Lookout 

Sch.  Liou   

Sch.  Laviuia 

Sch.  Lily 

Sch.  Lyniihaven 


Costs    and   Ain't fordis-  Where adjudi- 
expenses.      tribution.  cated. 


8111 


Sch.  Lovely  Belief 

Sch.  Louisa  Agnes 

Sch.  Lizzie   v\«-jtou. ... 
Seh.  Lucv  C.  Holmus. 


1,813  72 
1,408  87 
8,573  54 
9,580  38 
5,189  53 
7,000  00 


2,200  00 

1,106  00 

76.286  67 

29,745  62 


Sch.  Louise   45,05s  49  | 


Str.  Lizzie 

Sch.  Louisa   

Sell.   Linnet. . ..   

Sch  Lydia  and  Mary.   ... 

Sloop  Louisa  Dud.ey 

Sch.  Lady   Maria 

Str  Lizzie  Davis 

Sch.Locadie j       I,9'.i7  00 

Sch.  Lida  9,75354 

Sch.  Louisa  5,till 

Sloop  Last  Trial 109  96 


12,244  73 

1,977  27 

2,022  42 

2,864  66  j 

2,693  07 

30.646  45  j 

18,351  16 


Sch.  Lily 

Sch.  Lynchburg  

Sch.  Lily 

Sch.  Laura.  

Str.  Little  Ada 

Str.  Lady  Sterling 

Sch    Louisa 

Sch.  Lone 

Str.  Lucy   

Sch.Lf-artad 

Sch.  Linda  . .. 

Sch.  Lo wood 

Str.  Liura ., 

Sloop  Lydia 

Sch.  Lily 

Sloop  Last  Resort 

Sloop  Lauretta. 

Sch.  Lucy 

Brig  Lilla 

Sch.  Late  Hurley 

Sch.  Mars  

Sch.  Major  Harbour 

Sloop  Mercury  J 

Sch.  Maria 

Brig  Minna 

S<-h.  Maria  Bishop 

Sch.  Mary  Jane 

Sir.  Magnolia 


Sloop  Margaret 

Sch.  Magnolia 

Sl^op  Maria. 

Sch.  .Margaret  .... 
Sch.  Martha  Ann... 
Sloop  Mary  Grey  § . 

Bark  Meaco 


Sch.  Mabel   

Sch.  Morning  Star 

Sch.  Mary  Wood 

Ssh.  Mary  Elizabeth 

Sch.  Major  E.  Willis 


5,995  66 

11,449  43 
9.019  94 
6,843  01 

44,4-9  95 

509,354  64 

5,491  49 

2,631  00 

268,948  20 

43.261  72 
1,237  65 

34,555  03 

36.052  92 
1,302  17 
1.102  00 
1,987  58 
52  63 
5,879  64 

73,679  67 
3,500  86 
1,141  00 

44.567  76 

1.548  20 
3,399  92 
2.340  11 
4,539  95 
1,731  39 

173,955  77 

3.549  98 
41,731  61 

4,849  37 
378  73 

1,498  02 
224  37 

j  92,213  47 

8,781  50 

1.168  61 

3,292  78 

685  68 

36,242  45 


$593  23        $3,595  10    Key  West 

51  25  ,  46  75  'Washington. 

14,910  27      355,7118  12  j  Philadelphia. 


Merchandise,  680  pieces  ||.  \  312  16 

Sch.  Monterey 837  10 

Str.  Memphis  543,41)5  15 

Merchandise,  cargo  of  T...  25080 

S-h.  Meteor 2  5s9  70 

Sloop  Magnolia 

Sch.  Maria  Alberta 4.583  25 

str.  Merrimack j  202741  16 

Sch.   Mississippian !  34,98194 


37.;  :.:> 

1,890  42 

442  22 

126  27 

871  83 

14,944  84 

1,350  70 
287  32 
254  00 

1,093  68 
880  96 
835  88 
401  15 


319  85 

1.401  00 

8,738  92 

3,952  10 

1  970  51 

1,836  04 

1,078  62 

388  17 

918  66 

620  50 

2,228  42 

2,441  08 

656  44 

1.374  45 

1,121  50 

108  85 


966  68 
4,437  27 
1,074  50 

871  94 
1,580  69 
9.463  35 
1,227  36 

723  59 
6,534  72 

4.380  79 
171  50 

5.948  70 

1,589  90 

224  76 

625  04 

290  15 

52  63 

341  52 

3,929  45 

1,245  75 

1.157  04 

8,278  68 

545  99 

2.048  52 

1.381  10 
2,66?  80 
1,033  74 
6,551  61 

234  47 

3,199  02 

722  25 

160  95 

714  44 

166  01 

030,155  55 

6  090  02 

1,753  61 

645  02 

1,033  79 

5%  82 

2,098  37 


106  32 

287  04 

32,581  08 

82  92 

201  86 

130  38 

3-*7  87 

11.702  48 

2,495  52 


923  45    Springfield.. 
29,289  68    New  York... 


3,130  00  Key  West . . . 

585  54  !         do 

1,956  81  i  Philadelphia. 

231.706  48  ' do 

3,584  55    ....do 

1,526  40  Washington. 

1.214  87    ...  do 

7,479  86  Key  West.... 

8,699  42      ..  do 

4,353  65      ...do.    

6,598  85  New  York... 


Oct.  23,  1863 
Oct.  23,  1863 
Jan.  G,  IN''. l 
Jan.  11,  1864 
Feb.  16,  1864 

July   6, 1864 


Vessels  entitled  to  share. 


1,880  15 

No  proceeds 

67,457  75 

25.793  52 

43,082  98 

10,408  69 

898  65 

1,634  25 

1.946  00 

2,072  57 

28,418  03 

15,910  11 

1,340  56 

8,379  09 

4,489  85 

1  11 


Nov.  26, 
April  25 
Nov.  5, 
Oct.l  9. 
April  1C,, 
i  Oct.  16, 
Jan.  23, 
Oct.  13, 
Dec.  8, 


.do. 
.do. 
.do. 


5,028  98 

7,012  16 

7,945  44 

5,971  07 

42,909  26 

494,891  29 

4,264  13 

1,908  01 

262.413  48 

38,880  93 

1.066  15 

28.606  33 

34,463  02 

1,077  41 

476  96 

1.697  43 

No  proceeds 

5,538  12 

69,750  22 

2,255  11 

No  proceeds 

36,289  08 

1,002  21 

1,351  40 

959  01 

1,872  15 

697  65 

167,404  16 


....do 

Boston 

Philadelphia 

do.. 

Key  West  .  . 
Philadelphia 
Key  West  . . . 

..do.  

New  Orleans. 

..  do 

Philadelphia. 
New  Orleans. 
Key  West  .... 


1*62 
.1863 
lsr,:i 
1863 
1862 
1862 
1863 
18(» 
1863 


Feb.  17, 
Jan.  31, 
Jan.  23, 
Jan.  11, 
Feb.  29. 
Dec.  14, 
Feb.  29. 
Mar.  17, 
May  7, 
June  7. 
Nov.  26. 
April  .3, 
June  4, 


1863 
1863 
1863 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1H64 
1864 
1*64 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 


New  Orleans 

New  York  . . 

Sew  Orleans 
i  ...do 

Boston. 

New  York  . . . 
(New  Orleans. 
I  ...4j> 

Boston 

Key  West 

i  ...  do 

Sew  Orleans 

Key  West 

j  ..do 

Sew  Orleans 

Key  West 

...do... 


June  18, 
July  28, 
July  28. 
July  28, 
Feb.  16. 
Feb.  7, 
Feb.  14, 
Feb.  14, 
Mar.  9, 
Mar.  22, 
M.ir.  -22, 
April  22. 
April  22, 
April  22. 
June  2, 
Aug.  25, 


1864 
1864 
1864 
18C4 
1865 
1">65 
1865 
1865 
1-65 

[880 

1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 


I     .  do 

Boston 

iSew  Orleans., 

New  York 

.....do 

....do 

i  ...do 

.  do 

;  ...do 

....do..   

Key  West.... 


Aug.  12,  1865 
June  20, 1865 
Aug.  22, 1865 


Jan.  30. 1868 


3.31551        ..do 

38,532  59  i ....  do 

4  127  12      ...do 

217  78  do 

783  58  Washington.. 

58  36  do 


Dec.  1. 
Nov.  20, 
Dec.  24. 
Dec.  9. 
Oct.  16, 

Oct.  16. 

Oct.  8. 

Oct.  17, 

Oct.  6, 

Oct.  1, 


1863 
1863 
186.} 
1863 

I-  - 

1862 
1863 
1863 
1862 
1863 


55,967  89  Philadelphia.. 

7,027  89    do 

52359      ...do 

2,252  99        . .  do 


34,144  08 


205  84 

5r,0  06 

510.914  07 

167  88 

2,387  84 

430  87 

4,195  38 

191.038  68 

32.486  42 


do 

, do 


Boston 

Washington. 
New  York 
Washington. 
Key  West... 

..do 

...do 

New  York  . . 
Key  West.. . 


Mar.  11,  1863 

Nov.  6.  1S62 
Nov.  25,  1862 
Nov.  11.  1864 
Oct.  19.  1863 
NOT.  5.  1863 


April  16,  lftf-2 
Nov.  10.  1863 

Dec.    3.' 1864 
June  11,  18T.4 

NOV.  ae.  i*64 

F»b.  22.  18<14 
Feb.  29,  1»64 


Roebuck. 

Adolph  Hugcl. 

K.  R.  Curler. 

Cricket. 

Mount  Vernon,  Iroquois,  James  Adger. 
Niphon. 

Brooklyn. 

Pursuit. 

Bienville. 

Unadilla. 

Delaware. 

Primrose,  Anacostia,  Currituck,  Satellite. 

Coeur  de  Lion 

Kingfisher. 

Santiago  de  Cuba. 

W.  G.  Anderson. 

Delaware,   Louisiana,     Hetzel,     Commodore 
Perry.    Valley  City,   Underwriter,    Morse, 
Cen-s,  H.  Briucker.Whitefieart.  Shaw 
Lockwxid.  General  Putnam,  J.  N.  Seymour. 

General  Putnam. 

General  Putnam. 

Ita*C8. 

SantiagD  de  Cuba. 

Albatross. 

Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Biouville. 

Union. 

Restless. 

M<-Lellan. 

De  Sctn,  Stonewall. 

San  Jaciuto. 

Commodore. 

Semiuole. 

Queen. 

Beauregard.  San  Jacinto,  Dale.  Tioga,  Taho- 
ma,  Hants ville,  Wanderer.  Eug.  in.-,  Sun 
flower,  Sea  Bird,  Honduras,  Marigold. 

Penobscot. 

Quaker  City. 

OwM 

Owasco. 

Gettysburg. 

Calypso,  Kolus. 

Chocura. 

Fort  Morsan. 

Santiago  de  Cuba. 

San  Jacinto. 

Ileauregard,  Norfolk  Packet. 

Chocura. 

.Stars  and  Stripes.  Hendrick  Hudson. 

Beauregard. 

M  ••  t  .1.  -i  r ;  et. 

Roebuck. 

Koebuck. 

Hendrick  Hudson. 

Quaker  City. 

Chocura, 

DeSoto.  Kittatinny. 

Quaker  Citv,  Memphis,  Powhatan,  Flag. 

Santiago  tie  Cuba. 

Victoria. 

Courier. 

Mount  Vernon.  State  of  Georgii. 

Huntsville.  Brooklyn,  South  Carolina,  Mer- 

cedita,  Itaaca. 
Sciota. 
Hatteras. 

Rachel  Seaman.  Kensington. 
Tahoma,  Hendric..  Hudson. 
Samuel  Rotau. 
Eureka,  T.  A.  Ward. 

Brooklyn,  St.  Louis. 

Dale,  St.  Lawrence. 

Bienville. 

r .  A  • 

S'ars  and  Stripes,  Mystic,  State  Of  Georgia. 

Powhatitu,  Housatouic,  Paul  Jones,  Huron. 
UnadlUa.  Augusta,  South  Carolina,  Amer 
ica.  G.  W.  Blunt,  New  Ironsides,  Flag, 
Stettin.  Lodona. 

Hunchback. 

Resolute. 

Magnolia. 

<-<i"ir  de  Lion,  Dan  Smith. 

Sagamore. 

San  Jacinto. 

San  Jacinto. 

Iroquois. 

De  S  >to. 


*  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Pursuit. 

t  Taken  by  War  Department;  not  paid  for. 

1  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  the  Memphis,  Powhatan,  and  Flag. 

a  Allowed  to  claimants. 


S  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  tho  T.  A.  Ward. 
II  W«iting  for  prize  list  of  the  Hunchback. 
T  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  the  Cosur  de  Lion  and  Dan  Smith. 


840 


THE  NA  VAL   HISTORY 


Name. 

Gross  pro 
ceeds. 

Costs    and 
expenses. 

Am't  fordis 
tribution. 

Where  adjudi 
cated. 

Sent    to     4th 
Auditor    foi 
distribution 

Vessels  entitled  to  share. 

Str  Maggie  Fulton        .... 

$1,107  71 
689  88 
1,913  59 
47,939  13 

$377  09 
122  83 
390  29 
3,465  84 
619  67 
2,059  22 
3,028  13 

93  27 
139  02 
1.014  39 
7,381  35 
5,990  77 
76  22 
2,022  26 
818  71 
235  52 
4,188  42 
5,292  18 
805  49 
3,197  55 
9,070  16 
12  549  87 
5.798  52 
1,831  01 
1,661  22 
408  71 
367  78 
1,007  89 
1,261  75 
837  99 
444  82 
296  76 
5,421  11 

1,238  10 
1,650  03 
830  67 
127  20 
3,853  08 
732  16 
1,005  79 

188  09 
2,686  62 

591  39 
317  92 
315  85 

1,196  48 
6,753  74 
1,464  95 
4,848  94 
133  72 
1,776  22 
679  90 

4,460  44 
10,699  23 

$730  62 
567  05 
1,523  30 
44,473  29 
3,670  89 
18,192  72 
30,416  98 

271  73 
1,760  98 
160  61 
82.425  30 
110,910  44 
551  03 
19,107  88 
4,047  04 
146  44 
112.356  32 
97.791  28 
3,061  45 
7,234  88 
344.873  26 
158,158  47 
353,568  83 
1S,2*3  21 
26,977  40 
3,697  86 
2,501  37 
8,543  00 
5,147  54 
2.133  82 
3,430  53 
3,065  40 
57,898  00 

5,981  77 
6,986  43 
4,251  33 
677  64 
8,598  97 
432  67 
3,696  78 

300  56 
32,234  73 

9,039  88 
4,3*)2  76 
1,684  15 

6,812  02 
4,096  26 
14,204  22 
28,377  94 
61  91 
14.129  96 
391  97 

36,360  14 
61,259  40 
No  proceeds 
19.062  34 
1,866  40 
18,390  77 
7  08 
18,970  24 
335  15 
359  05 
1.475  80 
7,632  16 
5,748  23 
5,600  16 
611  38 
7,191  47 
3,182  06 
1,632  96 
69  71 
606  24 
2,592  84 
29,457  07 
31,232  76 
250  96 
1,617  00 
2,516  67 
1,756  89 
399  09 
177  67 

Key  West  
do  

Mar.  17,  1864 
Feb.  29,  1864 

Gem  of  the  Sea. 
Tahoma. 
Annie. 
Itasca. 
Huntsville. 
De  Soto. 
W.  G.  Anderson. 

Argosy. 
Juliet. 
Conestoga. 
Kenuebec. 
Circassian. 
St.  Louis. 
Fort  Henry. 
Virginia. 
Aroostook. 
Grand  Gulf. 
Ssiota. 
Rachel  Seaman. 
Powhatan. 
Connecticut. 
Fulton.  Keystone  State,  Nansemond. 
Magnolia. 
Union. 
Mackinaw. 
Roebuck. 
Honeysuckle. 
Roebuck. 
Lodona. 
Itasca. 
San  Jacinto. 
Beauregard. 
Honduras,  San  Jacinto  (Fox,  Sea  Bird,  Two 
Sisters). 
Penobsoot. 
Glide. 
Kanawha. 
Pursuit. 
J.  P.  Jackson,  Stockdale. 
Alabama. 
Mount  Vernon,  Mystic,  Chippewa,  Stars  and 
Stripes. 
Commodore  Morris. 
Bainbridge. 

Brooklyn,  Massachusetts. 
Commodore  Perry,  Delaware,  Hetzel,  Louis 
iana.  Valley  City,  Underwriter,   Ceres,    H. 
Brinker,     Morse,    Whitehead,    Shawsheen, 
Lockwood,  J.  N.  Seymour,  General  Puttam. 
Matthew  Vassar,  Sea  Foam. 
Quaker  City 
Housatonic,  Xew  Ironsides. 
Victoria. 
Eureka. 
Sagamore. 
Stars  and  Stripes,  Philadelphia,  Louisiana. 
Hetzel,  Delaware,  Commodore  Perry.  Val 
ley  City,  Underwriter,  Commodore  Barney, 
Hunchback,  Southfield,  Morse,  H.  Brinker, 
Lockwood. 
Lackawanna. 
State  of  Georgia,  Victoria. 

South  Carolina. 
Sassacus. 
Sunflower,  Honduras,  J.  L.  Davis. 
San  Jacinto. 
Nita. 
Roebuck. 
New  London,  Massachusetts,  R.  R.  Cuyler. 
New  London,  Massachusetts,  R.  R.  Cuyler. 
Memphis. 
Monticello. 
Kingfisher,  Ethan  Allen. 
Sagamore,  Mercedita. 
Quaker  City. 
Pawnee. 
Two  Sisters  (tender  to  the  Magnolia  . 
Norfolk  Packet. 
Beauregard. 
Union. 
San  Jacinto. 
Hatteras,  New  London,  J.  P.  Jackson. 
Bienville. 
Susquehanna. 
Chocura. 
Reliance,  Anacostia. 

William  Bacon. 

...do  

...do  
....do  
New  Orleans  . 
...do  

June    9,1864 
Mar.  29,  1804 
June   9,  1864 
April  12,  1864 

April  23,  1864 
Nov.  17,  1864 

4,290  56 
20,251  94 
33,445  11 

365  00 
1,900  00 
1.175  00 
89,809  65 
116,901  21 
627  25 
21,130  14 
4.865  75 
381  96 
116,544  74 
103,083  46 
3,866  94 
10,432  43 
353,943  42 
170,708  34 
389,367  35 
20,114  22 
28,638  62 
4,106  57 
2.869  16 
9,550  8'.» 
6.409  29 
2,971  81 
3,875  35 
3,362  16 
63,319  11 

7,219  87 
8,636  46 
5,082  00 
804  84 
12,452  05 
1,164  83 
4,702  57 

4S8  65 
34,921  35 

9,631  27 
4,710  68 
2,000  Ot» 

8.008  50 
10,850  00 
15,669  17 
33  226  88 
195  63 
15.906  1H 
1,071  87 

40,820  58 
71,958  63 
35  00 
20.643  24 
2,219  00 
20,045  35 
95  00 
21,00fi  02 
440  71 
600  00 
1,75)  00 
9,800  00 
7,069  52 
5,944  74 
686  00 
7900  80 
4,266  69 
2,078  05 
282  31 
856  20 
2.890  70 
32  079  00 

Str.  Montgomery  

Sob  Mack  Canfield 

Merchandise,  4  mules  anc 

Springfield.  .  . 
...do  

Mules  21 

Mules   13t 

..do  

Sch  M  J  Smith  

New  Orleans  . 
Boston     
Springfield.  .  . 

April  23,  1804 
April  12,  1864 

str.  Minna.               ,  
Money   $627  25  t 

Key  West    .  .  . 
New  Orleans.. 
...do  

June   1,  18f>4 
June  8,  1864 
June  17,  1864 
July  19,  1864 
July  23,  1804 
July  28,  1864 
Oct.  29,  1804 
Oct.   10,  1804 
Oct.   17,  1804 
Dec.    3,  1804 
Feb.    2,  1805 
Mar.  22,  1805 
Mar.  22,  1805 
Mar.  22,  1805 
Mar.  22,  1805 
April  18,  1865 
April  22,  1805 
April  26,  1865 
April  26,  1865 
April  26,  1865 

June  26,  1865 
Aug.  22,  1865 
Aug.  16,  186£ 
Aug   12,  1865 
Aug.  21,  1865 
Mar.    2,  1863 
June  28,  1864 

Sch.  Mary  Duiiglas  

New  Orleans.. 
..  do  

do  ... 

Sch  Maria  Albert  

Boston. 
New  York  .... 

Str.  Margaret  and  Jessie  §.  . 

Key  West  
New  York..  .  . 
Key  West  
...  do  
....do  
Philadelphia.. 
New  Orleans  . 
Key  West    .. 
do  

Sloop  Maria  Louisa  

Sch.  Mary  Ann    
Sloop  Mary  Ellen  

8cb.  Minnie  
Str.  Mail  

do 

Sch.  Matilda  

New  Orleans  . 
do 

Sch.  Malta  

Sch.  Miry  Ellen  

....do  
Key  West  
New  Orleans.. 
Philadelphia  . 
...do  

Sch.  Marv         

Sob.  Mcilora  

Sch  NVlly  

Brig  Napier        ....         .... 

Sloop  (no  namell)  

Key  West  

...do  
...do  
New  York  

...do 

Oct.  16,  1862 

Nov.  26,  1862 
Nov.  26,  1804 
Dec.    8,  1863 

Jan.  27,  1863 
Nov.  20,  1863 
Dec.  26,  1863 
Nov  25,  1863 
Feb.  29,  1864 
April  12,  1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 

Mar.  29,  1864 
May  10,  1S64 

Bark     (slave,     name     un 
known*)  

Brig  Nahum  Stetson  

Sch.  (name  unknown)  

Sloop  New  Eagle  

Ship  North  Carolina  

...do  
....do  
...do  
Washington  .  . 
Key  West.... 
New  York.... 

Key  West  
New  York  
Washington.  . 
New  York  ... 
Washington. 
Key  West  
do 

Sloop  Neptune,  cargo  of 
Str.  Nicholai  1st  

Sloop    no  name).     .  . 

Sch.  New  Year  
Sch.  Napoleon  

Str.  Neptune  

Str.  Nassau  

Sch.  Nanjemoy  

Sloop  Nellie  

1,580  90 
352  60 
1,654  58 
87  92 
2,035  78 
105  56 
240  95 
274  20 
2,167  84 
1,321  29 
344  58 
74  62 
709  33 
1,084  63 
445  09 
212  60 
249  96 
297  86 
2,6-21  97 

July  19,  1864 
Oct.  29,  1864 
April  26,  1865 

Str.  Nutfleld  

Sloop  Neptuns  

Sloop  (no  name)  

Str.  Nan  Nan  

do 

May    1,  1865 

Sloop  Nina  

do 

Sloop  O.^ceola  

New  York  .  .  . 
do 

July  21,  1863 
July  21,  18G3 
Nov.  25,  1803 
Dec.  17,  1863 
Oct.  36,  1802 
Oct.  16,  1862 
Oct.  13,  1863 
Oct.  17,  1862 

June  4,  1864 
Nov.    4,  1864 
Mar.  22,  1865 
April  26,  1865 

Nov.    6,  1862 
July  21,  1864 
Oct.   19,  1863 
Aug.  15,  1862 
Oct.   19,  1863 

Sch.  Olive  

Ptr.  Ouachita  

do 

Sch.  Odd  Fellow        

do 

Sch.  Olive  Branch  

Key  West  .  .  . 
do 

Sloop  Octavia  

Sch.  Orion       

...  do.  ... 
Philadelphia  . 
Key  We>t  .  .  . 

Sch.  Ocean  Wave  
Sch.  Olive  S.  BreezeU  

Sch.  Ocean  Bird,  cargo  of.  .  . 
Sch.  OraMonita  

St.  Augustine 
Key  West    .. 

Scb.  O.  K     

Sloop  Oscar  

8tr.  P.O.  Wallis**  

Sch.  Providence  
Scb.  Prince  Alfred  

929  90 
3,618  20 
2,918  06 
2.043  74 
569  11 
269  97 

678  94 
2,001  20 
401  39 
286  85 
170  02 
92  30 

Philadelphia  . 
....do.. 
Washington.  . 
...do  

Sch.  Pride  .... 

Property,  lot  of  
Property,  lot  of  
Property,  lot  of  tt  

....do  
do 

*  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Annie,  a  tender, 
t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Conestoga. 
%  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  St.  Louis. 

§  $54,426.59  distributed  to  owners,  oflicers,  and  crew  of  the  Ful 
ton,  army  transport. 


11  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  the  Commodore  Morris. 
•tf  Waiting  for  prize  lists  of  the  Two  Sisters,  a  tender  to  the  Mag 
nolia. 

**  Final  decree  not  received, 
tt  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  William  Bacon. 


OF   THE   CI17L 


Name. 


Cross  pro 
ceeds. 


Cards   and   Am'tfordio- Whereacljudi- Hj'nt... (o    *tb 
expenses.      tribiitiou.  cated. 


distribution. 


Vessels  entitled  to  share. 


Sloop  Pointer* $1<>1  93 

Property,  lot  of  2,166  54 

Property,  lot  oft 1,996  7fi 

Sch.  President 12,411  13 

Sch.  Princeton  3,87028 

Sch.  Prize 837  84 

Sloop  Pioneer . .  2,366  92 

Str.  Patras*.  cargo  of 58,787  64 

Sir.  Planter 198,69058 

Str.  Patras   34,00000 

Bark  Pioneer i  31,40125 

Pianos  2*     I  134  00 

Sch.   Paul             97565 

Prize  money 59,943  42 


Sch.  Pancha  Larissa 

Sloop  Pickwick 

Sch   Peep  o  Day 

Sch.  Pet 

Sloop  Phantom 

Str.  Pevensey,  part  of  cargo 


8,980  85 
335  86 

3,488  84 

19,820  25 

521  25 

5,456  60 


Str.  Princess  Royal  330,382  61 


Rice,  103  casks  of 

Rice,  1,253  bags  of  ... . 

Sch.  Revere 

Sch.  Reindeer 

Sch.  Rambler     '.'. 

Sch.  Robert  Bruce , 

8?h.  Reindeer,  cargo  of 

Sch.  Rising  Dawn 

Sch.  Rose 

Sch.  R.  C.  Files 

Str.  R-liance 

Sch.  Risiug  Sun 

Sch.  Reindeer 

Sloop  Richard  Vaux 

Sch.  Rebecca 

Sch.  Rowena 


Sch.  R.  O.  Bryan,  cargo  of 

Rum,  8    bbls..   37    hhds. 

sugar,  and  small  lot  of 

lumber 

Sloop  Richard 

Bch.  Ringdove 

Sloop  Relampago  No.  1..  .. 

Sch.  Uoyal  Yacht 

Sch.  Rebekah 

Sloop  Relampago  No.  2. 

Sch.  R  F.  Reushaw§ 

Sloop  Rosalie 

Sloop  Kichardsll 

Sloop  Ranger  

Sch.  Rapid 

Sch.  Reserve 

Sch.  Restless  Union 

Sch.  Ripple  

Sch.  RevereU. 

Srr.  Rouen 

Sloop  Racer 

Sloop  Resolute 

Sch. Roebuck  

Sch.  Rebel 

Sch.  R.  H.  Vermylea 

Sch.  Rob  Roy 

Rosin,  25  barrels,  etc. . 

Str.  Ruby 

Sch.  San  Juan 

Sch.  Specie 

Str.  Salvor  .. 


3,510  34 
4,134  92 
3,335  73 

10,147  90 
8.807  99 

38.338  17 
8,895  29 
3.212  70 
7,778  40 

36,065  40 

84,719  50 

1,294  02 

24H  00 

380  00 

2,022  41 

5,553  01 

1,209  78 


4,479  50 
3,474  65 
1,036  51 
3,395  39 
27,676  28 
2,858  09 
3,161  61 
850  00 
2,710  75 
790  76 
1.338  85 
7.564  31 
4,524  37 
377  00 
26,986  56 
765  4C, 
38,662  26 
6,350  3S 
563  '.5 
9,071  02 
114  59 
6,220  89 
C28  43 
20,494  47 
14.2S6  00 
2,728  86 
10,214  86 

3V.250  94 
Sch.  Sarah ...  21,45410 


Sch.  Susan  Jano 

Sch.  Sally  Mears 

Sloop  S.  W.  Green   

Sch.  Sarah  Lavinia 

Sch.  Southerner 

Sch.  Sabine     .    . 

Shoes,  cargo  of,  etc. 

Str.  Swan 

Sch.  Silas  Henry 

Sch.  Stonewall.   .     

Sch.  Sarah,  cargo  of     .    . 
Sch.  Sarah  and  Caroline. 

Sch. Shark   

Sch.  Soleuad  Cos 


12,558  35 

2,800  00 

232  50 

415  00 

605  00 
205  00 
572  68 

218,475  52 
3,213  20 
1,2(K)  00 

606  99 
4,322  61 
4.811  44 
3,974  63 


$86  29 

269  37 

2S5  45 

1,293  15 

916  96 

237  54 

1,058  18 

6,336  82 

16,872  00 

4,077  41 

2.913  81 

103  21 

134  04 

1,198  86 


1,225  00 

102  70 
363  70 

3,952  08 

103  47 
691  16 

22,566  50 


896  33 

1,098  87 

1,744  87 

1,644  70 

1,384  53 

6,981  52 

2,051  53 

1,213  69 

758  92 

2.831  15 

6,394  27 

246  93 

162  20 

154  82 

612  04 

929  96 

371  13 


456  83 
370  28 
150  85 
588  01 
2,653  74 
426  08 
447  05 
112  35 
435  86 
209  26 
187  12 
777  11 

973  42 
341  27 

2,067  30 
300  00 

1,905  72 
741  13 
\1'i  53 

974  53 
8a  38 

1,118  35 

98  3G 

3,091  81 

2.4S2  61 

1,031  85 

1,275  91 

(03,029  19 

(    3,379  18 

1,671  22 

2.763  66 

1,42?  45 

109  55 

163  89 

164  10 
114  19 
179  91 

16  177  49 

1.05.S  08 

114  35 

91  91 

1.118  25 

1.263  22 

750  78 


$15  64 

1,897  17 

1.711  31 

11,117  98 

2,953  32 

600  30 

1,308  74 

52.450  82 

181.818  58 

29.922  69 

28,487  44 

30  79 

841  61 

58,744  56 


Washington. 


i     .  do.  ...... 

Key  West... 
|  ..  do  ....... 

..  do  ...... 

New  York... 
....do  ....... 

Key  West... 
New  York... 

...do  ....... 

Springfield.. 
Key  West  .  . 
Washington. 


Oct.   19.  1863 


Oct.  16. 
Oct.  16, 
Oct.  24, 
April  27, 
Dec.  9, 
Feb.  29 
Feb.  29. 
April  14. 


1MC,2 
1862 
18CJ3 
1863 
1863 
1864 
1864 
1864 


April  16,  1864 
Oct.   29,  1864 


7,755  85  New  Orleans 

233  15  Key  West 

3,125  14  do 

15,868  17  New  Orleans., 

417  78  Key  West 

4,765  34  New  York.... 

337,816  11  Philadelphia.. 


April  22, 1865 
Aug.  25.  1865 
Aug.  26,  1865 
June  26, 1865 
Aug.  12,  1865 
Aug.  21,  1865 
Oct.  13,  1865 


2.614 

3,036 

1,590 

8,503 

7.423 

31,356 

6,843 

1,999 

7.019 

33.234 

78,325 

1,047 

77 

225 

1,410 

4,623 


New  York . . . 

....do 

....do 

..  do 

....do 

....do 

..do 

..do 

Key  West 

....do 

do 

09  'Washington.. 

80    ...  do 

18    ....do.. 

37  'Philadelphia.. 

05  ,   . . .  do. . 


May  28, 
Jan.  23, 
Sept.  16, 
Jan.  11, 
May  2, 
Feb.  4, 
Nov.  26, 
Jan.  11, 
Oct.  16, 
Oct.  16, 
Jan.  29, 
Oct.  19, 
April  20, 
Feb.  18, 
Nov.  6, 
Sept.  15, 


1863 
1863 
1863 
1864 
1864 
18,54 
1863 
1864 
18(12 
1862 
1863 
1863 
1862 
1864 
1862 
18(53 


838  65    Boston Jan.  13, 1863 


4,022  67 

3,104  37 

885  66 

2,807  38 

25,022  54 

2.432  01 

2,713  96 

737  65 

2,274  89 

531  50 

1,151  73 

6,787  20 

3,550  95 

35  73 

24,919  2C 

465  46 

38,756  54 

5,609  26 

440  72 

8,096  49 

26  21 

5.102  64 

430  07 

17,403  66 

11.803  39 

1.697  01 

8.938  95 


Springfield. .. 

Key  West 

...do 


..  do 

....do 

....do.. 

.do 

Boston. 
Key  West  ... 

...  do  ... 


Nov.  26,  1864 
June  9,  1863 
June  8,  18G3 
June  4, 1863 
Nov.  2,  1863 
Feb.  29,  18(54 
Feb.  29.  1864 

Mar.  17,'  1864 


Reliance. 

T.  A.  Ward. 

Matthew  Vassar. 

Owasco. 

Susquehanna. 

Octorara. 

Portsmouth. 

Bienville. 

Lack  a  wanna, 

Bienville. 

Monticello,  Quaker  City. 

Great  Western 

Sagamore. 

Curlew,  Gen.  Pillow.  New  Era,  LouUville 
Mound  City,  Conestoga,  Mariuora,  Signal 
Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati.  Gen.  Lyon,  Romeo 
Carondelet,  Tyler,  Petrel,  Black  Hawk  am 
tugs. 

Sciota. 

Sunflower. 

Pursuit. 

Bienville,  Princess  Royal. 

Honeysuckle. 
j  Newbern, 

i  Unadilla,  Augusta,  Housatonic,  America,  G 
W.  Blunt  ($10,000  decreed  to  Memphis  ant 
Quaker  City). 

Albatross,  Norwich. 

Albatross. 

Monticello,  Maratanza,  Mabaska. 

Arthur. 

Connecticut. 

Penobscot. 

W.  G.  Anderson. 

Mount  Vernon. 

Sagamore,  Mercedita. 

Kanawha. 

Huntsville. 

Wyandank. 

Island  Belle,  Patell.te. 

Primrose. 

Bienville. 

Peiubina,  Pawnee,  Huron,  Unadil'a,  H.  An 
drews,  E.  P.  Hale,  Ellen. 

Rhode  Island. 


...  do 

...do 

Sew  Orleans.. 

...do 

Key  West 
Boston 

...do 

Key  West 

....do I 

...do i 

...do 

New  Orleans 

Key  West j 

St.  Augustine 

Xey  West  . . . . 

Philadelphia. 

..do 


31,842  67   !....do... 
19,782  88  !  ...do.. 


9.794  69  ...do 

1,372  55  Washington. 

122  95    ...  do 

251  11    ...  do 

44')  90  I do 

90  81  !  ..do 

392  77  ...do 

202,298  03  Key  West  .. 

2,156  12  ...do 

1,085  65  ..  do 

515  08  do 

3.204  36  New  York  .. 

3.558  22  ....do 

3.223  86  '  ..  do 


June  22.  1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 
April  12,  1861 
April  12,1864 
Mar.  29,  1864 

Mar.'  9,1865 
Mar.  22,  1865 
Mar.  22, 1865 
May  1.  1836 
Aug.  16,  1865 
Juno  29,  1865 
Aug.  12,  1865 

Sopt.  1.  1865 
July  21.  1864 
Oct.  17,  1862 

Jan.  14.  1863 
Nov.  26,  1863 

April  23. 1864 
Oct.  19.  1863 
Oct.  19,  1863 
Oct.  19.  1863 
Sept. 21,  18C.2  ! 
Nov.  20,  1863  , 
Oct.  5,  1K65 
Feb.  17.  1863 
Ort.  15.  1863 
Oct.  23.  1863 
Oct.  23,  1863 
Sept.  l.\1863 
Jan.  14.  1863 
Feb.  17,  1S63 


Rattler,  Petrel. 

Gem  of  the  Sea. 

Roebuck.  \ 

James  S.  Chambers. 

W.  G.  Anderson. 

J.  S.  Chambers. 

Jasmine. 

Louisiana. 

Octorara. 

Two  Sisters. 

Fort  Henry,  Wanderer. 

De  Soto. 

Kittatinny. 

Commodore. 

Kanawha. 

Cambridge.  Rusquebanna. 

Key  atone  State. 

Beau  regard. 

Beaurugard. 

San  Jacinto. 

Roebuck. 

Quaker  City. 

stars  and  Stripes. 

Pawnee.  Columbia. 

1  '  .-  •  '  •  U 

Husquehanna. 

Dale. 

Keystone  State 

Keystone  State,  Seneca,  Norwich,  Alabama. 
|      Janieg  Adger,  Shepherd   Kuapp,  Roebuck. 
Pawnee. 
Quaker  City. 
T.  A.  Ward. 
Primrose. 

Wyandank,  Jacob  Bell.  Teazer. 
Resolute. 
Dan  Smith. 
Amanda  Bainbridge. 
Tahoma. 

Taboma,  Wanderer. 
Hat  tens. 
Bienville. 
s. .ut  ii  Carolina. 
South  Carolina,  Sam  Houston. 


*  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Reliance.  S  Waiting  for  priz.-  list  of  the  Louisiana. 

t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  M.  Vassar.  U  Waiting  for  prize  lint  of  the  Cambridge  and  Suaquehanna. 

J  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Great  Western .  a  To  claimants. 

il  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Two  Sisters,  a  tender  to  the  Magnolia. 


B42 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Name. 


:  Sloop  Sarah 

:gtr.  Scotia 

Str.  Sunbeam 

•  Sell.  Sue 

.Sch.     Southern    Independ 

ence 

Bark  Sally  Magee 

Sch.  St.  George 

Str.  Secesh 


Sch.  Southern  Rights 

Sch.  Star 

Str.  Stettin 

Sugar,  13  bbls.;  1  bbl. 

molasses 

•Sloop  Surprise  

Sch.  Shot 

Str.  Spaulding 

Sch.  Sea  Drift      

Sch.  Statesman 

Scow,    1,  and    59  bales 

cotton 

Sloop  Southern  Star 

Str.  St.  John's 

Sugar,  14  bbls.,  etc 

Str.  Southern  Merchant  — 


Shoes,  498  pairs*. 


Sch.  Segurt 

Sundries,  12  boxes 

Sch.  Stingray 

Sch    Sylphide 

Str.  Scotia 

Sch.  Sophia 

Sjh.  Savannah .. 

Sch.,  1;  sloop,  1 

Sch.  Sea  Bird... 

Str.  Sumter  

Str.  Susanna 

Sch. Spunky 

Sch.  Susan 

Sch.  Sort  No.  1 

Sch.  (name  uuknown) 

Sloop  no  name; 

Sloop  Swallow  

Sch.  Sort  No.  2  

Str.  Tubal  Cain 

Sch.  Trier 

Sch.  Two  Sisters 

Sch.  Theresa 

Tobacco,  18  boxes 

Sch.  Three  Brothers  

Str.  Tom  Sugg  

Ship  Thomas  WatsonJ. 

Turpentine,  11  barrels. 
Sch.  Thomas  C.  Worrellg . . 

Tobacco,  2  hogsheads. . 

Str.  Tristram  Shandy 

Str. Thistle 

Sch.  Three  Brothers  

Sch.  Terrapin 

Sch.  Two  Brothers 

Sloop  Theodora  

Sloop  Telemaco 

Str.  Union 

Sch.  Uncle  Mose 

Sch.  Victoria 

Str.  Victory 

Sch.  Velasco 

Sch.  Venus 

Sch.  Virginia 

Sch.  Victoria 

Sch.  Volantell 


Sch.  Volante 

Sch.  Velocity,  cargp-of . 

Str.  Vixen 

Sch.  Wm.  Mallory. 

Sch.  W.  C.  Bee 

Sch.  William  

Sch.  Wm.  E.  Chester 

Sch.  Wave 

Sch.  Water  Witch  

Whiskey,  cargo  of H 

Sch.  Wave  

Sch.  Winter  Shrub 

Sch.  Wanderer 

Sch.  Wave,  cargo  of 


Gross  pro 
ceeds. 


Costs    and  Am'tfordis   Whereadjudi- 
expenses.       tribution.  :        cated. 


$7,382  41 

104,536  GO 

74,966  74 

10,062  20 

66,213  94 
8,150  00 
4,573  64 

19,030  46 


554  24 

800  00 

226,393  10 

457  29 

71,117  16 

681  36 

25,314  67 

4.260  10 

13,500  67 

13,438  59 
1,586  63 

47,792  40 
1,176  07 
3,000  00 

273  90 

3,150  00 

816  03 

33,988  04 

3,050  69 

76,448  52 

1,212  GO 

1,325  00 

818  21 


3,  GOO  00 

60,284  20 

5,396  81 

1,168  31 

35,080  26 

3,204  63 

92  00 

78,048  83 

2,749  40 

65,087  48 

1,387  30 

3.698  30 

2,990  04 

329  14 

320  00 

7,000  00 

656  88 

1,119  30 

514  40 

708  66 

418,873  81 

163,392  90 

1,638  87 

697  58 

75  75 

140  00 

3,435  64 

98,838  45 

i?2,562  91 

50,450  49 

306,421  37 

550  00 

5,781  49 

57,935  99 

30,301  08 

541  32 


1,355  11 

621  85 

58,127  00 

7,526  19 

30,884  25 

95,324  97 

22,298  74 

6,250  26 

5,731  30 

533  48 

5,001  SO 

1,485  80 

1,430  60 

4,137  00 


$1,243  75 

10,939  98 

15,511  59 

1,716  13 

4,244  46 
3,762  98 
2,015  65 
1,394  77 


133  53 

168  51 

23,921  G8 

84  81 
5,067  39 

143  75 
2,540  41 

598  72 
1,622  07 

1,192  40 
159  37 

2.H32  89 
205  60 
481  30 
*80  13 
113  63 
tl,321  07 
507  85 
196  98 

2,968  16 
769  95 

3,009  02 
359  26 
244  96 
272  52 


237  95 

5,297  60 

484  02 

203  34 

2.059  53 

227  60 

92  00 

3,575  36 

196  87 

8,005  83 

369  86 

684  34 

626  23 

95  23 

116  92 

4,027  70 

535  67 

127  11 

137  93 

156  44 

6,801  26 

2,539  07 

193  59 

183  23 

75  75 

94  83 

857  19 

7,2'J8  84 

2,336  92 

2,049  58 

6,422  92 

871  95 

1.266  36 
9,245  42 

2.267  87 
529  96 


144  20 

179  47 

3,031  02 

1,557  29 

2,470  04 

6,953  04 

2,590  35 

1,958  95 

1,938  33 

125  46 

821  59 

773  28 

704  26 

767  09 


Sent  to  4th 
Auditor  for 
distribution. 


Vessels  entitled  to  share. 


$6,138  66    New  York 

93.596  62 
59.455  15 
8,346  07 


61,969  48 
4,387  02 
2,557  99 

17,685  69 


Boston .     ... 
New  York.... 

...do. 
Philadelphia. 


420  71    Key  West 
631  49      ...do. 
202,471  42    New  York. 


372  48 
66,049  77 

537  61 

22,774  26 

3,661  38 

11,878  60 


12,246 
1,427 

45,459 

970 

2,518 

80 

1,321 

619 

31,019 

2,280 

73,439 

853 

1,080 

545 

3,288 

3.362 

54,986 

4,912 

964 

33,020 

2,976 


Key  West 

..  do 

...do 

Philadelphia 

Key  West    . . 

...  do 

...do 

..  do 

Boston   

New  Orleans  . 
...do... 


Jan.   27,  1863    Matthew  Vassar,  Sea  Foam. 
Nov.    5,  1863  i  Restless. 
Nov.  20,  1863    State  of  Georgia,  Mystic. 
Nov.  25,  1863    Monticello. 

I 

Dec.     1,  1863    Kauawha. 
Feb.  29,  1864    Quaker  City. 
Feb.  29,  1864  ,  Mount  Veruon. 

Feb.  18,  1864    Canandaigua,    New      Ironsides,     Powhatan, 
Wauisutta,    Paul    Jones,   Lodona,    Housa- 

|     tonic,    Huron,    Unadilla,      Para,    Stettin, 

I      Augusta. 

April  12,1864  Sagamore. 
July  6,  1864  Brooklyn. 
Mar.  22,  1864  Bienville. 

| 

Feb.  29,  1864    Tahoma. 
Feb.  29,  1864     Htintsville. 
Feb.  29,  1864    Sagaujore. 
Feb.  29,  1864     Union. 
Mar  17,  1864    Itasca. 
Mar.  17,  1864    Tahoma. 


Mar.  29,  1864 
Mar.  29,  1864 
Mar.  22,  1864 
July  19,  1864 
Oct.  2,  1865 


Fort  Henry. 
Fort  Henry. 
Stettin. 

Cayuga,  Owasco. 
Diana. 


.  do Genesee. 


74,473  47 

2,552  83 

47,081  65 

1,017  44 

3,013  96 

2,363  81 

233  91 

203  08 

2,972  30 

121  21 

992  19 

376  47 

552  22 

412,072  55 

160,853  83 

1,445  28 

514  35 


07J    ...do 

05  iKey  West    ... 
88    New  Orleans.. 

74  '   .  ..do 

50    Boston.   

34  |  New  York 

04  I    ...do 

69  'Washington.. 
09  :Key  West    ... 

05  St.  Augustine 
60  .Philadelphia  . 
79  [St.  Augustine 
97    Key  West     .. 

73    ....do 

97     ....do 

,do. 


Mar.  29, 
June  7, 
June  17, 
July  19, 
Nov.  12, 
Oct.  7, 
Oct.  7, 
Mar.  29, 
Nov.  4, 
Mar.  25, 
Mar.  28, 
April  26, 
June  29, 


18G4 
1864 
1864 
18(54 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1865 
1865 
1865 
1865 


Boston 

Key  West  . . . 
New  York . . . 
Key  West 

..  do 

....do 

Washington . 

...do 

Springfield. . 
New  York... 
Key  West  . . . 
Washington. 
Springfield. . 

Boston 

..do 

Key  West... 

...do 

.do. 


No  proceeds 
June  3,  18G5 
Aug.  12,  1865 
July  20,  1863 
Oct.  15,  1863 
Oct.  24,  1863 
Oct.  14,  1863 
Oct.  19,  1863 
Feb.  18,  1864 
April  12, 1864 

June .   1, 1864 


45  20      ...do. 

2,578  45  i  New  Orleans. 


91,539  61 


Key  West. 


30,22599  ."do. 

4S.400  91    Boston  , 

299,998  45      ...do 

NoproceedsiNew  York..., 

4.515  13  i    ...do.. 

48,690  57  Key  West  .... 

28,033  21        ..do 

11  36  Philadelphia 


Feb.  17,  1865 
Oct.  10,  1864 
Jan.  14,  1865 
Mar.  22,  1865 
Aug.  25,  1865 
No  proceeds. 

Aug.' 21,  1865 
Feb.  17,  1863 
Feb.  17,  1863 
Jan.  12,  1863 
Nov.  5,  1863 


1,210  91 

442  38 

55,095  98 

5,968  90 

23,414  21 

88,371  93 

19,708  39 

4,291  31 

3,792  47 

408  02 

4,180  31 

712  52 

726  34 

3,369  91 


Key  West  . . . 

do , 

New  York. . . 
Key  West  . . . 

do 

....do.. 

....do 

New  York... 

...do 

Washington. 
Philadelphia. 

do 

....do 

..do 


Feb.  17,  1863 
Oct.  7,  1863 
Feb.  17,  1863 


Nov.  17, 
Mar.  29, 
Mar.  14, 
Oct.  16, 
Oct.  16, 
Oct.  7, 
Oct.  10, 
Nov.  25, 
Nov.  5, 


1864 
1863 
1865 
1862 
1862 
1863 
1863 
1862 
1863 


Nov.  25.  1862 
Nov.  5,  1863 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Mar.  17,  1864 


Gulf  squadron. 

Brooklyn. 

Penobscot. 

Virginia. 

Connecticut. 

Dan  Smith,  Huron,  Midnight. 

Perry. 

Mor-e. 

De  Soto. 

Pawnee,  Columbine. 

Metacomet. 

Beauregard. 

Roebuck,  Honeysuckle. 

O.  H.  Lee. 

Nita.    (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 

Gem  of  the  Sea. 

Tioga. 

Honeysuckle. 

Octorara. 

Albatross. 
Currituck,  Anacostia. 

Cricket. 

Roanoke,  Flag. 

Sagamore. 

Wyandank,  Jacob  Bell. 

Key  West. 

Kansas. 

Fort  Jackson. 

Nita. 

Roebuck. 

Roebuck. 

Hibiscus.    (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 

Quaker  City. 

J.  S.  Chambers. 

Tahoma. 

Kauawha. 

Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Rhode  Island. 

Wachusett  and  Sonoma. 

Mercedita. 

Western     World,    Gem   of    the    Sea,    Yacht 

Hope,  Albatross,  Henry  Anderson,  and  E. 

B  Hale. 
P>eauregard. 

Kensington,  Rachel  Seaman. 
Rhode  Island. 

Huntsville,  Brooklyn,  Mercedita,  Itasca. 
Santiago  de  Cuba. 
De  Soto. 
Montgomery. 
Portsmouth. 
Arthur,  Sachem. 
George  Mangham. 
G.  W.  Blunt. 
Hunchback,  Whitehead. 
Sacramento. 
E.  B.  Hale. 


*  $80.13>£  paid  as  salvage  to  Samuel  Butler.  Prize  list  of  Gen 
esee  waiting. 

t  $1, 321.07 ;,  paid  to  James  Taylor  for  raising  and  repairing 
vessel  —Decreed  to  West  Gulf  squadron  informal. 


t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Hoanoke  and  Flag. 

§  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Jacob  Bell. 

II  Waiting  for  six  prize  lists. 

H  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  George  Mangham. 


OF   THE   CIVIL    WAR. 


Name. 

Gross  pro-     Costs    and 
ceeds.         expenses. 

Am  't  for  dis 
tribution. 

Whore  adjudi 
cated. 

Sent  to  4th 
Auditor  for 
distribution. 

Vessels  entitled  to  share. 

Sch  W   Y.  Leitch  

$1,180  69 
3St,110  5)6 

19  coa  89 

|4M  n 
6244  96 
1.905  45 
7,037  14 

3,590  53 

'."•.r,  01 

245  36 
2,382  67 
81  22 
6.203  94 
219  72 
10,822  20 
1,206  15 
164  02 

$774  13 
32,866  00 
17,995  44 
86,244  11 

25.6H6  14 
2,661  84 

2,217  P6 
21,526  65 
107  49 
409.486  89 
13,280  28 
411,619  19 
2,828  99 
2,316  59 

Key  West  
New  York.... 
New  Orleans 
.  do..     . 

Dec.  10,  1864 
April  12.  1864 
April  23,  1864 
April  23,  W64 

Nov.  2C,  1864 
Feb.  2,  1865 

May  1.  1865 
April  26,  1865 

Oc  tor  arm. 
Quaker  City,  Monticcllo. 
Cayuga. 
Kauawha.  Colorado.    Richmond,    Qcrtrui 
Kennebec,  Octurara,  Albatross. 
Gertrude. 
Daffodil  (a  detachment  from  WabMh  en 
tied  to  share.) 
San  Jacinto. 
Restless. 
Hendrick  Hu  !BO«.    (Waiting  for  prize  lis 
Fort  Jickwon. 
Cumberland. 
OrandGulf. 
Huntsville. 
Sew  London. 

Bark  Winnilre  J.  .  .  . 

Sch.  Wave                

Sell  Winona  or  Alert  

93,281  25 

29.276  67 
3,627  85 

2.463  32 
23,909  32 
188  71 
415.690  83 
13.500  00 
422,341  99 
4,125  14 
2,480  61 

Str.  Warrior  and  cargo  
Sch.  Wonder.        

do  

Philadelphia.. 

Key  West  
—  do  
do  

Sch  William  

Sch   Win.  A    Kain  

Str.  Waudo 

Boston  
...  do  
do.. 

Sept.  23,  1865 
Oct.  5,1865 
Aug.  24,  1865 
Aug.  14.  1863 
Dec.  19,  1864 

Steam-tug  Young  America.. 
Str.  Young  Republic  
Sch   Zavalla     

Vew  York  
Boston  

ERR  ATA. 


Page 

Column 

Lint 

29 

Left 

8 

41 

" 

26 

77 

37 

96 

" 

1 

185 

" 

36 

266 

•• 

32 

29C 

•• 

11 

305 

Right 

03 

315 

Left 

14 

315 

22 

315 

Right 

31 

340 
384 

Right 
Left 

2 
Last 

406 

" 

9 

417 

•• 

50 

446 

Right 

37 

For 


Keaii 


Commander  Jas.  Alden. 

we. 

precipitate. 

relate. 

moving 

armored  vessels. 

iron-dads. 


•  Commodore  Jas.  Alden," 

•I." 
•precipitated," 

1  restate," 

•coining," 

•armed  vessels," 

'  vessels," 

•fire," 

"  vessels,"  Federals. 

•  vessel  "  iron-clad. 

insert 'Lieutenant-Commander  Greer's  name  before  that  ol 

Lieutenant-Commanding  Murpliy. 
.•depotism,"      .  tog.«« 

;:SS?"f"  SS3SS** 

-cut  of,"  <-"toff- 


on  page  391. 


B42 


THE  NAVAL   HISTORY 


Name. 

Gross  pro 
ceeds. 

Costs    anc 
expenses. 

Am'tfordis   Whereadjudi 
tribution.          cated. 

Sent    to     4th 
Auditor    for]                  Vessels  entitled  to  share, 
distribution. 

:  Sloop  Sarah  

$7,382  41 
104.536  60 
74  966  74 

$1,243  75 
10,939  98 
15,511  59 
1,716  13 

4,244  46 
3,762  98 
2,015  65 
1,394  77 

133  53 

108  51 
23,921  08 

$6,138  66 
93,596  62 
59.455  15 
8,346  07 

61,969  48 
4,387  02 
2,557  99 
17,685  69 

420  71 
631  49 
202,471  42 

New  York  .  .  . 
...do  

Jan.  27,  1803 
Nov.    5,  1803 
Nov.  20,  1863 
Nov.  25,  1863 

Dec.    1,  1863 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Feb.  29,  1804 
Feb.  18,  1804 

April  12,  1864 
July    6,  1864 
Mar.  22,  1804 

Matthew  Vassar,  Sea  Foam. 
Restless. 
State  of  Georgia,  Mystic. 
Monticello. 

Kauawha. 
Quaker  City. 
Mount  Vernon. 
Canandaigua,    New      Ironsides,     Powhatan, 
Wamsutta,    Paul    Jones,  Lodona,   Housa- 
tonic,    Huron,    Unadilla,      Para,    Stettin, 
[     Augusta. 
Sagamore. 
Brooklyn. 
Bienville. 

Str    Sunbeam         .... 

....do  

.Sch.  Sue  

10,062  20 

66,213  94 
8,150  00 
4,573  04 
19,030  46 

554  24 
800  00 
226,393  10 

...do  

Boston.     ... 
New  York 
...do  
Philadelphia.. 

Key  West  
...do  
New  York  

•  Sch.     Southern    Independ 

Bark  Sally  Magee        

Sch  St  George  

Str.  Secesh  

Sch.  Southern  Rights  

Sch.  Star  

Str  Stettin  

•Sloop  Surpr 
Sch.  Shot  .. 
Str.  Spauldi 
Sch.  Sea  Dri 
Sch.  StatesB 
Scow,    1 
cottor 
Sloop  South 
Str.  St.  Johi 
Sugar,  ] 
Str.  Southe 

Shoes,  4 

Sch.  Segur 

Sundrif 
Sch.  Stingr; 
Sch    Sylphi 
Str.  Scotia 
Sch.  Sophi: 
Sjh.  Sivani 
Sch.,  1; 
Sch.  SeaBi 
Str.  Sumte 
Str.  Susanr 
Sch.  Spunk 
Sch.  Susan 
Sch.  Sort  N 
Sch.  (name 
Sloop  no 
Sloop  Swal 
Sch.  Sort  I 
Str.  Tubal 
Sch.  Trier. 
Sch.  TwoS 
Sch.  There 
Tobacc 
Sch.  Three 
Str.  Tom  ! 
Ship  Thoi 

Sch.  Thomas  C.  Worrell§  .  .  . 
Tobacco,  2  hogsheads.  . 
Str.  Tristram  Shandy  

514  10  ' 
708  66 
418,873  81 
163,392  90 
1,638  87 
697  58 
75  75 
140  00 

"""nTtrti    n  niMini  1  11,1    

156  44 
6,801  26 
2,539  07 
193  59 
183  23 
75  75 
94  83 
857  19 
7,238  84 
2,336  92 
2,049  58 
6,422  92 
871  95 
1,266  36 
9,245  42 
2,267  87 
529  96 

144  20 
179  47 
3,031  02 
1,557  29 
2,470  04 
6,953  04 
2,590  35 
1,958  95 
1,938  33 
125  46 
821  59 
773  28 
704  26 
767  09 

552  22 
412,072  55 
160,853  83 
1,445  28 
514  35 

Springfield.  .. 
Boston  

Feb.  17,  1865 
Oct.   10,  1804 
Jan.   14,  1865 
Mar.  22,  1805 
Aug.  25,  1805 
No  proceeds. 

Key  West. 

Kansas. 
Fort  Jackson. 
Nita. 
Roebuck. 
Roebuck. 
Hibiscus.    (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 
Quaker  City. 
J.  S.  Chambers. 
Tahoma. 
Kanawha. 
Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Rhode  Island. 
Wachusett  and  Sonoma. 
Mercedita. 
Western    World,    Gem   of   the    Sea,    Yacht 
Hope,  Albatross,  Henry  Anderson,  and  E. 
B   Hale. 
Beauregard. 
Kensington,  Rachel  Seaman. 
Rhode  Island. 
Huntsville,  Brooklyn,  Mercedita,  Itasca. 
Santiago  de  Cuba. 
De  Soto. 
Montgomery. 
Portsmouth. 
Arthur,  Sachem. 
George  Mangham. 
G.  W.  Blunt. 
Hunchback,  Whitehead. 
Sacramento. 
E.  B.  Hale. 

Sch.  Three  Brothers  

..do  
Key  West  i 
...do  
....do  

Sch.  Terrapin  

Sch.  Two  Brothers  
Sloop  Theodora  

Sloop  Telemaco  
Str.  Union  

3  435  64 
98,838  45 
22,562  91 
50,450  49 
306,421  37 
550  00 
5,781  49 
57,935  99 
30,301  08 
541  32 

1,355  11 
621  85 
58,127  00 
7,526  19 
30,884  25 
95,324  97 
22,298  74 
6,250  26 
5,731  30 
533  48 
5,001  90 
1,485  80 
1,430  60 
4,137  00 

2,578  45 
91,539  61 
30,225  99 
4S.400  91 
299,998  45 
No  proceeds 
4.515  13 
48,090  57 
28,033  21 
11  36 

1,210  91 
442  38 
55,095  98 
5,968  90 
23,414  21 
88,371  93 
19,708  39 
4,291  31 
3,792  47 
408  02 
4,180  31 
712  52 
726  34 
3,369  91 

New  Orleans  . 
Key  West.... 
..do  

Aug.  21,  1865 
Feb.  17,  1863 
Feb.  17,  1803 
Jan.  12,  1803 
Nov.    5,  1863 

Sch.  Uncle  Mose  
Sch.  Victoria  

Str.  Victory  
Sch.  Velasco  

...do  
New  York.... 

Sch.  Virginia  

...do.. 
Key  West  
.  .  do  

Feb.  17,  1863 
Oct.     7,  1863 
Feb.  17,  1863 

Sch.  Victoria  
Sch    Volantell 

Sch.  Volante  

Philadelphia 

Key  West  
....do  
New  York  
Key  West  .... 
do 

Nov.  17,  1864 
Mar.  29,  1803 
Mar.  14,  1805 
Oct.  16,  1862 
Oct.   16,  1862 
Oct.     7,  1863 
Oct.   10,  1803 
Nov.  25,  1862 
Nov.    5,  1863 

Nov.  25,  1862 
Nov.    5,  1863 
Feb.  29,  1864 
Mar.  17,  1804 

Sch.  Velocity,  cargq-of  . 
Str.  Vixen  .. 

Sch.  Wm.  Mallory  ... 

Sch.  W.  C.  Bee. 

Sch.  Wm.  E.  Chester  

....do.. 
....do  

Sch.  Water  Witch 

New  York... 
...do  
Washington.  . 
Philadelphia.. 
do  
....do  

i 

Whiskey,  cargo  of  If  
Sch.  Wave  

Sch.  Winter  Shrub. 

Sch.  Wanderer. 

Sch  .  Wave,  cargo  of  

*  $80:13>  I'*?d  a8  salvage  to  Samuel  Butler.     Prize  li  t  of  G« 

—  —  _  

esee  waiting. 

t  $l,321.07'i  paid  to  James  Taylor  for  raising  and  repairins 
vessel  -Decreed  to  West  Gulf  squadron  informal. 


t  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  Roanoke  and  Flag 

\  ™ai.t.1.ng  for  prize  Ii8t  of  the  Jacob  Bell 

II  waiting  for  six  prize  lists. 

Tl  Waiting  for  prize  list  of  the  George  Mangham. 


OF   THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


843 


Name. 

Gross  riro- 

rc-c      - 

Costs    and 
expenses. 

Am'tfordin- 
tribution. 

Wher«»  adjudi 
cated. 

Sent  to  4th 
Auditor  for 
distribution. 

Vessels  entitled  to  share. 

Sch  W   Y.  Leitch  

$1,180  fi9 
30,110  1)6 
19  £00  89 

UK-;  66 
6  244  96 
1.905  45 
7,037  14 

3,590  5;i 
9«6  01 

245  36 
2,382  67 
81  22 
6,203  94 
219  72 
10.822  20 
1,29«  15 
164  02 

$774  13 
32.KB6  00 
17,995  44 
86,244  11 

25,686  14 
2,661  84 

2,217  96 
21,526  66 
107  49 
409,486  89 
13,280  28 
411,619  19 
2,828  99 
2,316  59 

Key  West  
New  York  
New  Orleans 
....do  

do  

Dec.  10,  J864 
April  12,  1864 
April  23,  1864 
April  23,  1864 

Nov.  26,  1864 
Feb.  2,  1805 

May  1,  1865 
April  26,  1H65 

Octorara. 
Quaker  City,  Monticcllo. 
Cayuga. 
Kauawha,  Colorado,    Richmond,   Gertrude, 
Kennebec,  Octurara,  Albatross. 
Gertrude. 
Daffodil  (a  detachment  from  Wabash  enti 
tled  to  share.) 
Wan  Jacinto. 
Restless. 
Hendrick  Hudson.    (Waiting  for  prize  list.) 
Fort  Jackson. 
.Cumberland. 
Grand  Gulf. 
Huntsville. 
New  London. 

Bark  WmnilreJ  

Soli   Wave                  

Sell  Winona  or  Alert  

93,281  25 

29.276  67 
3,6-27  85 

2.463  32 
23,909  32 
188  71 
415,69(1  83 
13,500  00 
422,341  99 
4,125  14 
2,480  61 

Philadelphia.. 

Key  West  .... 
...do  
do  

Sch  William  

Sch.  Wm.A.  Kain  

Str.  Waiulo 

Boston  
...  do  
..do  
vew  York 
Boston  .  .  . 

Sept.  23,  18f>5 
Oct.  5,1865 
Aug.  24,  1865 
Aug.  14,  1863 
Dec.  19,  1864 

Steam-tug  Young  America.. 
Sir.  Young  Republic  
Sch.  Zavalla  

Sch.  Zulima... 

14  PAY  USE 

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